Summary
So, another busy day of sport across Australia. Some key wins in the AFLW where Carlton have stunned the Crows, the Saints blew a huge chance to dent Fremantle’s unbeaten record, while in Brisbane the Lions put on one of their biggest totals in recent campaigns.
In the A-League a tale of contrasting games - an eight-goal feast in Geelong, as Western United banged six for the first time in their young history, while in nearby Melbourne a cagey one-nil was enough for City.
City also won their W-League clash against the same opposition to finish their regular season unbeaten, while in the T20 World Cup, South Africa maintained their good form in Group B with a win against Pakistan.
Big results from the WNBL and NBL as the Capitals and Taipans won finals-series games respectively. And that’s Sportwatch!
A-League: Melbourne City 1-0 Brisbane Roar
90 + 3 min: Would you believe, the ball lands at the feet of Wenzel-Halls, open in the box, but the youngster dallies momentarily and is forced to lay it off. A City player challenges Muratovic - if he goes down, is that a penalty?! The youngster stays on his feet but he’s on a different wave-length to his teammate and rolls an errant pass!
And that’s it - City claim the crucial three points, and Brisbane’s fine run comes to an end; they’re stuck, right back in the mix of a crowded A-League mid-table.
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A-League - 90 min: Four minutes is the added time, but you just get the sense this one is ebbing, gently, away for the Roar.
A-League - 88 min: Goodness gracious, this is real ropey stuff from a team with aspirations for second place on the table. City are camped on their own 18-yard-box just backs-to-the-wall, booting clearance after clearance while Roar pepper the box with crosses and recycled ball ins.
They’re ripe for the taking - but Roar still have to work out how to.
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A-League - 83 min: Lovely work from Metcalfe who spins under pressure in midfield before lifting an instinctive ball over the top to find Maclaren. It lands at the feet of the prolific striker but his misses his control and Roar’s skipper Tom Aldred, steps in to clear.
And a final change, as Roar throw on the young striker Dylan Wenzell-Halls, he comes on for the right back, Hingert.
A-League - 78 min: Side netting! Jay O’Shea with a clever curling freekick effort around the wall - Glover scrambles, but it just flicks the outside of the net. Very, very close. They’re in danger of inviting the Roar back into the contest, City - they kept them shot-less for most of the game, but they’re letting them dictate proceedings late on.
A-League - 75 min: And here come the firsts; a first shot on target for Brisbane (!) as McDonald forces Glover to scramble to claim a looping, deflected effort. And then a first booking of the evening - and it’s the coach, Robbie Fowler on the Roar bench! Adrian Luna saves his blushes by picking one up on-field shortly after with a clumsy, rugby-esque tackle. This is now starting to warm up, this clash.
A-League - 69 min: Well, that has to go down as one of the all-time most unfortunate substitutes - after six minutes of proppy limping Amadi-Holloway is himself substituted. On comes Mirza Muratovic in his place. Can the young Brisbane striker fare better? They still trail 1-0.
A-League - 63 min: A first change for Robbie Fowler, who brings on a striker, Amadi-Holloway, for a midfielder, with Jacob Pepper to make way. Expect a slight tactical adjustment therefore.
Oh dear, and inside a minute he’s down with what looks quite a nasty ankle injury! It was an innocuous coming-together with Rostyn Griffiths - let’s hope for Roar fans he can continue. What a blow that would be.
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A-League - Goal! Melbourne City 1-0 Brisbane Roar (Brillante)
55 min: The gods have heard our pleas, and opened their purse for one more offering! It’s an incredible first-time volley from Josh Brillante lashing a looping headed clearance back with interest, and it clatters off the base of the post, and oh my, replays suggest off the back of the outstretched ‘keeper, Young! It could be counted as an own-goal; how cruel against the man who’s kept Roar in so many contests this season.
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A-League: second half!
50 min: Have the goal gods decided Western United and Central Coast used up all the vouchers? Are we destined for no more? The last time these two met they played out a thriller, so perhaps we’re due the snore draw this time. Let’s see.
A reminder, for those craving more T20 World Cup action, we have a parallel liveblog for West Indies v England. It was the Windies with a very early breakthrough, ball in hand, but it’s beginning to build nicely for England. Still early doors, mind:
A-League - half-time: Melbourne City 0-0 Brisbane Roar
It’s even-stevens at the break, with not a whole lot of goalmouth action to speak of. City with the better chances, but Roar’s ‘keeper Young, as often, in inspired form. Roar not mustering a shot of target and it’s a relatively frustrated Scott McDonald who speaks to the broadcasters at half-time. All strikers like to see a bit more of the ball, but as this one opens up that may yet happen.
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A-League - 33 min: My, oh my. Will there ever be a week when Jamie Young doesn’t win “Save of the Week”? That was a superb header from Rostyn Griffiths who does well to generate the pace on the flick - but the big catlike paws of the Brisbane custodian reach out and bat it away. That looked destined for all money to be the game’s opening goal!
A-League - 25 min: So, let’s turn our focus to City v Roar, where it’s the home side defending a corner, but Glover comes and claims comfortably. They’ve only scored one goal more than the bottom-placed Mariners, Brisbane - but importantly, they’ve conceded 21 less. Expect this one to stay tight, before perhaps opening up in the second half - unless some of City’s sharp-shooters like Jamie Maclaren have other ideas, of course.
NBL: Taipans level finals series 1-1 against Wildcats
Perth came out of the blocks for a good, well, five minutes or so, but from there it was all Cairns. The home side delighting their fans with a big run of scoring late in the first to put a comfortable distance between themselves and their opponents. 85-74 the final score, Cameron Oliver with a game-high 22 for the home side, with the skipper DJ Newbill chiming in with 16 as well. An incredible 19 rebounds for Oliver as well - what a game he had.
So we return to the West for game three. The opener was decided by just one point: who will have the legs in the final battle?
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AFLW: Brisbane Lions 7.9 (51) beat GWS Giants 3.5 (23)
They did the damage in the third quarter, but that was pretty emphatic stuff from the Lions across all four quarters, with 37 inside 50s. Catherine Svarc the standout with 23 disposals, 11 tackles and two goals. Wardlaw also with a double, with goals shared around elsewhere.
They’re one of two undefeated sides in the AFLW, the Lions - and guess what: they face Freo, in Freo, next week. What a game that will be.
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A-League - kick-off!
So we’re underway in the City v Roar clash - a win for Brisbane and they jump to just one point of three teams in equal second: including Melbourne City. A win for City, and they go three points clear of Perth and Wellington, ten points behind runaway leaders Sydney FC.
WNBL - grand final series: Southside Flyers 80-82 Capitals
It’s a final-quarter demonstration of pure will from Kelsey Griffin as the Capitals come over the top of the flyers to bank game one of the WNBL grand final series. A remarkable match-high 12 rebounds, to go with 18 points and two assists - incredible hunger. Not that anyone was poor for the Capitals, with Kia Nurse bagging 19 and Marianna Tolo 15. The hot hands of Bec Cole running cold in the second half - she streaked to 18 first half points, but was kept to just five more in the back end of that one. A thrilling contest - let’s hope for two more in the series!
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Now - we’re also not too far away from our late A-League fixture, where it’s Melbourne City hosting Brisbane Roar - the second game in an A- & W-League double header; where suddenly points are key in a rapidly equalising middle section of the A-League ladder.
And we are shortly underway at the T20 World Cup with another key Group B clash - where the big hitting Windies take on trophy contenders England. Don’t miss a beat of that one, with our separate liveblog:
T20 World Cup: South Africa win by 17 runs
Well they gave it a pretty good crack. Goes to show how important that final over barrage from Wolvaart was for South Africa - she took Pakistan for 14 including three consecutive boundaries, and that just about proves the difference. A touch sloppy in the field at times, South Africa, but credit the Pakistani batters for pushing that almost to the wire.
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A-League: Western United 6-2 Central Coast Mariners
Well, we prefaced this one as a must win (must-not-lose) - and haven’t Western United done just that. A much-needed return to form for the mob from Western Melbourne after a bad run of results. They’re right in the mix for the top six, but for Mariners. Oh dear.
“That was a horrible performance”, was the description from the broadcasters. Hard to disagree.
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W-League: Melbourne City 3-1 Brisbane Roar
So its the end the season for a bunch of senior Matildas as Roar’s campaign ends in fifth place. For City it’s perhaps the perfect tune up for finals next week - they’ll face the Wanderers at home.
A handy brace for US striker Ally Watt after Mijatovic’s stunning opener. It’s all purring nicely for Rado Vidosic’s chargers - they’ll be hard to beat over the next few weeks.
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A-League - Goal! Western United 6-2 Central Coast (Berisha)
89 min: And there it is - a 20th goal against the Mariners for Besart Berisha! It’s not a fair fight, is it? This is another gutpunch for Alen Stajcic’s men. “A sad and sorry tale for the Central Coast Mariners” is the assessment from commentary - you struggle to disagree with that.
T20 World Cup: Pakistan 5/100 (18), Aliya 23, Iram 13
36 off 12 is the equation - you’d have to say too steep for Pakistan, who’ve done well to hang in this after the loss of early wickets. But, stranger things have happened in the short form of the game.
Can Aliya be the Wolvaart for Pakistan? She doesn’t quite have the levers, but one of the two needs to go big - and early.
Now, we’re also into finals season in the NBL and WNBL - and there are two key clashes going down this evening.
We’re at half-time in the WNBL where in game one of three in the grand final series it’s the Southside Flyers leading the Capitals 47-43. Rebecca Cole with with a game-high 18 points for the Flyers. It’s a high-scorer in the ‘Nongs!
In Cairns in the NBL it’s the Taipans racing out to a 39-24 lead with three to run in the second quarter. Are they looking a little leg-weary the Wildcats? They did edge game one in a one-point thriller. Have Cairns responded better mentally in game two?
W-League - Goal! Melbourne City 3-1 Brisbane (Watt)
69 min: It’s a brace for Watt, and that surely is the ball game. They’ve tried to stand toe-to-toe with the City XI, the Roar, but you just feel this one is starting to turn away from them. Might be backs to the wall o’clock for the final 20 or so.
AFLW - quarter-time: Brisbane 2.5 (17) lead GWS 1.0 (6)
It’s the home side in the box seat after goals from Catherine Svarc and Jesse Wardlaw, Rebecca Privitelli with the solo effort for the Giants. They scored first and haven’t let up the Lions - 13 inside 50s to just one, so in that context the Giants defence have done well to keep the scoring as low as they have.
A-League - Goal! Western United 5-2 Central Coast (Durante)
61 min: And we have seven! It’s a scrabbly old goal. I’m hesitant to claim another former Phoenix player, Andrew Durante, as the goalscorer - is this one an own goal off the thigh of Clisby? It was a lovely ball to the far post from Diamanti, and the veteran centreback challenged - and VAR has had to decide whether or not it crossed the line; the verdict - eventually - was, yes!
W-League - Goal! Melbourne City 2-1 Brisbane (Watt)
55 min: Drama avoided, guys. Brisbane posed a question, and Melbourne City responded. It’s a cheap one, in fairness, with the US striker Ally Watt afforded far too much room inside the box - but she spins well, and fires it home.
W-League - Goal! Melbourne City 1-1 Brisbane (Palmer)
49 min: And after nearly 50 minutes Roar fashion their first shot on target, and would you believe it - it’s a goal! They’re right back in this courtesy Hollie Palmer, and you’d imagine Rado Vidosic will want his side right back in the drivers’ seat - given they have finals football next week and can’t afford any switch offs.
T20 World Cup: Pakistan 3-23 (8), Javeria 13, Aliya 3
And it’s not started brightly in the run chase for Pakistan. They did well in the field but they don’t have the answers for this South African bowling attack. Shabnim Ismail and Dane van Niekerk picking up key early wickets while Laura Wohlvaart has backed up her heroics with the bat, in the field, adding a run out to her achievements this match.
Now - we do have a third AFLW fixture this afternoon/evening - so stick about for Brisbane v GWS. Plenty happening elsewhere, I’m frantically looking to keep eyes across that as we speak.
Here’s a nice write-up in the interim about the earlier bushfire relief game in the netball. And what a fitting send off for a great of the game, Lisa Alexander:
W-League - half-time: Melbourne City 1-0 Brisbane
It feels almost a snoozefest in comparison across town, but maybe that’s just the difference of two sides who actually know how to defend? When you’re marshalled by former Matildas skipper Clare Polkinghorne that’s definitely a factor.
City enjoying the lion’s share of possession, and they made that count through the Mijatovic goal. Her fifth of the season, and it might be hard for the Roar players to motivate, knowing their final’s spot melted away 24-hours ago.
A-League - half-time: Western United 4-2 Central Coast
Bloody hell. I’ve got about four screens going, and everytime I look back at this one I’ve missed another goal.
Okay - hands up: who had Max Burgess first-half hattrick in the office sweepstakes? He hadn’t scored an A-League goal in 1,604 minutes, across 44 matches at four different clubs. And now he’s got three.
Gianni Stensness with his first as well for the Mariners. I quipped earlier that we could have another 7-goal thriller on our hands; well, we’ve had six already - and it’s only half-time.
Burgess 🔥🔥🔥 #WUNvCCM #WUFC pic.twitter.com/8tSEUchU9b
— Western United FC (@wufcofficial) March 1, 2020
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AFLW: St Kilda 3.5 (23) lose to Fremantle 3.6 (24)
Oh my - can you believe this? Heartbreaking for the Saints, but halfway through the season Fremantle have plucked a fourth consecutive win from the heavens!
Gemma Houghton with a critical point with just over half a minute to play - and fitting that in a low-scoring game just one solitary score would be the difference. They came from behind and the Saints staff will have a job picking their players up after this one. And this coming after a bad turnaround last week against the Demons. Yikes.
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A-League - Goal! Western United 3-1 Central Coast (Burgess)
38 min: And a latergram update, apologies for that from my end. Having waited something like 40+ A-League games before his first ever A-League goal, would you believe Burgess has struck two in about six minutes! And suddenly they’ve got a mountain to climb, the Mariners.
He’s a player Mark Rudan has shown great faith in - not just at Western United but earlier at Wellington Phoenix. He’s really established himself after years flirting on the A-League’s periphery, Burgess - and so well deserved.
W-League - Goal! Melbourne City 1-0 Brisbane (Mijatovic)
33 min: I was about to say an intriguing cat and mouse game across town at AAMI Park, but just as I was about to, it’s a peach of a strike from the Serbian Mijatovic to light up the contest! She’s left with too much space on the edge of the Roar box and she thumps a terrific curving effort top corner. What a hit, superb.
A-League - Goal! Western United 2-1 Central Coast (Burgess)
26 min: Ach. It’s a very poor giveaway from the Mariners inside their own box, and it’s the former Sydney FC junior Max Burgess who capitalises! He had plenty to do, but he jinked, stood up his defender, before rolling past Mark Birighitti in the Mariners goal. And the goals keep coming! Are we on for another 7-goal thriller, as Western played out with Adelaide a few weeks back?
AFLW - 3/4 time: St Kilda 2.4 (16) lead Fremantle 1.3 (9)
Welly, well. Do we have a possible boilover on our hands? Scoring remains at a premium in Moorabbin but it’s the Conference B leaders on the back foot, to a side scratching to keep their season alive. Watch this space for the final stanza.
A-League - Goal! Western United 1-1 Central Coast Mariners (Harold)
19 min: Mark Rudan will be chewing wasps - having taken the lead, the Western defence has literally handed the visitors a lifeline. It’s a clear as day handball inside the box from former Mariner Tomislav Uskok - and new arrival Chris Harold duly steps up and converts from the spot. Game on!
T20 World Cup - end of innings: South Africa 6/136 (20)
A terrific catch from Ali Riaz dismisses Chloe Tryon, but they can’t slow down Laura Wolvaart, Pakistan, as she thumps three consecutive boundaries to bring up her half century and finish with a flourish and 14 off the last over.
It was a decent performance from Pakistan - bowling was largely tight and the fielding of a high standard. Can they run down this imposing total though? They’ll need almost 7-an-over.
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A-League - Goal! Western United 1-0 Central Coast Mariners (Berisha)
9 min: Who else! No A-League player has ever scored 20 individual goals against a single club -could the indominable Besart Berisha be the first? This is goal number 19, as the Kosovan leaps highest from a crowded pack to get on the end of Alessandro Diamanti’s perfect set piece delivery. A fine header - Birighitti no chance.
Evening all! A fine salutation to you, wherever around the globe you’re following our coverage today. A fine thank you to JP Howcroft, as always.
We’ve got a stack of things just kicking off - chief among which a must-win (/must-not-lose) clash between two A-League clubs in freefall - Western United v Central Coast Mariners, and I was going to say a do-or-die finals-spots-on-the-line clash in the W-League, but unfortunately with Wanderers’ win in the west last night Brisbane Roar’s Matildas-laden squad have missed the four. Still, a tasty clash with premiers Melbourne City to enjoy.
That’s all from me for today. Time for Richard Parkin to cast his eye over the day’s events.
T20 World Cup: South Africa 82-4 (15 overs) South Africa are creeping towards a defendable total in Sydney but Pakistan have had the better of the first 15 overs of play. Javeria Khan has performed well deputising as captain in her 100th T20i.
A picture to make your ❤️ happy!
— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) March 1, 2020
Javeria Khan reacts to receiving her 100th T20I 🧢#SAvPAK | #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/daIxKdTb90
AFLW: HT: St Kilda 1.1 (7) v Fremantle 1.3 (9) - There’s still not much scoring in Moorabbin but the second quarter at least witnessed a couple of goals with the Dockers keeping their noses in front of the Saints.
Olivia Vesely responds for the Saints 🎯#AFLWSaintsFreo pic.twitter.com/QaDcwqWiZ6
— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) March 1, 2020
Superbikes: Alex Lowes led teammate Jonathan Rea across the line at Phillip Island to make it a Kawasaki one-two in the Superbike World Championships. Scott Redding came in third for Ducati.
👏SENSATIONAL win for @alexlowes22!@KRT_WorldSBK rider takes his first win the new team after an incredible battle with his teammate @jonathanrea #AUSWorldSBK 🇦🇺 pic.twitter.com/fmutcXp093
— WorldSBK (@WorldSBK) March 1, 2020
WT20: South Africa 54-3 (10 overs) Marizanne Kapp (27*) and Mignon du Preez (17) have led a fightback from South Africa after Pakistan dominated the opening five overs, but du Preez will be kicking herself after losing her wicket off the final delivery of the tenth over, gloving a reverse sweep onto her stumps.
AFLW: QT: St Kilda 0.1 (1) v Fremantle 0.2 (2) - Not much to report from Moorabbin where defence is on top at quarter time in the second AFLW clash of the afternoon.
Rugby Sevens: A perfect day in LA ends in superb fashion for Australia who make it three wins out of three with a 17-7 victory over the USA. The Aussies will now go into the knockout phase tomorrow as winners of Pool C and take on Ireland in the quarterfinals.
WT20: South Africa 17-2 (5 overs) Diana Baig is at it again! The Pakistan star has her second wicket of the match after Dane van Niekerk drags onto her pegs from wide outside off stump.
WT20: South Africa 15-1 (3 overs) Great start for Pakistan in their must-win clash against South Africa with Diana Baig finding some away swing to tickle the edge of Lizelle Lee’s bat, and the centurion against Thailand is out for just four. Marizanne Kapp, in a first drop, then lives dangerously, just clearing the ring in consecutive deliveries.
Netball: Diamonds 66-53 All-Stars - There’s hugs and smiles, singing and dancing, light-shows and confetti in Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena as the bushfire relief match ends with a resounding victory for Australia. Lisa Alexander’s tenure as head coach ends in celebratory fashion with the superstars of netball putting on a show for a packed house.
What an amazing day.
— Origin Diamonds (@AussieDiamonds) March 1, 2020
Thank you for all your love and support!
#HereIfYouNeed pic.twitter.com/BQe5OXCKFs
AFLW: Adelaide 4.4 (28) lost to Carlton 5.6 (36)
“We are the Navy Blues” rings around Richmond Oval in Adelaide after Carlton registered one of the greatest wins in their history. Tayla Harris (2.3) starred as the Victorians celebrated revenge in a rematch of last year’s grand final.
The victory, Carlton’s third in a row, keeps them towards the top of Conference B, while Adelaide remain mid-table in Conference A with a 2-2 record halfway through the season.
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AFLW: Carlton have stretched their lead to eight points with just a couple of minutes remaining in their clash away to Adelaide.
.@darcyvee doing what she does 🌟#AFLWCrowsBlues pic.twitter.com/yOF20w5NUY
— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) March 1, 2020
World T20: South Africa have won the toss and elected to bat first in a crucial Group B contest. A South African win would put them in pole position to top the group heading into the semi-finals while a Pakistan victory would set up a final round free-for-all involving both sides as well as England and West Indies.
Is batting first a good decision on this pitch?#SAvPAK | #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/WJ6TawcfSM
— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) March 1, 2020
Rugby Sevens: Australia’s men have won their opening two fixtures - against Samoa and Scotland - at the LA Sevens. They now face a decider against the hosts at around 3pm to determine who tops Pool C.
Superbikes: World champion Jonathan Rea has picked up where he left off in 2019, winning the second race of the weekend at Phillip Island, the Superpole Sprint.
The Kawasaki rider prevailed in a nail-biter ahead of race one winner Toprak Razgatlioglu (Yamaha) and Scott Redding (Ducati) with just 0.072 seconds separating the trio after the frenetic 10-lapper.
Race three, over 22-laps, gets underway at 3pm.
🙌Welcome to #WorldSBK 2020!
— WorldSBK (@WorldSBK) March 1, 2020
This is incredible as @jonathanrea pips @toprak_tr54 and @Reddingpower in yet another ridiculously close finish!#AUSWorldSBK 🇦🇺 pic.twitter.com/g4PaeiyIA4
AFLW: Midway through the third quarter of the grand final rematch Tayla Harris has just kicked Carlton 4.4 (28) a point ahead of Adelaide 4.3 (27).
Tayla Harris doesn't overthink this one 🤔#AFLWCrowsBlues pic.twitter.com/tuxPNIxvpW
— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) March 1, 2020
Netball: Early in the second half of this bushfire relief contest between Australia and the Super Netball All-Stars the scoreboard reads 47-29 in favour of the Diamonds. Lisa Alexander is being given a fine send-off in her last game as national team coach.
OUTRAGEOUS performance from the Diamonds. 👏
— 9Netball (@9Netball) March 1, 2020
Watch: @Channel9
Stream: https://t.co/zxpmNiIFDm
Donate: https://t.co/IHLl0F7sb6#HereIfYouNeed #9WWOS #9Netball pic.twitter.com/8sfAwIVwzr
Preamble
Hello everybody and welcome to another action-packed Sunday Sportwatch.
The line-up today could hardly be busier or more varied. There’s Superbikes from Phillip Island, Diamonds v All-Stars netball, AFLW (Adelaide v Carlton, St Kilda v Fremantle, & Brisbane v GWS), South Africa v Pakistan in the Women’s World T20, semi-final action in the NBL and grand final tension in the WNBL, two A-League fixtures - Western United v Central Coast Mariners, and Melbourne City v Brisbane Roar, with those latter two clubs also clashing in the W-League. If that wasn’t enough there’s rugby sevens in LA, as well as preseason trials in both the NRL and AFL.
If you want to help me wade through this ocean of sport, you can find me on email at jonathan.howcroft.casual@theguardian.com or Twitter @JPHowcroft.
