Sunil Narine and Kieron Pollard made triumphant returns to the West Indies team in a comfortable victory over South Africa in the opening match of a triangular one-day international (ODI) series on Friday.
Off-spinner Sunil Narine took a career-best 6-27 as West Indies dismissed South Africa for 188 off 46.5 overs on a slow pitch at Providence Stadium in Georgetown, Guyana.
Pollard then did his job with the bat, using his power to hoist six sixes in a run-a-ball 67 not out, as the Windies scored 191-6 to win by four wickets with 11 balls to spare.
Photo: AFP
The entertaining innings by the 29-year-old Trinidadian turned the match around after the West Indies had become bogged down and the run rate had slowed to a crawl.
All of his sixes came in an arc between long-on and straight hit. In the process he became just the fourth Caribbean player to hit 100 sixes in ODIs, joining Chris Gayle, Viv Richards and Brian Lara.
Pollard, who missed the World Twenty20 in March due to a knee injury, had not played an ODI match since October 2014.
It was also Narine’s first international outing since a suspect bowling action led to his banishment from the game in November last year.
He has been working to modify his action and made the most of his chance to play again on the international stage, bamboozling the South African batsmen with a variety of deliveries.
“It is a blessing for me to be back and be able to perform like this,” Narine said, adding that he had changed his action “probably 70 to 80 percent.”
“I am still getting accustomed, constantly doing my action over and over just to get a little more comfortable. It is still a bit uncomfortable, but you have to do what you have to do,” he added.
For South Africa, who were coming off a disappointing World Twenty20, it was another mediocre performance and the Proteas are likely to be particularly disappointed by the way their middle order collapsed, the final seven wickets falling for only 28 runs.
Rilee Rossouw top-scored with 61 runs off 83 balls, while captain A.B. de Villiers eked out 31 off 49 balls in an obdurate innings that did not include a boundary as South Africa made a solid start.
“I thought we laid the foundation perfectly well on a really slow wicket,” De Villiers said.
“It was difficult to bat. I knew 220-plus was reachable and would be a very difficult score to chase. It was slower than any other wicket I have played on recently ... but no excuses. We lost the way in the last 10 overs of our batting innings and that is what cost us at the end of the day,” he added.
The series continues today when West Indies play Australia, also in Georgetown.
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