India rejoice in first Women’s World Cup triumph as South Africa fall short

Final: India, 298-7, beat South Africa, 246, by 52 runsShafali and Deepti shine as Navi Mumbai rejoicesAt last, 50 years on from their debut on the world stage, India’s dream came true: a maiden World Cup win, in front of a deafening full house in Navi Mumbai, as they defeated South Africa by 52 runs.Laura Wolvaardt struck a magnificent century, going back-to-back after her winning effort in the semi-final, but while she finished the tournament with a run-tally of 571 – the most by any woman in a World Cup – the ultimate prize belonged to India.There were two history-making heroes for India. The first was the unlikely figure of Shafali Verma, playing in this match only due to the ankle injury sustained by Pratika Rawal in the group stages, but who chimed in here with 87 from 78 balls and two wickets.Then, just as this final threatened to become a nail-biter, Deepti Sharma – who herself had contributed 58 runs with the bat – bowled the perfect yorker to bowl Annerie Dercksen, and followed it up with the key scalp of Wolvaardt as Amanjot Kaur ran round from deep midwicket to take a diving juggle-catch

Henry Pollock can be spark England need but maybe someone should have a word | Robert Kitson

The sporting gods can sometimes be mischievous. Steve Borthwick’s vision of rugby heaven is a cohesive team that consistently delivers without huge amounts of fuss and squeezes the life out of opponents like a white-shirted python. Control, physicality, tactical acumen and work rate will forever be more central to his vision of Test match success than individual front-page razzle-dazzle.And what happens? With almost comic timing the door to the England dressing room has been flung off its hinges by a 20-year-old rock star forward with the ability to transform games on his own. Henry Pollock has now scored three tries in 61 minutes of international rugby, is all over social media and already has half the rugby world itching to punch his lights out

If the Dodgers are bad for baseball, why was the World Series so much fun?

The repeat champions’ vast wealth means they can stockpile talent unimaginable to other teams. But it’s undeniable that the results are hugely entertainingA unicorn led off the game with a single and then trotted out to the mound to pitch the bottom of the first. Another pitcher won Games 2, 6, and 7 of the World Series, throwing 17.2 innings along the way. A catcher set a record, squatting behind the plate for 74 Fall Classic frames and ultimately ended the series by hitting the final go-ahead home run

Jofra Archer and Mark Wood give England a lift after epic ODI failure

And so to Australia. On Sunday Jofra Archer, Mark Wood and other members of England’s Ashes squad arrived in Perth, some flying from the white-ball tour of New Zealand and others from England with the Lions. The full group will not assemble for another week, with the players and coaches involved in the 3-0 one-day shellacking by the Black Caps now scattering for some much-needed decompression. There will be a lot of English accents on Kiwi golf courses over the next few days.One can only hope they strike that kind of white ball a little more cleanly than the ones with which New Zealand’s bowlers have been torturing them of late

Blue Jays reflect on cruel Game 7 loss to Dodgers: ‘I cost everybody a World Series’

The Toronto Blue Jays have reflected on their agonizing loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 7 of the World Series.The Blue Jays looked set to win their first World Series since 1993 when they entered the ninth inning with a 4-3 lead. But with one out, and Toronto’s Jeff Hoffman facing the Dodgers’ No 9 hitter, Miguel Rojas, the reliever threw a hanging slider which Rojas launched for the tying home run. Will Smith then hit the winning home run in the 11th inning off Shane Bieber, the first time the Dodgers had led all night.“It sucks,” Hoffman said after the 5-4 defeat

India defeat Australia by five wickets: third men’s Twenty20 international – as it happened

Thanks for following along as India defeated Australia by five wickets in the third T20 to level the series. We’ll be back on Thursday for the fourth of the five games… but before then, here is the full report from the match in Hobart.Australia were in the unfamiliar position of batting first but failed to put enough runs on the board in conditions that suited the chasers. Tim David and Marcus Stoinis were the only Australians to put the pressure back on the bowlers, though the hosts will hope to recall Glenn Maxwell for the fourth T20 in the five-match series on Thursday. Mitch Marsh is talking to Fox Sports…We felt we were 20 short so we’ve got to find a way to get more runs