22/08/2026

SATURDAY | AUG 22, 2026

FOLLOW

ON FACEBOOK Malaysian Paper

28

SPORTS

/thesundaily

SPORTS

Brook maintains stranglehold over Pakistan

SHORTS I’m back: Alcaraz

ENGLAND’S Harry Brook extended his remarkable record against Pakistan to put the hosts into a commanding position on the sec ond day of the first Test at Headingley. Brook cashed in on some indisciplined bowling from a lightweight seam attack to make 91 from 93 balls as England opened a 195-run lead with two first innings wickets still standing. It took the Yorkshireman’s average in his 12 Test appearances against Pakistan above 85. Dropped on one at second slip by Salman Ali Agha off Khurram Shahzad, Brook illumi nated a grey, rain-shortened day for his home crowd with an innings containing 13 fours before falling to spinner Ali Usman who fin ished with 5-92.

“He has told everyone: ‘bat your way, bat how you want to and enjoy it’ and that’s what we’ve done. Hopefully the boys can get 50 runs tomor row – we’ve still got Jamie Smith and Jofra Archer in there who can give it a good whack - and then get to our work.”

Brook shared a fifth-wicket partnership of 120 with the recalled Dan Lawrence who made 51 from 79 balls. Lawrence, back after two years in the wil derness, filled the boots of Ben Stokes after his retirement in positive fashion, before top edging a sweep off Usman. The pair made the most of the base laid earlier by Joe Root and Jordan

CARLOS ALCARAZ announced yesterday that he will return at the US Open to defend his title after recovering from a wrist injury that has sidelined him for the past four months. “I’m back,”the seven-time Grand Slam champion said in a video posted on social media.“Here we go.” The Spaniard has not played since withdrawing from the Barcelona Open in mid-April with a right wrist injury, missing both the French Open and Wimbledon. Alcaraz became the youngest man to complete the career Grand Slam in January with his triumph, at age 22, at the Australian Open. He added the ATP hard court title in Doha in February but after withdrawing in Barcelona he pulled out of tournaments in Madrid and Rome before withdrawing from Roland Garros, where he was the two-time reigning champion. His camp has been stingy with details of the injury, reported to be tenosynovitis – in which fluid accumulates in a tendon sheath. Tennis’ mega payday THE US Open will hand out US$108m (RM436m) in prize money at this year’s final Grand Slam, it said yesterday, marking the largest purse in tennis his tory and a 20% jump from last year’s total payout. The men’s and women’s singles champions at the Aug 23 to Sept 13 major in New York will earn US$5.5m (RM22m) each, which marks a 10% increase from last year and is the largest Grand Slam payment in history for a main draw singles cham pion. The compensation package also includes what tournament organisers said is a Grand Slam record for first-round payouts, which this year will increase 27% to US$140,000 (RM565,534). The announcement, which included a Player Support Program seeded with an initial US$2m (RM8m) commitment in 2026 that will be equally split between men and women players, was wel comed by players. “These steps represent important progress in the ongoing conversations between players and the US Open over the past 18 months,” leading ATP and WTA players said in a press release issued on their behalf. “This is a substantial increase in prize money. While this is not yet tied to an agreed revenue-shar ing formula, players remain committed to that prin ciple and will continue to work with each of the Grand Slams toward that goal.” Simmons wary of wounded Aussies BANGLADESH coach Phil Simmons has warned his players to expect a fierce backlash from Australia in the second Test after his side shocked the cricket world with a nine-wicket victory in the series opener in Darwin. Australian media dubbed the defeat the“Darwin Disaster” and Simmons said his side could not afford to be complacent when they face the World Test Championship standings leaders in Mackay from tomorrow. “The only thing I had to say to them – and I will repeat it anyway – is that Australia is going to come harder,” Simmons said. “We have to either keep that level of perform ance or get a little bit better. Even if we have to get 1% better in some areas, then we will have to make sure that that’s there. “But we know that they are going to change their game. They are going to come harder at us.” The win in Darwin was Bangladesh’s first Test vic tory on Australian soil and Simmons said that it was among the most satisfying results of his long career coaching red-ball cricket. Australia confirmed yesterday they would be making just one change to their team for the sec ond Test with Matt Renshaw coming in at the top of the order for Jake Weatherald, who was dropped on Tuesday. Captain Pat Cummins said Australia were con sidering bringing in a fourth paceman in the shape of Scott Boland and leaving out spinner Nathan Lyon, but the line-up was confirmed shortly after training.

Pakistan, who last won a Test in England eight years ago, are in a tight corner. “With better weather fore cast for the remaining three days, they look unlikely to receive much assistance from the elements in their efforts to get out of it. – Reuters

Cox. Root made 66 and Cox 73 in a stand of 150 for the third wicket. “Headingley is one of quickest-scoring grounds in the country and Tres has been really good with us,” said Cox.

Injury blow for Rybakina Swiatek advances as world No. 2 retires with US Open looming

Elena Rybakina in action against Iga Swiatek (not pictured) during yesterday’s Cincinnati Masters quarterfinal clash . – REUTERSPIC

I GA SWIATEK moved into the semifinals of the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Masters as Elena Rybakina was forced to retire with a heel injury less than half an hour into their clash yesterday. Rybakina’s withdrawal raised concerns over the fitness of the world number two Kazakh just 10 days before the start of the US Open. Trailing 4-1 in the opening set of yester day’s Cincinnati quarterfinal, Rybakina sud denly pulled up short at 40-all, heading to her bench and consulting with the trainer. She went back out and played one more point before quitting. “I was feeling anxious watching the whole situation,” said her opponent Swiatek. “I hope she will be fine. Health is always the priority.” “This is an important tournament, but the US Open is the US Open. I hope she is ready

6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (7-4). Pegula’s win was her sixth without a loss to Anisimova. “I know I have a good record against her, but literally every single match is like it was today,” she said. In the men’s draw, Flavio Cobolli advanced to the final four with a 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 defeat of Tommy Paul, gobbling down a handful of sweets for an unorthodox boost midway through the match. “A sweet with chocolate makes me happy,” Cobolli said. “I’ve tried it in doubles so why not singles?” Cobelli will play for a place in the final when he faces Arthur Fils, who defeated Thiago Tirante 6-3, 6-2 in just 64 minutes. Fils said he was impressed by the weight of his opponent’s big game. “He has an unbelievable serve, I was sur prised by the speed of his ball,” he said. – AFP some tee shots at times,” said McIlroy. McIlroy said work since last week had him feeling he was “at least back on the right path” with his game and his swing. “It’s certainly a work in progress. Days like this are encouraging, obviously. There’s still a lot of work to be done.” Woodland was seven-under after a birdie at 17 but gave a stroke back after finding a greenside bunker at 18. Spaun moving into the solo lead with his seventh birdie of the day at 17. Clark on six-under with five of his six birdies on the back nine and Gotterup had three birdies on each side to complete the leading quintet. – AFP

for that,” she said, referring to the major which begins in New York on Aug 30. “It was a shame she was injured, we were having a good match.” Had two-time Grand Slam winner Rybakina reached the Cincinnati final she would have risen to No. 1 in the world for the first time in her career, following incumbent Aryna Sabalenka’s shock exit to 20-year-old Sara Bejlek. Defending Cincinnati champion Swiatek said she had “gained a lot of confidence in the last weeks,” which have also included her vic tory over Rybakina in the final of this month’s Toronto event. “I feel great, ready to play my game … I’m happy to be playing the tennis that I am.” Swiatek now plays a semifinal against Jessica Pegula, who is reportedly carrying a hip niggle after defeating Amanda Anisimova

McIlroy bounces back to share BMW C’ship lead RORY MCILROY fired an impressive six-under par 64 to headline a five-way tie for the lead yesterday at the BMW Championship, the second event of the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup playoffs. JJ Spaun – and Chris Gotterup. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who was at his imperious best on the way to victory in Memphis last week, was meanwhile far from the logjam at the top.

Scheffler hit just six of 14 fairways and 11 of 18 greens in regulation on the way to a two over par 72 that featured five bogeys and left him tied for 44th – just one stroke better than the last-placed trio in the field of 50. McIlroy picked up two birdies on the front nine and four coming home, including back-to back birdies at 17 and 18. “It’s my style of golf course. I do well on these golf courses, they’re big, they’re long. You can get away with missing

It was a welcome return to form for second ranked McIlroy, who admitted he felt “lost” in a 66th-place finish at the St. Jude Championship in Memphis last week – his first start since he finished tied for 40th in the Open Championship. The six-time major champion was tied for the lead yesterday at Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis, Missouri, with a trio of US Open winners – Gary Woodland, Wyndham Clark and