Germany stun favorites United States to reach the final of basketball World Cup

Published

2 years ago

2023/09/9

Priyan

The high-intensity match ended with the Germans on top (pic Aljazeera)

Germany has stunned the United States 113-111 to arrange a men’s Basketball World Cup gold-medal showdown against Serbia.

Andreas Obst scored 24 points and Franz Wagner added 22 as Germany shredded the US defence for much of Friday’s high-intensity semifinal.

The US, down by 10 midway through the fourth period, nearly pulled off a comeback, getting within one point on two separate occasions in the final minutes.

But Steve Kerr’s side never got the lead, and it was Gordon Herbert’s players jumping and hugging as time expired.

(Aljazeera)

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Related Topics:Basketball World Cup 2023 Germany vs USA semi final

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Muzarabani, Bennett orchestrate famous Zimbabwe win

Published

1 hour ago

2026/02/13

Priyan

Blessing Muzarabani struck the first blow [Cricinfo]

Zimbabwe remain undefeated against Australia in T20 World Cups after a career-best bowling display from Blessing Muzabarani and a gutsy 64 not out from Brian Bennett helped orchestrate a stunning 23-run win in Colombo and throw group B into chaos.

Muzarabani took 4 for 17 from four overs, ripping out the top order alongside Brad Evans in the powerplay who also took 3 for 23, as Australia never really looked close to chasing Zimbabwe’s impressive 169 for 2 on a slow pitch that had been set up by even contributions from the top four.

Matt Renshaw’s 65 off 44 gave Australia hope but on top of the polished display with bat and ball they also fielded superbly to restrict Australia and threaten their Super Eight hopes.

Brief scores:
Zimbabwe 169 for 2 in 20 overs (Brian Bennett 64*, Tadiwanashe Marumani 35, Ryan Burl 35, Sikandar Raza 25*; Marcus Stoinis 1-17, Cameron Green 1-06) beat Australia 146 in 19.3 overs (Travis Head 17, Glenn Maxwell 31, Matt Renshaw 65; Blessing Muzarabani 4-17, Brad Evans 3-23, Wellington Masakadza 1-36, Ryan Burl 1-09) by 23 runs

[Cricinfo]

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USA need to overturn history to beat Netherlands and stay alive

Published

3 hours ago

2026/02/13

Priyan

Shadley van Schalkwyk has picked up four-fors in both matches so far [Cricinfo]

After running India close in their opening game in Mumbai, USA were outplayed by Pakistan in Colombo in their second. A third successive defeat, against Netherlands on Friday, will knock them out of contention for the Super Eight stage. History is also against USA: they have not beaten Netherlands in three attempts in men’s T20Is.

USA had earlier given New Zealand a scare during the warm-up fixture in Navi Mumbai, but injuries have weakened them since. Fast bowler Ali Khan is nursing a groin injury while Jasdeep Singh (shoulder injury) has been ruled out of the rest of the 2026 T20 World Cup, with former Pakistan fast bowler Ehsan Adil replacing him in the side. Adil was thrown into the XI straightaway in the second game, but ended up conceding 39 runs in three overs against the country of his birth at the Premadasa. It remains to be seen if Shubham Ranjane, who had hurt his knee, is back to full fitness.

USA are yet to nail down their opening combination: Saiteja Mukkamalla was left out after just one failure, against India. He was their most prolific batter in the lead-up to this World Cup and hit 50 off 31 balls in the warm-up match against New Zealand.

Netherlands will be high on confidence after easing past Namibia on the back of Bas de Leede’s all-round effort in Delhi. They bat deep, with Roelof van der Merwe listed at No. 9, and also have a surfeit of bowling options. That depth was central to giving Pakistan a scare in the tournament opener. Netherlands are also familiar with Chennai conditions – their entire squad trained at the Chennai Super Kings Academy in the city for around a week last month.

Picked as the only frontline left-arm spinner in the Netherlands side, ahead of Daniel Doram and Tim Pringle, Roleof van der Merwe followed up his 1 for 13 in three overs against Pakistan with 0 for 22 in two overs against Namibia. The 41-year-old could play a big role against a right-hand-batter heavy USA line-up.

Saurabh Netravalkar’s Mumbai homecoming was far from sweet: he ended up leaking 65 runs in his four overs for no wickets – the most by a bowler in an innings in the T20 World Cup. The left-arm seamer fared much better in USA’s next game against Pakistan, and will look to return to his best against Netherlands.

There’s no reason for Netherlands to tweak their winning combination unless there are any injuries or illnesses in their camp, though veteran Max O’Dowd has been below par.

Netherlands (probable): Max O’Dowd, Michael Levitt, Bas de Leede, Colin Ackermann, Scott Edwards (capt, wk), Zach Lion-Cachet, Logan van Beek, Aryan Dutt, Roelof van der Merwe, Timm van der Gugten, Fred Klaasen

If Ali Khan is fit, he could potentially come back in place of Adil. There might be a toss-up between Mukkamalla and Shayan Jahangir for the opening slot.

USA (probable): Andries Gous (wk), Shayan Jahangir/Saiteja Mukkamalla, Monank Patel (capt), Milind Kumar, Sanjay Krishnamurthi , Shubham Ranjane, Harmeet Singh , Mohammad Mohsin, Shadley van Schalkwyk, Saurabh Netravalkar, Ali Khan/Ehsan Adil

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Paul Stirling ruled out of World Cup with knee injury

Published

3 hours ago

2026/02/13

Priyan

Paul Stirling, the captain of Ireland, has been ruled out of the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, after suffering a knee injury, Cricket Ireland announced on Friday.

Stirling injured his knee while taking a diving catch in the seventh over of the first innings to dismiss Australian opener Josh Inglis on Thursday. As he came down, he landed on the point of his knee on an area of hard ground, and he left the field, handing over the captaincy duties to his deputy, Lorcan Tucker.

Stirling walked out to bat in the run chase, advising the Ireland team management that he felt he was able to bat. However on the first ball, as he set off for a single, he took a few steps and his knee buckled. The Irish captain was forced to retire hurt.

Ireland have included Sam Topping, the 20-year-old uncapped wicketkeeper-batter, as Stirling’s replacement. Topping is currently in Chennai at an off-season training camp with the Northern Knights squad. Last season, Topping scored 217 runs at 31.00 in T20s with a strike rate of 140 in his home domestic season. Topping’s inclusion is also critical as Ben Calitz is carrying some pain in his hand from the last match.

Speaking on the replacement Graeme West, Director of High Performance at Cricket Ireland, said, “Paul Stirling underwent an assessment and a scan after the Australian match which has subsequently revealed ligament damage – as such, he has been ruled out of the remainder of the T20 World Cup. Paul will shortly return home for rest and rehabilitation, ahead of the home summer.

“To replace Paul, we have called up Sam Topping, who is able to provide immediate cover as he is a short flight away in Chennai. Sam has been with the Northern Knights training squad and has been playing and training in similar conditions to Sri Lanka. The skill set he offers provides cover across a number of areas within the squad, which is important as Ben Calitz is also carrying a knock to his hand after the last match.”

[Cricbuzz]