Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 16 January 12:30 pm

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

# We start off with cricket: Paarl Royals booked their spot in the SA20 playoffs when Ottneil Baartman delivered a bowling masterclass during a bonus-point six-wicket victory over Pretoria Capitals in Centurion. Baartman took five wickets to help rout the Capitals for just 127. The 32-year-old became just the second bowler in the competition’s history to grab a hat-trick after Pretoria Capitals seamer Lungi Ngidi achieved the feat last week. In reply, Rubin Hermann scored 46 as the Royals comfortably chased down the target with 25 balls remaining. 

# Soccer: 2022 champions South Africa has been drawn in Group B alongside the Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso and Tanzania for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, which will be staged in Morocco in March and April. Banyana Banyana fell at the semifinal stage last year. Defending champions Nigeria is in Group C with Zambia, Egypt and debutants Malawi, while Morocco will play Algeria, Senegal and Kenya in Group A. The four semifinalists will qualify for next year’s World Cup.

# Rugby: Springbok loose forward Evan Roos will stay in Cape Town until at least 2028 after extending his contract with the Stormers. He already played 74 matches for the team and was named Players’ Player of the Season in 2022, when the Stormers won the United Rugby Championship. He made his international debut in the same year. Stormers director of rugby John Dobson says 25-year-old Roos made a huge impact at a very young age and he believes they are yet to see the best of him.

More rugby news is that Japan wants to host another World Cup after the success of the 2019 tournament, when the Springboks were crowned champions for the third time. The Asian country announced its intention to bid for the 2035 showpiece, submitting an expression of interest to World Rugby. The president of Japan Rugby, Masato Tsuchida, wants his country to hold the best World Cup ever. They may face opposition from Italy, Spain and the Middle East. The host country is expected to be announced late next year.

# And finally, tennis: Former world number one Roger Federer says it would be crazy if the current best player in the world, Carlos Alcaraz, wins the Australian Open to complete a career-Grand Slam at the age of just 22. The Spaniard had already won all three other Grand Slam tournaments twice, with the title in Melbourne the only one outstanding in his glittering career. His best performances Down Under was reaching the quarterfinals twice. The Swiss maestro says it would be an unbelievable and special moment if Alcaraz succeeds.

Stay tuned for more news………….