Cape Town – Hurdles specialist Rikenette Steenkamp brought a close to South Africa’s campaign on the final day of the IAAF World Championships in Doha, Qatar on Sunday.

The last member of the SA team to compete at the biennial spectacle, Steenkamp finished seventh in her 100m semi-final over the barriers. Although she clocked a respectable time of 12.96, she was eliminated ahead of the final.

While the national team were unable to find a place on the podium, multiple athletes narrowly missed out on medals at the 10-day showpiece.

Sprinter Akani Simbine finished fourth in the men’s 100m final and anchored the SA relay team to fifth place in the 4x100m final. The relay quartet – which also included Simon Magakwe, Clarence Munyai and Thando Dlodlo – set an African record of 37.65* seconds in the heats.

In the men’s long jump, defending champion Luvo Manyonga and Ruswahl Samaai both put up fights before settling for fourth and fifth positions, respectively.

Also taking the battle to the international elite, Stephen Mokoka finished fifth in the men’s marathon, crossing the line just 18 seconds outside a place on the podium.

“Clearly, this is not been why we went to Doha for, but we accept the reality that we come back empty-handed. It would not be wise to cast judgements because we must first receive feedback from the team management, their national, personal coaches and the athletes.

 “Only then can we then review and go back to the drawing board to map the way forward to the Olympics next year,” said Aleck Skhosana, the President of Athletics South Africa.

* Record subject to standard ratification processes

– ASA

Cape Town – An outstanding 144-run partnership between Lizelle Lee and Sune Luus paved the way for the Proteas women to secure a record 105-run victory over India in their final T20 International at the Lalabhai Contractor Stadium in Surat on Friday.

Both openers struck half-centuries, with the explosive Lee plundering a career-best 84 off 47 balls (15 fours, 1 six) and captain Luus striking 62 off 56 balls (7 fours).

That helped the tourists amass 175 for three, their highest score in away T20Is, with Nadine de Klerk (3/18) then leading a stellar bowling display that helped demolish the hosts for a paltry 70.

It earned the South Africans their biggest victory ever on the road and condemned India to their lowest ever total in home T20s.

The result was inconsequential in the broader context of the series, with the Indians having already wrapped up the six-match contest a few games earlier.

However, Hilton Moreeng’s side can take a huge amount of confidence from the performance heading into the one-day leg of the tour.

This was one of Proteas’ best-ever matches on the road and it was all set up by Player of the Match Lee and Luus. The pair made a soaring start after the skipper won the toss and batted, with their partnership lasting 15.5 overs.

Mignon du Preez (13) added the finished touches thereafter allowing the tourists to set 176 – their highest mark away from home, surpassing the previous best score of 166 for four versus England at Taunton last year.

Shabnim Ismail (2/11) and Ayabonga Khaka (1/9) rocked the home side early on with their devastating start leaving the top order in tatters at 10 for three in the fourth over.

The outstanding De Klerk then got involved by landing a double blow in the fifth over as the Indians crumbled to 13 for five and then 13 for six when Ann Bosch (2/13) struck again in the sixth over.

Veda Krishnamurthy (26) and Arundhati Reddy (22) helped take their side away from total annihilation, before Nondumiso Shangase (2/0) claimed two wickets in three balls to wrap up a monumental win – the hosts dismissed in 17.3 overs for a record low score on home soil.

They did win the series 3-1 though, but the South Africans will be keen to bounce back when the three-match one-day international sequence begins next Wednesday.

Proteas women squads:

T20I: Sune Luus (Northerns, Capt), Anneke Bosch (North West), Tasmin Brits (North West), Nadine de Klerk (Northerns), Shabnim Ismail (Gauteng), Sinalo Jafta (WP), Ayabonga Khaka (Gauteng), Lara Goodall (WP), Lizelle Lee (North West), Nonkululeko Mlaba (KZN Coastal), Tumi Sekhukhune (North West), Nondumiso Shangase (KZN Coastal), Mignon du Preez (Northerns), Laura Wolvaardt (WP)

ODI: Sune Luus (Northerns, Capt), Tasmin Brits (North West), Trisha Chetty (Gauteng), Nadine de Klerk (Northerns), Shabnim Ismail (Gauteng), Ayabonga Khaka (Gauteng), Lara Goodall (WP), Marizanne Kapp (EP), Lizelle Lee (North West), Nonkululeko Mlaba (KZN Coastal), Tumi Sekhukhune (North West), Nondumiso Shangase (KZN Coastal), Mignon du Preez (Northerns), Lara Wolvaardt (WP)

Itinerary:

October 9: 1st ODI

October 11: 2nd ODI

October 14: 3rd ODI 

– Cricket South Africa

Visakhapatnam – Senior batsman Rohit Sharma struck a half-century in his first outing as Test opener to help India start strongly in the first match against South Africa on Wednesday.

LIVE: Proteas v India: 1st Test, Day 1

Sharma – a star of India’s limited-overs teams – made 52 as the hosts reached 91 for no loss at lunch after electing to bat first at the start of the three-match series in Visakhapatnam.

The 32-year-old Sharma, playing his 28th Test, was put under pressure by the South African quicks early in the innings but gradually found his pace with partner Mayank Agarwal, on 39.

Sharma’s 84-ball knock so far witnessed glimpses of his big-hitting one-day form as he smashed five fours and two sixes to fire up a raucous home crowd.

He got to his 11th Test 50 with a cheeky boundary off debut spinner Senuran Muthusamy that was in the air but went wide of the fielder at backward square.

Agarwal also played an assured knock, using his feet to good effect against the South African spinners on a pitch that seems to offer big runs on the first two days.

South Africa, led by Faf du Plessis, rotated their spinners led by Keshav Maharaj for a large part of the morning session.

The tourists, who suffered a 3-0 loss in a four-Test series during their last Indian tour in 2015, have a spin heavy attack and two pacemen in Kagiso Rabada and Vernon Philander.

Teams:

India

Virat Kohli (capt), Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Hanuma Vihari, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Wriddhiman Saha, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami

South Africa

Faf du Plessis (capt), Aiden Markram, Dean Elgar, Theunis de Bruyn, Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock, Vernon Philander, Senuran Muthusamy, Keshav Maharaj, Dane Piedt, Kagiso Rabada

Umpires: Chris Gaffaney (NZL), Richard Illingworth (ENG)

TV Umpire: Nigel Llong (ENG)

Match referee: Richie Richardson (WIS)

Leicester – Leicester powered into third place in the Premier League with a 5-0 demolition of 10-man Newcastle that piled pressure on Magpies boss Steve Bruce on Sunday.

Brendan Rodgers’ side maintained their impressive start to the season as they romped to a fourth win in their last five league games.

Ricardo Pereira opened the scoring in the first half before Newcastle’s Isaac Hayden was sent off for a dangerous tackle.

Leicester ran riot in the second half as Jamie Vardy struck either side of Paul Dummett’s own goal.

Wilfred Ndidi rounded off Leicester’s biggest league win since Rodgers arrived from Celtic to replace Claude Puel in February, leaving them just two points behind second placed Manchester City.

Rodgers’ appointment has proved an inspired move and Leicester look capable of challenging for a top four finish, especially given the inconsistent form of Manchester United, Arsenal, Tottenham and Chelsea.

Newcastle were the only team to win a league game at the King Power Stadium since Rodgers took charge.

But that success was during Rafael Benitez’s reign last season and they are a far less obdurate side under Bruce.

After this woeful display, Newcastle sit second bottom of the table and have won only once in their first seven league matches.

Mike Ashley’s decision to hire Bruce from Sheffield Wednesday was greeted with disdain by Newcastle fans and the under-fire 58-year-old already appears to be fighting to save his job.

With Ashley still being linked with a deal to sell Newcastle, Bruce could be gone before a regime change or very soon after unless results improve quickly.

James Maddison was absent for Leicester because of an ankle injury, with the midfielder’s place going to Dennis Praet in the only change from last week’s 2-1 win over Tottenham.

Even without Maddison, Leicester were quickly into their stride as former Newcastle winger Ayoze Perez tested Magpies keeper Martin Dubravka.

Newcastle could have been ahead against the run of play when Hayden drilled a low cross towards Yoshinori Muto, but the Japanese forward scuffed woefully wide.

Rodgers’ team made the most of that escape to take the lead in the 16th minute.

Portugal right-back Pereira has earned a reputation for lung-bursting surges that can unhinge opposing defences and once again he was too hot for Newcastle to handle.

Playing a one-two with Perez, Pereira surged towards the Newcastle area unchecked by the visitors’ defence before firing a fine finish into the bottom corner for his second goal in his last two games.

As rain lashed down, Bruce already cut a bedraggled figure on the touchline.

But Bruce’s day got even worse in the 43rd minute when Hayden was sent off for a reckless studs-up lunge on Praet that left the Leicester midfielder crumpled on the turf.

Leicester had already beaten Newcastle on penalties in the League Cup this season and Rodgers’ side were on course for a far more convincing success by the 54th minute.

Praet picked out Harvey Barnes and cushioned a first-time pass over the top into the path of Vardy, whose low shot evaded Dubravka’s weak attempt to save at his near post.

Vardy’s fourth goal of the season was followed by Leicester’s third of the day three minutes later.

Praet advanced down the right and his shot was turned into his own net by Newcastle defender Dummett.

With Newcastle in disarray, Vardy netted again after 64 minutes when he met Marc Albrighton’s cross with a clinical header at the far post.

Leicester showed no mercy to Bruce and Ndidi turned swiftly to fire home in the 90th minute.

Cape Town – Manchester City are reportedly considering offering forward Raheem Sterling a new lucrative contract in a bid to fend off interest from Real Madrid.

Reports suggesting Real are showing an interest could see City open talks with the winger – less than 12 months after he signed his last contract.

The England ace has never made a secret of his desire to maybe play in Spain one day, but the 24-year-old has insisted he is very happy at present at the Etihad Stadium.

Sterling agreed on new terms last year worth a reported £300 000-per-week, making him City’s highest earner alongside star midfielder Kevin De Bruyne.

The former Liverpool starlet is contracted until 2023 although reports in Spain have insisted officials at the Bernabeu Stadium are not deterred and may try to entice the player next year.

Sterling has nine goals in ten appearances for club and country this term, with the plaudits arriving on a weekly basis for his eye-catching displays under Pep Guardiola, who has played a big part in taking his game to the next level.

He hit 25 goals for City last season – his best-ever return – earning him the PFA Young Player of the Year and Football Writers’ awards in recognition of his domestic treble-winning achievements with his team.

City were ridiculed in some quarters for paying £49m to sign Sterling from Anfield back in 2015, becoming a bizarre hate figure amongst some sections of the media and rival supporters.

The Citizens would certainly be laughing all the way to the bank should they ever consider themselves open to a future sale, with a sensational figure of £200m being touted around.

City, however, have no intention of letting Sterling’s head be turned by Madrid’s well-known charm offensives, conducted via their preferred mouthpieces.

And there is certainly no immediate rush to sit down with Sterling’s advisers at this stage.

City sources have indicated the Premier League champions will look to put their man further out of bounds when the timing is right.

– TeamTalk