Here’s the Most Likely 2027 Super Bowl Winner, According to Current Odds

MACKAY: Bangladesh’s batting collapsed spectacularly against Australia on Saturday, folding for just 64 runs in the first innings of the second Test as Mitchell Starc produced a devastating spell of fast bowling. Playing at the Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay, Australia won the toss and elected to bowl first. The decision quickly paid off as Bangladesh’s batters struggled to cope with the pace and movement generated by the Australian attack. Starc was the chief destroyer, claiming six wickets for just 12 runs from 10 overs. His relentless spell left Bangladesh’s batting order in tatters and gave Australia complete control of the opening stages of the match. Captain Pat Cummins provided strong support, taking three wickets, while Josh Hazlewood claimed the remaining wicket as Australia’s pace trio ripped through the visitors. Bangladesh’s innings offered little resistance. No specialist batter managed to produce a substantial score, with No. 11 batter Shoriful Islam emerging as the team’s leading scorer with 14 runs. Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Taijul Islam each contributed 11, but the lower order could not prevent Bangladesh from being bowled out for one of their lowest Test totals. The collapse is a dramatic turnaround from the opening match of the series. Bangladesh stunned Australia in the first Test in Darwin, securing a historic nine-wicket victory — their first Test win over Australia on Australian soil. That result had given Bangladesh enormous confidence and put the hosts under early pressure in the series. However, Starc and Australia’s fast bowlers ensured that the second Test began on an entirely different note. For Bangladesh, the immediate challenge is to recover from the huge first-innings setback and find a way to contain Australia’s batting. For the hosts, meanwhile, the emphatic bowling performance offers a chance to level the series after their unexpected defeat in Darwin. Starc’s six-wicket haul has already become the defining moment of the match, with Australia firmly on top after Bangladesh’s dramatic batting collapse.

TORONTO: Former world number one Iga Swiatek produced a commanding performance to defeat Diana Shnaider 6-2, 6-1 and reach the Toronto Masters semi-finals, where she will face Elina Svitolina in a highly anticipated showdown. The six-time Grand Slam champion needed only 64 minutes to dispatch the Russian and move into the last four of the Canadian Open. Swiatek controlled the contest from the opening exchanges, using her powerful groundstrokes and precise movement to keep Shnaider under constant pressure. The Polish seventh seed never faced a break point and dominated the match with impressive consistency. She quickly established a 5-2 advantage in the opening set before breaking Shnaider again and serving it out in 31 minutes. The second set proved even more one-sided. Swiatek broke early to move ahead 2-1 before another strong sequence of winners helped her extend the advantage. A third break finally ended Shnaider’s resistance and completed a convincing victory. “From the beginning, I went for it. I felt like I could dominate,” Swiatek said after the match. She also praised her ability to adapt to difficult windy conditions, saying she focused on staying solid rather than overplaying. The victory is significant for Swiatek, who has endured a challenging 2026 season. It marks her first WTA 1000 semi-final of the year, giving her an opportunity to build momentum ahead of the US Open. Standing between Swiatek and a place in the final is Elina Svitolina, who produced a dramatic comeback against Ekaterina Alexandrova. The Ukrainian ninth seed lost the opening set 6-3 but responded brilliantly, winning the second 6-0 before completing a 3-6, 6-0, 6-3 victory. Svitolina recovered after an early setback and showed her fighting spirit when Alexandrova briefly threatened to extend the match late in the deciding set. The upcoming semi-final promises another intriguing chapter in their rivalry. Swiatek has won three of their five meetings, but Svitolina won their two encounters earlier in 2026, including a three-set victory in the Rome semi-final. With both players arriving in Toronto with plenty to prove, their semi-final is shaping up as one of the tournament’s most compelling battles.

LAHORE: Pakistan women’s cricket team spinners Nashra Sandhu and Tuba Hassan have expressed confidence in the side’s preparations for the upcoming Women’s Asia Cup and Asian Games, saying consistency will be the key to turning strong performances into results. Speaking during the team’s training camp in Lahore, Sandhu said the squad was preparing specifically for different opponents while working to improve every aspect of its game. Pakistan’s spinners could have a particularly important role to play in the UAE, where the conditions are expected to suit slow bowling. Sandhu said the team was focused on adapting its plans according to opponents and match situations rather than relying on a single approach. “We prepare according to every opponent,” Sandhu said, stressing the importance of maintaining consistency during crucial moments. The spinner acknowledged that Pakistan have sometimes produced encouraging performances without being able to finish matches strongly. The team, she said, was working to address those lapses and build greater consistency in areas where it has already shown promise. India matches, meanwhile, bring an added level of pressure. Sandhu said players prepare carefully for such contests because the team that handles pressure better on match day often gains the advantage. Tuba Hassan also highlighted the importance of preparing for conditions in Dubai. According to the leg-spinner, Pakistani players are familiar with the UAE environment, but training specifically for those conditions remains essential before the tournament begins. She said the team was concentrating on reducing mistakes, particularly because small errors can have a major impact in T20 cricket. Training sessions are being designed around different match situations, including pressure scenarios, to help players make better decisions when the stakes are high. Tuba also revealed that coach Wahab Riaz has been challenging players with different situations during practice, aiming to prepare them for the demands of international matches. The leg-spinner admitted that Pakistan still face a psychological hurdle when playing against top-ranked sides, despite having competed strongly against leading teams in the past. She argued that more bilateral series against the world’s top four teams would help Pakistan bridge the gap and develop greater confidence. The experience of players competing abroad could also prove valuable. Tuba said Fatima Sana had shared lessons from her stint in The Hundred with teammates, offering the squad insight into playing at a high level overseas. With the Asia Cup and Asian Games ahead, Pakistan’s women’s team will hope that improved preparation, greater consistency and exposure to elite opposition can translate into stronger results. For the spinners, the message is clear: Pakistan have the ability to challenge the best — but now they must learn to finish the job.