Back in form

FORMER US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro clinched his first ATP title in almost three years with a 7-5 6-1 victory over American Jack Sock in yesterday’s final in Stockholm. The Argentinian, who won at Flushing Meadows in 2009 before suffering a series of wrist injuries that pushed him to the brink of retirement, last played a tour final in Sydney in January 2014, when he beat home favourite Bernard Tomic 6-3 6-1. The world No 63 played just six tournaments across 2014 and last year, but has gradually rediscovered the form that once enabled him to reach fourth in the world. – SuperSport

India edge ahead

MOHALI: Virat Kohli hit an unbeaten 154 to make short work of a seemingly steep target as India beat New Zealand by seven wickets in the third one-day international to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series yesterday. New Zealand, who won the last match in Delhi to tie the series at 1-1, were all out for 285 in the 50th over after India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss and opted to field. India chased down the target with 10 balls to spare, riding on Kohli’s 26th century in the 50-over format. The hosts lost both their openers, Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane, inside nine overs and needed a solid partnership to get back on track. Kohli and Dhoni (80) provided just that with a brisk third-wicket stand of 151 runs. – Reuters

England almost there

CHITTAGONG: England need two more wickets on the final day to keep their all-winning record in Tests against Bangladesh intact with the hosts 33 runs away from a famous victory in the closely contested opening Test. Chasing 286 for their first win in nine Tests against England, Bangladesh reached 253/8 when bad light ended play on the fourth day yesterday. Debutant Sabbir Rahman (59) and Taijul Islam (11) were at the crease. England batted for some 20 minutes in the morning, adding 12 runs to their overnight secondinnings total of 228/9 before they were bundled out for 240. Bangladesh left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan finished with 5/85. Openers Tamim Iqbal (nine) and Imrul Kayes (43) gave Bangladesh a decent start on a Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium pitch that offered plenty of turn and bounce for the spinners. England thought they had the match in the bag when Stuart Broad, who saw Sabbir dropped on 34 by Bairstow off his bowling, dismissed debutants Mehedi Hasan and Kamrul Islam in quick succession. – Reuters

Win drought is over

PADRAIG Harrington defied defending champion Andy Sullivan to win the Portugal Masters yesterday for his first European Tour title in eight years. The three-time Major winner, 45, refused to cave in under pressure to card a closing bogey-free 65 to get to 23 under and hold off charging Englishman Sullivan by one shot. The semi-retired Anders Hansen and Finn Mikko Korhonen – who secured his playing privileges after starting the week 116th on the Race to Dubai – were tied third in Vilamoura. Veteran Irishman Harrington, who was languishing down in 159th in the world rankings coming into the tournament, could now burst back into the top 100. The victory takes Harrington’s European Tour tally to 15 wins and moves him to tied 15th on the alltime list. – SuperSport