SPORTS
England Bowlers Secure Crucial Win over Sri Lanka
A superb bowling performance breathed life into England’s T20 World Cup campaign as Harry Brook’s side beat co-hosts Sri Lanka by 51 runs in their opening match of the Super 8s phase.
England remained unconvincing with the bat in posting 146-9 but their bowlers took full advantage of a tricky surface to knock over their hosts for 95.
Jofra Archer dismissed key batter Pathum Nissanka and fellow opener Kamil Mishara but even more impressive were the three wickets for all-rounder Will Jacks inside the powerplay.
Jacks, who has struggled with the ball at times in this tournament, removed Kusal Mendis and Pavan Rathnayake in consecutive deliveries and added the scalp of Dunith Wellalage as Sri Lanka crumbled to 34-5 under the pressure of a chase.
After Kamindu Mendis chipped back a catch to Liam Dawson and Dushan Hemantha hit his own wicket, Jacks combined with Tom Banton to complete a fine relay catch on the boundary to dismiss Dasun Shanaka, Sri Lanka’s captain and the last recognised batter, for 30.
That England’s batting remains far from perfect is pushed to another day. Jos Buttler made a tortured seven from 14 balls, Jacob Bethell fell to a wild slog and Tom Banton ran himself out.
Phil Salt’s 62 and 21 from Jacks, who was the next highest scorer in a fine all-round display, were crucial.
England play Pakistan on Tuesday and New Zealand on Friday in their remaining Super 8s matches.
One win should be enough to qualify for the semi-finals.
Salt and Jacks dragged England to a score but Sri Lanka still appeared favourites at halfway.
Though England defended 128 on this ground in a series before the World Cup, Sri Lanka chased 182 with two overs to spare to beat Australia here in the group stage.
This surface was trickier than that one. Its sticky nature and decent turn offered assistance to the spinners and Jacks capitalised.
After conceding four from an accurate first over, Jacks got one to grip to take the leading edge of Mendis. Rathnayake charged him a ball later and was caught skying a hideous swipe.
Credit must also go to Brook, who kept Jacks in the attack for a third over which tempted Dunith Wellalage to charge and hit to mid-on – another wretched stroke.
Brook also used Archer for three consecutive overs at the start.
Archer bowled at high pace and had Nissanka, who scored a brilliant hundred against Australia, caught at deep square leg before finding the edge of Mishara.
Hemantha’s dismissal – he hit his stumps with his bat flapping at Jamie Overton – summed up a poor Sri Lanka batting display, not that England will care.
After nervy wins over Nepal, Scotland and Italy in the group stage, they are closing in on a place in the last four.
Still we wait for England’s batting to truly fire at this tournament.
With his feet stuck and best form seeming distant, Buttler missed three deliveries and toe-ended another before being pinned in front by Wellalage’s left-arm spin on the reverse sweep.
Only 37 runs came from the powerplay, with Bethell caught at short third trying to hit Maheesh Theekshana over mid-wicket.
As the pressure to score rose, Banton took on a single that was never there and Brook was trapped tentatively on the crease for 14.
The highest partnership of the match was 26 between Salt and Sam Curran. Battling cramp from the ninth over, Salt did not find top gear and Curran holed out at long-on
Jacks targeted the off side smartly and struck four important fours and Overton clubbed a six in the last over.
There remains room for improvement but England’s tactic of favouring batting depth – Jacks was at number seven and Overton nine here – is proving to be smart as the top order struggles.
No fewer than 250 players from across the country are expected to participate in the 6th Michael and Felicia Alabi Memorial Table Tennis Championship scheduled to hold in Otan Ayegbaju, Osun.
The tournament will take place at the Idera Multipurpose Hall from April 12 to April 17.
A statement issued on Sunday by Adesoji Tayo, President, Nigerian Table Tennis Federation, stated that they would partner the Osun Government and the Osun Table Tennis Association to ensure a successful championship.
“The tournament is a championship that has grown into one of the nation’s most prestigious sporting events,” he said.
Tayo said that the event founded in honour of the late Michael and Felicia Alabi, has transcended its memorial roots to become a powerful platform for nurturing future champions.
“Over the years, it has given rising talents the chance to shine on the national stage while offering seasoned athletes an arena to reaffirm their dominance.
“Today, it stands as a vital bridge between grassroots participation and elite competition, embodying resilience, inclusivity and excellence.
“The 2026 edition promises to be the grandest yet as more than 250 players from all 36 states of Nigeria will converge on Otan Ayegbaju, transforming the town into a vibrant hub of sporting brilliance.
“The young prospects, seasoned professionals, veterans, para-athletes and deaf athletes will compete side by side, underscoring the tournament’s unwavering commitment to unity and equal opportunity,” he said.
The table tennis president added that categories span from Under-15 singles to veteran, para and deaf divisions, to ensure that every athlete had a stage to showcase their skill and determination.
He said that the championship, organised in honour of the late Michael and Felicia Alabi, had grown over the years into one of Nigeria’s notable table tennis competitions.
Tayo noted that participants were expected from the 36 states of the federation, featuring young prospects, seasoned professionals, veterans, para-athletes and deaf athletes.
“The event is designed to provide a platform for emerging talents to compete at a higher level while also giving experienced players the opportunity to showcase their skills.
“The competition is also expected to attract coaches, scouts, administrators and table tennis enthusiasts from different parts of the country.
The week-long tournament is expected to boost economic activities in Otan Ayegbaju as visitors and participants arrive for the event.
It will also give young people in the host community the opportunity to witness top-level table tennis competition.
Tunde Popoola, President, Nigeria Basketball Referees Council, has said that the lingering crisis in the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) has stalled the annual clinic for referees in the country.
Popoola said in an interview on Thursday that referees were expected to undergo annual training to keep abreast of developments in officiating.
“To ensure that referees are up to date with the latest officiating techniques, we are expected to have annual clinics for training and retraining, in line with recent rule changes.
“We are supposed to hold national clinics every year, but we have not organised any for some time now.
“We rely mainly on competitions and regional clinics to update our officials.
He added that Nigeria currently has six active certified referees under the FIBA.
“The six comprise five males and one female. From my assessment of their technical abilities, their performance is clearly above average.”
“I have observed that some referees struggle with game management, including game flow, understanding the feel of the game and controlling the team bench.
“Engaging game assessors during competitions should help to minimise issues related to game management and other challenges in our matches,” he said.
Floyd Mayweather will fight veteran Greek kickboxer Mike Zambidis in an exhibition bout in June before his rematch with Manny Pacquiao.
Pacquiao, 47, and Mayweather, 49, will fight at Sphere in Las Vegas on Saturday, 19 September, live on Netflix, in a rematch of their 2015 ‘Fight of the Century’ – the richest bout in boxing history.
And former five-weight champion Mayweather – who announced he would come out of retirement for a fourth time two weeks ago has decided to take on Zambidis in Athens to prepare for his first professional boxing match in nine years.
“2026 is already shaping up to be an exciting year for me,” American Mayweather said on Instagram.
“I’m on the way to entertain!! Athens, Greece, get ready. This summer will be a legendary battle.”
Zambidis, 45, boasts a 157-24 kickboxing record with 87 KOs. His last official fight was in June 2015.
Mayweather has not had a pro bout since beating mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor with a 10th-round technical knockout in 2017.
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