Sports
Double super-over drama to Allen’s record ton: T20 World Cup moments
AHMEDABAD: India thrashed New Zealand in the final of the T20 World Cup in Ahmedabad to retain their crown in style.
AFP Sport picks some memorable storylines from the tournament.
Double super-over drama
South Africa and Afghanistan played out a tie, followed by a first-ever double super over in a T20 World Cup to decide the winner of their gripping group contest.
The drama unfolded after Afghanistan posted 187 all out in response to South Africa’s 187-6 in Ahmedabad.
The teams were tied again after a breathless first super over before South Africa won off the final ball of a heart-thumping second sudden-death showdown.
Afghanistan batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz needed four sixes off four balls in the second super over to pull off a win but only managed three before being caught out.
Shock Australia exit
Former champions Australia suffered a shock loss to the tournament’s surprise packages Zimbabwe, in a group game after they were dismissed for 146 while chasing 170 for victory.
Without injured fast bowlers Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, Australia suffered another defeat to Sri Lanka to leave their campaign hanging by a thread.
Zimbabwe’s rained-off match with Ireland showed Australia the door as the 2021 winners failed to make the second phase for only the second time in the event’s history.
Australia signed off with a thrashing of Oman but skipper Mitchell Marsh said: “It’s a bitterly disappointed changing room.”
Off-pitch tensions
There was an acrimonious and chaotic build-up to the tournament.
Pakistan vowed to boycott their group game against arch-rivals India in support of Bangladesh, who refused to play in India and did not take part in the competition as a result.
They were replaced at the 11th hour by Scotland.
After frantic negotiations with the International Cricket Council, the Pakistan government took the decision back, and the blockbuster match went ahead in Colombo.
India beat Pakistan, but it was tense on the field, and there were no handshakes between the two captains and teams.
Samson’s redemption
India batsman Sanju Samson redeemed himself in a winner-takes-all contest against the West Indies as his unbeaten 97 helped the co-hosts chase down 196 and reach the semi-finals.
Samson was not in the original plans as opener but a loss of form for Abhishek Sharma and the need to break a left-handed combination at the top got the wicketkeeper-batter back for the Super Eights.
After a cameo against Zimbabwe, Samson made the stage his own at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens as India depended on his 50-ball knock laced with 12 fours and four sixes.
Samson, a devout Catholic, said a silent prayer after he hit the winning boundary and struck another match-winning knock of 89 in the semi-final against England, then starred once more in the final.
Allen’s record 100
New Zealand opener Finn Allen struck the tournament’s fastest-ever century, off 33 balls, to own the stage in the first semi-final against South Africa.
South Africa, unbeaten until the knockout match, wilted in the face of Allen’s onslaught as he smacked 10 fours and eight sixes.
New Zealand romped to the victory target of 170 with 7.1 overs to spare.
It was a brutal show of power-hitting by Allen, who surpassed the previous fastest century record, in 47 balls, by West Indies’ Chris Gayle in 2016.
Emotional Italy make history
Debutants Italy, the lowest-ranked side in the 20-team tournament, hammered Nepal by 10 wickets for a historic first win.
It left some of the Italy players in tears of joy and sparked dreams about a bright future for cricket in the football-mad country.
“I don’t think you’ll see many players cry on the field after a win in the group stages,” stand-in captain Harry Manenti said.
“I think you’ve got to appreciate what Italy cricket is bringing to the game, understand that the passion is slightly different with the Italians.”
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It is the end of an era in NASCAR.
The Athletic reported Friday that Jim France is stepping down as NASCAR’s CEO, and his replacement will be the first non-France family member to run the ship.
The outlet noted that France, who will remain NASCAR’s chairman, will be replaced by NASCAR president Steve O’Donnell.
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President Donald Trump is greeted by NASCAR Chairman and CEO Jim France and Sen. Rick Scott before the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida, on Feb. 16, 2025. (Chris Graythen/AFP)
France’s father founded NASCAR in 1948, and it has grown into the most popular motorsport in the United States.
Ben Kennedy, France’s great-nephew, will also be promoted from executive vice president and chief venue and racing innovations officer to NASCAR’s chief operating officer.
All the changes are expected to be announced on Saturday at Talladega Superspeedway, where the Jack Link’s 500 will be run on Sunday.
Jim France, chairman and CEO of NASCAR, and team owner Rick Hendrick celebrate as the No. 24 NASCAR Next Gen Chevrolet ZL1 finishes the 100th anniversary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans at the Circuit de la Sarthe in Le Mans, France, on June 10, 2023. (Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
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France took on both roles in August 2018, shortly after his nephew, Brian, stepped down.
France’s 54% ownership stake of NASCAR will remain unchanged — Kennedy’s mother owns the other 46%.
This is hardly the first seismic change for NASCAR this year — Steve Phelps announced in January he was stepping down as commissioner in the wake of two racing teams, including one owned by Michael Jordan, filing an antitrust lawsuit against the company.
The suit unearthed inflammatory text messages Phelps sent during contentious revenue-sharing negotiations. Jordan’s 23XI Racing and NASCAR settled their suit in December.
He was named NASCAR’s first commissioner last season after a courting process for the same role by the PGA Tour. The opportunity with the PGA was revealed during December testimony in the trial.
NASCAR Chairman and CEO Jim France congratulates NBA Hall of Famer and 23XI Racing co-owner Michael Jordan in victory lane after Tyler Reddick won the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida, on Feb. 15, 2026. (Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
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France, however, is reportedly insistent that the lawsuits had nothing to do with his decision to step down, and it has been a thought for a long while.
Fox News’ Jackson Thompson and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Pro Football Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor was hospitalized on Friday, TMZ reported.
The New York Giants legend suffered a medical emergency in New Jersey, warranting the visit, the outlet said.
Taylor’s status is unclear at this time, but TMZ said that it does not appear to be serious, citing “those close to” him.
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Former New York Giant Lawrence Taylor attends a game between the Giants and the Indianapolis Colts at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Jan. 1, 2023. (Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
Taylor’s former Giants did not immediately respond to an email.
L.T. is widely regarded as the greatest linebacker to ever play. He was a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, including in his rookie season.
He won two Super Bowls, made 10 straight Pro Bowls and was named the MVP of the 1986 season. He also remains the franchise’s all-time sacks leader, which includes his 9½ sacks from his rookie season, before sacks became a stat.
New York Giants legend Lawrence Taylor enters the field before a game against the Minnesota Vikings at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Sept. 8, 2024. (John Jones/Imagn Images)
This came despite a lavish lifestyle off the field, which resulted in legal troubles after his playing days. Drug problems have also resulted in health problems later in life.
Taylor showed his support for President Donald Trump in 2024, appearing at a rally in Wildwood, New Jersey.
“I grew up a Democrat, and I’ve always been a Democrat, until I met this man right here,” Taylor said to cheers. “Nobody in my family ever will vote for a Democrat again.”
President Donald Trump and former New York Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor attend an executive order signing ceremony in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on July 31, 2025. The order formally reestablishes the Presidential Fitness Test, creating school-based programs that reward excellence in physical education. (Eric Lee/Bloomberg)
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Taylor made Giants headlines last year when he quickly turned down Abdul Carter’s request to wear his No. 56 that has been retired by the organization since 1994, just one season after he retired.
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KARACHI: Islamabad United on Friday handed Hyderabad Kingsmen a humiliating eight-wicket defeat in the 36th match of the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 at the National Bank Stadium.
The victory, which marked United’s fifth in the ongoing eight-team tournament, propelled the three-time champions into the playoffs, joining leaders Peshawar Zalmi and 2021 champions Multan Sultans.
Set to chase a modest 81-run target, the United comfortably knocked the winning runs for the loss of just two wickets and 80 balls to spare.
The 2024 champions, however, had a contrasting start to the pursuit as they lost left-handed opener Devon Conway (zero) on the second delivery of the innings.
But Sameer Minhas and Mohsin Riaz batted sensibly to put United within touching distance as they put together 79 runs for the second wicket until Ali struck again, dismissing Riaz, who top-scored with 42 off just 18 deliveries, studded with six fours and two sixes.
Minhas, on the other hand, remained unbeaten with 27 off 20 deliveries, featuring three fours and a six, while skipper Shadab hit the winning runs in the same over with a boundary on the first delivery he faced.
For the Kingsmen, Mohammad Ali remained the solitary wicket-taker in the gruelling defeat with two scalps.
United captain Shadab Khan’s decision to field first paid dividends as his team’s bowling unit booked the new entrants for 80 in 15.5 overs.
Kingsmen got off to the worst possible start to their innings as Gleeson dismissed Maaz Sadaqat (zero) on the first delivery of the innings.
The right-arm pacer swept through their top order by getting rid of Marnus Labuschagne (five) and Saim Ayub (12) in his next two overs and brought the total down to 24/3.
Following Gleeson’s early blitz was backed by the experienced spin duo of captain Shadab and Imad Wasim as they dismantled Kingsmen’s middle and lower orders by taking three wickets each despite last match centurion Usman Khan’s grit.
The wicketkeeper batter waged a lone battle for the Kingsmen with an unbeaten 25 off 35 deliveries, during which he struck only one boundary.
Besides Usman and Saim, only Kusal Perera and Asif Mehmood, 12 each, could amass double figures against a ruthless United bowling attack.
For United, Gleeson, Imad and Shadab bagged three wickets each, while left-arm pacer Salman Mirza chipped in with one scalp.
Playing XIs
Hyderabad Kingsmen: Maaz Sadaqat, Marnus Labuschagne (c), Saim Ayub, Kusal Perera, Usman Khan (wk), Glenn Maxwell, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Hassan Khan, Hunain Shah, Mohammad Ali and Asif Mehmood.
Islamabad United: Devon Conway (wk), Sameer Minhas, Mark Chapman, Mohsin Riaz, Shadab Khan (c), Haider Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Chris Green, Imad Wasim, Richard Gleeson and Salman Mirza.
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