Israeli strikes across Gaza kill at least 16, Palestinian officials say

ABU DHABI: Sharjah Warriorz secured a six-wicket victory over defending champions MI Emirates in the DP World ILT20 Eliminator on Thursday, setting up a clash with Desert Vipers for a place in the final against Dubai Capitals.

A blistering cameo from Tim Seifert (40 off 20 balls) and a disciplined bowling effort, led by Tim Southee, helped the Warriorz past MI Emirates’ modest total of 146 for eight at Sheikh Zayed Stadium. The win ensures new champions will be crowned in the third season of ILT20 as both previous title holders have now been knocked out.

Chasing 147, Sharjah got off to a flying start, with Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Johnson Charles racking up 23 runs in the first two overs.

Charles, who was in sublime form, struck 36 off 20 balls before falling to young UAE pacer Muhammad Rohid, who made an immediate impact with two crucial wickets in the 13th over.

Despite this setback, the Warriorz remained in control, thanks to Kohler-Cadmore’s steady knock (40 off 40) and Seifert’s late onslaught. The New Zealand wicketkeeper-batter sealed the win in style, hammering 16 runs in the 19th over.

MI Emirates had earlier struggled to build momentum after losing Andre Fletcher in the opening over. Tom Banton (29) and Nicholas Pooran (42 off 19) provided some resistance, with Pooran becoming only the third batter to surpass 1,000 ILT20 runs.

However, disciplined spells from Dilshan Madushanka and Southee kept the Emirates in check, with the defending champions ultimately restricted to a below-par total.

Reflecting on the defeat, Pooran, the captain of MI Emirates, said: “We were below par; we put ourselves in a hole. It was difficult to defend on this surface where there wasn’t much assistance for the bowlers.

“Our bowlers tried very hard; credit must be given to them. They (Warriorz) took their chances. We didn’t have an answer for them. Congrats to them. You get what you deserve; we haven’t been consistent. Looking forward to next year.”

Player of the match Seifert praised his side’s efforts, and added: “(It’s) always nice to get to that winning position. Our bowlers did a great job. (There is a) big semifinal coming up. Hopefully we can make it to the final.”

LOS ANGELES: A man charged in the 2020 killing of rapper Pop Smoke during a robbery at a Hollywood Hills mansion accepted a plea deal, averting a trial on a murder charge that was to have started Thursday.
Corey Walker, 24, pleaded guilty Wednesday to voluntary manslaughter and two counts of robbery in exchange for a sentence of 29 years in prison, which he will receive at a later hearing.
He was the only adult charged in the case along with three who were juveniles at the time of the crime, including a then-15-year-old gunman. All have already reached separate deals.
An email sent to Walker’s lawyers seeking comment was not immediately answered.
He was accused of leading the group to the rented mansion where the 20-year-old New York rapper Pop Smoke, whose legal name was Bashar Barakah Jackson, was killed on Feb. 19, 2020, during what was to be a four-day trip to Los Angeles. A 911 call from a friend of someone in the house reported armed intruders inside, police said.
The robbers knew the address because a day earlier, Pop Smoke had posted a photograph on social media of a gift bag he had received and the address was on a label, authorities said.
The rapper was in the shower when masked robbers confronted him. During a struggle, the 15-year-old, pistol-whipped him and shot him three times in the back, according to court testimony.
The attackers stole his diamond-studded Rolex watch and sold it for $2,000, a detective testified.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, Pop Smoke arrived on the hip-hop scene in 2018 and broke out with “Welcome to the Party” an anthem with boasts about shootings, killings and drugs that became a huge sensation, and prompted Nicki Minaj to drop a verse on a remix.
He had several other hits, including the album “Shoot for the Stars Aim for the Moon,” which was released posthumously.