Sports Highlights

The following are the top/expected stories at 1745 hours:

EXPECTED STORIES: *Report of 3rd ODI between India and Australia in Ranchi.

*Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy matches in Indore. *I-League match between Mohun Bagan and Shillong Lajong.

*Report of World Team Championship in Astana, Kazakhstan.

STORIES ON THE WIRE:

SPO-BAD-IND Saina's run ends with loss to Tai Tzu Ying at All England

Birmingham, Mar 8 (PTI) Saina Nehwal's dismal run against nemesis Tai Tzu-Ying continued as she suffered yet another defeat against the Taiwanese to crash out of the USD 1 million All England Championship, here Friday.

SPO-IND-WOM-PREVIEW India women to play for pride in final T20 against England

Guwahati, Mar 8 (PTI) With pride at stake, India batswomen need to make amends for their below-par show as the hosts eye a consolation victory in the third and final T20 International against England here Saturday.

SPO-IND-LD INNINGS India restrict Australia to 313/5 despite Khawaja, Finch knocks

Ranchi, Mar 8 (PTI) Indian pacers covered up commendably for a rare off-day endured by the spinners as Australia were restricted to 313 despite a 193-run opening stand between skipper Aaron Finch and Usman Khawaja in the third ODI here Friday.

SPO-IND-2NDLD ARMY Team India flaunts Army camouflage caps, donates match fee to Nat'l Defence Fund

(Eds: Updating with more quotes) Ranchi, Mar 8 (PTI) As a mark of respect for the CRPF personnel who lost their lives in the Pulwama terrorist attack, the Indian cricketers Friday sported special Army caps during the third ODI against Australia and donated their match fee to the National Defence Fund.

SPO-IND-WOM-MANDHANA

Need more fearless batters in domestic circuit for improved international show: Mandhana Guwahati, Mar 8 (PTI) The Indian women's cricket team's stand-in T20 skipper Smriti Mandhana feels fearless batters have to step up in the domestic circuit for the side to improve at the international level and described the current gulf in quality as "huge".

SPO-GOLF-BHULLAR

Bhullar lies Tied-10th after first round in Qatar Doha (Qatar), Mar 8 (PTI) Gaganjeet Bhullar made a fine start in difficult conditions with a three-under 69 that placed him Tied 10th after the first round of the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters, here.

SPO-GOLF-DIKSHA

Dikshaplaced T-12th in Australia Queanbeyan (Australia), Mar 8 (PTI) Diksha Dagar continued to grow in strenghth as the rookie shot a four-under 67 to leap to the Tied-12th place, up 21 places from T-33rd after her first round of 72.

SPO-GOLF-LAHIRI

Lahiri placed precariously; Rafa leads Orlando (Florida), Mar 8 (PTI) Anirban Lahiri was placed precariously at two-over 74 and in Tied-72nd position at the end of the first round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

SPO-ATP-IND

Prajnesh shocks Paire at Indian Wells Indian Wells (USA), Mar 8 (PTI) Indian qualifier Prajnesh Gunneswaran knocked out world number 69 Benoit Paire for one of the biggest wins of his career and progressed to the second round of the Indian Wells ATP Masters event here.

SPO-BOX-IND

India off to good start at boxing tourney in Finland New Delhi, Mar 8 (PTI) Indian boxer Dinesh Dagar (69kg) upstaged former Olympic bronze-medallist Evaldas Petrauskas to enter the quarterfinals of the 38th International GeeBee Tournament in Helsinki, Finland.

SPO-BCCI-LD CONTRACTS

Dhawan demoted, Pant promoted but no place for Mayank, Prithvi (Eds: Adds more information, quote )

New Delhi, Mar 8 (PTI) Acknowledging Rishabh Pant's consistent performance, the BCCI has rewarded the young wicketkeeper-batsman with a grade A retainership while demoting senior opener Shikhar Dhawan from the elite A plus category in the latest list of Central Contracts.

SPO-ISL-SEMIS-PREVIEW Mumbai eye revenge against Goa in ISL semis

Mumbai, Mar 8 (PTI) Having suffered two defeats against FC Goa in the league stage, Mumbai City FC would be

thirsting for revenge when the two outfits clash in the first-leg semi-final of the Indian Super League on Saturday.

SPO-GOLF-WOM

Steady Gaurika keeps nerve to win fifth leg of Hero WPG Tour Gurugram, Mar 8 (PTI) Gaurika Bishnoi held her nerve in the closing stages of the final round to emerge winner in the fifth leg of the Hero Women's Pro Golf Tour event here Friday.

SPO-GOLF-PGTI

Rashid maintains two-shot lead with 70 at Chittagong Open Chittagong, Mar 8 (PTI) Rashid Khan maintained his two-shot lead after carding a flawless two-under 70 in round three of the Chittagong Open at the Bhatiary Golf & Country Club here Friday.