Outsider Knight’s Choice wins Melbourne Cup in thrilling finish

Outsider Knight’s Choice wins Melbourne Cup in thrilling finish
Knight’s Choice, second right, ridden by Robbie Dolan, races to the finish line to win the Melbourne Cup horse race ahead of Warp Speed, center, ridden by Akira Sugawara, at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne Tuesday. (AP)
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Updated 05 November 2024
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Outsider Knight’s Choice wins Melbourne Cup in thrilling finish

Outsider Knight’s Choice wins Melbourne Cup in thrilling finish
  • The five-year-old Australian-bred gelding came home by a nose in a photo finish ahead of Japanese raider Warp Speed and Okita Soushi
  • A cultural institution in Australia, the Melbourne Cup has been run since 1861 and is considered so important it is a public holiday in its host state of Victoria

MELBOURNCE: Rank outsider Knight’s Choice upset favorite Buckaroo on Tuesday to win the Aus$8 million ($5.25 million) Melbourne Cup, earning Irish jockey Robbie Dolan a debut victory in Australia’s “race that stops a nation.”

The five-year-old Australian-bred gelding came home by a nose in a photo finish ahead of Japanese raider Warp Speed and Okita Soushi in the energy-sapping 3,200-meter (two-mile) handicap at Flemington.

“Pinch me, I’m dreaming,” said Dolan, who was riding in the famous race for the first time. “It is incredible. I can’t believe it. I don’t even know what to say.

“I didn’t know what to expect, but I feel like I’ve ridden it 10 times because I have ridden it in my head 100 times.

“I can’t put it into words. It is the biggest race in the world.”

Buckaroo, priced as the $7.00 favorite, finished ninth while the fancied Vauban could only manage 11th on a warm and sunny day, with the track firm.

A cultural institution in Australia, the Melbourne Cup has been run since 1861 and is considered so important it is a public holiday in its host state of Victoria.

Held in front of a bumper crowd, drinking and socializing took priority over racing for many, with the sound of popping champagne corks accompanying the thundering of hooves.

Breaking from barrier six, the John Symons and Sheila Laxon-trained Knights Choice, priced at $81.00, settled in the middle of the 23-strong pack behind early leader Just Fine.

With 1,000m to go, Just Fine was still ahead but was slowly reeled in down the home straight with Knight’s Choice, Warp Speed and Okita Soushi all surging for the line.

It was a second victory for Laxon, who became the first woman to train a Melbourne Cup winner in 2001 with Ethereal.

She said Symons had always been confident despite Knight’s Choice’s outsider status, and lavished praise on Dolan.

“He did, he did,” she said. “We didn’t give him instructions, he knew what to do.

“I’m thrilled to win the Cup, and it is the people’s Cup, and that’s what it is all about.”

A record four women jockeys took part with Jamie Kah faring best, with her third on Okita Soushi.

Michelle Payne is the only woman rider to win the Melbourne Cup after she steered Prince of Penzance to victory in 2015.

There was one withdrawal by stewards before the race started with French import Athabascan found to have an irregular heartbeat, reducing the field to 23.


Towhid hits ton as Bangladesh reach 228 after 35-5 against India

Towhid hits ton as Bangladesh reach 228 after 35-5 against India
Updated 37 min 54 sec ago
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Towhid hits ton as Bangladesh reach 228 after 35-5 against India

Towhid hits ton as Bangladesh reach 228 after 35-5 against India
  • Indian pace spearhead Mohammed Shami takes five wickets in Dubai 
  • Towhid, Jaker put on solid partnership of 154 to lead Bangladesh fightback 

DUBAI: Towhid Hridoy struck his first ODI century and with Jaker Ali helped Bangladesh reach 228 from 35-5 against India as the two teams opened their Champions Trophy campaign on Thursday in Dubai.
India’s pace spearhead Mohammed Shami returned figures of 5-53 after Bangladesh elected to bat first but lost half their side in the ninth over.
Towhid, who made 100, and Jaker, who hit 68, put on 154 runs to boost the total, albeit with some assistance from sloppy Indian fielding including two dropped catches.
Towhid, who faced cramps later in his knock, raised his hundred and acknowledged the cheers of the fans at a largely empty stadium before he departed and the innings folded in 49.4 overs.
Shami struck in the first over to get left-handed Soumya Sarkar caught behind for a five-ball duck.
Harshit Rana combined from the other end to get skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto caught at cover-point for a duck with Virat Kohli taking a good catch over his head.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz could not last long as Shami struck for the second time as Shubman Gill took a sharp catch at slip.
Shami’s return from injury in India’s white-ball triumph over England at home boosted the team in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, who was ruled out of this eight-nation tournament with a back injury.
Bangladesh lost half their side in the ninth over when left-arm spinner Axar Patel struck twice in two balls to send Tanzid Hasan, for 25, and Mushfiqur Rahim, for zero, trudging back to the pavilion.
It could have been six down and Axar with a hat-trick had skipper Rohit Sharma not dropped a catch at first slip to hand Jaker Ali a reprieve on nought.
Rohit slapped his hand on the grass and stood up with a wry smile to apologize to Axar for the slip.
Jaker, who survived another reprieve on 24 when wicketkeeper KL Rahul missed a stumping, and Towhid, who was dropped on 23 by Hardik Pandya at mid-off, combined to thwart the Indian charge.
Jaker reached his second ODI fifty and Towhid raised his half ton with a boundary.
Jaker finally fell to Shami but Towhid kept up the fight until his 118-ball knock ended with six fours and two sixes.
India remain title favorites and have Pakistan and New Zealand as the other two teams in Group A.


Spanish court sentences ex-soccer boss Rubiales to pay fine over kiss without consent

Spanish court sentences ex-soccer boss Rubiales to pay fine over kiss without consent
Updated 55 min 33 sec ago
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Spanish court sentences ex-soccer boss Rubiales to pay fine over kiss without consent

Spanish court sentences ex-soccer boss Rubiales to pay fine over kiss without consent
  • Prosecutors had sought a prison sentence for Rubiales
  • “The ruling bans Rubiales from going within a 200-meter radius of Hermoso,” the court said

MADRID: Spain’s High Court said on Thursday it had found former soccer federation boss Luis Rubiales guilty of sexual assault for kissing player Jenni Hermoso without her consent, and set a fine of over 10,000 euros ($10,434.00), but acquitted him of coercion.
Prosecutors had sought a prison sentence for Rubiales in a case that sparked a debate in Spain about sexism in women’s football and wider Spanish society.
“The ruling bans Rubiales from going within a 200-meter radius of Hermoso and from communicating with her for one year,” the court said in a statement.
Rubiales, 47, was accused of sexual assault for kissing Hermoso on the mouth. He was also accused — along with three other former soccer federation officials — of attempting to then coerce her into saying the kiss, at the 2023 World Cup awards ceremony in Sydney, was consensual.
A lawyer for Hermoso was not immediately available for comment.


Pakistan’s hopes dashed by New Zealand in ICC Champions Trophy opener

Pakistan’s hopes dashed by New Zealand in ICC Champions Trophy opener
Updated 20 February 2025
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Pakistan’s hopes dashed by New Zealand in ICC Champions Trophy opener

Pakistan’s hopes dashed by New Zealand in ICC Champions Trophy opener
  • New Zealand pull off 60-run win in Karachi despite missing key players Ferguson, Ravindra
  • Pakistan face must-win situation as they head to Dubai for India encounter on February 23

KARACHI: Pakistan’s 29-year wait to host an International Cricket Council ended in disappointment when New Zealand handed the hosts a comprehensive 60-run defeat at Karachi's National Bank Stadium.

The ICC Champions Trophy opener, which began with such promise for Pakistan after they won the toss and opted to field, quickly unraveled.

The day’s first turning point came just two balls into the match when Fakhar Zaman injured himself during a chase to the boundary. This would have far-reaching consequences for Pakistan later.

Understandably, both teams started tentatively before Pakistan reduced New Zealand to 73 for three. This was Pakistan’s moment to grab the game, but a lack of frontline spin options to support Abrar began to tell as Will Young and Tom Latham built a match-defining partnership.

Young, who always seems to be on the edge of the team and might not have played had Rachin Ravindra been fit, crafted a brilliant 107 off 113 balls. He got through testing spells from Naseem Shah and the mystery spin of Abrar early in his innings to provide the perfect platform for an assault in the last 10 overs.

Latham looked assured from the first ball he received and got the correct balance between the need to rebuild the innings and being positive. He ended the innings unbeaten with 118 off 104 balls, in which he used the sweep shot to good effect. Fifty-two of his runs came square or behind square on the leg side.

The final flourish came from Glenn Phillips, who at one stage was 10 off 18 balls before reaching his 50 off the next 16 deliveries. His explosive 61 off 39 balls, including consecutive sixes off Shaheen Shah Afridi, helped New Zealand plunder 113 runs in the final 10 overs. Pakistan’s bowling, usually their strength, struggled to achieve control. Naseem Shah with 2 for 63 was the most economical, but Shaheen, no wicket for 68 and Haris Rauf, 2 for 83, had days to forget.

Pakistan’s chase was compromised before it began. Fakhar’s injury-enforced absence from the opening position led to a makeshift solution in Saud Shakeel, who fell early to Will O’Rourke for six. When Fakhar eventually batted at number four, he was visibly hampered, managing just 24 off 41 balls before falling to Michael Bracewell.

The story of Pakistan’s innings was one of no intent or game awareness. Babar Azam’s 64 came at a pace that hurt rather than helped, taking 81 balls to reach his fifty. The spinners, particularly Mitchell Santner, with 3 for 66 and Bracewell, dominated the middle overs on a pitch offering turn and variable bounce.

Salman Ali Agha tried to throw a few punches with smart, low-risk options for his 42 off 28 balls before Khushdil Shah showed real intent, his 69 off 49 balls providing some late entertainment before Pakistan were bowled out for 260.

The defeat puts Pakistan in a precarious position in a format that offers little margin for error. With just three group matches per team, they now face a must-win situation as they head to Dubai for their encounter with India on Feb. 23.

The prospect of an early exit from a tournament they are co-hosting looms large — a scenario that would be particularly bitter given the 29-year wait to bring ICC events back to Pakistani soil. The pressure will be immense in Dubai, where anything less than victory will see the team all but eliminated from their home tournament after only two matches. The passionate Karachi crowd which witnessed the setback against New Zealand will hope their team can summon the resilience that has become their trademark in recent years.

New Zealand’s victory, achieved despite missing key players such as Lockie Ferguson and Rachin Ravindra, sets them up perfectly in a tournament where fast starts are crucial. They will face India and Bangladesh in their other group matches.


Afghanistan cricket team can ignore boycott calls, says skipper Shahidi

Afghanistan cricket team can ignore boycott calls, says skipper Shahidi
Updated 20 February 2025
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Afghanistan cricket team can ignore boycott calls, says skipper Shahidi

Afghanistan cricket team can ignore boycott calls, says skipper Shahidi
  • British, South African politicians have called for boycotting Afghanistan over Taliban’s treatment of women 
  • Champions Trophy, the first global event hosted by Pakistan in three decades, opened on Wednesday in Karachi

KARACHI: Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi on Thursday said calls from other nations for a boycott of their matches because of the treatment of women by the ruling Taliban did not effect his team.

Afghanistan open their Group B campaign in the Champions Trophy against South Africa in Karachi on Friday.

Last month South Africa Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie backed demands from British politicians for a playing boycott of Afghanistan.

The England and Wales Cricket Board resisted the demand to boycott their Champions Trophy group game, but said they would not host Afghanistan in a bilateral series.

Australia, also in Group B, have canceled a Twenty20 international series and a Test against Afghanistan in the last two years, but plan to play their trophy game.

Shahidi said he was unperturbed.

“We only control things inside the ground, that’s our job,” Shahidi said in a press conference in Karachi on Thursday. “The other things cannot put us under pressure.”

Afghanistan face England in Lahore on February 26 and Australia at the same venue two days later.

“The whole world knows that we are playing well, especially in the last three years so we are focused on our play and here also we do the control things,” Shahidi said.

Having learnt most of their cricket in the refugee camps in Pakistan during the Soviet invasion of their country in 1970s, the Afghanistan team have risen by leaps and bounds.

They shocked three former champions — England, Pakistan and Sri Lanka — at the 2023 one-day World Cup in India. They were the losing semifinalists in the Twenty20 World Cup last year, held in the United States and the West Indies.

Shahidi said his team was not overawed by South Africa.

“We have recently beaten South Africa in Sharjah so we have that confidence with us and we are not under any pressure,” said Shahidi of his team’s 2-1 win last year.

Afghanistan skipper vowed his team wants to win the Trophy.

“We are doing very good so we are here to win the final and not just to participate. We are definitely hundred percent looking to win this event.”

Afghanistan boast quality spinners with Rashid Khan, ranked second in the world in one-day internationals, leading the attack.

They also have hard hitting batters in Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran and Mohammad Nabi.

The Champions Trophy — the first global event hosted by Pakistan in three decades — opened on Wednesday with New Zealand beating the host country by 60 runs in Group A.

India and Bangladesh are the other two teams in the Group. Top-two teams from each Group will qualify for the semifinals.


Imam replaces injured Fakhar in Pakistan Champions Trophy squad

Imam replaces injured Fakhar in Pakistan Champions Trophy squad
Updated 20 February 2025
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Imam replaces injured Fakhar in Pakistan Champions Trophy squad

Imam replaces injured Fakhar in Pakistan Champions Trophy squad
  • Imam-ul-Haq approved as Fakhar’s replacement for remainder of series 
  • Fakhar was injured in the first over of the opening game on Wednesday

KARACHI: Defending champion Pakistan suffered a huge blow when opening batter Fakhar Zaman was ruled out of the Champions Trophy due to an oblique injury on Thursday.
Imam-ul-Haq was approved as Fakhar’s replacement for the remainder of the tournament.
Fakhar was injured in the first over of the opening game on Wednesday when he ran after the ball and fell awkwardly in the outfield. He batted in visible discomfort for 24 runs off 41 balls until he was clean-bowled by New Zealand off-spinner Michael Bracewell. Pakistan lost by 60 runs.
It is the second major injury blow to Pakistan’s title defense in its first major tournament as host in 29 years. Saim Ayub broke his ankle during a test in South Africa.
Fakhar, Babar Azam and Faheem Ashraf were the only survivors of the Pakistan team which won the last Champions Trophy in England in 2017. He scored a match-winning 114 against India in the final.
Left-handed opener Imam hasn’t played international cricket since 2023 but has nine centuries in 72 one-day internationals.
Pakistan left for Dubai on Thursday to play India on Sunday.