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New Zealand Claim Historic First Women’s T20 World Cup Title

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New Zealand Claim Historic First Women's T20 World Cup Title

In a thrilling final, New Zealand’s White Ferns made history by winning their first Women’s T20 World Cup, defeating South Africa by 32 runs in Dubai. This victory marks a remarkable turnaround for the team, who entered the tournament on the back of 10 consecutive losses. It is also their first T20 title after falling short in the finals of 2009 and 2010.

Batting first, New Zealand posted a formidable 158-5, thanks to a pivotal 57-run partnership between Melie Kerr (43 from 38 balls) and Brooke Halliday (38 from 28 balls). The duo helped anchor New Zealand’s innings after South Africa’s bowlers fought back in the middle overs. The Proteas’ attack, however, struggled with discipline, conceding 10 wides and three no-balls, allowing the White Ferns to rack up 48 runs in the final five overs.

South Africa’s response started well, with captain Laura Wolvaardt leading from the front, scoring a fluent 33. Despite a strong start, the Proteas collapsed from 51-0 to 126-9 as New Zealand’s bowlers, led by Kerr (3-24) and Rosemary Mair (3-25), applied relentless pressure. Kerr, who became the tournament’s leading wicket-taker, shone with both bat and ball, delivering a complete performance.

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For South Africa, it was a bitter disappointment, having lost their second consecutive T20 World Cup final. Despite their best efforts, they couldn’t handle the growing pressure as the required run rate soared.

This emotional win was particularly significant for New Zealand veterans Suzie Bates and captain Sophie Devine, who were moved to tears after the long-awaited victory. As a historic first, the International Cricket Council (ICC) awarded equal prize money to both men’s and women’s tournaments, with New Zealand taking home $2.34 million (£1.75 million) and South Africa receiving $1.7 million (£878,000).

New Zealand’s all-around brilliance on the day ensured that their long wait for a T20 title ended in style.

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Novak Djokovic Sets Grand Slam Record with Melbourne Victory

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Novak Djokovic Sets Grand Slam Record with Melbourne Victory

Novak Djokovic made history at the Australian Open, surpassing Roger Federer’s record for the most major singles matches played in tennis history. The 37-year-old Serbian star achieved the milestone with a hard-fought win against qualifier Jaime Faria, triumphing 6-1, 6-7 (4-7), 6-3, 6-2 to advance to the tournament’s third round.

With his 430th Grand Slam singles match, Djokovic now holds the all-time record for the most Grand Slam matches played by any tennis player, male or female. He overtakes Federer, whose last Grand Slam match was at Wimbledon in 2021, solidifying his place in tennis history.

Reflecting on his achievement, Djokovic expressed gratitude and passion for the sport:
“I love this sport. I love competition. I try to give my best every single time. It’s been over 20 years that I’ve been competing in Grand Slams at the highest level. Whether I win or lose, I will always leave my heart out on the court. I’m just blessed to be making another record.”

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The victory adds another chapter to Djokovic’s illustrious career, as he continues to push the boundaries of excellence in tennis. With his relentless drive and unmatched consistency, Djokovic remains a dominant force on the court and a source of inspiration to fans around the world.

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Jack Grealish Ends Goal Drought as McAtee’s Hat-Trick Powers Manchester City to FA Cup Rout

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Jack Grealish Ends Goal Drought as McAtee's Hat-Trick Powers Manchester City to FA Cup Rout

Jack Grealish scored his first goal in over a year and James McAtee delivered a stunning second-half hat-trick as Manchester City demolished League Two side Salford City in the FA Cup third round. The 7-0 victory was City’s biggest win since January 2019.

Grealish opened the scoring in the 49th minute with a calm penalty after being fouled, jokingly deferring to usual spot-kick taker Erling Haaland, who was rested on the bench. This marked Grealish’s first goal since December 16, 2023, when he netted against Crystal Palace, ending a prolonged struggle for form.

Twenty minutes later, Grealish passed penalty duties to Belgian winger Jeremy Doku, who confidently converted. Doku, instrumental throughout, set the tone for the dominant performance, helping City capitalize on their first-ever competitive meeting with Salford City, a club owned by Manchester United’s famous “Class of ’92.”

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City’s youth players made the most of their opportunities. Divin Mubama, making his debut, tapped in Matheus Nunes’ precise low cross to claim his first senior goal. Nico O’Reilly also opened his City account, firing a low shot into the far corner from Doku’s cut-back.

The star of the match, however, was James McAtee. The England Under-21 midfielder, often overlooked this season, stole the spotlight with a clinical hat-trick. His first came in the 62nd minute, courtesy of another Doku assist. McAtee completed his treble within 19 minutes, with Phil Foden and Jack Grealish providing the setups for his second and third goals, respectively.

With key players rested, Pep Guardiola’s side showed their depth and quality, dominating possession and dismantling a Salford team that struggled to cope with the Premier League giants’ intensity.

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David Moyes Returns as Everton Manager for Second Stint

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David Moyes Returns as Everton Manager for Second Stint

David Moyes has been reappointed as Everton manager, marking his second tenure at the club. The 61-year-old Scot signed a two-and-a-half-year contract after Sean Dyche was dismissed on Thursday. Everton currently sits 16th in the Premier League, just one point above the relegation zone, with only three wins from 19 matches this season.

Moyes expressed his excitement about returning to Goodison Park:
“I enjoyed 11 wonderful and successful years at Everton and didn’t hesitate when I was offered the opportunity to rejoin this great club. Now we need Goodison and all Evertonians to play their part in getting behind the players this important season so we can move into our fabulous new stadium as a Premier League team.”

Moyes first managed Everton from 2002 to 2013, during which he transformed the club from relegation candidates to regular top-half finishers. His achievements included:

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  • Guiding Everton to the FA Cup final in 2009.
  • Securing a fourth-place finish in 2004-05, leading to Champions League qualification.
  • Developing young talent, including giving Wayne Rooney his professional debut.
  • Signing iconic players like Tim Cahill and Marouane Fellaini.

After leaving Everton to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United in 2013, Moyes managed Real Sociedad, Sunderland, and West Ham United, where he won the Europa Conference League in 2023. Moyes had been out of management since leaving West Ham at the end of the 2022-23 season.

Everton faces significant challenges, but Moyes brings vast experience and a deep understanding of the club’s culture. His goal is to stabilize the team and ensure their place in the Premier League as they prepare to transition to their new stadium.

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