Moon Of Liberty Cricket – Aus v Pak 1st ODI

One Day Cricket

ODI Game 1 – Australia v Pakistan in Brisbane

Four wickets for Faulkner as Pakistan collapse

Australia were struggling in their innings early on at 78 for 4 but a century from Matthew Wade helped turn it around. Wade scored exactly 100 including two sixes and was supported by Glenn Maxwell (60) to help Australia post 268 for 9. Hasan Ali took three wickets and was the best of the bowlers. The home side were never under threat though as Pakistan collapsed in their innings Babar Azam’s 33 was the top score as Pakistan got nowhere near the chase. James Faulker produced an excellent spell taking four wickets and Pat Cummins took three as Australia coasted home to a 92 run win to take a 1-0 lead in the series.

Full Report (Real Sport 101)

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MOON OF LIBERTY SCOREBOARD

CRICKET

ODI Game 1 – At The Gabba, Brisbane, Queensland

Australia v Pakistan

Australia – 268/9 – 50 Overs – (Wade 100, Maxwell 60, Ali 3-65)

Pakistan – 176 – 42.4 Overs – (Azam 33, Faulkner 4-32, Cummins 3-33)

Australia win by 92 Runs

Australia Lead the Series 1-0

MOON OF LIBERTY STAR MAN – James Faulkner (Australia)

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Moon Of Liberty World Championship Boxing – Lara Vs Foreman

World Championship Boxing

WBA Super Welterweight Championship – Lara v Foreman

Cuban Lara retains the title with 4th Round KO

Cuban star Erislandy Lara made a fourth successful defence of his Super Welterweight title with a 4th round knockout of Israel’s Yuri Foreman in Florida. Lara was in control from the off without seriously troubling Foreman in the first two rounds. Foreman appeared to be hard done to then the referee called what looked a trip a knockdown in the third and it appeared to affect him. Lara then took his chance with a clean left hook in the fourth which saw the end of the contest. It is Lara’s fifth straight win in an impressive display which will help build his reputation.

Full Report (Boxing News)

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MOON OF LIBERTY SCOREBOARD

(Champ = Red, Challenger = Blue, New Champ = yellow)

World Championship Boxing

WBA Super Welterweight Title – At Hialeah Park Racing & Casino. Hialea, Florida

Erislandy Lara (Cuba) Beat Yuri Foreman (Israel) by TKO in Round 4

Still WBA Super Welterweight Champion … Erislandy Lara (Cuba)

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Moon of Liberty NFL – Sunday Wildcard Games

NFL

Wildcard Game -Miami @ Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh’s big three deliver easy win

Pittsburgh blew Miami away in their wild card game at Heinz Field.The ‘big three’ all delivered with running back Le’Von Bell going for a franchise post season record 167 yards and two Touchdowns, Wide receiver Antonio Borwn caught 5 passes for 124 yards and two Touchdowns with Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger throwing for 197 yards and two Touchdowns. Pittsbugh dominated the first half taking a 20-6 lead and coasted through the second half to see off a Dolphins side who never seriously threatened.  Pittsburgh will head to Kansas City in the Divisional play-offs while the other AFC games sees Houston go to New England.

Full Report (CBS Sport)

Wildcard Game – NY Giants @ Green Bay

Rogers sees Green Bay home after tough start

A Hail Mary pass just before half time turned a tough close game in Green Bay’s favour as they recorded a 38-13 win over the New York Giants. The Giants led 6-0 early on but Green Bay worked their way into the game and looked like they would take a 7-6 lead in at half time when Aaron Rogers’ Hail Mary to Randall Cobb moved Green Bay 8 points ahead. hey never looked back as Rogers tore up the Giants secondary in the second half throwing for 362 yards and four Touchdown, three of them to Cobb who had 116 receiving yards to boot. Green Bay will now head to Dallas, with in the other NFC game Seattle will also head south to face Atlanta.

Full Report (CBS Sport)

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MOON OF LIBERTY SCOREBOARD

NFL Wildcard Results

Pittsburgh Steelers 30 – Miami Dolphins 12 – At heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Green Bay Packers 38 – New York Giants 13 – At Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

MOON OF LIBERTY STAR MAN – Aaron Rogers (Green Bay Packers)

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Moon Of Liberty Tennis – WTA Tour, Brisbane, Shenzhen & Auckland

TENNIS

Brisbane International Final in Brisbane, Australia

Pliskova serve dominates

Czech Karolina Pliskova will move to a career high 5th in the World Rankings after dominating the Brisbane Open Final against Alice Cornet. Pliskova only dropped three games with Cornet commenting afterwards that Pliskova’s serve is one of the most difficult in the game to read. Pliskova whitewashed her opponent 6-0 in the first set and broke again to take the second 6-3. it is Pliskova’s seventh WTA title.

Full Report (Tennis Magazine)

Shenzhen Open Final in Shenzhen, China

Siniakova claims maiden title

Katerina Siniakova made it a double for the Czech Republic after a stunning week in China culminated in vicory over Alison Riske of the USA. Siniakova had beaten Simona Halep and Johanna Konta to reach the final and took full advantage of her good form to take the title. Riske broke early but a run of four game gave Siniakova the first set and she broke twice in the second to ease to victory and take her first WTA title.

Full Report (Indian Express)

Auckland Open Final in Auckland, New Zealand

Davis completes superb week with her first title

Young star Lauren Davis ranked 61 in the world beat four seeds including Kiki Bertens to claim her first WTA title. She was the underdog yet again going into the final against Croatia’s Ana Konjuh but she needed just 73 minutes losing only four games to dismantle her opponent. It was Davis fourth attempt at a title after losing in three finals last year. She opens up in superb form going into the Australian Open in two weeks time. Davis, along with Siniakova, are two young start to watch in 2017 in what looks a fairly open women’s game at the moment.

Full Report (NZ Herald)

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MOON OF LIBERTY SCOREBOARD

TENNIS – WTA Results

Brisbane International Final – At The Queensland Tennis Center, Tenyson, Brisbane, Queensland

Karolina Pliskova (Czech Rep) Beat Alice Cornet (France) – 2-0 – (6-0, 6-3)

Shenzhen Open Final – At The Shenzhen Longgang Tennis Center, Shenzhen, China

Katerina Siniakova (Czech Rep) Beat Alison Riske (USA) – 2-0 – (6-3, 6-4)

Auckalnd Open Final – At The ASB Tennis Center, Auckland, New Zealand

Lauren Davis (USA) Beat Ana Konjuh (Croatia) – 2-0 – (6-3, 6-1)

 

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Moon Of Liberty Tennis – ATP Tour Qatar, Chennai & Brisbane

TENNIS – ATP Tour

Qatar Open Final in Doha

Djokovic ends Murray’s 28 match run

The world’s top two players showed why in a three set classic with excellent tennis to kick off the ATP 2017 tour in Doha. Novak Djokovic took the first set after breaking in the 8th game and led by an early break in the second set. However Andy Murray reached number 1 in the world for a reason and fought back to take the second set 7-5 to force a decider. at 4-4 The Serb seized his chance to gain the decisive break. Murray fought back again to threaten at 0-30 in the next service game but Djokovic weathered the test to claim the game and his first title of the season and end Murray’s 28 match unbeaten run.

Full Report (Sky Sports)

Chennai Open in Chennai, India

Experience beats youth as Bautista Agut claims fifth ATP title

Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut won a comfortable straight sets victory over Daniil Medvedev of Russia to claim the Chennai Open title. Bautista Agut won a break in each set against the youngster who was chasing his first title. There were plenty of long rallies but Medvedev made too many mistakes and the experience of Butista Agut told. The win is the Spaniard’s fifth ATP title.

Full Report (Indian Express.com)

Brisbane International Final

First title in 2 and a half years for Dimitrov

Grigor Dimitrov ended his title drought with a three set victory over fifth world ranked Kai Nishikori of Japan. Dimitrov scored two breaks to easily take the first set but Nishikori hit back with a run of four straight games in the second to level. Dimitrov kept his composure to break in the final set and serve it out to take the third 6-3. It is Nishikori’s fifth final defeat in Brisbane but a sign we may begin to see the full potential of Dimitrov going forward.

Full Report (Courier Mail Australia)

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MOON OF LIBERTY SCOREBOARD

TENNIS – ATP Tour Results

Qatar Open Final – At The Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex, Doha, Qatar

Novak Djokovic (Serbia) Beat Sir Andy Murray (GB) – 2-1 – (6-3, 5-7, 6-4)

Chennai Open Final – At The SDAT Tennis Stadium, Chennai, India

Roberto Bautista Agut (Spain) Beat Daniil Medvedev (Russia) – 2-0 – (6-3, 6-4)

Brisbane International Final – At The Queensland Tennis Center, Tennyson, Brisbane, Queenland

Grigor Dimitrov (Bulgaria) Beat Kai Nishikori (Japan) – 2-0 – (7-6, 6-4)

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Moon of Liberty NFL – Wildcard Games

NFL

Wildcard Game – Oakland @ Houston

Houston defence gets at rookie Quarterback – Houston 27-14 Oakland

Houston took advantage of Oakland being forced to start with a rookie Quarterback as Connor Cook threw 3 interceptions creating a solid basis for Houston to go on and comfortably win the game. Brock Osweiler redeemed himself after some poor recent form at Quaterback for Houston Throwing a Touchdown and rushing for another. Lemar Miller also rushed for 73 yards and a touchdown as Houston led by 13 at half-time and cruised to a final 27-14 win to take them through to the Divisional play-offs.

Full Report (CBS Sports)

Wildcard Game – Detroit @ Seattle

Running game the key as Seattle finally wear down Detroit – Seattle 26-6 Detroit

Seattle persevered to eventually claim an easy victory over Detroit. Thomas Rawls ran for 161 yards and a touchdown and Quarterback Russell Wilson threw 23/30 and 224 yards with a Touchdown throw to boot. Despite only scoring two field goals in the whole game Detroit kept the game close the Seattle’s relentless running game told in the end with 16 fourth quarter points without reply as Detroit’s defence tired. Seattle move on to next week.

Full Report (CBS Sports)

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MOON OF LIBERTY SCOREBOARD

NFL SCORES

Wildcard

Houston Texans 27 – Oakland Raiders 10 – At The NRG Stadium, Houston Texas

Seattle Seahawks 26 – Detroit Lions 6 – At Century Link Field, Seattle, Washington

MOON OF LIBERTY STAR MAN – Thomas Rawls (Seattle Seahawks)

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Moon Of Liberty Tennis – Hopman Cup

TENNIS

Hopman Cup Final – France v USA

French pair win doubles decider to claim second Hopman Cup

France required a doubles decider to win the Hopman Cup against the USA in Perth, Australia. Richard Gasquet beat Jack Sock in a final set tie break to give France the lead but Coco Vendeweghe beat Kristina Mladenovic to level at 1-1. The Hopman Cup rules has the doubles played in sets of best of seven and the French pair won in straight sets to repeat their triumph of 2014.

Full Report (BBC Sport)

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MOON OF LIBERTY SCOREBOARD

TENNIS

Hopman Cup Final – At The Perth Arena, Perth, Western Australia

Richard Gasquet (France) Beat Jack Sock (USA) – 2-1 – (6-3, 5-7. 7-6)

Coco Vendeweghe (USA) Beat Kristina Mladenovic (France) – 2-0 – (6-3, 7-5)

Richard Gasquet & Kristina Mladenovic (France) Beat Jack Sock & Coco Vendeweghe (USA) – 2-0 – (4-1, 4-3)

FINAL SCORE – France 2 – USA 1

FRANCE Win the 2017 Hopman Cup

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Moon Of Liberty Cricket – Australia v Pakistan 3rd Test

CRICKET

Australia v Pakistan 3rd Test Match

Power batting sets up Australia to take the Whitewash

Three first innings centuries from Matt Renshaw, David Warner and Peter Handscombe enabled Australia to put a dominant 538 on the board taking advantage of the best of the batting time that left Pakistan chasing. Younis Khan’s class 175 not out was not enough to stop Australia taking a 200 plus first innings lead helped by Josh Hazlewood’s four wicket haul. The home side then added a high speed 241 batting Pakistan totally out of the game. Hazlewood took 3 more wickets in the second innings as Pakistan got nowhere near their target. The win means Australia take the series by a whitewash 3-0 scoreline.

Full Report (BBC Sport)

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MOON OF LIBERTY SCOREBOARD

CRICKET

3rd Test Match – At The SCG, Sydney, New South Wales

Australia v Pakistan

Australia – 1st Inns – 538/8 Dec – (Renshaw 184, Warner 113, Handscombe 110, Riaz 3-89)

Pakistan – 1st Inns – 315 – (Khan 175* Ali 71, Hazlewood 4-55)

Australia – 2nd Inns – 241/2 Dec – (Khawja 79*, Smith 59, Warner 55)

Pakistan – 2nd Inns – 244 – (Ahmed 72*, Hazlewood 3-29)

Australia win by 220 Runs

Australia Win the Series 3-0

MOON OF LIBERTY STAR MAN – Matt Renshaw (Australia)

Moon Of Liberty Cricket – 2nd Test SA v SL

CRICKET

2nd TEST MATCH – SOUTH AFRICA v SRI LANKA

10 Wickets for Rabada as South Africa claim series win 

South Africa have taken a decisive 2-0 lead in their series with Sri Lanka after a comprehensive 282 run win in Cape Town. Centuries from Dean Elgar and wicket keeper Quinton De Kock helped South Africa put 393 on the board and then the bowlers ripped the Sri Lankan’s apart. Four wickets each for Kigisa Rabada and Vernon Philander were to key to bowling the visitors out for just 110 and and there was no way back. Elgar hit another half century in the second innings to put the game beyond reach and with Sri Lanka chasing over 500 to win, Rabada took six more wickets to make it 10 for the match as South Africa eased home to an easy victory. 

Full Report (Cricbuzz)

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MOON OF LIBERTY SCOREBOARD

CRICKET

2nd Test Match – At Newlands, Cape Town

South Africa v Sri Lanka

South Africa – 1st Inns – 393/10 – (Elgar 129, De Kock 101, Kumara 6-122)

Sri Lanka – 1st Inns – 110/10 – (Tharanga 26*, Philander 4-27. Rabada 4-37)

South Africa  – 2nd Inns – 224/7 Dec – (Elgar 55, Lakmal 4-69)

Sri Lanka – 2nd Inns – 224/10 – (Mathews 49, Rabada 6-59)

South Africa win by 282 Runs

South Africa Lead the Series 2-0

MOON OF LIBERTY STAR MAN – Kagiso Rabada (South Africa)

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Moon Of Liberty Darts – PDC World Championship

DARTS

Mighty Mike ends Anderson’s reign and takes second title

Michael Van Gerwin 7-3 Gary Anderson

Michael Van Gerwin claimed his second World title and ended Gary Anderson’s attempt to win a third in a row in a dominant display in the final at the Alexandra Palace. Van Gerwin began with a 122 check out in the first leg but found himself behind after being broken in the third set to trail 2-1. Van Gerwin broke straight back to level and then took the next two sets establish a 4-2 lead from there he would not relinquish. He motored through the next two to take a 6-2 lead. His concentration was broken by an intruder and steadied Anderson to take the ninth, but there was to be no comeback as Van Gerwin hit 85 finishing with a bullseye in the deciding leg of the 10th set to claim a comfortable 7-3 win and finish what has been a superb season for the Dutchman in style.

Full Report (Sky Sports)

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MOON OF LIBERTY SCOREBOARD

DARTS

PDC World Darts Championship – At The Alexandra Palace, Haringey, London

Semi-Finals – (Best of 11 Sets)

Michael Van Gerwin (Holland) 6 – Raymond Van Barneveld (Holland) 2

Gary Anderson (Scotland) 6 – Peter Wright (Scotland) 3

FINAL – (Best of 13 Sets)

Michael Van Gerwin (Holland) 7 – Gary Anderson (Scotland) 3

Michael Van Gerwin (Holland) is the PDC WORLD DARTS CHAMPION

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