Summary
A pulsating finish to a real packed day of sport across Australasia. That was some finish to a game of basketball - let alone a finals match - in the NBL, where Sydney Kings have pulled off one of the all-time great comebacks.
In the A-League, a dramatic finish as well as Victory snatched a late winner courtesy Andrew Nabbout to win a classic “original derby” against Adelaide, with Marco Rojas also re-opening his Victory account. Earlier, a big surprise as bottom-placed Jets stunned second-placed Perth by the same 2-1 margin.
In the AFLW a first ever win for the West Coast Eagles who hung tough against the Western Bulldogs, while North Melbourne came from behind to sink the Suns.
In the NRL Charity Shield the Bunnies showed their fans plenty to be excited about for the season ahead, as they saw off early resistance from the Dragons to win, five tries to two.
Something for everyone - another classic Saturday Sportwatch!
A-League: Melbourne Victory 2-1 Adelaide United
Would you believe it. Just as the clocked ticked 90, a player who was guilty of so many missed chances earlier on has handed Victory a critical three points!
Andrew Nabbout - sporting one of the most ridiculous shiners after a head clash - only needed one eye to thump home a terrific finish. The Reds hit the crossbar twice in that second half, but they’ve lost the cherries. What a pulsating second half - and maybe, just maybe, Victory’s lumbering season is still alive!
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NBL - semi-final, game one: Sydney Kings 86-80 Melbourne United
Those are the games of B’ball that haunt retired players. Sydney have put something like a 24-2 final quarter scoring run - it’s a meltdown of the most epic proportions for the visitors from Victoria.
Home fans are ecstatic - that was a ridiculous end to this, the opening game of the finals series. Andrew Bogut calms some of the younger heads from getting too excited - it’s still only 1-0; but wow. What a remarkable close to this one.
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NBL: Sydney Kings 82-80 Melbourne United - 40s’
Caspar Ware sinks two, to make 79-80. It was a one-point margin as Perth beat Cairns in the first semi-final 108-107 last night - are we set for another thriller?
Melbourne get sent to the stripe but to a chorus of boos, the United shooter misses two from two! And then the Brazilian Louzada goes up the other end and sinks two for the Kings!
They were down by 16 points at one stage, the Kings - but they’re doing it late. 82-80 with 40 seconds to go on the clock!
Updated
We’ve about ten to run in the A-League, where as it currently stands, Adelaide could - remarkably - be on track for their first draw of the season, nineteen games in!
But, lets’ get to the NBL - we’ve about 90 seconds on the clock and it’s the Kings trailing by 3 against rivals Melbourne in the second semi-final!
Super Rugby: Reds 23-33 Sharks
Ugh. It’s turned into a bloodbath - and what a tour of Australasia it’s been for the visitors who snaffle another W. The skipper Am with a terrific intercept try, before the Sharks got it done out wide, through Tambwe, following a terrific counter raid that went through plenty of hands.
They played about eight minutes extra time as the Sharks chased a bonus point try, but it was the Reds who were eventually rewarded for their own perseverance, with a first Super Rugby try to Craig.
A fourth loss of the season for the Reds - plenty for coach Brad Thorn to mull over.
NRL Charity Shield: South Sydney 26-12 St George
Twenty-two unanswered points for the Bunnies in the second half whose depth was just too much for the Dragons. No Damien Cook, Reynolds off and a bunch of senior players rested, but it was the Rabbitohs rookies who got it done.
Alex Johnson with South Sydney’s fifth and final try. Good signs for the season ahead for Bunnies believers.
A-League - Goal! Melbourne Victory 1-1 Adelaide (Rojas)
57 min: Three times a charm - it’s the diminutive Kiwi, back in his third spell with Melbourne Victory who produces something from nothing! It was a quickly-taken throw in, and Rojas responded first, charging into the box and firing past Izzo. And suddenly, the Reds’ grasp on this game is looking very, very shaky.
AFLW: West Coast 4.6 (30) defeat Western Bulldogs 3.8 (26)
What a finish to this one! It’s the Bulldogs with the chance to win it from the set shot, and Kirsten McLeod hooks it right! The fine margins on which games turn.
Huge celebrations from the home side on the final whistle. “Scenes! Absolute scenes!” is the appraisal from the commentary box - and why not: it’s the Eagles’ first ever four points! A cracking finale.
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And for boxing fans, this is a cracker of a piece from the one and only Barney Ronay, on the complex, controversial, but irrepressibly popular Tyson Fury. One for devotees and bemused onlookers alike.
Super Rugby - 60 min: Reds 16-21 Sharks
An offensive chance for the Queenslanders after a poor clearance, but they’ve struggling against this imposing South African pack, and they eventually concede the scrum penalty - Du Toit has just monstered his opposite number Hooper. But there’s an illegal forearm the Sharks’ No 16. That seems a stiff call against the visitors. Didn’t seem much there.
As you can sense - this one remains: tiight.
NRL Charity Shield - 60 min: South Sydney 20-12 St George
And from the Blue V to the Red V, let’s get back to Mudgee, where it’s been a real turnaround since the interval for the Dragons. It’s been all Souths, with Bailey Sironen in the mix for plenty.
Tries to Mago, Sironen and Koloamatangi - this perhaps the pick of them:
The Bunnies are firing!
— NRL (@NRL) February 29, 2020
They extend their lead, 20-12 after 58 minutes. #CharityShield pic.twitter.com/9aFxMSWZ7g
Gee, they’ve got some depth in this squad, don’t they - the Bunnies?
A-League - half-time: Melbourne Victory 0-1 Adelaide
I mentioned that wave of Victory attacks - they lead 16-5 on the shot count, with 5-1 on target. But guess what. Adelaide’s one effort proved a good one from Opseth, and that’s the difference at this stage.
The ice-cool Swede Ola Toivonen is running unusually hot. Somebody needs to get inside his head and settle him down. He was in the book early for backchat, and walked a tightrope for much of that half. His late miss spoke very much of a hugely frustrated player. Victory need him focused after the break.
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AFLW - 3/4 time: West Coast 3.6 (24) leads Western Bulldogs 2.5 (17)
It’s a good quarter for the home side, with the Kelly sisters from Ireland combining brilliantly and causing their fair share of havoc. Hayley Bullas with a “soccer” from close range with the game looking very tight at just a two-point margin. Repeat entries and repeat pressure gets its rewards. Kirsty Lamb with a bad miss for the Dogs late on. They’re still showing plenty of bite though.
A-League - 43 min: Mias days. Ola Toivonen - one of the best strikers in the league has just squandered one of the most gilt-edged chances you can imagine: a free header, about four metres out - and he nods it wide!
It’s backs to the walls for the Reds, who have weathered an absolute storm for large parts of the half - but the Victory can’t find the leveller.
A-League - 33 min: Yikes. That was a close call for the home side! The ‘keeper Lawrence Thomas has come a long way to challenge for the ball, but he’s got nothing but man! Is that a red card? Referee Chris Beath produces a card - but it’s yellow. Perhaps a covering defender has just saved the Victory custodian there. My, they would have been in all sorts - they still trail 0-1, the Big V.
And from the world of tennis - a cracker in Qatar, where it’s arguably the two most consistent women on the circuit at the moment locking horns once again. Sadly for Australian fans, it wasn’t to be Ash Barty’s night on this occasion:
Super Rugby - half-time: Reds 11-8 Sharks
It’s tight and tense up in Queensland at the break. It is of course the two sides placed second in their respective conferences - the difference is for the South Africans that’s a 3-1 record, for the Australians, a 1-3.
Still, it’s the Reds just shading this one - a late penalty the only addition to the score since last update. Could turn into a war of attrition second half.
NRL Charity Shield - half-time: South Sydney 4-12 St George
It’s the Dragons who are out by over a converted try at the break, with Tyrell Fuimaono crashing over from close range. Zac Lomax with 2/2 from the boot, in a game that’s been largely even - the Dragons perhaps just finishing their sets a little better. Still, plenty of X-Factors in this Rabbitohs side to get back in front.
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AFLW - half-time: West Coast 1.4 (10) trail Western Bulldogs 2.3 (15)
And they do start to make their statistical superiority pay, the visitors. Goals to Kimberley Rennie and Danielle Marshall see the Dogs nose in front. Ellie Blackburn and Hannah Scott with double-digit disposals as they look to inspire their teammates. Still, fine margins in this one - first score after the break could be important for momentum.
And it’s not technically a sport, but it’s definitely a sporting occasion. A big shoutout to all those around Sydney’s Oxford st tonight for the Mardi Gras. Have a safe, fun, glittery evening!
The Dykes on Bikes cruising through Taylor square to kick off #MardiGras2020 !! #WhatMatters @SBSNews pic.twitter.com/Jxzo1wDUPS
— iliasbakalla (@iliasbakalla) February 29, 2020
A-League - Goal! Melbourne Victory 0-1 Adelaide (Opseth)
7 min: Cat - meet pigeons. It’s a refashioned Victory, no Jakob Poulsen at all, Hoogland at right back, Broxham back in midfield - but the same result! It’s a clever ball from McGree who feeds the big Norwegian. But he’s had an acre of room to find a finish, Kristian Opseth, and he curls it home past an outstretched Lawrence Thomas! Not the start the home faithful were expecting.
Super Rugby - Try! Reds 8-8 Sharks (Speight)
17 min: It’s the Sharks who go in first, just three minutes earlier through van Vuuren, but the Reds hit back in impressive fashion - some fine running rugby as they go wide and Speight is the man to close. His fifth try in five against the Sharks.
Okay - we’re just about at kickoff for Victory’s clash with Adelaide in the A-League. Let’s play a guessing game - who am I?
D-L-D-L-L-L.
If you guessed “Melbourne Victory’s recent form” you’d be correct! Explaining why arguably the competition’s biggest club is on track for missing the A-League finals for the first time since 2011/12.
Here’s the XIs:
Our team is in for Super Saturday! @leighbroxham is back in the starting line-up #MVFC #OurVictory pic.twitter.com/SMofUtK16g
— Melbourne Victory (@gomvfc) February 29, 2020
And Adelaide:
James Troisi is straight back into the line up for the #OriginalRivalry! #AUFC #MVCvADL pic.twitter.com/H6Mf6ma4i7
— Adelaide United (@AdelaideUnited) February 29, 2020
Would you believe, courtesy the Newcastle Jets’ shock win, Victory start this game 10th on the table, just Mariners below them.
NRL Charity Shield - 25 min: The Rabbitohs with a two-on-two about 5m out from the Dragon’s line, but Braidon Burns can’t find his teammate with the trick-flick and the opportunity goes begging. It’s defences on top at this stage - certainly not the tryfest of last year.
AFLW: West Coast 1.2 (9) lead Western Bulldogs 0.2 (2)
First blood to the Eagles, as Ashley Atkins kicks the first significant one of the contest. Emma Swanson lively early on for the home side, but there’s not much between the two in the stats department. The Bulldogs doing much better in inside 50s and marks inside the arc, but perhaps some wayward shooting has let them down.
Super Rugby - 5 min: A real nasty headknock for the Sharks’s skipper Lukhanyo Am, as the ball-runner slips badly into a shoulder of the tackler. Not much the defender could do about that, but Curwin Bosch steps up and slots the resulting penalty. 3-3.
NRL Charity Shield - Try! Souths 4-6 St George (Vaughan)
11 min: A nice kick from Ben Hunt tests the Rabbitoh’s backline, and it’s a rare error from the experienced Dane Gagai who spills the pills, and Paul Vaughan is on hand to crash over. They hit their kick, ruling out Campbell Graham’s try inside a minute that had the home fans pretty happy. Another early look at Latrell Mitchell at fullback, which will be a fascinating subplot to this forthcoming league season.
So, a flurry of games finishing, which means a flurry of games set to start! The pick of bunch is the NRL Charity Shield, where it’s Rabbits v Dragons. In the animal kingdom you’d imagine that’s no match (except in Monty Python), but in the world of rugby league, it’s a real tester. More on that, shortly.
We also have West Coast v Bulldogs in the AFLW, Reds v Sharks in the Super Rugby, and a big “original derby” clash between Adelaide and a struggling Melbourne Victory in the A-League. Engrossing narratives, all.
A-League: Newcastle Jets 2-1 Perth Glory
My, oh my. Rip up the form guide - I don’t think too many fans saw this result coming. But, goes to show what sprinkle dust players of the calibre of Ibini and Hoolahan can add to a side.
We’ve been saying it all season - Newcastle Jets were playing football that was too good for a team at the bottom of the table; now they’ve got the front third threats to match it, with Roy O’Donovan’s return to the club another key addition.
It’s Tony Popovic’s first ever loss at Newcastle stadium - expect Perth to lick their wounds and come back bigger and nastier after this. It’s suddenly very tight at the top with three sides all locked on 30 points.
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W-League: Melbourne Victory 3-1 Sydney FC
So, it’s Victory who finish second on the table, but a good 8-11 points behind cross-town rivals City (who have one game left to come tomorrow). It’s a significant mental blow though, as depending on permutations elsewhere, these two sides could face off again next weekend in the first week of the finals. Have Sydney salvaged enough late on to salvage some belief? Or was that just too emphatic from the Victory? An intriguing “watch this space” next weekend - who doesn’t love W-League finals action!
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AFLW: North Melbourne 6.11 (47) beat Gold Coast 5.4 (34)
We get within the final five and the margin is seven - and inside the goalsquare the Suns look to fire goalwards, but there’s a superb smoother! What desperation, after nearly two hours of lung-busting effort.
They huff and they puff, the Suns - but the more experienced Roos stand up in the championship minutes - Daisy Bateman with the knockout punch late on, her second major of the game - and that’s the tea. An engrossing clash - plenty to delight the fans.
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W-League - Goal! Melbourne Victory 3-1 Sydney FC (Tobin)
90 min: She’s been around the club for a seeming age, but has Nat Tobin ever scored a better goal than that?! That was a terrific strike - she picked it up from outside the box before curling a fierce effort top bins - former teammate Casey Dumont with absolutely no chance!
It’s an important goal, as with Wanderers still to play later, a heavy loss could see Sydney slide from second to fourth - which has huge ramifications for finals playoffs: a possible date with Melbourne City.
A-League - Goal! Newcastle Jets 2-1 Perth Glory (O’Donovan)
73 min: It’s a fine cross in from Bobby Burns, looking for Ibini and O’Donovan in the centre - Ibini gets a tiny touch, but it’s the Irishman, back at the club, who bundles home past Liam Reddy!
They celebrate with jubilation - but would you believe it - VAR is taking a look. There’s an interminable wait - did Ibini’s tiny touch make the play offside? The coaching bench is furious, the players are nervous..
No! All clear - and it’s a goal! Jets take the lead.
W-League - Goal! Melbourne Victory 3-0 Sydney FC (Jenkins)
71 min: Oh my. That’s a superb solo effort. Jenkins picks it up just outside the box and slaloms around THREE defenders with a mazy dribble, before lashing a fierce left-footed volley past the FC ‘keeper at the near post! What a strike. And isn’t she Up. For. It. Brilliant goal.
A-League - 60 min: So, we’re just past the hour mark, and the Jets have responded with some pretty significant names off their bench. The marquee playmaker, former Premier League star, Wes Hoolahan, and the newly-signed Socceroo, Bernie Ibini enter the fray. Fair to say some firepower there. We’re still locked at 1-1.
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AFLW - 3/4 time: North Melbourne 5.5 (35) lead Gold Coast 4.3 (27)
This one’s been swinging like a pendulum do - it was the Suns with the first majors of the quarter to bring us back to a one-goal game, before Emma Carney turned on the afterburners and strode inside 50. The kick looked to lack elevation, but teammate Emma King was on hand to make it count anyway. A late miss for North Melbourne, but the Roos with the late momentum - still “nicely balanced” with a quarter to play.
W-League - Goal! Melbourne Victory 2-0 Sydney FC (Jenkins)
49 min: My - they’re fast into the ascendancy here, the home side. A lot of teams have seen their seasons tail off with a few high profile Matildas being whisked away to leagues in Europe (or US imports returning for Olympics duty in the case of the Wanderers), but the big V are one team improving. Annalise Longo having a big impact, while Darien Jenkins has been scoring for fun in recent weeks. That thumping from their rivals City the pre-finals wake up they needed?
So, a few NRL trial matches going on around the country. I can confirm Dale Finucane has just crashed over for the Storm, as they take an 18-4 lead into half-time. For the Bulldogs and Raiders it’s still an arm-wrestle with under ten to go: 10-12 the margin in that one.
W-League: Melbourne Victory 1-0 Sydney FC - half-time
Amy Jackson’s right footed drive around 25 minutes in has been enough to divide this one, so far - it may not have the rivalry of the men’s Big Blue given the comparative challenge crosstown rivals City have posed in recent years, but you can tell there’s still some feeling to this one. Winner does, of course, take second spot on the ladder behind the runaway City outfit, so plenty on the line.
A-League: Newcastle Jets 1-1 Perth Glory - half-time
So, despite a Nikolai Topor-Stanley thunderbastard for the Jets, we’re all square at the break. Fellow Newcastle centre back Nigel Boogaard pinged for a suspected handball while sliding to stop a cross, and Perth duly converting courtesy Neil Kilkenny from the spot.
A lively first 45 up in Newcastle though - new coach Carl Robinson has certainly freshened up what had become a stale looking Jets earlier in the season.
Hi all! Your ol’ pal RP in the chair. Thanks Megan for a sterling turn, as always. There’s a veritable smorgasbord of sport going on as we speak, so we’ll try and get round the grounds for that - but first from the A-League.
Well, that’s it from me today! But don’t log off yet, Richard Parkin is on hand to guide you gently through the rest of the night’s sporting action. As your resident football (the round ball variety) expert, he will have some excellent insights into those A-League and W-League matches and hopefully will have plenty to say about how much better the Dragons are than those pesky Rabbits. Until next time, I bid you all adieu!
AFLW: North Melbourne lead Gold Coast 4.5 (29) to 2.2 (14) at half-time
A blinder of a second quarter from North Melbourne sees them outscore their opponents 21-1 in the quarter. Jasmine Garner and Ellie Kavalas have been relentless, moving the ball around constantly and tiring out the Suns’ defence.
DAISY! Three in a row. #OurTimeIsNow #AFLWRoosSuns pic.twitter.com/RB3rMwycCD
— North Melbourne AFLW (@NorthAFLW) February 29, 2020
T20 World Cup: India (116-3) beat Sri Lanka (113-9) by seven wickets
A dominant performance from India, who got the job done with a clean sweep of their four pool matches. Now they just have to sit back and wait to find out who their semi final opponents will be. They have quite a long gap until their next game - will they see that as a positive to rest their bowlers, or a negative - breaking their momentum just as they’re on a strong run?
AFLW: Gold Coast 2.1 (13) lead North Melbourne 1.2 (8) at quarter time
The Suns take the early lead, thanks to goals from Tiana Ernst and Kalinda Howarth in the first quarter. The Suns are spreading the attacking load well, not relying on one player, but playing smartly and moving the ball around a lot. They’re certainly looking the better of the two teams at the moment, lets see if they can hold on to this momentum.
It’s GO time 👏👏#ItsOurTimeToShine #ChallengeAccepted #AFLWRoosSUNS pic.twitter.com/u2ODoGettD
— Gold Coast Suns (@GoldCoastSUNS) February 29, 2020
A-League: Newcastle 1-0 Perth after 21 mins
A goal in Newcastle and the Jets take the lead through Nikolai Topor-Stanley and don’t they love it?
NIKOLAI MY WORD 🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯 #NEWvPER #ALeague #MadeOfNewcastle pic.twitter.com/PPkhRfwGkF
— NEWCASTLE JETS FC ✈️ (@NewcastleJetsFC) February 29, 2020
T20 World Cup: India 86-2 after 10 overs
India have absolutely no interest in slow accumulation or letting Sri Lanka think they have any sort of momentum. Shafali (46* off 33) and Harmanpreet (15 off 13) punished the bowlers, trying to reduce this total as quickly as they could. Harmanpreet gets caught out in the 10th over trying to smash some more runs, but at the moment it’s not a concern and Jemimah Rodrigues comes to the crease to continue where her captain left off.
With a perfect record from the round matches, they’re not relying on their net run rate to get them through, but they’re having a stab at increasing it just for the hell of it. All the talk was naturally about the home team coming into the tournament, but this Indian team are looking exceptionally hard to beat right now.
Shafali Verma is on 🔥
— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) February 29, 2020
India have raced to 49/1 in six overs, and once again the 16-year-old is leading the charge 💪#T20WorldCup | #INDvSL
📝📽️ https://t.co/pRG3mR1qkU pic.twitter.com/PngrvMVaIV
It’s just hit 5pm and things have got fast and furious, with a number of new matches underway in all codes and corners of the country. Let’s catch up on a quick around the grounds!
The A-League has just started in Newcastle with the Jets taking on Perth Glory and the score is 0-0.
In the W-League, Melbourne Victory are hosting Sydney FC and the score there is - you guessed it - 0-0.
The Super W match between the Reds and Rebels is well underway and the Reds are dominating - up 19-3. Averyl Mitchell scored two early tries to put them ahead.
T20 World Cup: India 34-1 after five overs
India looked like they were thinking about playing it safe, but the idea didn’t last for long, Smriti Mandhana smashing 17 from 12 before being dismissed in the fifth over. They’ve pushed the run rate up to 7.29 - much higher than required. They want this game over quickly it seems. Shafali Verma is ticking along nicely with 16 from 16 with Harmanpreet Kaur joining her at the crease.
First-ball four for Shafali Verma 🔥
— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) February 29, 2020
How many will she get today? #T20WorldCup | #INDvSLpic.twitter.com/0ZQUFFhcWF
AFLW: Geelong beat Richmond 10.7 (67) to 7.3 (45)
A clinical win from Geelong in the end, who pushed ahead in the second quarter and looked after their lead for the rest of the match. Some possible trouble for both sides as the result of a clash late in the third quarter - Jordan Ivey took Katie Brennan high and may have a case to answer. A good team performance from the Cats overall, with eight goal scorers sharing the load between them.
Jordan Ivey takes Katie Brennan high on the 3QT siren.
— 7AFL (@7AFL) February 29, 2020
Hope Katie's okay 🙏#AFLW pic.twitter.com/LSfBl9r5Dp
AFLM: A nice piece during the week from Jonathan Horn about the nostalgia brought about by the Victoria v All Stars charity match and its shades of State of Origin times of old.
Too often, the talent-laden Victorian sides came a cropper. In 1990, when they were beaten by New South Wales, it was like losing to Greenland in a Test cricket match. “State of Embarrassment” was the headline in The Age.
AFLW: Geelong 9.7 (61) lead Richmond 7.1 (43) at three-quarter time
Geelong just getting on with the job in Bendigo, quietly accumulating and Richmond play catch up. The Cats are doing a great job of stifling Sabrina Frederick, who has been limited in her impact with defenders all over her wherever she goes. Richelle Cranston has been the key to the Cats’ attack, with 13 disposals, seven kicks and two goals.
Rocky Cranston dives for the mark 🙌
— 7AFL (@7AFL) February 29, 2020
Stream #AFLW: https://t.co/uTRbr2u6MA pic.twitter.com/RYTyvlKxxW
T20 World Cup: Sri Lanka 113-9 after 20 overs
After another wicket from Radha Yadav to round out an incredible four overs at 4-23, Nilakshika Silva and Kaveesha Dilhari gave it their all for a few overs before Silva was out, skying possibly the highest ball I’ve ever seen hit. Sathya Sandeepani comes and goes straight out next ball, bowled by a beautiful ball from Shika Pandey. Pandey nearly has another next ball, but it falls just wide of the keeper to be safe. Dilhari finishes with a lovely four to give Sri Lanka a little bit of hope -they have scrapped every run they can manage, but it doesn’t look like they’ve made par on this wicket and will have to bowl very well indeed to get a win from here.
4/23
— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) February 29, 2020
Career-best figures for Radha Yadav 👏#T20WorldCup | #INDvSL pic.twitter.com/Y6g5yR2hMs
Netball: An injury in the AFLW that has wider implications with Collingwood dual-code star Ash Brazill going down with a suspected ACL rupture. It would be devastating news for the club on two fronts, with Brazill one of their best players in both football and netball. Magpies Netball are already scrambling to replace the irreplaceable Nat Medhurst after the goal attack announced her pregnancy at the start of the year. Losing Brazill as well will put the club under incredible pressure.
With Brazill unable to play for the Australian Diamonds in the bushfire charity match in Sydney tomorrow, Gabi Simpson has been shifted over from the All Stars team, while Amy Parmenter gets the call up to replace Simpson.
BREAKING NEWS 🗞️
— Origin Diamonds (@AussieDiamonds) February 29, 2020
Ash Brazill has been ruled out of tomorrow’s bushfire relief match between the Origin Australian Diamonds and the Suncorp Super Netball All-Stars due to a knee injury.
Read more - https://t.co/Gg9vzrSfdt pic.twitter.com/jxgG1vgOVs
Cycling: A fascinating read from Kieran Pender this week, taking us behind the scenes on Australia’s preparations for the Track Cycling World Championships.
The Australians are always among the first to arrive at international competitions; only New Zealand landed in Berlin before them. “After long flights we get a lot of stiffness, so any pre-existing conditions can be irritated,” says the team physiotherapist Patrick Custance. “The first day or two we want to get them active and moving, plus doing lots of stretching and soft-tissue work.” Following a quiet Friday, nervous energy is building in the squad as they await their first track session.”
T20 World Cup: Sri Lanka 80-6 after 15 overs
As suspected, Sri Lanka have struggled since losing Atapattu. With the run rate currently at 5.38 and wickets falling regularly, they will have to hope for an extremely waggy tail and put on a strong bowling performance to have a hope of taking down this dominant Indian team. Radha Yadav has been the pick of India’s bowlers so far, with 3-19 and one over left to bowl.
Huge wicket!
— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) February 29, 2020
Chamari Athapaththu looks to hit her second six in two balls but only succeeds in picking out Shikha Pandey on the boundary.
Can Sri Lanka build on her start?#T20WorldCup | #INDvSL
📝📽️ https://t.co/pRG3mR1qkU pic.twitter.com/MUBH1JEPL4
AFLW: HT Geelong 7.4 (46) lead Richmond 3.1 (19)
Richmond scored early in the quarter and looked like they were hitting their straps, but Geelong hit back repeatedly to assert their dominance. Georgia Clarke has been strong with the boot, kicking two goals for the Cats in the quarter. Monique Conti has looked like the Tigers’ best, but they’ll need a full team performance to stop the Cats taking the premiership points.
Clark gathers and snaps a beauty. @catswomens putting on a show in Bendigo! #AFLW pic.twitter.com/8aFOlCMjBE
— 7AFL (@7AFL) February 29, 2020
Cricket: It’s been almost an under the radar tour of South Africa for the Australian men - with matches taking place in the middle of the night and being overshadowed by the drama of the women’s T20 World Cup back at home. But it’s an interesting return to the scene of the sandpaper crime, as Sam Perry ruminated during the week.
Boxing: A fascinating read from Stephanie Convery during the week, previewing her soon to be released book After the Count.
Mention concussion in a boxing gym and you are met with a squirming, uncomfortable silence. Sometimes there are nods, a murmured hrm, before your fellow conversationalist slides quietly away. If someone feels trapped, they may bust out a bit of bro-science: It’s just one of those things. It’s just a bit of conditioning. Don’t worry too much about it. Shake it off. Keep your chin down and your guard up, you’ll be fine.
T20 World Cup: Sri Lanka 50-3 after nine overs
A sensational ball from Rajeshwari Gayakwad means that Madhavi has to go for 12 and Hansima Karunarathna comes to the crease, with the desired effect for India of slowing down the scoring rate. She is not turning the strike over as well as Madhavi did and is taking some time to find her feet. As soon as Atapattu is back on strike she smashes a beautiful six, then tries to follow it up with another, falls short and is caught on the boundary, out for 33. That’s a huge blow for Sri Lanka.
5️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ #T20WorldCup runs for Chamari Athapaththu 🙌
— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) February 29, 2020
She is the first Sri Lankan woman to reach the milestone 1️⃣#INDvSL
📝📽️ https://t.co/pRG3mR1qkU pic.twitter.com/S5caKhJmnM
AFLW: Geelong 1.3(9) leads Richmond 1.1(7)
This match is at tight as the ladder suggests it should be so far. Highly defensive and a little bit scrappy, you get the feeling that whoever ultimate takes this one out will need to grind out a win, rather than glide to victory. Courtney Wakefield got Geelong on the board early, while Kate Darby scored Richmond’s goal mid-quarter. Richmond will need to tighten up their discipline to take this one out, giving away six free kicks in the first quarter.
Brave little Tiger Edie is running out with the team today 💛#AFLWTigersCats #gotiges pic.twitter.com/AMvXBkKSlj
— RichmondW (@RichmondWomens) February 29, 2020
T20 World Cup: Sri Lanka 32-1 after five overs
A nice early wicket for India has put Sri Lanka under some pressure, but while Chamari Atapattu remains out there, Sri Lanka are in with a chance. Harshitha Madhavi is playing a good support role at present, with eight runs from eight balls, turning the strike over nicely.
"I know my skills. I'm proud of my performances, but I want to improve day by day."
— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) February 29, 2020
What drives the stylish Chamari Athapaththu? #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/KzEwL3OCS3
AFLW: A bottom of Conference A clash is just underway, with both Richmond and Geelong hunting for their first win. The Tigers haven’t performed as well as their fanbase were hoping and haven’t found a way to fire just yet.
Ready to go, with some great support to run out with as well 😼#AFLWTigersCats #WeAreGeelong pic.twitter.com/PoUmoJcaN1
— Geelong Cats Womens (@catswomens) February 29, 2020
T20 World Cup: Here’s the AAP match report for that incredible game, it really was a great escape from New Zealand. The Australian team will have had a close eye on that and will be looking to exploit all those batting weaknesses on Monday.
New Zealand avoid T20 World Cup upset
New Zealand have escaped with a 17-run win from their women’s Twenty20 World Cup clash with Bangladesh after being given an almighty scare. The White Ferns managed to defend a paltry 91 after batting first at Melbourne’s Junction Oval, restricting Bangladesh to 74. But the Kiwis will have to seriously improve on Monday for their sudden-death showdown against Australia, with the winner moving onto the semi-finals.
Bangladesh’s chase wasn’t helped by key batter Nigar Sultana retiring hurt after she top-edged a shot into her helmet. Sultana appeared to be in severe pain around her neck and was taken from the field on a motorised cart, but later returned to the crease. Bangladesh were in the game at 2-31, but lost 7-27 after Sultana went down and were bowled out in the final over.
All of the White Ferns bowlers performed strongly, but Hayley Jensen was the pick of them with an accurate spell of 3-11.
“We didn’t really bat too well there, but we know we’re Kiwis and we scrap to the last ball so it was a really good bowling performance,” Jensen said. “I just kept it really simple, just hit the seam and bowl stump-to-stump. We know that we’ve done all the work so we’ll just go into training and come out confident for the next match.”
During New Zealand’s innings, star batters Sophie Devine and Rachel Priest put on a 36-run opening stand, but the Kiwis then suffered an extraordinary collapse of 8-36 to be all-out in the 19th over.
Playing in her first World Cup match, Bangladesh’s Ritu Moni destroyed the Kiwis with figures of 4-18.
T20 World Cup: The match between India and Sri Lanka is about to get underway, but earlier today New Zealand escaped a huge scare against Bangladesh to come away with the win. Led by a sensational 4-18 from Mst Ritu Moni, the Bangladesh bowlers restricted the White Ferns to 91 from their overs. Unfortunately (for them and Australia) they weren’t able to back up with the performance with the bat, all out for 74 in 19.5 overs. Hayley Jensen was the player of the match for the Ferns, with a desperate 3-11 that saved that game and kept their tournament alive.
Ok NZ you can exhale while the Australian team can now all put away their Bangladesh flags. 🇧🇩 #T20WorldCup
— Melinda Farrell (@melindafarrell) February 29, 2020
Updated
Preamble
Hello, happy Mardi Gras and welcome to another edition of Sportwatch! I’m your host, Megan Maurice and I’ll be with you all afternoon until my esteemed colleague Richard Parkin jumps in to see you through the evening.
What a day we have ahead of us! There’s more sport than you can poke a stick at, from the T20 World Cup to AFLW, a bit of Super W and Super Rugby, some W-League and A-League and the only NRL trial match that matters - the Charity Shield between the Dragons and Bunnies in Mudgee.
We’ve got plenty to get through, so let’s get into it and see where Leap Day takes us.
