Almanac Weekend Wrap

Cricket

Aussies chase down equal highest successful chase in ODIs at the MCG.

What does India have to do to win? Score more runs, hold your catches and take more wickets, really it’s that simple. Three successful run chases with big totals from the Aussies that included two record chases at the WACA and Gabba respectively and an equal highest total at the MCG, if you were MS Dhoni it must be tough to take.

Man of the match Glenn Maxwell doesn’t want to be called “The Big Show”. Sorry Glenn, after tonight’s performance, you were. Hastings four wickets were timely, Kholi scored a ton, S Marsh was solid, Smith and Bailey again provided stability in the middle.

India 6/295  Australia7/296 (48.5 over)

NZ hit record opening stand to beat Pakistan.

Martin Guptil and Kane Williamson hit a record T20 opening stand of 171 against Pakistan in Hamilton NZ.

Guptil scored 87 and Williams 72 to defeat Pakistan 7/168.

Sixers thump Thunder by 46 in Sydney Derby, Stars dominate Scorchers in BBL

Watto whack 66 from 41 balls for Sixers and Maddinson rediscovers form in blistering 70 from 40, not enough to drag Thunder over the line.

Hilfenaus takes 3-17 from 3 in a man of the match performance for Melbourne Stars. Scorchers were in the chase needing 30 from 24 to take second spot but three wickets in next three overs were enough to snuff out the Scorchers.

Adelaide Oval and MCG locked in as venues for finals with Stars v Scorchers at the G and Adelaide against either Renegades or Thunder, pending outcome of Monday’s game.

 

A-League

Adelaide United 3 v Central Coast 1

Perth Glory 2 v Melbourne City 2

Newcastle Jets 3 v Wellington Phoenix 1

WS Wanderers 1 v Sydney FC 2

Melbourne Victory 4 v Brisbane Roar 0

 

NBL Basketball

Illawarra Hawks’ Kevin Lisch scored a career-high 40 points in a 103-96 double overtime victory over the New Zealand Breakers.

Adelaide 36ers’ Jerome Randle has taken them another step towards the NBL Finals helping them the 36ers bounce back from Townsville Crocodiles to win 108-103.

A loud Melbourne crowd carried Melbourne United to its fifth straight win, beating Cairns Taipans 98-68.

Perth Wildcats too strong for Sydney Kings winning 95-68 at Perth Arena.

Cycling – Track

Australia fielded a young Team Pursuit squad at the UCI World Cup in Hong Kong and scored Gold. With the more experienced riders competing in the Tour Down Under, the youthful team of Sam Welsford, Alex Porter, Miles Scotson and Rohan Wight, competing for the first time in Elite competition, defeated Denmark in the Gold Medal ride, having qualified fastest and then eliminating Germany in the semis.

Cycling – Road

Wiggle High5 Nettie Edmondson won Stage 2 of the Santos Women’s Tour in front of huge crowds in her home city, Adelaide. Stage 2 was 20 laps of the 20.4 km circuit. Katrin Garfoot of Orics GreenEDGE leads the General Classification.

Orica’s Caleb Ewan won the People’s Choice Classic, in a short sharp 51km ride. Stage 1 of the men’s tour commences Monday 18th January.

 

NFL

Arizona Cardinals won a classic game defeating Green Bay Packers 26-20 in Over Time. The game was heading for a win for the Cardinals when Green Bay’s QB Aaron Rodgers threw a series of Hail Mary pass to Jeff Janis, the first a 60 yard completion with time running out and the second a 41 yard play also to Janis with seconds to play kept the Packers tied up at regular time.

Arizona went on to win with a 75 yard run by Larry Fitzgerald, setting up a TD in the next play, all over Green Bay, see you next year.

In other play off games, New England too strong for Kansas City, Tom Brady shines in post season and today was no exception, Patriots 26-20.

EPL

Spurs won and we shall rejoice, 4-1 over Sunderland.

 

If you would like to share your EPL team’s results over the weekend, please post in the comments section.

For all other weekend results, please post in comments, especially results of St Albans Gift.

Comments

  1. Hello – where’s the Dakar Rally . A great result for an Australian in the world’s toughest Rally.

  2. A great point Bob, it was one that slipped through.
    Toby Price winning the Dakar Rally for bikes in Argentina ( long way from the original Dakar closed due to security concerns). Best thing is that he came back after breaking his neck three years ago. A fantastic effort of determination and doggedness. With the win, deserved kudos. This was Price’s second attempt at the Dakar.

  3. It says something that I watched more NFL than cricket over the weekend. Tom Brady was at his imperious best for the Patriots. His height and bullet passes make him unstoppable by any defence. But the highlight of the past sporting month was the last 3 minutes of the Green Bay v Arizona game.
    American sport is so heavily coached, controlled and structured that football and basketball seems to come into its own in the dying minutes when percentage plays go out the window, and extraordinary talent comes to the fore.
    Green Bay were dead, buried and going backwards when Aaron Rogers throws a 61 yard bullet pass brilliantly caught out on the sideline. In typical American fashion the last minute of play takes ten, with timeouts and assorted refereeing debates. Then with 3 seconds left on the last play he throws a high bomb ‘hail mary’ caught in the end zone by a back-pedalling receivier up against 2 defenders. TIE and extra time.
    After more huddles and conferences and explanation of overtime rules that I don’t understand, the Green Bay defence all lose their minds and their structure on the first play. There is a bizarre blitz with every defender trying to sack the quarterback, leaving Arizona’s most dangerous receiver Ryan Fitzgerald unguarded and 20 yards in the clear. He runs nearly the length of the field. And then 2 plays later the Arizona QB shapes to pass and then hands off to FItzgerald who waltzes through a Green Bay defence backpedalling for a pass instead of the run.
    The first 2 hours of the game was Fremantle v Melbournce defensive dull. The last half hour was mind blowing skill and unpredictable drama.
    I understand something happened at the WACA on Saturday night, but we took in a deadly dull and boring Italian movie in the UWA gardens. ‘Mia Madre’ – save yourself 2 hours of your life. The sauv blanc and mango salsa was the highlight.
    Gardening Sunday with Uncle Jim, Gerard, Chris Rogers and new boy Dan Christian. Is he a jockey or did he fall off his bicycle seat on the way to the MCG? The 40,000 Indian diaspora left deflated.
    Ho hum. Bring on the real sport at Rod Laver and Margaret Court over the next 2 weeks. Cheering for Kyrgios who we saw at the Hopman Cup. He is young and brash but really looked to be enjoying his sport again. Hope Tomic trips over his bank balance and is forced to withdraw when down 0-6 to a Moldovan qualifier.
    Weekend round up is a good idea. Thanks DP. Would be interested in what sport captures other Almanackers each weekend. Cheers from the Fatal Shore.

  4. DBalassone says

    Still find it strange that the culmination of the Big Bash season is interrupted/contaminated by these meaningless one-dayers. Don’t get me wrong, great effort by Australia to chase down 300 odd on 3 occasions, but how boring is this form of cricket, compared to T20? The middle overs are painful to watch – those 100s at a run a ball to Sharma and Kohli really meant nothing – just chipping the ball around for singles to spread out fields, and the odd boundary.

    The international schedule should stop after Sydney test, with all the games from Jan 8-26 dedicated to Big Bash. After that, then schedule your meaningless ODIs. Surely Cricket Australia can get that right?

    Ideally, we just need test cricket and T20 cricket now. ODI just over complicates the schedule and bores the people.

  5. Peter Fuller says

    I want to know who is the anonymous correspondent rejoicing in a Sunderland defeat. Liverpool, Chelsea, either Manchester team, even the Arse, I could understand. Only Liverpool of that group lost, despite a couple of surprise draws.
    JH, my 2016 subscription is put at risk by such wanton kicking of the lame dog.

  6. I cannot tell a lie, it was I, David P the Spurs supporter that rejoices with a win if only to stir the nest of idle EPL supporters. Frustrated by earlier loss to Leicester I have to give voice to stir up fellow Spurs supporters among us, are there any others? I do miss Defoe if its any consolation and Sunderland were doing OK until Jan Kirchhoff came on for his not so auspicious debut.
    Would like to hear from others about their team’s weekend results, thanks for the Sunderland sympathy comment.

  7. Peter Fuller says

    Dave,
    Thanks for that. I don’t mind the Spurs so best of luck to yours. I remember reading some thrilling accounts of the great Spurs’ side of the double era (60-61?) and their Euro campaigns.
    I agree Kirchoff was the difference between a respectable loss and a horrible one

  8. I like the wrap. Thanks DaveP.

  9. The Essendon saga continues to be the best sport in town. The thrill of what happens next, the unexpected twists, the human element, the precarious balance of truth and balony … love it. What was that? Tennis match fixing? Wtf. There’s a new game in town. Cheers

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