MEN’S CRICKET: Essex moved top of County Championship Division One on Monday after they eased to a six-wicket win at bottom of the table Leicestershire and defending champions Nottingham suffered a thumping 306-run defeat at home to Somerset.

Chasing 472 to win, Nottingham slumped to 166 all out with former England bowler Craig Overton taking 5-29. Yorkshire and Warwickshire drew their match at Scarborough.

SPEEDWAY: Brady Kurtz top-scored with 12+1 points as Belle Vue led from the first tape, losing only one heat, to crush Leicester 61-29 in Manchester on Monday evening.

Belle Vue now top the Premiership by five points from Sheffield, who have a game in hand.

Monday’s other fixture saw Max Fricke bag 12 points and Ben Cook weigh in with 11+1 as King’s Lynn eked out a narrow 48-42 win over Northampton.

MEN’S FOOTBALL: Former Lens boss Pierre Sage has been named as the new Crystal Palace manager. Lens finished second to Paris St Germain in Ligue One last season and won the Coupe de France.

He was sacked by Lyon the year before. Sage replaces Oliver Glasner who led the south-east Londoners to Premier League survival, Community Shield, FA Cup and European Conference League glory during his two and half years in charge.

MEN’S RUGBY LEAGUE: New South Wales are one up on Queensland when the second leg of the State of Origin series kicks off in Melbourne this morning.

The Blues came from 20-6 down to win the first match 22-20 in Sydney with half-back Nathan Cleary taking the player of the match award.

Mitchell Moses returns for New South Wales who have also named former international rugby union winger Mark Nawaqanitawase in their squad.