England hold nerve to beat India and seal Women’s Cricket World Cup semi-final spot
England won a last-over thriller against India at Indore on Sunday to seal their place in the World Cup semi-finals, holding two crucial catches at the death to defend 288 and win by just four runs.Earlier Heather Knight’s third ODI century in her 300th international set up the exciting finale.India were left needing 27 off 18 but, defying England’s recent reputation of falling to pieces under pressure, Linsey Smith conceded just four runs from the 48th over and then defended 14 off the last to ensure England came out on top.Smith had earlier taken the crucial wicket of Smriti Mandhana, whose 88 from 94 balls looked to be taking India to a straightforward victory until, hobbling with cramp caused by the sweltering humidity, the Indian vice-captain sent a catch into the hands of long-off with 55 runs still needed.Still, with six wickets in hand, the match was India’s to lose, and their clutch all-rounder Deepti Sharma hit just enough boundaries to keep them in touch, bringing up her half-century in the 46th over.
But Richa Ghosh holed out to Knight at cover the very next ball, before Deepti herself slog-swept into the hands of Sophia Dunkley at deep midwicket in the next over, leaving too much for Amanjot Kaur and Sneh Rana to do.Tournament hosts India are now fighting it out with New Zealand for the fourth semi-final spot and will need to beat the White Ferns on Thursday – plus avoid defeat in their final match against Bangladesh – to be sure of qualification.“I can’t quite comprehend what’s just happened,” Smith told Sky Sports.“The fight that we showed at the end there was amazing.For me, it was trying not to overcomplicate it too much.
I’ve been practising that death plan all week, trying to bowl a tight line into their heels.”With both teams still pushing for a place in the semi-finals, this was the tournament’s standout crunch match to date, and the capacity Indore crowd were treated to a nailbiter – albeit not the result they had been hoping for.Knight’s century enabled England to post 288 after choosing to bat first.“I was desperate to put in a statement performance on a big-cap occasion and I’m really pleased that I did that,” Knight told Sky Sports.It was a formidable total that would have required India to pull off a record run-chase – but nonetheless there was a feeling that England had undershot on a very good batting track.
Knight’s run-out in the 45th over, wrongly chancing the arm of Amanjot Kaur at deep square leg, proved to be the catalyst for a very on-brand collapse: England lost five wickets for 31 runs and what should have been a 300+ total crashed and burned.The head coach, Charlotte Edwards, who had chosen to keep the faith with her established lineup despite unconvincing showings against Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan, might well have raised an eyebrow in the dugout.Sign up to The SpinSubscribe to our cricket newsletter for our writers' thoughts on the biggest stories and a review of the week’s actionafter newsletter promotionDeepti finished with a return of four for 51, seeing off both Alice Capsey and Emma Lamb in successive overs at the death.The Capsey dismissal was a smart piece of cricket to a poor piece of decision-making: Deepti spotted the batter’s pre-meditated reverse, adjusted her line, and tangled her up so much that the ball ended up in the hands of cover.Earlier, India’s swing-queen Renuka Singh Thakur – brought back into the XI for this match due to England’s recent struggles against new-ball movement – had been unlucky to finish wicketless after a hooping five-over opening spell.
Instead, it was Deepti who broke England’s 73-run opening partnership in her first over of the day, bowling Tammy Beaumont round her legs.However, England’s tormentor with the ball could not quite finish the job with the bat.“I’m so, so happy,” a relieved Nat Sciver-Brunt told Sky Sports.“We haven’t really been tested towards the end of our innings with the ball.Everyone showed how calm they were and were really clear in what they wanted to do.
”Meanwhile her opposite number, Harmanpreet Kaur, will be as much under pressure as ever, despite her own run-a-ball 70 in Indore.India once again failed to use the DRS system effectively: twice in the England innings they reviewed on-field decisions which replays showed were drifting down leg, taking their tally of unsuccessful reviews up to eight.It might not have cost them the match against England but if the trend continues it could yet cost them a place in the semi-finals.
Ex-NFL star Doug Martin dies aged 36 after reported struggle with police
Former NFL All-Pro running back and Boise State star Doug Martin is dead at the age of 36, his family said in a statement on Sunday.TMZ and FOX were among the media organizations to confirm the news with people close to Martin. A statement from his family provided to FOX read: “It is with great sadness to inform you all that Doug Martin passed away Saturday morning. Cause of death is currently unconfirmed. Please respect our privacy at this time
‘For sure, the chance is there’: Max Verstappen hopeful he can retain F1 title
Max Verstappen is convinced that he is now very much in the fight for the world championship after his victory at the US Grand Prix. Following a dominant win in Austin the Red Bull driver was adamant he could still yet take his fifth title and was enthused at the chance to do so.Verstappen won with a flawless drive from pole to flag at the Circuit of the Americas, and in so doing narrowed the gap to the championship leader Oscar Piastri to 40 points. In what is now a three-way title battle Lando Norris, who took second place, is just 14 points off Piastri.Until this weekend Verstappen has been very circumspect in assessing his chances of competing for the title, despite winning two of the previous three races
Formula One: United States Grand Prix – as it happened
So while the anthems play (side note: quite a few Mexican flags in the stands), we’ll sign off. Thanks for following along with us today through a race in which first place was never in doubt but the intrigue up and down the standings was palpable.Next week: A little ways farther south – Mexico.To be clear – if Piastri can get back into form and average third or maybe even fourth place the rest of the way, he’ll likely hang on to the lead over Verstappen. Norris has less margin for error
Verstappen cruises to victory in F1 US Grand Prix to pile pressure on McLaren
Dominant, untouchable and bearing a broad, beaming grin in the Texas sunshine, the transformation in Max Verstappen after he took victory at the US Grand Prix could not have been starker.The disillusioned and dissatisfied driver who felt his title defence was long over has, against all the odds and indeed his own expectations, restaked his claim as a genuine contender in a deliciously tight Formula One world championship battle. Little wonder there were smiles, Verstappen knows he is back in the fight.Verstappen beat title rival Lando Norris into second and with Norris’s McLaren teammate, and championship leader, Oscar Piastri managing only fifth from sixth on the grid, the meeting in Austin has set up an enormously tense run-in as the season enters its final five meetings. Norris has now closed to within just 14 points of his teammate
NFL week seven: Eagles beat Vikings, Chiefs crush Raiders and Rams rout Jaguars – as it happened
That is it from me then. Matthew Stafford’s five touchdown passes for the Rams has to be the outstanding performance of the day. To do it without his star receiver in Puka Nacua makes it even more impressive. The QB ended up finding 10 different pass catchers in Nacua’s absence. True offensive wizardry from Sean McVay, these Rams will be eyeing the postseason
England invite Noah Caluori to training after sparkling five-try Prem debut
Noah Caluori, the 19-year-old Saracens wing, has been invited to train with England by the head coach, Steve Borthwick, after an incredible five-try barrage against Sale in his first start in the Prem on Saturday.A 36-man training squad has been named to prepare for the upcoming autumn internationals, with Tom Willis the most notable omission by Borthwick after the No 8’s decision to return to play in France.The supremely talented Caluori, however, was the 37th name on Borthwick’s list as his players gathered at Pennyhill Park on Sunday night to prepare for Australia’s visit to Twickenham on 1 November. “As part of a development agreement with Saracens Noah Caluori will join the squad for training,” the RFU said.Forwards Fin Baxter (Harlequins), Ollie Chessum (Leicester), Alex Coles (Northampton), Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale), Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins), Theo Dan (Saracens), Ben Earl (Saracens), Ellis Genge (Bristol), Jamie George (Saracens), Joe Heyes (Leicester), Emeka Ilione (Leicester), Maro Itoje (Saracens), Nick Isiekwe (Saracens), Asher Opoku-Fordjour (Sale), Guy Pepper (Bath), Henry Pollock (Northampton), Bevan Rodd (Sale), Will Stuart (Bath), Sam Underhill (Bath)
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