Latest - Slovenian Matej Mohoric gave Bahrain Victorious something to cheer with his second stage win in this year's Tour de France two days after French police searched his team's accommodation and vehicles amid an investigation into potential doping.
Matej Mohoric. Photo: © Photo News / Panoramic 2021
Mohoric, who had already prevailed in the seventh stage in Le Creusot, attacked from the breakaway to wrap up a solo victory on the 19th stage, a 207-km ride from Mourenx, virtually zipping his mouth shut as he crossed the line.
France's Christophe Laporte of Cofidis was second and Dane Casper Pedersen (Team DSM) came home third, both 58 seconds off the pace.
The French prosecutor's office in Marseille on Thursday said it had opened a preliminary investigation into the Bahrain Victorious team after police searched the outfit's hotel.
It said the investigation was into "acquisition, transport, possession, import of a prohibited substance or prohibited method for use by an athlete without medical justification."
Bahrain Victorious said they were complying with the investigation.
Mohoric's compatriot Tadej Pogacar retained the overall leader's yellow jersey for UAE Team Emirates after staying safe in the peloton, crossing the line more than 20 minutes 50 seconds off the pace.
Friday's ride was expected to end in a mass sprint but some 20 riders managed to break away from the main bunch and their advantage increased quickly, meaning Mark Cavendish has one last chance to win his 35th Tour stage on Sunday on the Champs-Elysees.
The Briton is tied with Belgian great Eddy Merckx, who bagged 34 stage wins in his glittering career as he won a record five Tour titles.
Merckx was at the start of the stage in Mourenx, where he has a velodrome named after him after he pulled one of his greatest featsm, beating his rivals by more than eight minutes in a mountain stage on his way to his first Tour title in 1969.
- Reuters
Black Caps avoid Australia and England in T20 World Cup group
Australia, England, South Africa and the West Indies in one group of Super 12s, Afghanistan, India, Pakistan and New Zealand in the other.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the groups for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021 to be hosted by the BCCI in Oman and the United Arab Emirates from October 17 to November 14.
The groups, selected on the basis of team rankings as of 20 March 2021, have defending champions the West Indies pooled along with former champions England, Australia and South Africa in Group 1 of the Super 12s, with two qualifiers from Round 1 joining them.
Group 2 will comprise former champions India and Pakistan, New Zealand, Afghanistan and the other two qualifiers from Round 1.
Eight teams will contest the first round including automatic qualifiers Sri Lanka and Bangladesh with the remaining six who booked their spot through the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Qualifier 2019.
Ireland, Netherlands and Namibia join Sri Lanka in Group A, whilst Oman, PNG and Scotland will face Bangladesh in Group B.
Windies wrap up series with a win
West Indies batsman Evin Lewis blasted 79 runs off 34 balls as the Twenty20 world champions defeated Australia by 16 runs in St Lucia for a 4-1 series win.
West Indies batsman Evin Lewis Photo: Graham Morris
Chasing 200 to win, Australia made a solid start despite losing Josh Philippe in the first over as skipper Aaron Finch (34) and Mitchell Marsh (30) took charge, but the visitors lost their way after the duo departed to finish at 183-9 in 20 overs.
West Indies fast bowlers Sheldon Cottrell (3-28) and Andre Russell (3-43) ensured that Australia's batsmen could not build on their starts as the hosts produced yet another dominating display at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium.
Earlier, the West Indies chose to bat first after winning the toss and rode on opener Lewis' effort which included nine sixes and four boundaries to post a challenging total.Darren Bravo became the pace bowler's third victim.
The teams will now face each other in three one-day internationals starting July 20.
- Reuters
Venus and Puetz through to final
Michael Venus and his new German partner Tim Puetz have won through to their first ATP final together in just their third tournament since joining forces after the French Open.
The pair have quickly got over the disappointment of losing early at Wimbledon by reaching the final of the ATP 500 tournament on clay in Hamburg.
They beat the Kazakhstani pair of Aleksandr Nedovyesov and Andrey Golubev 5-3 6-4 in one hour and 14 minutes. The second seeds had received a walkover win into the semis on Friday.
It's an encouraging result for the new combination, who reached the semifinals at the ATP grass court tournament in Halle in Germany prior to Wimbledon.
Venus and Puetz will take on either the German Romanian combination of Kevin Krawietz and Horia Tecau or American Jamie Cerretani and Mexican Hans Hach Verdugo fpr the title.
Das ton helps Bangladesh to convincing 155-run victory over Zimbabwe
A century from Liton Das and five wickets from Shakib Al Hasan helped Bangladesh secure a one-sided 155-run victory over Zimbabwe in the first of their three One-Day Internationals at the Harare Sports Club on Friday.
Liton scored 102 as Bangladesh, who were put into bat, recovered from a poor start to post 276-9 off their 50 overs before bowling Zimbabwe out for a paltry 121.
Bangladesh looked in trouble at 74-4 but Das dug them out in a 93-run partnership with Mahmudullah to put them on course for an imposing total on a difficult wicket.
Afif Hossain weighed in with a quickfire 45 off 35 balls while Luke Jongwe took 3-51 for the home team, who earlier this week had lost their one-off test against Bangladesh at the same venue.
Regis Chakabva scored 54 in Zimbabwe's response but they were unable to put together any meaningful partnerships as a flurry of rash shots cost them key wickets.
Shakib became Bangladesh's leading ODI wicket-taker as his 5-30 took his tally to 274, surpassing Mashrafe Mortaza.
A hamstring injury suffered in the field by Timycen Maruma also meant Zimbabwe were one batsman short when their innings came to an end in only the 29th over.
The two countries meet again in Harare in their second ODI on Sunday.
-Reuters
Much-changed South Africa A team to face Bulls in final warm-up
South Africa 'A' have retained just three players for their final warm-up game against the Bulls in Cape Town as they build up to the three-test series against the British & Irish Lions that starts on July 24.
Only hooker Joseph Dweba, loose-forward Marco van Staden and centre Damian de Allende are among the starters from the side that beat the Lions 17-13 on Wednesday, with the new-look team to be captained by flyhalf Elton Jantjies.
Prop Wilco Louw, a late addition for the series due to COVID-19 infections within the squad, will start on the bench.
The team will also have head coach Jacques Nienaber back after he was released from COVID-19 isolation.
"We wanted another SA 'A' match to give all the players a chance to show what they are capable of before we enter the test series, and we are excited to give these players this valuable opportunity," Nienaber said in a media release from SA Rugby.
"With several changes to the matchday squad, there won't be much continuity from Wednesday's match, but the game time and the chance for these players to show what they can offer on the field will be invaluable with an eye on improving our match fitness and building momentum before we enter the test series."
The match will be played as a curtain-raiser to the Lions' final warm-up game against the Stormers.
Team: 15-Aphelele Fassi, 14-Yaw Penxe, 13-Wandisile Simelane, 12-Damian de Allende, 11-Rosko Specman, 10-Elton Jantjies (captain), 9-Cobus Reinach, 8-Kwagga Smith, 7-Rynhardt Elstadt, 6-Marco van Staden, 5-Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg, 4-Jean-Luc du Preez, 3-Vincent Koch, 2-Joseph Dweba, 1-Coenie Oosthuizen
Replacements: 16-Fez Mbatha, 17-Thomas du Toit, 18-Wilco Louw, 19-Japser Wiese, 20-Sanele Nohamba, 21-Sbu Nkosi, 22-Jesse Kriel, 23-Damian Willemse, 24-Lizo Gqoboka (Reporting by Nick Said; Editing by Ken Ferris)
-Reuters
