NEW YORK (AP) — The last of the crystal triangles that make up this year's Times Square New Year's Eve ball were installed on Friday morning, marking the first time in 10 years that all 2,688 were replaced at once.
Rapper Pitbull and inventor Joy Mangano were among those on hand to help the organizers of the celebration put the final pieces in place atop One Times Square, the skyscraper from which the 11,875-pound (5,386-kilogram) geodesic sphere drops to mark the new year.
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Singer Pitbull, left, and Joy Mangano, right, founder of CleanBoss, install a crystal during the Times Square New Year's Eve Ball Crystal Installation at One Times Square, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
A person touches the Times Square New Year's Eve Ball at One Times Square, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Singer Pitbull attends the Times Square New Year's Eve Ball Crystal Installation at One Times Square, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Times Square New Year's Eve Ball is displayed at One Times Square, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Times Square New Year's Eve Ball is displayed at One Times Square, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Times Square New Year's Eve Ball is displayed at One Times Square, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
A New Year's Eve ball was first dropped in Times Square in 1907. Built by a young immigrant metalworker named Jacob Starr, the 700-pound (318-kilogram), 5-foot (1.52-meter) diameter ball was made of iron and wood and featured 100 25-watt light bulbs. Six newer versions of the ball have been featured in the century-plus since that first celebration.
The only years no ball drop occurred were 1942 and 1943, when the city instituted a nightly “dimout” during World War II to protect itself from attacks. Crowds instead celebrated the new year with a moment of silence followed by chimes rung from the base of One Times Square.
Singer Pitbull, left, and Joy Mangano, right, founder of CleanBoss, install a crystal during the Times Square New Year's Eve Ball Crystal Installation at One Times Square, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
A person touches the Times Square New Year's Eve Ball at One Times Square, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Singer Pitbull attends the Times Square New Year's Eve Ball Crystal Installation at One Times Square, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Times Square New Year's Eve Ball is displayed at One Times Square, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Times Square New Year's Eve Ball is displayed at One Times Square, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Times Square New Year's Eve Ball is displayed at One Times Square, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
MOUNT MAUNGANUI, New Zealand (AP) — Daryl Mitchell and Michael Bracewell made half centuries in a 105-run sixth wicket partnership to help lead New Zealand to an eight-run win over Sri Lanka on Saturday in the first of three T20 internationals.
Outstanding bowling at the death also turned the match in New Zealand's favor as Sri Lanka slumped from 121-0 to 164-8 in reply to New Zealand's 172-8.
Mitchell made 62 and Bracewell 59 in a partnership lasting only 60 balls, after coming together with New Zealand in trouble at 65-5 when Wanindu Hasaranga dismissed Glenn Phillips and Mitchell Hay with consecutive deliveries in the 10th over.
New Zealand's total looked inadequate as Pathum Nissanka made 90 in 60 balls and shared a 121-run opening stand with Kusal Mendis which seemed to have set up Sri Lanka for a comfortable win.
Mendis contributed 46 to Sri Lanka's first century opening partnership in T20s in 122 innings over eight years.
He was out in the 14th over, an over where Jacob Duffy took three wickets for one run, marking the point at which Sri Lanka's run chase began to unravel. Kamindu Mendis and Kusal Perera were also out in the same over.
“They're class batters, particularly those two at the top,” Duffy said. "We know these conditions well with a bit of bounce and swing up top.”
Nissanka was dismissed with the total 153-5 in the 19th over and only 20 runs needed for victory.
But Sri Lanka went into the match with a long tail and it wasn't able to finish what Nissanka and Kusal Mendis had started.
“We're really disappointed about the result and we really should have done better,” Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka said. “I think Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis batted really well and the rest of us, myself included, should take responsibility for this loss.”
New Zealand was under pressure for most of the match, stumbling to 32-2 at the end of the power play as Binura Fernando bowled superbly at the top of the innings, finishing with 2-22.
Hasaranga then stepped up and took his two important middle-order wickets as New Zealand reached 65-5 by the midpoint of its innings.
Mitchell and Bracewell lifted New Zealand to a solid total which was still made to look reachable under the early onslaught from Nissanka and Mendis.
But after Duffy's three-wicket burst, Sri Lanka lost its way and the next best score after the opening pair was 8. Matt Henry and Zak Foulkes bowled superbly at the death.
AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket
Sri Lanka's Nuwan Thushara unsuccessfully appeals for an LBW during the first Twenty20 international cricket match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka at Mt Maunganui, New Zealand on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)
Sri Lanka's Avishka Fernando celebrates the wicket of New Zealand's Rachin Ravindra during the first Twenty20 international cricket match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka at Mt Maunganui, New Zealand on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)
New Zealand's Michael Bracewell bats, during the first Twenty20 international cricket match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka at Mt Maunganui, New Zealand, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)
New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell celebrates scoring 50 runs, during the first Twenty20 international cricket match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka at Mt Maunganui, New Zealand, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)
Sri Lanka's Kusal Mendis stumps New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell, during the first Twenty20 international cricket match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka at Mt Maunganui, New Zealand, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)
Sri Lanka's Pathum Nissanka celebrates scoring 50 runs, during the first Twenty20 international cricket match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka at Mt Maunganui, New Zealand, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)
Sri Lanka's Kusal Mendis plays a shot, during the first Twenty20 international cricket match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka at Mt Maunganui, New Zealand, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)
Sri Lanka's Avishka Fernando bowls during the first Twenty20 international cricket match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka at Mt Maunganui, New Zealand on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)
Sri Lanka's Avishka Fernando celebrates the wicket of New Zealand's Rachin Ravindra during the first Twenty20 international cricket match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka at Mt Maunganui, New Zealand on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)
Sri Lanka's Avishka Fernando celebrates the wicket of New Zealand's Tim Robinson during the first Twenty20 international cricket match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka at Mt Maunganui, New Zealand on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)
New Zealand's Glenn Phillips dives to make his ground during the first Twenty20 international cricket match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka at Mt Maunganui, New Zealand on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)
New Zealand's Mitchell Hay leaves the field after being dismissed by Sri Lanka's Wanindu Hasaranga during the first Twenty20 international cricket match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka at Mt Maunganui, New Zealand on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)
Sri Lanka's Wanindu Hasaranga bowls during the first Twenty20 international cricket match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka at Mt Maunganui, New Zealand on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)
Sri Lanka's Wanindu Hasaranga bowls as New Zealand's New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell looks on during the first Twenty20 international cricket match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka at Mt Maunganui, New Zealand on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)
New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell bats during the first Twenty20 international cricket match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka at Mt Maunganui, New Zealand on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)
New Zealand's Glenn Phillips runs as Sri Lanka's Matheesha Pathirana looks on during the first Twenty20 international cricket match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka at Mt Maunganui, New Zealand on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)
New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell bats during the first Twenty20 international cricket match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka at Mt Maunganui, New Zealand on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)
