WOMEN’S CRICKET: Charlie Dean took 4-26 as England beat New Zealand by 47 runs on Wednesday morning to take an unassailable 3-1 lead in their five match Twenty20 series.

Maia Bouchier hit 91 from just 56 balls, Nat Sciver-Brunt thumped a rapid unbeaten 29 and Heather Knight weighed in with 21 not out as England posted 177-3 in their innings. Bouchier has now scored 217 runs in the series at an average of just over 72.

MEN’S RUGBY UNION: The top two clash in the Welsh Premiership on Thursday evening, when reigning champions Llandovery travel to second-placed Newport. The teams are currently level on points but Newport have played one game more.

Llandovery have lost only once all season, to third-placed Ebbw Vale, whilst Newport are on an 11-match winning run which started after their 29-7 defeat at tomorrow night’s opponents in November.

MEN’S BASKETBALL: David Nwaba top-scored with 24 points but couldn’t prevent London Lions from suffering a heavy 99-86 defeat to Paris in the first leg of their EuroCup semi-final on Tuesday evening.

Game two of a potentially three-match series takes place at the Copper Box Arena tomorrow night. Bourg-en-Bresse overcame Besiktas 86-74 in the other last four tie to set up the prospect of an all French final.

MEN’S RUGBY LEAGUE: Wigan have followed up the seven-year contract extensions awarded to their coaching team of Matt Peet, Sean O’Loughlin and Tommy Leuluai by handing 25-year-old international centre Jake Wardle a deal that will keep him at the club until 2029.

Halifax-born Wardle played for Huddersfield and Warrington before joining Wigan in 2023 and was named man of the match in last year’s Grand Final win over Catalans.