Amla denies he asked female reporter to dress properly

Johannesburg

South Africa batsman Hashim Amla on Saturday categorically rejected claims that he had asked a female TV host to dress appropriately before he eventually agreed to give her an interview during their tour of India. “Hey cumon peeps, 95% of stuff on d Internet r fake… but u knew dat right? Certainly I have never asked any reporter to dress for my liking (sic),” Amla wrote on his Twitter handle. “As a South African, I have the greatest respect for people of all faiths and cultures. I will never impose my beliefs on anybody else. #peace,” the 32-year-old batsman added. Reports began to circulate on Friday suggesting that Amla, who is a strict believer and follower of Islam, was not comfortable that the TV host was wearing a skirt and low-neck top, and that he agreed to be interviewed only after the woman quickly changed her dress.

Wellington
Marsh guides Australia to series-levelling win 

Mitchell Marsh kept calm after New Zealand got the sniff of an unlikely victory and scored his sixth One-day International half century to guide Australia to a four-wicket win in the second match of the series on Saturday. Marsh (69*) and John Hastings (48*) shared an unbroken 86-run seventh-wicket partnership to overhaul New Zealand’s 281/9 with 21 balls to spare. Brief scores: New Zealand: 281/9 in 50 overs (Kane Williamson 60, MJ Santner 45, J Hazelewood 3/61); Australia: 283/6 in 46.3 overs (David Warner 98, Marsh 69*, Hastings 48*, MJ Santner 3/47). 

Port Elizabeth
Hales leads England to victory over Proteas

Alex Hales fell one run short of a century but did enough to set up a five-wicket win for England over South Africa in the second One-day International at St George's Park today. South Africa made 262/7 and England needed a late flurry of strokes by Jos Buttler and Moeen Ali to reach the target in 46.2 overs. Brief scores: SA 262/7 (de Villiers 73, Topley 4/50); England 263/5 (Hales 99, Buttler 48*). — Agencies 

LONDON
Leicester go six clear after outclassing Man City

Leicester City, playing with panache, belief and a ruthless streak that has made a shock first Premier League crown a real possibility, crushed title rivals Manchester City 3-1 on Saturday through Robert Huth's double and a Riyad Mahrez strike. The Premier League leaders, stretching their lead to six points, produced another exhilarating performance to stun shell-shocked Manchester City in the top-of-the-table clash at the Etihad stadium.

Miami
Ex-FIFA watchdog member Watson jailed for 7 years

A former member of world soccer body FIFA’s financial watchdog has been sentenced to seven years in prison in the Cayman Islands after being found guilty of fraud, his lawyer said. Canover Watson, who was a member of FIFA’s Audit and Compliance Committee, was found guilty of five charges related to his time in charge of the Caribbean nation’s Health Service Authority (HSA), according to the Cayman Island's Anti-Corruption Commission, which had led the investigation. While the charges were not football-related, the verdict against a man who served on a body which monitored FIFA's finances is another blow to the image of the organisation facing. — Agencies