Tag: South Africa

DURBAN: South Africa boosted their chances of reaching the World Test Championship (WTC) after a crushing 233-run victory against Sri Lanka on the fourth day of the first Test at Kingsmead here on Saturday.

The result lifted South Africa to second place in the WTC table, which is calculated on average points earned. With their remaining three matches to be played at home, South Africa are well-placed to qualify for the final at Lord’s in London next June if they carry on winning.

“That’s always been one of our goals as a team,” said South African, captain Temba Bavuma. “The conversation has always been there. We’ve not been loud about it but that conversation will probably become more alive now.”

Set a massive 516 runs to win, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 282.

Left-arm fast bowler Marco Jansen, the destroyer in Sri Lanka’s record-low first innings of 42, took four for 73 to finish with match figures of 11 for 86. He was named player of the match.

Bavuma said conditions had changed considerably during the match, in which South Africa battled to make 191 in the first innings before Sri Lanka were blown away in 13.5 overs, with Jansen taking seven for 13.

“We were in a tough position and we knew we had to dig deep,” said Bavuma. “We were quite confident that if they could put us under pressure with the ball we could do the same to them.

“We weren’t expecting things to go so quickly but we knew the conditions (for bowling) were in our favour and that we could exploit them.”

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Referring to the Test championship, Bavuma said his team needed to continue to focus internally on what they needed to do, rather than be concerned about factors beyond their control.

Sri Lankan captain Dhananjaya de Silva said the first innings had been decisive – “our bowling as well as our batting.”

He said Sri Lanka could have bowled better to restrict South Africa to around 120, although he paid tribute to Bavuma, who scored 70 in the first innings and 113 in the second.

The collapse to 42 all out against a “brilliant” Jansen happened so quickly, he said, that “we didn’t have time to think. We had better plans in the second innings.”

In contrast to the first innings, the tourists made the South Africans work for their wickets on Saturday.

Dinesh Chandimal (83) and De Silva (59) put on 95 for the sixth wicket and kept South Africa in the field for most of the morning after resuming at 103 for five.

The breakthrough for South Africa came when De Silva chipped a catch to midwicket off left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj. Kusal Mendis made an attacking 48 before he became Jansen’s 10th victim of the match.

WATCH: Ball boy pulls off ‘WWE move’ on Faf du Plessis in Abu Dhabi T10 League

Fast bowler Marco Jansen took 7-13 as South Africa skittled Sri Lanka for just 42 in their first innings on the second day of the first Test at Kingsmead in Durban on Thursday.

It was the lowest innings total by Sri Lanka in their history although some way over the lowest ever in Test cricket which remains New Zealand’s 26 against England in Auckland in 1955.

South Africa, who were earlier bowled out for 191, are currently leading by 149 runs going into the second innings.

Sri Lanka’s Kamindu Mendis top-scored with 13, while Lahiru Kumara scored an unbeaten 10. No other batters managed to cross the double figures against a fiery pace attack of South Africa.

Earlier on Thursday, South Africa were bowled out for 191 in their first innings, with captain Temba Bavuma top-scoring with 70. The only other home batsman to cross the 20-run mark was Keshav Maharaj, batting at number 10, who made a quick 24.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Opening bowlers Asitha Fernando and Vishwa Fernando took three and two wickets respectively but the major damage was done by fast bowler Lahiru Kumara, whose figures of three for 70 did not do justice to an aggressive performance.

Kumara made the first breakthrough on Thursday, trapping Kyle Verreynne leg before wicket for nine after South Africa added just three runs to their overnight total of 80 for four.

Kumara also forced all-rounder Wiaan Mulder to retire hurt with an injured right middle finger – although Mulder returned at the fall of the ninth wicket to help Kagiso Rabada add 26 for the last wicket.

In contrast to Wednesday when rain restricted play to 20.4 overs, there was bright sunshine on Thursday with a strong breeze blowing across the ground.

South Africa Playing XI: Tony de Zorzi, Aiden Markram, Tristan Stubbs, Temba Bavuma (c), David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Marco Jansen, Wiaan Mulder, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada

Sri Lanka Playing XI: Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Kamindu Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva (c), Kusal Mendis (wk), Prabath Jayasuriya, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Asitha Fernando

READ: Champions Trophy: Shahid Afridi supports PCB’s stance against hybrid model

BENONI: Nat Sciver-Brunt gave an all-round performance, leading England Women to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in their three-match T20I series over South Africa with a 36-run victory in the second T20I here at Willowmoore Park on Wednesday.

The tourists hit their joint third-highest total in women’s T20 internationals in Benoni, setting the Proteas a target of 205.

Danni Wyatt-Hodge hit 78 from 45 becoming the first England Women’s player to score 3000 T20I runs while Nat Sciver-Brunt finished unbeaten on 67 from 43 balls. Player of the match Sarah Glenn took four wickets.

Captain Heather Knight and Amy Jones both contributed with 26 and 19 respectively.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Sciver-Brunt took the early wicket of Tazmin Brits and Charlie Dean dismissed South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt.

Glenn removed Faye Tunnicliffe, Annerie Dercksen, Nondumiso Shangase and Chloe Tryon to seal her side’s victory.

England and South Africa will play the final T20I at SuperSport Park, Centurion on Saturday (30 November).

South Africa Women Playing XI: Laura Wolvaardt (capt), Tazmin Brits, Faye Tunnicliffe, Annerie Dercksen, Chloe Tryon, Nondumiso Shangase, Nadine de Klerk, Sinolo Jafta (wk), Eliz-Mari Marx, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Ayanda Hlubi

England Women Playing XI: Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Maia Bouchier, Sophia Dunkley, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Heather Knight (capt), Amy Jones (wk), Freya Kemp, Sophie Ecclestone, Charlie Dean, Sarah Glenn, Lauren Filer

READ: How can India qualify for WTC final after crushing Australia in Perth Test?

LONDON: Nat Sciver-Brunt scored a commanding half-century, while Amy Jones played a 31-run cameo to steer England Women to a thrilling four-wicket victory over South Africa Women in the first T20I here at Buffalo Park on Sunday.

Chasing a target of 153, Nat Sciver-Brunt led the charge with a 59-run knock from 54 balls with the help of seven boundaries. However, she fell in the last over with scores levelled.

Other than Sciver-Brunt, Maia Bouchier (20) and Amy Jones (31) were major contributors for England Women with their quick-fire cameos against an inspired South Africa bowling attack.

Eliz-Mari Marx took three wickets, while Nadine de Klerk bagged two for South Africa.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Nadine de Klerk also contributed with the bat to set up South African women’s total of 142-5. She struck an unbeaten 29 off 16 balls with the help of four boundaries.

Annerie Dercksen also remained unbeaten after scoring a scratchy 26 runs from 29 balls. Prior to them, captain Laura Wolvaardt provided a good start with 22 off 19, while Anneke Bosch and Tazmin Brits added 18 and 15 runs respectively.

For England, Charlie Dean claimed two wickets, while Sophie Ecclestone, Sarah Glenn and Freya Kemp bagged one each.

South Africa Women PLaying XI: Laura Wolvaardt (c), Tazmin Brits, Anneke Bosch, Suné Luus, Annerie Dercksen, Nondumiso Shangase, Nadine de Klerk, Sinalo Jafta (wk), Eliz-Mari Marx, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Ayanda Hlubi

England Women Playing XI: Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Maia Bouchier, Sophia Dunkley, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Heather Knight (c), Amy Jones (wk), Freya Kemp, Sophie Ecclestone, Charlie Dean, Sarah Glenn, Lauren Bell

READ: England suffer major blow ahead of Test series against New Zealand

CENTURION: Tilak Varma struck an unbeaten century to steer India to victory over South Africa in the third T20I here at SuperSport Park on Wednesday.

With this 11-run victory, India are now leading the four-match series 2-1.

South Africa, while chasing a mammoth 22-run target, managed 208-7 courtesy of disciplined bowling by India.

Marco Jansen played a blistering knock of 54 runs from 17 balls, which included five sixes and four boundaries.

However, he could not take his team across the line as he fell to Arshadeep Singh in the last over after a DRS overturned an LBW appeal.

Prior to him, Heinrich Klaasen struck 41 off 22 with the help of four sixes to keep South Africa in the game amidst falling wickets.

Arshdeep Singh starred for India with three wickets, while Varun Chakravarthy took two crucial wickets of Reeza Hendricks (21) and Aiden Markram (29).

India lost Sanju Samson on the second ball of the innings after being invited to bat, however, the visitors made a resounding comeback in the next few overs.

Abhishek Sharma was joined by Tilak Varma and together they smashed 107 runs in 52 balls, hitting South Africa bowlers to all parts of the ground.

Sharma struck 50 runs from 25 balls, which featured five sixes and three fours before getting out stumped off Keshav Maharaj.

India lost two more wickets in quick succession before Rinku Singh joined Varma with the scoreboard reading 132-4 in 12.5 overs.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Varma stitched a one-sided partnership of 58 runs with Singh, who scored a mere eight runs. Ramandeep Singh hit 15 off six after Andile Simelane castled Singh.

Meanwhile, Varma remained unbeaten at 107 from 56 balls with the help of eight boundaries and seven sixes to take the team’s total to 219-6 in their allocated 20 overs.

For South Africa, Maharaj and Simelane took two wickets each, while Marco Jansen bagged one.

South Africa Playing XI: Ryan Rickelton, Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram (c), Tristan Stubbs, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), David Miller, Marco Jansen, Andile Simelane, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj, Lutho Sipamla

India Playing XI: Sanju Samson (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Ravi Bishnoi, Varun Chakravarthy

READ: Mohammad Amir calls to ‘keep India out’ of Champions Trophy 2025

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) on Tuesday announced the appointment of former Proteas batter Neil McKenzie as a consultant coach ahead of their tour of South Africa.

Sri Lanka will play a two-match Test series in South Africa, which will commence on November 27 at Kingsmead in Durban. Meanwhile, the second Test will be played at St. George’s Oval in Gqeberha (previously Port Elizabeth) from December 5.

The 48-year-old McKenzie will join the Sri Lanka camp as a consultant coach from November 13 ahead of the first Test in Durban. He will work with Sri Lankan players for just over a week until November 21.

“[Neil] McKenzie will bring in vital, in-depth insights about the South African conditions to help Sri Lankan players adapt to the challenge,” the Sri Lankan cricket board’s chief Ashley de Silva said in a statement.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

McKenzie’s playing career highlights included sharing a 415-run stand with Graeme Smith against Bangladesh in 2008, the highest-ever opening partnership in Test history.

The right-handed batter retired from international cricket in 2009 and has been part of multiple dressing rooms in different coaching roles.

McKenzie served as the batting consultant of South Africa last year during the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) series against the West Indies.

It’s worth noting that Sri Lanka and South Africa, placed third and fifth in the points table, are both vying for a spot in next year’s WTC Final.

READ: Vikrant Gupta opens up on Pakistan giving up Champions Trophy hosting rights

GQEBERHA: Varun Chakravarthy’s five-wicket haul went in vain as Tristan Stubbs held on to his nerves to steer South Africa to a three-wicket victory against India in the second T20I here at St. George’s Park on Sunday.

Chasing a modest total of 129, South Africa achieved the target in 19 overs with Stubbs hitting a boundary off Arshdeep Singh to finish the match.

The hosts needed 13 runs off the final two overs, however, Stubbs struck four boundaries in the 19th over to win the match with an over to spare.

Stubbs scored an unbeaten 47 off 40 with the help of seven boundaries. He came out to bat in the sixth over with South Africa struggling at 33-2.

Varun Chakravarthy kept India in command as South Africa kept losing wickets at regular intervals and soon found themselves reeling at 86-7 in 15.4 overs.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

With 39 runs needed off 26 balls, Gerald Coetzee joined hands with Stubbs and they stitched a 42-run stand to win the game for South Africa.

For India, Chakravarthy led the bowling attack with brilliant bowling figures of 5-17, while Singh and Arshdeep Singh managed one wicket each.

Earlier, India managed 124-6 after being invited to bat by South Africa. Hardik Pandya top-scored with a cautious 39-run knock from 45 balls.

Meanwhile, Tilak Varma and Axar Patel played crucial knocks of 20 and 27 runs respectively.

South Africa’s Marco Jansen, Gerald Coetzee, Andile Simelane, Aiden Markram and Nqabayomzi Peter grabbed one wicket each.

The third and fourth matches of the series will be played in Centurion and Johannesburg on 13 and 15 November respectively.

South Africa Playing XI: Ryan Rickelton, Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram (c), Tristan Stubbs, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), David Miller, Marco Jansen, Andile Simelane, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj, Nqaba Peter

India Playing XI: Sanju Samson (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan, Varun Chakravarthy

WATCH: Michael Vaughan names Babar Azam among top-three Pakistan batters of all-time

JOHANNESBURG: Cricket South Africa (CSA) on Thursday recalled star batters David Miller and Heinrich Klaasen to the national T20I squad for the upcoming four-match series against India.

The series will kick off in Durban on 8 November, followed by subsequent matches in Gqeberha, Centurion and Johannesburg on 10, 13 and 15 November respectively.

Along with Miller and Klaasen, left-arm fast bowler Marco Jansen and left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj will also be making their return to South Africa’s T20I squad.

All four missed a series against Ireland in September because they were playing in professional franchise leagues.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Coach Rob Walter announced a near full-strength squad although fast bowler Kagiso Rabada will be rested ahead of four home Test matches South Africa will play this season.

Fast bowler Gerald Coetzee was included after recovering from a side strain injury. The squad also features two uncapped players in all-rounders Mihlali Mpongwana and Andile Simelane.

In addition to Rabada, missing from the team that played in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 final against India will be Quinton de Kock and Anrich Nortje, who are no longer contracted to CSA, and left-arm spinner Tabraiz Shamsi.

India announced a squad for the T20I series against South Africa last week which does not include many of their leading players, who will be preparing for a Test series against Australia.

Squads

South Africa: Aiden Markram (c), Ottneil Baartman, Gerald Coetzee, Donovan Ferreira, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Patrick Kruger, Keshav Maharaj, David Miller, Mihlali Mpongwana, Nqaba Peter, Ryan Rickelton, Andile Simelane, Lutho Sipamla (third and fourth matches only) and Tristan Stubbs.

India: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Rinku Singh, Tilak Varma, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ramandeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Avesh Khan, Yash Dayal.

READ: Winning even one ODI in Australia would be big deal: Wasim Akram

CHATTOGRAM: South Africa thrashed Bangladesh by an innings and 273 runs inside three days of the second Test here on Thursday to sweep the two-match series 2-0.

Bangladesh were all out for 143 in Chattogram after being put straight back into bat by the Proteas, a single session after ending their first innings on 159.

Left-arm spinner Maharaj took 5-59 after fast bowler Kagiso Rabada posted 5-37 from just nine overs in the first innings.

It was South Africa’s biggest Test win, surpassing their innings and 254-run victory over Bangladesh at home in 2017.

After ending the first innings behind by 416 runs, the onus was on home team veterans Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mushfiqur Rahim and Mehidy Hasan Miraz to save face — but all fell cheaply.

Mushfiqur, who failed to score in the first innings, returned to the pavilion having made two. He tried to sweep Senuran Muthusamy but missed the ball, which hit his pad at the leg-stump line.

Maharaj claimed Mehidy for six while Muthusamy sent back Najmul, leaving the hosts on a despairing 78-7.

Bangladesh fought on through the last session with Hasan Mahmud the last man left on 38 off 30 balls, including four sixes.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Maharaj sealed the match taking the last wicket of Nahid Rana for a duck. It was his 10th five-wicket haul. Muthusamy finished the second innings with 4-45.

He struck in his first over of the innings when his tossed-up delivery to Mahmudul Hasan Joy kissed the bat and landed in the palms of Aiden Markram at slip.

Maharaj first struck when he sent back Mominul Haque, who scored 82 in the first innings, for a duck.

At the start of the day, the hosts were reduced to 48-8, conceding four wickets to add 10 runs to their overnight total, before a mini-fightback by Mominul.

Rabada struck twice in one over as Mehidy Hasan Miraz was caught behind and debutant Mahidul Islam Ankon offered no shot to a ball nipping back and was trapped lbw for a duck.

The burst gave Rabada his second five-wicket haul of the series, to go with his 6-46 in the first Test victory in Mirpur.

South Africa had three batsmen hit maiden Test centuries in their first innings 575-6 — De Zorzi (177), Tristan Stubbs (106) and Wiaan Mulder (105 not out).

Earlier, South Africa won the first Test by seven wickets. It’s worth noting that Bangladesh have never won a Test against South Africa in 16 attempts.

READ: Gautam Gambhir blames T20 cricket for India’s Test struggles

Former Test great VVS Laxman will serve as the head coach of India during the upcoming tour of South Africa, where they will play a four-match T20I series.

The series will kick off in Durban on 8 November, followed by subsequent matches in Gqeberha, Centurion and Johannesburg on 10, 13 and 15 November respectively.

Laxman has been appointed to temporarily fill the role of head coach in place of Gautam Gambhir, who will be accompanying the Indian Test team on their journey to Australia for the prestigious Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Laxman’s coaching staff will feature members of the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru, like Sairaj Bahutule, Hrishikesh Kanitkar and Subhadeep Ghosh.

It’s worth noting that Bahutule served as the head coach, while Kanitkar and Ghosh served as the batting and fielding coach of India during the recently concluded ACC Men’s T20 Emerging Teams Asia Cup 2024 in Oman.

India T20I Squad for South Africa Series

T20I squad: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (WK), Rinku Singh, Tilak Varma, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ramandeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Avesh Khan, Yash Dayal.

READ: ‘It’s not great news’: Ramiz Raja on Gary Kirsten’s resignation as Pakistan head coach