The Women’s World Cup team has been chosen by BBC Sport readers as their choice.
An 11th grader, which included four bowlers, five middle-order batters, five openers, and five middle-order starters, was requested.
One of the three categories required the selection of a wicketkeeper. Following the semi-finals and the final, voting was conducted.
South African (66%) Laura Wolvaardt
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Ffion Wynne, a writer for BBC Sport cricket, described Wolvaardt’s 169 in the semi-final against England as exceptional because it had been bowled out for 69 in the opening game against England.
In terms of the pacing and the calm, I can’t stop thinking about the innings and how fortunate we were to witness them. Sophie Eccelstone simply went bang after her spell was over. It was an outstanding ODI batting performance.
Because it isn’t something we associate with her, the power hitting is what really came to the fore in those innings.
Alyssa Healy-Australia (43%)
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Ffion Wynne, a writer for BBC Sport, said: “Healy’s ability to be flexible as a keeper and a batter is what has put her in the team’s shoes ahead of Smriti Mandhana.
Nat Sciver-Brunt – England (49%)
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Ffion Wynne, a writer for BBC Sport, said: “Sciver-Brunt has been good without being great. One particularly impressive innings was played, but that’s just how much of England’s batting line-up she carries.
India (55%) Jemimah Rodrigues
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Ffion Wynne, a writer for BBC Sport, said Rodrigues didn’t realize she was playing for three in the semi-final until the first wicket fell. Then she recorded the century-winning result.
Australia’s Ash Gardner (66%)
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Ffion Wynne, a writer for BBC Sport cricket, said: “She would get in any side as a batter or a bowler. It’s so deflating as an opposition to see Gardner bat at five or six.” She is the number two batter and the third-most-bowler in the world overall rankings.
South African Marizanne Kapp (56%)
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Ffion Wynne, a writer for BBC Sport, said: “Kapp is probably someone you would pick based solely on aura. She enjoys the big occasion, and Wolvaardt throws the ball to Kapp almost always when England were in a good position in the semi-final.
Australia’s Annabel Sutherland (35%)
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Ffion Wynne, a writer for BBC Sport, said: “Sutherland’s knock against England was outstanding. Because it didn’t have a big target and gave her time to settle in and adjust to the strike, the situation almost helped her. The run-chase appeared to be so simple.
Alana King – Australia (84%)
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Ffion Wynne, a writer for BBC Sport, says that King “has a presence when she bowls.” Although we compare Shane to Warne, it’s the same theater that she creates, and it’s compelling to watch every game.
England’s Sophie Ecclestone (81%)
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Ecclestone is England’s partnership breaker, writes BBC Sport cricket writer Ffion Wynne. She appears in situations where teams, especially those that are in the bottom ranked teams, start to panic before she even bowls a ball.
“But she is irritated by Australia and India because they don’t fear her.” Both of those teams have plans to take on Ecclestone because Mandana played her so well. Teams occasionally agree to let her bowl ten overs for 40 runs.
Sree Charani (42%)
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Ffion Wynne, a writer for BBC Sport, described Charani’s year as a “breakthrough year.” India has a lot of options and has a lot of options, which is their strength in terms of batting. Although they don’t have many all-rounders, they always have the option of adding a bowler or batter.
South African Nonkulululeko Mlaba (34)
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Ffion Wynne, a cricket writer for BBC Sport, said: “I love a real number eleven in a team that is there to bowl and field. Nonkululeko Mlaba is exactly that, exactly.
According to state media, Tehran’s capital’s main source of drinking water is in danger of running dry in two weeks as a result of a long-standing drought.
The director of Tehran’s water company, Behzad Parsa, was quoted as saying on Sunday by the IRNA news agency that the Amir Kabir Dam, one of five that provide drinking water to Tehran, “holds just 14 million cubic meters of water, which is eight percent of its capacity.”
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He warned that it can only supply Tehran with water “for two weeks” at that time.
The drought in the nation’s worst for years has been made as a result. A local official declared last month that Tehran province’s rainfall was “nearly unprecedented for a century.”
The Alborz Mountains, a megacity of more than 10 million people, are nestled against the southern slopes of the frequently snow-capped Alborz Mountains, whose rivers flow into numerous reservoirs and have a height of 5,600 meters (18, 370 feet).
According to Parsa, there was a “100% drop in precipitation” in the Tehran region despite the fact that the Amir Kabir dam held back 86 million cubic meters of water a year ago.
The status of the other reservoirs in the system was not disclosed by Parsa.
Tehran’s population uses about three million cubic meters of water each day, according to Iranian media.
Supplies have reportedly been cut off to a number of neighbourhoods in recent days as a water-saving measure, and outages have been frequent this summer.
Two public holidays were made in July and August to conserve water and energy, with power outages almost daily as a result of a heat wave that saw temperatures in Tehran rise above 40 degrees (104 Fahrenheit) and reach temperatures of over 50 degrees (122F) in some places.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian remarked at the time that the water crisis is “more serious than what is being discussed today.”
Water shortages are a major issue in Iran, particularly in the country’s south’s arid provinces, with shortages attributed to mismanagement and overexploitation of underground resources as well as the growing effects of climate change.
Sister Wendy Beckett, a nun who lived in a caravan before passing away in 2018 at the age of 88, was a star in a number of BBC programs.
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The unlikely BBC star died in 2018(Image: PA Wire/Press Association Images)
Sister Wendy Beckett, a nun who spent much of her life in seclusion in a caravan in Norfolk, unexpectedly became a BBC television sensation in the 1990s. Gaining global recognition through BBC art documentaries viewed by millions, Wendy Beckett generously donated all her earnings to charity when she died in 2018.
Wendy Mary Beckett, a doctor’s daughter, was born on February 25, 1930 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Before moving back to South Africa, she received a teaching degree from Liverpool’s Notre Dame College of Education in 1954.
She later lectured at the University of the Witwatersrand before returning to her native country to teach English and Latin at convents in Cape Town and Johannesburg. Unfortunately, due to health issues, Sister Wendy had to stop teaching by 1970.
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She left the Notre Dame order with the permission of the Pope, moving back to England, according to the Express, to become a consecrated virgin and hermit.
She initially lived in a caravan and later in a small mobile home on the grounds of the Carmelite Monastery at Quidenham, Norfolk, reports the Daily Record.
However, her life quickly changed as a result of a chance encounter. A film crew asked to record her talking about art after they overheard her comments at an exhibition.
In 1992, the BBC received her first program, Sister Wendy’s Odyssey. With her natural ability to appear in front of the camera, Sister Wendy surprised everyone, including herself.
In her follow-up show, Sister Wendy’s Grand Tour (1994), she traveled across Europe to admire the continent’s stunning galleries and artistic creations. By the late 1990s, Wendy was one of the most successful presenters on the BBC.
A 25% of British viewers watched her programs at the height of her fame. With Sister Wendy’s American Collection on PBS in 1997, she won over the American market and received the praise of “the most unlikely and famous art critic in the history of television.”
Beckett never gave up her solitary lifestyle despite being famous. She would travel to filming locations, but she always ended up staying in her caravan, where she was always present.
She kept her promise of poverty by praying for up to seven hours each day, rarely watched movies, or went to museums while working. The Carmelite order that gave her refuge received all of her earnings from the BBC and book deals.
Sister Wendy vanished from the Carmelite Monastery in Quidenham, Norfolk, on December 26, 2018, at the age of 88. She had lived on its grounds for almost 50 years, but never as a member of the Carmelite community itself, according to the order’s announcement.
Sister Wendy hosted a number of notable documentaries while writing an impressive 25 books that covered everything from spiritual reflections to art criticism. She gained notoriety for her open discussions about sexuality and nudity in art, which suggested that honoring the human body as a part of God’s creation was unethical.
Although her commentary is frequently unexpected and open-minded, reverence and admiration were always displayed.
After defeating South Africa by 52 runs in Navi Mumbai, India, India’s women won the first-ever cricket world title.
Harmanpreet Kaur’s team won the match from the beginning at DY Patil Stadium on Sunday, but South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt made every effort to spoil the hosts’ party in the run chase. However, they made it to the final for a third time.
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Wolvaardt, who finished with 5-39 after being bowled off Deepti Sharma in the deep off the bowling, led from the beginning and finished with 101 off 98 when she was eventually caught in the deep off the bowling at 298-7.
Wolvaardt’s support was lacking compared to that found throughout an India team effort with the bat because South Africa frequently lost wickets at the other end before being bowled out for 246 in the 46th over.
Harmanpreet Kaur, India’s winner of the ICC Women’s World Cup [Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters]
Wolvaardt added another century to the one she scored on Thursday in the semifinal victory over England. After Alyssa Healy did so in Australia’s triumphant run in the 2022 edition, she is the only other player to have surpassed the feat of the back-to-back centuries at this stage of the competition.
This was South Africa’s first final, despite the fact that neither team has ever won.
India had already advanced to the final twice before, losing to Australia and England, respectively, in 2005 and 2017.
The first women’s World Cup final to feature either Australia or England, with the former having won seven games to go and being the record-holders.
India posted the second-highest overall total in a women’s World Cup final after being placed in after a protracted delay brought on by the rain. However, they will feel comfortable with a score of 151-1 at the halfway point of their innings, which they should have comfortably passed.
Mandhana, the opener, scored 45 runs to give the India batter a tournament-high 434 runs.
She now leads Mithali Raj, who ran 409 in the 2017 edition, in terms of runs scored at a World Cup, ahead of her on that list.
However, Shafali Verma, her opening partner, was in the spotlight on the day, who scored 87 off 78.
Deepti Sharma celebrates her half-century with [Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters]
The middle over was dominated by Deepti Sharma’s run-a-ball of 58, and Richa Ghosh’s 34th strike-rate late in the innings marked the best strike-rate of the innings.
South Africa’s first pair successfully raised the fifty partnership in the tenth over. However, Tazmin Brits’ loss, which Amanjot Kaur had brilliant fielding for 23 minutes, caused a slog.
Before being sucked into by Sree Charani, Anneke Bosch forced herself to push back a painful six-ball duck.
After the 23rd over, Verma left South Africa reeling, picking up Marizanne Kapp and Sune Luus, with the ball.
It was difficult to see a way back for a team that was aiming to be the first senior team from their nation to win a significant International Cricket Council (ICC) title when Sinalo Jafta lost in the 30th to her team, 148-5.
By the time Wolvaardt’s innings were finished, India’s women knew they were going to do it better than their male competitors, who had the same host country in 2023 only to be let down by Australia in the final.
South African woman Laura Wolvaardt recites her century [Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images]
Amy Lofthouse, BBC Sport senior journalist and Harry Poole, BBC Sport journalist
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At the WTA Finals, world no. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff both had opposing serving results.
In Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Sabalenka, the reigning US Open champion, defeated Italian Jasmine Paolini 6-3, 6-1.
The Belarusian, who won the year-end number one ranking earlier this week, outclassed the agile Paolini in 24 wins on top of 66% of first-served points.
However, Jessica Pegula, the other American, defeated French Open champion Gauff, who made 75 unforced errors and 17 double faults.
In Sunday’s second match of the Stefanie Graf Group, world number three Gauff suffered a 6-3, 6-7 (4-7), 6-2 defeat to fifth-ranked Pegula.
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Sabalenka is “getting better and better.”
Sabalenka won her 60th game of the year and her 12th against a top-10 opponent when she defeated world number eight Paolini.
She has been at the top of the world rankings for 63 weeks, including 55 consecutive weeks since October of last year.
Sabalenka has won the title five times in a row, but she hasn’t qualified for the year-end Finals. In 2022, she came in second behind Caroline Garcia.
Paolini, who is the only player competing in both singles and doubles, was absolutely fantastic against the 29-year-old.
Before Sabalenka started winning six games in a row to end the first set and take a 4-0 lead into the second, the pair traded breaks in the first set.
Paolini got on the board and let Sabalenka score, but Paolini didn’t really threaten until the next game when big first serves gave her the lead.
Gauff, the champion who misfires, defeats Pegula.
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Throughout a sluggish contest, both Pegula and Gauff struggled to maintain consistency.
In a first set that started with five consecutive breaks of serve, Pegula, who finished second in 2023, settled more quickly, holding on for a 4-2 lead before breaking Gauff for a fourth time.
Gauff broke at the start of the second, but she was unable to finish the set at 5-4 when she was re-broken on a double fault, and again at 6-5 after hitting three more double faults in a row.
However, she did a fantastic job of resetting to force a decisive set from the tie-break.
After breaking Gauff for a 3-point lead, the players exchanged breaks of serve once more, but Pegula would not be denied.
In a 6-3, 7-6 (7-2) victory over Mirra Andreeva and Diana Shnaider, third seeds Gabriela Dabrowski of Canada and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand, won the doubles match.
After falling behind in the second set, Taylor Townsend and Katarina Siniakova defeated Luisa Stefani and Timea Babos 6-2, 3-6, 10-6.
Victoria Mboko, a 19-year-old Canadian, won the Hong Kong Open 7-5 6-7 (9-11) 6-2 to extend her remarkable year.
With a 3-1 win over Bournemouth on Sunday, Erling Haaland scored two goals to move Manchester City into second place in the Premier League.
The Cherries placed second in the English top flight with the longest unbeaten run ever.
The Norwegian striker, who has 13 Premier League goals in 10 games, did not help Andoni Iraola’s side.
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As City’s title challenge was narrowed to six points ahead of Arsenal, and City are now one point ahead of Liverpool, who will face them next weekend, thanks to Haaland’s unwavering success.
Pep Guardiola remained confident that his side can be a threat to Arsenal in May despite playing his first game away from Aston Villa last weekend for the first time.
On November 2, 2025, Manchester City’s Norwegian striker #9 Erling Haaland (L) celebrates after scoring their second goal in the English Premier League game between Manchester City and Bournemouth at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north of England. (Photo by Paul ELLIS/AFP)
Rayan Cherki and Phil Foden both excelled in creative roles, and Nico O’Riley became the first City player to score in the Premier League for more than a month.
Bournemouth got off to a strong start, buoyed by their unbeaten run since winning at Liverpool on the opening night of the season.
However, when Cherki’s header made it clear that they were brave, the brave high line was exposed 17 minutes later.
Eight minutes later, when Gianluigi Donnarumma claimed he was impeded as the Italian attempted to collect a corner and fired the loose ball home, the visitors levelled.
Before half-time, Haaland reclaimed City’s lead before half-time by slotting home Petrovic’s 26th goal for the club and country this season onto another Cherki pass in behind the Bournemouth defense.
On November 2, 2025, Manchester City’s Norwegian striker #9 Erling Haaland (2R) celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal of the English Premier League match between Manchester City and Bournemouth at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north of England. (Photo by Paul ELLIS/AFP)
After Luis Suarez and Robbie Fowler, the 25-year-old became the third player to have scored more goals in four Premier League home games in a row.
Guardiola has demanded more attacking players’ contributions to lessen his prolific top nine’s goalscoring burden.
No other City player has scored more than once this season in the league, but O’Riley scored from full-back to tie the score at one point.
O’Riley strode forward before arrowing a low shot into the far corner, where Foden was the creator.
With one eye on Borussia Dortmund’s return to his former club on Wednesday, Haaland was denied a hat-trick as Omar Marmoush replaced him eight minutes from time.
