Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 23 January 12:30 pm

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

# We start with cricket: Defending SA20 champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape are back in contention for a playoff spot after beating Pretoria Capitals by 52 runs in Gqeberha, to secure a third consecutive bonus-point victory. An unbeaten 68 from captain Aiden Markram saw the Sunrisers post 149 for seven in their 20 overs. In reply, fast bowler Marco Jansen claimed four wickets as the Capitals were bowled out for 97. Markram was full of praise for Jansen:

# Rugby: The four South African teams can all be in the top eight of the United Rugby Championship after this weekend. The Bulls are currently fourth, the Sharks fifth, the Stormers tenth and the Lions 12th. The Lions will host the Bulls at Ellis Park, the Stormers are away to Leinster and the Sharks play Cardiff. The Lions need to beat the Bulls to move into the top eight while the Stormers are just one point behind eighth-placed Edinburgh with one more game to play than the Scottish team.

Sevens rugby: Blitzboks loose-forward, Zain Davids will celebrate his 50th tournament for the team in Perth, Australia, tomorrow – eight years after debuting in 2017. The 27-year-old calls it a proud moment, matching the joy of his first cap. As a key player for the Blitzboks, Davids aims to lead by example as co-captain, continuing the team’s winning momentum from Cape Town:

# Soccer: The Premier Soccer League has suspended all fixtures involving Royal AM indefinitely. The KwaZulu-Natal-based club owned by controversial businesswoman Shauwn Mkhize, is under the SA Revenue Services’ curatorship due to a tax debt of over 40-million-rand. Royal AM, which has not played a match in the league since their three-one loss to TS Galaxy on December 29, has failed to pay players and staff salaries. The PSL says it will meet with Royal AM on Friday, to allow the club to make representations on the current situation.

# And finally, tennis: Eighth-seeded Emma Navarro urged a rule change after she was at the receiving end of a controversial call in her Australian Open quarterfinal against Iga Swiatek. Umpire Eva Asderaki-Moore ruled the American’s appeal was too late after a video review showed the ball bounced twice before the Polish player returned it and was awarded the point. Swiatek went on to win 6-1, 6-2 to reach the semifinals. Navarro says players should be allowed to appeal after a point even if they play on in such a case.

Stay tuned for more news………….