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The New Zealand men's team is top-20 in the first official FIFA futsal world rankings after qualification for the World Cup. Powerhouses Brazil are the first number-one nation in both the men’s and women’s charts as the rapidly growing sport takes another major step forward. LATEST HEADLINES: Stairmand, Vette named for Olympic surfing Unbeaten Tactix hold on for win over Magic Steven Alker tied for fourth at rain-hit event NZ's Lulu Sun wins two WTT titles in Florida Dual Sevens titles for NZ sides in Singapore The New Zealand Futsal Whites team are ranked 19th among the 139 ranked nations after qualifying for the FIFA Futsal World Cup in Uzbekistan 2024. Recently the competed in a tournament in Vietnam facing the host side, Iran and Morocco. The draw for the FIFA Futsal World Cup in Uzbekistan later this year will be made on May 26, as the build-up continues to the first FIFA tournament to be hosted in Central Asia. The Futsal World Cup will be held from September 14-October 6 across three host cities; the capital Tashkent; Andijan and Bukhara. The New Zealand Futsal Ferns women's team are ranked 26th in the world. . Although the FIFA world rankings for football have existed since December 1992 and women’s senior national football teams have been officially ranked by FIFA since 2003, that has not previously been the case for futsal. However, the indoor game has enjoyed exponential growth in recent years and this milestone moment represents the natural next step, as well as being the first time that FIFA men’s and women’s rankings have been launched concurrently. The initial rankings have been based on statistics gathered from over 4600 “A” matches. FIFA defines an international “A” match as a match between two FIFA members for which both members field their first representative team (“A” team). In the nine editions of the FIFA Futsal World Cup to date, the inaugural top-ranked men’s side, Brazil, have been crowned world champions five times and only failed to finish on the podium once. They are closely followed in the chart by Portugal, who arrive at this year’s FIFA Futsal World Cup as the title holders and have won the last two European crowns. Brazil’s women’s national team have been just as dominant as their male counterparts, having won all seven of the South American championships that they have contested.

New Zealand tennis player Lulu Sun has won her way into the final of the Bonita Springs ITF US$100,000 tournament in Florida. The 23-year-old beat Australian third seed Ann Li in straight sets on Saturday (Sunday NZ Time) to make her first final of a event this size. LATEST HEADLINES: New Zealand teams in Sevens semifinals Nine-try Chiefs thrash lowly Force, into top-four Tuatara blowout Hawks; Airs top Bulls in NBL Michael Voss reigns at 60th Rotorua Marathon Crusaders defeated by Reds; Highlanders win In the final, Sun will play American Maya Joint, who defeated Liechtenstein's Kathinka Von Deichmann 6-7 (6) 6-4 7-6 (2) in the other semifinal. Left-handed Sun is also into the final of the doubles at Bonita Springs, as she and her partner Fanny Stollar defeated Elvina Kalieva and Maria Mateas 4-6 6-3 10-6 in their semifinal. Sun's singles world ranking is expected to rise from 164 to a new high of around the 130 mark as she chases the top-100. Marina Erakovic was the last New Zealand women to rank inside the top-100 on August 31, 2017.

New Zealand's Lulu Sun has won the biggest title of her career with victory in both singles and doubles at the US$100,000 World Tennis Tour (WTT) tournament in Bonita Springs, Florida. She defeated teen Maya Joint in straight sets. The Australian held serve to start the match before Sun won the next nine games in a row. LATEST HEADLINES: Dual Sevens titles for NZ in Singapore White Ferns group set for T20 World Cup Warriors lose third consecutive NRL match Pulse stay unbeaten after win over Mystics New Zealand teams in Sevens semifinals Joint was a little stronger in the second set, even breaking the kiwi's serve . However, Sun, 23 took the match with a forehand winner for a score of 6-1 6-3 in just over an hours play. Sun has a new career-high WTA ranking 132 which will give her seeding in qualifying at Grand Slams. . In the doubles, Sun and Fanni Stollar (Hungary) beat Greek player Valentini Grammatikopoulou and the Ukraine's Valeriya Strakhova 6-4 7-5 in one hour 20 minutes.

The Black Sticks Men have been dropped back to earth at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia. Following their 7-1 victory over Canada in their tournament opener on Saturday, the New Zealand men's hockey side fell 4-1 to 16th-ranked Japan at Stadium Sultan Azlan in Ipoh on Sunday. LATEST HEADLINES:  Steven Alker tied for fourth at rain-hit event NZ Team continue to lead SailGP standings NZ's Lulu Sun wins two WTT titles in Florida Dual Sevens titles for NZ sides in Singapore Saints, Nuggets too good for Jets, Giants The Black Sticks Men allowed a goal in every quarter, while they only rattled Japan's cage five minutes from full-time. Japan opened the scoring in the 13th minute, before Yuma Nagai was yellow-carded in the opening minute of the second quarter. Greg Nicol's team failed to capitalise on the man-advantage, before having Malachi Buschi green-carded in the 23rd minute, leading immediately to Japan's second goal from a penalty corner. Japan had another player green-carded but managed to take a 3-0 lead a minute later while a man down. Scott Cosslett finally got New Zealand on the board in the 55th minute, on a third attempt at a penalty corner, but Japan had the final say with another penalty corner goal just before the final whistle. The Blacks Sticks Men face Malaysia on Tuesday (12.30am Wednesday NZ Time), South Korea on Wednesday (10.15pm NZT) and Pakistan on Friday (8pm NZT).

Rain has denied Kiwi golfer Steven Alker a chance to win the PGA Tour Champions' Insperity Invitational for the third straight year. Alker finished tied for fourth, two shots back of the winner, American Scott Dunlap, after heavy rain in the Houston, Texas area forced the third and final round on Sunday (Monday NZ Time) to be cancelled. LATEST HEADLINES:  NZ's Lulu Sun wins two WTT titles in Florida Dual Sevens titles for NZ sides in Singapore White Ferns group set for T20 World Cup Warriors lose third consecutive NRL match Pulse stay unbeaten after win over Mystics The tournament at The Woodlands Country Club was shortened to 36 holes, which were all played on Saturday (Sunday NZT) after the opening round on Friday (Saturday NZT) was postponed due to rain. Alker made a strong start, with back-to-back birdies, before another at the seventh, with a bogey sandwiched between at the fourth. He made birdies at the 13th and 17th holes for a four-under 68, to be tied for sixth. Starting his second round at the 10th hole, the 52-year-old made birdies at the 15th, 16th, third and seventh holes, with a lone bogey at the sixth, for a three-under 69. It was Alker's third straight top-five finish and fifth in seven tournaments in 2024, increasing his lead atop the Charles Schwab Cup standings. It was a similar story on the DP World Tour, where New Zealand golfer Daniel Hillier finished in a share of 23rd after the third round of the China Open on Saturday was cancelled due to thunder and lightning. Hillier could only manage an even-par 72 in the final round on Sunday to remain at eight-under, dropping 12 places and finishing 10 strokes behind Spanish winner Adrian Otaegui. The 25-year-old, who was inside the top-10 after a bogey-free five-under 67 in the opening round on Thursday, double-bogeyed the fifth holes, before birdies at the ninth and 11th holes on the last day. Weather also denied Harry Hillier a shot at the title at the PGA Tour Americas' Kia Open in Ecuador. Hillier's solid form to begin 2024 continued at the Quito Tenis Y Golf Club, finishing tied for third at 13-under after three rounds to shit three shots back of the lead, before the final round was cancelled due to inclement weather. The Te Puke-based professional started the event with the second-best opening round, a seven-under-65, before shooting 71 and 67 in rounds two and three. He is projected to move up 34 places in the Fortinet Cup standings to 20th. The top-10 at the season’s end earn exempt Korn Ferry Tour memberships for 2025. Harry’s older brother Charlie finished in equal-60th at three-under, shooting rounds of 72, 69, and 72. Meanwhile, Danny Lee plummeted down the leaderboard after a disappointing weekend at the LIV Singapore tournament. Lee carded a five-over 76, featuring four birdies, seven bogeys and a double-bogey, on Saturday, before a two-under 69, with five birdies and three bogeys, in the final round on Sunday. He ended tied for 49th, out of 54 golfers, at four-over, a whopping 19 shots behind American winner Brooks Koepka. On the Epson Tour, Fiona Xu’s solid start to her rookie season continues with another tie for 20th at the Casino Del Sol Classic, shooting rounds of 69, 70, and 71 at Sewailo Golf Club in Tucson, Arizona, finishing five shots behind Madison Young. She moves up a spot to seventh in the Race for the Card standings. Fellow Kiwi Amelia Garvey, who has qualified for the Women's US Open, missed the cut.

The New Zealand SailGP team has increased its lead in the series standings after a second place finish at the latest round in Bermuda. Spain won the final to claim their second SailGP victory, with the New Zealand Black Foils second and Australia third. LATEST HEADLINES: Dual Sevens titles for NZ in Singapore White Ferns group set for T20 World Cup Warriors lose third consecutive NRL match Pulse stay unbeaten after win over Mystics New Zealand teams in Sevens semifinals With three rounds remaining Peter Burling and his crew have 77 points, Australia are on 67 and Spain 65. The New Zealand team wasn't in a good space after a sixth place in the fourth race in Bermuda, how they they turned around the result for a first place in the fifth to qualify. Spain and New Zealand pulled ahead early on from Australia but the kiwis couldn't drag in the lead held by the Spanish who have been a big improver this eason. The next round is in Halifax, Canada in early June, followed by New York and then the grand final in San Francisco. New Zealand has won four of the ten rounds so far this season with podium finishes in two others.

Double glory for New Zealand at the Singapore Sevens after a shootout in the women's final to decide the overall League winners. The All Blacks Sevens edged Ireland 17-14 for the Singapore title which in turn gave Argentina the overall title again. For the Black Ferns it all came down to the very last game, contested by the two sides locked on 106 points each at the top of the standings. LATEST HEADLINES: White Ferns group at T20 World Cup Warriors lose third consecutive NRL game Lulu Sun reaches biggest singles final New Zealand teams in Sevens semifinals Nine-try Chiefs thrash lowly Force, into top-four However, a depleted Australia could not reply to a ferocious Black Ferns Sevens performance, including a hat-trick from Michaela Blyde, their fourth successive tournament gold confirming their place at the top of the regular season standings. New Zealand came out the blocks fastest, Blyde finding space on the switch to go 80 metres for the first score, but just moments later it was Australia’s star try-scorer Maddison Levi who matched her feat to level the scores. Isabella Nasser took Australia ahead until Blyde’s pace once again drew New Zealand back into the game, but Australia kept a slim 14-12 lead at halftime. Blyde completed her hattrick after New Zealand created a massive overload on the left wing, made because Australia’s captain Madison Ashby was down injured, having to leave the field soon after. Australia were under pressure, and Portia Woodman-Wickliffe made them pay, racing away to take the Black Ferns Sevens 12 points ahead, despite the best efforts of Faith Nathan to drag her down. Jorja Miller’s steal had Australia scrambling again, and as Stacey Waaka went over in the corner the final was won for New Zealand, despite Levi’s late consolation for Australia. In the Singapore men's final there were first-half tries from Leroy Carter and Fehi Fineanganofo took New Zealand into a 12-0 lead. Ireland had their first threatening attack moments later, but the men in green managed to cross for one of their own just before the break through Gavin Mullin for a 12-7 half-time score. A close second half was eventually broken by Dylan Collier sniping at the ruck for New Zealand’s third, but Harry McNulty, who missed his tackle on Collier to concede a minute earlier, made amends with a score at the other end to make it a three-point game. A Cody Vai knock on gave Ireland one final chance, but they were left bridesmaids in a final for a third time as Tone Ng Shiu came up with the crucial turnover at the breakdown. Argentina won the title with 106 points, two ahead of Ireland with the All Blacks third on 93.

There were mixed fortunes for young Kiwi gravity riders at the opening round of the UCI Mountain Bike Downhill World Series in Scotland. Three New Zealand junior riders – Sacha Earnest, Eliana Hulsebosch and Luke Wayman - earned podium placings to cap an outstanding start to the downhill round of the world series. It was a happy return to the famed Fort William course in the north west of Scotland, where Earnest won the world championship bronze medal last year. This time the Trek Factory gravity rider went one better with second place. LATEST HEADLINES: Sevens wins in Singapore for NZ White Ferns group at T20 World Cup Warriors lose third consecutive NRL game Lulu Sun reaches biggest singles final New Zealand teams in Sevens semifinals She was joined on the junior women’s podium by Tauranga’s Eliana Hulsebosch, who celebrated her world cup debut with third place for her Union professional team, while Christchurch’s Luke Wayman was second in the junior men’s final, riding for the Union-Sinter Factory team. Meanwhile, world champion Erice van Leuven, sporting the rainbow jersey in her return to Fort William where she won the junior honours last August, suffered a flat tyre while holding a significant lead in the junior women’s final. The teen was 2.8 seconds up through the second timing point but screamed in anguish with realisation that her deflating tyre would end her podium hopes. Van Leuven showed remarkable skills to complete the 2.8km rocky course with a flat rear tyre to finish miraculously in fifth place. Van Leuven’s despair was countered with the podiums for Earnest and Hulsebosch who both rode with poise and purpose on the rocky course, run in foggy but dry conditions without the usual strong winds sweeping through the Nevis Range. Hulsebosch, the Tauranga 17-year-old, enjoyed an outstanding world cup debut for her Union professional team, after impressing in the summer including recording the fastest time for all females at the national championships. Scottish rider Heather Wilson took advantage of van Leuven’s misfortune to win in 4:56.675 and claim the opening round honours ahead of Earnest and Hulsebosch. The junior men’s finish was keenly fought, with two Cantabrians Oli Clark and Wayman showing their intentions when they qualified fourth and fifth fastest respectively. It was Wayman, who has been in superb form over the New Zealand summer, who produced an outstanding run down the 2.8km course to finish second with Clark eighth on debut. Wayman clocked fastest times on every timing point on the challenging course sit on the hot seat until American Asa Vermette (Framework Racing) tore down the track to win in 4:10.550. The elite men’s honours went to Frenchman Loic Bruni convincingly from Australian Troy Brosnan while Austria’s Valentina Holl edged out German Nina Hoffman in a close contest in the elite women, with no kiwis making the elite finals. The next round for downhill is in Poland in two weeks, with the Enduro World Series getting underway next weekend in Italy. NEW ZEALAND RESULTS Junior women: Heather Wilson (GBR) 4:56.675, 1; Sacha Earnest (NZL, Trek Factory) 5:00.272, 2; Eliana Hulsebosch( NZL, Union) 5:00.287, 3. Also: Erice van Leuven (NZL, Commencal les Orres) 5:19.103, 5 Junior men: Asa Vermette (USA) 4:10.550, 1; Luke Wayman (NZL, Gravity Cartel)  4:16.637, 2; Daniel Parfitt (GBR) 4:16.758, 3. Also: Oli Clark (NZL, Union-Sinter Factory) 4:19.407, 8

After six weeks, the National Basketball League (NBL) is starting to see some separation in the standings. On Sunday, the Wellington Saints remained atop the league with a 107-82 rout of the Manawatu Jets in Palmerston North, while the Otago Nuggets protected their home court in a 107-94 result over the Nelson Giants in Dunedin. LATEST HEADLINES:  White Ferns group set for T20 World Cup Warriors lose third consecutive NRL match Pulse stay unbeaten after win over Mystics Lulu Sun reaches her biggest singles final New Zealand teams in Sevens semifinals The Saints almost had two players finish with triple-doubles, led by Australian forward Lat Mayen with 26 points (10/15 FG, 5/6 FT), 10 rebounds, nine assists and four steals. Tall Blacks guard Izayah Le'afa put up 13 points (3/15 FG, 2/10 3pt, 5/6 FT), eight boards, seven assists and three steals, while former national teammate Taane Samuel had 16 points (7/9 FG) and five rebounds off the bench in his first game back with the Saints. Australian guard Ben Ayre scored 15 points (6/14 FG) and three assists, Kiwi big Tohi Smith-Milner 12 points (4/8 FG, 3/3 FT) and import forward Malik Benlevi eight points, eight boards and two steals. Young Kiwi forward Liam Judd had a game-high 30 points (11/18 FG, 6/9 3pt) for Manawatu, to go with nine rebounds, three assists and three steals. American guard Mustapha Heron finished with 15 points (7/16 FG), six boards and four assists, and Campbell Scott 11 points (5/12 FG) and four rebounds. The game was never close after the opening minutes. The Saints were up 13 points at quarter-time and quickly stretched out by 20 early in the second period. A 15-0 run, with Mayen and Samuel each scoring six points, saw the Saints surge ahead by 37 with 1:40 remaining in the third quarter. Manawatu finished strong as the bench emptied to avoid the most lop-sided loss of the season. The Saints won convincingly despite shooting just 17 percent on three-point attempts, thanks to 60 points in the paint, a healthy rebounding edge, and 20 second-chance points and 20 points off turnovers. In Week 7, the Saints (6-1) host the Giants (3-5) at TSB Arena on Sunday (tip-off 6.30pm), while the Jets (1-7) head to Auckland to meet the Tuatara (7-2) on Saturday (tip-off 7.30pm). The Nuggets got a much-needed win at the Edgar Centre, improving to 4-3 to keep pace with the Saints, Auckland Tuatara, Taranaki Airs, Canterbury Rams and Franklin Bulls in a distinct top-six. Australian wing Ben Henshall scored a team-high 31 points (12/17 FG, 5/9 3pt), with 10 rebounds and four assists, closely followed by American forward Kimani Lawrence with 30 points (14/19 FG) and eight boards. Import guard Zaccheus Darko-Kelly stuffed the stat-sheet with 15 points (6/13 FG, 3/7 3pt), eight rebounds and seven assists, while former Tall Blacks guard Tai Webster also had 15 points (6/11 FG, 3/5 FT) and four boards and ANBL development player Jack Andrew nine points and 10 rebounds. For the Giants, Australian forward Dan Grida posted 31 points (13/23 FG, 4/5 FT) and seven rebounds, while Tall Blacks forward Dan Fotu had 22 points (9/21 FG, 2/4 3pt), eight boards and four steals. Kiwi guard Alex McNaught scored 11 points (5/8 FG), with five assists, with import guard Kobe Langley providing 10 points (4/10 FG, 2/6 3pt), four assists and five steals, and Sam Dempster nine points off the bench. In a back-and-fourth first half that featured 16 lead changes, no team led by more than five points. The Nuggets surged to a 10-point lead early in the third period but the Giants fought back to lead 86-84 with 8:34 remaining. However, Otago sealed the win with a 17-4 run, including threes from Henshall, Darko-Kelly and Darcy Knox, over the next four minutes. Up next, the Nuggets (4-3) travel to Tauranga to face the Mid-North Whai (2-5) on Wednesday (tip-off 7.30pm), while the Giants are also on the road at the Saints. Wellington Saints 107 (Lat Mayen 26, Taane Samuel 16, Ben Ayre 15, Izayah Le'afa 13, Tohi Smith-Milner 12) Manawatu Jets 82 (Liam Judd 30, Mustapha Heron 15, Campbell Scott 11). 1Q: 30-17, HT: 56-34, 3Q: 81-48 Otago Nuggets 107 (Ben Henshall 31, Kimani Lawrence 30, Tai Webster 15, Zaccheus Darko-Kelly 15) Nelson Giants 94 (Dan Grida 31, Dan Fotu 22, Alex McNaught 11, Kobe Langley 10). 1Q: 32-31, HT: 52-46, 3Q: 82-76

The NZ Warriors hard luck losses continue, this time to the Knights in Newcastle as well as a couple of bunker decisions too. Their own discipline, particularly in the first half, led to five penalties in the first 17 minutes of the 14-8 loss at McDonald Jones Stadium did not help, nor did the determined defence from the home side.. LATEST HEADLINES: Lulu Sun reaches biggest singles final New Zealand teams in Sevens semifinals Nine-try Chiefs thrash lowly Force, into top-four Tuatara blowout Hawks; Airs top Bulls in NBL Michael Voss reigns at 60th Rotorua Marathon It was the third consecutive loss for the Warriors and leaves coach Andrew Webster in a quandary of how to get his side back on track. An early Warriors penalty handed the Knights a repeat set in the red zone and Tyson Gamble opened the scoring for the home side when he pounced on a Jackson Hastings grubbe in the in-goal. The Knights went further ahead after the Warriors came up with their fourth penalty in less than 14 minutes and Dane Gagai slotted a penalty goal for an 8-0 lead. The Warriors somehow found some momentum and a charging Dylan Walker crossed over the line to get the visitors on the board. The visitors looked to take the lead in he shadows of halftime when wing Dallin Watene-Zelezniak flew over for a trademark aerial finish but dropped the ball over the line after being tackled by Greg Marzhew in the air. This was the controversial moment where it could have been a penalty try, but the bunker appeared to disagree with common sense and ruled in favour of the Knights instead, despite commentators and most viewers trying hard to work out how a player can be tackled in the air in the process of scoring. After both sides traded sets and mistakes early in the second half, the Warriors looked to break the arm wrestle when Watene-Zelezniak dived over in the right corner but the try was called back after the bunker ruled Jackson Ford obstructed Hastings in the lead up. Two minutes later the Warriors were handed an opportunity to draw even when Jed Cartwright was placed on report for a late shot on Tohu Harris and Shaun Johnson landed the penalty goal from in front of the posts to lock the scoreboard 8-8. With 11 minutes to play the Knights took the lead when Hastings sent a short ball to Daniel Saifiti who powered his way through several Warriors defenders to put the home side in front 14-8. The Warriors pushed hard in the final stages of the match with several opportunities on the try line but the Knights defence held firm to hold onto the six-point lead. The Warriors season does not get easier, with games against the Roosters, Panthers and Dolphins in the next three rounds. Newcastle Knights 14 (Tyson Gamble, Daniel Saifiti tries; Dane Gagai 3 goals) NZ Warriors 8 (Dylan Walker try; Shaun Johnson 2 goals). HT: 8-6

The Central Pulse who kept their unbeaten record intact when posting a courageous 52-47 win over the defending champion Northern Mystics in Auckland on Sunday. Down by 11 goals at half-time, a 32-16 scoreline in their favour during the second half when holding the Mystics to just 10 and six goals through the third and fourth quarters turned the tables for the Pulse after the home side had dominated through the first half. LATEST HEADLINES: Lulu Sun reaches biggest singles final New Zealand teams in Sevens semifinals Nine-try Chiefs thrash lowly Force, into top-four Tuatara blowout Hawks; Airs top Bulls in NBL Michael Voss reigns at 60th Rotorua Marathon Defender Parris Mason secured four intercepts and numerous deflections, and the influence of key play-maker Whitney Souness, in the thick of action throughout from wing attack, were instrumental figures in turning the tide. Working with a make-shift attack line, the Pulse faced a first quarter mauling by the Mystics but showed their character and grit to bounce back with a determined reply. The Mystics were left scoreless for large chunks of the final quarter but did enough to secure a losing bonus point. With shooting ace Grace Nweke for the Mystics, and Pulse attackers Maddy Gordon and Tiana Metuarau ruled out of the clash through injury, both teams were missing key figures in their starting line-ups. For the Mystics, Hannah Glen picked up the goal shoot bib to slot in alongside Filda Vui under the hoop while Carys Stythe took her place at goalkeeper. In a flashback to earlier years, former Pulse stalwart Claire Kersten was lured out of retirement to slot back into the familiar role of centre, for Gordon, while Kiana Pelasio retained her status or recent weeks as cover at goal attack for Metuarau. After an even opening few minutes, the Mystics exploded into life, their short, sharp and quick exchanges through court leaving the Pulse back-pedalling. On the back of a slick attack line, Glen and Vui provided a seamless and strong shooter-to-shooter connection under the hoop. The Pulse defenders had few answers to stemming the flow with Mystics playmaker Peta Toeava revelling in the conditions with her flair and pin-point passing. Almost unstoppable, the Mystics put the seal on a dominant opening quarter to rocket out to a 17-7 lead at the first break. Khiarna Williams took over at goal shoot for the Pulse on the resumption with Amelia Walmsley moving out to goal attack as the visitors’ made the best of starts with a five-goal unanswered scoring spree. That proved short-lived with the Mystics quick to negate any threats of a Pulse comeback, nailing home their dominance with another masterclass of attacking play. The Pulse shuffled their defence line with Parris Mason moving back to goalkeeper, Kelea Iongi to goal defence and Pelasio to centre, the team holding their own through a much closer the second stanza. Winning the quarter by one, ensured the Mystics retained a healthy 31-20 lead at the main break. The Pulse reversed the trend with storming third quarter to get themselves right back into the contest. Shutting down the Mystics scoring options, Mason and Kelly Jackson got their hands on more defensive gains while the ever-present Souness was a tower of strength at the attack end. Under more pressure, the Mystics lost their fluidity, becoming more hesitant on attack while also losing Toeava to an ankle injury late in the piece. Walmsley, with a perfect scoring record up to the end of the third quarter, and Williams formed a strong combination in the Pulse shooting circle as the visitors out-scored the home side 17-10, leaving the Mystics with a reduced advantage of 41-37 at the last turn and some nerves heading into what proved a dramatic final quarter.

The White Ferns have six-time champions Australia in their group for this year's Women's T20 World Cup in Bangladesh. The tournament starts in October and features the New Zealand White Ferns in a group with Australia, India, Pakistan and a qualifying team. LATEST HEADLINES: Warriors lose third consecutive NRL game Lulu Sun reaches biggest singles final New Zealand teams in Sevens semifinals Nine-try Chiefs thrash lowly Force, into top-four Tuatara blowout Hawks; Airs top Bulls in NBL The first game for New Zealand is against India on October 4 in Sylhet, where all of the Group A games will be played. Each side will play four group matches at the tournament, with the top two teams from each group progressing to the cut-throat semi-finals on 17 and 18 October ahead of the Final in Dhaka on 20 October. In total, there will be 23 matches played across 19 days in Dhaka and Sylhet, with reserve days in place for both semi-finals and the final should they be required. 2024 WOMEN'S T20 WORLD CUP GROUPS Group A: Australia, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Qualifier 1 Group B: South Africa, England, West Indies, Bangladesh, Qualifier 2