Jasprit Bumrah delivers as India beat Pakistan in low-scoring thriller at T20 World Cup

India’s Jasprit Bumrah, center, celebrates the dismissal of Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup cricket match between India and Pakistan at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in Westbury, New York, Sunday, June 9, 2024. (AP)
India’s Jasprit Bumrah, center, celebrates the dismissal of Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup cricket match between India and Pakistan at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in Westbury, New York, Sunday, June 9, 2024. (AP)
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Updated 09 June 2024
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Jasprit Bumrah delivers as India beat Pakistan in low-scoring thriller at T20 World Cup

Jasprit Bumrah delivers as India beat Pakistan in low-scoring thriller at T20 World Cup
  • India were bowled out by Pakistan for 119 in 19 overs

NEW YORK: Jasprit Bumrah was the hero as India beat Pakistan by six runs in a low-scoring T20 World Cup thriller in New York on Sunday.
India were bowled out by Pakistan for 119 in 19 overs but while Mohammad Rizwan made 31 for Pakistan, in a well-paced innings, Bumrah delivered crucial wickets and his 3-14 in four overs proved decisive as Pakistan fell just short ending on 113-7.
Despite a tricky batting surface that made batting difficult, a crowd of 34,028, a record attendance for an international cricket match in the USA, were given a tight contest that ebbed and flowed.
Bumrah picked up the vital wicket of Pakistan captain Babar Azam (13) and then the breakthrough dismissal of Mohammad Rizwan (31) in the 15th over when Pakistan were 80-4.
Then, handed the ball for the penultimate over, with Pakistan needing 21 to win, Bumrah conceded just three runs and removed Iftikhar Ahmed with his final ball.
That left Pakistan needing 18 from the final over, a steep task on a difficult batting surface and it got more tricky when Arshdeep Singh trapped Imad Wasim lbw with the first ball.
Naseem Shah made a valiant effort, hitting the fourth and fifth balls of the over for fours but India avoided any late drama to secure their second win of the tournament.
For Pakistan, their loss, coming after the shock defeat to the USA, leaves them without a point and with a lot of work to do against Canada and Ireland if they are to fight their way into the Super Eight stage.
Earlier, Pakistan’s bowlers had given their team a fighting chance with Naseem and Haris Rauf claiming three wickets each as India were dismissed with a full over remaining of their alloted 20.
But Rishabh Pant’s 42 from 31 balls gave the Indians something to work with after they lost openers Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli cheaply.
Rain delayed the start of the game, played in front of a packed 34,000 fans, the majority of whom were backing tournament favorites India.
Pakistan captain Babar won the toss and opted to bowl and their was a huge roar when Rohit clipped Shaheen Shah Afridi’s third ball of the day over mid-wicket for six.
But after just one over, the rain returned forcing a 36-minute delay and when play resumed Pakistan’s attack got the start they had dreamt of.
Naseem Shah removed Kohli with the the third ball back, the Indian opener reaching at a wide delivery and finding Usman Khan at point.,
Rohit tried to put Afridi off the midwicket boundary again but this time he was caught by Haris Rauf in the deep to leave India at 19-2 with both star openers gone.
But only 24 runs were added for the last five wickets and India lost their final wicket to a run out with six balls remaining.
That could have proved costly but Bumrah delivered when it mattered for a big win for the tournament favorites.


Four key match-ups in Pakistan-England Test series

Four key match-ups in Pakistan-England Test series
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Four key match-ups in Pakistan-England Test series

Four key match-ups in Pakistan-England Test series
  • The Stokes-Shah showdown lit up the Twenty20 World Cup final in Melbourne in November 2022, with the batter surviving Shah’s lethal spell
  • But barely a month later the rivalry was renewed in Rawalpindi stadium as Shah bowled Stokes for 41 on the day when England piled record haul

MULTAN: Test encounters between Pakistan and England have often been defined by player-on-player showdowns which inject added drama into the already heated confrontation.
Ahead of their three-match series starting Monday in Multan, AFP Sports looks at four key match-ups set to entertain:
Pakistan’s pace spearhead was sidelined with a knee injury when England inflicted a 3-0 clean sweep in 2022. This time he has a chance to halt England’s juggernauts led by opener Duckett.
The left-hander smashed a brilliant century on the Test’s opening day two years ago as England amassed a first-day world record of 506-4 — blazing a trail for Pakistan’s first-ever home whitewash.
Duckett has proven capable of upsetting any bowler with his aggression straight out of the gate.
But Shaheen’s lethal yorkers and swing with a new ball regularly put brakes on the scoring rate and secure wickets up front.
Watch out as the pair tussle for control.
Two years ago, Ahmed was just 18 when he became the youngest England bowler to take a five-wicket haul on debut against Pakistan in Karachi.
Now matured, he is likely to face down Pakistan star batter Azam — one of his victims back in 2022.
Ahmed’s googly could prolong Azam’s run drought, with Pakistani looking to rediscover his touch to counter the wiley spinner.
Azam quit his white-ball captaincy this week to focus on his role at the crease.
His showdown with Ahmed will be the first test of whether he can return to form.
Root has a phenomenal record as England’s top batter — soon set to break former skipper Alistair Cook’s career record of more than 12,000 Test runs.
But in the 2022 tour, it was spinner Abrar who dismissed Root in each innings of the second Test in Multan for low scores of 8 and 21.
Nonetheless, Root holds the record for most hundreds for England with 34, achieving half of them over the past four years.
Pakistan will rely on Abrar for slow and turning wickets. A spin duel between the pair will be a clash to watch.
The Stokes-Shah showdown lit up the Twenty20 World Cup final in Melbourne in November 2022, with the batter surviving Shah’s lethal spell and hitting a fighting half-century to secure England’s triumph.
But barely a month later the rivalry was renewed in Rawalpindi stadium as Shah bowled Stokes for 41 on the day when England piled up its record haul.
Shah missed the next two Tests with a shoulder injury. But when the three-match series starts next week he will have more experience and better fitness — although the contest could be delayed as Stokes races to overcome a hamstring niggle in time for the first Test.
If he’s ready, Stokes will have to overcome a fiery Shah looking to push him to the hilt.


ICC Women’s T20 World Cup: Pakistan to face India in Dubai tomorrow

ICC Women’s T20 World Cup: Pakistan to face India in Dubai tomorrow
Updated 05 October 2024
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ICC Women’s T20 World Cup: Pakistan to face India in Dubai tomorrow

ICC Women’s T20 World Cup: Pakistan to face India in Dubai tomorrow
  • Pakistan, who have never made it out of the group stages, beat Sri Lanka by 31 runs in opener
  • On the other hand, India lost their opening group match to New Zealand on Friday by 58 runs

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan women’s team will face India on Sunday in their Twenty20 World Cup group stage match in Dubai, according to the International Cricket Council (ICC).
Pakistan, who have never made it out of the group stages in eight previous attempts, beat Sri Lanka by 31 runs in their World Cup opener on Thursday.
The Pakistani side is scheduled to play its second group match against India at the Dubai Cricket Stadium.
“The match will start at 3:00 p.m. Pakistan Standard Time,” the state-run Radio Pakistan broadcaster reported on Saturday.
Pakistan made 116 in their 20 overs in the opening match. They staged a determined fightback to beat Sri Lanka, with left-arm spinner Sadia Iqbal claiming three wickets.
Nashra Sandhu, Omaima Sohail and player of the match Fatima Sana all took two each for Pakistan against Asia Cup champions Sri Lanka.
On the other hand, India lost their opening match to New Zealand on Friday by 58 runs.
India were never in the chase after losing openers Shafali Verma, for two, and Smriti Mandhana, for 12, inside the first five overs.


Bronny James begins Lakers career with a preseason debut

Bronny James begins Lakers career with a preseason debut
Updated 05 October 2024
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Bronny James begins Lakers career with a preseason debut

Bronny James begins Lakers career with a preseason debut
  • Bronny James finishes with two points in the Lakers’ 124-107 loss to the Timberwolves
  • As is typical for inactive players, LeBron largely stays away from the Lakers’ huddles

PALM DESERT, California: Bronny James played in his first NBA preseason game Friday night, but LeBron James wasn’t in uniform with him when the Lakers hosted Minnesota in the first of Los Angeles’ two weekend games in the Coachella Valley.
Lakers coach JJ Redick elected to hold out LeBron James against the Timberwolves after three hard days of training camp, but the 39-year-old top scorer in NBA history is likely to play against Phoenix on Sunday — which just happens to be Bronny’s 20th birthday.
Bronny James finished with two points in the Lakers’ 124-107 loss to the Timberwolves, missing his first five shots before making a layup with 56.9 seconds to play. But the 6-foot-2 guard also blocked three shots, and he picked up one rebound and one assist while playing the first half of the second quarter and most of the fourth.
Before they become the first father and son to play in the same NBA game, Bronny James knows he has plenty of work to do. He got his first chance to play in Lakers gold when he took the floor to begin the second quarter at Acrisure Arena outside Palm Springs.
Playing alongside starting Lakers point guard D’Angelo Russell, Bronny got caught on a pick on his first defensive possession, allowing Rob Dillingham to hit an open 3-pointer. Bronny’s pass was then intercepted by Nickeil Alexander-Walker on the other end, but Bronny hustled back and blocked his layup attempt.
Bronny missed all three of his shots during his first six minutes of action, including a 3-pointer. He picked up an assist when he found Rui Hachimura for a 3-pointer from the corner on a fast break.
Bronny returned for the start of the fourth quarter, missing a jumper and having a layup attempt blocked. In the final minute, he got a pass from fellow rookie Dalton Knecht and looped a layup over a defender for his first points.
LeBron appeared to be keeping a mindful distance from Bronny during the game, allowing his oldest son to focus on his job. But LeBron spoke at length to Bronny during a timeout halfway through the second quarter, explaining something with hand gestures while Bronny nodded.
Bronny James was the Lakers’ second-round draft pick, and he played in summer league in Las Vegas. He is expected to play for the Lakers in the preseason before spending a significant portion of the upcoming regular season with the G League’s South Bay Lakers.
“Of course there’s nerves,” Bronny said after the Lakers’ pregame shootaround. “But I’m just excited to go out there and learn from the people playing in front of me, and if I get a chance to showcase what I can do, I’m going to do that.”
As is typical for inactive players, LeBron largely stayed away from the Lakers’ huddles. He mostly stood on the perimeter during timeouts with Anthony Davis, who also sat out the preseason opener. Both superstars have been at training camp in El Segundo.
“We felt like, given everything they had this summer, and their level of participation over the past three days, it made the most sense for them to get an off day today,” Redick said. “We told them at shootaround to just stay off their feet.”
Redick said Thursday that both LeBron James and Davis will play in at least one game this weekend. Max Christie and Jaxson Hayes started in the superstars’ place against Minnesota alongside Russell, Hachimura and Austin Reaves.
Friday’s crowd didn’t seem disappointed as it poured into the 22-month-old arena that serves at the home of the American Hockey League’s Coachella Valley Firebirds. Hundreds of fans in gold Lakers jerseys representing everyone from James to George Mikan rushed into the building and down the stairs in the lower bowl for an up-close look at the pregame warmups.
“The beautiful thing about the Lakers is that we have fans all over the world,” Redick said. “The desert over here is an extension, I think in some ways, of our fan base in LA. It’s a great opportunity for our group to play in front of these fans tonight.”
James and Davis are sitting out the first of the Lakers’ six preseason games as they ease back into competition after a busy summer. They joined the Lakers before the game in street clothes.
LeBron and Davis were both on the US team that won a gold medal at the Paris Olympics, and they walked to midcourt right before tipoff to greet Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards, their Olympic teammate.


Al-Nassr retain women’s volleyball title at Saudi Games

Al-Nassr retain women’s volleyball title at Saudi Games
Updated 04 October 2024
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Al-Nassr retain women’s volleyball title at Saudi Games

Al-Nassr retain women’s volleyball title at Saudi Games
  • Al-Qadsiah Club take swimming gold in men’s 4x100 medley relay
  • Al-Fateh Club’s Patrick Zymek wins gold in 200-meter backstroke event

RIYADH: Al-Nassr women’s volleyball team successfully defended their Saudi Games title on Friday, beating Al-Ula in a one-way final.
Ahlam Al-Omari from the board of the Saudi Volleyball Federation, presented the gold medals to the winners after their three-set (25-10, 25-17, 25-13) victory.
Samira Asghari, from the International Olympic Committee, and Hanan Al-Qahtani, from the Saudi Volleyball Federation, watched the match, which was held at the Ministry of Sports Hall at Prince Faisal bin Fahd Olympic Complex in Riyadh.
Al-Ula won silver, while Al-Fayhaa took bronze after defeating Al-Anqa 3-0.
In the swimming pool, Al-Qadsiah Club won gold in the men’s 4x100-meter medley relay, while Al-Hilal Club took silver and Al-Adalah Club bronze.
In the men’s 200-meter backstroke, Al-Fateh Club’s Patrick Zymek won the gold medal, ahead of Al-Qadsiah’s Ali Al-Essa and Abdulmajid Al-Marwani of Al-Khaleej.
Farouk Al-Jidaily of Al-Ahli won gold in the men’s 400-meter freestyle, while Alexander Younis of Aqua Falcon Academy took silver and Mohammed Al-Zaki of Al-Adalah bronze.
Ahmed Al-Qudmani, president of the Saudi Swimming Federation, handed out the swimming medals at an event attended by British Olympic swimming champion and Paris 2024 Olympic silver medal winner Adam Peaty.
In the badminton competition, Muqrin Al-Muqrin, president of the Saudi Badminton Federation, handed out the medals to the winners of the men’s and women’s singles events, which concluded at Boulevard 4.
Khadija Niza, of Al-Ittihad, won gold in the women’s competition, while Aerial Vinoflor of Al-Faisaly took silver and Sin Chengari of Al-Salamiya won bronze.
In the men’s event, Shamil Motamil of Al-Hilal won gold, Adnan Hassan of Al-Nassr took silver and Mahd Sheikh of Al-Riyadh won bronze.
Prince Saud bin Jalawi, governor of Jeddah, crowned the winners of the coastal rowing competition, which ran for two days at Obhur Corniche.
Rakan Ali Reda took gold in the men’s category, ahead of Turki Al-Aref and Moayad Al-Rshidi.
In the women’s event, Haya Al-Mami won gold ahead of Israa Qadri and Yusra Malaika.
The Saudi Games are being held for the third year, with 9,000 athletes representing 200 clubs competing in 52 sports. Gold medal winners also pick up a cash prize of SR1 million ($266,000), silver medal winners SR300,000 and bronze medal winners SR100,000.


Pogba has doping suspension cut to 18 months, eligible to play next March

Pogba has doping suspension cut to 18 months, eligible to play next March
Updated 04 October 2024
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Pogba has doping suspension cut to 18 months, eligible to play next March

Pogba has doping suspension cut to 18 months, eligible to play next March
  • “The suspension is now 18 months, starting Sept. 11, 2023,” CAS director general Matthieu Reeb
  • The France international was provisionally suspended by Italy’s national anti-doping organization in September 2023

PARIS: French soccer player Paul Pogba’s doping suspension has been cut to 18 months from an initial four years, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) said on Friday.
“The suspension is now 18 months, starting Sept. 11, 2023,” CAS director general Matthieu Reeb told Reuters.
The France international was provisionally suspended by Italy’s national anti-doping organization (NADO Italia) in September 2023 after testing positive for DHEA — a banned substance that raises levels of testosterone.
The 31-year-old Pogba, who has a contract with Italy’s Juventus until June 2026, denied any wrongdoing and said in February he would appeal to CAS.
The doping test was performed after Juve’s 3-0 season-opening victory in Serie A at Udinese on Aug. 20, 2023.
The tribunal said it had detected prohibited “non-endogenous testosterone metabolites,” adding that the results were “consistent with the exogenous (external) origin of the target compounds.”