Glasgow
Indian footballer Bala Devi scored her first goal for the Rangers FC in a 9-0 decimation of Motherwell FC in the Scottish Women’s Premier League. Coming off the bench in the 65th minute, Bala scored her side’s last goal in the 85th minute on Sunday. She latched on to a through ball and slotted it home. She thus became the first Indian woman to score in a top-tier professional league in Europe. Bala also won Rangers their second penalty in the 68th minute as she was taken down in the box. The 30-year-old had become the first Indian to sign a professional contract in a top-tier club in Europe in January.
Dubai
Williamson rises to joint 2nd with Kohli in Test rankings
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson today moved up a rung to join his Indian counterpart Virat Kohli at the second spot in the latest ICC Test rankings for batsmen. Australia’s Steve Smith kept his hold on the pole position. India’s Chesteshwar Pujara remained seventh. West Indies captain Jason Holder conceded his top ICC Test all-rounder’s ranking to England star Ben Stokes.
Barcelona
Atletico stay top after Sociedad held at Alaves
Good goalkeeping frustrated two of the hottest teams in the Spanish league with Real Sociedad and Villarreal held to scoreless draws. Sociedad failed to retake the league lead after it drew 0-0 at Alaves despite playing with an extra man for half-an-hour. Sociedad’s slip left Atletico Madrid at the top of the standings. Diego Simeone’s team won a seventh straight game when they topped Valladolid 2-0. Villarreal remained in third place and five points adrift after they finished 0-0 at home with Elche. Real Madrid are another point back in fourth, with one game in hand. Barcelona trail Atletico by 12 points in ninth place, with two games in hand.
Christchurch
Pakistan squad clears fifth Covid test
The touring Pakistan squad has returned negative in a fifth round of Covid-19 tests and will now be able to leave its managed isolation on Tuesday, subject to clearance from the health ministry, New Zealand Cricket said. The 53-member Pakistan team was denied the right to train while in managed isolation in New Zealand after eight members of the touring squad had tested positive for Covid-19.
Milan
Milan go 5 points clear in Italy with 2-1 win
League leaders AC Milan maintained their impressive start to the season with a 2-1 win at Sampdoria in Serie A. The Rossoneri are five points above Inter Milan and six above Napoli, who won 4-0 at 10-man Crotone to move into third , and Juventus.
Paris
Lyon unbeaten in 10 games ahead of PSG test
Resurgent Lyon won 3-1 at Metz to make it 10 games unbeaten and keep the pressure firmly on French league leaders Paris Saint-Germain ahead of their meeting next weekend. PSG will host third-placed Lyon at Parc des Princes with a slender two-point lead. Agencies
