Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 4 March 12:30 pm

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

# First up we have cricket: Proteas captain Aiden Markram expects a tough clash against New Zealand in today’s T20 World Cup semifinal in Kolkata. South Africa has won all seven matches in the lead-up to the knockouts. In the group stage, the Proteas coasted to a convincing seven-wicket win over the Black Caps. Markram is confident they can adapt to the conditions at Eden Gardens, where they have never played a T20 match:

New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner has full faith in his team to deliver against South Africa today. The Black Caps reached the final in 2021 but fell short against Australia, and failed to progress past the group stage in 2024, where the Proteas finished as runners-up. Santner says they are prepared to apply pressure on South Africa when it matters most:

# Rugby: New Zealand’s new head coach, Dave Rennie, says he is excited about the Greatest Rivalry Tour in South Africa later this year. In the maiden edition, the Springboks will host the All Blacks in August and September, with four Tests scheduled across Johannesburg, Cape Town and a historic first in the USA. Rennie says he is relishing the prospect of six intense weeks on South African soil:

# Tennis stars Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have been nominated for this year’s Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award. They are shortlisted alongside pole vault world record holder Mondo Duplantis, PSG soccer player Ousmane Dembélé and MotoGP champion Marc Márquez. The women’s shortlist is headlined by track stars Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Faith Kipyegon and Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, which also includes swimmer Katie Ledecky, tennis player Aryna Sabalenka and soccer player Aitana Bonmatí. Nominees for the Breakthrough of the Year Award include Formula One champion Lando Norris and Darts champion Luke Littler.

# And, Paralympics: Skiers Menna Fitzpatrick and Scott Meenagh will be Great Britain’s virtual flagbearers at Friday’s opening ceremony of the Winter Games in Northern Italy. Meenagh, who lost both legs while serving with the Parachute Regiment in Afghanistan in 2011, will compete in his third Paralympics. Visually-impaired Fitzpatrick returns after breaking her leg a year ago, and sustaining a serious knee injury three months ago. They will take part in the ceremony at Verona’s Roman amphitheatre via a video sequence since they participate the next day.

Stay tuned for more news………….