1st ODI: England, 211-9, bt New Zealand, 210, by 1 wkt Captain guides long tail to low target England’s biggest summer got off to an underwhelming start at Chester-le-Street, as they limped to a one-wicket win in the first one-day international against New Zealand. Only a calm rearguard effort from...
Campbell Ridl boosts Exeter’s Prem playoff push with victory over Bath
Exeter 35-12 Bath Fourth-placed Exeter secure bonus-point victory The road to the Prem playoffs continues to be full of compelling twists and turns. For a while it seemed Exeter might about to be reeled in by opponents renowned for their finishing strength only for second-half tries from Paul Brown-Bampoe, Len...
Ruud says Sinner is ‘beatable’ as world No 1 seeks record run at Italian Open
Italian could win record sixth straight Masters 1000 title Naomi Osaka beats Diana Shnaider to reach fourth round Casper Ruud believes Jannik Sinner is not unbeatable but the rest of the field will have to catch the world No 1 on a favourable day as they try to stop him...
Tottenham hope to exorcise demons just as Kinsky has done after Atlético debacle
Goalkeeper has begun to rebuild his reputation under Roberto De Zerbi, whose attitude has helped Spurs in fight for Premier League survival When Antonin Kinsky had his Madrid episode, there was an assumption that he would not play again for Tottenham this season. And maybe not the next one, either....
Scotland’s Six Nations slump raises questions for new era under Sione Fukofuka | Sarah Rendell
The Scots could collect the wooden spoon a year after their historic World Cup run. Why has progress stalled so dramatically? Is it a World Cup hangover? Or a growing injury list? Or something else? These are the questions Scotland supporters are asking themselves in the midst of a disappointing...
Hull KR set up clash of titans in Challenge Cup final against Wigan
Holders were near enough unbeatable in brushing aside Warrington in the semi-final with a performance to rival the quality of the Warriors As everyone expected, it will be the irresistible force against the immovable object at Wembley in three weeks’ time. Every great era-defining athlete or team needs an adversary....
Dubois rewrites quitter narrative in strangely uplifting night for boxing
New heavyweight champion climbed off the canvas twice before overwhelming Fabio Wardley in a battle that finally silenced his doubters “I was in there with a live dog and I loved it,” Daniel Dubois said in the early hours of Sunday morning as, looking suitably gladiatorial without a shirt, the...
Rashford seals title for Barcelona and completes week to forget for Real Madrid
This time it was Marcus Rashford who delivered the knockout blow. Three days after the fight between Fede Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni that ended with Real Madrid’s vice-captain taken to hospital and the crisis at the club laid bare for all to see, they went to the Camp Nou and...
Starwatch: Prime time to see Virgo, one of the fainter zodiac constellations
Situated between the much brighter Leo and Libra, Virgo is well placed for observation in the northern spring months The constellation of Virgo, the virgin, is particularly well placed for observation during the northern spring months. Virgo is one of the fainter zodiacal constellations, meaning it sits on the imaginary...
Premier League: 10 talking points from the weekend’s action
Jérémy Doku finds the net again, Joshua Zirkzee struggles at Sunderland and Ismaïla Sarr is fulfilling his potential On Friday when Bruno Fernandes became the Football Writers’ Association player of the year, either Declan Rice or David Raya could have been forgiven for feeling a touch aggrieved. Both have been...