Harare, July 7 (IANS) Abhishek Sharma overcame a sluggish start to slam a 47-ball hundred – his first century in international cricket, while Ruturaj Gaikwad smashed 77 not out and Rinku Singh hit an unbeaten 48 as the trio propelled India to a massive 234/2 in the second T20I against Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club on Sunday.

Less than 24 hours after being bowled out for 102 in a 13-run defeat in the T20I series opener on Saturday, India made a stunning batting turnaround on a tough pitch, thanks to the efforts of Abhishek, Gaikwad and Rinku.

Abhishek’s first 50 runs came in 33 balls, before amassing his next 50 runs in just 13 balls to smash a whirlwind century, laced with seven fours and eight sixes. He showed patience at the start, before attacking the bowlers – especially Dion Myers and Wellington Masakadza – after power-play to play a memorable knock.

After he fell, Gaikwad seamlessly shifted gears in his knock laced with 11 fours and a six, while Rinku smashed two fours and seven sixes as India amassed 82 runs off the last five overs, with Zimbabwe’s fielding and bowling display looking ordinary.

Electing to bat first, India lost captain Shubman Gill early when he whipped straight to mid-on off Blessing Muzarabani. Abhishek, who opened his account with a pulled six off Brian Bennett in the opening over, thumped the spinner through cover for consecutive boundaries.

In between, Zimbabwe’s bowlers were right on the money to keep Abhishek and Ruturaj Gaikwad in check with seam movement and tight lines. Abhishek wasn’t getting desired timing and was dropped on 27 by Wellington Masakadza off Luke Jongwe.

From there, Abhishek shifted gears by pulling and lofting Sikandar Raza for four and six respectively. After Gaikwad took two boundaries off Jongwe, Abhishek nailed his pulls thrice – one of which got him his fifty in 33 balls – off Dion Myers.

He then thumped and swiped Myers for six and four respectively to take 28 runs off the 11th over. Raza was back in Abhishek’s firing line as he launched him for six and four more, before overturning a caught-behind decision on review.

The carnage continued as Abhishek smoked Masakadza for three sixes – last of which was flicked over fine leg – to get his first T20I century for India. But his blitz came to an end immediately when he threw his hands at an outside off-stump ball and outside edge was caught by backward point.

After that, with Rinku hitting boundaries from the word go, Gaikwad also found boundaries to get his fifty. Gaikwad then teared into Chatara – tonking twice in the ‘V’ for two boundaries, before hitting two fours through the off-side to take 20 runs off the 18th over.

Rinku then slammed Muzarabani for two sixes in the 19th over, before hitting a four and a brace of maximums off Jongwe in the final over, with Gaikwad taking a boundary, to help India cross 230-mark.

Brief Scores: India 234/2 (Abhishek Sharma 100, Ruturaj Gaikwad 77 not out; Wellington Masakadza 1-29, Blessing Muzarabani 1-30) against Zimbabwe

–IANS

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Bengaluru, July 7 (IANS) Former champion from Bengaluru, Ruhaan Alva of MSport clinched the day’s honors with a fine double in the Senior Max category as the second round of the National Rotax Max Karting 2024 concluded at the Kartopia track, here on Sunday.

Nikhilesh Raju of Peregrine Racing, also from Bengaluru, won the Junior Max final, but it was Arafat Sheik who topped the pre-final race in the Junior class. Mumbai’s Hamza Balasinorwala of Rayo Racing won the Micro Max final after Chennai’s Rivaan Dev Preetham of MSport bagged the pre-final.

Alva took a fine victory in the final race, but in the pre-final, Akshat Misra of Crest Motorsports finished ‘first’ before logging a 5-second penalty for causing a collision and was pushed down to second place behind Alva. Ishaan Madesh of Peregrine Racing came third in both races.

Earlier, in the pre-final of the Junior class, Nikhilesh Raju had to be content with a second place as Pune’s Arafath Sheikh of Crest Motorsport notched up a comfortable win. Mumbai’s Kiaan Shah of Rayo Racing completed the podium in third in both races.

In the Micro Max pre-final, first round winner 11-year-old Rivaan Dev Preetham, took the honors as he edged out Danish Dalmiya of MSport to second. Dalmiya had won second place in the final too. Hamza, of Rayo Racing, who came third in the pre-final went on to win the final in Round 2.

–IANS

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Guwahati, July 7 (IANS) NorthEast United FC has announced the signing of Spanish forward Guillermo Fernandez Hierro.

Fernandez began his career with Athletic Bilbao, making his first-team debut in La Liga in 2013. Known for his finishing in front of goal, he later played for clubs like Elche, CD Numancia, and most recently for Cultural Leonesa.

Guillermo’s notable achievements include scoring a goal in the UEFA Champions League group phase against FC Porto, decisive goals in La Liga and Copa del Rey, and playing a crucial role in CD Numancia’s successful campaigns in Segunda División. Fernandez has consistently demonstrated his skill on the field with his ability to adapt and perform in various attacking roles.

Expressing his delight on joining the highlanders, Guillermo said, “I am very excited to work with the team and coaching staff. The club has shown faith in me, and I am ready to repay them and set my mark in the Indian Super League.”

His experience in Spain’s top leagues brings valuable expertise to NorthEast United FC, strengthening the team’s attacking lineup. The club is optimistic about the impact Guillermo will have in the upcoming season.

“Guillermo is a very experienced professional; his career says it all. He will give us the much-needed boost in our attack, and we are happy to have him here.” Mandar Tamhane, CEO of NorthEast United FC, shared his thoughts on the signing, “We feel we have got the right fit for our team. Guillermo has played at the top level of football in Europe, his expertise will not only bolster our attack but also serve as a catalyst for growth and development for our entire squad,” said head coach Juan Pedro Benali.

–IANS

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Silverstone, July 7 (IANS) Williams team principal James Vowles has confirmed that Logan Sergeant’s seat may be under threat and even admitted that a mid-season change may be on the cards for the team.

“There will be a line in the sand where we have to make a decision and at that point, both for 2025 and maybe for something this year, we’ll make a decision on it. But we’re not there today,” said Vowles to Sky Sports F1.

Logan is currently in his second year with the British team and has not been able to perform up to the mark. The team currently sits at ninth place in the Constructors Championship.

“Logan all the way through has been provided [with] the opportunity to retain his seat – that’s in his control. I need performance that’s at Alex’s level, I need him to be there day in and day out, fundamentally,” added the British engineer.

Williams is perhaps thinking ahead to the future of the team without Sergeant having already offered Albon a multi-year deal with the team. Rumours suggest that the side may be looking into bringing in F2 sensation Kimi Antonrlli who is backed by Williams engine partner Mercedes.

“My priority at the moment is, let’s sort out the car, because we’ve underperformed in that area. Not Logan, not Alex. Once we have a car at the right performance level, then let’s assess what we’re costing ourselves, if we are costing ourselves,” he said.

–IANS

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London, July 7 (IANS) Former England fast-bowler Stuart Broad has said James Anderson is “an addict of the art of bowling” ahead of the veteran pacer preparing to play his final Test match against the West Indies at Lord’s starting on July 10.

Anderson had earned 187 caps for England since his debut in 2003 and will end his international career during the Lord’s Test against the West Indies. Earlier this year, Anderson became the third bowler after Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan to reach the landmark of 700 Test wickets – the most by any fast-bowler – earlier this year during England’s fifth and final match of their India tour at Dharamshala in March.

“He loves the rhythm of running into bowl, the control of the technique of his action, the tactical side of whether he’s bowling away swing, inswing, wobble seam. When you talk about professionals who have had longevity, you often talk about their dedication to training, their discipline in the gym and their diet.

“And of course you don’t play to 42 unless you have that but the thing that makes him different is his genuine love of the art of what he does. Addict is generally used as a negative word but I’d say he is an addict of the art of bowling,” wrote Broad in his column for The Times on Sunday.

Broad, who retired from all forms of the game after the final Ashes Test at The Oval last year, shared the dressing room with Anderson for 138 games to form a lethal new-ball pair. He feels Anderson’s ability to reverse-swing in Tests is highly underrated.

“He doesn’t get enough credit for his reverse-swing, which has been crucial to his great record in the subcontinent. Because his line and length are so immaculate it makes it lethal. (South Africa paceman) Dale Steyn was phenomenal and quicker than Jimmy but Jimmy is certainly the best reverse-swing bowler I’ve played with and probably the best I’ve witnessed in the flesh outside of Steyn.

“(His) ability to adapt and learn is why he has been so successful for so long. In professional sport you have to be continually improving because there is always a younger bowler trying to get your shirt.

“It is that genuine love for the art of bowling that has made him want to improve and learn new deliveries. It’s why he will go out at Lord’s this week as England’s greatest ever bowler,” he concluded.

–IANS

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