G'day sports fans,

Classic quote: "He has turned defensive boxing into a poetic art. Trouble is, nobody ever knocked anybody out with a poem." - Eddie Shaw Blues saxophonist Referring to boxer Herol "Bomber" Graham.

In today's edition of Sport Journal:

🚴🏼‍♂️ Festival of Cycling wrap

⚽️ Epic A-League

🏉 Monster deal for Latrell

🏏 Cricket

A record-breaking partnership

Matthew Wade and D’Arcy Short posted a record-breaking partnership of 145 runs for the Hurricanes, before Jordan Silk almost single-handedly helped the Sydney Sixers fight back with a monster 78 off 48 balls.

But the Hurricanes held out for a seven-run victory in an incident-filled match that saw a horror dropped catch by Short, a bowler hit the stumps only for the bails to stay put, and yet another umpire howler.

Thunder's Bash Boost blunder costs them in Strikers loss

Loss of two key wickets in consecutive balls as the Thunder chased the bonus point proved costly as the Strikers jumped ahead and into third spot on the BBL ladder. Strikers won by 6 runs but not before Jake Weatherald was run out twice from the same ball. ⬇️

Most economical BBL bowling figures (4 overs):

• Mitchell Johnson  3-3  PS v MS  WACA  (BBL06)

• Adam Milne  1-6  ST v AS  Adelaide  (BBL10) 

• Lasith Malinga  6-7  MS v PS  WACA  (BBL02)

• Ben Dwarshuis  3-7  SS v AS  SCG  (BBL08)

• Fawad Ahmed  1-7  MR v BH  Marvel  (BBL04)

⚽️ Football

Match Reports

Western United prevailed 5-4 over Perth Glory in a chaotic, see-sawing A-League contest on Saturday afternoon that saw a competition record eight second half goals hit the back of the net in Geelong. (match report)

A 2-0 win for the Central Coast Mariners v Sydney FC was the first time they have defeated Sydney FC in Sydney in 7 years!

Newcastle hang on for first victory (2-1) after double sucker punch against Phoenix (match report)

Mohamed Toure marked his first A-League start with a winner in the Original Rivalry, gifting Adelaide United a gritty 1-0 win over rivals Melbourne Victory. 

FA Cup: Man United 3-2 Liverpool: Bruno Fernandes' superb 78th-minute free-kick gave Manchester United victory in a thrilling FA Cup tie with old rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford.

Liverpool led a fantastic contest through Mohamed Salah, who then equalised after Mason Greenwood and Marcus Rashford had struck for the hosts either side of the break.

But in a game which had everything last week's drab stalemate between this pair at Anfield lacked, Fernandes came off the bench to have the final word after Fabinho had fouled Edinson Cavani on the edge of the area.

Tika Taka

🇹🇷 Arsenal finally agree deal for midfielder Mesut Özil, to sign for Fenerbahce. "I'd like to thank the club for this amazing journey over the past seven-and-a-half years," said Ozil.

🔁 Barcelona hope they can sign Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero, 32, and Bayern Munich defender David Alaba, 28, on free transfers in the summer when the respective contracts of the Argentine and Austrian run out. (Mundo Deportivo, via Mail on Sunday)

🔁 Chelsea and Manchester United are monitoring France forward Ousmane Dembele's contract situation at Barcelona, with the 23-year-old having 18 months left on his deal with the Nou Camp club. (Sport, via Metro)

🙋🏼‍♀️ Congratulations The Matildas Ellie Carpenter. The winner of Best Women's Player of 2020.

🐴 Racing

Freedman speedster could be Golden

Richard and Michael Freedman unearthed a two-year-old that will do what is required to get to richer juvenile races this autumn – improve out of sight.

Stay Inside scored a dominant 2¾ length win at Randwick Saturday which surprised Michael Freedman a little.

“I didn’t expect him to put a decent gap in them like he did. He does have a lovely action though,” he said.

“He certainly learned a lot from his first two trials and he was quite wayward in both of them.

“Even though he needed a bit of encouragement in his trials but Tommy (Berry) said it wasn’t because he needed to but because he needed to keep his mind on the job.”

Adelaide autumn assault for Thousand Guineas winner

An Adelaide Group 1 target will be the focus of Thousand Guineas winner Odeum’s autumn campaign, which could open doors for a Cox Plate tilt in the spring.

Odeum developed rapidly in the spring. The filly went from a Moe maiden win on debut in August to easily winning the Thousand Guineas three starts later.

Sydney mare Shout The Bar narrowly denied Odeum another Group 1 win at her last start in the Empire Rose Stakes at Flemington last October.

“She’s one of those really good fillies,” Michael Kent Jr, who trains Odeum in partnership with Mick Price, said.

“In her first preparation, we didn’t know whether she was a Saturday filly or Listed class but she just kept clearing the hurdles. She ended up winning a Group 1 by two lengths.”

Price and Kent Jr resisted the temptation to prepare Odeum for richer Sydney races earlier in the autumn. The duo preferred to instead give the three-year-old a full spell ahead of an Adelaide preparation, culminating with the Australasian Oaks on May 1.

🏉 NRL

Latrell Mitchell set to ink monster new deal with Bunnies

South Sydney are set to receive a major boost ahead of the new campaign with superstar Latrell Mitchell reportedly about to ink a two-year contract extension.

The new deal, per the Sydney Morning Herald, is worth $1.75 million – or around $875,000 per season – and will keep the fullback at the Rabbitohs until the end of 2023. (Fox)

🚴🏼‍♂️ Cycling

The Santos Festival of Cycling

A 6-day domestic cycling festival featuring Road, Track, Paracycling, BMX, Mountain Bikes and Cyclocross, including the excitement of the 4-stage Men’s and Women’s National Road Series Invitational Race travelling through South Australia’s picturesque Barossa, Adelaide Hills and Fleurieu regions has come to an end.

It was a battle of the favourites on the final straight of TREK Stage 4, but Team Garmin Australia's Sam Welsford was able to get his wheel over the line that much faster than BikeExchange's Kaden Groves in the end.

In a battle of the sprint champs - Kaden Groves and Sam Welsford, it was Welsford who took the cake!

🥇 Olympics

Vaccine fast-track for athletes could save Tokyo Games

An ambitious bid to fast-track COVID-19 vaccines for athletes could save the Tokyo Games from being cancelled.

According to a UK Telegraph report, Olympic organisers are working with the World Health Organisation on the plan, with the priority to give the vaccine to competitors from countries where national roll-outs have not begun.

The report comes amid mounting speculation the Games will be cancelled — although officials continue to dismiss the suggestions publicly.

According to the report, ‘high-level meetings’ are advancing between the WHO’s Covax project and the IOC, although giving athletes priority access is sure to prompt a global ethical debate.

Some athletes are saying they'll face a "moral dilemma" if given priority for the Covid-19 over other more 'at risk' cohorts.

⛳️ Golf

Tyrrell Hatton wins by four at Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship

Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, final leaderboard-18 T Hatton (Eng); -14 J Scrivener (Aus); -13 R McIlroy (NI); -12 R Cabrera Bello (Spa).

Tyrrell Hatton overturned Rory McIlroy's overnight lead to win the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship by four shots.

The Englishman began the final round one behind Northern Ireland's McIlroy but the world number nine's bogey-free six-under 66 saw him win on 18 under.

Australian Jason Scrivener also shot a 66 - and was seven-under for his back nine - to finish second on 14 under. His best finish on tour.

World number six McIlroy birdied the last to close with a level-par 72 and claim third spot on 13 under.

👊🏻 UFC

McGregor v Poirier 2: Irishman shocked in UFC rematch at Fight Island

Former two-weight world champion Conor McGregor was left stunned on his return to the UFC as Dustin Poirier claimed victory in their rematch at UFC 257.

McGregor came out of retirement for a third time to face fellow 32-year-old Poirier at Abu Dhabi's Fight Island.

And although the Irishman edged the first round, Poirier unleashed a flurry of punches to seal a technical knockout two minutes 32 seconds into round two.

"I'm gutted, it's a tough one to swallow," said McGregor.

"I felt stronger than him, but his leg kicks were good. I didn't adjust. My leg was badly compromised, I've never experienced those low calf kicks, and I wasn't as comfortable as I needed to be.

"I have no excuses. It was a phenomenal performance by Dustin. I have to dust it off and come back. I need activity, you don't get away with being inactive in this business."

Rodriguez at UFC 247

Ribas weighed in at 116 pounds (52.6 kilograms) for the fight with Marina Rodriguez but her father and coach Marcelo Ribas then claimed on social media that she now weighs 143.3 pounds (65 kilograms).

It means that she would have put on 12 kilograms in the 24 hours between weighing in and her fight itself.

🇺🇸 USA

Scary! The entire basket came down during a high school game in USA.

Simmons 'Very Encouraging' sign in Sixers win

Ben Simmons picked up where he left off against the Boston Celtics, with an aggressive early effort helping the Philadelphia 76ers to a 114-110 win over the Detroit Pistons.

Simmons had 16 points and four rebounds from the opening half - his highest points total in a first half since November last year against the Los Angeles Clippers.

It built off a dominant fourth quarter from Simmons against Boston on Saturday, when he scored 11 points to help the Sixers to a 122-110 win.

Golden State Embarrassed in Curry's Historic Night

Steph Curry went to No. 2 on the NBA’s all-time 3-pointer list but it was a rare highlight for the Golden State Warriors, who were embarrassed 127-108 by the Utah Jazz.

Curry passed Reggie Miller in his historic feat, recording five successful shots from beyond the arc to take his total haul to 2,562.

Ray Allen is at the top of the list with 2,973.

His personal achievement was soured though by a dominant display from Utah, who shot out to a 77-47 lead by halftime. Eventually going down 108-127.

📺 Live sport

TODAY

⚽️ 06:45 - Italian Serie A - Parma v Sampdoria (BeIN Sports 2) 

⚽️ 07:00 - France Ligue 1 - AS Saint-Etienne v Olympique Lyonnais (BeIN Sports 3)

⚽️ 07:00 - Spanish La Liga - Atletico Madrid v Valencia (BeIN Sports 1) 

⛳️ 07:00 - PGA Tour, The American Express, Round 4 (Fox Sports) 

⚽️ 07:00 - FA Cup Fourth Round Proper - Everton v Sheffield Wednesday (ESPN 2)

🏈 07:05 - NFC Championship Game - Green Bay Packers v Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7mate, ESPN 1)

🏈 10:40 - AFC Championship Game - Kansas City Chiefs v Buffalo Bills (7mate, ESPN 1)

🏀 12:00 - NBA - Milwaukee Bucks v Atlanta Hawks (SBS Viceland or Sky Sports 2)

🚙 16:58 - TCR Australia Race 1, Round 1 (7mate)

⚾️ 19:00 - ABL - Melbourne Aces v Brisbane Bandits (Fox Sports More) 

🏏 19:15 - Big Bash League - Adelaide Strikers v Sydney Thunder (Fox Cricket or 7)

🏀 19:30 - NBL - Cairns Taipans v Melbourne United (ESPN 1) 

⚾️ 21:00 - ABL - Perth Heat v Adelaide Giants (Fox Sports More) 

TUESDAY

⚽️ 01:00 - Indian Super League - Chennaiyin FC v Mumbai City (Fox Sports More)

⚽️ 06:45 - FA Cup Fourth Round Proper - Wycombe Wanderers v Tottenham (ESPN 1)

⚽️ 07:00 - Spanish La Liga - Athletic Club Bilbao v Getafe (BeIN Sports 1) 

🏀 11:00 - NCAA Men's - Virginia Cavaliers v Syracuse Orange (ESPN 1) 

🚙 11:13 - TCR Australia Race 2, Round 1 (7mate)

🏀 11:30 - NBA - Brooklyn Nets v Miami Heat (SBS Viceland or Sky Sports 2)

🏀 13:00 - NCAA Men's - West Virginia Mountaineers v Texas Tech Red Raiders (ESPN 1)

🏀 13:00 - NCAA Men's - Iowa State Cyclones v Oklahoma State Cowboys (ESPN 2)

🏏 13:05 - Big Bash League - Brisbane Heat v Perth Scorchers (Fox Cricket) 

🏀 14:00 - NBA - Golden State Warriors v Minnesota Timberwolves (Sky Sports 2)

🏀15:00 - NBL - Brisbane Bullets v Sydney Kings (SBS Viceland)

🚙 15:27 - TCR Australia Race 3, Round 1 (7mate)

🏏 16:10 - Big Bash League - Melbourne Renegades v Hobart Hurricanes (7, Fox Cricket or 7mate)

⚽️ 19:05 - A-League - Melbourne Victory v Perth Glory (Fox Sports) 

🏏 19:50 - Big Bash League - Melbourne Stars v Sydney Sixers (7, Fox Cricket)