World Cup Reaches Business End, Time for Knockouts

The business end of the World Cup is officially here, with most top teams making the quarterfinals that start on Wednesday.

First up are 1996 Champions Sri Lanka who take on pre-tournament favourites South Africa at the SCG in two days time. The match will also feature a side battle between two batting stars of the tournament so far, Kumar Sangakkara is the leading run-scorer so far while the Proteas skipper AB de Villers has led his team by example, scoring 417 runs in six matches.

On Thursday, it will be the turn of Defending Champions India who perhaps have been handed an easier draw with a match against first time quarter finalists Bangladesh. Former four time Champions Australia then have their task cut out for them, playing an unpredictable Pakistani side on Friday and on Saturday, it’s the turn of co-hosts New Zealand at the Westpac Stadium in Wellington where they take on West Indies.

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Ireland Captain William Porterfield Makes World Cup Plea to ICC

Following their seven-wicket loss at the hands of Pakistan that knocked Ireland out of the World Cup, skipper William Porterfield used the post-match conference to make one final plea to the ICC.

Speaking of the sport’s governing body’s plans of reducing the number of teams at the 2019 World Cup to 10 from the current 14, Porterfield said, “Why don’t 10 teams just play cricket and every other country in the world not bother? It’s the ICC, supposedly global. They have to develop the game.”

William Porterfield’s side just narrowly missed a spot in the quarterfinals due to a low net run rate despite winning half of their six Pool B matches that included victories over West Indies and Zimbabwe.

Kidambi Srikanth Wins Swiss Open Title

After the exploits of Saina Nehwal at the All England last week, it is the turn of Kidambi Srikanth to take the spotlight. The 22-year old bagged the Swiss Grand Prix Gold championship title on Sunday after beating Denmark’s Viktor Alexson in the final.

World No. 4 Srikanth had to overcome a fightback from his sixth ranked opponent to ultimately win the title 21-15 12-21 21-14 in 47 minutes.

Srikanth, who created a major upset in the final of the 2014 China Open Super Series Premier by beating five-time World champion and two-time Olympic gold medallist Lin Dan, won a prize cheque on USD 120,000 for the victory.

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Lewis Hamilton Wins F1 Opener, Force India Pick Seven Points

New season, same story - Defending Champion Lewis Hamilton once again led a Mercedes 1-2 at the season opener in Melbourne on Sunday.

Hamilton led from the start to the chequered flag, beating team mate Rosberg by 1.3 seconds, with Sebastien Vettel third in his Ferrari debut. The two Force India drivers, despite starting from the back of the grid, managed to pick seven points.

Only 11 cars finished the race after mechanical problems and an injury to Valtteri Bottas left just 15 on the starting grid - the lowest number for a season opener since 1963.

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EPL: United Finally Show Up, Chelsea Extend Lead

Chelsea opened a six-point lead in the Premier League on Sunday following a 1-1 draw with Southampton, while Louis van Gaal’s Manchester United took down Tottenham Hotspur 3-0.

Jose Mourinho’s team increased their advantage over Defending Champions Manchester City who were beaten 1-0 by Burnley on Saturday.

At Stamford Bridge, Diego Costa’s 11th minute close-range header found an answer eight minutes later by Dusan Tadic’s penalty in the 1-1 result. While at the Old Trafford, Fellaini, Carrick and Rooney got on the board as Manchester United won 3-0.

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