Sport

South Africa edge West Indies to reach World Cup semi-finals

The crowd at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium came to life but any momentum the West Indies had built was lost when the skies opened immediately and play was delayed for 90 minutes.

Published

6 days ago

June 24, 2024

Ariana News

(Last Updated On: )

South Africa held their collective nerve to edge West Indies by three wickets under the Duckworth-Lewis method in a rain-disrupted shootout for a semi-final spot at the Twenty20 World Cup in Antigua on Sunday.

The unbeaten Proteas joined England in the last four as Group 2 winners when Marco Jansen (21 not out) smashed a six down the ground off the first ball of the final over to get South Africa to their adjusted target of 123.

Left-arm spinner Tabraiz Shamsi had earlier taken 3-27 as tournament co-hosts West Indies were restricted to 135-8 before the rainstorm swept in to stop play.

Spinner Roston Chase (3-12) took three wickets late in the South African innings to set up a dramatic finish and give a glimmer of hope that West Indies might keep alive their quest for a third title.

“There’s a lot of relief ultimately to get through to get to the semi-final,” said South Africa captain Aiden Markram.

“I suppose it’s been the story of our (tournament), get ourselves into tricky positions and sort of by hook or by crook get over the line.”

The other two semi-finalists will be decided on Monday when India and Australia meet in St Lucia and Afghanistan take on Bangladesh in St Vincent in the last two matches in the Super Eight stage.

The South Africans won the toss and elect to bowl first in a decision that was quickly vindicated when danger men Shai Hope and Nicholas Pooran were dismissed inside the first two overs with just five runs on the board.

Kyle Mayers, brought into the West Indies squad as an injury replacement on Saturday, steadied the innings in a partnership of 81 for the third wicket with Chase.

Both had some fraught moments — Chase was dropped on 11 and Mayers survived an lbw call on review — before Shamsi separated them in the 12th over when Mayers slashed the ball to Tristan Stubbs at deep cover point to depart for 35.

WEST INDIES UNDER-PAR

That was the last partnership of note in an innings of fits and starts, Chase (52) and Sherfane Rutherford (0) falling victim to Shamsi’s wrist spin, and Andre Russell thumping a couple of big sixes before being run out for 15.

West Indies knew they were under-par and needed a big bowling effort and Russell gave them a great start.

He struck with the first delivery of the innings to remove Reeza Hendricks caught behind down the leg side before having the other South Africa opener, Quinton de Kock, caught at backward square leg for 12 five deliveries later.

The crowd at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium came to life but any momentum the West Indies had built was lost when the skies opened immediately and play was delayed for 90 minutes.

Stubbs and Markram resumed on 15-2 and took the tally to 42 before local quick Alzarri Joseph struck with his second delivery to remove the captain for 18.

Joseph’s pace did for Heinrich Klaasen (22) in the eighth over but the other West Indies bowlers were proving expensive and the South Africans were now just a run-a-ball away from their target.

Chase came on in the 12th over to bowl David Miller for four and then sent back Stubbs (29) and Keshav Maharaj (2) and ensure the chase went into the 17th and final over.

“I think credit must be given to the boys, I think they fought to the very end,” said West Indies skipper Rovman Powell.

“As a batting group, this is one performance we’ll try our best to forget. It was a commendable bowling effort, we said that we’re just gonna give it our all and whatever happens, happens.” – Reuters

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Kohli announces retirement from T20 cricket after India’s World Cup victory

It was India’s second T20 World Cup victory after they had won it in 2007 under the legendary MS Dhoni in South Africa, and first since winning the Champions Trophy in 2013.

Published

10 hours ago

June 30, 2024

Ariana News

(Last Updated On: )

Virat Kohli announced his retirement from T20 cricket after lifting the Man of the Match trophy on Saturday night following India’s victory against South Africa in the ICC T20 World Cup.

For India it had been a 17-year wait for the T20 World Cup trophy, which they lifted after beating South Africa by only seven runs.

“This was my last T20 World Cup, and this is what we wanted to achieve. One day you feel you can’t get a run, and then things happen.

“God is great, and I got the job done for the team on the day it mattered. Now or never, the last T20 for India wanted to make the most of it. Wanted to lift the cup, and respect the situation rather than force it.

“This was an open secret, it’s time for the next generation to take over, some amazing players will take the team forward and keep the flag waving high”, said Kohli in the post-match presentation.

It was India’s second T20 World Cup victory after they had won it in 2007 under the legendary MS Dhoni in South Africa, and first since winning the Champions Trophy in 2013.

The former Indian captain and two time world cup winner, Dhoni, expressed his gratitude in an Instagram post after Saturday’s win and said: “WORLD CUP CHAMPIONS 2024. My heart rate was up, well done on being calm, having the self-belief and doing what you guys did. From all the Indians back home and everywhere in the world, a big thank you for bringing the World Cup home. CONGRATULATIONS. Arreeee, thanks for the priceless birthday gift.”

This victory not only secured India’s place in cricket history but also provided a fitting farewell to head coach Rahul Dravid, capping off a memorable performance that will be celebrated for years to come.

India beat Afghanistan by 47 runs in Super 8 match of T20 World Cup

Sport

Afghanistan to face Morocco in futsal friendlies

AFF highlighted that the matches are arranged in preparation for the 2024 FIFA Futsal World Cup, adding that it will bear the cost.

Published

1 day ago

June 29, 2024

Ariana News

(Last Updated On: )

Afghanistan’s national futsal team is scheduled to play two friendly matches against Morocco next month, it was announced on Saturday.

The matches will be played behind closed doors on 10th and 13th July in Morocco, the Afghanistan Football Federation (AFF) said.

AFF highlighted that the matches are arranged in preparation for the 2024 FIFA Futsal World Cup, adding that it will bear the cost.

The 2024 FIFA Futsal World Cup is scheduled to start on 14 September in Uzbekistan.

It will be Afghanistan’s first appearance in the tournament.

ATN clinches agreement to broadcast FIFA Futsal World Cup 2024

Sport

India hammer England to book T20 World Cup final with South Africa

Published

3 days ago

June 28, 2024

Ariana News

(Last Updated On: )

Left-arm spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel took three wickets apiece as India thrashed defending champions England by 68 runs in Guyana on Thursday to set up a T20 World Cup final against South Africa.

England, set a challenging target of 172, slumped to 103 all out inside 17 overs, wrist spinner Kuldeep finishing with figures of 3-19 and the orthodox Patel 3-23.

India, bidding for their first major title since the 2013 Champions Trophy, will now play South Africa — also unbeaten at this tournament after a nine-wicket hammering of Afghanistan in their semi-final — in Saturday’s final in Barbados.

The Kensington Oval clash will also be India’s second appearance in successive global showpiece games after they lost on home soil to Australia in last year’s 50-over World Cup final.

“It’s very satisfying to win this game,” said India skipper Rohit Sharma after his team gained revenge for a humiliating 10-wicket loss to England in the semi-finals of the 2022 T20 World Cup.

“We worked really hard as a unit. To win like that was a great effort from everybody.”

Rohit laid the foundations by top-scoring with 57 in a total of 171-7 after his side were somewhat surprisingly sent into bat by England skipper Jos Buttler.

It was the opener’s third fifty of the tournament and second in as many games following his blistering 92 against Australia.

– ‘India outplayed us’ –

India were 40-2 in the powerplay after Virat Kohli (nine) and Rishabh Pant (four) both fell cheaply.

But a third-wicket stand of 73 between Rohit and Suryakumar Yadav (47), spanning a rain delay of over an hour, turned the tide.

Patel, the player of the match, said: “I knew that the wicket was stopping and had something for the bowlers…Our batters told us the pitch wasn’t easy to hit the ball. We felt it (171) was a good total.”

Defeat meant the only Test side that England had beaten at this event were co-hosts the West Indies, with the title-holders also losing to Australia and South Africa.

“India outplayed us, certainly,” said Buttler. “We let them maybe get 20-25 too many (runs) on a challenging surface that they played well on. They fully deserved to win.

“They’ve got some fantastic spinners. Our two (Adil Rashid and Liam Livingstone) bowled well but in hindsight, probably should’ve bowled Moeen (Ali) in our innings with the way spin was playing.

“But with a good score and their brilliant bowling attack, it was always going to be a tough chase.

Buttler launched England’s reply with a brisk 23. When he attempted to reverse sweep Patel’s first ball, however, he clipped a gentle catch off the toe-end of the bat to wicketkeeper Pant.

Fellow opener Phil Salt was then clean bowled by Jasprit Bumrah’s well-disguised slower ball.

England then saw 34-2 become 35-3 when Patel bowled dangerman Jonny Bairstow for a duck.

Moeen was then stumped by Pant and when Sam Curran was lbw to Kuldeep, England were in dire straits at 49-5 in the ninth over.

Wickets continued to tumble and when Livingstone, the last of England’s specialist batsmen, was run out for 11 after a dreadful mix-up with Jofra Archer, England were all but beaten at 86-8.

Archer struck a couple of defiant sixes but Bumrah ended the match when he had the England paceman lbw for 21 with a low full toss.

(AFP)