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Sports
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2020
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HAMILTON, NEW ZEALAND (AFP) - An un-
beaten century from veteran batsman Ross
Taylor powered New Zealand to a stunning
four-wicket win over India in the irst one-day
international (ODI) in Hamilton on Wednes-
day night.
The hosts completed the second highest
run chase in their history to inish on 348 for
four and overhaul the imposing target set
by India.
It was a morale-boosting victory for the
Black Caps, who went into the match as un-
derdogs after a 50 whitewash in the recent
Twenty20 (T20) series, when they repeatedly
squandered winning opportunities.
The roles were reversed at Seddon Park,
with India posting a mammoth total of 347 for
four after losing the toss, including a maiden
century to Shreyas Iyer and half-centuries for
skipper Virat Kohli and KL Rahul.
But the tourists’ bowling attack failed
to prevent a match-turning innings from
Taylor, who scored a 73-ball century, his
21
st
in ODIs, and ended the match on 109
not out.
He was supported by a quick-ire 69 from
captain Tom Latham and Henry Nicholls’
hard-fought 78, although three late wickets
gave India hope of rescuing the match.
“It’s been a long time between drinks,” said
Latham, whose side suered a 30 Test series
defeat in Australia before the T20 drubbing
on home soil.
“It’s nice to get over the line and we man-
aged to keep our composure at the end and
get there.”
Kohli was gracious in defeat, saying India
produced a “decent” performance that was
not quite good enough on the day.
“You have to say that the opposition
played better than us because they were
more intense,” he said.
New Zealand started their chase well,
reaching 147 for two after 25 overs as Tay-
lor and Nicholls developed a promising
partnership.
It took a piece of ielding brilliance from
Kohli to break it with India’s skipper swooping
on a stay ball and tossing it underarm with
skill in mid-air to run-out a diving Nicholls.
But Taylor continued his assault with
Latham to take New Zealand to 292 for
three with 10 overs remaining and the
35-year-old remained at the crease to hit the
winning run.
While Iyer’s 103 from 107 balls was the
highlight of India’s innings, debutant opening
batsmen Mayank Agarwal and Prithvi Shaw
also performed solidly, bringing up an open-
ing partnership of 50.
Iyer rode his luck at times - dropped on
nine and 83 - but earned praise from VVS
KOTA KINABALU (BERNAMA) - 2013 world
road race Under 23 (U23) runner-up Louis
Meintjes is aware of the sti competition for
the Yellow Jersey in 2020 Le Tour de Lang-
kawi (LTdL), which starts with the Malay-
sian International Criterium Race at Padang
Merdeka, Malaysia today.
Speaking at the 2020LTdL pre-tournament
press conference yesterday, the 27-year-old
South African, who inished 11
th
overall in his
debut at 2014 LTdL, said his team, NTT Pro
Cycling Team, are placing huge hopes on him
to score a positive result in the 25
th
edition of
the Asian premier cycling race.
“I don’t think longer stages would give
beneits to any riders, but the climbing
stage (stage four) in Genting Highlands (on
Monday) would be vital to decide the over-
all winner.
“We just have to make sure that we are not
left far behind by other riders throughout the
race, and hopefully I can do my best in my
second appearance in LTdL,” said Meintjes,
who clinched a second-place inish of white
jersey (youth classiication) at the renowned
2017 Tour de France race.
Meanwhile, Australian rider Black Quick
of St George Continental Cycling Team, who
claimed second placed twice at the 2019
LTdL, is determined to do better this time but
is wary of the threat from other riders, espe-
cially the sprinters on the early stages of this
year’s race.
“Last year was my irst participation
in LTdL, and I’ve learnt a lot competing
against other top riders especially from the
European countries.
Taylor-made victory
as Black Caps down
India in run-fest
Laxman for the way he set about dismantling
New Zealand’s attack.
“I really enjoyed the way he paced his in-
nings, a very mature knock,” the Indian bat-
ting legend said in commentary.
Laxman’s praise for Rahul, who scored an
unbeaten 88, was even more fulsome, saying
the wicketkeeper-batsman had cemented his
spot in the Indian side after recovering from a
form slump.
“He’s a special talent, I’d put him in the
league of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli,”
he said.
The ever-reliable Kohli cruised to his 58
th
ODI half-century in a 102-run partnership
with Iyer that ended when spinner Ish Sodhi
clean bowled him on 51 with a deceptively
lighted ball.
It was a rare highlight for the New Zealand
bowlers, whose inaccuracy proved expensive
on the small ground.
Tim Southee was the best performer with
two wickets, but he conceded 8.5 runs an
over taking them.
The second ODI will be played at Auck-
land’s Eden Park tomorrow.
New Zealand’s Ross Taylor bats during the irst one-day international cricket match against India
at Seddon Park in Hamilton. PHOTO: AFP
Stiff competition for Yellow Jersey in 2020 LTdL
“For me, LTdL is the best race for the
sprinters to gauge their capability. On the
weather, I’ve adapted to it but for me the
most important thing is to help my team
clinch victory,” said the 19-year-old Brisbane-
born rider.
The 2020 LTdL will run from today un-
til February 15, covering a total distance of
1,114.9km across eight Malaysian states - Sa-
bah, Sarawak, Terengganu, Pahang, Selangor,
Perak, Penang, Kedah - and the Federal Ter-
ritories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.
Louis Meintjes of NTT Pro Cycling Team (2
nd
R) with other racers during the press
conference. PHOTO: BERNAMA
VILAREAL, SPAIN (AFP) - Dylan Groe-
newegen
(pic below)
of Jumbo-Visma won
a mass bunch sprint to take the irst stage
of the Tour of Valencia on Wednesday.
Dutchman Groenewegen is a previous
winner of four individual Tour de France
stages and is often compared to British
great Mark Cavendish for the kind of late
burst that clinched the opening stage.
Groenewegen just about edged his
compatriot, the Dutch national champi-
on Fabio Jakobsen of Deceuninck-Quick
Step, at the line after a 180km ride from
Castellon to Vila-Real, while Norway’s Al-
exander Kristo of the United Arab Emir-
ates’ Emirates team was third.
“I started well, that’s good. I’ve got
two more chances to win a stage before
the end of the Tour, let’s see how it goes,”
Groenewegen said after crossing the line.
Dutch speedster
Groenewegen
wins Tour of
Valencia opener