Australia concluded their preparations for the forthcoming one-day series against England by beating Middlesex by 101 runs at Lord’s. Travis Head top-scored with 106 and Aaron Finch hit 54 as Australia ended their 50 overs on 283-6. Middlesex opener Max Holden, 20, scored 71 in reply but he was unable to find support at the other end. Kane Richardson claimed ...

Bangladesh’s women stunned India to win the Asia Cup Twenty20 for the first time – and inflict a first defeat in the final on their opponents. India, winners of all six previous tournaments, were restricted to 112-9, captain Harmanpreet Kaur making 56. Bangladesh needed nine off the final over and, despite losing two wickets, Jahanara Alam hit two off the ...

England bowler James Anderson is to take six weeks off cricket to rest a shoulder problem before the Test series against India. The 35-year-old has been managing a “long-standing right shoulder injury”. Anderson played in both Tests of the drawn series against Pakistan, taking 9-172 overall. “It’s wear and tear. Rehab makes it feel better so it’s just about managing ...

MANCHESTER, UNITED KINGDOM: Former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury declared himself completely happy with his four-round comeback win on Saturday night, despite a lack of action. Fury only got going in the fourth round and his brief exhibition of power convinced Sefer Seferi’s corner to pull out the Switzerland-based Albanian before the start of the fifth round. Fury, 29, did ...

CAIRO: Encircled by expectant cheers of Egyptian fans, Mohamed Salah appeared at the Pharaohs’ final pre-World Cup training session and kindled hopes he can overcome injury to aid Egypt’s first shot at the tournament in nearly three decades. Liverpool’s star striker, who is recovering from a shoulder injury that saw him crash out of the Champions League final, strolled around ...

Nearly a year after England knocked South Africa out of the Women’s World Cup in a tense and emotional affair at Bristol, Dane van Niekerk’s side wreaked its revenge at New Road. Lizelle Lee led the way with an unbeaten 92 as South Africa cruised to a seven-wicket victory with 27 balls remaining in the first of three ODIs. It ...

Afghanistan are about to experience Test cricket for the first time, and are up against the world’s No. 1 side in that format, but they certainly aren’t lacking in confidence. A week ahead of his team’s inaugural Test match in Bengaluru, Asghar Stanikzai raised the volume of pre-match exchanges with the claim that Afghanistan’s spinners are better than India’s. Yes. ...

PARIS: Rafael Nadal admits that his desire to clinch an 11th French Open title on Sunday is fired by his growing realisation that the end of his career may not be too far away. The 32-year-old Spaniard, with 16 majors to his name, will play his 24th Grand Slam final at Roland Garros against Dominic Thiem who is in his ...

JOHANNESBURG: Cricket South Africa (CSA) announced on Friday that it will stage a Twenty20 tournament later this year featuring the country´s top players and international stars. South African television company SuperSport will be partners in a deal which CSA acting chief executive Thabang Moroe said would be “the biggest in the history of South African domestic cricket”. A CSA statement ...

MOSCOW: Neymar´s acclaimed return ahead of the World Cup supplied Brazil with an immeasurable boost, but holders Germany and Argentina arrive at the tournament confronting inconsistent form and disrupted preparations. The Paris Saint-Germain superstar´s swashbuckling display in a 45-minute appearance against Croatia last weekend largely dismissed lingering concerns over his fitness after more than three months out with a fractured ...