West Indies beat Sri Lanka by five wickets

Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu admitted her side paid the price for a poor batting display after suffering a five-wicket defeat to West Indies in their Women’s T20 World Cup clash in Bristol. Chasing just 99, the unbeaten West Indies side got home with 23 balls to spare, leaving Sri Lanka with two losses from three matches.The damage was done early as Sri Lanka slipped to 9/3 in the powerplay and never truly recovered, eventually being bowled out for 98. Athapaththu felt the conditions were challenging, but said her side failed to adjust and execute their plans with the bat.“The wicket is a little bit sticky today, and the ball is a little bit sticky too, with the tennis ball bouncing. So I feel the West Indies are bowling according to their plans and to the conditions. We have not executed our plans in the power play. We lost a couple of wickets early, and throughout the game we struggled as a batting unit. So I feel we need to score 140 plus, otherwise we can’t defend against this West Indies team. But unfortunately, we lost a couple of wickets and we struggled a lot in the middle,” she said post-match.Even though West Indies comfortably reached the target, Sri Lanka’s bowlers managed to claim five wickets and briefly slowed the chase. Athapaththu was quick to defend her bowling attack, insisting that the lack of runs was the bigger issue.“Definitely our bowlers bowled in right line and length, but some extras also given there, so the thing is, the 100 is not enough to defend. So we need to score more runs, otherwise we can’t blame the bowlers,” she added.

Semi-final hopes hanging by a thread

Athapaththu singled out the bowling unit as one of the positives from the match but stressed that improvements with the bat are urgently needed.“Our bowling department done a really good job for us, but we need to improve our batting before next game,” Athapaththu stated.Sri Lanka now face a must-win situation, with victories over Ireland and Scotland essential to keep their semi-final hopes alive.

Italy’s Sarah Luisa Fahr and Ekaterina Antropova react during a win over Japan in the Women’s VNL Week 2 at Philsports Arena in Pasig City.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Defending champion Italy dominated crowd favorite Japan, 25-21, 25-23, 25-18, in the Women’s Volleyball Nations League (VNL) Week 2 on Sunday night at Philsports Arena.

Despite most of the Filipino crowd rooting for the Japanese, the Italians flexed their muscles and showed the heart of a champion to end their Philippine leg with a bang.

READ: VNL Week 2: USA sweeps Italy in clash of champions

Carlotta Cambi on Italy’s experience in VNL Philippine leg. #BePartoftheGame @inquirersports pic.twitter.com/m7Pg6VYCKN

— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) June 21, 2026

The 6-foot-8 Kate Antropova was nearly unstoppable with 17 points off 15 kills, one block, and an ace to improve to a 6-2 record, bouncing back from their straight-set loss to USA on Saturday.

Stella Nervini and Oghosasere Loveth Omoruyi chipped in 10 points each, while Sarah Fahr added nine, with Carlotta Cambi pacing the squad 

“Very great match, we are so aggressive and we prepared the match very well so I’m very proud of my team, of all my team,” said Cambi.

“We are pushing with more energy now, so we are proud of the Italians. [The fans cheering for Japan] is not a problem. I prefer that the crowd is full of people, even if the crowd is for Japanese people.”

READ: VNL Week 2: Italy survives Serbia scare, stays unbeaten in Manila

Kate Antropova after leading Italy’s sweep of Japan. #BePartoftheGame @inquirersports pic.twitter.com/MHdzVDp1dP

— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) June 21, 2026

Italy squandered a 23-20 lead in the second with consecutive attack errors that allowed the Japanese to tie the frame. Fahr came to the rescue to stop the bleeding before Antropova delivered a booming ace that gave the reigning titlist a two-set lead.

Mayu Ishikawa powered the Japanese with 12 points, all from attacks. Nichika Yamada had 11 points, while Yukiko Wada and Yoshino Sato added nine each.

Japan ended its Pasig stint losing its last two games, including a tough loss to the Dominican Republic as it slid to 6-2.

Trainer Matt Smith has been responsible for a number of significant-priced placegetters recently, but he states he cannot recall training a Saturday metropolitan winner at odds longer than the $101 offered for Alice Mae.

Given minimal chance by the punters, the mare pushed her way clear from her midfield position and made a determined run down the outside to win the B&J Guttering & Metal Roofing Handicap (1800m) by three-quarters of a length from Shangri La Impact ($3.50).

Smith noted that while he has had horses like Dezignation finish second at $151 in the ATC Australian Derby behind Green Spaces, he cannot remember a runner of his winning at triple-figure odds.

“That might be the first. But I’ve had a run of 100-1 shots running second and third in the last twelve months, so it’s good to get one up,” Smith said.

“It was a bit of a shock, but we’ll take it.”

This was Alice Mae’s seventh start of the preparation at Randwick, during her first campaign under Smith’s tutelage.

While the victory was not anticipated, Smith mentioned that he did expect a competitive showing, as the five-year-old mare had been improving and required time to build her fitness.

“It was just a matter of getting the miles into her,” Smith explained.

“She’s an older mare, and she has taken a while to get fit.

“She has never had a staying preparation before. We’re training her differently to what she would have been trained previously, and we’re giving her a chance to get over a bit of ground.”

Smith was also pleased with the run of stablemate Hammoon Heroine, who finished sixth, and commented that she would be a horse to follow when she is stepped up to longer distances.

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Trainer Craig Conron, who had doubts about his return to Flemington as a trainer not long ago, was welcomed back to the winner’s enclosure on Saturday.

The Geelong horseman made a successful comeback as Vegas Jack continued its impressive winning streak in the $150,000 Country Racing It’s Got It All Trophy, contested over 2540 metres.

This victory was Conron’s first at Flemington since Distant Melody’s Black Type success during the 2007 Melbourne Cup Carnival. The 62-year-old expressed his profound pleasure at being back.

“It’s great to be back here and it’s great to be having a winner here,” he said. “I get a kick anytime they win, but when it’s a Saturday at Flemington it’s a much bigger kick.”

Vegas Jack, a $9.50 selection under jockey Dean Yendall, won by 1-1/4 lengths from The Western Front ($5.50), with Bold Soul ($7) a further half-length adrift in third.

Conron has had limited opportunities to compete at Flemington in recent seasons, having taken a six-year hiatus from training, which included brief periods in Tasmania and the Northern Territory.

During this break, he assisted his daughter in managing her mobile coffee van enterprise.

Conron acquired Vegas Jack for a modest $13,000 through an online purchase in January of the previous year. The gelding had previously been unplaced in two starts for trainers Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman.

The So You Think gelding proved victorious on its debut for Conron and has since accumulated five additional wins, including its last four races consecutively.

This Flemington success followed a benchmark 66 victory at the Swan Hill carnival. Conron is effusive about the four-year-old’s potential.

“I still think he’s six or 12 months off doing what he’s going to do, so what we’re getting now, I know it sounds silly, is a bonus,” Conron said.

Conron was not the only trainer to end a significant Flemington drought on Saturday, as Alex Rae also achieved his second win at the venue.

The emerging Cranbourne trainer saddled Imperatriz’s half-brother, I’mateez, to win the $150,000 Rod Johnson 3YO Handicap over 1100 metres.

This marked Rae’s first Flemington triumph since his noteworthy debut on Oaks Day in 2018 when Cochada claimed the Country Final.

“I trained my first winner here with my first runner in 2018 and it’s been eight years between drinks,” Rae remarked. “Everywhere else been pretty fruitful, so this is a great result.”

I’mateez, a gelding by Capitalist that started at $9, finished 1-3/4 lengths ahead of La Astro Chat ($16), with Prestar ($4.20) a neck behind in third.

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Ben Stokes will return as England captain for next week’s third Test against New Zealand, head coach Brendon McCullum has announced.

Stokes was stood down from the second Rothesay Test against New Zealand pending the results of an disciplinary investigation into a breach of team protocols in the early hours of June 8.

He instead turned out for Durham, scoring a rapid 95 on day two of their Rothesay County Championship clash against Northamptonshire on Saturday.

But on Sunday morning both Stokes and Gus Atkinson, also left out following his part in the breach of curfew, were removed from their respective county matches by England pending a recall.

And after England suffered a comprehensive 253-run loss to New Zealand at The Oval, McCullum confirmed Stokes would return for the third Test in Nottingham.

“Ben will be back. He’ll be back and he’ll be captain,” McCullum said.

“I think everyone is excited about that, especially after seeing him hit some form for Durham.

“I’ve been speaking to Ben every single day since we had the incident and my assessment was that I was worried about him. To see him go out there and play some cricket and look like he was enjoying himself is really positive.

“I’m not going to divulge our conversations because they are confidential but it’s great to see him back playing and I look forward to seeing him in a couple of days.”

McCullum and Stokes have both deflected previous suggestions that their working relationship had become strained over the course of the 4-1 Ashes defeat in the winter, but those suspicions have only increased given recent events.

McCullum and other members of the senior management were angry that attempts to introduce new standards of behaviour had faltered at the first hurdle this summer. Stokes, meanwhile, is thought to harbour his own frustrations and reportedly contemplated retiring with immediate effect at the height of tensions.

Asked if the pair could operate successfully again after a turbulent couple of weeks, the New Zealander said: “We’ve worked together intimately for four years, we’ve achieved some cool things and we’ve let ourselves down in other things.

“We have robust conversations all the way through and that’s to be expected when you’re in positions of leadership. There’s mutual respect there.

“I’ve been very clear and very supportive of Ben throughout and particularly this week as well. I anticipate we’ll be able to work together really well with the week coming and I’m sure both of us still have that same vision for this cricket team.”

There was, though, no question of brushing any indiscretions under the carpet.

McCullum said: “It’s really important to separate the actions from the man. I think as leaders we help set standards and we try to abide by them and live to them constantly. Occasionally there are going to be mistakes made and during those times you can’t walk past when standards have slipped or mistakes have been made.

“You address it and you try to move on.”

The ongoing World Cup frenzy throughout the United States should both fascinate and depress the NFL.

On one hand, it shows what happens when a sport becomes a truly global phenomenon. On the other hand, it shows how far the NFL has to go in its effort to globalize.

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The notion that an international American football tournament could bring tens of thousands of fans from other countries to the host nation for a 104-match free-for-all lasting more than a month (with hundreds of millions watching worldwide on TV) should inspire the NFL to keep pushing. The fact that American football is a very long way from ever getting to that point could make some wonder why the NFL is even bothering.

Still, the NFL has decided it’s worth the money and the effort to keep pushing the sport to an international audience. The emergence of flag football could be the first step toward eventually having a World Cup-style gathering, especially since it’s much easier to export a game that requires far less equipment. And if flag football assists in the generation of greater interest in tackle football, perhaps more and more countries will embrace that version of the sport, in time.

Time is the key word. When the NFL first started playing regular-season games in London nearly two decades ago, it was seen by some as part of a 100-year plan to take the existing NFL inventory and expand the interest in (and viewership of) those games.

When I first caught the incurable NFL virus in the early ’70s, thanks to the Immaculate Reception, NFL Films, and Howard Cosell’s halftime highlights, baseball was by far the dominant sport in America. Now, baseball has fallen behind football, basketball, and soccer — with football clearly taking over as the new American pastime.

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Football won’t catch soccer, from a global perspective, any time soon. Possibly, the sun will burn out before that ever happens.

Regardless, the NFL is laying the foundation for seeing how far the sport can go. Even if it will take decades (if not centuries) to close the global gap with soccer, the NFL is committed to trying.

The images we’ve seen since the World Cup started nine days ago underscore the simple fact that the potential upside (whatever it may be) is well worth the effort.

Germany’s bench emptied after Deniz Undav scored the winner in the 94th minute. Julian Nagelsmann roared with delight. The Germany fans behind the goal threw themselves in all directions, lost in the joy of an injury-time winner. For the first time since they won the World Cup in 2014, Germany are headed to the knockouts. Moments like this make it easy to believe that something special is happening with this team.

This was a victory for head coach Julian Nagelsmann, who got his substitutes spot on. But more than that, it was a win for the new guard. Unaffected by the scars of the last two tournaments, the newer faces in this squad drove the team to victory from a losing position.

The youngsters of this group stepped up. Felix Nmecha continued his strong form and is emerging as the heartbeat of this team. Jamie Leweling made a difference off the bench. Nadiem Amiri provided the cross to set up the equalizer. And there was Undav.

The Stuttgart striker, who is playing at his first World Cup just six years after playing in the third division, took control of the game once again. In two appearances off the bench at this tournament, Undav has now scored three goals and two assists. Only Cameroon’s Roger Milla in 1990 scored more (four) as a substitute. He is now the story of this Germany team, and the pressure on Nagelsmann to start him will grow.

“He’s a full-blooded striker,” Nagelsmann said to public broadcaster ZDF after the match. “He scored two super goals. The whole group earned the victory today.”

Tough loss for the Elephants

Ivory Coast deserved more from this game. Emerse Fae’s side had more than one spell of control, and their opening goal did not come against the run of play. The team in orange won more battles in midfield, unsettling Germany, but they were also smart about how they went about it. Almost all of their attacks came down the left-hand side, where rising star Yan Diomande continually got the better of Germany captain Joshua Kimmich. 

The Elephants got under Germany’s skin and made it difficult for Nagelsmann’s charges to gain momentum. Eventually, one of Diomande’s many surges ended with Franck Kessie converting the cross at the back post.

Animated by referring decisions that included two disallowed goals for Germany, Nagelsmann was lucky to escape a booking for his antics on the sidelines. This was exactly the kind of contest Germany did not want.

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By the hour mark, it looked like an all-too-familiar World Cup story for Germany. Ivory Coast were closer to scoring a second. Germany looked asleep, adrift. In the face of this uncertainty, the Germany fans did the only thing they could do — they called for Deniz Undav.

Fairytale being written

Nagelsmann responded, and on came his heroes. Eight minutes later, Amiri found Undav and Germany were level. An incredible finale followed as both sides went for the win. Ivory Coast inexplicably missed a glorious chance, with Leon Goretzka saving the day for Germany. Then Nathaniel Brown and Amiri both looked to have missed Germany’s game-winner. But then came Undav, sneaking into the space near the last defender, taking a touch, turning, and scoring like it was the simplest thing in the world.

“Deniz deserves special mention today. The way he got into the game was outstanding,” Jonathan Tah said.

“Deniz is lethal in front of goal. He doesn’t need a lot of chances,” Amiri told Magenta.

Nico Schlotterbeck’s injury dampened the mood, as the Borussia Dortmund defender’s tournament looks over.

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But injuries or the defensive weakness out wide or the poor first half performance won’t worry any Germany fans today. They are dreaming of winning it all again. And thanks to Curacao’s historic draw against Ecuador later in the day, top spot in Group E is also officially Germany’s.

After the 7-1 win against Curacao, the comparisons with that semifinal win against Brazil were inevitable, even if a little bit of a stretch. Undav’s last-minute winner has echoes of Oliver Neuville’s at Germany’s home World Cup in 2006. Granted, this tournament isn’t in Germany, but it would be fair to say the first few lines of a summer fairytale are being written at the 2026 World Cup.

Edited by: Sean Sinico

Emerging sprinter Ice Kool continues to impress, securing another victory at Randwick despite still refining his racecraft.

The three-year-old colt makes his task harder by not reacting promptly to the start and tending to race keenly, yet he consistently moves up through the grades.

His win in Saturday’s Ensure Workplace Risk Solutions Handicap (1000m) marked his fourth success from five starts. Trainer David Pfieffer conceded the horse has some quirks but expressed hope that time and maturity will resolve them.

“He makes it hard for himself. He’s slow out of the gates, and then he had to use himself to muster a bit of speed,” Pfieffer explained. “He’s still ironing out his race craft, and he’s just got to get those one percenters right. When he does that, he’s going to keep improving.

“If he learns to settle and adapt to races when things don’t go to plan, we’ll see a nice horse.”

Ridden by Jay Ford, the $1.50 favourite Ice Kool settled three-wide on the speed and had to be strongly urged by his jockey to overcome his 60kg impost, winning by a half-length from Petticoat ($14). Teylu ($41) finished a long head further back in third.

While this form is considered off-season, Pfieffer believes Ice Kool has the potential to become a carnival contender and plans a short spell for the colt before the spring.

“We might look to give him a let-up and then poke around at carnival time,” he said. “I’m contemplating going to Melbourne because I’m thinking he won’t be in the Concorde (Stakes), The Shorts, the Premiere (Stakes). He’s not at that level yet.

“Testing him down the straight or around Caulfield or Sandown, a few of those races that are second tier stakes races will be nice little targets. Hopefully we’re talking those Sydney lead-up races this time next year.”

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