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World Cup of Darts: Luke Humphries and Michael Smith’s England defeat Austria in final | Darts News

On: June 30, 2024 By: admin

The dream team of Luke Humphries and Michael Smith gave England a record-breaking fifth World Cup of Darts title and first since 2016 with a 10-6 victory over Austria.

World Cup debutant Humphries and 2023 world champion Smith delivered the goods to secure England’s first World Cup triumph in eight years.

Phil Taylor and Adrian Lewis were the only players to have lifted the World Cup title for England since the tournament’s inception in 2010, but Humphries and Smith created their own history with a dominant success on German soil at the Eissporthalle in Frankfurt.

World Cup of Darts – Results


Quarter-finals	Austria	8-7	Croatia
	Belgium	8-7	Italy
	England	8-4	Northern Ireland
	Scotland	8-7	Sweden

Semi-finals	Austria	8-4	Belgium
	England	8-3	Scotland

Final	England	10-6	Austria

“I felt the biggest buzz since winning the Worlds. We really wanted this. We really believed we could win it and after that first game we played, we clicked,” Humphries told Sky Sports.

“You’ve got a cheat code, the world number one and number three against the field, it’s quite tough for everyone else but after that first game we played and we clicked. We were only worried about ourselves. We knew if we played our best, we could do it and we did.

“I just hope we get to come back next year and defend it together as champions.”

Smith was full of praise for team-mate Humphries, adding: “How good was this man in the final? He hit everything.

“My [double] tops was non-existent and every single shot I left him, bang, bang, bang…. thank you so much mate, you’ve just got me the gold medal.”

The title favourites raced into a 5-1 lead over 2021 runners-up Rowby-John Rodriguez and Mensur Suljovic, Humphries taking out 151 in the sixth leg and 121 in the next before Austria hit back to reduce their deficit to 6-4.

A 180 from Humphries then set up Smith, who had struggled with his doubles early on, to take out double 15 before finishes of 130 and 112 from Humphries took England to the brink of victory.

Suljovic took out 98 to keep the match alive but Smith sealed the win on double eight in the next leg.

England deserved to be crowned champions

“No one has got within four legs of England, they’ve been that dominant,” said Mark Webster, a 2010 World Cup of Darts finalist for Wales.

“They were pushed in that final but they just all the answers including those big finishes from Luke Humphries.

“They functioned as a team throughout. They were heavy favourites and lived up to it. They’re deserved champions.”

Tale of the Tape

World Cup of Darts: Roll of Honour

England had earlier beaten Northern Ireland 8-4 in the quarter-finals and Scotland by the same score in the last four, while Austria edged past Croatia 8-7 in the quarter-finals before an 8-3 win over Belgium in the semis.

What’s next on Sky Sports?

The 2024 Betfred World Matchplay will take place from July 13-21 at the Winter Gardens, Blackpool.

The iconic summer tournament will see 32 of the world’s top stars battling it out across nine days for the Phil Taylor Trophy and £800,000 in prize money.

2024 Betfred World Matchplay
Schedule of Play
Saturday July 13 (7.30pm)
4x First Round

Sunday July 14 (1pm)
Afternoon Session
4x First Round

Evening Session (7pm)
4x First Round

Monday July 15 (7pm)
4x First Round

Tuesday July 16 (7pm)
4x Second Round

Wednesday July 17 (7pm)
4x Second Round

Thursday July 18 (8pm)
2x Quarter-Finals

Friday July 19 (8pm)
2x Quarter-Finals

Saturday July 20 (8pm)
Semi-Finals

Sunday July 21 (1pm)
Afternoon Session
Women’s World Matchplay

Evening Session (8pm)
Final

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Euro 2024: UEFA referees’ chief confirms VAR cleared decision to deny Scotland penalty in Hungary defeat | Football News

On: June 28, 2024 By: admin

VAR did check and clear the decision not to award Scotland a penalty in their
decisive Euro 2024 group game against Hungary, UEFA referees’ chief Roberto
Rosetti has said.

Scotland felt they should have been awarded a spot-kick when Stuart Armstrong was challenged by defender Willi Orban, but their appeals were waved away by Argentinian referee Facundo Tello.

Rosetti said on Friday that the VAR had looked at the incident and decided Armstrong had moved towards the defender and drawn contact.

Hungary went on to win the match 1-0, a result which eliminated Scotland from the tournament.

Scotland head coach Steve Clarke said it was “100 per cent” a penalty and questioned the purpose of VAR “if they are not going to come in for something like that”.

Rosetti was asked about the incident at a referees’ briefing on Friday and said: “This was a very, very tough match with a couple of controversial incidents. There was one in the 68th minute where there was a possible penalty, because John McGinn was pulling the opponent’s shirt.

“Then there was the incident at minute 79. The attacker Armstrong was in front of the Hungarian (Orban). If you watch it from the camera behind, there was movement of the attacker towards the Hungarian.

“The VARs are checking everything, the VAR checked this situation. They decided that this was just a physical contact trying to challenge the defender.”

Rosetti would not be drawn on whether, in his view, the decision was the correct one.

Rosetti did confirm that Tello has been appointed as a fourth official for Saturday’s last-16 match between Switzerland and Italy.

Dean: I’m astounded penalty wasn’t given

Former Premier League referee Mike Dean told Sky Sports News:

“I was a bit surprised if I was being honest, there was a bit of a tangle at the start but it’s a clear foul, a clear knee on the back of the calf.

“I thought the referee was going to give a foul in real time, it just felt like it to everyone watching the game. I was even more surprised the VAR didn’t get involved.

“I think the VAR would have got involved, he’s probably looked at it and the referee’s given some kind of explanation, maybe a tangle of legs or the attacker’s instigated the contact.

“But whatever way you look at it, it’s a clear penalty. They would have looked at it, and the VAR just agreed with the referee – wrongly in my opinion, in everyone’s opinion by the sounds of it.

“Scotland defended well and had chances. If they went 1-0 up, I couldn’t see Hungary scoring a goal with how they defended for the rest of the game.

“It’s just one of those things. I was astounded it wasn’t given. The referee’s probably seen a tangle, but if I was an attacker and I get across a defender and feel contact, you expect a penalty to either be given by the referee, the assistant or by VAR.

“The referees are at that tournament for a reason, they’re the best in Europe or in South America in his case. You’re there to make the big calls, guys have made big calls all competition; this is the first one, apart from Anthony Taylor’s against France on Friday, where we’re talking about the referee and the VAR.”

Eastbourne International: Emma Raducanu misses out on semi-finals after defeat to Daria Kasatkina | Tennis News

On: June 28, 2024 By: admin

Emma Raducanu insists she feels ready for Wimbledon, despite going down 6-2 6-2 to Daria Kasatkina in the Eastbourne International.

Russian Kasatkina stormed ahead to claim a dominant first set, and though Raducanu recovered from an early break in the second to break straight back, she was no match for the rest of the encounter.

From 1-1 back on serve, Kasatkina proceeded to rattle to 4-1 ahead in the second set – breaking Raducanu twice more – before serving the match out for 6-2 after the pair traded breaks again before the end.

Raducanu struggled to adapt to blustery conditions during her comprehensive defeat, but the 2021 US Open champion, who missed the entire 2023 grass-court season following wrist and ankle surgery, dismissed any concerns about her fitness ahead of Wimbledon, for which she has received a wildcard.

“I wasn’t tired at all. I was feeling really good,” she said.

“I think I just dealt with the circumstances badly. Yeah, I was very inflexible in my approach. That’s my honest reflection of the match.

“But physically I’m in a really good spot. I’m fine. I just need to learn to be more willing to adapt. I hadn’t really played many matches in that level of wind.

“Daria actually plays really good in those conditions, because she makes it very awkward for the opponent. I just think she handled it a lot better.”

While Raducanu awaits the Wimbledon draw, Kasatkina will now face Italy’s Jasmine Paolini in the last four at Eastbourne, the latter having knocked out another Brit earlier on Thursday in Katie Boulter.

Raducanu failed to get to grips with Kasatkina in the relatively one-sided Centre Court contest.

However, the 21-year-old, who missed the entire grass-court season last year following wrist and ankle surgery, heads to the Wimbledon buoyed by impressive wins over Sloane Stephens and world No 5 Jessica Pegula.

Raducanu showed occasional glimpses of her class, catching the eye with a superb backhand sliced winner as she saved four set points in the opener.

Yet she blew a 40-0 lead on serve early in the second set and was broken six times overall as powerful Kasatkina dominated the majority of the rallies to secure progression.

Boulter, Dart lose Eastbourne quarter-finals | Klugman loses Wimbledon qualifier

Boulter’s quest to clinch another grass-court title ahead of Wimbledon was emphatically ended by a comprehensive Eastbourne quarter-final loss to French Open finalist Paolini.

Two-time Nottingham Open champion Boulter struggled for rhythm and with her serve en route to a resounding 6-1 7-6 defeat.

World No 7 Paolini dominated the tactical battle against the British No 1 and adapted far better to blustery conditions at Devonshire Park.

The prospect of three British women reaching the semi-finals of Eastbourne International had earlier been extinguished by Harriet Dart’s 6-2 6-1 loss to Leylah Fernandez in Thursday’s opening match.

Elsewhere, 15-year-old British schoolgirl Hannah Klugman missed out on reaching the main draw for Wimbledon, as she lost her final qualifying match 6-3 6-3 to the USA’s Alycia Parks.

Meanwhile, wildcard Billy Harris is one step away from becoming the first Briton to reach the men’s singles final at Eastbourne after battling from a set down to upset Italian world No 49 Flavio Cobolli.

The 29-year-old, a quarter-finalist at Queen’s last week, won 6-7 7-6 6-2, having beaten compatriots Jacob Fearnley and Charles Broom in the previous rounds.

Nottingham-born Harris, ranked 139 in the world, will meet Australian qualifier Max Purcell – a 6-3 7-6 victor against Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic – in the semi-finals.

What’s coming up on Sky Sports Tennis?

In the run-up to the third Grand Slam of 2024 – Wimbledon – you can watch the biggest tennis stars in action live on Sky Sports.

Mallorca Championships (ATP 250) – June 23-29
Bad Homburg (WTA 500) – June 23-29

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Steve Clarke demands explanation as Scotland denied penalty in Hungary defeat which ended Euro 2024 hopes | Football News

On: June 24, 2024 By: admin

Scotland boss Steve Clarke demanded answers why Scotland were denied a “100 per cent” penalty which he felt may have cost them their last-16 qualification at Euro 2024.

Stuart Armstrong appeared to be brought down by defender Willi Orban inside the area with Scotland’s final group game with Hungary goalless but Argentinian referee Facundo Tello declined to give a penalty – a decision Sky Sports’ Kris Boyd said he could not believe.

Clarke sympathised with the official but said VAR’s decision not to intervene after viewing replays of the incident was inexplicable.

“100 per cent penalty,” he said in his press conference. “Somebody somewhere has to explain to me why that’s not a penalty. It’s 100 per cent a penalty.

“It’s a one-goal game, we get the penalty, it could be a different night. I’ve got other words, but I’m not going to use them.

“It’s a European competition, it might have been better to have a European referee. The VAR was European, maybe the referee didn’t see the foul clearly on the pitch, but what’s the point in VAR if they’re not going to come in on something like that. It was a penalty.”

Former Scotland forward Boyd questioned why Tello was not sent to the pitch-side monitor by Spanish VAR Alejandro Hernandez, with Armstrong and his team-mates visibly incensed at the time.

“I’ve seen the penalty again and I cannot believe that hasn’t been given,” Boyd said on Sky Sports News. “It’s a natural football position – you get your arm across to protect the ball.

“The knee goes into the top of Armstrong’s calf. I cannot believe a penalty hasn’t been given. That would have changed everything.

“It’s a penalty all day long. If the referee had been able to go to the monitor, he might have been able to correct his wrong decision.”

Clarke: We need to work out how to score more goals

Despite realistically needing to win the game, Scotland failed to register a single shot on target until the eighth minute of added time in the second half, while three of their four shots in total came beyond the 90th minute.

Clarke refused to be drawn on what exactly had seen Scotland drop out of the European Championship in the group stage for the second tournament in a row, but admitted he would need to sit down with his staff to work out how they will score more goals in future competitions.

He said: “It’s very difficult to sit here and analyse, but sometimes after a defeat like that you need a bit of time just to digest everything and work out how the game went, why it went how it did.

“We didn’t create enough, but we did create enough to score a goal. That’s clear. Is that why we went out of the tournament?

“We scored two goals this tournament, we scored one last time. It’s one for me to go away and talk to my coaches about, about how we can score more goals at certain times in games of course.”

Rossi: We deserved to win

Victorious Hungary manager Marco Rossi said his side were worthy of their first victory of the tournament, one which gives them an outside hope of reaching the last 16 for the second European Championship out of their last three tournaments.

“The Scottish had a bit more ball possession, especially in the first half,” he admitted, but added: “In the second half it was more an up-and-down match, starting from around the 70th minute, almost 30 minutes in which there were situations from one side to the other.

“We can say that it was an equal match. Surely we had more chances, they had more of the ball, but overall I don’t think we didn’t deserve to win. It was deserved.”

On Scotland’s penalty, Rossi declined to offer his sympathies and instead drew comparisons to a foul he felt should have been given against Ilkay Gundogan ahead of Germany’s first goal during Hungary’s 2-0 defeat to the hosts in their previous game.

He said: “In the pre-match I said there was a clear foul on Orban by Gundogan, why do we have to talk now about this moment?

“I didn’t see it well from the bench, but if they didn’t give the penalty in the VAR room, they have seen it was not a penalty. Many pushes from the back in the European Championship are allowed.”

Carlos Alcaraz plans ATP talks over ‘new’ shot clock rule after defeat at Queen’s Club | Tennis News

On: June 21, 2024 By: admin

Carlos Alcaraz said he would speak to the ATP about a “new” shot clock rule being trialled after feeling rushed during his defeat by Jack Draper at Queen’s Club.

Alcaraz’s preparations for his Wimbledon title defence suffered a setback with a shock 7-6 (7-3) 6-3 loss to new British No 1 Draper in the last 16 in front of his home crowd.

The 25-second shot clock was previously started only when the chair umpire called the score but the tweak to the rule in the trial means that the countdown to a serve begins almost immediately after a point is concluded.

The new regulation, aimed at streamlining game flow and ensuring consistent time management, has been on trial since the French Open concluded and it is believed the trial will continue in ATP tournaments until the end of the season.

Alcaraz said that he had no time to go through his regular routine during the match and that he had expressed his concerns to chair umpire Mohamed Lahyani.

“He told me that there is a new rule, this new thing, that the clock never stops. After the point is finished, the clock is putting on,” the world No 2 said.

“I think for the players it’s something bad. I finish the point at the net and I had no time to ask for balls. I’m not saying to go to a towel and take my time. I feel like I can’t ask for the balls.

“It’s crazy. I have time just to ask for two balls and no bounces. I’ve never seen something like that in tennis.

“If you play a long point or finish at the net, you have time just to go for a towel or ask for your routine, ask for, in my case, four balls, I’m concentrating on the next point, just bouncing my bounces and serve as best as I can.

“Today I felt like I was in a rush all the time. I had no time to bounce and do my routine.”

The umpires are understood to have the ability to pause the shot clocks in the event of disruptions beyond player or tournament control.

French Open champion Alcaraz was asked if he had spoken to the governing body.

“Not yet, but I will, for sure,” said the Spaniard, who will now head to Wimbledon, which begins on July 1 having only played two grass matches.

What’s coming up on Sky Sports Tennis?

In the run-up to the third Grand Slam of 2024 – Wimbledon – you can watch all of the biggest tennis stars in action live on Sky Sports as they compete across the grass-court season.

Berlin Open (WTA 500) – June 17-23
Halle (ATP 500) – June 17-23
Mallorca Championships (ATP 250) – June 23-29
Bad Homburg (WTA 500) – June 23-29

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Euro 2024 – Belgium 0-1 Slovakia: Romelu Lukaku denied twice by VAR as Red Devils suffer shock defeat in Group E opener | Football News

On: June 18, 2024 By: admin

Much-fancied Belgium experienced a disappointing start to their Euro 2024 campaign after losing out to lower-ranked Slovakia 1-0 in their Group E opener.

Ivan Schranz was Slovakia’s hero, capitalising on a Jeremy Doku error and collecting the deflection from Juraj Kucka’s strike, before guiding the ball expertly into the far corner from a tight angle – a move that survived extensive VAR review.

Romelu Lukaku was not quite so lucky. Twice Belgium’s leading scorer had the ball in the back of the net in the second period, and twice VAR intervened to chalk goals off.

The No 9, attempting to atone for a wasteful first half, was ruled a toe offside when slamming home Amadou Onana’s cross in the 56th minute, before rounding off a smart move to plant Lois Openda’s cross beyond Martin Dubravka in the final minute of the 90.

At first glance there looked to be very little wrong with the latter, but VAR was quick to spot the ball inadvertently glancing off Openda’s hand in the build-up, and recommended referee Halil Umut Meler take a second look. He did, and duly accepted the advice of the video official, controversially denying Lukaku once more.

Domenico Tedesco’s side, flat and frustrating for the most part, still created four ‘big chances’ (their most in a Euros game since 1980 vs Spain), but were unable to breach stubborn Slovakia, who top Group E alongside Romania.

Slovakia now face Ukraine on Friday knowing another win would send them into the last 16.

Analysis: Will Belgium ever live up to the hype?

Sky Sport’s Laura Hunter:

Perhaps Belgium are cursed. Perhaps unlucky. Or maybe this ‘golden generation’ simply isn’t as good as the hype – or third-place FIFA ranking – suggests. Whatever the intricacy or issue, they don’t seem to perform as predicted on the big stage.

Lukaku was wasteful, Kevin de Bruyne off-colour, Leandro Trossard ineffective. All over the pitch, in fact, Domenico Tedesco’s side underwhelmed, and that’s despite creating four ‘big chances’ and an xG of 1.91.

Game by game, the shine is flaking off what remains of Belgium’s reputation as one of Europe’s stellar sides. This is a team of individuals, far from a comprehensive unit of tournament winners.

And yet, there was something unjust about their opening game defeat. For all the obvious shortcomings, Lukaku did have the ball in the back of the net twice. The first was ruled offside, and so little argument can be made.

The second decision, however, jarred far more. This is the type of officiating that has drawn suspicion and skepticism in the Premier League, deemed by many as ‘re-refereeing’ – there is justification for both sides.

Lois Openda did handle the ball, but does that mean it’s handball? The rule is subjective, of course, but many believe this brand of VAR intervention to be a stain on the game. Jury’s out.

Either way, Belgium must improve if they are to avoid a repeat of Euro 2022, crashing out at the competition’s group stage.

Stats: Story of the match

Tedesco: We trust the officials

Belgium head coach Domenico Tedesco: “The only thing that we didn’t do well was taking chances. We had plenty. It’s part of the game. Of course the players were disappointed.

“We had many chances, we pressed high. Normally you don’t lose this game. It hurts.”

Speaking about two VAR decisions to deny Belgium an equaliser, he added: “I want to be a fair loser – we trust the referees.”

Opta: Misfiring Belgium punished

Belgium have suffered their first group stage defeat at the European Championship since losing 2-0 to Italy in 2016 – they had won five in a row in the group stages before today’s defeat.
Slovakia have won each of their last four competitive internationals, their best winning run in competitive games since a run of five between 2016 and 2017.
Ivan Schranz’s goal in the seventh minute was the quickest goal Slovakia have scored at a major tournament and his fourth goal in 23 caps for his national team.
Belgium missed four Opta-defined big chances in this match, the first time they’d done so in a European Championship game since 1980 against Spain (also four missed).

So far in Group E…

England beat Namibia in rain-hit T20 World Cup match and make Super 8s as Australia defeat Scotland | Cricket News

On: June 16, 2024 By: admin

England beat the weather and Namibia at the T20 World Cup and went on to qualify for the Super 8s following Australia’s win over Scotland.

Defending champions England rose to second in Group B, ahead of Scotland on net run-rate, after a comfortable 41-run triumph on DLS in Antigua in a game reduced to 10-overs a side by rain, one in which Harry Brook (47no off 20 balls) top-scored.

Jos Buttler’s side then needed Australia to defeat Scotland in St Lucia hours later and that duly happened, with the 2021 winners overhauling Scotland’s 180-5 with two balls to spare in a competitive contest.

England have fought back excellently at the T20 World Cup since an opening rain-off against Scotland in Barbados was followed by a 36-run loss to Australia at the same venue four days later.

They rolled Oman for 47 in Antigua before sprinting to victory in 19 balls to take their net-run rate above Scotland’s and were ruthless against Namibia at North Sound once the wet weather that delayed the game by three hours and threatened an abandonment – a result that would have eliminated England – cleared.

Brook leads England charge with the bat

Buttler (0) and Phil Salt (11) fell early as England slipped to 13-2 but Brook and Jonny Bairstow (31 off 18) clubbed 56 from 30 balls in partnership before Moeen Ali (16 off six) and Liam Livingstone (13no off four) chipped in with enterprising cameos.

Livingstone nailed his first two deliveries for six in Ruben Trumpelmann’s final over, including a one-handed effort over deep backward square.

Namibia, whose target was adjusted to 126 with the match originally 11-overs-a-side before a second short rain delay trimmed an over off, could make only 84-3 in reply, although David Wiese (27 off 12) had fun, cracking Adil Rashid (0-29) for back-to-back sixes, in what is set to be his final appearance for his country.

Wiese had earlier impressed with the ball, recording figures of 1-6 from two overs at the start of England’s knock and having Salt caught behind off a knuckleball, while Trumpelmann (2-31) bowled Buttler with a vicious in-swinger.

England’s middle order fired, though, and their bowlers then proved tough to get away, save for Rashid’s over Wiese tonked for 20, with Jofra Archer taking 1-15, Chris Jordan 1-19, Reece Topley 0-6 and Sam Curran 0-13.

England join co-hosts West Indies and USA plus South Africa in Group 2 of the Super 8s, with Australia to compete in Group 1 alongside India, Afghanistan and one of Bangladesh or Netherlands.

‘England stayed tight after defeat to Australia’

Speaking after his side’s win and before Australia beat Scotland, England skipper Buttler said: “It’s a big relief, a stressful day, but we put in a good performance. We’ve done all we can do.”

Team-mate Bairstow said: “There was a lot of chat about the net run-rate but we’ve overcome that and the other challenges put in front of us. As a group, we’ve stuck together really tightly.

“That Australia game was a tough game and they outplayed us in that, fair play to them. But we have responded.”

Catch every match from the T20 World Cup, including the final in Barbados on Saturday June 29, live on Sky Sports.

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T20 World Cup: Pakistan suffer thrilling six-run defeat to rivals India to leave hopes in jeopardy | Cricket News

On: June 10, 2024 By: admin

India dealt a cruel blow to rivals Pakistan’s T20 World Cup hopes with a thrilling six-run victory in New York.

Billed as one of the clashes of the tournament, the contest delivered as it went down to the final over, Pakistan needing 12 runs from the final two balls but only managing six as they battled valiantly but lost to their old foes once again.

Wickets from Jasprit Bumrah (3-14) and Hardik Pandya (2-24) came at crucial moments as India turned the game on its head after they were bowled out for 119 by Pakistan, Bumrah taking the key wicket of Mohammad Rizwan (31) who was anchoring the innings.

Pakistan won an important toss and chose to bowl which seemed to work to their advantage, Naseem Shah (3-21), Haris Rauf (3-21), and Mohammad Amir (2-21) starring with the ball in hand as they reduced India from 89-3 to 119 all out, just 30 runs coming as seven wickets fell.

However, the Pakistan batting attack fell apart under the pressure and from 72-2 were reduced to 88-5 themselves, unable to find big boundaries in the final overs to seal a big win.

In Group A, India now sit top of the table, with USA in second. Pakistan are now in fourth and are yet to pick up a win.

Bumrah and Hardik strike to dent Pakistan chase

With the 120-run target set by India in their sights, Babar Azam (13) and Mohammad Rizwan (10) looked to be building a solid partnership early in the second innings, but the Pakistan skipper was the first to fall as he sent one to Suryakumar Yadav in the slips, seating his team on 26-1 after 4.4 overs.

Rizwan, carrying a finger injury from a Hardik delivery, then started to build alongside Usman Khan, bringing their side to 57-1 at the halfway mark and comfortable that victory could be in their sights.

However, India then turned to Axar Patel (1-11) and he immediately made his mark to take out Usman Khan (13) via lbw from his first delivery of the innings, India cleverly using the review which showed he was hit in line and the ball was not sliding down like the umpire originally thought.

Fakhar Zaman (13) was then the man to partner with Rizwan in the middle as they continued on at the required run rate of six but a mistake from the former saw him caught behind by Pant after gloving one up in the air from a Hardik delivery, leaving Pakistan on 73-3 after 13 overs and needing 47 runs from 42 balls.

With the game in the balance, Bumrah then became the star man as he took out the key wicket of Rizwan with a beauty of an inswinger, putting Pakistan under pressure with four wickets gone and now more than a run a ball needed, 37 runs from 30 balls the target.

With nervous energy in the air and Pakistan chasing the game, Shadab Khan (4) was duped by the short ball of Hardik and caught behind by Pant, putting India firmly in charge as they left Pakistan needing 21 from 12 balls.

The climactic ending to a thriller of an encounter then reached fever pitch as Iftikhar Ahmed (5) was caught by Arshdeep after sending one high on the final ball of the 19th over, Imad Wasim (15) then caught behind on the first ball of the 20th.

With 18 runs needed from five deliveries and seven wickets down, Pakistan added a single then a reverse scoop boundary but could only find six of the required 12 runs from the final two balls, leaving them heartbreakingly close to only their second-ever T20 World Cup win against India and putting India in the driving seat of Group A.

The loss will feel worse for Pakistan after their strong showing in the first innings to leave India all out for 119.

Star performances came from Shah to dismiss Virat Kohli (4), Patel (20), and Dube (3), Rauf to dismiss Suryakumar (7), then Hardik (7) and Bumrah (0) in successive deliveries, and Amir to remove danger man Pant (42) and Ravindra Jadeja (0) in successive balls.

Despite the solid showing from Pakistan’s bowlers, Pakistan now have two losses from two games after their shock defeat to the USA, putting a real dent in their hopes of reaching the Super 8.

What they said

Pakistan captain Babar Azam:

“I think they bowled well after 10 overs. We were chasing 120, we were run a ball for the first 10 overs, but back-to-back wickets and then we left too much in the end.

“Tactics was simple, play normally, rotate strike, 5-6 an over. But in that period we had too many dot balls, the pressure was on us, and we lost three quick wickets.

“Can’t expect too much from tailenders. We were not up to the mark in the first six overs, we had targeted 40-45 runs, we have not capitalised properly.

“Pitch looked decent, ball coming nicely. Little bit slow, some balls are bouncing a bit more, but you expect it with a drop-in pitch.”

India bowler and player of the match Jasprit Bumrah:

“It feels really good. We felt we were a little under par, and when the sun came out, the wicket got a little better, so we had to be really disciplined.

“I tried to keep it simple, tried to hit the seam as much as I can, focus on my execution. It felt like we were in India, and the cheering is really appreciated, we were really happy with the support we got, it gave us a lot of energy.

“Focus on the now. We’ve played two games, played very good cricket. We’ll stick to our processes and come out and try our best.”

What’s next?

There is just one game at the T20 World Cup on Monday with New York the venue once again as South Africa face Bangladesh.

South Africa have beaten Sri Lanka and Netherlands across their first two matches in Group D, while Bangladesh’s sole fixture so far ended in a two-wicket win over Sri Lanka.

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T20 World Cup: Scotland defeat Namibia by five wickets to keep Super 8s bid on track | Cricket News

On: June 7, 2024 By: admin

Richie Berrington and Michael Leask shared a match-winning partnership for
Scotland as they defeated Namibia in Barbados to bolster their hopes of
progressing at the T20 World Cup.

After impressing with the bat in their washed out opener against England, the Scots were victorious in Barbados, chasing down their target of 156 with five wickets and nine balls to spare.

Things were looking dicey when Matthew Cross fell lbw at 73 for four, but captain Berrington and Leask took the bull by horns as they put on 74 from the next 42 balls.

Leask blasted four sixes in his knock of 35 and Berrington was unbeaten on 47, ending with a flourish as he clubbed David Wiese all the way over long-on before punching the air with glee.

The result puts Scotland on three points, meaning England could find themselves feeling the heat if they fail to beat Australia on Saturday – live at 6pm on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event.

Brad Currie had earlier excelled with the ball, with two for 16 from four exacting overs.

Brad Wheal got Scotland off to a perfect start, swinging the new ball dangerously and having JP Kotze caught at mid wicket with his third delivery.

Currie also landed an early blow and Chris Sole recovered after seeing three of his first four balls disappear to the ropes to open his account as Namibia reached 48 for three in a lively powerplay.

Chris Greaves dismissed Malan Kruger in the eighth over as Scotland continued chipping away but Gerhard Erasmus was proving a tough nut to crack.

He held the innings together, stitching together a regular supply of boundaries off the spinners to even up the scales. He reached his half-century with a flourish off just 30 balls, slog-sweeping Leask for six over wide long-on.

The Aberdonian exacted instant revenge moments later, Cross completing the stumping. There were 42 runs and four more wickets from the last five overs, with Currie and Wheal tidy at the death.

Scotland’s reply enjoyed an early boost with eight runs in wides from Ruben Trumpelmann, a shift in fortunes for the left-armer who took wickets with his first two balls against Oman. But runs off the bat were harder to come by, with the total slowly ticking to 25 for one after five overs.

Michael Jones, so impressive in the washout against England, finally came alive in the sixth as he unloaded two fours and a six, but the introduction of Erasmus changed the game for the second time. Jones (26) was caught behind and Brandon McMullen (19) allowed himself to be stumped courtesy of some sloppy footwork.

The required rate had climbed to nearly 10 an over when Berrington and Leask made their move.

Two big overs effectively settled things, 13 off Tangeni Lungameni and 19 off the veteran Wiese in the 17th, including a pair of big blows by Leask.

Leask launched Trumpelmann over 100 metres over the big screen before holing out but Berrington ensured victory as he powered Wiese back down the ground for the decisive six.

What’s next?

With three points so far in Group B, Scotland next place bottom-of-the-table Oman in North Sound, Antigua on Sunday at 6pm.

Namibia face Australia in their third match of the tournament at 1.30am on Wednesday.

Watch every match of the Men’s ICC T20 World Cup live on Sky Sports, right up until the final on Sunday June 29.

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