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	<title><![CDATA[iAfrica :: Sport : Today]]></title>
	<link>http://www.iafrica.com</link>
	<description><![CDATA[All the news that's fit to print.]]></description>
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<pubDate>2017-01-10 14:18:00</pubDate>
<content_id>1042822</content_id>
<author><![CDATA[]]></author>
<heading><![CDATA[Tennis: Aussie Open is not a psychological barrier reports Murray]]></heading>
<title><![CDATA[Tennis: Aussie Open is not a psychological barrier reports Murray]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Andy Murray is ready to go and give his best effort in order to secure Australian Open title]]></description>
<body_text><![CDATA[Andy Murray says he does not have a mental block when it comes to the Australian Open despite losing the final of the opening Grand Slam of the season five times.
The 29-year-old world number one -- whose season opened with a defeat in the Qatar Open to Novak Djokovic -- told The Times in an interview he had also pondered over whether he should accept the knighthood he received in the New Year's Honours list.
Murray, who is in Australia preparing for next week's Aussie Open, is adamant he no longer has issues over tournaments he has yet to win. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&quot;I don&rsquo;t feel like I have mental hurdles now,&quot; said Murray.
&quot;I feel like I'm past that, to be honest.
&quot;I just go there and give my best to win. So long as I give my best effort, I don&rsquo;t judge myself or feel like I've failed here (Melbourne) or anything like that.&quot;
Murray, who had a memorable year in 2016 becoming Britain's first tennis number one of the professional era and won Wimbledon and defended his Olympic singles title, admitted he had conferred with those closest to him -- but not his brother Jamie -- over whether to accept the knighthood when he was offered it in the middle of December. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&quot;I spoke to a few of the people closest to me. I didn't have too long, but obviously you think about something like that because I do feel like it's obviously a big honour to be offered that, but with that comes maybe a little bit more responsibility,&quot; said Murray.
&quot;I&rsquo;m still very young, I'm still competing and obviously don&rsquo;t want anything to distract me or affect my performance on the court.&quot;
&quot;I kept it fairly quiet and just spoke to the people that I was closest with and explained what the situation was. I just tried to get the best advice possible.&quot;
Murray is clear, though, how he wishes to be addressed by his rivals on the circuit.
&quot;A few of the players have been chatting to me about it and asking how it works, what does it mean and what do we call you,&quot; Murray said.
&quot;Andy is fine.&quot;
Murray, whose win in the 2012 US Open was the first in a Grand Slam by a British tennis male tennis player since Fred Perry in 1936, says another thing that has changed as he has matured is how he reacts to personal criticism.
&quot;When you are comfortable like that with who you are, someone saying that you&rsquo;re boring or miserable or whatever it is, it doesn&rsquo;t affect you like it does when you are younger and you are still not sure of yourself,&quot; said Murray.
&quot;When you are growing up in the spotlight and you don&rsquo;t know exactly who you are or what you&rsquo;re going to become, that&rsquo;s probably a bit more difficult.&quot;
Murray, who says he likes to organise his schedule so he can see his daughter Sophia and wife Kim every fortnight, received a flood of congratulations when he became number one but two phone messages, left by two sporting giants, in particular touched him.
&quot;I got one from Alex Ferguson and one from Jose Mourinho,&quot; said Murray.
&quot;That was pretty cool. I obviously watch a lot of football and they are two of the most respected and best managers in one of the hardest sports to succeed in at the highest level. That was pretty nice.&quot;
Indeed such is Murray's affinity with 'the beautiful game' he would like to be involved in the sport when the day finally comes to put away his racquet, although he would also like to coach a British player.&nbsp;
&quot;I would like to do something in football,&quot; said Murray, whose grandfather Roy Erskine played for historic Scottish club Hibernian in the 1950's.
&quot;I watch loads of it. I am into my fantasy sports a lot.&quot;]]></body_text>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.iafrica.com/articles/1042822.html]]></link><external_link><![CDATA[]]></external_link><image_list>
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<caption><![CDATA[Britain's Andy Murray]]></caption>
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<source><![CDATA[AFP]]></source></item>
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<pubDate>2017-01-10 09:27:25</pubDate>
<content_id>1042786</content_id>
<author><![CDATA[]]></author>
<heading><![CDATA[Football: Euro 2016 gave France 1.2 billion boost ]]></heading>
<title><![CDATA[Football: Euro 2016 gave France 1.2 billion boost ]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Hosting the 2016 Euro football tournament cost France less than 200 million euros but brought in some 1.22 billion euros.]]></description>
<body_text><![CDATA[by Fran&ccedil;oise CHAPTAL
Hosting the Euro 2016 football tournament cost France less than 200 million euros ($211 million) but brought some 1.22 billion euros into the country, according to figures released by the ministry of sports Tuesday.
There was controversy over the public funds poured into the tournament, with some 24 million euros -- double the expected cost -- spent on security in light of an increased terrorist threat.
The state spent a further 160 million euros on building and renovating venues for the June and July event, while private funds and tournament organiser UEFA covered the remaining costs.
But Euro 2016 brought 1.221 billion euros into the country both in tourism and spending directly related to the organisation of the tournament, according to data compiled by the Centre of the Law and Economics of Sport at Limoges University (CDES) and the consultancy firm Keneo.
In calculating the figures, researchers took into account the loss from potential tourists who would have stayed away from France to avoid the tournament, as well as the state funds which could have been used elsewhere had they not been set aside for venues.
The average tournament visitor spent 154 euros a day, with most of that going on accommodation and eating out, the study said, with tourism providing a 625.8 million euro boost to the country.
UEFA spent some 360 million euros on organising the tournament in the country, while 24 participating teams gave the economy a 34.9 million euro boost.
Accredited persons for the event spent 34.8 million euros while in the country, and sponsors 22.6 million euros, according to the figures.
Last January the CDES predicted Euro 2017 would bring in 1.266 billion euros in additional expenditure, or 0.1 percent of France's GDP.&nbsp;]]></body_text>
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<caption><![CDATA[Euros]]></caption>
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<source><![CDATA[AFP]]></source></item>
<item>
<pubDate>2017-01-05 13:14:28</pubDate>
<content_id>1042553</content_id>
<author><![CDATA[]]></author>
<heading><![CDATA[Cricket: South Africa's Rabada sends Sri Lanka crashing]]></heading>
<title><![CDATA[Cricket: South Africa's Rabada sends Sri Lanka crashing]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Kagiso Rabada took three wickets in two overs as South Africa sent Sri Lanka crashing to a 282-ru]]></description>
<body_text><![CDATA[Kagiso Rabada took three wickets in two overs as South Africa sent Sri Lanka crashing to a 282-run defeat on the fourth day of the second Test at Newlands on Thursday.
Fast bowler Rabada finished with six for 55 as Sri Lanka crumbled to 224 all out, giving South Africa a winning 2-0 lead in the three-match series. It took South Africa less than two hours to claim the remaining six wickets after the tourists resumed on 130 for four.
Overnight batsmen Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal played out the first five overs of the day without undue alarm before Rabada struck with the first ball of the sixth over when Chandimal (30) flicked him straight to Stephen Cook at square leg, the only fielder in a largely unmanned area of the field.
New batsman Upul Tharanga showed aggressive intent and hit Rabada for three fours, one off an edge, before flashing at a wide delivery from the first ball of the fast bowler?s next over to be caught behind by Quinton de Kock.
Sri Lankan captain Mathews fell to the last ball of the over, edging a lifting delivery to De Kock after making top score of 49 off 82 balls.
Rabada struck once more when he had Suranga Lakmal caught behind. It was the fifth time in his 13-Test career that he had taken five or more wickets in an innings. He had match figures of 10 for 92, his second ten-wicket haul.
There was a flurry of strokes from Rangana Herath and Lahiru Kumara, who put on 33 for the ninth wicket before Keshav Maharaj and Vernon Philander wrapped up South Africa's win.
&nbsp;]]></body_text>
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<caption><![CDATA[South African cricketer Quinton de Kock]]></caption>
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<source><![CDATA[AFP]]></source></item>
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<pubDate>2017-01-05 09:44:59</pubDate>
<content_id>1042529</content_id>
<author><![CDATA[]]></author>
<heading><![CDATA[Cricket: Worker replaces New Zealand's broken Broom ]]></heading>
<title><![CDATA[Cricket: Worker replaces New Zealand's broken Broom ]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[New Zealand batsman Neil Broom was Thursday forced outagainst Bangladesh with a broken finger ]]></description>
<body_text><![CDATA[In-form batsman Neil Broom was Thursday forced out of the remaining two Twenty20 matches against Bangladesh with a broken finger and replaced by George Worker, New Zealand Cricket said. Broom, who averaged 76.66 in the preceding three one-day internationals against Bangladesh, injured his finger while fielding in the first T20 in Napier on Tuesday.&nbsp;Worker, who played two matches for New Zealand in cricket's shortest form two years ago, has been recalled to the side. The remaining two T20s are played in Mount Maunganui on Friday and Sunday. New Zealand won the first match in the series as well as the three ODIs.]]></body_text>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.iafrica.com/articles/1042529.html]]></link><external_link><![CDATA[]]></external_link><image_list>
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<caption><![CDATA[George Worker]]></caption>
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<source><![CDATA[AFP]]></source></item>
<item>
<pubDate>2017-01-04 15:32:11</pubDate>
<content_id>1042496</content_id>
<author><![CDATA[]]></author>
<heading><![CDATA[Cricket: South Africa v Sri Lanka scoreboard ]]></heading>
<title><![CDATA[Cricket: South Africa v Sri Lanka scoreboard ]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Cricket: South Africa v Sri Lanka scoreboard for Test match on Wednesday the 4th of January 2017]]></description>
<body_text><![CDATA[Scoreboard at the end of South Africa's second innings on the third day of the second Test between South Africa and Sri Lanka at Newlands on Wednesday.
&nbsp;
South Africa, first innings, 392
Sri Lanka, first innings, 110
&nbsp;
South Africa, second innings
(overnight 35-0)
S. Cook c Karunaratne b Lakmal 30
D. Elgar c Mathews b Herath 55
H. Amla c Chandimal b Lakmal 0
J. Duminy lbw b Lakmal 30
F. du Plessis c Chandimal b Lakmal 41
T. Bavuma run out (De Silva) 0
Q. de Kock c Chandimal b Kumara 29
K. Maharaj not out 20
V. Philander not out 15
Extras (nb3, w1) 4
Total (7 wkts dec, 51.5 overs) 224
Fall of wickets: 1-64 (Cook), 2-64 (Amla), 3-110 (Elgar), 4-136 (Duminy), 5-137 (Bavuma), 6-170 (Du Plessis), 7-192 (De Kock)
Bowling: Lakmal 19.5-2-69-4, Pradeep 11-0-46-0 (1nb), Kumara 12-0-62-1 (1w), De Silva 3-0-15-0, Herath 6-0-32-1
&nbsp;
Match situation: Sri Lanka need 507 to win
Toss: Sri Lanka
&nbsp;
Umpires: Aleem Dar (PAK), Rod Tucker (AUS)
TV umpire: Bruce Oxenford (AUS)
Match referee: David Boon (AUS)]]></body_text>
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<caption><![CDATA[Kagiso Rabada]]></caption>
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<pubDate>2017-01-04 10:42:49</pubDate>
<content_id>1042453</content_id>
<author><![CDATA[]]></author>
<heading><![CDATA[Cricket: Pakistan fight back after big Aussie declaration ]]></heading>
<title><![CDATA[Cricket: Pakistan fight back after big Aussie declaration ]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Azhar Ali and Younis Khan kept Pakistan afloat in Australia's big first innings declaration at the third Sydney Test on Wednesday.]]></description>
<body_text><![CDATA[Azhar Ali and Younis Khan kept Pakistan afloat after rookie Peter Handscomb made it three centurions in Australia's big first innings declaration at the third Sydney Test on Wednesday.
The tourists, who have already lost the series after defeats in Brisbane and Melbourne, made a rocky start after Steve Smith called a halt at 538 for eight, leaving seven overs for Pakistan to negotiate before tea.
They lost debutant Sharjeel Khan and Babar Azam in one Josh Hazlewood over before the interval with just six runs on the board. &nbsp;&nbsp;
But the in-form Azhar and 114-Test veteran Younis steadied the ship with a century stand to take the tourists to stumps at 126&nbsp;for two.
Azhar, who scored an unbeaten 205 in last week's Melbourne Test, was on 58&nbsp;with 39-year-old Younis providing support on 64&nbsp;to trail Australia by 412&nbsp;runs.
&quot;At two for six we were in serious strife, but to see the resilience, character and intent that has been shown by Younis and Azhar has been a real example to the rest of the dressing room of how we need to play,&quot; coach Mickey Arthur said.
Azhar had an escape nearing stumps on 51 when David Warner could not hold a sharp one-handed catch at leg-slip off Nathan Lyon.
Azhar was eight runs short of Mohsin Khan's 1984 record for the most runs (390) for Pakistan in a series in Australia, having tallied 382&nbsp;at the close, while Younis reached 1,000 Test runs against Australia.
Handscomb completed his second century in just four Tests to join David Warner (113) and Matthew Renshaw (184) in another huge Australia innings against the beleaguered tourists.
- Bizarre wicket -
The 25-year-old right-hander was out in unique circumstances when he went back in his crease to cut Wahab Riaz, only for his bat to dislodge the leg-bail and he was given out hit wicket for 110.
&quot;I thought I could have gotten away with it,&quot; Handscomb said.
&quot;If Spidercam (overhead camera) hadn't have been there I think I would have been a chance to get away with that.
&quot;First time, even though I bat so deep (in the crease), so there you go.&quot; &nbsp;
Handscomb, brought into the Australian team along with Renshaw in a shake-up after the Hobart Test debacle against South Africa in November, faced 205 balls in 319 minutes.
Renshaw's epic knock ended inside the first half-hour Wednesday when he played paceman Imran Khan on to his stumps.
The 20-year-old Renshaw's first century in his fourth Test came off 293 balls with 20 fours in 413 minutes. He shared in a 142-run stand with Handscomb.
Debutant Hilton Cartwright hit the highest score by an Australian number six this season with 37 before he was bowled by Imran.
The Zimbabwe-born all-rounder, brought in for his Test debut at the expense of Nic Maddinson, looked solid during his 97-ball stay which eclipsed the previous highest of 26 by Mitchell Marsh against South Africa in Perth in November.
&quot;If Spidercam (overhead camera) hadn't have been there I think I would have been a chance to get away with that.
&quot;First time, even though I bat so deep (in the crease), so there you go.&quot; &nbsp;
Handscomb, brought into the Australian team along with Renshaw in a shake-up after the Hobart Test debacle against South Africa in November, faced 205 balls in 319 minutes.
Renshaw's epic knock ended inside the first half-hour Wednesday when he played paceman Imran Khan on to his stumps.
The 20-year-old Renshaw's first century in his fourth Test came off 293 balls with 20 fours in 413 minutes. He shared in a 142-run stand with Handscomb.
Debutant Hilton Cartwright hit the highest score by an Australian number six this season with 37 before he was bowled by Imran.
The Zimbabwe-born all-rounder, brought in for his Test debut at the expense of Nic Maddinson, looked solid during his 97-ball stay which eclipsed the previous highest of 26 by Mitchell Marsh against South Africa in Perth in November.]]></body_text>
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<caption><![CDATA[Pakistan's Babar Azam]]></caption>
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<source><![CDATA[AFP]]></source></item>
<item>
<pubDate>2017-01-04 08:42:35</pubDate>
<content_id>1042429</content_id>
<author><![CDATA[]]></author>
<heading><![CDATA[Cricket: Pakistan in trouble in Australia test]]></heading>
<title><![CDATA[Cricket: Pakistan in trouble in Australia test]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Pakistan were in early trouble after Australia called a halt to their massive first innings at 538 for eight on Wednesday.]]></description>
<body_text><![CDATA[Pakistan were in early trouble after Australia called a halt to their massive first innings at 538 for eight on the second day of the third Test in Sydney on Wednesday.
At tea, Pakistan were 16&nbsp;for two&nbsp;with debutant Sharjeel Khan and Babar Azam dismissed in one Josh Hazlewood over. &nbsp;&nbsp;
Hazlewood had Sharjeel caught by Matt Renshaw at slip for four and four balls later Babar was leg before wicket for nought.
Younis Khan had yet to score and Azhar Ali was on 12&nbsp;at the interval.
Peter Handscomb joined in the Australian run spree as the third centurion before skipper Steve Smith declared.
It was Handscomb's second century in just four Tests to join David Warner (113) and Renshaw (184) in another huge Australia innings against the beleaguered tourists.
Handscomb was out in bizarre circumstances when he went back deep in his crease to cut Wahab Riaz only for his bat to dislodge the leg-bail and he was given out hit wicket for 110.
Handscomb, brought into the Australian team with Renshaw in a shake-up after the Hobart Test debacle against South Africa in November, batted for 205 balls in 319 minutes.
Matt Wade made 29 before he was caught sweeping Azhar and upon Mitchell Starc's dismissal for 16, skipper Smith called a halt, giving his bowlers 25 minutes at the Pakistan batsmen before tea.
Hilton Cartwright hit the highest score by an Australian number six this season with 37 before he was bowled by Imran Khan.
The Zimbabwe-born all-rounder, brought in for his Test debut at the expense of Nic Maddinson, looked solid during his 97-ball stay.
The previous highest score batting six season was Mitchell Marsh's 26 against South Africa in Perth in November.
Renshaw's epic knock ended inside the first half-hour Wednesday when he played paceman Imran Khan on to his stumps.
The 20-year-old rookie's first century in his fourth Test came off 293 balls with 20 fours in 413 minutes. He shared in a 142-run stand with fellow newcomer Handscomb.
Pakistan were showing the gruelling effects of the back-to-back Boxing Day-New Year Tests with Amir and leg-spinner Yasir Shah nursing leg injuries and paceman Wahab Riaz leaving the field holding his right side.]]></body_text>
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<source><![CDATA[AFP]]></source></item>
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<pubDate>2017-01-03 15:58:43</pubDate>
<content_id>1042420</content_id>
<author><![CDATA[]]></author>
<heading><![CDATA[ Cricket: South Africa v Sri Lanka scores ]]></heading>
<title><![CDATA[ Cricket: South Africa v Sri Lanka scores ]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Brief scores at tea on the second day of the first Test between South Africa and Sri Lanka at Newlands on Tuesday.]]></description>
<body_text><![CDATA[Brief scores at tea on the second day of the first Test between South Africa and Sri Lanka at Newlands on Tuesday.
&nbsp;
South Africa 392 all out in 116 overs (Dean Elgar 129, Quinton de Kock 101, Lahiru Kumara 6-122).
Sri Lanka 56 for two in 24 overs (Dimuth Karunaratne 24 not out).
&nbsp;
Toss: Sri Lanka]]></body_text>
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<caption><![CDATA[South Africa's Faf du Plessis]]></caption>
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<source><![CDATA[AFP]]></source></item>
<item>
<pubDate>2017-01-03 09:59:34</pubDate>
<content_id>1042382</content_id>
<author><![CDATA[]]></author>
<heading><![CDATA[Leicester sack Cockerill]]></heading>
<title><![CDATA[Leicester sack Cockerill]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Richard Cockerill's seven-year spell as Leicester's Director of Rugby came to an end on Monday when the English rugby giants sacked him.]]></description>
<body_text><![CDATA[The 46-year-old former England hooker - who has been on the coaching staff at the Tigers for 12 years and acceded to the top post in 2010 - said he was sad to be leaving a club which he served with distinction as both player and coach, insisting he was the right person for the job.
Cockerill's sacking came the day after a narrow 12-16 home defeat to defending champions Saracens which left Leicester in fifth spot 15 points adrift of leaders Wasps.
&quot;It is with great sadness and regret that I leave my position as Director of Rugby with immediate effect,&quot; said Cockerill in a statement on the club website.
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&quot;I still believe that I am the right person to lead the team at this present time but respect the Board's decision to make change as they see fit in the best interests of the club.
&quot;I wish to thank the club and in particular Simon Cohen and Peter Tom [chairman] for giving me the opportunity to lead this great club and the support they have given me in the last seven years.
&quot;I arrived back at the club in 2004 as an academy coach and leave as DOR with a record that speaks for itself and stands up against any in club rugby in the world.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The 46-year-old former England hooker - who has been on the coaching staff at the Tigers for 12 years and acceded to the top post in 2010 - said he was sad to be leaving a club which he served with distinction as both player and coach, insisting he was the right person for the job.
Cockerill's sacking came the day after a narrow 12-16 home defeat to defending champions Saracens which left Leicester in fifth spot 15 points adrift of leaders Wasps.
&quot;It is with great sadness and regret that I leave my position as Director of Rugby with immediate effect,&quot; said Cockerill in a statement on the club website.
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&quot;I still believe that I am the right person to lead the team at this present time but respect the Board's decision to make change as they see fit in the best interests of the club.
&quot;I wish to thank the club and in particular Simon Cohen and Peter Tom [chairman] for giving me the opportunity to lead this great club and the support they have given me in the last seven years.
&quot;I arrived back at the club in 2004 as an academy coach and leave as DOR with a record that speaks for itself and stands up against any in club rugby in the world.
&nbsp;
&quot;This club has made me the person and the coach I am today and I will never forget what they have done for me.&quot;
Tom paid tribute to Cockerill - who guided the Tigers to two Premiership titles as head coach in 2009 and 2010 and then a record 10th domestic crown as Director of Rugby in 2013.
&quot;We thank Richard for his loyal and dedicated service as a player, coach and director of rugby,&quot; said Tomas in a statement.
&quot;He has a great passion for the club and for the game of rugby, and has shared in many massive occasions with the Tigers.
&quot;The club always has aspirations to contest the major honours in the game and that remains unchanged but the board believes this is the right time to make a change.&quot;&nbsp;
Head coach and former New Zealand star Aaron Mauger will take charge whilst the board reviews its coaching structure.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;]]></body_text>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.iafrica.com/articles/1042382.html]]></link><external_link><![CDATA[]]></external_link><image_list>
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<caption><![CDATA[Richard Cockerill's seven-year spell as Leicester's Director of Rugby came to an end on Monday when the English rugby giants sacked him.]]></caption>
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<pubDate>2017-01-03 08:30:22</pubDate>
<content_id>1042366</content_id>
<author><![CDATA[]]></author>
<heading><![CDATA[Cricket: Bangladesh win toss and bat in first NZealand T20 ]]></heading>
<title><![CDATA[Cricket: Bangladesh win toss and bat in first NZealand T20 ]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Cricket: Bangladesh win toss and bat in first NZealand T20 ]]></description>
<body_text><![CDATA[Bangladesh elected to bat first after winning the toss in the first Twenty20 against New Zealand at McLean Park in Napier on Tuesday.Zealand at McLean Park in Napier on Tuesday.
New Zealand swept the 50-over series last week and Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Mortaza said he was keen for his side to bounce back.
&quot;It looks to me a very nice wicket and in T20 cricket the best option is to bat,&quot; he said.
It is the first shortened version of the game played by both sides since the World Twenty20 early last year.
New Zealand have included a debutant in middle-order batsman Tom Bruce while Neil Broom, who starred in the ODIs, has been brought into the line-up in place of the injured Martin Guptill.
New Zealand: Kane Williamson (capt), Neil Broom, Colin Munro, Corey Anderson, Tom Bruce, Colin de Grandhomme, Luke Ronchi, Mitchell Santner, Ben Wheeler, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson.
Bangladesh: Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Sabbir Rahman, Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah, Soumya Sarkar, Mosaddek Hossain, Nurul Hasan, Mashrafe Mortaza (capt), Mustafizur Rahman, Rubel Hossain.
Umpires: Shaun Haig (NZL), Wayne Knights (NZL)&nbsp;
Third umpire: Chris Brown (NZL)&nbsp;
Match referee: Chris Broad (ENG)&nbsp;
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<link><![CDATA[http://www.iafrica.com/articles/1042366.html]]></link><external_link><![CDATA[]]></external_link><image_list>
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<caption><![CDATA[New Zealand's captain Kane Williamson]]></caption>
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<source><![CDATA[AFP]]></source></item>
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