Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 4 January 12:30 pm

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

# We start with cricket: History books were re-written on the first day of the second Test between South Africa and India where both sides completed their first innings, with a record 23 wickets taken. Questions will inevitably be asked of the quality of the pitch prepared by head groundsman Braam Mong. The whims of pitch preparation often lead to surprises. But the nature of the Newlands surface that saw both teams bat on the first day will invariably raise eyebrows, especially at one of South Africa’s premier Test grounds.

# Rugby: The Lions will be back in action in the United Rugby Championship this weekend with a local derby in Durban against the Sharks. The Johannesburg side is sitting in 12th spot on 19 points but with two games in hand, after they postponed both of their festive season derby games. Heat and humidity is expected on Saturday. The Lions last won in Durban in 2017, but assistant coach Ricardo Laubscher is confident they can get the points on offer if they implement their game plan effectively:

# Golf: Rory McIlroy says he would be open to play in a tournament backed by LIV Golf if it became more like cricket’s Indian Premier League. McIlory has been a staunch opponent of LIV which has recruited high-profile players and fractured golf.  Merger talks between the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which funds LIV, will continue in 2024 in an attempt to end the split. Four-time major-winner McIlroy previously said he had accepted LIV is now part of the sport.

# Tennis: Ten-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic is fighting a battle against time to be ready for the defense of his title. He injured his wrist during the United Cup team championship in Perth, Australia, where he was beaten by local player Alex de Minaur yesterday. This was the world number one’s first defeat in the country since 2018, where he won his previous 43 games. The year’s first Grand Slam tournament starts in Melbourne next Sunday, and will be played over 15-days for the first time.

# And finally, darts: Teenage darts sensation Luke Littler was denied a fairytale victory at the World Darts Championship after losing to Luke Humphries in the final. The 16-year-old produced more of the spectacular darts that inspired his run to the final, but world number one Humphries fought back to take the title, along with just more than 11.8-million-rand in prize money. Littler, knows as The Nuke, will still scoop 4.7-million-rand following his incredible campaign, where he was bidding to become the youngest world darts champion in history on Wednesday evening.

Stay tuned for more news………….