6 h. ago England hold nerve to beat India and seal Women’s Cricket World Cup semi

England, 288-8, bt India, 284-6, by four runsIndia fail to chase down target after Knight’s centuryEngland 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. Continue reading...

Politics

47 h. ago ‘I look up to her’: Phoebe Litchfield learning from captain Alyssa Healy at Women’s Cricket World Cup

Young gun inspired by Healy’s back-to-back centuries and 7,000 international runsAustralia has locked in semi-final place and next plays EnglandPhoebe Litchfield may go on to become an all-time batting star for Australia, but for the moment the young gun is simply enjoying the best view in the house as her fellow opener and skipper shows her the path to success.Litchfield watched in awe from the other end as Alyssa Healy first caned India on Sunday then Bangladesh on Wednesday for thrilling back-to-back centuries that have helped to push the champions into the semi-finals in their Women’s Cricket World Cup title defence. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Alyssa Healy hits another ton to power Australia into Women’s World Cup semi

Captain’s unbeaten 113 secures 10-wicket trouncing of BangladeshPhoebe Litchfield scores 84no; Alana King takes 2-18Alyssa Healy has completed superb back-to-back centuries to lead her Australian team into the semi-finals of the World Cup, inspiring them to a merciless 10-wicket trouncing of Bangladesh.Healy hit an unbeaten 113, coming just four days after her equally brilliant 142 that saw off hosts India at the same Visakhapatnam stadium, this time sharing an unbroken double-century opening partnership with Phoebe Litchfield (84no) to race to their target of 199 in just 24.5 overs. Continue reading...

Events

4 d. ago Women's World Cup: England failed to show up against Pakistan, says Nat Sciver

Lionesses’ match was abandoned due to bad weather

Events

4 d. ago Rain saves England at Women’s World Cup and ruins Pakistan hopes of historic win

England 133-9, Pakistan 34-0; match abandonedNat Sciver-Brunt admits England ‘weren’t good enough’Pakistan came agonisingly close to a first one-day international win against England in Colombo on Wednesday, reaching 34 without loss in pursuit of a DLS-adjusted target of 113 before torrential downpours curtailed their hopes of making history.England’s batting has lurched from one disaster to another during this World Cup – they had to be bailed out by Heather Knight against Bangladesh and by Nat Sciver-Brunt against Sri Lanka – and it looked like their frailties would return as they collapsed to 79 for seven in the opening 25 overs. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago England saved by the rain after Pakistan expose familiar flaws at Women’s World Cup

The weather intervened with Pakistan cruising towards victory having dismantled England with the ball

Society

4 d. ago England v Pakistan: Women’s Cricket World Cup match abandoned due to rain – as it happened

Pakistan outplayed England and were on course for an historic victory when the weather intervened in ColomboA bold leave by Beaumont, who flourishes bat aloft but hears the death rattle as the ball nips in beautifully and clocks the top of off stump.1st over: England 8-0 (Jones 8, Beaumont 0) Captain Fatima Sana with the new ball – her second delivery is turned by Jones off her ankles for four, and her last driven past a couple of stationary fielders for four more. Sana is not impressed. The palm trees peak through the gaps in the stands, not too many watching yet Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago England v Pakistan: Women’s Cricket World Cup match abandoned due to rain – live

Cricket World Cup game reduced to 31 overs a side Sign up for The Spin newsletter | And mail RobA bold leave by Beaumont, who flourishes bat aloft but hears the death rattle as the ball nips in beautifully and clocks the top of off stump.1st over: England 8-0 (Jones 8, Beaumont 0) Captain Fatima Sana with the new ball – her second delivery is turned by Jones off her ankles for four, and her last driven past a couple of stationary fielders for four more. Sana is not impressed. The palm trees peak through the gaps in the stands, not too many watching yet Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago England v Pakistan: Women’s Cricket World Cup game resumes after rain – live

Cricket World Cup game reduced to 31 overs a side Sign up for The Spin newsletter | And mail RobA bold leave by Beaumont, who flourishes bat aloft but hears the death rattle as the ball nips in beautifully and clocks the top of off stump.1st over: England 8-0 (Jones 8, Beaumont 0) Captain Fatima Sana with the new ball – her second delivery is turned by Jones off her ankles for four, and her last driven past a couple of stationary fielders for four more. Sana is not impressed. The palm trees peak through the gaps in the stands, not too many watching yet Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago England v Pakistan: Women’s Cricket World Cup game hit by rain – live

Updates from the World Cup match in Colombo Sign up for The Spin newsletter | And mail TanyaA bold leave by Beaumont, who flourishes bat aloft but hears the death rattle as the ball nips in beautifully and clocks the top of off stump.1st over: England 8-0 (Jones 8, Beaumont 0) Captain Fatima Sana with the new ball – her second delivery is turned by Jones off her ankles for four, and her last driven past a couple of stationary fielders for four more. Sana is not impressed. The palm trees peak through the gaps in the stands, not too many watching yet Continue reading...

Events

7 d. ago Alyssa Healy century powers Australia to record World Cup chase against India

Australia reached their 331 target with six balls to spare

Politics

9 d. ago Sports quiz of the week: Cole Palmer, Women’s Cricket World Cup and Cape Verde

Have you been following the big news in football, cricket, rugby, cycling, UFC, horse racing and the NFL? Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Women’s Cricket World Cup: Australia beat Pakistan by 107 runs – live

Updates from the ODI at R. Premadasa Stadium Play starts in Colombo at 10.30am BST/8.30pm AEDT Any thoughts? Get in touch with an email1st over: Australia 5-0 (Healy 1, Litchfield 4)I’m so pleased to see Colombo in the sunshine – it looks like a cracking day for cricket out there. Diana is bowling the first over for Pakistan and she starts with a good line and length and Healy is forced to defend the first couple of balls, before a wider one down the leg side appeals to Healy and she flicks it to deep backward square for a single, to give Litchfield her first look at Diana’s bowling. She also plays defensively for the first two balls she faces, then gets her footwork going and drives the last ball of the over to the boundary for four. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Women’s Cricket World Cup: Mooney rescues Australia before bowlers seal 107

Beth Mooney played one of the finest innings of her career before Australia’s bowlers saw off Pakistan1st over: Australia 5-0 (Healy 1, Litchfield 4)I’m so pleased to see Colombo in the sunshine – it looks like a cracking day for cricket out there. Diana is bowling the first over for Pakistan and she starts with a good line and length and Healy is forced to defend the first couple of balls, before a wider one down the leg side appeals to Healy and she flicks it to deep backward square for a single, to give Litchfield her first look at Diana’s bowling. She also plays defensively for the first two balls she faces, then gets her footwork going and drives the last ball of the over to the boundary for four. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago England edge past Bangladesh by four wickets: Women’s Cricket World Cup – live

Over-by-over news, play in Guwahati from 10.30am BST Get The Spin, our cricket newsletter | And email RobBell bounces back. Jhelik tries to force things against the quick after a couple of dots, coming down the pitch, but her loft down the ground is miscued to Sophia Dunkley at mid-off. England are up and running.4th over: Bangladesh 23-0 (Jhelik 4, Supta 17) Smith gets a closer look at Jhelik, who hasn’t had much of the strike. The left-armer sends down another over with little drama, conceding a couple. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago England chasing 179 to beat Bangladesh: Women’s Cricket World Cup – live

Over-by-over news, play in Guwahati from 10.30am BST Get The Spin, our cricket newsletter | And email RobBell bounces back. Jhelik tries to force things against the quick after a couple of dots, coming down the pitch, but her loft down the ground is miscued to Sophia Dunkley at mid-off. England are up and running.4th over: Bangladesh 23-0 (Jhelik 4, Supta 17) Smith gets a closer look at Jhelik, who hasn’t had much of the strike. The left-armer sends down another over with little drama, conceding a couple. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Women’s Cricket World Cup: Match between Australia and Sri Lanka abandoned – as it happened

Match abandoned without a ball bowled in ColomboFrom friend of the OBO Mrinal Asija, it seems like the lightning is not easing up in Colombo.At least someone is enjoying the rain delay – Phoebe Litchfield is always a vibe. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago England trounce South Africa in emphatic start to Women's Cricket World Cup

The Three Lions are quick off the mark in India

Politics

2 w. ago England make World Cup statement by dismantling South Africa in opener

Linsey Smith set the tone to back up the faith placed in the spinner as England won by 10 wickets after skittling South Africa for 69

Politics

2 w. ago Bangladesh tear through Pakistan to make outstanding start to Women’s Cricket World Cup

Pakistan were tied in knots by the Bangladesh spinners in Colombo

Politics