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India bat and bring in Kanwar and Mani against unchanged Ireland
Toss India chose to bat vs Ireland
India: 1 Smriti Mandhana (capt), 2 Pratika Rawal, 3 Harleen Deol, 4 Jemimah Rodrigues, 5 Tejal Hasabnis, 6 Richa Ghosh (wk), 7 Deepti Sharma, 8 Minnu Mani, 9 Sayali Satghare, 10 Tanuja Kanwar, 11 Titas Sadhu
Ireland: 1 Sarah Forbes, 2 Gaby Lewis (capt), 3 Christina Coulter Reilly (wk), 4 Orla Prendergast, 5 Laura Delany, 6 Leah Paul, 7 Arlene Kelly, 8 Ava Canning, 9 Georgina Dempsey, 10 Freya Sargent, 11 Alana Dalzell
Tom Andrews goes from financial planner to BBL finals
When Tasmania overlooked Andrews for a new contract after the 2022-23 summer, the Darwin-born allrounder accepted that his nine-year professional career was over.
He had played 17 first-class matches in that time and 36 one-dayers - a career that may not have hit the highs of former Shield team-mates Travis Head or Adam Zampa, but one he knew he could be proud of.
"I got nine years on contract, so there wasn't anything in my mind about, 'What could have happened if I had've done this or I had've done that?'," the 30-year-old told AAP. "That sort of made it easier for me to move on."
Andrews packed his bags and moved back to Adelaide, where he'd finished high school and spent six years playing for South Australia.
He began studying to become a financial adviser and picked up a job in client services at McInerney Barratt Financial Solutions in the Adelaide CBD.
For the first time since Andrews could remember, cricket took a back seat. He kept sending down his left-arm offies for grade-cricket side Port Adelaide, and agreed to help the Adelaide Strikers' academy team out when they needed him.
University studies and full-time work meant even committing to train with the Strikers was a stretch. But Andrews managed to join his much younger teammates on a trip to Sydney for some friendly matches against Sixers and Thunder.
A few days later, in mid-December, Andrews received a phone call from Thunder general manager Trent Copeland that changed everything. The injury-hit Thunder were in dire need of reinforcements.
"'Copes' just called me and he said 'Do you want to come along?'" Andrews said. "I had to quickly call my bosses and say, 'Can I have a bit of time off? It's probably going to be about a month'. I'm very lucky that they let me do that."
Andrews hasn't looked back. He has taken the wickets of Australian white-ball international Aaron Hardie and New Zealand star Colin Munro across his six games so far.
"I felt like I've come in and played my role, which I was happy for," Andrews said.
He now turns his attention to Friday's clash with Sixers at the SCG, where Thunder can likely confirm a double chance in the finals with victory. After he gets home from training for that match and the upcoming finals, Andrews will be hitting the books: the final year of his university studies began this week.
"I pretty much study the rest of the night, that's when I don't have cricket training and games on the weekend," he said.
He knows all about unlikely success stories. His return to the cricket pitch is one. When Friday's game finishes, he'll turn his attention to helping write another as Thunder eye a second BBL title
"It'd be amazing," Andrews said. "As much as we're savouring making finals, we have to put our mind on the next step, to not only make finals but hopefully try to win a couple."
WR Johnson waived after 2 games with Texans
The Houston Texans on Tuesday waived wide receiver Diontae Johnson as they prepare for their divisional-round playoff game on Saturday against the Kansas City Chiefs.
"Unfortunately, with Diontae it didn't work out," coach DeMeco Ryans said Tuesday. "We're on to the Chiefs."
Following the Texans' wild-card playoff victory over the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday, Johnson was visibly upset in the locker room. He was fully dressed sitting at his locker staring in frustration because of a lack of playing time and targets. Running back Joe Mixon and linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair tried to comfort and encourage him.
Johnson played only 15 out of the Texans' 70 offensive snaps and received only one target. He finished the game with one catch for 12 yards.
Johnson had three catches for 24 yards in two games with Houston after the Texans claimed Johnson off waivers from the Baltimore Ravens on Dec. 23. Baltimore had moved on from the receiver after he refused to enter a game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Dec. 1.
Before the Ravens waived Johnson, they suspended him one game for his refusal to play against the Eagles. Baltimore had acquired him in a trade with the Carolina Panthers on Oct. 29, but he played only 39 snaps for the team, catching one pass for 6 yards.
The Panthers acquired Johnson from the Pittsburgh Steelers before the season. He had 30 catches for 257 yards and three touchdowns for Carolina when he was dealt to the Ravens.
The Steelers drafted Johnson in the third round of the 2019 draft and he had 391 catches for 4,363 yards and 25 touchdowns in Pittsburgh. He earned a Pro Bowl selection in 2021 with his lone 1,000-yard season and a career-high eight touchdown receptions in quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's final year.
ESPN's DJ Bien-Aime contributed to this report.
Osaka rallies for statement win vs. No. 20 Muchova
Two-time Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka reached the third round of a major for the first time since 2022 when she weathered an early barrage from US Open semifinalist Karolina Muchova before rallying to win 1-6, 6-1, 6-3 on Wednesday.
Osaka improved to 21-6 (.778) in major three-set matches, tied with Billie Jean King for the third-best record in the Open era -- behind only Steffi Graff (.793) and Wendy Turnbull (.784).
"It took everything, I left everything out there on the court," said Osaka, who lost to Muchova in their previous two meetings.
Osaka lost in the first round here last year to Caroline Garcia in her comeback from maternity leave but avenged that with a first-round victory over Garcia this week.
Osaka said she used a loss to Muchova at the US Open as motivation.
"She crushed me in the US Open when I had my best outfit ever," Osaka joked in a postmatch interview. "I was so disappointed. I was so mad. This was my little revenge."
Osaka will next meet Belinda Bencic, the Tokyo Olympic gold medalist who is playing in her first major since the birth of her daughter, Bella, last year.
Bencic leads their head-to-head meetings 3-2, though the two have not played since 2022.
ESPN Research, The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
Penguins' Malkin latest victim of home burglary
The home of Pittsburgh Penguins star Evgeni Malkin was burglarized this past weekend, the latest in a series of robberies at the residences of professional athletes.
The Penguins confirmed that Malkin's home was burglarized, saying in a statement to WPXI-TV on Tuesday night that they're working with local authorities and team security. Malkin's home is in Sewickley, a Pittsburgh suburb.
According to KDKA-TV, Malkin's home was broken into Saturday -- the same day the Penguins hosted the Ottawa Senators -- with a 911 call coming in a few hours after the 4 p.m. puck drop. Malkin missed the 5-0 loss with an upper-body injury and was placed on injured reserve Sunday. He returned from a four-game absence Tuesday night and had an assist in a 4-2 loss to the Seattle Kraken. Malkin spoke after the game but did not mention the incident.
The KDKA report, which cited multiple sources, said Malkin's three Stanley Cup rings are missing, and that, at the time of the robbery, his home security system was down and his safe was left open.
The Penguins, in the statement released to WPXI, said "Malkin has requested that his privacy be respected during this time." The team said it will have no further comment.
Several athletes' homes have been targeted in recent months, including those of NFL stars Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and Joe Burrow; NBA counterparts Luka Doncic, Bobby Portis and Mike Conley; and NHL player Tyler Seguin.
The FBI has warned sports leagues about crime organizations targeting professional athletes, it said in a Liaison Information Report obtained by ABC News late last month. The athletes' homes are targeted due to the perception they may contain high-end goods, such as designer handbags, jewelry, watches and cash, the FBI said in the report.
The NFL and NBA also issued security alerts to their players after the break-ins, some of which occurred when players were away with their teams for road games. The NFL's alert says homes of professional athletes across multiple sports have become "increasingly targeted for burglaries by organized and skilled groups."
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
ATLANTA -- Trae Young scored a season-high 43 points and the Atlanta Hawks overcame Devin Booker's 35 points to beat Phoenix 122-117 on Tuesday night and snap the Suns' three-game winning streak.
Kevin Durant scored 14 of his 31 points in the third quarter for Phoenix (19-20), which lost for the 11th straight time in Atlanta. Durant added nine rebounds.
The Suns are still looking for their first win in Atlanta since March 24, 2014.
The Hawks (20-19) were without forwards De'Andre Hunter (left foot soreness), Larry Nance Jr. (right hand) and Jalen Johnson (right shoulder inflammation), who missed his fourth consecutive game.
The injuries left Atlanta rookie Zaccharie Risacher with the challenge of guarding Durant. Hawks coach Quin Snyder described the matchup before the game as an "unique experience."
Young, whose status was listed as questionable with an illness, made six 3-pointers and 11 of 14 free throws to carry the Hawks.
Hawks: Young and Garrison Mathews combined to make 8 of 11 3s in the first half as Atlanta led 64-56 at halftime. Mathews scored 19 points.
Medvedev destroys net camera in five-set thriller
Number five seed Daniil Medvedev breaks a net camera in frustration during a gruelling Australian Open first-round match which saw him taken to five sets by world number 418 Kasidit Samrej.
READ MORE: Medvedev destroys net camera in five-set battle against world number 418
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ITTF Concludes Positive Inspection Visit for Doha 2025
ITTF concluded a thorough three-day inspection visit in Doha last week, marking a crucial milestone in preparations for the ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals Doha 2025. The inspection visit was conducted by ITTF President Petra Sörling, accompanied by ITTF Group CEO Steve Dainton, ITTF Secretary General Raul Calin, and WTT Events Executive Director Mounir Bessah, along with the ITTF and WTT Events team.
Twenty years after making history as the regions first World Championships host, Doha is preparing to write another chapter in table tennis history. The 2025 Championships, scheduled for 17-25 May, will be held at the state-of-the-art Lusail Sports Arena, showcasing Qatars commitment to world-class sporting infrastructure.
The inspection visit, which coincided with the WTT Star Contender Doha 2025, featured comprehensive discussions between ITTF officials and the Qatar Table Tennis Association (QTTA), covering crucial aspects of the tournaments organisation. Key focus areas included technical operations, broadcast arrangements with ALKASS Channel, and sport presentation concepts designed to enhance the spectator experience.
The group conducted detailed venue tours of the Lusail Arena, examining the main competition hall, practice facilities, and spectator areas. Particular attention was paid to IT infrastructure requirements and media facilities, ensuring the venue meets the highest international standards for a modern table tennis championship.
Departmental meetings between ITTF and QTTA teams addressed specific operational aspects, from event logistics to media strategy and communications planning. The discussions also emphasised fan engagement initiatives and social media campaigns, aiming to create an immersive experience for both in-person and global audiences.
The inspection visit culminated in a final meeting where both organisations aligned on action points and established clear deadlines for the coming months. This collaborative approach underscores the shared commitment to delivering a world-class event that will further elevate table tennis in the Middle East region. The 2025 World Championships will mark another milestone in Qatars impressive sporting legacy. With preparations now entering their final phase, Doha is poised to host another memorable championship that will showcase the evolution of table tennis at the highest level.
Shane Golobics string of second-place finishes inside the SageNet Center in Tulsa, Okla., continued on Monday night.
During his qualifying preliminary feature ahead of Saturdays Chili Bowl Nationals, Golobic led from the pole.
While hed concede the top spot to Cannon McIntosh on a restart, hed pull a slider on McIntosh with seven laps to go to regain the lead.
Surely that was the streak breaker, right?
Unfortunately for Golobic, NASCAR Cup Series star Kyle Larson had the final say as he slid past Golobics No. 17w following a restart with two laps to go. Golobic was unable to take fight back as he settled for his fifth second-place run in prelim action.
It was really good all race, Golobic began. I kinda mismanaged the early part there and let Cannon (McIntosh) by. But, its just not my cup of tea really banging on a huge curb like that and just running the piss out of these things.
That was all I had there for a little while. Just trying to keep the thing rotated and running it as hard as I can. Drove around, sliders, just doing anything I could to win. Just didnt quite get er done.
Golobic was pleased the way his midget handled, however, admitted his patience with second-place finishes is wearing thin.
Very happy with the way the car felt, Golobic said. It would eat up the curb, Id go in there and smack it like a rookie and it would kinda still handle it and keeping going back down the straightaway.
Great car. Big picture, Im real tired of hearing big picture. But it is the truth. We are here to win Saturday. But man, Im just getting real, real tired of running second.
Golobics runner-up result automatically locked he and his Matt Wood Racing team into Saturdays feature, giving the California native the opportunity to erase heartbreak.
CONCORD, N.C. Michael Buddy Kofoid grew up watching sprint car drivers shape legacies with Californias Roth Motorsports.
Now, Kofoid is making his own history in Dennis and Teresa Roths famed ride, and hell continue to do so as hes officially set for his sophomore season with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars.
I feel like racing last year with the Outlaws is the most Ive learned and the most Ive progressed in my career as far as becoming a better race car driver, Kofoid said. And thats, I think, all because of racing with the Outlaws.
A major step in Kofoids career was taken with he linked with Roth midway through 2023. The pairing ran a pick-and-choose schedule to close out the year before committing to the World of Outlaws in 2024, setting up Kofoids first full season with The Greatest Show on Dirt.
Kofoids résumé set expectations high. West coasters watched the Penngrove, Calif. native win 410 Sprint Car races as early as 15 years old. He sat on the pole of the Gold Cup Race of Champions with the World of Outlaws at only 16. Eventually he broadened his horizons eastward and impressed on the ovals of Ohio. He proved his versatility by becoming a two-time USAC National Midget champion in 2021 and 2022. Fans across the country were ready to see what Kofoid could do during a full season on Sprint Car racings biggest stage, and he didnt let them down.
The result was arguably the best Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year campaign in Series history. Kofoid bagged seven wins, 27 podiums, and 53 top 10s in his Toyota-powered No. 83 car. Those stats led to a fourth-place finish in points, equaling Jeff Swindell, Brad Doty and Giovanni Scelzi for the highest finishing World of Outlaws rookie.
Highlights included redemption at the BillionAuto.com Husets High Bank Nationals. After mechanical troubles led to heartbreak in 2023, Kofoid banked the six-figure payday at the South Dakota oval in 2024. He later won three times in a four-race stretch in front of his home state fans of California. Kofoid also conquered the tricky Williams Grove Speedway for the first time.
It went better than what I expected and not even just the last few months, Kofoid admitted. Some say we started out kind of rough, but some of that was stuff that happened out of our control like blowing a tire leading at Volusia or we hurt a motor the first race. Then we kind of struggled a little bit in Texas, but theres growing pains with developing a motor. I feel like its come a long way, and Ive been with Roth since June of last year. I think thats helped us do what weve been able to do.
Its as storybook as it gets for Kofoid as he continues to carve out his path in the sport. Hes not only made it where hes always wanted to be, but hes also arrived there with a team that means so much to any Californian with a connection to Sprint Car racing.
To do this with Roth, which coming from California is an iconic team and a team I looked up to growing up, Kofoid said. I also raced against them a lot locally before I moved to the Midwest. So, to do this with them and Toyota and Mobil 1, people Ive been with before I went back to full-time Sprint Car racing, and continue that relationship with them is so cool. I talk about enjoying where youre at, and thats something Ive learned is extremely important.
Kofoid is also rising up Roths history charts fast. A record 16 different drivers have steered one of the teams cars to World of Outlaws Victory Lane Danny Lasoski tops the list with 41. Kofoids eight checkered flags have already equaled James McFadden for the third most. And while Kofoid said he enjoys seeing how far hes come in a short time, hes already thinking about the next win and many more to follow.
To have a decent amount of wins and be third on the list is really cool, Kofoid said. But at the end of the day, theres still work to be done, and the job is not over yet. I feel like after Charlotte, Dylan (Buswell) and I looked at each other and were wishing we could just go straight into Florida because of how good wed been and how enjoyable its been and how much weve learned and progressed. Hopefully we can keep moving up that list. Id love to be with Roth as long as I can and with Dylan and the people Im with and someday hopefully get close to that 41.
A World of Outlaws title is one piece missing from the Roth Motorsports résumé, and its something Kofoid is ready to go after for both he, Dennis and Teresa, and the entire Roth crew.
I think to be in the conversation of having a chance to win an Outlaws championship is really cool and special after just our first year, Kofoid said. I feel like the last half or so of our year was mostly a championship caliber consistency. There are still some things that we couldve done better, and I couldve done better.
But I feel like our last half is more or less what you need to do to win a championship.
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