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De Kock, van der Dussen tons power South Africa to strong total
Hundreds from Quinton de Kock and Rassie van der Dussen propelled South Africa to a total of 357/4 in the World Cup fixture against New Zealand in Pune. It was the eighth consecutive time South Africa went past the 300-run mark while batting first this year.
After losing the toss, South Africa came up against one of Trent Boult’s better spells with the new ball in this World Cup and lost the wicket of Temba Bavuma in the process. The South Africa captain looked comfortable against Matt Henry, hitting a couple of crisp drives and a six against the pacer, but couldn’t get behind a cover drive against Boult and edged to slip instead.
That’s when van der Dussen joined de Kock in the middle, the duo going on to add 200 runs for the second wicket – the highest partnership for South Africa against New Zealand in ODIs for any wicket. While at it, de Kock brought up his fourth hundred in this World Cup edition, also his 21st overall in ODIs.
It wasn’t the most fluent knock from de Kock who survived a tough dropped catch by Glenn Phillips at backward point while on 12. But he still got to his hundred off 103 balls and looked increasingly in control of his batting out there. His partner at the crease, van der Dussen through rode his fair share of luck en route to his second hundred in this World Cup, and his sixth overall in the format.
Van der Dussen was dropped twice in the same Jimmy Neesham over when he was on 68 and 72, but strolled along thereafter to bring up his hundred off 101 balls. He was bowled by Tim Southee on 133 in the 18th over but his 118-ball knock helped provide South Africa the much needed final flourish.
Thanks to de Kock and van der Dussen, South Africa scored as many as 190 runs in the second PowerPlay (11-40 overs), setting base for the big hits in the death overs. And they arrived from van der Dussen himself alongside David Miller, who hit 2 fours and 4 sixes in his 30-ball 53. It took a brilliant catch from Daryl Mitchell in the deep to dismiss him in the final over.
South Africa ended up adding 119 runs in the final ten overs and what made matters more challenging for New Zealand was the unavailability of Matt Henry. The fast bowler hurt his right hamstring in his second spell and was confirmed to not return to bowl again in this game.
Brief Scores:
South Africa 357/4 in 50 overs (Rassie van der Dussen 133, Quinton de Kock 114; Tim Southee 2-77) vs New Zealand
The death toll from Israeli attacks on Lebanon this week has risen to at least 123 people, the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health says, as a new wave of strikes pounded the country and Hezbollah warned Israeli residents to evacuate towns within 5km (3 miles) of their northern border, in one of the fiercest fronts in the wider United States – Israel war on Iran.
“The toll from the Israeli aggression on Monday, increased to 123 martyrs and 683 wounded,” a ministry statement said on Thursday.
Lebanese state media said early on Friday that Israel had launched air strikes on several towns in southern Lebanon.
“Enemy warplanes launched nighttime strikes on the towns of Srifa, Aita al-Shaab, Touline, as-Sawana and Majdal Selem,” the official National News Agency (NNA) reported.
Another strike hit the eastern Lebanese town of Douris at dawn, the NNA said.
The Israeli army also reported a new attack on the suburb of Dahiyeh in Beirut.
It has also continued attacks in southern Lebanon with raids on the area’s biggest city Sidon, according to sources on the ground.
NNA also reported Israeli warplanes over the southern towns of Tyre and Bint Jbeil.
(Aljazeera)
Hungary’s tax authority has said it has arrested seven Ukrainians and two cash-transport vehicles on suspicion of money-laundering after Ukraine’s foreign minister accused Budapest of taking them hostage.
“The reasons are still unknown, as well as their current well-being,” Andrii Sybiha wrote on X. “We have already sent an official note demanding an immediate release of our citizens.”
According to Ukraine’s state savings bank, Oschadbank, the seven workers were in two vans carrying $80m (£60m) worth of cash and 9kg of gold in a regular transport between Austria and Ukraine. They were “unjustifiably detained” and GPS data showed their vehicles in Budapest, it said.
Hungary’s tax authority said on Friday that it was conducting criminal proceedings and added that one of the group was a former general of Ukraine’s intelligence service.
(BBC)
The US and Venezuela have agreed to re-establish diplomatic and consular relations.
The agency said in a statement that the two sides would make joint efforts to promote stability, support economic recovery and advance political reconciliation.
While their diplomatic relations have been improving since the US military captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in January in a surprise raid, the announcement of formal bilateral ties marks a hugely symbolic step.
President Donald Trump ordered troops to seize Maduro and his wife, bringing them to a Manhattan court to face allegations of weapon and drug offences, which they deny.
(BBC)
Maldives Coast Guard Ship Huravee departs island
Cost to US for war on Iran is $3.7bn in first 100 hours, says think tank
More than 120 killed in Israel’s Lebanon attacks as Beirut, south, east hit
Hungary confirms it is holding seven Ukrainian bank workers and $80m
US and Venezuela agree to resume diplomatic ties after Maduro capture
Jamie Siddons appointed Sri Lanka Women head coach
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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