2 Sep 2019

Today's sports news: what you need to know

1:48 pm on 2 September 2019

Latest - Charles Leclerc claimed a bittersweet first Formula One win at the Belgian Grand Prix, with the Monegasque's joy at fulfilling a long-held dream tempered by the death of French racer Anthoine Hubert.

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc.

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Leclerc crossed the line 0.9 seconds ahead of a hard-charging Lewis Hamilton, who still extended his overall championship lead to 65 points over Mercedes team mate Valtteri Bottas who finished third.

Hubert, 22, lost his life on Saturday after sustaining injuries in a high-speed accident during a Formula Two race at the same Spa-Francorchamps track that hosts Formula One.

The first driver fatality at a Formula One race weekend since Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger were killed at Imola in 1994 plunged the sport into mourning.

Formula One held a minute's silence in memory of Hubert on the grid before the race and a sombre mood hung over the paddock.

Leclerc, who raced with Hubert early in his career, was among those most affected and dedicated the win to him.

- Reuters

India close in on series sweep of Windies

West Indies batsman Darren Bravo was struck on the helmet in the final over of day three as India turned the screws against West Indies in the second Test in Jamaica.

The tourists are just eight wickets from victory and a 2-0 sweep of the series.

Bravo appeared to be unharmed after being hit by a Jasprit Bumrah short ball, and was unbeaten on 18 at stumps at Sabina Park in Kingston.

West Indies were 45 for 2 in their second innings after being set an unlikely target of 468 for victory.

Earlier on Sunday, West Indies resumed at 7-87 in their first innings and were all out for 117 as India took just over an hour to mop up the tail.

- Reuters

Quintana takes Tour of Spain lead

Colombian cyclist Nairo Quintana has captured the overall leaders red jersey in the tour of spain after coming second in stage nine which was won by Slovenian Tadej Pogacar.

The 20-year-old Pogacar finished 23 seconds ahead of 2016 champion Quintana on the summit of Cortals d'Encamp after the 94.4km stage which began in Andorra la Vella.

Pogacar's compatriot Primoz Roglic meanwhile staged an impressive recovery to come third, 48 seconds down, after being left to fight on his own as his Jumbo- Visma team mates badly struggled.

Tuesday is the first of two rest days, with the race re-starting on Tuesday with a 36km individual time trial from Jurancon to Pau.

- Reuters

Barty dumped out as Federer cruises into quarters

Ashleigh Barty has crashed out of the US Open with a fourth-round shocker at Flushing Meadows.

Australia's big title hope floundered in a sea of unforced errors, succumbing 6-2 6-4 loss to Qiang Wang in one hour and 22 minutes.

It's Wang's first grand slam quarter-final.

Meanwhile men's third seed Roger Federer eased into the US tennis Open quarter-finals with a straight sets win over David Goffin.

- Reuters

Arsenal fight back for draw

Arsenal striking duo Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette scored as their side roared back from two goals down to draw 2-2 at home to rivals Tottenham Hotspur in a thrilling north London derby in the Premier League.

Tottenham's Christian Eriksen nudged the ball into an empty net on the rebound to give the visitors an early lead after a superb piece of hold up play from Son Heung-min allowed Erik Lamela to fire at goalkeeper Bernd Leno.

Arsenal had most of the ball but Spurs were far more threatening on the break and Leno was forced to keep out stinging efforts from Kane and Eriksen before Tottenham were awarded a penalty for a clumsy foul by Granit Xhaka on Son.

Kane scored from the spot in the 40th minute to put Spurs on track for a first league win on enemy territory in nine years but Lacazette halved the deficit right before halftime with an emphatic strike after an exquisite pass from Nicolas Pepe.

- Reuters

Bronze for NZ mountain biker at World Champs

Rotorua-based teenager Tuhoto-Ariki Pene has won a bronze medal in the junior men's downhill at the Mountain Bike World Champs in Canada.

The 18-year-old is the first New Zealand junior male downhiller to finish on the podium since Brook MacDonald a decade ago.