Jwala-Diju in Super Series Masters finals, Saina loses in semis

Johor Bahru, Dec 5: India’s Valiyaveetil Diju and Jwala Gutta scored a sensational 21-19, 21-11 win over Poland’s Robert Mateusiak and Nadiezda Kostiuczyk to storm into the mixed doubles final of the World Super Series Masters Finals badminton at the Johor Bahru City Stadium here on Saturday.

However, top-seeded Indian Saina Nehwal went down 18-21, 18-21 to Juliane Schenk of Germany in the women’s singles semifinals. It was a strong comeback from world No 7. Jwala and Diju who had lost their opening Group match.

Sangakkara stands in India’s way

MUMBAI, Dec 5: India were on the threshold of becoming the number one team in Test rankings as they closed in on an emphatic victory in the third and final Test against Sri Lanka despite captain Kumar Sangakkara’s gritty unbeaten century on Saturday.

After conceding a mammoth 333-run first innings lead, the visitors were struggling at 274 for six at close on the penultimate day which was marked by Sangakkara’s resilient unbeaten 133 under immense pressure.

The Lankans are still trailing by 59 runs at the end of the day and will have to bat out of their skins to achieve the near-impossible task of saving the game on a last-day Brabourne track which was expected to assist the bowlers.

The Indians, on the other hand, will look to wrap up the remaining four wickets quickly on Sunday and clinch the three-match Test series with a 2-0 margin.