Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 5 February 12:30 pm

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

# We start with cricket: MI Cape Town defeated Paarl Royals by 39 runs in the SA20’s first qualifier at St George’s Park in Gqeberha, to book their place in the final for the first time. Ryan Rickelton and Rassie van der Dussen’s 87-run opening stand helped MI Cape Town post 199 for four, whereafter they bowled Royals out for 160. Royals will have another opportunity to reach the final when they play in tomorrow’s second qualifier at Centurion against the winner of today’s eliminator between Sunrisers Eastern Cape and Joburg Super Kings.

# Rugby: Bulls scrumhalf Bernard van der Linde has signed a two-year contract with English club Bath from the end of this season. The 24-year-old only played four Currie Cup matches for the Blue Bulls since joining in 2022 and reportedly wanted more game-time. Bath is coached by former Bulls and Springboks assistant coach Johann van Graan, who says 24-year-old Van der Linde has huge potential. He is expected to replace former Sharks player Louis Schreuder, whose contract expires at the end of the season.

# Hockey: The South African women’s team’s hopes of reaching the FIH Indoor quarterfinals in Croatia are hanging by a thread. This follows after they were thrashed ten-nil by world champions Austria, remaining winless after two Pool B matches. They take on Poland in a must-win encounter tomorrow. Meanwhile, South Africa’s men’s team failed to continue their winning ways in Pool A, suffering an eight-six defeat to Austria, leaving them in a battle for second place in the pool against Poland tomorrow.

# Tennis: Former world number one Simona Halep has announced her retirement, saying her body won’t allow her to get back to competing competitively. The 33-year-old Romanian announced her decision at the Transylvania Open following her first-round loss to Italy’s Lucia Bronzetti. Halep, a two-time Grand Slam champion, was given a four-year doping ban in August 2022, which was reduced to nine months after she appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport last year. She has won 22 WTA Tour titles during her career.

 # And finally, soccer: Former England international Paul Merson warned Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim his job could be on the line over the way he handled the Marcus Rashford situation. The forward, who has played 60 matches for England and 287 for United, just moved on loan to Aston Villa after Amorim refused to pick him since middle December, complaining about his lack of effort. Merson says should Rashford rediscover his form at Villa and United continues to struggle, Amorim could be forced to explain his actions to his bosses.

Stay tuned for more news………….