Gayle heroics help West Indies complete record T20 run chase January 11, 2015 POWER-HITTING batsman Chris Gayle produced a mesmerising innings as the West Indies completed the record run chase in Twenty20 history to dispatch a shell-shocked South Africa in Johannesburg yesterday. Gayle smashed seven sixes and nine fours in a 41-ball knock of 90, sharing a 152-run partnership with Marlon Samuels (60) before the tourists toppled their [...]
City edge closer to Bony deal as £28m fee agreed January 11, 2015 REIGNING Premier League champions Manchester City are set to bolster their attacking options by concluding the transfer of prolific Ivory Coast striker Wilfried Bony after agreeing a £28m fee with Swansea City. The deal is believed to be £25m cash upfront with a further £3m in performance-related add-ons, while City expect to finalise the 26-year-old’s [...]
Classy Geraghty clinches victory for elated Exiles January 11, 2015 LONDON IRISH boss Brian Smith extolled the composure of fly-half Shane Geraghty after his last-gasp drop goal saw the Exiles snatch a dramatic 28-26 Premiership success over Exeter Chiefs at the Madejski Stadium yesterday. Geraghty’s heroics secured victory as Exeter were outscored four tries to two, with back-row forward Blair Cowan crossing the line twice [...]
Andy Sullivan breaks his tour duck in South Africa January 11, 2015 England’s Andy Sullivan took advantage of former Masters champion Charl Schwartzel’s final-round wobble to claim his maiden European Tour title at the South African Open yesterday. Home favourite Schwartzel led by four shots with five to play but squandered the advantage and then lost to Sullivan, 27, at the first extra hole of a play-off. [...]
Federer warms up for Australian Open by recording 1,000th win January 11, 2015 WORLD No2 Roger Federer became the first man for more than two decades to reach 1,000 career wins on the ATP Tour as he landed the Brisbane International title yesterday. Federer beat Canada’s Milos Raonic 6-4, 6-7 (2-7), 6-4 to claim his 83rd tournament victory and extend his record of winning at least one title [...]
Ched Evans cites mob rule as Oldham withdraw offer January 8, 2015 Convicted rapist and former Wales forward Ched Evans last night blamed “mob rule tactics” after Oldham Athletic caved in to widespread pressure and abandoned plans to sign the controversial footballer. Oldham said they had been prepared to accept criticism for the move but had pulled the plug due to concerns that the loss of sponsors [...]
Mourinho faces misconduct rap following latest referee outburst January 8, 2015 CHELSEA manager Jose Mourinho is at loggerheads with the Football Association once again after being charged with misconduct for claiming there was a “campaign against Chelsea” following his side’s draw with Southampton last month. The Portuguese, who was fined three times for outbursts last season, faces further punishment for criticising the officials after referee Anthony [...]
Alan Pardew: Top six the aim if Crystal Palace survive their relegation dogfight January 8, 2015 Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew insists his side can gatecrash the Premier League’s top six next term if he masterminds a successful top-flight survival bid in the remaining months of the campaign. Pardew succeeded the sacked Neil Warnock last week, signing a three-and-a-half year deal at Selhurst Park, after leaving Newcastle and swapping the relative [...]
Sport Comment: Why size isn’t everything for Pardew when choosing clubs January 8, 2015 WHEN word got out that Crystal Palace wanted to take Alan Pardew from Newcastle back to his old Selhurst Park haunts to replace Neil Warnock, there was much chin-scratching and shaking of heads. Why oh why would the Premier League’s second-longest serving manager give up his job in charge of the Geordie nation’s beloved club [...]
Tea For Two to extend Williams’ successful record in the Lanzarote January 8, 2015 IT IS a fairly low-key weekend of racing, but there are some competitive handicaps to get stuck into at Kempton and Warwick. The William Hill Lanzarote Hurdle (2.40pm) is the highlight at Kempton and I am confident that the in-form Nick Williams can improve his impressive record in this race with TEA FOR TWO. Williams [...]