Misery for Australia as Misbah joins legend Richards with the fastest Test century
DAVID Gourlay survived a major scare on the second day of The Co-operative Funeralcare Scottish International Open in Perth. Scotland’s Commonwealth Games bowls coach was forced into a tie-break by impressive Hong Kong qualifier Robin Chok who for most of the first-round match looked more than capable of toppling the number five seed. Chok, who raced into a 5-0 lead in the opening set, eventually took it 8-7, courtesy of ditching the jack with his last bowl when set lie against, and a shock looked on the cards when he led 5-2 in the second, before Gourlay found that extra gear necessary to change the course of the match. With Chok appearing to wilt under the pressure as the finishing line approached, Gourlay applied all his experience to take the second set 9-6 and then the tie-break 2-0, but it was a close call for the Ayrshire ace. Paisley’s Jonathan Ross conceded only two singles in the 15 ends played against American qualifier Aaron Zangle. It was a tough baptism of fire on the portable rink for the overseas challenger who was unable to match the drawing expertise of the 13th seed who coasted into the second round with a 9-1, 14-1 victory. Scotland’s Robert Gordon, a wild-card entry, took the first set from England’s number 14 seed Mark Royal, but was unable to maintain the momentum in the second as the left-hander moved up a gear and was beaten 7-6, 4-10, 0-2. There were shock defeats for seeded players Mervyn King and Greg Harlow, the England pair going down to Mark Dawes (England) and young Australian Mac McLean respectively. DEFENDING champions West Lothian were the top scorers in Section A of the Premier Division in the third week of action in the Jack High Insurance National League and lead the group with four points along with Midlothian while Blantyre, Abbeyview, Bainfield and Coatbridge all have two points. The Livingston club finished with three winning rinks and one drawn in their 87-67 win at Abbeyview, and Midlothian will thank a strong finish with which they won a photofinish 85-84 against Blantyre. Coatbridge also scored a similar one-shot victory to break their duck but still remain at the bottom of the section. However, they will look back and thank a 33-15 win by Robert Murphy that gave them their only winning scoreline and an 86-85 victory. In Section B, Aberdeen remain the only unbeaten Premier League team and move to pole position at the top after winning their winner-take-all table topper against Ardrossan, where they won on three and drew on their fourth rink for a 79-62 home victory. Ardrossan drop to second place. OPENERS Ajinkya Rahane and Shikhar Dhawan blasted Sri Lanka out of the water as India launched their one-day international series with a spectacular demolition job in Cuttack. The pair put on 231 for the first wicket, including a devastating mid-innings blast of 96 runs from just eight overs, to set the stage for a 169-run victory. India amassed a staggering 363 for five in their 50 overs with both Rahane and Dhawan passing three figures before their partnership was finally broken by Ashan Priyanjan in the 35th over when Dhawan was bowled for 113 from 107 balls. Rahane followed him back to the pavilion in short order having lofted a Suraj Randiv full toss to mid-off on 111 having faced one ball more, but a quick-fire 52 by Suresh Raina left the tourists, for whom Randiv claimed three for 78, with a mountain to climb. Sri Lanka’s reply did little to dispel speculation that they had arrived under-prepared as their top order batsmen made starts, but were unable to carry on. By the time they reached the 100-mark, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara and Upul Tharanga had all gone, and although Mahela Jayawardene provided some resistance with 43 from 36 balls, Angelo Matthews’ men failed to make it to the end of the 40th over, with Thisara Perera the last man to depart, caught by Ishant Sharma off the bowling of Umesh Yadav for 29 with the score on 194. Sharma had earlier helped himself to four for 34 from his eight overs with Sangakkara, Priyanjan, Randiv and Dhammika Prasad his victims.
Cuttack India 363-5 Innings Complete (S Dhawan 113, A M Rahane 111, S K Raina 52) v Sri PAKISTAN captain Misbahul-Haq equalled Viv Richards’ record for the fastest century in Test cricket as his side set Australia an unlikely 603 to win the second Test.
Misbah and Azhar Ali each recorded their second century of the match – following Australian brothers Ian and Greg Chappell, against New Zealand in 1974, as the only pairs of batsmen from the same team to have achieved the feat – in a second innings of 293 for three declared.
And Misbah’s 11th four, to go with five sixes, saw him reach three figures in 56 balls and emulate Richards’ effort against England in the 1986 Antigua Test.
Along the way, he also broke Jacques Kallis’ record for the fastest half-century as he got there in 21 balls – three quicker than the South African’s effort in a two-day win over Zimbabwe in Cape Town in 2005.
A single off the ball following his ton got Azhar on strike for the chance to follow him to a hundred – which he immediately did, with a single from his 174th ball, for their joint moment of history. And Misbah immediately declared with a lead of 602, leaving the “hosts” a scheduled 138 overs to bowl Australia out in Abu Dhabi.
The visitors, in reply, closed 459 runs behind on 143 for four after three early wickets from Zulfiqar Babar.
The slow left-armer had Chris Rogers gloving to slip for two and Glenn Maxwell given lbw for four after a Pakistan review before bowling Australia skipper Michael Clarke for five. Lanka 194 (I Sharma 4-34) India beat Sri Lanka by 169 runs
Abu Dhabi Pakistan 570-6 dec (Younis Khan 213, Ali Azhar 109, Misbah ul-Haq 101) & 293-3 dec (Misbah ul-Haq 101 no, Ali Azhar 100 no) v Australia 261 (M R Marsh 87) & 143-4 (D A Warner 58)
Final Week Top Six: Aberdeen 1 Glasgow City 2; Rangers 2 Celtic 1; Spartans 1 Hibernian 5. Bottom Six: Hamilton Accies 3 Buchan 2; Hutchison Vale 0 Queens Park 0; Inverness City 3 Forfar Farmington 3. Div 1: Hibernian Developement 3 Cumbernauld Colts 7; Aberdeen Reserves v Celtic 20s P; Dunfermline Athletic 0 Falkirk Ladies 3; Jeanfield Swifts 4 Glasgow 0; Murieston Utd 5 Cowdenbeath 2. Lake Malaren Golf Club, China (Leading final round scores & totals, Gbr & Irl unless stated, par 72): (Marcel Siem won at the first extra play-off hole) 272 Ross Fisher 70 67 68 67, Marcel Siem (Ger) 68 66 65 73, Alexander Levy (Fra) 65 66 63 78; 273 Justin Rose 72 65 64 72, Jamie Donaldson 68 68 62 75; 74 Romain Wattel (Fra) 66 67 71 70, Nicolas Colsaerts (Bel) David Warner and Smith rebuilt with a stand of 58, the former reaching a 61-ball half-century when he drove Babar for his sixth four.
But a top-edged slog-sweep off Mohammad Hafeez ended his innings on 58, Yasir Shah with the catch.
Smith was still there at stumps on 38 with Mitch Marsh on 26, the pair having put on 42 as they sought to bounce back from their treatment at the hands of Misbah.
Misbah and Azhar had each made first-innings hundreds in support of Younus Khan, whose 213 was his third century in successive innings in the series.
They came together at 152 for 66 64 73 71 275 Emiliano Grillo (Arg) 66 68 69 72, Ryan Palmer (USA) 70 67 68 70; 276 Mikko Ilonen (Fin) 70 66 69 71, Fabrizio Zanotti (Par) 70 68 69 69, George Coetzee (Rsa) 71 67 67 71; 277 Joost Luiten (Ned) 72 69 64 72, Darren Fichardt (Rsa) 69 68 69 71, Bernd Wiesberger (Aut) 72 69 66 70; 278 Robert Karlsson (Swe) 69 70 66 73, Graeme McDowell 67 69 68 74, Shane Lowry 70 66 71 71, Branden Grace (Rsa) 68 66 71 73, Richard Sterne (Rsa) 68 70 70 70; 279 Victor Dubuisson (Fra) 70 70 68 71, Richie Ramsay 70 68 68 73, Danny Willett 71 70 67 71; 280 Thomas Bjorn (Den) 68 67 71 74, David Howell 74 71 66 69; 281 Ernie Els (Rsa) 69 68 69 75, Eddie Pepperell 72 69 70 70 282 Tyrrell Hatton 73 67 71 71, Thorbjorn Olesen (Den) 70 70 70 72, Dong Su (Chn) 70 69 68 75, Edoardo Molinari (Ita) 70 71 69 72, Thongchai Jaidee (Tha) 71 70 69 72, Oliver Fisher 71 69 70 72; 283 Seung-hyuk Kim (Kor) 70 71 69 73, Michael Hoey 70 68 72 73 284 Hennie Otto (Rsa) 71 71 70 72, Stephen Gallacher 72 69 72 71, Magnus A Carlsson (Swe) 73 72 68 71
Kuala Lumpur G&CC, Malaysia (Leading final round scores & totals USA unless stated, par 72): 271 Ryan Moore (USA) 68 69 67 67; 274 Kevin Na (USA) 69 68 67 70, Sergio Garcia (Spa) 69 68 68 69, Gary Woodland (USA) 71 70 66 67; 276 Cameron Smith (Aus) 70 69 69 68, Sang-moon Bae (Kor) 71 68 68 69; 277 John Senden (Aus) 72 68 69 68 278 Billy Hurley III (USA) 67 67 71 73, Prom Meesawat (Tha) three second time around when Younus was finally dismissed short of three figures, making 46 before falling lbw to Smith. Mitchell Johnson (two for 45) had earlier dismissed openers Ahmed Shehzad and Hafeez.
They put on 141 in 102 balls, although Misbah had an early let-off when, after hitting his first ball from Smith for four, he was dropped by Peter Siddle from his second.
He hit three sixes and a one-bounce four in successive deliveries in the leg-spinner’s next over and two fours in a row off Marsh, before again launching Smith across the ropes to reach 49.
A three
off Women’s International (Dublin) Ireland 1 Scotland 0 Men National League Division 1: AAM Gordonians 4 Watsonians 1, Grange 2 Edinburgh University 2, Inverleith 2 Hillhead 1, PSL Team Sport Clydesdale 3 Dundee Wanderers 2, Western Wildcats 2 Kelburne Bromac 4
Mitchell
Starc 68 71 70 69, Rory Sabbatini (Rsa) 70 72 70 66, Davis Love III (USA) 68 71 71 68, Angelo Que (Phi) 67 72 69 70; 279 Brendon De Jonge 70 73 65 71, Danny Lee (Nzl) 69 69 73 68, Brian Stuard (USA) 67 72 72 68, Kevin Chappell (USA) 69 68 70 72, Lee Westwood (Eng) 72 65 74 68, Jonas Blixt (Swe) 69 69 75 66; 280 Charl Schwartzel (Rsa) 74 70 68 68, Scott Stallings (USA) 69 76 67 68; 281 Hideki Matsuyama (Jpn) 70 70 72 69, Nicholas Thompson (USA) 69 73 70 69, Mike Weir (Can) 73 68 72 68, Jonathan Byrd (USA) 70 74 69 68, Heath Slocum (USA) 71 73 70 67; 282 Ryo Ishikawa (Jpn) 69 71 73 69, Jason Dufner (USA) 74 70 69 69, Greg Chalmers (Aus) 75 68 68 71, Michael Putnam (USA) 71 72 72 67, Jhonattan Vegas (Ven) 74 71 70 67, Kevin Streelman (USA) 68 68 71 75 Patrick Reed (USA) 70 70 68 74 283 Pat Perez (USA) 72 73 69 69, Jeff Overton (USA) 68 69 71 75, Kyle Stanley (USA) 76 71 69 67, Retief Goosen (Rsa) 74 70 69 70; 284 Paul Casey (Eng) 73 68 71 72, Billy Horschel (USA) 72 68 73 71 accounted for Kallis’ record and he was not finished yet, hitting successive fours off the leftarmer and two more in one Siddle over.
After a relative lull of 11 balls without a boundary, he stepped back to loft Siddle for six and hit three more fours off Starc to match Richards – the last of them admittedly edged to third man. Smith had received the worst of the punishment with the 11 balls he bowled to Misbah yielding 38 runs, while Starc gave up 31 in 21.
Australia wicketkeeper Brad Haddin was off the field with a shoulder injury, with Warner deputising until he handed over to Maxwell for the last ten overs. Division 2: Aberdeen GSFP 5 Dundee University 1, Alpha Data Carnegie 2 Erskine Stewarts Melville 1, Falkirk GHG 1 St Andrews University 6, Granite City Wanderers 2 2020 Renewables Greenock 2, Stepps 2 Glasgow University 1, Uddingston 0 Grove Menzieshill 10 Division 3: CALA Edinburgh 1 Strathclyde University 4, FMGM Monarchs 1 Perthshire 7, Harris Academy FP 6 Highland 4 Regional League Central Division 1: Edinburgh University A 6 Uddingston A 2, Edinburgh University B 2 Inverleith A 3, Kelburne Thomsons Cycles 3 Grange A 1, PSL Team Clydesdale A 5 Hillhead A 2, Rottenrow Blue Sox 1 Grange B 2 Division 2: Anchor 0 Clydeside 4, Erskine Stewarts Melville A P Livingston West Lothian P, Glasgow University A 3 Hillhead A 2, Stepps A 1 Falkirk GHG A 0, Stirling University 2 GHK 1, Watsonians A 10 East Kilbride 2 North Division: AAM Gordonians B 1 AAM Gordonians A 7 Scottish Cup Round 2: (Sunday)Dundee Wanderers 1 Grove Menzieshill 7, Erskine Stewarts Melville 0 Western Wildcats 9, Highland P AAM Gordonians P, Hillhead 1 Stepps 0, Kelburne Bromac 5 Inverleith 0, Perthshire 1 Grange 12, St Andrews University 5 Uddingston 5 ( St Andrews won 7-6 on pens), Watsonians 0 Edinburgh University 1 Scottish Plate Round 1: (Sunday)2020 Renewables Greenock 0 PSL Team Sport Clydesdale 5, Falkirk GHG 5 Waverley Inveresk Trinity 0, FMGM Monarchs 5 CALA Edinburgh 0 Women National League Division 1: CALA Edinburgh 3 Kelburne 2, Dundee Wanderers 3 Hillhead 1, Edinburgh University 7 Watsonians 0, Milne Craig Clydesdale Western 10 GHK 1, Western Wildcats 2 Grove Menzieshill 2 *- deducted 3 penalty points Division 2: AAM Merlins Gordonians 3 Borders Fjordhus Reivers 1, Aberdeen University 0 Glasgow University 2, Dundee University 1 Granite City Wanderers 3, Erskine Stewarts Melville 7 Stirling University 0, Grange Ladies 0 Inverleith 6, St Andrews University 1 Haddington 7 (Sunday) Aberdeen University 0 Borders Fjordhus Reivers 1 Championship Division A: Ayr 1 Bon Accord MBC 0, CALA Edinburgh 2 Edinburg University B 1, Grove Menzieshill A 2 Erskine Stewarts Melville A 0, Stirling Wanderers 2 MCC Western B 5, Watsonians A 0 MCC Western A 5 Division B: Aberdeen Ladies 7 Strathclyde University 2, Edinburgh University A 6 Glasgow Accies 0, Kelburne Pro Life Fitness A 3 George Heriots 2, Kinross 1 Waverley Inveresk Trinity 1 Scottish Cup Round 2 (Yesterday): Edinburgh University 7 Edinburgh University A 0, Erskine Stewarts Melville 3 Aberdeen 1, Granite City Wanderers 1 Western Wildcats 2, Kelburne 6 CALA Edinburgh 1, St Andrews University 0 MCC Western A 2, Watsonians 1 Grove Menzieshill 8, Watsonians A 0 Milne Craig Clydesdale Western 12 Scottish Plate Round 1: (Yesterday) Erskine Stewarts Melville A 1 Glasgow Accies 1 (ESM won 2-1 on pens) Grange Ladies 4 Inverleith 2 RESURGENT Toronto Maple Leafs made it three in a row as they upset Chicago Blackhawks 3-2 on Saturday. Nazem Kadri put the Leafs ahead but Brad Richards equalised on the power play and another goal with the extra man for Brent Seabrook had the Hawks ahead. James van Riemsdyk then levelled things and Peter Holland grabbed the winner as James Reimer stopped 45 shots in the Toronto goal.
Boston Bruins 4 Ottawa Senators 2, Carolina Hurricanes 3 Arizona Coyotes 0, Edmonton Oilers 2 Vancouver Canucks 3, Florida Panthers 2 Philadelphia Flyers 1, Minnesota Wild 4 Dallas Stars 1, New Jersey Devils 3 Columbus Blue Jackets 2, New York Rangers 0 Winnipeg Jets 1,