Reuters Sports Schedule at 0001 GMT on Sunday, March 26
Reuters sports schedule at 0001 GMT on Sunday:
SOCCER
World Cup qualifying (1945 unless stated)
Azerbaijan v Germany (1600)
San Marino v Czech Republic (1600)
Northern Ireland v Norway (1845)
Armenia v Kazakhstan (1600)
Montenegro v Poland (1845)
England bid to increase lead with victory over Lithuania
LONDON - England, two points clear at the top of Group F, will be captained by goalkeeper Joe Hart as they seek to increase their lead with victory over Lithuania at Wembley. (SOCCER-WORLDCUP-ENG-LIT/ (PIX) expect by 1800 GMT/2 PM ET, by Martyn Herman, 400 words)
We will also carry short match reports on selected matches.
MOTOR RACING
Australian Formula One Grand Prix, Melbourne (0500)
Hamilton on pole at Albert Park
MELBOURNE - Briton Lewis Hamilton will hope to fend off the challenge of Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel and win the season-opener for Mercedes. (MOTOR-F1-AUSTRALIA/ (PIX), expect by 0700 GMT/3 AM ET, by Ian Ransom, 500 words)
CRICKET
India v Australia, 4th test (to 29)
India plot strong reply to Australia's 300
DHARAMSALA - Having restricted Australia to 300 in their first innings, India will hope to mount a strong reply when openers Murali Vijay and Lokesh Rahul resume what could be a decisive second day in the contest. The four-test series is level at 1-1. (CRICKET-INDIA/(PIX), expect from 0630 GMT/2:30 AM ET, by Amlan Chakraborty, 450 words)
New Zealand v South Africa, third test (to 29)
South Africa resume after rain disrupted first day
WELLINGTON - South Africa captain Faf du Plessis resumed his partnership with Temba Bavuma as the visitors restarted their innings on 123 for four after rain washed out most of the first day's play of the third test against New Zealand. (CRICKET-NEWZEALAND/, expect by 0015 GMT/8:15 PM ET, 400 words)
TENNIS
ATP/WTA: Miami Open (to 2)
Federer moves on in Miami
Roger Federer continued his impressive 2017 campaign with a straight-sets, second-round victory at the Miami Open in Florida on Saturday. (TENNIS-MIAMI/MEN (TV), moved with updates to follow, 400 words)
Pliskova takes on Putintseva
Second seed Karolina Pliskova faces Yulia Putintseva in a third-round match. (TENNIS-MIAMI/WOMEN (TV), expect by 0300 GMT/11 PM ET, 400 words)
GOLF
PGA Tour: WGC-Dell Match Play, Austin (to 26)
Johnson stays on track at Match Play
World number one Dustin Johnson stayed on track to become the first player to win all four World Golf Championships events when he advanced to the semi-finals at the WGC-Dell Match Play in Texas on Saturday. (GOLF-MATCHPLAY/ (TV), moved, 400 words)
PGA Tour: Puerto Rico Open (to 26)
Stroud looks to seal the deal in Puerto Rico
Chris Stroud took a one-stroke lead after the third round at the Puerto Rico Open on Saturday, declaring it was time to win a PGA Tour event. (GOLF-PUERTORICO/, moved, 200 words)
CYCLING
Valverde defends lead in final stage
BARCELONA - Spaniard Alejandro Valverde defends his 53-second lead over compatriot Alberto Contador on the final stage. (CYCLING-CATALONIA/, expect by 1630 GMT/12:30 PM ET, 200 words)
ATHLETICS
World cross country championships
KAMPALA - Kenya and their east African middle and long-distance running rivals Ethiopia will come face-to-face again at the 42nd world championships in the Ugandan capital Kampala. (ATHLETICS-WORLD/CROSSCOUNTRY (PIX), expect by 1530 GMT/11:30 AM ET, 300 words)
MOTORCYCLING
Qatar MotoGP season-opener
Vinales on pole for Yamaha, champion Marquez starts third
Spaniard Maverick Vinales starts on pole position on his Yamaha debut, with Honda's triple world champion Marc Marquez also on the front row and hoping for better weather after Saturday's storms that swept the Losail circuit. (MOTOR-MOTOGP-QATAR/ (TV), expect by 2000 GMT/4 PM ET, 300 words
NBA
Cavs try to stay atop the East
The LeBron James-led Cleveland Cavaliers (46-24), back home after a three-game western swing, try to increase their tenuous lead in the East when they play the Washington Wizards in one of four games on the National Basketball Association schedule. (BASKETBALL-NBA-HIGHLIGHTS/, expect by 0530 GMT/1:30 AM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 800 words)
NHL
Blues and Flames tune up for playoffs
The 40-28-5 St. Louis Blues, winners of four straight, meet the Calgary Flames (41-29-4) in a contest between two seemingly playoff-bound teams, one of 12 games on the National Hockey League schedule. (ICEHOCKEY-NHL-HIGHLIGHTS/, expect by 0530 GMT/1:30 AM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 400 words)
NORTH AMERICAN SPORTS
Roundups of off-field developments in the major North American professional sports leagues. (expect by 0000 GMT/8 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 500 words)
(Asia desk editor: Peter Rutherford)
