Australia in a spin as Maharaj bowls South Africa to opening ODI win

A career-best haul from veteran spinner Keshav Maharaj has inspired South Africa to a crushing 98-run win over Australia in the first ODI in Cairns.

With Australia cruising at 0-60 chasing the Proteas’ 8-296, Maharaj wreaked havoc during a stunning spell as the hosts lost 6-29 in 55 balls at Cazaly’s Stadium.

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Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera becomes AFL’s first $2m-a-year man with new St Kilda deal

  • Midfielder rejects interest from both Adelaide clubs to stay with Saints

  • Two-year deal secures 22-year-old’s immediate future at Moorabbin

Breakout star Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera will stay at St Kilda on a bumper two-year deal after rejecting huge interest from Adelaide and Port Adelaide. Wanganeen-Milera has become the AFL’s first player to earn $2m per season in signing through to the end of 2027, in a huge boost to the Saints.

The 22-year-old had been cagey on his future, the most hotly-anticipated contract call this year, amid his breakout season, but has ultimately turned his back on monster long-term offers from both Adelaide clubs.

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Wallabies recall veteran James O’Connor at No 10 for South Africa showdown

  • Return for 35-year-old after three-year absence

  • Blow as Ben Donaldson ruled out of Johannesburg clash

Veteran James O’Connor has been called on to take on the playmaking duties as the Wallabies seek to build on the impetus of their third Test win over the Lions with a rare victory in South Africa at the start of the Rugby Championship.

But a plan for the 35-year-old O’Connor, back in the green and gold after three years, to share the No 10 role has had to be shelved after Ben Donaldson went down injured in training on Thursday.

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Cricket Australia chief warns some countries risk going bust by playing Tests

  • Todd Greenberg sees a future with fewer Test nations

  • Winter Tests in Darwin and Cairns could be revived

Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg has warned some nations will go “bankrupt” if they continue to play the longest format of the game, stressing he sees a future with fewer Test nations.

Admitting he has become a “little unpopular” since taking over from Nick Hockley in March, the former Australian Cricketers’ Association boss believes “scarcity in Test cricket is our friend, not our foe”.

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South Africa’s Dewald Brevis blasts 41-ball century to level T20 series against Australia

  • Batsman hit 12 fours and eight sixes in unbeaten 125

  • Hosts made 165 in vain chase of 219 in Darwin

Dewald Brevis lit up Darwin’s Marrara Oval with a blazing century to help South Africa to an imposing 53-run victory over Australia in the second Twenty20 match.

The 22-year-old Brevis scored an unbeaten 125 from 56 balls with 12 fours and eight sixes, propelling South Africa to 7-218 before Australia struggled to 165 in front of another noisy near-capacity crowd on Tuesday night.

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‘I don’t need anything further’: Nat Fyfe retires as a Fremantle Dockers great

  • Two-time Brownlow medallist to retire at end of season

  • ‘It just feels like it’s the right time,’ says 33-year-old midfielder

Fremantle great Nat Fyfe is satisfied he has made the right decision, calling time on his glittering AFL career after a gruelling run with injury. The two-time Brownlow medallist will retire at the end of the season, ideally after helping to steer the fourth-placed Dockers deep into September.

Monday’s announcement came two days after Fyfe played just his fifth game of the season, returning from injury as Fremantle claimed a last-gasp six-point win over Port Adelaide.

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Tim David and Josh Hazlewood shine as Australia sink South Africa in first T20

Australia have dominated South Africa’s largely unknown batting lineup to secure an unlikely victory in the first match of a three-game Twenty20 series in Darwin.

South Africa lost by 17 runs in at Marrara Oval on Sunday, bowled out for 161 after Australia were dismissed for a disappointing 178 from the final ball of an innings rescued by Tim David’s 83.

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Luke Littler lights up Wollongong with Australian Darts Masters victory

  • Littler wins his first World Series event of year

  • ‘It’s another one I can tick off,’ says world No 1

World champion Luke Littler demonstrated his phenomenal teenage talent in Wollongong by winning the star-studded Australian Darts Masters. A year after being humbled in the final of the biggest invitation event to be played in Australia, the 18-year-old this time made no mistake, winning all three of his matches convincingly on Saturday night to lift yet another big title.

He also crushed Damon Heta’s homecoming dream as he hammered Australia’s top player, the world No 10, in the quarter-finals. After defeating Heta 6-3 in the last eight and Stephen Bunting 7-4 in the semis, Littler outplayed Belgian Mike de Decker to win the final 8-4.

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‘A super hard day’: Heartbreak for Sarah Gigante as Tour de France Femmes challenge fades

  • Australian finishes sixth on general classification after tough finale

  • Long Joux-Plane descent proves Gigante’s undoing on stage 9

Australia’s Sarah Gigante was forced to settle for sixth place in the women’s Tour de France as Pauline Ferrand-Prevot claimed victory for the hosts. Starting the day second in the GC, Gigante (AG Insurance - Soudal Team) lost ground on the Joux-Plane descent and finally finished the stage seventh.

“It was two hours of pain, heartbreak and hope all in one,” she said at the finish.

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Mollie O’Callaghan equals Ian Thorpe’s record with 11th world championship gold

  • Star anchors 4x200m freestyle relay team to win

  • Kyle Chalmers takes bronze in 100m freestyle

Mollie O’Callaghan has equalled the Australian record for world championship golds after anchoring the women to victory in the 4x200m freestyle relay in Singapore.

By securing her 11th career world title on Thursday night, the 21-year-old equalled Ian Thorpe’s Australian record.

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Kaylee McKeown defies shoulder scare to win 100m backstroke world title

  • Australian sees off US rival Regan Smith in Singapore

  • Lani Pallister wins 1500m freestyle bronze behind Katie Ledecky

Australia’s backstroke star Kaylee McKeown has overcome an injury scare to capture another world title.

Just weeks after dislocating a shoulder, McKeown notched a personal best to win the women’s 100m backstroke at swimming’s world championships in Singapore on Tuesday night.

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AFL great Nicky Winmar accused of two assaults and intentionally choking a person

Former St Kilda star remains on bail after facing court charged with three offences allegedly committed in July

AFL great Nicky Winmar has been accused of two assaults and of intentionally choking a person, court documents reveal.

The former St Kilda star, 59, had been listed for an application to revoke bail at Melbourne magistrates court on Tuesday, which could have seen him jailed.

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Australia’s Alexandria Perkins wins bronze in world 100m butterfly final

  • ‘I can’t be happier,’ says 25-year-old Queenslander

  • Race won by US world-record holder Gretchen Walsh

Alexandria Perkins has nabbed a bronze medal for Australia on day two of the swimming world championships in Singapore while Canadian superstar Summer McIntosh continued her winning ways and the virus-stricken US finally broke their gold medal duck.

Perkins produced a strong finish to snare third place in a hotly contested women’s 100m butterfly final in Singapore on Monday night.

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Double golden joy as Australia’s swimmers triumph at world championships

  • Olivia Wunsch pulls off late comeback in 4x100m freestyle relay

  • Kyle Chalmers reels in US to snare gold for men’s relay team

Australia ended the opening night of the swimming world championships with a dose of double golden joy after the country’s men and women prevailed in the 4x100m freestyle relay events.

There was heartbreak to begin the night after Australian Sam Short was pipped by 0.02 of a second by German world record holder Lukas Maertens in a thrilling 400m men’s freestyle showdown in Singapore.

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