Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 24 May 12:30 pm

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

# We kick off with rugby: Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth was entrusted with the Sharks’ captains armband for tonight’s Challenge Cup final against Gloucester in London. He takes over from fellow World Cup winning Bok Lukhanyo Am, who is injured. Head coach John Plumtree named the same team that beat Clermont in the penultimate round. Another Bok, loosehead prop Ox Nché, will play his 50th match for the Durban team. He says everyone is focused. Kick-off at Tottenham Hotspur’s stadium is at nine tonight.

Meanwhile, Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus says he is pleased with the foundation laid at the national team’s second in-person alignment camp in Cape Town. A group of 38 players attended the camp this week, which followed the first alignment camp in March. The Boks kick off their international season against Wales on the 22nd of June. Erasmus says the camp was extremely valuable in exposing the players to detailed aspects of the game which would be implemented this season:

# Cricket: The West Indies defeated South Africa by 28 runs in the first T20 at Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica. Interim captain Brandon King scored 79 off 45 balls as the host posted 175 for eight. In reply, Reeza Hendricks top-scored with a career-best 87 which was not enough, as the Proteas were bowled out for 147 with a ball to spare. This is the biggest margin with which the West Indies have defeated South Africa in this format. The second T20 will be played tomorrow.

Meanwhile, this year’s Indian Premier League is drawing to a close, with the penultimate game being played today. Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals will do battle in the second qualifier in Chennai. Sunrisers lost to top of the log Kolkata Knight Riders in the first qualifier, while Rajasthan beat Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Wednesday’s eliminator. KKR won the tournament twice in the past, Sunrisers were crowned champions in 2022, and Rajasthan wore the crown in 2008.

# And finally, soccer: Argentian legend Diego Maradona’s heirs are trying to block the sale of the Golden Ball trophy he earned in the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. It is expected to fetch millions when it is auctioned in France early next month. The trophy disappeared decades ago before a French antique dealer found it in Paris in 2016. The Maradona family’s lawyers argue it rightly belongs to his heirs. A court will decide next week whether the auction may go ahead. Maradona died in 2020, aged 60.

Stay tuned for more news………….