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Tahir spins South Africa to big win over Sri Lanka

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Tahir finished with four for 27 in 8.3 overs after former captain Hashim Amla scored his 25th ODI century to set Sri Lanka a target of 300 runs.

Sri Lanka were cruising along at 116 for two when Tahir was introduced to the attack in the 18th over and South Africa immediately got a firm grip on the game.

Dinesh Chandimal took on one of South Africa’s best fielders — A.B. de Villiers — on a misfield and was run out by a direct hit.

Three deliveries later, Chamara Kapugedera was foxed by a Tahir googly and was out leg before wicket without scoring.

Upul Tharanga — captain for the day after Angelo Mathews failed a late fitness test on a calf muscle injury — too fell for the googly when he hit one straight to the deep cover fielder.

He top scored with 57 runs.

Sri Lanka never recovered after that and were shot out for 203 runs with still 8.3 overs remaining.

There could be more trouble for the Sri Lankans after they took four hours and seven minutes to finish their overs during the South African innings.

ICC rules stipulate that teams should finish their 50 overs within three-and-a-half hours.

Sri Lankan players face heavy fines and a possible suspension for Tharanga for the next two games of the tournament.

Opener Niroshan Dickwella had given them a blistering start smashing 41 off 33 balls.

The openers added 69 runs in 50 deliveries and they were 87 for one at the end of ten overs whereas South Africa were 32 for none at the same stage.

The middle order failed to capitalize after a good start and they have to win their remaining two games against India and Pakistan to have any hopes of a semi-final berth.

Sri Lanka were excellent against South Africa’s seamers, but the introduction of Tahir derailed their innings.

After being put into bat in overcast conditions, Amla consolidated for South Africa with his 25th ODI hundred and the fifth against Sri Lanka.

He added 145 runs with Francois du Plessis, who contributed with 75 runs off 70 deliveries with six fours.

Amla was run out by a direct hit from Tharanga for a fine 103 that came off 115 deliveries with five fours and two sixes.

J.P. Duminy gave some impetus to the South African innings smashing 38 off 20 deliveries with five fours and a six. Duminy added 45 runs for the sixth wicket with Chris Morris (20).

Champions Sundowns go down to Tunisian giants Esperance

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Taha Yessine Khenissi scored an early opener for Esperance in the sixth minute, Sibusiso Vilakazi equalising in the 21st of this group stage game.

With a slow, tired encounter drifting towards a draw, substitute Soumahoro Bangaly commited an unnecessary foul that allowed Khenissi to slot a 90th-minute penalty to earn Esperance a valuable away win against the defending champions.

Both sides’ weariness, as much as experienced Tunisian giants Esperance’s solid North Africa organisational patterns, slowed the game.

So soon after a frenetic end to a gruelling league season for both teams – though particularly Downs with their 54 games, following on 57 the past season – neither had much energy to race around the Lucas Moripe pitch.

It was a slog of a contest, to the rhythm of the Downs fans’ metronomic singing throughout.

Lacking in zest, the two best teams in Group C tactically could not outmanoeuvre each other either. But Esperance still managed to sneak the three points.

Right now, as much as the result will more than likely see Esperance’s win the group, Downs will not be too concerned.

Both these teams should make, not quite canon-fodder, but not too much more either, of Ethiopia’s St George and AS Vita of Democratic Republic of Congo to bag the top two spots and progress past the new, four-group format to the quarters, a new precursor to the semifinals.

Sundowns, though, may need to find a dose of intensity to ensure they do not slip further.

Downs were caught in an off-season slumber early on, allowing big striker Taha Yessine Khenissi in down then left to easily slide Esperance’s opener past Denis Onyango.

Sundowns tightened up after that, notably quickening their pace winning the ball as often Esperance were caught in posession.

The Brazilians equalised as Percy Tau was played into space down the left and had the composure not to shoot, but look for the pass inside to Vilakazi, who tapped into an open goal.

Soon after that Tebogo Langerman’s swerving shot from the left edge was awkwardly parried by Esperance goalkeeper Moez Ben Cherifa.

Kenissi still troubled, passing Motjeka Madisha with a strong run then shooting into the side-netting.

Madisha limped off, replaced by Bangaly, just before the break.

Downs struggled to be anywhere near as snappy in the second half.

It took until the 70th minute for the next half-chance, on a counter-attack involving Thapelo Morena and Vilakazi, where Leonardo Castro had half a yard of space but could not connect a shot.

That was the resemblance to a chance at goal in open play in the second 45 minutes.

In the 88th, though, winger Fakreddine Ben Youssef made a run in the area, Bangaly recklessly stuck out a leg, and the Esperance player made an appropriate meal of the foul, resulting in the penalty. Khenisse struck it in to the right of Onyango.

– TMG Digital/TMG Sport

Sport24.co.za | Tahir, Miller fit for full-strength Proteas

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London – The Proteas will have a fully fit squad from which to select for their opening ICC Champions Trophy match against Sri Lanka at The Oval in London on Saturday.

Imran Tahir and David Miller passed their respective fitness tests on Friday, and are available for selection for the Group B clash. 

Captain, AB de Villiers, welcomed the duo’s return, particularly Tahir who is the Proteas’ highest wicket-taker in the last year with 35 scalps at an average of 24.37. While Tahir is a straight pick, De Villiers says finding the perfect balance with the ball will be important against the sub-continent team. 

“Imran is fit and he’s our No. 1 bowler, our No. 1 spin bowler,” he said at his pre-match press conference at The Oval on Friday.

“Keshav (Maharaj) understands his role when it comes to that. There might be a time in the tournament where we might use a different strategy, if we play against a certain opposition or on a certain field. But for tomorrow, Imran is our top spin bowler and the No. 1 pick.

“That is a difficult decision, especially for a game like tomorrow’s,” De Villiers said of selection.

“We know that we have an opportunity and the ability to bowl the Sri Lankan side out. It’s a matter of getting that combination right and getting the right players on the park to do so. To me it’s really important to get your top three-four bowlers in there.

“Not that the all-rounders can’t take wickets but I’ll probably be leaning towards getting our best bowlers in to make sure we have our best chance to bowl them out and to get ten wickets in the game.” 

The tournament will be a chance for De Villiers and his men to reap the rewards of the hard work and progress they have made over the last 18 months, and will also be a glimpse of the future looking ahead to the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2019. 

“I think it will help a crazy lot if we can win this one for the 2019 World Cup,” he said.

“It’s again here in England. If you can do it once here, you can definitely repeat it.

“There is a lot of focus on this tournament. It’s a short tournament, so it’s not quite the same as the World Cup, not the same kind of challenges. But if you do get your rhythms right in this tournament and you get going, and if we do that, I think we’ll be difficult to stop.” 

Play is scheduled to start at 10:30 (SA time).

Sport24.co.za | Duminy: Sri Lankan whitewash counts for nothing

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Cape Town – The Proteas’ recent success against Sri Lanka will count for nothing in their opening ICC Champions Trophy match at The Oval in London on Saturday.

That is the view of all-rounder JP Duminy, who was speaking in London on Thursday.

The Proteas stamped their authority on the subcontinent team with a 5-0 whitewash at home earlier this year, but remain aware of the threat of their opposition heading into a big event.  
 
According to Duminy, the high-stakes nature of the tournament puts both teams on even keel regardless of their past performances.
 
“What has happened in the past is in the past,” Duminy said. “It is a knock-out game, every game you play is a knock-out game. Yes, we have done reasonably well against them a couple of months ago but both teams come into the tournament with a clean slate. It’s about performing on the day; we have to make sure we play our best cricket and focus on our processes which is going to be key.”
 
Duminy said the series against England allowed the players to assess and to acclimatise to the early-summer conditions, and they will head into Saturday’s match with the best possible preparation.

The Proteas play their group matches at two contrasting venues in terms of pitch conditions – The Oval in London which is comparatively high-scoring, and Edgbaston in Birmingham which is the highest wicket-taking venue for spinners in the UK.  
 
“We are ready for the tournament,” Duminy exclaimed. “We’ve had a good 10 days of preparation, it wasn’t the ideal result in the one-day series, but that is in the past and our full focus is on what is ahead.
 
“We took quite a bit out of it,” he said of the series. “The timing of the series was perfect in terms of preparation going into the Champions Trophy. Adapting to conditions, understanding what is good and what is not in terms of batting and bowling in these kind of conditions.
 
“It’s that time of the year where you are getting into the heart of summer. There are certain wickets around the country that are good for batting but the wickets that we played on had a little bit for the bowlers, especially Lord’s where the first hour-and-a-half had a Test match feel to it. It will be interesting to see how conditions go throughout the tournament, weather-permitting.”
 
Imran Tahir and David Miller continue to make progress following their hamstring injuries and will undergo final fitness tests on Friday to determine their availability for selection for the match.  

COMMENT: Why some of the Chiefs players don’t even deserve an invite to the club’s awards ceremony

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Imagine then how the Kaizer Chiefs captain will feel should he win the club’s Player of the Year award in what has been a forgetful season for Amakhosi.

There’s a strong possibility that could happen in the club’s awards ceremony on Thursday.

The Chiefs’ captain has been one of a handful of standout players for the club‚ along with Ramahlwe Mphahlele‚ Lorenzo Gordinho‚ Itumeleng Khune and Willard Katsande.

The rest don’t even deserve an invitation to the ceremony.

There is little that happened on the field for Amakhosi that warrants rewards after a second successive barren season.

But the brand consciousness that has made the side the most recognisable and biggest brand in the country is the drive for the club to do this – to keep their name in the news.

Amakhosi should use this time to do some self-introspection which would help them turn things around.

Chiefs’ legend Tinashe Nengomasha argued that a lot of the current crop don’t know the club’s values and he even went as far as to say that most of the foreign contingent are too comfortable – not doing enough to prove why they were brought from their countries to a team with a trophy haul that’s unmatched in the country.

That’s an indictment on the club’s recruitment policy.

Kaizer Motaung‚ the chiefs’ chairman‚ admitted that they have made some bad decisions in their recruitment which has led to most of their signings spending more time on the bench than on the field.

Amakhosi have failed to work the market like SuperSport United and Bidvest Wits who thrived on luring quality players for free.

Chiefs’ best recruit this season‚ Mphahlele‚ was driven to Amakhosi by unhappiness at Mamelodi Sundowns where he felt he should have been paid more than he was getting.

That move had little to do with Amakhosi being a desirable option.

That was an afterthought‚ that at least they would pay him better than the Brazilians and would be in a team with a bigger support base.

Chiefs have lost the appeal that saw Mulomowandau Mathoho tell his agent who had agreed terms with Sundowns to fly a kite because he was set on joining Amakhosi.

Now that name isn’t worth the weight it carries.

Thapelo Morena did the opposite of what Mathoho did‚ forcing his way to the African champions instead of going to Naturena where everything looked done and dusted for his move.

Morena was attracted by the drive to play on the continent and on the world stage‚ which he did at the Fifa Club World Cup in Japan last year.

The whole idea of hosting an awards ceremony after a terrible season might be bizarre and comical but it should be the catalyst for the club to turn things around.

Bidvest Wits’ awards ceremony after they finished second‚ 14 points behind Sundowns‚ was a bitter sweet occasion.

It was to celebrate a good showing by a team that used to be happy with finishing in the middle of the table and was relegated in 2005.

But that second place wasn’t good enough based on the financial investment the club made in the players on their roaster.

Management didn’t shy away from telling them that second place wasn’t good enough.

The response was swift.

Wits won the first trophy on offer and broke an almost decade-long barren run by winning the league for the first time in their 96 year history.

Chiefs should use these awards ceremony for something similar.

Reward the few standout players and have stern words with the entire team that has dragged the club’s name through the mud.

But those words need to be backed with action to pick up the team and ensure that they compete.

Teams like Cape Town City have shown that they mean business by tying up their players early and bolstering their squad with Ayanda Patosi before this season has even been officially wrapped.

– TMG Digital/TMG Sport

CONFIRMED: Arsene Wenger signs new two-year deal with Arsenal

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Reuters | 2017-05-31 14:42:55.0

Arsene Wenger celebrates with the trophy after winning the FA Cup final.
Image by: LEE SMITH / Action Images via Reuters

Arsene Wenger has signed a new two-year deal with Arsenal that will keep him at the Emirates Stadium until 2019, the Premier League club announced on Wednesday.

Wenger’s contract was due to end at the conclusion of the current season and the 67-year-old’s future had been the source of speculation for months.

Arsène, who lifted the FA Cup for a record-breaking seventh time on Saturday, said: “I love this club and I am looking forward to the future with optimism and excitement.

“We are looking at what we do well and how we can be stronger everywhere. This is a strong group of players and with some additions we can be even more successful.

“We’re committed to mounting a sustained league challenge and that will be our focus this summer and next season.

“I am grateful to have the support of the board and Stan in doing everything we can to win more trophies. It’s what we all want and I know it’s what our fans around the world demand.”

Editor’s Choice

Sport24.co.za | Gay Australian player blasts Margaret Court

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Paris – Casey Dellacqua on Wednesday blasted Margaret Court for her “hurtful” views on same-sex relationships but refused to back a potential boycott of the Australian Open arena which bears the name of the 24-time major winner.

Gay 32-year-old Dellacqua, who has two children with partner Amanda Judd, said Court was wrong to claim that her children “have been deprived of a father” and that such youngsters are not “given the best possible start in life”.

The tennis legend’s controversial views on homosexuality have led to calls for the Margaret Court Arena at the Australian Open in Melbourne to be renamed.

If this does not occur, some players have hinted that they will not play in the arena when the the opening Grand Slam event of 2018 is held in January.

Dellacqua recently tweeted: “Margaret. Enough is enough” after Court said she would refuse to fly with national carrier Qantas in protest at the company’s support of same-sex marriage.

“At the time I was really hurt because I actually know Margaret personally,” Dellacqua said at the French Open on Wednesday.

“Everyone is allowed their opinion, but when you start singling out my family especially, that’s when it’s not okay.

“And my family do not deserve to be subject to that. She can have her opinion but my family does not deserve that. That’s when I thought, it’s my time to speak up.”

The controversy took a new twist on Wednesday when Court, now a Christian pastor, claimed “tennis is full of lesbians” and transgender children were the work of “the devil”.

Court, 74, has vowed to keep airing her views and didn’t hold back on Vision Christian Radio station.

“I mean, tennis is full of lesbians, because even when I was playing there was only a couple there, but those couple that led took young ones into parties and things,” she said.

“And you know, what you get at the top is often what you’ll get right through that sport.”

Asked about transgender children, she claimed their minds had been corrupted.

“That’s all the devil… but that’s what Hitler did and that’s what communism did – got the mind of the children. And there’s a whole plot in our nation, and in the nations of the world to get the minds of the children.”

Dellacqua insists she has the “100 percent support of Tennis Australia” in her criticism of Court.

However, she refused to call for a boycott of one of the Australian Open flagship arenas.

“I personally feel when I’m playing in Melbourne that I have a huge amount of support from the fans,” she said.

“So whatever court I do play on, I know that I’ll be well supported. The Australian Open is a long time away…but yeah, I just prefer probably not to go into any of that.”

Men’s world number one Andy Murray said he wanted to see the controversy resolved before the Australian Open starts to avoid a scheduling nightmare.

“For players to be in a position where you’re in a slam and kind of boycotting playing on the court, I think would potentially cause a lot of issues,” said Murray.

“So I think if something was going to be happening and the players come to an agreement, if they think the name should be changed or whatever, that should be decided before the event starts.”

Australian players in Paris have also been dragged into the row simmering thousands of miles away.

Fiery national number one Nick Kyrgios said he has “no problem with gay marriage at all”.

Top women’s player Samantha Stosur, the 2011 US Open champion, hinted at a boycott.

“I guess we’ll cross that bridge when we all get down to the Australian Open and who wants to play on Margaret Court Arena and who doesn’t and we’ll go from there,” she said.

Lords of new records

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Lords of new records

Telford Vice | 2017-05-30 07:57:34.0

HOWZIT, ROY: Proteas’ fast bowler Kagiso Rabada celebrates after taking the wicket of England’s Jason Roy during Saturday’s second ODI match at The Ageas Bowl in Southampton, England.
Image by: GETTY IMAGES

That the result of the third one-day international (ODI) between England and South Africa at Lord’s yesterday was irrelevant didn’t get in the way of milestones being passed.

South Africa’s seven-wicket win in a series England clinched in Southampton on Saturday was their first success in an ODI at the grand old ground, where they have played four matches in the format.

Hashim Amla, already the fastest man to score 2000, 3000, 4000, 5000 and 6000 runs in ODIs, added 7000 to his list.

Amla made 55 in his 150th innings to knock India’s Virat Kohli – who got there in 161 trips to the crease – off the top spot. That effort was part of an opening stand of 95 Amla shared with Quinton de Kock, who scored 34.

South Africa remained on course for a comfortable victory even though Amla and De Kock were dismissed four balls apart with Faf du Plessis following them back to the most famous pavilion in cricket 15 deliveries later.

JP Duminy and AB de Villiers, and their unbroken stand of 55, took the visitors home with 21.1 overs remaining.

That won the game but by then the contest had been decided.

Kagiso Rabada and Wayne Parnell saw to that by reducing England to 20/6 in the first five overs to record the fastest instance of a team taking the first six wickets in all 3874 ODIs yet played. England recovered before being dismissed for 153 in 31.1 overs.

South Africa took the advantage with more disciplined bowling than in the first two games of the series and a dramatically improved fielding performance.

Jonny Bairstow and David Willey found a path through the debris with a partnership of 62 for the seventh wicket. Then Bairstow and Toby Roland-Jones added 52, a stand ended when Bairstow ventured down the pitch to Keshav Maharaj and was stumped for 51.

Rabada took 4/39 with Parnell claiming 3/43 and Maharaj 3/25.

South Africa now turn their attention to the ICC Champions Trophy, in which they play Sri Lanka at The Oval on Saturday.

Sport24.co.za | Vermeulen to sit out opening France Test?

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Cape Town – Duane Vermeulen looks likely to miss out on a starting spot in the Springboks’ first Test against France in Pretoria on June 10.

The Springbok management announced on Monday that Vermeulen is only expected to join the squad next Tuesday (June 6) – a mere four days before the first Test at Loftus Versfeld.

This is due to the player’s club commitments in France where he is playing in the Top 14 final for Toulon against Clermont this weekend.

Coach Allister Coetzee earlier signalled his intention to pick Vermeulen at No 7 flank for the series, with captain Warren Whiteley starting at No 8.

It’s unlikely that Vermeulen will start in the first Test so soon after joining the squad, which possibly paves the way for Sharks loose forward Jean-Luc du Preez.

The 21-year old Du Preez, who made his Springbok debut last November against Wales in Cardiff, was a late addition to the Bok squad which has now grown to 32 players.

Other options at No 7 for Coetzee is Siya Kolisi or Oupa Mohoje.

The second Test is scheduled for June 17 in Durban, before the third and final one in Johannesburg the following week (June 24).

Springbok squad:

Forwards

Lood de Jager, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Ruan Dreyer, Jean-Luc du Preez, Eben Etzebeth, Steven Kitshoff, Siya Kolisi, Jaco Kriel, Frans Malherbe, Malcolm Marx, Bongi Mbonambi, Oupa Mohoje, Franco Mostert, Tendai Mtawarira, Lizo Gqoboka, Coenie Oosthuizen, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Duane Vermeulen, Warren Whiteley (captain)

Backs

Lukhanyo Am, Andries Coetzee, Ross Cronje, Damian de Allende, Francois Hougaard, Elton Jantjies, Jesse Kriel, Dillyn Leyds, Rudy Paige, Raymond Rhule, Jan Serfontein, Courtnall Skosan, Frans Steyn

Sport24.co.za | S18: SA quarter-finals nailed down

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Rob Houwing, Sport24 chief writer

Cape Town – Same old, same old … South Africa will have exactly the same pair of home quarter-finalists and the identical away side, too, in Super Rugby 2017.

In a reflection of the shortcomings of the multi-conference system, it is already confirmed now — even as we enter the traditional June recess during ordinary season – that the Lions and Stormers will host last-eight dates at Emirates Airline Park and Newlands respectively, and the Sharks again have to tackle theirs away.

All that is outstanding is to establish who their various opponents will be.

The situation, sealed this weekend, is a carbon copy of 2016, when the Lions beat the Crusaders in Johannesburg in that phase before moving further onward to a losing final in Wellington, the Stormers were quickly, unceremoniously bundled out by the Chiefs in a nasty 21-60 outcome, and the Sharks similarly trounced by eventual champions the Hurricanes in awful conditions at the Cake Tin.

Again the Stormers, albeit notably hot and cold, are guaranteed to top Africa Conference 1, whilst the Lions will be clear-cut winners of Africa 2, and domestic group rivals the Sharks will bag the extra, more difficult away quarter-final ticket on offer to third best-performing “African” side from either of those two pools.

Following their well-deserved victory over the Stormers in a slightly hollow-feel derby in damp Durban on Saturday, Robert du Preez’s charges now cannot end anywhere but second in Africa 2, even with two pre-knockout matches left.

Nor can any second place-finishing team from the especially unconvincing Africa 1 outdo them from here for log points — not by a long way.

The Lions, courtesy of their latest vibrant triumph on Sunday, where the Kings were outclassed 54-10 despite the hosts playing most of the match with 14 men, finally put beyond any doubt table-topping status in their group.

They have 56 points from 13 matches, an unassailable gap of 14 points over the Sharks (42) with two games each to go (including against each other at Kings Park in the last round on July 15).

But that didn’t mean the Sharks’ yeoman efforts, especially through their rugged and well-organised defence, against the Stormers went entirely unrewarded: their win, coupled with the fast-fading Jaguares’ heavy home setback to the Brumbies a few hours later, meant the Argentineans (24 points, three games to play) can only get to a maximum of 39 points and are goners as far as the playoffs are concerned.

In spite of failing to even bank a losing bonus point in Durban, the Stormers (30 points from 12 games) are safe too, as Africa 1 winners.

The currently second-placed Cheetahs have only 16 points with two obligations remaining, although the Bulls in third (well beaten at home again by the Hurricanes on Saturday) have 15 with three fixtures in hand.

That means they could yet move – albeit massively unlikely – to 30 points, and end level with the Capetonians if Robbie Fleck’s charges (also hugely improbable) earn no log points at all in closing matches against the Cheetahs (away), Sunwolves (home) and Bulls themselves (away).

But the Stormers are home and dry anyway: tournament rules dictate that if teams end level on points, the first criterion for separating them is most wins.

The Stormers have banked seven victories and the Bulls three, so the latter side would only get to six even if they end their season with a flourish.

It is a disappointing, anticlimactic way for ordinary season to come to a close, at least as far as the South African-specific hostilities are concerned.

But there is still, of course, the far from irrelevant matter of seeing whether the buzzing Lions can finish ahead of all other teams in the competition, teeing up the great chance of a final in the Big Smoke.

They still cannot quite catch up to the remorseless, all-conquering Crusaders, who stay three points ahead of them.

But with two games left each, the Lions’ look the better shoes to be in when it comes to victory chances: their closing dates are against the Sunwolves at home and Sharks away, whereas the ‘Saders have NZ derby stinkers against the Highlanders (home) and Hurricanes (away).

Just one slip-up from the Crusaders and the Lions may well be ready to pounce into top spot.

*There are no further matches now involving South African sides until the weekend beginning June 30.

Next weekend’s fixtures (home teams first, all kick-offs SA time):

Friday: Blues v Reds, 09:35. Saturday: Crusaders v Highlanders, 04:35; Chiefs v Waratahs, 07:05; Brumbies v Rebels, 11:45; Force v Hurricanes, 13:55.

*Follow our chief writer on Twitter: @RobHouwing