Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 13 February 12:30 pm

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

# We start off with Cricket: South Africa reached 220 for six at stumps on the first day of the second Test against New Zealand in Hamilton. The Proteas were in trouble on 101 for five when Ruan de Swardt arrived at the crease. He scored a composed 55 off 135 balls, his maiden Test half-century. Along with debutant, Shaun von Berg, they shared a crucial unbeaten 70-run seventh-wicket partnership. Rachin Ravindra was the pick of the New Zealand bowlers, claiming three wickets.

And in more Cricket news, India batter, KL Rahul, whose availability for the remaining three Tests against England was subject to fitness, has been ruled out of the third Test starting on Thursday. He also missed the second Test, which India won to level the series one-all, with a thigh issue. Devdutt Padikka has replaced Rahul. The Board of Control for Cricket in India says Rahul has reached 90-percent match fitness and is expected to return for the fourth and fifth Tests.

# Rugby: The United Rugby Championship resumes after three weeks this weekend, with two local derbies on the menu. The Lions will host the Bulls at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on Saturday afternoon, while the Sharks and the Stormers will do battle at King’s Park in Durban. Leinster is currently on top of the log of the 16 teams, followed by Benetton and Glasgow Warriors. The Bulls are best-placed of the South African teams in fourth position, with the Stormers seventh, the Lions tenth and the Sharks 16th.

# Tennis: Two-time defending champion, Iga Swiatek, eased past Romania’s Sorana Cirstea, 6-1, 6-1, in the second round of the Qatar Open in Doha. The Pole is seeking to become the first to win the title three times. Four-time Japanese major champion, Naomi Osaka, won her first-round tie, 7-5, 6-4, against France’s Caroline Garcia. Belarusian Victoria Azarenka, a two-time winner of the tournament, beat Poland’s Magdalena Frech. Swiatek, who started her 90th week as world number one yesterday, says she is proud of her achievements:

# And finally, Olympics: Experts in Paris have warned about the danger of centuries-old balconies being over-populated during this year’s Games in the French Capital – especially during the opening ceremony taking place on boats on the famous River Seine. The National Real Estate Federation warned the authorities balconies designed for just a few people would not take the weight if it was over-crowded. eNCA reports advance warnings about security and transport restrictions have caused many Parisians to plan to leave during the Games and rent their homes out to foreign visitors.

Stay tuned for more news………….