Sports
Old problems resurface for South Africa in World Cup semi
Rex Clementine in Calcutta
For such a strong cricketing nation, it’s strange that South Africa have never reached the finals of the World Cup. They have found some strange ways to lose semi-finals or knockout games for that matter in sport’s showpiece event.
Something similar was in the cards in Calcutta yesterday as the Proteas won the toss and elected to bat first in overcast conditions and their top order was blown away by the Australian quicks.
Mitchell Starc bowled unchanged for seven overs while Josh Hazlewood sent down six overs straight reducing South Africa to 24 for four and they were playing catch up from that point on.
In this tournament, Eden Gardens has offered assistance for spin as the game progresses, and it may well be the right decision to bat first but with overcast conditions against a formidable attack it looked a gamble. Not many could blame South Africa though as Pat Cummins too admitted that he would have batted first had he won the toss.
Heinrich Klassen together with David Miller provided some stability adding 95 runs for the fifth wicket but South Africa were long way off a safe total. Pace had done enough damage but the spin of Adam Zampa and Glenn Maxwell weren’t able to trouble the South Africans and Pat Cummins called up his third spin option – Travis Head.
The ploy worked as Head took two wickets in two balls in his first over to put Australia back in the hunt. South Africa owed their eventual total of 212 all out to David Miller, who put up a tremendous show.
Millier, a globetrotting T-20 specialist, is kind of expected to be the finisher of the innings coming in with ten overs to go. But here, at the biggest game of his career, walking in to bat at the 12th over, he played to the situation. This was a tall order and he accomplished it so well giving South African bowlers something to defend.
Usually, Miller produces less than a run a ball thrillers, but here he took calculated risks and finished on 101 off 116 deliveries. Not that he didn’t punish the loose balls. There were eight fours and five sixes in his innings and he was dismissed attempting the sixth six. The 73 run stand between Miller and Gerald Coetzee ensured that the innings lasted till the 50th over but the Proteas could regret their top order collapse.
Mark Chapman bludgeoned 78 off 28 balls before New Zealand survived a late onslaught to record their first T20I victory of the home season in a bounce back against West Indies at Eden Park.
West Indies were down and out in the 208-run chase at 93 for 6 in the 13th over. They needed 18 an over from there but the required rate suddenly nosedived as Rovman Powell launched stunning hitting at the death.
Needing 16 runs off the final over, West Indies were suddenly in the box seat after a couple of Matthew Forde boundaries meant they required eight off four balls.
But Powell holed out to quick Kyle Jamieson on the fourth ball in a game-changer before Forde could only score a single off the final delivery as West Indies fell three runs short.
Jamieson held his nerve with a superb slower ball in a major relief for New Zealand, who were under pressure after a seven-run defeat in the series-opener at the same ground just 24 hours earlier.
After New Zealand were sent in to bat, Chapman ignited his side in favourable batting conditions and completely dominated the middle-latter overs with a slew of belligerent blows.
While chasing, West Indies succumbed to spinners Ish Sodhi, the only change from either team from game one, and Mitchell Santner combining for six wickets.
There was a late twist but the result snapped the West Indies’ five-game T20I winning streak.
DRS was used in this match after technical issues meant the technology could not be in place for the opener.
Brief scores:
New Zealand 207 for 5 in 20 overs (Mark Chapman 78, Tim Robinson 39, Devon Conway 16, Rachin Ravindra 11, Daryl Mitchell 28*, Mitchell Santner 18*; Mathew Forde 1-17, Jason Holder 1-34, Romario Shepherd 1-38, Roston Chase 2-33) beat West Indies 204 for 8 in 20 overs (Alick Athanaze 33, Shai Hope 24, Jason Holder 16, Rovman Powell 45, Romario Shepherd 34, Mathew Forde 29*; Jacob Duffy 1-21, Kyle Jamieson 1-51, Michell Santner 3-31, Ish Sodhi 3-39) by three runs
[Cricinfo]
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has said it “strongly refutes” allegations of physical abuse made by fast bowler Jahanra Alam against the current national women’s team captain Nigar Sultana.
Alam, who has not played international cricket since December 2024, claimed that Sultana “beat up” her team-mates in an interview with Bangladesh newspaper Kaler Kantho.
“The BCB categorically and strongly refutes these allegations, which are baseless, fabricated and devoid of any truth,” the board said in a statement. “The Board finds it unfortunate that such derogatory and scandalous claims have been made at a time when the Bangladesh Women’s Team is showing commendable progress and unity on the international stage.
“The Board believes that the timing and nature of these comments are deliberate, ill-intentioned and seemingly aimed at undermining the spirit and confidence of a team that continues to represent the country with pride. It is deeply disappointing that an individual who currently has no involvement or relevance in the plans of Bangladesh cricket has chosen to make such misleading statements in public.”
“The BCB wishes to make it clear that it has complete trust and confidence in the Women’s National Team’s leadership, players and management. The Board has found no evidence to support any of the claims made and stands firmly behind the team and its personnel.”
Bangladesh had finished seventh out of eight teams in the recent Women’s World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. Their only victory came against Pakistan but they ran England, South Africa and Sri Lanka close.
[Cricinfo]
Hayleys Group made amends to their loss in the 32nd Singer-MCA Super Premier 50 over tournament final last Thursday, by defeating the star studded Citizens Development Business Finance PLC (CDB) team by five runs in the final of the 10th MCA Super Premier T20 tournament played under lights at the CCC ground on Sunday night.
Invited to bat first, Hayleys helped by twenty plus scores from Nishan Madushka, Sadeera Samarawickrema and skipper Ramesh Mendis managed to post 127 runs before being dismissed with 3 balls remaining. Isitha Wijesundera was rewarded with a four wicket haul while Dunith Wellalge captured two wickets.
Hayleys skipper Ramesh Mendis receives the trophy from Tharaka Warnakulasuriya General Manager [Marketing] Singer Sri Lanka PLC
In the chase, except for Shevon Daniel [48 off 44] who opened the innings the star studded batting outfit of Citizens Development Business Finance PLC (CDB) were unable to get the Hayleys bowlers away and were eventually were bowled out for 122 runs. Ramesh Mendis and Ravidu Fernando captured three wickets each to defend their total of 127 and win the game by 5 runs.
Hayleys’ skipper Ramesh Mendis was named the Man of the final for his contributions of 29 runs off 23 balls, bowling figures of 4-0-21-3, a catch and figuring in a run out.
Tharindra Nirmal of David Pieris Group of Companies was named the Best Batsman of the Tournament for his aggregate of 131 runs from three innings.
Thanuka Dabare of Fairfirst Insuarance Limited was named the Best Bowler of the T20 tournament for capturing12 wickets in the four matches he participated and also named as the Player of the Tournament for his aggregate of 99 runs in addition to his bowling performance.
Scores:
Hayleys Group 127/10 in 19.3 overs
[Nishan Madushka 27, Sadeera Samarawickrema 33, Ramesh Mendis 29, Kavishka Anjula 11; Muditha Lakshan 1-34, Dunith Wellalage 2-17, Tharindu Rathnayake 1-19, Isitha Wijesundera 4-24]
CDB 122/10 Iin19.5 overs
[Shevon Daniel 48, Dunith Wellalage 15, Movin Subasinghe 16, Tharindu Rathnayake 12, Isitha Wijesundera 12*; Prabath Jayasuriya 1-21, Ramesh Mendis 3-21, Ravindu Fernando 3-24, Kavishka Anjula 1-28, Kalana Perera 1-12]
Runners up Citizens Development Business Finance PLC (CDB) Team
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