England, South Africa draw
CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP):England survived a late South Africa surge as the second Test at Newlands was drawn, with the tourists 159-6 in their second innings yesterday.England finished 161 runs ahead, but had to fend off the South Africans, who took six wickets in two sessions on the final day to provide an unexpectedly eventful finish.After four days of bright sunshine and perfect batting conditions, England were determinedly defending the draw under gloomy skies in Cape Town when bad light ended play just under two hours before the scheduled finish.”It was a nervous finish, actually,” England captain Alastair Cook said. “It’s not ideal and we’ll have a chat about it.”England posted a mammoth 629-6 declared in their first innings, their second highest score in South Africa, only for the hosts to respond with a defiant 627-7 declared. England still lead the four-match series 1-0 and are in good position for a first series win over South Africa in 11 years. There are two matches to play, in Johannesburg and Centurion.South Africa, despite their progress at Newlands, were suddenly hampered with the unexpected announcement after the match that Hashim Amla was stepping down as captain immediately.”If someone else can add more value, why wait and be a hindrance to the team for two more Tests?” Amla posed.In a test where 1,256 runs were scored in the first two innings on a serene batting pitch where batsmen had few problems, it was a strange finish in Cape Town even before Amla’s decision.The surface began to offer spin, and nip and bounce for the quick bowlers and the searing heat gave way to a blanket of gray cloud cover and light drizzle.Ultimately, England kept their nerve to maintain the lead in the series, while South Africa, under pressure to live up to their No. 1-ranking in Tests, found some momentum after a big 241-run defeat in Durban and a hammering for their bowlers at the start at Newlands.”I know after a day-and-a-half a lot was being written and a lot was being said,” South Africa coach Russell Domingo said. “For us to show that type of resilience with the bat was phenomenal.”
CHENNAI, India (CMC):All-rounder Hayley Matthews has described West Indies Women’s win over Bangladesh on Sunday as ‘important’ as the team prepares for crucial matches in the Women’s T20 World Cup under way in India.Matthews played a key role in their second victory in the tournament, a 49-run triumph over Bangladesh Women at the Chidambaram Stadium, following an opening win over Pakistan.West Indies Women take on top rated England in their next game in Dharamsala on Thursday, before playing India.”I think that it was important for the team especially knowing we have to hard games coming up versus England and India to secure a (spot in the) second round in the tournament,” said Matthews in an interview with WICB media.”It would definitely be a challenge, different conditions and so on. Obviously, England are one of the better teams in the tournament so we are just looking to hopefully get a win against them, which would really give the girls a lot of confidence by going on to the India game.”Matthews hit the top score of 41 as West Indies posted a competitive 148 for four from their allocation of 20 overs, after choosing to bat against Bangladesh.FOURFOURSThe 18-year-old faced 42 balls and struck four fours while teaming up with her skipper, Stafanie Taylor, to compile 67 off 70 balls for the first wicket.Taylor also returned with her off spin to grab two for 16.”I was not in too much forming coming over here and I didn’t really get a good spell in a warm-up game. So I was pretty happy to get some runs today and also to get the team off to a good start with Stafanie,” said Matthews.”I have been doing a lot of work on my bowling recently, so I am glad to see some progress in that area … not only with the bat.”The result meant that the Caribbean side is now perched at the top of the Group B standings with four points and a healthy net run-rate of 1.325.”It’s really good to start the tournament off with two wins especially after losing the series to South Africa,” she said.”So we are just really looking to continue that form.”
Defending champions Couples Tower Isle continued their rich vein of goalscoring form with a 6-1 thrashing of Moon Palace, as action continued in the Sandals Resorts-sponsored St Ann/St Mary Business House football competition at Drax Hall on Tuesday.Couples, who had opened their defence with a 12-0 drubbing of Jewels Dunn’s River, were led to victory by Kemar Miller, the tournament’s leading marksman. Miller scored a brace to up his tally to six goals in two matches. He had earlier scored four times in the Jewels encounter. Mauricio Gordon, with 2, and Gregory Tate also got their names on the scoresheet for Couples.The competition continues today with an interesting double-header at the same venue. At 4 p.m., Sandals Ochi Beach Resort will be looking for their first win of the season against a determined Police team. The lawmen went down 5-2 at the hands of Jewels Runaway Bay in an earlier match.FEATUREMATCHIn the feature match at 6 p.m., highly fancied Beaches Ocho Rios will make their debut in the competition against a strong St Ann Development Company (SADCo). While Beaches will start slight favourites, SADCo are tough as nails and can send the hotelmen packing.Sandals Ochi will be looking to Roy Rickets and goalkeeper Histon Henry to lead them to victory.
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC):Barbados defeated Jamaica by 124 runs in the final of the Regional Women’s Super50 at the National Cricket Centre here yesterday.ScoresBARBADOS 242 for seven off 50 overs (Kyshona Knight 68, Hayley Matthews 53, Kycia Knight 39, Shaquana Quintyne 31 not out, Vanessa Watts 4-39, Roshana Outar 2-50).JAMAICA 118 all out off 39.5 overs (Stafanie Taylor 47, Natasha McLean 28, Keila Elliott 3-17, Shakera Selman 2-25).SCOREBOARDBARBADOS+Kycia Knight b Outar 39H Matthews c Mullings b Outar 53Kyshona Knight st McLean b Taylor 68D Dottin c Sanford b Watts 19*S Quintyne not out 31A Alleyne b Watts 3S Connell b Watts 0S Selman lbw b Watts 0M Howard not out 0Extras (lb5, w19, pen5) 29TOTAL (7 wkts, 50 overs) 242Did not bat: K Elliott, S Thompson.Fall of wickets: 1-93, 2-131, 3-168, 4-233, 5-241, 6-242, 7-242.Bowling: Cohen 3-0-16-0, McLean 5-1-21-1, Nation 3-0-10-0, Watts 10-0-39-4, Taylor 10-0-34-1, Outar 10-0-50-2, Booklal 9-0-62-0.JAMAICA+N McLean lbw b Elliott 28J Walcott lbw b Thompson 8*S Taylor c Dottin b Quintyne 47V Watts b Selman 4C Henry lbw b Selman 0T Mullings run out 1K Cohen c Matthews b Elliott 6T Sanford c Dottin b Elliott 3R Outar c Alleyne b Matthews 1A Bookal not out 1C Nation ret. out 0Extras (b1, w15, nb 3) 19TOTAL (all out, 39.5 overs) 118Fall of wickets: 1-22, 2-72, 3-72, 4-77, 5-94, 6-108, 7-114, 8-116, 9-118, 10-118.Bowling: Connell 6-0-17-0, Thompson 8-1-29-1, Selman 10-1-25-2, Dottin 4-1-13-0, Quintyne 5-0-16-1, Elliott 4.5-0-17-3, Hayley Matthews 1-1-0-1.Result: Barbados won by 124 runs.Series: Barbados win Regional Women’s Super50.Player of the Match: Kyshona Knight.Umpires: E. Degallerie, W Mitchum.
Confirmation McDonald will be looking to improve on his Olympic record in August having failed to reach the 400m semi-finals at the 2012 Olympics in London. Rabat is buzzing with excitement over the country’s Diamond League bow. The Olympic Games and World Championships are track and field’s biggest events but the Diamond League has grown in importance over the years and Africa hosting an event is confirmation of the League’s growing status. Lord Sebastian Coe, president of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), recently estimated that the integration of Morocco on the Diamond League calendar can enrich the prestigious competition. Coe said that the country has a rich history in athletics, especially in long and middle distance races, and that for this matter Morocco deserved the honour of organising the first meeting to take place in Africa. The Diamond League gathers the best athletes from around the world to compete in a series of rounds from May-September divided over four continents. Today’s showcase could well be the start of something special for Morocco and other African countries with a genuine track and field history. RABAT, Morocco: Jamaican athletes are primed to take part in Africa’s first ever Diamond League meeting in Rabat today. Today’s event will be the ninth edition of the Meeting International Mohammed VI d’Athletisme, the third leg of the 2016 Diamond League tour. A quartet of Jamaicans will compete at the imposing Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium. Among those who will in action will be 400m hurdler Janieve Russell who has a season’s best time of 54.61. Russell, who had a memorable Commonwealth Games in Glasgow two years ago when she claimed 400m hurdles bronze and a 4x400m relay gold, will be up against highly rated American Cassandra Tate who has registered a personal best of 54.01. The 100m will see seasoned campaigner Kerron Stewart and the prodigiously talented Elaine Thompson who claimed silver in the World Championships 200m in Beijing last year contest what should be a competitive sprint. However, both will need to be aware of two other class acts in the field which also includes American veteran Carmelita Jeter and Nigerian speedster Blessing Okagbare-Ighoteguonor. The exciting Thompson is seen by many as Jamaica’s next sprint queen and with the Olympic Games in Brazil in August and the 2017 World Championships in London, the 23-year-old will get her chance to claim a mantle held by the likes of legends Veronica Campbell-Brown and currently Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. Stewart, who helped her nation take 4x100m relay gold in Beijing, will no doubt be as competitive and consistent as ever in Morocco. Completing the Jamaican representatives at the historic meeting will be national 400m record holder Rusheen McDonald who will be looking to improve on a season’s best of 45.90. With the upcoming Olympic Games in Rio uppermost in McDonald’s and other athletes’ minds, this much anticipated meeting gives all concerned another opportunity to prepare for the ‘big one’.
MORE RACES THIS YEAR Confident in his ability to outshine main 100m challengers Yohan Blake and Asafa Powell, sprint megastar Usain Bolt is promising local track and field fans an exciting show of speed at the Racers Track Club Grand Prix, which is set for Saturday, June 11, at the National Stadium. As he continues his build-up to defend 100m and 200m titles at this summer’s Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games, Bolt, the face of track and field, says he will be going all out to stamp his class on next weekend’s event. “I take every race seriously. I go out there to win at all times. I am going out there to perform at my optimum best, and it’s a race leading up to the (National) Trials, and I think this race will make it more exciting when it comes to trials because then you can tell who is in shape ,who needs to work on what. Then it will be another showdown at trials again,” Bolt told reporters during Digicel’s ‘Bring the Beat’ campaign launch at the Terra Nova All-Suites Hotel in Kingston on Tuesday. “It’s going to be good. For me, I think it pushes you to run faster, to bring out your best, ’cause they are running good. They have faster times than me so far this season, so I am excited. I am looking forward to the competition,” said Bolt, referring to his countrymen. Bolt revealed that he is buoyed by a better start to this season. “It’s better, it’s much better. I think I had a little setback earlier in the season, but it’s not as bad. I knew what the problem was, and now it’s all about getting race sharpness. “I get a chance to race much more than I did last year, so I will be in great shape come trials and after,” an ominous Bolt explained. He recently opened his season at 10.05 seconds at the Cayman Invitational and followed up with a 9.98 clocking at the Ostrava Golden Spike meeting but promised that his Racers Grand Prix run will be faster. “It’s gonna be very exciting. My first 40m was kinda slouchy and I wasn’t happy about that, but I figured out what I need to do and just learn from it. “This one is gonna be faster,” he underlined. “I am looking forward to it. It’s a big clash – me, Yohan Blake, Asafa Powell. It’s gonna be very exciting. People should come out and support.”
THE 2015 Superstakes winner, FRANFIELD, won his dress rehearsal for this year’s running with a decisive victory over the 2-5 favourite PERFECT NEIGHBOUR in the 57th running of the Governor General’s Stakes grade one feature over 2000 metres at Caymanas Park yesterday. Installed a 7-5 second favourite with top apprentice Bebeto Harvey riding for trainer Richard Azan in a field of six, FRANFIELD made virtually all. He was pressed by the lightly weighted hat-trick seeker, SUPERLUMINAL (2-1), from a long way out, but slipped away leaving the quarter pole to win by four lengths from PERFECT NEIGHBOUR (Omar Walker up), who failed in his bid to win this race for the third consecutive year. A 5-y-o chestnut horse by Traditional out of the Royal Minister mare Supa Lei, FRANFIELD was notching his second win from five starts this season. Azan was pleased with the victory, noting that the timing was significant. “With the Superstakes a month away, I am happy to see that he is in winning form as the Superstakes remains his major objective,” said Azan. Claiming apprentice Dane Dawkins dominated the 11-race programme with four winners, two for veteran trainer Robert Darby Sr in VALLEY OF QUEENS and OUR CREATION in the third and sixth races, respectively. GLORIOUS CHANCE Dawkins was notching the first four-timer of his career, but missed out on a glorious chance to ride five winners when the classy 3-y-o filly, PINELOPE (disputed lead), was beaten in a driving finish by 3-1 chance BLUE DIXIE and highly fancied TYPEWRITER in the inaugural running of the Errol ‘Big Sub’ Subratie Memorial Trophy over a mile for overnight allowance horses. Ridden by Paul ‘Country’ Francis for popular owner Michros, BLUE DIXIE scored a fitting victory. She is trained by Gary Subratie, the son of the late owner-trainer Errol Subratie, in whose memory the race was run. As a result of yesterday’s four-timer, the 23-year-old Dawkins has improved to joint fourth in the jockeys’ standings with 34 wins, tied with fellow apprentice Bebeto Harvey, who rode two winners on the card. Meanwhile, with Hurricane Matthew expected to hit Jamaica by tomorrow, Caymanas Track Limited has put contingency plans in place to minimise its effect on the racing industry. According to track superintendent Everton Henry, the tote board will be completely covered to withstand the effects of the rain and wind, while drains within the stable area have been cleaned to minimise the effects of flooding.
Young Noah Azan set the Sandals Golf and Country Club alight last weekend with a hole-in-one on the par three eleventh hole.Ten-year-old Azan went on to place second in the Under-11 age group.”It’s an incredible achieve-ment to get a hole-in-one in general. Most players go their entire lives without getting one, so this speaks volumes to Noah’s ability and dedication to the game as a 10-year-old,” his coach, Jason Lopez, said.The third Jamaica Golf Association (JGA) Junior Series teed off on October 8 with its first match at the Sandals Golf and Country Club in Ocho Rios. Thirty-eight juniors, ages 6-17, are to set to participate in the tournament which involves a series of five matches over five months at five golf courses across the island.There were other outstanding plays last Saturday. Eight-year-old Lek Drummond made an amazing eagle on hole number nine, hitting a six iron into the hole from 100 yards, going on to shoot an impressive 40 over nine holes to win the Co-ed Intermediate.First-timer Adrian Barnes won the Beginners with a score of 44.The lowest score of the day came from boys’ Under-13 winner Tristan Brown, who shot 76. Justin Burrowes won the boys’ Under-17 with a score of 81, and Sebastian Azan shot 87 to win Co-ed Under-11.Kei Harris shot 89 to win the girls’ Under-17, and Emily Mayne won the girls’ Under-13 with a score of 98.The next match in the JGA Junior Series takes place at Caymanas Golf and Country Club on November 19 and 20.
Nagging foot injury Western Bureau: At the start of the 2016 ISSA-FLOW daCosta Cup football season, there were 77 schools in the hunt for the crown. Now, nearly four months later, only two remain. The champions will be crowned this evening when reigning champions St Elizabeth Technical battle the competition’s winningest team, Cornwall College, in the final starting at 6 p.m. at the Montego Bay Sports Complex in Catherine Hall, St James. It’s a final of huge importance for both teams and one that promises to reignite and awaken the almost-forgotten rivalry between two of the competition’s most successful schools over the years. STETHS enter the match much the accomplished defending champions and with a point to prove, while Cornwall hope to recapture their former glory. The Dr Dean Weatherly-coached Cornwall College are making their first daCosta Cup final appearance since 2001 with a team that on their day can outmanoeuvre, outplay and outperform any opponent. They boast the competition’s most feared attacking duo in Jourdaine Fletcher and super talented Peter-Lee Vassell. They also have in their arsenal a top-rate goalkeeper in Jamario Hines and with the likes of big defenders Howard Dent and Pagiel Brown, along with Dwayne Harding, STETHS could possibly be in for a long evening. Fletcher, in particular, will be a real threat on the STETHS goal. He has scored 27 times so far this season and need no invitation to fire at goal. Vassell, meanwhile, has not been at his supreme best lately because of a nagging foot injury that saw him taking part for the last 15 minutes in their 2-1 semi-final win over Clarendon College last week. But with a trophy at stake, he is expected to take his place in the starting eleven with Cornwall going after a record-extending 12th daCosta Cup crown. “We have come a long way,” Weatherly said. “I noted at the start of the season that if we come this far and lose the final we would have to blame ourselves. I think the players are ready and once we play to instructions, we will win,” he added. “Going after a 12th daCosta Cup title is motivation for this team. The players have been together now for three years playing football. It all comes down to this. We are confident and hopeful of victory,” Weatherly said. The defending champions STETHS are back where they belong, according to head coach Omar “Rambo” Wedderburn. He wants a good final, but more than anything else, he wants a STETHS victory at the end of it all to mark a sixth hold on the title. STETHS’ pedigree is bettered only by few including the 11 titles Cornwall have won. Rusea’s High (10), Vere Tech (9), Munro College (7) and Clarendon College (7) titles, all rank just above them in that respect. “This is the competition we love. The daCosta Cup is the biggest title in schoolboy football, and we target this one each season,” stated Wedderburn “We have a little rivalry with Cornwall College, but that is the sideshow. All we plan on doing is to stay focused and keep a positive mindset. It’s a final, and the two teams are going out there to win. I believe we have the better team, therefore, we should win,” he told The Gleaner. STETHS defeated Lennon High 2-1 in their semi-final, putting in yet another hearty performance. Wedderburn wants more of the same against Cornwall College, who will start the game as favourites. “A favourite’s tag never guarantees a win. We are here because we strive to be here. Our players will give their all because they know how important this is to the school. We aim to cap the season by keeping our title,” Wedderburn said. Alex Thompson, Glendo Gopaul, Demar James and captain Chris-Andrew Dixon, who is described as the heart of the STETHS team could make the difference for the Santa Cruz-based team.
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP):Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell helped the Bolt All-Stars win the 4x100m mixed relay yesterday on the second of three nights of the Nitro Athletics meet.A botched baton change in the mixed relay by Australia cost them overall victory on the night. The home team initially thought it had beaten the Bolt All-Stars but was penalised 50 points after Jack Hale failed to legally pass the baton to Fabrice Lapierre in the second changeover.That penalty saw Australia slip to second with 895 points overall, 35 behind the Bolt All-Stars, who also won the first meet last Saturday at Lakeside Stadium.The six teams, including Japan, New Zealand, England, and China, will conclude the meet tomorrow when Bolt is set to also contest the individual 150m, having only run a leg of the relays in each of the first two meets.A commanding victory by Ryan Gregson in the penultimate event of the night – the men’s elimination mile – ensured that Australia remained close to the Bolt All-Stars.Bolt’s team picked up double points in the mixed relay, but Australia’s strength was in the longer track events.REVVING UP THE CROWDWith Bolt revving up the crowd, Nina Kennedy of Australia tied for first in the women’s pole vault with a best clearance of 4.10 metres.”He is just the pinnacle of our sport, and he’s out there clapping for me,” the 18-year-old Kennedy said.Joseph Millar of New Zealand was a surprise winner of the men’s 100 in 10.30 seconds, with American sprinter Jarrion Lawson and Jack Hale of Australia trailing home to finish second-to-last and last, respectively.With 6,722 fans turning up yesterday and tomorrow’s meet already a sellout, more than 22,000 will have watched the three-meet series.