Auckland have chased 195 for a seven-wicket victory with three balls to spare in their Twenty20 men's Super Smash cricket match against Canterbury at Eden Park outer oval

Aces opener Martin Guptill was unbeaten on 83 from 52 balls while Kings counterpart Chad Bowes top-scored with 90 from 42 balls, his highest T20 score.

Auckland are third on the table while Canterbury drop to last after Northern Districts chased 162 to beat Wellington by five wickets.

In the women's competition... the Blaze remain unbeaten after seven rounds thanks to a Sophie Devine century in their 79-run win over the Spirit.



Australian cricket coach Justin Langer hopes to hear the pitter-patter of rain on the hotel roof at night during the final dead-rubber test against New Zealand.

New South Wales is in the grip of a bushfire crisis, with suggestions smoke may force players from the field at the Sydney Cricket Ground when the match starts tomorrow.

Langer wants a compromise to provide respite for those suffering.



Aston Villa have moved out of the relegation zone in football's English Premier League with a 2-1 win at Burnley, despite a goal from All Whites striker Chris Wood.

Southampton, Leicester and Watford have been other winners, while Brighton have drawn 1-all with Chelsea.



Wellington Phoenix vice-captain Alex Rufer hopes more New Zealand signings come at the A-League football club.

Rufer has negotiated a contract for a further three seasons, until the end of the 2022-23 campaign.



The Adelaide 36ers have snapped a three-game Australian basketball league losing streak, beating the Perth Wildcats 100-97.



Robert Kubica has been named reserve driver at Formula One franchise Alfa Romeo.

The 35-year-old started his F1 career at the team when it was named Sauber.

He missed eight years after suffering a hand injury in 2011, and returned last year at Williams who didn't renew his contract at season's end.



The Washington Redskins have hired Ron Rivera as coach, in owner Dan Snyder's latest step to turn around the NFL franchise.

The former Carolina Panthers mentor inherits a team that won three and lost 13 this season and hasn't made the play-offs since 2015.

Rivera is the seventh coach hired by Snyder in two decades of ownership that has included five play-off appearances.



Peter Wright and Michael van Gerwen joust to become darts world champion at London's Alexandra Palace this morning - the arrows fly from 8am.