Sports — International

Captain America Trout powers USA into World Baseball quarters

Miami, United States (AFP) — US captain Mike Trout drove in all three runs as the United States defeated Colombia 3-2 on Wednesday to book their place in the quarter-finals of the World Baseball Classic. Los Angeles Angels outfielder Trout — one of the figureheads of a star-studded US line-up — knocked in singles in the third and fifth innings to send the US into the last eight. The Americans, who have recovered after being […]

Bucks seal NBA playoff berth, Nuggets fall again

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — The Milwaukee Bucks became the first team to clinch an NBA playoff place on Tuesday after holding off a late rally from the Phoenix Suns to complete a 116-104 road victory in Arizona. Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 36 points with 11 rebounds and eight assists as the Bucks brought up their 50th win of the regular season to cement their grip on first place at the top of the Eastern […]

‘Once-in-a-lifetime’ Ohtani has World Baseball semis in his sights

by Andrew MCKIRDY Agence France-Presse TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani has been having a ball at the World Baseball Classic and is determined not to let Italy wipe the smile off his face in Thursday’s quarter-final. Japan won all four of their first-round games in Tokyo and Ohtani appears to be relishing playing in his home country for the first time in five years. The Los Angeles Angels ace can be seen […]

Trout blast puts US back on track at World Baseball Classic

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Mike Trout smashed a three-run home run as the USA bounced back from their shock defeat to Mexico to rout Canada 12-1 in their World Baseball Classic pool game on Monday. The star-studded US team were left reeling on Sunday after an 11-5 drubbing by Mexico that left the defending champions flirting with the possibility of first-round elimination. But a resounding win over Canada at Chase Field in Phoenix […]

Wimbledon champion Rybakina advances at Indian Wells, Fritz breezes

by Rebecca BRYAN Agence France-Presse INDIAN WELLS, United States (AFP) — Reigning Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina punched her ticket to the fourth round at Indian Wells on Monday with a 6-3, 7-5 victory over former champion Paula Badosa. Rybakina, ranked 10th in the world after a runner-up finish to Aryna Sabalenka at the Australian Open in January, had lost her last three matches against Badosa. She said a solid service game and the upper hand […]

Ohtani sounds warning after Japan reach baseball quarter-finals

by Andrew MCKIRDY Agence France-Presse TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani hit his first home run of the World Baseball Classic in Sunday’s win over Australia, then warned quarter-final opponents Italy that his unbeaten team “can score runs from anywhere”. Facing only his second pitch of the game, Ohtani blasted a huge three-run shot that almost hit an advertising board with his own face on it, setting Japan on their way to a […]

BBC sport output in chaos as Lineker taken off air in asylum row

London, United Kingdom | AFP | Saturday 3/11/2023 by James PHEBY The BBC’s sport service was in meltdown on Saturday after pundits and commentators refused to work in support of presenter Gary Lineker, who was forced to “step back” after accusing the government of using Nazi-era rhetoric. Match of the Day presenter Lineker, England’s fourth most prolific goalscorer, sparked an impartiality row by criticising the British government’s new policy on tackling illegal immigration. The 62-year-old […]

Brilliant Embiid leads Sixers comeback, Denver fall again

  Los Angeles, United States | AFP | Saturday 3/11/2023 Joel Embiid scored 39 points and drained a superb game-winning jump shot with less than two seconds remaining as the Philadelphia 76ers completed a dramatic 120-119 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday. The Sixers looked to be heading for defeat after trailing by 21 points in the second quarter, and were down by 13 with less than six minutes remaining in the final […]

NRL vows to get rid of racism after Australian rugby player abused

Sydney, Australia (AFP) — Australia’s National Rugby League vowed Friday to rid the sport of racism after South Sydney’s Indigenous fullback Latrell Mitchell was racially abused. A slur was hurled from the crowd as the 25-year-old left the field at half-time during a 16-10 defeat at the Penrith Panthers on Thursday. NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo, who told reporters that the governing body is working with police to establish the full facts, called any abuse […]

No Giannis, no problem as Bucks sink Orlando; Sixers down Wolves

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — The Milwaukee Bucks shrugged off the injury absence of Giannis Antetokounmpo to tighten their grip on top spot in the Eastern Conference on Tuesday with a 134-123 defeat of the Orlando Magic. The Bucks moved 2.5 games clear of the Boston Celtics at the top of the standings with a clinical offensive display that saw Brook Lopez, Khris Middleton and Jevon Carter share the scoring around. Lopez finished with […]

Cavs sink Celtics in overtime, Sixers roll on

CLEVELAND, United States (AFP) — Donovan Mitchell poured in 40 points as the Cleveland Cavaliers sent the Boston Celtics spinning to a third straight defeat in a heavyweight clash of the Eastern Conference rivals on Monday. Boston’s Grant Williams missed two free throws with less than a second left on the clock that would have given the Celtics victory before the Cavs escaped to win 118-114 in overtime. A depleted Boston missing stars Jayson Tatum, […]

Durant dazzles as Suns sink Mavericks

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Kevin Durant produced a 37-point masterpiece as the Phoenix Suns defeated the Dallas Mavericks while Steph Curry’s return from injury was not enough to prevent Golden State falling to the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA on Sunday. A packed slate of NBA games featured two heavyweight fixtures in the Western Conference, with Durant going up against former Brooklyn team-mate Kyrie Irving as the Suns traveled to Dallas where […]