subscription only
Showing posts with label South Africa. Show all posts
Showing posts with label South Africa. Show all posts
Wednesday, 30 May 2018
Tuesday, 29 March 2016
South Africa Win Sri Lankan Dead Rubber
 |
| Getty Images |
Hashim Amla hit an unbeaten 56 as South Africa closed the Super 10 stage of the World Twenty20 with an eight-wicket win against Sri Lanka in Delhi.
A dead rubber between two eliminated sides was never likely to produce spectacular cricket but South Africa were comfortable victors at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium. They took all 10 Sri Lankan wickets for 120, with the 39-year-old Tillakaratne Dilshan top-scoring with 36, before Amla broke the back of a gentle chase.
The only two wickets to fall were down to good fortune, Quinton de Kock dawdling towards his crease as he was run out for nine and Faf du Plessis given out lbw to a rotten decision. Amla would not be moved, though, dropping anchor for 52 balls and hitting five fours and a six.
AB de Villiers (20), whose presence attracted many of the 16,000 fans who attended, ended things with a six off Suranga Lakmal.
A win here will be cold comfort for South Africa, whose fabled under-performance at global events has gained another chapter, while their opponents look to have a long rebuilding phase ahead.
Sri Lanka were missing their captain, Angelo Mathews, who injured a hamstring during his brilliant one-man stand against England, but began their innings well with a bright opening stand of 45.
The left-arm spinner Aaron Phangiso broke that up by bowling Dinesh Chandimal through the gate and then cleaned up Lahiru Thirimanne with his next delivery.
Dilshan put on another 30 with Milinda Siriwardana before the latter was carelessly run out and that represented the best Sri Lanka could muster.
By the time Farhaan Behardien had Dilshan lbw on the sweep the innings had lost its spine. Sri Lanka’s next five wickets fell for 35, with the last man, Lakmal, run out with three balls left to bowl.
Sunday, 20 March 2016
Izzard Completes 27 Marathons in 27 Days
Eddie Izzard has said running 27 marathons in 27 days was the hardest thing he has ever done, as he thanked all his supporters who helped him raise more than £1m for Sport Relief.
The 54-year-old comedian completed his gruelling challenge, a tribute to the 27 years Nelson Mandela spent in prison before becoming the first black president of South Africa, by running two marathons on Sunday.
Izzard crossed the final finish line under a giant statue of Nelson Mandela in Pretoria to cheering, applause and chants of “Eddie, Eddie, Eddie”.
“It’s been the hardest thing I’ve ever done and I’m very tired,” he told the BBC. Thank you to everyone who has donated. This was tough so don’t do this at home.”
He celebrated moments later by swigging champagne from the bottle.
Over the 707-mile route he battled dehydration, heat exhaustion and sunstroke. He was forced to take an unscheduled rest day on the fifth day of the challenge, which meant he had to complete two marathons on the final day.
The actor attempted the same feat in 2012 but was forced to stop due to health issues after marathon number four.
Izzard said: “This has been a long project, but with the help of ‘Team 27’ I did it. Thank you so much to everyone who donated. I always knew I’d be back. When I didn’t make it in 2012 I knew I’d be back. I can’t stand upright, I have a huge blister and I’m exhausted. But I’m delighted.”
Tuesday, 26 January 2016
South Africa Win Consolation Test
England capitulated on the fifth morning at Centurion as Kagiso Rabada inspired South Africa to a commanding consolation victory in the fourth Test.
The hosts took seven wickets for just 49 runs in little more than an hour’s play, sealing a 280-run success as the series ended 2-1 to the tourists. Twenty-year-old Rabada was again the star, taking six for 32 to finish with 13 wickets in the match – the second best match figures in South Africa’s history – but England were at least partial authors of their own downfall.
The tourists had already secured the Basil D’Oliveira Trophy at the Wanderers, but the ease with which they were brushed aside will serve as a timely reminder of their fragility.
Toppling the world’s No1 side on their home turf is a considerable feather in England’s cap, but they will leave South Africa on a familiar end-of-series blowout and with plenty of questions to answer.
None of Alex Hales, Nick Compton or James Taylor can consider their place in the batting order secure, while Jonny Bairstow’s wicket-keeping and Chris Woakes’s status in the pace-bowling hierarchy must also be reviewed.
Going into the final day, England would surely have looked to their great escape on this ground in 2010 for inspiration, when No11 Graham Onions batting out for an unlikely draw alongside Paul Collingwood. However, the script went awry almost immediately.
Taylor departed to the last ball of the third over, perhaps expecting low bounce but instead seeing a Morné Morkel lifter buck off a length and graze a glove. Like Hales and Compton in the top three, Taylor has hardly provided solid evidence that he should retain his spot in the summer.
Joe Root has no such concerns, and can reflect on another fine series for his country, but he was a walking wicket here. He was dropped off his first ball of the morning, nicking Dane Piedt into Quinton de Kock’s thigh, and beaten twice more before heading to the pavilion. All at sea against the sharply turning ball, he lunged at Piedt and sent a thick edge straight to Dean Elgar at slip.
That brought together Ben Stokes and Bairstow, the men whose 399-run stand in Cape Town will go down as one of the abiding memories of the trip. They attempted a brief reprise, scoring 25 runs in 24 balls together but it was never likely to last. Having crashed Rabada for a pair of boundaries Bairstow went hard at the seamer again and sent a high catch into the hands of AB de Villiers at slip.
Rabada celebrated his 10th of the match only for replays to show he had overstepped. Entirely unconcerned he returned to his mark, kept his foot behind the line and found the edge again with his very next ball.
Stokes’s tour ended on a bum note, lazily chipping a pull to deep midwicket to give Morkel a cheap triumph, and Rabada wrapped up England’s lower order. Woakes wafted away from his body and was held by De Kock, Broad drove loosely to slip and last man James Anderson bagged a golden duck as a swinging yorker rapped him on the boot.
England’s carefree surrender was an ignominious way to close what the series, but that is to take nothing away from Rabada. A young, athletic seamer with the world at his feet, he will already take some beating as cricket’s breakout name of 2016. He is already the youngest South African to claim 10 wickets in a match and his return over three Tests – 22 wickets at 21.90 made him the most effective bowler from either side.
Monday, 25 January 2016
Kiwi McClenaghan Struck in Face
New Zealand tailender Mitchell McClenaghan collapsed on the pitch after a bouncer crashed through his grille during a one-day international against Pakistan. McClenaghan suffered facial injuries after being struck in the face.
Facing Pakistani quick Anwar Ali on the penultimate ball of New Zealand's innings, McClenaghan was sent to the turf after missing a hook shot.
Lucky escape: Mitchell McClenaghan leaves the field with an injured eye after being struck by a bouncer.
Lucky escape: Mitchell McClenaghan leaves the field with an injured eye after being struck by a bouncer. Photo: Hagen Hopkins
The ball ricocheted off the underside of the peak of his helmet and smashed into his eye before becoming lodged inside the grille.
The force was so powerful that part of the grille was sent flying onto the pitch and his eye immediately began to swell.
Fortunately, the fast bowler was able to get to his feet and left the field to cheers from the Basin Reserve crowd after retiring hurt for a much-needed 31 off 18 deliveries.
McClenaghan needed stitches near his left eye after the ball smashed into his face.
McClenaghan needed stitches near his left eye after the ball smashed into his face. Photo: Sky News
He soon received stitches near his left eye, but didn't initially appear for New Zealand's bowling effort as he was being treated at a nearby hospital, with Adam Milne substituting him on the field.
His innings played a big part in getting the Black Caps out of trouble after Pakistan sent them into bat.
The home team was reeling at 99-6 before crucial knocks from Henry Nicholls (82), Mitchell Santner (48), Matt Henry (48*) and McClenaghan helped them through to 280-8.
Wednesday, 13 January 2016
De Villiers Confirms Retirement Thoughts
 |
| Getty Images |
New South African captain AB de Villiers said Wednesday he was fully committed to leading the team in the next two Tests against England, but confirmed there was “a bit of truth” in rumours he was considering retirement.
“For two or three years I’ve been searching for the right answers to play a little less cricket in one way or another, to keep myself fresh and enjoying the game,” he said.
De Villiers, 31, admitted: “Every now and then I find I am not enjoying myself as much as I should be. I’ve been talking to a few people and obviously that’s leaked.”
De Villiers was speaking ahead of the third Test against England which starts at the Wanderers Stadium on Thursday — the first time he has spoken directly to journalists since an article appeared in a local newspaper claiming he was thinking of quitting.
“I’m still very committed to the job,” he said. “The two Test matches now is all that I am focusing on. There’s a nice big break of six months before we play Test cricket again. Lots of things can happen before then. But for now I am as committed as I can be and very hungry to make a success of these two Test matches.”
De Villiers acknowledged that big-money Twenty20 tournaments around the world were tempting for players.
“I think it’s a going concern for the ICC (International Cricket Council) to find the right sort of structure to keep all the guys fresh. International cricket is the main cricket you want to play, especially Test cricket.
“There are big tournaments going on around the world and some of them you can’t ignore because financially they make a huge difference in our lives.
“But international cricket comes first and one or two things will have to happen in the future in order for that to happen.”
De Villiers said although he hoped to instil his own brand of energy into the team, the atmosphere in the camp remained “normal” following the resignation of Hashim Amla as captain after the second Test last week.
“I’m very excited but we’ve got a very stable team culture so not much has changed in the team set-up.”
He said being 1-0 down in the four-match series added to the pressure “to make a play” but said he looked forward to the challenge and said that extra responsibility made him feel more motivated.
“The nice thing about captaincy is you are completely focused on the team. Your personal performance is put aside and that is a good thing, more often than not,” he said.
De Villiers said he felt there had been a momentum shift when South Africa fought back for a draw in the second Test in Cape Town.
“I’ve played enough series to know that a little momentum shift like that doesn’t just happen. It’s a big thing in a big series so it’s up to us to make sure that we maintain that kind of momentum.”
He said he had looked at the Wanderers pitch and although it seemed drier than usual following a drought, he expected a fair contest between bat and ball.
“That excites me because we haven’t had much of that in the past few months.”
De Villiers said going in with four seam bowlers and no specialist spinner was an option because there were part-time spinners in the squad.
In addition, he hinted that hometown fast bowler, the strongly-built Hardus Viljoen, 26, might win his first Test cap.
“He excites me quite a lot. He bowls at very good pace, has got good control and has taken 10 wickets in two matches in a row for his franchise team.”
Friday, 8 January 2016
South Africa Same for Final Test
 |
| Getty Images |
South Africa have named an unchanged 16-man squad for the last two Tests against England.
Fast bowlers Dale Steyn and Kyle Abbott were ruled out of the drawn match in Cape Town through shoulder and hamstring injuries respectively, but will join the team in Johannesburg and both are expecting to be available. Nevertheless, their replacements in the XI for the Cape Town Test, Kagiso Rabada and Chris Morris, have been retained, with uncapped Hardus Viljoen taking the seam bowling ranks to six.
JP Duminy and Rilee Rossouw are included as the spare batsmen in a squad captained by AB de Villiers, who has taken charge on a short-term basis following Hashim Amla’s resignation at Newlands.
“We were highly encouraged by the performance put up by the Proteas at PPC Newlands,” said convenor of selectors Linda Zondi. “The very fact that they were nearly able to force a win after conceding 600 runs on the first innings speaks volumes for the character of this group of players.
“We feel we have all our bases covered and also the options that will enable the team to exploit whatever conditions they encounter.”
South Africa have also named a 14-man squad for the five match one-day international series against England. It contains 11 members of the Test squad, augmented by Farhaan Behardien, Imran Tahir and David Miller.
South Africa squad for third and fourth Tests v England AB de Villiers (c), K Abbott, H Amla, T Bavuma, Q de Kock, JP Duminy, F du Plessis, D Elgar, M Morkel, C Morris, D Piedt, K Rabada, R Rossouw, D Steyn, S van Zyl. H Viljoen.
South Africa squad for one-day international series v England AB de Villiers (c), K Abbott, H Amla, F Behardien, Q de Kock, JP Duminy, F du Plessis, I Tahir, D Miller, M Morkel, C Morris, K Rabada, R Rossouw, D Steyn.
Monday, 4 January 2016
Saracens Sign Springbok Schalk
Premiership champions Saracens have agreed to sign South Africa flanker Schalk Burger on a two-year contract.
The 32-year-old will move to Allianz Park in the summer following spells with Japanese outfit Suntory Sungoliath and Super Rugby side Stormers.
Burger has earned 86 international caps and won the World Cup with the Springboks in 2007.
"Schalk will add a huge amount of experience and quality to our young pack," said Sarries boss Mark McCall.
"To be able to add one of the world's finest players to the group is extremely exciting.
"He is a man who has achieved everything there is to achieve in the game of rugby."
Burger made his international debut for South Africa in 2003 and has featured in four World Cups.
He made seven appearances at the 2015 tournament and was widely regarded as one of South Africa's top performers as his country rose from the shock of losing to Japan to finish third.
"I'm extremely excited to have the opportunity to play in both the Premiership and the European Champions Cup," said Burger.
"Hopefully I can add a lot of value both on and off the field to an already successful group of players and coaches."
Sunday, 3 January 2016
Matthew Hobden #RIP
Sussex cricketer Matthew Hobden has died at the age of 22.
In a statement, the club said it was "deeply shocked and saddened". The cause of death has not been given.
Born and educated in Eastbourne, seam bowler Hobden made his first-class debut in 2014 and represented Sussex in all formats of the game.
England's lead fast bowling coach Kevin Shine said: "His potential was huge. He was improving rapidly and I'm certain that he would have played for England."
England's players are wearing black armbands on day two of the second Test against South Africa in Cape Town on Sunday as a mark of respect for Hobden, who made his final appearance in a one-day match against Essex last August.
He took 23 wickets at an average of 47.30 in 10 County Championship Division One games last season.
A Sussex statement read: "Matthew was an exciting young cricketer with a big future ahead of him in the game.
"He was a fantastic individual who had progressed through Sussex's Youth and Academy ranks, having been born locally in Eastbourne.
"Sussex would like to offer their deepest condolences to Matthew's family and friends at this difficult time."
Angus Porter, chief executive of the Professional Cricketers' Association, said: "Matt was a young seamer with immense potential.
"The PCA will work closely with Sussex to ensure that their players and coaching staff are supported during this difficult period for the club."
Former England and Sussex wicketkeeper and batsman Matt Prior wrote on Twitter: "One of those days when u get a call that puts perspective on things. Live life and love everyday as much as you can! So sad! #RIPhobsy"
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said it was "shocked and saddened" by the news.
A right-arm bowler, Hobden was selected for the Potential England Performance Programme for the past two winters.
"As a player, I remember the first time I saw him just thinking 'wow'," added Shine. "He was the strongest, most powerful cricketer I've ever seen on that programme.
"He contributed to the group as much as I've ever seen a player contribute. All the lads, and the staff, loved him."
#RIPPhobsy
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)