England began their home T20 World Cup preparations on Wednesday with a comprehensive seven-wicket victory over New Zealand in Derby, driven by a brilliant unbeaten half-century from Alice Capsey.
Chasing a target of 137, the home side cruised to victory with 16 balls to spare to take an early lead in the three-match series.
The 21-year-old was promoted to open the batting in the absence of regular opener Danni Wyatt Hodge and fully capitalised on the opportunity.
She smashed seven fours and three sixes during an explosive 51-ball knock, registering her highest score in international T20 cricket.
Kemp provides crucial late support
After sharing a 43-run partnership with former captain Heather Knight, the dynamic opener combined effortlessly with Freya Kemp.
Kemp blasted an unbeaten 31 from just 20 deliveries to ensure the hosts comfortably overhauled the White Ferns’ total.
Earlier in the evening, Lauren Bell set an aggressive tone for the hosts by bowling Georgia Plimmer with the very first delivery of the match.
Left-arm spinner Linsey Smith delivered an incredibly economical spell of 1-10, while stand-in captain Charlie Dean claimed two crucial wickets.
Devine fires but England restrict tourists
Dean is currently leading the side while regular skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt battles a calf injury ahead of the global tournament.
The tourists were restricted to 136-7 despite a blistering 45 off 22 balls from Sophie Devine, who launched four massive leg-side sixes.
Three of those maximums came during a surprisingly expensive spell from Sophie Ecclestone, who conceded 34 runs across three wicketless overs.
England will face New Zealand again at Canterbury on Saturday before concluding the series at Hove on Bank Holiday Monday.
The hosts then play India in three further fixtures before launching their World Cup campaign against Sri Lanka at Edgbaston on June 12.
Real Madrid are increasingly confident of signing Spain midfielder Rodri this summer as Manchester City brace for a squad overhaul following Pep Guardiola’s impending departure.
The 29-year-old defensive anchor has emerged as a primary target for the Spanish giants ahead of the upcoming transfer window.
Guardiola’s expected exit from the Etihad Stadium appears to have opened the door for several high-profile departures at the end of the season.
Bayern Munich eye defensive reinforcement
Rodri is not the only seasoned international who could be leaving the reigning Premier League champions.
Bayern Munich are reportedly planning a shock move for 31-year-old England defender John Stones.
The versatile centre-back is seemingly set to end his long association with the Manchester club when the current campaign concludes.
Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid are closely monitoring the situation of 31-year-old Portugal playmaker Bernardo Silva.
Premier League rivals plot summer moves
Beyond the Etihad, Atletico are also weighing up a bid for Chelsea’s 27-year-old left-back Marc Cucurella.
Manchester United are facing their own squad adjustments, with 34-year-old Brazilian midfielder Casemiro closing in on a transfer to MLS franchise Inter Miami.
Barcelona have reportedly agreed personal terms with 28-year-old England forward Marcus Rashford to make his loan spell permanent.
However, the Catalan club have yet to agree on a final transfer fee with the Old Trafford hierarchy.
Liverpool seek vital squad additions
Liverpool are actively searching for new talent and have formally registered their interest in 20-year-old Hoffenheim winger Bazoumana Toure.
The Merseyside outfit will face stiff competition from Aston Villa, Newcastle United, and Manchester United for the highly rated Ivorian.
In a surprising development, Turkish side Fenerbahce have emerged as potential suitors for 33-year-old Egypt forward Mohamed Salah.
At the other end of the pitch, 33-year-old Brazil goalkeeper Alisson is keen to join Juventus regardless of their Champions League qualification status.
Missouri running back Ahmad Hardy has begun his rehabilitation programme in Columbia just over a week after sustaining a gunshot wound in his home state of Mississippi.
The All-America standout returned to the university campus following surgery for an upper leg injury he suffered on May 10.
In a short video released by the university’s football programme on Wednesday, the 20-year-old addressed supporters directly about his recovery.
“I want to thank everybody for all the support and all of you all’s prayers, thank everybody for everything,” Hardy said.
“I’m back to the road to success.”
Drinkwitz remains cautious over recovery timeline
Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz confirmed there is currently no set date for his star player to return to the field.
“It’ll be several weeks before we actually get a timeline,” Drinkwitz told reporters this week.
“There’s some internal healing that has to occur before we get to any type of strenuous activities, which would then dictate a timeline on his return.”
The incident occurred while the athlete was attending a concert at a bike club in Laurel, Mississippi, located about 90 minutes from his hometown of Oma.
Police arrested 20-year-old Rashodrick Harris last week in connection with the shooting, charging him with two counts of aggravated assault after another individual was also injured.
A standout season for the former transfer
Prior to the incident, the highly-rated back was coming off a spectacular individual campaign that saw him rush for 1,649 yards.
That impressive tally ranked him second among all Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) players and earned him Associated Press All-America honours.
The former Louisiana-Monroe talent, who transferred to the Tigers ahead of the 2025 season, was also named as one of three finalists for the prestigious Doak Walker Award.
Supporters will now hope the prolific rusher can make a full and swift recovery ahead of his eventual return to competitive action.
The Buffalo Sabres have rewarded head coach Lindy Ruff with a two-year contract extension after he successfully ended the franchise’s 14-year NHL playoff drought.
The 66-year-old was completing the final season of his current deal following a remarkable campaign that culminated in an Atlantic Division title.
The new agreement comes just two days after Buffalo were eliminated from the postseason following a narrow 3-2 defeat to the Montreal Canadiens in Game 7 of their second-round series.
A Historic Turnaround
The veteran bench boss orchestrated a stunning mid-season revival to secure a postseason berth, transforming a struggling roster into legitimate Eastern Conference contenders.
Buffalo had previously plummeted to the bottom of the standings during a dismal 13-game winless streak across November and December.
However, the squad caught fire shortly after, recording 39 victories in their final 53 regular-season matchups to amass an impressive 109 points.
Breaking the Drought
The turnaround secured Buffalo their first playoff advancement since 2007, when the same manager led them to the Eastern Conference Final.
Their first-round series victory over the Boston Bruins in six games finally laid to rest a league-record spell without postseason hockey.
The former Dallas Stars and New Jersey Devils head coach is now a finalist for the Jack Adams Award, recognising the NHL’s outstanding coach of the year.
Overcoming Mid-Season Adversity
The impressive surge coincided with the mid-December appointment of Jarmo Kekalainen as general manager, who replaced the outgoing Kevyn Adams.
The team also benefited from the returning focus of captain Rasmus Dahlin, who had spent the early months supporting his fiancée through heart transplant surgery in Europe.
With 950 career coaching victories, the seasoned tactician remains the fourth-winningest coach in NHL history.
He will now look to build upon this breakthrough season and guide the historic franchise toward an elusive Stanley Cup championship.
The Carolina Hurricanes will return to action against the Montreal Canadiens following an 11-day break, marking the longest gap between NHL playoff series since 1919.
The Raleigh-based franchise last took to the ice on May 9 to complete a second-round sweep of the Philadelphia Flyers.
They have since been forced to watch from the sidelines as their Canadian rivals and the Buffalo Sabres battled through a grueling seven-game series.
That extended wait pushes the start of the Eastern Conference Finals to May 21, posing a unique test of rest versus momentum.
Navigating an unprecedented pause
Carolina made history this year by becoming the first team under the modern Stanley Cup format to sweep their opening two series.
Montreal, in stark contrast, required maximum games to eliminate both the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Sabres.
The disparity sets up a fascinating tactical battle ahead of Thursday night’s opener in North Carolina.
“You want to play so badly,” said defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere.
“Obviously, it’s nice to have the break, but when it goes that long, it’s a little too much.”
Maintaining a competitive edge
Head coach Rod Brind’Amour has kept his squad active with regular practice sessions interspersed with vital rest days.
The veteran tactician also leaned heavily on video coach Chris Huffine to ensure the roster remained mentally sharp during film study.
Brind’Amour, now managing his fourth conference finals, was quick to praise his backroom staff for their meticulous preparation.
“He’s the guy that prepares our team,” Brind’Amour stated.
“I get the final say on how we go about it, but these eight years that I’ve been here, he’s the guy I lean on the most.”
Balancing rest and recovery
Despite the challenges of a prolonged absence from competitive action, the historic pause has provided a necessary mental reset from the grinding postseason schedule.
Defenseman K’Andre Miller acknowledged that the Eastern Conference outfit is eager to test themselves against fresh opposition.
“We’re all kind of getting to that point where we don’t know if we’re bored or if we’re just ready to get going again,” Miller admitted.
For the 24-year-old blueliner, the time off offered a welcome opportunity to adjust to fatherhood after welcoming a baby boy earlier this month.
“Changing diapers. Doing the real stuff,” he joked.
Colorado Avalanche star defenceman Cale Makar will miss Game 1 of the Western Conference finals against the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday because of injury.
Head coach Jared Bednar has listed the elite blueliner as day-to-day as he continues his recovery.
Despite skating on Monday and Wednesday morning, the Norris Trophy finalist did not participate in Tuesday’s practice session.
Multiple injury concerns
Sources indicate the 25-year-old is managing more than one physical issue during this gruelling postseason run.
However, a specific injury sustained and re-aggravated during the previous series against the Minnesota Wild is the primary reason for his absence.
Jack Ahcan will be drafted into the lineup to replace the defensive anchor, although he is only expected to play a limited role.
‘You can’t replace him’
Fellow Avalanche defenceman Sam Malinski acknowledged the immense challenge of playing without their talisman.
“Obviously, it would be great to have him out here,” Malinski said.
“You can’t replace him, and we’re going to miss him out there. Yeah, hopefully we can still get it done without him.”
The standout skater has been a crucial component of a Colorado side that boasts an impressive 8-1 record in the playoffs.
Across nine postseason appearances this year, the offensive defenceman has registered five points and 18 blocked shots, while averaging almost 25 minutes of ice time per game.
Positive news elsewhere
While losing their star player is a significant blow, the Avalanche will welcome back Artturi Lehkonen and Malinski to the active roster.
Both players missed the final two games of the second round against Minnesota but are fully expected to feature on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Bednar has confirmed that Scott Wedgewood will start in goal as Colorado aim to take an early series lead.
Aston Villa have made a substantial transfer offer to sign Galatasaray midfielder Gabriel Sara as manager Unai Emery prepares his squad for a return to the Champions League.
The 26-year-old has emerged as a primary target for the Midlands club following their recent qualification for Europe’s premier club competition.
Emery’s side secured a top-five Premier League finish by defeating Liverpool 4-2 at Villa Park last week.
Galatasaray standout attracts heavy English interest
The Brazilian playmaker is no stranger to the English game, having spent two impressive years with Norwich City before transferring to the Turkish Super Lig in 2024.
Since arriving in Istanbul, the former Championship midfielder has amassed 87 appearances, contributing eight goals and 15 assists across all competitions.
Turkish sports journalist Süleyman Rodo claims the pursuit of the player is advancing rapidly behind the scenes.
“Aston Villa’s offer for Gabriel Sara is quite serious. At the end of this process, Gabriel Sara is expected to most likely be heading to England.”
Süleyman Rodo
Champions League football provides crucial advantage
The promise of top-tier European fixtures could prove decisive, with rival suitors Newcastle United and Everton both missing out on elite continental qualification.
The Magpies are facing a bottom-half finish, while the Toffees sit on identical points and require highly favourable final-day results to secure a lesser European spot.
Villa are guaranteed at least fifth place and will conclude their domestic campaign against Manchester City on Sunday.
Despite his consistent club form, the dynamic midfielder was recently omitted from Carlo Ancelotti’s upcoming Brazil squad for the World Cup.
Securing a prominent Premier League role could provide the perfect platform for the South American to reignite his international ambitions.
Chelsea are preparing a £35m player-plus-cash bid involving Tosin Adarabioyo to sign Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix this summer.
The Blues are actively planning for a new era under incoming manager Xabi Alonso following a challenging Premier League campaign.
Interim boss Calum McFarlane currently has the side sitting eighth, with Europa League qualification remaining a possibility heading into the final weekend.
Search for ready-made experience
The Stamford Bridge hierarchy recognise an urgent need for immediate first-team reinforcements to complement their recent strategy of acquiring youth.
According to recent reports, the West London club intend to use Tosin as a makeweight to test Palace’s resolve.
The French centre-back is understood to be open to the switch in hopes of elevating his profile for the national team.
Oliver Glasner has been vocal about his admiration for the player’s recent performances.
He has been outstanding.
Eagles hold strong negotiating position
The former Wolfsburg man has thrived with added responsibility at Selhurst Park since Marc Guehi departed for Manchester City.
It remains to be seen whether a part-exchange offer will persuade the south Londoners to lower their £52m valuation.
The Eagles boast a strong hand at the negotiating table with the commanding centre-half firmly contracted until 2029.
Having initially secured the defender for just under £16m, accepting the proposed package would still represent a significant financial profit.