Reuters Sports Schedule at 0600 GMT on Wednesday, March 11
Reuters sports schedule at 0600 GMT on Wednesday: - - - - CRICKET World Cup, Australia and New Zealand (to 29) Sri Lanka bat first against Scotland Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews won the toss and decided to bat first in their final World Cup Pool A match against Scotland which also serves as an opportunity for the former champions to assess their strength in depth. (CRICKET-WORLD/SRI-SCO, expect innings report by 0730 GMT/2 AM ET, 400 words) - - Cartwheeling Hassan an unlikely star of the World Cup MELBOURNE - At a World Cup where millionaires and refugees share the same stage, it is little surprise that one of the standouts of the tournament is also one of the most unlikely. (CRICKET-WORLD/AFGHANISTAN-HASSAN (FEATURE), expect by 0630 GMT/1:30 AM ET, by Julian Linden, 600 words) - - - - MOTOR RACING Drivers start their engines for Formula One season opener MELBOURNE - Lewis Hamilton starts the Formula One season as red-hot favourite in a powerful Mercedes car, while Daniel Ricciardo's holds local fans' hopes of a first home winner at the season-opener at Albert Park (MOTOR RACING-PRIX/ (PREVIEW), expect by 0800 GMT/3 AM ET, by Ian Ransom, 400 words) We will also move a factbox with statistics on the Australian race. - - MELBOURNE - An Australian court has found in favour of Dutch driver Giedo van der Garde in his bid to force the Sauber Formula One team to let him drive for them this season. (MOTOR RACING-PRIX/SAUBER-GARDE, moved with update to follow, 300 words) - - - - NBA Spurs keep winning streak alive The San Antonio Spurs built a 26-point lead in the third quarter and held off a late rally from the Toronto Raptors to claim their sixth successive win, but lost Tim Duncan to a hyper-extended left elbow. (NBA-HIGHLIGHTS/, moved, 650 words) - - - - NHL Lightning win clash of East heavyweights against Canadiens Tyler Johnson scored the winner in overtime to lift the Tampa Bay Lightning to a win over the Montreal Canadiens. (NHL-HIGHLIGHTS/, moved, 550 words) - - - - NORTH AMERICAN SPORTS Roundups of off-field developments in the major North American professional sports leagues. (expect by 0000 GMT/8:00 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 400 words) - - - - SOCCER Champions League last 16 second legs (1945) Bayern Munich (Germany) v Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine) Chelsea (England) v Paris St Germain (France) Bayern need victory over Shakhtar to avoid going out MUNICH - Bayern Munich must beat visitors Shakhtar Donetsk over 90 minutes in their Champions League return leg to reach the quarter-finals, with a score draw sending the Ukrainians through after last month's goalless first match. (SOCCER-CHAMPIONS/BAYERN (PIX), expect by 2145 GMT/4:45 PM ET, by Karolos Grohmann, 500 words) - - Chelsea favourites to edge past PSG into last eight LONDON - Chelsea are favourites to knock Paris St Germain out of the Champions League for the second season in a row when they meet in the return leg of their last 16 tie level at 1-1 having beaten them at the quarter-final stage last season. (SOCCER-CHAMPIONS/CHELSEA (PIX), expect by 2145 GMT/4:45 PM ET, by Mike Collett, 500 words) - - Libertadores Cup group stage Copy on merit - - - - HORSE RACING Cheltenham Festival (to 13) Sire De Grugy bids to retain Champion Chase crown A fascinating Queen Mother Champion Chase is in prospect with last year's winner Sire De Grugy taking on 2013 champion Sprinter Sacre, whose career has been interrupted by injury, in the big race on the second day of the Cheltenham Festival. (HORSERACING/CHELTENHAM, expect by 1545 GMT/11:45 AM ET, by Justin Palmer, 300 words) - - - - CYCLING Tirreno-Adriatico, Italy (to 17) Copy on merit - - - - (Asia desk editor: Greg Stutchbury)
