Archive October 17, 2025

Colombo hosted the ICC Women’s World Cup.

Sri Lanka 105-7 (20 overs): Gunaratne 34 (33), Mlaba 3-30

South Africa 125-0 (14.5 overs): Wolvaardt 60* (47), Brits 55* (42)

By ten wickets (DLS), South Africa won.

In a rain-shortened game in Colombo, South Africa defeated Sri Lanka to move up to second place in the women’s world cup standings.

The Proteas won their 20th overs match with a duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) adjusted target of 121 and captain Laura Wolvaardt hit a superb 60 from 47 balls.

Tazmin Brits and the classy right-hander hit the winning runs with a six to finish unbeaten on 55 from 42, matching their unbroken 125-run opening stand.

With their fourth straight victory, South Africa is one point ahead of Australia as they lead the world in terms of points.

A 20-over contest was scheduled to end in a fourth washout at R Premadasa Stadium after a lengthy downpour 12 overs in the match, but it was delayed due to the rain’s persistence.

Sri Lanka, which had been forced to leave, was up to 105-7, but never threatened to really challenge South Africa.

After a shy at the stumps struck her on the inside of the knee as she raced through for a quick single, Vishmi Gunaratne was forced to retire hurt, she was stretched off before the rain.

However, no serious harm was caused, and she arrived after the rain to set up the tournament’s hosts, scoring 34 from 33 balls.

Nonkululeko Mlaba, a left-arm spinner for South Africa, won with 2-18 before the rain.

When the game started with the floodlights on, the sky overhanging, and the expectation that rain would be inevitable, it was surprising Sri Lanka to choose to bat first.

Although they had a good beginning, Gunaratne had retired hurt, and Klaas had captured Chamari Athapaththu lbw and bowled Hasini Perera with a beauty.

It meant that they returned with only eight overs to bat after preparing to bat 50 overs in their innings.

South Africa would have had to undergo a major reshuffle if they had bowled first, but the Proteas were able to escape with some shoddy fielding, maintain Sri Lanka’s total at a low ball, and have the luxury of knowing what exactly they needed to do from ball one of their innings.

However, South Africa made the most of their advantage, and Wolvaardt and Brits’ return to form, both serving as the tournament’s skipper and her opening partner after back-to-back ducks, will be very welcome.

The drama of their victories against India and Bangladesh was unnecessary; instead, the Sri Lanka bowlers were thrashing, with their openers removing the frustration caused by the five-hour rain delay.

Colombo hosted the ICC Women’s World Cup.

Sri Lanka 105-7 (20 overs): Gunaratne 34 (33), Mlaba 3-30

South Africa 125-0 (14.5 overs): Wolvaardt 60* (47), Brits 55* (42)

By ten wickets (DLS), South Africa won.

In a rain-shortened game in Colombo, South Africa defeated Sri Lanka to move up to second place in the women’s world cup standings.

The Proteas won their 20th overs match with a duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) adjusted target of 121 and captain Laura Wolvaardt hit a superb 60 from 47 balls.

Tazmin Brits and the classy right-hander hit the winning runs with a six to finish unbeaten on 55 from 42, matching their unbroken 125-run opening stand.

With their fourth straight victory, South Africa is one point ahead of Australia as they lead the world in terms of points.

A 20-over contest was scheduled to end in a fourth washout at R Premadasa Stadium after a lengthy downpour 12 overs in the match, but it was delayed due to the rain’s persistence.

Sri Lanka, which had been forced to leave, was up to 105-7, but never threatened to really challenge South Africa.

After a shy at the stumps struck her on the inside of the knee as she raced through for a quick single, Vishmi Gunaratne was forced to retire hurt, she was stretched off before the rain.

However, no serious harm was caused, and she arrived after the rain to set up the tournament’s hosts, scoring 34 from 33 balls.

Nonkululeko Mlaba, a left-arm spinner for South Africa, won with 2-18 before the rain.

When the game started with the floodlights on, the sky overhanging, and the expectation that rain would be inevitable, it was surprising Sri Lanka to choose to bat first.

Although they had a good beginning, Gunaratne had retired hurt, and Klaas had captured Chamari Athapaththu lbw and bowled Hasini Perera with a beauty.

It meant that they returned with only eight overs to bat after preparing to bat 50 overs in their innings.

South Africa would have had to undergo a major reshuffle if they had bowled first, but the Proteas were able to escape with some shoddy fielding, maintain Sri Lanka’s total at a low ball, and have the luxury of knowing what exactly they needed to do from ball one of their innings.

However, South Africa made the most of their advantage, and Wolvaardt and Brits’ return to form, both serving as the tournament’s skipper and her opening partner after back-to-back ducks, will be very welcome.

The drama of their victories against India and Bangladesh was unnecessary; instead, the Sri Lanka bowlers were thrashing, with their openers removing the frustration caused by the five-hour rain delay.

A week in politics is allegedly a long time. Never mind that. Twelve days at Rangers will seem like an eternity at the moment.

Russell Martin’s tenure ended with the sight of him being secretly escorted out of Falkirk Stadium after another mistake on October 5 as he was relieved of the ever-increasing load on his shoulders that was the head coach’s job.

Some of the club’s supporters will remember this image and the team bus that was being blocked in for a lifetime.

The clamor for Steven Gerrard’s return has reached a sonic crescendo for not even two weeks, only to be met with a refusal from the then title-winning manager.

Danny Rohl, the ex-Sheffield Wednesday boss, was the subject of conversation before he abruptly resigned.

Fans of the Rangers are now closely following the progress of Chinese side Shanghai Port to see if Kevin Muscat’s departure from Glasgow has come to pass.

This has a literal and metaphorical response. The other is more difficult to explain.

The simple fact is that Rangers currently sit eighth in the Scottish Premiership table after drawing with Falkirk thanks to an injury-time winner away to newly promoted Livingston.

The rest of their recent efforts, which included five draws and one defeat, are left them at the top of the table, two points clear of 11th place, behind Motherwell and Hibernian.

League leaders Hearts are 11 points ahead of their city rivals, while Celtic are nine ahead of their city rivals when you look up.

On November 2, when the two teams square off in the Premier Sports Cup semi-final, Brendan Rodgers’ team will face off against Hampden, so whoever the new Rangers head coach is, one of their first responsibilities could be to lead the team out to the national stadium.

Rangers struggled to fire and lose points twice under Martin, including at Ibrox, throughout the city. However, there is still a lingering suspicion that Celtic still possess the necessary knowledge and experience to succeed while a young Rangers squad searches for new leadership.

Stability is the first word that comes to mind.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst consoled his players in Seville’s sweltering heat as Rangers lost the Europa League final on penalties in May 2022. A Scottish Cup win was expected just days after the mesmerizing and heroic run, which ended in a sting in the tail.

The Dutchman was fired six months later, and the Rangers’ management merry-go-round started.

Michael Beale, Philippe Clement, Barry Ferguson, and Martin have all been in charge since then, with the exception of a League Cup victory.

Former Rangers striker Billy Dodds, who was a member of the coaching staff last season under Ferguson, said, “They’ll be looking for a little help, probably some guidance, to give them a little stability.”

There are things that can assist, they say. You get to the football field as well after you’ve been inside, and we’ve already gathered it right away.

There are many things that can be done right away, but long-term, they need someone who can lead, be good at wooing people, and then make sure the person they hire has strong values and sends the right message that this club is headed in the right direction.

Since Martin left the Falkirk Stadium behind a back-door exit, the fort has been led by under-19s coaches Steven Smith, B Team coach Brian Gilmour, performance coach Rhys Owen, and goalkeeper coach Sal Bibbo.

Rangers do have experience inside the dressing room. The senior leadership team includes captain James Tavernier, captain John Souttar, captain Jack Butland, and Kieran Dowell.

Dodds, however, thinks a powerful figurehead is urgently required.

He said, “He (Tavernier) can only do so much,” TV is a quiet, quiet guy who doesn’t speak out loud on the pitch.

It’s not like they’re going to gather all the team together and make a speech, but there’s a group called the leadership core.

They’ll probably be saying to one another, “We need it sorted, we need it sorted pretty quickly,” in my opinion.

Even though there is a captain and vice-captain, there is a leadership group, “there is no real standout leader.” Although the boys can only accomplish so much, I believe they must unite.

It is undeniable that the core group is capable of more than what has been provided this season by looking at them.

Rangers appeared passive from the back end in far too many games, and Martin’s tactics have been dissected and broken down. Add a porous defense, and you’re in trouble.

However, a team’s spine is present. After a disagreement with Martin, Lucas Raskin pledged his commitment to restoring Rangers’ momentum, while Bojan Miovski, a new signing, poses a threat in the form of attack.

However, supporters won’t have much patience when Muscat, or whoever it may be, arrives. Clement has a year and 131 days in place of Gerrard, making him the longest serving boss.

Small victories will be required to quickly reassure fans that the tanker is turning with such a terrible start to the campaign.

Dodds remarked, “There’s definitely confidence right away]that needs improved.”

They have been a problem for a while, but I believe defensively they need to be more sound. That will require the new manager to pursue that.

There is something to work with because there is a strong midfield there, and there is a strong midfield base, even when we were there. Additionally, they have added up front as well, so there is something to work with.

You can see the confidence seeping out of them as “there are things that need to be changed,” but overall you can see that.