Tag: South Africa

Nigeria’s star goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie dreams of Olympic glory in Paris

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Nigeria’s Chiamaka Nnadozie, voted Africa’s best goalkeeper in 2023, has also been a key player for Paris Football Club (Paris FC) since 2020, helping the team to a clear victory (3-0) over Montpellier last weekend. Her Super Falcons, Nigeria’s national women’s football team, face South Africa on April 4 and 9 as they vie for a spot in Paris. In the run-up to her adopted city’s Olympic Games, “Maka” is staying strong in her belief that nothing happens by chance.

On July 25, the eve of the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Chiamaka Nnadozie hopes to take to the field with her team against Brazil to kick off her first Olympics. Before that, the 23-year-old goalkeeper must help the Super Falcons overcome the last African obstacle in their path: South Africa, whom Nigeria must beat in a double-header on April 4 and 9.

“South Africa have a very, very good team. I think one of their strengths is keeping the ball. They don’t believe in physical football at all. They’re good tactically, technically. I think we will try to work on that to see how we can stop them,” she says with a confident smile.

“It’s meant to be,” she adds. France has had a special importance for the Nigerian goalkeeper throughout her career.

‘The connection is just there’

Nnadozie first captured attention at FIFA’s 2018 Under-20 Women’s World Cup in France, where her performance earned her a call-up to the senior squad for the Africa Cup of Nations that same year. She was the Super Falcons’ goalkeeper for the 2019 Women’s World Cup, also held in France. 

There, the 1.80-metre-tall goalkeeper came up against Les Bleues in the group phase, persistently stymying the French forwards before finally being forced to concede defeat on a disputed penalty. But it didn’t matter: Nnadozie had caught the eye of the footballing world.

So much so, in fact, that her club future was sealed when Paris FC signed her in January 2020. Initially seen as third in their goalkeeping hierarchy, Nnadozie quickly established herself as the first-choice keeper and became a fixture at the club’s training centre in Orly, a southern suburb of Paris.   

“It was so, so terrifying ­[to leave home]. Because I’m the last child of my parents and I have a very, very good relationship with my mom. She’s like my best friend,” she recalls with emotion.

“But you know, at this point in life, you need to work for yourself. You need to hustle to make a living.”

Life in France was a bit difficult at first. “At first I didn’t like it because it was cold.  But with time … I’m used to it now. Now, apart from the language barrier, I’m very happy here … I need to learn French,” she says with a laugh.

“I think I’m a Parisian because I play for Paris, see? And it’s in my blood, and I love it … The connection is just there,” she adds.

And she hopes to be here for the Olympics, even if the road is a long one. If the Super Falcons get over the hurdle presented by South Africa, they’ll have to reach the quarterfinals, or even the final, before they can play in Paris.

An extraordinary 2023

The year 2023 was rich in emotion for the player known as “Maka” by her teammates and fans. In March, she officially extended her collaboration with Paris FC until June 2025.

In the summer FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, Nnadozie once again shone on the world stage. Nigeria came within a whisker of eliminating England, the eventual finalists, in the Round of 16 (losing 4-2 on penalties after a 0-0 draw). In the group phase, she saved a penalty to snatch a draw against reigning Olympic champions Canada. 

Nnadozie also contributed to her team’s success at the club level last year. In September, she helped her side to a surprise victory over Arsenal and Wolfsburg, giving the Parisian club their first-ever appearance in the Champions League finals.


So when the Confederation of African Football added a CAF Award for the best African goalkeeper of the year, the choice was clear. On December 11 in Marrakech, Nnadozie won the prestigious individual award at a ceremony where Nigeria ended up with a veritable haul: Victor Osimhen was voted best African player of the year and Asisat Oshoala won best female player of the year.


Chiamaka Nnadozie with her trophy for best goalkeeper in Africa at the 2023 CAF Awards. © AFP

“It was incredible. It was a real incentive for me to keep working hard. I now know that the whole world is watching me,” she says. “In Africa, there’s a lot of talent, particularly in Nigeria. So I think that in the next 10 or 20 years, Nigeria wouldn’t lack any good teams in all the categories. So I’m really happy and proud to be part of this project and I’m happy to be Nigerian.” 

The dream of a lifetime

Nnadozie, a native of Orlu in southern Nigeria, faced an uphill battle at the beginning. “In the beginning, my dad was mad at me. ‘Hey, what are you doing? Girls don’t play football,’” Nnadozie recalls him saying.

“Everything changed for him when he saw me playing with the national team. Now he’s my No. 1 supporter and encourages girls to take up soccer.”

She grew up in an environment steeped in the sport: “Nobody was a professional, but my father played, my brothers played and even my older sister played.” 

While Nnadozie had sometimes imagined becoming an accountant, her parents couldn’t afford to send her to school. “I saw girls playing football and making a living from it. I had a bit of talent, so I told myself I’d give it until I was 20 to see if I could break through.”

While she loved playing on the pitch, it was as goalkeeper that she set herself apart. She found herself between the goal posts after her team’s goalkeeper was injured. Her coach saw her immense potential right from the warm-up and gave her an ultimatum: become a goalkeeper – or leave the team. 

“I wanted to play in the field. I refused and went to another academy, but they asked me for money to play. So I had no choice but to come back and become a goalkeeper. And today, I just want to thank Coach Alex for seeing that in me,” she says.

“Sometimes, what’s meant to be is meant to be.”

The rest unfolded like a fairytale. She was spotted at the age of 16 by the Rivers Angels FC, based in the Nigerian state of Rivers, at a scouting tournament for which she won the title of best goalkeeper. The coach and president approached her and offered her a contract.

“I couldn’t believe my eyes,” she recalls.

Paris and the Olympic dream

Eight years on, Nnadozie is hungry for more – and she isn’t afraid to dream big.

“I want to win the Women’s Champions League with Paris FC and I want us to win the championship. I want to win the World Cup with my country,” she says.

“The Olympics is also an experience I want to have. It’s very special.”

A Nigerian team hasn’t played in the Olympics since the 2008 Games in Beijing – which Nnadozie doesn’t remember watching. In the current squad, only the experienced 36-year-old Tochukwu Oluehi, also a goalkeeper, has played at the Olympic level.

And Oluehi is passing on her aspirations to those following in her footsteps. 

“I love how she talks to us about it, the advice she gives us and how insistent she is in telling us that it’s important to qualify for the Games. We’re a new generation. We have a lot of talented young players. We have ambition and a great state of mind. We can do it,” Nnadozie says.

She hopes the Super Falcons will be able to emulate the triumph of the Super Eagles, the Nigerian men’s team, who in 1996 became Africa’s first Olympic champions by winning gold. If Nnadozie’s enthusiasm and confidence are any indication, Nigeria may even be ready to challenge the US or Canadian teams that have dominated women’s football in recent years.

This has been translated from the original in French.




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The ANC’s Israel deflection strategy is cynical and wrong

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The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not represent in any way the editorial position of Euronews.

Instead of making claims that are nothing short of modern-day blood libels against Jews, the ANC should be working to create a safer and more transparent democracy for the people of South Africa, Charles Asher Small writes.

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In 1982, as a new first-year undergraduate student of politics at McGill University in Canada, I took a course with the renowned professor Sam Noumoff on the politics of revolution. 

He gave a series of lectures about Apartheid South Africa. Its Nazi-inspired fascist and racist ideology that governed every aspect of the segregated society based on racial categories, both shocked and disturbed me.

It was an issue I had barely any prior understanding of. I couldn’t fathom that in my lifetime, an entire society was being ruled by an ideology of racial supremacy that was closely based on the Nazi ideology and a worldview that systematically annihilated my grandparent’s generation. 

An ideology which I thought had been consigned to the trashcan of history. Yet the architects of apartheid — Verwoerd and Smuts — were racist antisemites who aligned themselves with this supremacist worldview, and the system was still in place, in my lifetime.

The anti-apartheid movement made sense to me

Eventually, I met an exiled South African professor, Chengiah Ragaven, an intellectual leader and founder of the Black Consciousness Movement and teacher of Steve Biko. Under his mentorship, I gained valuable insights into the movement and decided to delve deeper into my studies. 

I understood that the goal of the anti-apartheid movement, personified by the great Nelson Mandela, was a social democratic society in which all citizens would be equal under one legal system.

As a proud young Jewish person with a strong background in human rights and Zionism, the movement committed to the national liberation of the Jewish people, I became deeply involved in the anti-apartheid movement. 

It made sense to me. I became the chairperson of the African National Congress Solidity Committee of Canada, worked with the leadership of the ANC, and actively supported its goals to create a democratic society in South Africa.

Tragically, the reality of ANC rule has failed to live up to the rhetoric and vision of its legendary leader and the vision I and others worked for decades ago. 

Yet, the ANC threw their full weight behind Hamas

Thirty years after the end of apartheid, the ANC has failed to deliver any of its basic promises, as the vast majority of Black South Africans continue to live in squalor. 

Rampant corruption among the ruling party’s leadership is out of control, making it one of the worst in the world. 

In 2023, South Africa once again featured in the top ten countries in the world for the highest murder rates, with tens of thousands of annual killings, and inadequate basic services such as electricity, nutrition, housing and employment.

Yet instead of focusing on transparency in their own party, or cleaning up the streets, the ANC has gone back to the world’s oldest scapegoats. 

Just like Nazi-inspired racists and Jew-haters Verwoerd and Smuts, who blamed Jews for all the evils in the world, the current ANC government is deflecting from its own failures by attacking the one and only Jewish state and threatening Jewish South Africans with prison for serving in the army of the truly democratic nation of Israel. 

The claims being made by the South African government at the Hague are nothing short of a modern-day blood libel, with the scapegoating rationale as cynical as ever.

The liberators of apartheid have tragically jumped into bed with the autocrats of Qatar, Russia and China, while throwing their full weight behind Hamas, whose own ideology of the Muslim Brotherhood is based on the genocidal European antisemitism that lay the foundation of Nazism. 

Hamas in its very constitution not only openly calls for a genocide of Jewish people around the world, it calls for the subjugation of women and the elimination of democracy — the antithesis of the ANC Freedom Charter. Nelson Mandela, who was close to the Jewish community, must be turning in his grave as his party betrays its very core beliefs.

Instead of siding with the liberal democracy facing the Islamist terrorist organisation whose own charter calls for the genocide of Jews, the ANC Government now supports the movement in Gaza that at its core calls for the destruction of Israel and the murder of all Jewish people.

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The people of South Africa deserve more

It should be recalled that on 6 October 2023, Gazans and Israelis had relative peace and quiet. On 7 October, Hamas’ unprovoked rampage of rape and murder against Israeli civilians, whereby entire families were burned and butchered in their beds, began a war of necessity for Israel. 

The terrorists sang ISIS songs as they beheaded their victims. One even phoned his parents to boast about the number of Jews he had killed with his bare hands.

Yet, encouraged by the very enemies of freedom and democracy, South Africa has gone “all-in” with the terrorist group. Furthermore, South Africa has brought in some of the world’s most repugnant and disreputed antisemites and racists to represent them at the Hague, including former UK Labour Party head, Jeremy Corbyn, who has called those same genocidal rapists of Hamas his “friends”.

The people of South Africa deserve more. At a time when South Africans are facing the highest unemployment rate in the world according to the World Bank, and out-of-control crime and murder rates, the ANC should be focusing on the issues that matter. 

Instead of cynically deflecting with modern blood libels against the Jews, the ANC should be working to create a safer and more transparent democracy for the people of South Africa.

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Charles Asher Small is Executive Director of the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy (ISGAP).

At Euronews, we believe all views matter. Contact us at [email protected] to send pitches or submissions and be part of the conversation.

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South Africa accuses Israel at ICJ of breaching Genocide Convention

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A continent away from the war in Gaza, South Africa accused Israel of committing genocide against the Palestinians there and pleaded with the United Nations’ top court on Thursday to order an immediate halt to the country’s military operation. Israel has vehemently denied the allegations. 

South African lawyers said during the opening arguments that the latest Gaza war is part of a decadeslong oppression of the Palestinians by Israel.

The two-day hearing is the public side of a landmark case, one of the most significant to be heard in an international court and which goes to the heart of one of the world’s most intractable conflicts. 

South Africa is seeking binding preliminary orders to compel Israel to stop its military campaign in Gaza, in which more than 23,000 people have died, according to the health ministry which is run by Hamas. 

“Genocides are never declared in advance, but this court has the benefit of the past 13 weeks of evidence that shows incontrovertibly a pattern of conduct and related intention that justifies as a plausible claim of genocidal acts,” South African lawyer Adila Hassim told the judges and audience in the packed, ornate room of the Peace Palace in The Hague. 

“Nothing will stop the suffering except an order from this court,” she said. 

 


 

Israel, however, says it is battling a fierce enemy in the Gaza Strip that carried out the deadliest attack on its territory, killing more than 1,200 people, since its creation in 1948. Israel says it is following international law and does its utmost to avoid harm to civilians. It blames Hamas for the high toll, saying its enemy embeds in residential areas. 

South Africa turns a deaf ear to such arguments, insisting Israel committed genocide by design. 

“The scale of destruction in Gaza, the targeting of family homes and civilians, the war being a war on children, all make clear that genocidal intent is both understood and has been put into practice. The articulated intent is the destruction of Palestinian life,” said lawyer Tembeka Ngcukaitobi. 

“What state would admit to a genocidal intent? Yet the distinctive feature of this case has not been the silence as such, but the reiteration and repetition of genocidal speech throughout every sphere of the state in Israel,” he said. 

 

Watch moreWith case filed to ICJ, South Africa accuses Israel of genocide in Gaza

 

Ahead of the proceedings, hundreds of pro-Israeli protesters marched close to the courthouse with banners saying “Bring them home,” referring to the hostages held by Hamas since it attacked Israel on Oct. 7. 

One of the Israeli protesters outside the court was Michael Nevy, 42, whose brother was kidnapped by Hamas. “People are talking about what Israel is doing, but Hamas is committing crime against humanity every day,” he said. 

At a separate demonstration nearby, pro-Palestinians protesters waved flags saying: “End Israeli Apartheid Free Palestine” and chanting “Netanyahu criminal” and “Ceasefire now!” 

The dispute strikes at the heart of Israel’s national identity as a Jewish state created in the aftermath of the Nazi genocide in the Holocaust, during which 6 million Jews were murdered.

It also evokes issues central to South Africa’s own identity: Its governing party, the African National Congress, has long compared Israel’s policies in Gaza and the West Bank to its own history under the apartheid regime of white minority rule, which restricted most Blacks to “homelands” before ending in 1994.

In a sign of how seriously Israel is taking the accusation, it has sent a strong legal team to defend its military operation launched in the aftermath of the Hamas attacks. Israel often boycotts international tribunals or U.N. investigations, saying they are unfair and biased.

A decision on the request for so-called “provisional measures” will likely take weeks. The case is likely to last years.

While Israel has vehemently denied the allegations, it is unclear whether it will heed any order from the court to halt operations. If it doesn’t, it could face U.N. sanctions, although those may be blocked by a U.S. veto.

Israel’s lawyers will address the court Friday. 

South Africa immediately sought to broaden the case beyond the narrow confines of the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. 

“The violence and the destruction in Palestine and Israel did not begin on Oct. 7, 2023. The Palestinians have experienced systematic oppression and violence for the last 76 years,” said South African Justice Minister Ronald Lamola. South Africa argued that Israel’s actions in Gaza are an inevitable part of its history since it declared independence.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a video statement Wednesday night defending his country’s actions and insisted they had nothing to do with genocide.

“Israel has no intention of permanently occupying Gaza or displacing its civilian population,” he said. “Israel is fighting Hamas terrorists, not the Palestinian population, and we are doing so in full compliance with international law.”

About two-thirds of the dead in Gaza are women and children, health officials in Hamas-ruled Gaza say. The death toll does not distinguish between combatants and civilians.

“Mothers, fathers, children, siblings, grandparents, aunts, cousins are often all killed together. This killing is nothing short of destruction of Palestinian life. It is inflicted deliberately. No one is spared. Not even newborn babies,” said South African lawyer Hassim. 

Finding food, water, medicine and working bathrooms has become a daily struggle for Palestinians in Gaza. Last week, the U.N. humanitarian chief called Gaza “uninhabitable” and said, “People are facing the highest levels of food insecurity ever recorded (and) famine is around the corner.” 

Israel itself has always focused attention on the Oct. 7 attacks themselves, when Hamas fighters stormed through several communities in Israel and killed some 1,200 people, mainly civilians. They abducted around 250 others, nearly half of whom have been released.

The world court, which rules on disputes between nations, has never judged a country to be responsible for genocide. The closest it came was in 2007 when it ruled that Serbia “violated the obligation to prevent genocide” in the July 1995 massacre by Bosnian Serb forces of more than 8,000 Muslim men and boys in the Bosnian enclave of Srebrenica.

The International Criminal Court, based a few miles (kilometers) away in The Hague, prosecutes individuals for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.

The case revolves around the genocide convention that was drawn up in 1948 in the aftermath of World War II and the murder of 6 million Jews in the Holocaust. Both Israel and South Africa are signatories.

Israel is back on the International Court of Justice‘s docket next month, when hearings open into a U.N. request for a non-binding advisory opinion on the legality of Israeli policies in the West Bank and east Jerusalem.

(AP)

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India’s Predicted XI vs South Africa: Ravichandran Ashwin May Miss Out As Major Changes Expected | Cricket News

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South Africa will face India in the 2nd Test of the Freedom Trophy 2023/24 on Wednesday, January 3, at Newlands in Cape Town, South Africa. The match will start at 1:30 PM IST. South Africa and India have played one match in the series, with South Africa winning the first Test. In the first game of this series, Dean Elgar was the Man of the Match and the opening batter scored the highest fantasy points for South Africa with 243 match fantasy points while KL Rahul topped the fantasy points leaderboard for India with 164 match fantasy points.

SA vs IND, Newlands, Cape Town Pitch Report
The pitch at the Newlands, Cape Town will allow for good stroke play and the batters will find it easy to bat on the surface. It will not allow a lot of assistance to the bowlers and wicket-taking is going to be difficult. The average 1st innings score at this venue in the last 20 matches is 327 runs. Batting first should be the preferred option at the venue, with the team batting first winning 67 per cent of the matches.

Pace or Spin?
The pacers have taken 71 per cent of the total wickets at this venue. Hence picking up pacers for your fantasy team should be a good idea. Based on the stats available, we predict that the pitch will continue to assist the pacers.

Weather Report for Newlands, Cape Town
The temperature is expected to be around 25 degrees Celsius and humidity is expected to be around 60 per cent. Winds at a speed of 2.72 m/s are expected.

SA vs IND Dream11 Prediction: Top Batter and Wicket-Keeper Picks
Dean Elgar

Dean Elgar is a fairly consistent player in terms of fantasy points. He has an average of 107 match fantasy points in the last 10 games and a fantasy rating of 8.6. This player is a top-order opening left-handed batter. In the recent 3 matches, Dean Elgar has scored 185, 4, 16, 38, 47 runs averaging 58 per match.

Yashasvi Jaiswal

Yashasvi Jaiswal is a very inconsistent player in terms of fantasy points and can be a high-risk, high-returns pick in your team. He has an average of 127 match fantasy points in the last 3 games and a fantasy rating of 8.1. This player is a top-order opening batter, who bats left-handed. In the recently played 3 matches, Yashasvi Jaiswal has scored 17, 5, 57, 38, 171 runs at an average of 57.6 per match.

Kyle Verreynne

Kyle Verreynne can be a good pick for your Dream11 Team. He has an average of 103 match fantasy points in the last 10 games and a fantasy rating of 7.9. This player is a right-handed batter and also keeps wickets. In the recent 3 matches, Kyle Verreynne has scored 279 runs averaging 55.8 per match.

SA vs IND Fantasy Prediction: Top Bowler Picks
Kagiso Rabada

Kagiso Rabada can be a good safe pick for your Dream11 Team. He has an average of 109 match fantasy points in the last 10 games and a fantasy rating of 8.6. This player is a right-arm fast bowler and in the last 2 matches, Kagiso Rabada has taken 9 wickets at an average of 1.8.

Jasprit Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah is a bowler and has an average of 106 match fantasy points in the last 10 games, a fantasy rating of 7.5 and is a very consistent player in terms of fantasy points. He is a right-arm fast bowler and in the last 2 matches, this player has taken 0, 4, 0, 0, 3 wickets at an average of 1.4.

Keshav Maharaj

Keshav Maharaj can be a good pick for your Dream11 Team. Keshav Maharaj has an average of 97 match fantasy points in the last 10 games and a fantasy rating of 7.3. He is a slow left-arm orthodox bowler and in the last 2 matches, this player has taken 3 wickets at an average of 0.6.

SA vs IND Dream11 Prediction: Top All-Rounder Picks

Ravindra Jadeja

Ravindra Jadeja is a safe bet for your Fantasy Team. Ravindra Jadeja has an average of 151 match fantasy points in the last 10 games and a fantasy rating of 9.8. He is a left-handed batter. In the recent 2 matches, this player has scored 98 runs averaging 19.6 per match.

Ravichandran Ashwin

Ravichandran Ashwin is a very consistent player in terms of fantasy points. Ravichandran Ashwin has an average of 138 match fantasy points in the last 10 games and a fantasy rating of 8.5. He bowls off-break and in the recent 2 matches, this player has taken 3 wickets at an average of 0.6.

Marco Jansen

Marco Jansen is an all-rounder and has an average of 119 match fantasy points in the last 10 games, a fantasy rating of 8.1 and is a safe bet for your Dream11 Fantasy Team. Marco Jansen bowls left-arm medium-fast and in the recently played 2 matches, he has taken 6 wickets at an average of 1.2.

SA vs IND Dream11 Prediction: Top Captain and Vice-Captain Picks
Dean Elgar

South African batter Dean Elgar has racked up 185 runs in 1 match of the Freedom Trophy 2023/24 at an average of 185 and a strike rate of 64.46. He has the highest score of 185.

Virat Kohli

India’s Virat Kohli has hit 114 runs in 1 match and is the team’s leading run-getter this season. He has a strike rate of 78.08 and averages 57. He also has 1 fifty and 0 tons to his name in the Freedom Trophy 2023/24.

Nandre Burger

The South African bowler has picked up 7 wickets in 1 match. Nandre Burger’s best spell for this edition is 4/33 and his average is 11.85.

Jasprit Bumrah

The bowler from India has picked up 4 wickets in 1 match so far at an average of 17.25. Jasprit Bumrah’s 4/69 is his top bowling performance of the Freedom Trophy 2023/24.

South Africa vs India head-to-head record in Tests
South Africa and India have competed against each other on 43 occasions in Tests. While South Africa have won 18 matches, India have emerged victorious on 15 instances. Meanwhile, 10 encounters have concluded in a stalemate.

The last 5 Test contests have seen South Africa win on 3 occasions and India on 2 occasions. The highest score in these 5 encounters is 497 by India whereas the lowest has been 131 by India.

India’s Predicted XI:Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Siraj, Japrit Bumrah, Mukesh Kumar

SA vs IND Fantasy 11 Team

Wicket-Keepers: Kyle Verreynne and KS Bharat

Batters: Dean Elgar, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, David Bedingham and Shubman Gill

All-Rounders: Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin

Bowlers: Kagiso Rabada and Nandre Burger

Captain: Nandre Burger

Vice-Captain: Ravindra Jadeja

Topics mentioned in this article

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India vs South Africa Live Score, 1st Test, Day 2: Dean Elgar Nears 50 As India’s Search For Wickets Goes On | Cricket News

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India vs South Africa 1st Test, Day 2 LIVE: Team India eye wickets after Lunch.© AFP




India vs South Africa 1st Test, Day 2 Live Updates: Dean Elgar and Tony de Zorzi have put South Africa in command with India struggling to get take wickets on Day 2. Mohammed Siraj had dismissed Aiden Markram in the fourth over of the innings, but the Indian bowlers have struggled to trouble Elgar and de Zorzi. Earlier, KL Rahul slammed a brilliant 101 to help India post 245. Shortly after scoring his 8th Test ton, Rahul was cleaned up by Nandre Burger, who impressed with three wickets on his debut. Earlier, India managed to put 208 runs on the board at the loss of 7 wickets on Day 1. (LIVE Scorecard)

Here are the live cricket score and updates from the Day 2 of India vs South Africa 1st Test from SuperSport Park in Centurion:







  • 17:02 (IST)

    IND vs SA Live: Classy from Elgar!

    Another poor delivery and Elgar obliges! Pitched wide of off and he throws his bat at it. Driven through the gap past cover

    SA: 75/1 (20.5)

  • 16:57 (IST)

    IND vs SA Live: Elgar on the charge!

    This is too easy for Elgar! Poor stuff from the debutant Krishna. Full and straight and he picks up another boundary. Drives it between the stumps and the non-striker. Elgar moves into the 40s

    SA: 69/1 (19.3)

  • 16:49 (IST)

    IND vs SA: Four Runs!

    Elgar, what a shot! Bad delivery from Shardul. Full and wide and he drives it through cover and mid-off for four

    SA: 53/1 (18.1)

  • 16:41 (IST)

    IND vs SA: Play resumes after Lunch!

    We are back after Lunch! Shardul Thakur is attacking from one end. Elgar and de Zorzi will look to carry on from where they had left

  • 16:04 (IST)

    IND vs SA: It’s Lunch Time!

    SA go into Lunch well poised at 49/1. Elgar and de Zorzi have looked solid after Markram’s early dismissal. Frustration for India

  • 15:57 (IST)

    IND vs SA: Edged for four!

    Nothing is going in India’s favour at the moment! Easy pickings for Elgar and SA. This one runs past third slip for four. Lunch can be called at any time

    SA: 49/1 (16)

  • 15:51 (IST)

    IND vs SA: Markram survives!

    Appeal for a caught behind! Kohli saying he did hear something. Ball tracking shows that there no spike when the cherry passes the bat. Hits Markram on thigh guard

    SA: 41/1 (13)

  • 15:45 (IST)

    IND vs SA Live: Boundary!

    Debutant Krishna is into the attack! Welcome to Test cricket, says Dean Elgar. First ball four. Tucked away nicely through cover

    SA: 41/1 (12.2)

  • 15:43 (IST)

    IND vs SA Live: Shardul replaces Siraj!

    Shardul is into the attack. This means Prasidh Krishna has to wait a bit more. Didn’t understand this tactic from Rohit. 

    SA: 34/1 (11)

  • 15:34 (IST)

    IND vs SA Live: Another boundary!

    Siraj gets another edge off de Zorzi but this is not good enough. Beats everyone including point and races away for a boundary

    SAL 33/1 (9.2)

  • 15:25 (IST)

    IND vs SA Live: Driven down the ground with ease!

    Elgar fends off the pressure with a cracking drive down the ground! Good response from the man who is playing his penultimate Test match. Shows the full face of the bat to put that away.

    SA: 26/1 (7.3)

  • 15:17 (IST)

    IND vs SA Live: Almost gets the edge!

    Siraj is now asking questions from De Zorzi! He targets the 4th stump line. However, de Zorzi is beaten off the outside edge. You can feel its coming

    SA: 15/1 (5.4)

  • 15:08 (IST)

    IND vs SA Live: Siraj strikes!

    Siraj finds the edge this time! Markram is gone. A similar delivery to the beating the outside edge. It’s pitched up, full and swings away late to have Markram nicking as he prods tentatively. Big wicket!

    SA: 11/1 (3.5)

  • 15:06 (IST)

    IND vs SA Live: That was close!

    Once again, Markram is beaten! Brilliant shape on that ball from Siraj. Just whistles past the outside edge

    SA: 11/0 (3.2)

  • 14:59 (IST)

    IND vs SA Live: Onus on Indian pacers!

    The first two overs have been dealt pretty well by Elgar and Markram. There is definitely some movement for both Bumrah and Siraj. Can they strike a few times before lunch?

    SA: 6/0 (2)

  • 14:44 (IST)

    IND vs SA Live: End of innings!

    1st Test, Day 2: India 245 all-out in 67.4 overs (KL Rahul 101, V Kohli 38; K Rabada 5/59) against South Africa

    Excellent knock from KL! India will fancy a lead from here if the pacers can do the damage before Lunch.

  • 14:33 (IST)

    IND vs SA Live: 100 up for KL!

    KL Rahul goes bang and out of the park! He gets to his 100 with a six. Excellent shot from KL. His 8th Test ton

    IND: 244/9 (66)

  • 14:30 (IST)

    IND vs SA Live: WICKET!

    Siraj given caught behind! But he wants to review this. However, the UltraEdge shows a spike as the ball passed the bat. India nine down with Rahul on 95

    Mohammed Siraj c Verreynne b Coetzee 5 (22)

    IND: 238/9 (65.1)

  • 14:27 (IST)

    IND vs SA Live: Six runs!

    A four and a six off Rabada takes Rahul to 95! He wants to wrap this up quickly. This has been a terrific knock from Rahul. Excellent catch in the crowd by a bloke 

    IND: 238/9 (65)

  • 14:15 (IST)

    IND vs SA Live: Is Siraj in trouble?

    Another review wasted from SA! This time for an LBW appeal on Siraj. The ball tracking shows the ball would have just missed the leg stump

    IND: 218/8 (62.1)

  • 14:11 (IST)

    IND vs SA Live: Useful runs for India!

    First boundary of the day! Full around off and swinging away. Rahul drives it uppishly behind point and gets the boundary

    IND: 217/8 (61.2)

  • 14:09 (IST)

    IND vs SA Live: Rahul survives!

    KL Rahul is beaten again! But SA take the DRS. The replay shows flat line on Snicko. Review wasted.

    IND: 210/8 (61)

  • 14:01 (IST)

    IND vs SA Live: Siraj gets the first runs on Day 2!

    Siraj is finally off the mark! It took him just 15 balls to do so. Gets a thick outside edge that beats the cordon for a couple

    IND: 210/8 (59.5)

  • 13:56 (IST)

    IND vs SA Live: We are about to get underway!

    The players and umpires are out in the middle. KL Rahul is taking his guard. Coetzee has the ball in his hands. Siraj adjusting his glove strap at the non-striker’s end.

  • 13:50 (IST)

    IND vs SA Live: Play to start at…

    We have a news from the center as the play will start at 1:55. So, a 25-min delay. Hopefully we can have some non-stop action till Lunch

  • 13:43 (IST)

    IND vs SA Live: Start of play delayed!

    Start of play delayed due to wet outfield in Centurion. India 208/8 in 59 overs against South Africa

  • 13:24 (IST)

    IND vs SA Live: Groundsmen are taking the covers off!

    The covers are coming off as there is no rain right now. The scheduled start is seven minutes from now. Hopefully we will have the first ball in the next 15 minutes

  • 13:15 (IST)

    IND vs SA Live: Umpires having an inspection!

    The umpire are making their way out to the middle to have a look at the pitch and the outfield. We have heard that there is a slight drizzle. We might have a delayed start in Centurion

  • 12:42 (IST)

    IND vs SA Live: Big statement from Sunil Gavaskar!

    India legend Sunil Gavaskar feels India are missing Ajinkya Rahane in this tour.

    “In the 2018 tour, Ajinkya Rahane played the 3rd Test and showed what the Indian team had missed. Rahane overseas has been such a fine player and maybe if he had been there yesterday the story could have been completely different,” Gavaskar said on Tuesday.

  • 12:21 (IST)

    IND vs SA Live: Onus On KL Rahul!

    Rahul will be determined to get his hundred as India eye a 250+ total before SA come out to bat. Rahul would need a helping hand from Siraj and debutant Prasidh Krishna.

  • 12:20 (IST)

    IND vs SA Live: Hello!

    Good afternoon and a very warm welcome to our live coverage of the 1st Test, Day 2 between India and South Africa from Centurion. KL Rahul’s unbeate 70 steered India to 208/8 before bad light, and rain saw the play being called off early on Day 2.

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India vs South Africa, Rohit Sharma Press Conference Highlights: “Don’t Look To…” – India Skipper Shares Batting Mantra For South African Pitches | Cricket News

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India vs South Africa Test Series: Rohit Sharma Press Conference Highlights© BCCI/Sportzpics




Rohit Sharma Press Conference Highlights: For the first time since the heartbreak in the Cricket World Cup 2023 final, India skipper Rohit Sharma addressed the media. The press conference took place on the eve of the first Test against South Africa. Rohit said that Mohammed Shami, who has been ruled out of the series, will be a big miss. The Indian captain, however, hinted that one of the fast bowlers between Mukesh Kumar and Prasidh Krishna will be included in the final XI for the first Test with Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj completing the pace attack. Rohit also said that the Indian spinners know what their role would be in South African pitches.

Rohit Sharma Press Conference Highlights From Centurion:







  • 16:26 (IST)

    Rohit PC Live: India skipper leaves reporters in splits!

    While speaking about what would it mean for the Indian cricket team if it wins the Test series in South Africa, Rohit Sharma said it would be a “good thing” before coming out with an honest opinion. “Itna mehnat kiya hai toh kuch toh kitna banta hai (Since we have worked so hard, we derserve this at least),” said Rohit. Watch it HERE

  • 16:10 (IST)

    Rohit Sharma PC Live: Team India prepared for SA challenge

    “In terms of prep also, we came here a week back. We had a decent time preparing for the Test match as well now it is just about how individuals want to take up that role. They are completely free on how they want to go about getting the job done for the team.” 

  • 16:01 (IST)

    Rohit Sharma PC Live: Will The Skipper Play T20 WC?

    While talking to the media at the press conference, India skipper Rohit Sharma came out with a cryptic reply on the query that if he would be participating in the T20 World Cup 2024.

  • 15:52 (IST)

    Rohit PC Live: ‘If India beat SA in series, it will be a big thing’

    “We have never won a series here and it’ll be a big thing if we do it here. I don’t know whether it’ll be able to take away the pain of World Cup defeat. If we are able to achieve it then it’ll be a good thing.”

  • 15:48 (IST)

    Rohit Sharma PC Live: A toss up between Mukesh and Krishna!

    Rohit Sharma confirmed that Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj are going to play the first Test but the team might go with one of the pacers between Mukesh Kumar and Prasidh Krishna. The skipper also said that 75 per cent of the team is locked and the rest will be done in the team meeting.

  • 15:45 (IST)

    Press Conference Live: On KL Rahul keeping wickets in SA, Rohit said…

    “I felt the way he kept in the World Cup, he worked really hard and was impressive. It gives us the option to play a solid batter in the middle order. He does most of things right when he bats in the middle order in ODIs. He knows the situation and how to bat. I am not sure how long he wants to keep but as long as he does, he’ll do well.”

  • 15:42 (IST)

    Rohit Sharma PC Live: India skipper opens up on WC final loss!

    “The way we played in the World Cup, you expect to go all the way. We worked hard for the cup. There are certain things we didn’t do well in the final. It is hard after a loss like that. But you got to find a way to move on and look forward. We got a lot of encouragement from the outside world. That motivated me personally. As a batter, I am batting as well I could. Whatever is in front of me, I’ll look forward to it.”

  • 15:40 (IST)

    Rohit Sharma PC Live: ‘Spinners know their role’

    “Every bowler will have a massive role to play. Sometimes for the spinners, the role could be to contain. The conditions help the seamers here. We have got two experienced spinners and they know what we require of them.”

  • 15:39 (IST)

    Rohit Sharma PC Live: India skipper’s honest admission

    “That’s a challenge. When we went to Australia, England, South Africa it was a challenge. For them also, who are coming for the first time, it’ll be challenge. The bowlers dominate here a lot. The lateral movement the seamers get. The wickets get difficult later on as the cracks open and invariable bounce. It’ll be nice for all of us to put our hands up for the challenge,” said Rohit Sharma.

  • 15:35 (IST)

    Rohit Sharma PC Live: India skipper ‘looks forward to the challenge’

    “As a batter it’s always a challenge here in South Africa. It’s the hardest place to bat. I look forward to the challenge,” said the batting maestro.

  • 15:32 (IST)

    Rohit Sharma PC Live: “Shami will be a big miss”

    “Very important Test series. We have never won a series here. It’s a big opportunity for us. We came close the last two times. That gives us a lot of excitement and encouragement to do our best. Our seamers have done well in Australia, England and South Africa.  The seamers have actually pull their weight in. Shami will be a big miss.”

  • 15:31 (IST)

    Rohit Sharma Press Conference Live: PC starts!

    Rohit is here and the PC starts!

  • 15:25 (IST)

    Rohit Sharma Press Conference Live: PC to start soon!

    We are close to the start of the press conference. Rohit Sharma will arrive in the conference room anytime soon. Stay connected for all the live updates. 

  • 15:13 (IST)

    Rohit Sharma Press Conference Live: Pitch speculation

    According to a PTI report, at Supersport Park, it normally takes three and half to four days to achieve results and if the toss happens on the second day, after a washout on opening day, batting first will surely be a very difficult proposition.

  • 15:07 (IST)

    Rohit Sharma Press Conference Live: Spinner conundrum

    One of the biggest challenges ahead of India in the first Test will be the choice of spinners. With Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja both in the ranks, Rohit Sharma may be tempted to play them both. But the overcast conditions in Centurion can end up making it good for the pacers and in that case, the inclusion of Shardul Thakur may end up providing a good bowling option as well as more depth in the batting line-up.

  • 15:00 (IST)

    Rohit Sharma Press Conference Live: Yashasvi Jaiswal opportunity

    Sunil Gavaskar backed youngster Yashasvi Jaiswal to open the batting with Rohit Sharma and he believed that Shubman Gill can come to bat at No. 3. It will be a big opportunity for the left-hander to open the batting against a tough pace attack in South Africa and if he can end up playing a good innings, it can do wonders for his team and his chances of making his spot permanent.

  • 14:53 (IST)

    Rohit Sharma Press Conference Live: KL Rahul decision

    Indian cricket team head coach Rahul Dravid said that KL Rahul will be keeping the wickets in the first Test against South Africa. Considering the difference between South African and Indian conditions, a tough challenge for him as well. The decision to not go with a specialist wicket-keeper allows India to play a stronger batting line-up but will it result in a possibly weaker fielding performance?

  • 14:48 (IST)

    Rohit Sharma Press Conference Live: Young pace attack

    Jasprit Bumrah will be spearheading the Indian cricket team pace attack but the duo of Mukesh Sharma and Mohammed Siraj will have their work cut out in absence of Mohammed Shami. A new challenge for them and if Shardul Thakur gets a chance, it will be a huge opportunity for him to prove his mettle.

  • 14:35 (IST)

    Rohit Sharma Press Conference Live: What could be India’s playing XI?

    The team composition will surely be a topic to watch out for and it will be interesting to see what Rohit Sharma says about the responsibilities given to key players in the side ahead of the first Test.

  • 14:25 (IST)

    Rohit Sharma Press Conference Live: Dravid on young batters

    “We encourage the players to play (in a manner) they feel most comfortable. In the end they are judged by the results they produce. They know that,” Dravid said.

    “We want to encourage them in the way they play but also keeping the conditions in mind and certain, sort of tactical thing they have to adopt when they play in South Africa.

    “The nature of ball, how it behaves over 80 overs, shots that they play early and later on. I think it’s about finding balance between having cricket smarts to read the game and understand the situation, and of course allowing to express yourself.

    “Hopefully, they make smart decisions,” the coach had said on Christmas eve.

  • 14:16 (IST)

    Rohit Sharma Press Conference Live: Pace challenge

    The Indian cricket team batters will be up against a quality bowling attack comprising Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Marco Jansen and Gerald Coetzee. With South African pitches providing way more pace and bounce than those back home, it will be interesting to see how Rohit Sharma and co decide to approach the situation.

  • 14:11 (IST)

    Rohit Sharma Press Conference Live: South Africa squad

    Temba Bavuma (captain), Aiden Markram, Tony de Zorzi, Dean Elgar, Keegan Petersen, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Tristan Stubbs (wk), Nandre Burger, Marco Jansen, Wiaan Mulder, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, David Bedingham.

  • 14:01 (IST)

    Rohit Sharma Press Conference Live: Indian cricket team squad

    Rohit Sharma (captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (wk), Shreyas Iyer, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Prasidh Krishna, KS Bharat (wk), Abhimanyu Easwaran (2nd Test).

  • 13:54 (IST)

    Rohit Sharma Press Conference Live: Big test for Rohit

    Mohammed Azharuddin (1992), Sachin Tendulkar (1996), Sourav Ganguly (2001), Rahul Dravid (2006-07), MS Dhoni (2010-11 and 2013-14) and Virat Kohli (2018-19 and 2021-22) have all tried but the series win seem to elude India. Will Rohit Sharma finally break the curse?

  • 13:46 (IST)

    Rohit Sharma Press Conference Live: Final frontier

    India have never won a Test series in South Africa till now. It is the only country where India have never won a series and it will certainly be a mental pressure for the side. With the Cricket World Cup 2023 heartbreak behind them, this will be the perfect chance for India to bounce back.

  • 13:41 (IST)

    Rohit Sharma Press Conference Live: Hello and welcome

    Welcome to the live coverage of Rohit Sharma’s press conference ahead of the first Test match between India and South Africa in Centurion. A crucial test for India in conditions where they have not fared well in the past. 

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South Africa vs Australia Semi-Final Live Updates, World Cup 2023: David Miller’s Lone Battle Sees South Africa Set 213-Run Target For Australia | Cricket News

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SA vs AUS Semi Final Live Score, Cricket World Cup 2023: Aus need 213 runs to win© AFP

SA vs AUS, World Cup 2023 Semi-Final, Live Updates: David Miller’s powerful century propelled a struggling South Africa to 212 against Australia in ODI World Cup 2023 semi-final match on Thursday. Opting to bat, South Africa kept on losing wickets at regular intervals. Miller scored 101 runs while Heinrich Klaasen scored 47. For Australia, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins scalped three wickets each while Josh Hazlewood and Travis Head scalped two wickets each. South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma won the toss and opted to bat against Australia. (Live Scorecard)

World Cup 2023 Live Updates: South Africa vs New Zealand Semi Final Score | SA vs AUS Semi Final, Straight from Eden Gardens, Kolkata

  • 18:17 (IST)

    SA vs AUS Semi-Final Live Score: South Africa 212 all out

    South Africa got bundled out for 212 in 49.4 overs against Australia. For South Africa, David Miller scored 101 while Heinrich Klaasen scored 47. For Australia, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins scalped three wickets each while Josh Hazlewood and Travis Head scalped two wickets each. 

  • 18:09 (IST)

    SA vs AUS Semi-Final Live Score: OUT

    OUT!!! After bringing up his ton, David Miller gets dismissed by Pat Cummins for 101. Miller smashes it hard for a six but Travis Head takes a brilliant catch the long-on. Ninth wicket gone for South Africa. 

    SA 203/9 (47.2 overs)

  • 18:07 (IST)

    SA vs AUS Semi-Final Live Score: Miller hits 100

    David Miller hits a six off Pat Cummins’ delivery and brings up his century. It is his sixth half-century in the ODI format and he brings it up in 115 balls. Terrific batting from Miller. 

    SA 202/8 (47.1 overs)

  • 17:59 (IST)

    SA vs AUS Semi-Final Live Score: OUT

    OUT!!! Mitchell Starc takes his third wicket of the day as he dismisses Keshav Maharaj for 4. Maharaj tries to steal a boundary but fails to time the shot as it goes up in the air and Steve Smith takes a brilliant catch at the mid-off. 

    SA 191/8 (46.2 overs)

  • 17:56 (IST)

    SA vs AUS Semi-Final Live Score: Miller nears 100

    FOUR!!! David Miller continues to provide momentum to South Africa as he hits another boundary off Pat Cummins’ delivery. Miller plays a pull shot towards the deep mid-wicket as the ball goes across the boundary line for a four. With this, Miller has gone past the 90-run mark and inching closer towards his century. 

    SA 190/7 (46 overs)

  • 17:51 (IST)

    SA vs AUS Semi-Final Live Score: FOUR

    FOUR!!! David Miller hits another boundary off Adam Zampa’s delivery. Miller goes on the back foot to pull between deep mid-wicket and deep square leg and steals a terrific boundary. 

    SA 178/7 (44.1 overs)

  • 17:44 (IST)

    SA vs AUS Semi-Final Live Score: OUT

    OUT!!! Pat Cummins has provided Australia with another breakthrough as he dismissed Gerald Coetzee for 19. Coetzee fails to judge the ball as it touches the edge of the bat and wicketkeeper Josh Inglis takes a brilliant catch behind the stumps. Seventh wicket gone for South Africa. 

    SA 172/7 (43.3 overs)

  • 17:38 (IST)

    SA vs AUS Semi-Final Live Score: Good over from Cummins

    Pat Cummins bowls an economical over and controls the flow of runs. In the previous over, he concedes only four runs as David Miller and Gerald Coetzee continue to stitch a good partnership. 

    SA 164/6 (42 overs)

  • 17:28 (IST)

    SA vs AUS Semi-Final Live Score: FOUR

    FOUR!!! Gerald Coetzee also opens his arms and smashes a boundary off Mitchell Starc’s delivery. Coetzee leans forward and unleashes a powerful shot to the wide of cover and steals four runs. With this shot, South Africa go past the 150-run mark. 

    SA 153/6 (38.2 overs)

  • 17:20 (IST)

    SA vs AUS Semi-Final Live Score: FOUR

    FOUR!!! David Miller continues to provide momentum to South Africa as he gets another boundary off Glenn Maxwell. Miller smears it across the line and he clears mid-wicket and beats long-on to his left and steals four runs. 

    SA 149/6 (38 overs)

  • 17:16 (IST)

    SA vs AUS Semi-Final Live Score: FOUR

    FOUR!!! David Miller hits a boundary off Glenn Maxwell’s delivery. Miller patiently waits for the ball and then comfortably hammers it between the deep mid-wicket and deep square leg. 

    SA 139/6 (36 overs)

  • 17:12 (IST)

    SA vs AUS Semi-Final Live Score: 2 runs off the over

    After leaking few boundaries in the recent overs, Australia are now back in the game. In the previous over, Glenn Maxwell concedes only two as Australia aim to scalp the remaining wickets at the earliest. On the other hand, South Africa batters David Miller and Gerald Coetzee eye some boundaries in the coming overs. 

    SA 129/6 (34 overs)

  • 17:01 (IST)

    SA vs AUS Semi-Final Live Score: Miller hits 50

    David Miller hits a boundary off Glenn Maxwell’s delivery and brings up his half-century. It is his 25th half-century in the ODI format and he brings it up in 70 balls. Terrific batting from Miller. 

    SA 123/6 (31.3 overs)

  • 16:59 (IST)

    SA vs AUS Semi-Final Live Score: Head on a hattrick

    OUT!!! Travis Head completely changes the phase of the game as he takes two wickets back-to-back. Firstly, he clean bowled Heinrich Klaasen for 47. Later, he went on dismiss Marco Jansen for duck, who got LBW out. Sixth wicket gone for South Africa. 

    SA 119/6 (30.5 overs)

  • 16:53 (IST)

    SA vs AUS Semi-Final Live Score: FOUR

    FOUR!!! Heinrich Klaasen smashes two back-to-back boundaries off Travis Head’s delivery. With this, Klaasen has crossed the 40-run mark and inching closer towards his half-century. On the other hand, David Miller is also inching closer towards his 50. 

    SA 119/5 (30.4 overs)

  • 16:49 (IST)

    SA vs AUS Semi-Final Live Score: SIX

    SIX!!! David Miller smashes a huge six off Adam Zampa’s delivery. Miller makes a good use of the full-toss delivery and he smashes it hard towards the leg side as the ball lands safely into the crowd for a maximum. 

    SA 108/4 (28.4 overs)

  • 16:41 (IST)

    SA vs AUS Semi-Final Live Score: SIX

    SIX!!! Heinrich Klaasen smashes two back-to-back sixes off Adam Zampa’s delivery. The first one comes after Klaasen makes a good use of the short delivery and punches it hard over the deep mid-wicket for a maximum. The second one comes after he goes on the back foot and unleashes a powerful shot in the same direction. 

    SA 95/4 (26.4 overs)

  • 16:32 (IST)

    SA vs AUS Semi-Final Live Score: FOUR

    FOUR!!! Heinrich Klaasen smashes a boundary off Pat Cummins’ delivery. Klaasen places a shot towards the backward point as the ball races across the boundary line for a four. 

    SA 77/4 (24 overs)

  • 16:26 (IST)

    SA vs AUS Semi-Final Live Score: 1 run off the over

    Glenn Maxwell bowls an excellent over and controls the flow of runs. In the previous over, he concedes only one run as Australia need to break the budding partnership between  Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller. 

    SA 71/4 (23 overs)

  • 16:18 (IST)

    SA vs AUS Semi-Final Live Score: FOUR

    FOUR!!! David Miller has brought some momentum towards the South Africa as he starts dealing in boundaries. In the previous over of Pat Cummins, he smashes a boundary as the pacer leaks five runs. The Proteas are gradually getting back on track. 

    SA67/4 (20 overs)

  • 16:07 (IST)

    SA vs AUS Semi-Final Live Score: SIX

    SIX!!! David Miller gives a sigh of relief to South Africa as he smashes a huge six off Adam Zampa’s delivery. Miller gets an on slot delivery after which he clears the deep mid-wicket as the ball lands straight into the crowd for a huge six. 

    SA 55/4 (17 overs)

  • 16:03 (IST)

    SA vs AUS Semi-Final Live Score: Maiden Over

    Josh Hazlewood continues to cast his magic in the game. In the previous over, he bowls yet another maiden as Australia still enjoy an upper hand over South Africa. David Miller and Heinrich Klaasen are steady at the crease and aim for some boundaries in the coming overs. 

    SA 46/4 (16 overs)

  • 15:54 (IST)

    SA vs AUS Semi-Final Live Score: Match restarts

    The second semi-final match between South Africa and Australia begins. Adam Zampa will be bowling the opening over with David Miller and Heinrich Klaasen resuming the innings at 44/4 in 14 overs. 

  • 15:46 (IST)

    SA vs AUS Semi-Final Live Score: Rain stops, game to restart soon

    A good news is coming from Eden Gardens that the rain has stopped and the covers have been taken off. The restart time of the game has been announced as 3:55 PM. Stay tuned for all the live updates. 

  • 15:38 (IST)

  • 15:23 (IST)

    South Africa vs Australia Live: Seems like a light drizzle!

    No restart time as of yet but this looks like a passing shower. The umpire are having a chat. What happens if the match gets washed out today? Click here to read

  • 15:16 (IST)

    SA vs AUS Semi-Final Live Score: Rain stops play!

    Rain is back at the Eden Gardens. The covers are out and players are back in the dressing rooms. Hoepfully, this is just a passing shower.

  • 15:10 (IST)

    SA vs AUS Semi-Final Live Score: FOUR

    FOUR!!! Heinrich Klaasen smashes a boundary off Pat Cummins’ delivery. After getting a full delivery, Klaasen leans forward to cream this through cover for his first boundary. 

    SA 36/4 (13.1 overs)

  • 15:07 (IST)

    SA vs AUS Semi-Final Live Score: 4 runs off the over

    Mitchell Starc bowls yet another brilliant over as Australia continue to enjoy an upper hand over South Africa. In the previous over, Starc concedes only four runs as David Miller and Heinrich Klaasen aim to stitch a good partnership. 

    SA 32/4 (13 overs)

  • 15:00 (IST)

    SA vs AUS Semi-Final Live Score: OUT

    OUT!!! Josh Hazlewood strikes again and this time he dismisses Rassie Van Der Dussen for 6. The ball hits the thick outside edge as Steve Smith takes a simple catch at the slip. Fourth wicket gone for South Africa. 

    SA 24/4 (11.5 overs)

  • 14:55 (IST)

    SA vs AUS Semi-Final Live Score: OUT

    OUT!!! Mitchell Starc has taken his second wicket of the day and this time he dismissed Aiden Markram for 10. Markram tries to steal a boundary by David Warner intercepts and takes a stunning catch at the backward point. 

    SA 22/3 (10.5 overs)

  • 14:51 (IST)

    SA vs AUS Semi-Final Live Score: FOUR

    FOUR!!! Aiden Markram smashes a boundary off Mitchell Starc’s delivery. Markram smashes it hard towards the mid-wicket as the ball dodges the fielder and races across the boundary line for a terrific four. 

    SA 22/2 (10.1 overs)

  • 14:48 (IST)

    SA vs AUS Semi-Final Live Score: Australia in control

    In the first 10 overs of the match, Australia clearly have the upper hand over South Africa. The Proteas are visibly struggling against pace of Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood and have lost two early wickets in the form of Temba Bavuma and Quinton de Kock. 

    SA 18/2 (10 overs)

  • 14:44 (IST)

    SA vs AUS Semi-Final Live Score: FOUR

    FOUR!!! Some relief for South Africa as Aiden Markram hits the first boundary of the day. Markram gets a loose ball from Mitchell Starc, which he brilliantly flicks it towards the square leg as the ball races across the boundary line for a four. 

    SA 16/2 (8.4 overs)

  • 14:42 (IST)

    SA vs AUS Semi-Final Live Score: Interesting stat

    Here’s an interesting stat about Josh Hazlewood. Batters dismissed most often by Josh Hazlewood in ODIs

    8 – Quinton de Kock

    5 – Jimmy Neesham

    5 – Virat Kohli

  • 14:36 (IST)

    SA vs AUS Semi-Final Live Score: Maiden Over

    Mitchell Starc bowls yet another brilliant over and gives an upper hand to Australia. In the previous over, he bowls a maiden as Australia aim to bundle out the Proteas at the earliest. South Africa, on the other hand, rely on the partnership between Aiden Markram and Rassie Van Der Dussen. 

    SA 8/2 (7 overs)

  • 14:29 (IST)

    SA vs AUS Semi-Final Live Score: OUT

    OUT!!! Josh Hazlewood has provided Australia with their second breakthrough as he dismissed Quinton de Kock for 3. In desperation of a boundary, De Kock smashes it hard but the ball goes up in the air and Pat Cummins takes a stunning catch at the mid-on. Second wicket gone for South Africa. 

    SA 8/2 (5.4 overs)

  • 14:26 (IST)

    SA vs AUS Semi-Final Live Score: 2 runs off the over

    Australia bowlers continue to dominate South Africa and keep the run flow in check. In the previous over of Mitchell Starc, Quinton de Kock and Rassie Van Der Dussen score only two runs as Australia enjoy the upper hand. 

    SA 8/1 (5 overs)

  • 14:17 (IST)

    SA vs AUS Semi-Final Live Score: SA batters struggle

    South Africa batters Quinton de Kock and Rassie Van Der Dussen are visibly struggling against the lethal pace attack of Australia. In the previous over of Mitchell Starc, the duo scores only two runs as Australia aim to get another wicket at the earliest. 

    SA 4/1 (3 overs)

  • 14:11 (IST)

    SA vs AUS Semi-Final Live Score: Good over from Hazlewood

    After a dominating start from Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood also follows his footsteps and continues to trouble the South African batters. In his previous over, Hazlewood leaks only one run as Quinton de Kock and Rassie Van Der Dussen aim for some momentum. 

    SA 2/1 (2 overs)

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Cricket World Cup 2023: Semi-Final Qualification Scenario For All 10 Teams Explained | Cricket News

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The ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 has reached a critical juncture in the group stage, wherein teams have three games left to secure a berth in the semi-finals. A total of 9 teams are still in contention for one of the semi-final spots, with Bangladesh being the only one to be knocked out. No team, yet, has confirmed their progress or been knocked out of contention for the semis. Host nation India is in pole position to make the World Cup 2023 semi-finals as they are atop the standings with six wins in six matches. South Africa, who have won five of six games, along with New Zealand and Australia currently complete the top four.

ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 points table

ICC World Cup 2023 semi-finals qualification scenarios
India

India, currently on 12 points, need only one more point to secure a semi-final berth in the World Cup 2023. A win or a tie or a no result in either of their final three games will be enough to ensure their progress as all other teams outside the current top four can only get to a maximum of 12 points.

India face Sri Lanka next at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on November 2. It is followed by South Africa on November 5 and their final group-stage match against the Netherlands on November 12.

In case India lose all three matches, an Afghanistan defeat in their next match will seal India’s semi-final berth.

South Africa

The Temba Bavuma-led South African team need three more points to guarantee a place in the semi-finals. However, they play top-four rivals New Zealand and India, followed by challengers Afghanistan in their final three group games.

Meanwhile, only one win could also be enough for the Proteas to make the knockouts, depending on the results of the teams currently placed between 5th and 10th positions on the points table.

New Zealand

New Zealand began the tournament with four wins on the bounce but lost to India and Australia thereafter. The Blackcaps will need at least two victories from their remaining three matches to advance into the semi-finals.

New Zealand will take on South Africa in Pune on November 1. A win for the Kiwis will help them strengthen their chances of making it to the next round while also potentially opening it to a three-way battle for the second spot in the points table.

On the other hand, the Blackcaps can also go through to the semis despite a defeat to the Proteas by beating Sri Lanka and Pakistan in their other two matches, which would also dent the qualification hopes for those two teams.

Australia

Australia are in a similar situation as their trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand. Pat Cummins and Co. need two wins in three games to strengthen their chances of a spot in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 semi-finals.

After defeats in their opening two games, Australia are on a four-match winning streak while boosting their net run rate after a 309-run success against the Netherlands. The five-time ODI World Cup winners will take on reigning champions England next.

A win against England will put them one win away from the next round. However, if they lose to the Three Lions, Australia can still progress with victories against Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

Two defeats, meanwhile, would not necessarily be the end of the road for Australia, courtesy of their net run rate. But they will have to depend on other results to advance to the semis.

Afghanistan

Afghanistan bolstered their chances of making the World Cup semi-finals for the first time after beating Sri Lanka by seven wickets on October 30. They can achieve a maximum of 12 points, considering they beat the Netherlands, Australia and South Africa.

However, Afghanistan will need either Australia or New Zealand to lose at least one match by a massive margin or lose two while winning all three of their upcoming encounters in the tournament to stand a chance of progressing to the next stage.

Sri Lanka

The 1996 World Cup champions Sri Lanka, too, are not mathematically ruled out of semi-final qualification in this edition. They currently have four points and with three matches to go, the Lankans can score a maximum of 10 points.

Firstly, Sri Lanka would need to win all their remaining three games, which includes beating two of the current top four teams, India and New Zealand. Sri Lanka will also need at least two of the five teams currently above them to not notch more than 10 points. They would also need to hope that those teams end up with an inferior net run rate compared to them.

Pakistan

Alike Sri Lanka, Pakistan can also notch a maximum of 10 points in the group stage.

The Babar Azam-led outfit defeated Bangladesh to keep their campaign alive, but also need to win against New Zealand and England in their two remaining matches while also hoping that the current top four teams – India, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa – lose their remaining matches to stand a chance to qualify.

However, even one defeat could end the road for the 1992 World Cup winners if Australia and New Zealand win one of their remaining three matches.

Netherlands

The Netherlands, too, are on four points with three matches to go, wherein they will take on Afghanistan, England and India. The Dutch need to win all three games with a massive victory margin, to stand a chance of making it to their first-ever World Cup semi-finals.

At the same time, they will also hope that no more than three teams finish the group stage with 10 points or more as the Netherlands can score a maximum of 10 themselves.

Bangladesh

The defeat against Pakistan knocked Bangladesh out of the World Cup semi-finals race. Even mathematical permutations and combinations can’t see them secure a top 4 spot now.

England

The defending champions England are all but out of semi-final contention in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, although they can mathematically still qualify. The Englishmen would need to beat Australia, the Netherlands and Pakistan by massive margins and similar to Bangladesh, hope that only three teams finish with more than eight points in the standings.

However, a defeat in either of the three matches would see them exit the tournament in the group stage itself.

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England 30-24 Fiji: Owen Farrell kicks Steve Borthwick’s side into Rugby World Cup semi-finals

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Owen Farrell’s magical boot led England into the Rugby World Cup semi-finals at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille on Sunday

Owen Farrell helped boot England into their sixth Rugby World Cup semi-final after surviving an incredible late fightback from Fiji at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille on Sunday.

England topped Pool D with four victories from four, but they took on a Fiji side in the last eight who inflicted their last defeat in the build-up to this tournament.

Steve Bortwick’s side appeared to be cruising into the semi-finals at 24-10 ahead deep in the second half but the Pacific Islanders mounted a sensational fightback to level matters with 10 minutes to go before Farrell’s boot rescued England and secured a 30-24 victory.

England – Tries: Tuilagi (14) Marchant (23). Cons: Farrell. Pens: Farrell (11,34,38,54,78). Drop goal: Farrell (72).

Fiji – Tries: Mata (28) Ravai (64) Botitu (68). Cons: Lomani, Kuruvoli (2). Pens: Lomani (20).

George Ford, the architect of England’s critical pool-stage victory over Argentina, dropped to the bench with captain Farrell moving from inside centre and Joe Marchant joining Manu Tuilagi in midfield.

Elsewhere, Harlequins playmaker Marcus Smith was preferred to Freddie Steward and made only a second Test start in the full-back position.

Tuilagi celebrates after scoring England's opening try

Tuilagi celebrates after scoring England’s opening try

After a cagey opening 10 minutes, referee Mathieu Raynal handed England the chance to open the scoring in front of the posts after Fiji were penalised for not rolling away and Farrell duly obliged.

Moments later, England went through two phases from the lineout before the dangerous Tuilagi spun away and dived down in the corner for his 20th try for his country and an 8-0 lead after Farrell hit the post with his conversion.

Scrum half Frank Lomani made up for an earlier missed penalty by converting with his second attempt to get Fiji on the board but it was the men in white who continued their bright start when Joe Marchant barrowed over from close range with Farrell putting over the extras for a comfortable 15-3 lead.

The Princess of Wales watches England in action alongside chairman of the RFU, Bill Beaumont

The Princess of Wales watches England in action alongside chairman of the RFU, Bill Beaumont

Marcus Smith is caught full in the face by Vinaya Habosi

Marcus Smith is caught full in the face by Vinaya Habosi

Things went from bad to worse for the Fijians when wing Vinaya Habosi caught Smith full in the face with his head and was sent to the sin-bin for 10 minutes.

However, despite being down to 14-players, No 8 Viliame Mata produced a moment of magic to outfox the England defence with a neat show and go to cross over the whitewash. Lomani converted to reduce the deficit to 15-10.

Farrell and England’s breakdown success delighted Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, in the stands, by completing a penalty hat-trick as further cracks appeared in Fiji’s discipline, and Borthwick’s side led by 11 points at the break.

Marchant dives in to score England's second try

Marchant dives in to score England’s second try

Both sides hardly charged into the quarter-finals in a blaze of glory, but they were desperate to grasp a glorious opportunity to progress, especially as Fiji upped the tempo at the start of the second half.

Despite looking dangerous, Fiji were continually being beaten to the breakdown and were caught offside. Farrell slotted over his fourth penalty to keep the scoreboard ticking over.

The Pacific Island nation recorded their first-ever win over England when the two teams last met – a 30-22 triumph in a World Cup warm-up match at Twickenham back in August and some wonderful rugby enabled them to close the gap to within punching distance when Peni Ravai burst through to get over the line with Kuruvoli converting.

Botitu (left) celebrates scoring his sides third try in an incredible conclusion to the match

Botitu (left) celebrates scoring his sides third try in an incredible conclusion to the match

Fiji were not going quietly and in an incredible turnaround they sliced England apart to score again through Vilimoni Botitu under the posts with Kuruvoli’s second successful conversion tying things up at 24-24 with 10 to go.

A pulsating finale continued at pace, with Farrell then dropping a goal to put England three points ahead, and after Ben Earl’s stunning break resulted in another Farrell penalty, Fiji were unable to pull off a late miracle.

Ollie Lawrence consoles Waisea Nayacalevu after a titanic batle

Ollie Lawrence consoles Waisea Nayacalevu after a titanic batle

The vagaries of the draw presented a less-than-perilous route to the semi-finals for England and, having now navigated it, they will be out to seize their opportunity at reaching a fourth World Cup final next Saturday.

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Farrell: We had to find a way to win I Borthwick: We are determined to be successful

Owen Farrell, speaking to ITV

“It was what we expected. They are a tough, tough team that can turn it on in the blink of an eye. I thought we started the game really well. We really got after it in that first half.

“We always knew Fiji were going to have some good patches and they did. To find a way to win and get through to the semi-finals is a big step forward but we know we have plenty of work to do.”

Farrell

Farrell

England head coach Steve Borthwick, speaking to ITV

“I thought the players were magnificent. The whole squad has worked very, very hard to get that result tonight,” said Borthwick.

“I have to give immense credit to Fiji. They played tremendously well tonight and they have had a fantastic World Cup. I am obviously delighted we found a way to win that game.

“I thought the vast majority of the game we were in control. There was a spell in the second half were they scored two back-to-back tries.

“What I was really pleased with was how the players handled it thereafter.

“A lot has been written about these players and this England team over the last period of time and what I see is a group of players that can handle and rise to these occasions.

“We don’t forget that many people said that we weren’t going to make it out of the group and then there was firmness that we would lose tonight.

“These players will be written off again I am pretty sure but when I see these players, I see a fantastic group of people who are determined to be successful, determined to be the best versions of themselves.”

Fiji coach Simon Raiwalui was nearly in tears in his post-match interview. “This is just the beginning for this Fiji team,” he says. “I couldn’t be prouder.”

What’s next?

Jonny Wilkinson kicked the winning drop goal to give England victory in extra time during the 2003 Rugby World Cup Final against Australia

Jonny Wilkinson kicked the winning drop goal to give England victory in extra time during the 2003 Rugby World Cup Final against Australia

England, who won their only Webb Ellis Cup in 2003, and have been beaten World Cup finalists on three occasions in 1991, 2007 and 2019 will take on hosts France or holders South Africa in the semi-finals the Stade de France in Paris, scheduled for next Saturday October 21 (8pm kick-off BST).

New Zealand, who progressed to the World Cup semi-finals for the ninth time in their history, will face Michael Cheika’s Argentina, who are into their first semi-final since 2015, at the same venue on Friday October 20 (8pm kick-off BST).

The Pumas beat the All Blacks for the first time in Sydney in the 2020 Rugby Championship and repeated the feat last year on New Zealand soil in Christchurch.



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Ireland 24-28 New Zealand: All Blacks break Irish Rugby World Cup hearts at quarter-final stage again

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Ireland suffered an eighth Rugby World Cup quarter-final exit in their history, as New Zealand beat them in a Paris epic

A ruthless New Zealand side broke Ireland hearts at the Rugby World Cup quarter-final stage again, as the All Blacks prevailed 28-24 at the Stade de France in Paris.

In a breathless first half, the All Blacks raced out to a 13-0 lead through a Leicester Fainga’anuku try, and the boots of Richie Mo’unga and Jordie Barrett, but Ireland recovered well to narrow the half-time gap to a single point at 18-17.

Ireland’s Bundee Aki and Jamison Gibson-Park scored tries during that opening period – either side of an Ardie Savea try for New Zealand and Aaron Smith’s sin-binning for a deliberate knock-on – as Andy Farrell’s team fought back, but their inability to strike in the 22 enough proved a major factor as Will Jordan put the All Blacks back to two scores ahead with a second-half try.

Ireland – Tries: Aki (27), Gibson-Park (39), Penalty Try (64). Cons: Sexton (29, 40). Pens: Sexton (22).

New Zealand – Tries: Fainga’anuku (19), Savea (33), Jordan (53). Cons: Mo’unga (21), J Barrett (54). Pens: Mo’unga (8), J Barrett (14, 69).

Ireland responded again as their pack forced a penalty try when Codie Taylor collapsed a rampaging rolling maul, with Taylor also sin-binned for the act. But the men in green crucially failed to score against the 14 players, suffering yet another agonising last-eight exit.

Mo’unga kicked New Zealand into an early 3-0 lead, and, despite several key Ireland chances in the 22, the All Blacks then blew out the scoreboard on 19 minutes with a stunning counter-attack try down the left.

Beauden Barrett created it as he chipped and regathered, before Jordie Barrett, Fainga’anuku and Rieko Ioane connected superbly, with the latter offloading inside magnificently for Fainga’anuku to score.

New Zealand's Leceister Fainga'anuku scored the opening try of the contest

New Zealand’s Leceister Fainga’anuku scored the opening try of the contest

Mo’unga converted brilliantly for 13-0, but Johnny Sexton finally put Ireland onto the scoreboard after a cheap penalty for blocking.

On 27 minutes, Ireland – fuelled by the twinkling feet of Mack Hansen – played on penalty advantage before Aki scored a stunning solo try.

Ireland's Bundee Aki replied with a brilliant solo run and score

Ireland’s Bundee Aki replied with a brilliant solo run and score

Ireland’s lineout continued to falter, however, as, after losing another set-piece, New Zealand produced a 50:22 and were in for their second try through Savea, quick ball in the 22 paving the way for a diving finish in the corner.

Mo’unga struck wide with the conversion to leave the All Blacks up by eight, but scrum-half Smith was sin-binned with four minutes of the half to play.

Ardie Savea's try in the corner came at a crucial time for the All Blacks, just after Ireland had hit back

Ardie Savea’s try in the corner came at a crucial time for the All Blacks, just after Ireland had hit back

After one Ireland attack was illegally halted, Ireland showed courage to kick to the corner again, from where Gibson-Park sniped and reached to score superbly.

Ireland continued to waste chances when well-placed, though, their first three attacks in the 22 in the second period each coming to nothing as the All Blacks defended strongly.

Jamison Gibson-Park scored Ireland's second try on the cusp of half-time, but they wasted many other chances

Jamison Gibson-Park scored Ireland’s second try on the cusp of half-time, but they wasted many other chances

The stark difference in ruthlessness was then laid bare when Mo’unga and Jordan cut through the heart of Ireland’s defence to score a try off a lineout within their own half.

Jordie Barrett lashed over the touchline conversion for a two-score lead at 25-17, and Ireland then lost key man Hansen to injury, before Sexton should have narrowed the gap back to five points via a penalty, but struck poorly wide.

Ireland continued to play in the New Zealand half, and in the 64th minute the pack sprinted forward for a penalty try which resulted in Taylor’s yellow card, handing Ireland a golden chance inside the final quarter. New Zealand were next to score, however, as Jordie Barrett struck over for a four-point lead.

Aki forced a breakdown penalty within moments, and though Ireland’s maul got rumbling forward again, Ronan Kelleher was agonisingly held up as he dived for the line.

The All Blacks' defence just held out in the second half to claim victory

The All Blacks’ defence just held out in the second half to claim victory

Caelan Doris then knocked on the goal-line dropout to compound the error, with Taylor’s sin-bin elapsing for no Ireland score.

Farrell’s men summoned up one final effort through 30-plus phases into the New Zealand 22, but they just fell short.

Sexton: I’m very proud of the boys and the nation | ‘We couldn’t have done more’

Ireland captain Sexton told ITV Sport post-match…

“I’m very proud of the boys. Proud of the nation, the country, we couldn’t have done any more really.

“It’s fine margins, they sucker punched us on a couple of tries and we had to work really hard for our tries, that’s what champions do.

“Fair play to them, they’re a cracking team. It’s been amazing, these last six weeks have been a dream. This group, these fans and I’m just gutted we couldn’t do it for them.

“You’ve got to work hard for fairy-tale endings, we didn’t get it and that’s just life.

“We didn’t leave a stone unturned, we ticked every box, trained the house down. I thought after a slow enough start we played alright tonight.

“Fair play to the All Blacks, they’re a very good team and well coached.”

New Zealand head coach Ian Foster said post-match…

“It was a massive game between two teams that were desperate for a result and they’re an incredibly proud team with an amazing record coming into this one.

“But the quarter-finals is about knockout rugby and we’ve been there before and we know we were going to have to dig into ourselves, we did and I couldn’t be more proud.

“Pretty important, wasn’t it? [Barrett holding up Kelleher over the try-line]. He got himself underneath it and that’s the game of small margins. Our defence was particularly strong for most of the game.”

What’s next?

The defeat means Ireland exit at the quarter-final stage of a World Cup for the eighth time in their history, and have still yet to make a World Cup semi-final. They exit having topped Pool B after wins over Romania, Tonga, South Africa and Scotland, before falling to the All Blacks as they did four years ago in Japan.

The victory means New Zealand progress to the World Cup semi-finals for the ninth time in their history, and will face Argentina at the Stade de France in Paris on Friday October 20 (8pm kick-off BST).



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