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Virat Kohli has tweaked his approach to counter-attack early in his innings and put bowlers under pressure to flip the momentum for India, the batting stalwart said after his match-winning knock in Sunday’s one-day international against New Zealand.The number three batter crafted 93 off 91 balls as India chased down a target of 301 with one over to spare en route to a four-wicket victory in the opener in Vadodara.After opener Rohit Sharma fell for 26 in the ninth over, Kohli refused to retreat into a defensive shell.Instead, he took the initiative in a match-defining 118-run stand with skipper Shubman Gill (56), using controlled aggression to force New Zealand’s attack onto the back foot.”Well, the basic idea is I bat at No.3,” Kohli said after winning the player of the match award.”So if the situation is a bit tricky, I back myself to counterattack now rather than just trying to play the situation in because some ball has your name on it.”Batting great Kohli is active internationally only in the 50-overs format. His masterclass on Sunday was the 37-year-old’s fifth consecutive 50-plus score in ODIs.In his 17th year in international cricket, he continues to reinvent himself and said he now aims to make the most of the first 20 deliveries after coming in at first drop.”There’s no point waiting around for too long. But at the same time, you don’t play outrageous shots. You still stick to your strengths, but you back yourself enough to put the opposition on the back foot,” he said.”I just felt like if I push hard now in the first 20 balls, then we can probably string in a partnership straight after a wicket like Rohit’s where the opposition is going to go on the back foot.”That actually ended up being the difference in the game.”India take on New Zealand in the second ODI of the three-match series in Indore on Sunday. Related Story Source link
Toyota Gazoo Racing W2RC’s South African driver Henk Lategan and South African co-pilot Brett Cummings compete in Stage 8 of the 48th edition of the Dakar…
Team Poland’s Iga Swiatek poses with the United Cup trophy in front of the Sydney Opera House on January 12, 2026, after they won the United…
Mohamed Salah scored as Egypt won 3-2 to dump defending champions Ivory Coast out of the Africa Cup of Nations. (Reuters) The Africa Cup of Nations has reached the semi-final stage and a tournament devoid of shocks now offers up two mouthwatering ties with hosts Morocco looking to see off the challenges of their fellow continental heavyweights. Mohamed Salah’s Egypt, Victor Osimhen’s Nigeria and Sadio Mane’s Senegal all remain in contention to win the trophy in Rabat next Sunday, even if home advantage still makes Morocco favourites. World Cup semi-finalists in 2022, Morocco are Africa’s top-ranked team and approach Wednesday’s semi-final against Nigeria in the capital defending an unbeaten record since losing to South Africa at the last AFCON. Walid Regragui’s side have conceded just one goal in five matches here and doubts about their ability to handle the enormous pressure of playing at home were blown away with their performance in beating Cameroon 2-0 in the quarter-finals. Captain and current African player of the year Achraf Hakimi is fit again after injury, and in Real Madrid winger Brahim Diaz – scorer of five goals in five games – they have probably the tournament’s outstanding player. “He can become the best player in the world if he wants to,” remarked Regragui after the Cameroon game. Morocco are Africa’s leading power right now and, unlike Nigeria, are gearing up for the World Cup. But their Cup of Nations record down the years has been underwhelming. This is their first semi-final since 2004, when they lost the final to Tunisia. Going further back, Morocco beat Nigeria en route to lifting the trophy in 1976 – half a century on, that remains their only continental title. Nigeria returned to Morocco with much to prove after a penalty shoot-out defeat by the Democratic Republic of Congo in a November play-off in Rabat ended their hopes of World Cup qualification. There might be 10 African countries participating at the World Cup and it is remarkable that Nigeria – with its footballing pedigree and the largest population on the continent – will not be among them. However, their performances over the last three weeks have shown that to be an anomaly. Nigeria were runners-up at the last Cup of Nations in 2024. Led by two former African players of the year in Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, they are this tournament’s top scorers with 14 goals. So what has changed from the failed World Cup qualifying campaign? “Nothing,” said coach Eric Chelle, appointed exactly a year ago. “This is the same team. The difference is just that they have improved because they know what I want.” Shocks have been effectively non-existent at this AFCON but Nigeria’s presence means four of the five top-ranked African teams are in the semis – the exception is Algeria, beaten by the Super Eagles on Saturday. Wednesday’s other semi-final in Tangiers between Egypt and Senegal is a repeat of the 2022 final, which the Lions of Teranga won on penalties. Senegal, ranked second in Africa and 19th in the world, were seen as the biggest threat to Morocco before the tournament and stand one game away from a third final appearance in four editions. They have an experienced side which includes Mane, who will come up against his old Liverpool teammate Salah. Their presence means the last five players to win the African player of the year prize are all in the semi-finals. Salah, who like Osimhen has four goals at the tournament, has never won AFCON, having twice been a losing finalist. He came to Morocco having fallen from favour at his club but seems to have found happiness again with his national team as he looks to fire Egypt to a record-extending eighth title. “I have won almost every honour, but this is the one I am waiting for,” said Salah after the quarter-final win over Ivory Coast, before insisting the Pharaohs are now the outsiders. “We are coming up against really good teams, most of whose players are based in Europe, which makes it easier for them. We have very good players but most play in Egypt. We have three players playing abroad but all of them are in a difficult situation – none of them are playing for their clubs just now,” he added, with a nod to his own problems at Anfield. Related Story Source link
Sri Lanka’s Kusal Mendis plays a shot during the third Twenty20 match against Pakistan at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium in Dambulla Sunday. (AFP) Sri Lanka eked out a hard fought 14-run victory over Pakistan in the third T20 at rain-hit Dambulla Sunday, easing their batting jitters and squaring the three-match series 1-1.The series, a warm-up for the T20 World Cup with Pakistan set to play all their matches in Sri Lanka due to political tensions with nuclear-armed neighbours India, saw the visitors clinch the opener by six wickets before rain washed out the second game.“We were a bit worried about our batting and I’m glad we addressed that today,” said Wanindu Hasaranga, who walked away with both Player of the Match and Player of the Series honours.“The bowlers did a good job too. The ball was wet and it wasn’t easy. We tried to bowl wide and slow and asked them to take risks.”Hasaranga took four wickets in the game and in the process completed 150 wickets in T20Is.In a contest trimmed to 12 overs a side, Sri Lanka muscled their way to a competitive 160 before choking Pakistan to 146-8.Having been bowled out inside 20 overs in the series opener, Sri Lanka needed a statement with the bat and duly ticked every box after being put in. The top order laid the platform and the middle order applied the finishing touches.Wicket-keeper Kusal Mendis made hay under the Power Play, blasting 30 off 16 balls while Dhananjaya de Silva (22 off 15) and Charith Asalanka (21 off 13) kept the scoreboard ticking.Skipper Dasun Shanaka then swung the momentum decisively, clubbing 34 off just nine deliveries, peppered with five towering sixes. The sixth-wicket stand between Shanaka and Janith Liyanage produced 52 runs in just 15 balls and proved the turning point, shifting the game firmly Sri Lanka’s way.Pakistan came out swinging in reply, racing to 50 in just 19 balls with captain Salman Agha hammering 45 off 12 balls, including five fours and three sixes.But once the field spread, Sri Lanka tightened the screws, applied the choke and forced the asking rate to spiral.“It was a good game of cricket,” Agha said. “We conceded too many runs, but our batting effort was good. Unfortunately, we fell short. We know we are going to play all our World Cup games in Sri Lanka and it’s important that we played in similar conditions,” he added. Related…
Team Qatar Motor & Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) kicked off their 2026 campaign in spectacular fashion, claiming a double victory at the 6 Hours of Abu Dhabi, the opening round of the 24H Series ME-Trophy by Creventic on Saturday. The newly assembled QMMF driver line-up of Sheikh Jassim al-Thani, Faesal al-Yafei, and Ahmed al-Emadi dominated the Porsche 992 Cup category, securing both the overall class victory and first place in the 992 AM division at the demanding endurance event. The QMMF drivers displayed remarkable consistency throughout the six-hour race, combining strong pace with perfect execution and smart race strategy. Their performance in the highly competitive Porsche 992 Cup field demonstrated both individual talent and exceptional teamwork, allowing them to control the race and ultimately claim the top step of the podium in both categories. Related Story Source link
Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise scores against Wolfsburg. (Reuters) Michael Olise scored twice and set a Bundesliga assist record as Bayern Munich crushed Wolfsburg 8-1 to go 11 points clear at the top of the table.The Bavarians were ruthless in their return from the winter break, forcing the struggling Wolves into two own goals while Harry Kane, Luis Diaz, Leon Goretzka and Raphael Guerriero also got on the scoresheet.Unbeaten Bayern have now dropped just four points in 16 Bundesliga games this season, the best record in Europe’s top-five leagues. Olise’s two assists brought his tally to 25 in 50 league games, more than any other player to have played a half-century of Bundesliga matches.The victory extended Bayern’s dominant record against Wolfsburg, with 21 wins at two draws in their past 23 games in all competitions dating back to 2015. Bayern’s last league defeat against Wolfsburg came in January 2015, when a 23-year-old Kevin de Bruyne scored twice and laid on another in a 4-1 win for the Wolves six months before his move to Manchester City.Wolfsburg’s hopes of bucking the recent trend took an early hit when Killian Fischer deflected a Diaz cross into his own net. One-time Bayern academy player Dzenan Pejcinovic pulled one back for the Wolves but their celebrations were short-lived, with Olise assisting Diaz on the half-hour mark.Bayern continued the rampage early in the second half, with Olise scoring and forcing Wolfsburg’s Moritz Jenz into conceding another own goal inside the space of three minutes. Guerreiro, Kane and Olise all scored inside an eight-minute period midway through the second half while Goretzka added another with two minutes remaining to round out the rout.Goretzka’s goal was Bayern’s 63rd league goal this season, more than any other side has scored in the first 16 matchdays in Bundesliga history.Kane’s strike was his 20th in the league this campaign, keeping him on track to beat Robert Lewandowski’s record of 41 in a Bundesliga season. Earlier on Saturday, Haris Tabakovic bagged a brace as Borussia Moenchengladbach cruised to a 4-0 home win over Augsburg. Related Story Source link
Dacia’s Nasser al-Attiyah and his co-driver Fabian Lurquin in action during stage seven of the Dakar Rally from Riyadh-Wadi Ad-Dawasir. (Reuters) Mattias Ekstrom won stage seven of the Dakar Rally Sunday as the field started the second week in Saudi Arabia with late drama for Toyota’s Henk Lategan while Qatar’s Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah stayed top in the car category. South African Lategan had looked like taking the stage and overall lead but let both slip through his fingers after the day’s final checkpoint. Instead Sweden’s Ekstrom, winner of the prologue in a Ford Raptor, became the first driver in the top car category to take more than one stage this year. Lategan had led Ekstrom after 417 of 459km from Riyadh to Wadi Ad Dawasir but finished eight minutes and 35 seconds behind the winner after having to stop for 10 minutes at the 428km mark. Ekstrom moved up to second overall, four minutes and 47 seconds behind Dacia Sandriders’ five-times Dakar winner al-Attiyah with Lategan third. Al-Attiyah only had a slight idea of how the stage had won, but he was happy with his performance. He was not expecting to win the first special after the rest day. “I think we did a good job. We are quite happy with the performance and we’re waiting for the rest of the drivers. We’ll see how much we lost. The stage was tricky, a lot of sand from the beginning, a lot of navigation, stony places, trees… But it’s okay, we’re quite happy,” he said. Spaniard Nani Roma was fourth for Ford after being reinstated by stewards late on Saturday’s rest day as winner of stage five and having a one minute and 10 second penalty rescinded. In the motorcycle category, Australian Daniel Sanders extended his lead over American rival Ricky Brabec to four minutes and 25 seconds with Argentine rider Luciano Benavides a further 15 seconds adrift. Sanders had been a mere 45 seconds clear after Friday’s sixth stage but Honda’s Brabec finished the 459km stage 10th to the Australian’s fourth. Argentine Benavides won the stage, his second triumph of the event, in a one-two for the Red Bull KTM factory team with Spaniard Edgar Canet, while Honda’s French challenger Adrien Van Beveren was third. Today’s 481km stage eight is the longest of the race with riders and drivers navigating canyons and dunes around Wadi Ad Dawasir. Related Story Source link
Manchester United crashed out of the FA Cup with a meek 2-1 home defeat to Brighton Sunday as Gabriel Martinelli’s hat-trick fired Arsenal to a 4-1 win at Portsmouth to reach round four. United interim boss Darren Fletcher could only watch on in horror as the Red Devils’ last chance of silverware this season and likely his chances of landing the job until the end of the season went up in smoke at Old Trafford. Fletcher’s men were left to rue not making more of a positive start before Brajan Gruda fired the visitors in front on 12 minutes from Danny Welbeck’s cross. The roles were reversed midway through the second half as Welbeck lashed into the top corner against his former club. There were persistent chants targeting United co-owners the Glazer family and British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe as the discontent at Old Trafford grew. And any hope those in charge of the club had for a bounce following the removal of Ruben Amorim has proved very short-lived. Benjamin Sesko’s late header set up a grandstand finish, but it proved too little, too late for Fletcher. A red card for teenager Shea Lacey in stoppage time for dissent rounded off United’s miserable afternoon. Martinelli shrugged off the backlash to his clash with stricken Liverpool defender Conor Bradley as Arsenal reached the fourth round for the first time in three years. Championship side Portsmouth were dreaming of an upset against the Premier League leaders when they went in front after just three minutes through Colby Bishop. Mikel Arteta had made 10 changes from the side that drew 0-0 with Liverpool on Thursday. Martinelli drew stinging criticism for trying to push Bradley off the pitch in the closing stages after the Northern Irishman hit the ground with a serious knee injury. Liverpool confirmed the right-back will need surgery and will miss the rest of the season. The Brazilian apologised to Bradley after the game and did not seem affected by the furore at Fratton Park. “That’s personality, come in and talk on the pitch,” said Arteta. “To play for a big club you need a big personality because it can be that (being at the centre of a controversial incident), it can be an action that you miss, it can be something that costs you a game, and three days later there is a game, so you need to lift yourself up and make it count.” Arsenal could rely on their threat from set-pieces to turn the tie around. The Pompey lead lasted only five minutes as Andre Dozzell turned into his own net under pressure from Christian Norgaard. Martinelli then flicked in the first of his three goals before Noni Madueke missed the chance to make it 3-1 from the penalty spot when the England international fired wide. Gabriel Jesus teed up Martinelli to kill the tie off early in the second period before he completed his hat-trick from another Arsenal corner. West Ham eased the mounting pressure on Nuno Espirito Santo as new signing Taty Castellanos scored his first goal for the club to beat QPR 2-1 after extra-time. Castellanos has been signed to dig them out of trouble at the bottom of the Premier League and the £26mn arrival from Lazio bulleted home a header from Crysencio Summerville’s cross to secure a much-needed win. Leeds needed a second-half fightback to beat Derby County 3-1 and book their place in the fourth round. League One Mansfield held off Sheffield United to book their place in round four with a 4-3 win at Bramall Lane. Norwich, Hull and West Brom also progressed to the last 32. Source link
Hubert Hurkacz capped his injury comeback and earned United Cup redemption as he inspired Poland to a first title with a 2-1 victory in the final against Switzerland in Sydney Sunday.Switzerland took a shock early lead when Belinda Bencic stunned world number two Iga Swiatek 3-6, 6-0, 6-3 in the opening singles of the mixed teams event.Playing his first tournament in seven months following knee surgery, 28-year-old Hurkacz withstood a Stan Wawrinka fightback to prevail 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 and send it to a deciding doubles.Katarzyna Kawa and Jan Zielinski then completed a famous victory by beating Bencic and Jakub Paul 6-4, 6-3 to erase the heartbreak of Poland losing in the final in 2024 and 2025.’Finally, we made it! Third time lucky!’ Swiatek said during the trophy ceremony.’I really felt it was a team effort this year.’Hubi, what a comeback after so many months. You played amazing. You inspired us all with determination.’Our doubles team, wow! You just beat everyone. It was amazing.’Hurkacz fired 18 aces against the 40-year-old Wawrinka to erase two heartbreaking near misses in the last two United Cup finals.In 2024, Hurkacz squandered two championship points before falling to Germany's Alexander Zverev. The USA's Taylor Fritz denied him in a third-set tie-break last year.’He's definitely an inspiration,’ Hurkacz said of Wawrinka, who is playing his final season on tour before retirement.’I was growing up watching him play, compete and win so much. Obviously his game style is really powerful.’The shots that he can pull off sometimes, you can really admire them even when you are on the other side of the net.’Bencic won 12 of the final 15 games against a shell-shocked Swiatek, earning her second victory over the world number two.’To be honest, I felt I was in the match from the very first point,’ said Bencic, who won all five of her singles matches in the tournament.’I thought I was going great and I was 0-3 down. I was 'OK, what do I have to do?'’I think I just tried to keep the level and just wait for some chances.’With the title on the line, Zielinski partnered Kawa to victory over the Swiss pair who had been unbeaten in the tournament, scuppering Bencic's attempt at a perfect 10-0 record in singles and doubles.’This moment is so bittersweet,’ Bencic said, adding Switzerland had nothing to be disappointed about.’We can be so proud of ourselves and we really deserve to celebrate this. It was truly one of the best weeks of my life.’ Source link