Sport Updates
Same-day match highlights, records, team news and results from across the sports you follow.
Unbeaten Through Eight Games: How Spain Won the World Cup 2026
Spain went through the whole World Cup without losing a single game, and it showed from their very first match to their last. They opened with a goalless draw against Cape Verde, then put their attacking game on show with a 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia and a 1-0 win over Uruguay to win Group H. The knockouts followed the same pattern: efficient, controlled, and hard to break down. Spain beat Austria 3-0 in the Round of 32, then edged Portugal 1-0 in a tense Round of 16 clash. Belgium pushed them the closest in the quarter-final, but Spain still came through 2-1. In the semi-final, they beat France 2-0 to book their spot in the final, not conceding a single goal in that match either. Sunday's final against Argentina followed the same script. Spain barely let Argentina threaten all game, and it took extra time before Ferran Torres broke the deadlock in the 106th minute for a 1-0 win. Argentina finished the match with ten men after Enzo Fernandez was sent off late on. Across the tournament, Spain's defense was one of the standout stories. They didn't lose a match at any stage, going unbeaten in eight games from the group stage right through to the final. That run also folded into their bigger unbeaten streak across all competitions, which now stands at 38 games without a loss, a new all-time record for a men's national team, going past Italy's old mark. Young players carried a lot of this team's attacking spark all tournament, with Lamine Yamal a constant threat from wide areas, while more experienced hands like Mikel Oyarzabal chipped in with key goals at big moments, including two in the group stage win over Saudi Arabia. It all added up to Spain's second World Cup title, following their maiden win back in 2010.
Spain Beat Argentina 1-0 After Extra Time to Win World Cup 2026
Spain are World Cup champions once again. They beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the final at MetLife Stadium, ending the defending champions' bid for back-to-back titles. The game stayed goalless through 90 tense minutes. Argentina defended deep and made life hard for Spain, who dominated the ball but couldn't find a breakthrough in normal time. The deadlock finally broke in the 106th minute, when substitute Ferran Torres struck to send the Spanish bench into wild celebration. It proved to be the only goal of the game. Argentina's night got worse in the closing stages. Enzo Fernandez was shown a second yellow card in the 90th minute and sent off, leaving Argentina to play the rest of extra time with ten men. It capped a card-heavy night for the South Americans, who picked up six yellow cards in total through Lisandro Martinez (41'), Leandro Paredes (52'), Fernandez (82' and again at 90'), Cristian Romero (90') and Alexis Mac Allister (111'), on top of the red card. The stats show just how one-sided this final was. Spain had 68% possession and fired 20 shots at goal, 11 of them on target. Argentina managed only 3 shots all game and failed to hit the target even once. Spain also completed 803 passes at 90% accuracy, well clear of Argentina's 445 passes at 78%. This is Spain's second World Cup title, adding to their 2010 win. It also extends their unbeaten run to 38 matches, a new all-time record for a men's national team, moving past Italy's old mark. For Argentina, the loss ends their reign as champions and denies them a shot at joining Brazil as the only side to win back-to-back World Cups. Spain's golden generation, built around young stars like Lamine Yamal, now have a World Cup title to show for their dominant run through the tournament.
Kohli and Rohit Become First Indian Pair to Play 400 Internationals Together
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have long been the backbone of India's batting, and fans have a nickname for the pair: "RoKo". Their combined numbers over the years are hard to believe. Between them, they have scored close to 50,000 international runs and hit over 130 centuries . In ODIs alone, Kohli has 14,867 runs from 314 matches with 54 hundreds. Rohit has 11,757 runs from 288 matches with 33 hundreds, heading into the Lord's decider. Across all formats, Kohli sits on 28,285 runs from 562 games, and Rohit on 20,289 runs from 514 games. The pair keeps adding milestones together. At Lord's in the third ODI against England, they walked out to bat in their 400th international match together . That makes them the first Indian pair ever to reach this number, moving past the old record of 391 matches held by Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid. Only six pairs in cricket history, led by Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene with 550 matches, have played more games together than Kohli and Rohit. Their partnership numbers are just as strong. The pair has put together over 21 century stands in ODIs , second only to Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly's 26. Their biggest stand together remains 246 runs , scored against West Indies in Guwahati back in 2018. In that same Lord's ODI, they added another century stand, sharing a brisk 113 runs for the second wicket. Their partnership has powered India to major titles too, including the 2024 T20 World Cup, the 2011 ODI World Cup, and two Champions Trophy wins. Both have now retired from Tests and T20Is, with the ODI format their only remaining stage in international cricket. Every innings the two share from here counts as one of their last together in Indian colours.
England Beat India by 27 Runs at Lord's to Win ODI Series 2-1
England beat India by 27 runs in the third ODI at Lord's. The win gives England the series 2-1. It also caps a rough white-ball tour for India, who had already lost the T20I series earlier on this trip. Put in to bat, England posted a big total of 387 for 3 in their 50 overs. Ben Duckett led the charge with 141. Jacob Bethell backed him up with 91. Joe Root stayed not out on 74, and Jos Buttler smashed a quick 41 not out off just 13 balls at the end. India fought hard in the chase but fell short. Rohit Sharma hit a fine century, finishing with 138. Shubman Gill made 77 at the top, and Virat Kohli added 74. Despite these knocks, India lost too many wickets in the middle overs and ended on 360 for 7. Sam Curran was the pick of the England bowlers, taking 4 wickets. He got rid of Kohli late on, which all but ended India's chase. Jacob Bethell was named Player of the Match for his 91 with the bat and the key wicket of Rohit Sharma with the ball. Looking at the series as a whole, Joe Root was named Player of the Series. He was in fine form with the bat through all three matches, including an unbeaten 99 in the second ODI at Cardiff. This result adds to a tough few weeks for Indian cricket in white-ball formats. India also lost their earlier T20I series on this England tour, and before that, they suffered a shock T20I series defeat to Ireland. Captain Shreyas Iyer and the team will now have time to regroup before their next assignment.
Bukayo Saka's Hat-Trick Seals England's Best World Cup Finish Since 1966
Bukayo Saka scored a hat-trick as England beat France 6-4 in the World Cup third-place match in Miami. It's only the second senior hat-trick of his career, and his first ever at a World Cup. His first came back in June 2023, for England against North Macedonia in a Euro 2024 qualifier at Old Trafford. That night he scored three times in a 13-minute spell in a 7-0 win, becoming the youngest England player to score a hat-trick since Theo Walcott in 2008. This time the goals came in different fashion. Saka struck in the 37th minute, then again right on half-time in first-half stoppage time, before completing his treble from the penalty spot in the 87th minute to put England back in front at 4-3. Jude Bellingham added a fourth soon after, and although Ousmane Dembele pulled one back for France in stoppage time, it wasn't enough to stop England finishing the tournament in third place, their best World Cup finish since they won the trophy in 1966. Saka has been one of England's most reliable performers for years now. He joined Arsenal's academy at just seven years old and has gone on to become the club's talisman, helping them win the Premier League for the first time in over two decades this season. For England, he made his senior debut back in October 2020 and has become a regular starter under Thomas Tuchel, playing a role in England's run to this World Cup semi-final before the defeat to Argentina. A hat-trick in a match that decided nothing but pride is still a rare feat. Very few players manage even one senior hat-trick in their career, and Saka has now done it twice, with this one coming on the biggest stage of all.
Washington Sundar Ruled Out of 3rd ODI Against England Due to Thigh Injury, Harsh Dubey Replaces Him
India have lost Washington Sundar for the series decider against England. He picked up a thigh injury during the second ODI in Cardiff and has now been officially ruled out of the third and final ODI at Lord's. The BCCI confirmed the setback. Sundar will undergo scans and see a specialist to get a clearer picture of the injury. There's no word yet on how long he could be out for. Harsh Dubey has been named as his replacement for the Lord's match. The left-arm spinner joins the squad as India look to cover the gap left by Sundar's all-round skills with both bat and ball. The series is level after two matches. India won the first ODI in Birmingham by 6 wickets, before England hit back in Cardiff, winning by 4 wickets to force a decider. This third ODI at Lord's on July 19 will settle the series. Losing Sundar is a blow for India's balance, since he offers both handy runs down the order and tidy off-spin. How the team management reshuffles the XI without him will be one of the bigger selection calls of the match.
England Beat France 6-4 in Wild Third-Place Thriller at World Cup 2026
England beat France 6-4 in Miami to finish third at the FIFA World Cup 2026. It was the highest-scoring match of the whole tournament, and the third-place game rarely gets talked about this much. Declan Rice put England ahead inside three minutes. Ezri Konsa made it 2-0 in the 18th minute. France looked shaky early, but they hit back fast. Kylian Mbappe pulled one back in the 48th minute. Bradley Barcola added another six minutes later. Mbappe then grabbed his second in the 66th minute to level the score at 3-3. England did not panic. Bukayo Saka put them back in front in the 87th minute from the penalty spot. That completed his hat-trick, after strikes in the 37th and 45+1st minutes. Jude Bellingham then made it 5-3 deep into stoppage time. France weren't done either. Ousmane Dembele scored in the 90+6th minute to keep the game alive, but Bellingham's earlier goal had already tipped it England's way, and the match finished 6-4. Saka's hat-trick was the standout individual moment of the match. It's a rare thing for any player to manage in a World Cup game, let alone one that doesn't decide the trophy, and it capped a strong tournament for the young forward. Both teams came into this game as disappointed sides. France had lost 2-0 to Spain in the semi-final. England had led for most of their semi-final before Argentina scored twice late to win 2-1. Neither side got the final they wanted, but this match gave fans a proper send-off from the tournament. The stats tell their own story. England had 55% of the ball and 10 shots on target to France's 9. France actually matched England for total shots at 18 apiece, and won more corners, 4 to 3. But it was England's clinical finishing, especially from Saka and Bellingham late on, that won them third place. The World Cup now moves to its final act. Spain play Argentina in the final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, with the trophy on the line.
Minerva Academy's U-12 Boys Retain Gothia Cup Title With Win Over Brazil
Minerva Academy's Under-12 boys are Gothia Cup champions again. The Chandigarh-based side beat Brazil's RS Sports Yellow 2-1 in the World Youth Cup final on July 18, defending the title they won last year. Thangsanglen Kipgen put Minerva ahead first, before the Brazilian side hit back with an equaliser. Mekhamkhraw Nongrem then struck a free-kick winner to seal the match. Kipgen was named the final's best player. Kipgen was the standout performer of the whole campaign, not just the final. He once scored six goals in a single group-stage match. Minerva ran up huge scorelines throughout the tournament, including a 13-1 win and a 12-0 win, on their way to the final. The win caps off a huge few weeks for the academy. Minerva had already won the Helsinki Cup in Finland earlier this month, their first-ever title there. Winning both tournaments back to back gives them what's being called a European double. Gothia Cup is the world's biggest youth football tournament, drawing well over a thousand teams from across the globe every year. Minerva first won it in 2023, beating a Brazilian side in that final too, and have now added a second title on top of it. The result adds to a strong recent run for the academy, which also picked up the Sub Junior League title back home in 2024 and has produced players who've gone on to trials with clubs abroad.
Sir Garry Sobers, Cricket's Greatest All-Rounder, Dies at 89
Sir Garfield "Garry" Sobers , widely regarded as the greatest all-rounder cricket has ever seen, has passed away at his home in Barbados. He was 89, just weeks short of his 90th birthday. Sobers made his first-class debut for Barbados at just 16 in 1953. He earned his West Indies Test cap the following year. He went on to play 93 Tests between 1954 and 1974, scoring 8,032 runs at an average of 57.78 . With the ball, he picked up 235 wickets at an average of 34.03. He captained West Indies for seven years, from 1965 to 1972. His batting peak came in 1958, when he made an unbeaten 365 against Pakistan at Sabina Park. It stood as the highest individual score in Test history until Brian Lara broke it in 1994, a moment Sobers witnessed and celebrated in person. A decade later, in 1968, Sobers became the first man to hit six sixes in a single over in first-class cricket. He did it playing for Nottinghamshire against Glamorgan, taking down bowler Malcolm Nash at St Helen's in Swansea. His first-class numbers were just as remarkable. Across 383 matches for West Indies, Barbados, Nottinghamshire, and South Australia, he scored over 28,000 runs and took more than 1,000 wickets . He could bowl left-arm pace, orthodox spin, and wrist-spin, and was an outstanding close-in fielder, a versatility that led Sir Donald Bradman to call him a "five-in-one cricketer." Sobers was knighted in 1975 for his services to the game. The ICC's award for the top overall performer in men's international cricket is named the Sir Garfield Sobers Award in his honour. Tributes have poured in from across the cricket world. Cricket West Indies said a great innings had come to an end. Nottinghamshire, where Sobers spent much of his county career, called it a deeply saddening loss. Rest in peace, Sir Garry Sobers.
Argentina Under FIFA Review Over Malvinas Banner After Reaching World Cup Final
Argentina's place in Sunday's World Cup final is secure, but their semi-final celebrations are now under FIFA scrutiny. The federation has opened a disciplinary review into a banner displayed by Argentina players after their 2-1 win over England. The banner read "Las Malvinas son Argentinas," a reference to the disputed Falkland Islands. The display came moments after Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez struck late to complete Argentina's comeback over England in Atlanta. FIFA has strict rules against political messaging inside the stadium and during official celebrations. A ruling is expected before Argentina take the field against Spain on July 19 at MetLife Stadium, where the two sides meet for the first time ever in a World Cup final. Argentina are chasing back-to-back titles, something only Brazil have managed before. The team will be hoping the probe is resolved quickly so the build-up to the final stays focused on the football.
FIFA to Award Championship Rings for the First Time in World Cup History, Ahead of Spain vs Argentina Final
FIFA will hand out championship rings to the winning squad after Sunday's World Cup final. It's a first for the tournament in its 96-year history. The move borrows a tradition long associated with American sports leagues like the NFL and NBA, where winning teams receive custom rings as a lasting keepsake of the title. FIFA has not yet detailed the ring's design, but it marks a symbolic addition to the usual trophy and medal presentation on final day. The announcement lands right before one of the most anticipated finals in years. Spain and Argentina meet on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, the first-ever World Cup final between the two nations. Argentina are defending champions chasing back-to-back titles, while Spain are unbeaten in 37 straight games and hunting their second World Cup crown. Whichever side lifts the trophy on Sunday, their players will now walk away with a piece of history beyond the medal around their neck.
Virat Kohli Hits Four Milestones in 2nd ODI Against England
Virat Kohli had a milestone-filled outing during his innings of 65 off 66 balls in the second ODI against England at Cardiff. The knock alone ticked off four separate career landmarks. 1. Most ODI half-centuries by an Indian in SENA countries. Kohli's fifty was his 30th in ODI cricket in SENA nations (South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia). That took him past Rahul Dravid to become the Indian batter with the most ODI half-centuries in these four countries, conditions traditionally considered the toughest for subcontinental batters to score runs in. The full list now reads: Virat Kohli - 30 Rahul Dravid - 29 Sachin Tendulkar - 25 MS Dhoni - 24 Mohammad Azharuddin - 17 2. Level with Viv Richards for most 50-plus ODI scores against England. The same innings was also Kohli's 14th score of 50 or more against England in ODI cricket specifically, matching the tally West Indies great Sir Vivian Richards built across 36 ODIs against England between 1976 and 1991. Kohli and Richards now sit joint-second on the all-time list. Only Kumar Sangakkara is ahead, with 15 fifty-plus scores against England in ODIs. Kohli's 14 includes 3 centuries and 11 half-centuries from 40 ODIs against England, and he could draw level with Sangakkara in the series decider at Lord's on July 19. 3. Most fifty-plus scores against England across formats for India. The knock was also Kohli's 33rd score of 50 or more against England when combined across Tests, ODIs, and T20Is, taking him past Sachin Tendulkar's previous Indian record of 32 such scores against the same opposition. 4. Fifth-most capped player in international cricket history. Separately from his batting, Kohli went past Ricky Ponting during the match to move into fifth place on the all-time list of most capped players, playing his 561st international match. Only Sachin Tendulkar, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, and Sanath Jayasuriya have appeared in more international games. Despite the personal landmarks, India were bowled out for 233 in 44 overs after being sent in to bat, with the middle order unable to fully capitalise on starts from the top three. England chased the total down with 4 wickets in hand, powered by an unbeaten 99 from Joe Root . The series is level at 1-1 heading into the third and final ODI at Lord's.
Root Falls One Short of Century as England Beat India by 4 Wickets to Level ODI Series
England beat India by 4 wickets in Cardiff to level the ODI series 1-1, with Joe Root left stranded one run short of a century. Chasing 234, England got home in 44.1 overs with 11 balls to spare. Joe Root anchored the chase from the top of the order, finishing unbeaten on 99 off 133 balls. He lost partners around him through the middle overs but stayed till the winning runs came, with Gus Atkinson finishing the job alongside him with an unbeaten 23 off just 16 balls. Earlier, India were bowled out for 233 in 44 overs after being sent in to bat. Shreyas Iyer top-scored with 66, and Virat Kohli made 65, but India lost wickets in clusters through the middle overs. A late cameo from Jasprit Bumrah , unbeaten on 20 off just 13 balls, added some late impetus to the total. Jofra Archer and Gus Atkinson shared six wickets between them for England. In the chase, Gurnoor Brar was the pick of the Indian bowlers with figures of 2 for 67, while Axar Patel and Shivam Dube picked up a wicket apiece to keep India in the contest before Root and Atkinson closed it out. The series is now level at 1-1, with the third and final ODI to be played at Lord's.
Messi Retakes Golden Boot Lead With Two Assists as Argentina Eye Historic Back-to-Back Title, Spain Chase Record Unbeaten Run
Lionel Messi moved back to the top of the Golden Boot race after setting up both Argentina goals in their semi-final win over England. Messi and France's Kylian Mbappe are level on eight goals each for the tournament, but assists are used as the first tiebreaker for the Golden Boot. Messi's two assists against England took his tally to four for the tournament, one more than Mbappe's three, putting him ahead heading into the final. Argentina now have a chance to make history of their own in the final. Only Brazil, in 1958 and 1962, have won back-to-back World Cups. A win over Spain on Sunday would put Argentina in that same company. Spain arrive at the final on a 37-match unbeaten run, matching Italy's all-time record for the longest unbeaten streak by a national team. Their last defeat came in a friendly against Colombia in March 2024. A win in the final would see Spain move past Italy and set a new all-time record.
ICC Confirms New ODI World Cup 2027 Format: Super Series and Super 7 Stages Added for 14-Team Event
The ICC has confirmed a new format for the Men's ODI World Cup 2027, to be co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. The changes were approved at the ICC's Annual Conference in Edinburgh, the same meeting where the T20 World Cup format was also revamped. The tournament keeps its 14-team field, but the structure now has three stages before the knockouts. It starts with a new Super Series . The three lowest-ranked qualified teams, ranked 12th, 13th, and 14th, play a round-robin among themselves. Only the winner moves forward, joining the top 11 teams. That leaves 12 teams for the group stage, split into two groups of six , playing 30 round-robin matches. From there, the top three teams in each group qualify for a new Super 7 stage. The seventh and final spot goes to the next best-ranked team across both groups, regardless of which group it came from. The Super 7 is itself a round-robin stage. The top four teams from it advance to the semi-finals, with the 1st-placed side facing the 4th, and 2nd facing 3rd. The winners meet in the final. This replaces the format the ICC had previously approved for 2027, which was two groups of seven leading into a Super Six stage. The ICC said the change was made to avoid dead rubbers and empty stadiums in the early rounds, and to add more jeopardy earlier in the tournament. The exact fixture list will be confirmed at an ICC meeting in October. The 2027 World Cup will have 10 automatic qualifiers, including co-hosts South Africa and Zimbabwe, along with the eight highest-ranked teams as of September 2026. The remaining four spots will be decided through a global qualifier event.
ICC Confirms New T20 World Cup Format for 2028: Five Groups, Super 10, and New Eliminator Round
The ICC has approved a major shake-up of the T20 World Cup format, starting with the 2028 edition. The changes were confirmed at the ICC's Annual Conference in Edinburgh. The tournament will still have 20 teams, but the group stage now moves to five groups of four , up from four groups of five. That means 30 group games instead of 40. The top two from each group progress to a new Super 10 stage, replacing the old Super Eights. This round has two groups of five teams playing round-robin, a jump from 12 matches to 20. The biggest change is what happens after that. Only the team that finishes top of its Super 10 group goes straight to the semi-final. The teams that finish second and third now play each other in a new Eliminator round, with the second-placed side from one group facing the third-placed side from the other. The two Eliminator winners take the remaining semi-final spots. The ICC said the changes were shaped by how well emerging teams performed at the 2026 World Cup, and are meant to keep more teams in contention for longer while making the closing Super 10 matches count for more. Alongside the format change, the ICC also confirmed the qualification path to 2028. Twelve teams have already qualified based on their 2026 results and current rankings: Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies, and Zimbabwe. Scotland gets a direct spot in the Europe Regional Final because of the unusual circumstances around their 2026 entry, having come in as a late replacement for Bangladesh. The rest, including Canada, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, Oman, UAE, and the USA, will go through the Global Qualifier along with teams coming through regional qualifying. The ICC Men's Cricket World Cup also got a format overhaul at the same meeting, moving to a new three-stage structure for its 2027 edition.
France vs England World Cup Third-Place Preview: Mbappe and Kane Lead Two Fallen Contenders
France and England play for third place at the FIFA World Cup 2026 on July 18 at Miami Stadium, after both were knocked out in the semi-finals. France lost 2-0 to Spain, while England lost 2-1 to Argentina after leading for most of the match. Both sides came into the tournament as genuine title contenders, which makes this an unusual third-place match. Before their semi-final loss, France had won all six games at this World Cup, scoring 16 goals and conceding just 2. England went five wins and a draw before falling to Argentina. Kylian Mbappe is the tournament's top scorer with eight goals, level with Messi. He'll lead a France side that has struggled to find its usual rhythm in midfield since the semi-final defeat. For England, Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham have each scored six goals this tournament, with a brace apiece along the way. Kane was left frustrated after the Argentina loss, saying England sat too deep after taking the lead. The third-place match has been part of the World Cup since 1934. Neither side will be lifting the trophy this year, but both will be looking to end their campaign on a high, just a day before the final is played in New York.
Spain vs Argentina World Cup Final Preview: Messi and Yamal Meet for the First Time, With the Trophy on the Line
Spain and Argentina meet in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium. It is the first time the two nations have ever met in a World Cup final. In fact, Spain and Argentina have met just once before at a World Cup, all the way back in 1966. Away from the World Cup, their most recent clash came in a 2018 friendly, which Spain won 6-1. Lionel Scaloni was on Argentina's coaching staff that day. Neither current head coach had even been born the last time these two sides met at a World Cup. Argentina arrive as defending champions, chasing a second straight title. Their route to the final has been anything but smooth. They needed extra time to beat Cape Verde and Switzerland, and came from behind late to beat Egypt and now England. Lionel Messi leads the tournament with eight goals and 12 career World Cup assists, both all-time records, and has now scored 21 World Cup goals in total, also a record. Spain have been the tournament's most controlled side. After a goalless draw with Cape Verde in the group stage, they have won six straight, including a 2-0 win over France in the semi-final. Lamine Yamal , still only 19, has been central to their run and will now face Messi on the biggest stage of all. There is a personal story behind that meeting too. As a baby, Yamal appeared in a photo with Messi at a charity event, a picture that went viral after his father shared it years later. Spain are looking for their second World Cup title, having won it in 2010. Argentina want a third overall, and a second in a row under Scaloni.
Messi Sets Up Both Goals as Argentina Complete Comeback Against England to Reach Back-to-Back World Cup Finals
Argentina came from behind to beat England 2-1 in Atlanta and reach the World Cup final for the second tournament in a row. England led for most of the game through Anthony Gordon's 55th-minute goal. Two late Argentina strikes turned the semi-final on its head. Lionel Messi was the architect of both Argentina goals. He set up Enzo Fernandez for the equaliser in the 85th minute. He then teed up Lautaro Martinez for the winner in second-half stoppage time. England had led since the 55th minute and looked to be closing out the game before the late collapse. England captain Harry Kane did not hide his disappointment after the match. He said the team played well for most of the game. But they sat too deep once they went ahead, and that wasn't enough at this level. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni was emotional in his post-match reaction. He said he was proud of a squad that never knows when it is beaten. He called reaching back-to-back finals a historic achievement for the team. The match also had a disciplinary edge. England's Elliot Anderson was booked in the 37th minute. Argentina picked up three late bookings of their own: Lisandro Martinez (42'), Cristian Romero (51'), and Rodrigo De Paul in stoppage time. Argentina dominated possession with 64% of the ball and had 14 shots to England's 6. They will now face Spain in the final. England play France for third place.
Shubman Gill Closes in on World No. 1 ODI Batting Rank, Just 11 Points Behind Daryl Mitchell
Shubman Gill has moved a step closer to the top spot in the ICC Men's ODI Batting Rankings. His unbeaten 80 in the series opener against England at Edgbaston has lifted him 12 rating points, from 793 to 803. He now sits just 11 points behind New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell, who holds the No. 1 rank with 814. Gill's knock came off 75 balls and included 11 fours and a six. He retired hurt during India's chase, but his innings kept India ahead of the required rate in a successful run chase of 259. The runs were enough to push him from third to a close second in the rankings table. This is not new territory for the Indian captain. Gill has already held the World No. 1 ODI ranking twice before, once in late 2023 and again in early 2025. He is now chasing a third stint at the top, with the race against Mitchell heating up as both batters have more matches coming up. Mitchell is currently on tour with New Zealand against the West Indies and has scored 65 and 28 in two ODIs so far, with three matches left to defend his spot. Gill has two more ODIs left in the series against England, at Cardiff and Lord's, to try to close the gap or move ahead. Elsewhere in the same rankings update, Axar Patel was the other big mover for India. His all-round show against England, 57 not out and 4 for 62, lifted him 18 places to 73rd among batters and into the top 10 of the all-rounders' list for the first time, at ninth. With two ODIs still to play in the series, the battle for the world's top-ranked ODI batter looks set to go down to the wire.
Oyarzabal Ties Scoring Record, Porro's Second Goal Sends Spain Past France Into World Cup Final
Spain beat France 2-0 in Dallas to reach the World Cup final. The match also had some big personal milestones. Mikel Oyarzabal scored a penalty in the 22nd minute after Yamal was fouled in the box. It was his fifth goal of the tournament. That ties him with David Villa (2010) and Emilio Butragueño (1986) for the most goals by a Spanish player at a single World Cup. Only Villa (13), Alvaro Morata (10), and Fernando Torres (9) have scored more goals for Spain across major tournaments overall. Pedro Porro made it 2-0 in the 58th minute with a neat one-two with Dani Olmo. It was his second goal of this World Cup. He also scored against Austria in the Round of 32. That makes him only the second Spanish defender to score twice at a single World Cup. Fernando Hierro is the other, doing it in both 1998 and 2002. Dani Olmo's assist was also special. He now shares the record for most Spain assists at major tournaments with Cesc Fabregas, both on eight. Olmo has scored or assisted in every one of his three major tournament semi-finals for Spain. Spain's defense had a big night too. This was their sixth clean sheet of the tournament. No team has ever kept six clean sheets at a single World Cup before. For France, Kylian Mbappe made history just by playing. It was his 21st World Cup game for France, the most by any French player. But it wasn't a good night for him on the pitch. He picked up a yellow card in the 86th minute, and in the first half he was caught offside twice while touching the ball inside Spain's box just once. France almost fell further behind when Lamine Yamal curled the ball in from a tight angle. But the goal was ruled out for offside. Spain are now in their second World Cup final ever. Their only other one came in 2010, when they won it. They've also gone 37 games without losing. That ties Italy's all-time record for the longest unbeaten run in men's international football. Spain will play the winner of England vs Argentina, who meet on July 16, in the final.
India Beat England by 6 Wickets in 1st ODI, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar See Off the Chase at Edgbaston
India began their ODI series against England with a comfortable 6-wicket win at Edgbaston, chasing down 259 with 28 balls to spare. It's a much-needed response after a T20I series they lost 4-0 on the same tour. Put in to bat, England were carried by Joe Root , who finished unbeaten on 76. Liam Dawson played the innings of his career alongside him, making 68, his first ODI half-century, in a 121-run stand for the seventh wicket. Ben Duckett got England off to a bright start with 43, but the middle order fell away quickly, and Axar Patel cleaned up the tail with 4 for 62 to restrict England to 258 all out. India's chase had its nervy moments early on. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli , both back in the ODI fold after some time away, fell inside the first nine overs. Shubman Gill kept India ahead of the rate with a fluent 80 before retiring hurt, and Shreyas Iyer added 35 before being run out. From there, it was Washington Sundar and Axar Patel who finished things off. The pair added an unbroken 102 for the fifth wicket, with Sundar unbeaten on 52 and Axar striking the winning six to remain unbeaten on 57. It capped an all-round performance from Axar, who also picked up 4 wickets with the ball earlier in the day. The win gives India a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Attention now turns to the second ODI in Cardiff on July 16, before the series wraps up at Lord's on July 19.
Harmanpreet Kaur Becomes 4th Indian Captain to Win a Test at Lord's, After Kapil Dev, Dhoni and Kohli
Harmanpreet Kaur has become only the fourth Indian captain, and the first woman, to lead a side to a Test win at Lord's, joining a list that includes some of the biggest names in Indian cricket history. India's win over England Women at the Home of Cricket puts Harmanpreet alongside Kapil Dev , who led India to their first-ever Test win at Lord's back in 1986, MS Dhoni , who did it in 2014, and Virat Kohli , who added to the list in 2021. Harmanpreet's name now joins theirs from 2026, making it four wins across 40 years for India at the historic ground. It's a fitting way to cap a tournament in which Harmanpreet also starred with the bat, having earlier become the first woman to register a half-century at Lord's across all three international formats, a feat only a handful of men's cricketers have managed. With this win, Harmanpreet cements her place not just as one of India's finest captains in the women's game, but as a name that now sits in the same breath as some of Indian cricket's most iconic leaders when it comes to conquering Lord's.
Sophie Ecclestone's Record-Breaking Lord's Test, Even in Defeat
India's win at Lord's was the headline, but Sophie Ecclestone still walked away from the historic Test with a fistful of personal milestones, even on the losing side. Her 5 for 118 in India's second innings made her the first Englishwoman to take a Test five-wicket haul at Lord's , a mark that had stood open through every previous men's and women's Test played at the ground. It was also her fourth five-wicket haul in Tests, underlining her standing as England's premier spinner across formats. The match also pushed her past a long-standing team record. Ecclestone now has two ten-wicket hauls in Women's Tests , the most by any England bowler, moving ahead of the previous mark held by Laura Greenwood. Perhaps the biggest of the three came when she removed Smriti Mandhana in India's second innings. That wicket took her to 338 international wickets , making her England's all-time leading wicket-taker across all three formats, men's or women's, surpassing the previous record held by Katherine Sciver-Brunt. Ecclestone wasn't the only England player to walk away with a milestone despite the defeat. Wicketkeeper Amy Jones became the first keeper to score fifty or more in both innings of a women's Test, finishing with 52 and an unbeaten 52 across the match. Individual landmarks aside, the result stands as a heavy defeat for England, but Ecclestone's numbers are a reminder of the quality still running through this England side, even in a game that will be remembered mainly for India's dominance and Yastika Bhatia's historic hundred.