A record-breaking batting display from Hashim Amla and A.B. de Villiers took South Africa to a 34-run win over Pakistan in the third one-day international (ODI) on Sunday.
The South Africa pair set a record third-wicket ODI partnership of 238 as the hosts scored 343 for five to set Pakistan an imposing target that, despite a thrilling 88 from Shahid Afridi, they fell short of on 309 all out.
It was a batting master class from Amla and De Villiers, with an array of both orthodox and audacious shots to thrill a capacity crowd of 28,000 fans at the Wanderers, and they beat the previous record of 237 set by India against Kenya in 1999.
Photo: Reuters
Amla, who in the second over had a leg-before-wicket decision against him overturned on review, was caught by Misbah-ul-Haq on 122, while captain De Villiers made 128 before skying one to the deep that Shoaib Malik did well to catch off Saeed Ajmal.
A cameo of 45 from Faf du Plessis off just 19 balls added to the tally at the end of the innings.
However, the South Africa batting performance came close to being overshadowed by another spell-binding slog from Afridi, who was driving Pakistan to victory before he was caught on 88.
He showed why he is nicknamed “Boom Boom,” while he plundered seven sixes and five fours in an astonishing display of power-hitting.
Afridi’s innings lasted just 48 balls, although he got a life while on 73 when he chopped on to his stumps, but on review bowler Ryan McLaren was no-balled by the umpire.
“It was a special knock. We got down on ourselves, but I told the guys we were seeing something special,” De Villiers said of Afridi’s onslaught, which included a six that cleared the grandstand.
Once Afridi departed with Pakistan still 99 runs short, it proved too big a target.
South Africa, who played in a pink uniform to raise awareness of breast cancer, lead the five-match series 2-1, with games to come in Durban on Thursday and in Benoni on Sunday.
Pakistan have called up left-arm pace bowler Sohail Tanvir as cover for Umar Gul and Mohammad Irfan, who have fitness issues.
“He was already in South Africa so he was asked to join the team as a cover for Gul and Irfan, who are unfit,” chief selector Iqbal Qasim said.
Irfan bowled seven overs on Sunday, but limped off the field after aggravating a hamstring strain. Gul did not play.
The lights dimmed and the crowd hushed as Karoline Kristensen entered for her performance. However, this was no ordinary Dutch theater: The temperature was 80°C and the audience naked apart from a towel. Dressed in a swimsuit and to the tune of emotional music, the 21-year-old Kristensen started her routine, performed inside a large sauna, with a bed of hot rocks in the middle. For a week this month, a group of wellness practitioners, called “sauna masters,” are gathering at a picturesque health resort in the Netherlands to compete in this year’s Aufguss world sauna championships. The practice takes its name from a
Roger Federer on Wednesday said that staying involved with tennis in retirement helped him avoid feeling “like an alien” ahead of this week’s Laver Cup in Berlin. Federer, who helped create the tournament, retired at the Laver Cup in London two years ago and has since stayed involved with the competition as an ambassador. “I’m happy I went back right away to some tournaments,” the 43-year-old told reporters. “I feel I ripped the Band-Aid off quite quickly and when I walk around the tennis sites I still feel I belong there,” he said. “I don’t feel like an alien, which is a
Japanese players are moving to English soccer in record numbers and more look set to follow with clubs attracted by their quality, strong work ethic and value for money. Kaoru Mitoma is the standout talent of five Japanese players in the English Premier League, with eight more in the Championship and two in League One. Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, the captain of Japan, believes his compatriots are “being held in higher esteem” by English clubs compared with the past. “The staff at Liverpool ask me about lots of Japanese players, not necessarily with a view to a transfer, but just saying this or
Taiwan yesterday survived Bosnia and Herzegovina to win their Davis Cup World Group I tie at the Taipei Tennis Center. The tight series started on Saturday with world No. 123 Jason Tseng losing 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 to Mirza Basic in the opening singles matchup. However, teammate Tony Wu kept the tie even, dominating world No. 86 Damir Dzumhur 6-2, 6-1. Yesterday, 24-year-old Ray Ho and partner 25-year-old Hsu Yu-hsiou kept up the momentum, making short work of Basic and Nerman Fatic, winning 6-3, 6-4. Tseng then suffered another defeat, losing 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 to Dzumhur in a brutal match that lasted more than two