Proteas take two more wickets

Bangladesh looked slightly more comfortable on the third morning of the first Test against South Africa in Bloemfontein today, but were still in deep trouble when a thunderstorm forced the umpires to take lunch early.

When first lightning and then rain forced the players off the field, Bangladesh had 67 for three in the second innings, and still trailed South Africa by 221 runs.

Tamim Iqbal and Zunaeed Siddique managed to last for 50 minutes before Iqbal flashed at a wide delivery from Makhaya Ntini, and was neatly caught behind by Mark Boucher for 20. He and Zunaeed had put on 32 runs together for the second wicket.

Zunaeed lost his wicket shortly before the start of the storm, when he was also caught behind by Boucher off Jacques Kallis.

Although he did not take a wicket, Morne Morkel bowled much better than he had done on the second day, and finished the session with the very respectable figures of four runs off five overs.

Dale Steyn was the most expensive bowler, conceding 32 runs off his seven overs.

Paul Harris, who took a wicket in Bangladesh's first innings, flew to Cape Town this morning to consult a specialist about the injury to his left hand. He broke a bone at the base of his thumb during fielding practice on Wednesday.

He is expected to be out of action for three to four weeks, but his injury is not expected to affect his inclusion in the party to tour Australia next month.

However, he will not be available to play for the Titans in the Champions League in India.

Sapa

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November 21st, 2008 | Posted in Sport News | No Comments

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Bosnich to trial with Mariners

DISGRACED Australia goalkeeper Mark Bosnich takes a major step in rebuilding his colourful career when he starts a two-week trial with Central Coast.

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July 16th, 2008 | Posted in Soccer | No Comments

Oosthuizen hot in Hong Kong

Scotland's Colin Montgomerie shrugged off one of the worst slumps of his career at the Hong Kong Open today, while ‘nearly man’ Oliver Wilson raised hopes of a breakthrough win.

South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen fired the round of the day, a blistering 62, to share a four-way lead at eight-under 132 with Wilson, fellow Englishman Oliver Fisher and Thailand's Chawalit Plaphol after round two.

India's Jeev Milkha Singh carded 63 on a bright, low-scoring day at par-70 Fanling to lie six under and two off the pace, just five days after winning the lucrative Singapore Open.

Hong Kong teenager Jason Hak, meanwhile, was set to become the youngest player to make a European tour cut at 14 years and 304 days, beating the record set by world number two Sergio Garcia in 1995.

But 2005 US Open champion Michael Campbell, one of six Major winners here, was forced out with a shoulder injury and may be sidelined until January.

English legend Nick Faldo missed the projected cut in his first event of the year, just two months after drawing heavy criticism for leading Europe to a heavy Ryder Cup defeat.

Montgomerie has dropped to 118 in the world after a winless year and no top 10 finishes since June. But the eight-time European merit winner shook off the barren spell with five-under 65 for 133 and tied second, just one off the lead.

“It's a place I feel very comfortable in. I like the city and I feel very safe here and it's amazing how one plays well in a place that you enjoy,” Montgomerie said.

The winless Wilson, who lost a play-off with Sergio Garcia for his eighth European runner-up finish, insisted he wouldn't be thinking of second place if he was in contention on Sunday.

“I won't be walking down the last few holes thinking, ‘Oh, I'm going to finish second again,’ because you'll probably finish fourth or fifth,” Wilson said.

“I'll use what I've learned and just keep hitting my shots and picking my targets.”

Oosthuizen said he would draw on his successes in South Africa as he bids to keep his run going.

“It's always fun going back to South Africa and playing in front of your home crowd,” he said. “I'll definitely think of the wins I had there and take it out on the weekend.”

Hong Kong is the second stop on the European Tour's all-new Race to Dubai, where the top 60 money-earners are invited to next November's 10 million dollar Dubai World Championship.

The 15 players who have accumulated the most winnings after the season finale also share a 10 million dollar purse. The cash injection has attracted interest from top US players such as Phil Mickelson and Anthony Kim.

The 2.5 million dollar Hong Kong Open, one of Asia's most prestigious events, is celebrating its 50th edition with other previous winners including Greg Norman, Tom Watson, Ian Woosnam and Padraig Harrington.

AFP

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November 21st, 2008 | Posted in Sport News | No Comments

Jannie fits the bill at tighthead

Fresh legs — and fresh attitudes

Even when attempting to fool some of the people some of the time, Peter de Villiers couldn’t quite pull off the “fatigue” trick this week, especially not when his captain assured anyone who was listening that the Springboks would be up for the challenge on Saturday.

The Bok coach may have been trying to get his excuses in early, claiming his players were tired, but beating England seldom requires great motivation.

“You could say it’s one of the better scalps,” quipped skipper John Smit, who will be looking to extend SA’s winning run against England to six matches.

England manager Martin Johnson wasn’t fooled: “They’ll come right at us. It will be as hard and as physical as ever.”

De Villiers announces his team at noon today, an announcement delayed by two days because of the walking wounded. The coach and his medical staff have given the injured every chance to come through.

The two key positions are tighthead and scrumhalf. The experiment of playing Smit at tighthead was suspended last week (after injury to Bismarck du Plessis early in the Scotland game), so the likelihood is that Jannie du Plessis will win the dubious honour of packing down against Andrew Sheridan. Smit will then continue in the role he’s more accustomed to.

Conspiracy theorists may claim that Brian Mujati is being done in, but he’s nursing a bruised shoulder and late replacement Du Plessis fits the billing with the “fresh legs” and “fresh attitude” the coach said the team requires. Besides, Sheridan will be looking to reclaim his manhood after Australia’s powderpuff pack dominated him last weekend. Mujati has his fans, but Du Plessis is demonstrably stronger.

Scrumhalf Fourie du Preez’s quad injury has responded well to treatment and he ran comfortably enough on Tuesday, even though he refrained from contact training. Given how he carved up England in the World Cup — he was the architect of the 36-0 belting — the Boks will give him every opportunity to stake his claim. Moreover, Du Preez’s refined kicking will take the pressure off Ruan Pienaar, who on Saturday faces the biggest test of his life in the No10 jersey. If he emerges unscathed, he could well keep his place for the Lions series.

There have been hints that Bryan Habana’s place is under threat, but assistant coach Dick Muir said that the wing will start the match. The plan at the start of the tour was to stick with the same 22 as much as possible and, although injuries have put paid to that ideal, canning Habana is out of the question. The hope, though, is that he finally comes to the party after a fraught season in which he’s been a pale shadow of his former self.

Saturday would be the right day to reaffirm his class.

This means that Jaque Fourie must satisfy himself with a spot on the bench. It’s not his favourite place, but he’s knocking hard at the door and will hope to bang it down once he gets a crack, probably in the second half.

Clinton Van Der Berg In London

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