/ 22 December 1997

Weekend Standard Bank League action

MONDAY, 11.30AM:

FREE State consolidated their chances of qualifying for the final stages of the Standard Bank Cup when they hammered Boland by five wickets at Paarl on Sunday.

Boland won the toss and elected to bat first. They put together 236 for four in their 45 overs. Then the visitors contributed 240 for five in 41,4 overs. Nick Boje (66) and Riaan Smit (54 not out) impressed for Free State. Boje scored 66 off 59 balls while Smit contributed 54 off 64 balls.

In Port Elizabeth, The game between Natal and Eastern Province was washed out by rain. Natal’s innings was reduced from 45 to 36 overs and they managed only 202 for five. After that the match was called off when Natal could not defend their total because of rain. Each side got one point for the no result.

A third-wicket partnership between Andrew Hudson 65 (off 60 balls) and Doug Watson 71 (off 95 balls) produced a brilliant 127 in 21 overs for Natal. Watson and Hudson came together when Natal was struggling at 29 for two and took them to 156 before Watson was bowled out by Gavin Victor.

SPORT BRIEFS

SA A BEAT WINDIES THE South Africa A cricket team beat West Indies A by an innings and 28 runs on the fourth day of their four-day “Test” at Buffalo Park in East London on Monday.

Scoreboard:

SOUTH AFRICA A, first innings 474

WEST INDIES, first innings 280

WEST INDIES, second innings (49/2 overnight)

R Samuels c Liebenberg b Botha 3

S Ragoonath c and b Johnson 9

W Hines c and b Crookes 16

J Adams c Pothas b Crookes 63

R Sarwan c Johson b Crookes 15

L Williams c Benkenstein b Crookes 17

R Hoyte lbw b Crookes 23

O Gibson c Benkenstein b Eksteen 3

N McLean c Ackerman b Eksteen 4

D Ramnarine c Liebenberg b Crookes 0

R King not out 4

Extras 9 (3lb, 6nb)

Total (for 4 wkts) 166 — 75.4 overs

Fall of wickets: 1/6 2/27 3/86 4/109 5/116 6/147 7/154 8/158 9/158

Bowling: Botha 13-5-16-1 (3nb), Haywood 12-4-28-0, Telemachus 11-2-32-0 (3nb), Johnson 4-4-0-1, Crookes 20-4-50-6, Eksteen 15.4-5-37-2.

Result: SA A won by an innings and 28 runs

SA won series 2-0.

MALINGA RECOVERS TITLE THULANI “Sugarboy” Malinga became the first South African boxer to regain his world title when he beat Briton Robin Reid on points to regain his World Boxing Organisation title on Friday night. Malinga lost the title to Vincenzo Nardiello. “I proved that age is just a number. How can a man of my age wait for this long and still beat a youngster,” said the 40-year old Malinga.

PAC’s SEND-OFF FOR BARKER THE Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) on Sunday issued a statement welcoming the resignation of Clive Barker as the national soccer coach. In a statement issued by party secretary of sport Jabulane Khumalo, the PAC said: “Mr Barker’s weakness is only that he does not take easily any advice from whoever. We hope his successor will change Mr Barker’s disadvantage to his advantage.”

DOWNS DOWN RANGERS MAMELODI Sundowns beat a 10-man Manning Rangers 2-1 in a Premier Soccer League game at Odi Stadium on Sunday. Sundowns took the lead in the ninth minute through defender Joas Mogolego. Rangers replied through Peter Philander in the 24th minute. Substitute Alex Bapela sealed victory for the “Brazilians” in the 73rd minute. Rangers striker Kerryn Jordaan’s goal was ruled off-side.

Bloemfontein Celtic hammered African Wandrerers 3-0 at Seisa Ramaboudu Stadium on Sunday. Hendrik Arries scored a brace and Benjamin Seedee netted the third goal.

NYATHI, FISH FOR WORLD SQUAD BAFANA Bafana defenders David Nyathi and Mark Fish were included in the MasterCard All Stars team of the Fifa Confederation Cup which was announced in Riyadh on Saturday.

The Team:

Goalkeeper: Al Deayea (Saudi Arabia). Right back: Hornak (Czech). Central Defenders: Junior Baiano (Brazil) and Mark Fish (South Africa). Left back: David Nyathi (South Africa). Midfielders: Oliveira (Uraguay), Dunga (Brazil), Zelic (Australia), Roberto Carlos (Brazil). Strikers: Smicer (Czech), Romario (Brazil). Reserves: Goalkeeper: Bosnich (Australia), Defender: Montero (Uraguay), Midfielder: Denilson (Brazil).

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