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Cape Verde break record as smallest nation to reach World Cup knockouts

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Cape Verde coach Pedro Brito celebrates after his side qualifed for the knockout stages of the World Cup [Aljazeera]

Tiny Cape Verde have become the history makers of World Cup 2026 by defying all odds to become the smallest country to earn a spot in the knockout stages of the competition.

Their improbable run through the group stage, with a third straight World Cup draw, was completed with a 0-0 draw against Saudi Arabia on Friday night to advance in the tournament.

Keeping goal for Cape Verde throughout has been Vozinha, 40, who has embodied the grit of his nation. “We are small, but we have big hearts and we are fighters,” said the goalkeeper, who last season played for Chaves in Portugal’s second tier.

The island nation off the western coast of Africa, which is making its debut on football’s grandest stage, already held 2010 champion Spain to a 0-0 draw – a shock in itself to begin their campaign.

They then came from behind to get a 2-2 result against Uruguay – the winners of the inaugural World Cup in 1930.

“The team was very eager to show this to the whole world,” Cape Verde coach Bubista said while draped in his country’s flag after the Saudi Arabia game.

“We are proud of having arrived at this stage. We have shown that we are a small country, but that we fight for the things that we want to achieve.”

Cape Verde’s three points put the team in second place behind Spain, which beat Uruguay on Friday night and won the group.

Cape Verde will play reigning World Cup champion Argentina in Miami on July 3.

[Aljazeera]



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India A stretch lead to 170 after Sai Sudharsan retires hurt

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Auqib Nabi bagged four wickets [SLC]

India suffered a potential injury scare ahead of the Test series in Sri Lanka, with their No.3 B Sai Sudarshan retiring hurt on 7 while playing for India A against Sri Lanka A during the third day of the first four-dayer in Galle.  After scoring a century in the first innings, Sai Sudharsan retired hurt in the fourth over of India A’s second innings. By the end of the day’s play, however, India A had stretched their lead to 170.

Chhattisgarh opener Aayush Pandey and Devdutt Padikkal were unbeaten on 20 each at stumps.

India A had claimed a first-innings lead of 122 after dismissing Sri Lanka A for 330 in their first innings. Resuming from an overnight 113 for 2, they were guided by half-centuries from captain Sahan Arachchige (72) and Ashen Bandara (70). Nuwandi Fernando, who had passed his own fifty on day two, had his innings cut short on 84 on day three.

For India A, Auqib Nabi, who was the top wicket taker in the previous Ranji Trophy season and was a net bowler during India’s one-off Test against Afghanistan in New Chandigarh, was the pick of the bowlers, returning 4 for 58 in 19.4 overs. Sri Lanka A lost their last five wickets for 30 runs, with Nabi taking four of those.

Left-arm fingerspin-bowling allrounder Harsh Dubey and Vidarbha fast bowler Yash Thakur picked up two wickets apiece. India A then closed out the day on 48 for 0.

Scores:
India A 48 for 0 in 17 overs  (Devdutt Padikkal 20*, Ayush Pandey 20*) and 452 for 6 dec in 111.4 overs  [Sai Sudarshan 132, Dhruv Jurel 141, Shaik Rasheed 63; Chamika Gunasekera 3-64, Dilum Sudeera 2-143] lead  Sri Lanka A 330 in 101.4 overs  (Nuwanidu Fernando 84, Ashen Bandara 70, Sahan Arachchige 72; Aaqib Nabi 4-58, YashThakur 2-51, Harsh Dubey  2-84) by 170 runs

[Cricinfo]

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T20 World Cup: Scotland miss out as eight teams secure automatic spots for 2028

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Sri Lanka's win against Scotland completed the group of eight teams [Cricinfo]

Teams that finished in the top four of each group at the ongoing T20 World Cup have secured their spots for the next edition of the tournament in 2028. From Group 1, Australia, India, South Africa and Bangladesh have qualified. England, West Indies, New Zealand and Sri Lanka join them from Group 2. Pakistan qualified as a result of being the tournament hosts; they finished fifth in the Group 2 table with just one win in five games.

Scotland missed out on a chance to directly qualify for the 12-team ICC event after losing to Sri Lanka on Friday.

The 10th spot will go to the next highest-ranked team on the T20I rankings table at the July 6, 2026 cut-off. As it stands, Ireland, ranked ninth, fill that spot. The remaining two places will be determined through a 10-team global qualifier, which will be supported by regional qualifiers.

Netherlands, ranked 14th, are likely to have to play in the qualifier to make the main event. So too Scotland (11th) and Ireland (9th) if they fall too far down the table.

The ICC also made a decision on the composition of teams at the inaugural Women’s Champions Trophy, to be held next year in Sri Lanka. The hosts will be joined by the top five teams on the T20I rankings at the same July 6 cut-off. As it stands, the teams at the tournament will be Australia, England, India, New Zealand and South Africa.

[Cricinfo]

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Maliban Biscuits and Peoples Leasing PLC qualify for CDB-MCA T10 Tier B final

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A three wicket haul from Dilip Sandaruwan and notable contributions from Mohamed Shilmi [47] and Chathurabga Dewapriya [30] helped  Maliban Biscuits defeat HNB  Assurance by seven wickets while   power hitting by Chathra Anuradha [50] and Isuru Gunasekera [39]  eclipsed an unbeaten 70 off 20 balls  from Isuru Jasinghe to  help Peoples Leasing PLC defeat Hayleys Group B by seven wickets  to qualify for the Tier B final of the CDB sponsored MCA T10 Cricket Tournament to be played under lights at the CCC  ground on Sunday [28].

In the quarter-finals played at the MCA ground, HNB Assurance edged out HNB by 25 runs while an unbeaten 47 from Mohamed Shilmi helped Maliban Biscuits defeat English Tea Shop by five wickets.

At the D S Senannayaka College ground Peoples Leasing defeated Camera LK by eight wickets while Hayleys defeated Power Hand Plantations by five wickets to qualify for the semis.

At the MCA Grounds:

Quarterfinals:

HNB Assurance edge out  HNB by 25 runs
HNB Assurance 112/7 in 10 overs [Dulanjana Wijesinghe 46, Linal Subasinghe 38*; Mahen Silva 4-19, Ikram Razik 2-17, Thushan Udayanga 1-19]
HNB 87/5 in 10 overs [Dinesh Panditharathne 29, Ashen Fernando 17, Jeyakumar Kishanthujan 20, Ikram Razick 12; Chamod Piyumal 18, Linal Subasinghe 1-17, Taaariq Naziar 1-15, Dulanjana Wijesinghe 2-25]

Shilmi propels Maliban Biscuits to 5 wicket win
English Tea Shop 66/8 in10 overs [Lahiru Gamage 10, Semila Liyanage 26; Chathuranga Dewapriya 1-13, Chamara Rathnayake 2-06]
Maliban Biscuits 72/5 in 9.2 overs [Mohomad Shilmi 47*, Tharindu Siriwardena 10; Gaveen Gunarathna 1-13, Semila Liyanage 1-15, Ramesh Fernando 2-14]

Semifinal

Sandaruwan, Shilmi and Chathuranga propel Maliban Biscuits to 7 wicket win and  the final
HNB Assurance 93/5 in 10 overs [Lahiru Sithpriya 26, DasunAbeywardena 27, Pasindu Pathum 24*, Tharindu Guruge 12; Dilan chathuranga 1-15, Dilip Sandaruwan 3-17, Chamara Rathnayaka 1-33]
Maliban Biscuits 94/3 in 7.overs [Mohammed Shilmi  47, Chathuranga Dewapriya 30; Chamod Piyumal 2-19]

At the D S Senanayake College grounds:

Quarterfinals:

Esitha and Arjuna power Peoples Leasing to semis
Camera LK 128/4 in 10 overs [Anjana Orton 23, Anushka Gunasinghe 45, Kasun Madushanka 18, Sineth Malwattage 31*; Ruwan Fernando 1-29, Arjuna Perera  2-22]
Peoples Leasing PLC 129/2 in 8.0 overs [Esitha Gimhana 67*, Isuru Gunasekera 12, Arjuna Perera 34*; Anushka Gunasinghe 1-37, Anjana Orton 1-30]

Hayleys  defeat Power Hand Plantations by 5 wickets
Power Hand Plantations 87/10 in 10 overs [Kasun Vidura 20*, Hirusha Dulanja 15, Sanjeewa Dalpathadu 24; Sanuja Niduwara 2-07, Senal de Silva 2-15, Vanith de Silva 1-17, Daham Nirmal 1-12]
Hayleys  Group ‘B’ 88/5 in 9.1 overs [Kashyapa Dissanayake 22, Jithesh Wasala 12, SanujaNiduwqra 21, Yasiru Jasinghe 20*; Tharindu Silva 1-34, Waruna Mayantha 2-03, Pasindu Munasinghe 2-07]

Semifinal

Peoples Leasing overcome Hayleys Group ‘B’ by seven wickets
Hayleys Group ‘B’  
125/5 in 10  overs[Lahiru Dawatage 31, Ryan Fernando 11, Yasiru Jasinghe 70*; Sanath Dasanayake 1-20, Ruwan Fernando 1-18,Arrokkiyanathar Vinoshan 1-10]
Peoples Leasing PLC  126/3 in 9.2 overs [Chathura Anuradha 50, Isuru Gunasekera 39, Arrokiyanathar Vinoshan 22*; Kashyapa Dissanayake 1-08, Ryan Fernando 1-25, Yasiru Jasinghe 1-12]

 

 

 

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