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Dasun Shanaka hammered the fastest half-century by a Sri Lankan in T20Is as the co-hosts thrashed Oman by 105 runs at the World Cup Thursday in Pallekele for their second win in Group B.The 2014 champions piled up 225-5, the highest total of the tournament, before restricting an outclassed Oman to 120-9.The 43-year-old Mohammad Nadeem waged a lone battle for Oman, compiling an unbeaten 53 to become the oldest player to score a fifty in T20 World Cups.Having promoted himself up the order and under pressure to deliver, Sri Lanka skipper Shanaka smashed a 19-ball half-century.It has been a bruising few months for the out-of-form Shanaka since reclaiming the captaincy late last year.But on a batting-friendly pitch he smacked the Oman bowlers to all corners of the park, peppering the stands with five sixes and two fours.Before that, Pavan Rathnayake and Kusal Mendis laid the foundation as the pair each posted fluent half-centuries, stitching together a 94-run stand for the third wicket.’After the last game, the manner in which I was dismissed, it was disappointing,’ Rathnayake said.’I wanted to make it count today, and glad I was able to score a half-century. Pallekele is always good for batting and I enjoyed the outing. More importantly, the team is one more step closer to the second round.’Once the platform was set, Kamindu Mendis applied the finishing touches.Fresh from his match-turning cameo in the win over Ireland, the left-hander scored an unbeaten 19 off just seven deliveries, striking one four and two sixes.Oman were never really in the game as they fell to a second defeat at the tournament.Sri Lanka spinner Maheesh Theekshana shared the new ball with Dushmantha Chameera and they accounted for two wickets apiece.’We are a better side than what we showed today,’ said Nadeem.’On this pitch we should have kept them for 180, but 225 was too much. We have had two bad games now and it feels disappointing.’ BRIEF SCORES: Sri Lanka 225 for 5 (Mendis 61, Rathnayake 60, Shanaka 50, Ramanandi 2-41) beat Oman 120 for 9 (Mohammad Nadeem 53*, Theekshana 2-11, Chameera 2-19) by 105 runs Source link
Al Sadd breathed life into their AFC Champions League Elite hopes with a 2-0 win against Tractor FC at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha Tuesday. The win moved Qatar’s Al Sadd to eight points while it was Tractor’s first defeat, with the Iran side having already confirmed last 16 qualification.Al Sadd’s early high pressing game almost came to fruition in the ninth minute when Akram Afif whipped in a cross for Roberto Firmino, whose glancing header drifted just wide off the left post. The Iranian side made their presence felt five minutes later with Domagoj Drozdek getting at the end of a counter-attacking move, forcing Al Sadd keeper Meshaal Barsham into a save.Al Sadd refused to let Tractor settle as they stayed on the offensive with Rafa Mujica, Giovani and Boualem Khoukhi all threatening from inside the box.Tractor continued to look dangerous on the counter and they almost punished Al Sadd in the 32nd minute when Drozdek set up Amirhossein Hosseinzadeh at the top of the box, only for the midfielder to drag his effort wide.Al Sadd came knocking on Tractor’s door in the 52nd minute with Hashim Ali seeing his deflected shot from inside the area sail over the bar, while Barsham stayed sharp to tip over Hosseinzadeh’s effort off a counter-attacking move.The Qatari side’s positive approach saw them take the lead in the 61st minute after Afif nodded Pedro Miguel’s cross into the path of Mujica, who controlled beautifully before slotting past Tractor keeper Alireza Beiranvand.Barsham, who had a quiet first half, stayed calm to deflect Regi Lushkja’s stinging shot in the 73rd minute before Tibor Halilovic wasted another opportunity for Tractor to draw level when he dragged his effort just wide off the right post.Al Sadd came close to netting their second in the 83rd minute but Claudinho saw his close-range effort saved by Beiranvand before Hashim sent the follow-up over the bar.Firmino guaranteed the victory for Al Sadd in the 89th minute after Claudinho set-up the Brazilian at the far post for an easy finish. Champions in 2011, Al Sadd will target another three points in their final League Stage clash against Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad Club, with the hope it will be enough to take them through.Al Sadd coach Roberto Mancini praised his side’s performance, describing the match as difficult but highlighting a strong second-half display. “The match was tough and we performed well, especially in the second half,” Mancini said at the post-match press conference. “We created many chances after the break and faced an opponent that had not lost in the tournament this season. It was very important for us to secure this win over Tractor.”He added that Al Sadd will continue to fight for their chances of progression, saying the team will hold on to its hopes going forward.Meanwhile, Al Sadd star Akram Afif, who was named man of the match, thanked the fans for their support. “I thank the Al Sadd supporters who stood by us in this difficult game,” Afif said. “This was our second victory and an important one that we really needed. Our qualification chances are still open and we will keep pushing until the final match.” Source link
A string of setbacks in the Premier League has left Liverpool manager Arne Slot disheartened that his players have not lived up to the club's high standards in what he described as his most challenging season ever. The champions have won only one of their last seven Premier League games, missing out on victory due to late goals by Fulham and Manchester City. Sixth-placed Liverpool are 17 points below leaders Arsenal.’A draw feels like a loss at this club. That's definitely not easy for players as well because they know what the standards of Liverpool mean, and we are not performing to the standards of Liverpool at the moment and they feel that disappointment,’ Slot told reporters.’Every game it feels as though we are going to win it but it doesn't happen… (the players) feel performance wise that they can compete with any other team in any league in the world. But reality is that we don't perform to Liverpool standards.’Asked if this was the toughest season he has faced, Slot agreed. ‘That's fair to say by a mile. All of the other seasons I have managed there were only positives, I don't think I have ever lost two games in a row,’ said Slot, who led Liverpool to the Premier League title last season. ‘It's an exception for me this season and it is for the players, they are not used to losing a lot or having a lot of draws. I am not used to that either.’Slot said he wondered how much of Liverpool's struggles were down to bad luck. ‘The amount of times we have conceded late goals in extra time is far more than usual, is it bad luck or are we to blame? I have tried many different things, I have made defensive substitutions and the ball went in,’ the Dutchman said.Slot said today's visit to Sunderland, the only Premier League team still unbeaten at home this season, would be another big test. ‘They have already played against City and Arsenal at home so that tells you how good a season they are having and how strong they are at home,’ Slot said. ‘There's still a possibility we can do something special this season as well.’ Source link
Mikaela Shiffrin said there were no excuses for a disappointing slalom run that cost her a medal in Tuesday's team combined, insisting she would learn her lesson ahead of her individual events.The US ski star was set up for a serious tilt at combined gold by a table-topping downhill time from her partner Breezy Johnson.But the most successful skier of all time – with a record 108 World Cup victories to her name – could only manage the 15th fastest time in the afternoon's slalom.Her run was a full second slower than the fastest, that of Germany's silver medallist Emma Aicher, and left her and Johnson fourth, outside the medal places.’I'm careful not to make excuses but it comes from a lot of different variables,’ Shiffrin told reporters after the race won by the unfancied second-ranked Austrian pair of Ariane Raedler and Katharina Huber.’It is a sport of fine margins and a lot of variables. This kind of thing happens more often than not in training where it's like I don't quite feel comfortable enough and there's a certain amount of luck when it goes right.’But there's also a feeling that I'm going to work to achieve for the slalom race coming up.’Shiffrin came into the Milan-Cortina Games heavy favourite not just for the team combined but also for the slalom, the last event on the alpine skiing schedule next week.Her form in the World Cup this season, with seven wins from eight slalom races, suggested that she was set to banish memories of the last Winter Olympics in Beijing where she failed to win a single medal.But Shiffrin, who previously won two Olympic golds (2014 slalom, 2018 giant slalom) and a silver (2018 combined), said that she wasn't comfortable in the warm conditions which provided a much softer piste than for the downhill leg of the event on Tuesday morning.’It's the first time that we've seen any conditions like that this season and I didn't adjust to it, not yet, but that was a great opportunity to learn,’ she said.’What I wish is that Breezy could walk away with the medal.’Shiffrin's stuttering descent allowed her compatriots Jacqueline Wiles and Paula Moltzan to claim bronze just as it looked like they would drop down to fourth.Wiles finished fourth in the downhill final on Sunday and was fourth fastest again on Tuesday, as was Moltzan in the slalom run.’This sport is incredible, there are a lot of emotions on both sides when you have good days and bad days,’ said Wiles.’I was lucky, Paula said some really nice words to pick me up (on Sunday), everyone was super supportive.’ Source link
India said yesterday it would be “a challenge” to face a “quality” Pakistan team in Colombo after Islamabad U-turned and decided to play the blockbuster T20 World Cup clash. The Pakistan government late Monday ended a week-long stand-off by rescinding its order for the cricket team to boycott the February 15 match. “It’s great that the game is back on, we kind of never changed the preparation,” said India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate. India will face a second Group A match against Namibia tomorrow in New Delhi before flying to Sri Lanka. It means a quick turnaround for Sunday’s match, the biggest and most lucrative clash in world cricket. “It’s going to be a challenge going to Colombo where Pakistan have been for the last two weeks,” added Ten Doeschate. “We are delighted to have another chance to play against a quality side in the first phase of the tournament. “We are fully focused on just bringing our best game to that fixture.” Pakistan’s decision to go ahead with the match was hailed yesterday as an outbreak of “good sense” and “good for cricket”. A frantic weekend of negotiations saw International Cricket Council (ICC) and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) chiefs fly to Lahore on Sunday for talks with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). The governments of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka both wrote to the Islamabad government on Monday urging it to change its stance and allow the game to go ahead. After “multilateral discussions, as well as the request of friendly countries, the Government of Pakistan hereby directs the Pakistan National Cricket Team to take the field on February 15”, the Islamabad government said on its official X account late Monday night. The decision had been taken with the aim of “protecting the spirit of cricket”, it added. Former India cricketer Madan Lal told AFP yesterday that it was “good for cricket”. “We want strong teams to play so that the charm of the World Cup is not lost,” he added. Sri Lanka, who will host the match which generates multi-millions of dollars in advertising, broadcast rights, sponsorship and tourism, also praised the decision. Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, in a social media post, thanked Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for “ensuring the game we all love goes on”. Veteran Indian journalist Pradeep Magazine told AFP “good sense has prevailed on all sides”. Financial considerations would have been taken into account, he added. “Everyone realised that losing the revenue from an India-Pakistan match would have been a loss-loss situation for all ICC member nations.” The 20-team tournament has been overshadowed by an acrimonious political build-up. Bangladesh, who refused to play in India citing security concerns, were replaced by Scotland. As a protest, the Pakistan government ordered the team not to face co-hosts India in the Group A fixture. Pakistan, who edged out Netherlands in the tournament opener on Saturday, would have conceded two points if they had forfeited the match. Pakistan will play all their T20 World Cup matches in Sri Lanka as part of an International Cricket Council deal that ensures the two nations only meet on neutral territory. India captain Suryakumar Yadav said on Friday before their opening win against the USA that his team would travel to Colombo for the clash, whether the game was on or not. “We haven’t said no to playing them,” Suryakumar said. “Our flights are booked and we are going to Colombo.” Related Story Source link
Bas de Leede smashed an unbeaten 72 to power the Netherlands to a seven-wicket victory against Namibia in a Group A match of the Twenty20 World Cup yesterday. De Leede struck four sixes and five fours in a 48-ball gem as the Dutch reeled in a 157-run target with two overs to spare for their first win of the tournament. They had pushed former champions Pakistan to the brink before losing in the final over in Colombo on Saturday. “I think we were lucky to bowl first,” player of the match de Leede said. “It gave us a good look at the wicket, and I thought we adjusted really well as a bowling group. “Later in the game, I felt the pitch started skidding on a bit – so credit to the batters for adapting to that as well.” Captain Scott Edwards chose to field and rotated eight bowlers, but Namibia still mustered a competitive 156-8 after a stuttering start.Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton (42) anchored, with Jan Frylinck (30) and JJ Smit (22) adding useful runs. Skipper Gerhard Erasmus (18) hit two fours and a six before falling as he looked to launch a counterattack. Max O’Dowd fell cheaply after the Dutch side began their chase and Michael Levitt (28) could not convert his start either, but a let-off for Colin Ackermann proved costly for Namibia. Ackermann went on to make 32 in his match-defining 70-run stand with de Leede to put the Netherlands on course to victory.De Leede hit Loftie-Eaton for a six to bring his team near the target before sealing victory with a four. Namibia will face a sterner test when they face defending champions India at the same venue tomorrow. BRIEF SCORES Netherlands 159 for 3 (De Leede 72*, Ackermann 32, Scholtz 1-27) beat Namibia 156 for 8 (Loftie-Eaton 42, Frylinck 30, van Beek 2-13, de Leede 2-20) by seven wickets Related Story Source link
Pakistan’s Sahibzada Farhan plays a shot during the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup group stage match between Pakistan and USA at the Sinhalese Sports…
Qatar will face Ireland in an international friendly at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium on May 28 as part of Al Annabi’s preparations for the FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the USA, Canada and Mexico in June and July. Qatar have been drawn in Group B alongside Canada, Switzerland and one European playoff winner. In the latest FIFA rankings released in January, Qatar are ranked 56th, while Ireland sit 59th. The two sides have met twice before during the European qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. Their first meeting in Debrecen, Hungary, in March 2021 ended in a 1-1 draw, while the return fixture in Dublin saw Ireland claim a 4-0 victory. As part of their ongoing preparations, Al Annabi will also play friendlies against Argentina and Serbia during an international Qatar Football Festival in Doha from March 26 to 31, which will feature six World Cup-qualified teams. The Aviva Stadium, a multi-purpose venue with a capacity of 51,700, is the official home of the Ireland national team. Related Story Source link
Manchester City’s Spanish manager Pep Guardiola reacts during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England…
Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics – Luge – Women’s Singles Victory Ceremony – Cortina Sliding Centre, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy – February 10, 2026. Gold medallist Julia Taubitz…