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The visitors had collapsed from 96 for 0 to 125 for 5 in a chase of 175 in Harare

Andrew Fidel Fernando03-Sep-2025Kamindu Mendis’ 41 not out off 16 from No. 6 rescued Sri Lanka from a collapse, and catapulted them to victory in a game that seemed to be slipping away. Sri Lanka needed 46 runs off the last four overs, having slipped from 96 for no loss to 125 for 5.But Kamindu crashed four sixes and a four, the vast majority of those shots coming behind square on the leg side as Zimbabwe’s seamers got their lines wrong at the death. In the end, Sri Lanka cruised home with five balls remaining and four wickets in hand.Higher up the order, Pathum Nissanka struck his third half century of the tour to set the platform for this chase of 176. It was a competitive total given the conditions, with Brian Bennett’s 81 off 57 balls being the primary driver of Zimbabwe’s score.Aside from Richard Ngarava, who took 2 for 19, Zimbabwe’s seamers were expensive.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Tinotenda Maposa’s horror over

With three overs to go and Sri Lanka still needing 34, Zimbabwe needed a quiet over from Tinotenda Maposa, who had bowled well until that stage. Kamindu manufactured a boundary off a wide yorker by reverse-scooping him for four first ball. Then came the horror deliveries. The next one was a chest-high full toss at the body which Kamindu swatted over the deep fine boundary. Maposa followed up that no-ball with a leg-side wide, and finished the over with another leg-side full toss that Kamindu happily deposited over the deep square leg rope. That 18th over cost Zimbabwe 26 runs, and essentially decided the match.

Sri Lanka’s middle-overs wobble

Following Nissanka’s outstanding 55 off 32 in which he was typically strong square of the wicket, Sri Lanka went through a period in which they lost six wickets for 46 runs in seven overs, with several Zimbabwe bowlers striking through this spell. The opening stand of 96 had come rapidly however – Kusal Mendis and Nissanka having scored at more than nine an over. This gave Sri Lanka some cover to weather the collapse.

Bennett holds Zimbabwe together

Although his innings began with some lucky edges through deep third, Bennett powered Zimbabwe through an impressive powerplay in which they reaped 59 – Bennett contributing 32 off 17. The deep third area would continue to be productive for Bennett, who used the seamers’ pace well. He also reverse-swept the spinners behind square on the offside. He was involved in fifty partnerships with Sikandar Raza and Ryan Burl, before Dushmantha Chameera took out Bennett’s stumps with the last ball of the 19th over.

Chameera takes three

The best of Sri Lanka’s bowlers was Chameera, who finished with figures of 3 for 30. He was effective both in the powerplay and the death, taking the first wicket, before later sending down a series of excellent yorkers. He was good at reading the batters too – twice batters attempted to spring to the offside to drag him to leg, but found that Chameera had sent a rapid yorker at the base of their stumps and rattled them.

Turkey is facing one of the most explosive scandals in its footballing history, with more than 1,000 players, 149 referees and even a top-flight club chairman suspended amid a sweeping illegal betting investigation. What began as an audit has spiralled into a multi-layered crackdown touching coaches, commentators, club executives and foreign betting networks while exposing a deeper crisis in Turkish football and society.

• Gambling scandal jolts Turkish football

  What began as an internal probe by the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) has now morphed into a far-reaching crisis. The initial revelation that 149 referees and assistants were suspected of betting on matches was shocking enough, but the numbers kept growing until the scandal exploded into the public sphere. Authorities have already suspended 1,024 players from all domestic leagues, shuttered the second and third divisions for two weeks, and arrested eight individuals, including the chairman of a top-tier club. The shock escalated when it emerged that 27 players from the Super Lig which included footballers from giants like Galatasaray, Besiktas and Trabzonspor were among those named. With nearly every club in the top 10 pulled into the inquiry except Fenerbahce, the title race has been thrown into disarray.

  Istanbul Chief Prosecutor Akin Gurlek made it clear this was only the beginning. He said new operations could be launched at any time and openly acknowledged that coaches, club executives and even commentators may be pulled into the widening net. Turkish prosecutors are now working with UEFA, Interpol and foreign betting regulators in Montenegro, Cyprus and Georgia to track the international networks used to place illegal wagers.

  "Whoever was involved in cheating, we are chasing them. There will be club chairmen and club executives in the probes … There may be ties between chairmen and referees, coaches and commentators. We are investigating everything," said Gurlek.

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• AFP
  

  Audit finds 371 professional referees hold active betting accounts

  The magnitude of the scandal has left the country stunned. In Istanbul’s traditional hubs of football gossip fans admit they have been left speechless by the scale of wrongdoing. The TFF's own audit uncovered that 371 out of 571 professional referees held active betting accounts, including one official who had placed more than 18,000 wagers alone.

  Sociologists and commentators argue the crisis mirrors wider issues within Turkey. The scandal broke at a time when Turkey is already grappling with politically charged anti-corruption probes, and many citizens believe football is simply reflecting the country’s broader problems. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has insisted that the crackdown proves no one is untouchable under Turkish law, yet critics argue that suspicions and political tensions have clouded the investigation’s integrity.

  Meanwhile, pay levels and financial pressures, once assumed to be the cause, appear to be only part of the story. Some referees were even encouraged to join betting platforms linked to influential business groups, raising uncomfortable questions about oversight, conflicts of interest and how deeply embedded gambling culture had become within the sport.

• Players deny accusations as Turkish football comes under strain

  Several high-profile players, including national team defenders, denied ever betting and were later cleared. FIFA-certified referee Zorbay Kucuk filed a criminal complaint to assert his innocence, insisting he had never placed a single wager.

  Turkey’s refereeing community, already historically targeted by fans, coaches and club owners, now faces public distrust like never before. Past incidents, from physical attacks on referees to public accusations from managers like José Mourinho, have only amplified the sense that the entire officiating system is fragile and vulnerable.

  Turkey’s top clubs have publicly backed the crackdown, calling it a chance to “clean” the sport. Yet among supporters, scepticism runs deep. With Turkey ranked high on global organised crime indexes, many fear the investigation might end with a few high-profile arrests while the core problems remain untouched.

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• AFP
  

  Turkish federation's fight to rebuild trust on the global stage

  The scandal arrives at a time when Turkish football should have been enjoying renewed optimism. The national team’s Euro 2024 run, co-hosting duties for Euro 2032, and a surge of big-money transfers had created a sense of revival. Instead, the sport is now grappling with a crisis that threatens its integrity at the most fundamental level.

  The TFF has quietly asked FIFA for an emergency transfer window to help clubs cope with mass suspensions, signalling just how disruptive the fallout has been. Meanwhile, UEFA is monitoring the situation closely, wary of the integrity risks posed to European competitions. As the legal dust settles, the investigation could reshape Turkish football for years to come, determining which clubs face relegation, which officials receive lifetime bans, and which executives are prosecuted.

Matthew Potts continues to be a seat-filler, a plugger of gaps in the side, but England know they can lean on him and he will not let them down

Vithushan Ehantharajah14-Dec-2024The Birkenstock slip-on clog has become must-have accessory for international cricketers across the world.After a long day’s graft, the boots are kicked off for luxury sandals that occupy that handy middle ground between aesthetic style and orthopaedic substance. The game has not gone – it’s still here, just standing a little comfier.Bowlers, especially, swear by them. A few pairs are knocking around both teams, with so many in the England dressing room it may as well be a showroom. After day one of this third and final Test in the Crowe-Thorpe trophy, Matthew Potts deserved his.Potts has owned some for a while, recommended by, among others, Ben Stokes. Both deserved the day-to-day relief of their closed-toe Bostons as the two who bowled the most of England’s 82 overs. Stokes is currently the clubhouse leader with 23. Potts’ 21 – the most he has sent down in a single day – was more concentrated.Related

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The first 20 came inside the first 67, split across fours spells in conditions that veered from “sapping” to “baking”. The Durham seamer, opening England’s innings for just the second time in typically humid Hamilton conditions, finished his work at 6:32pm when an uninhibited sun was still beating down on Seddon Park like it had come to collect a debt. With 3 for 75 at the time of writing, it is just the fifth time in 18 attempts he has taken more than two wickets in an innings.Potts has always worn graft well, even if the Birkenstocks have helped over the 12 months. Accompanying the heart and engine that can run for days is the build – and tenacity – of a prize fighter. Not to mention a marvel of a bowler’s backside. “It’s pretty obvious by looking at him,” Stokes said ahead of this match. “He looks after himself very well.”Looking after yourself does not automatically mean the cricket looks after you. Potts can vouch for that; a Test career that began with five consecutive caps in the 2022 summer has taken almost 28 more months to tick off as many. But the manner of the 26-year-old’s three wickets in New Zealand’s first innings suggests the game might be warming to him once more.Tom Latham, driver of a dominant start, was caught down the leg side with 63 to his name. Glenn Phillips’ lazy drive scuffed a catch to Zak Crawley at gully. And Kane Williamson was unable to evoke the hot feet of fellow countryman Chris Wood and kick away a delivery that was heading towards his stumps after he had defended it.It was the fourth time in five innings Potts has nabbed the prized Williamson, three of those coming across four in the quick’s maiden series two summers ago. The 14 wickets at 23.28 in Stokes’ first assignment as permanent Test captain was meant to be a springboard for Potts. Things have not panned out that way.Kane Williamson tries – and fails – to prevent the ball bouncing back on to his stumps•Getty ImagesDropped for the returning Ollie Robinson after the first Test against South Africa, Potts would play just one Test in 2023 – a four-day affair at Lord’s against Ireland ahead of the 2023 Ashes, which he watched from the sidelines. A go in the Sri Lanka series at the end of this summer was capped at two matches with England using the final match at the Kia Oval to roll the dice and select raw, tall left-armer Josh Hull. A solitary appearance in Pakistan for the second Test, on a newly scuffed used deck was a thankless task. Still, he managed to turn that into a positive with three dismissals in 31.2 overs.All of that exacerbates the sense Potts exists as something of a seat filler. Trusted to plug gaps, but not necessarily get a go outright. Set aside for others that selectors deem better. Brought in for those same options to rest up. Even parked for a relative novice. He’s sharp without being express. Reliable but unsexy. The shoes you would wear into the garden but not when you’re leaving through the front door.Potts’ opportunity comes on similar grounds. The series is already won, and Chris Woakes, after six wickets across two back-to-back Tests, has nothing to prove, as Stokes intimated. Naturally, Potts did not regard his selection as anything other than an honour, even with the time spent waiting and miles clocked around the world, desperate for an in.”I wouldn’t say it’s frustrating, no,” he said in his press conference, bowling boots still on having sent down the last over of the day. “I enjoy every single moment being part of this squad. There’s always jobs I can be doing, helping out. There’s opportunity to tinker with a few things and tinker with things.”That tinkering has involved a combination of run-up work, how he holds and releases the ball, and some extra deliveries – all honed under the watchful eye of bowling consultant James Anderson. And though he was fulfilling a role Anderson had mastered for the best part of two decades, Potts did not look out of place.

“I’d been a fraction wide to Kane early on, trying to swing a few. [Ollie Pope] felt we could go wide of the crease, angle it in a bit more towards the stumps. Bowl fourth stump, off stump, just keep smashing away on a hard length. I think [Kane Williamson’s] dismissal comes from that clarity”Matthew Potts

His opening spell from the City End – six overs, 0 for 17 – could have featured a wicket and ended an eventual opening stand of 105 for just 25 had Ben Duckett managed to cling on to Will Young’s low edge. The second spell (four overs, 0 for 16) featured a few more edges, and one that reared to catch the glove.Both spells averaged out at 131kph. England did not bowl well in the morning session, a touch too short and wide as New Zealand went into lunch on 93 for 0. Potts, however, was the least culpable of the four.Potts’ second spells only clocked in at 129kph, but housed the three wickets. Williamson’s, contained within the second – 2 for 10 from five – was an example of how Potts’ stamina gives his skills a better chance to come to the fore, even with a Kookaburra 58 overs old.Williamson was his typical self, tidy yet devastating, and completely at ease at a venue where he averages 94.26. With six centuries from the 11 times he has past fifty, England were fearful as he rounded on another half-century.However Potts, with the help of Stokes and vice-captain Ollie Pope – armed with a perfect view from behind the stumps – came up with a plan.”I’d been a fraction wide to Kane early on, trying to swing a few,” said Potts, before the brains trust got together. “Popey felt we could go wide of the crease, angle it in a bit more towards the stumps. Bowl fourth stump, off stump, just keep smashing away on a hard length. I think that dismissal comes from that clarity.”Considering how things have panned out, it is likely Matthew Potts’ career may be one of constant flux•Getty ImagesPotts did not have a great view of the dismissal, but was at least able to make out the falling of a bail. Williamson jarred his head back in disgust, while Potts raised his arms with unexpected glee. That “smashing away” had not been in vain. “To get a good player like that, a player like Kane who can play the long game and score quite quickly as well. To get a massive scalp like that for the team… I’m proud of that.”The knock-on effect was just as important. Daryl Mitchell had been playing possum – 0 off 17 – while Williamson was attracting most of the attention at the other end. His attempt at thrashing a few quick boundaries off Gus Atkinson resulted in a catch to Stokes at cover. The errors to come from Phillips and Tom Blundell – who Potts could have snared had Joe Root reacted quicker to an edge – made it a middle-order collapse of 4 for 46 in exactly ten overs.After that graft, it was a shame for Potts that the day would close with his final ball launched back over his head for six to bring up Mitchell Santner’s valiant 50 not out, taking New Zealand to 315 for 9 at stumps. A handy score after being put in to bat.It was a reminder of how unforgiving a day’s graft can be, even if you approach it with the right attitude and skill. Not that Potts saw any downside to today, his career to date or the fact he is filling in. “It was fantastic,” he beamed. “With the sun beating down it can be seen as hard work but I enjoy every moment that I put this England shirt on and I hope I do it justice.”Considering how things have panned out, it is likely Potts’ career may be one of constant flux. But on a day like today, he showed England can lean on him whenever they need to – a vital reminder ahead of 2025 and the challenges that come with five-Test series against India and Australia. He is a bowler capable of fulfilling a variety of roles and easing whatever situation arises, planned or otherwise.A classy, dependable load-bearer – England’s very own Birkenstocks.

Sudharsan spoke about Gambhir’s influence on him, his approach to Test cricket and wanting to be versatile like KL Rahul

Shashank Kishore29-Oct-2025B Sai Sudharsan has hailed India head coach Gautam Gambhir for backing him unconditionally through a challenging initiation into Test cricket.Sai Sudharsan scored 140 runs at an average of 23.33 in his debut Test series on the tour of England, and was out for 7 in his only innings in the first Test against West Indies in Ahmedabad earlier this month. He felt under some pressure coming into the second Test in Delhi until a chat with Gambhir put him at ease.”The support has been impeccable,” Sai Sudharsan said in Bengaluru where he will be India A’s vice-captain in the first unofficial Test against South Africa A, which begins on Thursday. “After the first game in Ahmedabad, we were practicing at the Feroz Shah Kotla nets. As always, I was the last to come out of the nets.Related

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“GG [Gambhir] sir called me and said, ‘You are not getting desperate. You are one of the best players in the country. So do not think about any of the other things. Don’t think that you have to score runs in this game or what will happen if you don’t.'”He told me, ‘You will play.’ The way he said that gave me so much confidence and freedom. I was trying to be more free and not think about external factors or the magnitude of things. But when you hear it from the head coach himself, the perspective and environment change drastically.”That helped me express myself better as well. Even in that game [2nd Test], I wasn’t in a mindset just to get runs, I was in a mindset to fight and win for the team, to dominate for the team.”Sai Sudharsan hit a composed 87 in his last Test outing•AFP/Getty Images

Sai Sudharsan made 87 and 39 in Delhi as India won by seven wickets to clinch the series 2-0. While those knocks have given him confidence, he doesn’t want to put himself under the pressure of having to live up to some of India’s past No. 3s.”I take it game by game, inning by inning, look at the situation, and react as best as I can,” he said. “Playing for India, there’s so much competition. So many great cricketers who have done well, are doing well, and will continue to do well. I’m not looking at a spot to cement or thinking about securing a place. I’m playing for a reason and that is to win games and fight for my team. That’s my mindset when I walk in.”When I think about sealing a spot or playing for safety, I tend to go defensive and play for myself, which I definitely don’t want to do. I look at it from a different perspective – to win one session at a time and make a difference there. Runs will be a byproduct of that process.”That said, Sai Sudharsan acknowledges the challenges that will come with batting at No. 3, having come through domestic cricket primarily as an opener for Tamil Nadu.”It’s a great responsibility, and I’m grateful for the opportunity,” he said. “No. 3 is also like an opening spot. There’s not a big difference, to be honest. But playing for India, wherever we get an opportunity, we have to be on point, not just fill a place but be really ready for whichever spot we play.”We have great examples. Like KL [Rahul] , who has played in almost all positions and is so versatile. We can learn from him. We have to be ready for all those challenges. I wouldn’t say I prefer one or the other. I’ve played quite a lot at No. 3, even in the IPL, and when I was younger in the Under-14s and Under-16s also I’ve batted at No. 3. So I enjoy both. It’s not a big difference”

Lower-order runs are useful and can change Test matches, but are they worth it if they come at the cost of bowling potency?

Sidharth Monga01-Jul-20252:28

Gill: A second spinner won’t be a bad option if pitch is similar to last Test

India are worried about their long tail. They keep saying 20 wickets are their priority and that they are willing to play four tailenders if that means getting 20 wickets as cheaply as possible, but believe it once you see it with your own two eyes.It is clear by now that Shardul Thakur played the first Test at Headingley primarily because of his batting ability. India have repeatedly called him a “bowling allrounder”, but used him for just 16 overs out of 182.4. Two days out from the second Test, assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate was asked why, when the tail hasn’t been contributing anyway, India don’t just go after 20 wickets by playing four proper bowlers plus Ravindra Jadeja. His response politely suggested that it’s great optics to say India can play four tailenders but those advocating it don’t have skin in the game.Related

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“You know when you’re 430 for 3, it’s absolutely fine,” ten Doeschate said, “but when you’re 200 for 5, it’s a very different ball game.”It’s not about optics, though. It is about establishing and living with a philosophy to try to win Test matches. Thakur worked as a fourth fast bowler on spicy pitches in 2021; if India had similar confidence in his bowling on the flatter tracks of 2025, they would have used him more.Since the start of the 2024-25 Australia tour, with the exception of the Perth Test on a spicy pitch, India have struggled to take 20 wickets while staying competitive in a Test match. Thakur, who wasn’t in the squad in Australia, has not really proved to be the solution either.Head coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar have decisions to make•Gareth Copley/Getty ImagesIf their nets sessions and public utterances between Headingley and Edgbaston are anything to go by, India seem likely to replace Thakur with Washington Sundar. Captain Shubman Gill said he felt a second spinner could help control the flow of runs when the ball goes soft and India are waiting for the second new ball. Their opponents have the luxury of Ben Stokes, who swung the ball more than anyone else in the first Test, as their fourth quick.India expect the surface – dry underneath patchy grass, according to them – to assist spin, but if they do go ahead with Washington, they basically give up on the wicket-taking threat of wristspinner Kuldeep Yadav, who, albeit in different conditions, was the Player of the Match in their last Test against England before this tour.All things being equal, you absolutely want bowlers who can contribute runs, but Kuldeep and Washington, for all the extra runs the latter can bring, are not exactly equal with the ball. Or you want a seam-bowling allrounder who brings wicket-taking threat. India have neither. This is where their commitment to taking 20 wickets as cheaply as possible gets tested. This is where you see if they put their money where their mouth is.Before you counter any of the team management’s arguments, of course, you must look at it from their point of view in good faith. They probably feel that good lower-order batting doesn’t just bring runs but also deflates the opposition bowling, and gives India the chance of coming back into the game with the bat in many situations. They may also feel that the bowlers might struggle to create pressure without runs on the board. They may even feel that in the likely absence of Jasprit Bumrah, they don’t have the class and the experience in the bowling to take 20 wickets anyway.For all the runs Washington Sundar could bring, does he present the wicket-taking threat of Kuldeep Yadav?•Getty ImagesAll of it seems counterproductive, though. Any reduction to the bowling firepower from Headingley only takes India closer to playing for a draw and taking the win as a bonus if the opportunity presents itself.India need to eliminate all else and condense this debate to runs that extra batting could get them versus runs that extra bowling could prevent by taking wickets quicker. Look at it this way: if you have a wicket-taking attack, a match-winning first-innings total could be 450 rather than 550. Targets could be smaller too. Better bowling attacks don’t increase the batters’ load but reduce it.All the arguments of psychology and pressure can be flipped on their head too. Extra runs on the board can only increase the chance of a draw; runs saved by bowling oppositions out can win you games. One extra threatening bowler gives all the bowlers longer breaks between spells. England’s four fast bowlers bowled 21%, 21%, 18% and 17% of their overs. India’s quicks bowled 24%, 23%, 19% and 9% of their overs. A more equitable workload keeps the bowlers effective for longer.While the team management may have their reasons to prioritise batting depth, and while it might seem like a drastic change to put 20 wickets first, this might just be the time to take that leap of faith. And India haven’t yet ruled it out.

Rangers manager Danny Rohl has confirmed that as many as six players are currently injury doubts to square off against Livingston in the Scottish Premiership this Saturday.

It’s bad timing for the Gers, who are attempting to make it four league wins from four under their new manager. Victory over bottom side Livingston would also see those at Ibrox rise to third if Hibernian also fail to beat Dundee. It would be the result of the strong start that Rohl has made to turn things around following the disaster that was Russell Martin’s tenure.

Thelwell can upgrade on Souttar by signing £8m defender for Rangers

With Danny Röhl in need of defensive reinforcements, could Rangers sign an “aggressive” £8m-valued star better than John Souttar and Nasser Djiga?

By
Ben Gray

Nov 20, 2025

The German told reporters in the build-up to Rangers’ return to action that he believes they’re “in a good way”, but still need to work on breaking old habits on the pitch.

As January approaches, the former Sheffield Wednesday boss may also be eyeing up some potential improvements to his squad amid recent links with the likes of Kilmarnock’s David Watson.

The midfielder would add the kind of depth that the Gers could do with this weekend following the latest injury news.

Rangers vs Livingston team news

As revealed by Rohl, as many as six stars could miss Rangers’ game against Livingston this weekend following a frustrating international break. Mikey Moore, John Souttar, Derek Cornelius and Bailey Rice are all certain to be absent after picking up knocks, whilst Youssef Chermiti and Liam Kelly are facing a race against time to return to full fitness.

Rohl told reporters: “I am very happy and very proud of my players during the international break. We do have a couple of injuries from players returning, such as John Souttar, Micky Moore, and Derek Cornelius, who all have muscle injuries. Bailey Rice got injured during training, and Liam Kelly is a question mark at the moment.”

It’s a particular blow for Tottenham Hotspur loanee Moore, who scored his first Rangers goal against Dundee just before the international break. The 18-year-old, who was dubbed “brave” by former manager Martin upon arriving, has now seen his recent momentum halted by an untimely injury.

With Rangers set to face Braga in the Europa League next Thursday, Rohl will hope to have a positive update on several injuries just in time for what is a crucial game.

Rangers open talks to sign "quality" attacking star ahead of Aberdeen

The San Francisco Giants are hiring Tennessee Volunteers baseball coach Tony Vitello as the franchise's new manager, according to a report from ESPN's Jeff Passan and Pete Thamel.

The 47-year-old Vitello is making history, as he is becoming the first coach to ever jump from the college level to MLB as a manager without any professional coaching experience.

The Giants confirmed the hire on Wednesday afternoon.

"We're thrilled to welcome Tony to the Giants family," Giants president of baseball operations Buster Posey said. "Tony is one of the brightest, most innovative, and most respected coaches in college baseball today. Throughout our search, Tony's leadership, competitiveness, and commitment to developing players stood out. His ability to build strong, cohesive teams and his passion for the game align perfectly with the values of our organization. We look forward to the energy and direction he will bring, along with the memories to be made, as we focus on the future of Giants baseball."

It's an outside-the-box hire for Buster Posey and the Giants, who in hiring Vitello are getting an elite college baseball coach. Vitello's teams at Tennessee have made five NCAA regionals, four super regionals, and three College World Series appearances. The program finally broke through in 2024 when they captured the national championship over Texas A&M.

Vitello will finish his career at Tennessee with a 341-131 record in seven seasons.

He will replace veteran MLB manager Bob Melvin, who was fired last month after two seasons.

The Phillips brothers sparkle in the Plunket Shield while Abbas returns from injury in the tour game against the West Indians

Deivarayan Muthu29-Nov-2025In his first game for Northern Districts in a year, Williamson lasted only 27 balls across two innings. After scoring 17 in ND’s first innings, he was dismissed for just 3 in their second on the final day at Bay Oval, his home ground, against Auckland. Williamson fell to rookie left-arm spinner Rohit Gulati in both innings. In the first dig, Williamson stepped out and shanked a catch to mid-off before being bowled in the second. Williamson will look to shake off the red-ball rust when he lines up for New Zealand against West Indies in their WTC opener in Christchurch from December 2.

Nicholls notches up twin tons

Henry Nicholls missed the cut for the upcoming three-match Test series at home against West Indies, which will kick off New Zealand’s new World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, and was not needed as a reserve batter during the preceding ODI series, but he reminded the selectors of his worth with twin centuries for Canterbury against Otago in Dunedin. This, after he had topped the one-day Ford Trophy charts in the first chunk of the season, with 306 runs in five innings.Nicholls, Canterbury’s captain, emulated his coach Peter Fulton in scoring centuries in each innings. Only four other Canterbury players have achieved the dual feat in the Plunket Shield. After making 111 off 157 balls in the first innings, Nicholls was even more fluent in the second, cracking an unbeaten 109 off 119 balls, which strengthened Canterbury’s push for victory.Canterbury also had hundreds from Ish Sodhi and No. 9 Sean Davey. Their unbroken 204-run partnership was the third-highest for the eighth wicket in the Plunket Shield. Sodhi celebrated his maiden first-class ton in dramatic fashion, pulling off the D-Generation X celebration, perhaps inspired by wrestling stars Shawn Michaels and Triple H.

Ish Sodhi with the single greatest celebration of all time after reaching his maiden first-class 100! pic.twitter.com/QF2mqcN7Od

— The ACC (@TheACCnz) November 27, 2025