Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Pakistan thrashed by New Zealand once again in T20 clash

Colin Munro ensured New Zealand continued a stellar home summer on Monday when they thrashed Pakistan by seven wickets with 25 balls to spare in the opening Twenty20 match in Wellington.

Munro was left unbeaten on 49 when a wide by Hasan Ali in the 16th over gave New Zealand victory as they chased down Pakistan's 105 in the clash of the world's top two ranked Twenty20 sides.


It extended New Zealand's winning streak to 13 across all three formats in the past two months including five one-dayers against Pakistan and a series of Tests, ODIs and Twenty20s against the West Indies.

For Tim Southee, the stand-in captain after a late decision to rest Kane Williamson who has a minor injury, everything went according to plan.

"Obviously winning the toss on that wicket and then coming out and taking early wickets was the plan and we were able to do that. We bowled exceptionally well," said Southee who also paid tribute to Munro's role with the bat.

"It was a great knock from Colin. He likes to get on with it and I think he played a mature innings and was able to hammer it home towards the end."

Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed again had to defend a woeful performance by his top order batsmen, which also plagued them in the ODI series, and believed they were well short of a competitive total.

"We're not batting well enough up the order. The new ball was swinging and bouncing, we didn't keep wickets in hand. They bowled very well with the new ball," he said.

"If we had a score of 140-150 it could have been a good match."

After a wobbly start in which Martin Guptill went for two and Glenn Phillips was bowled for three, Munro and Tom Bruce (26) set up the New Zealand victory with a 49-run stand for the third wicket.

After cautiously lifting the score to 34 for two after eight overs, they took 23 off the next 12 balls to reduce the target to under six an over and they coasted from there.

Following Bruce's dismissal, Ross Taylor partnered Munro through to the end with a rapid 22 off 13 deliveries.

Munro's 43-ball innings included three fours and two sixes and he was left a frustrating one-run short of being only the third player behind Brendon McCullum and Chris Gayle to score four consecutive half centuries in Twenty20 cricket.

Pakistan were in immediate trouble after being sent into bat and were four for 22 in the sixth over as Southee led a dismantling of the Pakistan top order.

By the 15th over, Pakistan were seven for 53 and in danger of falling short of their current lowest score of 74 against Australia six years ago, when Babar Khan (41) and Hasan Ali (23) boosted the total with a 30-run partnership.

Southee finished with the best New Zealand figures of three for 13 while Seth Rance took three for 26.

More For You

Aryan Khan’s 'The Ba***ds of Bollywood' trailer shocks with digs at nepotism and a comic twist on Shah Rukh Khan

The Bads of Bollywood trailer lands with bold humour drama and unexpected industry jabs

Netflix Screengrab

Aryan Khan’s 'The Ba***ds of Bollywood' trailer shocks with digs at nepotism and a comic twist on Shah Rukh Khan

Highlights:

  • Aryan Khan makes his directorial debut with Netflix series
  • The Ba**ds of Bollywood trailer teases starry cameos, including Shah Rukh Khan
  • Bobby Deol, Lakshya and Sahher Bambba headline the cast
  • Series premieres worldwide on 18 September

The much-awaited The Ba**ds of Bollywood trailer has finally dropped, marking Aryan Khan’s official entry into the industry as a director. Released by Netflix, the series takes viewers deep into the glamour and chaos of Bollywood, with a fresh satirical spin. Featuring a special cameo by Shah Rukh Khan, it highlights both the allure and the darker realities of the industry, promising a bold new narrative.

The Bads of Bollywood trailer lands with bold humour drama and unexpected industry jabs Netflix Screengrab

Keep ReadingShow less
Rashmika Mandanna

Rashmika Mandanna’s five biggest films of 2025 and why her Gond warrior role is the boldest yet

Getty Images

Rashmika Mandanna leads five most awaited pan India films of 2025 including 'Pushpa 3' and 'Mysaa'

Rashmika Mandanna has steadily built her place as one of the most loved stars in Indian cinema. From the breezy charm of Geetha Govindam to the emotional depth of Animal, and more recently with blockbuster turns in Pushpa: The Rise, she has managed to win audiences across languages and industries. Now, she is heading into what looks like one of the busiest and most exciting phases of her career, with films that span genres and styles.

Rashmika Mandanna Rashmika Mandanna’s five biggest films of 2025 and why her Gond warrior role is the boldest yet Getty Images

Keep ReadingShow less
Kalyani Priyadarshan’s Chandra

Kalyani Priyadarshan’s Chandra embraces Kerala folklore with superhero strength in Lokah Chapter 1 Chandra

Instagram/lokahofficial

‘Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra’ shows how superhero costumes can become storytelling devices rooted in Kerala’s cultural heritage

Highlights:

  • Malayalam cinema’s first female superhero film blends tradition and modernity
  • Costume design by Melwy J. and Archana Akhil Rao praised for authenticity
  • Colour symbolism, especially red, drives character arcs and mythology
  • Costumes used as narrative devices rather than just visual styling

Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra has redefined how superhero cinema can be told in India. The Malayalam blockbuster, directed by Dominic Arun and produced by Dulquer Salmaan, does far more than just dress the characters; the costumes are a fundamental part of the film's narrative engine. Led by designers Melwy J. and Archana Akhil Rao, the costumes merge Kerala’s deep-rooted folklore with sleek contemporary aesthetics, giving India’s newest cinematic hero an identity that is both culturally authentic and powerfully modern.

Kalyani Priyadarshan\u2019s Chandra Kalyani Priyadarshan’s Chandra embraces Kerala folklore with superhero strength in Lokah Chapter 1 Chandra Instagram/lokahofficial

Keep ReadingShow less
Vijay-Mallya-Getty

Vijay Mallya, accused of loan defaults of over about £756 million, has been living in the UK and is contesting extradition. (Photo: Getty Images)

UK team inspects Delhi jail as India pursues extradition of fugitives

INDIA’s efforts to secure the extradition of high-profile economic offenders from the United Kingdom, including Nirav Modi and Vijay Mallya, have moved forward with a recent visit by a team from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to Tihar Jail in Delhi, an official said on Sunday (September 7).

The CPS delegation visited the prison last week to review jail conditions as required by UK courts before deciding on extradition requests, the official said.

Keep ReadingShow less
The Rise of Non-KYC Gambling Platforms in Emerging Markets

The Rise of Non-KYC Gambling Platforms in Emerging Markets

The online gambling landscape is evolving rapidly, and KYC-free cryptocurrency casinos are at the forefront of this transformation. In emerging markets, where traditional banking infrastructure may be limited or regulatory barriers may be high, players are turning to platforms that allow fast, private, and secure access to blockchain games and new cryptocurrency casinos . Among these platforms, Toshi.bet—as seen on CoinMarketCap —stands out as a prime choice for players seeking reliable rewards, innovative gameplay, and complete transparency .

This article explores the rise of no-KYC gambling platforms , why they attract players in emerging markets, and how Toshi.bet compares to other popular platforms .

Keep ReadingShow less