Jamie Smith offers admirable final-day resistance but India’s superb bowlers complete a thumping 336-run victory over England in the second Test at Edgbaston to level the series at 1-1.
Report: England swept aside as India level series at 1-1
World number one Aryna Sabalenka overcame a battling Elise Mertens to reach the quarter-finals and stay on course for a first Wimbledon title.
The 27-year-old, who reached the semi-finals in 2021 and 2023, won 6-4 7-6 (7-4) and will next face world number 104 Laura Siegemund for a place in the last four.
This has been a tournament in which many seeds have tumbled and Sabalenka was the only top six seed remaining in the women’s draw.
It hasn’t been plain sailing for Sabalenka as she came through a tough match against British number one Emma Raducanu to set up her meeting with Mertens.
This again was perhaps tougher than expected, particularly as Sabalenka had beaten 24th seed Mertens nine times in a row prior to meeting at Wimbledon.
“I am super happy with the performance. It was a battle. I was happy to get this win,” said Sabalenka.
“She is a great player and great person. I know how smart she is and I knew she would fight until the very end. She really challenged me today. “
It did initially look like being a comfortable win for Sabalenka as she got an early break on her way to racing into a 4-1 lead, but Mertens got a break back as she started to move her opponent around the court more.
Sabalenka broke Mertens again to take the opening set – but the Belgian continued to cause problems with her aggressive tennis.
She was rewarded for her brave play when she got her first break of the match early in the second set, taking advantage as Sabalenka struggled to get her first serve working before thumping down a backhand winner, and then holding to lead 3-1.
Sabalenka broke back two games later but Mertens was undeterred, the two going toe-to-toe all the way to a tie-break.
But there Sabalenka showed her quality, fighting back from 2-0 down to win and progress.
“Everything is possible,” Sabalenka said of winning Wimbledon.
“I am just trying to give my best and really hope for the best. “
At 37, Siegemund – Sabalenka’s next opponent – is the oldest woman left in the Wimbledon singles draw.
The veteran German ended lucky loser Solana Sierra’s hugely impressive run at the tournament.
Sierra had lost in qualifying but was invited into the main draw after a withdrawal, only finding out 15 minutes before her first-round match.
Mathieu van der Poel edged out Tadej Pogacar in a sprint finish to win stage two of the Tour de France and claim the leader’s yellow jersey.
The Dutch rider, who also won the same stage in 2021, held off the Slovenian on the line after surging to the front with 500 metres to go on the longest stage in this year’s Tour, a rolling 209. 1km route from Lauwin-Planque to Boulogne-sur-Mer.
Two-time champion Jonas Vingegaard finished third behind his great rival Pogacar, while Britain’s Oscar Onley crossed the line in sixth.
“It was super difficult, the final [part], harder than I thought,” Van der Poel said.
“I was really motivated because it’s been four years since I won my first stage on the Tour de France so it was about time I won a second one. Of course people put me as a favourite but if you see the riders that were in front on the climbs, I think I did a really good job to be there.
“It’s a dream for a team, these first two days, and everything that comes now is just a bonus. “
A fairly sedate stage sparked into life on three punchy climbs in the final 40km as a series of attacks split the peloton to leave a reduced group of riders at the front of the race.
Earlier on Sunday, French team Cofidis said that 11 bikes were stolen from their team truck after the opening stage.
In a statement, the team said that the door of their equipment truck was forced open, and their Look bikes were taken “despite the security measures put in place”.
Each bike stolen is estimated to be worth around 13,000 euros (£11,200).
Cofidis said a police investigation was under way and that they “strongly condemn this act of incivility,” while also calling on the “perpetrators to act with civility and responsibility”.
All riders at the Tour generally have at least three bikes – their preferred one and two spares.
1. Mathieu Van der Poel (Ned-Alpecin-Deceuninck) 4hrs 45mins 41secs
2. Tadej Pogacar (Slo – UAE Team Emirates) Same time
3. Jonas Vingegaard (Den – Visma-Lease a Bike)
4. Romain Gregoire (Fra – Groupama-FDJ)
5. Julian Alaphilippe (Fra – Tudor)
6. Oscar Onley (GB – Picnic PostNL)
7. Aurelien Paret-Peintre (Fra – Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team)
8. Kevin Vauquelin (Arkea – B& B Hotels)
9. Simone Velasco (XDS Astana)
1. Mathieu Van der Poel (Ned – Alpecin-Deceuninck) 8hrs 38mins 42secs
2. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), +4secs
3. Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike), +6secs
4. Kévin Vauquelin (Arkéa-B& B Hotels), +10secs
5. Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike), Same time
6. Enric Mas (Spa-Movistar)
7. Jasper Philipsen (Bel – Alpecin – Deceuninck) +31secs
8. Joseph Blackmore (GB – Israel – Premier Tech) +41secs
9. Tobias Halland Johannessen (Nor – Uno-X Mobility) Same time
In a sprint finish, Mathieu van der Poel won the Tour de France’s stage two and the leader’s yellow jersey.
The Dutchman, who also won the same stage in 2021, held off the Slovenian on the line after advancing 500 meters from Lauwin-Planque to Boulogne-sur-Mer on the rolling 209.1km route, which is the longest stage in the Tour this year.
Oscar Onley, a two-time champion, came in sixth place while Jonas Vingegaard, a two-time champion, came in third place behind his great rival Pogacar.
The final [part] was “super difficult,” Van der Poel said, “and it was much harder than I had anticipated.”
“I was really motivated because I should have won a second stage of the Tour de France after winning my first one,” I thought. Although some people label me as a favorite, I believe I did a really good job of being there when I saw the riders who were ahead on the climbs.
The first two days are a dream for a team, and everything else is just a bonus.
A relatively uninteresting stage burst into life on three explosive climbs in the final 40 kilometers, splitting the field into three riders in a small field.
After the opening stage, French team Cofidis reported earlier on Sunday that 11 bikes had been taken from their team truck.
Despite the security measures in place, the team claimed that the equipment truck’s door was forced open and that their Look bikes were taken.
Each bike stolen is estimated to be worth around 13, 000 euros (£11, 200).
Cofidis stated that a police investigation was being conducted, and that they “strongly condemn this act of incivility” and “call on the” perpetrators to act with civility and responsibility.”
At least three bikes are typically on hand for each Tour participant, with their preferred one and two spares.
1. Nathaniel Van der Poel (Ned-Alpecin-Deceuninck) 4 hrs 45 minutes 41 secs
2. Same time as Tadej Pogacar (Slo-UA Team Emirates).
3. Jens Vingegaard (Den-Visma-Lease a Bike)
4. (Fra-Groupama-FDJ) Roumain Gregoire
5. – Tudor Julian Alaphilippe
6. Oscar Onley (GB-Picnic PostNL)
7. French-Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team Aurélien Paret-Peintre
8. Kevin Vauquelin (B&, B Hotels, Arkea)
9. Simone Velasco (XDS Astana)
1. Mattieu Van der Poel (Ned-Alpecin-Deceuninck) 8 hrs 38 minutes 42 secs
2. + 4 seconds for Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG).
3. + 6 seconds Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike).
4. Kévin Vauquelin (Arkéa-B&, B Hotels), + 10secs
5. Same time Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike),
6. Enric Mas (Spa-Movistar)
7. Jasper Philipsen (Bel, Alpecin, Deceuninck) + 31 secs
8. Joseph Blackmore (GB, Israel, Premier Tech) + 41secs
9. Same time as Tobias Halland Johannessen (Nor-Uno-X Mobility).
Second Rothesay Test, Edgbaston (day five of five)
India 587 & 427-6 dec: Gill 161, Jadeja 69*; Tongue 2-93
England 407 & 271: Smith 88; Deep 6-99
India won by 336 runs; series level at 1-1
Jamie Smith offered admirable final-day resistance but India’s superb bowlers completed a thumping 336-run victory over England in the second Test at Edgbaston to level the series at 1-1.
The hosts largely put aside their attacking instincts, ignoring their target of 608, but were bowled out for 271 with 27 overs left on day five as they attempted to salvage a draw.
In a fine spell of seam bowling after heavy morning rain, Akash Deep had Ollie Pope playing onto his stumps in the third over and then produced a wicked nipbacker to pin Harry Brook lbw for 23.
After Ben Stokes fell in the final over before lunch, ending a partnership lasting 115 balls with Smith, England’s wicketkeeper threw some counter-punches to follow his first-innings 184 not out with 88.
But, having hit four sixes, he holed out on the hook to give the irresistible Deep his first five-wicket haul in his eighth Test.
Amid a sea of Indian support, Deep took the final wicket of Brydon Carse to finish with 6-99 and 10 in the match.
India, whose chances were doubted after England’s fine win in Headingley last week, leave Birmingham with their first Test victory at Edgbaston at the ninth attempt.
Though Smith struck some blows, England were outplayed across this match, despite attempting to bat out for a draw for the first time under Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum.
Doing so was always going to be tough. They have successfully survived a fifth day only once in the past 13 years and began three wickets down after Deep’s burst on the fourth evening.
The morning rain reduced the overs the hosts needed to survive by 10 to 80 but they were never likely to recover when Pope and Brook were dismissed inside the day’s first five overs and India chipped away.
Smith fell hitting out but the other batters were largely undone by India’s skill, particularly that of 28-year-old Deep, rather than any attempt to attack.
Mohammed Siraj capped India’s performance by taking a stunning one-handed catch to dismiss Josh Tongue while captain Shubman Gill fittingly took the final catch to follow his 430 runs in the match.
India will recall star bowler Jasprit Bumrah after he was rested this week and are right in this series.
The day eventually began at 12:40 after rain. Within half an hour, Pope and Brook were back in the shed having been dismissed by Deep.
He was left out for the first Test but looks likely to play a major part in the series with his relentlessly accurate seam bowling.
Pope was slightly unfortunate to get a ball that bounced to hit his arm and deflect onto his stumps. Brook was helpless when Deep got the ball to jag back from outside off stump.
At one stage Stokes faced 23 dot balls in a row – the clearest sign of England’s intent. Had he reached lunch, England may have had an outside chance but off-spinner Washington Sundar snuck one onto his pad as the England captain’s struggles against spin – and poor run against India – continued.
Only after easing to 50 from 73 balls did Smith show any real intent. A partnership with Chris Woakes lasted 70 deliveries until Woakes top-edged trying to pat the ball into the leg side.
After that Smith, as he did in the first innings, took on the short-ball ploy. Deep was hit for two sixes but when Smith swung hard for a third time he was caught at deep-square leg, at which point England’s race was run.
Tongue was the victim of Siraj’s catch at mid-wicket while Carse and Shoaib Bashir had some fun in a 25-ball stand of 23 that included as many edges as boundaries from the middle.
Carse was eventually caught top-edging a swipe to cover, sealing a win for India that, given the margin and way they threw away a winning position at Leeds last week, must rank as one of India’s best wins on English soil.
India captain Shubman Gill, speaking after being named player of the match: “I think all of the things we spoke about after the first game, we were spot on with all of those things. The way we came back with our bowling and fielding was tremendous.
“We knew with 400 or 500 we would be in the game, especially if we he held our catches. Both our bowlers bowled brilliantly with the way we were able to get through [England’s] top order.
Oisin O’Donoghue’s 70th-minute goal proved decisive as Tipperary beat Kilkenny 4-21 to 0-30 in a semi-final thriller at Croke Park to reach the All-Ireland Hurling final for the first time since 2019.
Having lost Darragh McCarthy to a second yellow card in the 60th minute, it seemed Kilkenny were about to break for home when they led in the closing stages.
But Liam Cahill’s side showed resolve to get back into it and, with the game in the balance, substitute O’Donoghue cracked home a goal of the year contender.
It was a rollercoaster of a game with Kilkenny making the early running, only for Tipperary to storm into it as John McGrath hit the net early on, with further goals from McCarthy and Jason Forde helping them lead 3-11 to 0-16 at the break.
Kilkenny seemed to be winning the arm wrestle in the second period but the further twist came late with O’Donoghue’s goal and then, a match-saving block from Robert Doyle on the line as John Donnelly’s missile in the dying seconds prevented the Cats from snatching it back.
It means Tipperary will advance into the final against neighbours and Munster rivals Cork – the first time they will have met on hurling’s biggest day.