 | Lekhwiya crowned QSL Champions LEKHWIYA has been crowned Qatar Stars League champions for the second consecutive year despite suffering a 3-1 loss to Al Rayyan in the final round of matches at the Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium on Friday.
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| | Shakib helps Kolkata beat Rajasthan | | ALLROUNDER Shakib Al Hassan grabbed 3-17 and produced a 10-ball cameo of 16 as Kolkata Knight Riders scored a five-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League on Friday.
The Bangladesh left-hander helped restrict the home side to 131-5 and then struck a crucial four and a six as Kolkata scored 137-5 in 19.2 overs in a low-scoring game at the Eden Gardens.
Dutch allrounder Ryan ten Doeschate smashed a six to finish off a game which went neck and neck for most of the time. Both teams now have two wins and two losses from four games.
Mumbai Indians is atop the nineteam league table with three wins from four games while Delhi Daredevils and Pune Warriors both have won two games each from three.
Opener Jacques Kallis (31) and No. 3 batsman Manvinder Bisla (29) put the chase on a track aiding slow bowling and India batsman Manoj Tiwary (24) furthered the cause for the Gautam Gambhir-led side.
"We always knew it was a competitive score and we had to go hard up front and set up a base," Gambhir said. ... |
| | Chicago Bulls step up to ice Miami Heat | | DERRICK Rose didn't have his timing but the Chicago Bulls' bench stepped up with big plays when it mattered.
CJ Watson drilled the game-tying three-pointer with 2.2 seconds left in regulation and the Bulls dominated overtime to beat the visiting Miami Heat 96-86 on Thursday night in a battle of the Eastern Conference best.
Rose returned to the lineup after missing Tuesday's win over New York with a right ankle sprain. The oft-injured league MVP struggled in only his second game in 31 days, finishing with a career-low two points on a nightmarish 1-13 field goal shooting. "I'm not worried about my stats or anything, I'm just trying toget my timing back before the playoffs start," Rose said.
"I'm not going to make excuses.
My shot wasn't falling. My teammates had my back. And I'm happy I have them on my team." Carlos Boozer had 19 points with 11 rebounds for the league-best Bulls, who clinched the Central Division and opened up a four-game cushion over the Heat for the top playoff seed in the East.
But the stars were the Bulls' reserves who outscored the Heat's second unit 47-7. "Our bench was terrific," Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said.
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| | Ronaldo eyes finishing line in Spanish title race | | MADRID CRISTIANO Ronaldo feels that Liga leaders Real Madrid is now closing in on the title as it prepares to face struggling Sporting Gijon at the Santiago Bernabeu this weekend.
The Portuguese star scored his seventh hat-trick of the season as Real beat neighbours Atletico 4-1 on Wednesday to restore their four-point lead at the top of the table.
The pressure had been growing on Jose Mourinho's team as their lead - which sat at 10 points in mid-March - was whittled down to one in the wake of Barcelona's 4-0 victory over Getafe on Tuesday.
But, after some tense moments with the score tied at 1-1 at the Vicente Calderon, Ronaldo made the difference before substitute Jose Callejon got the other goal.
"Still there is a little way to go but the league is near now.
We were anxious going into the game as we knew that Barca had won but now we are relaxed," said Ronaldo, who has already equalled his record-breaking tally of 40 league goals, set last season.
That figure leaves him one ahead of Barcelona's Lionel Messi, although the Argentine has the most in all competitions with 61.
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