Harry Brook and Shreyas Iyer (BCCI Photo)

NEW DELHI: India’s decision to bat first in the opening T20I against England surprised many. With overcast skies and rain around, most teams would have preferred to bowl first after winning the toss at the Riverside Ground in Chester-le-Street on Wednesday.However, India captain Shreyas Iyer chose to bat, and former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik believes there was one major reason behind that decision – the recent 2-0 T20I series defeat against Ireland.

‘Ireland hangover was there’

India had opted to field first in both T20Is against Ireland but failed to chase down the targets. They lost the first match by 34 runs and the second by just one run.Karthik feels those defeats influenced India’s thinking against England.“India, choosing to bat, was a good decision, even though, obviously, there was a bit of weather around the corner constantly… The general tendency is to chase down totals,” Karthik told Cricbuzz.“It was a bit of an awkward evening here because rain was always looming around the corner, but I do think the Ireland hangover was there a bit. So, India decided, ‘let’s not chase and bat first’,” he added.

Match abandoned after rain

India’s plan looked promising as they posted a competitive 189/7 in 20 overs before heavy rain brought the match to an early end.Rain started towards the end of India’s innings and only became heavier. With just over 40 minutes remaining before the cut-off time for a five-over game, the umpires called off the match.Shreyas Iyer led from the front with a 47-ball 68, while opener Abhishek Sharma scored 59. All-rounder Shivam Dube provided the late flourish with an unbeaten 42 off just 21 balls.The second match of the five-match T20I series will be played in Manchester on July 4.

Iyer crosses 5,000 international runs

The match also turned into a personal milestone for Shreyas Iyer, who completed 5,000 international runs for India during his knock of 68. He reached the landmark with an innings that included six fours and a six at a strike rate of over 144.So far, Iyer has scored 5,031 runs in 147 international matches at an average of 39.61 and a strike rate of 96.06. His tally includes six centuries and 37 half-centuries, with a highest score of 128 not out.In Tests, he has scored 811 runs in 14 matches at an average of 36.86, including one century and five fifties.ODIs remain his most successful format, with 3,035 runs in 79 matches at an average of 45.98, including five centuries and 23 fifties.In T20Is, Iyer has scored 1,184 runs in 54 matches at an average of 30.38 and a strike rate of over 135, with nine fifties and a highest score of 74 not out.

Italy may have endured the disappointment of missing out on another FIFA World Cup, but the value of the Azzurri’s top talent has never been higher.

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Tonali and Palestra’s expensive transfers

Italian players continue to attract significant interest from Europe’s elite clubs, as highlighted by the blockbuster Premier League transfers of Sandro Tonali and highly rated full-back Marco Palestra, underscoring the growing demand for homegrown Italian talent on the international stage.

Marco Palestra has completed his transfer to Chelsea from Atalanta (chelseafc.com)

There are encouraging signs closer to home as well. Serie A clubs are increasingly investing in the next generation of Italian prospects, with Juventus completing the permanent signing of 19-year-old forward Jeff Ekhator from Genoa after an impressive spell with the Bianconeri’s youth setup.

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Meanwhile, ambitious Como are on the verge of securing one of the country’s brightest creative talents, Mattia Liberali, after the midfielder turned down the opportunity to return to Milan from Catanzaro.

Lorenzo Bettoni and Giancarlo Rinaldi break it all down in the latest episode of the Football Italia Summer Show.

Watch the full episode below

• Gilas Pilipinas, already qualified for the second round, opens its Fiba World Cup Asian qualifiers third window campaign against New Zealand in an away game.

SCHEDULE: Gilas Pilipinas at Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers – third window

July 3, Friday – Auckland

• 3pm (PH time) – Gilas Pilipinas vs New Zealand

LIVE UPDATES: Gilas Pilipinas vs New Zealand – Fiba World Cup Asian qualifiers

• Shea Ili fouled by Carl Tamayo. He makes both freethrows. 87-85 lead for New Zealand.
• Dwight Ramos 2 freethrows. Gilas ties at 85-all 3:46 in OT.
• Sam Waardenburg first to score in OT as New Zealand takes the lead, 85-83.
• NOT COUNTED! We got into overtime.
• Referees reviewing the final attempt is counted.
• 3 attempts at the basket in New Zealand’s final possession, looks like the final attempt beat the clock.
• Juan Gomez de Liaño stops and pops and makes a bigtime 3! Tied game at 83-all, 11.9 seconds left.
• Shea Ili makes 2 freethrows. New Zealand holding on to an 83-80 lead. 21.5 seconds to go.
• Dwight Ramos fouls Shea Ili.
• Justin Brownlee loses the ball. 24.7 seconds left.
• But he only makes 2nd of the crucial freethrows. Gilas still down 81-80.
• Kevin Quiambao with the steal and he gets foiled! 30.4 seconds to go.
• After a review, New Zealand gets the ball. 38.8 seconds left.
• Tense moments. Dwight Ramos fouled. 41 seconds left. But New Zealand not yet in penatly.
• Gilas turnover. Tai Webster converts. New Zealand with the lead anew, 81-79, 45 seconds left.
• Tai Webster ties the game for New Zealand, 79-all. 1:24 left.
• Kevin Quiambao pulls up and gives Gilas the lead back, 79-77, 2:52 left.
• Sam Waardenburg 2 freethrows. New Zealand ties the game at 77.
• Carlin Davison completes a slam off a Gilas turnover. Gilas lead quickly down to 2, 77-75. 4:19 to play.
• But Reuben Te Rangi quickly answers with a wide-open 3. Gilas lead down to four, 77-73.
• Dwight Ramos gets the bounce with the 3. 77-70 for Gilas.
• Reuben Te Rangi with the putback. Gilas still leads 74-70.
• Kevin Quiambao for 3! Gilas Pilipinas now leads by 6, 74-68. 5:52 left.
• AJ Edu splits the freethrows. 71-68 for Gilas Pilipinas.
• Jordan Ngatai also called for an unsportsmanlike foul with after an elbow on AJ Edu’s face.
• RJ Abarrientos with a bank shot. Gilas up again, 70-68.
• Shea Ili split as New Zealands ties, 68-68.
• Carl Tamayo spin move. Gilas back in the lead, 68-67. 8:20 left.
• Dwight Ramos and Reuben Te Rangi trade baskets. 67-66, New Zealand.
• Shea Ili puts New Zealand back in front, 65-64.
• Last 10 minutes.
• END OF THIRD QUARTER: Gilas Pilipinas 64, New Zealand 63.
• Sam Waardenburg killer 3 to end the quarter.
• AJ Edu splits his freethrows.
• Filipino fans in Auckland making themselves heard with Gilas Pilipinas chants.
• Juan Gomez de Liaño for 3! And Gilas Pilipinas takes the lead, 63-30. 46 seconds left.
• RJ Abarrientos 2 freethrows. 60-all, 1:18 3rd quarter.
• Mike Phillips floater! Gilas Pilipinas within two, 60-58. 1:38 3rd quarter.
• Kevin Quiambao with a baseline floater. Gilas down by four, 60-56.
• Mike Phillips, though, misses both freebies. Gilas Pilipinas gets possession.
• Tohi Smith-Milner called for an unsportsmanlike foul on Mike Phillips.
• New Zealand makes the Filipinos pay as Tohi Smith-Milner shoots another 3. Kiwis lead, 57-54. 2:45 3rd quarter.
• Gilas couldn’t convert in the possesion.
• Two freethrows for Dwight Ramos. Gilas Pilipinas within 3, 57-54. 3:57, 3rd quarter.
• Dwight Ramos floater! Gilas still trails 57-52.
• Taylor Britt quickly answers with a baseline drive. New Zealand leads 57-50.
• AJ Edu 2 freethrows. Gilas brings down the lead to 5, 55-50.
• Much needed 3 from Juan Gomez de Liano. Gilaas still down 55-48. 5:23, 3rd quarter.
• Carl Tamayo underneath. New Zealand 55, Gilas Pilipinas 45.
• Shea Ili with another 3. New Zealand’s 3-point shooting hurting Gilas here. Kiwis lead 55-43.
• Dwight Ramos for 2. Gilas still down by nine, 52-43.
• Sam Mennenga follows up his split with a 3. Biggest lead for New Zealand at 52-41, 7:47 3rd quarter.
• Justin Brownlee still scoreless and now with 3 personal fouls.
• Sam Mennenga finishes on the break. New Zealand leads 48-41.
• Carl Tamayo also scores again. Gilas still down by five, 46-41.
• Quick 2 for New Zealand courtesy of Shea Ili.
• Third quarter underway.
• Justin Brownlee still scoreless in 12 minutes of action off the bench.
• Carl Tamayo leads Gilas Pilipinas in scoring with 11, Kevin Quiambao has 10.
• END OF SECOND QUARTER: New Zealand 44, Gilas Pilipinas 39.
• Final possession Gilas, but AJ Edu misses the attempt.
• Tai Webster two freethrows. 44-39, New Zealand. 4.6 seconds left.
• Dwight Ramos floater. Gilas still down by 3, 42-39. 20 seconds left.
• Abarrientos misses a wide open left corner 3. New Zealand back with the ball.
• RJ Abarrientos off the glass. Gilas down 42-37.
• Sam Waardenburg two freethrows. New Zealand leads 42-35, 1:36.
• Carl Tamayo hits his third 3! But Tai Webster quickly scores a 3 of his own. 40-35, New Zealand 1:44 second quarter.
• Sam Mennenga nifty move. Back to a 5-point lead for NZ, 37-32.
• New Zealand lead back to 3 after a Sam Timmins basket. 35-32.
• Carl Tamayo attacks. New Zealand 33, Gilas 32. 3:37.
• Taine Murray with a stepback jumper to keep the lead for New Zealand.
• Gilas Pilipinas muffs chance to take the lead after a miss from Dwight Ramos.
• Carl Tamayo for 3! Back to just a one point deficit for Gilas Pilipinas, 30-31. 4:43, second.
• Taylor Britt takes advantage and scores 2. 31-27 for New Zealand.
• Carl Tamayo and Mike Phillips with misses down low. New Zealand gets the ball back.
• Juan Gomez de Lian with the fastbreak alley-oop. Gilas still down 29-27.
• AJ Edu fouled on the rebound.
• Couple of empty possessions for both teams.
• Reuben Te Rangi ends Gilas run with a 3. New Zealand leads 29-25. 7:18 second quarter.
• Carl Tamayo called for a travel as he attempts a basket.
• Quiambao already with eight points off the bench.
• Another 3 from KQ! Gilas Pilipinas down by just one, 26-25; 8:46, second quarter.
• Jordan Ngatai quick answer for New Zealand.
• Kevin Quiambao for 3! Gilas down by two, 24-22.
• Tai Webster troops to the line again. He goes 1-2. 24-19 New Zealand lead.
• KQ with a floater to start things off for Gilas in the second quarter. Still a 23-19 lead for New Zealand.
• Second quarter underway.
• END OF FIRST QUARTER: New Zealand 23, Gilas Pilipinas 17.
• Juan Gomez de Liaño underneath! He gets the foul too and makes the freethrow. Gilas still down by four, 21-17, 27.3 first quarter.
• Brownlee steal but AJ Edu with a bad pass. New Zealand possession again.
• Mike Phillips and AJ Edu on the floor now for Gilas.
• Gomez de Liaño another basket, but New Zealand quickly answers with a Reuben Te Rangi and- one.
• Tohi Smith-Milner for 3 for New Zealand’s third 3 in the first. 18-12 lead for Kiwis.
• JGDL with his first two. New Zealand still leads, 15-12.
• Tai Webster. 2 freethrows. 15-10, New Zealand lead.
• Instant offense from KQ. Gilas Pilipinas still down by 3, 13-10.
• Juan Gomez de Liaño, Kevin Quiambao check in.
• Brownlee steal, then he’s fouled.
• But NZ knocks down another 3, courtesy of Reuben Te Rangi. 13-8 lead for the Kiwis.
• Troy Rosario underneath. Gilas within two, 10-8.
• Dwight Ramos splits his freethrows. Gilas down 10-6. 5:51, first quarter.
• Justin Brownlee on the floor for Gilas.
• New Zealand forces a turnover and Sam Waardenburg finishes. 10-5, New Zealand.
• Sam Waardenburg knocks down a 3 as New Zealand retakes the lead, 8-5. 6:26, first quarter.
• Shea Ili ties the game at 5-5.
• Dwight Ramos scores his first 2. 5-3, Gilas Pilipinas. 7:39, first quarter.
• Carl Tamayo with a 3! Gilas takes an early 3-2 lead.
• Empty first possession for Gilas Pilipinas.
• Shea Ili opens the scoring for New Zealand.
• Gilas Pilipinas starting 5: RJ Abarrientos, June Mar Fajardo, Troy Rosario, Dwight Ramos and Carl Tamayo. No Justin Brownlee.
• New Zealand players perform their routine pre-game Haka.
• Players on the floor for the national anthems.

• Refresh this page for updates.

Gilas Pilipinas battles New Zealand in Auckland on Friday, looking to conquer the Boomers on their home floor for the Filipinos to have some sort of slack heading into the next window of the Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers.

The Filipinos will be looking to avenge a 69-66 loss the last time they tangled with the Kiwis, and a win would give them some breather heading into the next round where formidable Middle Eastern teams like Iran and Jordan await.

“If we don’t win one of these next two games, then we’re going to have a very small margin of error as we move forward to the next round,” Cone had said during one of their practices prior to departure.

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This game will be held at Spark Arena, before the Filipinos fly to Australia for a match with the Boomers, who manhandled them the last time.

“It’s almost like we’re going to [need to] sweep the next round, and that’s really difficult with high-quality teams like Iran, Jordan,” added Cone in explaining the consequences of two losses this week.

FILE– Gilas Pilipinas RJ Abarrientos during a send off match ahead of the Philippines’ campaign in Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers third window. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines–Gilas Pilipinas rolled past the Franklin Bulls, 94-66, on Tuesday to complete a sweep of the two-game series against New Zealand clubs before the third window of the Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers.

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Coach Tim Cone elected not to use Justin Brownlee anew while also resting Mike Phillips, but that hardly mattered as Gilas pulled away in the second half to rout the Bulls at Franklin Pool and Leisure in Pukekohe.

The win came two days after Gilas blew out the Manawatu Jets, 92-71, in North Palmerston.

The exhibitions served as tuneups before the Philippines resumes its qualifying campaign against host New Zealand on Friday.

Gilas also takes on Australia in Perth on Monday to conclude the first round of qualification.

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Voting has now closed in Phase 2 of the balloting for the 2026 MLB All-Star Game in Philadelphia on July 14. There were two finalists at each position (six outfielders) that advanced based on the vote totals from Phase 1. Also, the top vote-getter in each league ran unopposed here, so Ernie Clement of the Blue Jays is the American League’s starter at second base while Shohei Ohtani starts at DH for the National League. 

We’ll find out the full list of starters on Saturday, though we won’t know the lineup until the Monday before the game. Still, we can make predictions here. 

Who will emerge as the starters? Let’s project both starting lineups before detailing each positional battle. 

American League starting lineup

1. Bobby Witt Jr., SS, Royals
2. Mike Trout, CF, Angels
3. Yordan Alvarez, DH, Astros
4. Junior Caminero, 3B, Rays
5. Cody Bellinger, LF, Yankees
6. Byron Buxton, RF, Twins
7. Shea Langeliers, C, Athletics
8. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 1B, Blue Jays
9. Ernie Clement, 2B, Blue Jays

Aaron Judge is going to be injured well through the break. Trout might be, too, but he also might make it back. We’ll replace Judge with Bellinger and leave Trout in there. Let’s hope he makes it. He hasn’t played in an All-Star Game since 2019.

Starting pitcher: Cam Schlittler, Yankees

National League starting lineup

1. Pete Crow-Armstrong, CF, Cubs
2. Shohei Ohtani, DH, Dodgers
3. Andy Pages, RF, Dodgers
4. Freddie Freeman, 1B, Dodgers
5. Max Muncy, 3B, Dodgers
6. Brandon Marsh, LF, Phillies
7. Drake Baldwin, C, Braves
8. Mookie Betts, SS, Dodgers
9. Ozzie Albies, 2B, Braves

Ronald Acuña Jr. is out with an injury and it doesn’t seem like he’ll make it back in time. We need a replacement, so I went with Crow-Armstrong, who leads MLB position players in WAR and is on pace for his second straight 30-30 season. 

Starting pitcher: Cristopher Sanchez, Phillies

American League position battles

First base: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Blue Jays) vs. Ben Rice (Yankees)

Something that hangs heavily over Phase 2 of the voting is how strongly Blue Jays fans stuffed the ballot box in phase one. Toronto players are all over the place here. That very well could carry over, but there’s also the possibility that this inspires backlash from other fan bases, causing them to vote for the non-Jays. I also wonder if enough Jays fans are frustrated with Guerrero and jumped ship? Still, Guerrero nearly doubled Rice’s vote totals in Phase 1.

Prediction: Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

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Second base: Ernie Clement (Blue Jays)

The 30-year-old Clement surprisingly led all American League players with 3,232,932 votes in Phase 1 to earn a starting spot in his first All-Star Game.

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Third base: Junior Caminero (Rays) vs. Kazuma Okamoto (Blue Jays)

Caminero should win this thing easily. He’s got an OPS of nearly 200 points better than Okamoto, for example, and he’s one of the brightest young stars in baseball. Okamoto got more votes in Phase 1, but it was really close, and I’ll say the backlash against Blue Jays ballot-stuffing carries the correct choice.

Prediction: Junior Caminero

Shortstop: Andrés Giménez (Blue Jays) vs. Bobby Witt Jr. (Royals)

Giménez doesn’t belong in the All-Star Game and Witt is arguably the best player in the AL, if not all of baseball (non-Ohtani division). I fear for the Jays stuffing here, but I’ll say sanity wins out, especially since Witt got nearly a million more votes in Phase 1. 

Prediction: Bobby Witt Jr.

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Catcher: Alejandro Kirk (Blue Jays) vs. Shea Langeliers (Athletics)

Similar sentiment here, but Langeliers doesn’t have nearly the same name recognition, fame or even talent as Witt. Kirk has only played in 19 games to date and has hit very poorly. Fortunately, Langeliers got significantly more votes in Phase 1. 

Prediction: Shea Langeliers

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Outfield

• Cody Bellinger (Yankees)
• Byron Buxton (Twins)
• Aaron Judge (Yankees)
• Jesús Sánchez (Blue Jays)
• Mike Trout (Angels)
• Daulton Varsho (Blue Jays)

Judge, Trout and Buxton were the top three in Phase 1 and have the most name recognition. Trout and Judge are surely safe while Buxton had less than 200,000 votes over Bellinger, so that spot seems like it might be in play. I’ll say it sticks to the status quo, though. 

Prediction: Byron Buxton, Aaron Judge, Mike Trout

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DH: Yordan Alvarez (Astros) vs. George Springer (Blue Jays)

Alvarez absolutely dwarfed Springer in voting in Phase 1 and is having the much better year. He’ll hold it.

Prediction: Yordan Alvarez

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Starting pitcher: Cam Schlittler (Yankees)

The kid was great in the second half last season, had a historic playoff outing and now leads the AL with a 2.08 ERA in 18 starts. He’s been a godsend for a rotation that started the year with Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon on the IL and then sent Max Fried there later.

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National League position battles

First base: Freddie Freeman (Dodgers) vs. Matt Olson (Braves)

Olson is having a great year, but Freeman is on a total tear at the plate for the two-time defending champion Dodgers, a team with a massive fan base. The future Hall of Famer led by a pretty decent margin in Phase 1 and gets the nod here.

Prediction: Freddie Freeman

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Second base: Ozzie Albies (Braves) vs. Bryson Stott (Phillies)

This was awfully close in Phase 1 and neither had a gaudy vote total. Albies is the correct choice, but I wonder about the motivation levels of the respective fan bases here with the Braves’ recent poor play and the Phillies’ surge. I’ll say Stott is held off, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he wins. 

Prediction: Ozzie Albies

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Third base: Max Muncy (Dodgers) vs. Alec Bohm (Phillies)

Muncy had more than double Bohm’s votes in Phase 1 and I’m not sure why things would change this time around. 

Prediction: Max Muncy

Shortstop: CJ Abrams (Nationals) vs. Mookie Betts (Dodgers)

Abrams is having a much better year overall, but Betts has the MVP, rings and Hall of Fame pedigree, not to mention the Dodgers fan base behind him. Abrams got more votes in the first round, but Betts has gotten hot at the plate and might see a surge in votes. I’ll take him. 

Prediction: Mookie Betts

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Catcher: Drake Baldwin (Braves) vs. Will Smith (Dodgers)

First off, it’s insane to me that MLB puts the catcher below the infielders on the ballot. It even goes in “scoring” order with shortstop (6 on a scorecard) coming after third base (5), so why is catcher (2) behind? Ridiculous. 

Anyway, sorry for the tangent. Baldwin led Smith by a decently hefty margin in phase one. He’s currently in a major funk at the plate, but I feel like he’s gonna take this round again. Maybe I’m only saying this due to predicting three Dodgers so far. I’m not sure. It’ll be close here. 

Prediction: Drake Baldwin

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Outfield

• Ronald Acuña Jr. (Braves)
• Michael Harris II (Braves)
• Teoscar Hernández (Dodgers)
• Brandon Marsh (Phillies)
• Andy Pages (Dodgers)
• Juan Soto (Mets)

Believe it or not, Soto — easily one of the most famous and recognizable stars in MLB and playing in a megamarket — ranked fifth here in Phase 1. With the Mets’ season seeming more and more lost by the day, it sure seems like he’ll get squeezed out. Pages led in Phase 1 and should be a cinch to get in, given who he plays for and how good he’s been. Similar sentiment applies to Marsh (second) and Acuña (third). 

Prediction: Ronald Acuña Jr., Brandon Marsh, Andy Pages

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Designated hitter: Shohei Ohtani (Dodgers)

As the NL’s leading vote-getter with 3,341,257 votes, Ohtani has already earned his place in the starting lineup as he makes his sixth consecutive All-Star Game appearance. 

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Starting pitcher: Cristopher Sanchez, Phillies

Two things work in favor of Sanchez. First off, the game is in Philadelphia and it seems likely that NL manager Dave Roberts would give bonus points for picking a starter to pitch at home. Secondly, the other tippy-top tier candidate (in a loaded field, mind you) is Jacob Misiorowski and he’s currently scheduled to pitch the Sunday before the All-Star Game, taking him out of the mix. Sanchez is a worthy pick regardless of these two items. They were simply the clinchers in what is a tough decision.

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