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High-fives for the Black Caps as they won the second ODI and the series over Sr Lanka with a comprehensive win in Hamilton PHOTO: ICC Plenty of action in the rain-reduced 37-over second ODI in Hamilton as the Black Caps won thrashed Sri Lanka by 113 runs to seal the series. Put in to bat the Black Caps with Tom Latham in for Mitch Hay set Sri Lanka 256 to win and level the series and it was the visitors who started well removing Will Young in the fifth over for 16. LATEST HEADLINES: Marcus Daniell finishes pro career Ben Campbell joins LIV Golf Tour Volts put away Kings in Super Smash Wood scores as Forest win again Kiwi Becroft beaten, Venus through But that's when Rachin Ravindra and Mark Chapman took control in a 112 run partnership. Chapman was eventually out for 62 off 52 balls - his second career ODI 50 - which brought Daryl Mitchell to the crease. Ravindra and Mitchell could only put on 25 more runs before Ravindra was out caught by Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka for 79 off 63 balls. Latham's return did not last long as he was run out for one. Mitchell and Glenn Phillips kept the runs flowing before Phillips was caught for 22 trying to find another boundary. Phillips' dismissal lead to the Sri Lanka bowlers applying the brakes on the New Zealand innings for three overs before captain Mitch Santner and Mitchell hit 16 off the 34th over. Maheesh Theekshana had Santner out for 20 and Nathan Smith out for a golden duck with the next ball with Matt Henry the victim of the milestone ball. Mitchell was out for 38 with Jacob Duffy and Will O'Rourke left on no score and three not out. Theekshana was the best of the Sri Lanka bowlers taking 4-44 runs off the eight overs. At bat Sri Lanka fell for 142 in the 31st over as only Kamindu Mendis offered any real resistantce with 64 runs in the middle order and Janith Liyanage hi 22. No one else passed 20. O'Rourke had 3-31, Duffy 2-30 while Henry, Smith and Santner all took one wicket with Santner involed in a run out. The final game is at Eden Park on Saturday.

Isaac Becroft put in a good performance but couldn't quite take his match to three sets as a wildcard in the ASB Classic PHOTO: TE ANAU INVITATIONAL Isaac Becroft took another step in his fledgling pro tennis career as he almost pushed his opponent to a third set at the ASB Classic on day one. He lost 6-3 7-5 to Belgium’s Zizou Bergs, but now really knows what he has to do to take the next step and how small mistakes can lead to a match getting away on him. LATEST HEADLINES: Central, ND share Super Smash games Kiwi cricketers in South Africa T20's Breakers lost to Perth as Fall steps up Black Caps blitz Sri Lanka in first ODI Harrington, NZ first Freeski World Cup Becroft has a current ranking of 939, a whopping 873 below than Berg and only in the second set did it show. The 24-year-old originally from Whanganui was making his debut in the main draw of an ATP 250 event. Becroft held serve in the first set until 3-3 in the windy conditions before the set escaped on him. In the second set he raced out to a 3-0 lead thanks to some mixed shot making by Bergs. However the Belgian held his own serve and came back strong to eventually break the Kiwi at 4-5 and ensue numerous long ralles between the pair as the experience of Bergs held and Becroft missed his opportunities. Becroft is currently completing a master’s degree at Oklahoma State University with his intention to go fully pro in May. Meanwhile, Michael Venus and Nikola Mektic won their first round doubles match at the tournament in a relatively comfortable Seeded No 1 Venus and his new partner Mektic from Croatia were impressive in their 6-3 6-4 win over Santiago Gonzalez from Mexico and Austria’s Lucas Miedler after a break of serve in each set.

The Otago Volts upset their northern neighbours Canterbury in men's Suiper Smash cricket PHOTO: OTAGO CRICKET GRAPHIC The Otago Volts have beaten the Canterbury Kings by five wickets in Super Smash cricket at Hagley Oval. The Kings scored 169-7 in their 20 overs with Matt Boyle with 81 from 51 balls including two sixes and eight fours. LATEST HEADLINES: Wood scores as Forest win again Kiwi Becroft beaten, Venus through Central, ND share Super Smash games Kiwi cricketers in South Africa T20's Breakers lost to Perth as Fall steps up However aside from Henry Shipley's 40 from 17 balls with five sixes there was scant support for Boyle. Andrew Hazeldine took 3-40 and Matt Bacon 2-32 as the best bowlers for Otago. Set 170 to win Otago had to face the Kings four-pronged bowling lineup of internationals, Zak Foulkes, Henry Shipley, Kyle Jamieson and Ish Sodhi. Despite the depth of bowlers Otago started and finished well eventually scoring 170-5 in the 19th over. Dale Phillips opened the innings to make 40 from 28 while Dean Foxcroft was 60 not out from 38 balls. Max Chu compiled 23 and Llew Johnson 19 in a good allround win for the southerners. Sodhi was the best of the bowlers with 2-24 from three overs.

New Zealand's Chris Wood has now scored 12 goals this season for Nottingham Forest after their 3-0 victory over Wolverhampton PHOTO: NFFC The fairytale continues for Nottingham Forest New Zealand striker Chris Wood in the English Premier League after a 3-0 win over Wolverhampton. The goal was Wood's12th of the EPL season, and he’s on track for the best EPL season in his career, beating previous bests of 14 goals in 2019-20 and 2023-24. LATEST HEADLINES: Kiwi Becroft beaten, Venus through Central, ND share Super Smash games Kiwi cricketers in South Africa T20's Breakers lost to Perth as Fall steps up Black Caps blitz Sri Lanka in first ODI Wood’s goal was just prior to halftime, started with a long ball from goalkeeper Matz Sels to Callum Hudson-Odoi wide on the left. He passed into the box where Wood got clear of two defenders to gently steer into the net. Amazingly It was the eighth time Wood had scored against Wolves in 13 games. “It is about consistency and doing what we have been doing extremely well already this season. Not letting up halfway through. We need to keep going,” Wood said after the game. “It is all about confidence, belief and responsibility, and a team that works to all of our strengths. It is not the same every week. We try to tweak things to get better.” Of a possible title challenge, Wood said: “It is well and truly too early. We are not thinking about that.” Wood’s all-time EPL tally is now 81 goals, and he is sixth in this season’s Golden Boot. The result leaves Forest in third place on the EPL table with 40 points behind Arsenal on goal difference. They play leaders Liverpool at home next weekend.

Tpm Bruce was in fine form for CD in their Super Smash win over Northern Districts in Nelson PHOTO: LINTOTT PHOTOGRAPHY Northern Districts won the women's clash against the Central Hinds, while the Stags beat the Northern Brave in the men's Super Smash at Saxton Oval in Nelson. The Hinds made 112 all out in the 19th over with Englishwoman Hollie Armitage over half of the runs with 61 from 48 balls. LATEST HEADLINES: Kiwi cricketers in South Africa T20's Breakers lost to Perth as Fall steps up Black Caps blitz Sri Lanka in first ODI Harrington, NZ first Freeski World Cup Bowler takes five in Super Smash debut Sri Lanka's Charmari Arthapaththu took 4-16 from her four overs while Jess Watkins and Amand-Jade Wellington both took two each. At bat ND quickly reeled off the runs making 115-1 with Watkins not out 51, Arthapaththu 45 and Caitlin Gurrey 19 for a nine wicket victory. In the men's game there was a big all-round performance from the Stags led by captain Tom Bruce with 64 runs from 31 balls in combination with disciplined bowling Jayden Lennox with 3-14 as they beat the Northern Brave men by 64 runs The Stags scored 195-5 as all batters made double figures. Dane Cleaver helping Bruce with 41 and Josh Clarkson 35. In reply Northern Districts made 131 all out in the 19th over as on Brett Pomare, Robbie O'Donnell and Jeet Raval made 24, 25 and 35 as they only real contributors to the ND score.

Perth Wildcats star Bryce Cotton (left) proved to be the downfall of the NZ Breakers in the Australian NBL. PHOTO: ANBL A 41-point haul by Bryce Cotton led the Perth Wildcats to the win over the NZ Breakers despite the best efforts of Tacko Fall and Matt Mooney. Fall really stood up and was a dominant presence, while Mooney dropped 17 third-quarter points but Cotton scored another 41 as the Wildcats prevailed 96-86 in the Australian National Basketball League (ANBL) at Spark Arena on Sunday. LATEST HEADLINES: Black Caps blitz Sri Lanka in first ODI Harrington, NZ first Freeski World Cup Bowler takes five in Super Smash debut Alice Robinson claims another podium Wellington Phoenix women beat Perth Fall was imposing with 28 points in 26 minutes and then Mooney finished with 28, but he fouled out with just over four minutes left with the Wildcats scoring 14 of the last 19 points. The Breakers were back home having snapped an eight-game losing streak on New Year's Eve in Cairns for a first win with Fall, and the first of five without the suspended Parker Jackson-Cartwright. Fall proved a dominant force with 21 points in the first half but in the almost eight minutes he was sitting, Perth took full advantage to lead by 11 at half-time. Mooney took the Breakers back into the game with a 17-point third quarter, but still the 'Cats were up two at three quarter-time. It was a dramatic start to the fourth quarter but when Mooney fouled out the game turned the Wildcats favour for good. Perth outscored the Breakers 14-5 from there to win by 10 to improve to 12-9 on the season having won four of five on this current road trip. Ben Henshall was another scorer for the Wildcats providing 11 points, Keanu Pinder nine points and four rebounds, and Dylan Windler nine points, seven boards, four assists, two steals and two blocks. The Breakers are now 8-12 having lost nine of the last 10 with Fall finishing with 28 points, eight rebounds and four blocks on 10/12 field goal shooting and 8/11 at the line. Mooney also had 28 points on 10/14 shooting with six assists while Max Darling contributed eight points and six rebounds, and Mitch McCarron seven points, six boards and three assists. Fall was proving unstoppable early for the Breakers when they dumped the ball inside to him and he had 12 quick points for his team to lead 17-14, but once he subbed out of the game the complexion changed completely. The Wildcats took charge the rest of the quarter outscoring the Breakers 16-7 to go into the first break leading 30-24 on 64 per cent shooting to the 52 from the Breakers. The Breakers started the second quarter strongly and went on a 9-0 run to reclaim the lead with Max Darling hitting a three and the presence of Fall again significant. Fall then added another quick four points to keep the home team in front, but again Perth took advantage when he went off with 10 consecutive points to break the game open. Cotton then scored the last six points of the half himself to go into the break with 17 and the 'Cats were leading 55-44 as a result despite the 21 points from Fall who only played just over 12 minutes. Fall then had another strong start to the second half with seven more points to go to 28 but this time it was with him off the floor that the Breakers made their run. Mooney scored nine quick points himself including a pair of three balls to give the home team the lead, and by three quarter-time Mooney had scored 17 points himself for the term. However, Perth were still clinging to the two-point lead and pushed that back out to six early in the final period on the back of three-point daggers from Henshall and Cotton. Mooney was right back into the game to lead the Breakers to a 7-0 run to take back the lead, but he fouled out soon after and Perth scored 12 of the next 15 points for the eventual 10-point win. The Breakers now have the quick turnaround to taking on the Bullets in Brisbane on Wednesday night. Perth Wildcats 96 (Bryce Cotton 41, Ben Henshall 11) NZ Breakers 86 (Matt Mooney 28, Tacko Fall 28)

Martin Guptill seen here previously for Auckland was in fine form for the Aces side in the win over Canterbury Kings PHOTO: LINTOTT PHOTOGRAPHY The Auckland Hearts and Aces have scored wins over the Canterbury Magicians and Kings in Super Smash cricket at Eden Park Outer Oval The Auckland women's side made 122-7 in their innings with rain showers threatening. Brooke Halliday and Lauren Down the chiefs scorers with 28 and 46 respectively while Molly Penfold was next best with 13 from nine balls. LATEST HEADLINES: Kiwi battler, Rubin Statham retires Sri Lanka beat Black Caps in T20 Northern big win over Wellington Venus, Mektic beat Djokovic, Kyrgios Auckland FC, Melbourne Victory draw Shikha Pandey, Missy Banks and Kate Ebrahim all took two wickets each with Pandey's figures 2-17 from her four overs. At bat Canterbury made 111-7 from 19 overs giving the hosts the win by seven runs thanks to the DLS method. Kate Anderson top-scored with 38 as White Fern Fran Jonas starred with figures of 3-13 from four overs. In the men's match it was a chance for Martin Guptill and Bevon Jacobs to shine. Guptill opened and blasted shots everywhere for 60 runs from 35 balls including three sixes and seven fours. Jacobs showed why he's been selected in the Black Caps and made 53 from 33 with five sixes and one four in the total of 185-8. Henry Shipley was the top bowler taking 5-19 from his four overs. In reply Chad Bowes and Tom Latham opened well making 56 each as Canterbury looked on target for success. However only Matt Boyle made double figures out of the remaining batters with 37 as the side collapsed around him and were all out for 172 with four balls remaining. Chief destroyers were Jock McKenzie and Danru Ferns taking 3-31 and 3-35 respectively and the Aces scored their first win of the season.

New Zealand's Luca Harrinton (centre) wins the FIS Freeski Big Air World Cup in Austria PHOTO: BUCHHOLZ FIS PARK & PIPE Wanaka's Luca Harrington has won the FIS Freeski Big Air World Cup in Klagenfurt, Austria a first for the 20-year-old and a New Zealand first in Freeski Big Air World Cup history. An ecstatic Harrington almost couldn’t believe after his win. LATEST HEADLINES: Bowler takes five in Super Smash debut Alice Robinson claims another podium Wellington Phoenix women beat Perth Phoenix's Melbourne struggles continue Double wins for Auckland over Cantabs “I don’t have words right now, I have been working really hard for the past few years, making finals has been huge. To put down these two tricks tonight and walk away with the win is just the most insane thing ever, the biggest dream come true, and I am just so grateful.” After qualifiers the top ten men progressed to the final round which went down under lights on a purpose built, scaffold jump located inside a stadium in front of a roaring crowd. The Big Air format consists of three runs, with two of those run scores counting for a total combined score. The two scoring tricks must be performed in different directions, with the third and lowest scoring run a throwaway. After finishing fourth in the last Big Air World Cup in Beijing, Harrington put down a flawless switch right triple corked 1620 with an esco grab for his first trick and impressing the judges and rewarded with a score of 94.80. This remained the top score of the competition today, with only two other athletes posting a score in the 90s. Dropping into run two, Harrington stomped a right double corked 900 bring back Japan grab to solidify his lead with a total combined score of 186.60. For the third and final run the athletes dropped in reverse order, meaning Harrington was the final athlete to drop in. He watched his nine competitors drop in before him, all trying to top his score, but his high scoring tricks were untouchable. Harrington dropped into his first ever victory lap as he took the win, throwing down a crowd-pleasing double back flip for his final run. Timothe Sivignon of France was second and local athlete Matej Svancer of Austria rounded out the podium in third to the delight of the home crowd. Harrington, he will look to carry this momentum into the Kreischberg Big Air World Cup next Saturday 11 January.

New Zealand Black Caps star Kane Williamson is one of five Kiwis listed in South Africa T20 squads to play this week PHOTO: DUBBAN'S SUPER GIANTS Five current of former Black Caps will line up in the high profile South Afircan T20 cricket league starting this week. There are six teams which have an association with the IPL and numerous players from around the world, but without Australians who are currently in the Big Bash. LATEST HEADLINES: Breakers lost to Perth as Fall steps up Black Caps blitz Sri Lanka in first ODI Harrington, NZ first Freeski World Cup Bowler takes five in Super Smash debut Alice Robinson claims another podium Kane Williamson is with the Durban's Super Giants along with Quinton de Kock and Englishman Chris Woakes as two of their internationals. The Joburg Super Kings have Doug Bracewell and Devon Conway in their side along with Faf du Plessis as their captain. Trent Boult will be a key bowler for the MI (Mumbai Indians) Cape Town which also has Ben Stokes in its squad. Jimmy Neesham is in the Pretoria Capitals side. The Paarl Royals contianing Joe Root and Sunrisers Eastern Cape don't have any Kiwis listed in their squad at present. The competition starts Thursday 9 January with the Sunrisers against Cape Town.

Nathan Smith celebrates taking a wicket as the Black Caps blitzed Sri Lanka in the first ODI PHOTO: LINTOTT PHOTOGRAPH Y The Black Caps have easily won the first ODI at the Basin Reserve by nine wickets after the Sri Lankan's found conditions and the New Zealand bowlers Sri Lanka made it to 178 all out in the 44th over and it was only for a short period when Avishka Fernando was out the crease did the visitors batting look like it could account for much. LATEST HEADLINES: Harrington, NZ first Freeski World Cup Bowler takes five in Super Smash debut Alice Robinson claims another podium Wellington Phoenix women beat Perth Phoenix's Melbourne struggles continue Down the order Wanindu Hasaranga made 35 from 33 balls while Janith Liyanage compiled 36 from 54 balls. Matt Henry was the pick of the Kiwi bowlers with the astounding figures of 4-19 from his 10 overs with a maiden over thrown in. He used the strong wind and cold conditions well while southern man Jacob Duffy didn't seem to mind the temperature or wind taking 2-39 from 8.3 overs. Nathan Smith took 2-43 and Mitch Santner 1-27 from seven and ran out Kamindu Mendis as well. At bat Will Young scored 90 runs from 86 balls while fellow opener Rachin Ravindra looked food for his 45 from 36 inlcuding one six and six fours. Mark Chapman came in at first drop and compiled a straightforward 29 runs. The second game of the three-match series is Wednesday in Hamilton.

James Hartshorn took the best figures for the Wellington Firebirds in T20 in his debut match in Super Smash PHOTO: LINTOTT PHOTOGRAPHY The Wellington Firebirds can thank T20 debutant James Hartshorn for their win over Central Districts in Super Smash cricket. He took 5-24 to help his side to an 11 run win at Saxton Oval in Nelson. LATEST HEADLINES: Alice Robinson claims another podium Wellington Phoenix women beat Perth Phoenix's Melbourne struggles continue Double wins for Auckland over Cantabs Kiwi tennis battler Rubin Statham retires Wellington made 190-5 with Black Cap Tim Robinson top-scoring on 67 and Mo Abbas 55 notr out. . In reply CD made 179 with Jack Boyle 66 from 45 balls while Tom Brucwe, Josh Clarkson Will Clark and Angus Schaw all made scores in the 20's Hartshorn sealed his record-breaking five-for with the final ball of the innings to give the Firebirds an 11-run win, their first of the competition. His debut speccy beats Ollie Newton's 5-45 in the Firebirds record-books. Logan van Beek meanwhile was turning in a class performance of his own, returning 3- 28 and stopping the dangermen Bruce and Boyle at key moments - as well as ending Hawke's Bay veteran Angus Schaw's career-best, explosive cameo of 32 off 15 that kept the Stags in the hunt. The Stags and Hinds remain in Nelson to host Northern Brave at the same ground tomorrow (Monday 6 January), The Central Hinds were beaten by Wellington Blaze by 25 runs in their match. The Blaze scoring 114-8 with Jess Kerr top-scoring on 59. Amelia Kerr made seven and Ellyse Perry 16. At bat CD struggled as both Hannah Rowe and Rosemary Mair made 23 each Leigh Kasperek took 4-22, Jess Kerr 3-14 and Perry 2-13.. Defending champion Blaze is the only unbeaten team in the women's league with two from two, now equal on eight points with the Otago Sparks at the top of the table but holding the top rung by virtue of a superior net run rate. The Hinds, Northern Brave women and Kings are the only teams yet to get a win.

New Zealand's Alice Robinson has gained another podium finish, this time in the Giant Slalom in Slovenia PHOTO: SNOW SPORTS NZ Queenstown's Alice Robinson has started 2025 by claiming third at the FIS Giant Slalom World Cup held in Slovenia, the 13th World Cup podium of her career. Robinson’s coach Tim Cafe set the course for the first run on the incredibly firm and icy piste and Robinson made the most of the opportunity putting down a solid first run which had her sitting in fourth position. LATEST HEADLINES: Wellington Phoenix women beat Perth Phoenix's Melbourne struggles continue Double wins for Auckland over Cantabs Kiwi tennis battler Rubin Statham retires Sri Lanka defeat Black Caps in third T20 In her second run and powered out of the start gate, pushing hard on the opening turns and skiing the course from top to bottom with her trademark aggressive and dynamic style, taking the lead with just three athletes to go. The firm snow conditions caused upset for some, but it was just what Robinson was looking for and she made the most of the favourable conditions. “It was amazing [the slope], the surface was unbelievable, a perfect mixture of icy but not too slick and it was super nice, it was great," said Robinson. “I am really happy with another podium, it’s great. I knew I could have done better on the first run – I skied solid but it was just too conservative. For my second run, I just didn’t want to think as much and just wanted to attack and go for it, I think I found a good balance between pushing and being smart with the tactics.” Sara Hector the 2022 Olympic Champion of Sweden took the win today by an astounding +1.42 after putting down two incredible runs. Eighteen-year-old Lara Colturi of Albania finished in second place, with Robinson in third just ten hundredths of a second off the pace of Colturi. The 23-year-old Kiwi has finished on the podium three out of four times in the 2025 Giant Slalom season and is currently sitting in second equal in the Giant Slalom World Cup standings. Robinson will compete at the speed races in St Anton, Switzerland next weekend.