Bavuma’s brave team make giant leap for South African Test cricket | Andy Bull

South Africa lost their shot at winning this World Test Championship in 2022, when their board announced the team were going to play 28 games in the next four years. They lost it for a second time during the spring of last year, when they packed their reserve team off to play a series against New Zealand because their centrally contracted players had to stay back and play in a franchise tournament.They lost it a third time when the team were bowled out for 138 on Thursday morning and they lost it a fourth when they let Australia’s tail put on 134 runs for the last three wickets, leaving them needing 282 to win. Finally, after they had just about run out of ways to lose, they won.The last runs came hard and the winning ones seemed to be the most difficult of all

Hitchins dismantles Kambosos inside eight to retain 140lb title at Garden

Richardson Hitchins delivered a career-best performance on Saturday night at the Theater at Madison Square Garden, stopping George Kambosos Jr with a withering body shot in the eighth round to retain the IBF’s version of the light welterweight championship.In his first defense of the 140lb belt, and his first time headlining a card in his hometown, Hitchins (20-0, 8 KOs) controlled every round before putting Kambosos down with a sharp left hook to the midsection. The Australian rose to his feet before the count of 10, but referee Michael Griffin waved off the fight as Kambosos visibly grimaced in pain, unable to continue.“I’ve been telling the boxing world I was coming and they should have listened,” Hitchins said afterwards. “I told his dad, if you love your son, you’ll stop the fight

Tyrrell Hatton cool but Matt Fitzpatrick rages as Sam Burns keeps US Open lead

If a quiz question was to ask which English golfer a) lacerated the setup at the US Open, as another b) fired himself into contention before offering a much calmer assessment, the answers from the vast majority of observers would be obvious: a) Tyrrell Hatton, b) Matt Fitzpatrick. The reality at Oakmont was the complete opposite.First to Fitzpatrick. The 2022 champion finds himself unimpressed by this golfing brute, as he was happy to declare after a third round of 72 left him nine over par. “I personally don’t think it’s fair,” said the Yorkshireman

US Open golf 2025: Sam Burns keeps hold of lead at Oakmont – as it happened

Moving Day took a while to get going, but once it did, it produced some exciting golf. Plenty of players are still in with a shout, so hopefully you’ll join us for the final round tomorrow. Thanks for reading this report!-4: Sam Burns -3: Adam Scott, JJ Spaun -1: Viktor Hovland E: Carlos Ortiz +1: Tyrrell Hatton, Thriston Lawrence +2: Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen +3: Robert MacIntyre, Cameron YoungThe final stroke of the day is made by Sam Burns. He makes his par putt, he remains one of just two players yet to three-putt this week – Ryan Fox is the other – and he’s got sole ownership of the lead going into the final round. A 69 for Burns, which is exactly what his playing partner JJ Spaun shot as well

Caitlin Clark spectacular in return from injury as Fever hand Liberty first loss

Caitlin Clark totaled 32 points, nine assists and eight rebounds in a spectacular return from a left quad injury on Saturday leading the Indiana Fever to a 102-88 victory over the New York Liberty, snapping their season-opening nine-game winning streak.After missing five games, Clark scored 25 points in the first half to help Indiana (5-5) rally from an early 11-point deficit. Clark made 11-of-20 shots and tied a career high by hitting seven threees, including several from well beyond the arc.Clark finished with the second-most points in her career and three shy of her career-high (35) set on 15 September against the Dallas Wings. Clark scored 14 in the first quarter, including three 3s in the final 86 seconds after the Fever trailed by 11

Rory McIlroy says he ‘didn’t really care’ about making US Open cut at Oakmont

Rory McIlroy admitted he was in two minds over whether he wanted to make the US Open cut, in the latest nod to the Northern Irishman’s psychological struggles since winning the Masters in April.McIlroy made birdie on two of his last four holes on Friday evening to survive for the closing 36 holes at Oakmont. Until that point, he was heading for an early exit. McIlroy returned to the course to post 74 on Saturday, leaving him 10 over for the week, before addressing the media for the first time since Tuesday. McIlroy’s body language suggested he would rather be elsewhere