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Atletico Madrid tore Barcelona apart with four first-half goals to secure a 4-0 victory on Thursday in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final, leaving the holders staring at a near impossible task in the return match, Reuters reported. 

Diego Simeone's side needed only 45 minutes at home to seize control of the tie, capitalising on a calamitous early error before carving Hansi Flick's team open at will to move to the brink of April's final in Seville.

Atletico took the lead in the sixth minute in extraordinary fashion. Barcelona defender Eric Garcia rolled a routine pass back, but goalkeeper Joan Garcia, already scanning upfield, allowed the ball to slip under his boot and towards goal. His desperate dive came too late as it had crossed the line, according to Reuters. 

Nepal suffered a 10-wicket defeat at the hands of Italy in their ICC Men's T20 World Cup match held at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, India.

Chasing a target of 124-run victory posted by Nepal, Italy completed the target in 12.4 overs. For Italy, Anthony Mosca scored 62 runs while Justin Mosca gathered 60 runs.

Earlier, invited to bat first after losing the toss, Nepal gathered 123 runs in 19.3 overs at the loss of all wickets. 

For Nepal, Aarif Sheikh scored the highest 27 runs while Rohit Poudel made 23 runs, Aasif Sheikh 20 runs, Dipendra Singh Airee 17 runs and Karan KC 18 runs (not out). 

Italy's Crishan Kalugamage and Ben Manenti took three wickets and two wickets respectively while Jaspreet Singh and JJ Smuts took one wicket each. 

This is the second consecutive defeat of Nepal, which is in Group 'C'. With this consecutive loss, Nepal's possibility of entering Super Eight has become weak. 

However, this is the first win of Italy.

Adam Zampa and Nathan Ellis combined for eight wickets as Australia overcame the shock pre-match loss of skipper Mitch Marsh to post a crushing 67-run victory over Ireland in their T20 World Cup opener in Colombo, Reuters reported. 

Marsh was officially ruled out just 30 minutes before Wednesday night’s toss after scans revealed he was suffering internal testicular bleeding from a blow he suffered at training earlier in the week.

Australia still managed to post a competitive 6-182 on the tricky wicket, with Marcus Stoinis (45 off 29 balls), Josh Inglis (37 off 17) and Matt Renshaw (37 off 33) all playing handy cameos, according to Reuters. 

Sherfane Rutherford has struck a belligerent half-century and Gudakesh Motie produced a brilliant display of spin bowling as West Indies thumped England by 30 runs at the T20 World Cup, Reuters reported. 

Rutherford smacked seven sixes in his unbeaten 76 off 42 deliveries to provide the bedrock of his team's imposing total of 6-196 in the Group C encounter in Mumbai on Wednesday.

Twice champions West Indies then returned to choke their ‌opponents with spin and bundled out England for 166 in 19 overs to top the group with their second successive victory, according to Reuters.