The Taiwan Daredevils produced two convincing victories today over the Taichung Scunners and reigning champions the Pakistan Badshahs at the Xinmin ground in Chiayi City.
The first game of the day was a match up between the Daredevils and the Scunners.
The Daredevils took every opportunity to rack up a huge total of 135 for two in 15 overs, with the Scunners only managing to field a side of nine players.
Jeff Black regained some form, making 69 not out from only 48 deliveries, while stand-in skipper Eben Haarhoff hit some lusty blows to finish on 20 not out. The best bowling for the Scunners was from Chad Sinovich at one for 13 in three overs.
The Scunners never looked like they would make the runs and were finally skittled for 69, with paceman Jared Painter taking three for 11 and youngster James Daly two for 25 in three overs.
The second game of the day was the Badshahs versus the Scunners. Again the Badshahs showed no mercy in batting first, racking up 128 for four in 15 overs.
Khuram Muhammad was in good touch, making 48 not out. The Badshahs shot out the Scunners for only 61 in 10.5 overs, leaving skipper Kris Belling the enormous task of picking up his side for the semi-final.
The best match up of the day was the final match between the Dardevils and the Badshahs, and with both teams undefeated, spectators were looking forward to a close contest.
The Badshahs won the toss and elected to bat. They were pegged back by some very accurate bowling by Painter and Black, as only 15 runs came off the first four overs.
The Badshahs needed to up their run rate, but the Daredevils’ Spin King “Hercules Malan” was in the form of his life as he baffled the top order with some lovely spin bowling.
Malan finally finished with the best figures of his career at four for nine in three overs.
The Badshahs managed to make 99 for six in 15 overs, which never seemed as though it would be enough. Touseef Ashraf hit some lusty blows toward the end of the innings, making 34 not out.
The Badshahs started off bowling with great determination backed up by fine fielding, but a 50-run opening partnership between Black and Duane Christie set up victory for the daredevils as they sealed the victory on 100 for five in 19.3 overs as Painter hit the winning run, leaving the Daredevils on top of the group with six points.
The semi-final match up between the Scunners and the Badshahs and final will be played in January or February at the same venue in Chiayi. The next major tournament on the Taiwan cricket schedule is the Taiwan annual tournament, which takes place on Dec. 10 and Dec. 11 in Chiayi.
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Revelations of positive doping tests for nearly two dozen Chinese swimmers that went unpunished sparked an intense flurry of accusations and legal threats between the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the head of the US drug-fighting organization, who has long been one of WADA’s fiercest critics. WADA on Saturday said it was turning to legal counsel to address a statement released by US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) CEO Travis Tygart, who said WADA and anti-doping authorities in China swept positive tests “under the carpet by failing to fairly and evenly follow the global rules that apply to everyone else in the world.” The
Taiwanese judoka Yang Yung-wei on Saturday won silver in the men’s under-60kg category at the Asian Judo Championships in Hong Kong. Nicknamed the “judo heartthrob” in Taiwan, the Olympic silver-medalist missed out on his first Asian Championships gold when he lost to Japanese judoka Taiki Nakamura in the finals. Yang defeated three opponents on Saturday to reach the final after receiving a bye through the round of 32. He first topped Laotian Soukphaxay Sithisane in the round of 16 with two seoi nage (over-the-shoulder throws), then ousted Indian Vijay Kumar Yadav in the quarter-finals with his signature ude hishigi sankaku gatame (triangular armlock). He
Rafael Nadal on Wednesday said the upcoming French Open would be the moment to “give everything and die” on the court after his comeback from injury in Barcelona was curtailed by Alex de Minaur. The 22-time Grand Slam title winner, back playing this week after three months on the sidelines, battled well, but eventually crumbled 7-5, 6-1 against the world No. 11 from Australia in the second round. Nadal, 37, who missed virtually all of last season, is hoping to compete at the French Open next month where he is the record 14-time champion. The Spaniard said the clash with De Minaur was