Recalled J.P. Duminy scored a maiden one-day century as South Africa answered the call of coach Mickey Arthur with a 212-run thrashing of Zimbabwe at SuperSport Park on Tuesday.
Arthur demanded greater all-round ruthlessness after his team took much longer than expected to complete a 45-run victory on Sunday in the first encounter.
South Africa were put into bat and ran riot in the afternoon sun to compile 331-5 off 50 overs before bowling Zimbabwe out for 119 after 34.3 overs and completing a 2-0 series win.
The Proteas used the mini-series against their northern neighbors to warm up for a tour by England that begins tomorrow and includes Twenty20, ODI and Test fixtures.
“It was a very good performance and you have to be happy after winning by more than 200 runs. Now we look forward to the challenges posed by England, “ South Africa skipper Graeme Smith said. “We are not the finished article and must keep working. We do not see the England series as a chance to settle personal scores, but rather as a new challenge and we must just focus on our game.”
Duminy, a 25-year-old left-hand batsman from Cape Town came in at No. 4 and tormented the visiting attack to finish unbeaten on 111 after facing 87 balls in 126 minutes.
His record score included nine fours and two sixes in a virtual risk-free stand as South Africa bettered the 295 runs scored against the one-day minnows in Benoni.
“I just hope I can take this form into the England series. I missed the first Zimbabwe game as a precaution because of shin splints, but I’m fine although there is still a little pain,” Duminy said.
■SRI LANKA V INDIA
AFP, MUMBAI
Heavy rains lashing Mumbai washed out the first day’s play in the three-day match between touring Sri Lanka and the Indian board president’s XI yesterday.
The bad weather caused by an approaching cyclone on India’s west coast threatens to wipe out the entire game, Sri Lanka’s only practice match before the Test series starts next week.
Sri Lanka are due to play three Tests, two Twenty20 matches and five one-day internationals on the seven-week tour.
The first Test opens in Ahmedabad on Monday.
■AUSTRALIA V INDIA
REUTERS, MUMBAI
The final one-day international between Australia and India was washed out yesterday without a ball being bowled.
Australia, who had trailed India 2-1 in the seven-match series, clinched victory on Sunday with a six-wicket win to take a 4-2 lead.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Forget Real Madrid, Manchester City or Paris Saint-Germain, the world’s best soccer team — statistically speaking — might be a little-known outfit from the closed central Asian nation of Turkmenistan. Founded last year, Arkadag, named in honor of former Turkmen president Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, have been unstoppable, notching up 36 consecutive domestic victories in a run still ongoing. The side have not lost a single competitive match and swept to a league and cup double in their inaugural season — success unthinkable almost anywhere else. However, in Turkmenistan, it could hardly have gone any other way. The energy-rich country is one of the most closed
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan on Saturday won the men’s doubles bronze medal at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, after they were bested by the hosts in their semi-final. The Taiwanese shuttlers lost to China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, who advanced to yesterday’s final against Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzudin. The Chinese pair outplayed Lee and Yang in straight games. Although the Taiwanese got off to a slow start in the first game, they eventually tied it 14-14, before Liang and Wang went on to blow past them to win 21-17. In the second game, Lee and