Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 30 January12:30 pm

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

# We begin with cricket: Captain Faf du Plessis led the Joburg Super Kings to a bonus point ten-wicket win via the Duckworth Lewis Stern method against M-I Cape Town in their SA20 match at Newlands. The match was reduced to eight overs per side due to rain. M-I Cape Town posted 80 for three in their eight overs. In reply, an undefeated 50 from Du Plessis and Leus du Plooy’s 41 not out saw the Super Kings reach the target in just 5.4 overs. Du Plooy says they are happy to still be in the race for the play-offs:

Meanwhile, the Windies pace bowler Shamar Joseph can expect a hero’s welcome when he returns home after his heroics in Australia. He took seven wickets in the hosts’ second innings during the second Test at the Gabba in Brisbane on Sunday to help his team to their first Test victory in Australia in 27 years. Joseph did this despite sustaining a toe injury the previous day, securing the Windies an eight-run victory to level the series. Joseph will miss out on the International League T20 in the United Arab Emirates.

# Rugby: Fly-half Marcus Smith is a major doubt for England’s opening Six Nations match against Italy on Saturday. This is after he limped out of yesterday’s training session and was later seen using crutches. Smith’s injury means Steve Borthwick’s side may be left with just two fly-halves in George Ford and the uncapped Fin Smith. England are already without the likes of Manu Tuilagi, Ollie Lawrence, and Anthony Watson, due to injury. Attack coach, Richard Wigglesworth, says if Smith is not fit it will be a blow for the team.

# Soccer: Hosts Ivory Coast knocked out defending champions Senegal in a penalty shootout to book their place in the Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinals. Franck Kessie scored in the 86th minute for Ivory Coast to send the tie into extra-time after finishing one-all in normal time. The 27-year-old delivered again with the crucial spot kick to seal a five-four win for the hosts in the penalty shoot-out. Meanwhile, Ryan Mendes converted a late penalty as Cape Verde beat Mauritania one-nil to seal their place in the quarterfinals.

# And finally, tennis: Italian Jannik Sinner was congratulated by none other than pope Francis after clinching his first Grand Slam title in the Australian Open. The 22-year-old became the first player from his country to win a Grand Slam trophy in 48 years after Adriano Panatta at the French Open in 1976. Frances complimented Sinner and Italians while he was giving an audience to members of a Spanish tennis club. Sinner, who hails from the German-speaking Alpine region of South Tyrol, pocketed a neat 40-million-rand with his victory in Melbourne.

Stay tuned for more news………….