Sunday Mail (UK)

Lando’s second skelping

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Lando Norris’ bid to win for the first time in F1 was over in the blink of the eye as Max Verstappen claimed another victory in Brazil.

The Brit started from top spot in the 24-lap sprint race in Interlagos.

However, Norris, 23, was out-gunned by Verstappen on the short run down to the opening corner to ensure the McLaren man’s wait for a first victory goes on.

Norris had to settle for second, crossing the line 4.2 seconds behind the Red Bull driver. Sergio Perez took third, with George Russell fourth. Lewis Hamilton only managed seventh.

Jos Buttler pointed the finger at himself as England were dumped out of the World Cup following a fifth defeat in a row.

A loss to foes Australia sealed it to cement arguably the worst World Cup defence in history. Never before have

England lost six games at a World Cup – and after being bowled out for 253 in pursuit of 286, the 33-run margin was their narrowest loss yet in India.

Buttler was one of three to succumb to leg spinner Adam Zampa as he tried to launch a big shot down the ground on just one.

The captain said: “My own performanc­es with the bat have really hurt us.

“I have a pivotal position in the side, so to perform as poorly as I have done has had a big impact on the team.

“I haven’t lost faith in myself, others will lose faith in me sooner than I do in myself. But as a captain you want to lead from the front so my performanc­e has been the most frustratin­g thing in the tournament.”

Fakhar Zaman hit a 63- ball century to help Pakistan to a 21-run win over New Zealand, keeping their semi-final hopes alive. Novak Djokovic will look to win a recordexte­nding seventh Paris Masters title against Grigor Dimitrov in Paris today.

A lack of precision proved costly at the RDS as Edinburgh’s quest for a first victory in Dublin since 2005 goes on.

An inexperien­ced Leinster outfit had far too much craft for Everitt’s boys, who lacked the penetratio­n to punish.

The head coach said: “To beat Leinster from 21- 6 down at halftime is always going to be a tough task. We got better in the second half, a little bit more continuity, scored three tries.

“But unforced errors cost us dearly. Had we been more clinical in the first half, maybe the result would have been different.

“We could have gotten a couple of points out of it, which is what you need when you’re away from home. It’s not always possible to get a win but the guys will be disappoint­ed in how we pretty much beat ourselves.”

The experience of props Pierre Schoeman and WP Nel gave Edinburgh an edge in the scrums in the opening half but Leinster looked far more dangerous in broken play.

By the interval the home side had six line breaks to nil.

A penalty from Ben Healy, back playing in Ireland for the first time since his summer switch from Munster, from 42 metres after a no-arms tackle by Jason Jenkins was a poor reward for Edinburgh’s early possession.

Leinster, backed by blustery wind, made them pay when Lee Barron barged through scrumhalf Charlie Shiel to score a converted try 21 minutes in.

After a tapped penalty where Barron was stopped short, a quick recycle saw Max Deegan burst over before Harry Byrne added the extras

Healy added a 35- metre penalty four minutes from the break, only for Byrne’s looping pass to put Ciaran Frawley over for his first try in 16 months to lead 21- 6 at the break.

Barron supplied the decisive pass for Tommy O’Brien to score under the posts to seal the bonus point before James Lang crossed within a minute for Edinburgh.

James Culhane got his first try after a good drive from a l ineout, leaving Edinburgh 20 points down – a cushion Connor Boyle and Boan Venter converted scores either side of Sam Prendergas­t’s 35-metre penalty cut but could not overcome.

 ?? ?? VERSTAPPEN in front
MY DEAR WATSON Hamish tries to free himself of Leinster danger
VERSTAPPEN in front MY DEAR WATSON Hamish tries to free himself of Leinster danger

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