In today's sports news: What you need to know

Latest - The Tall Blacks have beaten Syria 97-58 to book their place in the Asia Cup quarter-finals in Jakarta.

They'll next meet South Korea in the last eight.

Taine Murray led the way with 16 points for the second game in a row, while Flynn Cameron had 14 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists in only 14 minutes of action. The two Sam's - Timmins and Mennenga - chipped in 12 and 11 respectively, while Britt had a solid 10 points on 4/4 shooting and 6 assists.

Tomorrow's game against South Korea is a rematch of the third-place game from Asia Cup 2017.

The Tall Blacks now advance to the FIBA Asia Cup quarter-finals, where they take on Korea on Thursday 21 July, time TBC - watch live on Whakaata Maori.

The winner of the quarter-final will then meet Australia or Japan in the last four.

Porter avoids ban

Ireland prop Andrew Porter has avoided a ban after his citing case for a high tackle during his side's Test series-clinching win over New Zealand was dismissed.

Porter was yellow-carded by referee Wayne Barnes following a head-on-head collision with All Blacks lock Brodie Retallick in the second half of Ireland's historic 32-22 victory.

Retallick suffered a fractured cheekbone in the incident and is expected to be side-lined for at least six weeks.

An independent panel accepted Porter's argument that while he had committed an act of foul play, the red card threshold had not been met.

Saturday's victory in Wellington was just a second-ever win for Ireland in New Zealand and came a week after their first, which squared the series at 1-1.

The result moved Ireland to the top of the world rankings for just the second time since World Rugby launched its rankings system 19 years ago.

Andy Farrell's men go above France, having also broken the 90-point rating mark for the first time, standing on 90.03, with France 0.62 behind.

Ireland previously headed the rankings for a two-week spell in September 2019.

-BBC

Canadian wins stage 16

Hugo Houle had never won a race in his 12 years as a professional but today the Canadian prevailed on the sport's biggest stage, realising his dream of celebrating a Tour de France victory in memory of his late little brother.

Houle's brother Pierrick died in 2012 after a hit and run and the Israel Premier Tech rider had set himself the goal of winning at a race he and his brother watched on television when they were kids.

On today's 16th stage Houle went solo from the day's breakaway, initially to set up a later attack from compatriot and team mate Michael Woods but he was never caught.

He had an advantage of more than one minute in the last kilometre, which gave him time to fully enjoy his maiden victory before pointing to the sky as he crossed the line in tears.

He is the first Canadian to win a stage on the tour in 34 years..... Steve Bauer was the last in 1988.

France's Valentin Madouas was second for Groupama-FDJ while Houle's compatriot and Israel Premier Tech team mate Michael Woods took third place.

Dane Jonas VIngegaard retained the overall leader's yellow jersey.

-Reuters

United win again

Manchester United's forward Anthony Martial scored his third goal of the pre-season as they eased past Crystal Palace 3-1 in a friendly in Melbourne.

The win in front of a heaving crowd of 76,499 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground continued new manager Erik ten Hag's bright start following a 4-1 victory over Melbourne Victory and 4-0 romp against Liverpool in Bangkok last week.

France striker Martial, who was loaned to Sevilla in the January transfer window, netted his first in the 17th minute and has now scored in all three matches on the Asian tour.

He also had a hand in both second half goals for Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho before Palace pulled one back late on when Joel Ward headed in from a corner, catching goalkeeper David de Gea napping.

With Cristiano Ronaldo excused from the tour due to a family issue, Martial has been United's main threat up front, partnering well with Sancho and Rashford.

United, who finished sixth in the Premier League last season and failed to qualify for the Champions League, wrap up their Australian tour with a friendly against Aston Villa in Perth on Saturday.

-Reuters

Lord's relax dress code

Lord's relaxed its strict Pavilion dress code today with members not required to wear jackets as temperatures soared into the mid 30s Celsius for the start of the County Championship game between Middlesex and Sussex.

Much of Britain is gripped in a heatwave with temperatures forecast to hit 40 degrees.

"MCC has advised us that the dress regulations in the Pavilion will be relaxed on Tuesday 19 July," a statement on the Middlesex County Cricket Club website said.

"Gentlemen in the Pavilion that day will not be required to wear a jacket, although MCC will still require Gentlemen to wear ties.

"Spectators should also adhere to the usual dress regulations on trousers and shoes."

It is not the first time hot weather has forced a relaxation of one of British sport's most traditional venues with the rules also being relaxed in 2018.

The stifling heat also led to two County Championship games between Gloucestershire and Hampshire and Northants and Lancashire having three reduced-length 90-minute sessions with play finishing at 4:30pm in the "interest of spectator and player welfare".

Several horse racing events have also been cancelled in Britain because of the heatwave.

-Reuters

Australian says Open winner should avoid LIV

Former major champion Ian Baker-Finch says LIV Golf Invitational Series are talking to his fellow Australian Cameron Smith but has urged the newly-minted British Open winner to resist the advances of the Saudi-backed circuit.

Smith reacted angrily when he was asked about the possibility he might join the breakaway series after he won the Claret Jug at St Andrews on Monday, saying his management team dealt with "that stuff".

"I know that they're talking to him and to many others, I hope he doesn't because I think he can leave a great legacy by winning major championships and becoming the best player in the world," Baker-Finch told Melbourne's 3AW radio.

"I don't think he needs the money, I don't think it's going to be something he should do. It's his decision, he'll be a $100 million guy or more if he did go. Does he want to win more majors or does he want the money?

"I'm hoping that he stays and leaves a great legacy. I think Justin Thomas and Rory McIlroy and a lot of those guys that still compete and play well in majors and want to win majors and want to leave a legacy, they're the guys I'd be following."

Baker-Finch, who won his only major at the 1991 British Open at Royal Birkdale, also slammed the divisive way the new series had taken on the establishment.

-Reuters

Rins heading to new team

Spain's three-times MotoGP race winner Alex Rins will join Honda satellite outfit LCR Honda in 2023 on a two-year contract following Suzuki's decision to leave MotoGP at the end of the season.

Former world champions Suzuki earlier this month said they will be exiting MotoGP due to financial reasons, leaving Rins and his team mate and compatriot Joan Mir, the 2020 world champion, seeking new teams.

The 26-year-old Rins will serve as a replacement for Alex Marquez, who is set to join Gresini in 2023.

-Reuters