Latest - Joe Root's 13-month wait for a test century, the longest of his career, ended overnight with a masterful unbeaten 168 on day two of the first test against Sri Lanka as he revealed a change in mindset was behind his success.
England captain Joe Root. Photo: AFP
Root dominated Sri Lanka's spin attack on a turning wicket in Galle to help his side to 320 for four, a commanding lead of 185 on the first innings that he will look to extend in search of a double-ton.
"In the last two years I have made too much of a big deal about it in my own mind, which has been to my detriment," Root told reporters in responding to a question about his failure to regularly turn half-centuries into three figures.
"So I tried to get it out of my mind and just get into one-on-one contests with each bowler and choose the right shots.
"My shot selection was good today, I managed to pick the right ball the majority of the time. It is about doing that more often."
- Reuters
Canterbury end Wellington winning streak
Canterbury skipper Cole McConchie delivered with bat and ball to guide his team to a four-wicket Twenty20 win over previously unbeaten Wellington at Hagley Oval in Christchurch today.
Canterbury batsman Jack Boyle and Welington keeper Tom Blundell Photo: Photosport
Sent in to bat, Wellington struggled for momentum and looked in real trouble at 40-4 after six overs.
Jimmy Neesham stepped up with a bright 49 off 38, including two fours and two sixes, but the loss of skipper Michael Bracewell to concussion halted the charge.
McConchie picked up the key wickets of Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra cheaply, finishing with figures of 2-14 off his four overs.
Despite losing two early wickets, Canterbury timed their run-chase well enough. The middle order stepped up - first Jack Boyle (39), then Daryl Mitchell (34), with McConchie's unbeaten 48 off 34 providing the glue.
Canterbury reached their target with two balls in hand.
In the later women's match, Canterbury could set only a modest 117 after winning the toss. Amy Satterthwaite (52 off 28) and Kate Ebrahim (34) put on 60 runs for the third wicket, but were the only two batters to make double figures.
Amy Satterthwaite Photo: Photosport
Maddy Green (4-9) was in a class of her own, although Leigh Kasperek's 4-22 came close.
Green and Sophie Devine put on 83 for the first wicket, with Devine belting 59 off 26 to continue the form which saw her hit an unbeaten 108 from 38 balls against Otago two days earlier.
Wellington cruised home in 13.2 overs.
Australia exploit depleted Indian bowling attack
Marnus Labuschagne rode his luck to a home-ground century as Australia exploited India's injury woes and punished their poor fielding to reach 274 for five at the close of a steamy day one of the fourth test decider in Brisbane.
Marnus Labuschagne celebrates his century at the 'Gabba. Photo: AFP
Captain Tim Paine was 38 not out and all-rounder Cameron Green on 28 at stumps, with Australia holding sway after winning the toss and batting on a Gabba pitch that flattened obligingly for the batsmen under a blazing sun.
It was a bad toss to lose for Ajinkya Rahane's decimated side, shorn of pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah and spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, and stitched together with four injury-forced changes.
Selectors spread the load with a rookie four-prong pace attack, but it was soon a man down when seamer Navdeep Saini went off the field with a groin injury after lunch.
He exited straight after inducing a nick from Labuschagne that was dropped in the gully by Rahane when the batsman was on 37.
Labuschagne was then dropped on 48 before tea and duly made India pay in a 113-run partnership with Matthew Wade (45) before getting out slogging for 108.
- Reuters
'Mr Dakar' secures unprecedented 14th title
French veteran Stephane Peterhansel has won the Dakar Rally for a record-extending 14th time, and his eighth in the car category, after a gruelling two weeks in the Saudi Arabian deserts.
Stephane Peterhansel celebrates with Mini team-mates after winning the Dakar Rally. Photo: AFP
The 55-year-old X-Raid Mini JCW driver, nicknamed "Mr Dakar" for his unprecedented success, first won the endurance event on a motorcycle in 1991 and switched to cars after five more wins on two wheels.
"It's still the same emotion...there are no easy victories on the Dakar," said Peterhansel after a triumph that also made him the first driver to win the rally on three continents.
Argentine Kevin Benavides, riding a Honda, became the first South American to win the motorcycle title after the 12th and final stage that ended in Jeddah.
The annual rally started in 1978 as a race from Paris to the Senegalese capital, Dakar, but moved from Africa for safety reasons in 2009. It is now held entirely in Saudi Arabia after a stint in South America.
This year was the 43rd staging of the event.
The finish was clouded by news of the death of French amateur rider Pierre Cherpin who had been in an induced coma since he crashed on the seventh stage.
- Reuters
Rooney hangs up his boots to focus on management
Former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney, regarded as one of the best English players of his generation, has called time on his illustrious playing career after being named as manager of second-tier side Derby County.
Wayne Rooney playing for Derby County. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The struggling Championship club said in a statement that the 35-year-old had signed a two-and-a-half-year contract.
Rooney, who scored an all-time record 53 goals for England and is also Manchester United's record scorer, joined Derby in a player-coach capacity a year ago from MLS side DC United and made 35 appearances for the club.
He had been interim manager at Derby since the club parted company with Dutchman Phillip Cocu in November.
Rooney began his playing career with boyhood club Everton, scoring his first goal in spectacular fashion as a 16-year-old against Arsenal.
He became one of the country's most iconic players, scoring 253 goals for United and winning five league titles and the Champions League. Rooney is also England's most capped outfield player, with 120 international appearances.
- Reuters
Two-time major winner arrested
Argentine golfer Angel Cabrera, a two-time major winner, has been arrested in Brazil in connection with assault charges levelled against him in his homeland, police and diplomats said.
Angel Cabrera is presented with the Masters' green jacket following his win at August in 2009. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
A federal police statement about the arrest on suspicion of crimes committed in Argentina between 2016 and 2020 did not name Cabrera, but Argentine diplomats confirmed it was the golfer.
Consul Claudio Gutirrez said Cabrera was taken to prison in a Rio suburb pending extradition proceedings.
The police statement said a 51-year-old Argentine who was on the Interpol red list was detained at an apartment in Rio's Leblon district.
Known as El Pato, Cabrera won the 2007 US Open Championship and the 2009 Masters and is currently a member of the PGA Champions tour, with his last tournament appearance coming at the PURE Insurance Championship in September 2020.
The PGA tour lists his total career earnings as $14,761,614.
- Reuters