Sports

Jos Buttler hit the first century of the Twenty20 World Cup as England effectively booked their semi-final spot with a 26-run victory over Sri Lanka on Monday. Buttler’s unbeaten 101 — his maiden century in 86 T20 internationals — steered England to 163 for four after being invited to bat first in Sharjah. England bowlers led by Adil Rashid then …

ROME: Turning 40 hasn’t stopped Zlatan Ibrahimovic from being Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The ageless Sweden great, whose 40th birthday was on Oct 3, scored one goal and also drew a penalty that led to AC Milan’s second goal in a 2-1 win at Jose Mourinho’s AS Roma in Serie A on Sunday. Before he was substituted near the hour mark, Ibrahimovic …

The nationalization of Texas politics has created a challenge for Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who’s had to fend off criticism of his border security approach and endure former President Donald Trump’s insistence on election audits. Moderates and Democrats charge that Abbott has gone too far right with his conservative agenda. They decry his plan to finish Trump’s border wall, deplore the state’s new …

The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments Monday about the state’s new near-total-ban on abortion that experts expect will focus on the unique enforcement mechanism outlined in Senate Bill 8, rather than the constitutionality of abortion. Texans and others nationwide monitoring court challenges of the new law have a lot of questions: Is Roe v. Wade at …

DUBAI: Skipper Aaron Finch said Australia will take two days off “to recharge the batteries” after suffering a brutal eight-wicket defeat to England in the Twenty20 World Cup on Saturday. Eoin Morgan’s England handed Australia their first loss — out of three — of the Super 12 stage after bowling them out for 125 in Dubai. England opener Jos Buttler smashed an …

New Zealand inflicted a crushing eight-wicket defeat on India at the T20 World Cup on Sunday and put the tournament favourite on the brink of elimination. India’s much-trumpeted batsmen flopped for the second time after a 10-wicket defeat to Pakistan, reaching only 110-7 after New Zealand chose to bowl. Daryl Mitchell (49) and captain Kane Williamson (33 not out) eased New …

India are struggling from ‘bubble fatigue’ amid the Covid-19 pandemic and the players are feeling the effects of being on the road for six months, fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah said after their second loss at the Twenty20 World Cup. India slumped to fifth in Group II after losing to New Zealand by eight wickets in the Super 12 stage on Sunday and …

DHAKA: Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has been ruled out of the Twenty20 World Cup with a hamstring injury, the country’s cricket board said on Sunday. “Shakib sustained a left lower hamstring strain while fielding during the match against the West Indies,” the team’s doctor, Debashis Chowdhury, said in a statement. “He is ruled out from participation in the last …

SHARJAH: England have been tipped as contenders to win the Twenty20 World Cup after their three crushing wins in the Super 12 stage, and leg-spinner Adil Rashid said on Sunday there will be no let-up in intensity when they take on Sri Lanka next. Eoin Morgan’s men have the chance to become world champions in both forms of white ball cricket, and …

Virat Kohli’s India started the Twenty20 World Cup as favourites but their semi-final hopes are hanging by a thread after two losses, the latest an eight-wicket defeat to New Zealand. AFP Sport looks at where it is all going wrong for India, who suffered a 10-wicket humiliation to arch-rivals Pakistan in their first match. Batting flop India’s famed batting line-up limped to a …