Connect with us

Sports

T20 World Cup: Allen century powers New Zealand into T20 World Cup final

Published

on

Finn Allen struck a sensational unbeaten century as New Zealand demolished 2024 runners-up South Africa by nine wickets to reach a second Men’s T20 World Cup final.

Chasing 170 after a 27-ball half-century from Marco Jansen had rescued South Africa from 77-5, Allen bludgeoned 100 not out from 33 balls, including 10 fours and eight sixes, as New Zealand romped to victory with 43 balls to spare.

Tim Seifert thrashed a brisk half-century of his own (58 off 33) as New Zealand’s openers put on 117 runs (55 balls) for the first wicket before Allen kicked into overdrive.

He smacked 42 runs off just 11 deliveries to dominate his 56-run stand with Rachin Ravindra, including dispatching Jansen for five consecutive boundaries to complete an emphatic win.

Advertisement

South Africa were previously unbeaten at this tournament, including a seven-wicket victory over the Black Caps in the initial group phase, but faltered with the bat after losing the toss.

They lost Quinton de Kock (10) and Ryan Rickelton (0) to consecutive deliveries in the second over to slump to 12-2 while Aiden Markram (18 off 20) and David Miller (6) both failed to capitalise on being dropped on three.

When Dewald Brevis (34 off 27) chipped a routine catch to Mitchell Santner in the covers in the 11th over, it felt like game over for South Africa but Jansen found a stable partner in Tristan Stubbs (29 off 24) before bursting into life in the final five overs to propel the Proteas from 108-5 to 169-8.

Jansen put on 73 runs (48 balls) for the sixth wicket with Stubbs and struck five sixes in his unbeaten 55 off 30 balls.

Advertisement

However, it quickly proved nowhere near enough, with New Zealand never looking back after their destructive openers took the opening six overs for 84 runs.

Source link

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sports

Record! Finn Allen scripts history, becomes first-ever in T20 World Cup to … | Cricket News

Published

on

Record! Finn Allen scripts history, becomes first-ever in T20 World Cup to ...

New Zealand opener Finn Allen created history in Kolkata by smashing the fastest century ever in a T20 World Cup on Wednesday, powering New Zealand into the final with a crushing nine-wicket win over South Africa.Chasing 170 in the first semi-final, Allen went on a rampage, scoring an unbeaten 100 off just 33 balls.

Why India vs England semi-final match will be a nightmare for bowlers | T20 World Cup 2026

His knock broke the previous World Cup record of 47 balls set by Chris Gayle. New Zealand chased down the target in just 12.5 overs, finishing the match with 7.1 overs to spare.After the game, Allen said: “Yeah I would say it’s up there. Wanted to get into good positions and hit the ball. Wanted to put them on the back foot early. The way Seifert batted and got us to a flier helped me as well. We wanted to hit straight and enjoyed it together. “You adapt to the wicket, training is important. The boys played a lot on the blacksoil pitches against India before the World Cup so that was good intel. We look forward to the final on Sunday.”Allen’s 33-ball hundred is now the fastest in T20 World Cups, the fastest against a full-member team in T20 internationals, and joint third-fastest in all T20Is.Earlier, South Africa posted 169/8 in 20 overs, with Marco Jansen top-scoring with 55. But their total proved nowhere near enough. Tim Seifert gave New Zealand a flying start with 58 off 33 balls, setting the stage for Allen’s record-breaking blitz.With this dominant performance, New Zealand stormed into the final in style.

Source link

Continue Reading

Sports

Joao Pedro hat-trick bolsters Chelsea Champions League hopes at expense of Aston Villa

Published

on

Chelsea significantly bolstered their Champions League aspirations with a commanding 4-1 victory over Aston Villa, spearheaded by a sensational hat-trick from Joao Pedro.

Pedro’s first Premier League treble propelled Liam Rosenior’s side into the top five, narrowing the gap to a struggling Villa in fourth place to just three points.

Cole Palmer also found the net on a memorable evening for the Blues, who displayed remarkable resilience to overturn an early deficit following Douglas Luiz’s opening goal.

The performance marked the strongest display of Rosenior’s two-month tenure, instilling considerable confidence for the remainder of the season.

Despite Luiz striking within three minutes, initially raising Villa’s hopes of solidifying their own Champions League ambitions, the night ultimately soured for the home side.

Advertisement

They have now won just one of their last six games and are in real danger of slipping out of contention for a place in next season’s most prestigious club competition.

And Unai Emery’s men are looking increasingly like they will need to win the Europa League as their route into it.

Chelsea boss Rosenior decided to drop goalkeeper Robert Sanchez after a difficult time against Arsenal on Sunday and replaced him with Filip Jorgensen.

And the Dane was picking the ball out of the net after just 150 seconds as Villa made a flying start.

Advertisement

Leon Bailey did well down the right and his cutback was dummied by Ollie Watkins, allowing Luiz to flick home his first goal of his second spell at Villa Park.

Chelsea’s Joao Pedro, left, celebrates his hat-trick goal at Villa Park

Chelsea’s Joao Pedro, left, celebrates his hat-trick goal at Villa Park (Nick Potts/PA)

Chelsea responded well and Villa needed Emiliano Martinez’s flying save to keep out Pedro’s header before Palmer then forced the Argentinian into another save with a shot from distance.

But Villa should have doubled their lead in the 23rd minute. Martinez kicked the ball long, Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana fell over looking for a free-kick and Watkins raced in on goal but weakly shot straight at Jorgensen under pressure from Trevoh Chalobah.

Advertisement

Watkins had another good chance soon after Emiliano Buendia played him in but Jorgensen beat the shot away with his arm.

The busy goalkeeper then got down well to keep out Morgan Rogers’ 34th-minute shot and that proved vital as 44 seconds later the game changed course.

Enzo Fernandez played in Malo Gusto, who beat the offside trap and laid the ball on a plate for Pedro to stab home from close range and level.

Villa thought they were back ahead five minutes later as Watkins finally beat Jorgensen, but he carelessly went a fraction early on his run and was ruled offside by VAR.

Advertisement

But it was Chelsea who went in at half-time in front as Pedro struck again in the sixth minute of time added on. The former Brighton striker was slipped in by Fernandez and his smart dinked finish found the bottom corner.

Things got even better for the visitors 10 minutes after the restart as Palmer made it 3-1. Martinez recklessly palmed Reece James’ cross straight to the England international, who powered home a low finish through a crowd of bodies.

Villa were getting picked apart and Pedro claimed the match ball in the 64th minute with his hat-trick goal. Alejandro Garnacho raced down the left and teed up his team-mate, who could not miss from close range.

Garnacho could have made it five from another counter-attack, but he shot straight at Martinez.

Advertisement

Source link

Continue Reading

Sports

Lou Holtz, College Football Hall of Fame coach, dead at 89

Published

on

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

Legendary college football coach Lou Holtz, who spent 33 years leading teams including the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, died on Wednesday. He was 89. 

The Fighting Irish released a statement from Holtz’s family, saying he died surrounded by family at his home in Orlando, Florida. 

This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates. 

Advertisement

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Sports

Fantasy Baseball Rankings 2026: Busts by proven MLB model that called Spencer Strider’s tough year

Published

on

The Braves saw their seven-year playoff streak come to an end last year as a number of their players underperformed. The likes of Ozzie Albies, Austin Riley, Michael Harris II and Jurickson Profar, who was just suspended for all of this season, all ended up as Fantasy baseball busts, whether due to injury, suspension, ineffectiveness or a combination. As anyone entering 2026 Fantasy baseball drafts knows, composing a winning squad will be as much about hitting on your top Fantasy baseball picks as it will be about avoiding selecting Fantasy baseball busts 2026.

Others like Mookie Betts, J.T. Realmuto, Zac Gallen and Devin Williams are also coming off down years and failing to live up to their Fantasy baseball ADP. Thus, you’re faced with a decision as to if last year was the start of a trend of if they’ll bounce back and are worth taking in 2026 Fantasy baseball drafts. Before finalizing your 2026 Fantasy baseball draft prep, be sure to see the 2026 Fantasy baseball rankings and cheat sheets from the proven computer model at SportsLine.

Last season, SportsLine’s Projection Model identified several top Fantasy baseball sleepers, breakouts and busts, including Braves starting pitcher Spencer Strider.

Strider led MLB in both wins (20) and strikeouts (281) in 2023 before missing most of 2024 due to injury. He returned last year but the model predicted he would struggle to regain his pre-injury form and wouldn’t live up to his lofty Fantasy baseball ADP (97.81). Strider was the SP30 by average draft position, but SportsLine had him barely cracking the top 75 starting pitchers in its rankings.

Advertisement

The result: Strider posted a 7-14 record, with a 4.45 ERA and not even half as many strikeouts (131) as his dominant 2023 season. He also missed over a month of action due to another injury and ended up barely making the top 100 starting pitchers in Fantasy points, much closer to SportsLine’s projection of SP74 rather than his ADP of SP30. Anybody who followed the model’s advice and avoided Strider in their Fantasy baseball drafts avoided a major headache in their Fantasy baseball lineups.

The SportsLine model is engineered by the same people who powered projections for all three major Fantasy sites. And that same group is sharing its 2026 Fantasy baseball rankings and cheat sheets over at SportsLine, helping you find Fantasy baseball sleepers, breakouts and busts long before your competition. Their cheat sheets, available for leagues on many major sites, are updated multiple times every day.

Any time more MLB news comes out about MLB free agency signings or Fantasy baseball injuries, the team at SportsLine updates its projections. Go to SportsLine now to see these proven Fantasy baseball cheat sheets.

Top 2026 Fantasy baseball busts

One of the Fantasy baseball busts 2026 the model is fading: Brewers starting pitcher Jacob Misiorowski. A June call-up last year, the rookie became the first pitcher in over 60 years to record 11 no-hit innings to start his career and then made MLB history by becoming an All-Star after just five starts. He had the majors’ fifth-highest average fastball velocity (99.3 m.p.h.) across his 66 regular season innings and then posted a microscopic 1.50 ERA across 12 postseason innings.

Advertisement

However, in between the All-Star Game and the playoffs, Misiorowski looked every bit like a novice on the mound. He had a 6.03 ERA over his last eight starts as batters adjusted to seeing his arsenal, while Misiorowski failed to make adjustments to hitters. Many Fantasy owners are being overly influenced by his hot start as his 107.50 Fantasy baseball ADP puts him amongst the top 30 starters. However, SportsLine’s model has him barely cracking the top 100 starting pitchers, making Misiorowski one to avoid in Fantasy baseball drafts 2026.

Another of the 2026 Fantasy baseball busts the model projects won’t live up to their ADP: Orioles first baseman Pete Alonso. After seven years in Queens, Alonso left the Mets for Baltimore in the offseason, on the heels of a season with 38 homers, 126 RBI and an .871 OPS. He’s going in the fourth round, on average, in 2026 Fantasy baseball drafts with a mean draft position of 33.20.

However, Alonso’s metrics from last year should be a bit concerning. His batting average on balls in play (BAbip) was a career-best of .305, indicating he was a bit lucky and could regress to the mean. Additionally, his home run rate (5.4%) was the second-lowest of his career, while his walk rate (8.6%) was the lowest of his seven seasons. Alonso’s greatest strength is his home run power, but the two lowest HR rates of his career have come in the last two seasons as the 31-year-old could be on the decline. The model has Alonso on par with Michael Busch in its Fantasy baseball 2026 rankings, but Alonso is being drafted seven rounds earlier on average. See more busts at SportsLine.

How to find proven 2026 Fantasy baseball rankings

SportsLine’s model is also fading a surprising ace who is coming off the board in the sixth round on average in early 2026 Fantasy baseball drafts. The model is predicting this All-Star fails to live up to his lofty daft status finishes outside the top 30 at his position. Avoiding him until later on could be the difference between winning your league or going home with nothing. You can only see who it is here.

Advertisement

So which 2026 Fantasy baseball busts should you avoid in your upcoming drafts? Visit SportsLine now to get 2026 Fantasy baseball rankings for every single position, all from the model that predicted Spencer Strider’s falloff in 2025, and find out.

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Sports

Why the Chiefs Might Be Preparing a Blockbuster Move After Trading Trent McDuffie

Published

on

The Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Rams made a trade on Wednesday that not many saw coming.

The Chiefs traded superstar cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams for the No. 29 overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft. The Chiefs now have two first-round picks and also landed fifth and sixth-round selections from the Rams and a 2027 third-round pick.

Los Angeles will need to reset the cornerback market for McDuffie, who has been one of the best defensive backs in the NFL and is looking for a new contract.

Earlier this offseason, Kansas City restructured franchise quarterback Patrick Mahomes again to free up cap space. The Chiefs also released veteran offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor in a move that would save nearly $20 million in cap space.

Advertisement

This offseason, the Chiefs have already lost McDuffie and Taylor. It’s possible that Travis Kelce retires. Even if he comes back, it’ll likely be on a team-friendly contract as his production has dipped on the back nine of his career.

The Chiefs have two first-round picks and a fair bit of cap space. The question is… what are they loading up for?

Mahomes is in his prime. That’s the good news. But Andy Reid’s offense just never felt right last year. And now Mahomes will be returning from a season-ending injury. This offseason, many included Kansas City to retool the offense, supporting Mahomes in his recovery. Instead, the Chiefs cut a Super Bowl champion offensive tackle and traded one of the best corners in the game.

With No. 9 and No. 29 overall in the NFL Draft, the Chiefs have enough ammunition to trade up. Legendary defensive tackle Chris Jones isn’t getting any younger. Could the Chiefs make a move up a few slots in the draft for a franchise EDGE like Ohio State’s Arvell Reese or Texas Tech’s David Bailey?

Advertisement

If the Chiefs are contemplating moving up from No. 9, maybe they’d also target Ohio State’s Carnell Tate, who could instantly be one of the best – if not the best – wide receiver on their roster. Rashee Rice is constantly in trouble, and the rest of that room is filled with question marks.

Or, the Chiefs could trade for a proven commodity.

It feels like the asking price to pry the disgruntled A.J. Brown away from the Philadelphia Eagles is a late first-round draft choice. By trading McDuffie, the Chiefs have an extra first-round pick if they wanted to trade for an established wideout.

Maxx Crosby is going to be on the move as well. And while the Las Vegas Raiders would never trade him to an AFC West rival, the idea of Crosby outside of the division should make the Chiefs feel even more confident about doubling down on their offense.

The NFL Playoffs without the Chiefs felt weird. Now, they have enough ammo to take several different routes this offseason in order to get back on that stage.

Advertisement

Source link

Continue Reading

Sports

St Kilda Saints vs Collingwood Magpies Tips, Odds and Teams – AFL Round 0 2026

Published

on

MCG will play host to Sunday’s
Round 1 AFL game between St Kilda Saints and
Collingwood Magpies. The game kicks off at 7:20 pm with Collingwood Magpies heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the St Kilda Saints vs.
Collingwood Magpies
game and give you our free tips and bets.

When: Sunday March 8, 2026 at 7:20 pm

Where: MCG

Bet 💰: Bet On This Match HERE

Advertisement

St Kilda Saints vs Collingwood Magpies Odds

St Kilda Saints vs Collingwood Magpies Preview

St Kilda’s bold recruiting drive will be put to the test when the Saints open their 2026 campaign against Collingwood in front of a big Sunday night crowd at the MCG. After a busy trade and free agency period that brought Tom De Koning, Jack Silvagni, Liam Ryan and Sam Flanders to Moorabbin, expectations have risen for a side that finished 9–14 last season and is chasing its first finals win since 2020.

Collingwood, a preliminary finalist in 2025, begins the year with some question marks around an ageing list and early injuries to key defenders Darcy Moore and Jeremy Howe. The Magpies did handle the Saints comfortably when the sides last met, winning 108–74 at Marvel Stadium in Round 15. On that day, brothers Josh and Nick Daicos dominated with 30 disposals each and a combined 970 metres gained, setting the tone in a decisive performance.

First Goal Scorer

Advertisement

First Goal Scorer:

Dan McStay at $12.00.

Advertisement

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Sports

WBC order world title fight for Shakur Stevenson’s stripped belt

Published

on

Shakur Stevenson was stripped of his WBC lightweight world title last month and soon the 135lb division is will crown a new champion.

Stevenson jumped up to 140lbs in order to challenge Teofimo Lopez for the WBO super-lightweight world title, but had not ruled out a return to lightweight in an attempt to become the undisputed champion.

However, shortly after Stevenson defeated Lopez to become boxing’s third-youngest four-division world champion, the WBC ruled, controversially, to announce the lightweight strap as vacant. President Mauricio Sulaiman said Stevenson had not followed the correct process to fight for another belt in a new division and had also not paid a sanctioning fee.

Advertisement

Sulaiman has now informed Iñaky Arzate that the WBC have decided to order a fight between former WBC Interim titleholder William Zepeda and former WBA super-featherweight ruler Lamont Roach Jr.

“[Translated from Spanish] The WBC held a vote, there will a spectacular fight between the Mexican, ‘Camaron’ Zepeda, who will be fighting against Roach, who had two draws in his last two, one against ‘Pitbull’ Cruz. It will be a title fight for the vacant WBC lightweight world title.”

News of the WBC’s decision is sure to frustrate current WBC Interim champion Jadier Herrera, who was expected by many to be first in line for a shot at the vacant belt, if not elevated to full world champion.

The Cuban southpaw will become the mandatory challenger for the victor of Zepeda-Roach if it takes place, with the Gilberto Ramirez vs. David Benavidez undercard on Saturday May 2, being one possible location for the ordered contest.

Advertisement

Source link

Continue Reading

Sports

Terence Crawford says one welterweight champion ‘beats everybody’ in his prime

Published

on

Terence Crawford has crowned one man as the ‘GOAT’ of boxing, believing that no fighter in history, across two weight classes, would beat him in a prime-for-prime battle.

While considering himself an all-time great, the former three-division undisputed champion has equal praise for a man who competed in the same divisions as him.

At welterweight, Crawford ended all of his outings inside the distance, most notably scoring a ninth-round stoppage victory over Errol Spence Jr in 2023.

Advertisement

Even at super-lightweight, the American dominated his division by unifying all four major titles against Julius Indongo, which came just over a year after he outpointed Viktor Postol in 2016.

But despite his resounding success across both weight classes, Crawford admitted that a prime Floyd Mayweather “beats everybody” at 140 and 147lbs.

‘Money’ had just three outings at super-lightweight, most notably defeating DeMarcus Corley and Arturo Gatti, before amassing 12 victories against the likes of Manny Pacquiao, Ricky Hatton and Shane Mosley at 147lbs.

When speaking on the Club Shay Shay podcast, Crawford hailed the five-division world champion as this sport’s greatest fighter of all time.

Advertisement

“Floyd beats everybody. That’s the ‘GOAT’, man. That boy bad.”

Despite conclusively defeating Pacquiao the first time around, when they squared off in 2015, Mayweather is now gearing up for a professional rematch with his old rival.

The pair will collide at the Sphere, Las Vegas, on September 19, with Mayweather first entering planned exhibition bouts against fellow legend Mike Tyson in April and kickboxer Mike Zambidis in June.

After that, the 49-year-old may feel an increased confidence that he has the beating of a 47-year-old Pacquiao.

Advertisement

Source link

Continue Reading

Sports

Melbourne Storm vs Parramatta Eels Tips, Odds, Teams & Predictions – NRL Round 1 2026

Published

on

AAMI Park will play host to Thursday’s
Round 1 NRL game between Melbourne Storm and
Parramatta Eels. The game kicks off at 8:00 pm with Melbourne Storm heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the Melbourne Storm vs.
Parramatta Eels
game and give you our free tips and bets.

When: Thursday March 5, 2026 at 8:00 pm

Where: AAMI Park

Bet 💰: Bet On This Match HERE

Advertisement

Melbourne Storm vs Parramatta Eels Odds

Melbourne Storm vs Parramatta Eels Preview

Melbourne’s remarkable record in Round 1 under Craig Bellamy will face a stern test when the Storm host Parramatta at AAMI Park on Thursday night. While Melbourne are traditionally fast starters, the Eels enter the new season with growing confidence after a gritty 2025 campaign that laid solid foundations.

Now coached by Jason Ryles, Parramatta boast a more dynamic attack built around mobile forwards and halves capable of running, kicking and distributing on either edge. That versatility could stretch Melbourne’s typically disciplined defence if the visitors generate momentum through the middle.

The Storm’s structure and experience remain formidable at home, but Parramatta’s improved attacking weapons suggest this contest could be far tighter than usual season openers in Melbourne.

Melbourne Storm vs Parramatta Eels Teams

Storm team: 1. Sualauvi Faalogo 2. William Warbrick 3. Jack Howarth 4. Moses Leo 5. Nick Meaney 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Harry Grant 10. Josh King 11. Joe Chan 12. Ativalu Lisati 13. Alec MacDonald 14. Tyran Wishart 15. Cooper Clarke 16. Tui Kamikamica 17. Davvy Moale 18. Preston Conn 19. Siulagi Tuimalatu-Brown 20. Lazarus Vaalepu 21. Angus Hinchey 22. Trent Toelau

Advertisement

Eels team: 1. Isaiah Iongi 2. Bailey Simonsson 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Brian Kelly 5. Sean Russell 6. Jonah Pezet 7. Mitchell Moses 8. J’maine Hopgood 9. Ryley Smith 10. Junior Paulo 11. Jack Williams 12. Kitione Kautoga 13. Jack de Belin 14. Dylan Walker 15. Sam Tuivaiti 16. Matt Doorey 17. Tallyn Da Silva 18. Kelma Tuilagi 19. Joash Papali’i 20. Jordan Samrani 21. Charlie Guymer 22. Teancum Brown

Advertisement

Source link

Continue Reading

Sports

Prime Video announces Rory McIlroy documentary centred around one of the biggest achievements in the golfer’s career

Published

on

Amazon Prime Video has announced a new documentary about Rory McIlroy and his long wait to win the Masters. Titled Rory McIlroy: The Masters Wait, the film follows the journey that ended with his victory at the 2025 Masters and the completion of his career Grand Slam.

Prime Video revealed the project on Wednesday and released the first trailer. The documentary will premiere on March 30, just days before McIlroy returns to Augusta National for the 2026 Masters as the defending champion.

The film focuses on McIlroy’s history at Augusta National, the only major that had long remained missing from his resume. Earlier in his career he had already won the other three majors, claiming the U.S. Open in 2011, the PGA Championship in 2012 and the Open Championship in 2014.

Advertisement

The trailer revisits key moments from that journey. It begins with McIlroy’s collapse during the final round of the 2011 Masters and moves through several close calls before his breakthrough victory in 2025, when he defeated Justin Rose in a playoff to complete the career Grand Slam.

McIlroy himself tells much of the story in the preview appearing as the only interview voice. The trailer also includes footage from his final round at Augusta during the 2025 Masters.

Prime Video said the documentary is built around the hole by hole drama of that final round as McIlroy finally secured the green jacket.


Rory McIlroy nominated for Laureus World Comeback of the Year award

Rory McIlroy’s long-awaited Masters breakthrough continues to receive recognition beyond the golf world. The Northern Irish star has now been nominated for the Laureus World Comeback of the Year award following the season that saw him complete the career Grand Slam.

Advertisement

His achievement had already received major recognition late last year. In December, McIlroy won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award, becoming only the third golfer to receive the honour. At the same ceremony, Luke Donald’s European Ryder Cup team was named Team of the Year after its victory at Bethpage.

Now McIlroy’s season has been acknowledged on the global stage as well. The 35-year-old is one of the nominees in the comeback category at the Laureus World Sports Awards.

He faces competition from athletes across different sports, including tennis player Amanda Anisimova, cyclists Egan Bernal and Simon Yates, Olympic athlete Yulimar Rojas and England football captain Leah Williamson.

The winners of the 2026 Laureus World Sports Awards will be announced later this year at a ceremony in Madrid.

Advertisement