Premier League: Newcastle and Luton play to draw in 8-goal thriller

Sean Longstaff provided Newcastle with the lead twice in the first half, but Luton responded on both occasions, first with Gabriel Osho and later with Ross Barkley.

Updated On – 4 February 2024, 12:38 PM


Premier League: Newcastle and Luton play to draw in 8-goal thriller


London: Newcastle United and Luton Town shared the spoils in a breathless eight-goal thriller at St James’ Park as the Magpies came back from two goals down in the second half.

Sean Longstaff had given Newcastle the lead twice in the first, but the Luton came back twice themselves, first through Gabriel Osho and then Ross Barkley. Carlton Morris and Elijah Adebayo gave Luton a 4-2 lead with 30 minutes to go, but Kieran Trippier and Harvey Barnes scored in quick succession as both teams shared the points, Premier League reports.


Newcastle took advantage of an end-to-end start when Longstaff finished off a swift counter-attacking move after seven minutes. Luton equalised 13 minutes later as Osho headed past Martin Dubravka following a well-worked free-kick.

Newcastle reclaimed the lead less than two minutes later, with another counter-attack. Anthony Gordon raced down the left and saw his shot saved by Thomas Kaminski, but the ball fell to Longstaff to get his second of the game.

Shortly after Gordon missed a great chance to double the Magpies’ lead, Luton were level through Barkley. Then, Luton were awarded a penalty early in the second half after a VAR check, which Morris converted from the spot, sending Dubravka the wrong way to give Luton a 59th-minute lead.

Three minutes later Adebayo made it 4-2 as the Luton hit Newcastle on the counter. Newcastle pulled a goal back in style in the 67th minute. Newcastle’s Harvey Barnes levelled the match in the 73rd minute as he beat Kaminski from outside the box.

Jacob Murphy had an incredible opportunity to score the winner for Newcastle with five minutes to go, but he missed the target from inside the six-yard box with his sliding attempt.

Reports: Mbappe Heading to Real Madrid Post PSG Contract Expiry

“Le Parisien reports that Mbappe has chosen to depart Ligue 1 at the season’s end, opting to join the world’s premier club that has long anticipated his arrival.”

Updated On – 4 February 2024, 12:38 PM


Reports: Mbappe Heading to Real Madrid Post PSG Contract Expiry


New Delhi: Kylian Mbappe has decided to leave Ligue 1 at the end of the season and join Real Madrid after his contract with Paris Saint-Germain expires in June, according to multiple reports including Le Parisien and ESPN.

“Mbappe has decided to leave Ligue 1 at the end of the season and join the biggest club in the world, which has always been waiting for him,” Le Parisien report said.


Mbappe was heavily linked with a move to Real in 2022 but announced a contract extension with PSG just weeks before the transfer window opened.

ESPN, citing sources, said that Mbappe has not yet informed PSG or Real Madrid of his decision but is expected to make an announcement next week.

Last year, the 25-year-old French captain said he would not renew his contract at PSG, which expires at the end of the 2023-24 season when he could leave Paris for free. He is now free to sign a pre-contract agreement with a new club.

“PSG had two scenarios prepared for their future plans — one that involved Mbappé staying at the club and one that didn’t. However, according to sources, there had been a feeling in the club for a few weeks that he would leave,” the ESPN report, citing sources, said.

“Now that his future has been decided, PSG will follow their Plan B and, according to sources, have identified AC Milan’s Rafael Leao as Mbappe’s replacement,” it said.

Mbappe has scored 241 goals in 288 appearances in all competitions since making the move to PSG from Monaco.

2nd Test: Gill’s unbeaten 60 boosts India’s lead to 273 despite England’s resistance

At the lunch break, India stands at 130/4 in 35 overs, with Gill remaining unbeaten at 60. Overcoming a hesitant start and a recent streak of low scores, Gill skillfully employs his footwork against spinners.

Updated On – 4 February 2024, 12:38 PM


2nd Test: Gill’s unbeaten 60 boosts India’s lead to 273 despite England’s resistance


Visakhapatnam: Shubman Gill hit his first half-century as a number three batter in Test cricket to keep India afloat in their second innings, as the hosts extended their lead to 273 runs against England at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

At lunch, India are 130/4 in 35 overs, with Gill unbeaten on 60, overcoming a lean run and nervy start to his innings, while using his feet to good effect against spinners. Giving him company is Axar Patel, who is not out on two. India are slightly ahead of England, who made a fightback by picking four wickets, with the standout being James Anderson bowling another mesmerising spell of swing bowling.


Anderson’s first over of the morning saw him send Rohit Sharma’s off-stump on a cartwheel ride with a delivery which nipped away just slightly to beat him on forward defence. In his next over, Anderson got one to nip away and take Yashasvi Jaiswal’s outside edge on drive to first slip.

Gill could have been the third batter to get out if he hadn’t taken the DRS on an lbw decision against Tom Hartley, with replays showing a slight inside edge. In the next over, Gill escaped again when Anderson trapped him lbw with a nip-backer, as the umpire’s call showed the ball clipping just the top of leg-stump.

Gill then began to settle himself by smacking a six over Shoaib Bashir’s head and glanced past Hartley for four more. Rehan Ahmed’s introduction didn’t yield a scalp as Gill cut twice off him for boundaries. After sweeping Hartley for four, Gill took a brace of fours off Ahmed, including a cover drive, to reach a valuable fifty.

The 81-run stand for the third wicket came to an end when Iyer mistimed the slog off Hartley and Ben Stokes ran 22 yards from mid-off and brought out the dive to take a difficult over the shoulder catch. Rehan came back to strike a big blow before lunch, by getting one to skid on and take the bottom edge of Rajat Patidar’s backfoot drive for Ben Foakes to take a superb low catch.

Brief scores: India 396 and 130/4 in 35 overs (Shubman Gill 60 not out; James Anderson 2-15) lead England 253 by 273 runs

Virat Kohli could miss India-England 3rd Test: Sources

Earlier, BCCI had announced that Kohli had withdrawn from the first two Tests against England due to personal reasons.

Updated On – 4 February 2024, 12:12 PM


Virat Kohli could miss India-England 3rd Test: Sources

Virat Kohli

New Delhi: India’s batting talisman Virat Kohli could be out of the third Test match against England as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) selectors still do not know about his availability, according to sources.

Earlier, BCCI had announced that Kohli had withdrawn from the first two Tests against England due to personal reasons.


“Virat Kohli has requested the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to be withdrawn from the first two Tests of the upcoming Test series against England, citing personal reasons,” BCCI said in an official statement.
Meanwhile, the cricket’s top governing body in the country requested the media and fans to respect Kohli’s privacy during this time.

“The BCCI requests the media and fans to respect Virat Kohli’s privacy during this time and refrain from speculating on the nature of his personal reasons. The focus should remain on supporting the Indian cricket team as they embark on the upcoming challenges in the Test series,” the statement concluded.

Right-handed batter Rajat Patidar was called up to replace Virat Kohli in India’s first two Test matches against England. Patidar made his international debut on December 21 last year against South Africa in the 3rd ODI match, where he opened for the ‘Men in Blue’ and scored 22 runs from 16 balls with a strike rate of 137.50.

Without Kohli, India conceded a 28-run loss against England in the first Test match in Hyderabad.

Virat was last in action during the T20I series against Afghanistan last month, in which he scored a quickfire 29 and a golden duck in two matches he played.

Virat Kohli could miss India-England 3rd Test: Sources

Right-handed batter Rajat Patidar was called up to replace Virat Kohli in India’s first two Test matches against England. Patidar made his international debut on December 21 last year against South Africa in the 3rd ODI match, where he opened for the ‘Men in Blue’ and scored 22 runs from 16 balls with a strike rate of 137.50.

Updated On – 4 February 2024, 12:11 PM


Virat Kohli could miss India-England 3rd Test: Sources

Virat Kohli

New Delhi: India’s batting talisman Virat Kohli could be out of the third Test match against England as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) selectors still do not know about his availability, according to sources.

Earlier, BCCI had announced that Kohli had withdrawn from the first two Tests against England due to personal reasons.


“Virat Kohli has requested the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to be withdrawn from the first two Tests of the upcoming Test series against England, citing personal reasons,” BCCI said in an official statement.
Meanwhile, the cricket’s top governing body in the country requested the media and fans to respect Kohli’s privacy during this time.

“The BCCI requests the media and fans to respect Virat Kohli’s privacy during this time and refrain from speculating on the nature of his personal reasons. The focus should remain on supporting the Indian cricket team as they embark on the upcoming challenges in the Test series,” the statement concluded.

Right-handed batter Rajat Patidar was called up to replace Virat Kohli in India’s first two Test matches against England. Patidar made his international debut on December 21 last year against South Africa in the 3rd ODI match, where he opened for the ‘Men in Blue’ and scored 22 runs from 16 balls with a strike rate of 137.50.

Without Kohli, India conceded a 28-run loss against England in the first Test match in Hyderabad.

Virat was last in action during the T20I series against Afghanistan last month, in which he scored a quickfire 29 and a golden duck in two matches he played.

Prakash to lead SBI Hyderabad Circle football team in All India Inter-Circle tournament

P Prakash Rao will lead the SBI Hyderabad Circle football team in the All India Inter-Circle tournament to be held at New Delhi starting February 5

Published Date – 3 February 2024, 11:45 PM


Prakash to lead SBI Hyderabad Circle football team in All India Inter-Circle tournament

Members of the SBI Hyderabad Circle football team.

Hyderabad: P Prakash Rao will lead the SBI Hyderabad Circle football team in the All India Inter-Circle tournament to be held at New Delhi starting February 5.

The team is under the guidance of ES Shyam as a total of 16 teams across the country will be participating in the tournament.


Squad: P Prakash Rao (C), M Gopaiah (GK), Mehmood Bin Mustafa (GK), Mohammed Qizar, 5. Digamber Rao, Rock Xavier, Khaja Moinuddin, K Veerabhadra Rao, Akbar Abidi, Mohammed Fareed, Syed Khaja, Mohiuddin, R Anand Kumar, Zaki Raza, C Sainth Reddy, Syed Khaleel, B Balachandrudu, Mohd Sahabuddin Siddiqui, A Giridhar; Coach: ES Shyam.

Ranji Trophy: Hyderabad take 259-run first innings lead against Mizoram

Riding on captain G Rahul Singh’s counter-attacking century (108 off 108; 14×4, 2×6) and Nitesh Reddy’s patient ton (115 off 213; 11×4, 1×6), Hyderabad took a commanding 259-run first innings lead to end the second day at 458/8 against Mizoram

Published Date – 3 February 2024, 10:55 PM


Ranji Trophy: Hyderabad take 259-run first innings lead against Mizoram

Riding on captain G Rahul Singh’s counter-attacking century (108 off 108; 14×4, 2×6) and Nitesh Reddy’s patient ton (115 off 213; 11×4, 1×6), Hyderabad took a commanding 259-run first innings lead to end the second day at 458/8 against Mizoram

Hyderabad: Riding on captain G Rahul Singh’s counter-attacking century (108 off 108; 14×4, 2×6) and Nitesh Reddy’s patient ton (115 off 213; 11×4, 1×6), Hyderabad took a commanding 259-run first innings lead to end the second day at 458/8 in the Ranji Trophy Plate Group match against Mizoram at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad, on Saturday.

Resuming at 120/1, the hosts added 338 runs in the day losing eight wickets. At stumps, Kartikeya Kak (36 batting off 60; 5×4) is batting in the company of E Sanketh (2). Earlier, overnight batter Rahul, who was on 81, scored century in the first session before being dismissed by KC Cariappa in the ninth over of the day. He, along with Rohit Rayudu, added 145 runs for the second wicket.


After his dismissal, Nitesh joined hands with Rohit. Rohit reached his half-century but departed in the 88th over when the team score was 207. Next man in, Chandani Sahani (1) was back in the pavilion in the next over. But Nitesh and Pragnay Reddy (91 off 107; 10×4, 1×6) joined forces to take Hyderabad to a massive total.

Both scored runs at will hitting boundaries. However, Pragnay was caught in front of the wickets by Cariappa after adding 142 runs to take the team’s score to 350. After his dismissal, Ravi Teja (1) and Tanay Thyagarajan (19) departed quickly. Nitesh, who notched up his ton, edge Mohit Jagra to wicketkeeper at the fag end of the innings. However, Kak hit five boundaries in his 60-ball knock and ensured no other wickets in the day. For the visitors, Jangra and Cariappa scalped three wickets apiece.

Sai Karteek pair finishes runner-up at World Tour Tennis 25K ITF Futures

In the final, Hyderabad tennis player Ganta Sai Karteek Reddy and his partner Siddhanth Banthia lost to the Romanian and Czech Republic pair of Bogdan Pavel and Dominik Kellovsky in a close encounter

Published Date – 3 February 2024, 11:16 PM


Sai Karteek pair finishes runner-up at World Tour Tennis 25K ITF Futures

Siddhanth Banthia (left) and Ganta Sai Karteek Reddy with their trophies on Saturday.

Hyderabad: Hyderabad tennis player Ganta Sai Karteek Reddy and his partner Siddhanth Banthia finished runners-up in the men’s doubles of the World Tour Tennis 25K ITF Futures held at Antalya, Turkey on Saturday.

In the final, the duo lost to the Romanian and Czech Republic pair of Bogdan Pavel and Dominik Kellovsky in a close encounter. Sai Karteek pair rallied after losing the opening set 3-6 to win the second 6-3. But they lost the super tiebreaker 8-10 to settle for the runners-up medal.


Results: Final: Bogdan Pavel/Dominik Kellovsky bt Ganta Sai Karteek Reddy/Siddhanth Banthia 6-3, 3-6, 10-8.

75th Strandja Memorial Tournament: Telangana boxer Nikhat to spearhead India’s challenge

Telangana boxer and reigning world champions Nikhat Zareen and Lovlina Borgohain are set to lead Indian challenge as the Boxing Federation of India named 19-member squad for the 75th Strandja Memorial Tournament

Published Date – 3 February 2024, 11:00 PM


75th Strandja Memorial Tournament: Telangana boxer Nikhat to spearhead India’s challenge

Nikhat Zareen

Hyderabad: Telangana boxer and reigning world champions Nikhat Zareen and Lovlina Borgohain are set to lead Indian challenge as the Boxing Federation of India named 19-member squad for the 75th Strandja Memorial Tournament which has begun in in Sofia, Bulgaria on Saturday and will end on February 11.

The Strandja Memorial Tournament is one of Europe’s oldest international sports competitions. With the intense competition in presence of around 300 boxers from 30 countries, the tournament will be a great preparation for the Paris Olympics.


Besides Nikhat (50kg) and Lovlina (75kg), Asian Games bronze medallist Preeti (54kg), World Championships bronze medallist Manisha (60kg), Asian Championships bronze medallist Sakshi (57kg) and national champion Arundhati Choudhary (66kg) are also included in the squad to compete in the women’s section of the prestigious tournament.

The men’s squad, on the other hand, consists of the 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Amit Panghal (51kg) along with the other national champions including Barun Singh Shagolshem (48kg), Lalit (54kg), Sachin (57kg), Akash Gorkha (60kg), Rajat (67kg), Akash (71kg), Deepak (75kg), Jugnoo (86kg). Vanshaj (63.5kg), Abhimanyu Loura (80kg), Naveen Kumar (92kg) and Sagar (92 kg) are the other four Indian male boxers who are also part of the squad. The Indian pugilists finished with eight medals, including three silver and five bronze, in the last edition of the tournament held in 2023.

Hyderabad beats Baroda by 17 runs in BCCI U-23 Women’s One-Day Trophy

Riding on a 77-run knock from Kavya and a five-wicket haul from Yashasri, Hyderabad women defeated Baroda by 17 runs in the BCCI Under-23 Women’s One-Day Trophy fourth round match in Mulapadu

Published Date – 3 February 2024, 11:04 PM


Hyderabad beats Baroda by 17 runs in BCCI U-23 Women’s One-Day Trophy

Riding on a 77-run knock from Kavya and a five-wicket haul from Yashasri, Hyderabad women defeated Baroda by 17 runs in the BCCI Under-23 Women’s One-Day Trophy fourth round match in Mulapadu

Hyderabad: Riding on a 77-run knock from Kavya and a five-wicket haul from Yashasri, Hyderabad women defeated Baroda by 17 runs in the BCCI Under-23 Women’s One-Day Trophy fourth round match in Mulapadu, on Saturday.

Batting first, Hyderabad posted a decent 213/5 wickets in 50 overs. Apart from Kavya, T Chandana scored 42 runs. In reply, Baroda were all out for 196 runs in 47.2 overs, thanks to Yashasri’s 5/44 bowling figures. M Sakshi Rao scalped three wickets.


Brief Scores: Hyderabad 213/5 in 50 overs (T Chandana 42, Kavya 77) bt Baroda 196 in 47.2 overs (Atoshi Banerjee 64; Yashasri 5 for 44, Sakshi Rao 3/40).