Sport

Otago top-order batsman Neil Broom has been offered a national contract but provincial team-mate Mark Craig has dropped off the list.

Otago's Neil Broom was one of three new names on New Zealand Cricket's central contract list for the 2017-18 season.

Afghanistan and Ireland will join the ranks of full test-playing nations after receiving the backing of the International Cricket Council's (ICC) conference.

The Blacks Caps list of contracted players is expected to be announced today. Cricket writer Adrian Seconi takes a lighthearted look at who might make the cut.

Anil Kumble has stepped down as India coach.

''It's the best opportunity ever,'' former Otago Sparks coach Warren Lees blurted out, heading off the question before it reached its obvious conclusion.

Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Amir shone as Pakistan defied the odds to overwhelm arch-rivals India by 180 runs and pull off a major upset in the Champions Trophy final at The Oval.

India put on a display of composed and confident batting as they cruised into the final of the Champions Trophy with a nine-wicket victory over Bangladesh, setting up a clash with old rivals Pakistan.

One of the world’s great all-rounders will be a speaker at next February’s Otago Medical Research Foundation annual dinner, A Night to Remember 2018.

Pakistan delivered an inspired all-round performance to rout a ragged England team by eight wickets in a one-sided Champions Trophy semifinal.

Otago cricket great Warren Lees has accomplished much in his glittering cricket career but coaching the Sparks to two titles in five seasons ranks as one of the highlights.

Danushka Gunathilaka and Kusal Mendis were the heroes as Sri Lanka chased down 322 runs to upset India by seven wickets at the Oval and throw Champions Trophy Group B wide open.