New Zealand were facing defeat despite a century stand between Brendon McCullum and Ross Taylor on the third day of a four-day match against South Africa A at Sedgars Park on Saturday.
The Black Caps were 230 for six at the close of play after being set 358 to win in their final warm-up match before the first Test against South Africa starts in Johannesburg on Thursday.
The tourists crashed to 67 for five before Taylor (79 not out) and McCullum (77) put on 139 for the sixth wicket.
The stand was ended when McCullum missed a pull shot against fast bowler Friedel de Wet and was bowled by a ball which kept low. He made his runs off 101 balls with 13 fours.
Taylor, 23, who is set to make his Test debut in Johannesburg, batted through until the close with captain Daniel Vettori, who has top-scored twice in three innings.
But the New Zealanders go into the last day still 128 short of victory with only the tail to follow. Taylor faced 116 balls and hit 13 fours and a six.
Left-arm swing bowler Lonwabo Tsotsobe took three wickets in four overs as the New Zealanders lost five wickets between lunch and tea. He had figures of three for 40.
The lights dimmed and the crowd hushed as Karoline Kristensen entered for her performance. However, this was no ordinary Dutch theater: The temperature was 80°C and the audience naked apart from a towel. Dressed in a swimsuit and to the tune of emotional music, the 21-year-old Kristensen started her routine, performed inside a large sauna, with a bed of hot rocks in the middle. For a week this month, a group of wellness practitioners, called “sauna masters,” are gathering at a picturesque health resort in the Netherlands to compete in this year’s Aufguss world sauna championships. The practice takes its name from a
‘SOURCE OF PRIDE’: Newspapers rushed out special editions and the government sent their congratulations as Shohei Ohtani became the first player to enter the 50-50 club Japan reacted with incredulity and pride yesterday after Shohei Ohtani became the first player in Major League Baseball to record 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single season. The Los Angeles Dodgers star from Japan made history with a seventh-inning homer in a 20-4 victory over the Marlins in Miami. “We would like to congratulate him from the bottom of our heart,” top government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters in Tokyo. “We sincerely hope Mr Ohtani, who has already accomplished feat after feat and carved out a new era, will thrive further,” he added. The landmark achievement dominated Japanese morning news
Roger Federer on Wednesday said that staying involved with tennis in retirement helped him avoid feeling “like an alien” ahead of this week’s Laver Cup in Berlin. Federer, who helped create the tournament, retired at the Laver Cup in London two years ago and has since stayed involved with the competition as an ambassador. “I’m happy I went back right away to some tournaments,” the 43-year-old told reporters. “I feel I ripped the Band-Aid off quite quickly and when I walk around the tennis sites I still feel I belong there,” he said. “I don’t feel like an alien, which is a
Japanese players are moving to English soccer in record numbers and more look set to follow with clubs attracted by their quality, strong work ethic and value for money. Kaoru Mitoma is the standout talent of five Japanese players in the English Premier League, with eight more in the Championship and two in League One. Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, the captain of Japan, believes his compatriots are “being held in higher esteem” by English clubs compared with the past. “The staff at Liverpool ask me about lots of Japanese players, not necessarily with a view to a transfer, but just saying this or