Sports from Thursday, February 26th, 2026

A rampant India piled up a record total and handed Zimbabwe a 72‑run thrashing in a Super Eight contest on Thursday to revive their Twenty20 World Cup title defence.

Top seed Felix Auger-Aliassime is through to the semifinals of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships after beating eighth seed Jiri Lehecka 6-3, 7-6.

South Africa are on the verge of securing their place in the semi-finals of the Twenty20 World Cup after captain Aiden Markram's unbeaten knock of 82 led them to a nine-wicket win over West Indies on Thursday.

Real Madrid have recovered from an early scare to beat Benfica 2-1 on Wednesday and secure a 3-1 aggregate victory to reach the Champions League last 16 after a pulsating game at the Bernabeu.

Holders Paris St Germain have edged into the Champions League's last 16 after a 2-2 home draw with 10-man Monaco in the second leg of their knockout-round playoff on Wednesday, advancing 5-4 on aggregate from a tense tie that went right to the wire.