The day in sports: 19th April

1. IPL 6: Sunrisers beat Kings XI by 5 wickets

Three huge sixes by Thisara Perera in the 19th over sealed a five-wicket victory for Sunrisers Hyderabad against Kings XI Punjab in their Pepsi Indian Premier League (IPL) match at Rajiv Gandhi international stadium here Friday night.

With this victory, Sunrisers now top the points table with 10 points from seven games. This was also the third straight win for them at the home ground.

2. Vettel talks up tyres as Raikkonen tops Bahrain practice times:

Sebastian Vettel believes tyre-management as much as sheer pace will decide the outcome of this weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix.

After two closely-fought free practice sessions at a hot and becalmed Bahrain International Circuit on Friday, Vettel, who won last year despite failing to dominate any practice or qualifying session, conceded that both Ferrari and Lotus had demonstrated greater pace than his Red Bull team.

3. Badminton Asia Championships: Hirose powers past PV Sindhu, ends India’s challenge

Rising Indian star PV Sindhu faltered in the quarterfinals of the prestigious Badminton Asia Championships to Japanese veteran Eriko Hirose on Friday.

Sindhu, who had upset third seed Wang Shixian of China in the previous round, won the second game but her challenge was snuffed out by Hirose 21-19 16-21 21-11. The result was a repeat of their only encounter in November last year, at the China Open. Sindhu mounted a strong challenge to Hirose through the first two games, before capitulating in the third.

4. Nadal survives scare to reach last four in Monte Carlo:

Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov flirted with a massive upset before Rafael Nadal managed to restore normal service as the Spaniard earned a tight 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 win in the quarter-finals of the Monte Carlo Masters on Friday.

Nadal, bidding for an unprecedented ninth straight trophy at an event which he has dominated, was given a huge fright by Dimitrov, who fell victim to leg cramp in the closing moments of a thriller lasting just over two hours.

5. 100s more police for London Marathon after Boston blast:

Police are deploying “several hundred” more officers to secure this weekend’s London Marathon in the wake of the bombings at the Boston race, Scotland Yard said on Friday.

Although there is no suggestion of a link between the US attack and the London race on Sunday, police said more search dogs would also be used to reassure the public.

6. Jones backs United to finish title race:

Manchester United defender Phil Jones insists the Premier League leaders are determined to finish off the title race as soon as possible.

Alex Ferguson’s team have been below their best in recent weeks and Wednesday’s 2-2 draw at West Ham featured another disjointed display from the champions-elect.

7. Bartra out to seize chance with Barcelona:

Amid a defensive crisis at the club, Barcelona defender Marc Bartra has vowed to hold down a place at centre-back in the final weeks of the season.

Injuries to Carles Puyol and Javier Mascherano have meant the 22-year-old has started each of Barca’s last three league games. And with Adriano suspended for Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final first-leg against Bayern Munich, he could well partner Gerard Pique in Germany.

8. Cavs’ Scott fired, Sixers’ Collins steps down:

Several NBA coaches will be looking for new jobs during the off season after the Cleveland Cavaliers fired Byron Scott and the Detroit Pistons sacked their head coach Lawrence Frank on Thursday.

9. Streelman shares lead at rain-hit RBC Heritage:

Kevin Streelman birdied three of his first five holes en route to a one-under-par 70 to seize a share of the RBC Heritage lead before second-round play was suspended. Streelman is tied with Steve LeBrun and Charley Hoffman, who finished their second rounds at three-under 68 and one-under 70, respectively.

10. Norway’s Pettersen maintains lead in Hawaii:

Suzann Pettersen fired a four-under 68 to maintain her slim one-shot lead after the third round of the LPGA Tour’s LOTTE Championship.

The 32-year-old Norwegian Pettersen reached 14-under-par 202 to break Ai Miyazato’s 54-hole scoring mark of 206 which was set last year at the Ko Olina Golf Club course.

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(Images courtesy: AFP, IANS and Getty)