Swimming: Yuliya Efimova set a new world record in the 200m breaststroke at the European Short Course Championships in Denmark. The Russian took the 50m breaststroke title in a championship record and returned to the Herning pool where she faced home favourite Rikke Pedersen. Both women were on target to dip under Rebecca Soni’s 2009 world mark at halfway with the Dane ahead only for Efimova to edge ahead with 50m to go. The Russian touched in 2:14.39, 0.18secs inside Soni’s record with Pedersen second in 2:15.21.
Basket, NBA: Kevin Durant scored 31 points as Oklahoma City Thunder crushed Los Angeles Lakers 122-97 on Friday night. Russell Westbrook added 19 points, 12 assists and eight rebounds and Serge Ibaka 19 points and 10 rebounds for his 11th double-double of the season. Reggie Jackson also scored 19 for Oklahoma City who went to five straight wins and 13 of 14. The Thunder are unbeaten in 11 home games this season and have won four straight at home over the Lakers. Los Angeles have lost all three games since the return of Kobe Bryant from a torn Achilles tendon. Bryant had 13 assists – just two shy of his career high – but finished with only four points.
Darts: Defending champion Phil Taylor (picture) survived an early scare against Rob Szabo to move into the second round of the World Championship. Taylor took the opening leg but Szabo hit back to take the first set 3-1 thanks to check-outs of 128 and 105. The New Zealander claimed his fourth leg in a row at the start of the second but Taylor then found his gear and won the next two legs before a 12-darter sealed the set. The 16-time champion then took the next five legs to put him on the brink but Szabo claimed two of his own before a relieved Taylor eventually closed out to seal a 3-1 win.
Cycling: Spanish cyclist Alejandro Marque’s contract with Team Movistar has been cancelled following a report that he failed a drugs test after winning this year’s Tour of Portugal. The 32-year-old allegedly tested positive for the banned substance betame-thasone at the race in August. Marque, a journeyman rider who sprung to promi-nence following his performance in Portugal, could now be stripped of the victory and faces a possible two-year suspension.
Basketball: Former Euroleague champions Emporio Armani Milan secured a berth in the competition’s second group stage with a match to spare after a dramatic 74-73 home win over Germans Brose Baskets Bamberg. With 11 teams through to the next phase, five more spots will be sealed in this week’s final round of the initial stage. Guard Alessandro Gentile nailed two free-throws with 17 seconds remaining for triple Euroleague winners Milan, who will host the May 16-18 Final Four. He finished with 16 points, one less than team-mate and the game’s top scorer Gani Lawal.
Cricket: Australia captain Michael Clarke is this year’s winner of the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy as the International Cricket Council (ICC) player of the year. Clarke, like England captain Alastair Cook, is taking part in his 100th Test as the Ashes moves to Perth. The ICC announced the winners of its annual awards at the WACA, with Clarke also its Test cricketer of the year and Cook named as captain of a select world Test team. Other winners included Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara, one-day international cricketer of the year, and India batsman Cheteshwar Pujara as the emerging player.