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Barcelona routs 10-man Real Sociedad 4-0 to go top in Spain

MADRID: Barcelona cruised to a 4-0 rout over 10-man Real Sociedad to regain the lead in Spain on Sunday. Gerard Martín, Marc Casadó, Ronald Araujo and Robert Lewandowski scored a goal each to put Barcelona one point ahead of second-placed Atletico Madrid at the top of the Spanish league. Barcelona is three points ahead of third-placed Real Madrid, which lost 2-1 at Real Betis on Saturday, when Atletico beat Athletic Bilbao 1-0 at home. “Very happy with the match we played,” Araujo said.

Anil Kumble Hails Exceptional Varun Chakaravarthy After Champions Trophy 2025 Heroics, Says "Going By..."

Legendary leg-spinner Anil Kumble has hailed an exceptional Varun Chakaravarthy for picking 5-42 in India's 44-run win over New Zealand in the ICC Champions Trophy, saying the wrist-spinner has won matches for the teams he played for in last 1.5 years and that his recent performance is very encouraging for the Rohit Sharma led-side. At the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday, Chakaravarthy returned figures of 5-42, the combined best bowling figures in the ongoing tournament, in just his second ODI game to bamboozle New Zealand and ensure India end as Group A toppers.

Champions Trophy: India Smash Pakistan's All-Time Record With Spin Dominance Against New Zealand

Team India continued its unbeaten run in the ICC Champions Trophy, making it three wins out of three in the Group A to qualify for the semi-finals as group leaders. Despite putting a mediocre total of 249 runs on the board, India managed to beat the Kiwis to continue their rampant run. It has to be noted that 9 of the 10 wickets Indian bowlers took to bowl out the opponents for 205, came to spinners. In the process, India managed to break a long-standing Pakistan record in the Champions Trophy.

Ex-India Star Points Out 'Key Battle' In India-Australia Clash: "Struggled..."

Former India cricketer Ambati Rayudu believes the clash between talismanic batter Virat Kohli and Australia leg-spinner Adam Zampa will be a key battle to watch out for in the all-important Champions Trophy semifinal at the Dubai International Stadium on Tuesday. Kohli has been dismissed five times by Zampa in ODIs since 2017, making this a keenly contested match-up on the slow pitches of Dubai. The India star has been dismissed five times by leg-spinners since the start of 2024, while amassing only 37 runs against them at a strike-rate of 48.68. "It's going to be Adam Zampa versus Virat Kohli (a key battle in the semi-final). Virat has struggled a bit against leg-spinners lately, but the kind of form he has shown in this tournament will serve him well against Australia," said Rayudu to JioHotstar.

India Played To The Conditions Beautifully, Says New Zealand's Matt Henry

After suffering a 44-run defeat to India in the 2025 Champions Trophy, New Zealand seamer Matt Henry said the Rohit Sharma-led side played beautifully as per the conditions due to the knowledge they acquired from their previous Group A games at the Dubai International Stadium. On a slow pitch, India managed to make 249/9 in 50 overs, with Shreyas Iyer's 79 and a late 45 by Hardik Pandya taking them to the competitive total. In return, Varun Chakaravarthy picked 5-42 in just his second ODI game to bowl out New Zealand for 205 in 45.3 overs. New Zealand will take on Group B toppers South Africa in the second semi-final in Lahore on Wednesday.

"ICC, Why?" Viv Richards' Stunning Take On India's Champions Trophy 2025 'Venue Advantage' Row

"Annoyed" and "hurt" with the absence of West Indies in the Champions Trophy, the legendary Sir Vivian Richards wants the Caribbean side to take a leaf out of Afghanistan's book to re-establish themselves as a force in world cricket. West Indies and Sri Lanka, the two former ODI World Cup and Champions Trophy winning sides, failed to make the cut for the eight-team event being played in Pakistan and Dubai. "I'm just hoping that my West Indies team can take a leaf out of these guys' book, because there is a passion and energy that the Afghanis have brought to the game," Richards, who is the governing council member of the International Masters League, told media on Sunday.

Welbeck sinks Newcastle as Brighton reach FA Cup quarters

NEWCASTLE: Danny Welbeck sent Brighton into the FA Cup quarterfinals as his extra-time strike clinched a dramatic 2-1 win against Newcastle in a stormy clash scarred by red cards for both teams.

Australia must counter India's spinners in Champions Trophy clash, says Smith

Australia's hopes of making it into the Champions Trophy final hinge on how well their batters can perform against India's potent spin attack in their semi-final meeting in Dubai, captain Steve Smith said on Monday.

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New Zealand Sport News

Barcelona routs 10-man Real Sociedad 4-0 to go top in Spain

Anil Kumble Hails Exceptional Varun Chakaravarthy After Champions Trophy 2025 Heroics, Says "Going By..."

Champions Trophy: India Smash Pakistan's All-Time Record With Spin Dominance Against New Zealand

Ex-India Star Points Out 'Key Battle' In India-Australia Clash: "Struggled..."

India Played To The Conditions Beautifully, Says New Zealand's Matt Henry

"ICC, Why?" Viv Richards' Stunning Take On India's Champions Trophy 2025 'Venue Advantage' Row

Welbeck sinks Newcastle as Brighton reach FA Cup quarters

Australia must counter India's spinners in Champions Trophy clash, says Smith