Category: Sport

Source: Radio New Zealand

Black Caps match-winner Daryl Mitchell concedes he’s at the peak of his powers and finally feels “comfortable about how I go about my batting” in international cricket.

Mitchell unfurled another match-winning knock in the second ODI win by seven wickets over India in Rajkot, his unbeaten 131 continuing a majestic run of form in the 50-over format.

The 34-year-old has scored 936 runs at an average of 72.0 over his last 16 ODI innings, often steering New Zealand home or providing an important boost in setting a target.

His latest innings may well be enough to propel him from second to first in the format’s ICC batting rankings, lifting him ahead of Indian talisman Virat Kohli.

Mitchell’s brilliantly paced 117-ball knock was his eighth ton, but more importantly to him, it was at the heart of a Black Caps win as they completed their highest successful chase in an ODI in India.

“I just love playing for my country. I love travelling the world and playing international cricket and I’m lucky to do that across all three formats,” he said.

“My job’s to help us win games of cricket and I was able to do that tonight.”

Mitchell’s knock exemplified why he has thrived of late, helping New Zealand recover from 46-2, putting on 162 for the third wicket with Will Young (87) before swinging momentum by targeting India’s key spinner Kuldeep Yadav.

Ranked the world’s premier ODI bowler, Yadav leaked 82 runs from his 10 overs, unable to contain Mitchell’s guile.

“As New Zealanders, we don’t grow up on these surfaces. We grow up on bouncy, grassy wickets and the nature of playing international cricket is you have to find ways all around the world,” Mitchell said.

“For me, it’s been a learning process over several years now. I’m comfortable with how I want to go about my batting in these conditions and trying to find ways to put the bowlers under pressure.

“Whether that’s using your feet, sweep, using the crease – there are different ways to put pressure on them.

“The likes of Kuldeep and Ravi Jadeja, who are accurate and bowl so well, you keep finding ways to put pressure on them.

“It’s constantly adapting to what the surface is dictating. I guess today the surface was a lot lower and slower so it was a lot easier to go square, rather than down the ground, at times.

“It’s about being smart with your boundary options.

Mitchell accelerated to finish with 11 fours and two sixes, and was still at the crease when victory was achieved with 15 balls to spare.

He fell three runs short of his highest ODI score – achieved in India two years ago – and lifted his career average to a remarkable 56.73, the second-highest figure behind Kohli’s 58.45 among all batsmen to have played 50 or more ODIs.

The series is 1-1 ahead of the third and final game in Indore on Sunday, where Mitchell and his team will target a first ever ODI series win in India.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Scott “Razor” Robertson, only a few years ago hailed as the future of All Black rugby after taking the Crusaders to multiple Super Rugby championships, could be about to be dumped as All Black coach, according to several media.

1News is reporting NZ Rugby is expected to confirm today that Robertson will be dropped two years into his four year term.

The Irish Independent is reporting that the All Blacks will be plunged into “unprecedented turmoil” with Robertson about to depart his job.

The speculation is so far unconfirmed.

RNZ is contacting NZ Rugby about the rumours but has yet to receive a response.

There has been mounting speculation after an internal report into the 2025 All Black games found dissatisfaction among senior players.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Follow all the action as the Black Caps take on India for the second one-day international in Rajkot.

Virat Kohli hit 93 to help India chase down 301 in a tense four-wicket win over New Zealand in the first ODI on Sunday night (NZT).

First ball at Niranjan Shah Stadium is at 9pm 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

This week Wellington is hosting an international tournament for a sport many have never heard of.

Floorball is particularly popular in Scandanavian countries, but it’s beginning to pick up in popularity here too.

This week, the Asia-Oceania qualifier for the 2026 Men’s World Floorball Championships are being held at the Ākau Tangi Sports Centre in Wellington.

The International Floorball Federation said Asia-Oceania is now its fastest growing region.

But what exactly is floorball?

Vice president of Floorball New Zealand Dan Coup describes it as ice hockey without the ice.

“The rules are similar in a lot of ways, a lot less contact and no ice and no skates, but … similar size rink and same size goals and same number of players,” he said.

“You’ve got a stick each – it’s a much lighter weight stick than an ice hockey stick – and you’ve got a small lightweight ball instead of a puck and you’re trying to get it in the goal at the other end of the court.”

He said bringing an event of this kind of profile to Wellington really helped with growing the sport here.

“It’s both great for Floorball New Zealand to have the kind of the prestige of welcoming nine other countries to our event, but it’s also a great advertisement for the young people here to see where you could go if you stick with your floorball.”

But being a new sport does come with challenges. A big one, Coup said, was a lack of funding.

He said hosting a tournament like this relied almost entirely on volunteer labour.

“We’ve had some very generous sponsors that have come in to partner with us on the tournament, and we’re incredibly grateful for them,” he said.

“Also, the local council has supplied us a lot of facility as in-kind for the tournament, so that’s brilliant.”

But when teams went overseas, he said that was generally completely self-funded and an incredibly expensive enterprise.

Cameron Fitzgerald Little, a player on New Zealand’s men’s team, said interest in floorball had increased tenfold since he started.

“It’s bigger than it’s ever been, especially with this wonderful tournament. This is the biggest tournament Floorball New Zealand’s hosted before, so this is a really special tournament for us.”

He’s encouraging people to give the sport a go and said it’s open to all ages and experience levels.

“We’re a really welcoming, inviting community. We really want to try and grow the sport. So come on down and give it a go. We’d love to see you there.”

Georgia Kibblewhite is helping organise the tournament and looking after the volunteers.

She’s been playing floorball for about 14 years.

She said she’s excited by how many teams they have and the exposure the event provided.

International Floorball Federation event manager Sarah Mitchell said with the growth in the Asia Oceania region they will be looking to have some more events to continue to help its development.

“This is a really important region and New Zealand actually plays a really important role here with the Pacific countries and the island countries in particular.”

“For example, with Solomon Islands, they’ve been really supportive of helping with their development, and whether that’s with expertise or with equipment, that’s a really important role that we rely on the developed countries to then help the smaller countries.”

The last day of the tournament is Monday. Tickets are available on Floorball New Zealand’s website.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Follow all the action as the Black Caps take on India for the second one-day international in Rajkot.

Virat Kohli hit 93 to help India chase down 301 in a tense four-wicket win over New Zealand in the first ODI on Sunday night (NZT).

First ball at Niranjan Shah Stadium is at 9pm 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

Local favourite and fifth seed Cam Norrie is out of the ASB Classic after losing 6-4 3-6 7-6 to Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.

Big serving Perricard is continuing his impressive run at the tournament, with his latest victory featuring 25 aces.

Norrie, who lived in Auckland from when he was three, until he was 16, now represents Great Britain, but gets well supported in his ‘hometown’ tournament.

Norrie took the first set 6-4, before Perricard fought back to take the second set 6-3.

Norrie had a match point at 5-4 in the third set, but couldn’t take advantage as he sent a backhand well wide, keeping Perricard alive in the match.

The deciding set was even until the tiebreak, where Perricard quickly found himself up 6-1. Norrie saved three match points, before Perricard fittingly finished the match with a booming ace down the centre.

Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, Perricard said it was a very tough match.

“It was intense at the end. I’m happy to win this one, it was a real fight, he’s [Norrie] a true fighter.”

Perricard will now face the winner of Hamad Medjedovic or Jakub Mensik in Thursday’s quarterfinal.

Earlier, American top seed Ben Shelton impressed in his victory over Argentina’s Francisco Comesana.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

The Auckland Aces won the top-of-the-table T20 Super Smash game over the Canterbury Kings by nine wickets on Wednesday.

The Kings set the hosts a total of 133 to chase for victory at Eden Park Outer Oval.

Auckland batter Bevon Jacobs was chasing a record sixth consecutive half century but he didn’t get a chance to bat as the Aces opener Dale Phillips guided the team home with an unbeaten 55.

Former Black Cap Martin Guptill also smashed 39 runs off 15 balls as the Aces won with nearly half an innings to spare.

Earlier all five Aces bowlers used took at least one wicket each as they dismissed the Kings with the last ball of the innings.

The Aces are four points clear of the Kings and Northern Brave on the men’s Super Smash table.

Follow the action as it happened in the blog:

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

After more than a year out of action, Israel Adesanya will make his return to the UFC Octagon when he takes on number 15-ranked Joe Pyfer in Seattle.

‘The Last Stylebender’ – currently ranked at number 6 – will be seeking his first win since his epic knockout of Alex Pereira at UFC 287 in 2023.

The Kiwi mixed martial artist’s last fight, against Nassourdine Imavov in February last year, ended in a second-round TKO.

Just 30 seconds in, Imavov cracked 36-year-old Adesanya on the chin, and then followed up with a clean left uppercut and a barrage on the ground to decisively finish the former champion.

Adesanya appeared to have taken a glancing blow to the groin and temporarily paused, before waving off the referee.

Immediately after the resumption, ‘the Sniper’ fired his shot and in an instant, it looked as though one of the greatest UFC careers was over.

Pyfer, an alumnus of Dana White’s 2022 Contender Series, will be hoping this fight is what allows him to break into the middleweight division’s elite.

The 29-year-old has a 6-1 record in the UFC – his only loss a unanimous decision defeat to Jack Hermansson.

UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs Pyfer takes place on March 29 NZT at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Such is the draw of top seed American Ben Shelton that fans flocked to centre court and packed the house before midday at the ASB Classic in Auckland.

Despite the early start, the atmosphere was electric as Shelton advanced to the quarter finals with a straight sets win over Argentina’s Francisco Comesana 7-5, 6-4.

“Being the first match of the day, I wasn’t sure if it was going to be half empty. But it was pretty much packed. And that’s one of the great things about playing here, why I love playing here and why I keep coming back every year,” Shelton said following the win.

He admitted the match was much closer than the scoreline would suggest.

“It wasn’t perfect. I didn’t expect it to be. But I thought I competed well and I got better as the match went on. It wasn’t straightforward, but I’m just happy to be out there competing and figuring things out.”

Shelton wore his emotions on his sleeve while on court, as he let out several roars after winning key points which translates to his playing style.

“I think that at times last year I was almost too passive. Aggressive tennis wins here and wins in Australia. I know that for sure. That means coming to net, taking the ball early, taking time away, and that’s what I was focusing on.”

He admitted there was plenty to work on ahead of tomorrow’s quarter.

“Tennis is a game of very, very small margins and some days that’s not going to go my way. Today it did. And I’m just happy that I have the opportunity now to improve on some things.”

Shelton said he was proud of the fight he showed as managed to save three set points with Comesana coming out firing.

“I feel like I’m evolving really well, doing a lot of stuff well at the net and I want to utilise that, take advantage of it, and put pressure on the other guys.”

Also through to the top eight is American Marcos Giron, who upset sixth seed and compatriot Alex Michelsen in straight sets 6-4, 6-4.

Britain’s Cam Norrie is also in action today as he meets Fenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard while sixth seed Nuno Borges will play Eliot Spizzirri.

The evening session will see second seed Casper Ruud meet Fábián Marozsán, while in the final match of the day, Hamad Medjedovic takes on Jakub Menšík.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

The Auckland Aces take on the Canterbury Kings in the T20 cricket Super Smash at Eden Park outer oval in Auckland.

First ball is at 12.40pm.

Squads

Auckland Aces: Sean Solia, Cam Fletcher (WK), Adithya Ashok, Rohit Gulati, Martin Guptill, Ryan Harrison, Harjot Johal, Bevon-John Jacobs, Simon Keene, Angus Olliver, Dale Phillips and Lachlan Stackpole.

Canterbury Kings: Cole McConchie, Mitchell Hay (WK), Tom Latham (WK), Matt Boyle, Henry Nicholls, Chad Bowes, Kyle Jamieson, Leo Carter, Cameron Paul, Ish Sodhi, Sean Davey and Fraser Sheat.

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