India U-19 thrash SA by 9 wickets in first youth ODI

East London: The Indian colts defeated South Africa by nine wickets in the first youth ODI. After bowling out South Africa for 187 at the Buffalo Park, India chased down the target with 45 balls to spare. Batting first, South Africa folded up for 187 in 48.3 overs. In reply, India overhauled the target, scoring 190/1 in 42.3 overs to take a 1-0 lead in the series.

Brief scores: South Africa U-19: 187 all out (Luke Beaufort 64, Jack Lees 27; Ravi Bishnoi 3/36); India U-19: 190/1 (Divyaansh Saxena 86, N Tilak Varma 59; Achille Cloete 1/42).

New Delhi

Srikkanth, Anjum Chopra to get CK Nayudu awards

Former India captain and member of the 1983 World Cup-winning team Krishnamachari Srikkanth will be the recipient of this year’s CK Nayudu Lifetime Award given by BCCI. Former India women’s team captain Anjum Chopra is the co-recipient of the lifetime achievement award for the year 2019. The BCCI Annual Award function will be held in Mumbai on January 12 ahead of the first ODI against Australia on January 14.

Bhubaneshwar

Santana double strike seals it for Odisha FC

Adrianne Santana’s twin strike ensured a 2-1 victory for Odisha FC over Jamshedpur FC in their first home match of the Indian Super League. Santana’s (28’, 45’) brace got Odisha full points even as Aitor Monroy’s (38’) spot-kick conversion went in vain for the visitors, who are now winless in their last five games. — Agencies

New York

Dallas Mavericks thwart visitors Spurs, Knicks win

Luka Doncic scored 24 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and distributed eight assists in his return to the line-up after missing four games to help the Dallas Mavericks hold off the visiting San Antonio Spurs 102-98 on Thursday. Meanwhile, Julius Randle scored 33 points as New York pulled away in the second half to top host Brooklyn. The Knicks halted a four-game losing streak to the Nets.

Beijing

China football head coach to be appointed soon

The Chinese Football Association (CFA) is expected to appoint the successor to Marcello Lippi as its men’s national team head coach in a few days after having talks with three local candidates. Li Tie, Li Xiaopeng and Wang Baoshan, all coaches of the Chinese Super League (CSL) clubs, were interviewed by a panel of experts at a secret place on Thursday, a CFA insider told Xinhua.

London

Arsenal’s Xhaka wants Hertha Berlin move

Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka wants to leave the Premier League club in the January transfer window and sign with Bundesliga side Hertha Berlin, the player’s agent has said. Xhaka has had a fractured relationship with the fans since he reacted angrily to being booed when he was substituted against Crystal Palace in October. He was subsequently stripped of captaincy by former manager Unai Emery. Agencies