SPORTS SHORTS

Tale of two decisions as England strikes back

ADELAIDE (Reuters) – The first day-night Ashes Test looked like turning into the tale of two captain’s decisions at the end of a third day when England finally put the host side on the back foot at Adelaide Oval.

Australia will still be the strong favorite to win the match with a 268-run lead going into Day 4, but it could have been even more firmly in charge had captain Steve Smith enforced the follow-on after dismissing England for 227.

Smith instead sent his openers out in the late afternoon sun and four wickets, including that of Smith, fell before the end of the night as England’s seamers got the pink ball nipping around under the lights.

“It’s purely up to Smithy whether to follow on,” said paceman Mitchell Starc, who earlier took 3-49 to help bowl out the tourists. “That’s why he’s the captain.”

The other captain’s decision which has had a major bearing on the match was that of England’s Joe Root to put Australia in to bat after winning toss.

England, 1-0 down in the series, failed to build sufficient pressure on the Australians in either the day or night sessions and Shaun Marsh’s unbeaten 126 was the backbone of an imposing 442 for eight declared.

Seamer Chris Woakes, who dismissed both Smith and opener David Warner cheaply in the second innings, said the England bowlers had learned an important lesson from their labors on Saturday.

“We had to stay patient, consistently put the ball in the right areas. And that was it really,” he said.

Woakes, who scored 36 and shared England’s highest partnership of 66 for the eighth wicket with fellow seamer Craig Overton, admitted England’s failure to thrive with the bat had been frustrating and that Australia was “ahead in the game.”

“The positive thing for us as a side is to believe we can go forward and put Australia under pressure,” he added. “We felt we did that tonight and it’s important we continue to do that into tomorrow as well.”

Smiling Tiger ties for 9th, Fowler wins with 61

Tiger Woods proved he could be competitive again after playing some of the best golf of his comeback with a finalround four-under 68 to tie for ninth at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas on Sunday.

No one could match Rickie Fowler, though. The world No. 9 birdied his first seven holes and won the elite event by four strokes thanks to a course record 11-under par 61 that left him at 18-under 270.

Woods was 10 strokes back, but he had plenty of smiles as he answered the question of how he would do in his first tournament in nearly 10 months following spinal fusion surgery.

Pain free, the former world No. 1 struck for six birdies and an eagle at the Albany course before two closing bogeys. He also had a double bogey in the elite 18-man event that featured eight of the world’s top 10.

“I showed some good signs,” Woods told NBC Sports after finishing the four days at eight-under 280. “I hit some really good shots out there and am ready for a bright future... and no pain.”

The latter was especially important to the 41-year-old who once dominated the sport.

“I’ve had some tough times through the years with my back and then finally to come out on the good side and be able to get back out there and play. It’s pretty cool,” he said.

Woods and his team will now sit down to determine how best to build his 2018 schedule for major championships.

“Play enough, but not play too much,” said the 79-time PGA Tour winner.

Fowler was looking at a seven-stroke deficit when he began his round but seven straight birdies and another at the ninth put him in front at the turn, which he made in eight-under 28.

He added three more birdies on the back nine for a sizzling, bogey-free round.

Hoffman, who started the day with a five-stroke lead, shot 72 and faded to second at 274. England’s Tommy Fleetwood (67) and Jordan Spieth (69) tied for third at 12- under 276