RUGBY UNION
Training in SA approved
South Africa Rugby on Friday said that professional teams would be able to return to contact training from next week, but added that it is not ready to confirm the schedule of a seven-team domestic competition set to start next month. “The teams have been hard at work with non-contact training for the past five weeks, and once a final COVID-19 test has been passed, they will be able to step up a gear next week,” SA Rugby chief executive Jurie Roux said in a statement. Super Rugby sides the Bulls, Lions, Sharks and Stormers are set to tackle PRO14 outfit the Cheetahs, and domestic teams the Pumas and Griquas in a local competition that SA Rugby had hoped would begin by the middle of next month.
CRICKET
Broadcaster threatens exit
Channel Seven chief executive James Warburton yesterday said that the Australian broadcaster might terminate its contract with Cricket Australia (CA) over the sporting body’s handling of the summer schedule, according to comments published in the Daily Telegraph. “It’s a train wreck,” Warburton was quoted as saying, amid concerns that the Big Bash League might be a diluted competition without international players due to COVID-19 restrictions. “We are forced to consider all our options, including terminating the contract and we have put them on notice. This is not an acceptable product and we will not support the season,” he said. “Cricket Australia have an obligation to deliver a competition of no lesser standard than the past.” CA said that it was disappointed with Warburton’s comments and would deliver a “full and compelling summer of cricket.” The board said in a statement: “Cricket Australia greatly values the relationship with our broadcast partners.”
CRICKET
O’Brien six hits own car
Big-hitting Ireland batsman Kevin O’Brien smashed a six into his own car window during a domestic Twenty20 match on Thursday. O’Brien struck eight sixes in a whirlwind 82 off just 37 deliveries playing for Leinster Lightning against North-West Warriors in Dublin. However, he might wish he had taken a few more singles when one of those sixes smashed the window of his own vehicle in an adjoining car park. Cricket Ireland highlighted the damage on its Twitter account, although the 36-year-old O’Brien had the consolation of helping Leinster secure a victory.
SOCCER
Hedges leads Aberdeen
Ryan Hedges scored three times as Aberdeen hammered the Faroe Islands’ Runavik 6-0 on Thursday to reach the second qualifying round of the Europa League after a tumultuous start to the season. Earlier this month, the Dons fined eight players, including another goal-scorer at Pittodrie Jonny Hayes, who broke COVID-19 protocols leading to three Scottish Premiership matches being postponed. Two players tested positive and another six were forced to self-isolate for 14 days after attending a restaurant and a bar together. Wales midfielder Hedges, 25, claimed his first of proceedings after 50 minutes following first-half efforts from Lewis Ferguson and Curtis Main. Hedges, who has three caps, completed his hat-trick either side of Hayes’ 63rd-minute goal.
MOTHER KNOWS BEST: Warriors’ coach Kerr said his 91-year-old mother criticized him for his attitude toward officials that led to his ejection from Monday’s game Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on Wednesday rescued the Oklahoma City Thunder with a game-tying buzzer-beater before finishing with 46 points in a 129-125 overtime victory against the Utah Jazz. The reigning NBA champions looked to be heading for a third straight loss after the Jazz inched into a 114-112 lead following Lauri Markkanen’s layup with just three seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. However, NBA Most Valuable Player Gilgeous-Alexander drained a superb 13-foot jump shot to tie it up at 114-114 as the buzzer sounded to send the game into overtime. Gilgeous-Alexander then took over in the extra period with nine points as the Western
Mohamed Salah’s Egypt knocked reigning champions Ivory Coast out of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with a 3-2 win in the quarter-finals on Saturday, while Victor Osimhen starred as Nigeria beat Algeria 2-0 to set up a clash with hosts Morocco. In Agadir, Morocco, a thrilling last-eight tie saw Omar Marmoush and Ramy Rabia net in the first half for the Pharaohs before an own goal by Ahmed Aboul-Fetouh brought the Ivorians back into it. Salah then got Egypt’s third early in the second half and they held on after Guela Doue again reduced the deficit. Egypt is to face Senegal
AUSTRALIAN ADVENTURE: Sabalenka aims to follow up with a third Australian Open win, while Taiwanese Joanna Garland claimed a WTA 125 title in Canberra Aryna Sabalenka beat Karolina Muchova in straight sets to reach her third Brisbane International final in a row yesterday, a week ahead of the Australian Open. Sabalenka looked in great touch against the tricky Czech, who had won their last three meetings and went into the match as one of the few players with a winning record over the world No. 1. However, Sabalenka showed her class and power as she broke Muchova once in each set to take the semi-final 6-3, 6-4 in 89 minutes to face Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk in the final. “I struggled against her a couple of times [in
Brandon Miller scored 18 points, LaMelo Ball had 17 and the Charlotte Hornets built a 47-point lead in the first half of a 150-95 rout against the Utah Jazz on Saturday night. It was the second-biggest win in franchise history for the Hornets and their largest on the road. The Hornets bounced back from a pair of frustrating losses in a big way, having fallen to Toronto by one point and Indiana by two in their last two games. Charlotte pounded the NBA champion Thunder by 27 in Oklahoma City before those defeats, previously the Hornets’ most lopsided victory of the season. Tre
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