India paceman Zaheer Khan claimed his 300th Test wicket yesterday as the tourists chipped away at South Africa’s top order to leave the Proteas at 236 for four chasing 458 for victory at lunch on the final day of their first Test at the Wanderers.
Zaheer reached the milestone with the scalp of the impressive Jacques Kallis (34) when the all-rounder was adjudged leg before wicket by Australian umpire Rod Tucker.
However, there was a big inside-edge that should have saved the veteran South Africa player, but with no referral system available in the series due to the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s refusal to use technology, Kallis was unable to challenge the decision.
Photo: AFP
The controversial manner of the dismissal will mean little to Zaheer, who became the fourth India bowler to claim 300 Test wickets, behind Anil Kumble (619), Kapil Dev (434) and Harbhajan Singh (413).
The loss of Kallis means that India need just six more wickets in two sessions to record a famous victory after Mohammed Shami bowled Alviro Petersen (76) off an inside edge, as the opener failed to add to his overnight score.
Faf du Plessis (42) and A.B. de Villiers (25) were to resume in the afternoon session focusing only on survival with all thoughts of chasing a world record target for victory firmly in the very back of their minds.
However, their opinions could change if the pair made it through the next two hours of play unscathed, especially since De Villiers’ natural game is to score quickly.
Shami continues to be the most impressive of India’s bowlers, with the paceman returning figures of two for 63.
He bowled Hashim Amla (4) late in the day on Saturday, while the other South Africa wicket to fall was that of Graeme Smith (44), who was run out.
India have never lost at the Wanderers in the three previous Tests played at the Johannesburg venue, winning by 123 runs in 2006 and playing out draws in 1992 and 1997.
The second Test of the two-match series is to take place in Durban, South Africa, on Thursday.
Twelve days after winning her second Grand Slam title at the French Open, Coco Gauff fell at the first hurdle on grass in Berlin on Thursday as beaten Paris finalist Aryna Sabalenka advanced to the quarter-finals. Recipient of a first round bye, American Gauff lost 6-3, 6-3 to Chinese qualifier Wang Xinyu as world number one Sabalenka beat Rebeka Masarova 6-2, 7-6 (8/6) in her second round tie. Winner of 10 main tour titles, including the US Open in 2023 and the WTA Finals last year, Gauff has yet to lift a trophy in a grass-court tournament. “After I won the first
Sergio Ramos on Tuesday outfoxed two Inter players and artfully headed home the first goal for Monterrey at the FIFA Club World Cup. The 39-year-old Ramos slipped through the penalty area for the score just as he did for so many years in the shirts of Real Madrid and Spain’s national team, with whom he combined smarts, timing and physicality. Ramos’ clever goal and his overall defensive play at the Rose Bowl were major factors in Monterrey’s impressive 1-1 draw against the UEFA Champions League finalists in the clubs’ first match of the tournament. “There is always a joy to contribute to the
Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka staged a “crazy comeback,” saving four match points before beating Elena Rybakina 7-6 (6), 3-6, 7-6 (6) in the quarter-finals of the Berlin Open on Friday. Sabalenka was 6-2 down in the final-set tie-breaker, but won six straight points to reach her eighth semi-final of the season. “Elena is a great player and we’ve had a lot of tough battles,” Sabalenka said. “I have no idea how I was able to win those last points. I think I just got lucky.” “I remember a long time ago when I was just starting, I won a lot of matches being down
While British star Jack Draper spent the past week trying to find rhythm and comfort in his first grass tournament of the season at the Queen’s Club Championships in London, Jiri Lehecka on Saturday bulldozed everything in his path. After more than two furious hours of battle, their form was reflected in the final scoreline as Lehecka toppled a frustrated Draper, the second seed, 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 to reach the biggest final of his career, against Carlos Alcaraz. Lehecka is also the first Czech to reach the men’s title match at Queen’s since Ivan Lendl lifted the trophy in 1990. Draper, who
RSS