WOMEN’S FOOTBALL: England have been drawn in the same group as defending champions Spain, Iceland and Ukraine for their 2027 World Cup qualifying campaign. 

Only the group winner is guaranteed a spot at the finals, with the rest of the teams dropping into an extended play-off competition. 

Scotland will face Belgium, Israel and Luxembourg, Wales meet Czechia, Albania and Montenegro while Northern Ireland play Switzerland, Turkey and Malta.

MEN’S CRICKET: Pakistan take a 1-0 lead into Thursday’s second leg of their three-match one-day series against South Africa after they squeezed out a two wicket victory in Faisalabad on Tuesday. 

Chasing South Africa’s 263 all out, Pakistan were indebted to man of the match Salman Ali Agha’s mid innings knock of 62 before Naseem Shah scrambled a leg bye to see them home with only two balls remaining.

BASKETBALL: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander top-scored with another 30 points as defending NBA champions Oklahoma City won 126-107 at the LA Clippers to seal their eighth successive win and maintain the competition’s only unbeaten record. 

Last year’s runners-up Indiana continued their miserable start as they suffered a buzzer beating 117-115 defeat to Milwaukee. 

New Orleans edged Charlotte Hornets 116-112 for their first win of the season.

MEN’S FOOTBALL: Junior Luamba scored both goals as Carlisle beat Halifax 2-0 on Tuesday evening to move top of the National League by a point from Boreham Wood, who held off Aldershot 1-0. 

Previous leaders Rochdale slipped to third in the table, two points off the pace but with three games in hand, after their home match with Scunthorpe United was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.