Latest sports news and fixtures: Saturday 25 January 2020

The end of January is in sight on the final Saturday of the first month of 2020, our look at the latest sports news and fixtures includes rugby, football, cricket and more.

Latest sports news and fixtures

Under-19 Cricket World Cup

Zimbabwe vs Scotland, Potchefstroom, 10:00

Zimbabwe face Scotland in a wooden spoon battle from Group C of the Under-19 World Cup with neither side in the running for the quarterfinals.

South Africa vs UAE, Bloemfontein, 10:00

The young Proteas face a must-win clash against the UAE in Bloemfontein with progress to the last eight of the competition on the line.

England vs Nigeria, Kimberley, 10:00

England and Nigeria cannot make the last eight either having lost all of their respective group matches.

Test cricket: South Africa vs England

Day two – Fourth Test

England had the better of the opening day despite the Proteas claiming four wickets after tea on a rain-effected day one of the fourth Test.

The tourists resume on 192 for four with Joe Root (25*) and Ollie Pope (22*) unbeaten overnight.

Guinness Pro14

Isuzu Southern Kings vs Toyota Cheetahs

The Isuzu Southern Kings and Toyota Cheetahs will be bracing themselves for an action-packed Guinness PRO14 derby on Saturday at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth in what will mark the first encounter between the sides this season and the only match of the weekend.

Pride will be a big factor for both sides, but a good result will be of utmost importance too. The Free Staters are determined to win to remain close to the top of the log in their conference to stay in contention for a playoff spot later in the season, while a victory for the hosts would serve as proof that their steady improvement is paying dividends.

With four victories in their last eight matches to only one win by the Isuzu Southern Kings, the Toyota Cheetahs will enter the match as favourites, but Hawies Fourie (coach) insisted that they would not underestimate their countrymen, especially after making that mistake against Zebre early in January, which saw them slump to a 41-13 defeat.

PSL

Stellenbosch vs Polokwane City, Cape Town Stadium, 15:30

Not long ago, Stellenbosch and Polokwane City were neck-and-neck in the PSL relegation dogfight. Now, Clinton Larsen takes his team to Cape Town Stadium to visit a team four positions clear of them.

Such is the nature of South Africa’s highly competitive league that four positions equates to only four points. Stellies could announce their MTN8 intentions with a win, but they could so easily be dragged back down into the scrap for safety.

Golden Arrows vs Kaizer Chiefs, Moses Mabhida Stadium, 15:30

Steve Komphela hosts former side Kaizer Chiefs at the scene of his final match in charge as Golden Arrows play Amakhosi at Moses Mabhida Stadium.

This venue holds bittersweet memories for Komphela, who resigned after fan violence at the stadium. Protests erupted after Chiefs lost their 2018 Nedbank Cup semi-final 2-0 to Free State Stars.

Komphela’s career has undergone a rebirth of sorts since. He played a huge role in Bloemfontein Celtic’s top eight finish last season and is on course to lead Abafana Bes’thende to the MTN8 this year.

Orlando Pirates vs AmaZulu, Orlando Stadium, 18:00

Josef Zinnbauer’s reinvigorated Orlando Pirates host bottom-of-the-table AmaZulu at Orlando Stadium on Saturday.

The Buccaneers picked up a third straight victory in their last match, downing Highlands Park 3-1. Thembinkosi Lorch was back amongst the scorers while Gabadinho Mhango and Paseka Mako also netted.

Latest sports news

Defending champion Daryl Impey took the lead in the Tour Down Under from chief rival Richie Porte as Italy’s Giacomo Nizzolo won Saturday’s fifth stage in a bunch sprint finish.

South Africa’s Impey will take a two-second advantage over Porte into Sunday’s final stage up the gruelling Willunga Hill as he chases his third straight victory in the UCI season opener.

Australian Open

Top seed Rafael Nadal routed fellow Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta for the loss of just seven games Saturday as the world number one revved up his bid for a 20th Grand Slam title.

The 33-year-old was in virtuoso form to charge past the 27th seed 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 in hot sunshine on Rod Laver Arena and make the round of 16 at Melbourne Park for a 13th time.

Two-time Grand Slam champion Simona Halep avoided becoming the latest big casualty at the Australian Open when she beat Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva to reach the last 16 on Saturday.

The fourth seed won 6-1, 6-4 and plays Belgian 16th seed Elise Mertens or world number 600 CiCi Bellis of the United States next in Melbourne.

Serena Williams and reigning champion Naomi Osaka both lost on Friday and second seed Karolina Pliskova followed them out the exit door on Saturday.

Sunshine Tour

Defending champions of the Gauteng Team Championship, JC Ritchie and Jaco Prinsloo carded a second-round four-under 68 to take a one-stroke lead into the final round on a total of 15-under for the week.

Springboks

Jacques Nienaber was named as the new Springbok coach on Friday as part of a revised coaching panel, that will report directly to Rassie Erasmus, South Africa’s director of rugby.

Nienaber is promoted from an assistant coach’s role to carry the day-to-day responsibility while Erasmus will continue to direct strategy in a tweaking of a panel that is heavily accented on continuity.

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) on Friday announced that it came to a mutual agreement with Springbok rugby player Eben Etzebeth to withdraw the review application in the High Court in Pretoria, over a complaint that the lock racially abused four men in Langebaan, Cape Town.

Additional reporting from African News Agency and AFP.