Sports
Bangladesh’s stunning fightback results in thrilling tie
Fargana Hoque became the first Bangladeshi woman to score an ODI hundred as the hosts tied the third match and, with that, the series 1-1, on Saturday (July 22) in Dhaka. The Bangladesh veteran’s well-paced 107 led the team to 225/4 from their allotted 50 overs, and even though India seemed well in control at one point to complete a come-from-behind series win, the home team staged a brilliant comeback through late strikes to tie the final-over thriller. With the game’s stipulated time over, no Super Over was possible as per the ICC Women’s ODI Championship 2022-25 playing conditions.
Having won the ODI series opener, Bangladesh were determined to turn it into their maiden series win against India and of the IWC. To that end, the hosts opted to bat and their new opening pair of Fargana and Shamima Sultana vindicated the decision by putting on a 93-run stand where the centurion played a second fiddle. Sneh Rana got India the much-needed breakthrough in the 27th over when she sent back Shamima soon after her fifty, but Fargana carried on and put on 71 runs for the second-wicekt partnership with her captain Niga Sultana, picking up the pace.
Fargana completed her half-century in 97 balls as a result of overthrows, and then converted it into a 156-ball century just after Bangladesh went past the 200-run mark in the 47th over. She was run out final ball of the innings, but helped Bangladesh to their highest ever ODI total against India in their limited 50-overs rivalry. With the pitch offering turn, India’s chase suffered a couple of early blows as Shafali Verma, playing her first ODI of the tour, and Yastika Bhatia went for single digits. However, Smriti Mandhana (59) and Harleen Deol (77) combined for a 107-run partnership to pull them out of trouble. It’s through this partnership that India gained the lead on Bangladesh. They were well ahead of the home team’s scoring pace, but Fahima Khatun put an end to the threatening stand when she had the Indian vice-captain caught at point two balls after being dropped earlier in the same over.
Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur’s stay in the middle was cut short by a shoddy LBW call, and she made no efforts to conceal her disappointment when she struck the stumps with her bat in frustration. Shortly afterwards, play was briefly interrupted by rain when India needed 53 more off the final 12 overs, with six wickets in hand. At the time, India were ahead on DLS calculations but play resumed under lights soon after with no reduction in overs.
As India inched closer to the target, Harleen was run out on 77 in the 42nd over but the visitors still seemed in control. Jemimah Rodrigues, however, had to see a wicket procession at the other end as she continued to fight. India lost three wickets in the space of five balls to slip to 217/9 by the close of the 48th over. A timely boundary from Meghna Singh relieved the pressure off India, who now needed just three off the last over. Marufa Akter, however, had the India no. 11 caught behind with the scores levelled to fittingly end the series with a 1-1 scoreline.
Brief scores:
Bangladesh 225/4 in 50 overs (Fargana Hoque 107, Shamima Sultana 52; Sneh Rana 2-45) tied with India 225 all out in 49.3 overs (Harleen Deol 77, Smriti Mandhana 59; Nahida Akter 3-37, Marufa Akter 2-55)
Lionel Messi marked his record sixth World Cup appearance with his first hat-trick at a FIFA tournament as Argentina beat Algeria 3-0 to open the defence of their global crown, he also became the joint highest scorer at World Cups with the feat.
The former 38-year-old forward thought he had opened the scoring in the eighth minute in Kansas City on Tuesday when he slotted home from close range, but the offside flag was raised.
The dream start to his record-setting appearance, which will be matched by Cristiano Ronaldo for Portugal against DR Congo on Wednesday, was not to be denied for long though.
A trademark, mazy run was capped by a drive on the edge of the box from that famed left foot. The power too much for Algeria keeper Luca Zidane, son of World Cup winner with France, Zinidine.
Messi doubled his tally on the hour mark with a simple tap in from a rebound off the keeper following a drive from Alexis Mac Allister.
The moment that even a player as decorated as Messi came in the 76th minute when he drilled low past the keeper from just outside the box.
The strike took Messi level with former Germany striker Miroslav Klose on 16 World Cup goals.
His substitution came just three minutes later to a standard ovation, even old maestro seemed disappointed to be removed – and most likely rested for Argentina’s tilt at becoming only the third side to defend a World Cup title.
Algeria – the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations winners – offered little, but were themselves denied an early goal when Fares Chaibi’s ninth minute strike was ruled out for offside.
Messi saw to it that there was no opening game upset to be had tat this edition, having lost their opening game at Qatar 2022 to Saudi Arabia.
Messi, who spent the majority of his club career in Spain with Barcelona before moving to French giants Paris-Saint Germain, plys his trade in US football’s Major League Soccer with Inter Miami.
Jordan and Austria open their account in the group later on Tuesday in San Francisco.
[Aljazeera]
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]
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