SPORTS - Page 23

India was the red-hot favorite to win the 2023 World Cup after ten successive victories, but they lost in a one-sided final thanks mainly to outstanding innings from Travis Head. The Australian all-rounder produced a masterclass to crush an invincible Indian bowling attack and seal Australia’s sixth ODI World Cup. It was a crushing blow for the hosts, who were left to rue a missed opportunity in front of their home fans. Australia’s victory crowned them the new kings of

With a plan to lean into for the road ahead, the Los Angeles Lakers return home Sunday to take on the Portland Trail Blazers, feeling better about their situation after a shaky start to the season. All it took was a focused fourth quarter Friday in a 122-119 road victory over the Phoenix Suns for the Lakers to walk off the court with optimism for the first time in over a week. “It’s easy to get caught up in the

On Friday, the Big Ten suspended Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh for the remainder of the regular season as the league disciplines the program under its sportsmanship policy amid the ongoing NCAA investigation into the school’s alleged in-person sign-stealing ring. The conference found Michigan “engaged in impermissible, widespread in-person advanced scouting operations that violated NCAA rules and provided an unfair competitive advantage,” according to a 13-page letter from commissioner Tony Petitti. The conference also imposed sanctions against the university, including a

Even a cynical mind could not have seen the Virginia Tech and UVA football teams take two giant steps backward in lopsided losses this weekend. The Hokies’ run defense stunk up the joint, giving up 305 yards and 17 first downs to the Yellow Jackets’ explosive ground attack. And the Hoos’ newfound ability to stop the pass could not prevent a blowout loss at home. Fortunately, both programs’ basketball teams had promising starts this week. UVA’s Nickeil Alexander-Walker and De’Andre

When a quad injury sidelined kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn during Sunday’s game against Tampa Bay, it sent the Texans into a panic. They were already playing without their leading rusher and receiving back, but if they lost their place-kicking specialist, that would put their entire game plan into question. Luckily, the Texans’ backup running back was ready to step up. Dare Ogunbowale, generally relegated to handling the team’s kickoffs, was suddenly thrust into the spotlight when he was called upon to

Luis Diaz looked solemn as he sat on the substitutes’ bench during Liverpool’s Premier League game at Luton on Sunday—no wonder his father remains kidnapped by Colombian rebels. Yet despite the personal anguish, the 26-year-old not only requested to be in Juergen Klopp’s squad for the game but then came on and scored a last-ditch equalizer to deny a superb Luton side a memorable win at Kenilworth Road. The winger’s parents were abducted at their home in the Colombian city

Paris Saint-Germain beat Montpellier 3-0 to climb provisionally to the top of France’s Ligue 1 on Friday, with Ousmane Dembele providing much of the ammunition. Luis Enrique’s new-look PSG was clicking into gear, and the former Barcelona boss was unsurprisingly in charge of the home game at the Parc des Princes. Lee Kang-in opened the scoring with a neat left-foot shot into the top corner on 10 minutes as the hosts quickly made their mark. 17-year-old prospect Warren Zaire-Emery doubled

Veteran drivers Fernando Alonso and Daniel Ricciardo denied on Thursday that they were about to leave their teams to join the Red Bull team next season. Two-time world champion Alonso, 42, angrily hit out at claims that he will depart the Aston Martin team to take Sergio Perez’s seat alongside world champion Max Verstappen. Perez is under pressure at the Milton Keynes-based outfit after failing to match the standards set by team-mate Verstappen. The 33-year-old is contracted to the six-time

World number one Aryna Sabalenka grabbed a 6-2 3-5 lead over fourth-ranked Elena Rybakina and boosted her chances of securing a semifinal berth at the WTA Finals in Cancun before play was suspended due to rain on Thursday night. The Belarusian swept the opening set against the big-serving Kazakh and was about to serve for the second when rain interrupted after 11:30 pm local time. Organizers decided to cancel the remainder of the match and push back the resumption until

Luis Diaz will decide for himself whether he can play for Liverpool in Sunday’s Premier League match at Luton Town following the kidnapping of his parents, manager Juergen Klopp has said. The Colombian forward was not part of the squad for the 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest on Sunday, and he withdrew from training in the build-up to the game due to his mother and father’s capture in their home country. His mother, Cilenis Marulanda, was released within hours, and