Snooker: Matthew Selt, a late call up for Championship League Snooker Group Two, grabbed the opportunity with both hands as he beat Judd Trump 3-2 in the final in Essex this week. Selt bagged £6,200 for his efforts and will be back in February for the final group where the big money is at stake as well as a spot in the prestigious Champion of Champions.

Horse Racing: Dubai’s government-owned developer Meydan Group has boosted the prize money for today’s Endurance Cup to almost $2.6 million, reports said. Each foreign rider, except Gulf Arab nationals, who completes the challenging 160km Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum Endurance Cup will receive $27,226. About 190 riders are expected to participate.

Basketball: Holders Maccabi Tel Aviv beat Red Star Belgrade 78-67 after an electrifying display. An athletic Maccabi were held back by plucky Red Star for three quarters before they broke down the visitors in the final quarter, their high-tempo game producing an avalanche of fast breaks and second-chance points.

Cricket: Skipper Steve Smith led the way with another torrent of runs as Australia raced to 251 for six and a lead of 348 over India at the end of the fourth day of the fourth test yesterday. The hosts dismissed India for 475 shortly before tea to take a 97-run first innings lead and then embarked on a fierce assault on the Indian bowlers in a bid to force a result. Opener Chris Rogers hit a 77-ball 56 before he was caught at midwicket but Smith was soon back in his considerable stride. The Australian captain raced to his half century in 44 balls and had soon passed Donald Bradman as his country’s highest scorer in a series against India.