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/ 21 September 2006
A maiden century by Mark Boucher helped South Africa show their dominance over Zimbabwe with a stunning 171-run victory in the third and final MTN one-day international (ODI) at Sedgars Park, Potchefstroom, on Wednesday. Jacques Kallis won the toss and chose to bat — and South Africa put on an enormous 418-5 in their 50 overs.
The South African cricket team arrived in Johannesburg on Saturday morning, after withdrawing from a triangular one-day tournament in Sri Lanka earlier this week. Coach Mickey Arthur said the players were relieved to be home, although they were disappointed at having to pull out of the tournament.
Security for the South African cricket team has been upgraded and the team will stay in Sri Lanka for now. Cricket South Africa (CSA) general manager, cricket affairs, Brian Basson, said on Tuesday that CSA had appointed a top independent security consultant to evaluate the security situation in Sri Lanka after a bomb blast close to the team’s hotel in the capital, Colombo.
Netball has been plunged into crisis following the resignation of two members of Netball South Africa’s national executive and the national coach. All three resignations are with immediate effect. The resignations followed a meeting of the national council at which all 34 netball regions were represented.
Western Province got off to the best possible start at the Spar National Netball Championships in Port Elizabeth on Monday, beating defending champions Central Gauteng by 45 goals to 38 in their opening match. Central Gauteng certainly did not appear to be champion material in the first quarter.
The United Cricket Board of South Africa voted unanimously at their annual general meeting on Thursday afternoon to change their name to Cricket South Africa. ”This doesn’t mean that there will be less focus on unity in cricket,” said CSA chief executive Gerald Majola.
Transformation in rugby is no longer a moral issue; it is a strategic necessity if the sport is to survive in South Africa. That is the view of Dr Willie Basson, author of the transformation charter that the South African Rugby Union (Saru) adopted at its latest president’s council meeting. Presenting the charter to the media on Tuesday, Basson said rugby’s traditional resource pool is dwindling.
Thanks largely to captain Graeme Smith, South Africa were in a strong position on 133-4, with a first innings lead of 14 runs when play ended early on the first day of the third and final Castle Lager Test against New Zealand at the Wanderers on Friday. Smith won the toss and sent New Zealand in to bat on a pitch that offered something for the bowlers.
South Africa are considering an all-pace attack for the third and final Castle Lager Test against New Zealand, which starts at the Wanderers on Friday morning. ”I think the Wanderers pitch will be a challenge for New Zealand, with its pace and bounce,” captain Graeme Smith said on Thursday.
The second Castle Lager Test between South Africa and New Zealand ended in a tame draw on Monday afternoon. When the umpires offered the batsmen the light just after 4pm, New Zealand had 121 for three in their second innings, for an overall lead of 202 runs. New Zealand dismissed South Africa for 512 shortly after lunch.