The New Zealand snowboarder Zoi Sadowski-Synnott has claimed her first Big Air title at a World Cup event.
Zoi Sadowski-Synnott in action in the FIS World Cup in Kreischberg. Photo: Joerg Mitter/Limex Images
The bronze medallist from the 2018 Winter Olympic Games collected gold in Austria, recovering from crashing out on her opening run to nail the next two and win the first World Cup event of the new season.
The 19-year-old not only claimed gold, but landed a back-side 1080 for the first time in competition.
"I only learnt it in New Zealand this summer and so I was just stoked to land that in my second run," she said.
"It was pretty difficult [after crashing the first run], I put a lot of pressure on myself."
Sadowski-Synott had previously won World Cup gold in 2017 in slopestyle.
Three other Kiwi snowboarders competed in Kreischberg, with Cool Wakushima finishing 17th on World Cup debut, Tiarn Collins 18th and Mitchell Davern in 36th.
Margaux Hackett was the best of the three New Zealand freeskiers in action in 12th place, with Ben Barclay in 38th and Luca Harrington 48th in his first Big Air World Cup event.
Mackay masterminds Canterbury win
Canterbury skipper Frankie Mackay has delivered with bat and ball as her team cruised to an eight-wicket Twenty20 win over Central Districts at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Sunday.
Frankie Mackay Photo: Photosport
After winning the toss, Canterbury restricted Central Districts to 100-9, with Kate Gaging's 28 off 27 balls underpinning the innings.
Mackay finished with figures of 4-10 off her four overs, removing both Natalie Dodd for 21 and Anlo van Deventer for 12 in the 10th over.
The Canterbury opener then belted 48 off 33 balls, including nine fours, anchoring her team to a comfortable win as they reached 101-2 with seven overs to spare.
Canterbury now sit third on the ladder with two wins from three matches, and one abandoned game, while Central Districts are still winless.
Firebirds on fire in Super Smash
Finn Allen has continued his impressive form in Wellington's latest win in the men's domestic T20 cricket competition.
The 21-year-old batsman thumped 75 off 39 balls to lead the unbeaten Firebirds to an 80-run win over Northern Districts in the capital on Saturday.
Wellington batsman Finn Allen. Photo: Photosport
A stunning one-handed catch from Wellington all-rounder Logan van Beek, diving full-length to his right on the mid-wicket boundary, was also a highlight as the home side went to four wins from four.
Wellington also lead the women's competition after prevailing by five wickets against Northern Districts to avenge their loss to the Spirit last week.
White Ferns spinner Leigh Kasperek was the star for the Blaze, returning the outstanding figures as ND managed just 100-8 batting first.
Kasperek then hit 20 not out in the successful chase, with Rebecca Burns making 24 and Maddy Green 23.
Australia tighten control in third test
Australia lost both openers in the final session but were in control on 103-2 with a lead of 197 runs at the close of play on the third day of the third cricket test against India on Saturday.
Pat Cummins. Photo: Photosport
Pat Cummins had taken 4-29 as Australia rolled through the Indian batting order on a sunny afternoon at the Sydney Cricket Ground to dismiss the tourists for 244, the last six wickets tumbling for the addition of just 49 runs.
The most significant intervention from the pace attack, however, might be the deliveries from Cummins and Mitchell Starc that resulted in Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja leaving the ground for scans on their left elbow and thumb respectively.
The hard-fought series is tied 1-1 after the first two tests with the final clash scheduled to start at the Gabba next week.
Cricket Australia are pressing ahead with those plans despite reports of concerns in the India camp over the level of isolation they will endure in Brisbane, which went into three days of lockdown on Friday after a Covid-19 case was found in the city.
- Reuters
Reports of racist abuse at SCG
India's players were allegedly subjected to racial abuse from a section of the crowd at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) in the third test against Australia on Saturday, local media reported.
The Sydney Cricket Ground. Photo: AFP or licensors
India captain Ajinkya Rahane and other senior players spoke to the umpires at the end of the third day's play after quicks Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj complained of hearing racist slurs while fielding near the boundary rope, the reports said.
India batsman Cheteshwar Pujara did not answer when asked about the matter at the end-of-day news conference.
The Indian cricket board (BCCI), Cricket Australia counterpart and the International Cricket Council (ICC) did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
"We've come to know about the issue," BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla told Indian news agency ANI.
"Cricket is a gentleman's game and these kinds of things are not allowed or accepted."
- Reuters
Jose happy to contribute
Tottenham Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho plans to buy a ticket for the raffle organised by Marine ahead of their FA Cup third round clash but said he could not claim the top prize, which is to manage the eighth-tier side in a friendly.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Cash-strapped Marine's hopes of generating revenue through the turnstiles were dashed when the Merseyside region was placed in Tier 3 of Britain's Covid-19 restrictions, forcing the game to be played without supporters at the stadium.
The Merseyside-based club expected 500 fans to attend but are staring at 100,000 pounds (NZ$187,000) in lost revenue while a sponsor pulled out of a 20,000 pounds advertising package when the game went behind closed doors.
However, former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has stepped in to sponsor Marine's dugouts and pre-match warm-up tops through his JC23 Foundation charity.
Marine are also raising funds by selling virtual tickets at 10 pounds each which will go into a raffle and Portuguese coach Mourinho is set to dip his hand in his pocket to help out.
- Reuters