Latest - Tom Abercrombie hit a buzzer beating three pointer to lift the New Zealand Breakers to a 76-73 win over the Cairns Taipans in their Australian National Basketball League clash in Melbourne.
Tom Abercrombie of the New Zealand Breakers celebrates with his teammates after scoring the winning basket during the NBL match between the New Zealand Breakers and the Cairns Taipans. Photo: Photosport
The victory lifts the Breakers off the bottom of the table above Cairns.
The Breakers had opened up a 19-point lead early in the third quarter but had to withstand a fight back from the Taipans in the final stages of the game.
The Taipans levelled the score with 40 seconds remaining before the Breakers would go ahead again, only to be answered by the Taipans.
The Breakers had one last shot to avoid overtime but at first the Taipans denied Tai Webster a good look on his drive.
However, Abercrombie grabbed the offensive rebound, got out beyond the three-point line and span and rose to release the shot.
"It was obviously an awesome feeling and any time you can hit a game winner you remember it," Abercrombie said.
Saunders to captain Steel
Midcourter Shannon Saunders will captain the Southern Steel in neball's ANZ premiership this season.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Midcourter Shannon Saunders will captain the Southern Steel in neball's ANZ premiership this season.
Saunders, 30, is in her tenth season with the franchise and was a member of the Silver Ferns world cup winning squad and has played 80 tests for New Zealand.
"It will definitely be a challenge for me and push me outside my comfort zone at times into being more vocal," she said.
"I tend to lead by actions rather than telling people what to do so I am going to have to find my voice more."
-RNZ
Roglic wins Paris-Nice stage four to take overall lead
Vuelta a Espana champion Primoz Roglic claimed the overall leader's yellow jersey in the Paris-Nice by winning the fourth stage, a 188-km hilly ride between Chalon-sur-Saone and Chiroubles.
The Slovenian, who also finished runner-up in last year's Tour de France after cracking in the final time trial, powered away from the pack in the final ascent, a 7.3-km climb at an average gradient of 6%.
German Maximilian Schachmann took second place and France's Guillaume Martin finished third, both crossing the line 12 seconds behind Jumbo-Visma rider Roglic.
Giro d'Italia champion Tao Geoghegan Hart abandoned the race after crashing in the descent from the Mont Brouilly some 15 kilometres from the finish.
Overall, Roglic leads Schachmann (Bora-Hansgrohe) by 35 seconds and American Brandon McNulty (UAE-Team Emirates) by 37 seconds.
-Reuters
ICC CEO Sawhney sent on leave after internal probe over conduct
International Cricket Council Chief Executive Manu Sawhney has been sent on leave after an investigation by an independent audit firm revealed adverse findings over his style of working.
Sawhney, the former managing director of ESPN Star Sports, joined the Dubai-based world governing body in January, 2019, succeeding David Richardson of South Africa, who worked as chief executive for seven years.
An ICC spokesperson confirmed to Reuters that Sawhney had not been coming to the office, and that a process has been initiated to deal with the matter.
Sawhney's name was missing from the governing body's statement on Wednesday confirming the switch of the World Test Championship venue. The ICC instead quoted Geoff Allardice, the General Manager, Cricket, in its statement.
The internal probe was conducted in February and an anonymous survey revealed problems with his style of working, media reports said.
The former Singapore Sports Hub chief executive was with ESPN Star Sports for 17 years and during his tenure led the global broadcast partnership deal with the ICC that ran from 2007-15.
He was also a non-executive director and member of the audit committee at Premier League soccer club Manchester United.
-Reuters
Federer wins first match in over a year
Twenty time tennis grand slam winner Roger Federer has made his much anticipated return to action after more than a year with vicotry in the opening round of the Qatar Open.
Roger Federer Photo: AFP
The 39-year-old Swiss had not played a competitive match for more than a year having undergone two knee surgies last year.
Federer beat British number one Dan Evans 7-6, 3-6 7-5.
Number of concussions in England unacceptable: head injury specialist
The frequency of concussions in English rugby is "totally unacceptable" and authorities must take further action to protect players, head injury specialist Willie Stewart said.
A study conducted by the Rugby Football Union (RFU) revealed that 166 concussions were recorded during matches in the Premiership's 2018-19 season, accounting for 20% of injuries suffered by players.
"One of the things that disappoints in professional rugby is the concussion, the brain injury level, is about one per match," Stewart said during a Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) session on head injuries in sport.
"England Rugby has been very good at monitoring the level of brain injury and that level of one per match has stayed the same for four or five years and that's an unacceptably high level.
"One in 30 players going off for a brain injury per match is totally unacceptable. It could be made a lot safer, there are things that could be done to reduce the risk."
Stewart also described football's trial of permanent concussion substitutes as a "shambles" and said the sport needed to follow rugby union's example where temporary substitutes are used while doctors assess a head injury.
"What football has introduced is a shambles in 2021," he said. "Rugby has made great developments, and that should be the model for other sports."
Concussions and their long-term effects have been in the spotlight since former players filed a class-action lawsuit against governing bodies World Rugby, the RFU and the Welsh Rugby Union alleging a failure to protect them from the risks.
-Reuters
Manchester City return to winning ways
Leaders Manchester City showed that their derby loss to Manchester United was a blip as as they recovered with a 5-2 win over Southampton in English football's premier league.
City's 21-match winning streak in all competitions was ended with a 2-nil loss to United earlier this week but normal service has now resumed with City going 14 points clear at the top of the competition.
City have 68 points from 29 games with Manchester United on 54 from one game fewer.
Southampton have 33 points from 28 games and are only seven points above the relegation zone after a ninth defeat in 11 games.
Meanwhile Liverpool have comfortably advanced to the quarter finals of the European championships with 2-nil win over German side RB Leipzig to complete a 4-nil.
Paris St Germain are also through to the last eight after drawing 1-all with Barcelona to complete a 5-2 aggregate win.
-Reuters
