KARACHI: David Wiese’s brilliant all-round performance lifted Lahore Qalandars into its first Pakistan Super League final with a 25-run victory over Multan Sultans in Sunday’s eliminator.
Wiese made a blistering unbeaten 48 off 21 balls which propelled Lahore’s total to 182-6 after Multan skipper Shan Masood won the toss and chose to field.
Wiese, a South African fast bowler, grabbed 3-27 including the key wicket of Adam Lyth, who was out for 50. Wiese also took a brilliant overhead catch at long off to dismiss countryman Rilee Rossouw as Multan stumbled to 157 all out in 19.1 overs.
“(We were) fortunate to bat first so that we could sum up the conditions quickly,” Wiese said. “It wasn’t a pitch where we could blow them away so change of pace was important, but length was also important.”
The fifth edition of Pakistan’s premier Twenty20 tournament will see a new winner on Tuesday when Lahore takes on hosts Karachi Kings. Fast bowler Mohammad Amir lifted Karachi to its first Pakistan Super League final after his team beat Multan Sultans in a super over on Saturday.
“I know it’s going to be a massive game,” Wiese said. “Would have been awesome to have a packed house but everyone in Lahore is going to be supporting us. I think we’ve got one more push in us.”
The PSL playoffs had to be rescheduled with no fans after being postponed in March due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Lahore, which finished last in the previous four editions of PSL, knocked out 2017 champion Peshawar Zalmi in the first eliminator on Saturday before ending table-topping Multan’s dream of its first appearance in the final.
Veteran leg-spinner Shahid Afridi’s economical four-over spell of 2-18 had restricted Lahore to 115-5 in 15 overs on Sunday before Wiese cut loose. Samit Patel made 26 off 16 balls, but it was Wiese’s clean hitting that gave Lahore 67 runs in the last five overs.
Wiese smashed left-arm fast bowler Junaid Khan for two sixes and two fours in the 19th over before smacking Sohail Tanvir for two sixes off the last two balls to provide a late flourish to Lahore’s innings.
Lyth provided Multan with a rollicking start of 47 for its first wicket off 26 balls, smashing Pakistan’s top fast bowler Shaheen Afridi for 26 runs off his first two overs. Lyth, who was dropped on 35 by Fakhar Zaman, fell to Wiese when Zaman made amends and caught the Yorkshireman at deep midwicket in the ninth over.
Ben Dunk (3) couldn’t show his batting prowess, but the Australian was impeccable behind the wicket and held onto four sharp catches as Multan lost its last eight wickets for just 55 runs.
Fast bowler Haris Rauf took 3-30, which included clean bowling Shahid Afridi with a brilliant yorker.
Lahore beats Multan by 25 runs to reach its first PSL final
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Lahore beats Multan by 25 runs to reach its first PSL final
- Fifth edition of Pakistan’s premier Twenty20 tournament will see a new winner on Tuesday
- PSL playoffs had to be rescheduled with no fans after being postponed in March due to the coronavirus pandemic
New Zealand beat Pakistan 6-2 to clinch FIH Hockey Nations Cup trophy
- Kiwis stunned Pakistan with five goals in first half of one-sided FIH Hockey Nations Cup final
- New Zealand promoted to prestigious FIH Pro League after winning second consecutive trophy
ISLAMABAD: New Zealand ended Pakistan’s bid to clinch the FIH Hockey Men’s Nations Cup title on Saturday, winning the trophy a second consecutive time in Kuala Lumpur after beating the green shirts 6-2.
It was a one-sided contest right from the beginning, with the Kiwis stunning Pakistan with five goals in the high-octane first half at the Bukit Jalil National Hockey Stadium.
Despite a fightback by Pakistan in the second half of the match, which saw the green shirts score two goals, New Zealand managed to score another and add 6-2 to the final tally.
“New Zealand’s triumph not only earned them the championship but also promotion to the prestigious FIH Pro League, reaffirming their growing stature in international hockey,” state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) wrote.
New Zealand signaled intent from the outset, with two early goals disallowed but persistent pressure finally paying off when Scott Cosslett converted a penalty corner. Jonty Elmes then set up Sam Hiha to double the lead, followed by goals from Dylan Thomas and Sean Findlay — the latter finishing from a difficult angle after receiving a precise aerial pass.
Before the halftime whistle, Scott Boyde capitalized on a rebound from the Pakistani goalkeeper to make it 5-0, giving New Zealand an unassailable lead.
Pakistan’s Moin Shakeel responded with a 33-minute goal, briefly shifting the momentum.
“Cosslett netted his second goal of the match via a penalty corner in the closing minutes, while Sufyan Khan grabbed a consolation for Pakistan to end the match 6-2,” APP reported.
France, which lost to Pakistan in the semifinal earlier this week, claimed the bronze medal by defeating South Korea in a shootout, while Wales beat hosts Malaysia for fifth place.
Japan finished seventh with a win over former champions South Africa.
The FIH Men’s Nations Cup was being played in Kuala Lumpur from June 15 to 21 that brought together eight top-ranked teams competing with each other.
Hockey is Pakistan’s national sport.
The national team boasts a proud legacy with three Olympic gold medals in 1960, 1968 and 1984 along with four World Cup titles in 1971, 1978, 1982 and 1994.
Hockey in Pakistan has faced a sharp decline in recent decades due to administrative challenges, underinvestment and inadequate infrastructure.
Renewed efforts are underway to revive the game with increased government support, youth development initiatives and greater international engagement aimed at restoring Pakistan’s former glory in the sport.
Alcaraz sets up Queen’s final clash with Lehecka
- Alcaraz is one victory away from becoming only the second Spaniard to win Queen’s twice, after Feliciano Lopez’s victories in 2017 and 2019
- Lehecka, who will be playing in his first ATP grass-court final, is the first Czech to reach the men’s title match at Queen’s since Ivan Lendl lifted the trophy in 1990
LONDON: Carlos Alcaraz reached the Queen’s Club final for the second time as the world No. 2 eased to a 6-4, 6-4 win over Roberto Bautista Agut on Saturday.
Alcaraz extended his career-best winning streak to 17 matches in a semifinal played in sweltering conditions at the Wimbledon warm-up event in west London.
The five-time Grand Slam champion hit 36 winners and 15 aces to dispatch his fellow Spaniard in 90 minutes.
Top seeded Alcaraz will face Jiri Lehecka in Sunday’s final after the Czech world No. 30’s shock 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 win against British star Jack Draper in the other semifinal.
Playing his first tournament since his epic French Open victory against Jannik Sinner two weeks ago, the 22-year-old is through to his fifth successive final after lifting titles on clay in Paris, Rome, Barcelona and Monte Carlo.
Alcaraz signalled his emergence as a grass-court force by winning Queen’s in 2023, clinching the Wimbledon title for the first time just weeks later and defending his All England Club crown last year.
He is one victory away from becoming only the second Spaniard to win Queen’s twice, after Feliciano Lopez’s victories in 2017 and 2019.
“I’m playing great tennis. After every match I’m feeling more comfortable. Making the final here is so special once again,” Alcaraz said.
“I love making the crowds enjoy watching my games. Whenever I put a smile on my face I play my best tennis.
“I try to have fun and bring joy on the court. That is why I’m making good results.”
Alcaraz wasted little time taking control against Bautista Agut, unfurling a deft drop-shot to break in the third game of the match.
That was all the encouragement Alcaraz needed as he held serve with ease to close out the first set.
Bautista Agut, 37, enjoyed a surprise win over Danish fourth seed Holger Rune in the last eight.
But Alcaraz never looked like suffering the same fate and he delivered the knockout blow in the second set.
A whipped forehand down the line earned a break-point that he converted to move 3-2 ahead.
The nerveless Alcaraz finished off the win in typically ruthless fashion to the delight of the fans waving Spanish flags to salute their hero.
Earlier, Lehecka ended Draper’s bid for a maiden Queen’s final appearance.
Lehecka, who will be playing in his first ATP grass-court final, is the first Czech to reach the men’s title match at Queen’s since Ivan Lendl lifted the trophy in 1990.
The 23-year-old said: “It means a lot. You don’t meet a player like Jack every day, he’s an amazing competitor.”
Draper was hoping to become the first British singles champion at Queen’s since five-time winner Andy Murray’s most recent victory in 2016.
But the world No. 6 will have to wait at least another year to get his hands on the silverware after claiming a bout of tonsillitis played a role in his defeat.
“I haven’t felt good all week. I’m proud of the way I went about things, considering, but it’s tough,” he said.
“You’re an entertainer, an athlete, and you have no choice. No one cares, you know. So you’ve just got to go out there and do the best you can.
“Today’s probably the worst I’ve felt. Did I think about withdrawing? No, not at all. I’m in the semifinals at Queen’s. I’d probably go on court with a broken leg.”
Lehecka had already ended the hopes of one Briton at Queen’s after beating Jacob Fearnley in the quarter-finals on Friday.
He also defeated world number 12 Alex de Minaur in his opening match of the tournament, but knocking out Draper was his biggest scalp yet.
Outgoing IOC president Thomas Bach faced mammoth challenges
- The state-sponsored doping scandal at the 2014 Sochi Winter Games and Russia breaking the Olympic Truce twice, in 2014 and 2022, taxed Bach’s patience and that of the IOC movement
- Payne: He will go down as one of the three great IOC presidents along with Pierre de Coubertin and Juan Antonio Samaranch
- Robertson praises Bach for handing over to Coventry an IOC “in an extremely robust financial position”
PARIS: Thomas Bach’s eventful 12-year tenure as president of the International Olympic Committee comes to an end on Monday when he hands over the reins to Kirsty Coventry, the first woman and African to hold sport’s most powerful political office.
The 71-year-old German lawyer, a 1976 Olympic team fencing champion, faced many challenges during his time in power.
AFP Sport picks out three:
President Vladimir Putin was the first person to ring Bach to congratulate him on his election in 2013 — little did Bach realize how Russia was to dog his presidency.
The state-sponsored doping scandal at the 2014 Sochi Winter Games and Russia breaking the Olympic Truce twice, in 2014 and 2022, taxed his patience and that of the IOC movement.
Bach faced pressure from both sides before the 2024 Paris Games and in the end permitted Russian athletes to compete despite the invasion of Ukraine, but only after being strictly vetted and under a neutral flag.
For Michael Payne, a former head of IOC marketing, Russia was the “large elephant in the room” and Bach was in a “no-win situation.”
His fellow former IOC marketing executive Terrence Burns, who lived and worked in Russia in the 1990s, said Bach was one of many leaders fooled by Putin.
“On doping he should have been harsher,” Burns told AFP.
“But let’s be honest, the whole thing was almost unbelievable.
“On Ukraine, you were damned if you do and damned if you don’t.
“I don’t think any western government or politician has ever figured out Russia... nor did he.”
Hugh Robertson, now an IOC member and the British sports minister responsible for overseeing the delivery of the highly successful 2012 London Games, believes Bach played his hand well over the Paris Games.
“The balance he struck over Russian participation in Paris was in line with the Olympic Charter,” Robertson told AFP.
“He took very strong action against the government, banned any events in Russia, any national representation and any national symbols.”
Bach had “a very tough presidency and never caught a break” said Payne, but he always held his nerve.
No more so than when Bach resisted calls from within Japan for the Tokyo Games to be canceled, not just postponed to 2021, because of the Covid pandemic.
Payne says Bach’s painful memories of missing the Moscow Games in 1980 due to a boycott linked to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, had left their mark. The German said the IOC would not pull the plug.
In addition, the ramifications of canceling Tokyo would have been enormous for the IOC.
“Think about if Tokyo had not taken place,” said Payne.
“Would Beijing (the 2022 Winter Games) have taken place as well?
“The Olympic movement losing four years is maybe not existential, but boy it would have been tough.”
In the end the Games did go ahead but the majority of athletes performed in empty stadia as local organizers banned spectators.
Burns says it was a tour de force from Bach.
“Honestly, I think it was his sheer willpower that made those Games happen when everyone, and I mean everyone, in the world doubted him,” said the American.
“Japan tried to pull out. He called their bluff. Smart.”
Robertson saw it from “inside the bubble” as he was then chairman of the British Olympic Association (BOA).
“Of course it was a huge disappointment that there were no spectators but a generation of athletes got the chance to compete in an Olympic Games,” said the 62-year-old.
“It probably would not have been the case had Bach not been in charge.
“I think athletes around the world owe Thomas Bach a huge vote of thanks.”
Bach departs with the IOC’s finances in rude health. He has boasted of a “60 percent growth in revenues” during his dozen years at the helm.
Payne says he has indeed increased revenues but the 67-year-old Irishman cautioned that “with increasing revenues partners become more demanding,” adding “just because you have contracts locked up does not mean you do not change and evolve.”
Robertson praises Bach for handing over to Coventry an IOC “in an extremely robust financial position.”
He added the policy of locking sponsors into long-term deals “gave the IOC financial certainty at an exceptionally difficult time and we are seeing the benefit of that now.”
Burns for his part draws on an aphorism of a former US president.
“Ronald Reagan used to say are you better off today than you were four years ago?
“By any measure, Bach enriched the IOC coffers.
“In the end that is all that matters.”
“He will go down as one of the three great IOC presidents along with Pierre de Coubertin and Juan Antonio Samaranch.” — Payne
“A transformational president in unprecedented times.” — Burns
“Thomas Bach had the most difficult deck of cards to play of any IOC president. He has played them exceptionally well and left the IOC stronger than when he took over.”
Inter Milan scores twice in final minutes to beat Urawa in Club World Cup, 2-1
- Inter Milan takes over the top spot in Group E after following up their tournament-opening draw with the victory
SEATTLE: Valentin Carboni scored the game-winning goal in stoppage time to give Inter Milan a 2-1 win over Urawa in the Club World Cup on Saturday, ending the Japan club’s chances of advancing past the group stage.
Inter Milan failed to score until the 78th minute, despite holding the vast majority of possession. Lautaro Martinez brilliantly bicycle kicked Nicolo Barella’s corner ball into the net.
Carboni’s game-winner assisted by Francesco Esposito came 14 minutes later. It was the culmination of multiple scoring threats by Inter, which had 21 more shot attempts than the Red Diamonds.
Urawa opened the scoring in the 11th minute to the delight of their exuberant fans, who have shown up in droves for these Seattle cup matches. Ryoma Watanabe scored on an assist in transition by Takuro Kaneko, who found Watanabe all alone on the penalty spot with his cutback ball.
The fans in red filled the south end of Lumen Field and made up a large swath of the 25,090 attendees. Their coordinated chants and jeers didn’t wane until after the final whistle.
Key moment
Urawa had a chance to equalize in the last minute of stoppage time, but goalkeeper Yann Sommer tipped the long-distance free kick over the crossbar.
Takeaways
Inter Milan takes over the top spot in Group E after following up their tournament-opening draw with the victory. The Italian club will play River Plate of Argentina on Wednesday.
Urawa will be playing for pride against CF Monterrey on Wednesday.
What they said
“I cannot find the words, I am so frustrated. ... We had the objective to go on to the next stage, so this loss is very hard for us. But we still have one more game to go. ... There are many fans who have come all the way or (are) still remaining in Japan and cheering for us, so we would like to win for them.” — Urawa Red Diamonds goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa
“I was speaking to (Carboni) the day before yesterday, and he told me that it was eight months exactly since his cruciate ligament injury. Coming through an injury like that, with all of the hard work and graft he’s had to put in ... you don’t know whether you’re going to come back to the peak of your powers. That’s not easy at all, so it was lovely to see him so emotional. I was a little bit emotional as well. It brought a tear to my eye because he’s a kid that I know very well. I’m delighted that he has the opportunity now to experience something as significant as that (goal).”
Medvedev defeats old rival Zverev to reach Halle Open final, Bublik awaits
- “I could have done much better when I had the break in the second but it is normal,” Medvedev said
- It’s Medvedev’s fourth consecutive win over Zverev
HALLE, Germany: Daniil Medvedev ended home favorite Alexander Zverev’s hopes of grass-court glory with a 7-6 (3), 6-7 (1), 6-4 win in their Halle Open semifinal on Saturday.
Medvedev recovered from squandering three match points on Zverev’s serve at 5-6 in the second set and took nearly 3 hours to get past his old rival and reach his first final in 15 months.
“I could have done much better when I had the break in the second but it is normal,” Medvedev said. “The same happened in the third set that when I had the break, he started playing better, returning better. I am happy that in the third set I managed to stay more composed and managed to save those break points.”
It’s Medvedev’s fourth consecutive win over Zverev and it extended his lead to 13-7 in their head-to-head series.
The Russian player will face Alexander Bublik — who beat top-ranked Jannik Sinner in the second round — in Sunday’s final.
Bublik, the 2023 champion, fired 18 aces as he defeated Karen Khachanov 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4 in the other semifinal.
Medvedev hasn’t played a final since March 2024, when he lost to Carlos Alcaraz at Indian Wells.
Zverev, who had been bidding to reach the Halle final for the third time, will have to wait for his first title on grass.
