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Philippines beat New Zealand 1-0

Published

3 years ago

2023/07/25

Priyan

Sarina Bolden scored the Philippines' first goal at a Women's World Cup (pic BBC)

New Zealand missed a golden opportunity to edge closer to the knockout stages of the Women’s World Cup as the Philippines upset them in Wellington.

It was a famous victory for the Philippines, the first by one of the eight debutants at the tournament, and they celebrated passionately at full-time.

Co-hosts New Zealand shocked Norway on the opening day and knew another victory could have sealed their place in the last 16, but they could not find a breakthrough on a frustrating evening.

Instead, it was the Philippines’ Sarina Bolden who sprinted away in celebration in the 24th minute after heading in Sara Eggesvik’s clipped cross for the country’s first goal at a Women’s World Cup.

Goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel produced heroics in stoppage time, denying New Zealand substitute Grace Jale with an excellent fingertip save as her half-volley was heading towards the bottom corner.

New Zealand, spurred on by a vocal home crowd, were pushing for an equaliser for the entirety of the second half but Jacqui Hand had a goal ruled out for offside by the video assistant referee [VAR] after she hit the post earlier, while striker Hannah Wilkinson headed a cross over the bar in one of the game’s biggest chances.

Lower-ranked nations have performed well in the tournament so far but typically have not quite found the cutting edge to take them over the line. However, the Philippines bucked the trend. Buoyed by their defensive sturdiness in the opening 20 minutes, they began to cause problems on the counter-attack and Bolden took advantage, powering a header past Victoria Esson from close range. Creative touches, slick passing and dynamic movement followed from the Philippines as they grew in confidence, heading into the break with an unexpected lead.

New Zealand had support from the home crowd, but they grew increasingly frustrated in the second half and tension built in the Wellington Regional Stadium. Celtic’s Olivia Chance made a difference when she was introduced, producing several good balls from the left, but goalkeeper McDaniel stood firm in the Philippines goal.

Hand’s disallowed goal, her strike which hit the post, Wilkinson’s missed header and Jale’s late attempt were the best of the chances, but the Philippines also had a goal ruled out for offside when teenager Isabella Flanigan slotted into the corner in the second half.

It is a result which leaves Group A wide open and co-hosts New Zealand must now hope to get a result in their final match against Switzerland to progress to the knockout stages for the first time.

(BBC Sports)

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Related Topics:Fifa Women's World Cup 2023 New Zealand vs Philippines Sarina Bolden

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Captain’s knock helps Petes

Published

10 mins ago

2026/02/5

Priyan

Enosh Peterson

‎by Reemus Fernando

‎

‎St. Peter’s skipper Enosh Peterson produced his best knock of the season, a valuable 75 runs for the home team to recover from an initial collapse to post 194 runs against St. Aloysius’, Galle on day one in an Under 19 traditional cricket encounter at Bambalapitiya today.

‎The Petes were struggling at 40 for four wickets at one stage, before the skipper decided to hold the middle order together with his knock. ‎Incidentally, it turned out to be Peterson’s best batting performance of the season, having not done so well during tournament matches.

‎The Petes were playing for the third consecutive day after meeting Thurstan on Tuesday and Wednesday.

‎They conceded first innings points to Thurstan on Wednesday after a below par first innings score (154) at Thurstan ground. Bowlers prevented the home team taking a big advantage restricting them to 204 runs with Sadeesha Silva taking seven wickets.

‎In their second essay, the Petes were better posting 222 for nine wickets declared thanks to an unbeaten 125 from Asadisa de Silva.

‎However, yesterday he was dismissed for eight runs and the Petes needed a rearguard action to prevent a low score. That was when Peterson came up with his top batting feat of the season.

‎In reply, St. Aloysius’ were 13 for one wicket when bad light stopped play.

‎

‎Scores

‎St. Peter’s 194 all out in 74.5 overs (Enosh Peterson 75, Sadeesha Silva 27; Chanul Nethmina 3/29, Dulsath Nimviru 4/29)

‎St. Aloysius‘ 13 for 1 in 2 overs

‎

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Delhi Capital’s fourth shot at elusive trophy as Royal Challengers Bengaluru look to make winning a habit

Published

2 hours ago

2026/02/5

Priyan

Lizelle Lee and Shafali Verma against Lauren Bell will be an interesting contest [BCCI]

The grand finale of WPL 2026 carries a distinct India-South Africa flavour, much like the World Cup final two months ago. But the epicenter is Vadodara and not Navi Mumbai, the traditional home of Indian women’s cricket. However, that won’t make the occasion any less special.

The marquee names line up symmetrically. Shafali Verma and Jemimah Rodrigues on one side; Smriti Mandhana and Richa Ghosh on the other. Marizanne Kapp and Laura Wolvaardt on one side, Nadine de Klerk on the other.

Threading between these big stars are two high-impact overseas allrounders from West Indies and Australia, each having contributed to their team’s journey to the final in their own way.

Chinelle Henry has been an unheralded star for Delhi Capitals (DC). Her three-for in the Eliminator may have gone unnoticed in the larger scheme of things, but it was as important as Shafali and Lizelle Lee’s opening stand or Rodrigues’ cameo. For Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Grace Harris has filled an even larger void. In Ellyse Perry’s absence, she has become the powerplay enforcer, dominating attacks and setting up games for the likes of Ghosh and de Klerk to finish.

The prospect of these two sides pitted against each other in the final seemed an unlikely prospect even during the auction. Mumbai Indians appeared the obvious front runners, having retained the core that delivered two titles in three seasons.

RCB, meanwhile, were without Perry, and when they opted to replace her with an uncapped Indian fast bowler in Sayali Satghare, fully aware that Pooja Vastrakar would be unavailable for much of the season, the knives were out. Satghare has since become a key strand in RCB’s seam attack.

Thursday’s final also brings a contrast to their journeys to the final. RCB took the route DC did for three seasons running – winning six out of their eight games to top the group. DC have scraped through a sequence of must-win games and will now play their third knockout in five days.

DC are chasing that elusive fourth attempt at glory to help bring silverware to a franchise that is yet to win a major; RCB is looking at making winning titles a habit, attempting a hat-trick of wins (IPL included).

In each of the three previous finals, the winner of the Eliminator has gone on to win the title. Will Thursday be any different?

RCB are likely to back Vastrakar to play as a specialist batter. While she has begun bowling in the nets, a call has been taken to ease her in, given she has returned to competitive cricket after 15 months. Arundhati Reddy’s lack of form is the only other area of concern that could potentially bring in legspinner Prema Rawat into the equation.

RCB (probable): Smriti Mandhana (capt), Grace Harris, Georgia Voll, Richa Ghosh (wk), Radha Yadav, Nadine de Klerk, Pooja Vastrakar, Shreyanka Patil, Sayali Satghare, Arundhati Reddy/Prema Rawat, Lauren Bell

DC are likely to be unchanged. In fact the 13 players they’ve used this season are the fewest resources a team has used across four WPL seasons.

DC (probable): Shafali Verma, Lizelle Lee (wk), Laura Wolvaardt, Jemimah Rodrigues (capt), Marizanne Kapp, Chinelle Henry, Niki Prasad, Sneh Rana, Minnu Mani, Nandani Sharma, N Shree Charani

[Cricinfo]

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Sparkling Aaron George ton seals record chase, powers India into U19 WC final

Published

16 hours ago

2026/02/5

Priyan

Aaron George produced a special innings on the big stage to set up India's title clash with England [Cricbuzz]

On a batting beauty at the Harare Sports Club, India’s assembly line of batting talent was out in full splendour in the Under-19 World Cup semifinal. There were two centurions in a statement innings from Afghanistan, but Uzairullah Niazai and Faisal Shinozada’s knocks – glorious as they were – were rendered footnotes by a superb century from Aaron George, who led India’s record chase of 311 with the kind of composure that belied his low scores from earlier in the tournament.

George hit 115 off 104, ably supported by half-centuries from Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Ayush Mhatre, as India recorded the highest ever chase in U19 World Cup history. A sixth straight final beckoned, and with it, a Friday date with England for the title – a repeat of the 2022 final, history rhyming if not quite repeating.

There was something quietly poetic about George’s century, about this particular redemption. Here was a batter who had managed a best of just 23 runs leading up to this knockout game, existing in the shadows while all around him teammates made the right noises and brandished snazzy IPL contracts. But the selectors stuck with him. And on this day, under the Harare sun, George repaid that faith with interest – 15 fours, 2 sixes, batting on until only 11 runs were required. The chase, in the end, was polished off with 53 balls to spare, the margin of victory rendering Afghanistan’s brilliance a beautiful but ultimately futile exercise.

Afghanistan had a couple of clear chances in the second innings. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was put down in the fifth over and George was reprieved when a dolly was put down by Wahidullah Zadran at mid-on. The drops proved very costly as India’s openers plundered 90 in 9.3 overs before Sooryavanshi fell to a short ball from Nooristani Omarzai for a 33-ball 68. Ayush Mhatre walked out, with a bunch of low scores under his belt, and opted to deal in either boundaries or dots for the first 12 balls before he hunkered down to build a 114-run stand with George.

George, at the other end, was barely troubled by spin or pace. A highlight of his innings was his ability to punch the ball on the up with a high elbow. There was also a delectable inside-out shot over extra cover to a ball headed down legside. George got to his century with a flick past mid-on for four, bringing the Indian dressing room to its collective feet. He hit two more boundaries in the next over before cutting Zadran to backward point in the 40th over. Vihaan Malhotra stayed unbeaten on 38 to take India home by seven wickets.

Earlier in the day, Afghanistan, having won the toss, did well to push India into chasing a record total. Shinozada and Niazai played central roles in the highest score against India in Youth ODIs, but the foundation for the same was laid by openers Khalid Ahmadzai and Osman Sadat, who put together a steady 53-run partnership.

Ahmadzai looked assured during his 31 off 39 balls before Deepesh Devendran broke through. Sadat continued the good work with a composed 39 from 70 deliveries, but his dismissal by Kanishk Chouhan left Afghanistan at 119 for 2 at the halfway stage, needing acceleration.

What followed was a batting exhibition that will have been remembered for a lot longer had the second innings not happened. Shinozada tore into the Indian attack with a magnificent 110 from just 93 balls. He reached his century in 86 deliveries and celebrated with Cristiano Ronaldo’s iconic “Siu” celebration, his second consecutive hundred in the tournament showcasing his remarkable form and temperament on the big stage.

But Shinozada wasn’t alone in the glory. Niazai played the perfect partner, remaining unbeaten on 101 from 86 balls. The pair stitched together a match-defining stand that not only revived the innings but propelled Afghanistan well past the 300-mark. Niazai’s maiden tournament century came in dramatic fashion, brought up with a pull shot while scampering for a sharp second run. The late flourish saw Afghanistan plunder 111 runs in the final 10 overs of the game, but as it turned out the slow-burn approach to the innings proved counterproductive against the latest bunch of India’s batting talents.

Brief scores:
Afghanistan 310/4 in 50 overs (Faisal Shinozada 110, Uzairullah Niazai 101; Kanishk Chouhan 2-55, Deepesh Devendran 2-64) lost to India 311/3 in 41.1 overs (Aaron George 115, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi 68, Ayush Mhatre 62; Nooristani Omarzai 2-64) by 7 wickets.

[Cricbuzz]