Sports
Fourth T20I abandoned due to foggy conditions in Lucknow
No play was possible in the fourth T20I between India and South Africa because of poor visibility in foggy Lucknow. Leading the series 2-1, India are now assured of taking their unbeaten streak in T20I series to 15. The decider of the series is scheduled to be played in Ahmedabad on Friday.
While the AQI in Lucknow hovered around the early-to-mid 400s, which is hazardous, the concern for the umpires remained visibility. During their inspections, one of the umpires would go to a square boundary to see if he could spot the white ball held up by the side of the pitch. Six inspections took place before play was finally called off at 9.26pm.
Cricket in north Indian winters has long been a contentious issue, and not just for visibility. The BCCI had scheduled a Test for South Africa in Delhi before better sense prevailed and Delhi was given a Test before Diwali, which is when the air quality in north India starts to fall to poor and dangerous levels.
South Africa’s tour comes to an end on Friday in Ahmedabad. In what has been a hugely successful tour, they blanked India 2-0 in the Tests and forced a decider in the ODI series, which India won 2-1. India have registered two comprehensive wins in what remains their strongest format to go 2-1 up in the T20Is, but they didn’t get a chance to seal the series before the finale because of the bad light in Lucknow.
Jasprit Bumrah, who missed the last match for personal reasons, was with the team in Lucknow, which should be a boost for India ahead of the last match, which will be played in Bumrah’s hometown.
[Cricinfo]
At times during the first half of the third day at Adelaide Oval, England threatened to keep their Ashes hopes alive, but on his home ground Travis Head’s second century of the series as an opening batter carried Australia to a 356-run lead which will surely be turned into a 3-0 Ashes retention at some point over the weekend.
For Head, who was dropped on 99 by Harry Brook at gully, it was the continuation of a magnificent run in Adelaide which has brought four of his 11 Test centuries, all of them coming in his last six innings at the ground. This one could also have gone a long way towards cementing him as an opener following his hasty promotion in Perth and the blazing hundred which followed. Overall it was Head’s fourth hundred against England and by the close his career-best 175, which also came in Adelaide, was looming into view.
Initially, at least, the wheels did not come off for England as they had threatened to do on the second day at 168 for 8. But any hopes of the type of run chase that has characterized the Bazball era appeared forlorn during a desperate final session that saw Australia pile up 152 in 35 overs as Head combined with fellow South Australian Alex Carey in an unbroken 122-run stand.
That Australia only led on 85 after the first innings was down to a resilient 106-run stand between Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer as England showed impressive character during the first session, and for a time it was far from a foregone conclusion that Australia would dominate.
Having been forced to take the second new ball to wrap up England’s innings, where Stokes threatened to play one of his game-changing innings before falling to Mitchell Starc for the 12th time in Tests, Australia then lost Jake Weatherald before lunch. He was lbw to Brydon Carse, who produced his best spell since the first day in Perth either side of the break, although Weatherald would have been saved with a review as the ball pitched outside leg.
But after Josh Tongue removed an out-of-sorts Marnus Labuschagne England were unable to apply any pressure on Head and Usman Khawaja as the pair added 86 in 113 balls. Though Khawaja and Cameron Green fell in quick succession any sense of vulnerability soon vanished as Head and Carey set about their partnership. Carey continued his outstanding match with a half-century to follow the first-innings hundred.
Brief scores:
Australia 371 and 271 for 4 (Travis Head 142*, Alex Carey 52*; Josh Tongue 2-59) lead England 286 (Ben Stokes 83, Jofra Archer 51, Scott Boland 3-45, Pat Cummins 3-69, Nathan Lyon 2-70) by 356 runs
[Cricinfo]
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.
Head’s hometown century floors England after brief hopes of fightback
A Historic Hat-Trick: Home Lands Crowned Best Developer Sri Lanka for Third Consecutive Year, Also Wins Best Lifestyle Developer Asia
Landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Badulla, Kandy, Kurunegala, Matale and Nuwara Eliya extended
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
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
Sunday Island 27 December – Headlines
#SundayIsland 17th December – Headlines
Sunday Island – 28th March
Sunday Island Headlines – 21 March
Sunday Island – 21st February – Headlines
-
Features5 days agoWhy Sri Lanka Still Has No Doppler Radar – and Who Should Be Held Accountable
-
Midweek Review2 days agoHow massive Akuregoda defence complex was built with proceeds from sale of Galle Face land to Shangri-La
-
News1 day agoPakistan hands over 200 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Lanka
-
News1 day agoPope fires broadside: ‘The Holy See won’t be a silent bystander to the grave disparities, injustices, and fundamental human rights violations’
-
Latest News5 days agoLandslide early warnings in force in the Districts of Badulla, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matale, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura
-
News6 days agoGovt. okays postgraduate medical training for Maldivian medical officers and dental surgeons
-
Features5 days agoSrima Dissanayake runs for president and I get sidelined in the UNP
-
Editorial5 days agoDisaster relief and shocking allegations