Sports
Mandhana’s ton, Charani’s four-fer headline India’s thumping win
Smriti Mandhana‘s maiden T20I hundred and Shree Charani’s four-fer on T20I debut saw India decimate England by 97 runs to take 1-0 lead in the five-match series, at Trent Bridge on Saturday (June 28).
Leading from the front, Mandhana became India’s second female centurion in the format, propelling the side to a mammoth 210 from their allotted overs, ably aided by Harleen Deol’s 43 on T20I comeback and England’s sloppiness in the field. Indian spinners took charge in the second half, claiming eight of the 10 wickets. Despite Nat Sciver-Brunt’s fighting half-century, England folded for 113 in the 15th over with Charani registering 4 for 12 from her 3.5 overs.
After India decided to rest Harmanpreet Kaur following a head injury in the warm-up game earlier this week, Mandhana played a captain’s knock to power India’s 210. With Shafali Verma tentative on comeback, the onus was on the senior partner to lead the way and Mandhana took total charge, playing all around the ground. In windy Nottingham, Mandhana used the conditions to her advantage, as well as the match-ups – an area where new skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt erred early on. She picked three boundaries off the new-ball bowlers before laying into the left-arm spinner Linsey Smith who bowled ahead of the experienced Sophie Ecclestone.
When the veteran did come into the attack after PowerPlay, Mandhana welcomed the spinner with a slog-sweep over midwicket straight up and then another two balls later. Mandhana’s relentless attack ensured India scored at more than nine an over for the first half, and then she switched gears in the middle overs after her 31st T20I half-century that came off 27 balls. Her 112 made Mandhana the first Indian, and fifth woman overall, to register a hundred in all three formats internationally. It’s also India Women’s highest individual score in the format, surpassing Harmanpreet’s 103 in the 2018 World Cup against New Zealand.
Playing her first T20I in nearly two years, Deol earned a recall in Harmanpreet’s absence. Also promoted to no. 3 on the back of her red-hot ODI form, Deol vindicated the management’s call with a 23-ball 43 laced with seven boundaries. While Verma’s wicket could have slowed India down, Deol came in with intent and, for the better part of her stay in the 94-ball partnership with the stand-in skipper, batted at a strike-rate of 200 or more. Typically a slow starter early on, Deol showed improvement on that front when she took on the returning Linsey Smith for 13 of the 14-run over – three boundaries included – to keep the momentum going as she raced to an eight-ball 20 in no time.
That allowed Mandhana to keep her foot firmly on the gas, and she raised India’s hundred just after the halfway mark with a trademark pull over the ropes. The duo took only four overs to raise a fifty stand. After being reprieved on 25, Deol went on to make a valuable 43 before holing out to deep midwicket to give Lauren Bell the first of her three wickets.
Mandhana forced to stay off strike for a better part of the death overs, after getting to the hundred, is where India erred at the backend of their innings. Bell struck twice more in the space of three deliveries in the 18th over to remove quick-scoring Richa Ghosh and Jemimah Rodrigues early, and finish with highly impressive figures of 3 for 27 given the high-scoring nature of the game. This was followed by an excellent penultimate over from Arlott for only five runs that made Mandhana desperate to hit every ball left. While the India captain did step down to loft Sophie Ecclestone for a four downtown first-ball, the spinner had instant revenge as Mandhana mistimed the next. She walked off to a standing ovation at Trent Bridge for a brilliant 112,and India ended with 210 when 225+ seemed on the cards not so long ago. Nevertheless, this is India’s second highest T20I total and the best effort against England.
With oly medium pacers at her disposal in the fast-bowling department, India threw the new ball to Amanjot Kaur who opened with a short and wide delivery to allow Sophia Dunkely to kick off the chase with a four. However, the English opener edged another similar delivery behind to close the mixed-bag of the first over. Deepti Sharma, at the other end, struck right away to hand Danni Wyatt-Hodge a three-ball duck. While Sciver-Brunt tried to go after the bowlers, including Deepti when she returned for the final PowerPlay over, the Indian cleaned up Tammy Beaumont to leave England reeling at 58/3 at the end of the first-six overs.
Indian spinners kept mounting the pressure on England with Radha Yadav striking twice in her first couple of overs to have Amy Jones and Arlott walking back, and Charani getting rid of the dangerous Alice Capsey for her maiden wicket. Amidst all the doom and gloom, it was business as usual for the England captain who waged a lone battle. Her 31-ball fifty came in the 12th over but Sciver-Brunt was quickly running out of partners. Ecclestone went for an ill-advised slog-sweep against the frugal Charani, and ended up picking Rodrigues near the ropes with perfection. The writing was truly on the wall for the hosts when the debutant had Sciver-Brunt edging behind that was given out only on review. Three balls later, Bell sent another one Rodrigues’ way as England collapsed to 113 all out of which the skipper scored 66 alone.
Brief scores:
India Women 210/5 in 20 overs (Shafali Verma 20, Smriti Mandhana 112, Harleen Deol 43, Richa Gosh 12; Lauren Bell 3-27, Em Arlott 1-38, Sophie Ecclestone 1-43) beat England Women 113 all out in 14.5 overs (Nat Sciver-Brunt 66, Tammy Beaumont 10, Em Arlott 12; Amanjot Kaur 1-22, Shree Charani 4-12, Deepti Sharma 2-32, Arundahti Reddy 1-18, Radha Yadav 2-15) by 97 runs.
A former Nascar driver and his family were among the seven people killed in a plane crash at a regional airport in North Carolina, the car-racing organisation has said.
A highway patrol spokesman said people on the ground confirmed that Greg Biffle was among those who boarded the plane.
The Cessna C550 crashed while landing at Statesville Regional Airport around 10:20 local time (15:20GMT), officials investigating the incident told reporters.
“Greg was more than a champion driver, he was a beloved member of the NASCAR community, a fierce competitor, and a friend to so many,” Nascar said in a statement where it confirmed Biffle had died along with his wife, daughter, son, and three others.
“His passion for racing, his integrity, and his commitment to fans and fellow competitors alike made a lasting impact on the sport,” the company added.
Beyond the racetrack, Biffle was remembered for helping in North Carolina in the aftermath of last year’s Hurricane Helene, when he used his personal helicopter to rescue stranded residents and deliver supplies.
Tributes to the former racer poured in on Thursday.
“Heartbreaking news out of Statesville,” North Carolina Governor Josh Stein posted on X. “Beyond his success as a NASCAR driver, Greg Biffle lived a life of courage and compassion and stepped up for western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene.”
Motorsport YouTuber Garrett Mitchell wrote on Facebook that Biffle and his family were on their way to spend the afternoon with him.
“Unfortunately, I can confirm Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina, daughter Emma, and son Ryder were on that plane… because they were on their way to spend the afternoon with us,” he wrote on Facebook. “We are devastated. I’m so sorry to share this.”
Statesville Airport Director John Ferguson described the aircraft as a corporate jet and said it was already engulfed in flames when he arrived on the scene.
The Cessna C550 aircraft is owned by a private company associated with Biffle, CBS, the BBC’s US partner, reported.
The jet took off around 10:06 local time and was in the air briefly before it crashed on the east end of the runway.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the crash.
Statesville Airport will remain closed until further notice as crews clear debris off the runway, Mr Ferguson told reporters.
Officials did not provide any information about deaths or people aboard the aircraft during their first media conference.
The National Transportation Safety Board, which is leading the investigation has sent in a team to investigate the fatal crash.
The Statesville Regional Airport (KSVH) is owned by the City of Statesville, which is about 45 minutes north of Charlotte.
It also provides aviation facilities for Fortune 500 companies and several Nascar racing teams.
[BBC]
Oussama Tannane’s wonder goal from inside his own half set Morocco on their way to their second FIFA Arab Cup title with a 3-2 win after extra time in the final against Jordan at the Qatar-hosted event.
A full house at Lusail Stadium in Doha on Thursday was quickly on their feet in the fourth minute when Qatar-based footballer Tannane drilled an effort from well over the halfway line – estimated at 59 metres – to catch out goalkeeper Yazeed Abulaila.
The Jordan keeper desperately scrambled back to his line in an attempt to stop the shot and collided with the post, resulting in a lengthy four-minute stoppage before he was cleared to continue and play resumed.
It was only the start of a turbulent final that saw Jordan come back to claim the lead, for the match to be sent to extra time, with Jordanian hearts broken seconds away from their first FIFA Arab Cup title in normal time.
Jordan, who were defeated finalists at the 2025 AFC Asian Cup, pulled level on the night three minutes into the second period when Ali Oliwan pulled away from his marker to head home from close range after a well-worked corner.
Jordan then took the lead for the first time after Mahmoud Almardi’s shot hit the raised hand of Achraf El Mahdioui inside the box, allowing Oliwan to convert from the penalty spot for his second in the 68th minute.
The drama was far from over, however, as second-half substitute Abderrazak Hamdallah levelled in the 88th minute – tapping in on the goal line after a scramble from a corner.
It was Oliwan, though, who had the chance of glory with virtually the final kick of normal time when – put clean through on goal – he was unable to beat the keeper to seal the final for Jordan with what would also have been his hat-trick.
Where many may not have taken their seats for Tannane’s opener, the same may have been the case for the start of extra time as Mohannad Abutaha volleyed a spectacular left-footed effort into the top right corner from the left edge of the box.
Like Tannane’s, it was a strike worthy of winning any final, but VAR ruled out the goal for a controversial handball as the Jordanian controlled the ball before unleashing the effort.
Worse was to follow when Hamdallah tapped in his second time – and the winning goal – after Marwane Saadane’s bicycle kick from a set piece fell kindly into his path from close range.
Morocco previously lifted the Arab Cup in 2012, defeating Libya in the final staged in Saudi Arabia. The Atlas Lions succeed Algeria, who defeated their North African neighbours Tunisia in the final four years ago.
Earlier, Morocco dominated the first period and Tannane, who plays his club football for Umm Salal in the Qatar league, had a glorious opportunity to double the lead on the stroke of half time when Abulaila spilled a cross into his path, but the forward failed to make a clean connection with his left-footed follow up and Issam Smeir slid to clear off the line.
The Jordanian stopper had to be on his feet throughout the first period and produced his best save in the 17th minute when Karim El Berkaoui, after exchanging a one-two with Tannane, drove across the face of goal from the edge of the box, but Abulaila was equal to it, low to his right, to push the effort wide.
Morocco, the first African nation to reach a World Cup semifinal when they achieved the feat at Qatar 2022, will now turn their attention to hosting the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, where the squad will be further boosted by a number of their European-based stars who had to prioritise club over country during the Arab Cup.
The FIFA Arab Cup sold more than a million tickets for the 2025 event, doubling what was sold at the previous competition four years ago.
Venura Kaveethra completed a match bag of eight wickets as Mahanama registeted an innings and 62 runs victory over Lumbini in the Under 19 Division I tier A tournament match at Mattegoda on Thursday.
It was the first outright victory for Mahanama in the tournament.
After having declared their innings on the overnight score, Mahanama bowlers did well to restrict Lumbini to 103 runs as Kaveethra picked up four wickets.
Lumbini looked better in the second innings thanks to the resistance of late order batsmen Jayanitha Mendis (8 in 65 balls) and Binuka Ranhiru (12 in 89 balls) who made them last for more than 50 overs.
The day’s other highlight was the unbeaten century scored by Aron David for S. Thomas’. The Thomians were 269 for four wickets at stumps on day one of their match against St. Servatius’ at Mount Lavinia.
Mahanama in innngs win at Mattegoda
Scores
Lumbini
63 all out in 25.2 overs (Venura Kaveethra 4/17, Geeth Sandaruwan 3/31, Thaviru Perera 2/07) and 103 all out in 54.4 overs (Kisandu Dulneth 23; Venura Kaveethra 4/17, Sithum Vihanga 3/05, Geeth Sandaruwan 2/36)
Mahanama
228 for 4 in 41 overs overnight declared (Sithum Vihanga 82, Kaushika Thilakarathne 60, Venura Kaveethra 39n.o., Sanul Weerarathne 24; Mihisara Weerasinghe 2/53)
No decision at DSS ground
Scores
DSS
234 for 7 overnight 283 for 9 in 80 overs (Mayuru Bandara 22, Janindu Ranasinghe 23, Shevan Menusha 68, Randisha Bandaranayake 41, Haamid Afdhal 53, Chithum Baddage 44n.o. ; Ranindu de Silva 2/35, Minage Ariyadasa 2/63, Tenush Nimsara 2/81)
Richmond 90 for 7 in 41 overs (Ravindu Randinu 21, Bevin Jayawardhana 24n.o.; Oshada Perera 4/33, Shanaal Binuksha 2/18)
by Reemus Fernando ✍️
Ex-Nascar driver and his family among seven killed in US plane crash
TikTok owner signs agreements to avoid US ban
Violence breaks out in Bangladesh after death of youth protest leader
Financial contribution from Gift Sri Lanka Foundation and the Georgia Buddhist Vihara, USA, for disaster relief
European Union provides over Euro 2.35 million Humanitarian Assistance to Sri Lanka
Tannane goal from own half sets Morocco on way to FIFA Arab Cup 2025 title
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