Rain washes out the 1st T20 international between New Zealand and England

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand: Rain forced the abandonment of the first Twenty20 international between New Zealand and England after the visitors posted 153-6 in their completed innings Saturday. Sam Curran top-scored with 49 not out from 35 balls. He hit three fours and two sixes — and 19 runs from the final over of the England innings. Jos Buttler with 29 from 25 balls and Harry Brook with 20 from 14 both made starts but were unable to go on as the England batters struggled when the New Zealand bowlers took the pace off the ball. A shower caused a 15-minute break while England was batting, then returned more heavily between innings, finally causing the match to be abandoned around 10.10 p.m.

Afghanistan pulls out of Pakistan cricket tournament after Islamabad airstrikes kill 3 athletes

KABUL: Afghanistan has withdrawn its national cricket team from next month’s tri-nation tournament in Pakistan, after three Afghan cricketers were killed in overnight Pakistani military strikes amid the latest flare-up of tensions between the neighbors.

Postecoglou sacked by Forest moments after 3-0 home loss to Chelsea

NOTTINGHAM, England :Nottingham Forest sacked manager Ange Postecoglou 20 minutes after they suffered a 3-0 defeat by Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday which left the club languishing in 17th place and on the brink of slipping into the relegation zone.