Search results for 'First Ball'

FIFA World Cup 2026: Belgium find winning formula beyond star power

FIFA World Cup 2026: Belgium find winning formula beyond star power

Rediff.com7 Jul 2026

Belgium look to have found their best playing style at the World Cup after thrashing co-hosts the US 4-1 on Monday, but the successful tinkering of coach Rudi Garcia has come at a cost to his top players.

Sooryavanshi's blitzkrieg fires India A to tri-nation one-day title

Sooryavanshi's blitzkrieg fires India A to tri-nation one-day title

Rediff.com21 Jun 2026

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi smashed a breathtaking 29-ball 94 to fire India A to the tri-nation title, following a thumping 66-run victory against Sri Lanka A in the final on Sunday.

Will India Bring Back Sanju Samson For Must-Win 4th T20I Vs England?

Will India Bring Back Sanju Samson For Must-Win 4th T20I Vs England?

Rediff.com8 Jul 2026

It remains to be seen if India will fall back on Sanju Samson to revive their sagging fortunes with a revamped batting order in the must-win fourth T20 International in Bristol on Thursday.

How Argentina pounced on window of opportunity gifted by England

How Argentina pounced on window of opportunity gifted by England

Rediff.com16 Jul 2026

Argentina staged a dramatic comeback, scoring two late goals to defeat England 2-1 in the World Cup semi-final, with Lionel Messi orchestrating the turnaround after England had taken the lead.

Sweden, Japan advance to knockouts after thrilling draw

Sweden, Japan advance to knockouts after thrilling draw

Rediff.com26 Jun 2026

Sweden and Japan played out a 1-1 draw in their World Cup Group F match, with Anthony Elanga scoring for Sweden and Daizen Maeda for Japan. The result ensures both teams progress to the knockout rounds, with Japan finishing second and Sweden securing a spot as one of the best third-placed teams.

Wimbledon 2026: Osaka sends Sabalenka packing, seals maiden quarterfinal berth

Wimbledon 2026: Osaka sends Sabalenka packing, seals maiden quarterfinal berth

Rediff.com6 Jul 2026

Women's top seed Aryna Sabalenka was knocked out in the fourth round of Wimbledon by an inspired Naomi Osaka on Sunday.

I just want to get completely drunk, says Sabalenka after Wimbledon exit

I just want to get completely drunk, says Sabalenka after Wimbledon exit

Rediff.com6 Jul 2026

World number one Aryna Sabalenka expressed deep frustration after her Wimbledon title hopes were dashed by Naomi Osaka in a straight-sets fourth-round defeat.

FIFA World Cup semis: Tuchel reveals England's plan to stop Messi

FIFA World Cup semis: Tuchel reveals England's plan to stop Messi

Rediff.com15 Jul 2026

England manager Thomas Tuchel insists his players are not focusing on the historical rivalry with Argentina ahead of their World Cup semi-final, stating the occasion itself is significant enough and their preparation centres on the game at hand.

Bhaichung Bhutia: Messi needs another World Cup to match Maradona's legacy

Bhaichung Bhutia: Messi needs another World Cup to match Maradona's legacy

Rediff.com17 Jul 2026

Former India captain Bhaichung Bhutia believes Lionel Messi needs to win the 2026 World Cup to truly equal Diego Maradona's legendary status, despite Messi's 2022 triumph. Bhutia rates Maradona higher due to his single-handed 1986 World Cup victory, while also tipping Spain as slight favourites over Argentina in the upcoming final.

Washington Sundar's undefined role in India's T20 side raises tough questions

Washington Sundar's undefined role in India's T20 side raises tough questions

Rediff.com27 Jun 2026

Despite backing from the team management, Washington Sundar's inconsistent usage with both bat and ball has raised questions over his undefined role, with Ravichandran Ashwin urging India to utilise him more clearly as a genuine all-rounder.

'Never imagined I would play 100 T20Is': Axar Patel

'Never imagined I would play 100 T20Is': Axar Patel

Rediff.com9 Jul 2026

Indian all-rounder Axar Patel expressed his disbelief at reaching 100 T20 Internationals for India, dedicating the significant milestone to his teammates, coaches, and family.

Australia women smash 219 in record T20 World Cup win, crush Netherlands

Australia women smash 219 in record T20 World Cup win, crush Netherlands

Rediff.com20 Jun 2026

Australia secured a commanding 98-run victory over the Netherlands in the Women's T20 World Cup, setting a new tournament record by becoming the first team to cross 200 runs. Beth Mooney's 74 and Ashleigh Gardner's 58 were key to their 219/6 total, while the Netherlands showed resilience with Babette de Leede's unbeaten 56.

Magic Mortal Messi Scripts Argentina's Miracle Rescue

Magic Mortal Messi Scripts Argentina's Miracle Rescue

Rediff.com8 Jul 2026

Lionel Messi experienced an emotional rollercoaster in Argentina's World Cup last-16 tie against Egypt, missing a penalty but ultimately scoring a vital late equaliser to save his team's World Cup dream after being two goals down.

Linda Noskova survives Muchova fightback in thrilling final to win Wimbledon

Linda Noskova survives Muchova fightback in thrilling final to win Wimbledon

Rediff.com12 Jul 2026

Linda Noskova survived missing five match points to outlast compatriot Karolina Muchova 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 to win a maiden Grand Slam title as she extended the Czech Republic's remarkable Wimbledon success story.

Yellamaraju Climbs Leaderboard Amidst Tough Scottish Open Conditions

Yellamaraju Climbs Leaderboard Amidst Tough Scottish Open Conditions

Rediff.com11 Jul 2026

Indo-Canadian golfer Sudarshan Yellamaraju has surged into a tie for sixth place at the Scottish Open, just two strokes off the lead, after a stellar second round. Amidst challenging conditions that saw top players exit, Yellamaraju's strong performance puts him in contention for his first DP World Tour win. Rory McIlroy, Tom Kim, and Jordan Smith share the lead.

PCB announces significant pay hike for centrally contracted players

PCB announces significant pay hike for centrally contracted players

Rediff.com18 Jun 2026

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is set to significantly increase match fees and monthly retainers for centrally contracted players, particularly those in the red ball Track A category, for the 2026/27 cycle. The new contracts also introduce format-based categories and substantial bonuses for winning ICC and Asia Cup events.

Muzumdar hails India Women's 'perfect game' in historic Lord's Test win

Muzumdar hails India Women's 'perfect game' in historic Lord's Test win

Rediff.com14 Jul 2026

Chief coach Amol Muzumdar lauded the Indian women's cricket team for their historic 270-run Test victory over England at Lord's, attributing the success to a blend of 'patience mixed with the right amount of aggression' and highlighting centurion Yastika Bhatia's 'special knock' and pacer Kranti Gaud's 'controlled line and length'.

Klopp's Humorous Chat with Mbappe After World Cup Win

Klopp's Humorous Chat with Mbappe After World Cup Win

Rediff.com10 Jul 2026

Former Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp shared a humorous exchange with France captain Kylian Mbappe after France's 2-0 victory over Morocco in the FIFA World Cup quarter-final, joking about Mbappe's prolific scoring and calling him a 'detector'.

FIFA World Cup 2026: Yamal ignites Spain's goal rush in 4-0 rout of Saudi Arabia

FIFA World Cup 2026: Yamal ignites Spain's goal rush in 4-0 rout of Saudi Arabia

Rediff.com22 Jun 2026

Inspired by Lamine Yamal, Spain strolled to a 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia in Group H on Sunday, where Mikel Oyarzabal restored his reputation with two goals and Luis de la Fuente's side found their groove after an underwhelming World Cup opener.

British stars continue to fall at Wimbledon

British stars continue to fall at Wimbledon

Rediff.com30 Jun 2026

British tennis players faced a dismal start to Wimbledon, with 11 home players, including top hope Katie Boulter, crashing out in the first round. Boulter suffered a surprising defeat to Grand Slam debutant Tyra Caterina Grant, adding to a record number of British exits on the opening days. While Katie Swan secured a much-needed win, the overall performance has been disappointing for the host nation.

Ten-man England edge out Mexico to enter World Cup last 8

Ten-man England edge out Mexico to enter World Cup last 8

Rediff.com6 Jul 2026

England defeated Mexico 3-2 in a hard-fought World Cup match to secure their place in the quarter-finals. Despite playing with ten men after Jarell Quansah's red card, goals from Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane ensured England's victory.

Fans Ecstatic as South Africa Make History With World Cup Knockout Berth

Fans Ecstatic as South Africa Make History With World Cup Knockout Berth

Rediff.com25 Jun 2026

South Africa has made history by securing their first-ever World Cup knockout stage berth after a 1-0 victory over South Korea. Thapelo Maseko scored the decisive goal in the 63rd minute, leading to jubilant celebrations and setting up a clash with co-hosts Canada. This marks a significant achievement for the team, overcoming previous group stage exits.

Gueye double keeps five-star Senegal's World Cup hopes alive

Gueye double keeps five-star Senegal's World Cup hopes alive

Rediff.com27 Jun 2026

Senegal kept their World Cup knockout hopes alive in dominant fashion on Friday with a 5-0 victory over 10-man Iraq, who were eliminated from the tournament.

Sinner ends Djokovic's dream in straight sets, faces Zverev for Wimbledon crown

Sinner ends Djokovic's dream in straight sets, faces Zverev for Wimbledon crown

Rediff.com11 Jul 2026

Defending champion Jannik Sinner ended Novak Djokovic's latest bid to claim a record 25th Grand Slam title in ruthless fashion with a 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 win to reach the Wimbledon final on Friday.

IPL 2026: Sooryavanshi smashes 15-ball 50 as RR crush RCB to extend winning streak

IPL 2026: Sooryavanshi smashes 15-ball 50 as RR crush RCB to extend winning streak

Rediff.com11 Apr 2026

Rajat Patidar's aggressive innings helped Royal Challengers Bengaluru reach a total of 201 for 8 against Rajasthan Royals in their IPL match, after a shaky start.

PSL Stars Deny Ball-Tampering Allegations After Lahore Qalandars-Karachi Kings Match

PSL Stars Deny Ball-Tampering Allegations After Lahore Qalandars-Karachi Kings Match

Rediff.com30 Mar 2026

Fakhar Zaman, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Sikandar Raza deny ball-tampering charges during a Pakistan Super League match, leading to an investigation and potential penalties for the Lahore Qalandars.

Advani Clinches Maiden National 9-Ball Pool Title in Dominant Display

Advani Clinches Maiden National 9-Ball Pool Title in Dominant Display

Rediff.com31 Mar 2026

Pankaj Advani, a multiple-time world champion in billiards and snooker, has added another title to his illustrious career by winning the National 9-ball pool title, defeating Nitin Sharma in the final.

Giorgia Meloni, Carlos Alcaraz congratulate Jannik Sinner on retaining Wimbledon crown

Giorgia Meloni, Carlos Alcaraz congratulate Jannik Sinner on retaining Wimbledon crown

Rediff.com13 Jul 2026

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and rival Carlos Alcaraz led congratulations for Jannik Sinner after he successfully defended his Wimbledon men's singles title, a victory that also significantly widened his lead over Alcaraz in the 'Big Titles' race.

Guess who became the 1st Asian to reach 5 FIFA World Cups

Guess who became the 1st Asian to reach 5 FIFA World Cups

Rediff.com26 Jun 2026

Japan's Yuto Nagatomo made history by becoming the first Asian player to feature in five FIFA World Cups during Japan's 1-1 draw against Sweden. This achievement places him among an elite group of players globally. The draw secured both Japan and Sweden's advancement to the Round of 32 in the 2026 tournament.

Wood scores as Forest edge Villa in Europa League semi first leg

Wood scores as Forest edge Villa in Europa League semi first leg

Rediff.com1 May 2026

Chris Wood's penalty gives Nottingham Forest a 1-0 edge over Aston Villa in their Europa League semi-final first leg, extending their unbeaten run to nine matches.

France's World Cup run fuelled by player-led analysis and strong team bonds

France's World Cup run fuelled by player-led analysis and strong team bonds

Rediff.com14 Jul 2026

France's journey to the World Cup semi-finals is not just about star players like Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele, but also a deep-seated unity and player-led analysis forged in private conversations and hotel rooms, according to midfielders Adrien Rabiot and defender Jules Kounde.

Paraguay eliminate four-time champions Germany after penalty shoot-out

Paraguay eliminate four-time champions Germany after penalty shoot-out

Rediff.com30 Jun 2026

Paraguay achieved a stunning upset by eliminating four-time World champions Germany from the World Cup in a penalty shootout. After a 1-1 draw in their Round of 32 match, Paraguay secured a 4-3 victory in the shootout, with Jose Canale scoring the decisive kick.

India A vs Sri Lanka A: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi falls after promising start

India A vs Sri Lanka A: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi falls after promising start

Rediff.com15 Jun 2026

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi India A's Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was dismissed early for the second match in a row against Sri Lanka A, in the Tri-Nation A Series match in Dambulla, on Monday.

Sanjay Manjrekar Slams Sanju Samson's Exclusion In England T20

Sanjay Manjrekar Slams Sanju Samson's Exclusion In England T20

Rediff.com6 Jul 2026

Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar has criticised the team management's decision to drop T20 World Cup hero Sanju Samson for the second T20 against England, calling it "bizarre" despite the debut of teen sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. India lost the match, trailing 0-1 in the five-match series.

My bowling was underutilised during England tour last year, alleges Shardul Thakur

My bowling was underutilised during England tour last year, alleges Shardul Thakur

Rediff.com1 Jul 2026

Shardul Thakur on Monday expressed his disappointment on not being "utilised properly" during India's 2025 tour of England last year for five Tests, saying that he had performed the last time he played for the country.

Ivory Coast Gear Up For Haaland Challenge In World Cup Clash

Ivory Coast Gear Up For Haaland Challenge In World Cup Clash

Rediff.com29 Jun 2026

Ivory Coast is set to face Norway in a World Cup Round of 32 match, with much attention on Norway's star striker Erling Haaland. While Ivory Coast's defence, featuring Ousmane Diomande, will focus on containing Haaland, their coach Emerse Fae also plans to unleash their own array of attacking talent, including Yan Diomande and Nicolas Pepe, to challenge Norway.

'When it's your day, you make it count': Jaiswal's big message

'When it's your day, you make it count': Jaiswal's big message

Rediff.com21 Jun 2026

With limited opportunities coming his way in the ODI format, opener Yashasvi Jaiswal said his focus was on making his starts count as he smashed a fine unbeaten century to guide India to a nine-wicket win in the third match against Afghanistan in Chennai on Saturday.

England drop Crawley; pick uncapped Gay, Rew and Baker for first New Zealand Test

England drop Crawley; pick uncapped Gay, Rew and Baker for first New Zealand Test

Rediff.com13 May 2026

England have dropped opener Zak Crawley and selected Emilio Gay as Ben Duckett's opening partner in a reshaped squad for the first Test against New Zealand.

Bellingham shines as England down Panama to top Group L

Bellingham shines as England down Panama to top Group L

Rediff.com28 Jun 2026

Jude Bellingham's stellar performance, including a goal and an assist for Harry Kane, propelled England to a 2-0 victory over Panama. This win secured England's top position in Group L of the World Cup, allowing them to avoid a difficult knockout phase route. The match saw England dominate possession and overcome a flat first half, with Kane also breaking Gary Lineker's World Cup goal record for England.

Cornered India Seek Consolation Win to Avert 0-4 Whitewash Against England

Cornered India Seek Consolation Win to Avert 0-4 Whitewash Against England

Rediff.com10 Jul 2026

A struggling Indian team, led by Shreyas Iyer, is desperate to secure a consolation victory against England in the fifth T20 International in Southampton to avoid a humiliating 0-4 series whitewash.