Fast bowlers Lockie Ferguson and Ben Sears were recalled to New Zealand's 15-man squad on Sunday for the Champions Trophy next month in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates. Ferguson is no longer contracted to New Zealand Cricket and missed the home series against Sri Lanka which finished on Sunday, while playing in Australia's Big Bash League. Sears was a traveling reserve for last year's Twenty20 World Cup but missed New Zealand's test series in India in November and the first half of the domestic season with a knee injury. He returned from injury on Thursday in a T20 match for Wellington province. Sears, Will O'Rourke and Nathan Smith have been named to play at their first ICC tournament but Jacob Duffy, who was outstanding in the T20 and one-day international series against Sri Lanka, has been named as a traveling reserve. “ICC tournaments represent the pinnacle of our game and it’s a huge honor to be picked to represent your country at them,” coach Gary Stead said. “I’d especially like to acknowledge Ben, Nathan and Will, who will be attending their first senior ICC events and I know they’re really excited to do so." The pace attack is led by the experienced Matt Henry and Ferguson, who has played in two T20 and two ODI World Cups. The experience of the squad is also bolstered by captain Mitchell Santner, wicketkeeper-batter Tom Latham and former captain Kane Williamson, who played in the last Champions Trophy in 2017. Williamson also played in the 2013 edition. Santner will be leading New Zealand to a major tournament for the first time. He offers a spin bowling option along with Michael Bracewell, Glenn Phillips and Rachin Ravindra. The batting lineup is a strong one with Devon Conway, Will Young, Ravindra, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell and Williamson providing depth and experience. Read: Pakistan recalls opening batter Imam for two test matches against West Indies “Although the Champions Trophy hasn’t been played for a few years, the team is well aware of the history of the tournament and the fact New Zealand were the first winners of the tournament in 2000 when it was known as the ICC KnockOut Trophy,” Stead said. “We’re currently blessed with a lot of quality players and that certainly made for some challenging selection discussions. Ultimately, we’ve gone with the squad that will offer us the best options to perform well in the expected conditions in Pakistan and the UAE." New Zealand will prepare for the tournament with a warmup tri-series against Pakistan and South Africa in Karachi and Lahore and a warmup match against Afghanistan in Karachi. The Champions Trophy is contested by the top-eight ranked men's ODI teams in world cricket.

Asith Fernando and Maheesh Theekshana shared six wickets as Sri Lanka bowled out New Zealand for 150 runs in 29.4 overs to win the third one-day international by 140 runs Saturday. Fernando took 3-26 and Theekshana 3-35 to jointly knock the top off the New Zealand innings as it chased 291 for victory. Eshan Fernando also contributed 3-35 as Sri Lanka completed a comprehensive victory. New Zealand won the three-match series 2-1 in its last matches at home before the ICC Champions Trophy begins in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates next month. Earlier, Pathum Nissanka made 66 in an innings of two parts as Sri Lanka compiled 290-8 after choosing to bat first. New Zealand then slumped to 21-5 inside seven overs as Fernando helped Sri Lanka unpick the New Zealand top order. “It's a huge confidence boost for me and for the team as well because we haven't played well in the first two games. It's a pleasure to play like this,” Fernando said. McSweeney returns to Australia squad for Sri Lanka tour “We identified a few areas to be improved (after the first two games). Now we are going straight back to work to continue improving day by day.” Mark Chapman was the only New Zealand batter to stand against the chaos, making 81 at a run a ball. Chapman's 51-run partnership with Nathan Smith (17) for the eighth wicket was New Zealand's hope of making a game of it. The run rate never got away from New Zealand but it lost too many wickets early to seriously challenge Sri Lanka's total. Nissanka reached 50 from 31 balls but almost immediately fell to the ground in pain from an apparent groin or hip strain. He tried to bat on but was clearly impaired while running between wickets and was 50 not out when he was summoned from the field by Sri Lanka coach Sanith Jayasuriya to receive medical treatment. Matt Henry took 4-55 for New Zealand.

Rachin Ravindra and Mark Chapman made half centuries in a 112-run second-wicket partnership which helped New Zealand to a 113-run win over Sri Lanka in the second one-day international on Wednesday and an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. Ravindra made 79 from 63 balls and Chapman scored 62 from 52 as New Zealand reached 255-9 batting first in a match reduced by rain to 37 overs per side. Maheesh Theekshana became the seventh Sri Lanka player to take an ODI hat trick when he dismissed Mitchell Santner, Nathan Smith and Matt Henry with consecutive deliveries across two overs late in the innings. Sri Lanka slumped to 22-4 but Kamindu Mendis made a career-best 64 before the team was dismissed for 142 in 30.2 overs. Mendis put on 57 for the fifth wicket with Janith Liyanage (22) and 47 for the sixth wicket with Chamidu Wickramasinghe (17) in a key partnership which was cut short by the second run-out of the Sri Lanka innings. Sri Lanka struggled against the pace and bounce of the New Zealand attack and its run rate required had crept up to almost 15 by the end. Showers and a wet outfield delayed the start of play by two hours. When Sri Lanka won the toss it made the natural decision to bowl on a greenish pitch at Seddon Park with the possibility of more showers to come. Pakistani batter Fakhar Zaman confident of returning at Champions Trophy New Zealand lost Will Young for 16 and was 31-1 when Chapman joined Ravindra. Together they kept the score ticking over steadily, reaching their 50 partnership from 44 balls and their century partnership from only 79 deliveries. The pair rotated the strike and worked the ball often into the onside where there were larger gaps in the field. Ravindra also showed he was in form with an early straight drive which was a perfect example of the shot. “I think it's a nice natural tempo to go out there and play cricket shots, even in the shortened game,” Ravindra said. "I do enjoy the ODI format, although you don't see many matches happening any more. “It's a format I grew up watching and I think it suits the way I bat.” There were signs Ravindra was coming into form when he hit 69 from 38 balls in the third Twenty20 between the teams and 45 from 36 balls in the first match of the ODI series on Sunday which New Zealand won by nine wickets. He found his timing early on Wednesday and hit nine fours and a six. Chapman hit five fours and two sixes, playing with increasing confidence at No. 3. Both players reached their half centuries with sixes, Ravindra from the bowling of Wanindu Hasaranga and Chapman from Eshan Malinga. New Zealand lost momentum after Ravindra and Chapman were out. Daryl Mitchell made 38, Glenn Phillips 22 and Santner 20 but New Zealand couldn't get back on top of the bowling. The third ODI is on Saturday at Auckland.

Avishka Fernando scored a gritty half century in an 87-run partnership with Janith Liyanage which helped Sri Lanka to 178 as it batted first Sunday in the first one-day international against New Zealand. Matt Henry took 4-19 from his 10 overs for New Zealand as Sri Lanka was bowled out in 43.4 overs. New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner took a wicket, effected a run out and claimed three catches from Henry's bowling. Sri Lanka had slumped to 23-4 after being sent in on a greenish pitch at the Basin Reserve before Fernando's fifth one-day international half century and Liyanage's 36 gave some substance to the innings. New Zealand fielded a four-pronged seam attack and Henry, Jacob Duffy and Nathan Smith all took early wickets while Santner broke Fernando and Liyanage's stubborn fifth wicket stand. Sunday's match was played in bitterly cold, windy conditions and under the constant threat of rain. A potential sell out crowd was reduced substantially as only hardy fans turned out to watch the opener to the three-match series in wintry conditions. After a watchful start, Sri Lanka lost the key wicket of opener Pathum Nissanka in the fifth over. Nissanka made 141 runs at an average of 47 in the three-match Twenty20 series which New Zealand won 2-1. He had made only 9 Sunday when he tried to work a ball from Henry through midwicket but, as it seamed away, managed only to loop it to Santner at mid-off. Kusal Mendis, Nissanka's partner in a 121-run stand in the first T20, was 2 when he was bowled by Jacob Duffy off the inside edge. The ball cut back at Mendis at waist height and he was hurried in defense. Read: Rickelton smashes double ton as South Africa cruises to 429-5 in 2nd test against Pakistan Santner produced a sharp piece of fielding to run out Kamindu Mendis (3) and captain Charith Asalanka was caught by wicketkeeper Mitchell Hay from Smith's bowling. Asalanka was given not out by the on-field umpire but New Zealand reviewed and the replay showed the ball had just brushed the shoulder of the bat. Fernando and Liyanage steadily rebuilt the Sri Lanka innings, carrying it to 108-4 after 25 overs. The 26-year-old Fernando produced a defiant innings, reaching his half century from 52 balls with six fours and a six. Liyanage tried to hoist a ball from Santner over the off side but skied it from a top edge and was caught by the substitute fielder Michael Bracewell falling backwards at mid-wicket. Fernando was out in the next over, driving at a ball from Smith which sliced to Glenn Phillips at backward point. Read more: Bumrah sidelined but India builds 145-run lead after wild Day 2 of 5th test against Australia Chamindu Wickramasinghe and Wanindu Hasaranga put on 48 for the seventh wicket before Henry returned and dismissed Wickramasinghe on 22. Hasaranga made 35 from 33 balls in an innings full of adventurous strokeplay before he also fell to Henry. Eshan Malinga who made 4 on debut gave Henry his final wicket.

Kusal Perera scored Sri Lanka's fastest Twenty20 international century — from 44 balls — on Thursday to spur his team to a consolation win over New Zealand by seven runs in the the final match of the three-match series. Perera's career-best score in a century partnership with captain Charirth Asalanka lifted Sri Lanka to 218-5 — its second-highest T20 score, as it batted first for the first time in the series. New Zealand held a winning 2-0 lead in the series after winning the first match by eight runs and the second by 45 runs. New Zealand needed to achieve its highest run chase in T20s to complete a clean sweep of the series and was given a good start by Rachin Ravindra who made 69 from 39 balls. But it fell just short, held to 211-7. The Black Caps began at a pace to match Sri Lanka, reaching 60-0 in the six-over power play. But Asalanka slammed the brakes on the New Zealand innings when he dismissed Ravindra, Mark Chapman (9) and Glenn Phillips (6) in quick succession. Asalanka had figures of 3-25 after those dismissals but Daryl Mitchell hit four consecutive sixes from his final over to wreck his analysis and bat New Zealand back into the game. Wanindu Hasaranga then dismissed Mitchell Hay (8) and Michael Bracewell (1) in the 16th over to tip the match back in the visitors' favor. Asalanka took a superb diving catch to remove Bracewell and managed his bowlers well in a superb all-round performance. “I think it's a good win for us,” Asalanka said. "I think throughout the series we've played good cricket but couldn't manage to get a win. Finally we got it. I hope this is a momentum shift for us. Adapting to these conditions has been a key for us.” Read: William, Mahidul help Khulna beat Chittagong Kings New Zealand came to the last over, bowled by Binura Fernando, needing 22 to win. After taking six runs from the first three balls, one of which was a wide, Zak Foulkes hit the fourth ball for six, leaving New Zealand needing 10 from the last two balls. It was too much and the New Zealand batters managed only three more runs. The start of the match was delayed by 30 minutes by a wet outfield and when it began Sri Lanka lost the toss but had the chance to bat first on a good pitch at Saxton Oval. The tourists lost both openers, Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis, inside the power play. But Perera powered up the Sri Lanka innings in an outstanding batting performance, hitting 13 fours and four sixes in his 101 from 46 balls. One of the keys to victory was the 75 runs Perera and Asalanka hit between the 14th and 18th overs which proved vital in making the run chase just too much for New Zealand. The teams meet in the first of three one-day internationals in Wellington on Sunday.

Scientists suspect the first complete specimen ever recorded of the world’s rarest whale died from head injuries, an expert said Friday. The first dissection of a spade-toothed whale, a type of beaked whale, was completed last week after a painstaking examination at a research center near the New Zealand city of Dunedin, the local people who led the scientific team, Te Rūnanga Ōtākou, said in a statement issued by the New Zealand Department of Conservation. A near-perfectly preserved 5-meter (16-foot) male was found washed up on a South Island beach in July. It was the first complete specimen ever recorded. There have only been seven known sightings and never of a living spade-toothed whale. Scientists gather to decode puzzle of the world's rarest whale in 'extraordinary' New Zealand study New Zealand conservation agency beaked whale expert Anton van Helden said the whale’s broken jaw and bruising to the head and neck led scientists to believe that head trauma may have caused its death. “We don’t know, but we suspect there must have been some sort of trauma, but what caused that could be anyone’s guess,” van Helden said in a statement. All varieties of beaked whales have different stomach systems and researchers didn’t know how the spade-toothed type processed its food. The scientific team found the specimen had nine stomach chambers containing remnants of squid and parasitic worms, the statement said. Among the more interesting finds were tiny vestigial teeth in the upper jaw. “These little teeth embedded in the gum tells us something about their evolutionary history. It’s remarkable to see this and it’s just another thing that we had no idea about,” van Helden said. “It’s a week I’ll never forget in my life, it’s certainly a highlight and it’s the start of the storytelling around this beautiful animal,” van Helden added. The dissection was also notable because scientists and curators worked together with local Māori people to incorporate Indigenous knowledge and customs into each step of the process. Following the dissection, the local iwi, or tribe, will keep the jawbone and teeth of the whale before its skeleton is displayed in a museum. 3D printing will be used to replicate those parts retained by the iwi. To Māori, whales are a taonga -– a precious treasure -– and the creature has been treated with the reverence afforded to an ancestor. New Zealand is a whale-stranding hotspot, with more than 5,000 episodes recorded since 1840, according to the Department of Conservation. The first spade-toothed whale bones were found in 1872 on New Zealand’s Pitt Island. Another discovery was made at an offshore island in the 1950s, and the bones of a third were found on Chile’s Robinson Crusoe Island in 1986.  

England claimed an eight-wicket victory over New Zealand in the first test on Sunday, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. New Zealand resumed on day four with only a four-run lead and four wickets in hand. The home side's Daryl Mitchell stood firm with 84 runs, providing a resilient rearguard action before becoming the final wicket to fall, as New Zealand was bowled out for 252 in their second innings. Brydon Carse, in just his third test, took a remarkable 6-42, finishing with match figures of 10-196. England, needing just 104 runs to win, lost Zak Crawley (1) early, followed by Ben Duckett (46), but Jacob Bethell (50*) and Joe Root (23) guided the team to victory at 104-2 in just 12.4 overs, achieving a run rate of over eight runs per over. The win was completed with more than a day and a half to spare. Carse's exceptional bowling performance saw him become the first Englishman since Monty Panesar in 2012 to take 10 wickets in a test overseas. He expressed his pride in the team's efforts, saying, "I'm very proud of the outcome today...we stuck to certain plans and we got our rewards during the game." England's victory was bolstered by Harry Brook's brilliant 171 in their first innings, supported by Ollie Pope (77) and Ben Stokes (88). England posted 499 in reply to New Zealand's 348, taking a crucial 151-run lead. While Carse shone with the ball, England faced a slight injury scare with captain Ben Stokes, who had to leave the field briefly due to a concern with his hamstring strain. However, he returned to complete his role, showing no obvious signs of injury. Read: Kingston Test: Shadman shines with a fifty after rain cut the day England's strong position from the start was further solidified by New Zealand's poor catching, with the hosts dropping seven chances, including multiple opportunities off Brook. Despite Mitchell's valiant effort in New Zealand’s second innings, the game ended with England securing an easy victory. The second test of the series will begin at the Basin Reserve in Wellington on Friday. Source: With inputs from agencies 

South Africa was set a winning target of 159 runs against New Zealand in the Women’s T20 World Cup cricket final on Sunday that will produce a first-time champion. New Zealand scored 158-5 in 20 overs at Dubai International Cricket Stadium after South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt won the toss and opted to bowl. Amelia Kerr top scored for New Zealand with a 38-ball 43. Brooke Halliday hit 38 runs in 28 deliveries and opener Suzie Bates scored 32 in 31. Nonkululeko Mlaba took 2-31 in four overs for South Africa. Both teams fielded an unchanged side from their semifinal wins where South Africa stunned defending champions Australia in the first semi by eight wickets on Thursday, while New Zealand beat West Indies in the second semifinal by eight runs on Friday. Women’s T20 World Cup final: South Africa to bowl first against New Zealand This is South Africa’s second straight final appearance in the tournament. Losing to Australia by 19 runs, it had finished runners-up in its home tournament in 2023, its best result in the tournament. New Zealand, meanwhile, reached the tournament final for the first time since 2010. In the first two editions – 2009 and 2010 – it had lost to England by six wickets in London, and to Australia by three runs in Barbados.

South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt won the toss and opted to bowl against New Zealand in the Women’s T20 World Cup final on Sunday. Both teams fielded an unchanged side from their semi-final wins where South Africa stunned defending champions Australia in the first semi by eight wickets on Thursday, while New Zealand beat West Indies in the second semi-final by eight runs on Friday. This is South Africa’s second straight final appearance in the tournament. Losing to Australia by 19 runs, it had finished runners-up in its home tournament in 2023, its best result in the tournament history. New Zealand, meanwhile, reached the tournament final for the first time since 2010. In the first two editions – 2009 and 2010 – it had lost to England by six wickets in London, and to Australia by three runs in Barbados. The 2024 T20 World Cup will consequently crown a first-time champion. It is the first time South Africa and New Zealand have crossed paths in a T20 World Cup knockout – New Zealand leads their series 3-2 in past group encounters in the tournament. Both teams finished second in their respective league groups – New Zealand beat India in its all-important opener, as well as Sri Lanka and Pakistan, but lost to Australia thus finishing second in group A. South Africa lost to England, but beat West Indies, Scotland and Bangladesh to qualify second from group B. The pitch at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium should be good for batters on both sides. The average score in the powerplay has gone up at this venue as the tournament has progressed sp a high-scoring game could be on the cards. Lineups: New Zealand: Suzie Bates, Georgia Plimmer, Amelia Kerr, Sophie Devine (captain), Brooke Halliday, Maddy Green, Isabella Gaze, Rosemary Mair, Lea Tahuhu, Eden Carson, Fran Jonas South Africa: Laura Wolvaardt (captain), Tazmin Brits, Anneke Bosch, Chloe Tryon, Marizanne Kapp, Sune Luus, Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Sinalo Jafta, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Ayabonga Khaka

New Zealand weathered a nery chase and a superb spell by Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah to win its first test on Indian soil since 1988. New Zealand made 110-2 on a rain-affected final day on Sunday to beat India by eight wickets and take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Will Young and Rachin Ravindra shared a 75-run partnership for the third wicket to complete a famous victory after rain had again intervened early in the morning session. Bangladesh's new coach urges Tigers to focus on cricket amid chaos Young finished unbeaten on 48 runs off 76 balls, scoring six fours and a six, while Ravindra was 39 not out off 46 deliveries, hitting six fours. Bumrah finished with 2-29 after a stunning spell that removed both Black Caps openers and also beat the outside edge of the batters time and again, but couldn’t find the luck India desperately needed to make inroads into the Kiwis batting order. After the first day was washed out, India was then bowled out for its lowest test score at home in its first innings – 46 runs on day two. It rebounded with 462 runs in the second innings, but New Zealand’s first innings’ effort of 402 runs — with 134 from Ravindra — had the tourists in the ascendancy throughout. Earlier Sunday, play started an hour late due to a morning shower in Bengaluru. Sarfaraz Khan scores maiden century for India as the home side fights back against New Zealand Bumrah trapped captain Tom Latham lbw for a duck on the second ball of the morning. Latham reviewed, but the TV umpire decision went against him. It was a tough opening spell for the batters, with Devon Conway never looking comfortable against Bumrah. He was out lbw for 17 runs in the 13th over as New Zealand was reduced to 35-2. But Young and Ravindra calmed the nerves of the tourists’ dressing room with their attacking intent and fine stroke play. Once Bumrah’s spell was over, they settled down and attacked the Indian spinners. Kuldeep Yadav went for 8.7 runs per over in his short spell and Ravindra Jadeja didn’t fare much better. The pair put on 50 off 51 balls to lift New Zealand to the target 10 minutes prior to lunch in the extended morning session when Young played a cut shot for four off Jadeja. The second match in the three-test series will be played in Pune starting Thursday and the final match is in Mumbai from Nov. 1.