LONDON-- Steve Smith made a brave unbeaten 78 to lift Australia to 287 for three on the first day of the fifth and final test against England at The Oval on Thursday.
TEXAS-- The Texas Rangers hit three successive home runs in a four-pitch sequence against Seattle left-hander Joe Beimel in the seventh inning to break open a close game and roll to a 7-2 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday.
LONDON-- Manchester United's new signing Memphis Depay struck two fine goals and made a third as they took a step towards a return to the Champions League group stage with a 3-1 victory over Club Bruges on Tuesday.
CINCINNATI - Top seed Novak Djokovic cruised through his opening match at the Western & Southern Open on Wednesday while Stan Wawrinka had to come from behind to get by Croatian teenager Borna Coric and secure his spot in the third round.
CINCINNATI -- Swiss giant-killer Belinda Bencic continued her brilliant winning run with a 7-5 6-3 victory over Germany's Angelique Kerber in the first round of the Western and Southern Open in Cincinnati in Tuesday.
