Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 29 January 12:30 pm

Good day, let’s look at the latest sports news and scores:

# We start with cricket: The Proteas are worried over the fitness of middle-order batter David Miller before the Champions Trophy. The Paarl Royals’ captain suffered a groin injury during fielding in the SA20 match against Durban’s Super Giants on Monday and didn’t bat. Miller said afterwards his right groin was a little tight, but he believes it was just a tweak. This follows Anrich Nortjé’s withdrawal from the Champions Trophy, while there is also doubt over the fitness of Lungi Ngidi. The tournament starts in Pakistan on 19 February.

Meanwhile, Pretoria Capitals secured a six-wicket bonus point victory over Joburg Super Kings at Centurion, to keep their hopes of clinching a play-off spot in the SA20 alive. Migael Pretorius took three wickets as Super Kings were restricted to 99 for nine. Capitals reached the target with eight overs to spare. With the top four qualifying for the playoffs, Capitals are just one point behind fourth-placed Super Kings. Super Kings captain Faf du Plessis says reaching the playoff is still in their hands:

# Rugby: Twins Tom and Ben Curry will play together for England for the first time in their Six Nations opener against Ireland in Dublin on Saturday. The 26-year old brothers, who both play for Sale Sharks, will fill the flanker positions either side of number eight Ben Earl. Tom Curry is given the number six jersey. Cadan Murley will make his debut on the left wing. Alex Mitchell has recovered from injury to start at scrum-half, with Marcus Smith at fly-half. Maro Itoje will captain England for the first time.

# Soccer: Pep Guardiola says Manchester City will embrace the challenge of today’s must-win Champions League clash against Club Brugge and is confident they will make the knockout stages. The Premier League champions must beat last season’s Belgian league winners at the Etihad to progress to the play-off stage, involving teams ranked from ninth to 24th in the league phase. The top eight teams automatically qualify for the round of 16, which takes place in March.

# And finally, golf: World number one Scottie Scheffler says he is excited to return to action, as it has been frustrating not being able to play golf. The American injured his right hand while helping to prepare Christmas Day dinner in December, which required surgery. He and Rory McIlroy make their first PGA Tour appearances of the year this week, as part of a star-studded field at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in California. Scheffler says he loves the Pebble Beach golf course:

Stay tuned for more news………….