Sports News: Cricket and Football Highlights: Samson, Jaiswal, Pakistan-India Tensions, Woakes, Messi, Copa Chaos

On Sunday, in the fifth T20I against Zimbabwe, Sanju Samson top-scored for Team India. He played 58 runs off 45 balls with one four and four sixes to take India to 167/6. He, in doing so, became only the seventh Indian player to hit 300 or more maximums in T20s, joining legends like MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli. Samson made his international debut in 2015, turned out 28 T20Is for India, and was a part of the team that won the 2024 T20 World Cup. He happens to be the top scorer and the most successful captain for the Rajasthan Royals in IPL.

Sanju Samson top-scored with 58 runs off 45 deliveries as India posted 167/6 in the fifth T20I at Harare Sports Club. In the process, he hit a massive six of 110 meters. His innings was a catalyst for the Indian innings. Samson found himself in the elite 300 sixes club in T20s, and along with Riyan Parag and Shivam Dube, his partnerships helped India post a good total. India had already pocketed the series by winning the second, third, and fourth T20Is. In the last game, Yashasvi Jaiswal scored an unbeaten 93 to guide India home by ten wickets while chasing 153 in only 15.2 overs.

The ICC Champions Trophy is scheduled for February 2025 in Pakistan, with the final match on March 9. There is, however, one thing that can be predicted with absolute surety: India, owing to its political tensions with the country, will play all its matches in Dubai and not in Pakistan. Now, Pakistan has threatened to boycott the 2026 T20 World Cup, all set to take place in India and Sri Lanka if India does not play in Pakistan. PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi would now stand in the ICC meeting slated in Colombo for this stand. India had its last tour in Pakistan back in 2008, with very few interactions since.

Yashasvi Jaiswal created magic on July 14 by becoming the first Indian and only the second batter around the globe to hit two sixes on the very first two balls in a T20I match. This happened during the fifth T20I against Zimbabwe. Jaiswal, who struck 93 runs in the last match, drove Sikandar Raza's first two balls for sixes. He ended with 12 runs from five balls. He joined the team post the T20 World Cup win, having scored 141 runs in three matches, second to Shubman Gill's 170 for the series.

The Sikandar Raza-led Zimbabwe lost the fifth T20I in Harare by 42 runs to India, losing the series 4-1. Other than the opening T20I win, little else went according to plan for Zimbabwe - be it from a batting or fielding perspective. While Raza praised the efforts of bowlers Blessing Muzarabani and Richie Ngarava, he did agree much needed to be improved in terms of batting and fielding attitude. Raza may well miss a one-off Test against Ireland later this month to focus on his fitness and due to lack of red-ball practice, also eyeing to play The Hundred in Manchester.

Chris Woakes, 35, is about to take on the mantle, at least in terms of leading the new-look England pace attack, following the retirement of James Anderson and Stuart Broad. Marking the influence of the former ahead of the second Test with West Indies, described next is his role as a senior player in mentoring the younger crop of bowlers, making adjustments—maybe even opening the bowling at times. Though he is personally obviously experiencing some setbacks - losing his dad, missing out on the T20 World Cup - his focus is simple: help England win in the future, starting with Trent Bridge.

The Copa America 2024 final is goalless at full time, forcing extra time. An Argentina team captained by Lionel Messi, hungry for a record 16th title, comes up against a Colombia side confident from a 28-game unbeaten streak, inspired form from James Rodríguez, and fueled by the ambition of winning their first Copa America in 23 years, as Argentina looks for a historic third consecutive major championship.

The Copa America final between Argentina and Colombia got underway 30 minutes later than the initially planned time due to chaotic scenes outside of the venue as fans tried to get in without tickets. Videos revealed security barriers being breached in a bid by fans who were trying to get into the game. The security forces sealed up the area. Police restored order but warned that not only could the game be suspended if everything didn't go according to plan, but people could also be ejected or arrested. An extra tight security operation saw the match go ahead.