South Africa stormed into the Cricket World Cup semi-finals yesterday with a nine-wicket rout of Sri Lanka that brought the curtain down on the one-day international (ODI) careers of Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene.
Off-spinner JP Duminy (3-29) took a hat-trick and leg-spinner Imran Tahir claimed 4-26 as South Africa, who had never before won a World Cup knockout match, set up a clash against either New Zealand or West Indies for a place in the March 29 final.
Chasing just 134 to win, the Proteas reached their target in the 18th over, with opener Quinton de Kock making an undefeated 78.
Photo: Reuters
Sangakkara, in his last one-day international appearance, top-scored for Sri Lanka with 45 as his record-breaking run of four successive ODI hundreds came to an end. Together with Lahiru Thirimanne (41) he put on 65 for the third wicket.
Fellow veteran Jayawardene, who now quits all international cricket, made only four before he became one of Tahir’s victims as 1996 champions Sri Lanka lost their last six wickets for just 19 runs.
South Africa skipper A.B. de Villiers, who lost the toss, said he feels his team can now go on and win an elusive first World Cup.
“I’m quietly confident. I’m always a positive kind of guy — I always believe in big things,” he said.
Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews admitted his team suffered severe stage fright.
“A score of 130 was not much. There were no demons on this track, but we didn’t bat well. Maybe it was nerves, we didn’t go for our shots and it’s easily our worst performance we have done in the World Cup and it happened to be in the quarter-final,” he said.
Duminy said he was shocked to have become the first South African to take a World Cup hat-trick.
“I’ve never got close to a hat-trick so I’m pretty pleased with that performance. It was mainly about keeping the runs down,” said Duminy, who dismissed Mathews and then, at the start of his next over, got rid of Kulasekara and Tharindu Kaushal LBW for a golden duck on his one-day debut.
After Kyle Abbott and Dale Steyn sent back openers Kusal Perera and Tillakaratne Dilshan, it was the turn of Pakistan-born spinner Tahir to strike, dismissing Thirimanne and Jayawardene.
Man-of-the-match Tahir also got rid of Thisara Perera (0) before wrapping up proceedings with the wicket of Lasith Malinga.
Meanwhile, the build-up continues to the other quarter-finals.
Bangladesh insist they will have nothing to fear from defending champions India when they face off in front of about 90,000 fans at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground today.
However, the odds are stacked against them, as Bangladesh have beaten their illustrious neighbors just three times in 28 meetings.
“Tomorrow will be a high-scoring match on a flat pitch. We have to bowl well,” skipper Mushrafe Mortaza said.
Tomorrow sees four-time champions Australia face 1992 winners Pakistan, who suffered a major setback on Tuesday when giant fast bowler Mohammad Irfan was ruled out of the rest of the World Cup with a stress fracture of the pelvis.
Australia have called in former World Cup winning skipper Steve Waugh to give pep talks to the squad.
“It was good to sit down over dinner with him and just chat about cricket and World Cups,” opening batsman Aaron Finch said. “He’s obviously captained a winning one and played in another one as well. There are not many better-credentialed players to talk to about it.”
The winner of that Adelaide match will face either India or Bangladesh for a place in the final.
The West Indies are sweating on the fitness of star opener Chris Gayle, who has been laid low by a back injury ahead of their quarter-final against New Zealand in Wellington on Saturday.
Former captain Darren Sammy turned to boxing to illustrate his belief that the West Indies can shock favorites New Zealand.
“I remember some guy called Buster Douglas beating Mike Tyson and it’s a case of that on Saturday,” Sammy said.
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
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
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
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely