Key events
Thank Alex, hi all. Let’s get straight down to brass tacks. In the cricket – England need 14 runs off six balls to make the final. Nat Sciver has just been run out for 41 to be replaced by her partner Katherine Brunt, India have turned the screw… but wait – India have been slow to bowl their overs so are only allowed three fielders out for the final over. Drama!
Cricket: Amy Jones out! And it’s a bad one for Jones, who makes her move for a single, hesitates, and is caught well short. That leaves England on 135-3 from 17.3 overs, with the door closing. And with that, I’ll hand over to James Wallace.
Lawn bowls: Aaron Wilson of Australia, the defending champion, books his place in the men’s singles final with a light trouncing of Scotland’s Iain McLean, 15-6. Wilson will face Gary Kelly of Northern Ireland in tomorrow’s showdown. At Edgbaston, England are 135-3 off 17 overs. Thirty more for the win.
Cricket: Things are getting fraught as Amy Jones survives an lbw scare. 61 needed off seven balls now for England.
Table tennis: England’s Paul Drinkhall and Liam Pitchford look to be on their way to the men’s doubles final, easing into a two-game lead against their rivals from Singapore. Marcus Ellis and Lauren Smith are into the badminton mixed doubles semi-finals – potentially an England-Scotland clash.
Nick Miller takes gold in the men’s hammer throw!
That almighty 76.43m did the job – the Herculean Cumbrian will collect his second Commonwealth gold. Ethan Katzberg’s personal best of 76.36m is enough to take silver, while Joseph Ellis’s hopes for bronze are crushed at the last when Cypriot Alexandros Poursanidis heaves a final throw of 73.97m to put himself third.
Cricket: Another one bites the dust as Danni Wyatt is bowled by Sneh Rana. She departs for 35 to leave England 86-3 after 10 overs.
Gymnastics: Here’s Louise Christie’s medal-winning display from earlier this afternoon:
Cricket: Alice Capsey is run out for 13 to leave England 63-2. Eeek. The record broken by Ollie Hoare, by the way, belonged to Tanzania’s Filbert Bayi. Hoare took a good two seconds off that, and becomes Australia’s first Commonwealth 1500m champion since 1958.
Australia’s Ollie Hoare wins the men’s 1500m!
Athletics: As the clock ticks towards the three-minute mark Wightman makes his move – but Cheruiyot was expecting it, he puts the burners on and keeps the Scot at arm’s length. Then Hoare, who’s been watching the duel play out ahead of him, pounces at the very last minute, steaming past both to take the gold with 3.30.12 – a Games record! – and collapsing in a knackered, gasping heap. Well done that man! Cheruiyot took silver and Wightman settles for bronze.
Men’s 1500m final: It’s all eyes on the Alexander Stadium with Jake Wightman the favourite, chasing a summer championships hat-trick. And bang, they’re away. The Kenyan Abel Kipsang stretches his legs out in front, his countryman Timothy Cheruiyot just behind. Welshman Jake Heyward makes his move…
Men’s hammer throw: After starting the final with two no-throws, Nick Miller plants himself in the gold medal position with a bulldozing 76.43m. His compatriot Joseph Ellis is in third, and Canada’s Ethan Katzberg second.
Cricket: After a fire-powered start, Sophia Dunkley is gone for 19 to Deepti Sharma for lbw. England, chasing 165, are 28-1.
Athletics: A good few minutes for Team England: both 4 x 400m relay teams have ensured their passage to tomorrow’s finals and in the squash, James Willstrop and Declan James have seen off Aussie pair Cameron Pilley and Rhys Dowling 11-7, 11-4, for a semi-final tomorrow against Malaysia of India. And good news for the auld enemy too: Scotland’s Sean Lazzerini makes the light heavyweight boxing final, beating Tanzania’s Yusuf Changalawe on a split decision. Lazzerini’s compatriot Jake Wightman limbers up for the men’s 1500m final, coming up in 10 minutes.
Cricket: Thwack, thwack, thwack: Sophia Dunkley and Danni Wyatt hit three fours between them to get England off to exactly that start they’d have wanted. It’s on.
Gymnastics: Scotland’s Louise Christie nabs herself a silver medal – Scotland’s 36th of the Games – with a score of 27.550 for her performance (to Insomnia by Rollo Armstrong, since you asked). She will take to the podium alongside between Malaysia’s Joe Ee Ng, now a double Commonwealth champion, and Canada’s Carmel Kallemaa with bronze. Meanwhile, in the freestyle wrestling, Georgina Nelthorpe misses out on a place in the women’s under-76kg final and South Africa’s Simnikiwe Bongco takes a beating from Callum Peters of Australia, who clinches his spot in the men’s under-75kg boxing final.
Nigeria win women’s F55-57 shot put gold!
I’m going to pass this on to Alex Hess now. One more gold to tell you about before I go: Eucharia Njideka Iyiazi has wons the Women’s F55-57 shot put final for Nigeria. Bye!
England need 165 to beat India in the cricket semi-final
Cricket: After the dazzling 61 from Smriti Mandhana earlier, India slowed a little but a partnership of 61 from Jemimah Rodrigues and Deepti Sharma has helped India to a total of 164-5, a solid total but not out of reach. The last times the two teams met – a year ago – England needed 154. This time round the total is a little higher but England will still back themselves to make it to the final.
The medals table
There have been a few more golds for Australia this morning, which means the medals table looks great if you’re looking at it Down Under. Australia have 54 golds to England’s 47. Canada are third, New Zealand fourth and India fifth.
Australia win gold in the 3m springboard final!
Diving: There are tears from Maddison Keeney as she wins gold alongside Anabelle Luce Smith. The Australian pair were streets ahead, finishing on 316 points. Malaysia take silver on 299, with Canada scooping bronze on 297 points. Random fact: Keeney works in the coalmining industry back in Australia as well as being a world-class diver.
Steeplechase gold for Kenya’s Kibiwot!
What a finish! Abraham Kibiwot beats India’s Avinash Mukund Sable by just five hundredths of a second to claim gold in the steeplechase. Amos Serem of Kenya takes bronze. Sable had the run of his life and had the race been 3001m long instead of 3000m, he’d have taken the top prize.He was eating up Kibiwot’s lead at the end.
Bowls: Here’s a flavour of the scenes earlier when Australia grabbed gold with the final bowl in the women’s pairs against England. Liquid bowls.
Cricket: Since taking Smriti Mandhana’s wicket, England have slowed India’s run rate somewhat. They’re 97-2 after 12.4 overs but captain Harmanpreet Kaur is beginning to have some success on the leg side.
High jump gold for Jamaica’s Lamara Distin!
Athletics: England’s Morgan Lake is close, but not close enough. She clips the bar and finishes fourth. Eleanor Patterson takes silver and Jamaica’s Kimberly Williamson wins bronze. It’s been a very good day for Jamaica so far, after the wonderful netball victory against New Zealand earlier.
Athletics: The high jump world champion Eleanor Patterson is out! She fails to clear 1.95m at the third attempt. She leapt 2.02m to claim gold in Eugene. She may still claim silver, mind. England’s Morgan Lake has one last chance to clear 1.95m. She will get a medal if she does so.
Athletics: In the women’s high jump final only Jamaica’s Lamara Distin has cleared 1.95m. Australia’s Eleanor Patterson – the current world champion – has failed twice and England’s Morgan Lake has failed once at the height.
Cricket: And now England do get the prized wicket of Mandhana. Bowled Sciver, caught Wong. What fun Mandhana had when she was out there. The fastest 50 in Commonwealth Games history. She leaves with 61 off just 32 balls. A pure entertainer. The crowd give her an ovation. India are 76-2.
Cricket: A breakthrough for England but it’s not the irresistible Mandhana’s wicket. Brunt catches after a high slog from Shafali Verma, who was caught out by a slower ball by teenager Freya Kemp. India are 76-1.
A first gymnastics gold for Malaysia!
Well done Joe Ee Ng.
Cricket: India are taking England’s bowlers apart. They’re 74-0 after seven overs, with Smriti dazzling the crowd watching on in the Edgbaston sun. She’s on 59, having blasted away three sixes and eight fours. Could they make 200?
Gold for Australia in the Women’s 10,000m race walk!
Jemima Montag waves to the crowd and beams delightedly as she crosses the line in 42min34sec to win gold. It’s a Commonwealth Games record and a personal best. India’s Priyanka finishes four seconds behind to take silver and Kenya’s Emily Wamusyi claims bronze.
Cricket: India have made a sparkling start in the T20 semi-final against England. They are 50-0 inside five overs with Smriti Mandhana hitting nine boundaries and scoring 46 of those. She’s playing some incredible cricket.
Australia win women’s pairs bowls gold!
Incredible scenes in Leamington Spa! Ellen Ryan knocks out England’s leading bowl with the last bowl of the tie-breaker to seal a 19-18 win. That’s a crushing blow for England but what nerve from Ryan, who claims her second gold medal of the Games and sends the Australians in the crowd into raptures. Let’s not forget, Australia trailed 11-2 at one point.
Athletics: In the high jump final, England’s Morgan Lake has just failed with her first attempt at 1.85m. She was mighty close but after a few wobbles the bar fell. Five athletes have cleared that height so she’ll have to dust herself off and go again. Australia’s Eleanor Patterson is among those to have cleared it, along with Jamaica’s Lamara Distin, who looks good.
Bowls: What drama in the women’s pairs! With the score at 18-17 to England and Australia set to take two points from the 18th and final end, Amy Paharaoh saves England’s skin with her final bowl – clattering one of Australia’s bowls out of play and ensuring that Australia can only tie at 18-18. The Leamington Spa crowd are loving this. That means we go into a 19th end.
Gymnastics gold for Wales in the hoop final!
Gemma Frizelle becomes Wales’s first gymnast to win hoop gold at the Commonwealth Games. Silver for Cyprus’s Anna Solokova and bronze for Canada’s Carmel Kallemaa.
Bowls: We’re into the 17th end of the women’s pairs and England and Australia are locked in the tightest battle for gold. It’s 18-17 to England but this could go down to the last bowl.
Cricket: England’s women’s T20 team begin their semi-final against India in 20 minutes’ time at Edgbaston. The winner will face either Australia or New Zealand, who play in the other semi at 6pm (BST). England won all three of their group matches, whereas India won two out of three, losing to Australia. The last time England met India in T20 cricket, England won, at Chelmsford, to seal a 2-1 series win a year ago.
Jamaica into netball final!
Netball: What a performance by Jamaica! They thrashed the world champions New Zealand 67-51, with a 100% shooting record. Captain Jhaniele Fowler scored 54 from 54. Take a bow. They will face either England or Australia in the final. They lock horns at 2.30pm.
Athletics: The women’s high jump final has just, erm, leapt into action at the Alexander Stadium. The two favourites are from Australia, Nicola Olyslagers and Eleanour Patterson, both of whom have personal bests of 2.02m. Jamaica’s Lamara Distin has gone close to 2m before, though, as has England’s Morgan Lake. They’re starting down at 1.71m. I’ll keep you updated.
Bowls: It’s now a see-saw battle between Australia and England in the women’s pairs gold medal match. Kristina Krstic and Ellen Ryan fought back from 11-2 down to lead England’s Sophie Tolchard and Amy Pharaoh 16-12, but the host nation have taken four to level the score at 16-16 with four ends to go.
Netball: With 11 minutes remaining in the semi-final, Jamaica have increased their lead to 58-37. The Silver Ferns need a miracle. Jamaica are heading to the final, where they will face either England or Australia, who play at 2.30pm (BST).
If, like Sachin Nakrani, your holiday plans were ruined by a delay at the passport office, get over to Birmingham pronto – the Commonwealth Games might provide the entertainment you need.
Bowls: After 12 ends Australia have battled back from 11-2 down to level the score at 12-12 with England in the women’s pairs gold-medal match. The match finishes after 18 ends so it really is building towards a tense finish.
Netball: There’s a bit of an upset developing in the netball semi-final, where Jamaica are leading the world champions, New Zealand, 44-28 in the third quarter. Jamaica are no mugs – they are ranked fourth in the world – but the manner in which they have raced out of the blocks in this match is surprising. New Zealand look shocked. Jhaniele Fowler has scored a perfect 38 from 38. Incredible.
Preamble
Morning. There are 33 gold medals to be won on day nine of the Commonwealth Games. It’s why it is being called ‘Super Saturday’ by some, including our very own Sean Ingle.
The weekend excitement begins at 11am on Saturday when England’s women cricketers take on India in the T20 semi-finals at Edgbaston. They are heavy favourites after winning their group ahead of New Zealand, with victory likely to see them facing Australia in Sunday’s finals.
The action skips to the track at 1.10pm as the world 1500m champion Wightman takes on a high-class field which includes Kenya’s Timothy Cheruyiot and his Scottish teammate Josh Kerr, the silver and bronze medallists at last year’s Olympics.
Just over an hour later all eyes will be on the NEC Arena as England’s netballers take on Australia in a rematch of the 2018 final on the Gold Coast.
England’s men will also face Australia in the hockey at 8.15pm, although they will be underdogs against a side looking for their seventh straight title. Then the action switches back to the track, where Keely Hodgkinson and Zharnel Hughes will hope to win a second and third track gold of the day for England.
We’ll bring you updates on all the stories that develop throughout the day. The bowling action is already under way in Leamington Spa, where England’s Sophie Tolchard and Amy Pharaoh lead Australia’s Kristina Krstic and Ellen Ryan 11-10 in the gold medal match of the women’s pairs. Remarkably, Australia have battled back from 11-2 down. Stay tuned.