Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 12 December 12:30 pm

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

# We start with golf: South African Louis Oosthuizen believes he will be able to defend his title at the Alfred Dunhill Championship in Mpumalanga despite very strong competition. Among the participants are eight of the last 13 champions in Malelane, including compatriots Charl Schwartzel, Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Brandon Stone, and Richard Sterne, as well as Spaniard Pablo Larrazabal. Oosthuizen regards last year’s victory over Schwartzel as one of his best achievements, describing Leopard Creek as a course that had always found a way to bite him. 

# Canoeing: Next year’s Dusi marathon in KwaZulu-Natal will return to its original starting point at Camps Drift in Pietermaritzburg, although contingency plans are in place in the event of poor water quality. The organisers say despite the challenges, they are still able to provide paddlers with a chance to take on the popular event. They say the Dusi will always remain the most iconic canoeing race in South Africa, and promise to maintain the heritage. It takes place from 20 to 22 February.

# Cricket: England’s Women claimed a two-one series victory over South Africa when they won the third and final ODI in Potchefstroom by six wickets on the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method. Captain Laura Wolvaardt top-scored with 61 as the Proteas posted 233 for eight. England then chased a revised target of 152 runs from 23 overs following a rain delay. Tammy Beaumont and Amy Jones shared an unbeaten 90-run partnership for the fifth wicket to guide England to victory. Beaumont says it was a good batting wicket:

Meanwhile, no agreement had yet been reached over the format of next year’s Champions Cup tournament after India refused to play in host country Pakistan, citing security fears and political tensions. While Pakistan seemingly agreed to a hybrid tournament that would see it playing India in Dubai, India objects to the condition that it must then agree to a similar format in every international tournament it hosts until 2027. The tournament will be contested by the top eight ranked men’s teams from last year’s one-day World Cup.

# And finally, soccer: 2030’s men’s World Cup will take place in six countries across three continents. World governing body Fifa awarded the tournament to Morocco in Africa and European countries Spain and Portugal, while certain matches will also be played in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay in South America to commemorate the first World Cup on that continent 100-years ago. Fifa awarded the 2034 tournament to Saudi Arabia while the global extravaganza goes to Canada, the US and Mexico in 2026.

Stay tuned for more news………….