MONTERREY - CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani isn't buying recent reports suggesting that MLS and Liga MX clubs could soon be competing in the Copa Libertadores.

Montagliani is confident that the focus for clubs in the region remains the CONCACAF Champions League, which Monterrey lifted for the fourth time on Wednesday.

"I can tell you unequivocally that I think that's all media speculation," Montagliani told ESPN FC in Monterrey. "Neither MLS nor Liga MX itself as it relates to Copa Libertadores have any intention and quite frankly CONCACAF has no intention of allowing that.

"I think those days are gone," he continued. "I'm not even sure how it's a good idea. I'm not sure how geographically that would work and, secondly, confederations need to look at their own confederations."

Montagliani was in Estadio BBVA Bancomer for the Clasico Regio final and has been happy with the development of the CONCACAF Champions League.

"I think this tournament has improved every edition," said Montagliani. "This year is no exception. Higher TV rating, more goals and that the final ends up being a derby of two teams from Monterrey is probably a fitting end to this edition of the Champions League."

The format change that saw MLS and Liga MX clubs enter in the round-of-16 stage has been deemed a "resounding success," according to Montagliani, who adds there have been important developments for non-Mexican teams, even if Liga MX continued its stranglehold on the trophy.

"Last year's edition had a Canadian team in the final, this year you obviously didn't, but you also had a Panamanian team [Independiente] that broke through and knocked out an MLS team to get to the quarters," said Montagliani.

Lancashire 239 for 6 (Jennings 84, Lehmann 77) beat Derbyshire 209 for 7 (Dal 52) by 30 runs

Lancashire won their fifth successive Royal London Cup game to close in on a top-three finish in the North Group and knockout qualification, with Derbyshire soundly beaten by 30 runs at Emirates Old Trafford.

A two-hour rain delay forced a 38-overs-per-side contest on a used pitch, which made acceleration challenging. Australian overseas debutant Jake Lehmann's unbeaten 77 off 67 balls was the feature of Lancashire's 239 for 6 before the Falcons were tied down against spin and finished on 209 for 7.

It means Lancashire sit second with 10 points from seven games ahead of their final outing at Warwickshire on Saturday.

The Red Rose last achieved this winning streak in 2013 when they won six 40-over games in a row. They last reached the knockout rounds of a List A competition in 2012.

Derbyshire, who have seven points from seven outings, may be out of contention by the time they wrap up the group stage against Worcestershire on Monday.

Steven Croft was the pick of the home bowlers with 2 for 20 from seven overs of offspin, while Rob Jones and Matthew Parkinson also struck.

Lancashire's innings was underpinned by fourth-wicket pair Keaton Jennings, who made 84 off 88 balls, and Lehmann, both of whom were measured as they shared 86 in 14 overs after Derbyshire won the toss. Haseeb Hameed and Croft, stumped off Wayne Madsen's offspin and caught in the deep off Ravi Rampaul, departed to leave the score at 42 for 2 in the eighth over.

Jennings and captain Dane Vilas shared 52 for the third wicket before the latter mistimed Luis Reece's first ball of medium pace to short cover, leaving Lancashire 94 for 3 in the 17th.

Then came the key partnership between left-handers Jennings and Lehmann, who has replaced compatriot Glenn Maxwell for the remainder of the RL50.

Lehmann swept Rampaul over long-leg for his only six and posted a 48-ball half-century, a milestone Jennings had earlier reached off 57. Jennings, on 29, was the subject of a disputed caught-and-bowled effort from legspinner Matt Critchley.

Jennings eventually fended a short ball from New Zealand overseas quick Logan van Beek behind at the start of the 31st over as the hosts slipped to 180 for 4 before Jones and Josh Bohannon fell to Scotland international Mark Watt late on.

Lehmann paced his innings nicely even though Watt and co limited any late damage. Lancashire fast bowler Liam Hurt fell awkwardly as he attempted to launch Watt for six in the last over, retired hurt and later did not take the field.

However, that forced the use of extra spin from Croft and Jones, and they were key in stifling the visitors, who slipped from 46 without loss in the 10th over to 122 for 6 in the 27th.

Reece and Alex Hughes were run out, while sandwiched in between Madsen was caught at long-on off Jones' legspin and Croft had Billy Godleman caught and bowled off a full toss for 42 and Tom Lace lbw, pulling, four balls later. When Parkinson had Critchley caught at midwicket, it was virtually game over with Derbyshire six down.

Anuj Dal played the day's most aggressive innings with 52 off 39 balls, but he had been left with too much to do and edged Graham Onions behind. Onions was left defending 35 off the last. Harvey Hosein was 41 not out.

Hampshire 355 for 5 (Markram 130, Alsop 124) Sussex 346 (Wiese 171, Brown 64, Crane 3-55) by

Hampshire edged out a high scoring thriller as Kyle Abbott and Mason Crane held their nerves after Sussex Sharks produced a second unbelievable Royal London Cup match in three days.

David Wiese scored an epic 171 to take Sussex within 13 runs of victory after they had slipped to 103 for 5 chasing a massive 356 to win. But Abbott's 10th over, the 49th of the match saw the game turn back in Hampshire's direction as he got rid of Wiese and Danny Briggs and only went for nine runs.

Crane took three wickets for 55, including two in the final over to put Hampshire on the brink of a knockout spot with a nine-run victory.

The result was as dramatic as the Sharks' one-wicket victory over Essex on Tuesday, which saw Will Beer and Laurie Evans put on a three-figure stand for the seventh wicket before No. 10 Danny Briggs scored the winning runs with a ball to spare.

On that occasion, the Sussex players had sung "The Great Escape" on their return to the dressing room. But at the Ageas Bowl, Hampshire sang the theme to the classic film.

It looked like a regulation Hampshire win was in order when Luke Wright fell in the third over as Abbott jagged a delivery into his middle-stump before Phil Salt flashed to Aneurin Donald at point. The slide continued when Garton was lbw attempting to reverse sweep Liam Dawson and Harry Finch pulled a James Fuller bouncer to deep square leg.

When Dawson bowled Evans, all appeared lost for Sussex - but Wiese and Ben Brown collided to swing the game towards the visitors.

Wiese had proven his batting prowess earlier in the tournament when he scored 93 not out to seal a chase against Surrey. Wiese went through the gears effectively as he reached his half-century in 57 balls, and then only needed 26 more to reach three figures, with six fours and three maximums included in the barrage.

Alongside Wiese, Brown was quietly accompanying with a pacy half-century of his own.

Wiese took the WASP from a 1% chance of victory to 81% as he moved past 150 in 120 balls. Brown departed for 64 with 21 still to win when he reverse-swept to Dawson at backward point.

But Abbott found Wiese rarely mishitting to long-on before Briggs chipped to Gareth Berg. And a crazy game was concluded when Crane had Beer and Mir Hamza stumped.

Earlier, Hampshire had put up what appeared an unassailable 355 after stand-in captain Sam Northeast won the toss and elected to bat. Hampshire were forced to reshuffle their top order with James Vince on England duty in Ireland, Donald moving up to open with Tom Alsop.

The pair put on 78, a best opening stand for the season, in a watchful manner, which prioritised running hard to boundaries.

Donald was well caught on the square-leg boundary, while pulling, but that didn't deter Hampshire as Aiden Markram joined Alsop. Again, the duo refused to take unnecessary risks but when they did they used their power to explosive effect - Markram pumping a pair of sixes over extra-cover a particular highlight from the stand.

Alsop looked steady while reaching a half-century in 71 balls. But it was Markram who brought the glamour often provided by Vince, with glittering drives - half of his 16 fours coming between cover and mid-on - and pressure-relieving punches. His fifty came from 48 deliveries.

Sussex's fielding was well-below par, and probably cost them a chunk of runs, with Markram and Alsop both shelled on the way to three figures. The partnership continued to blossom and took Hampshire to the last 10 overs just one wicket down before Alsop, having reached his century off 116 balls, picked out Garton at long-off, with the stand worth 184.

Markram continued his fun and reached his maiden ton for Hampshire in his penultimate fixture before the World Cup, from 73 balls.

Rilee Rossouw and Fuller were hoisted up the order to boost the run rate but both departed, alongside Markram, in the last five overs while attempting aggressive shots - as in the end Hampshire scored just enough.

James Harden's vision has improved and is expected to be completely clear for Game 3 of the Rockets' second-round playoff series against the Warriors on Saturday night, but the Houston guard continues to deal with pain after being accidentally hit in the face by Draymond Green.

"Nah, still tough," Harden told reporters before Thursday's practice when asked if the pain has gone away. "Especially in bright lights. But I can see y'all a little bit better, so that's all that matters."

Harden suffered contusions in both eyes and a laceration on the inside of his left eyelid when he was inadvertently hit in the face by Green a little more than five minutes into the Rockets' Game 2 loss to the Warriors on Tuesday.

After the Rockets' flight landed in Houston on Wednesday afternoon, Harden went straight to an eye doctor. Tests revealed no damage to Harden's corneas, and he said the doctor told him "I would be good" for Game 3, meaning his vision would be clear.

Harden said after Game 2, which put the Rockets in a 2-0 hole in the Western Conference semifinal series, that he could "barely see." He returned to the game in the second quarter, frequently squinting and shielding his eyes from the light on the court and during his postgame news conference. Harden said his vision in his left eye was especially blurry.

Harden's issues with his vision were not evident in his performance. He finished with 29 points and had his highest field goal percentage of the postseason (9-of-19, 47.4 percent), despite missing his first three shots before suffering the injury.

Harden participated in the Rockets' practice on Thursday and dismissed a question about his availability for Game 3.

"If I played barely seeing last game, what makes you think I'm going to sit out Game 3?" Harden said.

Brooklyn Nets point guard D'Angelo Russell was cited for marijuana possession after being detained Wednesday at New York's LaGuardia Airport following a baggage check, a spokesperson for the New York Port Authority Police told Newsday.

Russell was en route to Louisville, Kentucky, where he was raised.

The spokesman told Newsday that Russell was summoned for possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana and later released.

In a statement, the Nets said they were aware of the situation and gathering more information.

The 23-year-old Russell is set to become a restricted free agent this offseason.

He helped lead Brooklyn to 42 wins while making his All-Star Game debut this past season. He did so by averaging career bests in points (21.1 per game) and assists (7.0) as the Nets reached the playoffs for the first time since 2015, ultimately losing to the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round. Teammates and coach Kenny Atkinson alike had lauded Russell for his leadership, improved conditioning and professional approach to the game.

The former No. 2 overall draft pick of the Lakers, Russell has career averages of 16.5 points and 5.1 rebounds, while shooting 41.9 percent from the field and 35.3 percent from three-point range over four NBA seasons.

TAMPA, Fla. -- New York Yankees center fielder Aaron Hicks played in the outfield for the first time since being sidelined in early March by a strained left lower back.

Hicks threw out a runner trying to score Thursday, moving in to grab a fly in the fifth inning of an extended spring training game against Philadelphia Phillies minor leaguers. He made a perfect one-hop throw to the plate to complete an inning-ending double play.

"Things are going well," Hicks said.

Hicks played five innings garnering 3 hits, 1 home run and 1 walk in three at-bats. In his first extended spring game Wednesday, he went 1 for 3 with 1 single and 2 walks as the designated hitter.

Hicks is scheduled to DH on Friday and play seven innings in center Saturday at extended spring training.

There was no update on shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, who left his second rehabilitation game with Class A Tampa on Wednesday night with tightness in his left calf. That is the same calf he strained last month and has kept him out since April 3. Tulowitzki singled to left in the first inning Wednesday but then was lifted for a pinch runner.

Third baseman Miguel Andujar is scheduled to play in his third game with Tampa on Thursday night and could rejoin the Yankees this weekend. Andujar has not played for the Yankees since tearing the labrum in his right shoulder while sliding into third base on a pickoff attempt on March 31.

First baseman Logan Morrison, signed to a minor league contract two weeks ago, continues playing in extended spring games.