Nicholas back to hospital

Melbourne: Former Hampshire captain and commentator Mark Nicholas has been taken to hospital for a second time in three days after falling ill during the second Test between Australia and Pakistan on Wednesday. The 59-year-old Englishman was taken to hospital on Monday after suffering abdominal pains but was discharged after tests. He returned to the commentary box on Wednesday but was hospitalised again.

Cricket meet

Calcutta: Police AC defeated Port Trust by 87 runs in a senior knock-out tournament match.

Summarised scores
Police AC 215/8 in 45 ovs. Port Trust 128 in 37.3 ovs. Police AC won by 87 runs. 
United Club 160 in 42.5 ovs. ABP SC 162/6 in 37.3 ovs. ABP SC won by 4 wkts. 

Rapid chess

Calcutta: Grandmaster Harika Dronavalli came up with an inspiring performance to register one win and two draws together with a loss on Day II of the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships (Open and Women) in Doha.

Diptayan wins

Mumbai: Top seed Sandipan Chanda could not break through with the black pieces against Sameer Kathmale and their second round game in the Mumbai International Chess Tournament ended in a draw on Wednesday. Grandmaster Diptayan Ghosh defeated WGM Bhakti Kulkarni.

Santosh Trophy

Calcutta: Bengal will face Chhattisgarh in their opening zonal qualifying round match of the Santosh Trophy in Bokaro on Thursday. Bengal, coached by Mridul Banerjee, are in Group A where Odisha are the third team.

Sacked 

London: Swansea began the search for a third manager of the season on Tuesday after sacking Bob Bradley just 85 days into his reign. 

Giroud deal

London: Olivier Giroud is expected to sign a two-year contract extension at Arsenal, ending suggestions that he could seek to leave if Arsene Wenger continues to deploy him as an impact player. 

Gazza fracas

London: Paul Gascoigne was involved in a fracas at a London hotel, several witnesses said, and taken to hospital after sustaining a head injury. 

Shooting

Calcutta: Bengal finished with three gold and eight silver medals in the 60th National Shooting Championship in Pune. Subhankar Pramanick won a gold and a silver on Wednesday.

Retirement

London: Britain's most decorated cyclist Bradley Wiggins announced his retirement on Wednesday. He became the first Briton to win the Tour de France in 2012 and collected eight Olympic medals, including gold in the time trial at the 2012 London Games.

Staff reporter, the Times london & agencies