Friends thrash MPC 7-1:

LALITPUR: Niranjan Malla scored four goals as Friends Club thrashed Mahendra Police Club 7-1 and Boys Union Club beat Ranipokhari Corner Team 3-1 in the Nepal Bank Junior (U-14) League Football Tournament. Sajan Shrestha, Dipesh Kunwar and Pukar Gahatraj also scored for Friends. Anjesh Khadki, Neeraj Ranamagar and Hari Oli scored for Boys Union. — HNS

Galaxy Public in semis:

KATHMANDU: Galaxy Public School beat Greenland Children Academy by 16 runs to enter the semi-finals of the second KB Khatri Memorial Inter-school Cricket Tournament. Batting first, Galaxy were bowled out for 103 runs in 20 overs. For GCA, Souesh and Pramod took two wickets each. In reply, GCA failed to reach the target and were pac-ked off for 86 runs in 15.3 overs. Man of the match Sujeen of GPS took three wickets.— HNS

Hayden in doubt:

SYDNEY: Opening batsman Matthew Hayden’s long-awaited return to form has taken a blow with a shoulder injury putting him in doubt for Saturday’s third one-day international in New Zealand. Hayden hurt his shoulder making a diving catch to dismiss New Zealand’s Chris Cairns during Australia’s 106-run drubbing of the Blackcaps on Tuesday. Australia’s team physiotherapist, Alex Kountouri, said Hayden had a “grade one” strain to his right shoulder joint and that his arm was in a sling to take pressure off the joint. — AFP

New Zealand recall Papps:

WELLINGTON: Opening batsman Michael Papps was recalled to the New Zealand cricket team on Wednesday for the third and fourth limited-overs internationals against Australia as coach John Bracewell responded to losses in the first two games. Papps replaces Mathew Sinclair who had scores of 0 and 15 in the first two games of the five-match series. Uncapped middle-order batsman James Marshall joins twin brother Hamish for matches at Auckland on Saturday and Wellington on Tuesday. — AP