Daily Sports News, December, 14th.
Welcome to the Daily Sports News :
- Mohamed Salah scored twice as Premier League leaders Liverpool battled to victory over strugglers Watford in Nigel Pearson's first game in charge;
- Mark Boucher: South Africa name ex-Test wicketkeeper as head coach until 2023;
- Presidents Cup: Patrick Reed's caddie involved in altercation with fan;
- Kawhi Leonard and Paul George break scoring records in LA Clippers win;
- Australia v New Zealand: Hosts gain commanding lead after bowling out Kiwis for 166;
Mohamed Salah scored twice as Premier League leaders Liverpool battled to victory over strugglers Watford in Nigel Pearson's first game in charge.
Salah curled the ball into the far corner for the opener before flicking in a late second in the final minute of normal time at Anfield.
Watford missed chances in both halves, while Liverpool's Sadio Mane had a header ruled out for offside following a review by the video assistant referee (VAR).
Liverpool remain unbeaten in the league this season while Watford are six points - and with a substantial goal difference to overturn - adrift of safety.
The Reds were made to work for their victory though - goalkeeper Alisson making smart saves after the break, while Watford's Ismaila Sarr also wasted a huge chance.
Salah squandered opportunities of his own too, but Liverpool did enough to pick up their 16th victory of the season and open up a 10-point gap at the top, with second-placed Leicester being held at home by Norwich later on Saturday.
Kawhi Leonard and Paul George break scoring records in LA Clippers win
Los Angeles Clippers duo Paul George and Kawhi Leonard made franchise history as they both scored more than 40 points in a 124-117 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
George top-scored with 46, while fellow summer signing Leonard added 42.
The Clippers are second in the Western Conference after a fourth straight win.
James Harden scored 50 or more points for a second game - his 54 contained 10 three pointers as the Houston Rockets beat the Orlando Magic 130-107.
The Milwaukee Bucks recorded their 17th win in a row with a 127-114 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies, while the LA Lakers beat the Miami Heat 113-110.
Australia v New Zealand: Hosts gain commanding lead after bowling out Kiwis for 166
Australia are in a commanding position after day three of the first Test with New Zealand in Perth.
The tourists resumed on 109-5 and fast bowler Mitchell Starc (5-52) claimed his fifth wicket of the innings as New Zealand were bowled out for 166.
Joe Burns and Marnus Labuschagne replied with half-centuries as Australia reached 167-6 at stumps, with Tim Southee claiming 4-63.
The hosts now lead the day-night match at Perth Stadium by 417 runs.
New Zealand's Ross Taylor was 66 not out overnight and reached 80 before being caught by Steve Smith off Nathan Lyon, while Starc, 29, secured the 13th fifth-wicket haul of his Test career.
Australia were then 131-1 before, bowling with the pink ball under the lights, Southee and Neil Wagner produced a spell of destructive short bowling.
Mark Boucher: South Africa name ex-Test wicketkeeper as head coach until 2023
Former Test wicketkeeper Mark Boucher has been named as South Africa's new head coach on a four-year deal.
The 43-year-old replaces Enoch Nkwe, who was interim team director after head coach Ottis Gibson was released in August and is now the assistant coach.
The appointment comes three days after former Test captain Graeme Smith was named acting director of cricket.
"I feel Mark will bring the toughness to turn an inexperienced squad into a battle-ready outfit," Smith said.
Boucher's tenure begins with a four-match Test series against England, which starts on 26 December in Centurion.
Presidents Cup: Patrick Reed's caddie involved in altercation with fan
Patrick Reed's caddie has been thrown out of the Presidents Cup in Melbourne by the PGA Tour after he "shoved" a fan who verbally abused his player.
The altercation came on Saturday after American Reed suffered his third defeat against the International team.
Reed has been heckled all week after he was penalised for improving the lie of his ball at the Hero World Challenge.
The PGA Tour said: "Following an incident, Kessler Karain will not return to caddie for Sunday's singles."
Karain, who is Reed's brother-in-law, had earlier said via a statement: "I don't think there's one caddie I know who would blame me.
"I got off the cart and shoved him, said a couple things, probably a few expletives. Security came and I got back on the cart and left.
Congratulations @steemsportss! You have completed the following achievement on the Steem blockchain and have been rewarded with new badge(s) :
You can view your badges on your Steem Board and compare to others on the Steem Ranking
If you no longer want to receive notifications, reply to this comment with the word
STOP
Vote for @Steemitboard as a witness to get one more award and increased upvotes!