NZ captain Santner wants 'perfect game' to halt unbeaten S Africa
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner wants his team to piece together their first "perfect game" of the Twenty20 World Cup when they face in-form South Africa in Wednesday's semi-final at Eden Gardens with a wound fresh in their minds, Reuters reported.
South Africa remain the tournament's only unbeaten team and their seven wins in a row include a seven-wicket thumping of New Zealand in the group stage.
While that loss still rankled, Santner said the familiarity bred from that clash left little room for surprises, according to Reuters.
Wary Markram keeps unbeaten S Africa grounded ahead of NZ semi
South Africa may be in red‑hot form at the Twenty20 World Cup, but captain Aiden Markram said they will take nothing for granted in Wednesday's semi‑final against New Zealand, especially with his side moving to a new venue for them in the tournament, Reuters reported.
The 2024 runners‑up are the only unbeaten team, winning all seven matches, five of them in Ahmedabad, and the victories include a seven-wicket thumping of New Zealand in the group stage.
"I wish cricket was that easy," Markram, who has often set the tone for his team in the powerplay, said with a wry smile at a press conference on Tuesday, according to Reuters.
Como hold Inter to scoreless draw in Coppa Italia
Como and Inter played out a 0-0 draw in their Coppa Italia semi-final first leg clash on Tuesday, where the hosts wasted a gilt-edged chance to take a lead into the return game while the visitors failed to register a single shot on target, Reuters reported.
Como's Nico Paz forced Inter goalkeeper Josep Martinez into a save and Mergim Vojvoda sent a shot wide from a decent position in the area in a first half where the home side controlled the tempo and created the best chances.
Alex Valle should have put Como in front just after the break but the defender was left kicking the post in frustration after somehow sending his effort wide when Ivan Smolcic's cross found him unmarked in the six-yard box, according to Reuters.
Atletico reach Copa del Rey final despite 3-0 loss at Barcelona
Atletico Madrid reached the Copa del Rey final for the first time since 2013 despite a 3-0 defeat by Barcelona on Tuesday, their 4-0 first-leg win in Madrid enough to secure a 4-3 aggregate victory in a breathless semifinal, Reuters reported.
Barcelona came within a whisker ‌of an improbable comeback after last month's thrashing, with 18-year-old midfielder Marc Bernal, starting in place of the injured Frenkie De Jong, scoring in each half and Raphinha converting a penalty after Pedri was fouled.
"We're in the final, that's what matters," Atletico keeper Juan Musso told Movistar Plus. "We knew it could be difficult. They're one of the best teams in the world but we got through because we scored more goals than they did overall. That's what's all about."



