Tag: Soccerette

Vicki Hodges is joined by Charlotte Marsh to ponder whether the gap between the top and bottom teams is closing in the Women’s Super League.

Fallon Sherrock, Michael van Gerwen, Luke Humphries and defending champion Michael Smith all win at the Grand Slam of Darts on Sunday evening in Wolverhampton; Live coverage continues on Monday from 7pm on Sky Sports Arena

Fallon Sherrock, Michael van Gerwen, Luke Humphries and defending champion Michael Smith all won on a bumper night at the Grand Slam of Darts on Sunday.

Sherrock won a last-leg shoot-out to defeat Dutchman Martijn Kleermaker to keep her hopes of making it through to the knockout stages of the tournament.

‘The Queen of the Palace’ joined Beau Greaves in delighting a packed out-crowd at WV Active Aldersley, on a landmark day which saw two female stars prevail in the same PDC premier televised event for the first time.

Sherrock, a Grand Slam quarter-finalist in 2021, returned to winning ways in Wolverhampton with a deciding-leg success against Kleermaker in her second Group G encounter.

The 29-year-old was beaten by an impressive Van Gerwen on Saturday’s opening night, although she kept her qualification hopes alive with a battling victory against Kleermaker.

“I was shaking near the end, but I got across the line,” reflected Sherrock, who will play 2018 World Champion Rob Cross for a place in the last 16 on Tuesday.

“I think when you put me in these pressure situations that is when my best darts come out, so hopefully I can produce something special in my next game.

“Michael [van Gerwen] produced his A-game against me and I felt like I dealt with that pretty well, and I expect Rob will do the same, but hopefully I can grind out a win!”

Van Gerwen sealed his qualification in dramatic style, rallying from 3-1 down to win a last-leg shoot-out against Cross, who landed 136 and 108 finishes before missing three match darts in the decider.

Defending champion Michael Smith, who is yet to confirm his place in the knockout stage, defeated Krzysztof Ratajski 5-4 to make it 18 straight wins in the group stage.

Ratajski averaged 101 and conjured up the first 170 checkout of the tournament, only for Smith to convert a nerveless 106 outshot in the final leg to retain top spot in Group A.

The world No 1 will now take on James Wade in a crunch showdown on Monday, after the three-time finalist won five straight legs to defeat Nathan Girvan 5-2 and keep his qualification hopes alive.

World Grand Prix champion Luke Humphries is in pole position in Group C, averaging almost 101 to wrap up an emphatic 5-1 win against two-time finalist Gary Anderson in Sunday evening’s finale.

Humphries’ final round-robin fixture pits him against Dirk van Duijvenbode, who battled through the pain barrier to see off Steve Lennon with the aid of 139 and 136 finishes.

American debutant Stowe Buntz guaranteed his progress from Group E with a clinical 5-3 success against Stephen Bunting, who missed double 12 for a nine-darter midway through the match.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, world No 2 Peter Wright will face Bunting in a straight Group E shoot-out, after winning through a topsy-turvy tie against Dave Chisnall to eliminate the 2014 runner-up.

What happens on Monday at the Grand Slam?

Groups A-D draw to a close on Monday evening, before players from Groups E-H continue their battle for qualification on Tuesday.

The top two players from each group will progress to the knockout stage, with the last-16 action set to begin on Wednesday November 15.

Watch the 17th staging of the Grand Slam of Darts from November 11-19 at the Aldersley Leisure Village. Stream your favourite sports and more with NOW

Sky Sports’ Cam Hogwood and Jason Bell review the Indianapolis Colts’ win over the New England Patriots in Frankfurt and discuss the future of the NFL’s international series.

Fallon Sherrock beaten by Michael van Gerwen in Wolverhampton while there were wins for Michael Smith and American debutant Stowe Buntz; watch the 17th staging of the Grand Slam of Darts from November 11-19 at the WV Active Aldersley – live on Sky Sports

Fallon Sherrock put on a resilient display but was eventually subdued by Michael van Gerwen as Michael Smith made a winning start to the defence of his Grand Slam of Darts title.

Despite three maximums from Sherrock, three-time former winner Van Gerwen ran away with a 5-1 success, while reigning champion Smith continued his incredible group-stage record at the event by seeing off Nathan Girvan 5-2.

American debutant Stowe Buntz caused the shock of the night, averaging 102.28 to defeat his darting idol Peter Wright 5-1.

Van Gerwen began his bid for a fourth Grand Slam crown by beating ‘Queen of the Palace’ Sherrock, averaging 101.30 to sink the 2021 quarter-finalist, who registered three 180s in defeat.

Smith, who defeated Nathan Aspinall to lift the Eric Bristow Trophy last year, averaged almost 99 to topple Scottish debutant Girvan and celebrate a 17th consecutive group-stage victory at the Grand Slam.

“I love this event – I owe a lot to the Grand Slam, and hopefully it keeps being kind to me,” said Smith, who is bidding to become the fourth player to retain the coveted title.

“I’m really happy to be back. It’s the first time I’ve had to defend a TV title so there were a few butterflies, but I’m happy with how I performed.

“My scoring was great and my finishing was there when I needed it. I’m aware of my record [in the group stage], but I’m only focused on trying to top the group.”

Buntz caused a huge upset, producing a stunning display to dispatch world No 2 Peter Wright on his televised bow.

Buntz, who sealed his Grand Slam qualification with victory in last month’s CDC Continental Cup, turned on the style in a colourful clash against European champion Wright to cap off a dream TV debut.

The unheralded American fired in a sensational tops-tops 137 finish and took out 116 to race into a three-leg lead, before wrapping up a landmark 5-1 victory with a 13-dart hold.

“I don’t know what to say,” admitted a shell-shocked Buntz, who averaged 102.28 to defeat ‘Snakebite’. “It is phenomenal – Peter Wright’s a two-time world champion. He is a big inspiration for me, hence the [colourful] attire.

“To play against one of my idols, it’s like playing against Michael Jordan if you’re a basketball fan. I’m sure my phone is going to be blowing up after this!”

Buntz will play a resurgent Stephen Bunting, who denied Dave Chisnall in another nine-leg affair, pinning five of his seven double attempts to defy a 99 average from the 2014 runner-up.

Luke Humphries and Gary Anderson will collide in a blockbuster tussle on Sunday evening, after overcoming Steve Lennon and Dirk van Duijvenbode in their respective Group C tussles.

World Grand Prix champion Humphries posted the first ton-plus average of the tournament in his 5-2 demolition of Lennon, with a 147 checkout in leg five the highlight of his victory.

Anderson, meanwhile, overcame a struggling Van Duijvenbode in a contest dominated by missed doubles, rallying from 4-2 down to triumph with finishes of 84, 74 and 76 in the latter stages.

Sunday’s double session will see Saturday’s winning players facing off and the losing players also meeting each other, as Smith continues his title challenge against Poland’s No 1 Krzysztof Ratajski.

Ratajski edged out three-time runner-up James Wade in Saturday evening’s opener, beginning the match with 112 and 120 outshots before firing in a sublime 11-darter to prevail in a high-quality last leg.

Van Gerwen will face Rob Cross in his next Group G clash, after the 2018 world champion recovered from 3-1 and 4-2 deficits to defeat Dutch debutant Martijn Kleermaker with a 96 average.

What happens next at the Grand Slam?

The group stage continues on Sunday, with Saturday’s winning players facing off and the losing players also meeting each other, before the final round-robin games take place across Monday and Tuesday.

The top two players from each group will progress to the knockout stage, with the last-16 action beginning on Wednesday and running through to the semi-finals and final on Sunday.

Watch the 17th staging of the Grand Slam of Darts from November 11-19 at the Aldersley Leisure Village. Stream your favourite sports and more with NOW

Bangladesh 1st innings

Yet to bat

• Najmul Hossain Shanto
• Mushfiqur Rahim
• Mahmudullah
• Towhid Hridoy
• Mehidy Hasan Miraz
• Mahedi Hasan
• Nasum Ahmed
• Taskin Ahmed
• Mustafizur Rahman

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Match details

• Toss: New Zealand won the toss and elected to field
• Venue: M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore
• Match referee: Javagal Srinath
• Umpire: Adrian Holdstock
• Umpire: Joel Wilson
• Reserve umpire: Paul Reiffel
• TV umpire: Richard Illingworth

Jamie Carragher and Daniel Sturridge analyse the high defensive line Tottenham persisted with after going down to nine men and what this meant for the Chelsea forwards.

Ron Walker is joined by Richard Morgan to ask if Antony has been Manchester United’s biggest ever flop following criticism of his recent performances.

Sri Lanka 1st innings

Yet to bat

• Samarawickrama
• Asalanka
• Mathews
• de Silva
• Theekshana
• Rajitha
• Madushanka
• Chameera

Fall of Wickets

• Kusal Perera at 5 for 1, from 0.6 overs5-1 (Kusal Perera, 0.6 ov)

Sky Sports’ Sue Smith discusses possible destinations for Emma Hayes following the news that the Chelsea manager will leave the club at the end of the season.

Following back-to-back 3-0 defeats at Old Trafford, Erik ten Hag defends his coaching philosophy and why his side are ‘clear’ on their intentions.

Dave Chisnall: “I’m playing some good darts. I think I played better yesterday than I did today, but luckily for me I got away with a few games early on and did the job”

Dave Chisnall claimed a fifth ranking title of 2023 as the ProTour season concluded with Players Championship 30 in Barnsley on Thursday.

Morecambe-based Chisnall has enjoyed a superb year on the circuit, winning three European Tour events and September’s Players Championship 23 in a memorable campaign.

He added a further title to end the Players Championship season in style on Thursday, overcoming Jim Williams 8-4 to scoop the £12,000 top prize.

Chisnall warmed up for the forthcoming Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts and Cazoo Players Championship Finals in style with seven superb victories in Event 30, with the highlight being a 111.35 average in a 6-2 quarter-final win over Scott Waites.

Chisnall also averaged over 105 in his Last 16 win over Jamie Hughes, and averaged at least 92 in each of his other five wins, which included early round defeats of Jeffrey Sparidaans and Irish duo Dylan Slevin and Steve Lennon.

He followed up his super-show in the quarter-finals by overcoming Winmau World Youth Championship finalist Gian van Veen 7-4, opening up a 4-1 lead before holding out for victory.

Chisnall then proved too strong for Williams in the decider, with a devastating six-leg burst seeing him open up a 6-1 advantage over the Welshman.

Williams won two of the next three to maintain his hopes, but Chisnall followed up a 167 checkout in leg ten with a seventh 180 of the contest as he closed out victory – going one better than on Wednesday when he was the runner-up to Gerwyn Price.

“I’m playing some good darts,” said Chisnall. “I think I played better yesterday than I did today, but luckily for me I got away with a few games early on and did the job.

“I know I can play the game, I’m playing well and it shows – it’s a good job there was no Gezzy here today to stop me!

“If I can keep winning these, it keeps me up the rankings. If I put some time in, I’ll definitely be better – I’m alright at the moment.”

Williams’ run to the final was his best result on the circuit this year – bettering his semi-final appearance in Players Championship 25 – as he won through to the decider.

His best display statistically came in a Last 16 victory over Mario Vandenbogaerde, where he averaged 105.27, in a result which was sandwiched between averages of 99 and 98 in wins over Josh Rock and Danny Noppert respectively, while he saw off Damon Heta 7-5 in a see-saw semi-final.

Heta was a semi-finalist for the 12th time on the PDC ProTour this year, seeing off World Champion Michael Smith in another strong day of darts.

Van Veen, meanwhile, followed up last weekend’s run to the semi-finals of the Machineseeker European Championship by reaching the last four of a third Players Championship in his breakthrough year.

Smith, Noppert and Waites were joined in the quarter-finals by youngster Cam Crabtree – who won through to the last eight for the second time on the ProTour but narrowly missed out on qualifying for the Players Championship Finals.

Former Grand Slam champion Waites needed to reach Thursday’s final to snatch qualification for the Players Championship Finals, and defeated Krzysztof Ratajski and Ross Smith in his valiant run to the last eight, meaning that he also missed out on a spot in Minehead later this month.

Ricky Evans held on to claim the 64th place in the Players Championship Finals on a memorable day which saw him land a nine-dart finish in the second leg of his first round win over Callan Rydz – taking just 36 seconds to complete a perfect leg!

European Championship winner Peter Wright headlined the stars who missed out on qualifying for the Players Championship Finals following his first round exit on Thursday.

Former finalist Mervyn King, World Matchplay champion Nathan Aspinall and Mensur Suljovic will also miss the Minehead event, which features the top 64 from the Players Championship Order of Merit following this year’s 30 events.

Welshman Price, who won four of the last eight events he competed in during 2023, topped the final Players Championship Order of Merit, ahead of Gary Anderson, Heta and Chisnall.

2023 Players Championship 30

Thursday November 2: The Barnsley Metrodome

Last 16

Dave Chisnall 6-4 Jamie Hughes

Scott Waites 6-1 Ross Smith

Gian van Veen 6-5 Rob Cross

Cam Crabtree 6-4 Richard Veenstra

Damon Heta 6-2 Daryl Gurney

Michael Smith 6-3 Mickey Mansell

Jim Williams 6-2 Mario Vandenbogaerde

Danny Noppert 6-3 Stephen Bunting

Quarter-Finals

Dave Chisnall 6-2 Scott Waites

Gian van Veen 6-2 Cam Crabtree

Damon Heta 6-2 Michael Smith

Jim Williams 6-3 Danny Noppert

Semi-Finals

Dave Chisnall 7-4 Gian van Veen

Jim Williams 7-5 Damon Heta

Final

Dave Chisnall 8-4 Jim Williams

Watch the seventeenth staging of the Grand Slam of Darts from 11-19 November at the Aldersley Leisure Village. Stream your favourite sports and more with NOW

Bangladesh 1st innings

Yet to bat

• Shakib Al Hasan
• Mahmudullah
• Towhid Hridoy
• Mehidy Hasan Miraz
• Taskin Ahmed
• Mustafizur Rahman
• Shoriful Islam

Fall of Wickets

• Tanzid Hasan Tamim at 0 for 1, from 0.5 overs0-1 (Tanzid Hasan Tamim, 0.5 ov)
• Najmul Hossain Shanto at 6 for 2, from 2.4 overs6-2 (Najmul Hossain Shanto, 2.4 ov)

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Arsenal’s Declan Rice answers burning questions like his favourite chocolate bar and his go to Karaoke song.

Australia 1st innings

Yet to bat

• Marsh
• Smith
• Labuschagne
• Inglis
• Maxwell
• Cummins
• Starc
• Zampa
• Hazlewood

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp praised the way Mo Salah looks after his body off the pitch and joked if you scanned his bones they’d have an age of ’19 or 20′.