分类： sports

Australia’s women’s cricket team clinched the ODI series against India with a commanding five-wicket victory in the second match at Hobart, propelled by a spectacular century from rising star Georgia Voll.

The 22-year-old batter delivered a masterclass in aggressive yet calculated batting, scoring 101 runs from just 82 deliveries. Her innings, decorated with 13 boundaries and one six, marked her second international century in just nine ODIs since her debut in December 2024.

Voll’s path to triple figures was notably aided by India’s substandard fielding performance. She received three reprieves—dropped catches on 19 and 53, followed by a critical wicketkeeping fumble from Richa Ghosh when she stood at 99—allowing her to secure the milestone with a scrambled single.

She found a formidable partner in Phoebe Litchfield, who contributed a rapid-fire 80 from 62 balls. Their 119-run partnership for the second wicket effectively dismantled India’s bowling attack after the early departure of captain Alyssa Healy for just 6 runs. Voll later added another 82 runs alongside Beth Mooney before finally being dismissed by Kashvee Gautam in the 31st over.

Chasing India’s total of 251-9, Australia reached their target with 83 balls remaining, sealing both the match and the series with one game still to play. The victory held special significance as it marked Healy’s final series in charge before her retirement from international cricket.

India’s innings had earlier been anchored by captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who scored a patient 54 from 70 deliveries. Despite a promising 78-run opening partnership between Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal (52 from 81), India suffered a middle-order collapse, losing four wickets for just 25 runs across 7.4 overs. Australia’s bowling attack shared the wickets evenly, with Ash Gardner, Annabel Sutherland, and Alana King each claiming two dismissals.

The UEFA Champions League knockout stage draw, conducted on Friday, has produced a series of compelling fixtures headlined by a fifth consecutive high-stakes encounter between football titans Real Madrid and Manchester City. This recurring European saga will see the record fifteen-time champions, Real Madrid, initially host the reigning titleholders at the iconic Santiago Bernabeu next month, with the decisive return leg scheduled in Manchester the following week.

Adding to the draw’s drama, current champions Paris Saint-Germain are poised for a formidable clash against English powerhouse Chelsea. PSG secured their last-16 berth with a narrow aggregate victory over Monaco in the play-offs, while Chelsea advanced directly after a strong league phase performance.

The historical context between these clubs is profound. Real Madrid and Manchester City have clashed in seven separate seasons since 2012, with their most recent playoff occurring just last season. Similarly, PSG and Chelsea share a rich knockout history, having met in three consecutive campaigns from 2014 to 2016, and most recently in the Club World Cup final this past July.

Beyond these marquee matchups, the draw unveiled several other intriguing contests. Arsenal, who topped their league phase group, are set to face German contenders Bayer Leverkusen. Newcastle United will host Barcelona in a rematch of their September encounter, and Tottenham Hotspur will battle Spain’s Atletico Madrid. The draw also confirmed a record six English clubs in the round of sixteen, ensuring strong Premier League representation with no all-English fixtures at this stage.

The first legs are scheduled for March 10-11, with return matches set for the following week. Teams that qualified directly will enjoy the home advantage in the second leg. The road to the final, which will be held at Budapest’s Puskas Arena on May 30, is now clearly defined, promising a thrilling culmination to Europe’s premier club competition.

Australian cricket witnessed the emergence of a formidable new talent as Georgia Voll’s spectacular century secured a decisive victory for the hosts against India in the second One Day International at Hobart. The 82-ball masterclass of 101 runs, featuring 13 boundaries and one massive six, positioned Australia favorably in the multi-format series.

The match showcased Australia’s batting prowess through two dominant partnerships. Voll combined with Phoebe Litchfield in a devastating 119-run stand from just 94 deliveries, with Litchfield contributing a flashy 80 from 62 balls before an ambitious ramp shot ended her innings. Beth Mooney provided additional stability with 31 runs, ensuring Australia comfortably chased down India’s target of 252 with five wickets remaining.

India’s innings had shown promise through openers Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal, who capitalized on early opportunities before Australia’s bowling attack found its rhythm. Harmanpreet Kaur battled through 70 deliveries for her 54, but India’s momentum was consistently disrupted by Australia’s strategic bowling changes.

The absence of newly-appointed captain Sophie Molineux, sidelined with a back injury, created an opportunity for Ash Gardner to demonstrate her all-round capabilities. Gardner not only contributed the winning runs but also delivered a crucial bowling performance of 2-39 from her 10 overs, applying consistent pressure alongside Alana King (2-41).

Australia’s victory establishes their series lead ahead of Sunday’s third ODI, with the teams set to conclude the competition with a one-off Test match in Perth next week.

Severe weather conditions in Ballarat forced the abrupt cancellation of the AFL pre-season exhibition match between Melbourne and Richmond, marking an anticlimactic conclusion to their final preparations for the 2026 season. The encounter at Mars Stadium witnessed two separate lightning-induced interruptions, ultimately leading officials to abandon the contest during the third quarter.

The match’s premature termination wasn’t the only setback, as both clubs encountered significant injury concerns during the brief period of play. Melbourne’s emerging talent Luker Kentfield suffered an undetermined injury following an aerial collision that saw him land awkwardly after a marking attempt. The promising pre-season performer required medical assistance and was subsequently carried from the field.

Richmond likewise faced adversity when their prized recruit Sam Cumming sustained a shoulder injury, compounding the Tigers’ concerns ahead of their Round 1 encounter against Carlton. Before weather conditions deteriorated irreversibly, Melbourne demonstrated promising form under Stephen King’s revamped game plan, establishing a commanding 78-43 lead against their opponents.

The atmospheric disturbances in Victoria’s regional hub forced players from the field on multiple occasions, with one delay extending beyond thirty minutes despite only two and a half minutes of actual gameplay occurring. The abandoned match leaves both teams with limited preparation time before the official season commencement, with Melbourne scheduled to face St Kilda in their opening fixture.

Several members of the US Olympic men’s ice hockey team have issued public apologies following widespread criticism of their reaction to comments made by former President Donald Trump during a congratulatory call. The incident occurred as the team celebrated their gold medal victory over Canada last weekend.

Locker room footage captured multiple players laughing when Trump jokingly remarked that he would be ‘impeached’ if he failed to extend an invitation to the equally triumphant women’s team for his State of the Union address. Both the presidential comments and the athletes’ response have generated significant controversy, threatening to overshadow what should have been a celebratory moment for American hockey.

Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy expressed regret to reporters ahead of an NHL game on Thursday: ‘Certainly sorry for how we responded to it in that moment. Things just happened really quick there. If you know the relationships that we have with the women’s team and how we’ve supported them, it’s certainly not reflective of how we feel.’

Carolina Panthers player Matthew Tkachuk emphasized the strong camaraderie between the men’s and women’s teams during the Milan-Cortina Games: ‘We watched other events together. We went and supported. We love the women’s team, and the women’s team loved us. And we’re so proud that we had a clean sweep of gold medals.’

The controversy expanded when the White House’s official TikTok account published an AI-enhanced video appearing to show Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk making disparaging remarks about Canadians. Tkachuk vehemently denied the video’s authenticity, stating: ‘Well, it’s clearly fake, because it’s not my voice, not my lips moving. I know that those words would never come out of my mouth.’

Meanwhile, the women’s team declined Trump’s invitation to the State of the Union address, citing prior commitments. Team captain Hilary Knight described the president’s joke as ‘distasteful’ and lamented how it had diverted attention from their athletic achievements. ‘How we speak about women matters, and we need to celebrate this team,’ Knight stated during an appearance on ‘Good Morning America.’

While the women’s team has yet to decide on a potential White House visit, they are confirmed to attend a celebratory event in Las Vegas this July hosted by rapper Flavor Flav.

South Sydney Rabbitohs veteran playmaker Cody Walker has declared himself in peak physical condition for the upcoming NRL season, a stark contrast to the injury-plagued campaigns that left him feeling like a “burden” on his team. The revelation comes as the club confronts another early setback with hooker Brandon Smith ruled out for the opening rounds due to a moderate calf injury.

Walker, 36, identified young gun Peter Mamouzelos as the “obvious” candidate to fill the void left by Smith’s absence, with Bronson Garlick also in consideration. Coach Wayne Bennett faces a critical selection decision ahead of the season kickoff.

The five-eighth’s personal resurgence follows two frustrating years dominated by calf and knee issues that severely limited his contributions. Last season saw Walker participate in just 11 matches while recording a career-low nine try assists, fueling his sense of having disappointed the squad.

Now benefiting from his first uninterrupted preseason in years, Walker demonstrated his renewed vigor during Sunday’s trial victory over Manly, where he scored a try and showcased dynamic interplay with South Sydney’s formidable left-edge weapons—David Fifita, Latrell Mitchell, and Alex Johnston.

Reflecting on his physical and mental transformation, Walker emphasized the psychological toll of persistent injuries. “When you’re in that moment when you’re in and out, you feel like you’re letting the team down and you start to feel like you’re a bit of a burden,” he confessed. The veteran star expressed renewed optimism after finally banking sufficient training loads to prepare his body for the demanding season ahead.