Sports

MELBOURNE, (Reuters) – Having won a slew of major trophies on foreign shores, champions Australia will look to triumph in front of home fans at the Melbourne Cricket Ground tomorrow when they meet maiden finalists India in the Women’s Twenty20 World Cup decider.

TAROUBA, Trinidad,  CMC – Test wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich fell agonisingly short of an eighth first class hundred while Ashley Nurse belted an aggressive half-century as the pair rescued leaders Barbados Pride on the second day of their seventh round match against Trinidad and Tobago Pride.

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC – Left-hander Paul Palmer struck his second first class hundred and second of the season to pass 400 runs but veteran opener Devon Smith answered with an unbeaten half-century to leave the seventh round contest between Windward Islands Volcanoes and Jamaica Scorpions in the balance yesterday.

LONDON, (Reuters) – The British government has called a meeting with its sports authorities and broadcasters to discuss how events could be staged without fans present if the coronavirus outbreak escalates, two people familiar with the matter said.

Kawhi Leonard scored 25 points, Ivica Zubac and Montrezl Harrell posted double-doubles, and the visiting Los Angeles Clippers drubbed the Houston Rockets 120-105 on Thursday night.

LUXEMBOURG,  (Reuters) – At almost 57, Ni Xialian, knows Tokyo 2020 could be her last chance to compete in an Olympic Games and the threat to the event from the coronavirus outbreak is on her mind as she practices her table tennis drillsThe former world champion – she won team and mixed gold for China in 1983 – would be the oldest table tennis player to compete in an Olympic Games by the time the tournament is due to open on July 24.

POTCHEFSTROOM, South Africa, (Reuters) – Australia will be without fast bowler Mitchell Starc for today’s final one-day international against South Africa after he was given permission to leave the tour to watch his wife Alyssa Healy compete in the women’s T20 World Cup final.

Shabika Gajnabi blistered an unbeaten double ton before rain had the final say in Berbice’s opening encounter of the Guyana Cricket Board/Superbet 50-over senior female Inter-County tournament, while Demerara decimated an unmatched Essequibo yesterday.

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – Test off-spinner Rahkeem Cornwall reached 300 first class wickets with an incisive four-wicket haul which threatened to hand Leeward Islands Hurricanes the advantage but left-hander Vishaul Singh came to Guyana Jaguars’ rescue with an unbeaten half-century on yesterday’s opening day.

RAWALPINDI, Pakistan, CMC – Two-time Twenty20 World Cup-winning skipper, Darren Sammy, has been named head coach of Peshawar Zalmi in a surprise move, effectively ending his role as a player for the high profile Pakistan Super League franchise.

(CWI) The road to the ICC T20 World Cup continues today for the West Indies.

TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe ordered a two-week quarantine for visitors from China and South Korea yesterday and delayed a visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping originally planned for April in response to a widening coronavirus crisis.

TAROUBA, Trinidad, CMC – Joshua DaSilva’s second half-century in as many games held up leaders Barbados Pride after the season’s leading scorer Kyle Mayers traded his bat for the ball to hurt Trinidad and Tobago Red Force.

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC – Nkrumah Bonner’s third first class hundred underscored a dominant opening day for Jamaica Scorpions in their seventh round clash with Windward Islands Volcanoes.

(Field Level Media) If the Portland Trail Blazers are to overcome the 3 1/2-game gap between them and the Memphis Grizzlies, the team currently holding the Western Conference’s final playoff spot, games against struggling teams such as the Phoenix Suns will be a top priority.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Cricket West Indies chief executive, Johnny Grave, has cautioned that the governing body needs to continue “living within its means” as it seeks to further consolidate its finances in the face of challenging global conditions.

SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australia dodged the Sydney rain to beat South Africa by five runs yesterday and set up a Women’s Twenty20 World Cup final against an Indian team, who earlier progressed to the final for the first time without a ball being bowled.

ASUNCION (Reuters) – A lawyer for former Brazil striker Ronaldinho Gaucho said his client will remain in Paraguay to help police with their enquiries into why he entered the country in possession of an adulterated Paraguayan passport.

(Reuters) – Michel Platini, the former head of European football’s governing body UEFA, has lost his appeal at the European Court of Human Rights against his four-year ban from soccer.

LONDON (Reuters) – Players in England’s Premier League will forgo the traditional pre-game handshake between opponents as a measure to prevent the further spread of the coronavirus, the league said yesterday.