29 Nov 2020

Today's sports news: What you need to know

7:20 pm on 29 November 2020

Latest - Riyad Mahrez scored a hat-trick as Manchester City hammered Burnley 5-0 at the Etihad Stadium in the English Premier League -- the fourth straight time Pep Guardiola's side have beaten the Clarets at home by that scoreline.

Riyad Mahrez of Manchester City.

Riyad Mahrez Photo: PHOTOSPORT

The Algerian set City on their way in the sixth minute, finishing off a flowing passing move with his trademark cut in from the left and drive into the far corner.

There was a similar finish for the second after Mahrez picked up the ball in space in the area after Burnley had been caught out by a quick throw in.

Benjamin Mendy made it 3-0 in the 41st, volleying home at the back post after a fine cross from Kevin De Bruyne.

Burnley enjoyed some relief from the pressure after the break with Jay Rodriguez forcing a save out of Ederson with a well-struck effort from a tight angle.

But Ferran Torres then added the fourth goal, slotting home after the overlapping Kyle Walker had found Gabriel Jesus in the box and the Brazilian flicked it to his Spanish team mate to confidently convert.

Mahrez completed his hat-trick in the 69th minute, heading home a Phil Foden cross, and it could have been 6-0 had an effort from Jesus not been ruled out for offside by VAR and a shot from De Bruyne not crashed against the post.

A last-gasp Brighton penalty equaliser denied champions Liverpool victory in a hard-fought 1-1 draw which was once again heavily influenced by VAR decisions.

Brazilian winger Raphinha scored his first goal for Leeds United to give his side a 1-0 win over Everton in an eventful Premier League game full of disallowed goals and superb saves at Goodison Park.

And West Bromwich Albion picked up their first victory of the campaign and left Sheffield United as the only winless team in the league with a 1-0 win at The Hawthorns.

Conor Gallagher's 13th-minute goal lifted West Brom out of the bottom three, while the Blades remain in last place and on just one point after 10 games.

- Reuters

Central Falcons out-muscle Tridents to win gold

The Central Falcons have beaten the Northern Tridents 3-1 to win the women's premier hockey league grand final.

Undefeated in pool play, the Falcons played with pace and confidence, and were rewarded early in the first quarter when Jenna-Rae McIntyre deflected a Megan Hull penalty corner in for a 1-0 lead.

The Tridents worked their way back into the game and equalised early in the second spell when a crash ball into the circle lobbed up, and Kirsten Pearce shot the ball over her shoulder into the top of the goal.

The Falcons regained their lead late in the second quarter when captain Kayla Whitelock slotted a penalty goal.

Minutes later, a solid Falcons screen forced the Tridents into a turnover in their half. Two long fast passes found Michaela Curtis in the circle and her shot rocketed into the top of the net to give the Falcons the two-goal lead they protected until full time.

In the play-off for bronze, the Hauraki Mavericks edged the Southern Alpiners 1-0.

Otago Gold Rush still in with a shot

The Otago Gold Rush kept their National Basketbll League 18IN18 semi-final hopes alive with a 58-48 win against the Capital Swish at Pulman Arena on Saturday night.

Otago Gold Rush's Teararoa Sopoaga during the 18IN18 Basketball

Otago Gold Rush's Teararoa Sopoaga Photo: PHOTOSPORT

The Gold Rush, with a 1-2 record will need to win at least one of their remaining fixtures against the Auckland Dream and Canterbury Wildcats to progress to the final four.

However, they will be heartened by their performance, a game in which they trailed for only 28 seconds.

Te Araroa Sopoaga top-scored for the Gold Rush with 15 points, Zoe Richards notched 11 points, Lisa Wallbutton had seven points and 11 rebounds and Savanna Handevidt contributed nine points.

Little went right for the Swish with Sarah Penese (11 points) the only player in double figures. Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickitt had eight points and eight rebounds, but Grace Vaofusi and Letava Whippy, after demolishing Auckland Dream the previous night, were a collective 3 from 21 from the field.

The result means that five teams are still in the chase for top four spots, only the Willdcats can't make the semi-finals.

England top Autumn Nations Cup pool

England did just about enough to subdue a spirited but limited Wales with a 24-13 victory in Llanelli to secure top spot in Autumn Nations Cup Group A and set up a probable title decider against France at Twickenham next week.

A Johnny Williams try gave new-look Wales an early lead but they were second-best for most of a messy, largely forgettable match as Henry Slade and Mako Vunipola crossed for England and, after their powerful bench wrested control, captain Owen Farrell brought them home with four penalties.

England topped the group with 13 points from their three wins. Ireland, who play Georgia tomorrow, are on four points and are likely to finish second, with Wales third, also on four.

- Reuters

Hamilton in front again

Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton set a track record at the Bahrain Grand Prix on his way to a record-extending 98th career pole position.

The winner and for the 7th time Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton 2020.

Lewis Hamilton Photo: PHOTOSPORT

The seven-time F1 champion looked in total control as he set a time of 1 minute 27.264 seconds under the floodlights.

He finished about 0.3 seconds ahead of his Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas and around 0.4 clear of Red Bull's Max Verstappen, who was left resigned to being in Mercedes' shadow again.

Verstappen's teammate Alexander Albon was in fourth place and a full second behind Hamilton, who will bid for his record-extending 95th F1 win tomorrow.

- Reuters

India's slow over-rate punished

Indian players will lose 20 percent of their match fees for taking more than the allotted time for bowling their overs in the first one-day international against hosts Australia.

India cricket captain Virat Kohli.

Virat Kohli Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Virat Kohli's men were found one over short of their target in the stipulated time and were penalised by match referee David Boon at the conclusion of the match, which Australia won by 66 runs at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

"Kohli pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction, so there was no need for a formal hearing," the ICC said in a statement.

The second of the three-match, 50-over series will be played at the same venue on Sunday.

- Reuters