Sports
Healy, bowlers power UP Warriorz to big win over Royal Challengers Bangalore
Alyssa Healy’s unbeaten 96 followed a clinical performance from the UP Warriorz bowlers as they registered a comprehensive 10 wicket victory to extend Royal Challengers Bangalore’s win-less run in the inaugural edition of the WPL. Sophie Ecclestone’s 4-13 and Deepti Sharma’s 3-26 helped UPW bowl RCB out for 138 despite Ellyse Perry’s half-century. The RCB bowlers were then left clueless as Healy struck 18 fours and 1 six in her 47-ball knock to help UPW race to the target in 13 overs as they recorded their second win in three games.
Healy powers UPW’s blistering start
Alyssa Healy helped UPW off to a flying start in the chase, striking eight out of the 10 fours that were scored in the powerplay to put RCB’s bowling attack in a spot again. Komal Zanzad and Shreyanka Patil conceded 46 runs between them in the four overs they bowled in the powerplay as UPW raced to 55 in the first six overs. While Healy was finding the fence regularly, Devika Vaidya provided good support rotating the strike while she also managed a couple of boundaries as UPW brought down the required rate to six.
Healy’s blitz leaves RCB stunned
Any hopes that RCB would have entertained of slowing down the scoring rate post the powerplay was put to rest by Healy who sent the bowlers on a leather hunt. The UPW skipper, who reached her first WPL fifty, getting there in 29 balls, followed it up with four successive boundaries off Renuka Singh. Erin Burns, who came in for Megan Schutt and was one of three changes RCB made, wasn’t spared either as Healy slammed a four and a six in successive balls, and then hit two fours off Perry in the 12th over. UPW needed 12 at that stage off eight overs and Healy needed 10 more for a three-figure score. But Devika’s four off Shreyanka put a dent on Healy’s prospects of becoming the first centurion of the WPL. She did get to 95 with a boundary off Shreyanka with one more needed for UPW. But the winning run turned out to be a single.
A positive start for RCB despite Mandhana’s failure
Grace Harris, back in the UPW eleven in place of Shabnim Ismail, was asked to bowl the first over given Smriti Mandhana’s struggles against off-spin. But Mandhana was happy to rotate strike and get Sophie Devine at the striker’s end as the New Zealander powered RCB’s brisk start after they opted to bat. She flayed a drive through the off side for a four followed by a six over mid wicket off Harris before striking two fours through the point region off Anjali Sarvani. Harris was struck for another four by Devine but the RCB skipper did not have a lengthy stay, dismissed for a 6-ball 4 by the left-arm spin of Rajeshwari Gayakwad, who conceded only one run in her opening over. Ellyse Perry got into the act with two fours off Sarvani before striking a six off Gayakwad coming down the track as RCB moved to 54/1 at the end of the powerplay.
Fifty for Perry but RCB lose the plot
Deepti Sharma started with a 13-run over which included two fours for Perry but Ecclestone was keeping it tight at the other end. She gave away only 10 runs in her first two overs and also picked up the important wicket of Devine, who missed a cut and was bowled for a 24-ball 36. With Harris bowling an economical third over, RCB moved to 81/2 at the halfway stage of their innings. They lost their third wicket soon after as Kanika Ahuja, looking to deposit a Deepti delivery over mid wicket, found the fielder in the deep while Heather Knight was run out. Perry then got to her maiden WPL fifty but a monumental collapse ensued as RCB lost the plot completely. Perry fell to Deepti attempting a slog sweep and in the same over Burns yorked herself to be bowled. Richa Ghosh’s run out followed in the next over while Ecclestone bagged the last two wickets in the final over as RCB were bowled out with three deliveries still remaining. From 116/4 in the 15th, they lost their last six wickets for the addition of only 22 runs to finish with a paltry total.
Brief scores:
Royal Challengers Bangalore 138 in 19.3 overs (Ellyse Perry 52; Sophie Ecclestone 4-13, Deepti Sharma 3-26) lost to UP Warriorz 139/0 in 13 overs (Alyssa Healy 96*, Devika Vaidya 36*) by 10 wickets.
Ireland Women 118/9 in 20 overs (Alana Dalzelle 14, Orla Prendergast 26, Leah Paul 10, Alice Tector 10, Louise Little 26*; Lauren Bell 1-39, Linsey Smith 1-20, Sophie Ecclestone 3-22, Charlie Dean 2-11, Dani Gibson 2-10) lost to England Women 119/6 in 17.3 overs (Dani Wyatt Hodge 16, Nat Sciver-Brunt 48, Heather Knight 26; Aimee Maguire 2-23, Orla Prendergast 2-17) by 4 wickets
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]
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