Follow Professional Tipsters

Thursday, 17 November 2016

MIDWEEK SPORTS ROUNDUP: November 17


Football

England drew 2-2 with Spain in the friendly international at Wembley, after conceding two late goals. It had appeared that an Adam Lallana penalty and a diving header from Jamie Vardy had put them on course for an impressive victory. Officially, this now marks the end of Gareth Southgate’s four-match stint as England caretaker manager, but he is widely predicted to be offered a four-year deal by the time of England’s next match, a friendly against Germany in March.

Northern Ireland suffered a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Croatia in another friendly, but Michael O’Neill had selected something of an experimental line-up.

A number of non-league sides are through to round two of the FA Cup after beating Football League sides in replays. Eastleigh won 3-1 away to Swindon, and James Armson scored a hat-trick for Brackley in their 4-3 extra time win over Gillingham. Solihull beat Yeovil in a penalty shoot-out. The FA Cup dreams of Westfields, from the ninth tier of English football, ended after they lost to Curzon Ashton, themselves from the sixth tier.

Manchester City Women, Britain’s sole remaining representatives in the Women’s Champions League, are through to the quarter finals. They beat Brondby 2-1 on aggregate in the round of 16 encounter, after drawing 1-1 in Denmark in the second leg.


Cricket

England were delighted to welcome back James Anderson to their team for the second Test. Now recovered from his shoulder injury, England’s all-time leading wicket taker bagged two wickets, however India were going well late on day one at 297-3. Virat Kohli was 141 not out and Cheteshwar Pujara earlier made 119.

England Women ensured series victory in their ODI series in Sri Lanka, despite missing captain Heather Knight and key pace bowler Katherine Brunt with injury for the third match. Stand-in captain Danielle Hazell took 2-24 in 10 overs as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 161, then England raced to a five-wicket win inside 30 overs. Beaumont smashed 78 from 79 deliveries with three sixes.


Tennis

Andy Murray had a routine victory over Marin Cilic in his first match at the ATP World Tour Finals in London, but then found it much harder against Kei Nishikori before finally coming through in three sets – after three hours and 20 minutes - to record his 21st straight victory. World number one Murray stands top of his group and is all but certain to make the semi-finals.


Rugby Union

England play Fiji in their second autumn international this coming Saturday. At time of writing, it was expected they would make at least three changes to the side that beat South Africa – Alex Goode for Mike Brown at full back, Semesa Rokoduguni for Marland Yarde on the wing and Nathan Hughes for Tom Wood at flanker.
After beating New Zealand in Chicago two weeks earlier, Ireland now try and repeat the feat on home turf. Meanwhile, Wales face Japan and Scotland play Argentina.


Boxing
Stephen Smith lost a unanimous points decision as he unsuccessfully challenged American Jason Sosa for the WBA world super featherweight championship.
However, another British boxer retained his world title. Jamie McDonnell was victorious in his WBA bantamweight bout with Liborio Solis of Venezuela.




No comments: