Sports briefs

White Ferns cruise to victory

Katey Martin and Amy Satterthwaite put on a record 124 runs for the third wicket as New Zealand beat the West Indies in last night’s second T20 international at Mt Maunganui’s Bay Oval. The partnership was pivotal as the White Ferns posted an imposing 185-3 off their 20 overs, with Martin dismissed in the final over for 65 and Satterthwaite not out on 71, both facing 42 balls. The New Zealand bowlers then backed up to take four wickets in the first five overs and the West Indies never recovered, limping through to 79-8 to lose by 106 runs. Opener Sophie Devine had the best bowling figures, with 3-12 off three overs.

Cronk and Tedesco lead way

Cooper Cronk and James Tedesco showed why the Sydney Roosters are an NRL premiership force after combining to lead their side to a 30-12 win over Canterbury last night. The Roosters were leading by 12 midway through the second half at Allianz Stadium when Cronk put fellow new signing Tedesco through a gap before backing him up to finish off a 60m move. The Cronk-Tedesco connection was easily the highlight for the 12,229 crowd, with Tedesco also scoring his first try for the club and assisting on a Luke Keary four-pointer.

Woods now Masters favourite

Tiger Woods’ captivating injury comeback has reached a fever pitch and the 14-time major winner is now outright favourite for next month’s Masters. Just six months after staring down retirement following spinal fusion surgery in 2017, the 42-year-old has sensationally knocked world No 1 Dustin Johnson off the top of the odds list for the Augusta National major in April. Woods, coming off a tie for second at last week’s US PGA Tour event in Tampa, was given the nod from bookmakers and punters alike when he opened the Arnold Palmer Invitational with an ominous fourunder-par 68. He sits four shots behind leader Henrik Stenson, who mixed nine birdies with a bogey during a brilliant 64. New Zealand’s Danny Lee shot a four-over 76 to be 104th.

NPC final replay in first round

Champions Canterbury and Tasman will square off in the highlight of the opening round of the national provincial championship. The teams, who contested last year’s rugby Premiership final, will meet in Blenheim on August 17, a day after the NPC begins with North Harbour hosting Northland.

Aso staying in New Zealand

Vince Aso is not ready to give up the dream. Offshore riches failed to turn his head and he has re-signed with the Hurricanes and Auckland for two more seasons through to 2020. Swimming against the tide of talent leaving New Zealand, Aso is understood to have turned down salaries in France starting at about $500,000 per season. At 23, the lure of the All Blacks jersey still holds true and he is also keen to play another 70 odd games for the Hurricanes. “I’m still young and I’ve got more goals to achieve here in New Zealand,” Aso told the “I want to make the hundy club with the Canes and it’s every kid’s dream to become an All Black. It’s a hard goal but achieving that one day would be awesome.”

Anderson back after surgery

International allrounder Corey Anderson makes his latest comeback from injury in Northern Districts’ Plunket Shield match against Otago in Whangarei starting today. Anderson has had back surgery since being sidelined during a stint in English county cricket with Somerset in July. That had been a recurrence of an injury picked up on the tour to England in 2015. ND also have limited-overs international legspinner Ish Sodhi back for the game, as he is unwanted for the first test against England next week.

Atletico Madrid, Arsenal through

Atletico Madrid and Arsenal have swept into the quarter-finals of the Europa League, while Salzburg sent Borussia Dortmund crashing out. Lazio, Leipzig, Olympique Marseille, Sporting Lisbon and CSKA Moscow also go into today’s draw for the last eight. Arsenal made sure of their place by coming from behind to beat Inter Milan 3-1 at the Emirates Stadium yesterday, winning 5-1 on aggregate.

Williams in semifinals

Venus Williams has defeated Carla Suarez Navarro 6-3 6-2 to reach the semifinals of the BNP Paribas Open, where she first broke out as a 16-yearold qualifier in 1997. Williams has never reached the final of the desert tournament and to do so, she’ll have to get by 20-year-old Russian Daria Kasatkina, who’s yet to drop a set in four matches at Indian Wells. At 37, Williams is the oldest player in the draw.

Ko in tie for 102nd

New Zealand golfer Lydia Ko has made a forgettable start to her latest event in the United States. She was in a tie for 102nd when darkness halted play at the Founders Cup in Phoenix, Arizona, after opening with a two-over

74 yesterday. An inconsistent round at the Wildfire Golf Club featured an early birdie followed by a string of four bogeys in the space of five holes before the turn. Birdies on 10 and 11 were followed by a bogey on the 13th hole as Ko struggled with the accuracy of her long game, hitting just seven of

14 greens in regulation. The 20-yearold is seven shots behind co-leaders Chella Choi (South Korea) and Karine Icher (France).