Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 30 October 12:30 pm

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

# Cricket news is first up today: South Africa awaits the winner of today’s second semifinal between India and Australia in Sunday’s World Cup final. Proteas captain Laura Wolvaardt yesterday produced a batting masterclass as they hrashed England by 125 runs to reach their first ODI final. She smashed 169, the highest-ever score from a South African at a World Cup, to help the Proteas post a commanding 319 for seven. Marizanne Kapp then took five wickets as England were bowled out for 194. Wolvaardt says partnerships were key for the team:

England’s coach, Charlotte Edwards, has admitted afterwards transforming the team’s fortunes will not be a quick fix. They won five games from eight appearances across the tournament before yesterday’s loss to South Africa. Edwards says she is nonetheless proud of what the team has achieved:

# Rugby: Springbok and Bulls prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels has failed in his appeal to overturn a nine-week suspension, but has had his suspension reduced by one game. He was penalised after Connacht flanker Josh Murphy accused him of groping during a United Rugby Championship match two weeks ago. A URC appeal panel found the disciplinary panel erred in their nine-week suspension and did not take into account Wessels’ conduct. He will miss the Springboks’ end-of-year tour as well as the Bulls’ two Champions’ Cup matches against Bordeaux and Northampton.

Meanwhile, wing Kurt-Lee Arendse is excited to return to Springbok action against Japan in London on Saturday. This will only be his fifth match for South Africa this season after injuries kept him out of the other six. Arendse’s last international match was against Australia in August. He will play opposite Ethan Hooker while his usual partner, Cheslin Kolbe, plays fullback. The only recognised number 15 in the squad, Damian Willemse, is still nursing an injury and will only be considered for next weekend’s match against France.

# And golf: Six holes will be lengthened at St Andrews’ Old Course for the 2027 Open. This will mostly be done by moving the tee boxes. This will increase the overall length for the competition to six-thousand-807 metres. Other changes include the movement of bunkers on the second hole and adding bunkers to three other holes. The CEO of management firm St Andrews Links Trust, Neil Coulson, says the work will restore features that have changed subtly over time and refine others to preserve the course’s unique character.

Stay tuned for more news………….