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The Tauranga Whai have ensured the Auckland Tuatara have started the National Basketball League (NBL) season at 0-3. The Whai came from six points down in the fourth quarter and held on for a 78-76 Sal's NBL victory over the Tuatara at Mount Maunganui's Mercury Baypark Stadium on Tuesday night to improve to 3-1. LATEST HEADLINES: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck out for eight weeks Young Nix 'keeper's major shoulder issues Taranaki send off Dean Robinson in style All Whites qualify for 2026 FIFA World Cup Black Caps add Kelly, Abbas for ODI series American point guard Chris Jones had his best game for the Whai, going for 26 points (8/14 FG, 9/13 FT), nine rebounds, four assists, three steals and a block. Jones scored six points during a 10-2 run in the fourth period as Tauranga went from down 70-64 with 8:03 to play to up two with 2:57 left. The teams traded baskets until former Tall Blacks guard Kruz Perrott-Hunt’s lay-up with 49 seconds remaining proved to be the winning basket. Chris Jones had 26 points and nine rebounds for the Tauranga Whai. PHOTO: NBL/BBALL FILMS NZ Big man Talib Zanna, who played with Kiwi NBA star Steven Adams at the University of Pittsburgh, also put up 15 points (5/8 FG, 5/6 FT) and five rebounds and Australian forward Sean Bairstow 14 points (7/13 FG), eight boards and three assists. Import guard Buay Tuach led the Tuatara with a game-high 31 points (10/19 FG, 3/6 3pt, 8/10 FT), nine boards, five assists, two steals and a block. With the Tuatara still waiting on Tall Blacks Rob Loe and Dan Fotu, and unofficial Australian NBL Finals MVP Davo Hickey to arrive, Tom Vodanovich was the only other double-digit scorer, with 13 points (4/11 FG, 5/6 FT). Up next, the Whai (3-1) head to Takanini to face the winless Indian Panthers (0-3) on Friday (tip-off 7.30pm), while the Tuatara (0-3) are back at home on Sunday (tip-off 6.30pm) to host the Nelson Giants (0-2). In the Sky Broadband Rapid League game, Chris Wyllie and Dylan Wilkie each scored eight points to take the Tuatara to a 34-27 win. Xanda Marsters had 10 points and four boards for the Whai. Tauranga Whai 78 (Chris Jones 26, Talib Zanna 15, Sean Bairstow 14, Carter Hopoi 11) Auckland Tuatara 76 (Buay Tuach 31, Tom Vodanovich 13). 1Q: 23-24, HT: 45-43, 3Q: 64-64

Alby Kelly-Heald has a dislocated shoulder from a training accident PHOTO: LINTOTT PHOTOGRAPHY Wellington Phoenix goalkeeper Alby Kelly-Heald will miss the remainder of the 2024-25 A-League season after a shoulder dislocation. An MRI has since revealed a torn labrum in his left shoulder which requires surgery, cutting short his breakout season. LATEST HEADLINES: Taranaki send off Dean Robinson in style All Whites qualify for 2026 FIFA World Cup Black Caps add Kelly, Abbas for Pakistan ODIs Ravindra guides Super Kings past Mumbai Top-10s for NZ golfers Alker, Kobori, Hodge Kelly-Heald, 20, made eight successive starts from when he made his A-League debut in January and kept two clean sheets. “Obviously I’m very gutted,” Kelly-Heald said. “When you start playing you see yourself continuing to play the rest of the season. You don’t anticipate any big injuries or anything like this. “I’m disappointed I can’t finish the season off with the team, but I’ll be supporting on the sideline.” Kelly-Heald is determined “to come back fitter and stronger” and remains hopeful of returning in time for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile in September and October. “If everything goes perfectly, there are no hiccups and we can get everything done really quickly I think there is a chance. “It’s obviously not a high chance, but I think there’s still a slither. “The rehab process now is strengthening it up until I get surgery and then post-surgery I’ll be looking at something around six months or so. I’ll be aiming for a bit quicker. “Hopefully it's not too tough on the mind as well as it is physically.” Head coach Giancarlo Italiano feels for Kelly-Heald and the team. “I’m disappointed for Alby on a personal note because he’s done a lot of hard work to get the number one spot,” Italiano said. “It’s also disappointing for the team dynamic because since he’s come in he’s given us a lot of security. “But once he’s had surgery he’ll be back in no time and it’s just a small little bump in his career.” Italiano also has faith in Josh Oluwayemi and Dublin Boon to step up in Kelly-Heald’s absence. “We saw Joshy step up against Sydney, which was good. “He was ready for his opportunity and Dubs will do a good job as an understudy.”

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck will be out for possibly eights weeks PHOTO: NRL Warriors star Roger Tuivasa-Sheck could be side-lined for the Warriors for eight weeks with a hamstring strain sustained in the win over the Sydney Roosters last weekend. The former Dally M Medal was injured in the second half before leaving the field at Mt Smart LATEST HEADLINES: Young Nix 'keeper major shoulder issues Taranaki send off Dean Robinson in style All Whites qualify for 2026 FIFA World Cup Black Caps add Kelly, Abbas for Pakistan ODIs Ravindra guides Super Kings past Mumbai . Elsewhere in the squad Rocco Berry returns in the centres, with Adam Pompey moving to the wing for Tuivasa-Sheck for the Warriors' fourth-round NRL encounter with the Wests Tigers at Campbelltown. Berry is recalled to starting lineup for what will be his 44th game after missing the club's last 13 matches following a season-ending shoulder injury in round 15 in June last year. Apart from Berry and Pompey the remaidner of the frontline 17 named is the same as the group used in the opening rounds against Canberra, Manly and the Roosters. There are two changes on the extended bench with hooker Sam Healey back for Freddy Lussick after a week off with injury and Edward Kosi returning. The Tigers have the same 2-1 record this season as the Warriors. They narrowly lost to the Knights in round one before beating the Eels and then the Dolphins. Warriors side to play Tigers: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Taine Tuaupiki, 3. Rocco Berry, 4. Ali Leiataua, 5. Adam Pompey, 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita, 7. Luke Metcalf, 8. James Fisher-Harris (c), 9. Wayde Egan, 10. Mitchell Barnett (c), 11. Kurt Capewell, 12. Marata Niukore, 13. Erin Clark, Interchange: 14. Dylan Walker, 15. Jackson Ford, 16. Demitric Vaimauga, 17. Leka Halasima, Extended bench: 18. Te Maire Martin, 20. Jacob Laban, 21. Sam Healey, 22. Bunty Afoa, 23. Ed Kosi

Retiring Taranaki stalwart Dean Robinson with family after the Hawke Cup defence. PHOTO: TARANAKI CRICKET Taranaki have locked away provincial cricket’s Hawke Cup for the winter at Pukekura Park - the perfect ending for veteran Dean Robinson. The top-order batsman announced his retirement following the match and an unforgettable final season with his team. LATEST HEADLINES: All Whites qualify for 2026 FIFA World Cup Black Caps add Kelly, Abbas for Pakistan ODIs Ravindra guides Super Kings past Mumbai Top-10s for NZ golfers Alker, Kobori, Hodge Weekend to forget for NZ's leading drivers Robinson broke Taranaki's record as its all-time leading run-scorer in 2023; has the most centuries for the province; and is one of just a handful of cricketers to have played more than 100 matches for the team. But until this summer, the long-serving, 35-year-old former Central Districts rep from Stratford (a cousin of former All Blacks captain Kieran Read) had never been on the winning side in a Hawke Cup challenge. Until the current tenure, he had only played in two of them since his February 2008 Hawke Cup debut, but he can now hang up his bat and gloves saying he played in three successful defences. Taranaki has been celebrating its first tenure since 2006-07 - after which they lost the Cup in the first challenge of the following summer - Robinson's Hawke Cup debut, against Canterbury Country in New Plymouth. Taranaki's latest tenure began when they uplifted the storied 1910 trophy from fellow Zone 2 district Hawke's Bay in the first challenge this season, having earned the right to challenge by winning Central Districts Cricket's Furlong Cup competition. They then saw off strong challenges from Hamilton and Canterbury Country in New Plymouth, and on Sunday afternoon finished off South Canterbury to cap their season of dreams. The victory by an innings and 102 runs came after the ninth South Canterbury wicket fell, with the last man unable to bat. Taranaki now retains the symbol of provincial cricket supremacy until the next challenge at home in January 2026 (date TBC), when a new top-order batsman will be required.

New Zealand have qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup following a hard-fought 3-0 victory over New Caledonia in the final of the Oceania Qualifiers at Eden Park in Auckland. An enthusiastic crowd of more than 25,000 greeted the sides in New Zealand’s biggest city, with a direct qualification slot to a FIFA World Cup up for grabs for the first time in the Oceania region. LATEST HEADLINES: Ravindra leads Super Kings to win v Mumbai Top-10s for Kiwis Alker, Kobori and Hodge Weekend to forget for NZ drivers in elite series Hawks move to 3-1; Jets, Airs win big in NBL Venus advances in Miami; Routliffe bounced New Zealand, on home soil and looking to qualify for a third World Cup following 1982 and 2010, started brightly as expected, but were met by a robust and hardworking New Caledonia side. Callum McCowatt was the first to test New Caledonia goalkeeper Rocky Nyikeine, but having been teed up by Chris Wood, his effort was saved comfortably. A little over 20 minutes was on the clock when the Kiwis had by far their best chance. A corner caused havoc in the New Caledonia penalty area, and Marko Stamenic had not one but two headers cleared off the line by the covering Joseph Athale. It certainly was not all one-way traffic in the first period. New Caledonia, who had been impressive in their semifinal victory over Tahiti in Wellington on Friday, threatened sporadically on the counter-attack – looking particularly dangerous through forward Georges Gope-Fenepej. Michale Boxall scored the first goal for the All Whites in their 3-0 victory over New Caledonia to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. PHOTO: OFC MEDIA/PHOTOTEK As expected, Chris Wood was New Zealand’s most prominent threat, but even the prolific centre-forward was finding it tough to crack Johann Sidaner’s team’s defence. Even when finding space thanks to a cute through ball from Sarpreet Singh, the Nottingham Forest player’s effort was well-saved by Nyikeine. Wood did not last much of the second period however. Having picked up what appeared to be a thigh injury when getting a shot on goal, he eventually succumbed and was replaced by Kosta Barbarouses. Any concerns losing Wood meant New Zealand’s qualification dreams were swept away within 10 minutes of his departure. The breakthrough finally coming via the unlikely avenue of defender Michael Boxall, who rose highest to head home from inside the six yard box from a corner kick. The lead extended four minutes later as substitute Barbarouses latching onto a through ball and delicately lifting the ball over Nyikeine to make it 2-0 and all but confirm the Kiwis place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. With New Caledonian legs tiring, New Zealand put their foot on the throttle and it came as little surprise when Elijah Just – brought on at half-time – added a third, as the hosts found space behind the New Caledonian defensive line. Despite defeat, Johann Sidaner and his side can be more than proud with their efforts, having held the hosts goalless for over an hour and looking threatening when given the chance. They have a lot to build on for the future. New Zealand, however, were too strong, making the most of their chances when it mattered and taking advantage of a stretched game as the minutes wore on. For Spain in 1982 and South Africa in 2010, now Canada, Mexico and the United States in 2026, as Darren Bazeley and his side prepare to make even more New Zealand football history next year on the world’s biggest stage. New Zealand 3 (Michael Boxall, Kosta Barbarouses, Elijah Just) New Caledonia 0 . HT: 0-0

Nick Kelly playing for the Wellington Firebirds has been named in the Black Caps vs Pakistan ODI series PHOTO: LINTOTT PHOTOGRAPHY Wellington Firebirds duo Nick Kelly and Muhammad Abbas have earned their maiden Black Caps call-ups for the ODI series against Pakistan, starting at McLean Park in Napier on Saturday. Kelly’s selection comes off the back of another impressive season captaining the Wellington Firebirds, where he has been the standout batter on the domestic scene. LATEST HEADLINES: All Whites qualify for 2026 FIFA World Cup Ravindra leads Super Kings to win v Mumbai Top-10s for Kiwis Alker, Kobori and Hodge Weekend to forget for NZ drivers in elite series Hawks move to 3-1; Jets, Airs win big in NBL The 31-year-old, who is set to open the batting alongside Will Young, has scored 1,307 runs across all three formats during the 2024-25 season, including his fifth List A century (118) against Canterbury in February. Kelly also leads the run-scoring charts in this season’s Plunket Shield with 749 runs, including four centuries. Abbas, who featured for New Zealand A against Australia A last summer, had a memorable Ford Trophy campaign scoring 340 runs at 42.50 and registered his maiden List A century (104) against the Central Stags in New Plymouth in February. Born in Pakistan, Abbas immigrated with his family to New Zealand when he was one and is the son of Azhar Abbas who played first-class cricket in Pakistan as well as for Auckland and Wellington, and is currently the Firebirds assistant coach. The 21-year-old all-rounder touted as one of the most promising young white-ball prospects on the domestic circuit and will add middle-order batting depth to the squad, as well as an additional left-arm seam bowling option. With ODI regulars Mitchell Santner, Rachin Ravindra, Devon Conway and Glenn Phillips unavailable due to IPL commitments, the squad features a blend of high potential young players and experienced internationals. Twenty-twoyear-old Auckland Aces leg spinner Adi Ashok is also selected, earning a second ODI squad call-up having made his international ODI debut against Bangladesh in December 2023. Eight of the squad which reached the ICC Champions Trophy Final in Dubai earlier this month are selected, including Tom Latham who will captain the side in the absence of regular white-ball captain Santner. Will Young will join Kelly at the top of the order, while Mark Chapman and Daryl Mitchell will add top-order batting experience. Michael Bracewell, who is captaining the BLACKCAPS on home soil for the first time in the current T20I series against Pakistan, covers the spin bowling all-rounder spot, while Mitch Hay is selected as batting and wicket-keeping cover. Will O’Rourke, who returned for the final two T20Is after a break to manage his workload, will lead a four-prong pace group which includes Jacob Duffy, Nathan Smith and Ben Sears. Matt Henry has been ruled out of the series as he continues his injury rehabilitation programme for his right-shoulder and a left-knee issue. Kyle Jamieson, who featured in the first three T20Is against Pakistan, will also miss the series as the selectors continue to manage his workloads following the ICC Champions Trophy. Kane Williamson wasn’t considered for selection after making himself unavailable. With more than two years until the next ICC Cricket World Cup, selection preference was given to players on full national and domestic contracts. Black Caps ODI squad v Pakistan Tom Latham (c) - Canterbury Muhammad Abbas* - Wellington Firebirds Adi Ashok - Auckland Aces Michael Bracewell - Wellington Firebirds Mark Chapman - Auckland Aces Jacob Duffy - Otago Volts Mitch Hay - Canterbury Nick Kelly* - Wellington Firebirds Daryl Mitchell - Canterbury Will O’Rourke - Canterbury Ben Sears - Wellington Firebirds Nathan Smith - Wellington Firebirds Will Young - Central Stags *uncapped 1st ODI – Saturday 29 March, 11:00am - McLean Park, Napier 2nd ODI – Wednesday 2 April, 11:00am - Seddon Park, Hamilton 3rd ODI – Saturday 5 April, 11:00am - Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui

Rachin Ravindra is smashing form for the Chennai Super Kings against Mumbai Indians PHOTO: CSK Black Caps star Rachin Ravindra has batted his Chennai Super Kings side to a four wicket win over the Mumbai Indians in the opening week of IPL 2025. Batting first the Indians made 115-9 with sometimes New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner scoring 11 from 13 down the order and former Black Caps bowler Trent Boult one. LATEST HEADLINES: Top-10s for Kiwis Alker, Kobori and Hodge Weekend to forget for NZ drivers in elite series Hawks move to 3-1; Jets, Airs win big in NBL Venus advances in Miami; Routliffe bounced Tom Walsh claims world indoors shot put title Afghastan bowler Noor Ahmad took 4-18 and Khaleed Ahmed 3-29. In reply CSK made 158-6 with Ravindra opening and smashing 65 out out including four sixes and two fours from 45 balls. Ravindra admitted it wasn't as easy as it looked. "Mumbai made it really difficult for us, they changed the pace nicely in the middle . The pitch was definitely holding a fraction, wasn't turning a mile but their lengths made it diffficuls." Boult and Santner both went wicketless.

Kazuma Kobori posted the lowest round on the final day of the DP World Tour's Singapore Classic. PHOTO: DAVE LINTOTT PHOTOGRAPHY Several New Zealand golfers surged up the leaderboard in the final rounds of tournaments around the globe. Canterbury golfer Kazuma Kobori was the biggest mover, firing an eight-under 64 in the third and final round of the DP World Tour's Singapore Classic on Sunday, rising 37 places into a tie for ninth. LATEST HEADLINES: Weekend to forget for NZ drivers in elite series Hawks move to 3-1; Jets, Airs win big in NBL Venus advances in Miami; Routliffe bounced Tom Walsh claims world indoors shot put title Black Caps win, Australia too good for Ferns Kobori made nine birdies, including six on a blemish-free back-nine, for his best result on the European Tour, and best since finishing T15 at the Australian PGA Championship in November. The 23-year-old started the final day at the Laguna National Resort Golf Club in 46th but shot the lowest round of the day to get to 11-under, finishing five strokes behind the winner, Englishman Richard Mansell. Going off from the 10th, he made five birdies in his first six holes, adding another at the par-five 18th and more at the third, sixth and seventh before a lone bogey at the par-four ninth. Fellow Kiwi Daniel Hillier closed with a three-under 69, featuring an eagle, five birdies, two bogeys and a double-bogey, to finish at seven-under in a share of 36th. Steven Alker could not quite repeat his final round charge to victory from two weeks ago but still managed to go bogey-free and finish in the top-five. Alker made an eagle and two birdies for a third straight four-under 67 in the third and final round at the PGA Tour Champions' Hoag Classic in California on Sunday (Monday NZT), ending at 12-under, three shots back of the winner, Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez. After just one birdie on the front-nine, the 53-year-old eagled the par-four 11th hole to give himself a chance but could not capitalise on some makeable putts on the back-nine. On the PGA Tour, Ryan Fox finished with three birdies and a bogey in a two-under 69 in the final round at the Valspar Championship in Florida on Sunday (Monday NZT), boosting him 18 spots to a tie for 47th at one-over, 12 strokes from the winner. Tyler Hodge moved back into the top-10 during the final round of the PGA Tour of Australasia's Heritage Classic. PHOTO: PGA TOUR OF AUSTRALASIA After a disappointing third round, Kiwi Tyler Hodge responded with a six-under 66 in the final round of the PGA Tour of Australasia's Heritage Classic on Sunday. With an eagle, five birdies - including three in a five-hole stretch on the back-nine - and a bogey, Hodge climbed into a tie for eighth at 17-under, five shots back off the winner, Australian James Conran. Tyler Wood was the next-best New Zealander, in a share for 26th at 12-under after a four-under 68, following by Jimmy Zheng (T28, 11-under) following a seven-under 65 and Kerry Mountcastle (T34, 10-under) after a two-under 70. At the WPGA Tour Australasia's Women's NSW Open, Momoka Kobori and Amelia Garvey were the best Kiwis, finishing tied for 51st at even-par, well off the pace. Wenyung Keh was T58 at four-over and Hanee Song T67 at seven-over. On the Asian Tour, Nick Voke finished in a share of 19th and Denzel Ieremia tied for 36th at the International Series Macau tournament. Voke closed with two birdies and three bogeys in a one-over final round at the Macau Golf and Country Club on Sunday to slip out of the top-10, while Ieremia managed an even-par 70, with a pair of birdies and bogeys. Lastly, at the HotelPlanner Tour's (former Challenge) Delhi Challenge in India, Taranaki left-hander Sam Jones posted a one-under 71 - with four birdies and three bogeys - to end tied for 33rd at nine-under.

Liam Lawson finished 12th at the F1 Chinese Grand Prix but it barely made up for a disappointing weekend. PHOTO: RED BULL RACING There was little to celebrate for New Zealand drivers in the latest Formula 1, IndyCar and Nascar races. Liam Lawson finished 12th at the F1 Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday, before Marcus Armstrong and Scott Dixon posted top-10 results in IndyCar and Shane van Gisbergen finished near the back of the field in Nascar. LATEST HEADLINES: Hawks move to 3-1; Jets, Airs win big in NBL Venus advances in Miami; Routliffe bounced Tom Walsh claims world indoors shot put title Black Caps win, Australia too good for Ferns NCAA medal for Kiwi swimmer Bre Crawford Lawson had another tough weekend in Shanghai in just his second grand prix as F1 champion Max Verstappen's full-time teammate at Red Bull. The 22-year-old was 18th in the first free practice and 20th and last in the sprint shootout, before recovering from starting 19th to finish 14th in the sprint race on Saturday. Still adjusting to the tricky Red Bull car, Lawson was 20th again in qualifying, but picked up five spot during the grand prix - then three more spots after Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc and Alpine's Pierre Gasly were disqualified - to finish 12th. Already the pressure is mounting - both internally at Red Bull and externally from F1 pundits and fans - on Lawson, with speculation suggestion a seat swap with Yuki Tsunoda at Lawson's former Racing Bulls team. "We tried to do something quite aggressive today with the set-up, that's why we started from pit-lane," Lawson told Sky Sports. "We definitely learned something, it just didn't work today." "Looking at the sprint yesterday, we were a lot more competitive, able to overtake cars. Today was just a lot more difficult. Obviously, there's a bit I've got to work on, as well." In the California desert, Armstrong finished seventh and Dixon 10th at The Thermal Club IndyCar Grand Prix on Sunday (Monday NZ Time), while it was a disastrous weekend for Scott McLaughlin. Second-year Chip Ganassi driver Armstrong started seventh, just missing out on the Fast 6 qualifying round, but did not make much impression on the leaders, finishing more than 41 seconds down on the race winner, Alex Palou. It was a similar situation for Dixon, who started 11th on the grid, dropping to second in the drivers standings. After a tough qualifying session saw him 25th on the grid, McLaughlin tangled with Devlin DeFrancesco before even getting to the green flag, also suffering a hybrid system overheating, before eventually retiring after 53 laps. Shane van Gisbergen's oval track struggles continue in Nascar, finishing 32nd at the Miami Nascar 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Sunday (Monday NZT). The rookie Trackhouse Racing driver has finished 33rd, 23rd, 31st, 34th and 32nd on ovals this season, although his finishes at Daytona and Atlanta were hurt by getting caught up in late crashes. Van Gisbergen, who finished sixth at The Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, in the only non-oval race so far in 2025, was off the pace in practice and qualifying at Homestead, finishing 35th in both sessions.

Tim Seifert (left) and Daryl Mitchell helped the Black Caps to a T20I win over Pakistan PHOTO: ICC The Black Caps have bounced back from their Eden Park defeat to put away Pakistan by 115 runs in the fourth T20I at Mt Maunganui. The visitors won the toss and elected to field as New Zealand went on an initial rampage before a fade in the middle of the innings and then a revival to score 220-6. Tim Seifert made 44 from 22 with four sixes and three fours, fellow opener Finn Allen scored 50 from 20 (six fours and three sixes while Mark Chapman 24 and Daryl Mitchell 29 before James Neesham and Mitch Hay both fell for three. LATEST HEADLINES: NCAA medal for New Zealand swimmer Nix Women fall to Central Coast at home Zoe Hobbs sixth in world indoors 60m sprint Oceania mountain biking honours shared Crusaders dump more misery on the Blues Michael Bracewell then got the innings back in order with 46 not out while Zak Fouklkes was three not out. Pakistan couldn't get their innings underway. Jacob Duffy ripped out three in a row as Irfan Khan was the only batter to challenge the bowlers scoring 24. Abdul Samad swung at the ball down the order for 44 runs otherwise no one else reached double figures. Duffy finished with 4-20 and Foulkes 3-25 with Will O'rourke, Neesham and Ish Sodi all taking a wicket each. The fifht T20I is on Saturday in Wellington. Meanwhile the White Ferns were thrashed again by 82 runs by a rampant Australian team. The visitors batted first and blazed away to 204-3 in their 20 overs with all five players to the crease scoring over 20. Beth Mooney made 70 from 42, Georgia Voll 36 from 20 while Phoebe Litchfield scored 32 and Ellyse Perry was not out 29 and Annabel Sutherland not out 23. Amelia Kerr too a wicket as did sister Jessica and Sophie Devine. At bat New Zelaand were dismissed for 122 in the 17th over. Amelia Kerr held the innings together with 40 from 36 balls. Otherwise it was slim pickings with Maddy Green 22, Jess Kerr 14 and Georgia Plimmer 14. Sutherland had the remarkable figures of 4-8 from 2.1 overs

Tom Walsh victorious in Nanjing for the World Athletics Indoor title PHOTO: WORLD ATHLETICS New Zealand's Tom Walsh has held his nerve to win the the World Athletics Indoor Championships title in Nanjing, China. It's his third Indoor title following victories in Portland in 2016 and Birmingham in 2018 and his sixth medal in total. LATEST HEADLINES: Black Caps win, Aussie too good for Ferns NCAA medal for New Zealand swimmer Nix Women fall to Central Coast at home Zoe Hobbs sixth in world indoors 60m sprint Oceania mountain biking honours shared Walsh threw a season best 21.65 metres to finish just ahead of American's Roger Steen and Adrian Piperi. The Nanjing gold is added to his World Championship (outdoor) gold and bronze medal and two Olympic bronze medals. Walsh's first-round throw took him to the lead, where he stayed for the rest of the competition. His 21.65 mark proved to be a throw too far for the rest of the competition, as Walsh remained unchallenged to his final throw. With five throws over 21m Walsh was the pre-event favourite, Olympic medallist Leonardo Fabri of Italy finishing in fourth with a best throw of 21.35. Walsh entered the competition ranked 8th on his season best and now takes home $70,000 for the win. He now targets meets in both the USA and in Europe as he builds towards the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan in September

The Hawke's Bay Hawks have gone back to the top-two of the National Basketball League (NBL) standings but had to battle to get there. The Big Barrel Hawks trailed by eight points entering the fourth quarter before rallying to defeat the Franklin Bulls 87-85 at The Stockyard in Pukekohe to start a Sal's NBL triple-header across Auckland on Sunday. LATEST HEADLINES: Venus advances in Miami; Routliffe bounced Tom Walsh claims world indoors shot put title Black Caps win, Australia too good for Ferns NCAA medal for Kiwi swimmer Bre Crawford Zoe Hobbs sixth in world indoors 60m sprint In other games, the Manawatu Jets put up 62 points in the second half to rout the Indian Panthers 122-77 at South Auckland's Pulman Arena, while the Taranaki Airs finished strong for a 102-79 win over the Auckland Tuatara on the North Shore. Teen star Jackson Ball again top-scored for the Hawks, 19 points (5/16 FG, 3/11 3pt, 6/8 FT), four assists and two steals, while American forward Darnell Cowart put up 17 points (7/14 FG), seven boards, eight assists, three steals and a block. Import guard Tae Hardy led the Bulls, who committed 21 turnovers, with 20 points (9/19 FG), five assists and two steals, while Marcel Jones put up his first double-double of the season, with 15 points (5/9 FG, 2/6 3pt) and 10 rebounds. The Hawks trailed by 15 points late in the third period but a 10-0 run either side of the three-quarter break closed the gap, before another 10-point burst - coinciding with the Bulls going scoreless for more than four minutes - put them up three with 3:41 remaining. The Hawks (3-1) travel to New Plymouth to face the Airs (2-1) on Saturday (tip-off 4pm), while the Bulls (3-1) are away to the Nelson Giants (0-2) on Friday (tip-off 7.30pm). In the earlier Sky Broadband Rapid League game, the Hawks soared to a 39-30 win behind Jacob Murphy's 14 points and Maz Taylor's 11 points. American forward Miles Gibson compiled a monster double-double in Manawatu's 45-point victory, with a game-high 32 points (11/21 FG, 3/6 3pt, 7/8 FT), 17 rebounds and four assists. Tall Blacks veteran Corey Webster almost had a triple-double, with 28 points (11/20 FG, 4/8 3pt), nine boards and eight assists, while import guard Eric Williams Jr added 18 points (6/9 FG, 6/6 FT), four rebounds, four assists and two steals. American point guard Alex Robinson Jr and Kiwi guard Jaylen Gerrand again carried the makeshift Panthers, who will wait another week for their India national team players. Robinson had 23 points (10/22 FG), eight boards and 10 assists, and Gerrand 15 points (4/19 FG, 6/6 FT). Manawatu led by 13 points at halftime and stretched it with a 25-9 third quarter, before piling on 37 points in the fourth period. The Jets (2-1) are back in action on Thursday (tip-off 7pm) in Dunedin against the Otago Nuggets (1-2), while the Panthers (0-3) welcome the Tauranga Whai (2-1) to Takanini on Friday (tip-off 7.30pm). The Panthers prevented a sweep earlier, with a 31-30 victory in the Rapid League contest, led by Zack Te Puni's nine points and 10 rebounds. NZ Breakers development player Carlin Davison put on a show at Eventfinda Stadium to put away the Tuatara, finishing with 25 points (10/14 FG, 4/7 FT), nine rebounds, six assists and three steals. Australians Harry Froling and Owen Foxwell both recorded double-doubles, centre Froling with 23 points (8/15 FG, 6/7 FT) and 11 boards, and guard Foxwell 20 points (5/10 FG, 8/12 FT), 10 assists and three steals. Buay Tuach scored a team-high 27 points (10/19 FG, 3/7 3pt) for the Tuatara, while Tall Blacks forward Tom Vodanovich contributed 22 points (7/18 FG, 6/15 3pt) Auckland were sniffing a road win when they went up 75-74 with 8:52 to play but they scored just four points on 1-of-17 shooting the rest of the way. Davison and Froling combined for 17 points in the 30-point quarter for Taranaki. Next up, the Airs (2-1) host the Hawks (3-1), while the Tuatara (0-2) travel to Mount Maunganui to play the Whai (2-1) on Tuesday (tip-off 7pm). In a high-scoring Rapid League game, the Airs prevailed 45-36, with Quintin Bailey going for 13 points and five boards, and Riley Tuuta 11 points. Krisnan-Cole Ioane had 13 points for the Tuatara. Hawke's Bay Hawks 87 (Jackson Ball 19, Darnell Cowart 17, Campbell Scott 13, Clifton Bush II 13, Jacob Murphy 13, Kobe Kara 10) Franklin Bulls 85 (Tae Hardy 20, Marcel Jones 15, Reuben Te Rangi 11, Tobias Cameron 11, Till Gloger 11, Wena Okwera 10). 1Q: 25-24, HT: 39-49, 3Q: 64-72 Manawatu Jets 122 (Miles Gibson 32, Corey Webster 28, Eric Williams Jr 18, Dontae Russo-Nance 14, Kenny Goins 10) Indian Panthers 77 (Alex Robinson Jr 23, Jaylen Gerrand 15). 1Q: 29-26, HT: 60-47, 3Q: 85-56 Taranaki Airs 102 (Carlin Davison 25, Harry Froling 23, Owen Foxwell 20, Jack Andrew 15, Armon Fletcher 10) Auckland Tuatara 79 (Buay Tuach 27, Tom Vodanovich 22). 1Q: 26-31, HT: 52-46, 3Q: 72-70