GOLF
Henderson leads at Meijer
Brooke Henderson on Saturday birdied the final three holes for a three-under 69 and a two-stroke lead over Annie Park at the Meijer Classic, with Lexi Thompson three shots back after a 62. Trying to break a tie for the Canadian victory record for both women and men, the 21-year-old Henderson had a 19-under 197 total at Blythefield Country Club. She opened with consecutive 64s, playing 30 holes on Friday after rain delayed the start on Thursday. Both Taiwanese at the tournament failed to make the cut, with Hsu Wei-ling shooting a pair of 72s and Chien Pei-yun shooting a 72 and a 73.
CRICKET
South Africa get first win
South Africa won their first match at the Cricket World Cup with a nine-wicket thrashing of Afghanistan under the DLS method at Sophia Gardens on Saturday. Quinton de Kock hit 68, including eight fours, and Hashim Amla was 41 not out in their 131-1 in 28.4 overs in reply to Afghanistan’s 125 all out in 34.1 overs. Captain Faf du Plessis was a happy man at the end. “Very relieved. Feel a little bit lighter, but I think all our cricket today was much better and much more competitive,” Du Plessis said. However, South Africa remained in the bottom half of the table with the West Indies, Bangladesh and Pakistan, but have played one more game. Afghanistan, have lost all four of their matches and remained last. In the top half, Australia defeated Sri Lanka by 87 runs to go to No. 1. Sri Lanka, whose top order threatened to overhaul Australia’s 334-7, were fifth.
SOCCER
Group E top two decided
The Netherlands and Canada ensured they would finish in the top two in Group E at the Women’s World Cup with victories. In Valenciennes on Saturday, Vivianne Miedema scored a brace as they saw off a spirited Cameroon 3-1, while Canada laid siege to the New Zealand goal in Grenoble to win 2-0.
SOCCER
Antuna scores hat-trick
Uriel Antuna went from not even being on Mexico’s roster to getting the start and scoring a hat-trick. The forward — who was a last-minute addition to the roster — scored three goals and had an assist as top-seeded Mexico cruised to a 7-0 rout over Cuba on the opening day of the CONCACAF Gold Cup on Saturday at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. “I am very happy I was able to score, but the team played a great game, so I am very happy to be here,” Antuna said to CONCACAF.com after the game. Canada opened play with a 4-0 victory over Martinique in Saturday’s first game.
BASEBALL
Ruth jersey sets record
A New York Yankees jersey worn by baseball legend Babe Ruth was sold at auction for a record-breaking US$5.64 million, a statement said on Saturday. Hunt Auctions said the jersey was the most expensive piece of sports memorabilia ever sold. “The legacy and significance of Babe Ruth to the game of baseball and American popular culture is unmatched by any other figure in the history of this country,” Hunt Auctions president David Hunt said in a statement. The identity of the buyer was not disclosed. Saturday’s sale shattered the previous record for sports memorabilia of US$4.4 million, also for a Ruth jersey, set in 2012.
Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke, 29, has died, the NBA team said in a statement on Tuesday, while the family of Jason Collins, the first openly gay man to play in a major US pro sports league, announced the former Grizzlies and Brooklyn Nets player had died after a battle with brain cancer. “We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of Brandon Clarke,” the Grizzlies said in a statement posted on social media. “Brandon was an outstanding teammate and an even better person whose impact on the organization and the greater Memphis community will not be forgotten.” The statement did not provide
Mathys Tel was hero and villain as Tottenham drew 1-1 at home to Leeds United on Monday — a result that leaves their English Premier League future hanging in the balance. The Frenchman broke the deadlock early in the second half to ease the tension at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but then gave away a penalty with a reckless attempted clearance. In the dying minutes, Spurs were grateful to Antonin Kinsky, who produced an astonishing save to deny the visitors a win. Tottenham are now two points clear of 18th-placed West Ham United with just two games left this season. The
‘DONE IT ALL’: LeBron James is now out of contract with the Lakers and would head into the off season as a free agent with uncertainty swirling around his future LeBron James on Monday said he would take time to consider his future after the Los Angeles Lakers were swept out of the NBA playoffs by the Oklahoma City Thunder in what could turn out to be the final game of his career. James, 41, delivered a typically defiant performance with 24 points and 12 rebounds, but it was not enough to prevent the Lakers from falling 115-110 as the Thunder completed a 4-0 sweep in the Western Conference semi-finals series. The four-time NBA champion is now out of contract with the Lakers and would head into the off season
FRUSTRATION: Gauff smacked herself on the head with her racket before storming down the tunnel, emerging afterward to have a heated discussion with her coach Elina Svitolina on Saturday won the Italian Open after beating Coco Gauff 6-4, 6-7 (3/7), 6-2 to claim her third Rome title, while Jannik Sinner set a date with Casper Ruud in the men’s final. Ukraine’s Svitolina had not claimed a WTA 1000 title since her last victory at the Foro Italico eight years ago, but prevailed over the ever-erratic Gauff to claim her 20th tournament triumph. Saturday’s win over Gauff was her third in a row against a player in the top four of the world rankings — including Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina — ahead of the French
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