"It's only good for women's cricket if more and more teams are playing against the top teams and improving. There have been a lot more close games at this World Cup, no matter who you are, and the likes of Bangladesh have really contributed to that"

Tammy Beaumont

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia -- This weekend's Saudi Arabian Grand Prix is expected to go ahead as planned despite Formula One drivers raising concerns about a missile attack on a nearby oil facility Friday afternoon.

Talks between drivers, team bosses and F1 executives over the security of the event continued until 2.30 a.m. on Saturday before team principals emerged from a meeting with F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali and confirmed the race would go ahead.

The safety of the event was called into question after an Aramco oil depot 10 kilometers east of the circuit was hit by a missile attack on Friday afternoon.

A military spokesperson for Yemen's Houthis, which have been battling a coalition led by Saudi Arabia for seven years, claimed responsibility for the attack on the facility, which is owned by F1 sponsor Aramco.

The drivers had been considering boycotting the event but were talked out of it in the early hours of Saturday morning.

The facility remained in flames throughout the night, with a large plume of smoke still visible from several miles away on Saturday morning.

Saudi Arabian authorities stated there were no casualties as a result of the attacks.

In a statement at noon on Saturday, over eight hours after the drivers had been persuaded not to boycott the event the night before, F1 confirmed the race would go ahead.

"Formula One and the FIA can confirm that following discussions with all the teams and drivers, the 2022 FIA Formula One Saudi Arabian Grand Prix will continue as scheduled," the statement read.

"Following the widely reported incident that took place in Jeddah on Friday, there has been extensive discussion between all stakeholders, the Saudi government authorities and security agencies who have given full and detailed assurances that the event is secure.

"It has been agreed with all stakeholders to maintain a clear and open dialogue throughout the event and for the future."

A number of drivers initially raised their concerns about the situation ahead of the second practice session, leading Domenicali to hastily arrange a meeting that delayed the start of the session by 15 minutes.

F1's CEO attempted to reassure drivers of the security of the event before all 20 returned to their cars to take part in the hour-long track session.

After practice finished, a second meeting was held with Domenicali, FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, team bosses and drivers in F1's hospitality suite at the circuit.

It lasted roughly 40 minutes before Domenicali and Ben Sulayem emerged and announced the race would go ahead following security assurances from the Saudi Arabian government, which also pays the hosting fee for the race.

"We have received total assurance that the country's safety is first," Domenicali told reporters after the initial meeting with drivers and team bosses. "No matter what is the situation, safety has to be guaranteed.

"They [Saudi officials] are here with their families actually here at the track. So they have in place all the systems to protect this area, the city, the places where we are going.

"So we feel confident and we have to trust the local authority in that respect. Therefore, of course we will go ahead with the event."

Ben Sulayem added: "We had meetings with high-level security and then we had meetings of course with the team principals, we had meetings with the drivers.

"Who are [the Houthis] targeting? They are targeting the infrastructure, the economic infrastructure, not the civilians and of course not at the track.

"We checked the facts from them and we have the assurance from high level that this is a secure place, the whole thing will be secure and let's go on racing.

"For sure all the families are here. We are only looking forward but with an assurance that nothing is going to happen."

When asked if the drivers were in agreement with the decision, Domenicali added: "They will be on track".

After Domenicali's statement, the drivers remained in F1's hospitality suite for a further three hours. Initially, they took part in their usual Friday briefing with FIA race director Niels Wittich but stayed on after to discuss the missile attacks and the safety of the event.

They were visited by Domenicali and F1 managing director Ross Brawn, who then left for their offices in the race control building. Team principals were summoned to Domenicali's office around 1.30 a.m. but stopped by at the drivers' hospitality suite amid growing talks of a boycott.

After over four hours in total, the drivers left their room, with Mercedes' George Russell, who is the director of the Grand Prix Drivers Association, joining the meeting between Domenicali and the team bosses in the race control building.

Shortly after entering the building, Russell and the team principals returned to the paddock where several team bosses confirmed to media that the race would go ahead.

Speaking earlier in the day, Red Bull boss Christian Horner said he agreed with the decision to race on.

"I think the sport has to stand together collectively," Horner said. "Any act of terrorism cannot be condoned. The sport shouldn't be bullied into a position that a situation like that just isn't acceptable.

"Stefano and the president, they're dealing with it. There's been all the assurances from the organisers and we'll be going racing."

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff added: "[The F1 circuit] is probably the safest place that you can be in Saudi Arabia at the moment."

The promoter of the race, the Saudi Motorsport Company (SMC), confirmed the attack and said security had been raised to match the threat posed by the events

"We are aware of the attack on the Aramco distribution station in Jeddah earlier this afternoon," the SMC statement said.

"The race organisers remain in direct contact with the Saudi security authorities, as well as F1 and the FIA to ensure all necessary security and safety measures continue to be implemented to guarantee the safety of all visitors to the Formula One stc Saudi Arabian Grand Prix as well as all drivers, teams and stakeholders.

"The race weekend schedule will continue as planned. The safety and security of all our guests continues to be our main priority and we look forward to welcoming fans for a weekend of premium racing and entertainment."

Poland's Iga Swiatek says becoming world number one is "surreal" after a second-round win in Miami means she will take the mantle from Ashleigh Barty, who has retired from the sport.

She had been world number one for 114 consecutive weeks.

Swiatek, 20, is the first Polish player to sit at the top of the rankings.

"The thing is, I never really imagined that moment because, truth to be told, I was working day-by-day and playing tennis well," Swiatek said.

"But I never had the strong belief that it can actually happen. So, it's even more surreal for me."

After winning the Indian Wells title last week - which took her to number two in the world - Swiatek extended her career-best 12-match winning streak with a 6-2 6-0 win against Viktorija Golubic of Switzerland in the Miami Open.

The victory guaranteed Swiatek, who burst to prominence by winning the 2020 French Open, would take over from Barty when the new ranking is released on April 4.

Speaking about the prospect of Swiatek becoming number one following her retirement, Barty said: "If it is Iga, there is no better person. She's an incredible person, a great player. The way she's brought this fresh, fearless energy on to the court has been incredible.

"She thoroughly deserves it. I hope she can take it and still be her, do it her own way, and really chase what she's after in her career and her dreams."

Earlier on Friday, Czech 16-year-old Linda Fruhvirtova, ranked 279, secured her place in the third round in Miami after beating world number 24 Elise Mertens.

American Coco Gauff and the Czech Republic's two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova also progressed with comfortable wins.

Cameron Norrie came out on top in an all-British meeting against Jack Draper to reach the Miami Open third round.

Norrie will face France's Hugo Gaston next as he bids to reach the fourth round for the first time.

"I had a little bit of nerves - I was a big favourite against a young Brit. I'm excited to see how he's going to do in the future," Norrie told Amazon Prime.

The two last met at Queens in July, where Norrie also won in straight sets.

However, Draper, who struggled with heat exhaustion at last year's Miami Open, has won three titles on the Challenger tour this season and registered a first-round win over veteran Gilles Simon.

The 20-year-old fought back from a break down in the opening set before Norrie upped his aggression at the net to take it on a tie-break.

Norrie's experience showed in the second as he staved off three break points in his opening service game before breaking Draper at the first chance.

Draper was given a warning for ball abuse after being broken but continued to pressure Norrie's serve, forcing his opponent to save another four break points in the next game.

However, Norrie was able to close out victory to move closer to breaking into the top 10.

"It's not easy against Jack. He's such a big talent and hits the ball big on both sides," Norrie added.

"The court surprised me a little bit as it was very slow out there. I managed to play the bigger points a little bit better than he did and that was the difference in the end."

His next opponent, Gaston, beat 20th seed and 2018 champion John Isner 7-6 (7-5) 6-4.

Nick Kyrgios thrashed world number seven Andrey Rublev 6-3 6-0 in just 52 minutes.

The Australian went 2-1 down in the first set before winning 11 of the next 12 games to race past the Russian.

The ATP said on Friday that Kyrgios had been fined $25,000 for almost hitting a ball boy with a racquet at Indian Wells earlier in March.

Kyrgios smashed his racquet into the court after losing the deciding set in his quarter-final against Rafael Nadal. It narrowly missed a ball boy who had to take evasive action at the back of the court.

The 26-year-old has been fined $20,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct and $5,000 for an audible obscenity.

Last year's finalist and ninth seed Jannik Sinner saved three match points as he came past world number 71 Emil Ruusuvuori 6-4 3-6 7-6 (10-8).

German second seed Alexander Zverev also advanced with a 6-4 3-6 6-3 win over Croatia's Borna Coric, who is making his return after a lengthy injury lay-off.

Munster regained third place in the United Rugby Championship with a comprehensive 51-22 victory over Benetton at Musgrave Park in Cork.

However, a Rhyno Smith try and conversion helped reduce the deficit to 17-10 at the break.

Gavin Coombes, Jack O'Sullivan and Damian de Allende all went over to secure the bonus point for Munster who face leaders Leinster next weekend.

Simon Zebo was impressive for the hosts while Ben Healy was flawless with his kicks.

A fourth straight defeat in the competition sees Benetton remain 12th.

Munster arrived at Musgrave Park in need of a bonus-point victory, having found themselves seven points behind second-placed Ulster with just five games to play.

The province failed to pick up a win in South Africa against either the Bulls or the Lions and face Leinster and Ulster in the next few rounds.

Munster have lost just one of their past 14 fixtures at Musgrave Park and returned to the Cork venue for the first time since February 2020.

Johann van Graan made eight changes from the team that lost to Lions in Johannesburg last weekend with Craig Casey and Gavin Coombes both returning from their stint in the Irish set-up.

Healy converted a seventh-minute penalty to open the scoring as the hosts looked to make it ten straight victories on home soil.

When Matt Gallagher burst through to open up a 10-0 lead it seemed as if their impressive run would continue.

It was Casey who finished off a rapid counter to record Munster's second try on 34 minutes.

The Italian visitors had managed just one away win in eight heading into tonight's game but it was far from one-way traffic as Smith acrobatically stretched for Benetton's first try in first-half stoppage time and the province's lead was cut to just 17-10 heading in at the break.

A long-range penalty from Healy gave Munster breathing space before Zebo charged over and the lead stretched to 17.

Since their last defeat to Benetton at Stadio Comunale di Monigo in 2013, Munster have gone on a dominant 13 game-winning run against the team from Treviso.

But the visitors came roaring back with Giacomo da Re crossing to reduce the lead.

Returning from the Six Nations, Coombes bundled over from a yard to secure a bonus point for the hosts.

Healy's peerless kicking continued and O'Sullivan and De Allende scored as Munster ran out resounding winners.

Callum Braley closed out the scoring with a solo try for Benetton, converted by Andries Coetzee.

Munster: Matt Gallagher; Shane Daly, Damian de Allende, Rory Scannell, Simon Zebo; Ben Healy, Craig Casey; Josh Wycherley, Diarmuid Barron, Stephen Archer; Jean Kleyn, Fineen Wycherley; Jack O'Donoghue (C), John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: Scott Buckley, Jeremy Loughman, Keynan Knox, Jason Jenkins, Jack O'Sullivan, Neil Cronin, Jake Flannery, Chris Farrell.

Benetton: Andries Coetzee; Ratuva Tavuyara, Joaquin Riera, Tommaso Menoncello, Rhyno Smith; Tomas Albornoz, Dewaldt Duvenage (C); Ivan Nemer, Tomas Baravalle, Nahuel Tetaz; Irné Herbst, Carl Wegner; Sebastian Negri, Manuel Zuliani, Toa Halafihi.

Replacements: Matteo Drudi, Federico Zani, Simone Ferrari, Niccolò Cannone, Matteo Meggiato, Callum Braley, Giacomo Da Re, Thomas Benvenuti.

Referee: Craig Evans

Assistant Referees: Eoghan Cross & Stuart Gaffikin

TMO: Eric Gauzin

Lions captain Burger Odendaal inspired the South African side to a bonus-point win against Ospreys at Ellis Park.

Reinhard Nothnagel scored a third try to make it 21-3, although Rhys Webb and Michael Collins crossed to keep Ospreys in the contest up to the hour mark.

But Van den Berg, Manuel Rass, Edwill van der Merwe and Andre Warner all scored late on to secure Lions' win.

Both sides started the contest with high intensity at the break down, each forcing early penalties and turnovers.

Nicky Smith was penalised at the scrum after nine minutes gave but Jordan Hendrikse missed a relatively easy kick at goal.

Lions made amends a minute later though, as captain Odendaal forced missed tackles from Webb and Keiran Williams before offloading to Van den Berg.

He in turn passed wide to Maxwane who raced clear to score the game's first try, with Hendrikse making no mistake with the conversion.

The game continued at a blistering pace, Ospreys picking the ball up on halfway after a Lions knock-on and moving it quickly to Luke Morgan on the left, but he lost possession in the subsequent breakdown.

The Welsh region continued to dominate possession and territory, but struggled to break down the Lions defence, though Josh Thomas did kick Ospreys onto the scoreboard after 30 minutes.

Lions hit back three minutes before half-time, with Odendaal the creator once again.

The centre opened up the Ospreys defence for the second time in the match, and his simple offload to Van den Berg saw the scrum-half run in Lions' second try to make it 14-3.

The South African side started the second half as they finished the first, Hendrikse and Maxwane combining on the right to work themselves deep into Ospreys territory.

The Lions forwards then stepped in to finish the job, Nothnagel crossing over to score the third try of the contest.

Ospreys found a much-needed response, Webb with the quick show-and-go dummy pass to beat the Lions defence and squeeze over from four metres out.

Lions secured the bonus point after 54 minutes, Odendaal and Van der Merwe making hard yards before Wandisile Simelane found a gap to break clear and feed Van den Berg.

Lions replacement Rass gifted Ospreys a second try, as his loose pass was intercepted by the grateful Collins and he ran in unopposed to bring the Welsh region back within two scores.

But Rass' next key contribution was at the right end, the centre collecting the ball from a held-up Simelane on the tryline to dab down a fifth.

As Ospreys legs tired, Lions took full advantage in the wide areas, Van der Merwe beating everyone for pace to score a sixth try before replacement scrum-half Warner took the South African's points total above 40.

Victory is a third in a row for the Lions in the URC, as the South African regions remain unbeaten on home soil against northern hemisphere teams.

Ospreys remain in South Africa for their next match, against DHL Stormers on 2 April.

Lions: Quan Horn; Rabz Maxwane, Wandisile Simelane, Burger Odendaal (capt), Edwill van der Merwe; Jordan Hendrikse, Morne van den Berg; Sti Sithole, Jaco Visagie, Ruan Dreyer, Ruben Schoeman, Reinhard Nothnagel, Vincent Tshituka, Emmanuel Tshituka.

Replacements: PJ Botha, JP Smith, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Ruan Venter, Sibusiso Sangweni, Andre Warner, Manuel Rass, Tiaan Swanepoel

Ospreys: Dan Evans; Keelan Giles, Michael Collins, Keiran Williams, Luke Morgan; Josh Thomas, Rhys Webb (capt); Nicky Smith, Sam Parry, Tom Botha, Rhys Davies, Bradley Davies, Dan Lydiate, Morgan Morris, Ethan Roots.

Replacements: Scott Baldwin, Rhodri Jones, Rhys Henry, Will Griffiths, Harri Deaves, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Tiaan Thomas Wheeler, Cai Evans.

Referee: Ben Blain (SRU)

Assistants: Morne Ferreira & Stephen Geldenhuys (SARU)

TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU)