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Murphy, O'Neill dismantle Western Australia to end title hopes
Victoria 132 for 6 (Harper 59) beat Western Australia 108 (Murphy 4-27, O'Neill 3-12)
Western Australia's hopes of winning a fourth straight one-day cup title are over after a rain-affected 15-run defeat to Victoria under the DLS method.
Set a revised target of 124, WA never got going with the bat. Captain Ashton Turner made 24 from 24 balls before he was caught behind off Murphy, but no other WA batter went past 20.
Cameron Bancroft continued his run of poor form after missing out on Test selection and was dismissed for 4 from 17 balls. Bancroft has only once scored more than 16 in his past 12 innings, a run that includes four ducks.
When play resumed, Harper took a while to get going but picked up the pace as he hit five fours and three sixes as the anchor of the home side's innings.
The win gives Victoria a 3-2 record, putting them right in the mix for a spot in the final, while WA (1-4) are out of contention. WA have won five of the past seven one-day cup titles and six of the past 10, including the last three in succession.
Sri Lanka opt to bat; three ODI debutants for New Zealand
Toss Sri Lanka chose to bat vs New Zealand
Sri Lanka: 1 Pathum Nissanka, 2 Avishka Fernando, 3 Kusal Mendis (wk), 4 Sadeera Samarawickrama, 5 Charith Asalanka (capt), 6 Kamindu Mendis, 7 Janith Liyanage, 8 Maheesh Theekshana, 9 Jeffrey Vandersay, 10 Dilshan Madushanka, 11 Asitha Fernando
New Zealand: 1 Tim Robinson, 2 Will Young, 3 Henry Nicholls, 4 Mark Chapman, 5 Glenn Phillips, 6 Mitchell Hay (wk), 7 Michael Bracewell, 8 Mitchell Santner (capt), 9 Nathan Smith, 10 Ish Sodhi, 11 Jacob Duffy
Neser hamstrung as Test back-up but Richardson comeback gains speed
Barring an injury in Perth, Australia are unlikely to need Boland for Adelaide given there is a nine-day break between the first and second Tests. But there is concern about the three-day turnaround between Adelaide and Brisbane, followed by a seven-day break to Boxing Day and then a three-day gap to Sydney. The quicks themselves and the team management have publicly stated that playing all five Tests without a change, as they did last year, is highly unlikely.
"Pending selection, hopefully next game," Richardson said. "I'm still waiting to see what sort of restriction and stuff is put on that. It's a pink ball in Adelaide, and, you know, I like playing pink-ball games, so I've been pushing hard to get into that one, but we'll see how we go. Obviously, the plan's not 100% finalised."
"It's been a little bit frustrating. But I was told that at the start of this whole process. I was told it was going to be slow and very purposeful. So we're hopefully getting to the back end of it now, getting into some red ball [cricket]. Hopefully it's all worth it"
Jhye Richardson on his buildback
He has been bowling without interruption since his return in IPL 2024 but as a Cricket Australia contracted player, a decision was made during the off-season that his build towards a first-class return would be gradual. There was a period as late as September where it was thought he may not play any red-ball cricket before the BBL.
But since then he has strung together four List A games, taking 5 for 63, 3 for 36, 0 for 25 and 1 for 19 and two four-day second XI games for WA.
"It's been a little bit frustrating," Richardson said. "But I was told that at the start of this whole process. I was told it was going to be slow and very purposeful. So we're hopefully getting to the back end of it now, getting into some red ball [cricket]. Hopefully it's all worth it."
The second XI returns were hugely encouraging. He was on heavy restrictions in the first game against South Australia in early October, bowling just ten overs in the first innings and six in the second. But his performance against New South Wales in early November has changed a lot of thinking around his progression. He took 4 for 13 from 11 overs in the first innings and backed it up with 1 for 30 from 14 in the second. It was the most overs he had bowled in a game in over 12 months.
"To be honest, felt like I was alive again," Richardson said. "The bones and the muscles were a little bit sore, but that's a good thing. Means you've done something purposeful. Haven't had that feeling for a long time. So very happy.
"I think for the game, I bowled a spell of six, a spell of seven, and another two spells of six, or something like that. So they were relatively long spells, which is a good thing. I was able to sort of get into a bit of rhythm and feel what it's like to bowl a long spell again.
"I probably could have used another spell or two in there, but I'm very happy."
Richardson is still unable to throw from deep in the outfield due to the shoulder issue but he said it was manageable, while acknowledging fielding was an important part of contributing to the team.
He was asked whether he thought he could handle playing back-to-back Shield games in late November and early December, before the BBL break. "I hope so," he said. "I think I could."
Richardson confirmed he would go in the IPL auction but he did not have a target in mind in terms of his international return.
"It's [on] a game-by-game basis at this stage, especially with this process being a little bit slower," he said. "It's just looking forward to the game that I've got ahead of me. There's so much talk about who's going to be in and out with the Test squad and the changeover of personnel and stuff like that. But it's not something that I can afford to think about too much. If I put too much pressure on myself, then it's not good for anyone. So it's just about playing these games, performing and getting through that's the main thing for me."
Alex Malcolm is an associate editor at ESPNcricinfo
Afridi back as No. 1 ODI bowler, Hasaranga second in T20Is
Lee lights up WBBL again with second consecutive century
Hobart Hurricanes 191 for 2 (Lee 103, Carey 64) beat Adelaide Strikers 163 for 3 (Wolvaardt, Mandhana 51) by 28 runs
The Hobart Hurricanes opener cracked 103 off 59 deliveries as her side beat a struggling Adelaide Strikers outfit by 28 runs. Lee's knock, which featured 13 fours and four sixes, came after she notched the highest-ever WBBL score of 150 not out against Perth Scorchers on Sunday.
Hurricanes posted 191 for 2 and restricted the last-placed Strikers to 163 for 3 to jump to the top of the ladder with three matches in hand before finals.
South Africa's Lee, who retired from international cricket in 2022, had to change bats after hitting a six in the second over. She was dropped twice in the 20s off the spin of Anesu Mushangwe in the fourth over and made Strikers pay dearly. She brought up her half century off just 35 balls with a six before reaching triple figures in the 14th over with a boundary.
Young legspinner Amy Smith put the breaks on Strikers in the middle overs and finished with an impressive 1 for 16 from four overs. South African import Laura Wolvaardt was unbeaten with 63 off 40 but it wasn't enough.
'Night Night' and 'raw emotion' follow Curry flurry
SAN FRANCISCO -- Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry sized up Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II as the game clock ticked just under 30 seconds.
Curry danced his way to the top of the 3-point line, created just enough space to get a shot up and launched it. As the bucket went in, Curry ran back and hit his signature "Night Night" celebration, before chest-bumping Buddy Hield.
But Curry didn't stop there. He walked toward the crowd, grabbed his jersey proudly displaying the words "Golden State" and yelled into a TV camera.
Immediately after the game, Curry said he didn't remember what words came out of his mouth. But after rewatching the play, Curry told ESPN, "You better stay here."
A smile cracked across his face as he recalled it.
"That type of moment with all of that angst, it was raw emotion," Curry said.
That was the dagger shot that lifted the Warriors over the Mavericks 120-117 on Tuesday night in Klay Thompson's first game back since he left Golden State over the summer, after 13 years with the franchise.
"When you see him with that type of emotion, everyone else just falls in line," Draymond Green said of Curry. "I try to lead in that category. But when he is up like that, I just move to the side and let him do his thing and then support."
Curry scored 23 of his season-high 37 points in the second half. All 12 of his fourth-quarter points came in the final four minutes, erasing a six-point deficit in a game the Warriors eventually won by three.
"Good job, Steph," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said when asked what he thought as he was witnessed Curry's flurry. "I've been watching this for a long time, and it never gets old. It's incredible watching him. It really is. You just think every shot is going to go in, and he loves it. He loves the moment."
With 2:40 remaining, Green set a screen to free Curry from Luka Doncic's side. Daniel Gafford tried to close out on him, but it was too late; Curry knocked down the 28-foot 3-pointer.
Seventy seconds later, Curry drove inside and hit a scoop runner. Then with 25 seconds left came the 3 that prompted the "Night Night" gesture. With the Warriors up by only three, Curry admitted pulling out the celebration at that moment was risky.
"I almost pulled a Si Woo Kim," Curry said, referencing the golfer who used the taunt during the Presidents Cup golf tournament on the 16th hole.
On the next play, Dallas' Quentin Grimes hit a 3 over Curry to make it a one-point game with 20 seconds to go.
"It was a little premature, but thankfully I'm still undefeated on the 'Night Night,'" said Curry.
Curry finished the night 14-of-27 from the floor, including 5-of-12 from 3. He also recorded nine rebounds and two steals.
The Warriors controlled the game best in the first and third quarters when they felt they got sped up and ultimately rushed their decision-making. To be more decisive, the Warriors relied more on pick-and-rolls down the stretch and either tried to pull Lively outside to then score in the paint, find kick-out shots or take pull-up 3s if they presented themselves.
"I think we should have done a better job guarding him. But it's Steph Curry, so sometimes there's nothing you can do," Doncic said.
"It hurts to be on the other side of one of his flurries," Thompson added. "Guy got hot at the end and made some ridiculous shots. I know I've been on the other end, and it sucks."
Captain's hats, shimmy mark Klay's 'surreal' return
SAN FRANCISCO -- Klay Thompson's bottom lip quivered a bit as he stood on the Chase Center court and watched the tribute video the Golden State Warriors made to honor him as he returned to face his former franchise for the first time.
Stephen Curry, Thompson's teammate for all 13 of his years in the Bay Area, stationed himself in the tunnel by the home bench while the video played, wanting space to protect himself from getting too emotional. Draymond Green, the other member of all four of Golden State's championship teams during this era, had watched the video earlier to prevent the emotions from hitting him in the moment.
As the crowd showered Thompson with an extended standing ovation after the video, he managed to keep his composure. He knew that wouldn't have been possible if Curry gave a speech at midcourt, as was originally planned as part of the festivities to honor Thompson. That's why Thompson texted his "Splash Brother" the previous night, when they agreed to cancel the speech and just let the fans express their appreciation.
"I was prepared for it," Thompson told ESPN after the Dallas Mavericks' 120-117 loss to his former team in a thrilling NBA Cup opener Tuesday night. "I didn't want to cry."
Thompson had already been caught off guard when approximately 400 Warriors employees, wearing the captain's hats given away to fans as a nod to the guard who famously boated across the Bay to home games, lined the hallway to warmly welcome him as he entered the arena almost three hours before tipoff. He couldn't help but break out in a big smile as he made the unfamiliar stroll to the visitors locker room.
He was showered with appreciation during his pregame shooting session more than an hour before tip, when thousands of fans watched from the stands, many wearing Thompson's old No. 11 jersey and some holding signs that welcomed him back to the Bay Area. Curry went through his routine on the other side of the court at the same time, and the longtime backcourt mates kept looking at each other, a scene Curry compared to awkwardness kids felt on a playground blacktop in recess.
Then the sellout crowd roared for Thompson as the teams went through the layup lines, recognizing all his accomplishments during his Golden State tenure and "the aura about him that connected our fans to him right away," as Warriors coach Steve Kerr said pregame.
"It was a really cool experience," Thompson said. "I appreciate the fans very much. The captain's hat ended up being a great touch because I'm such a passionate boater. Saw a lot of familiar faces in the crowd, and that was a warm-hearted feeling. It was really cool to see the fans, their gratitude towards myself -- and something I'll never take for granted. So it was very, very awesome."
This was far from just "another regular-season game in November," as Thompson claimed it would be when he discussed his return to the Bay Area after the Mavs' Sunday loss in Denver.
"I hope y'all didn't believe him," Curry said, cracking a smile after his 37-point performance helped prevent Thompson from winning in his return.
The pregame ceremony was special. Thompson described playing against Golden State for the first time as "surreal."
His competitive interactions with Curry were especially entertaining. That started immediately, as the Mavs called a play for Thompson on the game's opening possession, when he caught a pass on the left wing and posted up Curry.
"I blacked out on that one," Curry said. "I wasn't going to let him score, and I fouled him."
Thompson made those free throws, the first two of his 22 points, which matched his season high for the Mavs. He was 6-of-12 from 3-point range, highlighted by a sequence midway through the second quarter when he swished 3s on consecutive possessions. He reacted to the first of those back-to-back 3s with a shoulder shimmy, swiping the celebration that Curry has made famous over the years.
"It was an impromptu thing, but when you're feeling it, you do stuff instinctually," Thompson said. "I've done it before. I know Steph's done it many times, so it was a fun, little playful thing to do. He was kind of surprised I did it, but it was a great shot and I'll probably still do it in the future. I played my best brand of ball when I'm playing loose."
With a smile, Curry chastised Thompson for the shimmy coming out of the next timeout. He also targeted Thompson with some trash talk after hitting an and-1 floater over him with seconds remaining in the first half.
"That's the competitive nature," Green said. "You don't win four championships together without that competitive fire. He has that, we've had that forever. That's always going to a happen. When you play against your brother, people always talk about, oh man, why are they so close? When you play against someone you are close with, you want to beat them even more."
Thompson heated up again in the fourth quarter as the Mavs built a seven-point lead. He had an eight-point flurry in a span of 2 minutes, 16 seconds, hitting a 3 to give the Mavs the lead, driving for a go-ahead layup to answer a Golden State bucket on the ensuing possession and hitting a transition 3 that prompted a Golden State timeout with 5:16 remaining.
But Curry got the last word, scoring 12 points in the final 3:10, including a step-back 3 over Dallas center Dereck Lively II with 28.5 seconds remaining that he punctuated with his "Night, night" celebration.
"It was a memorable night for sure," Curry said. "I know even from July when Klay decided to go to Dallas to us showing up for training camp and him not being here, it was kind of like a slow build to this night for everybody. ... And granted we won going so I can say this, but I couldn't imagine it going any other way where he played well, the crowd got an amazing show, it went down to the wire. Can't really draw it up any better -- and definitely special memories to reflect on the 13 years he was here and the four championships and everything that we accomplished, and then turned the page to where we are right now."
Thompson embraced Kerr moments after the final buzzer. He then exchanged hugs with Curry, Green and a long line of Warriors players, coaches and staff members.
After Thompson wrapped up his postgame news conference, he donned one of the captain's hats made for the evening and strolled into the Warriors weight room to greet more Golden State staff members.
"Change happens," Thompson said. "It's happened to plenty of great players who've won championships together. But yeah, it was surreal and a night I'll never forget. Unfortunately, it was a tough loss. Could have easily gone our way, but that's life and I think we'll see the Dubs three more times. So there's plenty of more battles ahead, which is the fun part."
The Premiership was cut from 13 clubs to 10 in the space of one season as Worcester Warriors, London Irish and Wasps all buckled under financial strain.
Wasps were once a powerhouse of English rugby, winning seven trophies in a glorious six-season spell from 2002 to 2008 with players including England World Cup winners Lawrence Dallaglio, Josh Lewsey and Joe Worsley.
The club claimed their third consecutive Premiership title and a league and European Champions Cup double in 2003-04.
Wasps had been based at various homes in London from the club's inception up to 2002, when they moved to groundshare with Wycombe Wanderers at Adams Park.
In 2014, the club then relocated to the West Midlands. The club was suspended in October 2022 before going into administration a week later and making 167 players and staff redundant.
Worcester's vacated Sixways Stadium had been an option for Wasps to return to playing competitive rugby but in October 2023 Holland said the owners were determined to return the club to the south east.
Usman Khawaja debunks strike rate 'myth' in McSweeney selection
The 25-year-old will debut against India in Perth's first Test from next Friday. McSweeney, the South Australian skipper and former Queensland team-mate of Khawaja's, will be in unfamiliar territory, given he bats at No. 3 for his state. Steven Smith will shift back to his preferred No. 4 after a short-lived audition to replace the retired David Warner last summer.
Warner struck at 70.76 in 143 first-class games, while the more measured McSweeney's strike rate is 41.92 in 34 first-class matches. Khawaja scores slightly quicker than McSweeney but laughed off the suggestion Australia's Test fortunes would be scuppered by a lower scoring rate against the new ball.
"I don't know where this myth started that you need someone to score really fast to do well," Khawaja said on Wednesday. "You've got five days to do it...I don't know why you need to score fast.
"Opening's as much about scoring runs as it is about being able to absorb. Davey was special; he could score runs while absorbing but he didn't do it [score fast] every time. He was consistent; out there and setting a platform, and Nathan does that very well."
McSweeney, once an offspinning No.6, was yet to cement his place at Queensland when he left for Adelaide seeking what he figured would be greater opportunities in 2021. He's flourished since and relished the responsibility of captaincy, Khawaja joking a haircut to remove the "boofy curls" had also helped his cause.
Commentary has centred around McSweeney's task of adapting to the new role at the top of the order. But Khawaja, himself a former No. 3, said he shouldn't overthink it.
"There's no guarantees in cricket...but he doesn't have to do anything different," Khawaja said. "Just repeat the process. He's been able to handle the pressure at Shield level. When you look at his demeanour, the way he plays, you do kind of feel over a longer period of time he'll be able to handle the scrutiny, the pressure of Test cricket."
Khawaja on Wednesday detailed plans to link his Usman Khawaja Foundation annually with the Gabba Test, which will this year be the third in the series from December 14. It's purpose is to assist youth from refugee, immigrant, Indigenous, rural, remote and low-socio economic backgrounds through cricket and educational programs.
"We've got the pink Test in Sydney," Khawaja said of the high-profile McGrath Foundation fundraiser. "We're trying to make the Usman Khawaja Foundation a part of the Gabba Test. I didn't speak English [when arriving in Australia from Pakistan as a child]...cricket broke down the barriers for me.I never felt isolated when I played sport."
Scheyer: Duke's continued cramping 'concerning'
ATLANTA -- After another one of his star freshmen dealt with cramping issues, Duke basketball coach Jon Scheyer said the recurring issue was "concerning."
Blue Devils freshman center Khaman Maluach was limited to 10 second-half minutes in Tuesday's 77-72 loss to Kentucky, subbing in and out of the game on multiple occasions due to cramping.
Reserve guard Sion James also left the game in the second half after taking a hard hit on a screen with about 13 minutes remaining. James went down holding his shoulder and headed straight to the locker room. Shortly after returning to the bench, he was ruled out for the game.
Scheyer didn't have an update on James' status after the game, saying the senior would be evaluated when the team returned to Durham, North Carolina.
"Those two guys are really important to us," Scheyer said.
Maluach got his leg caught under Kentucky's Andrew Carr chasing a loose ball on the first possession of the second half. Afterward, Maluach stood up very slowly. He remained in the game but had to go to the bench with a cramping issue a few minutes later. Two minutes after returning, he was forced to exit again, this time going to the locker room after being worked on next to the bench for several minutes.
"It's concerning," Scheyer said. "Part of it is we have young bodies. I think that's part of it. We got to help these guys. We're not just trying to dip our toes in the water ... We got to take a hard look at it."
Maluach, a 7-foot-2 projected NBA lottery pick, finished with 10 points, seven rebounds and two blocks.
His issues weren't the first time Duke has dealt with cramping problems this season. In Duke's win over Army on Friday, star freshman Cooper Flagg missed much of the second half with cramping. As Scheyer said after that contest, "We can't have that happen."
"We've got to help him," Scheyer said of Flagg. "We've got to help him. I'm not happy about it, for him. We've got to help him. And we will. Right after [Friday's game], I can promise you I'm going to be meeting [with the team's training staff]. I don't care if it's all night. We can't have that happen. Bottom line."
Flagg didn't show any ill effects of the cramping on Tuesday, playing 32 minutes and finishing with 26 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks.
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