SportsNews
Steve Smith rewrites record books during spin-tackling masterclass at Galle against Sri Lanka

Published
1 month agoon
By
Ekwutos Blog
Galle [Sri Lanka], February 8 (ANI): Star Australian batter Steve Smith re-wrote record books with another brilliant century against Sri Lanka during the second Test at Galle.
On Friday, Smith put on a masterclass in playing spin, ending day two at 120* in 239 balls, with nine fours and a six, putting Aussies in a commanding position.
With his century, Smith surpassed legendary Australian batter and former captain Ricky Ponting to be the team’s leading run-getter in Asia. In 24 Tests in Asia, Smith has scored 1,983 runs at an average of 53.59, with seven centuries and eight fifties in 42 innings and best score of 178*.
Ponting slid down to second, with 1,889 runs in 28 matches and 48 innings, which includes five centuries and 10 fifties. His best score in Asian conditions is 150.
Smith is also the sixth Aussie to reach the 17,000 international runs mark. In 348 international matches, he has scored 17,016 runs at an average of 48.06, with 48 centuries and 80 fifties. His best score is 239. At the top of the run-scoring charts is Ponting, with 27,368 runs in 559 international matches and 667 innings at an average of 45.84. This included 7 centuries and 146 fifties, with the best score of 257.
With 36 Test tons, Smith has now joined England’s Joe Root and Indian legend Rahul Dravid as joint-fifth-highest century maker in Tests.
Also, this is Smith’s 17th Test century away from home, equalling with West Indies great Brian Lara and outdoing Indian batting icon Virat Kohli (16 centuries). Sachin Tendulkar (29) has most Test centuries away from home. This is his seventh century in Asia, joining New Zealand’s Kane Williamson and Root as the third-highest century-maker in Tests in Asia, with Alastair Cook, former England opener, at the top with nine tons in Asia.
Smith has centuries in four successive Tests now, starting from the fourth Test against India, a Boxing Day clash at Melbourne. Once sitting outside the top 10 of ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 run-getters, Smith is now at sixth spot. In 19 Tests, he has scored 1,313 runs at an average of 42.35, with five centuries and four fifties. His best score is 141.
Coming to the match, Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to bat first. Half-centuries from Kusal Mendis (85 in 139 balls, with 10 fours and a six) and Dinesh Chandimal (74 in 163 balls, with six fours and a six) took Sri Lanka to 257 in 97.4 overs.
Mitchell Starc (3/27), Matthew Kuhnemann (3/63), and Nathan Lyon (3/96) were top wicket-takers for Australia.
In their first innings, Australia lost Travis Head (21), Marnus Labuschagne (4), and Usman Khawaja (36) early, leaving the team struggling at 91/3. However, centuries from Alex Carey (139* in 156 balls, with 13 fours and two sixes) and Smith (120* in 239 balls, with nine fours and a six) took Australia to 330/3 at the end of day two, leading by 73 runs. (ANI)
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info
).

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SportsNews
Bruno Fernandes hat-trick keeps Manchester United’s Europa League hopes alive

Published
3 days agoon
March 14, 2025By
Ekwutos Blog
Manchester [UK], March 14 (ANI): Bruno Fernandes delivered a captain’s performance, scoring a hat-trick as Manchester United secured a 4-1 victory over Real Sociedad at Old Trafford, sealing a 5-2 aggregate win to reach the Europa League quarter-finals, according to Sky Sports.
United faced an early scare when Mikel Oyarzabal converted a penalty, momentarily threatening their progress. However, Fernandes responded with two penalties of his own–one in each half–turning the tide in United’s favour. Real Sociedad‘s task became even more difficult when substitute Jon Aramburu was sent off for a foul on the lively Patrick Dorgu. Fernandes then completed his hat-trick before Diogo Dalot added a fourth in stoppage time, putting the tie beyond doubt.
Ruben Amorim’s side will now face Lyon in the last eight, keeping their hopes of European silverware alive. This victory came in the same week United announced plans for a new 100,000-seater stadium, with chief executive Omar Berrada assuring fans that financial backing for Amorim would remain intact regardless of European qualification.
Amorim has emphasized how the Europa League could inject fresh energy into his squad as they push for a strong finish to the season, and United’s performance reflected that ambition. Playing with a higher tempo than in recent months, the team showed urgency and intent, much to the delight of the Old Trafford faithful.
Fernandes was undoubtedly the standout performer, netting just his second hat-trick in a United shirt. However, several other players also rose to the occasion. Casemiro built on his strong display against Arsenal, while Dorgu, a former Lecce player, demonstrated the attacking threat a wing-back can offer in Amorim’s system. He won United’s second penalty and was later fouled in the incident that led to Aramburu’s dismissal.
Joshua Zirkzee, who has endured a challenging start to his United career since joining from Bologna, provided a glimpse of his potential. His perfectly weighted pass to Dorgu set up the red card incident, and he thrived in the No. 10 role. Rasmus Hojlund, who won the first penalty after being brought down in the box, had chances to get on the scoresheet himself but ultimately left the field satisfied with the team’s dominant win.
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandesspeaking told TNT Sports, “[Hojlund is] a striker. It’s all about goals, he’s going to be criticised for not scoring but in the dressing room, we want him to score as many as he can,” as quoted from Sky Sports.
“He got the penalty for the first goal, for my third he took the defender with him. There are a lot of things he does which don’t get seen from the outside world, but we see it,” he added.
“We see how much he wants to work and score, and I’m sure the goals will come,” he noted.
“With the results, the performances, when you start getting a little bit more confident, it’s a big thing in football and at this club – even more,” he said.
“It’s all about winning at this club. We need to win games, and this competition, there’s no other option,” he emphasized.
“We have a long way to go still, but we’re confident if we focus on every game we have ahead, we can win games,” he noted.
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim said in the press conference, “It’s not just [what he brings to] the team, it’s the club. We already spoke about Bruno a lot of times,” as quoted from Sky Sports.
“We know that he’s frustrated. We know that he wants to win so bad. Sometimes, when we’re not playing well, he changes position and goes after the ball,” he added.
“Sometimes, he needs to trust a little bit more in his teammates to allow them to do their job and help him to play better,” he said.
“When we need him, he’s always there. He can change position. He can bring the ball forward. He can score goals. He can make transitions like he showed today,” he noted.
“In the last 10 minutes of the game, he can defend. He’s a perfect captain for our team. We need to help him to win titles because he’s a legend,” he said.
There was a moment of sportsmanship late in the game when United thought they had won a third penalty after Hamari Traore’s tackle on Dorgu. However, the referee overturned the decision, with Dorgu himself admitting Traore had fairly won the ball.
“It depends. It’s the right thing to do. I’m quite proud of him. I cannot say if he’s 0-0 or losing if I have the same response,” Amorim said on this matter, as quoted from Sky Sports.
“He did well. He did a great performance. He was improving during the game. He’s learning a lot in that position. He has the physicality. He’s clearly able to play in our league. It was a good game and a good action from Dorgu,” he added. (ANI)
SportsNews
PSG Triumphs Over Liverpool In Dramatic Penalty Shoot-Out

Published
4 days agoon
March 12, 2025By
Ekwutos Blog
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) secured their spot in the Champions League quarter-finals on Tuesday after a thrilling 4-1 penalty shoot-out victory against Liverpool.
Trailing 1-0 from the first leg in Paris, PSG leveled the tie on aggregate with an early goal from Ousmane Dembele at Anfield.
Despite numerous chances, the match remained deadlocked after 90 minutes and extra time, leading to a decisive shoot-out.
PSG’s goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma emerged as the hero, saving penalties from Darwin Nunez and Curtis Jones.
Meanwhile, Vitinha, Goncalo Ramos, Dembele, and Desire Doue successfully converted their penalties for PSG, ensuring their progression to the next round.
The French champions, who have yet to win the competition, now look forward to a quarter-final clash against either Aston Villa or Club Brugge.
Aston Villa, leading 3-1 from the first leg, will host Club Brugge on Wednesday to determine who will face PSG in the quarter-finals.
The victory marks a significant achievement for PSG as they continue their quest for their first Champions League title.
SportsNews
IML: Lara, Simmons shine as West Indies Masters cruise to semis with win over South Africa Masters

Published
5 days agoon
March 12, 2025By
Ekwutos Blog
Raipur (Chhattisgarh) [India], March 12 (ANI): It was a night soaked in nostalgia as the West Indies Masters banked on the all-round brilliance of centurion Lendl Simmons, Brian Lara and Ravi Rampaul’s five-wicket blast to ensure their qualification for the semifinals of the International Masters League (IML) 2025, with a 29-run victory over South Africa Masters here on Tuesday.
Put in to bat against a formidable South Africa Masters attack led by Jacques Kallis and Makhaya Ntini, the Caribbean flair was on full display, as Lendl Simmons (108), skipper Brian Lara (29) and later Chadwick Walton (38 not out) rolled back the years, evoking memories of West Indies’ golden era with a scintillating batting display to put up 200/5, turning the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium into a theatre of cricketing brilliance.
After a shaky start that saw Dwayne Smith (5) and William Perkins (5) depart early off Garnett Kruger, Simmons and Lara took center stage, unleashing a masterclass in stroke-making to stage a spectacular recovery with a 125-run partnership for the third wicket. Simmons, ever the aggressor, blazed to a 31-ball fifty, setting the tone with fearless hitting, while Lara, ever the artist, elegantly painted his masterpiece. The Prince of Trinidad, content playing second fiddle early on, flicked the switch in style–launching Alviro Petersen for a towering six and a crisp boundary in consecutive deliveries, signalling his intent.
Simmons continued to dazzle, racing to his century in just 54 balls, dispatching Thandi Tshabalala to all parts with a six and a four before calmly taking a single to bring up a well-deserved hundred.
But just as the duo threatened to take the game away from the grasp of the South Africa Masters, Ntini infused life back into the contest by ending Simmons’ 59-ball knock, laced with 13 fours and five massive sixes, and new man Ashley Nurse off consecutive deliveries.
Ryan McLaren then struck with the prized scalp of Lara for 29 off 34 deliveries after the southpaw steered the West Indies Masters’ recovery. Despite the setbacks, Walton was in his elements, providing the much-needed impetus to the innings with six gigantic sixes to help the West Indies Masters reach the 200-run mark.
South Africa Masters’ chase began in explosive fashion, with wicketkeeper Richard Levi’s breezy 44 setting the tone. However, the early momentum was short-lived as the loss of three quick wickets derailed their progress, putting the Proteas on the backfoot. Enter Jacques Kallis and Jacques Rudolph, who steadied the innings with a crucial 78-run stand, reigniting South Africa’s hopes of a successful chase.
With both batters matching each other shot for shot, the game seemed to be slipping away from West Indies Masters. But when the Proteas looked in control, Lendl Simmons produced a game-changing moment, breaking the partnership by dismissing Rudolph for a well-compiled 39 off 34 balls, studded with four boundaries.
Sensing an opportunity, Rampaul returned for a second spell, and what followed was nothing short of dramatic. In the space of just five deliveries, the experienced seamer ripped through the South Africa Masters middle order, claiming the prized wickets of Kallis (45), Farhaan Behardien, and Dane Vilas, adding to his earlier scalp of Hashim Amla (3). Rampaul returned to complete the five-wicket haul in his final over, with the scalp of Ryan McLaren as the Proteas eventually ended on 171/8.
With that loss, the South Africa Masters’ campaign came to a disappointing end.
Brief Scores: West Indies Masters 200/5 (Lendl Simmons 108, Chadwick Walton 38 not out, Brian Lara 29; Garnett Kruger 2/14, Makhaya Ntini 2/34) beat South Africa Masters 171/8 (Jacques Kallis 45, Richard Levi 44, Jacques Rudolph 39; Ravi Rampaul 5/26) by 29 runs. (ANI)

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