Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Priyansh Arya (BCCI Photo)

NEW DELHI: India A sealed their place in the Tri-Nation A Series final with a commanding 101-run victory over Afghanistan A in Dambulla on Wednesday, producing a complete all-round performance led by half-centuries from Priyansh Arya, Tilak Varma and Kumar Kushagra, followed by a four-wicket haul from Nishant Sindhu.After posting a formidable 319/9 in 50 overs, India A bundled out Afghanistan A for 218 in 36.5 overs to enter the final, aided by a superior net run rate of +0.797. India A will now take on Sri Lanka A or Afghanistan A on June 21 in the final in Dambulla. Asked to bat first, India A got off to a flying start through openers Priyansh Arya and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who added 75 runs in just 48 balls for the opening wicket.Sooryavanshi survived an early scare when a stunning catch at point was ruled not out by the third umpire, and the youngster made the most of the reprieve by scoring 38 off 28 balls with four fours and two sixes before Faridoon Dawoodzai finally ended his stay.Arya continued the charge and brought up a fluent half-century. The left-hander struck nine fours and a six in his 42-ball 58, laying a strong platform for the middle order.Ruturaj Gaikwad chipped in with 30 before India A captain Tilak Varma and wicketkeeper-batter Kumar Kushagra took control of the innings.The duo stitched together a crucial 104-run stand for the fourth wicket. Varma anchored the innings with a composed 59 off 75 deliveries, while Kushagra impressed in his first appearance of the series, scoring a well-crafted 58 from 67 balls.After both set batters departed, Vipraj Nigam provided the late flourish with a brisk 30 off just 20 balls, while Nishant Sindhu remained unbeaten on 21 as India A crossed the 300-run mark.For Afghanistan A, Faridoon Dawoodzai, Abdullah Ahmadzai and Farmanullah Safi picked up two wickets each.Chasing 320, Afghanistan A never truly recovered after losing wickets at regular intervals.Yash Thakur struck early by dismissing Hassan Eisakhil, while Anshul Kamboj produced a brilliant breakthrough when Vaibhav Sooryavanshi completed a stunning second-attempt catch to remove Khalid Taniwal.Captain Imran Mir fought back with 32, but Nishant Sindhu trapped him with the help of a well-judged catch from Suryansh Shedge.Afghanistan A’s only meaningful resistance came through Faisal Shinozada and Bahir Shah. The pair added 87 runs for the fourth wicket and briefly threatened to keep the chase alive.Bahir led the counterattack with an impressive 57 off 52 balls, hitting four boundaries and a six, while Faisal fell heartbreakingly short of a half-century after scoring 46.The turning point came when Anukul Roy dismissed Faisal and Vipraj Nigam removed Bahir shortly afterwards. Once the partnership was broken, Afghanistan A’s lower order offered little resistance.Sindhu then ran through the tail, dismissing Shams Ur Rahman, Abdullah Ahmadzai and Zahir Khan to finish with outstanding figures of 4 for 31 from 6.5 overs.Yash Thakur claimed two wickets, while Kamboj, Roy, Nigam and Shedge chipped in with one apiece.Afghanistan A were eventually bowled out for 218, handing India A a comprehensive 101-run victory.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi against Sri Lanka A

NEW DELHI: Former India batter Manoj Tiwary believes teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi needs to learn how to handle provocation on the field after his recent altercation with Sri Lanka A players during the ongoing tri-series in Dambulla.The incident took place after India A lost a Super Over thriller to Sri Lanka A on Monday. Television footage showed the 15-year-old pushing Sri Lankan spinner Vishen Halambage before senior player Niroshan Dickwella intervened. Reports suggested Halambage had been sledging Sooryavanshi throughout the series. While the Sri Lankan player was sanctioned, the Indian youngster escaped punishment.Tiwary said the attention surrounding Sooryavanshi’s rapid rise means rival teams will try to unsettle him.“Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has to understand a little. There will always be verbal battles against us on the pitch, because there are many countries that are jealous of us. So, they will provoke you. The way Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s IPL campaign went, and the way he is moving forward and getting everything, so they will poke him more. The way a 15-year-old is progressing, they are jealous of it. So, we have to prepare him for it,” the former batter said on Cricbuzz.

Different paths to success

Tiwary said Sooryavanshi now faces an important decision regarding the image he wants to create in world cricket.“It is upto him what kind of image he wants to create in the cricketing world. One path is like Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid, who are generally calm people, they answer through performances. The other route is like Virat Kohli, people who are aggressive. Now he needs to decide how people want to perceive him. Anger is important, but it is important to point it in the right direction,” he continued.Tiwary also felt the controversy may have affected the youngster’s batting after he managed only 38 runs against Afghanistan A.“No one will take action against him for this, but he must realise what he has done. No one wants to see an emerging player be involved in pushing and shoving. The more he plays, the more he will understand about the conduct in the field. But under any circumstances, he should not go outside the laws of the game. People are watching him, and his behaviour will be noted. He scored only 30-40 runs today, so it is affecting him, as he did not score as much he should have,” Tiwary concluded.

Bahutule backs youngster to learn

India spin-bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule, who has worked closely with Sooryavanshi at age-group level and with Rajasthan Royals, described the incident as unfortunate and backed the youngster to move on from it.“It was an unfortunate incident, but we don’t know how he was provoked because I know him, and Vaibhav is a very composed kid, but I’m sure there are experienced coaches there who will guide him,” Bahutule said in the press conference ahead of the second ODI between India and Afghanistan.“Sri Lankan players should also be educated on how to behave,” Bahutule added.The former Mumbai skipper expressed confidence that the teenager would mature with experience.“He will learn, he is a young kid with a lot of responsibility of representing India. I’m sure he will not repeat it and such incidents can be avoided,” Bahutule said.

Jacob Bethell takes a stunning diving catch to remove New Zealand captain Tom Latham for 27 off the bowling of Jofra Archer as the tourists fall to 58-2 on the opening morning of the second Test against England at The Oval.

FOLLOW LIVE: Second Test: England v New Zealand – Day One

Available to UK users only.

Argentina’s 3-0 win over Algeria at the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be remembered for Lionel Messi’s historic hat-trick, but I believe the Argentine captain was fortunate to remain on the pitch after a dangerous challenge on Algeria defender Aïssa Mandi.

Messi scored three goals to help Argentina begin their title defence in style and move level with Miroslav Klose as the World Cup’s joint all-time leading scorer. However, the biggest talking point of the match came in the 32nd minute.

Replays appeared to show Messi planting his studs onto Mandi’s calf and Achilles area. The Algerian defender was left in pain and needed medical attention before continuing.

Referee Szymon Marciniak did not show a card, while VAR decided not to intervene. In my view, that was the wrong decision.

According to the IFAB Laws of the Game, a player is guilty of serious foul play if he challenges an opponent in a way that endangers the safety of that opponent or uses excessive force. Serious foul play is punishable by a red card.

The laws also state that a tackle or challenge which endangers the safety of an opponent must be sanctioned as serious foul play. Studs-first contact above the ankle is often considered one of the key indicators when referees assess possible red-card offences.

While opinions may differ on whether Messi intended to hurt Mandi, intent is not the main issue. The most important question is whether the challenge endangered the opponent’s safety. Looking at the replays, I believe it did.

Former Premier League defender Nedum Onuoha shared a similar view, saying on ESPN that the incident was worthy of a red card and that VAR missed an opportunity to correct the referee’s decision.

The controversy has become even bigger because other players at the tournament have been sent off for dangerous tackles. Many fans believe the same standard should apply to every player, regardless of reputation or status.

Messi went on to complete his hat-trick and win the Player of the Match award, but for me, the challenge on Mandi remains a red-card offence under the Laws of the Game.

His brilliance with the ball should not stop people from discussing what happened without it.

FILE–The Philippines’ Alexandra Eala hits a volley against China’s Shuai Zhang during their round of 32, singles match at the HSBC WTA tennis Championships at Queen’s Club in west London on June 9, 2026. (Photo by Adrian Dennis / AFP)

LIVE: Alex Eala vs Donna Vekic – Berlin Open Round of 32

MANILA, Philippines–Alex Eala cooled off red-hot Donna Vekic, 7-5, 6-4, to advance to the round of 16 of the Berlin Open on Wednesday (Manila time) at Steffi Graf Stadion in Germany.

Eala beat Vekic for the second time in just five months in a high-level match that felt like a continuation of their ASB Classic first-round duel won by the rising Filipino in three sets.

It only took Eala a pair of sets this time, but the victory didn’t come any easier against the confident Croatian, who’s coming off a crowning moment at Queen’s Club in London on Friday.

Putting on a SHOW! 🤩

Alex Eala defeats Vekic in straight sets and moves on in Berlin. #BTO26 pic.twitter.com/pemfZP7Ojd

— wta (@WTA) June 17, 2026

“I told myself that she’s fighting back, but I’m also a fighter, so I have to try and give her a hard time. Donna is an incredible player and she’s been showing us that,” said Eala, who received a wildcard entry into the WTA 500 tournament, after a brilliant Berlin debut.

“Every time I play her, it’s been very difficult,” she added.

READ: Alex Eala opens Berlin Open campaign vs Donna Vekic

Behind a big service game, Eala battled back from 0-40 down to close out Vekic, who turned back home bet Emma Raducanu in the Queen’s final. Eala served up eight aces and had 25 winners against 13 unforced errors.

It was a game of runs and momentum swings, especially in the opening set.

Vekic, who turns 30 years old on June 28, zoomed to a 2-0 lead in the first set before Eala responded by winning the next four games.

Vekic reclaimed the lead, 5-4, but Eala pulled ahead for good after earning a crucial break in the 11th game.

Eala won’t have much time to celebrate her big win over Vekic with a round of 16 duel against World No. 2 Elena Rybakina set on Thursday.

The 21-year-old Eala was beaten by Rybakina, 6-4, 6-3, in their Italian Open third round encounter last month.

Joseph Pride, a trainer celebrated for his ability to enhance the performances of seasoned horses, is currently overseeing the progress of the capable gelding Poison Chalice.

The six-year-old, sired by Savabeel, was previously under the guidance of trainer Paul Preusker in Horsham. His last appearance resulted in a tenth-place finish in the Listed Ballarat Cup over 2000 metres.

While Poison Chalice has yet to achieve a victory beyond benchmark grade, he has demonstrated considerable talent in Group races, with his closest effort being a second in the Group 3 Eclipse Stakes (1800m) back in the Spring of 2024.

Pride is keen to gain a better insight into the new stable acquisition when he competes in the Listed Civic Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

“Poison Chalice raced down in Melbourne, he’s a nice Savabeel horse,” Pride stated. “He’s going well, he trialled up, there’s improvement to come but he should run well.”

“He’s raced up over a mile to 2000 metres, we’ll kick him off at seven furlongs and see how he goes. Lovely horse, hasn’t changed ownership, they’ve got a really nice horse.”

Poison Chalice has been prepared with two trials leading into this campaign. He showed significant improvement in his latest Warwick Farm hitout, racing on pace and finishing second over 791 metres, with Pride noting the horse has settled in well in Sydney.

“Getting them on the Sydney leg can be a bit overstated,” Pride commented. “When they come to you at the start of the preparation, he’s been in work for the last ten to twelve weeks and he’s done it all on the Sydney leg, and he seems to have adjusted well.”

Cool Jakey, a horse known for its front-running tactics and a recent strong win at benchmark 94 level, will also contest the race. Pride believes Cool Jakey is in excellent condition for another attempt at Listed company.

The Civic Stakes is shaping up to be an intriguing contest, and exploring online bookmakers could be a good move for interested punters.

The 2026 World Cup is back with another four-match slate on Wednesday, June 17, starting with DR Congo vs. Portugal at 1 p.m. ET and wrapping up at 10 p.m. ET between Colombia and Uzbekistan. Those two matches are Group K clashes, while Group L is also taking center stage with England vs. Croatia at 4 p.m. ET and Ghana vs. Panama at 7 p.m. ET. Portugal and Colombia are the two Group K favorites while England and Croatia are viewed as the top dogs in Group L. 

We’ve put together a three-leg parlay for Wednesday’s matches using odds from FanDuel for those interested in soccer betting, specifically World Cup betting. You should also check out the latest expert picks from Jon Eimer, Martin Green and others at SportsLine.

Eimer is a fixture in CBS Sports and SportsLine’s soccer betting coverage. He’s 64-41-3 in his last 108 Italian Serie A picks and 17-9-2 in his last 28 German Bundesliga picks. Green was 18-8 in his last 26 picks in this year’s Champions League. Anyone following their World Cup betting advice at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen huge returns.

World Cup parlay for Wednesday, June 17

• Portugal -1.5 (-120)
• England money line vs. Croatia (-140)
• Panama Draw No Bet (+140)

FanDuel parlay price: +654

Portugal -1.5 vs. DR Congo

Cristiano Ronaldo and Co. are in action in the first match of the day on Wednesday when Portugal faces DR Congo. Portugal are massive favorites in this one, sitting at -360 on the money line to DR Congo’s +1000 price point. Green calls this a “golden opportunity” for Portugal to get off to a good start this tournament, pointing out they have “arguably the best midfield in the world” between Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Vitinha, and João Neves to help set up Ronaldo for scoring looks. “It could be a lopsided game,” he says.

England money line vs. Croatia

England are viewed as one of the favorites to win the entire World Cup, and they face one of the darlings of the 2022 World Cup in Croatia, who finished third and had some massive upsets along the way, including against Brazil in the quarterfinal round. England are favored on the money line, and Eimer thinks that Croatia’s age is “starting to show” and that England should emerge victorious here. “This is a side that has been legendary for over a decade now, but the same players that made them great 10 years ago, are still the ones doing it now,” Eimer says. “They looked tired in their friendlies versus Belgium and Brazil.”

Panama Draw No Bet vs. Ghana

This is viewed as one of the more contested matches of the day with Ghana a +120 money line favorite to Panama’s +240. A draw is +220. These two are both viewed as longshots to win Group L behind England and Croatia, but should one of those two sides win that earlier match, a winner between Panama and Ghana could be in prime position to earn one of the two top spots in the group. It should be noted that Ghana will be without one of their best players as midfielder Thomas Partey is dealing with visa issues that prevented him from traveling to Canada for the match. That’s a big blow for Ghana, which has lost or drawn each of their last six matches heading into the World Cup. Panama Draw No Bet has some juice at plus money, so we’ll target that. 

The biggest football tournament on the planet is under way, and for Irish punters it is shaping up to be one of the most compelling betting events in years.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 — expanded to 48 teams and spread across three host nations in the United States, Canada, and Mexico — offers more matches, more markets, and more opportunities than any previous edition. With 104 games from group stage to final, there has never been more action to get stuck into.

Whether you’re watching the early kick-offs over your morning coffee or staying up for the late North American starts, the world cup betting opportunities are relentless right through to the final in New York’s MetLife Stadium.

Here is what you need to know to approach it smartly.

The Expanded Format Changes Everything

The jump from 32 to 48 teams is not just a cosmetic change — it fundamentally reshapes the betting landscape. There are now 12 groups of four, with the top two plus eight best third-placed sides advancing to a new round of 32. That extra layer means stronger nations cannot afford a single slip in the group stage, yet mismatches against weaker opponents are more frequent than ever.

For punters, this creates two distinct opportunities. First, backing elite sides to win their groups at compressed odds is often still worthwhile if you can find value in the correct score or Asian handicap markets rather than the basic match result. Brazil, France, Spain, England and Argentina were all heavily fancied going in, but the expanded format means at least one marquee nation will likely stumble earlier than expected — history backs that up at every tournament.

Second, and more interestingly, there is significant value in backing well-organised, defensively compact sides to frustrate bigger nations and sneak through as third-placed qualifiers. These are the bets the casual money ignores and where the real edge often lies.

Markets Worth Your Attention

Irish punters have always been comfortable across a range of betting formats — from racing accumulators to GAA handicaps — and that same instinct for reading a market serves you well in football.

Match result (1X2) is the starting point, but rarely the best value. When a team is odds-on to win, the money is more often found in markets like both teams to score, total goals over/under, or the Asian handicap, which removes the draw and adjusts the goal start to level the playing field.

Outright winner markets reward patience and early positioning. The prices available at the start of the group stage will look very different by the time the quarter-finals come around. If you’ve watched enough of a team to have genuine conviction before the rest of the public catches up, outright bets placed mid-tournament can be excellent value.

Player specials — top scorer, most assists, player of the tournament — are markets where an Irish punter who follows European club football closely will have a real edge over the bookmaker’s modelling. Knowing which striker has been in blistering form heading into the tournament, or which midfielder controls tempo better than their odds suggest, is exactly the kind of knowledge that converts into profit.

The Irish Angle

While the Boys in Green are watching from home this time around — and we’ll say no more about that — there are plenty of reasons for Irish fans to follow the tournament closely from a betting perspective.

Jack Grealish aside, there’s enormous warmth for the Republic of Ireland diaspora players scattered across competing squads. Beyond the emotional ties, Irish punters have a natural affinity with watching football for value rather than tribal loyalty — a discipline that pays dividends over 104 games.

The late kick-offs due to the North American time zones are also worth factoring in. Games starting at midnight or 2am Irish time may see reduced in-play market liquidity and sharper line movement, which can actually work in the informed punter’s favour if you’re comfortable staying up for them.

Keep It Sensible

A tournament of this length is a marathon, not a sprint. The World Cup runs for weeks, and the single biggest mistake punters make is going heavy early, losing their edge by the knockout rounds, and missing the best markets entirely.

Set yourself a tournament budget before a ball is kicked. Allocate it across stages — some for the group phase, more held back for the knockouts when the quality of information is higher and the games mean more. Resist the urge to chase a bad result with a reckless accumulator. The next game is always just hours away at a tournament like this.

The World Cup is the greatest show in football. It rewards patience, knowledge, and discipline — qualities any seasoned punter will recognise from the racing or the GAA markets they know inside out.

Get your research done, pick your spots carefully, and enjoy every minute of it.

Please gamble responsibly. If you feel gambling is affecting you, visit GamCare at gamcare.org.uk or Gamblers Anonymous Ireland at gamblersanonymous.ie.

LiveScores Now Available at IrishScores.com