Scotland’s Nico Carrillo reaffirmed his place at the top of the bantamweight Muay Thai rankings with an emphatic TKO win over former world title challenger Saemapetch Fairtex in the co-main event at ONE Fight Night 23 in Bangkok.
The ‘King of the North’ hunted Saemapetch from the opening bell and although the Thai star was a willing dance partner in the punching exchanges, he found himself in trouble late in the first round after a flurry of knees from Carrillo.
Things went from bad to worse in the second round, as Carrillo sent his foe crashing to the canvas after just 45 seconds.
The Scot then went straight on the attack and put Saemapetch back down with a thunderous left hook. The same punch did the damage once again shortly after, as Carrillo scored the third and decisive knockdown with another volley of heavy shots.
Image: Carillo dropped Saemapetch three times in the second round
Carrillo’s win not only cemented his No 1 spot in the divisional rankings, but it also bagged him a US $50,000 (£39,035) performance bonus, courtesy of ONE Championship chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong.
Even more importantly, the victory could lead him to the winner of the ONE bantamweight Muay Thai world title fight between defending champion Jonathan Haggerty and long-time rival Superlek Kiatmuu9 at ONE 168: Denver in September.
“I’m next, I’m undeniable. Mr Chatri, give me the title shot next,” Carrillo told ONE commentator Mitch Chilson during his post-fight interview. “Whoever wins that title in Denver, don’t get too attached to the gold because it’s coming right off you.”
Bampara Kouyate produced a stunning uppercut finish to beat Muay Thai contender Luke Lessei late in their three-round battle
Black Panther produced a stunning head kick KO to hand Ali Saldoev the first loss of his professional career
Rasulov overcomes Ok as British star Barboza wins
In the night’s headline attraction, Alibeg Rasulov upset former ONE lightweight MMA world champion Ok Rae Yoon in a grueling five-round battle.
The unbeaten 31-year-old pushed a relentless pace throughout the 25-minute contest. Ultimately, his clinch game proved too much for Ok, who never stopped trying to create space and get his trademark punches off.
It was a resounding statement made by Rasulov in his promotional debut.
Although he was ineligible to take home the title due to only making the weight after the official weigh-in window closed, he has surely caught the attention of two-division ONE world champion Christian Lee.
Image: British Muay Thai standout Ellis Badr Barboza triumphed in Bangkok
Also, British Muay Thai standout Ellis Badr Barboza captured a dramatic victory in a seesawing contest against Thai-Malaysian striker Aliff Sor Dechapan with a second-round knockdown enough to sway the judges’ scorecards.
Aliff started the catchweight contest brightly, largely controlling the opening round. Barboza, however, turned the tide in the second when he dropped his rival with a booming left hook.
In the final round, Aliff recognised he needed a knockdown of his own to wrest back the momentum, but Barboza hung tough in a back-and-forth finish to the match-up.
The knockdown proved decisive as the Birmingham native took the split-decision victory.
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Lewis Hamilton has disagreed with McLaren boss Andrea Stella’s suggestion that Max Verstappen’s driving in the controversial Austrian GP collision with Lando Norris was a consequence of the Dutchman not receiving more severe punishments during the 2021 title fight with him.
In an interview with Sky Sports F1 after the contentious finish to last Sunday’s race, when Verstappen and Norris’ duel for the race lead ended in a collision with seven laps to go, Stella, McLaren’s team principal, drew a parallel between the Turn Three incident and ones between Verstappen and Hamilton when the pair waged during an intense fight for the 2021 title.
“The problem behind it is that if you don’t address these things honestly, they will come back,” said Stella.
“They have come back today because they were not addressed properly in the past when there were some fights with Lewis that needed to be punished in a harsher way.”
Sitting alongside Norris in Thursday’s Drivers’ Press Conference at Silverstone ahead of this weekend’s British GP, Hamilton was asked for his view on Stella’s comparison.
“I don’t agree with that, no,” said Hamilton.
Watch new angles of Verstappen and Norris’ collision
Asked if he could elaborate as to why, the Mercedes driver repeated: “I just don’t agree with it.”
Hamilton had earlier not been drawn in general about last Sunday’s Verstappen-Norris clash.
“Nothing really. I didn’t think anything of it,” said Hamilton, whose team-mate George Russell profited from the collision to claim Mercedes’ first win for over 18 months.
“I was more concerned about my race and enjoying the team’s win.”
Asked if he had any advice for Norris about racing Verstappen, Hamilton said: “Again, I don’t think I need to. They’ve raced each other for many years.
“That’s nothing to do with me.”
Norris says Verstappen does not need to apologise for their crash in Austria and believes it was a ‘pathetic’ incident that ended both their races
‘I’m sure Lewis would have agreed three years ago!’
Norris, who rowed back from some of his immediate post-race criticisms of Verstappen and the consequences the incident might have on their relationship, backed his team boss’ point of view.
“I’m sure Lewis would agree with it two years ago or three years ago, 100 per cent,” said a smiling Norris.
“There were definitely certain things, there were definitely a few moments especially.
“On the whole, I’m always going to stand up for what Andrea said. I think Andrea’s got a very good amount of sensibility with how he talks and things he talks about.
“So definitely I think certain parts are true and I do agree with Andrea as a note.”
The F1 paddock give their view on the controversial collision between Norris and Verstappen
Sky Sports F1’s live British GP schedule (all F1 sessions on Sky Showcase)
Thursday July 4 6pm: The F1 Show
Friday July 5 8.35am: F3 Practice 9.55am: F2 Practice 12pm: British GP Practice One (session starts at 12.30pm) 2.05pm: F3 Qualifying 3pm: F2 Qualifying 3.45pm:British GP Practice Two (session starts at 4pm)
Look back at some of the most dramatic moments throughout the years at the British Grand Prix
Saturday July 6 9.15am: F3 Sprint 11.15am:British GP Practice Three (session starts at 11.30am) 1.10pm: F2 Sprint 2.15pm: British GP Qualifying build-up 3pm: British GP Qualifying 5pm: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook
Sunday July 7 8:15am: F3 Feature Race 9:50am: F2 Feature Race 11:50am: Porsche Supercup 1:30pm: Grand Prix Sunday – British GP build-up 3pm: The BRITISH GRAND PRIX 5pm: Chequered Flag: British GP reaction 6pm: Ted’s Notebook
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England’s Alice Hewson secured her second Ladies European Tour title after beating India’s Tvesa Malik in a play-off in the VP Bank Swiss Ladies Open.
The 26-year-old birdied the first extra hole after the pair had finished tied on 11-under par following an extraordinary finish to the final round at Golfpark Holzhausern.
Hewson slam dunked a bunker shot for an eagle on the 17th and then birdied the last to overhaul Ireland’s Lauren Walsh, who had set the clubhouse target of 10 under following a brilliant 64.
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Malik then amazingly also holed out from the same bunker on the 17th for eagle and matched Hewson’s birdie on the last to force a play-off, which the Englishwoman wrapped up in style with another birdie, and moved up to fifth place in the LET Order of Merit.
“I’m a little bit lost for words really,” said Hewson, whose previous win came in the Investec South African Women’s Open in 2020.
“Huge congrats to Tvesa as well. It was an unreal finish from her today. It was an honour being out there with her in the play-off. It feels a bit surreal. It’s been a while since I’ve been in this situation.
“Coming from my first-ever event on Tour [which I won], to now, it’s been a journey. A lot of ups and downs. I’m lost for words.”
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“He is probably saving himself for the final. We understand his class. We understand his importance in big games.”
It was almost as if Rohit Sharma knew what was coming.
The India captain was speaking after team-mate Virat Kohli fell for nine in the T20 World Cup semi-final against England in Guyana on Thursday, a dismissal that left one of the best batters on the planet with an alarmingly poor record in this year’s event.
In what his final T20 international before retiring from the format, Virat Kohli returned to form with 76 from 59 balls and helped India win the T20 World Cup
Kohli’s stats at that that point read 75 runs in seven innings at an average below 11. His best score was 37.
He had only made double figures twice. There were two ducks in there, one of them of the golden variety.
But fast forward two days and a man who previously couldn’t buy a run had racked up 76 of them in the final versus South Africa in Barbados, notching more in one knock than he had mustered in his previous seven combined, underlining his “importance in big games”.
Image: Kohli was averaging less than 11 in the T20 World Cup but then played a decisive knock in the final
Rohit has got most things spot on as India captain and this was another example.
“No one was in doubt about Virat, he’s been on top of his game for the last 15 years,” said Sharma after a seven-run win clinched his side a second T20 World Cup title and a first slice of silverware in a global ICC event since the 2013 Champions Trophy.
India’s victory was largely crafted by Kohli, with the batter rallying his team from the parlous position of 34-3 in the fifth over as he parked the frenetic way he had batted throughout the tournament and reverted to the classy and composed method that had brought him over 4,000 runs in the format beforehand.
“We have wanted to lift a trophy for a long time and the occasion made me put my head down, respect the situation and play the innings the team needed from me,” Virat said afterwards, while accepting the Player of the Match award and announcing his immediate retirement from T20 internationals.
Kohli says it is time for India’s new generation to take the T20I team forward
But it was a victory largely executed by Jasprit Bumrah. If not for him, Kohli’s efforts may have come in a losing cause. If not for him, a South African – perhaps Heinrich Klaasen – may have bagged the Player of the Match accolade instead, shortly before going on to join his Proteas team-mates in lifting a World Cup for the first time.
Like Kohli, Bumrah underlined his importance in big games.
Bumrah brilliant as India fight back with the ball
After 15 overs of the chase, South Africa were favourites.
Klaasen had just donged India spinner Axar Patel for four boundaries in total, and three in a row, in a 24-run over. The ask was now a run-a-ball 30 from 30 with Klaasen on the cusp of fifty and fellow hard-hitter David Miller at the crease with him.
Surely this was where the Proteas broke their World Cup duck? No, it wasn’t, and it mainly wasn’t because of Bumrah, although his fellow death bowlers Arshdeep Singh and Hardik Pandya deserve kudos, too, as does fielder Suryakumar Yadav with his catch for the ages.
In the last over of the T20 World Cup final, India’s Suryakumar Yadav produced a stunning, juggling catch on the boundary to dismiss South Africa’s David Miller
Bumrah conceded only four runs in the 16th over but bettered that in the 18th when he shipped just the two runs and bowled Marco Jansen through the gate.
The India quick finished with figures of 2-18 from four overs, having castled South Africa opener Reeza Hendricks with a delicious out-swinger in the second over of the innings.
That eminently doable 30 off 30 was now 20 of 12. The game was slipping away from the Proteas and Arshdeep and Hardik, plus Suryakumar’s astonishing athleticism in the deep, ensured they could not retrieve the situation.
Image: Jasprit Bumrah conceded only six runs combined across the 16th and 18th overs of South Africa’s run chase in Barbados
Score summary – South Africa vs India
India 176-7 from 20 overs: Virat Kohli (76 off 59), Axar Patel (47 off 31), Shivam Dube (27 off 16); Keshav Maharaj (2-23), Anrich Nortje (2-26)
South Africa 169-8 from 20 overs: Heinrich Klaasen (52 off 27), Quinton de Kock (39 off 31), Tristan Stubbs (31 off 21); Hardik Pandya (3-20), Jasprit Bumrah (2-18), Arshdeep Singh (2-20)
Heartbreak for South Africa again, albeit this time in a final as opposed to a semi-final – a stage they had never previously gone beyond after seven harrowing losses in the last four.
Aiden Markram’s side – who may take some time to get over this result – had the proverbial one hand on the trophy with some of their big players making telling contributions.
Klaasen’s 23-ball fifty. Quinton de Kock’s 39 off 31 balls at the top of the order. Keshav Maharaj’s wickets of Rohit and Rishabh Pant in the second over of India’s innings. Anrich Nortje’s tidy 2-26.
It’s just that India’s big players made the more telling contributions. Kohli the top-scorer, Bumrah the most economical bowler.
India skipper Rohit Sharma hit eight sixes during his swashbuckling 92 from 41 balls against Australia at the T20 World Cup
Rohit bows out after transforming India
But arguably the most telling contribution of all has been made by Rohit, who, like Kohli, has also revealed his T20I career is now done.
Perhaps not telling in the final, when he scored just nine before picking out Klaasen at square leg off Maharaj, although his decision to hand Bumrah the 16th and 18th overs later on as opposed to the seamer’s customary 17th and 19th may have been a masterstroke.
No, Rohit’s most telling contribution is transforming this team from the tentative one we saw plod along in the 2022 T20 World Cup semi-final against England in Adelaide to the front-foot outfit they now are. Sharma having embodied that with his 92 off 41 balls against Australia in this year’s Super 8s.
Watch India being crowned T20 World Cup champions after beating South Africa in Bridgetown
The irony is that it took Kohli shunning that approach and “putting his head down”, as he described it, to help India up to a winning score against South Africa. But that is possibly what he should always have done. Been the glue among the gung-ho gang.
Rohit and Kohli will now bow out from this format having underlined their importance in big games.
Opposition batters might secretly be wishing Bumrah would do the same but, at the tender age of 30, there appears zero chance of that. There will be plenty more big T20 games for him.
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Anthony Joshua will face Daniel Dubois in an all-British heavyweight clash for the IBF world heavyweight title at Wembley Stadium on September 21, live on Sky Sports Box Office.
Oleksandr Usyk announced on Tuesday that he had vacated the IBF belt, which means Joshua can regain one of the world titles he previously held if he defeats Dubois, who has been upgraded from IBF interim title holder to the IBF champion.
Joshua has marched back up the heavyweight ranks after suffering two consecutive losses to Usyk, who went on to become the undisputed world champion with his stunning victory over Tyson Fury last month.
The 34-year-old Joshua was outpointed by Usyk in two fights that spanned 2021 and 2022.
Anthony Joshua was at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, just a day after knocking out Francis Ngannou!
He returned with a points win over Jermaine Franklin in 2023, but then followed up with stoppage victories over Robert Helenius and Otto Wallin later that year.
He’s boxed once this year already, taking out Francis Ngannou in just two rounds. Ngannou, a former UFC champion in MMA, was an inexperienced boxer, but he had managed to go the 10-round distance with Tyson Fury in his first professional boxing bout.
See what Anthony Joshua said to Francis Ngannou in the ring after their fight.
Dubois, who previously held a version of the WBA title, has also rebuilt successfully from a loss to Usyk.
The 26-year-old challenged Usyk for the WBO, WBA and IBF titles at the Wroclaw Stadium in Poland last August. Dubois put in a game effort, pressing the Ukrainian initially. Usyk had to rise from a low blow, a ruling which Dubois and his team still dispute, to halt Dubois in the ninth round.
Dubois though went on to grind down Jarrell Miller in December and at the start of this month pounded Filip Hrgovic to a halt to win the IBF Interim strap.
Speaking on the Toe2Toe podcast, Andy Scott, Andy Clarke and Dan Azeez analysed Joshua vs Dubois
Dubois: I need to become a king-slayer | AJ: We’re all a pack of lions
Dubois, speaking at Wednesday’s press conference…
“I’m just aiming to be the best. To fight the best and beat the best. AJ has been the king for a long time, and we all know it, so on the night I need to become a king-slayer.
“That’s my goal and that’s the mission at hand. I’m just ready to go.
“I’m definitely learning more about myself with every fight, as a fighter and as a person. Coming out of the darkness, going into the light and being a man of the future.
“I’ve improved all round as a fighter and an athlete. I’m really up for this and ready to go.
I’m ready to let my fists do the talking. I’m 100m per cent ready. I’m going to go to camp, focus and train like a beast. Bring it on.”
Dubois is confident he’ll have the beating of Anthony Joshua when they fight at Wembley in September, while AJ is just focused on making sure he’s in peak physical condition to perform on the night
Joshua and Dubois faced off for the first time at the launch press conference for their blockbuster battle at Wembley on 21 September for the IBF heavyweight world title
Joshua, speaking at Wednesday’s press conference…
“It’s the next man up. I’ve had Dubois on my mind for a while, and he’ll be on my mind for the next 12 weeks until I get my hand raised.
“I’m not silly either, I know the game. We’re all in the wild. We’re a pack of lions and hunters. I have to keep my eyes peeled, I can’t just focus on those two [Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder].
“The goal is just to get through a successful training camp, and then performing on the night. The shiny stuff comes at a later date.”
Anthony Joshua is expected to fight Daniel Dubois for the IBF heavyweight belt after Oleksandr Usyk confirmed he was vacating the world title.
Usyk defeated Tyson Fury on points to become undisputed champion with the WBC, WBA, WBO and IBF titles, but has now announced he will relinquish his IBF belt ahead of a planned fight between Joshua and Dubois at Wembley Stadium on September 21.
The Ukrainian confirmed the news via his Instagram account.
Image: Dubois holds an IBF interim belt and was the mandatory challenger for the world title
“Hey Anthony Joshua, Daniel Dubois, the IBF Belt is my present for you for 21.09.2024. The world loves strong. Your friend, Undisputed Heavyweight Champion of the World, Oleksandr Usyk,” he posted.
Dubois, who Usyk defeated last year, holds an IBF Interim belt and would have been the mandatory challenger for Usyk, who is contracted to rematch Fury, a bout which has been set for December of this year.
Highlights as Oleksandr Usyk became undisputed heavyweight champion of the world after a dramatic battle with Tyson Fury
Joshua, formerly a unified world champion himself, has previously lost twice to Usyk.
He returned with a points win over Jermaine Franklin in 2023, but then followed up with two stoppage victories over Robert Helenius and Otto Wallin.
He has boxed once this year already, taking out Francis Ngannou in just two rounds. Ngannou, a former UFC champion in MMA, was an inexperienced boxer, but he had managed to go the 10-round distance with Tyson Fury in his first professional boxing bout.
Dubois has also rebuilt successfully from a loss to Usyk.
Speaking on the Toe2Toe podcast, Andy Scott, Andy Clarke, Lewis Richardson and Dan Azeez discuss the possibility of Joshua facing Dubois
The 26-year-old challenged Usyk for the WBO, WBA and IBF titles at the Wroclaw Stadium in Poland last August. Dubois put in a game effort, pressing the Ukrainian initially. Usyk had to rise from a low blow, a ruling which Dubois and his team still dispute, to halt Dubois in the ninth round.
The Briton though went on to grind down Jarrell Miller in December and at the start of this month pounded Filip Hrgovic to a halt to win the IBF Interim strap.
“[Being world champion] is a dream. From challenging for the world title to getting the chance to win [it] outright, that’s what I want,” Dubois declared after that fight.
“I’ll demolish Joshua. I’ll get even better from here.”
Joshua was in attendance at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, just a day after knocking out Francis Ngannou!
As he looks to reclaim his former position in the division, Joshua said: “I’ve got to pick them off one by one.
“It’s not going to be easy, but that’s my mentality. So come one, come all.
“He [Dubois] has been in tougher fights 1719362248, so he becomes hardened. He has worked his way up the ladder, we’ll see what happens.
England have safely negotiated a rocky route and a fair bit of rain to reach the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup – but could the weather again be set to scupper Jos Buttler’s side?
After opening their tournament with a rain-off against Scotland in Barbados which, followed up by defeat to Australia, had England on the brink of elimination before the holders turned things around to sneak into the Super 8s and then secure a final four spot.
But the forecast is again poor for their Thursday semi-final date against India in Guyana – live on Sky Sports Cricket from 3pm (first ball, 3.30pm)– and so what would that mean for England’s hopes of defending their title? We attempt to break it all down for you…
Live ICC Men's T20 World Cup
Thursday 27th June 3:00pm
What is the forecast like for England’s semi-final?
According to the Met Office, as of Tuesday, the weather forecast for Thursday in Guyana is currently showing as “thunder showers changing to heavy showers by late morning”, with a 60 per cent chance of rain predicted.
Guyana hosted five matches in the initial group stage of the tournament, none of which were rained off, albeit the last of them came over a fortnight ago on June 8.
As for the first semi-final between South Africa and Afghanistan in Trinidad on Wednesday evening – live on Sky Sports Cricket from 1am Thursday morning (first ball, 1.30am) – the Met Office suggests there will be “light showers changing to clear by early evening”, around the time the match is scheduled for.
Image: Rain washed out England’s opening group game of the tournament against Scotland in Barbados
What are the rules if it were to rain?
There is no reserve day available for the second semi-final between England and India – although an extra 250 minutes is available to look to complete the match on the scheduled day.
It means that if the game cannot be completed due to poor weather, India will advance by virtue of topping their Super 8s pool.
The first semi-final between South Africa – who topped Group 2 – and Afghanistan, on Wednesday evening in Trinidad, does have a reserve day factored in for Thursday.
Highlights from the T20 World Cup Group 1 match as Afghanistan defeated Bangladesh to reach their first-ever semi-final where they’ll play South Africa.
Section 13.6.2.1 of the ICC’s playing conditions for the tournament states: “The Final on 29 June will have a reserve day on 30 June. The semi-finals will each have additional time added in order to complete the match which will total 250 minutes.
“For the first semi-final on 26 June, 60 minutes will be available at the end of the day’s play with the remaining 190 minutes scheduled for 2pm on 27 June. Whilst the additional 250 minutes for the second semi-final scheduled on 27 June will be utilised if needed through extended playing hours on the scheduled day.”
Why are England playing in the second semi-final?
It was pre-determined that if India reached the final four of the tournament, they would play in the second semi-final as it is at a more friendly time for their country’s TV audience (8pm India).
None of India’s matches in the competition have come at the scheduled time of the first semi-final (6am India).
Highlights from St Lucia as Rohit Sharma’s 92 from 41 balls powered India to victory over Australia and into the T20 World Cup semi-finals.
With India finishing as Group 1 winners in the Super 8s and England as runners-up in Group 2, it therefore ensured they’d drop into the second semi.
What do the experts say? – ‘I don’t think it’s ideal at all’
Sky Sports’ Michael Atherton: “England and India’s semi-final doesn’t have a rain day. If there’s rain in that game, whoever finished first in their group goes through.
“The vagaries of the organisation have put pressure on the organising of the tournament, and it’s meant that the two semi-finals are played to slightly different rules and regs.
“Secondly, India knew all along that they were going to be in Guyana for the semi-final and, therefore could plan for it. Their logistics were already in tow for Indian supporters a chance to get to Georgetown… England fans won’t have that chance because it’s so late.
“One team knew that they were going to that semi-final and I don’t think it’s ideal at all.”
Speaking on the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast, Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain discuss whether England have finally settled on their strongest line-up in time for their semi-final against India.
Sky Sports’ Nasser Hussain: “You can’t have two semi-finals with two different playing conditions, where one has a rain day and the other one doesn’t.
“The first one is made up over two days effectively or a day and a half. The second one, the England-India game, is made up over that whole day – it’s 250 minutes that they can make up.
“We could rock up at 8am in the morning for a 10.30am start (local) and still be there at 10pm at night trying to finish off that game!
“The second semi-final is a 10.30am start because the players, the teams, the officials have to then fly to Barbados for the Saturday final.
“And it’s given to India because of the TV audience in India, the biggest audience for the ICC [International Cricket Council]. Not just India, but Bangladesh, Pakistan and that part of the world.
“My thoughts are that the first part of the tournament seemed to meander along a little bit, with the long gaps… you could have got those games a bit closer together, rather than at the real business end have just one day between a crucial second semi-final and a final.”
Has something similar ever happened before?
Image: Rain forced the abandonment of the 2020 Women’s T20 World Cup semi-final between England and India
England’s Women were dumped out of the 2020 Women’s T20 World Cup after a washout in their semi-final against India due to heavy rain in Sydney.
Again there was no reserve day scheduled, allowing for India to qualify for the final by virtue of finishing top of their group, compared to England who were runners-up in theirs after suffering an opening loss to South Africa.
Image: England captain Heather Knight can only watch on as rain wrecks her side’s semi-final against India in the 2020 Women’s T20 World Cup
Hosts and eventual winners Australia – runners-up to India – appeared to be facing the same fate, with both semi-finals being played at the same venue on the same day on this occasion, until the clouds cleared sufficiently to see them beat South Africa to a place in the final.
How did England reach the semi-finals?
After England’s hopes of progressing through to the Super 8s were hanging by the proverbial thread due to the Scotland rain-off and Australia loss, they then dismantled Oman – skittling the associate nation for 47 before completing the run chase in just 19 balls to, crucially, take their net run rate above Scotland’s.
Highlights of England’s win over Oman at the T20 Cricket World Cup, as they sprinted to a chase of 48 in just 3.1 overs in Antigua.
They then managed to beat the rain and Namibia in Antigua, comfortably winning a 10-over-a-side encounter by 41 runs on DLS after initially fearing a tournament-ending washout.
Even with those back-to-back wins, Buttler’s side were reliant on Australia beating Scotland in their final match and they would have been jittery when the Scots posted 180-5 batting first and even more so when Australia needed 89 runs still from the final seven overs of their chase, before the 2021 champions ultimately romped home two balls to spare.
Highlights of England’s win against the West Indies at the T20 Cricket World Cup.
Having squeezed into the Super 8s, England truly arrived by dismantling hosts West Indies by eight wickets in their best performance of the tournament, chasing down a challenging target of 181 with 15 deliveries to spare thanks to an unbeaten 87 from 47 balls from Phil Salt.
A seven-run defeat to South Africa followed, despite a late revival from Harry Brook (53 off 37) and Liam Livingstone (33 off 17) threatened to see them over the line.
Highlights of England’s thumping 10-wicket win over USA as they cruised into the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup
A thumping win over the USA was therefore required to ensure a semi-final spot and England duly delivered one as Chris Jordan bagged the England men’s team a first T20 international hat-trick before Buttler (83no off 38) hammered his team into the last four as they chased down 116 inside 10 overs and with all 10 wickets in hand.
When are the semi-finals and final?
Thursday June 27
Semi-final #1 – South Africa vs Afghanistan, Tarouba, Trinidad and Tobago (1.30am)
Semi-final #2 – India vs England, Providence, Guyana (3.30pm)
Saturday June 29
Final – Bridgetown, Barbados (3.30pm)
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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Ireland’s Stephen McKenna will look to maintain his unbeaten record when he faces Joe Laws as part of a packed night of boxing at Oakwell Stadium in Barnsley on August 3,live on Sky Sports.
The pair will clash for the WBC international super welterweight title on the undercard of the sold-out show, topped by the British and Commonwealth super middleweight title fight between defending champion Zak Chelli and local star Callum Simpson.
McKenna returns having dispatched Yorkshire’s Darren Tetley inside six-rounds last time out at York Hall in September 2023 to continue his unbeaten run, while the ‘Benwell Bomber’ Laws is back in action following an upset win over Michael Hennessy Jr at the same venue a month later.
Image: Stephen McKenna defeated Darren Tetley at York Hall in London in September 2023
“These are the type of match-ups that excite me, especially in an open-air stadium in the middle of summer,” McKenna said. “I’ve been getting world class sparring out here in the States, and I’m feeling bigger, stronger and hitting harder than ever. And I can’t wait to show this come August 3.
“Joe Laws is game. He’s full of energy and won’t shy away from a scrap. He’s good at running his mouth and on the night he’ll try to put up a fight, but that just raises the ante for me to do more damage. Credit to him for taking this, because when those fists start flying it won’t look too pretty for him.
“Fans can expect nothing less than pure carnage. Our styles guarantee a high-action, high-volume fight at a ferocious pace. But whether I blast him out early or drown him late on, it’ll end with my hands raised.”
Fans can expect a fiery build up, with McKenna and Laws having already exchanged a series of barbs online and Laws pulling no punches in his assessment of his opponent.
“McKenna is about as well liked in boxing as Boris Johnson was during lockdown,” Joe Laws said. “I don’t need a reason to punch someone but he’s got one of those faces. I’m going to spark him and bring the belt back to Benwell. And the new!”
More undercard announcements will be revealed in the coming weeks for the stacked stadium show, which takes place at the home of Barnsley FC just a week before the new season begins.
British supermiddleweight champion Zak Chelli faced off with challenger Callum Simpson for the first time at Barnsley’s Oakwell stadium
BOXXER Founder & CEO Ben Shalom said: “Fight fans can look forward to a night of non-stop action at Oakwell on August 3. McKenna vs Laws is an excellent addition to the card.
“Neither man will want to take a backwards step, so expect fireworks when these two step into the ring.”
Join the waiting list at BOXXER.com to be notified of any further ticket releases or returns, while limited hospitality packages are still available via BOXXER.com and Barnsley Football club.
Watch Zak Chelli defend his British and Commonwealth super-middleweight titles against Callum Simpson at Barnsley’s Oakwell Stadium, live on Sky Sports on Saturday August 3 or stream with NOW.
Guido Migliozzi snatched a fourth DP World Tour title after coming through a three-way play-off to claim a dramatic victory at the KLM Open.
Migliozzi had four bogeys in a six-hole stretch around the turn but birdied two of his last three holes to post a final-round 70 at The International in Amsterdam, seeing him end the week on 11 under alongside Marcus Kinhult and England’s Joe Dean.
The players returned to the par-five 18th for the play-off, where all three reached the green in two and two-putted for birdie, before Migliozzi prevailed in impressive fashion on the second extra hole.
Dean had to lay up after finding thick rough off the tee and Kinhult found the water with his second shot, leaving both posting pars, as Migliozzi reached the par-five green in two and two-putted from just over 60 feet to close out a first win since the 2022 Open de France.
“It’s been a great battle,” said Migliozzi, whose bogey on the 10th came after he could not find his original drive inside the permitted three minutes. “After I lost the ball on 10 inside me I was like ‘If I can go through this, then I can do it’.
Guido Migliozzi reflects on coming through a dramatic play-off to claim KLM Open victory
“I never thought I was done. I always try to make birdies and try to come back and here it is now. It’s an incredible feeling.”
Victory lifts Migliozzi to eighth in the latest Race to Dubai standings, while Dean and Kinhult both shared second after their final-round 68s. Migliozzi’s win sees him qualify for The Open next month at Royal Troon, via the Open Qualifying Series, with Dean taking the other spot due to his higher world ranking than Kinhult.
Image: Joe Dean has now made three top-fives this season on the DP World Tour
Dean – who also finished runner-up at the Magical Kenya Open and a part-time delivery driver earlier in the season – had finished his front nine with successive bogeys but fired five birdies after the turn to get into the play-off.
Kinhult posted back-to-back birdies from the 16th and then holed from six feet at the last to save par and also finish on 11 under, while Rasmus Hojgaard finished a further shot back in tied-fourth with Andrea Pavan.
Northern Ireland’s Tom McKibbin ended the week in sixth spot on nine under, as overnight leader Mikko Korhonen struggled to a closing 75 to finish in a tie for 10th.
Protest delays start to final round
Tee times had been delayed by two hours on Sunday when activists blocked the entrance to the course. The first five groups had already teed off but the remaining ones were pushed back, with the leaders eventually getting under way at 3pm local time.
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A spokesperson for the DP World Tour said: “Play was disrupted for two hours while a small group of protesters blocked the entrance to the golf course. We would like to thank the marshals, players and spectators for their help while the situation was resolved.”
What’s next?
The DP World Tour heads to Italy net for the Italian Open presented by Regione Emilia-Romagna, held at the Adriatic Golf Club Cervia in Ravenna. Watch live on Thursday from midday on Sky Sports Golf. Stream the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour and more, without a contract, with NOW.
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Italy’s Jannik Sinner won his first grasscourt title by edging his doubles partner Hubert Hurkacz 7-6 7-6 in the Halle Open final on Sunday.
The win marks the 22-year-old Australian Open champion’s 14th singles career title.
Neither player could break serve and both sets went to tiebreaks in which top seed Sinner prevailed against the fifth-seeded Pole.
The first of those tiebreaks unusually stretched to 10-8 in Sinner’s favour, with the second seeing the Italian clinch the match via a more straightforward 7-2 tiebreak success.
The top seed had a chance to go 2-0 up in the second set but Hurkacz saved two break points as both players again held their serves before Sinner claimed the title.
“It’s inspiring what you’ve been doing the last 12 months,” Hurkacz told Sinner. “Jannik becoming number one in the world is really special. I try to learn from that. Big congrats.”
Sinner also congratulated fifth seed Hurkacz, who won the Halle Open in 2022, for reaching another final.
“We’re very good friends off court…seeing us play the final here is very special. Thank you so much,” he said.
World No 1 Sinner is preparing for Wimbledon, where he reached the semi-finals last year. The Grand Slam tournament starts on July 1.
Image: Poland’s Hurkacz has to settle for the runner-up prize after a very tight two sets
Berlin Open: Pegula knocks out Gauff in semis, beats Kalinskaya in final
Jessica Pegula knocked out top seed and fellow American Coco Gauff 7-5 7-6 in a rain-interrupted semi-final clash and went on to beat Anna Kalinskaya 6-7 6-4 7-6 in the final to win the Berlin Open on Sunday.
Jessica Pegula wins the Berlin Open after beating Anna Kalinskaya, claiming her first title since last October
The semi-final was suspended on Saturday due to rain, with world no 5 Pegula leading 7-5 6-6(3-1). She wasted no time after the match resumed under a cloudy sky on Sunday, winning four of the last five points to reach the final.
Pegula lost a competitive first set to Russian Kalinskaya after both players broke the other three times each. But the American bounced back, breaking in the very first game to set up a win in the second set.
Pegula, 30, broke Kalinskaya to take a 3-1 lead in the third set, but the Russian 25-year-old fought back with a break of her own and saved four break points in the next game to make it 4-4.
Kalinskaya was on the verge of two more breaks that would have taken her to victory but the American saved five match points to win both games and take the set into tiebreaker, where she ultimately prevailed.
The win marked Pegula’s fifth career singles title and the first on grass, days before she competes in the Wimbledon where she reached the quarter-finals last year.
What’s coming up on Sky Sports Tennis?
Find out all the ways to watch tennis on Sky Sports, including the US Open, ATP and WTA tours
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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