Another horror batting show by White Ferns Kara-France in spectacular knockout win
First, the good news. A very good England women’s cricket team is heading home, after owning the White Ferns in a 3-0 Twenty20 series clean sweep.
Now, the not-so-good. World T20 champions Australia are soon to cross the Tasman, spend 14 days in managed isolation then play captain Sophie Devine’s side in three T20 internationals on a double bill with the Bangladesh men.
On evidence of yesterday’s 32-run loss to England in Wellington, unless there’s a rapid, dramatic improvement the Australians will not even be pushed close.
Yes, they were without injured key players Suzie Bates and Lea Tahuhu but this White Ferns side remains a long way off the two women’s cricket powerhouses. And the gap wasn’t closed in this series. On a pitch hosting its sixth T20 match in five days, a chase for 129 for a consolation victory in game three was tricky but certainly not beyond New Zealand.
They never threatened it, and were skittled for 96 off 18 overs after a 10th-wicket stand of 33 between Maddy Green and Rosemary Mair.
Player of the match Katherine Brunt (2-19) struck the biggest blow, removing Devine and Hayley Jensen in the first over to rock the home dressing room.
Devine’s wicket, again, was the key one and the skipper lasted just two deliveries before she was trapped in front, lbw.
The world’s top-ranked T20 allrounder who strung together six international half-centuries a year ago collected 37 runs in the ODI series and in the T20s scored two, eight and nought in clearly the biggest worry for the White Ferns.
Kiwi flyweight contender Kai KaraFrance delivered his first UFC stoppage win in a dramatic comeback victory at UFC 259.
In a crucial win for his career, KaraFrance completed a walk-off knockout over Rogeio Bontorin in Las Vegas yesterday after being dominated for all but the final 20 seconds of the opening round.
Kara-France dedicated the stunning knockout victory to his son, Cobi, who was born last month.
‘‘I love you bro,’’ he said to his son in a post-fight interview.
Kara-France spent around three minutes on his back desperately trying to avoid a submission before finally
fighting his way back to his feet.
In the fight commentary, UFC great Daniel Cormier called the fight as being as good as over twice as Bontorin had Kara-France’s back with his arms around his neck.
But Kara-France refused to give in.
He finally made it back to his feet and landed three right hands to complete an incredible come-from-behind victory.
The fight ended in bizarre circumstances with Kara-France walking off following the knockout blow but referee Herb Dean didn’t call the fight as being as over.
Bontorin tried to get to his feet but was clearly concussed and when KaraFrance went in to finish the job Dean finally waved the fight off.
Bontorin protested the result and appeared to throw his mouthguard at Kara-France, but the Brazilian was clearly in no position to continue.
Earlier, Carlos Ulberg’s muchanticipated UFC debut ended abruptly with a knockout loss.
■ For coverage of Israel Adesanya’s title fight, go to stuff.co.nz