New Zealand’s Waikato Chiefs staged a brilliant second-half comeback to beat South Africa’s Cheetahs 22-20 in a Super 14 match at Hamilton on Saturday. The Cheetahs looked to have the game sewn up when they raced to a 17-0 lead at half-time, but the Chiefs suddenly turned things around.
Britain’s former prime minister Margaret Thatcher is due to leave hospital later on Saturday, her spokesperson said. The 82-year-old Thatcher was taken to a south London hospital on Friday for precautionary medical tests. ”She has just been given the all clear,” the spokesperson said.
United States employers unexpectedly cut jobs in February at the steepest rate in nearly five years, a second straight month of employment losses that heightened fears the world’s largest economy has skidded into recession. ”The question appears no longer to be are we going into a recession but how long and deep it will be,” said economist Joel Naroff.
One-time Olympic superstar Marion Jones on Friday began a six-month jail sentence for lying about her steroid use, a punishment likely to grab the attention of baseball home-run king Barry Bonds. Jones (32) reported to a correctional facility in Fort Worth, Texas, United States Bureau of Prisons spokesperson Traci Billingsley said.
A spate of wide deliveries by the Dolphins — there were 19 extras amongst the first 22 runs — did much for the cause of the Eagles as they came back to snatch victory by three wickets in their MTN domestic championship cricket match at Kingsmead on Friday night.
Despite having to play for 10 minutes with 13 men, the Bulls beat the Lions 31-17 in a pulsating Super 14 match in Pretoria on Friday. The home side lost Springbok hard man Bakkies Botha to the sin-bin, and fullback Zane Kirchner to a red card, in the first period, but still had too much fire-power to overcome the Lions.
An 85th-minute own goal by Wits defender Wilson Shendzelani gave Premier Soccer League log leaders Ajax Cape Town an invaluable 1-0 victory at a rain-swept Bidvest Stadium on Friday night. Shendzelani sunk to his knees and held his head between his arms at the final whistle .
A sensational hat-trick by Ryan Sidebottom shattered New Zealand’s run charge and ignited an England fightback on day four of the first cricket Test on Saturday. New Zealand, who had been in control and rapidly building a challenging target, lost five wickets in 29 balls to be left struggling at 147-8 in their second innings.
United States Democrats Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton questioned each other’s sincerity and leadership on national security and the economy on Friday as they geared up for the next tests in a gruelling struggle for the White House. Clinton told audiences in Wyoming it was time to end the Iraq war that she backed in 2002.
Israeli officials said on Friday they would continue to meet Palestinian leaders under the recently revived peace process, but after escalating violence in Gaza and Jerusalem there was a recognition on both sides that the negotiations are faltering. Mark Regev, a spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, said Israel was still committed to the peace process.