Iran twice came from behind to draw 2-2 with New Zealand in an exciting World Cup clash at Los Angeles Stadium as protests against Tehran’s government and a peace deal signed to end the US-Iran war formed a charged backdrop to the match.

High security presence and protests outside the venue were among the off-field concerns surrounding the match on Monday.

And when New Zealand took an early lead through Elijah Just’s volleyed shot from inside the box, after being set up by Chris Wood, some fans critical of the Iranian government celebrated with New Zealand supporters.

Many of these anti-regime spectators also carried Iran’s pre-Islamic Revolution Lion and Sun flag, against FIFA’s rules. Several also booed Iran’s national anthem before kickoff.

But most of the crowd of more than 70,000 appeared firmly behind Team Melli, chanting “Ir-ran! Ir-ran!” and erupting when Ramin Rezaeian equalised shortly after the half-hour mark.

Rezaeian, one of several Iran players who had not played club football since February after the domestic league was suspended amid US and Israeli air strikes, reacted quickest to a blocked shot and poked the ball past the advancing goalkeeper.

Wood and Just combined again early in the second half, the New Zealand captain sliding a precise pass into the 26-year-old forward’s path before Just hammered home to restore the All Whites’ lead.

Iran responded 10 minutes later with a superb goal from Mohammad Mohebbi, who headed Rezaeian’s perfect cross in off the far post to make it 2-2.

The stalemate means all the teams in Group G have one point after Belgium drew 1-1 with Egypt earlier on Monday.

New Zealand, making their third appearance at the tournament, remain without a win at a World Cup after seven matches. Iran are looking to reach the knockout round for the first time.

The match laid bare divisions among Iranian American fans, many of whom said they felt torn between pride at seeing Iran on the sport’s biggest stage, anger over Tehran’s crackdown on protesters and concern over Washington’s bombing campaign.

Before kickoff, about 300 to 500 protesters gathered outside the stadium, waving anti-government signs and flags.

Some Iranian Americans had said attending the match would imply support for Iran’s government, while others said they wanted to set politics aside and support the players.

Iran will next return to Los Angeles to face Belgium on Sunday when New Zealand take on Egypt in Vancouver.

[Aljazeera]

United States sprinter Noah Lyles has set the world’s best-ever time over the rarely-run 150 metres race, clocking 14.67 seconds at the Golden Spike meet in the eastern Czech city of Ostrava.

The 28-year-old Lyles on Tuesday beat the previous best of 14.72 set by Kishane Thompson of Jamaica in Florida in April.

At Ostrava, Lyles beat Sinesipho Dambile of South Africa with 14.78, while Australian teenager Gout Gout finished third in 14.96.

“Was there ever any doubt? Was there ever any doubt? We came for a show,” an elated Lyles told Czech TV.

Earlier this month, Lyles took a comfortable win at the Wanda Diamond League meet in Rome with a 9.88 in the 100m, his fastest since clinching gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

The high-energy, anime-loving showman has had strong indoor and outdoor performances throughout the year so far, and was named on this year’s Time100 list of the most influential people.

Dutch star Femke Broeders-Bol had to bow to in-form Swiss Audrey Werro in her outdoor debut in the 800m.

The 26-year-old Broeders-Bol has switched from 400m hurdles, in which she had won two world gold medals, and clocked an impressive 1 minute 57.13 seconds for second place.

“It was so cool, I love racing in Ostrava. It was tough, but I enjoyed it,” she said.

Broeders-Bol has also claimed multiple medals as the anchor leg in 4x400m relay teams, notably a gold in the mixed event in the Paris Olympics.

She ran her first 800m since 2017 in February, clocking a national record of 1 minute 59.07 seconds before withdrawing from the rest of the indoor season to nurse a foot injury.

The 22-year-old Werro won in 1 minute 54.45 seconds, half a second behind her personal best from March, after shedding Broeders-Bol with 200 metres to run.

“It was a really crazy run, but the time is very good, so I’m really happy,” Werro said.

Having set the eighth best time ever, she stayed over a second behind the oldest world record in athletics of 1:53.28 set in 1983 by Jarmila Kratochvilova of then-Czechoslovakia, who watched the race from the stands.

South Africa’s 20-year-old Bayanda Walaza won the men’s 100m as he equalled his personal best of 9.94 seconds, beating Emmanuel Eseme of Cameroon with 9.99 seconds.

US favourites Ronnie Baker and Jordan Anthony were demoted to the fourth and fifth spots, respectively, with times well over 10 seconds.

[Aljazeera]

An outstanding fifth-wicket stand and an even better sixth-wicket partnership electrified a Sri Lanka chase and propelled them to a tight final-over win against New Zealand. Nilakshika Silva  was the primary architect. Having arrived at the crease at 55 for 4, with the required rate soon climbing above nine, she produced her finest international innings – a perfectly-paced 54 not out off 37 that saw Sri Lanka to victory with two balls and five wickets to spare.

Nilakshika had serious support in the two partnerships she was involved in. Kavisha Dilhari joined her for a 50-run stand that repaired the innings, though New Zealand were still firm favourites when they were parted with 45 still needed off 30 deliveries. Kaushini Nuthyangana, who had already had a good game behind the stumps, then hit a nerveless 24 not out off 14, outpacing even Nilakshika during a stand that yielded 48 runs off 28 deliveries.

New Zealand were scuttled by their own poor catching again. Had Bree Illing held a sitter at short fine leg in the 10th over, Nilakshika would have been out for only 1, and New Zealand would have claimed five wickets in five overs. Their ground fielding also fell away during the last few overs, when Sri Lanka’s batters were beginning to reverse pressure effectively.

Their batting had also been reined in by a tight Sri Lankan bowling effort, in which the spinners imposed themselves. Sophie Devine and Melie Kerr hit 45 each, but 150 for 6 always seemed a little light on a Southampton surface that was a little slow, but remained largely good for batting.

The loss means New Zealand have lost their two opening matches, and must now treat games against England, Scotland, and Ireland as must-wins. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, are on the points table following their opening defeat at the hands of England. They will now prepare for the match against West Indies on Sunday. A victory there will set them up beautifully for a semi-finals push.

Nilakshika resurrects Sri Lanka

When Nilakshika arrived, Sri Lanka were down to their last three recognised batters, with 95 runs to get off 57 deliveries. It was clear she was timing the ball nicely from the outset, but she repeatedly had trouble piercing the infield and did not find her first boundary until the 13th ball she faced. Thankfully for Sri Lanka, Dilhari was buoyant through the early phase of this partnership, never allowing the required rate to climb too far out of reach.

After the 12th over, however, Nilakshika began to find the open spaces. There were fours through wide mid on and extra cover, and then a six over the head of Devine at deep midwicket, who could have pouched that catch had she stood closer to the rope.

A running mix-up, which perhaps was Nilakshika’s fault, cost Dilhari her wicket. But that only seemed to solidify the resolve within Nilakshika to see the chase through. She was magnificent through the last five overs, finding vital boundaries just as the pressure was mounting, while finding singles in between. With 28 runs needed off the last two overs, it was Nilakshika’s two boundaries off Melie in the 18th that swung the match more decisively in Sri Lanka’s favour. One was a bent-kneed square drive through cover point when Melie had hung the ball out wide. One was a sweep she blasted past Jess Kerr at fine leg.

Nuthyangana shines behind the stumps and with bat

Nuthyangana produced both Sri Lanka’s first piece of brilliance in this game, as well as their last. Her low catch to dismiss Isabella Gaze off the bowling of slinger Mithali Amodhya set the tone for a spirited Sri Lanka fielding performance. She would go on to claim two further catches – running hard towards fine leg to get under one high chance, plus an easier take to dismiss Brooke Halliday, though she did instigate the review that overturned the not out decision.

It will be for her batting that she will be remembered in this game, however. She’d had a high score of 19 not out in 10 T20I innings before this, but played a near-flawless finishing hand alongside Silva. Her first two boundaries came through wide long on, but crucially, she also found the singles and twos in between these bigger blows. With two required off three balls, she spanked one through square leg to spark beaming smiles and joyful celebrations in the Sri Lanka dugout.

Devine and Kerr hold NZ together

In the absence of Suzie Bates, Devine and Kerr were easily New Zealand’s most experienced batters, and they hit 45 apiece to keep the New Zealand innings above water. Kerr enjoyed a 49-run stand with Georgia Plimmer, though both batters failed to find frequent boundaries in the powerplay. Devine later led New Zealand through the middle overs, as Sri Lanka’s spinners found breakthroughs, striking at 150.

NZ’s four in four

New Zealand’s best passage in the game came between overs five and nine in Sri Lanka’s innings, in which they claimed four wickets for 10 runs. Offspinner Nensi Patel struck twice through this spell, eventually finishing with New Zealand’s best figures of 2 for 23. Bree Illing took the important wicket of Chamari Athapaththu, who made 27. The other wicket came from an excellent direct hit run out from Melie Kerr.

SCORES:
Sri Lanka Women  153 for 5 in 19.4 overs (Vishmi Guneratne 17, Chamari Athapaththu 27, Kavisha Dilhari 17, Nilakshika Silva 54*, Kaushini Nuthyangana 24*; Bree Illing 1-33,  Nensi Patel 2-23) beat New Zealand Women  150 for 6 (Georgia Plimmer 18, Sophie Devine 45, Melie Kerr 45, Maddy Green 18*; Mithali Ayodya 1-24, Sugandika Kumari 1-28, Chamari Athapaththu 1-21, Nimasha Meepage 1-26, Kavisha Dilhari 2-35) by five wickets

[Cricinfo]