A thrilling penultimate day at Birmingham 2022 has delivered more action to this thoroughly entertaining Commonwealth Games, with 45 gold medals in total set to be dished out by the end of the evening.
Tonight was all about Laura Muir, and the Scotland star produced a brilliant kick to win gold in the women’s 1500m final, adding to her 800m bronze from the previous evening. Later, a wide-open men’s 800m final, was won by Kenya’s Wyclife Kinyamal ahead of Australia’s Peter Bol, with England’s Ben Pattison taking bronze.
Eilish McColgan added to her 10,000m gold with a gutsy silver in the 5,000m and there was further joy as England’s women wrapped up the action at the Alexander Stadium with a dramatic gold in the 4x400m final. It was short lived, however, after the team was disqualified following a lane infringment.
In the afternoon, a dramatic men’s cycling road race saw Geraint Thomas fall just short with a late push to break the lead group, leaving New Zealand’s Aaron Gate to sprint clear and win a fourth gold at these Games. And in the result of the day, England pulled off a shock to stun Australia and win Commonwealth gold in the women’s hockey final. Follow all the action throughout the evening below:
Back to the cricket where skipper Harmanpreet Kaur has backed up Smriti Mandhana's explosive start with an important contribution in the middle of the innings.
Mandhana eventually went for a powerful 61 before Kaur added 20 as England fought back.
Freya Kemp has taken two wickets to slow the Indian progress but they still look on for a competitive total with Jemimah Rodrigues and Deepti Sharma well set at the crease.
They're 132-3 with three overs remaining.
Ben Burrows6 August 2022 12:11
Jamaica’s Lamara Distin takes high jump gold
Lamara Distin has taken the gold medal in the women's high jump.
The Jamaican was the only athlete in the field to clear 1.95m and emerges as champion as a result.
Pre-competition favourite Eleanor Patterson of Australia had to settle for silver with Distin's Jamaican teammate Kimberley Williamson taking the bronze.
It was disappointment for Morgan Lake of England, who comes up just short of the medals in fourth.
(AFP via Getty Images)
Ben Burrows6 August 2022 12:05
Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix goes for double gold
Fresh from her victory in the women’s 10-metre platform final – watched by her TV star father Fred – teenager Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix gets the chance to extend her dream Games debut in the women’s 10m sychro platform final on Saturday.
The 17-year-old delivered a first senior international victory on Thursday evening at Sandwell Aquatics Centre, finishing ahead of England’s team-mate Lois Toulson to top the leaderboard by a huge 20.20 points.
The women’s 10m sychro platform final kicks off a little later on this evening.
(Getty Images)
Ben Burrows6 August 2022 11:55
Jack Laugher into 3m springboard final
Over in the diving, Jack Laugher's bid for three golds at these Games is still on but only just.
The double gold medallist was nervous for the prelims of the 3m springboard but scraped through into the finals in 11th place.
Australia's Li Shixin qualified top with England's Dan Goodfellow in third.
Ben Burrows6 August 2022 11:44
Jake Wightman chases golden treble
Scotland’s Jake Wightman admits his confidence is sky high as he chases a golden treble.
The 28-year-old, who won shock 1500m gold at the World Championships in Eugene last month, strolled through his Commonwealth Games heat on Thursday.
Wightman clocked three minutes 48.34 seconds to win at Alexander Stadium and comfortably reach Saturday’s final.
It is the next step on his quest to add the 1500m Commonwealth title and 800m crown at next month’s European Championships to his world gold.
It was also the first time he has been announced – by stadium commentator, dad and coach Geoff – as the world champion since July’s victory in Oregon.
He said: “It was special, it was a confidence boost if you get announced as that. That’s the most it’s sunk in because that is what I was waiting for, to be announced as world champion, and be like ‘yeah I’ve actually done that’.
“It was nice walking around before with a lot of people coming up to me and saying ‘well done’. I still got less of a cheer than Matt Stonier from England but I guess there are more English fans than Scottish fans.”
Regarding the race, he said: “I felt I should dictate it at some point and I was surprised we went so slow as a second heat as there are guys who should go through as fastest losers who won’t.
“It’s hard to sometimes get motivated as there is a lot more to lose than gain so it’s good to go out there, feel good and qualify comfortably.”
Teammate Josh Kerr, who won Olympic bronze last year, qualified in three minutes 37.84 seconds, with Scotland’s Neil Gourley progressing and England duo Elliot Giles and Stonier also likely to be in the medal mix.
(PA Wire)
Ben Burrows6 August 2022 11:35
India off to a flyer against England
India are off to a flyer in the cricket where opener Smriti Mandhana has been flaying England to all parts of Edgbaston.
She’s just moved to 50 not out off just 23 balls - a fastest-ever half-century for India.
England need a wicket and fast.
India 64-0 off just six overs and looking on for a big, big total.
Ben Burrows6 August 2022 11:23
Jamaica into netball final
Jamaica’s amazing run at this netball tournament has continued after they defeated New Zealand to reach the final.
The Sunshine Girls came out on top 67-51 to seal their shot at gold.
England take on Australia in the second semi-final this afternoon in a repeat of the 2018 final.
(Getty Images)
Ben Burrows6 August 2022 11:21
Adam Gemili looking for happiness after crashing out
Weary Adam Gemili admits he must find happiness again after crashing out of the 200m at the Commonwealth Games.
The sprinter failed to make Saturday’s final after only running 20.97 seconds to come fourth in his semi-final on Friday.
It is the latest disappointment for Gemili, having been knocked out of the heats at the World Championships in Eugene last month.
Then, he initially blamed the media spotlight on his controversial ex-coach Rana Reider, who is being investigated by the US Centre for SafeSport after multiple allegations of sexual misconduct, for impacting his form and mindset.
The 28-year-old, who has been based in Florida, split from Reider just days before the Games in Birmingham and knows he needs a change.
“I know there have been issues with me this year, it has affected me,” said Gemili, who still may run in Saturday’s 4x100m relay heats. “Physically I’m OK but there has been a lot which has affected my training and the mental side for me.
“That’s something which has been new this season and I’ve really struggled to get that right. I didn’t know how much of a difference it does really make. It’s for me to come home and find some happiness again.
“It’s a tough question (how to find happiness), start by spending a lot more time at home. I’ve been away from home since I was 19 years old.
“I am 28 now and I haven’t spent a lot of time with people around me. Maybe one or two months a year.
“I need to start with surrounding myself with people I love and who love me. Hopefully that happiness does come and you see the old Adam bounding down the track next season. Fingers crossed.”
England’s Adam Gemili failed to progress past his 200m semi-final (Mike Egerton/PA) (PA Wire)
Ben Burrows6 August 2022 11:15
Australia win women’s pairs final against England
Australia win it!
It’s another tight end but with everything to play for on the final bowl of the extra end Australia do it to win by a single shot, 19-18.
Australia win women’s pairs gold. England, who played brilliantly throughout, are forced to settle for silver.
(REUTERS)
Ben Burrows6 August 2022 11:06
England take on India in cricket semi-finals
England’s cricketers made an emphatic statement by trouncing New Zealand on Friday, chasing down a paltry 72 with 50 balls to spare in a seven-wicket win to finish atop their group.
They have now won six successive T20s and confidence is steadily building but Harmanpreet Kaur’s India are likely to present a step up in opposition.
A final against Australia or New Zealand awaits the winners, with the losers having the consolation of going into the bronze medal match.
They’ll be underway very shortly at Edgbaston. We’ll bring you all the latest.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments