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T20 World Cup, Group A, Mumbai

India 161-9 (20 overs): Suryakumar 84*; Van Schalkwyk 4-25

USA 132-8 (20 overs): Ranjane 37, Krishnamurthi 37; Siraj 3-29

India won by 29 runs

Suryakumar Yadav rescued India from an almighty scare and ensured the T20 World Cup co-hosts opened their tournament with a 29-run victory over the United States in Mumbai.

After being put into bat the defending champions and overwhelming favourites slumped to 77-6, putting them at risk of the biggest shock in cricket history – and one of the biggest upsets in any sport.

But the US crucially dropped Suryakumar on 15. Bowler Shubham Ranjane, one of five India-born players in USA’s XI, was the guilty party low in his follow-through.

The India captain punished the miss with a brilliant 84 not out from 49 balls, countering the situation perfectly by starting slowly before unfurling thrilling scoops and flicks to drag the hosts to 161-9.

That denied the underdogs any momentum and India seamers Arshdeep Singh and Mohammed Siraj took three wickets in the first four overs of the chase to reduce the US to 13-3.

As the required run-rate climbed, the expectant locals grew more comfortable and the US scrapped to 132-8 in their 20 overs without ever threatening to complete the chase.

It means, after an entertaining opening day in which the Netherlands were a dropped catch away from stunning Pakistan and Scotland threatened West Indies, India set the early pace at the top of Group A as expected in this World Cup.

India’s margin of victory was, in the end, comfortable.

Make no mistake, however. The upset, which would have topped USA’s super over win over Pakistan at the last T20 World Cup, was on at one stage.

The home crowd was quiet and in the 13th over Suryakumar and Axar Patel were at the crease with only three tailenders remaining.

The US, who have not played a T20 since April amid governance issues and are ranked 18th in the world, bowled superbly.

India opener Abhishek Sharma, many people’s tip for player of the tournament, slashed his first ball to deep cover and when South Africa-born seamer Shadley van Schalkwyk mixed his pace to take three wickets in the sixth over, including Tilak Verma and Shivam Dube in consecutive deliveries, the hosts were 46-4.

Suryakumar – known by his nickname SKY – defended Van Schalkwyk’s hat-trick ball and took only five runs from his first 10 deliveries and 20 from his first 21.

His team-mates all struggled to time the ball but he took time to feel comfortable, putting on 41 with Axar.

Making the most of the reprieve by Ranjane, Suryakumar was playing trademark sweeps off seamers for six and tumbling scoops by the end with the US hurt by the loss of Ali Khan to injury with two of his overs unbowled.

India’s captain took 20 runs from the last over, meaning he ended the innings with 10 runs more than the 74 his team-mates managed combined.

Irish Cup holders Dungannon Swifts and Cliftonville, finalists in both of the past two years, have advanced to the quarter-finals of this season’s competition after dramatic comeback wins on Saturday.

Coleraine were also among the winners as an extra-time Matthew Shevlin hat-trick proved enough for them to defeat Carrick Rangers 4-1 at Taylors Avenue. Ben Wylie had opened the scoring but Adam Lecky equalised.

Andy Mitchell’s goal ensured that Dungannon progressed to the last eight courtesy of a 2-1 triumph at Portadown.

Shay McCartan put the hosts ahead but Sean McAllister had Rodney McAree’s side level before the break.

Jonny Addis’ stunning strike five minutes into stoppage time gave Cliftonville a dramatic 2-1 win over Glenavon at Solitude.

Luke McGerrigan put the Lurgan Blues ahead, then Joe Gormley equalised and the Reds had Sean Robertson sent-off, before Addis’ late decisive intervention.

Premiership leaders Larne stayed on track for a first-ever Irish Cup success as Matty Lusty and Tiarnan O’Connor were on target in a 2-0 win over Warrenpoint Town.

Two goals from Ethan Devine and one from Caolan Murphy saw H&W Welders past Ballymacash Rangers 3-0 while Loughgall were 2-1 home victors over Institute.

Paul McElroy broke the deadlock at Lakeview Park, Callum Deery equalised, and Kirk McLaughlin netted the winner.

Portadown hit the front after just five minutes at Shamrock Park thanks to McCartan’s first goal of the season.

The Dungannon defence failed to cope with a free-kick into their box and there was the former NI international to rifle a right-foot shot into the roof of the net past Declan Dunne.

The lead lasted just 17 minutes as the cup holders levelled through top scorer McAllister midway through the opening half.

The midfielder outstripped the home defence before angling a terrific strike past Alex Moore, deputising for the injured Aaron McCarey.

McCartan came close to restoring Portadown’s advantage midway through the second half but his free-kick went just the wrong side of the post.

Swifts went in front for the first time with just over a quarter of an hour to play thanks to substitute Mitchell.

Corey Smith delivered a free-kick into the heart of the Portadown penalty area where Mitchell cleverly flicked the ball over Alex Moore’s head and into the back of the net.

A dour first half at Taylors Avenue looked to be heading for a scoreless stalemate until Coleraine struck in first-half injury time.

Carrick defender Ben Buchanan-Rolleston took too long with a clearance 25 yards from goal and Wylie charged down the ball before running into the penalty area and firing past keeper Lorcan Donnelly.

Carrick had a chance to level10 minutes into the second period when Lecky’s pass released Danny Gibson but Coleraine keeper Ryan Schofield was quickly off his line to block the striker’s effort with his chest.

Coleraine almost doubled their advantage on the hour mark when Joel Cooper’s header from a Jamie Glackin corner came back off the crossbar.

But Carrick drew level with eight minutes left when the ball dropped to the feet of Adam Lecky in a crowded goalmouth and the in-form striker’s low effort found the bottom of the net with a left-footed shot.

Coleraine struck just two minutes into extra time when Rowan McDonald’s tremendous cross from the right was headed home by the in-rushing Matthew Shevlin.

And the Bannsiders’ progress to the quarter-finals was rubber-stamped in the 105 th minute when Joel Cooper surged to the bye-line and cut back a low cross which Shevlin was able to convert from close range at the second attempt.

Glenavon opened the scoring against Cliftonville when they pounced on hesitation from the home side, with Gavin Gilmore teeing up Luke McGerrigan on the edge of the penalty area and the attacker curling into the far top corner.

Just after the restart, Jim Magilton’s men pushed forward in search of an equaliser and almost drew level when Liam McStravick was afforded time and space to shoot from distance, but Jacob Carney backpedalled just in time to tip over the crossbar.

The home side continued to threaten when Robertson bent a cross to the back post, where Michael Glynn kept it alive before squaring for Brian Healy, whose near-post effort was straight at Carney.

Just after the hour mark, Cliftonville equalised when Carney failed to claim Glynn’s corner and substitute Joe Gormley was on hand to head home from close range.

Seven minutes later, the home side were reduced to 10 men when Robertson was shown a second yellow for a collision with Luke Cartwright following a foul on the defender.

At Milltown, Lusty opened the scoring within five minutes – Tomas Cosgrove expertly controlled a long ball and squared it into the path of Lusty, who bundled the ball over the line.

Lusty and Cosgrove were a thorn in Warrenpoint’s side throughout the first half but Larne were unable to grab a second goal in the first 45 minutes and chances were at a premium for the home side.

Point looked livelier in the second half, with Rory Powell, Jim O’Hanlon and Lorcan Forde causing Larne issues in the attacking third.

Chances were few and far between in the first half at the Blanchflower Stadium with Jordan Williamson forced to make a diving save to thwart Daniel Mhondiwa’s effort and Stuart Clarke unable to keep his effort on target at the other end.

However, after the restart, the home side upped the tempo with Zach Woolsey deflecting Lewis Patterson’s cross from the left wing onto the crossbar before clearing Daniel Mhondiwa’s shot off the line minutes later.

The Welders broke the deadlock on 71 minutes when substitute Harry O’Connor’s free-kick was headed on at the back post by Lewis Patterson and into the path of Devine, who made no mistake from close range.

Seven minutes later, Devine netted his second of the afternoon to give the Welders more breathing space when he beat his marker at the back post and fired home Aaron Heaney’s deflected pass.

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank called it the “perfect storm”.

Other assessments are available of Cristian Romero’s lunge at Manchester United midfielder Casemiro half an hour into their Premier League game at Old Trafford.

At the end of a week during which Romero has been at the centre of attention after he publicly condemned the Spurs hierarchy for their failure to invest in the squad, the Argentina defender once again left Frank to defend him.

The match, which was goalless when he was shown a straight red card for the foul on Casemiro, ended in a 2-0 defeat for Spurs.

“He apologised to his team-mates in the dressing room,” said Frank afterwards, having argued on Friday that too much attention had been paid to Romero’s social media outburst and defended the “passion” of his captain.

The facts were quite simple at Old Trafford.

Romero overhit the ball slightly, so was going to be marginally late as he went to play a pass. The ball flicked up off Casemiro’s left foot, which meant Romero struck his opponent’s right with full force on the shin, before he played the ball.

According to the Premier League Match Centre, Romero’s challenge met the threshold for serious foul play because it was “made with excessive force and endangered an opponent”.

Former Premier League official Darren Cann agreed with the decision.

“Romero makes a forceful challenge on Casemiro which is, in law, undoubtedly a serious foul play tackle,” Cann told BBC Sport.

“It was a really excellent decision from referee Michael Oliver, who was brilliantly positioned.”

Not even Frank could argue Oliver was wrong to send Romero off.

As Romero had already been sent off once this season, against Liverpool in December, he will now miss Tottenham’s next four Premier League games through suspension. He will not feature again domestically until the rematch with Arne Slot’s side on 15 March.

But there are more damning statistics than that.

Twice – in different games against Brentford – the Premier League’s Key Match Incidents panel concluded he got away with tackles he should have been sent off for.

Nonetheless, Romero has still become the first player to be red carded twice in the Premier League this season. He now has four in the league since he joined Tottenham in 2021, the most of any player during this period, and the joint-most for anyone from the club in the competition overall.

“I didn’t know that,” admitted Frank when informed of Romero’s unhappy record in response to a previous answer.

Unsurprisingly, Frank was asked about the wisdom of having Romero as his captain. In terms of leading by example, it was a very bad look.

“No, there is not,” said the Dane in response to whether there is any regret about Romero’s status.

“I think it is fair to say he doesn’t have any intention to get a red card after 28 minutes. He is sorry for the incident. He apologised to his team-mates in the dressing room. He is one of the most important players.”

Frank’s answer to whether he would consider taking the armband off Romero was predictable.

“No,” he said.

It was the same succinct manner he used later to a point that Romero was not helping a team that were already without 10 senior players at kick-off, and subsequently also lost full-back Destiny Udogie to injury.

Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario also defended his team-mate on TNT Sports.

“He’s our captain and today he made a mistake,” he said. “But we know the player he is.

“He’s going to come back stronger, for sure, and he’ll help us throughout the rest of the season.”

But Match of the Day pundit Danny Murphy was clear Romero “let his team-mates down”, adding: “It is irresponsible, especially after a week where he’s been talking about recruitment and a lack of players.

“He’s the captain, the leader – he needs to do better.”

Murphy wasn’t the only pundit critical of Romero.

“You just know he’s got that switch,” Joe Hart, who played for Tottenham among others, told TNT Sports. “He doesn’t need to do that. He just smashes him.

“Is he a good leader? I don’t know. He must be from what we don’t see because Thomas Frank seems to stand by him no matter what.”

Former Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves was similarly unimpressed.

“When he looks at it back he’ll think ‘why did I do that?’,” he said.

“He’s club captain. He needs to be leading by example – but that’s not the example he needs to be setting.”

Frank has made it clear Romero will still be captain when he returns for that Liverpool game, which will split two Champions League last-16 ties, when Juventus and Atletico Madrid are two of the four opponents they could meet.