Sports
Sensational Markram leads Proteas to stunning World Cup win
Aiden Markram struck the fastest century in ICC World Cup history as the Proteas beat Sri Lanka by 102 runs in their tumultuous opening pool match at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Saturday.
South Africa, sent in to bat after losing the toss, pulverised the Sri Lankan attack to record the highest total in World Cup history, 428 for five in their 50 overs.
Markram’s 100 off just 49 balls pipped Kevin O’Brien’s effort against England in 2011 by just one ball when he hooked paceman Dilshan Madushanka for six.
But it wasn’t just Markram who made the difference. There were also superb hundreds from Quinton de Kock (100 in 84 balls, 12x4s, 3x6s) – his first World Cup ton – and Rassie van der Dussen (108 in 110 balls, 13x4s, 2x6s) who combined to put on 204 in 178 balls for the second wicket, setting up the Proteas’ huge total.
It was also the first time in World Cup history that hundreds were scored by three batters in one team.
Add in explosive contributions from Heinrich Klaasen (32 from 20 balls) and David Miller (39* in 21 balls) and you get some idea of the extent of South Africa’s achievement.
But Sri Lanka fired back with ferocity, compiling 326 all out in 44.5 overs in reply, which in other circumstances would have been a match-winning effort.
It was a tough outing for all the bowlers, with Marcus Jansen, for example, finishing with an eye-popping 2-92 off his 10 overs while World Cup debutant Gerald Coetzee was the most successful, taking 3-68 in nine overs despite being clobbered for 23 in one of them.
The groundstaff should be congratulated on producing a superb one-day surface with an unusually rich covering of grass that enabled the ball to bounce and go through nicely for the bowlers but also helped the batters to hit through the line.
A lightning-fast outfield also helped to ensure that the line between a good and a poor delivery was so small that it was no surprise that so many runs – a total of 754 that included 482 in boundaries, both World Cup records – were scored in the match.
FIRED-UP ASALANKA
In a game where you could barely blink between the sixes and fours, Sri Lanka played a full part in a sensational encounter with Kusal Mendis slamming eight sixes and four fours in a spectacular 42-ball 76 that gave his team an explosive lift-off in their run chase.
The right-hander powered the Lankans to 94 for two wickets in the first power-play, almost twice as many runs as the South Africans managed.
But quickly as they scored, the Lankans were unable to keep their wickets intact for long.
Jansen bowled two exceptional deliveries to castle Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Perera early on, while Kagiso Rabada ended the Mendis threat by having him caught behind by Klaasen (deputising for De Kock who was suffering from muscle spasms) edging a square cut.
The extent of Mendis’s dominance can be gauged by the fact that Perera was still on nought after the pair had added 50 for the second wicket, and only seven when he was bowled neck and crop by Jansen after the pair had added 66 in only 40 balls by the eighth over.
Coetzee claimed his first wicket in his opening over, grabbing the wicket of Sadeera Samarawickrama (23), who got a leading edge to be superbly picked up by an onrushing Jansen at mid-on.
And when Keshav Maharaj dismissed Dhananjaya de Silva, nicely caught by sub Andile Phehlukwayo at backward point, the Lankans had lost half their team for 150 in the 21st over.
The frantic pace of the innings cooled a little after that as Charith Asalanka and Dasun Shanaka recognised the need to bat deep without being suicidally aggressive.
Asalanka, making his World Cup debut, rode his luck a little – being dropped twice in the deep – but was otherwise very impressive as he struck a fine 79 in 65 balls (8x4s and 4x6s) as he and Shanaka added a valuable 82 off 72 balls for the sixth wicket.
Eventually, however, the demanding run-rate required one too many aggressive shots and he mistimed a drive to deep cover where substitute fielder Reeza Hendricks dived to complete an excellent catch.
Asalanka’s dismissal seemed to fire up Shanaka who had played second fiddle in the partnership.
Now he flipped the switch and launched into the Proteas’ attack with gusto, taking 23 off a Coetzee over as he reached his half-century in 51 balls.
The hitting continued right through the Sri Lankan innings as they went down bravely fighting to the last ball.
BATTERED, BEMUSED AND BRUTALISED
Earlier, South Africa began their innings briskly, but skipper Temba Bavuma was an early casualty, trapped leg before on the crease to a delivery from left-arm seamer Dilshan Madushanka that curved back at him.
It would be the last time the Sri Lankan bowlers would experience any joy.
De Kock and Van der Dussen began fairly conservatively after the captain’s dismissal as the Proteas reached 48 for one at the end of the first power-play.
Gradually, however, they increased their scoring rate and by the time De Kock reached his hundred, he and Van der Dussen had added 204 in 174 balls for the second wicket.
Sri Lanka had their opportunities to break the partnership, although they will consider them half-chances, particularly a reverse-sweep from Van der Dussen off left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage that evaded the point fielder.
De Kock holed out immediately after bringing up his hundred (84 balls, 12x4s, 3x6s) before Van der Dussen and Markram went into overdrive as they battered a 50 off 40 balls for the next wicket before Van der Dussen also holed out for a superb 108 in 110 balls (13x4s, 2x6s).
It must have been a depressing experience for the Sri Lankans to watch Heinrich Klaasen come to the crease with the total on 264 for three in only the 38th over and sure enough, the recent destroyer of the Aussie attack didn’t hang about, plundering 32 in just 20 balls as he and Markram pillaged 78 off 36 balls for the fourth wicket.
The Sri Lankan agony didn’t end with Klaasen’s demise as Markram and David Miller added a further 41 in 24 balls for the fifth wicket before Markram, more in exhaustion that anything else, offered a catch in the deep to depart for an exquisite 106 in 54 balls.
Miller, who had initially been more concerned with giving his partner the strike, then enjoyed a late flourish, finishing unbeaten on 39 in 21 balls (3x4s, 2x6s) as a battered, bemused and ultimately brutalised Sri Lanka trooped from the field after bleeding 137 runs from the last 10 overs.
The less said the better about the Sri Lankan bowlers with Wellalaga (1-81 in 10 overs) recording the worst figures on World Cup debut for any Sri Lankan bowler.
But he was not alone as the Lankan bowlers almost all went for eight and nine an over, a fate shared by the SA bowlers as well.
To make matters worse, the Sri Lankans were four overs behind the rate towards the end of the Proteas’ innings and were forced for field five within the circle through to the end of the innings.
A total of 18 wides also did not help their cause.
SOUTH AFRICA: Quinton de Kock (wk), Temba Bavuma (capt), Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi
SRI LANKA: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis (wk), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka (capt), Dunith Wellalage, Kasun Rajitha, Dilshan Madushanka, Matheesha Pathirana
© MWP
Arsenal kept their Premier League title dreams alive by ending an Old Trafford hoodoo to grind out a 1-0 win at Manchester United on Sunday to move back top of the table.
Leandro Trossard scored the only goal on 20 minutes as Arsenal won for just the second time in 17 games away at United to go a point clear at the summit.
Manchester City still have the destiny of the title in their own hands as the defending champions have two matches left to Arsenal’s one.
However, the Gunners kept the pressure on Pep Guardiola’s men ahead of their tricky trip to Tottenham on Tuesday.
Defeat further dented United’s chances of competing in Europe next season.
Erik ten Hag’s men showed more spirit than in a dismal 4-0 defeat to Crystal Palace on Monday, but have now won just one of their last eight Premier League games.
United remain eighth in the table, three points adrift of both Newcastle, who they face on Wednesday, and Chelsea.
Arsenal have been in scintillating form in 2024 to remain in the race for their first league title in 20 years.
Mikel Arteta’s men have won 15 and drawn one of their 17 league games since the turn of the year.
But Arsenal were far from their flowing best as the expected onslaught of an injury-ravaged United never materialised under unusually stifling heat in England’s north-west.
The manner of defeat at Palace had increased the scrutiny on United boss Ten Hag.
He made three changes to the team swept aside at Selhurst Park as Scott McTominay, Sofyan Amrabat and Amad Diallo came in.
The Dutchman’s options were again hamstrung by a lengthy list of absentees with captain Bruno Fernandes among those sidelined and a bench littered with youngsters.
But his decision to retain Casemiro as a makeshift centre-back after his woeful showing against Palace will become another stick to beat the beleaguered coach with.
The Brazil captain was dropped from their squad for the Copa America in midweek due to his terrible form.
After United had managed to keep the free-scoring visitors at bay for the opening 20 minutes, Casemiro was culpable for the opening goal.
The 32-year-old was laboured in pushing up from a United goal-kick to play Kai Havertz onside and Trossard then stole in on the blind side of Casemiro to tap in the German’s cross.
United’s new co-owner Jim Ratcliffe was in attendance at Old Trafford rather than at Wembley to see the club’s women pick up their first ever major trophy in the FA Cup final.
The work that lies ahead of Ratcliffe has been laid bare in recent weeks, but the home side did manage to keep the majority of the 74,000 crowd onside by taking the game to Arsenal after the break.
Arsenal, though, were rarely seriously troubled as they held out for a sixth clean sheet in their last seven away league games.
Alejandro Garnacho was United’s one live wire but smashed into the side-netting with his best chance to equalise.
Gabriel Martinelli and Declan Rice were denied by brilliant Andre Onana saves to prevent Arsenal the second goal they craved to avoid a tense finale.
The visitors desperation to see the game out was evident as Martinelli took the ball to the corner with 10 minutes of the 90 still to play.
But Arsenal did just enough to ask the question City, who host West Ham on the final day of the season after their visit to north London in midweek.
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Real Madrid snatched an incredible semi-final victory as two late goals defeated Bayern Munich and set up a Champions League final with Borussia Dortmund.
Bayern looked to be heading to the final when Alphonso Davies cut in and blasted past Andriy Lunin after England captain Harry Kane had found him with a superb pass.
But Joselu grabbed an 88th-minute equaliser when he reacted quickest after Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who had been excellent up until then, fumbled Vinicius Jr’s effort.
There was even more drama to come two minutes later when Joselu, a former Stoke City striker, swept home from six yards after Antonio Rudiger’s square pass.
The goal was initially ruled offside, only for a video assistant referee (VAR) decision to show that Joselu was onside, sparking incredible scenes of celebration in the Bernabeu, with Real hanging on to win 4-3 on aggregate.
Real, 14-time European champions, will face Dortmund on Saturday, 1 June at Wembley.
There was controversy in the 13th minute of injury time at the end of the second half as Bayern’s Matthijs de Ligt thought he had taken the game to extra time.
A ball was played up to Noussair Mazraoui and the assistant referee’s flag was raised for offside, with a number of Real defenders stopping before Bayern’s De Ligt fired into the net.
Television replays suggested the original decision may not have been correct and that had the flag not been raised it would have needed to be checked by VAR, with Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel and a number of players including Kane and fellow Englishman Eric Dier strongly protesting against the decision.
Delight for Bellingham but heartbreak for Kane and Dier
For England midfielder Jude Bellingham, the outcome continues an incredible first season at the Bernabeu and he will face his former side Dortmund in the final in London.
Bellingham left the German team for Real in an £88.5m move in June 2023 and has a chance to complete a double, having already helped Real win La Liga.
“At Wembley, against Dortmund… It’s a weird one, I can’t believe it,” Bellingham told TNT Sports. “When I was seven years old in Birmingham, I was dreaming of nights like this.”
While it was a dream come true for Bellingham, there was heartbreak for his fellow England players Kane and Dier.
Kane has scored 44 times for Bayern since moving in an £86m transfer from Tottenham last summer, but this loss ends his hopes of winning a first major title in his career.
Both Kane and Dier played in the 2019 Champions League final as Tottenham lost 2-0 to Liverpool.
Kane had put Bayern 2-1 ahead in the first leg against Madrid, only for Vinicius Jr to grab his second to leave it at 2-2 after the opening match in Germany.
The second leg was played in a fantastic atmosphere at the Bernabeu. The hosts almost scored early on, only for Neuer to make an excellent double save – pushing Vinicius Jr’s effort against the post and then stopping Rodrygo’s follow-up effort.
Vinicius Jr was a constant threat for Real down their left but again saw Neuer twice make excellent saves.
But Bayern, against the run of play, took the lead in the 68th minute.
Kane, in the centre circle, sprayed a superb pass to Davies on the left flank, and the Canadian ran at Rudiger, cut inside on to his right foot and unleashed an unstoppable strike for what looked to be the winner.
Boss Tuchel, who is leaving Bayern at the end of the season, took Kane off with five minutes to go, before Joselu swung the game in Real’s favour.
The striker took advantage of a rare Neuer error and then scored again three minutes later as Real clinched an incredible victory.
Real boss Carlo Ancelotti, who has reached his sixth Champions League final as a manager, said he is going to “enjoy this week”.
“[My players are] unbelievable. I’m really grateful to them,” Ancelotti added. “They work really hard and I think this is the best squad I have ever had in my career.”
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Crystal Palace sealed a first league double over Manchester United with a rampant 4-0 win at Selhurst Park.
Michael Olise ran 20 yards under no challenge to eventually slot beyond Andre Onana to put Oliver Glasner’s side in the lead after 13 minutes.
Jean-Philippe Mateta surged beyond Johnny Evans to finish emphatically for his sixth goal in a row on home turf.
Tyrick Mitchell tapped in from close range after a fine cross by Adam Wharton in the 58th minute and French youngster Olise capitalised on a Casemiro mistake to power a strike beyond a wanting Onana.
From the first minute, Glasner’s men looked full of intent against a United side who failed to turn up at Selhurst Park.
As a defensive unit, United put in one of the worst performances of the season with Casemiro and Evans becoming their 14th centre back partnership used this campaign.
Eberechi Eze and Olise were given the freedom of the pitch to control the play and caused United trouble on numerous occasions.
Erik ten Hag’s side threatened in a couple of moments with Casemiro twice having goals ruled out – the first for a foul on Dean Henderson and the second for offside.
Odsonne Edouard almost rubbed further salt in the wounds but his injury-time effort struck the upright.
With title-chasing Arsenal next up, United must greatly improve to avoid another thrashing.
No European football for United a possibility
At one stage in the season, Ten Hag’s side looked as though they could put pressure on Aston Villa for a Champions League spot.
That dream is long gone and United are now at risk of missing out on qualifying for any European competition next season.
They must either finish seventh in the Premier League to secure Europa Conference League football or beat Manchester City in the FA Cup final to seal a Europa League place.
One win in seven has seen United slide down the table into eighth and their fixtures do not get any easier with league leaders Arsenal visiting Old Trafford on Sunday.
A defeat by this scoreline can be hugely damaging but for those United fans who made the trip to Selhurst Park on a Bank Holiday Monday, it is the manner in which the players seemingly looked disinterested that will hurt the most.
Wharton an outsider for the England squad?
All eyes have been on United’s talented youngster, Kobbie Mainoo, and rightfully so but it is hard to ignore the performances being put in by midfielder Wharton since his January move.
Wharton, 20, has impressed since day one at Selhurst Park after his £18m move from Blackburn Rovers on transfer deadline day.
Up against England internationals Mason Mount and Mainoo, Wharton shone with his slick passing between the lines and combativeness in defence.
Positionally, Wharton is excellent. Especially for someone at such a tender age. He has the ability to know exactly where to be on the pitch and when it is best to release the ball for a team-mate.
The former Blackburn man has been a huge addition to a Palace side who have won four of their past five.
A fantastic cross for Joachim Andersen to set up Mitchell’s goal was just a small sample of the quality Wharton brings.
England boss Gareth Southgate was in attendance in London with a preliminary squad for Euro 2024 set to be announced on Tuesday, 21 May and with the Three Lions short of players in the mould of Wharton, could a shock inclusion be on the cards?
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Toto Wolff and Red Bull counterpart Christian Horner have reignited their war of words over Max Verstappen after the Mercedes boss again hinted at poaching the three-time world champion.
Verstappen’s future at Red Bull was thrown into doubt last month after his father, Jos, said the team was in danger of being “torn apart” if Horner remained its principal.
It came after allegations against Horner of inappropriate behaviour towards a woman colleague. He denied the claims and an internal investigation cleared him of wrongdoing.
Verstappen has publicly committed his future to Red Bull, but following the Dutchman’s dominant victory at the Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday, Mercedes boss Wolff stirred the pot anew.
Wolff told reporters in Shanghai that “everyone is waiting to see what he (Verstappen) is going to do”.
“There are so many factors that play a role for a driver joining,” said Wolff, who needs to replace seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who is leaving for Ferrari next year.
“Clearly, from the most rational point of view, that’s the quickest car in the hands of the quickest driver,” said Wolff.
“But I don’t think this is the only reason you stay where you are.”
Earlier this season Wolff said that he “would love” to sign the reigning world champion Verstappen if he became available.
His latest comments triggered a prickly response from Horner, who said that Wolff should focus on trying to revitalise Mercedes following a poor start to the season by their high standards.
“Why would you want to leave this team?” Horner said.
“Mercedes are third behind their customers (McLaren and Aston Martin).
“His time would be better spent perhaps focusing on the team rather than the driver market.
“I can assure you that there is no ambiguity about where Max Verstappen will be next year.”
© AFP
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