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Smith hit by elbow injury scare ahead of Sri Lanka Tests

Published in Cricket
Sunday, 19 January 2025 00:25
Kuhnemann, who played three Tests in India on the 2023 tour, which included taking 5 for 16 in Indore, had shaped as a key figure in Australia's bowling set-up for the two Tests with the Australia hierarchy putting a lot of stock in the value of the left-arm spinner.
England will bolster their spin attack for the first T20I against Australia at the SCG as they look to keep the Ashes alive, but there is intrigue as to whether the home side will be able to find room for the in-form Alana King.
Heather Knight confirmed that legspinner Sarah Glenn, who took 4 for 20 in her most recent T20I against South Africa, would come into the line-up alongside Charlie Dean and Sophie Ecclestone. She even suggested that England wouldn't be afraid of playing four frontline spinners, with left-armer Linsey Smith also part of the squad, if they felt conditions suited it.

"They've played in our T20 team pretty much for the last couple of years altogether," Knight said of the spin trio. "They've been a real strength of ours, those three bowlers, the different attributes they bring, the different types of spin, and the different roles that they play.

"Sarah will definitely come in. She's one of the best spinners in the world. She's been outstanding for us, particularly in those middle overs, taking wickets and then really squeezing oppositions. It's been a big part of our tactics against opposition teams."

Knight also indicated that Sophia Dunkley would continue at No. 3 and that allrounder Freya Kemp could be an option for the middle order.

Australia are confident they have the batting order to counter whatever England throw at them, having taken Ecclestone for her second-most expensive ODI figures in Hobart

"I'll back myself against spin, which is nice," Phoebe Litchfield said. "Ecclestone, bowling into me, she still poses the big threat, but I think [with] our lefties there's a point of difference for our team to have that spinning into us. Charlie Dean has also been bowling really well, and the likes of Glenn could come in. The middle order, you kind of face more spin [and] I prefer that."

Australia will retain the Ashes with victory in Sydney, but this is their first T20I since they exited last year's World Cup in the semi-final against South Africa. And, while Georgia Voll's inclusion in the squad is the only change in personnel, there remain questions to be answered about how they line-up.

King took nine wickets across the final two ODIs but has not played a T20I since the 2023 World Cup in South Africa, with Georgia Wareham the preferred option in that format. The pair teamed up with great effect in Hobart where Wareham crunched 38 off 12 balls before taking two key wickets, and Knight expected the same in Sydney.

"I think I would be surprised [if King wasn't selected]," Knight said. "We're probably expecting a couple of leggies. They've obviously had some success against us in the series, but we'll have to see who lines up tomorrow."

Sophie Molineux, who played in the recent World Cup, is injured so there is an opening for King with the selectors having moved on from Jess Jonassen. King was also the joint-leading wicket-taker in this season's WBBL with Perth Scorchers, claiming 20 at 13.30.

"I think she'd make a massive impact, but, equally, you saw Georgia Wareham, her impact [when] she came in the other game," Litchfield said. "Those two have been bowling amazingly well in T20 cricket for long periods of time and Georgia Wareham's probably had the luck of the green being selected, but they offer so much individually and you'd love to put them both in the side, but unfortunately there's probably not much room so it's a tough choice because they're so good."

The other interest around Australia is how they structure their batting order after the T20 World Cup where a failed experiment with Wareham at No. 3 found the likes of Litchfield and Annabel Sutherland having very few deliveries to make an impact.

"Our batting order is just ridiculous," Litchfield said. "I'm pretty excited for our team to unleash the shackles tomorrow. I really enjoy it in the middle order. I think you look at the likes of Ellyse Perry, Tahlia McGrath, Ash Gardner, they're striking the ball really well at the moment. Probably better than I am. So full trust in them.

"I think the situation [in the World Cup] was always quite tough, the slow wickets. If you give me an extra 20 balls, I probably won't strike at 160. So I think the way I came in and the position that we were in forced me to do that. But in every game of T20 cricket, I'm trying to play the same way and try to score as many runs off as little balls as possible."

Grace Harris, fresh off 140 off 78 balls for Queensland in the WNCL, is also part of Australia's squad for the T20Is to provide a further batting option alongside the uncapped Voll. Harris played three matches at the World Cup, starting in the middle before moving to the top when Alyssa Healy injured her foot.

Australia (possible): 1 Alyssa Healy (capt & wk), 2 Beth Mooney, 3 Ellyse Perry, 4 Ash Gardner, 5 Phoebe Litchfield, 6 Tahlia McGrath, 7 Annabel Sutherland, 8 Georgia Wareham, 9 Alana King, 10 Darcie Brown, 11 Megan Schutt

England (possible): 1 Maia Bouchier, 2 Danni Wyatt-Hodge, 3 Sophia Dunkley, 4 Nat Sciver-Brunt, 5 Heather Knight (capt), 6 Amy Jones (wk), 7 Freya Kemp, 8 Charlie Dean, 9 Sophie Ecclestone, 10 Sarah Glenn, 11 Lauren Bell

Andrew McGlashan is a deputy editor at ESPNcricinfo

'It hurts': Campbell, Lions see magical year end

Published in Breaking News
Sunday, 19 January 2025 00:01

DETROIT -- It was a somber scene inside the Detroit Lions locker room Saturday night as players left Ford Field disappointed.

After a magical regular-season run, the top-seeded Lions suffered a 45-31 upset loss to the Washington Commanders behind a five-turnover performance in the NFC divisional round matchup.

Coach Dan Campbell got emotional afterward while trying to discuss what the record-setting 15-win season and the players meant to him following the Lions' playoff elimination.

It was difficult for him to put the loss into words. The Lions became the first team in NFL history to lose a playoff game when having 300-plus pass and 200-plus rushing yards.

"We just didn't play great, and I mentioned we didn't complement each other and that's the same thing. At the end of the day, I didn't have them ready," Campbell said. "It's hard to look at it."

After Lions All-Pro receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown completed his postgame interviews, veteran quarterback Jared Goff sat beside him at his locker before putting his face in his hands.

Goff also received a hug from safety Kerby Joseph. His teammates supported him after a tough game where he threw three interceptions and lost a fumble. He finished 23-for-40 for 313 yards with a touchdown, but also briefly exited the game in the second quarter to be evaluated for a concussion after absorbing a big hit during Commanders safety Quan Martin's pick-six.

"I'm still kind of processing this. I'm going to have some hard nights coming up unfortunately. It's hard. I wish I could give you guys a better answer right now," Goff said. "It's disappointing. It's hard. We had everything we wanted. Home field advantage, the fans were incredible and unfortunately, we just let it slip out of our hands."

In a back-and-forth first-half battle, the Lions trailed by 10 at halftime. With 52 points combined, it matched the highest scoring first half in any game since the 2019 divisional playoffs between the Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans, according to ESPN Research.

Campbell described the beginning of the game as being "odd" as the Lions struggled to find a groove. On the defense's second play, starting cornerback Amik Robertson left the contest and wouldn't return after breaking his arm. He will undergo surgery Sunday, according to Campbell.

Robertson joined a long line of injuries, notably on defense, as Detroit was playing with 16 players on the injured reserve list. Still, Campbell refused to make any excuses and said the loss didn't hurt any extra, based upon their No. 1 seeding.

"No. It just hurts to lose, man, and I don't care if you're the seven seed, six seed, five seed, one seed, because I've lost at all of them damn near and it stings," Campbell said. "And it hurts ... it hurts."

After missing the past three regular-season games with an MCL injury, running back David Montgomery returned with seven carries for 28 yards. However, Detroit's other running back, Jahmyr Gibbs, continued to establish himself as a bona fide star with two touchdowns. Gibbs' 22 scrimmage touchdowns this season tied NFL great Gale Sayers (1965) for the most in a season by a player 22 years old or younger.

The Lions led the league in scoring (33.2 points per game) during the regular season. They won the NFC North for the second year in a row.

Detroit also captured every road game for the first time in a season while winning 11 straight contests, but as great a campaign it was for the organization, it was too soon for Campbell to reflect on those achievements following the crushing defeat to the Commanders.

"No. I just think it's just not the time, man. It's hard when you lose, and you lose these games, man," Campbell said as he fought back tears. "It's like the players, what they put into it. A lot of people don't know what they go through. You have to get up, body's beat to s---, mentally stay locked in and do those things, so long season."

Commanders exult in 1st NFC title game since '91

Published in Breaking News
Sunday, 19 January 2025 00:02

DETROIT -- After Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin finished his postgame news conference, he stepped away from the podium and let out a yell that for the franchise was 33 years in the making.

"Wooooooo!" McLaurin shouted, shaking his fists and smiling as he disappeared out the door.

That emotion accompanied Washington's 45-31 win over the Detroit Lions, giving the franchise its first NFC Championship Game berth since the 1991 season. It was the longest such drought in the conference, a dishonor that now belongs to the rival Dallas Cowboys (1995).

"We're not done yet," McLaurin said.

The joy could be heard inside and outside the Commanders locker room, with dignitaries such as former Washington coach Joe Gibbs, Commanders minority shareholder Magic Johnson, NBA star Kevin Durant and award-winning actor Jeffrey Wright all celebrating.

Commanders general manager Adam Peters, in his first season, went around the locker room hugging various players. Co-owner Mitch Rales slapped hands and hugged players as they entered the locker room, sharing a longer embrace with McLaurin.

And co-owner Josh Harris told reporters from the Team 980 and the Athletic that "I'm so happy for the DMV [District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia] ... We're a team of destiny."

This night belonged to a team that was 4-13 a year ago and now will play either the Los Angeles Rams or Philadelphia Eagles in next week's NFC Championship Game. Its fan base has endured not just a bad stretch but a bad couple of decades.

From 1981 to 1991, the organization won three Super Bowls and appeared in a fourth. But from 1992 through 2023, Washington owned the NFC's fourth-worst winning percentage.

"I'm so excited not only for myself but my team, especially the guys that have been here for the last couple of years that's been on not-so-good teams just to experience this," Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. said. "It's amazing."

Yet here they are, one season into what was supposed to be a rebuild under first-year coach Dan Quinn. He preferred the word "recalibrate," but the better term now might be rejuvenated.

"This is crazy," said Washington linebacker Bobby Wagner, who was born in 1990, 19 months before the organization's last Super Bowl title.

Commanders safety Jeremy Reaves, with the team since 2018, was fielding a question about a teammate when he diverted his answer as he processed the moment.

"Man, this is cool," Reaves said. "I can't even put my head around this. No one thought we would be here. Let's go!"

But they're here in part because of Jayden Daniels, who becomes the sixth rookie quarterback to reach a championship game. The other five lost. But Daniels has proved all year to be different. That was the case again Saturday night when he completed 22 of 31 passes for 299 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran 16 times for another 51 yards.

Daniels connected on two fourth-down passes to sustain touchdown drives.

"He's so poised and so clutch," Washington running back Austin Ekeler said of Daniels. "Every week, I'm like, man, this guy is really good. I know to expect it, but again and again he continues to show that, hey, he has a huge clutch gene, and it shows up all the time."

Teammates embraced Daniels from the start, pointing to the work he put in -- arriving before any player on a daily basis -- and the talent they saw on the field. They still marvel at him, and they know what he means to the franchise.

"I knew Jay was ready, day one," Robinson said. "I knew he was ready not only for everything, all the great stuff he's done this year, but to have himself prepared for the playoffs and the big-time moments."

Wagner has played in two NFC Championship Games with the Seattle Seahawks, winning both. He sensed this team had a chance to accomplish more than anticipated during a three-game losing streak that dropped its record to 7-5.

"I didn't see anybody waver. I didn't see anyone have their heads down," Wagner said of the skid. "Everyone was coming in still relaxed. We had our ups, and we had our moments when we weren't winning. Everyone became more accountable."

Washington hasn't lost since that time, having won seven in a row. Daniels isn't the only rookie who has contributed. Mike Sainristil, a second-round pick, opened the season as a nickel corner but moved outside when the team needed more help. He solidified the position -- and on Saturday intercepted two passes.

The leadership -- and on-field contributions from veterans such as Wagner, Ekeler and tight end Zach Ertz, who caught five passes for 28 yards and a touchdown against the Lions -- has been invaluable. The Commanders have a standout player in McLaurin, who registered a 58-yard catch for a touchdown, his 15th score of the campaign. And they have a lot of players who understand their roles and fill them.

Players have talked since the spring about their bond, which was enhanced during the previous five games that they won either at the final second or on the last play from scrimmage.

"We're heavy hitters, we're poised and we're confident," Wagner said. "We have a belief in one another that's not easily found."

Meanwhile, Quinn wanted to stay focused in the moment and not get caught up in what Saturday's victory meant.

"There will be a time to look back and reflect," Quinn said, "but I'm not there yet."

Islam Makhachev reminded the MMA world that he's the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter for a reason. Makhachev dominated late replacement Renato Moicano in a first-round submission victory in the main event of UFC 311 on Saturday at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, to defend his lightweight title. Can anyone beat Makhachev? He was a heavy favorite, per ESPN BET, and made it look easy. In the co-main event, bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili had a tough time against Umar Numagomedov but edged a decision win to retain his belt. What now for the champion? In another notable fight, Jiří Procházka stopped former light heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill in the third round and asked for a third fight with champion Alex Pereira. He's 0-2 against Pereira, can he get the fight and get the result this time around? What should be next for the former champion? Brett Okamoto, Andreas Hale and Jeff Wagenheim shares their thoughts on these fights.


The moment is never too big for Makhachev

It didn't matter who was standing across the cage from Islam Makhachev. Whether it was Renato Moicano challenging him in the main event or even if it had been his originally scheduled opponent, Makhachev was going to fight his fight and make Saturday night all his.

The lightweight champion had risen to the top of the sport on the strength of the same characteristic that once buoyed his friend and mentor, retired former champ Khabib Nurgamomedov: Unflappable discipline.

A late change in opponent -- Arman Tsarukyan withdrew on Friday with a back injury -- did not faze Makhachev. Neither did the disconcerting events of just a few minutes before, when his friend and teammate Umar Nurmagomedov suffered his first career defeat in an unsuccessful bid for the bantamweight title. Some fighters -- even very good ones, champions and stars -- might have been put off their game. Not Makhachev. He maintained his focus, as usual.

The easy-as-pie submission of Moicano gives Makhachev 15 consecutive victories, tying him with Kamaru Usman for the second-longest streak in UFC history, one behind Anderson Silva. He also bested some other all-time greats -- including Coach Khabib and BJ Penn -- with his fifth lightweight title fight win, the most ever in the UFC. But records do not tell the story of Makhachev.

The No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in ESPN's rankings has abundant skill, but it's a word that rhymes with skill that truly fuels him. It's his will. Not simply a will to win, but a will to be Islam Makhachev and nothing less, no matter the circumstances swirling around him.

Who or what can challenge this man? Whether Makhachev will continue to mow down lightweights or step up to welterweight to try to become a two-division champion is a question he and his team will tackle in due time. One thing we do know now: Whenever he next steps into the cage, and against whoever, the moment will not be too big for Makhachev. -- Wagenheim


It's Dvalishvili, Nurmagomedov and the rest of the division

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1:58
Merab Dvalishvili successfully defends title in epic co-main event

Merab Dvalishvili somehow comes out with a remarkable victory over Umar Nurmagomedov in the co-main event of UFC 311.

Before their respective careers are done, we will see a trilogy between Merab Dvalishvili and Umar Nurmagomedov. They are clearly the best bantamweights in the world, for one. I don't discount the chances of Sean O'Malley, Cory Sandhagen or Petr Yan pulling off an upset, but it's not the most likely scenario. Right now, odds favor Dvalishvili and Nurmagomedov over every other bantamweight in the world.

Saturday's fight was incredible. And it stands to reason, neither was at their best. Dvalishvili never wanted to fight on this timeline and hinted at not being 100 percent after suffering a cut on his right leg during training. He wanted to take a break to start 2025, but was thrown into camp early based on the UFC's desire to book this matchup in January.

Nurmagomedov apparently broke his hand in the opening round, and regardless of that, he will learn from this experience and grow as a result. Whichever of these two you'd pick to win a rematch, you can feel confident in saying they'll both be better the next time they fight. Their stocks also rose on Saturday, which is important. Even going into UFC 311, you wouldn't say either Dvalishvili or Nurmagomedov were the biggest names in the division. This fight showed them in a different light. It was super entertaining because they were evenly matched. Before this matchup, they were able to impose their will on opponents without as much resistance.

Dvalishvili isn't known as a super exciting bantamweight, but when you pit him against someone such as Nurmagomedov, who can defend his wrestling and force him every ounce out of his renowned gas tank, it's a much funner show. And his antics to the crowd, which can be off-putting if he's well ahead on the scorecards, have a much more positive effect when he's battling in there and looking to rile a crowd behind him. This could turn into one of the better rivalries the sport witnesses over the next two years. -- Okamoto


Procházka is a star and his performance at UFC 311 certified that

play
0:52
Jiří Procházka drops Jamahal Hill en route to TKO win

Jiří Procházka defeats Jamahal Hill via TKO in Round 3 after a series of brutal knockdowns.

Although he's a notch below Alex Pereira in the light heavyweight pecking order, Jiří Procházka has proven to possess that "it" factor that fans gravitate to, and his performance on Saturday cemented his place in the hearts of fight fans.

Between his epic staredowns, samurai-influenced lifestyle and his exciting fighting style, Procházka is one-of-a-kind in the UFC. Add in the fact that he shaved his head in solidarity with Ashly McGarity, the fan who was diagnosed with cervical cancer last September, and you have a fighter that the UFC can get behind, with or without a world title.

UFC 311 was another display of the Czech Republic's star power as he engaged in a thrilling battle with Jamahal Hill before scoring a third-round knockout in another fantastic showdown. The crowd was firmly behind Prochazka throughout, and the finish punctuated his magnetic aura.

There is rarely a dull moment in a Procházka fight. His defense isn't much more than moving his head and he barely weaves his way out of danger while his unorthodox assault is difficult for his opponents to get a read on. Hill didn't have the reflexes to pick up on the movement and was eventually crushed by the former champion. Outside of Pereira, nobody has managed to fully figure out Procházka.

Will he be a world champion again? Maybe. But the UFC has needed stars that can draw outside of world title fights and Procházka fits the bill. A fight with Khalil Rountree should be next on the docket and could be worthy of the first BMF title fight in the light heavyweight division. -- Hale

Messi scores in Miami's first preseason hitout

Published in Soccer
Saturday, 18 January 2025 21:34

Inter Miami CF began their preseason with a 2-2 draw against Club America in regular time on Saturday night at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada before winning in penalties (3-2).

Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano made his managerial debut after being appointed to the role on Nov. 26, 2024, initiating a new chapter for the club. The Herons lined up in a 4-4-2 for the first time under the helm of the Barcelona figure, with star players Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez up top.

After retaining most of the possession, Club America opened up the scoring in the 31st minute of the match with a goal from Henry Martín. But the Liga MX giants failed to retain the early lead for long, as Messi found a way to connect with Suarez inside the box before heading the ball into the back of the net.

The Uruguay forward, who signed a new contract with Inter Miami to stay through the 2025 MLS season, volleyed the ball to Messi for the perfect header.

Inter Miami managed to keep the match at 1-1 well into the second half, but Israel Reyes and Club America proved stronger. A series of defensive errors from centre-back pairing Tomas "Toto" Aviles and Noah Allen left Reyes with the ball inside the box, inspiring the player to slide the ball past new Inter Miami goalkeeper Rocco Rios Novo.

Lionel Messi

David Gonzales-Imagn Images


The Herons were able to find the tying goal once again, this time with a header from defender Aviles off of a corner kick from Julian Gressel in the final minutes of the match to send the game to penalties.

Club America will now return to Mexico City to resume the Liga MX tournament, while Inter Miami embark on the South and Central American portion of their 2025 preseason tour. The Herons are set to face Universitario at Estadio Monumental "U" in Peru on Jan. 29 before traveling to Panama to play against Sporting San Miguelito.

Connolly, Beardman keep Scorchers' finals hope alive

Published in Cricket
Saturday, 18 January 2025 19:17

Perth Scorchers 163 for 5 (Connolly 39*, Fanning 29, D' Short 2-37) beat Adelaide Strikers 161 (Scott 67, M Short 40, Beardman 3-17, Behrendorff 3-21) by 5 five wickets

Before he departs for his first Test tour, Cooper Connolly stepped up under pressure as Perth Scorchers' unlikely bid for finals remained alive after a tense victory over Adelaide Strikers.
The finals hopes of both teams were remarkably revived after Melbourne Renegades' improbable victory earlier over Brisbane Heat. Scorchers needed to chase 162 in 18 overs to leapfrog Renegades and they did it relatively easy at the end with Connolly slamming consecutive sixes to finish the job in the 17th over.

In front of 41, 878 at Optus Stadium, Connolly rose to the occasion once again and finished unbeaten with 39 from 21 balls to end Strikers - and Renegades - season.

But Melbourne Stars can leapfrog Scorchers and claim fourth spot if they beat Hobart Hurricanes in the BBL season-finale at the MCG on Sunday.

Connolly guides Scorchers over the line

Finn Allen has been boom or bust this BBL season. He was Scorchers' x-factor and the fans hoped he could replicate Jake Fraser-McGurk's earlier fireworks.

After a couple of early boundaries, it was an anti-climax with Allen hitting to midwicket before Aaron Hardie and Sam Fanning combined to get Scorchers back on track.

Hardie has been out of form with a top-score of 34 this season, but looked in a determined mood and started with a boundary. He stroked another down the ground and whacked a short delivery into the crowd.

But the match turned in the eighth over when Fanning was run out after a horrible mix up before Hardie moments later was stumped after failing to connect a flighted delivery from legspinner Lloyd Pope.

Connolly, however, was composed as he kept Scorchers on pace. The nerve-jangling chase had shades of the classic BBL 12 final and, fittingly, he stepped up under pressure again.

He slammed consecutive sixes off D'Arcy Short to guide Scorchers to a memorable victory that has, for now, kept their season alive.

Strikers lack penetration

Strikers needed to win by at least 15 runs to keep their finals hopes alive. But they were always up against it and will rue a couple of pivotal moments. Connolly, on 6, was adjudged lbw to Pope, but it was overturned after ball-tracking had it pitching outside the line.

Turner was dropped on 9 by Brendan Doggett, who ran in from long off only to grass a regulation catch.

Needing wickets, D'Arcy Short was given the ball when the power surge was taken in the 13th over. It was a gamble by captain Matt Short and it looked to backfire when Turner slammed a six down the ground but fell two balls later attempting to repeat the dose.

But Strikers' lack of firepower with the ball was evident as their season came to an end.

Beardman steps up in his second BBL match

After a disastrous defeat to Thunder in Sydney, where they were routed for 97, Scorchers' season looked done. They looked ashen-faced returning home amid rumblings that numerous veterans were on the outer and set to leave the club at season's end.

Their final home game, with a bumper crowd tipped for weeks, appeared likely to be a dead-rubber. But, remarkably, four results went their way and Scorchers were still alive.

After Scorchers elected to bowl, spearheads Lance Morris and Jason Behrendorff - who have gone off the boil in recent games - were pumped up but perhaps overeager.

Normally so reliable in the powerplay, they sprayed the new ball and were rattled by the ultra-aggressiveness of Matt Short and Alex Carey.

But Scorchers were able to take regular wickets as Connolly, in his last match before he departs for the Sri Lanka tour, dismissed Short for 40 with a fuller and quicker delivery.

It was 19-year-old Mahli Beardman who stole the show in his second BBL game. He has been preferred over experienced quicks Andrew Tye and Matt Kelly, as Scorchers start transitioning their list, and he justified the faith with three wickets.

Beardman made a name for himself at last year's Under-19 World Cup with rapid bowling and he showcased his innate fire with speeds hitting 140 kph.

He claimed his first BBL wicket after knocking over the leg stump of Alex Ross, whose attempted ramp went horribly wrong. Beardman then bowled a sizzling short delivery first ball to Harry Manenti before dismissing him shortly after. He added the wicket of D'Arcy Short to cap Scorchers' comeback.

In good signs for the Australian national team, Hardie - who is in the Champions Trophy squad - bowled for the first time this BBL. He finished with 0 for 14 off two overs.

Hardie had not bowled since taking a three-wicket haul against Pakistan in a T20I in November as he ramps up his bowling loads. He had played as a specialist batter having recovered from a nagging quad injury.

Scott has breakout as Strikers go extra hard

With Renegades having lifted their net run rate, Strikers decided to go all out attack in good batting conditions. Alex Carey, promoted to open, went for broke and decided to hit hard. It was an effective strategy as he started his flurry by whacking Behrendorff down the ground for six before enjoying the extra pace of Morris.

He raced to 22 off 6 before being late on a rampant Morris delivery and hitting straight to third man. Short continued to put the foot on the gas as Strikers pummelled 56 in the powerplay, with Morris conceding 37 of the runs.

But the risky approach proved the downfall for numerous batters as Strikers were pegged back in the middle overs. It was left to 24-year-old Liam Scott to lift Strikers in the second half of the innings and he rose to the occasion with a maiden BBL half-century.

He continued Morris' hapless night with a couple of mighty blows into the crowd before his 43-ball 67 ended in the 17th over.

Tristan Lavalette is a journalist based in Perth

Sri Lanka dismiss Malaysia for 23 in massive opening win

Published in Cricket
Saturday, 18 January 2025 21:57
In reply, Malaysia lasted 14.1 overs as left-arm spinner Chamodi Praboda struck twice in the second over to reduce the hosts to 2 for 3. Manudi Nanayakkara and Limansa Thilakarathna took two wickets each as no Malaysia batter reached double-figures and six were dismissed for ducks. Praboda finished with figures of 4-2-5-3.

Kelce flips 'switch' for playoffs, explodes in KC win

Published in Breaking News
Saturday, 18 January 2025 21:12

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs again saw the shift in Travis Kelce as they began the postseason and the star tight end became what Mahomes called "Playoff Trav."

"This is what he lives for, is playing in these moments, having the chance to make big-time plays," Mahomes said Saturday after Kelce provided almost half of the Chiefs' receptions and more than half of their receiving yards in a 23-14 win over the Houston Texans in the divisional round of the playoffs.

"He goes out there and does that, and it seems like he does it in every single playoff game.

"He doesn't let the moment be bigger than what it is. He just goes out there and executes at a high level just like he does in a regular-season game. He just does that with a little bit higher intensity."

Kelce caught seven passes for 117 yards, including an 11-yard touchdown from Mahomes in the fourth quarter. It was his first 100-yard game of the season and the ninth of his playoff career, the latter setting an NFL record.

Kelce exceeded his regular-season average for yards per game in the playoffs every year since 2020. Against the Texans on Saturday, Kelce more than doubled his season average of 56 receiving yards per game.

Kelce said he had no explanation.

"I wish it was some type of switch or something like that that I just turned on in the playoffs," he said.

Kelce was one of several Chiefs players who until Saturday hadn't played since a Christmas Day win over the Pittsburgh Steelers clinched the AFC's top playoff seed. Kelce, 35, said he felt much more refreshed for having a break of more than three weeks heading into the playoffs, and Mahomes agreed.

"It helped Travis a ton just because he's an older guy and he plays a very, very tough position on the body," Mahomes said. "It's not like he's just sitting on the couch. He's working out and kind of just taking those reps off, so for him it's just been getting himself ready to go. We've been practicing, we've been working at practice and then we go out there and he plays fast and takes his game to a new level.''

Kelce's biggest play was a 49-yard catch that set up the Chiefs' first touchdown. On it, he had 36 yards after the catch, most coming after he ran around a defender who had a shot at him right after the reception.

"It just felt good to finally make a guy miss this year,'' Kelce said.

Kelce was finally brought down at the Houston 6. Wide receiver Xavier Worthy said that early in Kelce's career the tight end would have scored a touchdown on the play. Kelce said Worthy was correct.

As far as making defenders miss, Mahomes said, "Those tacklers that tackle him in the regular season don't tackle him in the playoffs."

The Mahomes-to-Kelce touchdown pass gave the Chiefs a 20-12 lead. It was the 20th career playoff touchdown for the two, but few if any were this spectacular. Mahomes found Kelce as the quarterback was falling to the ground after being hit and seemingly about to be sacked.

Defensive tackle Chris Jones has been with the Chiefs for all of the 20 touchdown passes from Mahomes to Kelce and wasn't surprised at this one.

"Just when you think you've got them, you don't," Jones said.

Anderson: It was Texans 'vs. the refs' in loss

Published in Breaking News
Saturday, 18 January 2025 21:12

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Houston Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. said he believes the referees were against his team in Saturday's 23-14 AFC divisional round loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Texans' defense was flagged for two controversial penalties at separate points when it contacted Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Both extended Kansas City drives, leading to a crucial 10 points for the Chiefs.

"We knew it was going to be us versus the refs going into this game," Anderson said afterward.

Anderson was flagged for roughing the passer on a Mahomes incomplete pass to tight end Travis Kelce on third down during the Chiefs' second drive. Anderson appeared to hit Mahomes in the upper neck area shortly after he released the pass. That drive ended in a field goal to put the Chiefs up 6-3.

In the third quarter, Mahomes scrambled on a first down and slid while Texans defensive tackle Folorunso Fatukasi and linebacker Henry To'oTo'o collided with him, drawing an unnecessary roughness penalty. The Chiefs took advantage of the extra yards and capped the possession with a touchdown to put them up 20-12.

Fatukasi told ESPN he didn't remember the play for which he was flagged, and To'oTo'o said, "It is what it is."

When Houston coach DeMeco Ryans was asked about the controversial calls, he made a subtle remark. But Ryans acknowledged the "self-inflicted mistakes" sunk the Texans' chances of advancing to the AFC Championship Game for the first time in franchise history.

"We knew going into this game, man, it was us versus everybody. And when I say everybody, it's everybody," Ryans said. "Knowing that going into this game, what we were up against, we can't make the mistakes that we made. Whether it's special teams not converting our kicks. Defensively, not being where we're supposed to be in coverage. Offensively, not protecting our quarterback and keeping him clean. You married that on top of everything else that we have to deal with, it's just going to be a really tough uphill battle."

And the Texans made several mistakes. That is why even though Houston reached the divisional round for consecutive seasons, Ryans said he was "discouraged" about Saturday's outcome.

"This one hurts, because I know we're a better football team than what we showed today," Ryans said. "To go back and still have to talk about mistakes that we made in this moment, it's discouraging. Because we got to be over that at this point in the playoffs."

The Texans' special teams made critical miscues that kept them at a disadvantage for most of the contest. On the game's opening kickoff, Houston gave up a 63-yard return to Chiefs wideout Nikko Remigio, who fumbled when defensive back Kris Boyd tackled him before Kansas City running back Samaje Perine recovered the loose ball.

However, before the recovery, Boyd sprinted off in a celebratory fashion and threw off his helmet before reaching the sideline. He drew a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty that had the Chiefs' offense starting on Houston's 13-yard line. The defense didn't allow a touchdown, but Kansas City took advantage of the field position and nailed a field goal.

The Texans opened the second half with running back Joe Mixon scoring a touchdown. But kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn missed the extra point try that would have tied the score at 13. Fairbairn also missed a field goal attempt in the second quarter.

Beyond the special team blunders, the Texans failed to protect quarterback C.J. Stroud, who was pressured on a career-high 23 dropbacks and sacked eight times, tying a career high from Week 9 against the New York Jets.

Stroud's pressure rate of 56% is the second highest in an NFL playoff game since ESPN began tracking pressure in 2009, trailing only former Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow (63%) in 2011.

"In the playoffs, you have to win your one-on-ones," Ryans said. "That's what the game always comes down to. You have to man up and own your one-on-one. You have to have some pride in who you're blocking to get it done, to give the quarterback a chance to throw the football."

Stroud was able to use his legs to survive some of the pressure, as he rushed for 42 yards and converted on a couple of third downs.

"Just being a competitor, trying to put my team in positions to win," Stroud said. "There's times where I probably shouldn't have done that and just throw the ball away. So, it's a balance, and I think I tried my best to do that today, and I think I made a lot of plays in general today."

Still, whenever Kansas City blitzed, the Texans struggled to find answers. Stroud was blitzed on 10 of his 18 fourth-quarter dropbacks (56%), including a stretch of seven consecutive ones. Stroud was 3-of-8 for 41 yards with two sacks in the fourth quarter when blitzed.

The gaffes the Texans made were too much to overcome, as they became the first team to outgain their opponent by 100-plus yards (336-212) while not turning the ball over and lose a postseason game. Previous such teams were 49-0 in the playoffs, according to ESPN Research.

"Can't continue to shoot ourselves in the foot and then not overcome it and expect to win," Stroud said.

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