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Netherlands and Uganda record first wins
Two more matches of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier were decided on Saturday afternoon in Abu Dhabi. Netherlands started their campaign in an emphatic manner, outplaying Vanuatu and winning by 100 runs at Tolerance Oval, while Uganda bounced back strongly from their opening day loss, beating United States of America (USA) by eight wickets at Zayed Cricket Stadium.
Sterre Kalis (70) dazzled with the bat for the Netherlands in their big win, while Uganda’s Immaculate Nakisuuyi (68 not out) led the charge in her team’s successful outing.
Vanuatu vs Netherlands
The Netherlands recorded a comprehensive win in their first appearance of the Qualifier by defeating Vanuatu by 100 runs.Netherlands’ opener and skipper, Heather Siegers, was the first to fall, bowled by Selina Solman for six runs.
The experienced Sterre Kalis and Babette de Leede ensured they rebuilt quickly, taking their side to 49/1 in the Powerplay with a 16-run sixth over.
The duo stitched together a 43-run stand before Nasimana Navaika dismissed de Leede caught and bowled for 18 (16).
Kalis continued to control the game from her end and brought up her sixth T20I half-century off 40 balls, adding another 20 in her next 11 deliveries to finish with 70 from 51. Kalis’ knock helped the Netherlands to a total of 154/6.
Vanuatu looked troubled from the start in their chase, losing wickets at crucial intervals. Rachel Andrew was the first wicket to fall at the hands of Iris Zwilling, who snared her wicket for six runs.
The Netherlands’ Silver Siegers (2/11) and Caroline de Lange (2/8) grabbed two wickets each, while Merel Dekeling finished with 1/7. With three run-outs of Valenta Langiatu, Maiyllise Carlot and Vanessa Vira, Netherlands bowled Vanuatu out for 54 with only Gillian Chilia (11*) going past double figures.
Kalis earned the Player of the Match award for her aggressive knock with the bat.
Uganda vs USA
Immaculate Nakisuuyi starred for Uganda with an unbeaten half-century in their first Qualifier win.
The USA, playing in their first match of the tournament, were helped to a stable start by opener, Disha Dhingra, who scored 25 off 24 balls.
However, Uganda bowlers Sarah Walaza and Sarah Akiteng, managed to snare a wicket each of the USA openers in the first eight overs to bring some momentum back in their favour.
A 40-run, third-wicket partnership between captain, Sindhu Sriharsha and Ritu Singh, laid the foundation for a strong finish.
Just as the USA were approaching the final five overs, Ritu’s (16) wicket was the first of a flurry to fall. Sriharsha was then dismissed in the 17th over to Concy Aweko, caught by Rita Musamali for 26 – USA’s highest score for the day.
The next over saw the back of Geetika Kodali who was run out by Rita Musamali while trying to steal a second run off an overthrow.
The USA managed to composed themselves to finish well in the final over, adding 11 runs thanks to Gargi Bhogle’s cameo of 19 runs off 16 balls, taking them to 110/5 in their allotted 20 overs.
In their chase, Uganda were put on the back foot by a wicket in the first over – Prosscovia Alako dismissed for a duck. The USA picked up another wicket in the Powerplay, Esther Iloku, who was caught behind for two off Isani Vaghela. Uganda ended the first six overs with 13/2 on the board.
The equation for Uganda to win the match read 98 runs from 84 balls with a required run rate of seven. At this point, they required an immaculate partnership for the match to turn in their favour and Immaculate Nakisuuyi and Stephani Nampiina delivered just that.
Nakisuuyi smashed her second T20I fifty, bringing it up in 53 balls. The pair continued to show nerves of steel, timing the chase to perfection and amassed 102 runs for the third wicket in 82 balls to bring up Uganda’s first win of the Qualifier.
Nakisuuyi finished with an unbeaten 68 off 64 balls to win the Player of the Match award while Nampiina scored an impressive 33 in 27 balls.
Scores in brief:
Match 5:
Netherlands beat Vanuatu by 100 runs
Netherlands 154 for 6 in 20 overs (Sterre Kalis 70, Babette De Leede 18; Nasimana Navaika 2-29, Selina Solman 2-35)
Vanuatu 54 all out in 19.5 overs (Gillian Chilia 11; Caroline De Lange 2-8, Silver Siegers 2-11)
Player of the match – Sterre Kalis
Match 6:
Uganda beat USA by eight wickets
USA 110 for 5 in 20 overs (Sindhu Sriharsha 26, Disha Dhingra 25; Sarah Akiteng 1-18, Sarah Walaza 1-19)
Uganda 111 for 2 in 18.2 overs (Immaculate Nakisuuyi 68 not out, Stephanie Nampiina 33 not out; Geetika Kodali 1-12)
Player of the match – Immaculate Nakisuuyi
(ICC)
At least 21 people have been killed after a crash involving high-speed trains in southern Spain, as authorities warn the death toll could rise overnight.
More than 30 are being treated for serious injuries in hospital, Spain’s transport minister Oscar Puente said.
The incident happened near the town of Adamuz, close to the city of Cordoba, when a high-speed train travelling from Malaga to Madrid derailed and crossed over onto another track, the rail network operator Adif said.
The derailed train then collided with an oncoming train, travelling from Madrid to Huelva. Andalusian emergency services said at least 73 people in total were injured in the collision.
The incident appeared to be “extremely strange”, Puente added, because the train derailed on a straight stretch of track, which had been refurbished in May last year.
The official cause is not yet known. An investigation is not expected to determine what happened for at least a month.
Spain’s Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, said the country will endure a “night of deep pain”.
Iryo, a private rail company that operated the journey from Malaga, said around 300 passengers were on board the train that first derailed, while the other train – operated by Renfe – had around 100 passengers.
The mayor of Adamuz, Rafael Moreno, was one of the first people on the scene of the accident. He described it as like “a nightmare”.
In a post on X, the Emergency Agency of Andalucía urged any crash survivors to post on social media that they are alive.
The twisted wreckage of the train made it difficult to recover survivors and bodies, rescue crews said.
Cordoba fire chief Francisco Carmona told Spanish public broadcaster RTVE: “We have even had to remove a dead person to be able to reach someone alive. It is hard, tricky work.”
According to Adif, the crash happened about ten minutes after the train left Malaga at 18:40 local time (17:40 GMT). The company said it was setting up spaces for relatives of victims at Atocha, Seville, Cordoba, Malaga and Huelva stations.
All rail services between Madrid and Andalusia were suspended following the accident and will remain close on Monday. The company said it will keep terminals open overnight for impacted passengers.
The type of train involved in the crash was a Freccia 1000, which can reach top speeds of 400 km/h (250 mph), a spokesperson for the Italian rail company Ferrovie dello Stato told the Reuters news agency.
The Spanish Red Cross has deployed emergency support services to the scene, while also offering counselling to families nearby.
Miguel Ángel Rodríguez from the Red Cross told RNE radio: “The families are going through a situation of great anxiety due to the lack of information. These are very distressing moments.”
Salvador Jimenez, a journalist with RTVE who was on one of the trains, said the impact felt like an “earthquake”.
“I was in the first carriage. There was a moment when it felt like an earthquake and the train had indeed derailed,” Jimenez said.
In his latest update on X, he said he was among a group of passengers waiting in the “freezing cold night” for buses to transport them to a local sports centre.
King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia said they were following news of the disaster with “with great concern”.
“We extend our most heartfelt condolences to the relatives and loved ones of the dead, as well as our love and wishes for a swift recovery to the injured,” the royal palace said on X.
French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen have both offered condolences in statements.
“My thoughts are with the victims, their families and the entire Spanish people. France stands by your side,” Macron wrote on social media.
In 2013, Spain suffered its worst high-speed train derailment in Galicia, north-west Spain, which left 80 people dead and 140 others injured.
[BBC]
Contrasting half-centuries from Oman Sadat and Mahboob Khan set up Afghanistan’s 13 run win over West Indies. They wrapped up the win when Nooristani Omarzai bagged his fourth wicket. With two wins in as many games, Afghanistan have locked in their Super Sixes spot.
After Afghanistan opted to bat, Sadat and Khalid Ahmadzai put on 86 for the opening wicket before Vitel Lawes, the sixth bowler West Indies used in 18 overs, created a brief stutter. He struck three times in eight overs as Afghanistan lost 3 for 24. Mahboob then steadied the ship in Sadat’s company, adding 77 for the fourth wicket. While Sadat took 68 balls to get to his fifty, Mahboob got there in 54, before accelerating. Mahboob scored 36 off his next 15 balls as Afghanistan scored 79 off the last ten overs to post 262 for 7.
In reply, only Jewel Andrew, who has played eight internationals for West Indies’ senior side, and 15 CPL matches, offered some resistance. He scored 57 off 70 balls, laced with four fours and three sixes, and was the eighth wicket to fall with the score on 101.
West Indies had lost their first four wickets inside 11 overs. While Wahidullah Zadran started the slide in the first powerplay with his offspin, seamer Omarzai’s strikes through the middle overs was too much for West Indies, who were bowled out for 124.
Brief scores:
Afghanistan Under 19s 262 for 6 in 50 overs (Osman Sadat 88, Mahboob Khan 86; Jakeem Pollard 3-39, Vitel Lawes 3-48) beat West Indies Under 19s 124 in 33.2 overs (Jewel Andrew 57; Nooristani Omarzai 4-16, Khatir Stanikzai 3-20, Wahidullah Zadran 3-36) by 138 runs
[Cricinfo]
England have confirmed their place in the Super Sixes of the Under 19 World Cup 2026 after crushing hosts Zimbabwe to register successive wins in the group stage. Captain Thomas Rew (86*) and Ben Mayes (77*) led the chase of 209 in Harare. England asked Zimbabwe to bat first, and struck third ball as Alex French got Nathaniel Hlabangana for a duck.
From there onwards, each time a partnership looked stable for Zimbabwe, England hit back to disrupt their momentum. There were stands of 30, 45 and 32 for the second, third and fourth wickets, respectively, with Luke Hands, Farhan Ahmed and Ralphie Albert among the wickets.
All Zimbabwe batters from Nos. 3-6 scored at least 30 but none passed captain Simbarashe Mudzengerere’s 45 not out. England’s Manny Lumsden got three wickets.
In reply, England got off to a quick start. They were two down within seven overs, but had also scored 48. Rew and Mayes had got together on the fifth ball of that over, and their union remained unbroken on 167. Rew was the first to get to fifty off 30 balls by smashing Dhruv Patel for a six in the 18th over. Mayes got a run-a-ball half-century in the 22nd over, as England clubbed the final 64 runs in seven overs to win with a whopping 22 overs to spare.
Zimbabwe’s loss came after their first game, against Scotland, was washed out. They face Pakistan next, and could find it tough to enter the next round.
Brief scores:
England Under 19s 209 for 2 in 28 overs (Thomas Rew 86*, Ben Mayes 77*; Shelton Mazvitorera 2-54) beat Zimbabwe Under 19a 208 for 9 in 50 overs (Simbarashe Mudzengerere 45*; Manny Lumsden 3-38, Farhan Ahmed 2-33, Ralphie Albert 2-49) by eight wickets
[Cricinfo]
At least six killed in Pakistan as fire rips through Karachi shopping mall
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U – 19 World Cup: Mahboob, Sadat star for Afghanistan against West Indies
U – 19 World Cup: Rew, Mayes lead England to victory
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