Seattle Orcas endured a disappointing Major League Cricket 2025 campaign, finishing fifth in the six-team standings with three wins from 10 matches and a net run-rate of -1.842. After losing their first five matches, the Orcas staged a brief revival with three consecutive victories, but ultimately fell short of a playoff spot.

The season began with a series of setbacks, including a crushing 93-run defeat to Texas Super Kings and narrow losses against MI New York and Los Angeles Knight Riders. Just when their campaign appeared over, Seattle bounced back impressively with consecutive wins over MI New York, LAKR and San Francisco Unicorns to keep their hopes alive. However, defeats to Washington Freedom and Texas Super Kings in their final two games sealed their elimination.

Seattle’s campaign was marked by inconsistency. Their batting produced some memorable performances, particularly through Shimron Hetmyer, but the side struggled to put together sustained momentum and often found themselves on the wrong side of close contests.

Season record: 10 matches, 3 wins, 7 losses

Longest losing streak: 5 matches

Longest winning streak: 3 matches

Biggest defeat: Lost by 93 runs vs Texas Super Kings

Biggest victory: Won by 5 wickets vs Los Angeles Knight Riders

Final position: 5th

Match-by-match

Match 4: Lost to Washington Freedom by 5 wickets

Seattle’s season began with defeat after they posted 145/9. Washington Freedom chased down the target comfortably in 13.3 overs to hand the Orcas an early setback.

Match 7: Lost to Texas Super Kings by 93 runs

One of the lowest points of the season came when Seattle were bowled out for just 60 in 13.5 overs while chasing 154. The heavy defeat left them searching for answers.

Match 9: Lost to MI New York by 7 wickets

Despite posting an imposing 200/5, Seattle failed to defend the total as MI New York chased down the target in 19 overs.

Match 12: Lost to Los Angeles Knight Riders by 6 wickets

Seattle’s struggles continued in Dallas. Their 177/6 proved insufficient as LAKR completed the chase with 10 balls to spare.

Match 16: Lost to San Francisco Unicorns by 32 runs

Chasing 177, the Orcas were bowled out for 144 in 18.2 overs, extending their losing streak to five matches and leaving their playoff hopes hanging by a thread.

Match 18: Beat MI New York by 3 wickets

Seattle finally broke through in dramatic fashion. In one of the games of the tournament, they chased down 238 off the final ball to secure their first victory of the season.

Match 20: Beat Los Angeles Knight Riders by 5 wickets

The Orcas followed it up with another thrilling chase. They overhauled 202 with one ball remaining to register back-to-back wins.

Match 22: Beat San Francisco Unicorns by 4 wickets

Seattle made it three wins in a row after chasing down 169 with three balls to spare. The victory briefly revived their hopes of reaching the playoffs.

Match 26: Lost to Washington Freedom by 8 wickets

Needing a win to stay alive, Seattle collapsed for 82 in 17.4 overs. Washington Freedom completed the chase in just 9.2 overs, ending the Orcas’ playoff hopes.

Match 28: Lost to Texas Super Kings by 51 runs

Seattle’s campaign ended on a disappointing note. Chasing 189, they were bowled out for 137 in 18.4 overs to finish fifth in the standings.

Top performers

Batting stars

Shimron Hetmyer, 340 runs

Hetmyer was Seattle’s standout batter and among the most destructive players in the tournament. He scored 340 runs in eight innings at an average of 68.00 and a stunning strike rate of 209.88. His three half-centuries and unbeaten 97 showcased his ability to single-handedly change games.

Kyle Mayers, 214 runs

The West Indies all-rounder contributed 214 runs from 10 innings at an average of 23.78 and a strike rate of 133.75. His highest score of 88 was one of the few bright spots in a difficult season.

Shayan Jahangir, 202 runs

Jahangir provided useful starts at the top, scoring 202 runs at a strike rate of 143.26. Although he did not register a fifty, he remained a consistent contributor.

Aaron Jones, 189 runs

Jones scored 189 runs in eight innings and struck one half-century. His highest score of 73 underlined his importance in the middle order.

Heinrich Klaasen, 142 runs

The South African wicketkeeper-batter had a relatively quiet campaign by his standards but still chipped in with 142 runs and provided experience to the batting unit.

Leading bowlers

Harmeet Singh, 9 wickets

Harmeet Singh was Seattle’s most successful bowler, claiming nine wickets in nine innings while maintaining an impressive economy rate of 7.03. His control in the middle overs made him one of the few consistent performers with the ball.

Waqar Salamkheil, 6 wickets

The Afghan spinner picked up six wickets in five matches and averaged 21.33. His ability to strike regularly gave Seattle an attacking option in the middle overs.

Gerald Coetzee, 5 wickets

Coetzee managed five wickets in five appearances and produced best figures of 3 for 34. His pace and aggression added variety to the attack.

Jessy Singh, 5 wickets

The pacer featured in nine matches and collected five wickets, often taking on the difficult role of bowling at the death.

Sikandar Raza, 5 wickets

Raza contributed with both bat and ball, claiming five wickets in seven innings and offering useful all-round balance to the side.

Season verdict

Seattle Orcas’ 2025 campaign was a tale of missed opportunities. Their five-match losing streak at the start of the tournament left them with too much ground to make up, even though they responded with three successive wins in the second half of the league stage.

Shimron Hetmyer’s explosive batting and Harmeet Singh’s consistency with the ball provided positives, but the lack of sustained performances and repeated batting collapses proved costly. The Orcas showed enough fight to suggest they can be competitive, but they will need greater consistency and stronger starts if they are to return to the playoffs in future seasons.

Lionel Messi has spent nearly two decades rewriting football history.

On the opening day of Argentina’s 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner added another remarkable chapter to his legacy, scoring a hat-trick to become the joint-highest goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history.

The 38-year-old’s three-goal performance moved him onto 16 World Cup goals, drawing level with Germany legend Miroslav Klose at the top of the all-time scoring charts.

It was yet another reminder that even in the twilight of his career, Messi remains capable of delivering on football’s biggest stage.

Messi Responds To Mbappé And Haaland

Earlier in the day, football fans were celebrating impressive performances from two of the game’s biggest stars.

Kylian Mbappé scored twice as France opened their World Cup campaign with a 3-1 win over Senegal, while Erling Haaland also found the net twice for Norway.

But as has happened so many times throughout his career, Messi stole the spotlight.

The Argentina captain produced a hat-trick in his nation’s opening match of the tournament, not only securing victory for the reigning world champions but also equalling one of the most prestigious records in football history.

The Greatest Goalscorers In World Cup History

With potentially several matches still to play in this tournament, Messi now has a realistic opportunity to become the outright holder of the record before the 2026 World Cup ends.

A World Cup Career For The Ages

Messi’s World Cup journey began in Germany in 2006.

Twenty years later, he is still producing moments of brilliance on football’s biggest stage.

His World Cup résumé is unmatched:

• FIFA World Cup winner (2022)
• Two World Cup finals
• Golden Ball winner
• Most World Cup appearances by an outfield player
• Joint all-time World Cup top scorer
• 16 World Cup goals
• Countless assists and match-winning performances

The crowning moment of his international career came in Qatar in 2022 when he inspired Argentina to World Cup glory, scoring seven goals and lifting the one major trophy that had previously eluded him.

Many believed that tournament would be his final World Cup.

Instead, Messi has returned in 2026 and is once again making history.

Age Is Just A Number

Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of Messi’s latest achievement is his age.

At 38, most footballers have long since retired from international football or moved into reduced roles.

Messi, however, continues to decide matches at the highest level.

His hat-trick was a reminder that while football’s next generation, led by Mbappé, Haaland, Jude Bellingham and others, continues to emerge, the sport’s biggest stage still belongs to one of its greatest-ever players.

One More Record Within Reach

For years, Miroslav Klose’s record of 16 World Cup goals appeared untouchable.

Now Messi stands alongside him.

Given Argentina’s ambitions of defending their crown and the form shown by their captain in the opening game, it would be no surprise if the record becomes his alone before the tournament concludes.

And if that happens, it will be yet another milestone in a career that has already redefined greatness.

Anthony Yarde has compared the power of David Benavidez and Artur Beterbiev, who stopped the Brit in rounds seven and eight of their respective contests.

It was back in January 2023 when Yarde felt the full force of Beterbiev’s attacks, giving a spirited effort before ultimately losing his second world title challenge.

Following an eighth-round knockdown, the Ilford man was compassionately pulled out by his corner, with Beterbiev ultimately retaining his WBC, IBF and WBO titles.

Yarde then secured another light-heavyweight world title shot last November, this time facing WBC champion Benavidez in a largely one-sided affair.

Again, Yarde gave a gritty account of himself against a prolific knockout artist, but was eventually stopped on his feet after suffering a seventh-round knockdown.

Benavidez subsequently went on to dethrone Gilberto Ramirez last month, claiming the WBO and WBA titles with a sixth-round finish in his first cruiserweight outing.

But while ‘The Mexican Monster’ clearly carries destructive power, Yarde has told talkSPORT that he felt Beterbiev landed with greater venom.

“I fought them at different times. It’s hard to say. They’re just different fighters stylistically. I’ll say Beterbiev was the strongest, the hardest [puncher]. Believe it or not, I’m in there with Benavidez and he’s whacking [me] but none of these shots are really hurting me. [He’s got] very, very fast hands.”

Having become a three-division world champion, Benavidez must now decide whether to remain at 200lbs or drop back down to 175lbs, where he still holds the WBC title.

Beterbiev, meanwhile, has not fought since losing his rematch with Dmitry Bivol, whose majority decision victory relieved him of his undisputed crown in February 2025.

Since then, the 41-year-old has accused Benavidez of swerving their potential light-heavyweight showdown, while trainer and father Jose Benavidez Sr insists that they are open to negotiations.

Portugal vs DR Congo LIVE Score, FIFA World Cup 2026: Portugal’s FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign is about to begin, as they take on DR Congo in the opening Group K match in Houston. Led by Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal are one of the favourites to go all the way, also boasting stars like Bruno Fernandes, Vitinha and Nuno Mendes. Ronaldo has been named in Portugal’s starting XI, and is set to appear in his sixth World Cup. On the other hand, DR Congo are appearing in only their second-ever FIFA World Cup. Their only previous appearance came in 1974, 52 years ago, when they had qualified as Zaire. Indian-origin midfielder Samuel Moutoussamy is starting for DR Congo. (MATCH CENTRE LIVE)

Portugal vs DR Congo LIVE Updates, FIFA World Cup 2026 LIVE Score, straight from Houston:

One of the quickest ways to improve your scores is to dial in your distance control with your wedges. Of course, that’s easier said than done.

But Drew Stoltz, the co-host of GOLF’s Subpar Podcast, has a drill that can help you take your wedge game to the next level. It’s called the ladder drill.

In the latest episode of Emergency 9, presented by Cobra, Stoltz explains how he uses the drill to get the most out of his Cobra King wedges.

“It’s tailored to improve your distance control with your wedges,” Stoltz said. “All you need is a handful of balls and a chipping green. If you do this over and over before a round, it’s sure to improve your short game.”

So, how does the drill work?

“You find a spot on the green and you give yourself a lot of green to work with,” Stoltz said. “You need some decent space for this drill. Grab a handful of balls, go down off the green and pick out one club. The goal of this drill is to get as many balls on the green as possible with each shot going shorter than the shot before it.

“So, for instance, on my first shot, I’m going to try to get it as close to the back of the green, to the fringe, as possible without going over. For my next shot, I’m going to get as close to that ball as possible but it has to be shorter.”

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Then, you work your way down the ladder until a shot goes past where your last shot landed. However many balls you get on the green before hitting one too far is your score. Then, you pick the balls up and try to beat that score.

“This will dial in your distance control,” Stoltz said. “You’re going to learn how to hit different shots with the same club — low runners, high soft ones. It’s a great way to improve your short game.”

To hear more from Stoltz, check out the entire video above.

Portugal begin their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign tonight with a Group K clash against DR Congo in Houston, aiming to make a strong start in their pursuit of a first-ever world title.

Roberto Martinez’s side qualified impressively, scoring 20 goals in six matches, and arrive at the tournament as one of Europe’s strongest contenders. Much of the spotlight will once again fall on veteran captain Cristiano Ronaldo, who at 41 continues his quest to add the World Cup trophy to an already remarkable career.

For DR Congo, the tournament marks a historic return to football’s biggest stage. The African nation has qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1974, when it competed as Zaire. Their place in the finals was secured through the intercontinental play-offs, where they defeated Jamaica 1-0 in Guadalajara.

The Congolese squad spent much of its preparation period in Europe due to the Ebola outbreak back home, playing warm-up matches against Denmark and Chile before travelling to the United States. The extended wait also allowed them to closely observe the opening weeks of the tournament and assess the level of competition.

Forward Yoane Wissa believes the delayed start could work in his team’s favour as they look to continue the strong performances delivered by African nations such as Morocco, Egypt, Ivory Coast and Cape Verde.

Big match later on in the night

England and Croatia renew a familiar World Cup rivalry as they open their Group L campaigns in a rematch of the memorable 2018 semi-final, where Croatia came from behind to defeat the Three Lions before eventually finishing runners-up to France.

Several members of that Croatian side remain at the heart of the squad eight years later. Veteran captain Luka Modric, now 40, continues to lead the midfield, while experienced stars Ivan Perisic, Andrej Kramaric and Mateo Kovacic also remain important figures. Having reached the final in 2018 and secured third place at the 2022 World Cup, Croatia will be hoping their blend of experience and tournament know-how can inspire another deep run.

England, meanwhile, enter the tournament among the favourites and boast one of the most balanced squads in the competition. The only challenge facing Thomas Tuchel’s side may be the weight of expectation, with the nation still searching for its first World Cup triumph since 1966.

The Three Lions were forced into a late squad adjustment after Tino Livramento suffered an injury in training, leading to the inclusion of Trevoh Chalobah. In midfield, Elliot Anderson is expected to partner Declan Rice, while Jude Bellingham will operate in an advanced role behind captain Harry Kane.

With both nations possessing quality, experience and high ambitions, the Group L opener promises to be one of the standout fixtures of the opening round.

Portugal vs DR Congo probable starting XI

Portugal XI: Costa; Dalot, Dias, Veiga, Mendes; Vitinha, Neves, Fernandes; Conceicao, Cristiano Ronaldo, Leao.

DR Congo XI: Mpasi-Nzau; Wan-Bissaka, Mbemba, Tuanzebe, Masuaku; Sadiki, Moutoussamy; Mbuku, Yoane Wissa, Elia; Bakambu.

FIFA World Cup 2026 live telecast: The live telecast of the FIFA World Cup 2026 matches will be available on the Unite8 Sports Network.

FIFA World Cup 2026 live streaming: The live streaming of the FIFA World Cup 2026 matches between will be available on the ZEE5 app and website.

Austria claimed their first FIFA World Cup victory since 1990 after beating debutants Jordan 3-1 in an entertaining Group J clash in San Francisco.

The win was a historic one for Ralf Rangnick’s side, who are appearing at the World Cup finals for the first time since 1998. It also marked Austria’s first World Cup win since their 2-1 victory over the United States on 19 June 1990.

Austria made the brighter start and took the lead in the 21st minute through Romano Schmid. The midfielder produced a superb strike from outside the box to give his side a deserved advantage.

Jordan, ranked 67th in the world, refused to back down and found an equaliser five minutes into the second half. Ali Olwan curled a fine effort past the Austrian goalkeeper to bring the scores level and continue his impressive tournament debut.

Former Stoke City and West Ham United forward Marko Arnautovic thought he had restored Austria’s lead shortly afterwards when he finished from close range after goalkeeper Yazeed Abulaila failed to deal with a corner.

However, after a VAR review, the goal was ruled out because replays showed that Stefan Posch had handled the ball in the build-up.

Austria eventually found their second goal in the 76th minute. Under pressure from another corner, Jordan defender Yazan Al Arab accidentally flicked the ball into his own net to hand the Europeans the lead once again.

Arnautovic finally got on the scoresheet deep into stoppage time when he calmly converted a penalty after Saleem Obaid was penalised for handball.

The victory puts Austria in a strong position ahead of their next match against defending champions Argentina, who defeated Algeria 3-0 thanks to a hat-trick from Lionel Messi.

For Jordan, there were still positives despite the defeat. Their performance showed they can compete at this level, and they will now look for a positive result against Algeria before finishing their group campaign against Argentina.

Ali Olwan was named Player of the Match after an outstanding display and received an average rating of 8.0 for his efforts, despite ending up on the losing side.

Japan in action vs Serbia during the VNL Women’s Week 2 at Philsports Arena.

MANILA, Philippines — Japan survived a gritty Serbia side to eke out a come-from-behind  20-25, 26-24, 18-25, 32-20, 15-7 win and preserve a 5-0 record in the Volleyball Nations League women’s week 2 on Wednesday at Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

Mayu Ishikawa and Yukiko Wada saved the Japanese from the brink of defeat, delivering the finishing blows to keep the solo lead of the 18-nation, nine-leg pool phase league.

READ: PH all set for VNL Women’s Week 2 hosting 

Ishikawa delivered 24 points and the last two in the fifth set to seal the comeback win, while Wada chipped in 20 points — all from attacks.

Japan squandered a 24-22 advantage in the fourth after Serbia took five match points. Haruyo Shimamura put Japan ahead with a clutch block, 31-30, followed by Yoshino Sato’s set-clinching hit to force a decider.

Sato’s ace kept Serbia at bay in the fifth with a 13-5 spread, as she finished with 12 points off seven kills, four aces, and a block.  Shimamura had 11 points.

“Today, it was a good comeback.Serbia played really great. Great match. And we were struggling during the match, but after a while, we get the rhythm. So it was a great comeback. It’s the fifth victory in five matches, so it’s so good. We need to continue in this rhythm,” said Japan coach Fehrat Akbas, who was thrilled by the cheers of the Filipino crowd. 

 “All crowd, I see, I hear, Nippon, Nippon, so they supported us really good. We were feeling like we are in Japan, so thank you to all Philippine fans. I hope they come and support us for the next matches too.”

Aleksandra Uzelac scored 21 for Serbia. Nina Cajic chipped in 18 points only for them to drop to a 1-4 record.

Hena Kurtagic had five of Serbia’s 15 block points, while Japan had only a total of four.

Japan returns to action on Friday against Czechia, while Serbia has a short turnaround before facing defending champion Italy on Thursday at 8 p.m.

New York Knicks star OG Anunoby certainly played hard, and it looks like he partied hard, too.

The Knicks’ Game 4 hero appeared with some of his teammates on “Good Morning America” on Monday morning, and while he was physically present, mentally he might have been somewhere else.

Anunoby was asked about the difference first-year head coach Mike Brown made and how he brought the team together. The 28-year-old remained mute and stared off into the void, as if he didn’t hear the question.

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Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Michael Strahan, Robin Roberts and George Stephanopoulos appear on Good Morning America on June 15, 2026. (Paula Lobo/American Broadcasting Companies, Inc.)

After a couple of seconds of silence, the “Good Morning America” crew and Anunoby’s Knicks teammates burst out laughing. Jalen Brunson, being the good captain that he is, offered to step up and answer the question through laughter.

Karl-Anthony Towns then took the reins and answered the question, while Anunoby sat there oblivious. For Anunoby, the Knicks’ title celebration was the first time he had consumed alcohol, according to The Athletic’s report.

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New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby makes a game-winning tip shot vs. the San Antonio Spurs in Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden. (Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images)

His first sip — or rather, chug — of alcohol was a strong pull of tequila in the Knicks’ locker room. By the looks of how things went on Monday morning, Anunoby didn’t stop drinking after the locker room.

The team threw a party Sunday night in Manhattan at a private club after immediately flying back from Texas, according to the New York Post.

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OG Anunoby of the New York Knicks celebrates after winning the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs during Game Five at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas, on June 13, 2026. (Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE)

At one point during the interview, Michael Strahan asked Anunoby to smile, which he did, much to the delight of his teammates. Anunoby looked like he was struggling to keep his eyes open after Strahan’s request, sending his teammates into further hysteria.

Anunoby, who was named to the NBA’s All-Defensive Second Team, was integral in the team’s playoff run. He played shutdown defense while also serving as a meaningful offensive contributor. He averaged just more than 20 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.1 blocks across 17 playoff games.

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