WOMEN’S CRICKET: England begin a three-match one-day international series against Pakistan at the County Ground in Derby on Thursday, having already sealed a 3-0 Twenty20 series win against the same opponents.

England sit below world champions Australia in the world’s 50-over rankings, with Pakistan a further eight places back in tenth.

England’s Sophie Ecclestone is currently rated as the world’s best one-day bowler.

ICE HOCKEY: Brett Perlini, Robert Dowd, Ben O’Connor and Evan Mosey all scored as Britain beat Austria 4-2 to grab a first win in their last game of an unsuccessful World Championship campaign in Czechia.

The Brits had already been relegated from the top flight before they met Austria, who finished fifth in Group A behind defending champions Canada.

Sweden won Group B with the competition’s only unbeaten record after thumping Slovakia 6-1.

SPEEDWAY: Oxford Spires welcome Premiership table-toppers Belle Vue to Cowley tomorrow evening, just 10 days after they were thumped 51-39 in the reverse fixture at Manchester’s National Speedway Centre.

Bottom-of-the-league King’s Lynn take on second-placed Ipswich Witches, who will again be without their injured captain Danny King, and reigning champions Sheffield are at Leicester, with aggregate points up for grabs in all of tomorrow night’s meetings.

MEN’S FOOTBALL: Raith Rovers host Ross County for the first leg of their Scottish Premiership play-off final in Kirkcaldy tonight.

Raith finished second in the Championship, beating Partick on penalties to reach this stage while Ross slipped second bottom in the Premiership on the last day of the season.

Raith last appeared in the top flight in 1997, Ross have been there for the past five years.