Today's sports news: What you need to know

Latest - Former international cricketer Hamish Bennett has announced his retirement.

The pace bowler is calling time on a career that has spanned 17 years since making his first-class debut for Canterbury in 2005.

"When I started out as a young kid bowling in the nets in Timaru, I never dreamed I would have gone on to enjoy the career that I've had," Bennett said.

"I've been so fortunate to work and play alongside so many great players, captains and coaches and I'd like to thank every one of them for their support over the years.

Bennett made 265 domestic appearances for Canterbury and Wellington, amassing 489 wickets and establishing himself as one of the most reliable pace bowlers in the country.

In that time, he won 12 domestic titles including five Plunket Shields, two Ford Trophy titles, four men's Super Smash titles and a women's Super Smash title as Wellington Blaze bowling coach.

He finishes his career as Wellington's third leading all-time T20 wicket-taker behind only Jeetan Patel and Luke Woodcock.

Bennett made his international debut for the Black Caps in an ODI against Bangladesh in 2010 and made his sole Test appearance a month later against India in Ahmedabad.

He went on to make 31 appearances for New Zealand across all three formats, taking 43 wickets, and was selected in the BLACKCAPS squad for the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup in India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.

Tall Blacks get first home game in four years

Tall Blacks will play in New Zealand in July as part of the third window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Asian Qualifiers.

The game against the Philippines on 3 July in Auckland will be the Tall Blacks first home match since beating Syria in Wellington in December 2018.

Auckland will also host a game between the Philippines and India on 1 July.

Basketball New Zealand said the games will be played in a "bubble" format due to the current Covid climate.

New Zealand is one of 16 nations vying for Asia and Oceania's seven spots in the FIBA World Cup 2023.

Currently in the first round of preparations, the 16 teams play in the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers during six windows across the first and second rounds. After progressing through the 2nd window with a perfect 3-0 record, the Tall Blacks now prepare for their third window game, taking on the Philippines.

ALB out for six months

All Black midfielder Anton Lienert-Brown is set to miss the majority of the season as he needs shoulder surgery.

Lienert-Brown suffered the injury in the Chiefs loss to the Blues in Super Rugby Pacific at the weekend.

He suffered a similar injury on the All Blacks end of year tour last November.

The Chiefs say the 26-year-old is expected to return to rugby after approximately six months.

The Rugby Championship is scheduled to start in August, with proceeded by a three test series against Ireland in New Zealand in July.

Jack Goodhue returned to club rugby at the weekend, a year after he ruptured the ACL in his knee.

Quinn Tupaea and Rieko Ioane started in the midfield in the All Blacks last game against France in Paris in November.

What may ease the All Blacks selectors minds is the form Jordie Barrett has shown playing at second-five for the Hurricanes.

Kane leads the way

Kane Williamson's Sunrisers Hyderabad have scored their second win of the Indian Premier League with an 8 wicket victory over the Gujurat Titans.

Williamson scored 57 off 46 balls as Hyderabad chased down their target of 163 with five balls to spare.

His innings included two fours and four sixes and is his highest score after four games.

Fellow Black Cap Lockie Ferguson bowled four overs and took no wickets for 46 runs for Gujurat.

Hyderabad have two wins and two losses and sit eighth on the table, three places behind Gujurat who have three wins and one loss.

Rajasthan Royals, Kolkata Knight Riders, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Lucknow Super Giants also have three wins.

Another big win for Proteas

South Africa spinners Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer took all 10 wickets between them as the hosts crushed dismal Bangladesh by 332 runs to claim the series 2-0 following the completion of the second test at St George's Park in Gqeberha.

Bangladesh resumed on the fourth morning at 27 for three chasing a venue record 413 but seemed to already have their minds on the flight home as poor shot selections allowed South Africa to skittle them out for 80 in their second innings.

Maharaj took 7-40 and Harmer 3-34 on a wicket that provided prodigious turn but were not unfamiliar conditions for sub-continent side Bangladesh, who will be desperately disappointed with their application.

South Africa won the first test in Durban by 220 runs, where they bowled Bangladesh out for 53 in their second innings.

Depleted South Africa will be especially pleased with the series win as six of their first team regulars chose to play in the Indian Premier League and were not available.

-Reuters

Rahm remains favourite for rest of majors

Jon Rahm is the favorite for all three majors left on the golf calendar, but Masters champion Scottie Scheffler is climbing fast.

Scheffler cruised to his first PGA Tour major victory at Augusta National and the green jacket plus the No. 1 world ranking has odds trending in his favour to win another.

Rahm was 2-over for the tournament at the Masters and tied for 27th, his first non-top 10 finish in his last five trips around Augusta.

But a brief history lesson on Rahm: He won the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines and tied for third at the Open Championship in 2021, spending a good chunk of last year as the No. 1-ranked golfer in the world.

Rahm is favourite to win the PGA Championship in May with Scheffler improving his odds after the Masters win.

For the U.S. Open, to be played June 16-19, Rahm is the unanimous favorite at regulated sportsbooks.

Rahm and Rory are co-favorites for the Open Championship at St Andrews.

-Reuters

Wawrinka returns to the court

Stan Wawrinka marked his return to Tour level tennis for the first time in 13 months by showing glimpses of his old form but the Swiss failed to get past Alexander Bublik in the first round of the Monte Carlo Masters, losing 3-6 7-5 6-2.

The three-times Grand Slam champion suffered a foot injury early in 2021 and had surgery in March last year before another operation three months later, only returning to action at a Challenger Tour tournament in Marbella last month.

While the 37-year-old was beaten in the first round of that event there were few signs of rustiness against world number 36 Bublik.

The tournament is without a number of big names, including Rafa Nadal, Daniil Medvedev, Dominic Thiem and Matteo Berrettini although world number one Novak Djokovic is playing.

-Reuters

Young sailor dies

Tunisian sailor Eya Guezguez, who competed in the Tokyo Olympics last year, has died at age 17 after her boat capsized while training at sea with her twin sister Sarra, who survived the accident.

The IOC said that the pair's vessel capsized on Sunday as a result of strong winds while they were training with the Tunisian national team. The IOC did not specify where the accident occurred.

Guezguez competed alongside her twin in Tokyo in the 49er FX event.

In a statement, IOC President Thomas Bach called Guezguez "an inspiring talent and role model for her athletes' generation." Bach said her participation in Tokyo alongside her sister "will continue to motivate girls everywhere."

"Our thoughts are with her family, friends and the Olympic community in Tunisia," Bach added.

-Reuters

Lakers sack coach

The Los Angeles Lakers have fired head coach Frank Vogel after three seasons in charge at the NBA team.

The move was expected since the Lakers' bid to reach the postseason ended last week.

"I have a tremendous amount of respect for Frank both on and off the court," Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka said. "Frank is a great coach and a good man. We will forever be grateful to him for his work in guiding us to the 2019-20 NBA championship. This is an incredibly difficult decision to make, but one we feel is necessary at this point. All of us here wish Frank and his wonderful family all the best for the future."

Vogel finished 127-98 in three seasons and led the Lakers to their 17th NBA championship during the 2019-20 season.

"I respect Frank as a coach and as a man. He's a man who gives everything to the game," Lakers star LeBron James said earlier. "At the end of the day I don't know what's going to happen with Frank and him being here, but I have nothing but respect for him."

Overall, Vogel is 431-389 in 11 seasons as head coach of the Indiana Pacers (2010-16), Orlando Magic (2016-18) and Lakers.

The Athletic reported that Toronto head coach Nick Nurse is among the Lakers' top targets to replace Vogel.

-Reuters

Russian go-karter to be investigated

A 15-year-old Russian go-karter is being investigated by Motor racing's world governing body after he made an apparent Fascist-style salute on the podium at a race in Portugal last weekend.

The FIA said in a statement it had launched an immediate investigation into Artem Severiukhin's "unacceptable conduct".

Video footage showed the youngster, racing under an Italian flag due to sanctions imposed on Russia following the invasion of Ukraine, tapping his chest with a clenched fist before raising his right arm in salute and then laughing.

Italy's Gazzetta dello Sport described the gesture, made while the Italian anthem was played after the Russian won the opening round of the European championship OK category in Portimao, as a Roman salute.

Film of the incident was widely circulated and condemned on social media.

The FIA announced last month it would continue to allow Russian drivers to take part in its competitions but not under the country's flag as no Russian symbols or colours can be displayed.

-Reuters