Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 25 June 12:30 pm

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

# We start off with Cricket:  Afghanistan advanced to their first-ever T20 World Cup semi-final after completing a dramatic eight-run victory over Bangladesh in a rain-affected clash in St Vincent on Monday. Afghanistan elected to bat first and got 115 for 5 in their 20 overs.  The Bangladeshis were chasing 114 off 19 overs according to the DLS method but were all out for 105. Afghanistan will face South Africa in the first semi-final in Trinidad on Thursday at 2:30 am SA time. India earlier have advanced to the second semi-final against England in Guyana on Thursday.

# Rugby: The Springboks arrived back home this morning and the first order of business upon return will be a squad announcement for the incoming tours. The announcement will start the buildup to a two-game series against Ireland that the Boks desperately want to win. Ireland was the one opponent they did not beat at the Rugby World Cup in France. With everyone who is eligible to play for the Boks available for this squad may give an indication of Erasmus’ thinking around the balancing act he faces.

Meanwhile, the Australian referee Angus Gardner has withdrawn from officiating the Springboks’ test series with Ireland for personal reasons and will now be replaced by English referee Luke Pearce. World Rugby made the announcement on Monday, without any further reasons.  However, the move has necessitated an entire shift of referees across the international July window to accommodate the change. Pearce will be the referee on 6 July for the Springboks’ first test against Ireland, with Karl Dickson on 13 July for the second test against the Irish.  The British female referee Hollie Davidson will officiate in Bloemfontein where South Africa will play Portugal on 20 July.

# Tennis: Novak Djokovic is encouraged by his progress after minor knee surgery less than three weeks ago but the seven-time Wimbledon champion said he will only play in the grass court Grand Slam next month if he is able to fight for the title. The 37-year-old picked up an injury at the French Open and pulled out of the quarterfinals before having surgery. The world No 2’s only defeat in the Grand Slams in 2023 came at Wimbledon where he was beaten in five sets by Carlos Alcaraz in the final.

And finally, in women’s tennis: Jelena Ostapenko launched her bid for a second Eastbourne title with gritty straight sets win over Greet Minnen in the first round of the Wimbledon warm-up event on Monday, while top seed Elena Rybakina withdrew from the tournament. The leading four players at Eastbourne were all given byes into the second round but top-seed Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, withdrew from the event on Monday following. Her decision to pull out meant 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin advanced into the second round as a “lucky loser”. The 25-year-old American will now play Britain’s Harriet Dart.

Stay tuned for more news………….