Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 1 August 12:30 pm

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

# We start off with cricket: Left-arm spinners Keshav Maharaj and Nonkululeko Mlaba were named men’s and women’s players of the year at the Cricket South Africa awards held in Johannesburg. Captain Temba Bavuma, who led the Proteas to their maiden World Test Championship title, won Test player of the year and fans’ player of the year. Now-retired Heinrich Klaasen was awarded the ODI player of the year, with Anrich Nortjé winning the T20 player of the year. Annerie Dercksen was named women’s ODI player of the year.

# Golf: Daniel van Tonder has been confirmed as the first South African participant in this year’s Nedbank Challenge at Sun City in North West early in December. This will only be his second appearance after making his debut in 2014, when he ended in 29th place, but he won the South African Open on the same course at the Gary Player country club in 2021. Van Tonder says he is looking forward to compete after his most successful season on the Sunshine Tour.

# Rugby: The Cheetahs and the Pumas kick off the second weekend of the Currie Cup Premier League in Bloemfontein this evening. Tomorrow, Western Province travels to Johannesburg to meet the Lions at Ellis Park, while the Bulls and the Sharks will do battle at Loftus. On Sunday, Griquas and Boland Kavaliers will play in Kimberley. The Lions are currently top of the log, followed by the Bulls, the Pumas and Boland. Cheetahs, Griquas, Western Province and the Sharks are in the bottom-part of the log.

More rugby news: Much is on the line in tomorrow’s final Test between the Wallabies and the British and Irish Lions in Sydney, despite the visitors already clinching the series. The Wallabies are desperate to salvage some pride after letting slip a 23-5 lead to lose the second Test in Melbourne. The tourists want to become the first Lions team to achieve a whitewash, and also the first unbeaten squad since the Invincibles beat the Springboks in the first three Tests in 1974 before the fourth ended in a draw.

# And finally, motorsport: Four-time reigning world champion Max Verstappen has confirmed he will remain with Red Bull for the 2026 Formula One season. The 27-year-old Dutchman, who is contracted to Red Bull until 2028, was linked with a potential move to Mercedes next year. Speaking ahead of this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix, Verstappen says his intention was always to remain with the team next year, especially as F1 enters a new technical regulation era:

Stay tuned for more news………….