Henriques out of Windies ODI opener

Setback ... Moises Henriques' return to international cricket had been going well. Source: AAP

Moises Henriques has been ruled out of Australia's series-opening one day international with the West Indies, and remains in doubt for the second clash, after having surgery on his injured right index finger on Saturday.

Henriques underwent a minor surgical procedure on Saturday afternoon to alleviate concerns over increased swelling around the finger.

The 25-year-old will not be able to train for at least a week, certainly ruling him out of the opening clash against the West Indies at the WACA on Friday, and leaving him extreme doubt for game two at the same venue on Sunday.

It is a devastating blow for the talented allrounder, who ended a three-year exile from the international scene with his ODI call-up this month and is pushing his case for selection in next month's four-Test tour of India.

Henriques had his best performance in Australia colours in the fifth ODI against Sri Lanka in Hobart on Wednesday, taking three valuable wickets in the 32-run victory.

''Due to concern over increasing swelling and infection Moises was reviewed by a Sydney hand specialist this afternoon and has undergone a minor surgical procedure,'' NSW team physiotherapist Murray Ryan said.

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''Moises will be unable to play or train for at least one week. His availability for state and international cricket will be determined as the injury heals.''

Henriques sustained the injury initially when he was hit on the hand while training with the Australia team in the lead-up to last week's ODI against Sri Lanka at the Gabba.

He then aggravated it while batting for NSW in the Sheffield Shield clash with Western Australia at Blacktown International Sportspark.

Henriques was struck on the hand during a brutal spell from Nathan Coulter-Nile on Friday, twice receiving treatment on the field while wincing in pain.

But he played through battering to score a crucial 71 and give NSW a 102-run first innings lead.

He will also miss the Blues domestic one day game on Wednesday against Western Australia.

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Victory win drama-filled Big Blue

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Battle ... Melbourne Victory's Archie Thompson (R) takes on Thyan Grant. Source:AAP

They may have come to see Alessandro Del Piero, but they left talking about Marco Rojas as Melbourne Victory put the rest of the A-League on notice with a 3-1 mauling of Sydney FC on Saturday evening.

The Victory bossed and battered a Sky Blues team which finished the match with nine men in a compelling display at a sold-out AAMI Park.

Second-half efforts from Archie Thompson and Rojas, following a 24th-minute deflected own goal from Sydney defender Seb Ryall, capped a dominant performance from the hosts.

		P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
1	Central Coast	18	11	5	2	17	38
2	Victory	18	10	3	5	3	33
3	Western Sydney	18	10	2	6	8	32
4	Adelaide	18	10	2	6	4	32
5	Heart	18	6	3	9	-2	21
6	Newcastle	17	6	3	8	-8	21
7	Brisbane	18	6	2	10	-1	20
8	Sydney	18	6	2	10	-9	20
9	Perth	18	5	4	9	-1	19
10	Wellington	17	4	4	9	-11	16

Not helped by Tiago Calvano's sending off on the hour for flinging an outstretched arm to block Leigh Broxham, the Sky Blues were mainly undone by a committed Victory midfield display with Broxham, Billy Celeski and Mark Milligan outstanding.

But the silk came from Rojas, who would have impressed scouts from English Premier League club Liverpool and Italian giants Juventus in attendance with a magnificent display in the front third.

He scored a beautifully crafted goal in the 72nd minute - that was aided by heavy deflections off Sydney FC defenders - and was the architect of the opener.

The 21-year-old New Zealand international intercepted a Rhyan Grant backpass and his goal-bound effort cannoned off Ryall, wrong-footing keeper Vedran Janjetovic.

Del Piero was well held for most of the evening as Victory's midfield invaded his aura and bit around his ankles effectively.

The first half hour was all Victory.

The Victory had the majority of the best chances - coming closest to a second when Broxham forced a great diving save from Janjetovic on 28 minutes.

Sydney FC also lost Socceroo Brett Emerton midway through the half with a hamstring injury.

Once Calvano was sent off, all Sydney's hope looked gone - though their best chances and only goal came when they were down to 10 men.

They could have even equalised had Joel Griffiths not fluffed a great chance - from a Del Piero through ball - in the 66th minute as he shot across goal when it beckoned.

Thirty seconds later, the Victory were 2-0 up as Thompson found the net.

It was party time in the 72nd minute as Rojas scored a classy second, holding off a defender, turning and shooting off Adam Griffiths to make it 3-0.

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Joel Griffiths grabbed a consolation on 75 minutes, but Sydney's night turned even worse when fullback Fabio was marched in stoppage time for a second yellow card.

Victory coach Ange Postecoglou believed the performance was close to his side's most complete of the season.

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''We're trying to become a dominant force in this league and days like today, you question whether we're up to it or not but I was really pleased,'' Postecoglou said.

''We really took the game to the opposition which is what I wanted us to do.''

Sydney FC coach Frank Farina was left shaking his head with the fact nine cards were issued by referee Chris Beath in a match he felt wasn't dirty.

But he admitted his disappointment was split ''60-40'' between the officiating and his players' ill-discipline at vital times.

''We should have been playing the way we played and worked the last 25 minutes from the start,'' Farina said.

''We could do that and create chances with 10 men ... we should do that from the beginning.''

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Hughes key to SA chase against Vics

Chief destroyer ... South Australia's Joe Mennie rips through Victoria's top order. Source: George Salpigtidis / News Limited

South Australia's lucky charm Phil Hughes will spearhead a chase for 155 more runs to snatch a comeback triumph against Victoria in the Sheffield Shield match in Adelaide.

Chasing 189 to win, the Redbacks will resume on Sunday's final day at 2-34 with Hughes not out 17.

SHEF - Adelaide Oval

24 January 2013 - Day 3, Session 3

South Australia 2nd Innings

P. Hughes	17	15	2	0	113.33
N. Lyon	0	4	0	0	0

After a stunning six wicket haul from speedster Joe Mennie dragged SA back into the match, the in-form Hughes rode his luck late on Saturday's third day.

Hughes, on 10, survived a caught behind appeal from Will Sheridan's bowling which, when refused, left the Victorians gobsmacked.

In Sheridan's next over, Hughes, still on 10, was dropped at second slip by David Hussey.

And an over later, the Bushrangers were again bewildered when Hughes, on 13, survived a confident lbw appeal from James Pattinson's bowling.pePattinson's fury at the verdict was evident two balls later when he delivered a fierce bouncer which felled Redback opener Sam Raphael.

The fourth-gamer ducked into the ball and turned his head at last moment, suffering a frightful blow on the back of the helmet - he retired hurt, staggering from the ground with suspected concussion.

With SA veteran Michael Klinger already dismissed for two when trapped lbw by Pattinson, the Redbacks sent Nathan Lyon to the crease as nightwatchman - but he was dismissed for a duck in the final over.

"It's never nice losing two (batsmen) close to stumps," Mennie said.

"We have still got 150-odd runs to chase on a last day wicket, it's going to be a tough chase, both teams are still right in it."

On a topsy turvy Saturday, the Bushrangers collected innings points by bowling SA out for 267, some 52 runs behind.

But Victoria then crashed to 136 all out in their second innings with Mennie taking a superb 6-43 from 21 overs.

Mennie ripped through the Victorians, who were forced to rely on number nine James Pattinson top-scoring with 33 to stretch their victory target.

The next best Bushranger was Chris Rogers, who made 25 and featured in a 43 run opening partnership with Rob Quiney.

But Quiney (14) was the first man dismissed in a dramatic slide as the Victorians lost 8-50, before Pattinson helped the Bushrangers to eek out a valuable 43 runs for the final two wickets.

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Ten-man Wanderers break Heart

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Warrior ... Shinji Ono scores for the Wanderers. Source: Quentin Jones / AAP

Even a 10-man Western Sydney proved too strong for Melbourne Heart as the A-League newcomers continued their remarkable rise with a 1-0 victory.

Despite having defender Jerome Polenz sent off in the 13th minute, the Wanderers were totally dominant in front of 14,624 fans at Parramatta Stadium.

Shinji Ono's 73rd-minute penalty secured the win, after Josip Tadic earlier had a spot kicked saved following Polenz's sending off.

The win was Western Sydney's third straight and they climb into third place, ahead of Adelaide United on goal difference.

		P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
1	Central Coast	18	11	5	2	17	38
2	Victory	18	10	3	5	3	33
3	Western Sydney	18	10	2	6	8	32
4	Adelaide	18	10	2	6	4	32
5	Heart	18	6	3	9	-2	21
6	Newcastle	17	6	3	8	-8	21
7	Brisbane	18	6	2	10	-1	20
8	Sydney	18	6	2	10	-9	20
9	Perth	18	5	4	9	-1	19
10	Wellington	17	4	4	9	-11	16

The Heart were left to rue a big opportunity to boost their finals hopes after Polenz's early exit, and the defeat leaves them in danger of dropping out of the top six.

Referee Strebre Delovski showed no hesitation in brandishing a red card early after David Williams had broken on goal before being clattered from behind by right back Polenz.

Tadic stepped up for the resulting penalty but couldn't convert it, with Ante Covic swatting his shot away with relative ease.

Midfielder Aaron Mooy was sacrificed for Lacopa La Rocca in a tactical switch and the Wanderers remained the more dangerous side.

Mark Bridge, Dino Kresinger and Ono all forced decent saves out of Andrew Redmayne while Nicholas Kalmar came closest for the visitors with a long-range drive in the 34th minute.

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As Australia Day fireworks exploded around the stadium, the tempo of the game slowed early the second half as the Heart started to grow into the game.

But Western Sydney regained the ascendancy and finally got their breakthrough when Youssouf Hersi - who had caused havoc in attack all night - was brought down in the box by David Vrankovic.

Ono stepped up and buried the penalty for his fifth goal of the season.

Tadic had a late chance for redemption but was denied by a great Covic stop.

In a positive for the Heart, former Socceroos midfielder Vince Grella made his long-awaited return from injury off the bench in the 67th minute, his first appearance since last playing for Blackburn in September, 2011.

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Striker Eli Babalj also came on, having returned to the club on after being released by Serbian club Red Star Belgrade.

Wanderers coach Tony Popovic felt the way his side reacted to going a man down showed how much it had matured.

"That's another first for us. The boys have shown that down to 10 men, they're not just going gung-ho. They're playing with structure and playing with belief and confidence,'' Popovic said.

"You could see at halftime in the change room, they really believed they could win the game. It wasn't just hope.''

The coach feared at one stage the Wanderers may not get a reward for their dominance.

"But I certainly would have been proud after the game whether we won or lost that one,'' Popovic said.

Heart coach John Aloisi was at a loss to explain his side's flat performance.

"We weren't good. The penalty incident I don't think would have changed much,'' Aloisi said.

"They were better than us ... which is disappointing because 10 against 11, you expect it to be the other way around.

"We can't be performing like that, it's just not good enough.''

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Azarenka downs Li in dramatic final

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Still the one ... Victoria Azarenka retains her No.1 ranking and Aussie Open crown. Source:AAP

Victoria Azarenka broke down in tears after retaining her Australian Open crown and world No.1 ranking with a drama-charged final triumph over Chinese challenger Li Na.

In an extraordinary encounter, Li needed two separate medical timeouts and was treated for possible concussion before finally succumbing 4-6 6-4 6-3 to the top seed after two hours and 40 suspense-filled minutes on Saturday night.

Australian Open: Ladies Singles

Round F, 26/01/13

Aza (1)	4	6	6
Li (6)	6	4	3

Li had hundreds of millions of Chinese hearts in mouths for the first time when she collapsed in a heap during the second set and hobbled off court.

She returned, though, six minutes later with her left ankle strapped and recovered from a service break down to draw level at 4-4 and close to within two games of taking the title.

Li looked for a second time like she may have to retire after falling heavily and hitting her head on the Melbourne Park centre court on the very first point after the resumption from a nine-minute break for the Australia Day fireworks.

Li was cleared after medical testing from tournament doctors and conjured a break point while leading 2-1 in the deciding set, only for Azarenka to rally and deny the 2011 French Open champion a place in the history books as the oldest woman to win the Open singles crown.

Had Azarenka lost, the Belarusian would also have relinquished her top ranking to Serena Williams, the reigning Wimbledon, US Open and Olympic champion.

Instead, she joins Williams (17), Venus Williams (7), Maria Sharapova (4) and Svetlana Kuznetsova (2) as the only active players with multiple grand slam titles.

It was not the most popular Open victory after the 23-year-old was roundly condemned for taking a controversial double medical timeout immediately after blowing five match points in her semi-final victory over American teenager Sloane Stephens.

While Li was afforded a rousing reception upon her entry to Rod Laver Arena, applause for Azarenka was subdued and at times the top seed was heckled by fans.

The Belarusian had the last laugh, though, collecting the winner's cheque for a record $2.43 million after seeing off Li in a tense rollercoaster ride lasting almost two-and-three-quarter hours.

"It's been a long two weeks for me," Azarenka admitted.

Li, turning 31 next month, had been bidding to remove Australian great Margaret Smith Court from a page in the Open record books as the oldest woman to reign in the 45-year open era.

Alas, lightning struck twice for the Chinese tennis pioneer who two years ago became her country's first and only major singles champion with a breakthrough success at Roland Garros.

Entering Saturday night's final, Li was the only player in the past 25 grand slam women's deciders to squander a one-set lead.

That defeat came against Kim Clijsters at Melbourne Park in 2011.

Now it has happened again in a final full of twists and turns.

But she vowed to return to try again.

"I know I'm not young, but I have to say I'm very (much) looking forward to next year," Li said.

Drama and tension aside, it was not the highest-quality final with the match featuring 16 service breaks and 77 unforced errors in 29 games.

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Warner heroics can't stop Sri Lanka

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Flying start ... Angelo Mathews and Thisara Perera celebrate Sri Lanka's win. Source: Rick Rycroft / AAP

David Warner's best-ever international innings couldn't help Australia turn around their reputation as Twenty20 battlers in a crushing five-wicket loss to Sri Lanka on Saturday night.

Sri Lanka lost 4-23 midway through their chase, but eventually cruised to victory with seven balls to spare in front of 40,242 fans on Australia Day at ANZ Stadium in Sydney.

T20 - ANZ Stadium

26 January 2013 - Day 1, Session 2

Sri Lanka 1st Innings

A. Mathews	35	27	3	1	129.63
T. Perera	19	12	0	2	158.33
B. Laughlin	3.5	0	46	0	12.00

Thisara Perera (19 off 12) brought up the win with consecutive sixes, after Kusal Janith Perera (33 from 22) and skipper Angelo Mathews (35no from 27) paved the way for victory.

Warner (90 from 62 balls) was let down badly by his fellow batsmen as Australia set a meek target of 138, despite losing just three wickets.

George Bailey was the only man other than Warner to find the fence - a solitary six in the ninth over.

Adam Voges (25 from 29) summed it up best: "I think Davey was playing on a different wicket to the rest of us."

Unfortunately for Australia, most of Sri Lanka's batsmen also found a way through the slow conditions.

Warner's excellent innings featured five boundaries and three heaving sixes.

But it counted for little, with usual big-hitters Aaron Finch (1), Shaun Marsh (6) and Bailey (11) failing to take golden opportunities to ride on the coat-tails of arguably the world's best T20 striker.

Bailey called Australia "underachievers" before the first of two T20Is against Sri Lanka.

Despite promises to turn things around, that tag remains for the team ranked a lowly seventh in the world - who play Sri Lanka again on Monday in Melbourne.

Tasmanian carpenter Ben Laughlin stung Tillakaratne Dilshan with a vicious bouncer in the fourth over and then took a spectacular leaping catch in the seventh to inspire hope in the Australians.

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Left bloodied above his eye by the bouncer, Dilshan hit Xavier Doherty over Laughlin's head into the out-field - only for the recalled quick to sprint with his back to the ball and reel in one of the catches of the summer.

In-form Doherty took two wickets, as did Indian Test hopeful Glenn Maxwell - but it wasn't nearly enough protecting such a slender total.

Bailey and Warner said Australia fell 10 to 15 runs short of posting a par score, but credited the expert bowling of Sri Lankan pace weapons Lasith Malinga (0-19 from four) and Nuwan Kulasekara (1-21 from four) at the death.

Warner described Malinga as a "genius", while Bailey refused to blame Voges in particular for not hitting out earlier with seven wickets in hand.

Bailey said shabby fielding - including numerous dropped chances - cost Australia any chance of victory.

But he was reluctant to make changes ahead of Monday's match.

"Our fielding was disappointing and probably cost us 10 runs and that adds up," he said.

"I thought Sri Lanka bowled unbelievably well their last four overs. Any side that can bowl to Davey set and deprive him of boundaries ... they executed unbelievably well."

Warner said it was unusual to score nearly two thirds of the team's total and not win the match.

The 26-year-old defended the performances of Finch and Marsh, denying they were nervous.

"I don't think they had any fear in their eyes at all either, they're two quality players, they've been in fantastic form and it's just one of those nights where it doesn't come off," Warner said.

Mathews said an assessment is needed on Dilshan's health and availability for Monday.

The Sri Lankan captain said his side did all the little things right in the field and praised Malinga and Kulasekara - who allowed just 14 runs in the final two overs - as the difference.

"We started brilliantly, we were electric in the field and the bowlers bowled extremely well," he said.

"Lasith and Kulasekara were the ones who pulled us back.''

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Brisbane scrape through in Perth

Breaking through ... Brisbane's Thomas Broich makes a run through Perth's defence. Source: AAP

A 30-metre wonder strike from Brisbane midfielder James Meyer lifted the Roar to a crucial 1-0 A-League triumph over an injury-riddled Perth Glory at nib Stadium on Saturday night.

Brisbane entered the match on a three-game losing streak and with their finals hopes hanging by a thread.

But Meyer's low drive in the 16th minute was enough to secure a vital three points, the win lifting the Roar into seventh spot and back to within a point of the top six.

		P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
1	Central Coast	18	11	5	2	17	38
2	Victory	18	10	3	5	3	33
3	Western Sydney	18	10	2	6	8	32
4	Adelaide	18	10	2	6	4	32
5	Heart	18	6	3	9	-2	21
6	Newcastle	17	6	3	8	-8	21
7	Brisbane	18	6	2	10	-1	20
8	Sydney	18	6	2	10	-9	20
9	Perth	18	5	4	9	-1	19
10	Wellington	17	4	4	9	-11	16

The ninth-placed Glory have now gone six straight games without a win, but remain just two points adrift of sixth spot.

Perth almost snatched a share of the spoils in a frantic final few minutes, but Nick Ward and Ryo Nagai saw their goalward-bound attempts cleared off the line.

The Glory limped into the match missing six players from their first-choice line-up.

Midfielder Liam Miller and defender Josh Risdon were suspended, while Bas van den Brink and Dean Heffernan (back) couldn't be considered.

But the biggest losses were that of striker Shane Smeltz (groin) and skipper Jacob Burns (back), their absence leaving a gaping hole.

Brisbane were also missing a host of key players, with skipper Matt Smith (hip), Henrique (hip), Jade North, Besart Berisha (suspended) and Shane Steffanutto (suspended) all unavailable.

Glory created the better chances of the first half and both Travis Dodd and Steve Pantelidis should have put away their close-range efforts early on.

Those misses proved costly, with Meyer giving Brisbane the lead against the run of play.

Meyer's charge towards goal looked fairly innocuous at first, but his unexpected low drive beat a diving Danny Vukovic, who was furious to let in the long-range goal.

Glory had a penalty appeal turned down in the 54th minute when Chris Harold crashed to the ground after trying to squeeze his way past two Roar defenders.

And Brisbane goalkeeper Michael Theo endured some nervy moments two minutes later when he charged 11 metres outside of his box but failed to clear the ball.

Glory midfielder Nick Ward streamed towards goal.

But with only a Roar defender manning the net, Ward sent his shot high of the target.

The passage of play summed up Glory's night, with the home side left ruing a series of missed chances to square the game.

Meanwhile, the Roar announced on Saturday that they've signed Australian youth international Steven Lustica on loan until the end of the club's A-League and Asian Champions League commitments.

Lustica has been loaned to the Roar from Croatian powerhouse Hajduk Split.

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