Bits and Pieces

Magnus Sports, Advance Telecom record victories

By our correspondent

KARACHI: Magnus Sports and Advance Telecom prevailed over Sojhla Cricket Club and Dubai Hawks respectively on Saturday in the 32nd edition of the Omar Associates Karachi Gymkhana Ramazan Festival Twenty20 Cricket Tournament 2016 being contested here at the Karachi Gymkhana Cricket Ground.

Magnus Sports outwitted Sojhla CC by 13 runs in their Group C encounter, while Advance Telecom edged out Dubai Hawks in another absorbing Group A fixture.

Fine knocks from opener Shahzad Ali (61), Imran Sharif (33) and Wasim Ahmed (21) allowed Magnus Sports to post a competitive total of 161 for five in the allotted 20 overs which they defended successfully by restricting Sojhla CC to 148 for nine.

Sojhla CC lost their way against the spin trio of Abid Qasmi (3-25), Asif Siddiqui (2-24) and Amir Mohammad (2-44) after having been provided 84-run opening partnership by Mohammad Imran (52) and Hamza Shiraz (33). The Magnus Sports opener, Shahzad Ali, was adjudged Man of the Match.

The useful contributions from the top four batsmen, Mukhtar Ahmed (41), Sahibzada Farhan (23), Taimoor Sultan (20) and Asif Ali (20) helped Advance Telecom score 150 for seven despite good bowling from left-arm spinner Mohammad Salman and off-spinner Rafay Malik, who returned identical figures of two for 31.

Dubai Hawks surrendered the initiative after being 63 for one in the ninth over. Opener Adeel Khan (37) and Yasir Munir (30) put them in the driving seat but Advance Telecom pulled it back through their spinners with Sadaqat Ali (2-40) being the leading wicket-taker.

Argentine town braces for Messi’s wedding

ROSARIO, Argentina: Football superstar Lionel Messi’s Argentine hometown is preparing to host footballing and showbiz celebrities when he marries childhood sweetheart Antonella Roccuzzo this month in Latin America’s wedding of the decade.

Colombian popstar Shakira, wife of Messi’s Barcelona teammate Gerard Pique, has said she hopes to attend.

Media such as local Rosario newspaper La Capital also expect other current and former Barcelona stars such as Luis Suarez, Neymar, Cesc Fabregas and Xavi Hernandez to be among the invitees.

The Barcelona forward’s agents confirmed in a statement that the couple will wed in Rosario on June 30, a week after Messi’s 30th birthday.

Goal rush as Africa Cup qualifying kicks off

JOHANNESBURG: Qualifying for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon began this weekend with a 10-goal rush as Libya scored five and Madagascar three when winning.

Libya trounced the Seychelles 5-1 in a Group E match moved from Tripoli to Egyptian capital Cairo for security reasons.

Madagascar stretched a perfect run to six matches since French coach Nicolas Dupuis took charge this year by winning a Group A clash with Sudan 3-1 in Al Obeid.

For Madagascar to make a first Cup of Nations finals appearance, they will have to finish above star-stacked Senegal or be one of the best three runners-up.

France-based captain Faneva Andriatsima netted twice and Carolus Andriamahitsinoro once for Madagascar, who led 1-0 at half-time. Atha Eltahier was the Sudanese scorer.

Goals from Anis Saltou, Ahmad Ben Ali and Hamdou Elhouni gave Libya a 3-0 advantage by the break.

Abdussalam Zaebiaa and Muaid Ellafi extended the lead to five goals before Kelvin Coralie claimed a last-minute consolation for the Seychellois.