Sports News: NZ Beat PAK By Four Runs In 4th T20I, Take 2-1 Lead - As It Happened

Here are the highlights of 25th April 2024 sporting action from across the globe. In football, Liverpool's title hopes were dented with a 0-2 defeat at the hands of Everton. Manchester United beat Sheffield United 4-2. In cricket, RCB defeated SRH by 35 runs in Hyderabad to end their six-game-long losing streak. Pakistan went down against New Zealand in the fourth T20I in a close encounter in Rawalpindi. With this win, New Zealand led the series 2-1 with one more match left. Catch all the highlights of the sports world for 25th April 2024, here.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Van Dijk said: "If we play like today, then we have no chance to consider ourselves in the title race."

In a letter written to the PHF, the FIH has set April 25 as the deadline for Pakistan to decide on which body should govern the sport in the country and represent them at international level.

The FIH has made it clear if the feud was not resolved immediately, Pakistan may not be allowed to participate in the forthcoming Sultan Azlan Shah Cup (May 4-11, Malaysia) and the Nations Cup (May 31-June 9, Poland). (PTI)

"He (pant) started with a two-week camp in Vizag, he came there, he prepared himself very well. I remember when he came for the Vizag camp, he came straight to the ground from the airport."

"He was hungry and made sure everyday he is going to utilise. It is all about his hard work, which is paying him," Pravin Amre said at the post-match press conference.

Pakistan's seasoned wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan remains doubtful for the tours to Ireland and England in May after being sidelined from the home T20 series against New Zealand. (AP)

A left-handed batter, Bismah made her ODI debut against India in 2006 and went on to represent Pakistan in 276 international matches, the most by any Pakistan women cricketer. She had made her T20I debut against Ireland in 2009

She has scored 6,262 international runs, including 33 half-centuries, and has taken 80 international wickets with her right-arm leg-spin.

"I have decided to retire from the game I love the most. It has been an incredible journey, filled with challenges, victories, and unforgettable memories," Bismah said in a statement.

Recurve men's team in final; Priyansh, Jyothi make compound semis

The Indian recurve team, which qualified behind reigning world and Olympic champions South Korea, sailed past Italy 5-1 (55-54, 55-55, 56-55) in the last-four stage.

India will be up against the South Korea's Tokyo Olympics gold medal-winning trio of Kim Woojin, Lee Woo Seok and Kim Je Deok in the final slated for Sunday. (PTI)

Six teams will be vying for the title in the inaugural edition of the Gujarat Super League (GSL), which will be held in a single round-robin format from May 1-12, with the top two teams at the end of the league stage contesting the final.

The six franchises are – Ahmedabad Avengers, Gandhinagar Giants, Karnavati Knights, Saurashtra Spartans, Surat Strikers, Vadodara Warriors. (PTI)

Indian chess prodigy D Gukesh on Thursday thanked the legendary Viswanathan Anand for playing a huge role in shaping his career, saying "I wouldn't have been close to what I am now if it wasn't for him". The 17-year-old Grandmaster scripted history on Monday by winning the Candidates Chess Tournament in Toronto to become the youngest ever challenger to the world title, beating a record created by the legendary Garry Kasparov 40 years ago. (PTI)

New Zealand: Tim Robinson, Tim Seifert(w), Dean Foxcroft, Mark Chapman, James Neesham, Michael Bracewell(c), Cole McConchie, Zakary Foulkes, Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy, William ORourke, Tom Blundell, Josh Clarkson, Ben Sears, Ben Lister.

Pakistan: Saim Ayub, Babar Azam(c), Mohammad Rizwan, Usman Khan(w), Irfan Khan, Shadab Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Abbas Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Amir, Imad Wasim, Fakhar Zaman, Usama Mir, Azam Khan, Zaman Khan.

A total of 56 players hailing from Maharashtra will be participating in the upcoming second season of Prime Table Tennis (PTT), which is scheduled to take place on April 27 and 28. While the first season of the tournament was limited to players from the Thane District Table Tennis Association, this time around the competition has been expanded to include the finest athletes from across Maharashtra.

Pakistan have won the toss and have opted to field

Playing XIs:

New Zealand: Tim Robinson, Tom Blundell(w), Dean Foxcroft, Mark Chapman, James Neesham, Michael Bracewell(c), Josh Clarkson, Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy, Ben Sears, William ORourke

Pakistan: Saim Ayub, Babar Azam(c), Fakhar Zaman, Usman Khan(w), Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Imad Wasim, Usama Mir, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Zaman Khan

Pakistan's Imad Wasim started with the first over and Tim Robinson, along with Tom Blundell opened the batting for New Zealand, With two boundaries and three wides, Wasim conceded 14 runs in the first over.

NZ - 14/0 (1)

Tim Robinson and Tom Blundell smashed 50-plus runs in the five overs. Zaman Khan continued his attack and came to bowl the fifth over. Blundell smashed two fours but he got rid of the set batter on the last delivery. Dean Foxcroft is the new batter at the crease.

NZ - 62/1 (6)

Tim Robinson completed his maiden T20I half-century with a single off Imad Wasim in the 10th over. He took 34 balls to reach the milestone.

NZ - 93/1 (10)

After a quick start, the run-rate has slowed down for New Zealand and they also lost the wickets of their set batters, first Tim Robinson then Dean Foxcroft. Michael Bracewell and James Neesham are digging hard in the death overs.

NZ - 155/4 (17)

Pakistan's bowlers kept the Kiwi batters at bay and restricted them to 178/7 in 20 overs. Mohammad Amir gave nine runs in the last over and also grabbed a wicket of Ish Sodhi. Neesham remained unbeaten after making 11 runs off as many balls. Pakistan now need 179 runs to win this match and take a lead in the series.

NZ - 178/7 (20)

Brief Score: NZ - 178/7 (20)

Tim Robinson - 51 (36), Dean Foxcroft - 34 (26) | Abbas Afridi: (3-0-20-3)

Pakistan started the chase with Babar Azam and Saim Ayub and Jacob Duffy came to bowl the first over and conceded just six runs from that. William ORourke was introduced in the next over and he got rid of Babar Azam on the last delivery. Usman Khan is the new batter at the crease.

PAK - 13/1 (2)

Pakistan are three wickets down and Shabad Khan has joined Fakhar Zaman after the dismissal of Usman Khan. Bot batters are trying to rebuild innings.

PAK - 76/3 (9)

Fakhar Zaman completed his half-century with a six on the first delivery of the 16th over. Iftikhar Ahmed is accompanying him as the duo is reaching the target gradually. Pakistan still need 46 runs in 24 balls to win the match.

PAK - 133/4 (16)

With 18 runs required off the final over, Usama Mir started with a four, but Neesham bowled him on the next delivery. Mohammad Amir came and took a single. Imad Wasim took a double on the fourth delivery and smashed a boundary on the next delivery after Neesham gave one wide. Now, Pakistan needed six runs to win the match but Imad Wasim could only manage a single on the last delivery. With this win, NZ took an unassailable lead of 2-1 against Pakistan with only one match remaining in the series.

PAK - 174/8 (20)

Rafael Nadal didn't need much effort as he cruised to a 6-1, 6-0 victory over American teenager Darwin Blanch in the first round of the Madrid Open on Thursday, according to AP reports. Nadal looked in good form in what was only his third match since returning from his latest injury layoff. He had made his return in Barcelona last week, losing to Alex De Minaur in the second round.

Indian para-shooter Mona Aggarwal claimed a gold medal in women's 10m air rifle while Army man Amir Ahmed Bhatt secured a silver in 25m pistol at the WSPS World Cup in Changwon, Korea, on Thursday, according to PTI reports. Mona claimed the R2 - 10m air rifle standing SH1 gold medal with a score of 250.8 in the final.

We will be taking your leave now. That's all we have for today. Join us tomorrow. Goodnight!