The day in sports: 16th March

1. United 15 points clear of Manchester City:

Manchester United capitalised on a slip-up by Manchester City to open up a massive 15-point lead at the Premier League summit despite a laboured display in a 1-0 win at home to Reading on Saturday. City’s defeat at 10-man Everton handed United a chance to further increase their lead and they grasped the opportunity through a solitary first-half goal from Wayne Rooney at Old Trafford.

2. Villa cut QPR adrift:

Aston Villa’s forward Andreas Weimann celebrates scoring during their English Premier League football match against Queens Park Rangers at Villa Park in Birmingham, central England, on March 16, 2013. Queens Park Rangers were left seven points adrift of safety at the foot of the table after losing 3-2 to relegation rivals Aston Villa in a thrilling encounter at Villa Park.

3. Dhawan hits fastest Test century on debut:

Shikhar Dhawan scored an 85-ball century, the fastest by any cricketer in Test history to lead India to 156 for no loss at tea, trailing Australia (408) by 252 runs in Mohali on Day 3 of the third Test. The 27-year-old hit a staggering 21 boundaries to dispel doubters, who questioned the decision of replacing Virender Sehwag. (File Photo)

4. Shixian takes revenge on Saina:

Having dominated the Swiss Open over the last two years, world No.2 Saina Nehwal fell to a surprising loss in the semifinals of the Grand Prix Gold event at Basel on Saturday. Nehwal lost to the same player she beat in the last edition – Wang Shixian of China. The Indian overcame a first-game deficit but could not sustain the momentum as she fell 21-11 10-21 21-9 in 50 minutes.

5. Del Potro ends Djokovic winning streak:

Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro ended Novak Djokovic’s 22-match winning steak, beating the Serbian star 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 to reach the ATP Indian Wells Masters final. World number one Djokovic had not lost a match since falling to American Sam Querrey at the Paris Masters on October 31.

6. Resurgent Nadal reaches Indian Wells final:

A resurgent Rafael Nadal beat Tomas Berdych 6-4, 7-5 on Saturday to reach the final of the Indian Wells Masters where he will face Juan Martin del Potro.

7. Sharapova books Indian Wells final against Wozniacki:

Maria Sharapova reached her first final of 2013 on Friday, beating Maria Kirilenko 6-4, 6-3 in a semi-final slugfest to set up a title showdown with Caroline Wozniacki at Indian Wells. By reaching the final, Sharapova is projected to rise one spot to No. 2 in the world when the new rankings are announced on Monday.

8. Sri Lanka’s Herath restricts Bangladesh

Sri Lanka’s Rangana Herath appeals for a wicket during the opening day of their second Test against Bangladesh at the R. Premadasa stadium. Sri Lanka’s Rangana Herath bagged five wickets as Bangladesh were bowled out for 240 in their first innings on the opening day of the second and final Test in Colombo on Saturday.

9. Leonard grabs share of lead at Tampa Bay

Justin Leonard plays a shot on the 18th hole during the third round of the Tampa Bay Championship at the Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club on March 16, 2013 in Palm Harbor, Florida. Leonard, the 1997 British Open winner who last won a US PGA event in 2008, fired a four-under par 67 on Saturday to share the 54-hole lead at the Tampa Bay Championship.

10. Miyazato seizes lead at LPGA Founders Cup

Ai Miyazato of Japan hits a tee shot on the 18th hole during the RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup March 16, 2013 in Phoenix, Arizona. Miyazato fired a five-under par 67 and was aided by a penalty on American Stacy Lewis on her way to seizing a four-stroke lead after the third round.

11. Tim Duncan scores 30 points to help the Spurs beat the Cavaliers

It didn’t matter that dynamic point guards Tony Parker and Kyrie Irving missed this game. Tim Duncan scored 30 points in San Antonio’s 119-113 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Spurs (51-16) missed Parker for a seventh straight game (they are 5-2 without him) with an ankle sprain and the Cavs did not have Irving for the third game (1-2 without him) because of a shoulder sprain.

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