New Zealand’s Ferguson says ‘we all start from zero’ in India semifinal

(From left to right) New Zealand's Lockie Ferguson, Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra play football during a practice session ahead of the ICC Cricket World Cup Semi-Final at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on November 13, 2023. (REUTERS)
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Updated 13 November 2023
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New Zealand’s Ferguson says ‘we all start from zero’ in India semifinal

  • Tournament hosts India have been the in-form side of the 10-team event, winning all nine of their group matches
  • New Zealand won their opening four games of round-robin stage only to lose next four before victory over Sri Lanka

MUMBAI: Lockie Ferguson insisted New Zealand’s rocky road to a World Cup semifinal against in-form India in Mumbai on Wednesday was of no concern as “we all start from zero again.”

Tournament hosts India have been the in-form side of the 10-team event, winning all nine of their group matches, as they bid for a third World Cup title and second on home soil following their 2011 final triumph over Sri Lanka in Mumbai.

New Zealand by contrast, won their opening four games of the round-robin stage only to lose the next four before ending pool play with a five-wicket victory over Sri Lanka.

The Blackcaps may not have yet won a men’s one-day international World Cup but they are proven tournament performers, having reached both the 2015 and 2019 finals, with Wednesday’s match their ninth semifinal appearance in the 13-edition history of the competition.

“We had a couple of close games I guess that didn’t quite go our way,” New Zealand fast bowler Ferguson told reporters at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium on Monday.

“And a rain-affected one (where New Zealand were beaten on the DLS method by Pakistan despite scoring over 400 themselves).”

He added: “But I guess from our point of view those nine games have got us to this position and we kind of all start from zero again. So come Wednesday, it’ll be a good challenge.”

India have steamrollered several opponents on their way to a last-four clash at captain Rohit Sharma’s home ground.

But they were made to work for their four-wicket win over New Zealand, with Daryl Mitchell scoring 130 in a total of 273, before India made 274-6 in reply to win with two overs to spare.

New Zealand might have scored over 300 had it not been for in-form paceman Mohammed Shami’s return of 5-54.

“It’s a strong attack,” said Ferguson, who played alongside Shami at Indian Premier League side Gujarat.

But Ferguson, top of New Zealand’s tournament bowling averages with 10 wickets at under 24 apiece, said: “I think all four teams in the knockout stages (Australia and South Africa meet in Thursday’s second semifinal in Kolkata) have got a very good pace attack, with good spinners.”

He added: “It was a hard-fought game (against India).

“Playing India, there’s a lot of ebbs and flows. It’s not going to be any different come this game. We’ve just got to tighten up as much as we can.”

New Zealand caused India’s World Cup downfall in England four years ago, winning by just 18 runs in a Manchester semifinal spanning two days because of rain.

“I’ve never played a one-day game over two days, it was literally not even in the title,” said the 32-year-old Ferguson, one of several survivors from that match who are set to be involved in this week’s last-four clash.

“That was obviously very pleasing for us at the time but four years have gone past, we’ve played a lot of cricket in between and both teams I’m sure are raring to go come Wednesday.”


King, Carty tons as West Indies thrash England

Updated 07 November 2024
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King, Carty tons as West Indies thrash England

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: Brandon King and Keacy Carty blasted centuries as the West Indies scored a series-clinching eight-wicket victory over England in the third and final game of their One-Day International series at Kensington Oval on Wednesday.
Replying to the visitors’ total of 263 for eight, King and Carty featured in a second-wicket stand of 209, the duo making light of what could have been a daunting task following the early loss of Evin Lewis.
King fell for 102 with victory in sight but Carty finished on an unbeaten 128 after hitting the winning boundary as West Indies coasted home on 267 for two with seven overs to spare.
Carty’s maiden ODI century spanned 114 balls and was highlighted by 15 fours and two sixes.
King stroked 13 fours and one six off 117 balls.
“I’ve been getting a few starts without carrying on so I’m grateful that it all came together in such a crucial match,” said King. “It was a fantastic innings by Keacy. He started fluently and was batting better than me most times.”
Earlier, England were indebted to Phil Salt’s top-score of 74 as he averted a complete collapse after the tourists slumped to 24 for four after being put in.
He finally got support from the lower order as Sam Curran contributed 40 while Dan Mousley stroked his way to 57 in successive 70-run partnerships with the pugnacious opener.
Salt’s innings off 108 balls (four fours, one six) was ended by the superb athleticism of King, who leapt high at the midwicket boundary to prevent a six and then relayed the ball to waiting teammate Alzarri Joseph before falling over the boundary rope.
Quickfire 30s from Jamie Overton and Jofra Archer led the plundering of 100 runs off the final ten overs with part-timer Sherfane Rutherford, brought on to complete the spell of the hobbled Romario Shepherd, suffering the most as 57 runs were plastered off his 3.5 overs.
In contrast, seamer Matthew Forde was the epitome of consistency and economy in claiming three for 35 from his ten overs while Joseph and Shepherd took two wickets each.
West Indies’ 2-1 series triumph over the English was a repeat of their success 11 months earlier in the Caribbean as the teams shared the first two matches in Antigua before the home side prevailed in the decider in Barbados.
Personnel adjustments to the two squads will now take place as they remain in Barbados for the first two T20 Internationals of a five-match series at the weekend.


Barcelona, Inter and upstart Brest win again in Champions League

Updated 07 November 2024
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Barcelona, Inter and upstart Brest win again in Champions League

  • Paris Saint-Germain, in their first season without Kylian Mbappe, trail far behind in 25th after Atletico Madrid scored in stoppage time to seal a 2-1 win for the Spanish team
  • Atalanta won 2-0 at Stuttgart to stay unbeaten on eight points and Salzburg got their first goals and points in a 3-1 win at Feyenoord

LONDON: Barcelona and Inter Milan won again in the Champions League on Wednesday though both former title holders are looking up in the standings toward upstart newcomer Brest.

Aston Villa started the week atop the 36-team table but their winning run ended after a bizarre penalty was awarded when defender Tyrone Mings picked up the ball in the area at Club Brugge, resulting in a 1-0 loss that sent the English club plummeting to eighth place.

Paris Saint-Germain, in their first season without Kylian Mbappe, trail far behind in 25th after Atletico Madrid scored in stoppage time to seal a 2-1 win for the Spanish team at Parc des Princes.

Barcelona’s blistering scoring form continued in a 5-2 win at Red Star Belgrade — a seventh straight win since the start of October at a rate of four goals per game. Robert Lewandowski scored twice and has 21 this season.

Inter Milan stifled Arsenal in a 1-0 win at San Siro sealed by Hakan Çalhanoglu’s penalty in first-half stoppage time.

Inter are unbeaten on 10 points and in fifth place, one below Brest who won 2-1 at Sparta Prague. The French debutant look sure to advance to the knockout phase starting in February.

Atalanta won 2-0 at Stuttgart to stay unbeaten on eight points and Salzburg got their first goals and points in a 3-1 win at Feyenoord.

Bayern Munich won 1-0 at home to Benfica in a game that was delayed 15 minutes by crowd congestion and then was played in a muted atmosphere because of a medical incident for a fan.

Shakhtar Donetsk playmaker Heorhiy Sudakov had a fine assist and an even better goal in a 2-1 win for the Ukrainian champion against Young Boys. Shakhtar’s No. 10 showed why he is expected to be the club’s next big-money sale.

Liverpool, who on Tuesday routed Bayer Leverkusen 4-0, lead the standings at the midway point of the eight-round program.

Liverpool are the only team with four straight wins, while five teams have four losses. They are Leipzig, Sturm Graz, Young Boys, Red Star and Slovan Bratislava.

Two Italian teams – Inter Milan and Atalanta – have yet to concede a goal in four games. Another Italian side, Bologna, is the only team with no goals scored.

Villa slide

Villa had led the standings in the new league-phase format after three straight wins without conceding a goal — and it took a bizarre incident before goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was eventually beaten.

Mings was punished for picking up the ball when Martinez seemed to restart play with a goal kick passed forward to his teammate. Mings walked a couple steps to gather the ball with his left hand and returned to place it in the six-yard box.

“It’s the biggest mistake I witnessed in my career,” Villa coach Unai Emery said. “It has only happened one time in all my life. Today.”

Brugge captain Hans Vanaken placed the 52nd-minute spot-kick to Martinez’s left as the World Cup-winning Argentina goalkeeper dived to his right.

Bayern and Dinamo

It was the standout result of the inaugural week of the new Champions League in September: Bayern Munich 9, Dinamo Zagreb 2.

It was the first time a team had scored nine times in a game in the 32-year Champions League era, and Dinamo fired its coach two days later.

Since then? Bayern lost twice, including a 4-1 rout at Barcelona, and Dinamo won twice. At the end of play Wednesday, Bayern were 17th on six points, one place below Dinamo on seven. If those placings hold until January, they meet again twice more in the knockout playoffs round.

Next up

The fifth round in three weeks’ time has perhaps the stellar attraction of 144 games in the league phase: Liverpool vs. Real Madrid.

That game on Nov. 27 is a rematch of the 2022 and 2018 finals, both won by Madrid, and the 1981 European Cup titl e match that Liverpool won.

There is another final rematch: Bayern Munich hosts PSG on Nov. 26 in a repeat of the pandemic-season final played in August 2020 without fans in Lisbon. Also, sixth-place Barcelona hosts Brest, a fixture which might have been overlooked when the draw was made in August yet the French team is currently fourth.

Only the top eight teams in January advance directly to the round of 16 in March.


Inter hand Arsenal first defeat in Champions League

Updated 07 November 2024
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Inter hand Arsenal first defeat in Champions League

MILAN, Italy: Inter Milan maintained their unbeaten start in the Champions League with a 1-0 win over Arsenal on Wednesday as the Gunners suffered their first defeat in the competition this season.
Hakan Calhanoglu scored a penalty in first-half stoppage time after a handball from Mikel Merino, leaving the Italian champions with 10 points from four matches and Arsenal on seven points.


Tickets for Oleksandr Usyk-Tyson Fury rematch in Riyadh now on sale

Updated 07 November 2024
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Tickets for Oleksandr Usyk-Tyson Fury rematch in Riyadh now on sale

  • ‘Usyk vs. Fury: Reignited’ is at the Kingdom Arena on Dec. 21, just 7 months after the former defeated the latter in a split decision at the same venue
  • Other bouts include Serhii Bohachuk vs. Israil Madrimov, Johnny Fisher vs. David Allen, Dennis McCann vs. Peter McGrail, and Isaac Lowe vs. Lee McGregor

RIYADH: Tickets for “Usyk vs. Fury Reignited,” the much anticipated rematch between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk, are now on sale through the Webook app, organizers said on Wednesday.

The heavyweight boxing contest will take place on Dec. 21 at the Kingdom Arena. In the main event, Ukrainian heavyweight champion Usyk will once again face off against British powerhouse Fury. The former emerged victorious in a split decision when the pair last did battle at the same venue on May 18, as part of Riyadh Season.

Known for his speed and agility, Usyk holds all major championship belts in the heavyweight division, making him the first boxer in 25 years to claim unified heavyweight titles. Fury, meanwhile, brings a wealth of experience and raw strength, and is celebrated for his knockout power and tactical prowess.

Also on on the card, Ukrainian Serhii Bohachuk will take on Israil Madrimov of Uzbekistan. Bohachuk has an impressive record of 24 wins, including 23 knockouts, while Madrimov has 10 wins to his name, seven of them by knockout.

Other matchups include what could be an electrifying bout between the unbeaten Johnny Fisher, who has a record of 12 wins and 11 knockouts, and British veteran David Allen, who has 31 bouts under his belt. Dennis McCann will battle fellow Brit Peter McGrail, with the former aiming to extend a flawless 16-win record while while the latter hopes to secure his 11th victory.

Englishman Isaac Lowe and Scotsman Lee McGregor will also go head-to-head in what promises to be an intense battle. Lowe brings with him experience gained from 30 fights, while McGregor boasts a strong record of 14 wins, including 11 knockouts, making this one of the most-anticipated bouts of the night.


Bizarre penalty sends Aston Villa to first Champions League loss at Brugge

Updated 06 November 2024
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Bizarre penalty sends Aston Villa to first Champions League loss at Brugge

  • Villa had led the 36-team Champions League standings after three straight wins without conceding a goal
  • The loss leaves Villa in fifth place in the standings now led by Liverpool

BRUGES, Belgium: A strange penalty for handball ended Aston Villa’s winning run in the Champions League on Wednesday as the English team lost 1-0 at Club Brugge.
In the other early game, Shakhtar Donetsk playmaker Heorhiy Sudakov had a fine assist and an even better goal in a 2-1 win for the Ukrainian champion against Young Boys.
Villa had led the 36-team Champions League standings after three straight wins without conceding a goal — and they took a bizarre incident before goalkeeper Emi Martínez was eventually beaten.
Villa defender Tyrone Mings was punished for picking up the ball when Martínez seemed to restart play with a goal kick passed short to his teammate.
Mings walked forward a couple steps to gather the ball with his left hand and returned to place it at the corner of the six-yard box.
The penalty kick was awarded and Brugge captain Hans Vanaken scored in the 52nd minute, placing the ball to Martínez’s left as the World Cup-winning Argentina goalkeeper dived to his right.
Martínez tried to persuade German referee Tobias Stieler after the game that he had made a mistake.
The loss leaves Villa in fifth place in the standings now led by Liverpool, with Inter Milan, Arsenal and Brest all able to rise above coach Unai Emery’s team with a win later Wednesday. Inter were hosting Arsenal at San Siro.
Club Brugge have six points, from two wins and two losses and were provisionally in 20th place, which after all eight rounds in January would earn a place in the knockout playoffs round.
Shakhtar’s Sudakov showed against Young Boys why he is expected to be the club’s next big-money sale.
Both teams came into the game without scoring a goal in the first three rounds of the new league phase format.
Swiss champion Young Boys are struggling in 10th place in their domestic title defense and took an unexpected lead in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, where Shakhtar are playing their Champions League home games during the military invasion by Russia.
After the Shakhtar defense was caught in the 27th minute playing short passes deep in their own half, Kastriot Imeri struck with a low shot from the edge of the penalty area.
Shakhtar was level four minutes later when Sudakov’s precise pass into the goalmouth eluded a circle of five Young Boys players to find Oleksandr Zubkov for a tap-in.
Sudakov cleverly created space in the 41st to stride forward and fire a low shot from 20 yards (meters) into the far corner of the net past diving goalkeeper Marvin Keller.
Shakhtar are outside the playoff places in 26th, with four points, and Young Boys is 35th and among six teams with zero points.