CRICKET
Australia thump S Africa
Australia yesterday completed a thumping of South Africa by an innings and 284 runs in the first-ever women’s Test between the two countries. Having beaten the hosts for the first time in ODIs and T20s during their tour, South Africa were hoping to go out on a high with a momentous Test win at the WACA in Perth, but they were outclassed. “I’m very proud. It’s been an amazing series,” Australia skipper Alyssa Healy said. South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt said that it had been a learning experience. “All credit to Australia, we were pretty much outplayed in all facets of the game, but a great experience for us and we enjoyed the opportunity,” Wolvaardt said. South Africa were bundled out for just 76 in 31.2 overs in their first innings — South Africa’s lowest Test score. In reply, the hosts racked up 575-9 before declaring with the highest total by a women’s Test side, spearheaded by 210 from 22-year-old Annabel Sutherland. South Africa made 215 in their second innings.
CRICKET
Kyle Jamieson ruled out
Fast bowler Kyle Jamieson has been ruled out for the rest of the season after scans revealed a stress fracture in his back, New Zealand Cricket announced yesterday. The 29-year-old is not expected to play again until next summer, meaning he will miss New Zealand’s two-Test series against Australia this month. “The last few days have been some of my most challenging, but I am hugely grateful for the support I’ve received from my partner, family, teammates, support staff and medical professionals,” Jamieson said. “I know injuries are part of life as a cricketer and at my age I am hopeful I still have many more playing days ahead of me.”
GOLF
Spieth signs wrong score
Jordan Spieth on Friday signed for the wrong score at the Genesis Invitational and was disqualified for the first time in the 263 tournaments he has played on the PGA Tour. Spieth owned up to the mistake in a post on X. “Today, I signed for an incorrect scorecard and stepped out of the scoring area, after thinking I went through all procedures to make sure it was correct. Rules are rules, and I take full responsibility,” he wrote. Spieth made double-bogey on the 18th hole for a 73, but he signed for a three on the par-three fourth hole when he actually made a four, leading to the disqualification. That left 51 players in the field for the weekend at Riviera, with Patrick Cantlay leading on 13-under after two rounds. Kevin Yu of Taiwan missed the cut.
CYCLING
Hoy diagnosed with cancer
Six-time Olympic champion Chris Hoy on Friday said he has been diagnosed with cancer and that he felt “forced” to reveal the news. The 47-year-old former track cycling star wrote on Instagram that he was diagnosed with the disease last year and that he is undergoing treatment, including chemotherapy, adding that it is “going really well” and he feels “fine.” He added: “For the sake of my young family, I had hoped to keep this information private, but regrettably our hand has been forced.” He gave no further details or the type of cancer he has.
Tallon Griekspoor on Friday stunned top seed Alexander Zverev 4-6, 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/4) in the second round at Indian Wells, avenging a devastating loss to the German at Roland Garros last year. Zverev, the world No. 2 who is heading the field of the prestigious ATP Masters event with No. 1 Jannik Sinner serving a three-month drugs ban, is the first Indian Wells men’s top seed to lose his opening match since Andy Murray in 2017. It was a cherished win for Griekspoor, who had lost five straight matches — including four last year — to the German. That included a five-setter
VALUABLE POINT: Relegation-threatened Valencia snatched a thrilling 3-3 draw at CA Osasuna thanks to a remarkable backheel volley by Umar Sadiq Barcelona on Sunday secured a comfortable 4-0 win over Real Sociedad to move back top of La Liga. Aritz Elustondo’s early red card gave Hansi Flick’s side a comfortable afternoon, with Gerard Martin, Marc Casado, Ronald Araujo and Robert Lewandowski on the score sheet. Atletico Madrid beat Athletic Bilbao on Saturday to temporarily knock the Catalans from their perch, while Real Madrid, third, lost at Real Betis Balompie. Flick was able to rotate his side a little ahead of the UEFA Champions League round-of-16 visit to face SL Benfica tomorrow and still move one point above Atletico. “There were a lot of things that
Donovan Mitchell on Wednesday scored 26 points as the Cleveland Cavaliers punched their ticket to the NBA playoffs with a hard-fought 112-107 victory over the Miami Heat. A seesaw battle in Cleveland saw the Heat threaten to end the Cavs’ 11-game unbeaten streak after opening up a seven-point lead late in the fourth quarter, but the Cavs clawed back the deficit in the closing minutes to seal their 12th straight victory and a place in the post-season. The Cavaliers improved to 52-10, maintaining their stranglehold on the Eastern Conference with 20 games of the regular season remaining. Mitchell was one of six Cleveland
Five-time champion Novak Djokovic on Saturday tumbled out of the Indian Wells ATP Masters, falling in his first match to lucky loser Botic van de Zandschulp as two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz advanced. “No excuses for a poor performance,” 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic said after 37 unforced errors in a 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 defeat. “It doesn’t feel great when you play this way on the court,” he said. “But congratulations to my opponent — just a bad day in the office, I guess, for me.” Djokovic is just the latest in Van de Zandschulp’s string of superstar victims. He
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