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Australia 164-6; West Indies 121-6 | Australia win by 43 runsBeth Mooney’s 79 and Alana King’s three wickets propel tourists to winAustralia got the Sophie Molineux era under way in sloppy style as a new-look side overcame six spilled chances before turning the screw late for a 43-run victory over West Indies in the first women’s T20 international in St Vincent. But as the dress rehearsals continue for the T20 World Cup starting in June, the role in the XI of Australia’s new captain remains unclear after the allrounder did not bat or bowl on her return from injury.An unusually messy performance in the field threatened to cost Australia dear as West Indies made a promising start to their 165-run chase. Alana King was the main offender as she dropped three catches early in the innings, including a pair while standing on the deep backward square rope, before striking back with the ball. Continue reading...

Visiting Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo sustains deep gashCalls intensify for ageing GIO Stadium to undergo refurbishmentCanterbury coach Cameron Ciraldo has joined growing calls for Canberra’s GIO Stadium to undergo a face lift after revealing he would need stitches after glass shattered on him in the ageing arena.While the visiting coach was left with a deep gash in his hand, Raiders boss Ricky Stuart also weighed in, calling his side’s home arena a “shithouse stadium” and claiming authorities didn’t care about the state of the 1970s-built venue. Continue reading...

New law comes into force this weekendMeasure aimed to coincide with Carabao Cup finalThe government has made entering a football ground without a ticket a criminal offence from this weekend, with fans who tailgate to be given banning orders of up to five years and £1,000 fines.The law has been introduced to coincide with Sunday’s Carabao Cup final between Arsenal and Manchester City, after the Metropolitan police made 68 arrests of fans who attempted to gain entry to Wembley without tickets at last year’s final. Continue reading...

Igor Thiago looms over Leeds, Newcastle need to bounce back from Barça and Viktor Gyökeres aims for hero statusPremier League top scorers: latest top-flight standingsThough Manchester United continued to win after playing brilliantly against Manchester City and Arsenal in Michael Carrick’s first two games as manager, the quality and coherence of their performances decreased thereafter. Lacking balance without the injured Patrick Dorgu, they’ve been rescued on three separate occasion by Benjamin Sesko’s goals – goals which eventually forced him into the team at the expense of Amad Diallo. But though Amad is easier to omit than Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, both of whom are older, dearer and more productive, without him United lacked a dribbler: a player eager to run at opponents, who isn’t necessarily seeking the quickest route to goal, and whose quick feet in tight spaces are invaluable against disciplined defences. It is no coincidence that on his return to the starting XI, against Villa last weekend, United delivered their best display since those early weeks. Though, at some point soon, Sesko’s form will again demand his inclusion, this time it is unlikely to be Amad who makes way. Daniel HarrisBournemouth v Manchester United, Friday 8pmBrighton v Liverpool, Saturday 12.30pmFulham v Burnley, Saturday 3pmEverton v Chelsea, Saturday 5.30pmLeeds v Brentford, Saturday 8pmNewcastle v Sunderland, Sunday 12pm Continue reading...

Manchester United head coach admits to ‘aggressive’ feelingsHolland defender De Ligt could miss remainder of the seasonMichael Carrick has admitted to getting angry with his Manchester United players and said that was the emotion after the late defeat at Newcastle.United lost 2-1 at St James’ Park this month after conceding a 90th-minute William Osula goal. This is the only defeat in Carrick’s nine matches in interim charge this season, his team recording seven wins and one draw to take 22 points from the 27 available. Continue reading...

Wigan 23-22 YorkWigan recover from 14-0 down to stay unbeatenThese were the nights that critics of Super League’s decision to expand to 14 teams feared but as the new season settles into a rhythm, they are fast becoming some of the most enjoyable.Yes, the result was what almost everyone – even the most optimistic York Knights supporter – would have predicted at kick-off. But goodness, what a rollercoaster ride this was as Super League’s newest team pushed arguably its biggest and most recognisable heavyweight every step of the way on a thrilling evening in Wigan. Continue reading...

Progress to the quarter-finals of the competition that made Unai Emery’s reputation, the Europa League continues to offer sanctuary for Aston Villa. Their second leg with Lille was completed without drama, the welcome sight of John McGinn’s goal soothing fans’ nerves. Villa had sorely missed their Scottish standard bearer, though the contributions of Emi Martínez, in making a save then launching an attack, and Jadon Sancho in supplying McGinn in a flowing move that took 15 seconds were equally crucial.“The matches were not so brilliant,” said Emery, who qualified for the competition’s quarter-final for the eighth time, a record; he has won it four times previously. Continue reading...

Brit overcomes seven-time grand slam champion 7-5, 7-5 25-year-old secures first victory since JanuaryIn her first training session at the ATX Open in Austin last month, weeks after injury put an end to her Australian Open, Francesca Jones found herself in an unusual, delightful situation. Her training partner across the net was none other than Venus Williams, the most successful active female tennis player.Being able to train with such a legendary player was a dream itself, but Jones can now say that she has also defeated her, as she closed out a 7-5, 7-5 win over the 45-year-old seven-time grand slam champion in the first round of the Miami Open. The victory marks Jones’s first WTA 1000 match win in her career, breaking a four-match losing streak. Continue reading...

Well, it wasn’t supposed to be like this. For Nottingham Forest, this was anything but the meek surrender widely feared, Vítor Pereira’s side advancing to the Europa League quarter-finals after triumphing 3-0 on penalties at Midtjylland, who missed all three spot-kicks. Elias Ólafsson had celebrated his captain, Mads Bech Sørensen, winning the toss to decide penalties would be taken in front of the hosts’ most ardent supporters, but it counted for nothing and ultimately Midtjylland, who lost 2-1 on the night, were punished for being lulled into a false sense of security.Forest stunned the Danes by earning a 2-0 lead on the night, through Nicolás Domínguez’s early header and then captain Ryan Yates’s superb strike from distance, before Martin Erlic sent the game to extra time. After 127 minutes, perfect spot-kicks by the substitutes Morgan Gibbs-White, who entered just after the hour, Ibrahim Sangaré and Neco Williams reignited Evangelos Marinakis’s hopes of Forest’s European glory. Forest can fret about Sunday’s trip to Tottenham on Friday afternoon’s flight back to East Midlands airport. Continue reading...

Rams overcome 19-point deficit to beat No 6 UNCCoach lashes out after High Point stun WisconsinNo 1 Duke survive upset scare against No 16 SienaNebraska end NCAA drought with rout of TroyTerrence Hill Jr made a stepback three-pointer with 15 seconds left in overtime and 11th-seeded VCU erased from a 19-point second-half deficit to stun sixth-seeded North Carolina 82-78 on Thursday night in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.Hill finished 7 for 10 from three-point range and scored 20 of 34 points after halftime as VCU (28-7) won their first NCAA Tournament game since 2016. Continue reading...