Category: Sports

HAMBANTOTA, July 12, 2014 (AFP) – South Africa rode on aggressive hundreds from Quinton de Kock and AB de Villiers to beat Sri Lanka by 82 runs in the third and final one-day international on Saturday.Left-hander De Kock smashed a 127-ball 128 while skipper De Villiers hit a fiery 71-ball 108, making a century off […]

SAO PAULO, July 8, 2014 (AFP) – Fuelled by decades of hurt, Lionel Messi’s Argentina and Arjen Robben’s Holland will carry competing motivations into Wednesday’s tantalising World Cup semi-final showdown at Sao Paulo’s Corinthians Arena. Argentina, who last reached the final in 1990, will be determined to pay appropriate homage to former great Alfredo Di […]

TERESÓPOLIS, July 7, 2014 (AFP) – Willian and Bernard, the two leading contenders to replace Neymar in Brazil’s World Cup semi-final line-up against Germany insisted on Sunday that the team can still win the competition without their star player. “Neymar sets the standard for us.He is capable of deciding any game, so playing without him […]

COLOMBO, July 6, 2014 (AFP) – South Africa captain AB de Villiers won the toss and chose to bat in the first of the three-match one-day international series against Sri Lanka in Colombo on Sunday.Star all-rounder Jacques Kallis was ruled fit to play after overcoming a neck injury that he picked during one of the […]

BRASILIA, July 6, 2014 (AFP) – Dutch goalkeeper Tim Krul was the hero as the Netherlands beat Costa Rica to seal a showdown with Argentina in a heavyweight World Cup semi-final lineup Saturday.Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal stunned onlookers at Salvador’s Fonte Nova Arena by bringing on Krul to replace Jasper Cillessen in the final […]

RECIFE, June 30, 2014 (AFP) – Costa Rica goalkeeper Keylor Navas claimed man-of-the match honours as his side sank Greece in a penalty shootout to reach the World Cup quarter finals for the first time and a clash with the Netherlands.Reduced to 10 men in the second half, Costa Rica still seemed to be on […]

LEEDS, June 24, 2014 (AFP) – Sri Lanka beat England with just one ball to spare to win the second Test at Headingley by 100 runs on Tuesday and take the two-match series 1-0.It was a desperately close call but the former Australia seamer ruled in Sri Lanka’s favour. After tea, left-arm spinner Herath, who […]

LEEDS, June 25, 2014 (AFP) – Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews had the ideal response to criticism from former England skipper Michael Vaughan regarding the Islanders’ “county” attack after the tourists completed a dramatic Test series win at Headingley.Mathews’s men won the second Test by 100 runs after paceman Shaminda Eranga dismissed England No 11 […]

LEEDS, June 23, 2014 (AFP) – Dhammika Prasad’s dramatic four-wicket burst following a Test-best 160 from skipper Angelo Mathews left Sri Lanka on the brink of victory in the second Test against England at Headingley on Monday. Sri Lanka resumed Monday on 214 for four, a lead of 106, with Jayawardene 55 not out and […]

LEEDS, June 23, 2014 (AFP) – Sri Lanka great Mahela Jayawardene questioned England’s tactics, their ability to handle pressure and the wisdom of home captain Alastair Cook’s pre-match spat with Shane Warne as the tourists moved to the brink of a memorable Test series win at Headingley. Sri Lanka seized control of the second and […]

LEEDS, June 22, 2014 (AFP) – Mahela Jayawardene steered Sri Lanka to a lead of more than a hundred runs in the second Test at Headingley after Moeen Ali proved an unlikely bowling hero for England.Sri Lanka were 214 for four in their second innings at stumps on Sunday’s third day, a lead of 106 […]

LEEDS, June 21, 2014 (AFP) – Australia-born opener Sam Robson scored his maiden Test century before Sri Lanka checked England’s progress on the second day of the second Test at Headingley on Saturday.England were 320 for six in reply to Sri Lanka’s 257, a lead of 63 runs, at stumps after Robson had made 127 […]