Amid the excitements and plot twists of the pool stage of the Cricket World Cup, a small but compelling drama has played out off-stage.
Sri Lankan batsman Kumar Sangakkara joined an elite group of cricketers on Saturday when he became only the fifth to make 12 000 runs in his career.
As Super Rugby approaches its final round there is almost no certainty around the outcome of the play-offs race.
The Bulls cemented their local dominance in Super Rugby when they beat their closest rivals the Cheetahs 30-23 during the weekend’s 16th round.
Super Rugby’s 13th round produced another feast of high-scoring and close matches in which defence at times seemed to be an afterthought.
Three wins by Australian teams over New Zealand opponents have reshaped the Super Rugby championship during the ninth round.
The ACT Brumbies stretched their unbeaten start to Super Rugby to three matches with a 35-6 win over the New South Wales Waratahs.
South Africa and New Zealand’s derby matches will determine which team holds the lead in the Super 15 when the competition goes into recess in June.
SA teams occupy three of the top six places in the Super 15 after the 12th round as the campaigns of New Zealand and Australian teams began to falter.
All Blacks captain Richie McCaw might play his first match since the Rugby World Cup after being included on the bench for Canterbury’s Super 15.