Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 22 October 12:30 pm

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

# First up, we have cricket: South Africa defeated Pakistan by 150 runs via the Duckworth–Lewis–Stern method in Colombo, to go top of the Women’s World Cup table. Captain Laura Wolvaardt scored 90 off 82 balls to help the Proteas post 312 for nine in 40 overs after rain curtailed their innings. This is South Africa’s highest total in World Cup history. In reply, Pakistan were restricted to 83 for seven, chasing a rain-reduced 234 from 20 overs. The Proteas have already qualified for the semifinals, while Pakistan has been knocked out of the tournament.

# Rugby: Ireland’s scrum coach, John Fogarty, says they are not worried about the team’s form before next weekend’s Test against the All Blacks in Chicago in the US. Ireland last played a Test during the Six Nations, although most of their players were involved in the British and Irish Lions’ tour of Australia. The All Blacks just came off a competitive Rugby Championship against winners South Africa, Australia and Argentina. Fogarty says a Test against the Kiwis is the perfect challenge to sharpen Ireland’s focus.

# Tennis: Seven-time champion Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from the upcoming Paris Masters, without giving a reason. The 38-year-old retired from his third-place play-off match against American Taylor Fritz at the Six Kings Slam in Saudi Arabia on Saturday. Djokovic is still on course to play the season-ending ATP Finals next month, which he has won a record seven times. World number one Carlos Alcaraz of Spain and numbe two, Italian Jannik Sinner, will headline the Paris Masters, which begins next Monday and runs until the second of November.

Meanwhile, Sinner is facing a backlash in Italy over his decision not to represent his country in the Davis Cup Finals. He led Italy to consecutive titles in the previous two years, but opted out this year. The Davis Cup is played the week after the ATP Finals and Sinner says he needs that week to recuperate. Local magazine Gazzetta dello Sport points out he regularly promotes Italian products such as pasta and coffee, and asks him to do it with tennis, too.

# And finally, soccer: The third round of the Champions League saw 43 goals scored, five red cards handed out, and six penalties awarded. Defending champions Paris St Germain swept aside Bayer Leverkusen 7-2 to go top of the standings. Fermín López scored a hat-trick as Barcelona earned an emphatic 6-1 victory over Olympiacos. PSV Eindhoven recorded a 6-2 win over Italian champions Napoli. Erling Haaland scored for a 12th successive match, as Manchester City beat Villarreal 2-0. Arsenal and Newcastle also claimed convincing victories.

Stay tuned for more news………….