Today's sports news: What you need to know

Canterbury have won a five-over shootout against Auckland to go two-from-two in the men's domestic T20 competition.

Rain washed out the women's match between Auckland and Canterbury at Eden Park Outer Oval on Sunday after just 10 balls.

But the wet weather did subside enough for the men's teams to get in the minimum length of match allowable.

The home side managed 52-4 from their five overs, Mark Chapman hitting 25 off 13 balls and Ben Horne 13 from seven.

Canterbury, though, reached their target without losing a wicket and with three balls to spare, Chad Bowes leading the way with four soxes and two fours in his 39 from just 14.

Toomey storms home to win singles

Nicole Toomey has broken through for her first New Zealand title, edging seven-time national champion Mandy Boyd in a thrilling women's singles final at the national bowls championships in Auckland.

Toomey came back from 18-14 down to score the next seven shots and win the race to 21.

"It's pretty amazing. It's been a goal of mine for a long, long time so it's nice to finally get one in the books," she said.

"First big national title so hopefully onwards and upwards and a great start to 2021."

Toomey earlier beat Connie Mathieson (Takapuna) 21-10 in the semi-finals after edging Karen Hema (Carlton Cornwall) 21-16 in the quarters.

But it was in the final where she had to dig the deepest.

"The nerves were there the whole game, even before the game but you just have to keep on top of it, keep drawing the shots and slowly get there.

"Just remembering how I've been playing and having that determination and motivation to keep going and plodding along and it's first to 21 so you've got a whole game to keep going and keep finding those shots."

Proteas take control in Johannesburg

South African seamer Anrich Nortje claimed a career-best six-wicket haul and opener Dean Elgar backed it up with an unbeaten 92 runs as the home team forged an early advantage over Sri Lanka on the opening day of the second test in Johannesburg.

Nortje made full use of seamer-friendly conditions at The Wanderers Stadium for a return of 6-56 off 14.3 overs as Sri Lanka collapsed from 71-1 to be dismissed for 157 before tea.

Elgar then set about consolidating the advantage as he moved tantalisingly close to a century at the close of play, steering South Africa to 148 for one wicket in reply, trailing by just nine runs.

Elgar, who reached 92 not out and resisted the temptation to push for his century in the final half hour's play, featured in an unbeaten 114-run partnership for the second wicket with Rassie van der Dussen.

Aiden Markram was the only South African to be dismissed in reply, caught behind for five, as debutant Asitha Fernando bagged a first test scalp.

South Africa won last week's first test in Pretoria by an innings and 45 runs and are looking to complete a 2-0 sweep of the brief series.

- Reuters

Indian players cleared of Covid following breach

India's cricketers and staff have been cleared of Covid-19 following reports some of the team's players breached health protocols while on tour in Australia.

Five India cricketers were placed in isolation over the weekend while the Australian and Indian cricket boards investigated allegations of a breach of biosecurity protocols after a video surfaced showing the players eating at a Melbourne restaurant.

The Indian cricket board (BCCI) said players and support staff were tested on Sunday.

"All tests have returned negative results," the BCCI said in a statement on Monday.

A Cricket Australia (CA) spokesman said Australia's players and staff had also been cleared after tests on Sunday.

The BCCI made no comment on the investigation into the five Indian cricketers.

According to strict biosecurity protocols set by CA, players are allowed to sit outside but not allowed to dine inside restaurants.

Australia and India are in the middle of a four-test series, being played in the backdrop of strict health measures, with both sides to travel to New South Wales for the third test in Sydney from Thursday.

CA said on Monday the crowd at the Sydney Cricket Ground would be reduced to 25 per cent capacity and tickets would be reissued.

While the Sydney match will go ahead, there was some doubt over the fourth test in Brisbane, with reports India's cricketers were unhappy at the prospect of having to re-enter strict quarantine.

Queensland state has closed its border with New South Wales after the outbreak in Sydney.

Agreement was reached to allow the players to fly to Brisbane for the fourth test on January 15, but they will have to quarantine while in the city.

- Reuters

Leicester back in top four

Leicester City moved up to third place in the Premier League as second-half goals by James Maddison and Youri Tielemans secured a 2-1 victory away at Newcastle United.

Substitute Andy Carroll's strike for the hosts set up a tense finale but Leicester were worthy winners.

They moved above Tottenham Hotspur with 32 points from 17 games played, one point behind co-leaders Liverpool and Manchester United, who have played one game less.

Maddison blasted Leicester in front in the 55th minute, and when the outstanding Tielemans produced a great finish to double the lead after 72 minutes it seemed that Leicester's seventh away win in the league was in the bag.

Carroll's first Premier League goal for Newcastle for 10 years offered a late twist.

- Reuters

Woodbridge: Federer call rides on results

Roger Federer's results in 2021 are more likely than any age milestone to determine when his glittering career comes to an end, said Australian Todd Woodbridge, who thinks the Swiss master may yet have another Wimbledon triumph in him.

Last week the 39-year-old holder of 20 Grand Slam singles titles confirmed fitness issues after two knee operations in 2020 mean that fans will not see him in action at the Australian Open in February for the first time in more than two decades.

"A player of his stature, at some point when you're not winning, you start to wonder about why you're only making the quarter-finals, when you're used to being in the final," Woodbridge told Channel Nine this week.

"It doesn't give the same adrenaline rush as it always has, and that's when you start to think to yourself that you've got other things to do with your life."

A semi-final defeat in Melbourne in 2020 was Federer's last competitive match, and playing five-setters in the Australian summer heat after a lengthy injury and 14 days quarantine would have been a tricky proposition.

Federer has not missed a trip to Melbourne Park since a loss in qualifying in 1999.

- Reuters