Reds stay second after stalemate

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Blocked ... Zadkovich has a shot at goal as the Jets try to wear the Reds down. Source: Liam Driver / News Limited

Newcastle coach Gary van Egmond was relieved to throw the clean sheet gorilla off his back as his young defence held high-riding Adelaide to a scoreless draw at Hunter Stadium on Saturday.

Second-placed Adelaide looked the more fluent and dangerous team early in the first half, which featured a drinks break after 22 minutes due to the heat.

Dario Vidosic had a shot stopped by former Adelaide goalkeeper Mark Birighitti in the sixth minute and a few seconds later Bruce Djite shot wide.

		P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
1	Central Coast	14	9	3	2	13	30
2	Adelaide	15	9	2	4	7	29
3	Victory	15	8	2	5	0	26
4	Western Sydney	14	7	2	5	6	23
5	Perth	15	5	4	6	2	19
6	Brisbane	14	5	2	7	1	17
7	Newcastle	15	5	2	8	-9	17
8	Wellington	15	4	4	7	-3	16
9	Heart	14	4	3	7	-3	15
10	Sydney	15	4	2	9	-14	14

Newcastle, who hadn't kept a clean sheet in their previous 14 games, took over from about the half hour mark and dominated the second half.

Jets' marquee player Emile Heskey was replaced at halftime by Adam Taggart after suffering a minor quadriceps injury.

"It wasn't a monkey mate, it was like a gorilla," van Egmond said on the clean sheet issue.

"It was hanging over us. It is a good feeling, and it's great for the fact that the players can get some real confidence from keeping that clean sheet and creating the number of chances."

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It needed some fine stops from Adelaide goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic to keep his side level.

He used his legs early in the second half to keep out a shot from lively substitute Adam Taggart, who came on at halftime for Heskey.

Adelaide coach John Kosmina wasn't sure if it was a point gained or two lost.

"We made two really good chances in the first half, we had a long period where we probably dominated the first half and maybe did enough to get a couple of goals and go on with it," Kosmina said.

"We switched off a little bit and let Newcastle back in the game and they did pretty well.

"Then second half we were all over the shop, we turned the ball over too easy."

Both coaches praised the youthful Jets defence for containing Vidosic, Djite and Marcelo Carrusca, who will have an MRI on Monday to determine the extent of a groin injury.

Kosmina singled out Newcastle's Taylor Regan for the job he did on the much bigger Djite.

Heskey revealed his substitution was a precautionary measure.

"Early in the first half my thigh felt tight and while it didn't get worse I could still feel it there," he said.

"It was one of those ones where you have to decide to come out or carry on and see if you can make it through the match.

"I thought it was best to pull out in case I made it worse. Hopefully it will be OK."

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Hussey unilkely to bat up order

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One more time? ... Hussey may have played his last innings. Source: Phil Hillyard / News Limited

The Test cricketing world has almost certainly seen the last of retiring champion Mike Hussey.

3rd Test - Sydney Cricket Ground

3 January 2013 - Day 3, Session 3

Sri Lanka 2nd Innings

D. Chandimal	22	35	5	0	62.86
R. Herath	7	16	0	0	43.75
M. Hussey	1	0	4	0	4.00

A pitiful Sri Lankan collapse and Hussey's own reluctance to embrace the spotlight put paid to that.

The visitors' meagre 87-run lead will need a significant boost from Dinesh Chandimal (22no) on Sunday or run the risk of being eaten up by Australia's top three batsmen - let alone No.4 Michael Clarke.

One thing appears certain, Hussey won't appear in the middle until three wickets fall.

"I don't think Huss will want to go up the order to be honest," century-maker Matthew Wade said on Saturday.

"He's been really funny this week. He just wants us to win and he wants it to be his last cricket match.

"He wants to play it exactly the way he'd play it if it wasn't his last one I suppose.

"... But we'll try and push him out there, don't worry about that."

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That means his last effort with bat in hand produced 25 runs before he was cruelly run-out chasing a quick single, called through by skipper Clarke.

That exit drew rapturous applause from a delirious SCG crowd, eager to celebrate Hussey's career.

They cheered when he wandered near the boundary, every time he fielded a ball and even when he stretched.

Every one of his four catches have been received with applause that rocked the stadium and, of course, he was given a standing ovation when he walked out to bat for what now looks like being the final time.

But the crowd wasn't satisfied.

They simply wanted one more memory of Mr Cricket.

And so the chant began.

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Re-live the action from day three with our Test Match Centre and don't forget to join us on Friday from 10.30am (EDT) to see if Australia can wrap up the Sri Lanka tail and chase down the runs for victory.

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"Give it to Hus-sey" sang out around the SCG before a chorus of boos rained down on Mitchell Starc for being selected to bowl the penultimate over.

But they got their wish, with captain Clarke relenting and throwing the rock to the affable 37-year-old - who couldn't deliver the wicket they desired.

"The crowd have been awesome with Huss," Wade added.

"It's been fun to be out there and watch him - he gets a little bit embarrassed by all that stuff.

"So the Hussey chants, he tends to shy away from.

"He didn't really want to bowl I don't think tonight. The crowd got him a bowl to be honest."

Hussey won't want to have to bat on Sunday either, but the crowd may demand otherwise.

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Rojas magic foils Phoenix again

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Attacking genius ... Marco Rojas and Marcos Flores had too much for the Phoenix. Source: George Salpigtidis / News Limited

Melbourne Victory were controlled and clinical in closing the gap on the A-League top two on Saturday night.

The Victory climbed to within a win of second place with a comfortable 2-0 win over Wellington Phoenix at AAMI Park.

After being poked with a stick by the Phoenix for much of the first half, the Victory snapped into action to eventually smother the visitors with goals to Marcos Flores just before halftime and Marco Rojas early in the second.

		P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
1	Central Coast	14	9	3	2	13	30
2	Adelaide	15	9	2	4	7	29
3	Victory	15	8	2	5	0	26
4	Western Sydney	14	7	2	5	6	23
5	Perth	15	5	4	6	2	19
6	Brisbane	14	5	2	7	1	17
7	Newcastle	15	5	2	8	-9	17
8	Wellington	15	4	4	7	-3	16
9	Heart	14	4	3	7	-3	15
10	Sydney	15	4	2	9	-14	14

The Victory are now just three points adrift of second-placed Adelaide United, who drew 0-0 with Newcastle Jets at Hunter Stadium earlier on Saturday.

Coach Ange Postecoglou praised his players' character after they emerged from the Christmas-New Year period with nine of a possible 12 points.

"For all the clubs, this period is a massive period of football. You're travelling, you're playing games one after the other in trying conditions," Postecoglou said.

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"The fact we've come through this four-game period with three wins, it's a massive testament to the work the players have done, but also their character."

But the Victory did have to work hard in the first 40 minutes to break down an organised and determined Phoenix, who attacked down the flanks and matched the home side for much of the period.

Eventually Flores' goal on 43 minutes from a Rojas cross gave Victory a lead few saw coming.

Victory regained their swagger from then on, dominating the second half.

Midfielder Billy Celeski was outstanding and controlled the middle of the park as the Phoenix struggled for traction without suspended enforcer Manny Muscat.

After creating little in the first half, the Victory created a welter of second half chances.

But Rojas' tap-in of a rebound from Adrian Leijer shot off the post in the 53rd minute was the only tangible result, with midfielder Mark Milligan shaving a post and several others shooting just wide.

Phoenix's best chance came late in the second half when substitute Cameron Lindsay forced a good diving save from goalkeeper Nathan Coe.

Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert, whose 152nd match in charge surpassed the A-League record, felt his side had been excellent for most of the first half but missed the experience of Muscat and injured striker Paul Ifill when things got tough.

"The depth from our perspective is limited from an experience point of view," Herbert said.

"Jeremy (Brockie) is having a good season for us. But we need more people (scoring goals) with that. Out of midfield we've been a bit short."

The Phoenix remain outside the top six following the defeat.

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Boyce spins Strikers to victory

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Walk of shame ... Adelaide Strikers celebrate the wicket of Aiden Blizzard. Source: Nikki Davis-jones / News Limited

A screamer of a catch from Adelaide Strikers' Kane Richardson helped his side to a convincing 38-run win over Hobart Hurricanes at Blundstone Arena.

T20 - Blundstone Arena

5 January 2013 - Day 1, Session 2

Hurricanes 1st Innings

X. Doherty	15	11	2	0	136.36
B. Laughlin	8	12	1	0	66.67
S. Tait	4	0	23	1	5.75

Set 163 to win, the Hurricanes fell apart once key men Ricky Ponting (26 from 25) and Tim Paine (33 from 31) departed, finishing at 8-124 on Saturday night.

Richardson brought back memories of Glenn McGrath at Adelaide Oval when he dived in the outfield to dismiss last season's leading runscorer Travis Birt (1 from 6).

The lanky paceman looked to have misjudged the chance as he moved towards deep extra cover but threw out his right hand only for the ball to stick.

He raised his arms to the crowd on the Bellerive hill as his teammates celebrated with the Hurricanes reduced to 4-63.

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Click on the video above to watch Kane Richardson's sensational catch!

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		P	W	L	NR	T	Pts	NNR
1	Renegades	6	5	1	0	0	10	0.708
2	Scorchers	7	4	3	0	0	8	0.632
3	Strikers	7	4	3	0	0	8	0.53
4	Stars	6	4	2	0	0	8	0.317
5	Hurricanes	7	4	3	0	0	8	-0.287
6	Heat	6	3	3	0	0	6	0.243
7	Sixers	6	2	4	0	0	4	-0.331
8	Thunder	7	0	7	0	0	0	-1.471

Richardson's stunning effort gave young legspinner Cameron Boyce (3-17) his third wicket after he'd already removed big guns Ponting and Paine.

When Richardson (2-26) then bowled Owais Shah (9 from 9), the home side were in all sorts of trouble at 5-85.

The win keeps the Strikers in the hunt for the finals, while Hobart blew a chance to go second on the ladder and all but wrap up a semi-final.

The Hurricanes were 1-10 when Aiden Blizzard was out for a third ball duck to Shaun Tait (1-23) - who clocked a tournament high 154.4km/h - and 2-56 when Ponting was caught at point.

It was game on when in-form Paine was caught in deep at 3-63, then came Richardson's moment and the momentum was all with the visitors.

Earlier, Strikers opener Michael Klinger had anchored his side's 4-162 with an unbeaten 71 from 61 balls with eight fours.

Klinger put on a partnership of 59 with Callum Ferguson (32 from 23) and 70 with Nathan Reardon (29 from 23).

Reminded of McGrath's catch, Richardson was happy to stake his claim.

"I think he got two hands on that so I might have him covered there," he said.

"I think I made it look a bit better than it was.

"It got caught in the wind a bit, I just stuck one hand out and it fell in.

"I probably carried on a bit too much after it."

Hurricanes captain George Bailey said his side's equation for the finals remained the same.

"It was win one of your last two and I guest that hasn't changed, and if we don't we probably don't deserve to make the finals," he said.

Relive the game with our Match Centre, featuring video of every wicket and boundary.

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Classy Serena takes Brisbane title

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Champion ... Serena Williams celebrates her Brisbane International title. Source: Darren England / AP

Frightened by the fish, Serena Williams admitted she was too afraid to swim in the ocean during her recent training camp in Mauritius.

But it will be Williams who'll be scaring the daylights out of the women's field at the Australian Open after ruthlessly showcasing her power and precision at the Brisbane International.

The American superstar warmed up perfectly for a possible sixth major at Melbourne Park with a 50-minute demolition of Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova on Saturday night.

Her 6-2 6-1 final triumph meant she didn't lose a set at the year-opening tournament and conceded just 17 games in total on Pat Rafter Arena.

Pavlyuchenkova admitted she was clueless.

Williams now has a 35-1 record since her shock first-round loss at the French Open, which shook her into career-best form.

Under new coach Patrick Mouratoglou, the 15-time grand slam champion is reaching towards the heights of her career-best 2002-03 period when she claimed the "Serena Slam", capped by the first of her five Australian Open titles.

Mouratoglou claims she's only getting better at 31 and, on her recent form - triumphing at Wimbledon, the Olympics, US Open and the year-ending WTA Championships - it's hard to disagree.

The world No.3 can become the rightful No.1 with victory in Melbourne in three weeks time and she feels she's done everything right to prepare.

Her Mauritius camp had her arrive in Brisbane in peak fitness despite recent surgery on both big toes.

But swimming was not on the menu.

"I ended up being really afraid of everything," she said in Brisbane.

"I was afraid of the ocean. Everyone swam with the dolphins; I thought they would bite me, so I refused.

"I ended up barely being able to snorkel because I was afraid of the fish."

Now it's Williams who's the big shark in Melbourne and the fear will on the other side of the net.

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Ryall late show spoils Perth party

Baptism of fire ... Sydney's teen defender Aaron Calver marshals Shane Smeltz. Source: Lincoln Baker / AAP

Sydney FC defender Seb Ryall has stolen a point for his team after Perth Glory looked to have had the game wrapped up through a Shane Smeltz brace.

Ryall poked home after a goalmouth scramble that resulted from an Alessandro Del Piero free kick in the 83rd minute, setting up a grandstand finish between two sides desperate for a win.

A game which had dallied for much of the opening period exploded into life when Jason Culina marked his recent comeback from a career-threatening injury with a superb equaliser in the 63rd minute.

Culina's goal was just reward for the visitors as they picked up their tempo in the second half and started to create chances with a run of good possession.

		P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
1	Central Coast	14	9	3	2	13	30
2	Adelaide	15	9	2	4	7	29
3	Victory	15	8	2	5	0	26
4	Western Sydney	14	7	2	5	6	23
5	Perth	15	5	4	6	2	19
6	Brisbane	14	5	2	7	1	17
7	Newcastle	15	5	2	8	-9	17
8	Wellington	15	4	4	7	-3	16
9	Heart	14	4	3	7	-3	15
10	Sydney	15	4	2	9	-14	14

But just as Sydney looked the most likely side to snatch victory, a re-invigorated Smeltz curled in a trademark first-time hit from the top of the box after some superb lead-up work from Travis Dodd. 

The A-League's all-time leading goalscorer, Smeltz has had a battle to find the back of the net this season but it was he who struck first to give the home side the lead.

Despite the Sky Blues dominating possession for much of the opening stanza, they were unable to create much with it and the Glory continually threatened on the break.

Finally it was the lethal head of Smeltz that broke the deadlock, giving the home side a lead at the break.

More to come...

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Video: Richardson's stunning catch

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Screamer ... Kane Richardson won't forget this catch in a while. Source:Fox Sports

Was Kane Richardson's stunning catch at Blundstone Arena on Saturday night the best grab we've seen so far in the KFC T20 Big Bash League?

Plenty who watched Adelaide Strikers' win over Hobart Hurricanes would think so, especially if the reaction on Twitter is anything to go by.

Richardson's sensational effort may not have been so eye-catching if he didn't first misjudged the flight of the ball, but he recovered brilliantly to dive at full stretch and take an amazing one-handed catch just in front of the boundary.

It brought back memories of Glenn McGrath's brilliant outfield effort against England at Adelaide Oval, or for those with even longer memories, Adam Dale's incredible diving catch for Queensland against New South Wales in 1997-1998.

But was it the best grab we've seen since the creation of the Big Bash League?

We've pulled together some of the more memorable grabs from this season, and at the bottom of the page there's a compilation of the 10 best catches from season one.

Which catch is your favourite? Have we left any out? Join the debate by leaving a comment at the bottom of the page!

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Cameron Borgas/Scott Coyte (Sydney Thunder v Adelaide Strikers, ANZ Stadium)

Tim Ludeman (Adelaide Strikers v Brisbane Heat, Adelaide Oval)

Kieron Pollard (Adelaide Strikers v Melbourne Renegades, Adelaide Oval)

Alfonso Thomas (Perth Scorchers v Sydney Thunder, WACA)

Best catches from season one of KFC T20 Big Bash League

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