Sports
Pooran, bowlers edge past India to take 2-0 lead
A smart bowling performance and a rampaging Nicholas Pooran ensured that despite hiccups, West Indies defeated India in the second T20I by two wickets, at the Providence Stadium in Guyana, and went 2-0 up in the five-match series.
Despite Ishan Kishan and Shubman Gill getting India off to a decent start, the latter was caught at backward point off Alzarri Joseph, earning the West Indian quick his hundredth T20I wicket. Soon after, Kyle Mayers, who got Samson run-out last match, scored a direct hit at the striker’s end to get rid of Suryakumar Yadav this time, getting rid of him for just one and potentially saving his team some damage in the powerplay overs.
It was Tilak Varma and Kishan who then had to pull off a rescue act, stabilizing things with a stand of 42 in 36 balls. Kishan, however, fell soon after with the run-rate still just over six. Sanju Samson too departed soon after, while Tilak stuck around at the other end. It looked like India might never set the platform to take off at the death.
It wasn’t the typical T20I surge, but Tilak Varma, who went on to score a terrific fifty – his first in international cricket – put together 38 runs in 27 balls with Hardik Pandya. This gave the innings a semblance of impetus at the death, propelling India towards a defendable score. Hardik and Tilak departed soon after, followed by Axar Patel, but it was a couple of crucial blows at the end – a four by Arshdeep Singh, and a six by Ravi Bishnoi, that got India 13 runs off the last over and pushed them over the 150-run mark.
The chase couldn’t have gotten off to a worse start for the hosts. West Indies lost two wickets in their first over – Brandon King for a golden duck off the first ball of the innings, and Johnson Charles three balls later, caught by Tilak Varma – to Hardik. It was the perfect start for India, until Kyle Mayers and Pooran launched a stunning counterattack on the Indians, and despite Mayers’ stay being cut short by Arshdeep, an 18-run over from Bishnoi ensured West Indies had scored 61 runs in the powerplay at over 10 runs an over – never mind the fact that they had lost three wickets.
The fourth-wicket stand between Pooran and Powell was 57 off 37, and the fifth, between Pooran and Hetmyer, was 37 off 25. Pooran was leading the way with a blazing fifty, and only wickets could do the trick.
At 126-4, it only took 13 balls for West Indies to be reduced to 129-8. Three runs, four wickets, and the home side were on the verge of a familiar collapse under pressure, triggered by Pooran’s departure. It was all going downhill.
Amidst the headless collapse, No. 9 and 10 had an epiphany – that time was on their side. Akeal Hosein and Alzarri Joseph ticked the runs over before a six and a four to finish things off in the penultimate over by Mukesh Kumar, winning the contest with seven balls to spare.
The win gives the West Indies a 2-0 lead in the five-match series, with the third T20I also set to be played at the same venue.
(Cricbuzz)
Six-a-side school cricket is set to make a high-profile return to Moratuwa when the Old Boys’ Association of Prince of Wales’ College stages the Prince of Wales’ College 150th Anniversary Inter-School Sixes Cricket Tournament on August 29 and 30 at the De Soysa Stadium.
The two-day tournament is one of the major sporting attractions of the College’s historic 150th anniversary celebrations and
will bring together 16 leading school cricket teams for a knockout competition.
The tournament is aimed at reviving the excitement of six-a-side cricket, a format renowned for its fast pace and spectator-friendly nature, which has not featured regularly in major inter-school competitions in recent years.
The Old Boys’ Association believes the 150th anniversary provides the ideal opportunity to bring the format back to the forefront while celebrating Moratuwa’s deep-rooted passion for cricket.
Cricket has long held a special place in the hearts of Moratuwa’s residents, while Prince of Wales’ College boasts a proud cricketing tradition that has produced several outstanding players who have gone on to represent Sri Lanka at the highest level.
The organizers expect more than 5,000 cricket enthusiasts from Moratuwa and surrounding areas to witness the tournament over the two days, turning the event into a major festival of school cricket.
The opening ceremony on August 29 is scheduled to be attended by Kusal Mendis, one of the leading cricketers produced by Prince of Wales’ College and a member of the Sri Lankan national team.
The tournament will feature 16 schools, including Royal College Colombo, St. Joseph’s College Darley Road, Thurstan College Colombo, S. Thomas’ College Mount Lavinia, Dharmasoka College Ambalangoda, Prince of Wales’ College Moratuwa, Moratu Maha Vidyalaya, D.S. Senanayake College Colombo, Sri Sumangala College Panadura, Richmond College Galle, Mahanama College Colombo, St. Sebastian’s College Moratuwa, St. Peter’s College Bambalapitiya, Wesley College Colombo, Ananda College Colombo and Mahanama College Panadura.
With the competition being played on a knockout basis, the compact format is expected to produce plenty of attacking cricket and give emerging players an opportunity to showcase their skills in front of a large crowd.
Apart from the competitive aspect, the tournament is also intended to promote sportsmanship, friendship and fellowship among the participating schools.
The tournament will conclude on August 30 with a ceremonial awards presentation, with the participation of Eran Wickramaratne, distinguished invitees, representatives of participating schools, past pupils and members of the cricketing community.
The Old Boys’ Association has also expressed its appreciation to the corporate sector and event sponsors whose support has helped make the tournament possible.
Their contribution, according to the organizers, reflects the continuing partnership between Prince of Wales’ College, its alumni and the corporate community in supporting educational, sporting and development initiatives.
The six-a-side tournament is therefore expected to provide not only two days of entertaining school cricket, but also a fitting sporting celebration of 150 years of Prince of Wales’ College.
India 503/9 decl (Devdutt Padikkal 117, Dhruv Jurel 115; Asitha Fernando 4-106, Prabath Jayasuriya 2-132) drew with Sri Lanka 290 (Sonal Dinusha 103, Pasindu Sooriyabandara 80; Prasidh Krishna 3-52, Manav Suthar 3-85) and 429/9 f/o (Sonal Dinusha 133*, Pasindu Sooriyabandara 92; Ravindra Jadeja 3-94, Manav Suthar 3-121)
American golfer Matt Gogel has been suspended for six months for betting on golf tournaments, the PGA Tour has said.
The 55-year-old competes on the PGA Tour Champions circuit which is reserved for professional golfers aged 50 and older.
Gogel did not bet on events in which he was participating but admitted to unknowingly violating PGA Tour policy by placing “small recreational wagers” in 2024 and 2025.
“I would never knowingly violate the integrity of the game of golf,” Gogel said in a statement.
“I made an honest mistake and I look forward to playing in 2027 on the PGA Tour Champions.”
He had two top-10 finishes across 18 PGA Tour Champions events in 2026 and was most recently in action during the Rogers Charity Classic in Calgary, Alberta where he finished tied 30th last week.
Gogel, who has earned more than $760,000 (£559,000) in prize money from Champions events, won the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am in 2002 – his only victory in 179 starts on the PGA Tour.
His suspension came into effect on 23 August and lasts until 22 February.
[BBC Sports]
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