Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 20 October 12:30 pm

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

# We kick off with rugby: Former Junior Springbok prop and captain Zachary Porthen earned his first Springbok call-up in Rassie Erasmus’ 36-man squad for the November tour. Ben-Jason Dixon, Johan Grobbelaar, and Gerhard Steenekamp will make their first appearances this season, while Jean Kleyn, Kurt-Lee Arendse, and Edwill van der Merwe are all back from injury. Erasmus also placed 10 players on standby, including Evan Roos, Bongi Mbonambi and Sebastian de Klerk. Willie le Roux did not make the squad. The Springboks will play Japan on 1 November at Wembley in London.

# Road running: The organisers of the Cape Town Marathon say this year’s entrants will receive sponsored entry into next year’s race. Yesterday’s race was cancelled at the 11th hour following gusts of wind that damaged structures before the start gun could go off. The marathon was aiming to gain Abbott World Marathon Majors status, to be recognised as one of the most prestigious global races. There are currently only seven marathons in the elite club: Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, New York City and Sydney. 

# Soccer: Morocco defeated Argentina 2-0 to win the Under-20 World Cup in Chile, becoming the first African nation to secure the title since Ghana in 2009. First-half goals from Yassir Zabiri sealed the victory, marking a first World Cup victory for Morocco in any age-group level in the country’s history. Argentina was the overwhelming favourite in the final, having won a record six titles and only lost one decider. Meanwhile, the USA’s Benjamin Cremaschi won the tournament’s golden ball, with Argentina’s goalkeeper, Santino Barbi, winning the golden glove.

# Cricket: England defeated co-hostesses India by four runs in Indore, to become the third nation to clinch a place in the Women’s World Cup semifinals. After winning the toss and opting to bat first, England posted 288 for eight, with Heather Knight scoring 109 from 91 balls, in her 300th international appearance. In reply, opener Smriti Mandhana scored 88, but that was not enough as India finished on 284 for six, their third consecutive defeat in the tournament. England joins South Africa and Australia in the semifinals.

# And, motorsport: Red Bull’s Max Verstappen produced a dominant performance to win the United States Grand Prix, his fifth victory of the season. McLaren’s Lando Norris finished second with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in third. Drivers’ championship leader Oscar Piastri of McLaren finished fifth. Verstappen, who is chasing a fifth successive drivers’ title, is now within 40 points of Piastri, while Norris closes to within 14 points of the title lead. Verstappen says the chance is there for him to win the championship:

Stay tuned for more news………….