Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 23 October 12:30 pm

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

# We start with cricket: South Africa defeated Pakistan by eight wickets in the second and final Test in Rawalpindi to draw the series 1-all. Offspinner Simon Harmer took six wickets as the Proteas dismissed Pakistan for 138 in their second innings, giving the visitors a 68-run target to win. South Africa chased down the target with ease, thanks to captain Aiden Markram’s 42 and an unbeaten 25 from Ryan Rickelton. Pakistan won the first Test in Lahore by 93 runs. The nations will now face each other in three T20s.

# Soccer: Banyana Banyana were held to a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against the Democratic Republic of Congo in Kinshasa. South Africa took the lead through Kgalebane Mohlakoana, but the hosts equalised through Ruth Kipoyi Monique just before halftime. Neither side managed to find a breakthrough in the second half and had to settle for a draw, with Banyana Banyana securing the all-important away goal. The second leg will take place in Johannesburg next week Tuesday.

# Tennis: The top-two players in the world, Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz and Italian Jannik Sinner, will reportedly face off in an exhibition match in South Korea at the start of the 2026 season. Previous editions of the event featured famous players such as Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Roddick, and Venus Williams and Maria Sharapova. The match will take place in Seoul on the tenth of January. Alcaraz has beaten Sinner ten times out of their 15 meetings on the ATP Tour.

# Motorsport: Nine full-time drivers will sit out the first practice for the weekend’s Formula One Grand Prix in Mexico City as part of the commitment to give debutants at least two practice sessions per season. The drivers include reigning world champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull, McLaren’s Lando Norris and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton. Championship leader, Australian Oscar Piastri, will practice for McLaren, though, which means he will almost certainly miss the first practice for the season’s final race in Abu Dhabi in December.

# And the International Olympic Committee has condemned Indonesia’s refusal to allow Israeli athletes to participate in the ongoing World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Jakarta. This is because of the country’s military offensive in Gaza. The IOC says all international sports federations will be told not to host any events or meetings in Indonesia. The IOC has also decided to end any form of dialogue with the National Olympic Committee of Indonesia about hosting the 2030 Youth Olympics and the 2036 Olympic Games.

Stay tuned for more news………….