Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 25 February 12:30 pm

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

# We start off with rugby: Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus says playing against the Barbarians in Gqeberha in June to kick-start their Test season will be an ideal opportunity to get the players match-ready. The game will be played two weeks before the Boks’ inaugural Nations Championship match against England at Ellis Park in Johannesburg. Erasmus says the key for his team will be to focus on structures and what they want to achieve on the field. He adds the sooner they get into a Test mindset, the better.

# Golf: The second-oldest open competition, the South African Open, returns for its 115th edition at the Stellenbosch Golf Club this week. Five-time major champion Ernie Els joins a local challenge that includes Charl Schwartzel, defending champion Dylan Naidoo, and former champions Dean Burmester, Daniel van Tonder, and Branden Grace. American Patrick Reed will attempt to win for the third time in four starts. The winner of this year’s tournament will earn an exemption to the 2026 Masters.

# Cricket: England has qualified for the T20 World Cup semifinals with a game to spare following a two‑wicket Super 8 victory over Pakistan in Pallekele. Pakistan posted 164 for nine, with Liam Dawson taking three wickets. Captain Harry Brook then rescued England from a top-order collapse, scoring 100 off 51 balls, as his team reached the target with five balls to spare. Pakistan must beat co‑hosts Sri Lanka on Saturday and hope other results go their way to have any chance of making the semifinals.

Meanwhile, New Zealand’s captain, Mitchell Santner, says it would be key to adapt to Colombo’s slower pitches in today’s Super Eights clash with co-hosts Sri Lanka. The Black Caps desperately needs victory after their first encounter in the phase against Pakistan at the same venue rained out. Santner says they played on flat pitches in India during the group phase, but he believes they have spin options covered. Sri Lanka is also under pressure after losing to England in their first Super Eights clash.

# And motorsport: Christian Horner says he does not believe driver Max Verstappen or his father were in any way responsible for his exit from Red Bull last year. The 52-year-old, who was with the Formula One team since 2005, was dismissed as CEO and team principal in July, and replaced by Laurent Mekies. Speaking on the latest Netflix Formula 1: Drive to Survive series, Horner said he feels a real sense of loss and hurt, as his exit was sudden.

Stay tuned for more news………….