Author: The Guardian

It’s a scene that has played out in countless continental Test matches, but it was the scene that played out during the men’s T20 World Cup semi-final in tropical Guyana. England’s 68-run defeat ended with India taking on South Africa in the final at Kensington Oval on Saturday.With India having scored 171 runs in 7 overs each during the 80-minute intermission due to rain, it was clear that the slow, low surface of the Providence Stadium would make any chase difficult. The aim was to gain three points more than the one England conceded in that lopsided semi-final in 2022,…

A vast sinkhole has dramatically appeared in middle of an Illinois soccer pitch that was laid above a limestone mine, just days after amateur teams stopped using the grounds for practice.The collapse happened at Gordon Moore Park in Alton, Illinois, about 18 miles (30km) north of St Louis, Missouri, on Wednesday. The sinkhole appeared to be 100ft (30m) wide and 30ft (9m) deep. No injuries have been reported but all sports have been cancelled.“No one was on the field at the time and no one was hurt, and that’s the most important thing,” said Alton’s mayor, David Goins, in a…

Katie Boulter and Emma Raducanu were ruled out again ahead of Wimbledon after comprehensive defeats at the Rothesay International in Eastbourne Deprived of the chance of the All England semi-finals.British No. 1 Bolt defeated Raducanu in the semi-finals 11 days ago to defend the Nottingham Open title, but ultimately lost to French Open finalist Jasmine Pauly 1-6, 6-7 (0). Ni.Former US Open champion Raducanu then easily defeated Daria Kasatkina, who lost to Maddie in the Eastbourne final last year, 6-2, 6-2. Sunkes.Harriet Dart scored a hat-trick in England’s women’s quarter-final draw, losing 6-2, 6-1 to Leylah Fernandez on Thursday.World number…

Even as she climbed up the corporate ladder in France, Ophélie Rizki’s after-work routine remained unchanged. Each evening as she got into her car to drive home, she would make a beeline for her headscarf, feeling herself slowly becoming whole again as she covered her hair.She had never been explicitly told that she couldn’t wear her hijab at work, nor had she asked. But as politicians in France continued to spar over headscarves, two decades after parliament voted to ban them in school, she worried about the impact that choosing to keep her hair covered would have on her career.…

Being a lesbian who spends way too much time online and loves movies, TV, and pop culture takes a toll. One is that I spend a lot of time online.I also know a lot of useless stuff that takes up prime real estate in my ever-shrinking brain, where “understanding math” might just be. But while I may not have been exposed to something like the Dow (a person?), I was always up to date and informed real Things – such as popular figures in today’s society. This includes those who glow in the public eye, or emerge like moths from…

Marine Le Pen has said she expects her far-right National Rally (RN) party to win an absolute majority in France’s general election, form a government and take over at least some defence and armed forces decision-making – including on Ukraine.France’s constitution states that the president is head of the armed forces and chairs France’s national defence committees, but also that the prime minister is “responsible for national defence”, leaving the precise role of the premier open to interpretation.Emmanuel Macron will remain president after the two-round snap elections on 30 June and 7 July but polls suggest he will face a…

timeThe final stage of the Tour de France is one of the most iconic parts of the world’s most famous cycling race. Even casual fans can immediately picture the scene: a route past Parisian landmarks, culminating in a pulsating sprint down the Champs Elysées. The Tour de France was first held in 1910 and has run for 110 times, each ending in the French capital. But not number 111.The 2024 Tour de France kicks off in Florence on Saturday. s position great departure Fitting for an unusual race; this is the first time in the history of the Tour de…

Border spadeIf I were restricted to one gardening implement it would always come down to the border spade. Short of snipping twine, or preparing a deckchair gin and tonic, there is little I can’t achieve in the garden with this hardy, slim-size and most cooperative of tools: digging out borders, edging lawns, planting-out, laying mulch and – lay aside thy fork! – dividing perennials. Buy: £42.99, burgonandball.comTurnbuckle wire tensionerWithout adjustable tension, all garden wires will eventually slacken, which is a nightmare for climbing plants, espalier fruits and vines alike. Enter the turnbuckle: a hook at one end, an “eye” at…

Matt, 24, SouthamptonOccupation Medical studentVoting record Labour in the last general election and Green in one local election. Describes himself as “fairly leftwing”Amuse bouche Matt used to sing in a choir and got to grade 6 singing, but when his voice broke the gift left himIan, 72, SouthamptonOccupation SolicitorVoting record Conservative, and a “moderate” party member. “I’m not joining Nigel Farage – I regard him as about as attractive a proposition as Jeremy Corbyn”Amuse bouche Ian reads the Guardian: “It’s good to have your own views challenged by alternative ones”For startersIan It was a Spanish tapas restaurant. I had an aubergine starter followed…

Andy Murray believes he “should” have the chance to play Wimbledon for the final time but will wait until the last minute before deciding to compete as he returns to training after back surgery and takes positive steps during his recovery. .”The pace I’m picking up right now, if this continues, those extra 72 to 96 hours will make a huge difference,” Murray said Thursday. “It’s complicated and it gets more complicated because I want to play at Wimbledon again. I want to have the chance to play in the tournament and I know some people might look at that…