Western Storm 174 for 4 (Knight 78*, Sharma 39*) beat Southern Vipers 172 for 7 (Wyatt 73) by six wickets

An unbeaten 78 from England captain Heather Knight saw Western Storm win their second and final Kia Super League title in a thrilling run chase at Hove.

Southern Vipers posted an imposing 172 for 7 after winning the toss, led by a 42-ball 73 from Danni Wyatt, but were left to rue the fact that the final six overs of their effort heralded only 38 runs, as the Storm turned things around after a loose start.

They had fallen behind the rate in the chase after the early wickets of Smriti Mandhana and Rachel Priest, and were in some bother at 103 for 4 when Deepti Sharma strode to the crease, but her unbeaten stand of 71 in 6.3 overs with Knight was enough to change the dynamic of the game completely, as they snuck home with an over to spare.

Sharma ended unbeaten on 39 from 22 balls, smoking seven powerful boundaries, including one over midwicket and another over extra cover in Suzie Bates' 19th over which effectively put the game to bed.

It is hard to argue that the Storm did not merit their second title, not least after nine wins and a single dead-rubber loss in the group stage. They have won more games than any other side over the course of four KSL seasons, and in a tournament where teams are typically top-heavy in their batting, they have remarkable depth; that the big-hitting Sharma came in as low as No. 6 demonstrated their middle-order riches.

And while Priest, Fran Wilson and Mandhana have all starred throughout the season, it was fitting that Knight should be the one to see them home. She became the first player to go past 1000 runs in the tournament during her brilliant innings on Sunday, and found an extra gear that has, at times, escaped her at international level.

Anchoring the chase, Knight picked off anything short or wide, lofting over the covers and sweeping hard to find the boundary with a level of ease that had eluded her team-mates, smiting Bates for four over long-off to seal the win.

After missing out on Finals Day following a remarkable tournament haul of 421 runs with a strike-rate of 174.68 last season, Mandhana could hardly have imagined a worse outcome than this from a personal perspective.

After giving Wyatt a life at long-on when she put down a straightforward chance, she then chipped the first legitimate ball she faced to mid-on, where Marie Kelly took a brilliant catch diving forward. Mandhana's 268 runs this season are not to be sniffed at, but by her own standards represented an underwhelming return.

If Wyatt's innings was of the sort expected from one of the women's game's best T20 batters, it was also confirmation that her poor run in the Ashes this summer was little more than a blip.

It would be overly simplistic to attribute Wyatt's growth over the past four years to the KSL alone, and would undersell the impact that a central contract, the trust of the England management, and the Big Bash have had on her game. But regardless, it is hard to avoid the thought that the tournament has helped her game no end.

Wyatt made just 39 runs in five innings for Lancashire Thunder in 2016, and only 92 in her first year as a Vipers player the following season. Last year brought 172 runs in nine innings, but this year she has been relentless: nobody has ever scored more KSL runs in a single season than her 466 this campaign.

And if Wyatt rode her luck at times - she was dropped on 55 by Sophie Luff and on 65 by Mandhana - then she was also relentless in putting away anything too wide or too straight.

Vipers' top three of Wyatt, Bates and Tammy Beaumont ended the tournament having scored more than 60 percent of their team's runs off the bat, and it felt like an important moment when Sonia Odedra held onto a quite brilliant caught-and-bowled chance after Bates' attempts to work to leg only drew a leading edge. The ball looped up agonisingly, seemingly out of reach, but Odedra dived at full stretch, extending a hopeful mitt, and as she hit the turf found the ball nestled safely in her clutches.

But Beaumont and Wyatt continued to build, Beaumont playing with a characteristic deft touch as Wyatt pummelled slog-sweeps and pulls over the leg side. From 134 for 1 with six overs to go, they were well-placed to make 200, but fell away badly after Wyatt offered a catch straight to Anya Shrubsole at long-on, and Beaumont was involved in a mix-up with Maia Bouchier for the second time in the day, selling her junior partner short looking for a third run.

The Vipers' lower-middle order struggled to find the pace of a hard, but deceptively slow pitch, and the last six overs brought just 38 runs as six wickets fell. They had hoped it would not prove crucial, but as Knight and Sharma started to find gaps with growing ease, it looked increasingly like a huge opportunity missed.

Heather Knight paid credit to her Western Storm side's batting depth after Deepti Sharma's crucial unbeaten 39 from 22 balls from No. 6 lifted them over the line in a nail-biting run chase against Southern Vipers at Hove.

Sharma came in with Storm needing 70 off 7.3 overs after prolific openers Smriti Mandhana and Rachel Priest had fallen early, but struck seven boundaries in her cameo in the middle to support Knight - who made 78 not out - as they chased down their target with an over to spare.

"We've had people throughout the order play brilliantly throughout the competition," Knight said. "Fran Wilson and Sophie Luff have been outstanding for us this year, and Deepti has had some really good cameos, even though she hasn't had to bat too much.

"I'm really delighted with how we've gone. The two at the top [Mandhana and Priest] obviously have a job to try and score quickly and sometimes that doesn't pay off so we've got the middle order to patch that up if that does happen."

Also read: Knight leads Storm to title with unbeaten 78 against Vipers

Vipers captain Tammy Beaumont suggested that while her side's middle order had chipped in throughout the tournament, the difference in batting depth was ultimately the difference between the sides.

"Yeah definitely, you look at them - they've got seven international players, and we're kind of lacking that a little bit in our team," she said.

"Full credit to the girls, they've all stepped up at different times. Amanda Wellington has played some gems of innings for us at five or six, and so have Fi Morris and Paige Scholfield, so that's just the way it is. But yeah, of course - having someone of the class of Deepti is maybe a little bit of a difference there."

The contrast with the Vipers - who were 134 for 1 after 14 overs, but lost six wickets for 38 runs in the final six overs - was clear, and Knight paid credit to her side's decision to sign a full quota of overseas players that would be available for Finals Day, which contrasted with the other two sides.

"Trevor Griffin has been amazing, putting the squad together," she said. "No-one works harder as a coach than him in the early summer going to see players play in county cricket, and stuff like that, and assembling the best squad we could.

"We made the decision to go with an overseas [player] that was going to be available for the final, because obviously we lost Smriti last year. It was sad to let Stafanie [Taylor] go but obviously she wasn't available for today, and Deepti's been outstanding for us, and obviously we had that little bit of extra depth which was nice."

With Danni Wyatt, who was confirmed as player of the tournament after the final, striking the ball cleanly, the Vipers had been set for a total far in advance of the 172 they ended up with, and Knight credited her seamers with dragging things back in their favour.

"I thought they were on for 200-plus at one point, the way Tammy and Danni were going there in the middle," Knight said. "It was a really good track, really hard to defend or stop the flow of runs when players were going like that.

"We bowled outstandingly - Freya [Davies] and Anya [Shrubsole] in particular pulled it back nicely, managed to pick up a few wickets and I thought 170 was going to be really tough to chase, but we knew it was probably within our grasp.

"We've chased some really good totals over the past couple of years, and we've somehow found a way to win a lot this season in tricky situations, so to do that, with the belief we've had, we knew that if one batter was there at the end we were in with a good chance. [I'm] delighted it was me, and happy to pick up the trophy."

Serena Williams overcame a rolled right ankle to advance to the quarterfinals of the US Open.

Williams, seeded eighth, suffered the injury in the middle of the second set against Petra Martic, but managed to finish out the 6-3, 6-4 victory in 1 hour, 32 minutes.

"I just rolled it. I don't know why," Williams said of the injury that left her cross-legged in the middle of Arthur Ashe Stadium for a few moments. "I was volleying and it just went over, so that was a little frustrating."

She immediately asked for a trainer, who added tape to her lower right leg and foot during a medical timeout at the ensuing changeover. Soon enough, Williams was back on course to make her 11th straight quarterfinals appearance at Flushing Meadows.

She ended this match by raising both arms after smacking an ace at 118 mph, her fastest of the afternoon, punctuating an overpowering performance that included 38 winners to Martic's 11.

Next up for Williams is Wang Qiang, who knocked off No. 2 seed Ash Barty in straight sets.

Williams' win Sunday comes on the second birthday of her daughter Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr., which Williams noted on Instagram earlier in the day.

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The last 2 years have been my greatest accomplishment

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The winner of 23 Grand Slam titles, Williams is looking for her elusive first tournament win of any kind since stepping away from tennis in 2017 for the birth of her daughter.

Williams has dealt with various health issues all season, including one that ended her stay at the Australian Open.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

The Oakland Raiders claimed quarterback DeShone Kizer off waivers from the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.

Kizer was among the Packers' cuts on Saturday as the team trimmed down its roster to 53 players.

The Raiders now have four quarterbacks on their roster as Kizer joins Mike Glennon and Nathan Peterman as backups to starter Derek Carr -- for now. Oakland released defensive end Josh Mauro in a corresponding roster move.

A day earlier, Raiders general manager Mike Mayock laughed when asked whether keeping three quarterbacks in Carr, Glennon and Peterman was the plan all along.

"When you work with Jon Gruden, it probably is," Mayock said. "And yeah, I mean, bottom line is that Jon loves his quarterbacks, does a great job developing them and I think we pretty much knew all along, especially if all three of them played the way they did, I think it became obvious that we were going to go with three."

The Raiders got a close look at Kizer in a preseason game against the Packers on Aug. 22 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, as they sacked him three times and picked him off once. Kizer completed 4 of 7 passes for 24 yards in Oakland's 22-21 exhibition victory.

Kizer was waived Saturday less two years after he started 15 games for the Cleveland Browns as a rookie. The Packers traded former first-round pick Damarious Randall to the Browns for Kizer on March 15, 2018. While Randall flopped as a cornerback for the Packers, he started all but one game for the Browns last year at safety and is projected to be a starter again this season.

The 23-year-old Kizer, who was the 52nd overall pick in the 2017 draft, was never able to rectify the accuracy problems that plagued him during his rookie season as the Browns' starter. He threw a league-high 22 interceptions and just 11 touchdowns in the Browns' winless 2017 season. For Kizer, this was his was fourth different offense in as many seasons -- from his last year at Notre Dame to the Browns to his first year with the Packers under then-coach Mike McCarthy to new Packers coach Matt LaFleur.

Kizer played in three games in relief of Rodgers last season, including three drives in the season opener after Rodgers hurt his knee against the Bears and then most of the season finale against the Lions after Rodgers suffered a concussion. He threw two interceptions without a touchdown on 42 pass attempts in those two games.

ESPN's Rob Demovsky contributed to this report.

COSTA MESA, Calif. -- Los Angeles Chargers general manager Tom Telesco told reporters on Sunday that the team informed running back Melvin Gordon's representation that talks regarding his contract extension have been postponed until the end of the season.

"When or if Melvin reports, he'll play this season under his current contract, and we'll just revisit it after the season," Telesco said.

Gordon is set to make $5.605 million in 2019 on the fifth-year team option of his rookie deal.

With contract talks at an impasse, the Chargers granted Gordon's representation permission to seek a trade with another team, so he could potentially play elsewhere this season under a new deal if he finds a trade partner and the Chargers agree to the terms.

The Wisconsin product did not report to the start of training camp at the end of July, telling the Chargers through his representation that if he does not receive a new deal, he'll sit out and demand a trade.

Gordon desires a contract extension that will compensate him among the top running backs in the league such as Todd Gurley, David Johnson and Le'Veon Bell, who earn an average of $13 to $14 million annually.

Earlier this summer, the Chargers offered Gordon a new contract that potentially doubled his salary at roughly $10 million annually -- but at this point that offer does not appear to be available anymore.

Telesco said the Chargers will turn to Austin Ekeler and Justin Jackson to shoulder the load at running back with Gordon unavailable.

"Those two guys are going to work in tandem with each other," Telesco said. "I think the day and age of having to have one running back to carry it 300 times is probably not the smartest thing in the world anyways.

"Even if you have a big, bell-cow back, you'd like to have another back to come in and spell them, give them some rest and have a different dimension. So right now we're very happy with Austin as an every-down back."

Gordon's holdout is one of a couple of early-season adversities facing the Chargers, a team expected to compete for a playoff berth for a second year in a row and a deep postseason run in 2019.

Left tackle Russell Okung was placed on the reserve/non-football illness list to start the season due to a pulmonary embolism caused by blood clots and cannot play for at least the first six weeks of the regular season. Okung will only return to the field when cleared by doctors.

And All-Pro safety Derwin James is expected to be placed on the injured reserve list after surgery to repair a stress fracture in his right foot, and will not be available until November at the earliest.

However, Telesco said his team is unfazed by early misfortunes.

"Every season there's going to be obstacles that you have," Telesco said. "And that's just the way it is. It's our job to figure out a way around them. It's our job to have solutions to them, and it's our job to play through them."

CHICAGO -- The Milwaukee Brewers have cut another key performer from last year, designating reliever Jeremy Jeffress for assignment on Sunday.

Jeffress went 8-1 with a 1.29 ERA and 15 saves in 2018, helping Milwaukee win the NL Central and make it all the way to the NL Championship Series. The right-hander also made the All-Star team for the first time.

But Jeffress hasn't been able to find the same form this year. He was hampered by right shoulder weakness during spring training, and then went back on the injured list last Sunday with a strained left hip.

Jeffress, who turns 32 on Sept. 21, is 3-4 with a 5.02 ERA and one save in 48 games this season.

"Unfortunately we just got to a position where at a time in the season where we didn't see him making an impact," manager Craig Counsell said before Sunday's game against the Chicago Cubs. "It's a little bit of a future decision as well with 40-man roster issues."

Milwaukee began the day in third in the NL Central, 6½ games back of division-leading St. Louis. The Brewers also are in the mix for an NL wild card.

Jhoulys Chacin, who had a career-high 15 wins last season and served as Milwaukee's Opening Day starter this year, was designated for assignment last weekend. He signed a minor league deal with Boston on Saturday.

"At this point where we are with Jeremy, progression from his hip strength, with his performance and where we are from a 40-man roster perspective, this a move we felt was the right move to make now," president of baseball operations David Stearns said. "Certainly a tough one, but one we felt was the right thing to do from the club."

The Brewers also designated outfielder Troy Stokes Jr. and right-hander Aaron Wilkerson for assignment to create space on their 40-man roster.

Right-hander Jimmy Nelson and left-hander Brent Suter were reinstated from the 60-day injured list. First baseman/outfielder Tyler Austin had his contract selected from Triple-A San Antonio.

The Brewers also recalled right-handers Jake Faria and Freddy Peralta and catcher David Freitas from San Antonio before the matchup with the Cubs. Freitas was leading the Pacific Coast League with a .381 batting average at the time of his promotion.

CHICAGO -- Ben Zobrist returned to the Chicago Cubs on Sunday after a four-month absence to attend to his family after he and his wife initiated divorce proceedings.

"I'm nothing but grateful for how [the Cubs] handled the whole situation," Zobrist said in his first public comments since May. "They've given me the time and space needed to take care of my situation. I'm excited to be back."

Zobrist, 38, abruptly left the Cubs in early May as he and his wife both filed for divorce the same month. Zobrist indicated Sunday that divorce proceedings are on hold.

When he left, it was unclear whether Zobrist would return to baseball ever again; he's in the final year of a four-year deal with the Cubs.

"I didn't know," Zobrist said. "I didn't know I'd come back at all. ... I would have understood completely if they needed to move forward, even if it was the next day. Baseball has given me nothing but blessings. I'm fortunate they gave me the time that they gave me and still wanted me back."

Zobrist reported late to spring training and his issues at home were on his mind throughout the early portion of the year, when he compiled a .596 OPS before leaving. He was asked how much he debated taking the team-approved leave of absence.

"It was an easy decision for me," Zobrist said. "Very easy. Because I'm a 100 percent focus type of person. And I knew, that at that moment, I couldn't be here, and be focused, while I was here. I didn't want to give a half-effort while I was here. I knew for a period of time I needed to fully put myself back in Nashville, at home with my family, doing everything I could to keep my family together. That was my focus. That was where my heart was at the time. I'm here now because my heart feels that while I'm here, at the field, I can put 100 percent into it."

Zobrist won't start on Sunday or Monday as he gets reacclimated to his surroundings, but there's likely a place for him soon at the top of the Cubs' lineup. The team ranks last in baseball in on-base percentage from the No. 1 spot in the batting order.

"The answer to that is I hope I can fill that role and do it well," Zobrist said. "I know I have in the past, so I have confidence that I can do it. At the same time, you have to catch your rhythm [at the plate]."

Zobrist indicated he and his wife are trying to mend their relationship as he returns to the game he loves.

"Wrigley Field is a special place," he said. "I don't take it for granted. I'm excited to be back."

PHOENIX -- Los Angeles Dodgers rookie pitcher Dustin May left Sunday's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks after being hit on the right side of the head by a line drive.

The 21-year-old May was down for a few minutes before sitting up and eventually walking off the field. The liner by Jake Lamb ricocheted off May's head and into left field for a single that scored two runs.

The 6-foot-6 May is one of the Dodgers' top pitching prospects and was called up earlier this year. He had a 1-3 record with a 4.07 ERA going into Sunday's game.

May was charged with three runs and four hits in one-third of an inning Sunday.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- This was no ordinary outing for Carlos Carrasco, and everyone at Tropicana Field knew it.

The popular Cleveland Indians pitcher nicknamed Cookie made his return to the mound from leukemia Sunday and was applauded by both teams in a touching scene during Tampa Bay's 8-2 victory that completed a three-game sweep.

Carrasco entered in the seventh inning for his first major league appearance since being diagnosed with a treatable form of leukemia in June. The right-hander received a standing ovation from the crowd, and players from both sides cheered while standing in front of their respective dugouts.

"Even the other team came out. My teammates, that was great because they have supported me from day one to now," Carrasco said. "It's unbelievable."

Indians star shortstop Francisco Lindor went to the mound and hugged an emotional Carrasco, who was activated before the game following several minor league rehab outings.

"He told me, 'Welcome back, Cookie,'" Carrasco said. "'This is you. This is you right here. We are behind you. Just go and throw the ball.'"

Normally a starter, Carrasco is expected to pitch in relief for the Indians as they chase a playoff spot down the stretch. He worked one inning and gave up two hits, including Travis d'Arnaud's run-scoring single.

"It was a lot to think about," Carrasco said. "I was trying to hold the game right there, but in the end, I gave up one run. But I'm healthy, and it was go to the next pitch and go from there."

Lindor gave Carrasco the game ball from the third out of the seventh, a grounder by Joey Wendle, as the Indians headed off the field.

"Certainly, you saw the respect and the admiration that his teammates have for him," said Rays manager Kevin Cash, a former Cleveland coach. "Anytime you deal with a guy that has an illness and is able to recover and get back on the field like that, it's pretty special."

TORONTO -- Justin Verlander took the mound for the ninth inning, fully aware of the no-hitters he finished -- and his near misses, too.

Zeroed in, he wouldn't be denied this time.

Verlander pitched his third career no-hitter, punctuating a dominant season by striking out 14 to lead the Houston Astros past the Toronto Blue Jays 2-0 on Sunday.

Verlander became just the sixth pitcher to throw at least three no-hitters in the majors, an elite club that includes the likes of Nolan Ryan, Sandy Koufax and Cy Young.

"It means a lot," Verlander said. "I'd be lying if I said I didn't know that. I've come so close. Since I've had two, I think I've blown two in the ninth and another couple in the eighth."

"I was definitely aware of the history aspect of it. Definitely a big hurdle to get over and a very special moment for me," he said.

Verlander (17-5) is the first pitcher to throw two no-hitters as a visitor in the same park -- he also threw one at Rogers Centre in 2011 with Detroit. His other no-no was in 2007 for the Tigers against Milwaukee.

"I guess I have to like this mound a lot now," Verlander joked.

Verlander allowed only one runner, with Cavan Biggio drawing a one-out walk in the first inning. The Blue Jays, with a lineup full of young, aggressive batters, never came close to a hit.

But Verlander's third career no-no came only after a series of close calls.

Verlander lost a no-hit try in the eighth inning late in 2011, had bids broken in the ninth in 2012 and 2015 and had another attempt spoiled last May in the seventh by Jose Abreu of the White Sox.

"I had memories of blowing a few in the past in the 9th inning, so I'd be lying if I said I wasn't thinking about that," Verlander said. "...I think my fastball had been good all day, it had really good life on it. My slider was a little bit inconsistent, so I think I would have kicked myself in the butt a little bit had I gotten beat on a bad one. Just kind of leaned on the fastball the last inning, I was able to get some outs."

Verlander's wife, model Kate Upton, is currently attending the Venice Film Festival, where she tweeted out a message of congratulations.

"She was the first one I called," Verlander said. "She was actually up very late watching the whole thing, so that's awesome."

Verlander threw a season-high 120 pitches, mixing a fastball that reached the upper 90s mph with a sharp curve.

The right-hander retired the last 26 hitters in a row. But he still needed help because the game was scoreless going into the last inning -- according to baseball rules, Verlander had to pitch a complete game to get credit for a no-hitter.

That's when Canadian-born rookie Abraham Toro stepped up for the AL West leaders. The Astros newcomer hit a two-out, two-run homer in the ninth inning off Ken Giles (2-3) that cleared the way for Verlander to complete the no-hitter.

"The whole dugout was going crazy because everybody knew what was one the line," Toro said.

Toro made a routine play on Bo Bichette's grounder to third base for the last out. Verlander joked the 22-year-old Toro, playing just his eighth game in the majors, was in for quite a nice reward.

"I could not be happier for that kid," said Verlander, who sought out Toro for an on-field hug after the game. "Just an incredible moment for him, from Canada, able to do that and then get the last out as well. Such a special moment and I'm happy I'm able to celebrate with him."

Said Bichette: "I honestly thought I was going to get him, but then he made a really good pitch."

"He is who is for a reason," Bichette said.

Only one Toronto player hit a ball harder than 100 miles per hour off the bat.

Billy McKinney sent a grounder that first baseman Aledmys Diaz, playing an unfamiliar position in place of the injured Yuli Gurriel, stopped in the fifth. Diaz fed Verlander to end the inning.

"I think every no-hitter needs something to go your way," Verlander said. "That was a pretty poor pitch that was hit pretty hard, fortunately on the ground, and AD over there is a great athlete and was able to knock it down and make a great play."

Just two other pitchers have no-hit the same team more than once. Cleveland's Addie Joss did it to the White Sox in 1908 and 1910, while San Francisco's Tim Lincecum held San Diego hitless in 2013 and 2014.

This was the fourth no-hitter in the majors this year. The last one was by the Astros, a combined effort from Aaron Sanchez, Will Harris, Joe Biagini and Chris Devenski against Seattle on Aug. 3. Sanchez and Biagini did it in their first game since being acquired in a trade with Toronto.

Oakland's Mike Fiers and a tandem effort by Taylor Cole and Felix Pena of the Angels accounted for this year's other gems.

Verlander is tied for the big league lead in wins. The eight-time All-Star and former AL MVP and Cy Young Award winner tops the majors in strikeouts (257) and innings (193) and leads the AL with a 2.56 ERA.

With the crowd of 24,104 getting to its feet to begin the ninth, Verlander retired Brandon Drury on an easy grounder and struck out Reese McGuire.

After that second out, catcher Robinson Chirinos went to the mound for a quick visit with Verlander. The count went full on Bichette, who fouled off a pitch before hitting a bouncer to Toro.

Verlander took a couple hops toward first as he watched Toro field the ball, saw the throw on target and then began the celebration in the middle of the diamond.

Not bad for an ace who was ejected in his previous start. Verlander was tossed last Tuesday at home shortly after a close pitch didn't go his way against Tampa Bay.

It was Verlander's ninth career shutout and first this season. This was the 13th no-hitter for the Astros, including one by Ryan.

The Blue Jays were no-hit for the sixth time. Before Sunday, the last to do it was Seattle's James Paxton, who became the first Canadian pitcher to throw a big league no-hitter north of the border when he beat the Blue Jays on May 8, 2018.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.