Spain topped the group with seven points from their two wins and a draw, with tournament newboys Cape Verde taking the second knockout spot on three draws. Uruguay departed with just two points, the same as last-placed Saudi Arabia.

Baena opened the scoring in the 42nd minute by finding some space on the edge of the box and blasting a shot through experienced Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera.

It was a bit of an odd goal, with both Manuel Ugarte and Lamine Yamal having treatment on the field as play continued, but Baena did not hesitate.

Uruguay had started bright with Varela tasked with tightmarking a dangerous Yamal, and Spain's early play centred on two well-placed set pieces from Baena; the first he put on for Pau Cubarsi who headed over in the 16th and then two minutes later another left-wing delivery saw Cubarsi miss over again. The South American's best chance before the interval was in the 27th minute when Federico Valverde pounced on a Rodri mistake and slipped the ball through to Darwin Nunez, but the striker went for an over ambitious backheel instead of shooting.

Muslera went off for some time at half-time following his error, but Uruguay struggled to carve out many chances in the second half, despite seeing more possession. In second half substitute Federico Vinas fired a chance high over the bar from a Maxi Araujo cross, while Spain looked lively on the counter.

Dani Olmo skewed wide from a well-worked Yamal pass after 63 minutes before Ferran Torres crashed the bar from an early Ruiz break soon afterwards.

Uruguay made some good attacks in the late hours, but goalkeeper Unai Simon made vital blocks from Mathias Olivera and Nicolas de la Cruz. Uruguay's disappointment spilled over into stoppage time, when Agustin Canobbio was shown red for a challenge on Cubarsi, to bring a difficult tournament to a painful close.

The Blue Sharks secured the second spot in the group with three points, one clear of two-time winners Uruguay and 2034 World Cup hosts Saudi Arabia, to cap a memorable group stage run which they completed undefeated. They now play the star-studded Argentine side of Lionel Messi at Miami Stadium on Thursday, 3 July in what should be the most important match in their country's football history. Cape Verde appeared to be the more threatening team, coming closest to opening the scoring.

Willy Semedo forced Saudi Arabia goalkeeper Mohammed Al Owais into a brilliant early save, just from the nearest post, before shooting just past the other goal with another attempt.

However, the Saudis experienced a serious setback in the middle of the first half. Defender Hassan Al Tambakti unexpectedly dropped down with out of having any contact from an opponent player. He needed to be stretchered off after treatment. Cape Verde still remained on the offensive, and were very close to taking the lead when their powerful long distance strike whistled just wide of the far top corner. Al Owais was Saudi Arabia's savior in the last quarter of the match where he produced a brilliant close range save, preventing Laros Duarte with fifteen minutes left to play and having come into a clean chance . Even though they had failed to score goals, as soon as the final whistle blew it resulted in great jubilation from Cape Verde, as their one point enabled them to progress to the next round.

Having made history in group games they now also became the third African nation ever to reach round of 32 unbeaten on their World Cup debut, what an extremely well deserved fairytale first appearance at football’s most prestigious stage.

The stunning win also saw Sri Lanka register their first-ever three victories in a single Women's T20 World Cup tournament, to jump to third spot in Group B. England have already booked their semi-final berth, with Sri Lanka joining West Indies and New Zealand in the race for the second spot in the group.

Having been put to bat first, Scotland were off to a slow start but managed to post a competitive 151 for six on the back of contributions from Sarah Bryce and Ailsa Lister.

Darcey Carter, Scotland's leading run-getter in the competition, made a patient 34-ball 36 to ensure their stay through the opening spell. However, the slower bowlers of Sri Lanka put up a strong show as boundaries dried up and Scotland could only manage 67 for two by the halfway mark.

The impetus was provided in the late stages through a 53-run fourth-wicket partnership between Lister and Sarah Bryce. The former struck four boundaries during a quick 26 before being run out by a direct throw from Nilakshika Silva and Scotland from 138 for four, slipped to 146 for six before Sarah Bryce kept one end up with an excellent undefeated 47 off 33 deliveries laced with six boundaries including a sweet cover drive to wrap the innings up.

Sri Lanka were outstanding in the field with Mithali Ayodhya being rewarded with two wickets, while Kavisha Dilhari finished with encouraging figures of 1 for 19 from her full four-overs. Two run outs put paid to Scotland's dreams of topping the 150-run mark.

Needing not just victory but also a quick win in the chase to boost their Net Run Rate, Sri Lanka came out of the blocks with aggressive intent.

Athapaththu, fresh off a century in her last innings without being dismissed, launched into a destructive spell at the top with six boundaries and a six off just 16 deliveries as her onslaught took the powerplay score to 65, the highest for the team in the competition before she was clean bowled by Katherine Fraser in the sixth over.

Scotland responded through Fraser and the captain Kathryn Bryce, who along with Rachel Slater picked two wickets each and helped their team to restrict Sri Lanka to 118 for six after 15 overs.

However, Nilakshika Silva held her nerves to finish with a valuable unbeaten 21 to shepherd the lower order through the tough finish. The match was into the last over, and things took an ugly turn when Slater, running in to bowl, was cramped with an injury and forced to abandon her spell.

With a lot at stake, Sugandika Kumari kept her cool to hit the winning boundary through the gap at short third with Sri Lanka reaching the target by three wickets with a delivery left in their pockets to keep their dreams alive.

Brief scores: Scotland 151/6 in 20 overs (Sarah Bryce 47*, Darcey Carter 34; Mithali Ayodhya 2-34) lost to Sri Lanka 154/7 in 19.5 overs (Chamari Athapaththu 33, Nilakshi Silva 21*; Katherine Fraser 2-25, Kathryn Bryce 2-28) by 3 wickets

The reigning champion is already guaranteed top spot in Group J regardless of Saturday's result at Dallas Stadium and Scaloni hinted he would use the fixture to give chances to other players.

"So Leo is going to start on the bench, and I'm not trying to skirt the question," Scaloni was quoted as saying by Xinhua.

"You should know and I'm answering it because you deserve a sincere answer. Now, as for the formation, I won't tell you any more on that, and Leo will come in a little bit later. The whole lineup, I've got this confirmed, but we'll announce that tomorrow."

Messi, who turned 39 on Wednesday, has scored all five of Argentina's goals this tournament and has shown no sign of a hamstring strain he suffered while playing for Inter Miami in May.

"Those that are playing tomorrow deserve to play, they are part of the team," Scaloni said.

"All the effort we've put in in training is because of them. They are making every effort when they're not playing."

"The dream as a coach is to have the team perform the same way, independent of the players who comprise the team."

"If you are wearing the jersey and playing, it doesn't matter if the game has significance for the points or not. You're going to do your best to win. Jordan normally play with five defenders and we're open to the possibility that, if we're facing some difficulties, we might have to move slightly differently," Scaloni said.

Argentina beat Algeria and Austria in its first two games, while Jordan has already been eliminated after losing to Austria and Algeria.

Senegal needed a win to have any hope of making it through to the round of 32 as one of the best third-placed finishes and their second-half onslaught on the 10 men of Iraq was ruthless. Habib Diarra had given Senegal the lead with a deflected strike, and Iraq’s chances of progressing suffered a huge blow when defender Rebin Sulaka was dismissed in the 13th minute after a VAR review of a challenge on Sadio Mane. The numerical superiority should have been overwhelming, but Senegal’s difficulty in breaking down the Iraq defence was apparent and it took until the second half to complete the victory.

Ismaila Sarr’s fourth career World Cup goal-which also made him Senegal’s all-time leading scorer in the competition-extended the lead, before substitute Pape Gueye, having only entered the fray minutes earlier, provided two breathtaking moments of magic.

First Gueye smashed in a ferocious long-range drive at 84kph and then followed it up with another colossal effort at 103kph. Iliman Ndiaye completed the rout with a thunderous finish

However, Senegal’s coach Malick Thiaw recognised there was scope for improvement after an uninspiring start and he will be looking for a better performance against either Egypt or another of a range of sides likely to be strong third-placed contenders should Senegal be good enough to make it through the tournament to the knockout stages.

Senegal finished third in Group I behind France and Norway with three points - and will have to cross their fingers and wait for the final games in Saturday’s Group J and K schedule before they know if they have qualified for the round of 32 with the best possible record of a third-placed team. The best third-placed teams in the eight qualifying groups will advance - alongside the top two in each of the 12 sections - to a last-16 stage. The defeat meant Iraq ended a dismal tournament having lost all three matches in what was only their second World Cup appearance in 40 years.

Both teams had already clinched places in the round of 32 before the group finale: France would top the group with a win or a draw, while Norway needed victory to finish first.

The first half was played at a high tempo as Kylian Mbappe tested Norway's defense in the first minute, racing down the right and firing a shot that rattled the underside of the crossbar, reported Xinhua.

In the seventh minute, Dembele opened the scoring with a powerful strike into the top right corner after Mbappe's cross.

Jorgen Strand Larsen had an opportunity to level in the 14th minute, but his shot went too high.

France extended the lead to 2-0 in the 20th minute when Dembele received from Mbappe, cut inside from the right and produced a perfect finish, shortly after Mbappe had a shot saved by the goalkeeper.

Norway pulled one back through winger Thelo Aasgaard a minute later with a fine low strike from outside the area.

But France seemed unstoppable as Dembele completed a hat-trick in the 32nd minute with another precise finish into the far post.

Dembele's treble is the sixth first-half hat-trick in World Cup history and the first since Oleg Salenko's for Russia against Cameroon in 1994. It's also the third hat-trick scored at the current tournament after Argentina's Lionel Messi and Canada's Jonathan David.

Norway missed a chance to narrow the gap in the 50th minute when France goalkeeper Mike Maignan dived low to his left to save Strand Larsen's penalty.

In the 56th minute, Norway goalkeeper Egil Selvik received treatment after hurting himself diving to stop a thunderous Mbappe shot that flashed just inches past the post.

In stoppage time Desire Doue headed in Bradley Barcola's cross to seal the win for France.

Norway finished second in the group as Haaland remains level with Mbappe on four goals, one behind Messi in the Golden Boot race.

The triumph marked a historic double for the franchise after the Chambal Ghariyals women's team had earlier lifted the title with an unbeaten record. The men's team followed suit, finishing the tournament unbeaten as well.

After being put in to bat, Chambal Ghariyals made full use of the opportunity, posting a formidable 224/5 in their allotted 20 overs.

Openers Harsh Dixit and Ankush Singh provided a brisk start, adding 35 runs for the first wicket in just 3.4 overs before Dixit departed after scoring 32 off 18 deliveries. Ankush also fell soon after for 12 off 9, leaving the Ghariyals at 45/2.

With the innings at a crucial stage, Apurve Dwivedi joined skipper Shubham Sharma, and the duo shifted the momentum with a superb 83-run partnership for the third wicket. Dwivedi was the aggressor during the stand, smashing 51 off just 25 deliveries, including five sixes, before being dismissed.

Sharma continued to anchor the innings and found excellent support from Tripuresh Singh. The pair added another valuable 47 runs before the captain departed after a composed 57 off 38 balls.

Tripuresh then ensured Chambal finished on a high, receiving valuable support from Rohit Gupta, who blasted 17 off just seven deliveries. Tripuresh remained unbeaten on 43 off 24 balls, striking three fours and three sixes, as Chambal Ghariyals powered their way to an imposing total of 224/5.

While the batters lit up the Holkar Stadium with a flurry of boundaries and sixes, the spectators were also treated to a spectacular mid-innings show that further elevated the festive atmosphere.

Chasing 225, Royal Nimar Eagles came out all guns blazing. Dharmesh Patel and Himanshu Mantri collected 21 runs in the opening over, smashing three sixes between them off Avesh Khan.

Mantri was handed a reprieve early in his innings when Aman Bhadoriya spilled a straightforward return catch off his own bowling. However, Chambal struck soon after as Tripuresh Singh trapped Dharmesh Patel in front of the stumps for 17 off 8 deliveries.

Mantri then stitched together a 35-run partnership with Kanishk Dubey before Bhadoriya cleaned up Dubey for 21 off just 10 balls. From there, the Eagles kept losing wickets at regular intervals and gradually slipped behind the required rate.

Abhishek Mavi fought a lone battle with an unbeaten 73 off 39 deliveries but found little support from the other end as Chambal maintained control throughout the chase.

Mayur Patel was the standout bowler, returning impressive figures of 2/21 from his four overs, as Royal Nimar Eagles were eventually restricted to 193/7 in their 20 overs.

Reflecting on the historic triumph, Chambal Ghariyals owner Divyaraj Singh Kirar said, "It's an incredible feeling to see both our women's and men's teams lift the trophy. What makes it even more special is the consistency the players showed throughout the tournament. Remaining unbeaten is never easy, and it speaks volumes about the commitment, teamwork and character of this group. I congratulate all the players, coaches, support staff and everyone associated with the franchise for this remarkable achievement."

Captain Shubham Sharma echoed the sentiment, saying, "Winning the title feels even more special after watching our women's team achieve the same earlier in the tournament. Their success gave us confidence and motivation. Throughout the competition, our biggest strength was consistency. Different players stepped up in different situations, and that collective effort made all the difference. It's a proud moment for the entire team."

Half-centuries from Mickil Jaiswal and K Himateja powered the Aces to 213/6, before skipper CV Milind produced a match-winning spell of 4/21, helping the Aces withstand a record-breaking assault from Satwik Reddy to secure a memorable win.

The Diamonds made the perfect start, striking twice in consecutive overs to remove openers Wafi Kachchhi (0 off 2) and Mayank Gupta (2 off 3), leaving the Aces reeling early.

With the innings in trouble, K Himateja (56 off 33) launched a spirited counterattack, taking the attack to the bowlers from the outset. He raced to a well-crafted half-century in just 24 balls, bringing up the milestone with a towering six, and stitched together a game-changing 99-run partnership off just 48 balls with G Sai Krishna Reddy.

Sai Krishna survived a major scare on 43 when Ashish Srivastav held onto a return catch, only for it to be ruled a no-ball. The reprieve proved short-lived, however, as Srivastav trapped him LBW just two deliveries later to break the threatening stand.

The breakthrough slowed the Aces' momentum. Himateja struggled to maintain the scoring rate before holing out to Hrishikesh Simha off Harish Thakur, who claimed his second wicket of the innings. Prateek Reddy (19 off 10) departed soon after, further denting the Aces.

With wickets falling around him, Mickil Jaiswal and CV Milind (16 off 13) steadied the innings. Milind played the supporting role before falling to Harish Thakur, but Jaiswal immediately shifted the momentum back with a towering six.

Jaiswal then took complete control, bringing up his second consecutive half-century in just 30 balls. His unbeaten 64 off 34 deliveries, featuring four and six sixes, powered the Aces to a formidable 213.

In reply, the Diamonds endured a disastrous start, losing skipper Tanmay Agarwal (0 off 1) and Hrishikesh Simha (0 off 3) inside the opening over to CV Milind. Rahul Radesh (4 off 5) briefly counterattacked but was also dismissed by Milind in the third over, reducing the Diamonds to 28/3.

With the chase in trouble, Satwik Reddy produced a sensational counterattack. He took on Vidyananda Reddy and Sahendra Mallu with fearless strokeplay, including a remarkable fifth over that yielded 28 runs with four successive sixes. Satwik brought up his half-century in just 16 balls â€" the fastest in the history of the Sreenidhi University TG20.

The Aces, however, hit back with timely wickets. Wafi dismissed Harish Thakur before Ved Reddy removed the dangerous Satwik Reddy, who fell for a scintillating 63 off 27 balls, leaving the Diamonds at 97/5.

Chandan Sahani then sparked another revival, smashing five sixes across two overs. Alongside Shubham Sharma, he lifted the Diamonds to 130/5 and briefly swung the momentum back in their favour.

The Aces responded immediately as Sahendra Mallu dismissed Chandan (38 off 17), while CV Milind accounted for Narayana Teja (13 off 11) after Ved completed a stunning catch. Shubham continued to fight alongside Ashish Srivastav, but regular wickets kept the asking rate out of reach.

Needing 17 off the final over, Shubham kept the chase alive with consecutive boundaries off the first two deliveries. However, Mahesh Vipparla held his nerve brilliantly, conceding just four runs from the remaining four balls, which sealed a thrilling eight-run victory.

Brief scores:

Anvita Khammam Aces 214/5 in 20 overs (Mickil Jaiswal 64*, K Himateja 56, G Sai Krishna Reddy 43, Harish Thakur 3/40, Rathlavath Dinesh 1/40) beat EIPL & eleve Karimnagar Diamonds 205/9 in 20 overs (Satwik Reddy 63, Shubham Sharma 53*, Chandan Sahani 38, CV Milind 4/21, Sahendra Mallu 2/49) by eight runs.

The Indian hockey team players shook hands with the Pakistani players at the end of both their encounters in the FIH Pro League in London, which came as a pleasant surprise to many, considering that the issue had generated a lot of heat a few months back.

Hockey players from both sides shook hands before and after the two matches, as is traditionally done in hockey. It was apparent that the Indian players did not refuse to shake hands when the Pakistani players approached them on Friday.

Suryakumar Yadav's cricket team implemented this 'no handshake policy' when it refused to shake hands with the Pakistan players during the Asia Cup T20 tournament in 2025 to honour the victims of the Pahhelgam terror attack and to stand in solidarity with the Indian armed forces. The Indian women's team and the India U-19 teams followed suit. Teams and players in other sports followed that policy and did not make any attempt to shake hands with the Pakistani players before, during, and after their matches.

The decision by Suryakumar Yadav's team made news all over the world, with global media covering India-Pakistan cricket matches just to write about it.

Shaking hands or greeting the opponent is one of the most basic things done in sports and is mostly considered a courtesy and part of the spirit of sportsmanship.

The Indian men's hockey team has broken the recent trend in India-Pakistan matches, leaving only the cricket teams implementing this policy.

The social media across the border had reacted quite positively to the Indian hockey players shaking hands with Pakistani players in the first clash between the two teams a couple of days back. With the teams shaking hands after their second match, too, it is going to get more attention and reaction from people from both countries.

The FIH Hockey Pro League clash had everything that makes Indian hockey special. The Men in Blue delivered a commanding performance to defeat Pakistan 7-1 in London, extending India's decade-long winning streak over the arch-rivals to now 17 matches," Hockey India posted on X after the resounding win.

India produced one of their finest displays against Pakistan in recent years, combining clinical finishing with disciplined defending to register a memorable 7-1 victory. The Men in Blue scored through three penalty corners, a penalty stroke, and well-worked field goals to completely outclass their traditional rivals.

The Indian side dictated the pace from the opening whistle, enjoying the bulk of possession and repeatedly troubling Pakistan's defence with swift passing and incisive attacking moves. Their relentless pressure resulted in a dominant scoreline, while the defence remained compact to restrict Pakistan to just one goal.

The victory extended India's unbeaten run against Pakistan to 17 consecutive international matches, a streak that now spans a decade and underlines the growing gulf between the two teams in world hockey.

The commanding win also provided a major boost to India's FIH Hockey Pro League campaign and reaffirmed the team's credentials as one of the world's leading hockey nations. The players celebrated passionately after the final whistle, capping a memorable evening in London.

For Pakistan, the defeat marked another disappointing chapter in the storied rivalry as they struggled to cope with India's intensity, structure, and execution. For the Men in Blue, however, the 7-1 triumph served as another statement performance, reinforcing their dominance over their neighbours and delighting Indian hockey fans with a display of attacking flair and clinical efficiency.

Two days after their narrow escape in the 4-3 win in their first clash with the Men in Green in the London leg of the FIH Pro League matches, India dominated the second and third quarters to score at regular intervals and handed Pakistan a big defeat in their penultimate match in the 2025-26 season of the tournament.

Sukhjeet Singh (19th min), Harmanpreet Singh (26th), Hardik (34th-PS), Jugraj Singh (35th), Abhishek (41st), Raj Kumar Pal (43rd), and Dilpreet Singh (53rd min) scored a goal apiece for India after Abu Mahmood had given Pakistan the lead in the 13th minute off their first penalty corner.

The win extended India's decade-long dominance over the archrivals and marked 17 consecutive wins against Pakistan at all levels.

With this win, India moved ahead of Spain to 7th position in the standings. India have 17 points from 15 matches while Spain, who lost to Argentina in a shoot-out on Thursday, are on 16 points from as many matches. Pakistan have zero points, having lost all 15 matches so far.

The Indians dominated the field, making 36 circle penetrations and earning 13 penalty corners, of which they scored only 3. In contrast, Pakistan made 18 circle penetrations but could not score any field goals. They earned six penalty corners but managed to convert only one.

Hardik Singh and Manpreet Singh superbly marshalled the Indian midfield, while forwards Abhishek, Dilpreet Singh, and Mandeep Singh dominated the Pakistan defence. Hardik was adjudged the FIH Player of the Match for his superb performance.

Pakistan went ahead in the 13th minute when Abuy Mahmood converted a penalty corner to give them the lead. They Indian created some good attacks and earned three penalty corners in the first quarter, but could not score a goal. Sukhjeet Singh scored the equaliser in the 19th minute, and India went ahead in the 25th minute when skipper Harmnapreet Singh converted a PC to make it 2-1.

India took complete control of the game in the second quarter by using precise long passes to stretch the Pakistan defence. Pakistan suffered a setback in the 18th minute when a deflected pass from Ali Ghazanfar accidentally struck teammate Ahmad Nadeem on the face, forcing him off the field.

India capitalised on the momentum a minute later by earning a penalty corner. Skipper Harmanpreet fired a powerful dragflick, which was expertly deflected into the net by Sukhjeet (20’) to make it 1-1. In the 26th minute, India won another penalty corner, and this time Harmanpreet smashed it directly into the top left corner to give India a 2-1 lead heading into halftime.

The 'Men in Blue' increased their dominance in the second half. In the 34th minute, India earned consecutive penalty corners, the second of which resulted in a penalty stroke. Hardik stepped up and calmly converted it to make it 3-1. Pakistan responded quickly to win two penalty corners, but the Indian defence blocked the attempts cleanly. After blocking the second penalty corner, India launched a rapid counter-attack as the ball found Dilpreet, who combined brilliantly with Sukhjeet before setting up Jugraj (35’) to smash it home for a 4-1 lead.

India's frontline remained relentless as Sukhjeet created another opening in the 41st minute, passing to Abhishek, who scored on the run to make it 5-1. Late in the third quarter, India earned four consecutive penalty corners. On the fourth one, Raj Kumar Pal (44’) reacted quickest to guide the rebound of Harmanpreet's dragflick into the open goal, extending the lead to 6-1.

India maintained their defensive discipline in the final quarter while looking for further openings. In the 54th minute, Dilpreet capped off a brilliant move by scoring India's seventh goal of the match. Pakistan earned back-to-back penalty corners in the dying minutes of the game, but veteran midfielder Manpreet Singh stood firm to block both attempts, sealing a comprehensive 7-1 victory for India.

Belgium head into the contest after consecutive draws against Egypt and Iran, while New Zealand have collected just one point from their opening two matches following a draw with Iran and a defeat to Egypt. Anything less than a win could leave both sides relying on other results to keep their qualification hopes alive.

Belgium will be looking for a sharper attacking display after struggling to convert possession into goals so far in the tournament. Experienced stars such as Kevin De Bruyne, Doku, and Charles De Ketelaere are expected to play key roles against a New Zealand side likely to adopt a physical approach and disrupt their rhythm.

With a knockout qualification at stake, both teams have little room for error in what promises to be a fiercely contested clash.

How to watch Belgium vs New Zealand live in India:

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Key details:

Date and kick-off time: Saturday, June 27, 8:30 AM IST

Venue: BC Place, Vancouver

Referee: Adham Makhadmeh

Squads:

Belgium-

Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois, Senne Lammens, Mike Penders

Defenders: Timothy Castagne, Zeno Debast, Maxim De Cuyper, Koni De Winter, Brandon Mechele, Thomas Meunier, Nathan Ngoy, Joaquin Seys, Arthur Theate

Midfielders: Kevin De Bruyne, Amadou Onana, Nicolas Raskin, Youri Tielemans, Hans Vanaken, Axel Witsel

Forwards: Charles De Ketelaere, Jérémy Doku, Matías Fernández-Pardo, Romelu Lukaku, Dodi Lukebakio, Diego Moreira, Alexis Saelemaekers, Leandro Trossard

New Zealand-

Goalkeepers: Max Crocombe, Alex Paulsen, Michael Woud

Defenders: Tyler Bindon, Michael Boxall, Liberato Cacace, Francis de Vries, Callan Elliot, Tim Payne, Nando Pijnaker, Tommy Smith, Finn Surman

Midfielders: Lachlan Bayliss, Joe Bell, Eli Just, Callum McCowatt, Ben Old, Alex Rufer, Marko Stamenic, Sarpreet Singh, Ryan Thomas

Forwards: Kosta Barbarouses, Jesse Randall, Ben Waine, Chris Wood, Logan Rogerson

New Delhi, June 26 (IANS) Olympic silver medallist Mirabai Chanu will spearhead India’s weightlifting campaign at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games once again, hoping to win another medal in the event beginning on July 23.

Chanu, who won a silver medal in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, has won three medals in the Commonwealth Games â€" two gold and one silver so far. She will again compete in the women’s 48kg category in Glasgow.

The seasoned weightlifter from Manipur will be the favourite to win the gold in her third successive Commonwealth Games, to add to the gold in 2022, 2018, and the silver she won in the CWG 2014 at Glasgow.

Also in the squad is fellow Manipuri lifter Bindyarani Devi (58kg) and Punjab’s Harjinder Kaur (69kg), both of whom won silver medals at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games and will. be aiming to do one better this time.

India's hopes in the men's section will be led by Lovepreet Singh (+110kg), who won a bronze medal in Birmingham 2022. Also in the squad are Commonwealth Games debutants Rishikanta Singh (60kg), Ajaya Babu (79kg), and Dilbag Singh (94kg). The weightlifting events will be held from July 26 to 30 at the SEC Armadillo.

Before the Glasgow CWG, the Indian squad is scheduled to have a conditioning camp at Birmingham, for which it will leave on Sunday. The squad will reach Glasgow on July 23.

India have dominated weightlifting at the Commonwealth Games over the years with stars like Sathisha Rai, Kunjarani Devi, Karnam Malleswari, and Sanamacha Chanu winning medals. India have dominated the most recent editions, finishing atop the medal table in both 2018 and 2022.

India won nine medals, including five gold, at the Gold Coast in 2018 and followed that up with a haul of 10 medals, including three gold, at Birmingham in 2022.

Indian weightlifting squad for Glasgow:

Women: Saikom Mirabai Chanu (48kg), Gyaneshwari Yadav (53kg), Bindyarani Devi (58kg), Harjinder Kaur (69kg), Sanjana (77kg), Martina Devi (+86kg).

Men: Rishikanta Singh (60kg), M Raja (65kg), Ajaya Babu (79kg), Dilabg Singh (94kg), Lovepreet Singh (+110kg).

The English impressed in their opening 4-2 win over Croatia, but Thomas Tuchel's side was brought swiftly back down to earth with a 0-0 draw against Ghana in its second game, with the performance raising questions over the ability of the team to break down a low-block that sits deep.

The game also saw Declan Rice and Reece James end with physical problems, and Tuchel may consider resting both to ensure they are fit for the knockout stages of the tournament, reports Xinhua.

Rice is also a booking away from suspension, which could be a factor in seeing Kobbie Mainoo or Jordan Henderson come in alongside Elliot Anderson in central midfield, while Nico O'Reilly could return at left back with Djed Spence switching over to his favoured right side.

Tuchel could consider over changes to his side after Anthony Gordon misfired on the left of the England attack again to open the door for Marcus Rashford to start, while Bukayo Saka (fitness depending) is a candidate to replace his Arsenal team-mate Noni Madueke on the right after his lively substitute appearance against Ghana.

Morgan Rogers also looked bright in his second-half cameo, which has given him a chance of replacing a slightly flat Jude Bellingham.

England's place in the knockout stage is already assured, but a win against Panama is still important to finish top of the group and assure an easier last-32 round game and a simpler route towards the latter stages of the tournament.

Panama has competed well and was unlucky to suffer narrow 1-0 losses to Ghana and Croatia. The team coached by former FC Barcelona forward Thomas Christiansen now sit at the bottom of the group.

Ireland recovered from 36/3 to post 182/9, thanks to Tucker's 50 and Gareth Delany's 49, before bowling India out for 148 in 18.5 overs. Matthew Hollard and Matthew Humphreys claimed three wickets each as Ireland secured their first-ever T20I victory over India and took a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.

"It was pretty special. But just credit to the lads. I think we scraped through that game. We had some tough periods in it, but we stayed in it. We were diligent, we worked hard, and we were lucky to get the reward in the end," Tucker said after the match. "It's great to beat the world champions at home in the first game of the season. But credit is due to the lads. We had two debutants there who put in absolutely outstanding performances," he added.

The skipper also continued his impressive run with the bat, scoring his second successive half-century as captain. Asked about the achievement, Tucker responded with typical humility. "I have no idea why. I'm sure it will be broken the next day. But yeah, it's started nicely for me," he said.

Ireland were in early trouble after slipping to 36/3 inside the Power-play before Tucker and Delany rebuilt the innings with a crucial partnership. The captain admitted India's disciplined bowling made life difficult in the opening overs.

"I think India bowled really well at the start. They bowled really good lengths and didn't really waver from them. They stuck with them and made it challenging to hit good shots. It nearly felt like a Test match at one stage, but we tried to stay in the game, build a partnership, and then took our opportunities when they came a bit later," he said.

He also acknowledged the role of Cricket Ireland's support staff and the work done behind the scenes.

"I think all the work that goes on behind the scenes at Cricket Ireland, everyone is very dedicated. That's why we like to bring these results and reward everyone's efforts," he added.

Tucker reserved special praise for debutants Matthew Hollard and Jai Moondra, who impressed with the ball after learning from India's bowling display in the first innings.

"I think they were really dogged. We learned a lot from how India bowled in the first innings. They didn't really stray from their lengths. We tried to tell the lads to do the same, and they showed their skill, accuracy, and ability to stay in those areas. Absolute credit to them. They worked so hard and executed the plans perfectly."

With Ireland now leading the series 1-0, Tucker admitted the prospect of sealing a historic series victory over India was a major motivation.

"Absolutely. A series win at home against India would be pretty special. The lads are absolutely keen to get back here. The energy today was fabulous, the crowd were brilliant, so it was special," he said.

Panaji, June 26 (IANS) Host nation India is assured of at least a silver medal at the 5th Asia Cup Bridge Championships after the India B Seniors team produced a legendary comeback to defeat Japan by a solitary IMP (126–125) and storm into Saturday's gold medal match.

The Indian team will take on Australia, who advanced after a commanding 170–67 victory over Bangladesh, for the ultimate Asia Cup title.

Trailing Japan by 22 IMPs heading into the final session, India B delivered a superb fightback, winning the last segment 56–40 to overturn the deficit and clinch the closest match of the tournament.

"It was an absolute nail-biter till the very last board," said Anal Shah, Coach and Captain of the Indian Seniors team. "We came back in the final session and finally won by just one IMP, which makes the victory all the more satisfying."

India's Senior B playing squad comprises Anil Padhye, Raju Tolani, Rajesh Dalal, Jitu Solani, Hemant Jalan, and Sukamal Das, while awaiting them in the championship match is a formidable Australian side featuring Ian Thomson, Terry Brown, Peter Gill, David Hudson, Michael Courtney, and Paul Lavings. The Seniors final will be played over three sessions across 1.5 to 2 days, with medals decided in an all-play-all format.

Alongside the team championships, the HCL Friendship Matchpoint Pairs competitions moved into their final stage. Eight Indian pairs qualified for Saturday's medal rounds across divisions, ensuring strong national representation. The finals will be contested over three sessions in an all-play-all format using matchpoint scoring.

Elsewhere, the remaining team finals were locked in: China vs Hong Kong China A in the Men's Final; China vs Indonesia in the Women's Final; and Australia A vs China B in the Mixed Final.

With India's Seniors already assured of a medal and eight pairs in contention in the HCL Friendship Matchpoint Finals, the host nation remains strongly represented as the Asia Cup Bridge Championships enter their decisive stage. The Grand Finals are scheduled for Saturday, June 27.

Ireland recovered from 36/3 to post 182/9 before bowling India out for 148 in 18.5 overs. Matthew Hollard and Matthew Humphreys claimed three wickets each as the hosts ended an eight-match losing streak against India in T20Is.

Many fans believed India entered the contest expecting an easy victory and paid the price for taking Ireland lightly. Reacting to the upset, one user wrote, "Result of being too casual."

Sharing a similar opinion, another fan felt India had underestimated the hosts despite their recent improvement in international cricket. The user praised Ireland's planning and execution while suggesting the visitors lacked the same intensity.

"That is why it is being said to never underestimate your opponent. The Indian team underestimated them. They thought they would win very easily, but kudos to Ireland, they came with preparation and took the win. Well played, Ireland, you deserved to win," he wrote on X.

Shreyas Iyer, who is captaining the side for the first time in the T20I, also came on fire as fans questioned his bowling changes and his inability to make an impact with the bat during the chase. One user criticised his decision to continue with Prasidh Krishna, who conceded heavily in the death overs, while also pointing out that the captain managed only three runs.

"Poor Captaincy from Shreyas Iyer. Believing in Prasidh Krishna, who gave away 46 runs in two overs. Batting 3 runs in 7 balls while chasing 180+. When the Powerplay was going well, he just broke the momentum."

Another fan focused on India's bowling strategy, arguing that Harshit Rana, who finished with figures of 3/24, should have been held back for the death overs instead of completing three overs inside the Power-play. The user felt that the decision allowed Ireland to cash in against other bowlers late in the innings.

"Shreyas Iyer's captaincy got brutally exposed today!! Why the hell would you complete 3 overs each of Harshit and Arshdeep in Powerplay itself!! Harshit is a proven death bowler with many variations; at least 2 overs should have been kept. Prasidh in death."

The defeat also led many supporters to recall former India T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav. Several users argued that India's middle order lacked the experience and game-changing ability that Suryakumar has often provided in pressure situations.

One fan posted, "SKY poor form because he is the 3rd all-time most run-scorer among Indian batters, and remember he earned captaincy by his performance and match-winning performances outside Asia. We have to respect our legends. This is not a genuine way to remove our match winners."

Another echoed the sentiment, saying Suryakumar's absence was evident during India's unsuccessful chase.

"You only realise the value of a match-winner when he's not there. Today was a reminder of what SKY brings to this Indian side. Some absences speak louder than any presence."

Head coach Gautam Gambhir also came under fire from some fans following the defeat, with one user sarcastically questioning how a side featuring several established international players had suffered such a result.

"Such a great team crafted by Gautam Gambhir that got humiliated by Ireland."

While criticism of India's performance dominated the online discussion, many users also congratulated Ireland for producing a fearless batting display, executing their bowling plans effectively, and earning a historic victory that many felt was fully deserved.

Meanwhile, with the series on the line, Shreyas Iyer's side would look to shut down the critics when they face Ireland in the 2nd T20i on Sunday.

The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) selection committee will decide the Asian Games-bound contingent after the conclusion of the Bhubaneswar competition. Two athletes will represent in each of the track and field events.

Hammer throwers set the ball rolling in the evening session. Punjab’s Damneet Singh hurled an iron ball to a distance of 69.72m to win gold and a better Asian Games qualification mark of 69.12m. Rajasthan’s Praveen Kumar's silver-winning efforts of 69.58m were also good enough to qualify for the Asian Games.

After the hammer throw final, a dominant performance was witnessed at the discus throw arena. Three Haryana throwers---Seema, Sanya Yadav, and Nidhiâ€"finished in that order, bettering the Asian Games qualification mark of 55.48m.

Men’s triple jump was the third field event that saw the top six leading jumpers achieve the Asian Games qualification mark of 16.28m. Praveen Chithravel won gold with an opening jump of 16.92m,

Away from the field events, national record holder Tejas Shrise was a comfortable winner in the men’s 110m hurdles. His winning time of 13.61 seconds was better than the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games qualification time of 13.63 seconds.

The women’s 400m hurdles heats saw Vithya Ramraj of Tamil Nadu posting a time of 56.69 seconds to stay on course for an Asian Games berth.

Results (Day 3):

Men

110m hurdles (AG Q Time 13.63 seconds): Tejas Shirse (Maharashtra) 13.61 seconds, Manav R (Tamil Nadu) 13.66 seconds, Krishik M (Karnataka) 13.69 seconds.

Hammer throw (AG Q Mark 69.12m): Damneet Singh (Punjab) 69.72m, Praveen Kumar (Rajasthan) 69.58m, Ashish Jakhar (Haryana) 67.61m.

Triple jump (AG Q Mark 16.28m): Praveen Chithravel (Tamil Nadu) 16.92m, Karthik U (Kerala) 16.80m, Selva Prabhu (Tamil Nadu) 16.79m.

4x100m relay: Odisha 39.92 seconds, Tamil Nadu 40.02 seconds, Maharashtra 40.37 seconds.

Women:

Discus throw (AG Q Mark 55.48m): Seema (Haryana) 59.73m, Sanya Yadav (Haryana) 56.05m, Nidhi (Haryana) 55.92m.

21km race walk (AG Q time 1:37:20.00): Munita Prajapati (Uttar Pradesh) 1:45:05.00, Reshma Patel (Uttar Pradesh) 1:45:48.00, Sejla Anil Singh (Maharashtra) 1:46:31.00.

4x100m relay: Karnataka 44.75 seconds, Tamil Nadu 45.07 seconds, Maharashtra 46.21 seconds. Odisha’s women’s team didn’t finish.

Mixed 4x400m relay: Tamil Nadu 3:23.51 seconds, Punjab 3:23.54 seconds, Rajasthan 3:23.85 seconds.

Ireland recovered from 36/3 to post 182/9 before bowling India out for 148 to register their first-ever T20I victory over India.

Reflecting on the defeat in his first match as India's T20I captain, Shreyas said the bowlers executed their plans well initially but allowed Ireland to rebuild by missing their lengths during the middle phase of the innings.

"I think initially, the bowlers were bowling well. They got lateral movement, and they got a couple of wickets as well. So we got a tremendous start, but in between, we lost execution. We made them hit straight down the ground, where we know that the dimensions are pretty small," he said.

The skipper, however, credited the bowlers for pulling things back towards the end and felt India had restricted Ireland to a chaseable total.

"When we had to shut down the overs, they were brilliant as well. So I thought 140 would have been an amazing score considering the start that we got. Nonetheless, it's a great experience over here. We got to play in these conditions, got a fair idea about the wicket," he added.

Despite the disappointing result, Shreyas was keen to move on quickly and insisted the team would learn from the defeat ahead of the second T20I. "Yes, definitely. We're going to forget what's happened. Definitely a lot to learn from this game and see to it that we come out in the next game all guns blazing," he said.

The India captain also reserved special praise for Harshit Rana, who returned figures of 3/24 in his comeback from injury, and backed all-rounder Shivam Dube for delivering another useful spell.

"Yes, certainly. They were getting help up front at the start, and Shivam has bowled crucial overs in the past. So I always back him. I've played with him in the domestic circuit as well. I know his strengths and weaknesses," Shreyas said.

"And Harshit Rana, he bowled phenomenally. Coming out of an injury to perform at this level and showcase this sort of talent, it's simply brilliant."

Shreyas said the defeat served as a reminder that success at the international level requires consistent effort and intensity.

"I think you can't take anything for granted. You can't just turn up and win matches. You have to work hard and see to it that you're in that moment. As I mentioned earlier, you've got to stay in the present and see to it that if you've got that opportunity to squeeze the opponent, we've got to do that. Never take any moment or situation lightly," he said.

Asked about the opportunity to level the series in the final T20I, the skipper replied: "Yes, looking forward to it."

Meanwhile, after this defeat, India will look to level the series against Ireland in the second T20I to be played on Sunday at the same ground.

Shreyas Iyer made a disappointing start to his captaincy as Matthew Hollard and Matthew Humphreys claimed three wickets apiece in a disciplined bowling display to help Ireland bowl India out for 148 in 18.5 overs, sealing a historic victory.

Chasing a challenging target of 183, India made a brisk start with Abhishek Sharma taking the attack to the Irish bowlers. The left-hander struck a six and a boundary in the opening over as India raced to 16 without loss.

Ireland responded immediately as Jai Moondra produced a superb delivery to clean up Sanju Samson and hand the hosts an early breakthrough.

Abhishek continued his aggressive approach, smashing Liam McCarthy for four boundaries in an over to keep India's chase on track. However, India suffered another setback when Ishan Kishan mistimed a flick off Matthew Hollard and was dismissed after scoring four.

The wickets continued to fall as new T20I captain Shreyas Iyer failed to make an impact, managing just three runs from seven deliveries before departing, leaving India under pressure despite Abhishek's counterattack.

Tilak Varma played a few attractive strokes, including two boundaries in the final over of the Power-play, helping India reach 68/3 after six overs.

Abhishek then brought up a breathtaking half-century in just 19 balls, but Ireland struck at the perfect time as the opener was dismissed for 50 off only 20 deliveries. His entertaining knock featured seven fours and two sixes and left India at 85/4.

Tilak's promising innings ended soon after as he fell for 19 off 21 balls, while Matthew Hollard further dented India's chase by dismissing Washington Sundar for nine.

Shivam Dube briefly kept India's hopes alive with an attacking cameo, smashing two sixes and a boundary during his 25-run knock off 16 balls. At the other end, Axar Patel struggled to accelerate and managed only 15 from 16 deliveries before holing out to long-on.

Dube's resistance ended when Jai Moondra completed an excellent return catch off his own bowling, effectively ending India's hopes of a comeback.

Harshit Rana struck a couple of boundaries late in the innings but was dismissed for eight, while Matthew Humphreys wrapped up the innings by removing Arshdeep Singh in the 19th over.

Matthew Hollard (3 wickets) and Matthew Humphreys (3 wickets) starred with the ball for Ireland, while Jai Moondra finished with two wickets. Liam McCarthy and Gareth Delany claimed one wicket each as Ireland completed a memorable victory to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.

Earlier, coming to bat after losing the toss, Ireland started aggressively through Tim Tector and Ross Adair before Harshit Rana struck twice in quick succession. Adair departed for 12 off seven balls after edging behind, while Harry Tector also fell early to Arshdeep Singh. Rana then dismissed Tim Tector for 17 with a clever slower delivery, reducing Ireland to 32/3. The hosts reached 36/3 at the end of the power play.

Benjamin Calitz briefly counterattacked with two sixes before Shivam Dube removed him for 15, leaving Ireland in further trouble. However, Tucker and Delany rebuilt the innings with a crucial partnership, mixing sensible strike rotation with timely boundaries. Tucker anchored the innings and accelerated after settling in, taking 16 runs off an Axar Patel over before bringing up his fifty in 35 balls.

Harshit returned to end Tucker's impressive knock of 50 from 36 deliveries, but Ireland continued to attack. George Dockrell made an immediate impact, smashing 19 runs off Washington Sundar's over before adding quick runs alongside Delany. The pair punished Prasidh Krishna, collecting 27 runs from the 17th over to push Ireland towards a strong finish.

Axar Patel dismissed Dockrell for a brisk 19, while Delany fell agonisingly short of a half-century, scoring 49 off 31 balls with three fours and three sixes before being caught off Arshdeep Singh in the penultimate over. Ireland lost two more wickets in the final over but still finished with an imposing 182/9.

Harshit Rana starred with the ball for India, claiming 3/24, while Arshdeep Singh and Axar Patel picked up two wickets each. Despite India's impressive start with the ball, Ireland's middle-order recovery and powerful finish ensured they posted a challenging total.

Brief scores:

Ireland 182/9 in 20 overs (Locran Tucker 50, Gerath Delany 49, George Dockrell 19; Harshit Rana 3-24, Arshdeep Singh 2-28, Axar Patel 2-33) beat India 148 all out in 18.5 overs (Abhishek Sharma 50, Shivam Dube 25; Matthew Humphreys 3-38, Matthew Hollard 3-28) by 34 runs.

The Heroes imposed themselves from the outset with high-tempo attack and quick ball movement, stretching the Tigers' defence across the field. Sumit Roy opened the scoring within minutes before Ravuama Seruvakula sold a clever dummy on the left wing to double Hyderabad’s advantage.

Their crisp passing and ability to exploit space continued to trouble Kolkata in the second quarter, with Kevin Wekesa breaking through after sustained pressure to add another try. Maurice Longbottom kept the momentum going early in the third quarter, while Hyderabad’s disciplined defensive line denied the Tigers any meaningful opportunities, completing a dominant shutout performance.

Later in the day, Chennai Bulls are set to take on the Mumbai Dreamers, while Delhi Redz will face the Bengaluru Bravehearts in the last match of the day.

Earlier on the 10th day of the event, Delhi Redz secured a comfortable 40-28 victory over the Kolkata Banga Tigers, failing to reach the semifinals.

Delhi Redz made a commanding start, patiently building their attacks before Nygel Amaitsa broke through to open the scoring. Samuel Asati and Josep Serres quickly added further tries, while Hitesh Dagar extended the advantage as the Redz dominated possession and territory. With their semi-final hopes hanging in the balance, Kolkata Banga Tigers finally found a response through Vuiviwa Naduvalo before half-time.

Serres struck again after the break, but Naduvalo almost single-handedly dragged the Tigers back into the contest with two brilliant individual tries late in the third quarter. Jon Okeyo restored Delhi's breathing space in the final period, while Naduvalo produced another moment of magic, though the Redz maintained their composure and controlled the closing stages to secure an important win.

Spain are at the top of Group H after two games, and they will clinch pole position with a victory against Uruguay. A draw would also be enough to finish first in the event that Cabo Verde does not beat Saudi Arabia by a margin of five or more goals. Uruguay, on two points, can grab the top spot over La Roja if they win the clash in Guadalajara.

Uruguay have created enough chances to suggest they should be in a stronger position, but defensive errors and missed opportunities have left them needing a sharp response in Guadalajara.

How to watch Uruguay vs Spain live in India:

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Key details

Date and kick-off time: Saturday, June 27, 5:30 AM IST

Venue: Estadio Akron, Guadalajara

Referee: Ismael Elfath

Squads:

Spain

Goalkeepers: Unai Simon, David Raya, Joan Garcia

Defenders: Pedro Porro, Marcos Llorente, Aymeric Laporte, Pau Cubarsi, Marc Pubill, Eric Garcia, Marc Cucurella, Alejandro Grimaldo

Midfielders: Rodrigo Hernandez, Martin Zubimendi, Pedri Gonzalez, Fabian Ruiz, Mikel Merino, Pablo Paez 'Gavi', Alex Baena

Forwards: Mikel Oyarzabal, Lamine Yamal, Ferran Torres, Borja Iglesias, Dani Olmo, Victor Munoz, Nico Williams, Yeremy Pin

Uruguay-

Goalkeepers: Santiago Mele, Fernando Muslera, Sergio Rochet

Defenders: Ronald Araujo, Santiago Bueno, Sebastián Cáceres, José María Giménez, Mathias Olivera, Joaquín Piquerez, Guillermo Varela, Matías Viña

Midfielders: Maximiliano Araujo, Giorgian de Arrascaeta, Rodrigo Bentancur, Agustin Canobbio, Nicolas de la Cruz, Emiliano Martinez, Facundo Pellistri, Brian Rodriguez, Juan Manuel Sanabria, Manuel Ugarte, Federico Valverde, Rodrigo Zalazar

Forwards: Rodrigo Aguirre, Federico Vinas, Darwin Nunez

After amassing 259/5 â€" the joint-highest team total of the tournament â€" the Knights complemented their batting brilliance with a disciplined bowling effort to bundle out the Warriors for 168 in 14 overs, sealing a comprehensive all-round triumph.

Palamuru Strikers registered their first win of the season, producing a disciplined all-round performance to seal a five-wicket victory over Medak Falcons in the second match of the day at the Hyderabad Cricket Association's Sreenidhi University TG20 on Thursday.

Rishab Baslas (2/33) and Ravi Kiran (2/34) were the pick of the bowlers for the Strikers as they restricted their opponents to 164/9. Vignesh Reddy’s quickfire 39 off 22 set the platform, while Rohit Rayudu’s unbeaten 54 off 42 balls anchored the run chase for Strikers, guiding them home with 13 balls to spare.

Earlier on Thursday, Palamuru Strikers registered their first win of the season, producing a disciplined all-round performance to seal a five-wicket victory over Medak Falcons in the second match in the Hyderabad Cricket Association's TG20.

Rishab Baslas (2/33) and Ravi Kiran (2/34) were the pick of the bowlers for the Strikers as they restricted their opponents to 164/9. Vignesh Reddy’s quickfire 39 off 22 set the platform, while Rohit Rayudu’s unbeaten 54 off 42 balls anchored the run chase for Strikers, guiding them home with 13 balls to spare.

In the other match of the day that was interrupted by rain, the Knights comfortably chased down a revised target of 117 in 17 overs to defeat EIPL & elevé Karimnagar Diamonds by six wickets.

After India had reduced Ireland to 36/3 inside the Power-play, captain Lorcan Tucker's well-made 50 and Gareth Delany's aggressive 49 guided the hosts to a strong total. Dube, who claimed the crucial wicket of Benjamin Calitz with a well-disguised slower delivery, admitted Ireland recovered brilliantly from the early setbacks.

"Definitely, they batted really well. Amazing batting by all of them. And I think it's a good total. We have to bat really well to achieve this total," Dube said during the innings break.

The all-rounder bowled an important spell in the middle overs and said sticking to hard lengths was the key on the Belfast surface. "On these kinds of conditions, you need to bowl on the hard lengths. So that was my plan, you told me I'm a genuine all-rounder, so I have to bowl," he quipped," he explained.

Dube also spoke about India's experience of touring Ireland, saying the team has enjoyed playing in the country after previously featuring in Dublin. "It's great. We really enjoy playing in Ireland. We played in Dublin. It was really good. Now we are here... The crowd is amazing. The wicket is good. We are really enjoying this," he said.

Reflecting on India's recent success in T20 cricket, Dube stressed that the squad remains focused on future challenges rather than dwelling on past achievements. "For us, it's not important what we have done in the past. As a player, what our coach said to us is, You have to focus on the future. What we have done is past now. We are focusing on what we can do next," he added.

India requires 183 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match T20I series after Harshit Rana led the bowling effort with figures of 3/24, while Arshdeep Singh and Axar Patel picked up two wickets apiece.

The Hubballi leg gets underway with a double-header on Saturday, as Shivamogga Yodhas take on Kalyani Bengaluru Blasters in the afternoon before Mysore Warriors face Gulbarga Mystics in the evening fixture.

Shivamogga Yodhas captain Smaran R, whose side sits fourth on the points table with four points after two victories in Mysuru, said, "We are all really looking forward to the next leg of the tournament, and the morale in the team is very high. There have been many positives in the Mysore leg, and both our wins have come by big margins. It's important to stay consistent and stick to your process in long tournaments like this, but the team is feeling optimistic."

Shubhang Hegde, the tournament's current Purple Cap holder with seven wickets, whose Kalyani Bengaluru Blasters lead the points table with six points from four matches, said, "It's been a good start to the tournament for us, and we've seen contributions across the board. We're happy to go into the next leg of the tournament leading the points table, but there is still a long way to go. There's definitely an added sense of responsibility as captain, and I'm glad to have had an impact with bat and ball."

Gulbarga Mystics head into the Hubballi leg in third place with four points from four matches. Allrounder MacNeil Noronha said, "After a challenging start to the tournament, we've bounced back with two dominant victories. It's good to head into the next phase with points on the board. The confidence in the group has grown, and we're looking forward to the challenge ahead."

Chethan LR, the tournament's Orange Cap holder with 192 runs, including a century and a half-century, whose Mysore Warriors are currently sixth on the points table with two points, said, "I'm pleased to have found form early in the tournament, and I'm hoping to contribute more to the team's success. Playing at my home ground was a great experience, and the support from the crowd was fantastic. As a team, we are focusing on what we are doing well while also working on the areas that need improvement. We're all looking forward to the Hubballi leg of the tournament."

Second-placed Coastal Kings Mangaluru will be aiming to keep pace with the leaders after collecting five points from their opening four matches, while Hubli Tigers, currently fifth with three points, will look to climb the standings during the Hubballi leg.

Coming to bat first after India won the toss, Ireland made an aggressive start. Tim Tector wasted little time in getting going, smashing Arshdeep Singh for a six over square leg as Ireland collected 10 runs from the opening over.

Ross Adair then continued the attacking approach in the second over, driving Harshit Rana for two boundaries. However, Rana provided India with the breakthrough on the final delivery of the over when Adair edged behind to wicketkeeper Sanju Samson after a brisk 12 off just seven balls.

India struck again immediately as Arshdeep dismissed the in-form Harry Tector in the following over. The right-hander edged a delivery through to Samson without troubling the scorers significantly, leaving Ireland under early pressure.

Tim Tector attempted to keep the scoreboard moving with a couple of attractive strokes, but Rana deceived him with a well-disguised slower delivery. The opener departed for 17 from 12 balls, reducing Ireland to 32/3.

With three wickets down inside the Power-play, Ireland adopted a more cautious approach and reached 36/3 after six overs.

Benjamin Calitz briefly shifted the momentum by taking on Prasidh Krishna in the seventh over, launching two towering sixes to boost the scoring rate. His stay, however, was short-lived as Shivam Dube outfoxed him with a slower ball in the following over. Calitz made 15 from 11 deliveries.

Ireland found much-needed stability through skipper Lorcan Tucker and Gareth Delany, who rebuilt the innings with a well-balanced partnership. Tucker anchored the innings while Delany played the more aggressive role, ensuring the scoreboard continued to tick over through regular boundaries and smart strike rotation.

The pair steadily regained control before Tucker accelerated in style, collecting 16 runs from Axar Patel's 13th over to take Ireland past the 100-run mark.

The captain brought up his half-century in just 35 balls and looked set for a much bigger score before Harshit Rana returned to dismiss him with another slower delivery. Tucker's excellent knock of 50 from 36 balls featured five fours and two sixes.

Despite losing their captain, Ireland did not lose momentum. George Dockrell walked in with positive intent and immediately attacked Washington Sundar, hammering two sixes and two boundaries in a 19-run over.

Dockrell and Delany then produced the innings' biggest flourish against Prasidh Krishna, taking 27 runs from the 17th over through a combination of powerful hitting and clean timing, including three sixes and two fours. Axar Patel eventually broke the partnership by dismissing Dockrell for a quickfire 19 off 10 balls, an innings that included two fours and a six.

Delany continued to attack but fell heartbreakingly short of a deserved half-century. Attempting another big shot off Arshdeep Singh in the penultimate over, he was caught at deep backward square leg for 49 from 31 deliveries, having struck three fours and three sixes.

Ireland lost two more wickets in the final over, but their late assault ensured they finished on an imposing 182/9 from 20 overs.

Harshit Rana was India's standout bowler with impressive figures of 3/24 from his four overs. Arshdeep Singh claimed 2/36, while Axar Patel also picked up two wickets. Despite India's early success with the ball, Ireland's middle-order resilience and explosive finish gave the hosts a strong total to defend.

Brief scores:

Ireland 182/9 in 20 overs (Locran Tucker 50, Gerath Delany 49, George Dockrell 19; Harshit Rana 3-24, Arshdeep Singh 2-28, Axar Patel 2-33) against India

Cabo Verde have emerged as one of the tournament's biggest surprise packages. Making their World Cup debut, they have impressed in their opening two matches by earning hard-fought draws against tournament heavyweights Spain and Uruguay. Those results have left the African nation on the brink of a historic qualification, with just one win separating them from a place in the last 32.

Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, came into the contest after a difficult 4-0 defeat to reigning European champions Spain. Although the scoreline appeared one-sided, the Saudis were punished by Spain's clinical finishing and relentless attacking play, conceding three goals within the opening 25 minutes. Their overall performance was not without positives, but they struggled to cope with the pace and precision of the Spanish attack.

Despite that setback, Saudi Arabia remains firmly in contention for progression. Like Cabo Verde, they know that three points in this decisive encounter should be enough to book their place in the knockout stages, setting up a high-stakes battle between two teams chasing history.

How to watch Cabo Verde vs Saudi Arabia live in India:

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Key details

Date and kick-off time: Saturday, June 27, 5:30 AM IST

Venue: NRG Stadium, Houston

Referee: François Letexier

Squads:

Cabo Verde-

Goalkeepers: Vozinha, Marcio Rosa, C.J. dos Santos

Defenders: Diney Borges, Sidny Cabral, Logan Costa, Steven Moreira, Wagner Pina, Joao Paulo Fernandes, Roberto 'Pico' Lopes, Kelvin Pires, lLanique'Stopira' Tavares

Midfielders: Telmo Arcanjo, Laros Duarte, Deroy Duarte, Jamiro Monteiro, Kevin Pina, Yannick Semedo

Forwards: Gilson Benchimol, Jovane Cabral, Nuno da Costa, Dailon Livramento, Ryan Mendes, Garry Rodrigues, Willy Semedo, Helio Varela

Saudi Arabia -

Goalkeepers: Ahmed Al-Kassar, Mohammed Al-Owais, Nawaf Al-Aqidi

Defenders: Saud Abdulhamid, Mohammed Abu Al-Shamat, Khalid Al-Ghannam, Moteb Al-Harbi, Abdulelah Al-Amri, Nawaf Boushal, Hassan

Kadesh, Ali Lajami, Ali Majrashi, Hassan Tambakti, Jehad Thikri

Midfielders: Nasser Al-Dawsari, Alaa Al-Hajji, Ziyad Al-Johani, Musab Al-Juwayr, Abdullah Al-Khaibari, Mohammed Kanno, Sultan Mandash,

Ayman Yahya

Forwards: Feras Al-Brikan, Salem Al-Dawsari, Abdullah Al-Hamdan, Saleh Al-Shehri

Batting first, Chambal Ghariyals posted a competitive 213/8 in their allotted 20 overs. Openers Ankush Singh and Harsh Dixit provided a steady start, adding 39 runs for the first wicket in 3.6 overs before Ankush was dismissed for a brisk 29 off 14 deliveries.

Shubham Sharma then joined Dixit at the crease, and the pair stitched together a 42-run partnership for the second wicket. Dixit took the attacking route and dominated the stand, eventually falling just short of a half-century after scoring 48 off 24 balls.

Although several Chambal batters got starts, the side struggled to build substantial partnerships and continued to lose wickets at regular intervals. At 170/7 in the 18th over, the innings needed a strong finish, and Aman Bhadoriya stepped up to provide exactly that.

The all-rounder played a crucial late cameo, smashing 30 runs off just 14 deliveries to inject momentum into the innings and propel Chambal Ghariyals past the 200-run mark. His aggressive knock ensured the team finished with a challenging total on the board.

In reply, Jabalpur Royal Lions got off to a flying start as openers Aryan Tiwari and the in-form Ajay Rohera stitched together a superb 105-run partnership for the first wicket, putting their side firmly in control of the chase.

However, Chambal Ghariyals finally found the breakthrough in the 11th over when Aman Bhadoriya trapped Rohera in front of the stumps for a well-made 44 off 33 deliveries. The Lions suffered another setback soon after as PDP talent Vedant Awasthi was caught in the deep for 7 off 5 balls.

Tiwari then found support from Ritik Tada, but the partnership was short-lived. Tada attempted to accelerate the scoring but was dismissed for 14 off 8 deliveries after Avesh Khan pulled off a blinder in the deep, leaving the Lions at 127/3 in 12.5 overs. Skipper Rahul Batham then walked in to join Tiwari.

In a surprising tactical move, the Lions retired Tiwari after his solid knock of 51 off 34 balls and sent Sanjog Nijjar to the crease. The decision, however, did not have the desired impact as Jabalpur suffered another major setback when a mix-up in the middle resulted in Batham being run out for 7 off 7 deliveries.

With wickets continuing to fall around him, Nijjar fought a lone battle and kept the chase alive. The equation eventually came down to 20 runs required off the final over. Chambal captain handed the ball to Mayur Patel, and the spinner responded brilliantly under pressure. He conceded just eight runs in the over and also dismissed the dangerous Nijjar for 26 off 17, helping Chambal Ghariyals seal a memorable victory.

Patel finished with figures of 2/30 from his three overs, while Bhadoriya impressed with an economical spell of 1/22 from his four overs.

Reflecting on the win and his performance, Bhadoriya said, "It was a complete team effort. The plan from the dressing room was clear, we wanted to bat deep and take the game till the final overs. Although we couldn't quite finish the innings the way we wanted, getting past the 200-run mark gave us a strong platform. Personally, I'm very happy with my contribution because the team needed a big score and I was able to play my part. With the ball, I didn't start as well as I would have liked, but I knew I had to trust my skills and make a comeback. The wicket was offering some assistance for the spinners, and once I adjusted my lengths, things started falling into place."

"Reaching the final again is a great feeling, but our focus remains the same. We have one more game to go, and our aim is simple: to win the tournament and bring home the trophy," he concluded.

Harschit Damodharan and Akshat Bajaj have brought laurels for India that none have achieved so far -- finishing 1-2 in the Junior Men's Vault event at the 13th Senior and 19th Junior Men’s Artistic Gymnastics Asian Championships in Zunyi earlier this week.

Harschit Damodharan made history on June 23 by winning a gold medal in the Junior Men's Vault event, sending a shock wave through the field as not many had expected India to win a gold medal in one of the apparatus finals.

He won the gold medal in the vault final with a score of 13.649 points, while Akshat Bajaj won silver with 13.433. Uzbekistan's Bekzad Bakhtiyarov claimed the bronze medal with 13.283 points.

The news has come in as a breath of fresh air for Indian gymnastics, as international success has eluded the country at the junior level.

"History Created in Indian Gymnastics! For the first time, India has won a Gold Medal in Gymnastics, marking a historic milestone for Indian sports. This remarkable achievement reflects the rise of India’s sporting excellence, the dedication of our athletes, and the nation’s growing sporting culture," wrote Delhi BJP chief Virendraa Sachdeva in a social media post.

"A proud moment for every Indian!" said Sachdeva, who is also an EB member of World Archery Asia, Vice-President of Delhi Olympics, and Member, DDCA, in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

Indeed, Harschit Damodharan's gold has signalled the break of a new dawn in Indian gymnastics, which has produced some great results in the last decade.

Before this, the likes of Dipa Karmakar, Aruna Reddy, Ashish Kumar and Pranati Nayak have won medals at the senior level at the international level. Dipa, who won gold medals in the 2018 World Cup in Mersin and 2024 Asian Championships Tashkent, made the world sit up and take note by unleashing the Produnova at the Rio Olympic in 2016, before that Ashish made history by claiming a silver and bronze in the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi; Aruna Reddy won a bronze in the Artistic Gymnastics World Cup in Melbourne while Pranati Nayak has won multiple silver and bronze medals in the Asian Championships and FIG World Cups in the last couple of years.

But a gold medal has eluded them -- especially the male gymnasts -- at the international level. Harschit Damodharan made that breakthrough in Zunyi.

India's gold-silver finish was a first in the history of the continental championships, and the breakthrough moment for the country's junior gymnastics programme was highlighted by the Asian Gymnastics Union on its website.

"India produced one of the headline results of the junior finals with a one-two on vault, Harschit Damodharan (13.649) edging teammate Akshat Bajaj (13.433) for gold, the Continental federation said in a report on its official website.

Delhi's Home Minister Ashish Sood too hailed their achievements. Heartiest congratulations to Harschit Damodharan on creating history by winning the Gold Medal in the Junior Men’s Vault event at the Asian Artistic Gymnastics Championships. His remarkable achievement, along with India’s first-ever gold-silver finish in the event and a historic team bronze, is a proud moment for the nation. Wishing him continued success as he scales even greater heights and brings more glory to India," he wrote on X.

The achievement, coming on the back of the team's bronze medal finish on June 19, also highlighted the success of a training programme supported by the Odisha Government, of which both Damodharan and Bajaj are a part. The duo will now target medals in the senior events, including the 2030 Commonwealth Games and the 2036 Olympics that India is hoping to host.

Damodharan, who hails from Uttar Pradesh, raised hopes by topping the qualifying rounds and lived up to the expectations with a commanding display in the final. His opening handspring front double twist was rewarded with 13.866 points, while a solid Tsukahara 720 on his second attempt helped him finish with a solid score that eventually clinched the gold medal with 13.649.

Bajaj was not far behind as he perfectly executed Tsukahara 720 and Yurchenko 720 routines to a silver medal with an average of 13.433.

The stakeholders across Indian gymnastics will now be hoping that both Harschit Damodharan and Akshat Bajaj continue in the same vein and inspire many more dreams in the future.

Djokovic, on the hunt for a record eighth Wimbledon title, starts with China’s Wu Yibing and is predicted to face Stefanos Tsitsipas or Hugo Gaston in the second round. The Serbian then could take on Arthur Rinderknech in the third round, before coming up against either Andrey Rublev or Brazilian young prospect Joao Fonseca in round four, leading to a projected quarter-final clash against third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime.

World number one and defending champion Jannik Sinner opens his tournament against Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic and is projected to come up against Nuno Borges or Tristan Boyer in the second round. The Italian could then come up against Peruvian Ignacio Buse in round three before a potential clash with Spaniard Rafael Jodar or fellow Italian Luciano Darderi in the fourth round.

A blockbuster semifinal clash awaits between Sinner and Djokovic should both players make it through, with former US Open champion Daniil Medvedev projected to be the Russian’s quarterfinal opponent. Medvedev gets his tournament underway against 2017 finalist Marin Cilic.

In the other half of the men’s draw, French Open champion Alexander Zverev begins against Belgian Alexander Blockx. The German is seeded to face Matteo Arnaldi in the third round, Jiri Lehecka or Francisco Cerundolo in round four, before a likely quarter-final match-up with sixth seed Taylor Fritz.

However, the sixth seed has one of the toughest opening-round draws, having been drawn against Britain’s Jack Draper, who is returning to the ATP Tour this week at Eastbourne. The two-time Slam winner has a commanding 10-5 record over Zverev and has won the last seven matches between the two, including at Wimbledon in 2024 and Halle last month.

Elsewhere in the women’s draw, Serena Williams makes a return to Grand Slam singles action for the first time since the 2022 US Open after being handed a wildcard, her first since then. The 23-time Grand Slam champion opens against Australia’s emerging prospect Maya Jantchene, who is expected to shine in 2025 after winning WTA titles in Morocco and Eastbourne in 2025.

If Williams does advance, then a mouthwatering first-time meeting against defending champion Iga Swiatek awaits in the third round, with Philippines international Alexandra Eala being the second round match-up, according to the projection.

Swiatek opens her title defence against American Taylor Townsend, whilst world number one Aryna Sabalenka begins against qualifier Teodora Kostovic, and second seed Elena Rybakina faces Lois Boisson of France. Fourth seed Jessica Pegula opens against Czech qualifier Darja Vidmanova.

Elsewhere in the draw is home favourite Emma Raducanu, who opens her Wimbledon defence against Antonia Ruzic, and Naomi Osaka faces Elsa Jacquemot, Coco Gauff opens against Tamara Korpatsch, and Mirra Andreeva meets Magda Linette.

The projected women’s quarter-finals are: Sabalenka vs Andreeva, Pegula vs Gauff, Swiatek vs Elina Svitolina, and Rybakina vs Amanda Anisimova.