Sunday, December 16, 2019

THE GLEANER, MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2019 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | SPORTS B3 CHENNAI, INDIA (CMC): L EFT-HANDER SHIMRON Hetmyer uncorked amagical hundred while Shai Hope notched a second straight One- Day International (ODI) century as the Windies completed a record run chase to stun India by eight wickets and take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series here yesterday. In pursuit of a challenging 288 for victory, the Windies executed brilliantly to pull off the high- est-ever successful run chase at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, overhauling their target in a canter with 13 balls to spare. Man of the Match Hetmyer slammed 139 off 106 balls, striking 11 fours and seven sixes in an aston- ishingexhibitionof power-hitting as hemarched tohis fifthODI hundred in his 40thmatch. In contrast, Hope patiently carved out an unbeaten 102 off 151 deliveries, counting just seven fours and a single six but providing the ideal counter to Hetmyer’s calculated onslaught en route to his seventh century in the format and second in as many matches following his unbeaten 109 against Afghanistan a month ago. Together, they posted a precious 218 for the second wicket to compensate for the early loss of Sunil Ambris for nine. When the partnership was finally broken, it was just three runs shy of the all-time Windies record for the second wicket against India set by legends Sir Vivian Richards and Gordon Greenidge 33 years ago in Jamshedpur. Left-hander Nicholas Pooran arrived late on to put the finishing touches on the victory with an important 29 not out off 23 deliveries, helping the visitors take a giant step towards their first series win on Indian soil in nearly two decades. Wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant had earlier top-scored with 71 off 69 balls, while Shreyas Iyer got 70 off 88 deliveries as India reached 287 for eight off their 50 overs after they were sent in. Kedar Jadhav, with 40 off 35 balls, and opener Rohit Sharma, with 36 off 56, chipped in at either end of the innings, but India could only muster 71 runs from the last 10 overs in a somewhat anticlimactic finish. Seamers Keemo Paul (2-41), Alzarri Joseph (2-45), and Sheldon Cottrell (2-46) all finished with two wickets each to lead an admirable bowling effort. Windies make history in India Windies batsman Shimron Hetmyer (left) plays a stroke during the first One Day International cricket match against India in Chennai, India, yesterday. AP PHOTO SCOREBOARD Lennox Aldred/Gleaner Writer AMERICAN PATRICK Cover held off a stiff challenge from compatriot David Morland to claim his first professional golf title after coming out on top in the 52nd staging of the Alacran Jamaica Open at the Tryall Golf Course in Hanover. The 23-year-old Cover, who plays on the PGA Tour China, carded a five-under-par 67 that included eight birdies, one bogey, and a double bogey to finish the three rounds with a total of 12 under par 204. “I had a game plan going into the final day. I was trying to go bogey-free, and I knew once I held it together, it would be hard for them to catch me,” Cover said. “But all in all, I played the conditions well as I hit my shots low when I needed to, and in the end, it paid off. So I am happy for that.” The American was two shots better than Morland, who ended his final round with a four- under-par 68 for a total of 10 under par 206. “I felt good and played well, and I tried to put a bit of pressure on Patrick,”Morland said.“But he held it together and did well coming down the stretch. But in the end, it was a good tour- nament, and I hope that next year, we can come back here with the family and celebrate a win.” It was a top-three sweep for the Americans as Michael Maguire fired a four-under-par final round to finish with a total of seven under par 209. Canadian youngster Thomas Demarco, who held the co-lead, had to settle for a tied fourth place with American Scott Wolfes following a five-under-par 211. Jamaica’sWesley Brown was the only local in the top 10 as his one-under-par final round saw him finish with a total of two under par 214 to be tied for ninth. For Brown, it is a fitting result based on all the adversities he faced over the three days. “I must say that I am proud of my top-10 finish,”he said.“I was feeling ill over the first two days, but I shrugged it off and played steady golf, and I can’t complain.” Defending champion Justin Burrowes reclaimed his amateur title after holding on to see off compatriot William Knibb by just one shot. Both players carded a one-over-par 73 on the final day, however, Burrowes, who had four birdies, four bogeys, and a double bogey on day three, held on to his overnight one-shot lead to claim the title with an eight-over par 224. “It was a bit nerve-racking for me knowing that Williamwas close behind me, but I held it together on the tough course, and I am happy that I did enough to hold on,” Burrowes said. American Morgan Sawyer, who shot the only under-par round on the final day, claimed the third position with 13 over par 229, with Montego Bay-based Sean Morris placing fourth with his 16 over par 232. Got it ‘Covered’ American Patrick Cover (second right) accepts the Alacran Jamaica Open Trophy from Jamaica Golf Association president Peter Chin (left) and Alacran Foundation president Rohan Marley (right) at the Tryall Golf Club in Hanover yesterday. Also pictured is Tryall Golf director Ewan Peebles. CONTRIBUTED Americans sweep top three spots at Alacran Jamaica Open Raymond Graham/ Gleaner Writer EXCELSIOR HIGH School Class One athlete Devontie Archer, known for his exploits in the 400m hurdles, was one of the standouts, taking home a dou- ble, including a record run, at Saturday’s Wesley Powell/ Heart Institute of the Caribbean Development Meet. The event was held at the Courtney Walsh Oval on the school’s compound. Archer topped the field in the Class One boys’ 300m and 600m with a record run in the latter. Archer clocked 1:23.89 minutes in coming out on top, erasing the 2015 time of 1:24.60 minutes set by Nathan Brown. Finishing second overall, also inside the old record with a time of 1:24.31 minutes, was former Enid Bennett High out- standing middle-distance athlete Tyrice Taylor, who now attends Vere Technical High School. Oneil Treasure of Excelsior was third overall in 1:25.31 minutes. Archer returned later to win the 300m in 35.33 seconds. DOUBLE WIN It was a decent meet for Kingston College, with Kirk Dawkins scoring the first track win on the day after taking the boys’ 5,000m Open in 16:51.9minutes.TeammateNicardo Johnson had a double win on the day for the North Street-based institution after taking the Class Four 150m in 19.14 seconds and the 300m in 40.62 seconds. Merrick Richards, 1:36.39 minutes, and Ainsley Campbell, 1:31.88 minutes, topped the field in classesThree and Two 600m, respectively. Competing on familiar territory, Shauntae Foreman returned in style tohelpher newschool, St JagoHigh, to good performances on the day. Foreman, who has dominated the high and long jumps for Excelsior Highat the ISSA/GraceKennedyBoys and Girls’Athletics Championships, includingClassTwodouble success this year at the championships, was a winner on the track for her new team. She clocked 41.52 seconds to lead the way in Class Two 300m, ahead of teammates Brianna Liston, 41.52 seconds, and Safhia Hinds, 41.77 seconds. Liston was successful in the 150m with a clocking of 18.91 seconds. St Jago had a one-two finish in the Class One 300m as Joanna Reid led the way with 40.58 sec- onds, ahead of teammate Rosealee Cooper, 41.86 seconds, while Vere Technical’s Nickeisha Pryce placed third in 41.88 seconds. Neisha Burgher, 18.79 seconds in the girls’Class One 150m, Kimberly Lugg, 36.67m in the Class One girls’ discus throw, and Sashoy Benbow, 11.67m in the girls’ shot put, got wins for the home teamon the day. XLCR start track season on high ARCHER INDIA Rohit Sharma c Pollard b Joseph 36 KL Rahul c Hetmyer b Cottrell 6 *V Kohli b Cottrell 4 S Iyer c Pollard b Joseph 70 +R Pant c Hetmyer b Pollard 71 K Jadhav c Pollard b Paul 40 R Jadeja run out 21 S Dube c Holder b Paul 9 D Chahar not out 6 Mohammed Shami not out 0 Extras (b5, lb5, w11, nb3) 24 TOTAL (8 wkts, 50 overs) 287 Did not bat: Kuldeep Yadav. Fall of wickets: 1-21 (Rahul), 2-25 (Kohli), 3-80 (Rohit), 4-194 (Iyer), 5-210 (Pant), 6-269 (Jadhav), 7-269 (Jadeja), 8-282 (Dube) Bowling: Cottrell 10-3-46-2 (w4), Holder 8-0-45-0 (w1, nb1), Walsh Jr 5-0-31-0, Paul 7-0-40- 2 (w3, nb2), Joseph 9-1-45-2 (w3), Chase 7-0-42-0, Pollard 4-0-28-1. WINDIES +S Hope not out 102 S Ambris lbw b Chahar 9 S Hetmyer c Iyer b Mohammed Shami 139 N Pooran not out 29 Extras (lb4, w7, nb1) 12 TOTAL (2 wkts, 47.5 overs) 291 Did not bat: R Chase, *K Pollard, J Holder, K Paul, H Walsh, A Joseph, S Cottrell. Fall of wickets: 1-11 (Ambris), 2-229 (Hetmyer). Bowling: Chahar 10-1-48-1, Mohammed Shami 9-1-57-1, Kuldeep Yadav 10-0-45-0 (w3), Dube 7.5-0-68-0, Jadhav 1-0-11- 0, Jadeja 10-0-58-0 (nb1). Result: Windies won by eight wickets. Series: Windies lead three- match series 1-0. Man-of-the-Match: Shimron Hetmyer. Toss: Widies. Umpires: Nitin Menon, Shaun George; TV – Rod Tucker. Amateur golfer Justin Burrowes (left) accepts his winners’ trophy from Michelle Hussey of Main Event. PHOTO BY LENNOX ALDRED