Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Radio New Zealand

Black Caps captain Michael Bracewell says he didn’t expect to play one game for New Zealand, let alone bring up his 100th ODI wearing the silver fern.

Bracewell leads a depleted touring side hoping to seal its first-ever one-day series in India in the third and final match at Indore on Sunday NZT.

“For a long time, I never thought I’d play once, so to be standing here on the eve of 100 games is pretty special,” he said.

Ten years after making his first-class debut, Bracewell was a late starter to international cricket at the age of 31, handed his first one-day cap against the Netherlands in 2022.

“Every one of those games has been a significant achievement, I think, and certainly one that I go out and play with a lot of pride.”

Bracewell, now 34, admitted his international career had unfolded unexpectedly, especially the extent to which he has become a regular bowling option for New Zealand.

“Each format has its unique challenges and I think probably one thing I wasn’t expecting as I was younger was the bowling opportunities that I’ve had.

“It’s something that I’ve really enjoyed, being able to try and work up my game, and understand how to bowl in different conditions.”

He said his career had been shaped by patience and perseverance.

“Each different format offers hugely different challenges. I think that’s something that I’m really proud of, trying to adjust and being effective in different formats in different conditions around the world.”

Being entrusted with the ODI captaincy had also been a source of pride. New Zealand has visited India on 16 different tours for ODI cricket, including four World Cups, but a series triumph has so far eluded them.

In the current three-match one-day series, the hosts claimed the opening game at Vadodara, but New Zealand came back in the second match at Rajkot to win by seven wickets to draw level.

Daryl Mitchell helped set up the win, scoring 131 not out off 117 balls, as the Black Caps also sealed their highest ODI chase of 286 on Indian soil.

Bracewell said the team was aware of the opportunity ahead of them to create more cricketing history.

“It’s a unique opportunity with the series on the line, and hopefully, we can do the little things well and see where we end up.”

“What we’ve done well this series is concentrate on the things that we can control.”

“In both games we’ve stayed in the games for long periods, so hopefully, we can repeat that process and come out on the right side of the result.”

The game starts at 9pm Sunday NZT.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Late goals from teenagers Zoe Benson and Pia Vlok have secured Wellington Phoenix a 2-nil victory over second-placed Canberra United FC, in a round 13 A-League clash.

Benson, 19, broke the deadlock four minutes from time on Saturday at McKellar Park, shortly after she came off the bench, while Vlok, 17, scored a sensational second deep in added time to seal the three points.

The result on Saturday moves Wellington up to seventh on the ladder.

The hosts played the entirety of the second half with just 10 players after having a player sent off in first half stoppage time, and Phoenix head coach Bev Priestman says they had to be patient.

“Pia’s been outstanding all season and Zoe all week has looked like she could score,” Priestman said.

“She did exactly what I asked of her from the moment she went on the pitch and I’m delighted for her.

“This club is big on promoting young players and if they’re good enough they’re old enough and I’m delighted for them to go and deliver.”

The Wellington Phoenix return home today, then have a full week to prepare to face Adelaide United at Porirua Park on Sunday 25 January.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Kiwi snowboarder Campbell Melville Ives has showcased a new triple jump sequence to secure silver in the halfpipe at the latest FIS World Cup in Switzerland.

The Winter Olympic-bound teen’s career-best run secured second place at the Laax Open, behind Australian winner Scotty James.

As rider after rider fell, the 19-year-old Wanaka athlete held his nerve during his two-triple run to score an impressive 91.00 mark from the the judges on run two.

The Kiwi moved to the top of the leaderboard, until four-time Olympian James achieved a mark of 98.75 to claim his fifth World Cup halfpipe victory.

James executed a triple cord and new switch backside on his second run for the top score. Fellow Aussie Valentino Guseli was third with 80.25.

On the way to his first World Cup podium, Melville Ives – twin brother of world freeski champion Finley Melville Ives – became the first athlete to land back-to-back triples in competition.

“The first run, I made a mistake early, when I hit a wrong edge and ran out of pipe at the end,” he said. “On the second run, I adjusted the trick into a single.

“I’ve been riding that pipe for so many years, so I just relaxed into the feeling of when it’s warm and sunny there, and that helped with the nerves.”

Coach Mitch Brown said landing back-to-back triple jumps in competition was a remarkable achievement.

“It’s the first time he’s landed that sequence and the first time an athlete has landed back-to-back triples in a competition, so we’re super proud of him, and he executed it with so much style and swagger,” Brown said.

“He’s been working so hard over a long period of time and was incredibly brave in firm night-time conditions to send it as hard as he did.”

Melville Ives next competes at the X-Games in Aspen in his build-up to next month’s Winter Olympics at Milano Cortina, Italy.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

NZ Breakers NBL season is still alive, after they beat Cairns Taipans 104-86 in their latest match.

The win was their second in a row and was largely built on a dominant performance from Sam Mennenga, who finished with 28 points and five rebounds.

The team now have a 10-15 record and remain in touch with the top six.

The Breakers started strongly to lead 26-21 at the end of the first quarter and, although the Taipans piled in 30 points in the second quarter, the Breakers weren’t rattled, as they still managed to lead at the half 55-51.

They then pushed out to a double-figure lead in the third term with a run of nine straight points, which set them on the path to the 18-point win.

Other strong contributors for the Breakers were Izaiah Brockington who scored 24 points, while Parker Jackson-Cartwright had 17 points, 10 assists and five steals, and ‘Next Star’ Karim Lopez 16 points and 11 rebounds.

Cairns coach Adam Forde was ejected, left fuming and baffled all season long about the lack of calls point guard Andrew Andrews has been getting.

That all spilled over midway through the second quarter, with another no-call, when Andrews took a hit to his head. Forde made his feelings known to the officials and he was sent packing.

Tall Blacks guard Mojave King had a strong game for the Taipans, finishing with 19 points.

The Breakers will now attempt to chase down sixth-placed Tasmania JackJumpers (12-13) with their next game at South East Melbourne on Wednesday.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Auckland FC has decisively won the first-ever North v South Kiwi derby in the new Oceania Football Confederation Pro League (OFC), following a clinical 3-0 victory over South Island United.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Outspoken Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus has taken to social media to address rumours of Tony Brown’s links to the now vacant All Black coaching role.

Erasmus posted an AI-generated video of Brown, who is currently attack coach for the world champion Springboks, stating that ‘I’m not f…ing leaving’.

The video replaced Brown’s face and voice over the top of a scene from The Wolf Of Wall Street, in which Leonardo DiCaprio’s character Jordan Belfort makes the statement during a passionate address to his employees.

Brown’s name has immediately been brought up as a potential replacement for Scott Robertson, who was sensationally fired on Thursday after two seasons in charge of the All Blacks.

It’s widely believed Brown would reunite with long time coaching partner Jamie Joseph to take over, as the side prepares for a full tour of South Africa in August/September.

However, Erasmus’ post seems to have poured cold water on that notion. Brown has been instrumental in the Springboks’ recent dominance of world rugby, which included a record win over the All Blacks in Wellington last year.

Erasmus was frequently active on social media, gaining notoriety in 2021 for using it to pass judgement on officials during that year’s British & Irish Lions series in South Africa.

More recently, he posted a video appearing to be suffering the effects of a night of celebrations after the Springboks retained the Rugby Championship after defeating Argentina.

While this appeared to rule Brown out of the running, NZ Rugby were expected to name Robertson’s replacement in coming weeks. Joseph still remained the frontrunner, especially since it’s rumoured the Highlanders were actively looking for a new coach.

Other names to have been linked are Joe Schmidt and Dave Rennie, although Schmidt was contracted to coach the Wallabies until the end of their July test matches.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand