Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 13 May 12:30 pm

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

# First up we have cricket: The Indian Premier League will resume on Saturday with a revised schedule. It was suspended for a week last Friday due to escalating hostilities between India and neighbouring Pakistan. A ceasefire was announced a day later. The IPL says 17 matches will be played across six venues, culminating with the final on June third, which was originally scheduled to take place on the 25th of this month. The revised schedule includes two double-headers, which will be played on two Sundays.

Meanwhile, Cricket Australia says it will support players in their individual decisions on whether to return to India or not. Many of the Australians involved in the tournament returned home on Saturday. Cricket Australia says the revised schedule complicates preparations for next month’s World Test Championship final against South Africa in London.

# Soccer: South Africa’s Under-20 men’s national team defeated the Democratic Republic of Congo 1-0 to book their spot in the Africa Cup of Nations semifinals. Thabang Mahlangu netted the only goal of the match in the 105th minute to secure the win. The Amajitas’ victory also sees them qualify for the FIFA Under-20 World Cup that will be held in Chile from the 27th of September to the 19th of October. They join Nigeria, Morocco, and Egypt, who have also qualified.

# Rugby: Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt says he’s impressed with the depth of the British and Irish Lions’ squad for this year’s tour of Australia. Andy Farrell chose 15 Irish players and 13 from England, including captain Maro Itoje, in his touring group of 38 which will play three Tests against the Wallabies. Schmidt says he knows many of the players from his time as coach of Ireland. He is also very impressed with young England flanker Henry Pollock, who has only played 32-minutes of Test rugby.

# And finally, tennis: World number five Jasmine Paolini will play for a place in the penultimate round of the Italian Open after becoming the first local player in eleven years to survive the fourth round. She beat 17th-seeded Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia in straight sets to set up a quarterfinal clash with 13th-seeded Diana Shnaider. The Russian defeated Elise Mertens of Belgium in the round of 16. Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka crashed out to American Peyton Stearns in three sets.

Stay tuned for more news………….