All posts by h79snht.top

Sam Billings has teamed up with England’s ODI squad after a decent Big Bash eager to fulfil any role that might come his way

Arun Venugopal11-Jan-2017

Sam Billings has put his name up for a flexible position in the England batting order in the one-day series against India, and has also expressed a desire to provide the team with a back-up wicket-keeping option to Jos Buttler. Reputed to be among England’s best players of spin bowling, Billings, batting at No. 3, made the right noises with a 93 to help England gun down India A’s 305 with three wickets in hand in their first warm-up match on Tuesday.Billings is also coming into the tour on the back of good T20 form, having made three 40-plus scores for Sydney Thunders in the Big Bash League. However, with Joe Root and Ben Stokes set to take the field for the first ODI in Pune on January 15, he is likely to find himself out of the playing XI. Not that he is about to wallow in self-pity.”You cannot afford to be disappointed or feel sorry for yourself,” he said after the match against India A at the Brabourne Stadium. “It is a professional sport at the end of the day. Joe Root is one of the batsmen in the world – top-three without a doubt.”It is a great thing for English cricket, isn’t it? A strong squad makes the team even stronger on a long tour. With the Champions Trophy coming up, the bigger the squad, the stronger the squad, the better.”Since his international debut in June last year, Billings has turned out for England in 13 limited-overs games but only once has he batted higher than No. 6. While he scored 62 opening the batting in Chittagong, he has for the most part jostled for a middle-order slot with Jonny Bairstow, who is also higher up the pecking order as a stand-by wicket-keeper. Billings, however, doesn’t believe batting at No. 7 was his easiest route into the side.”Not necessarily. In Bangladesh, I had the opportunity to open. That’s the great thing; we have got a really strong side, 1 to 11,” he said. “We have Liam Plunkett sitting out, Jonny Bairstow sitting out as well. I just try to offer as many options as I can to the team and the squad – whether it is with the bat, with the gloves, whether it is opening the batting, or batting at six or seven, finishing off the innings.”I will still work as hard as I can in all aspects of my game. If something happens to Jos, I want to be able to come in a back-up keeper as well, and be one of the best fielders I can as well. At the end of the day, I just try to show people what I can be in a different role to what I am normally accustomed to.”In a series where spin is expected to play a big part, Billings believed he would be able to call on his experience of playing for Delhi Daredevils in the IPL last year. “Ashwin and Jadeja – two of the best in the world, so it is about combating them as best as we can,” he said.Billings expressed delight at the chance to work with Rahul Dravid in his role as Daredevils’ mentor. “My footwork against spin definitely improved just in the six weeks, I would say, working with Rahul Dravid, one of the best players ever to play the game. It was an amazing experience, one I’d like to have again.”Billings admitted his 93 against India A wasn’t his most fluent innings, but was comfortable with how he had worked out the conditions. “It is a different role from what I am normally accustomed to today. We lost a couple of wickets. Every time I started to try and get going, I had to tone it down again,” he said.”It is about manipulating the spin as much as hitting boundaries – rotating the strike with those fine sweeps, just trying to disrupt the bowler and the fields that they set. It is just about getting used to the pitches, very different from Australia from where I came from.”

An update has emerged on Celtic and their efforts to bolster their squad following Brendan Rodgers' return to Parkhead on a three-year deal…

What's the latest on Hyun-jun Yang to Celtic?

According to South Korean outlet Newstong, the Hoops have made an offer in an attempt to snap up Gangwon FC winger Yang Hyun-jun in the summer transfer window.

The report claims that the Scottish giants have 'formally' expressed their interest as they pursue a deal for the 21-year-old attacker but the K-League outfit are not willing to accept their current bid – although it is not revealed whether it has been officially rejected or not.

It states that Celtic's proposal is not enough to tempt Gangwon into cashing in on the young gem as they are currently in a relegation battle and do not believe that there is enough money on the table to warrant taking a significant blow to their chances of avoiding the drop.

What is Yang Hyun-jun's style of play?

The exciting South Korean U23 international is a right-footed right-winger who has showcased his ability to score and assist goals at an impressive rate for a player of his age.

By pushing the club to make an offer that convinces Gangwon to part ways with the talented youngster, Rodgers could forget all about Liel Abada, who could reportedly be on his way out of Parkhead for up to £10m this summer.

Abada, who is also a 21-year-old right-footed forward, has proven himself to be an excellent option out wide for the Hoops in the Scottish Premiership over the last two years.

The Israel international averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.01 and plundered ten goals and five assists in 34 league outings in 2022/23, and that came after the No 11 produced ten goals and six assists in 36 outings the previous year.

Yang's form for Gangwon in 2022 indicates that the potential is there for him to be an excellent replacement for the current Celtic attacker if he departs during the summer transfer window.

The South Korean whiz, who was hailed as "special" by journalist Nathan Sartain, averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.02 across 36 K League 1 matches and contributed with eight goals and five assists, whilst he also created six 'big chances' for his teammates.

This suggests that Yang has the quality to make a big impact in the final third with his goalscoring ability and eye for a pass, which means that he could replace a large portion of the production that Abada has provided during his time in Scotland.

A return of one goal and one assist in 14 league starts this year suggests that Yang has struggled this season, but his performances in 2022 indicate that there is still a very promising player for Rodgers to potentially unearth.

Therefore, the Northern Irish tactician could forget all about Abada by signing Yang and helping the 21-year-old to rediscover his touch in the final third, as the Gangwon star has the scope to contribute with goals and assists from a wide position.

يشهد اليوم الثلاثاء الموافق 12-3-2024، العديد من المباريات الهامة والمرتقبة على مستوى الدوري المصري ودوري أبطال أوروبا ودوري أبطال آسيا.

ويستضيف استاد خالد بشارة بالغردقة، مباراة الزمالك مع الجونة، ضمن مباريات الجولة الـ 15 من عمر مسابقة الدوري المصري.

ويستعد فريق الكرة الأول بالنادي الأهلي للعودة لمنافسات بطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز “النيل”، وذلك بمواجهة البنك الأهلي، اليوم الثلاثاء.

المباراة المقرر إقامتها على ملعب استاد القاهرة الدولي، في خضم مؤجلات الجولة الـ15 من عمر المسابقة المحلية.

يترقب عشاق ومتابعو الكرة السعودية اليوم الثلاثاء، المباراة المرتقبة بين الهلال واتحاد جدة والتي تجمع بين الفريقين ضمن منافسات دوري أبطال آسيا.

وتلعب مباراة الهلال والاتحاد على أرضية استاد الجوهرة المشعة في إطار لقاءات إياب ربع النهائي من المسابقة القارية.

طالع أيضًا | قائمة الأهلي لمباراة البنك الأهلي في الدوري المصري.. غياب 10 لاعبين مواعيد مباريات اليوم الثلاثاء 12-3-2024 والقنوات الناقلةمواعيد مباريات اليوم في الدوري المصري

الأهلي ضد البنك الأهلي، الساعة 9:30 مساءً بتوقيت مصر، 10:30 بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة “on time sport 1”.

الزمالك ضد الجونة، الساعة 9:30 مساءً بتوقيت مصر، 10:30 بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة “on time sport 2”.

المصري ضد زد، الساعة 9:30 مساءً بتوقيت مصر، 10:30 بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة “on time sport”. مواعيد مباريات دوري أبطال أوروبا اليوم

آرسنال ضد بورتو، الساعة 10 مساءً بتوقيت مصر، 11 بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة “beIN Sports HD 2”.

برشلونة ضد نابولي، الساعة 10 مساءً بتوقيت مصر، 11 بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة “beIN Sports HD 1”. مواعيد مباريات دوري أبطال آسيا اليوم

أولسان هيونداي ضد تشانبوك موتورز، الساعة 12 ظهرًا بتوقيت مصر، 1 بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة “beIN Sports AFC HD”.

اتحاد جدة ضد الهلال، الساعة 9 مساءً بتوقيت مصر، 10 بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر قنوات “beIN Sports AFC HD”، و”Alkass Nine HD”، و”SSC HD”. مواعيد مباريات الدوري القطري اليوم

قطر ضد الأهلي، الساعة 8:30 مساءً بتوقيت مصر، 9:30 بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة “الكاس”.

الريان ضد أم صلال، الساعة 8:30 مساءً بتوقيت مصر، 9:30 بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة “الكاس”.

ويُمكنكم متابعة أحداث المباريات لحظة بلحظة من مركز المباريات من هنــــا

Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane signing a new contract at his boyhood club at some point is a 'possible', according to journalist Dharmesh Sheth.

What's the latest transfer news involving Harry Kane?

According to The Independent, Manchester United have decided to drop out of the race to sign Kane this summer due to his current employers, Tottenham, adopting a tough negotiation stance involving the England international.

The report adds that Manchester United are 'conscious' of Manchester City's failed pursuit of the 29-year-old back in 2021 and don't want to waste their off-season trying to land Kane only to be rebuffed by Spurs continually.

Le Parisien via GOAL detail that Kane has admirers from the continent in the form of Paris Saint-Germain and the Ligue 1 giants are said to want to make Kane a 'marquee' addition despite not currently having a manager in place at the Parc des Princes.

It is expected that Kane would cost the French giants in excess of £100 million to acquire, which is a big part of the reason Manchester United pulled out in their attempts to tempt him to Old Trafford.

Capology understand that Kane has one year left on his deal at Tottenham and is believed to pocket £200,000 per week in north London.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Sheth has revealed that there is a possibility Kane could now commit to a new contract at The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Sheth stated: "Tottenham do not want to sell Kane, least of all to a Premier League rival.

"I see a few scenarios that could happen with Kane, and they’re obvious really. Tottenham's number one choice would be Kane signs a new contract at Spurs and spends the rest of his career at the club. It's possible, but how likely, I don't know.”

Should Tottenham Hotspur look to tie Harry Kane to a new deal?

Spurs should look to tie Kane to a new deal with every fibre of their being, as he is an elite striker with the propensity to produce moments of magic consistently in the Premier League.

In 2022/23, despite Tottenham's underwhelming season, Kane recorded 32 goals and five assists in 49 appearances across all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.

Unsurprisingly, Kane was Spurs' most consistent performer during the season and obtained an average match rating of 7.52/10 for his exploits on the pitch, according to WhoScored.

Leading the line with efficiency, Kane also managed to successfully lay on 159 shot-creating actions combining his time on the field in the Premier League and Champions League, as per FBRef.

Nailing down Kane for the rest of his career at Tottenham will undoubtedly be a major priority for Lilywhites' chiefs; however, it will be easier said than done and they will need to match his ambition at the club to win trophies in order to stand a chance of being successful in their endeavours.

أثار تاتا مارتينو، المدير الفني لفريق إنتر ميامي، مخاوف منتخب الأرجنتين بشأن درجة لياقة النجم ليونيل ميسي قبل فترة التوقف الدولي هذا الشهر.

ويخوض منتخب الأرجنتين مباراتين وديتين ضد السلفادور وكوستاريكا، يومي 22 و26 مارس الجاري.

واستدعى ليونيل سكالوني، المدير الفني لـ منتخب الأرجنتين، ليونيل ميسي في القائمة الخاصة ببطل العالم لخوض مباريات هذا الشهر.

وتعرض ليونيل ميسي لإصابة في الساق، خلال مواجهة ناشفيل، أمس الأول حيث ساهم في فوز إنتر ميامي بعدما سجل هدفًا.

اقرأ أيضًا.. فيديو | ميسي وسواريز يقودان إنتر ميامي للفوز على ناشفيل في دوري أبطال كونكاكاف

وكان لا بد من استبدال ميسي بعد تعرضه لإصابة في الساق، حيث يخضع لفحوصات طبية لمعرفة مدى خطورة إصابته.

وقال تاتا مارتينو في تصريحات نشرتها صحيفة “ميرور” الإنجليزية: “لا أريد المخاطرة لكني أتصور أنه (ميسي) لن يكون متاحًا لمباراة السبت ضد دي سي يونايتد”.

وأضاف: “هو الشيء الوحيد الذي يمكنني قوله عنه الآن، سنجري بعض الاختبارات قريبًا وسنرى كيف يشعر”.

واختتم: “يعاني ليو من شد عضلي زائد في ساقه اليمنى، لا نريد المخاطرة معه بأي شكل من الأشكال، حاولنا معرفة ما إذا كان بإمكانه الصمود لفترة أطول قليلاً بعد نهاية الشوط الأول، لكن الأمر كان يزعجه، لذلك فضلنا إخراجه من المباراة”.

On a day of contrasting openers and innings at the SCG, David Warner blasted his way to the first century before lunch in Tests in Australia, then 20-year-old Matt Renshaw dug in to become Australia’s seventh-youngest centurion

The Report by Daniel Brettig02-Jan-2017
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details4:42

Chappell: ‘Misbah played into Warner’s hands’

David Warner enshrined himself among the greats of the game’s past before Matt Renshaw secured his Australian future. On a day of contrasting openers and innings at the SCG, Warner blasted his way to the first century before lunch in Tests in Australia, then 20-year-old Renshaw dug in to become Australia’s seventh-youngest centurion.If Warner’s innings was the favourite of a festive New Year’s crowd, Renshaw will have delighted Australia’s selectors, coaches and players with a display of the sort of calm assurance so vital to Test match success. Renshaw styled much of his game on England’s Alastair Cook: working the ball repeatedly off his hip then driving and cutting occasionally he played very much the spit of an innings the older man made against Australia on this ground six years ago.Having played a major role in Australia’s win in Melbourne by scoring a rapid century, Warner doubled down with another intimidatory batting effort against Pakistani bowling that mixed the presentable with the ordinary on a blameless SCG pitch. Warner joined Victor Trumper, Charles Macartney, Sir Donald Bradman and Majid Khan as the only other men to score a century in the very first session of a Test. Majid was the most recent batsman to get there, making his century against New Zealand in Karachi in 1976-77.While Warner was unable to go on for long after the interval, Renshaw wedged himself into the wicket, and was composed through the departures of Usman Khawaja and the captain Steven Smith before Pete Handscomb, another bright young thing, settled in. With the debutant Hilton Cartwright and an out of touch Matthew Wade below them, this pair played with some care to reach stumps.After Smith won the toss and announced two changes to the Melbourne team, Steve O’Keefe and Cartwright, Warner rocketed away with a volley of boundaries in the first two overs of the match, the second of which was bowled by one of Pakistan’s inclusions, Imran Khan. From there it seemed only a matter of Warner keeping his wicket intact and getting enough strike, two tasks he performed without much trouble as barely a ball beat the bat.There were runs either side of the pitch for Warner; a lack of straight-driven boundaries reflecting both the pugilism of his method and also the shortish lengths favoured by Pakistan’s bowlers. Pull shots and punches through the covers were most prevalent, all played with a level of hustling intent that suggested Warner always knew the hundred before lunch was on.David Warner celebrated his 18th Test century off only 78 balls•Cricket Australia/Getty Images

In the end Warner was able to go from 95 to 100 with a two and a three from the bowling of Wahab Riaz, the first a pull shot and the second a punch behind square on the off side that should only have been worth two but became the pivotal third via a misfield. Warner’s celebration was typically ebullient; he had already made history in a match just two hours old.It was to be Wahab who sent Warner back to the dressing room, via an SCG standing ovation, when he coaxed an indeterminate edge when trying to run the ball down through the gully region. Khawaja’s edge arrived a few overs later from a more aggressive attempt to score, and it was Renshaw who got the balance right.Smith, having been so dominant in Melbourne, surprised in edging an attempted cut at Yasir Shah and falling to an excellent catch by Sarfraz Ahmed, the prelude to a nervy period in the 90s for Renshaw after tea. On 91 his visor wore the brunt of a Mohammad Amir bouncer, and a check-up from the team doctor Peter Brukner was required before Renshaw continued.In the end a hurried single was enough to take him to the milestone, triggering an outpouring of joy that reminded all present of the difficult spells he has already negotiated whether against Vernon Philander in Adelaide, Amir at the Gabba or a fiery Wahab here. Handscomb was meanwhile reprieved when Sarfraz failed to go with a Yasir legbreak that could have resulted in a stumping.More runs flowed from Renshaw’s bat, his stroke range expanding in direct correlation to the amount of time he spent in the middle. There is plenty of power in his tall frame, but the aversion he shows in the formative stages of his innings will serve him well in what now seem likely to be many years of Test batting to come.

Leeds United are believed to have made contact with impressive Coventry City striker Viktor Gyokeres over a summer move to the club.

Have Leeds been linked with Gyokeres move?

The £3,462-a-week attacker enjoyed a superb 2022/23 season for the Sky Blues, proving to be their star man as they went all the way to the Championship playoff final, which they eventually lost on penalties to Luton Town in May.

Gyokeres scored 21 league goals in total for Coventry, which was only beaten by Middlesbrough's Chuba Akpom (28), and he was one of the standout performers in the division, being nominated for the Championship Player of the Season award.

His displays have certainly caught the attention of a number of clubs and Leeds have been linked with a move for him this summer, as they look to bring in a top-quality striker to aid their promotion push in 2023/24.

Are Leeds still keen on signing Gyokeres?

According to O Jogo [via MOT Leeds News], Leeds have made contact with Gyokeres over a summer move to the club, although he would preferably move away from the Championship instead.

It is stated that the Swede is close to completing a £17m move to Sporting CP, acting as a blow to the Whites, so it could be difficult to get a deal over the line.

This is clearly a blow for Leeds, considering Gyokeres is someone who could be absolutely perfect ahead of the next season, especially as he has proven how much he can shine in the Championship. Tony Mowbray has even compared him to Erling Haaland, describing him as "powerful" and "really confident".

With Patrick Bamford not looking like the force he once was, following constant injury problems, and Rodrigo surely moving on in the summer transfer window, the Coventry star could have been the ideal man to lead the line for years to come.

The lure of joining Sporting may well be too great to turn down, however, affording him the opportunity to play in Europe, and it would now be a big surprise if he opted to stay put in the second tier of English football and join Leeds instead.

The key now is for the Whites to identify a strong alternative to Gyokeres – an individual to come in and thrive from the off, providing a constant stream of end product in the final third and ensuring Leeds make their return to the Premier League in no time at all.

أعرب فينيسيوس جونيور لاعب فريق كرة القدم الأول بنادي ريال مدريد الإسباني، عن سعادته بتحقيق الفوز على أوساسونا، ببطولة الليجا، على ملعب السادار.

فينيسيوس سجل ثنائية في فوز ريال مدريد برباعية مقابل هدفين، على أوساسونا، في مباراة البرازيلي الأخيرة قبل مواجهة مانشستر سيتي.

ريال مدريد سيواجه أتلتيك بلباو 31 أغسطس الجاري، قبل مباراة مانشستر سيتي، وسيغيب فينيسيوس عن مواجهة بلباو بسبب حصوله على بطاقة صفراء اليوم.

طالع أيضًا.. أنشيلوتي يوجه طلبًا لـ فينيسيوس ويكشف ماذا قال له لحظة استبداله أمام أوساسونا

وقال فينيسيوس جونيور في تصريحات لقناة ريال مدريد: “علينا جميعًا أن نكون مستعدين، علينا أن نستمر على هذا المنوال ونواصل تحقيق الانتصارات”.

وأضاف: “مباراة اليوم كانت رائعة للفريق، إنه موسم صعب وبه العديد من المباريات، نحن ندافع بشكل جيد للغاية عن أنفسنا، ونحاول تسجيل الأهداف مبكرًا”.

وأكمل: “أحاول دائمًا مساعدة الفريق وتقديم أفضل ما لدي من أجل الفوز، لقد منحني أنشيلوتي الحرية لكي أستفيد من المهارات التي لدي”.

واختتم: “آمل ألا يعود أحد مصابًا بعد فترة التوقف الدولي، لأن الوقت الأصعب من الموسم قادم، ونحتاج لكل لاعب في كل مركز”.

A bomb blast in Lahore has, according to the Pakistan Super League chairman Najam Sethi, made it very difficult for foreign players to feature in the final of the second season which, was scheduled to be played at Gaddafi Stadium on March 5

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Feb-2017

A bomb blast in Lahore has, according to the Pakistan Super League (PSL) chairman Najam Sethi, made it very difficult for foreign players to feature in the final of the second season which, until the bombing, was set to be played at Gaddafi Stadium on March 5.Speaking on his political talk show on Sethi also said the question now of where the final should be played, was one that fans would have to decide. The explosion, which has so far claimed 13 lives, went off in Lahore’s busy Mall Road during a rally on Monday attended by hundreds of pharmacists protesting against changes to a drug sale law outside the provincial assembly building.Ever since the PSL announced that the final will be played in Lahore, the question of whether – and which – foreign players might attend has loomed. Sethi briefed foreign players about the security situation in Lahore last week ahead of the start of the league in Dubai. He said on the show that though the players had a number of questions and didn’t commit, “they were mentally preparing to play in Lahore”. By February 24th or 25th, if the players had not decided or were not ready to travel, the league was going to hold another draft to see which foreign players from any of other franchises were willing to travel to Lahore play for the finalists.”What can I tell you?” Sethi said when asked what the reactions of foreign players were after news of the bombing. “Obviously people will be more wary and scared – they were already and now will be more. So right now to say whether we can convince them easily is very difficult… Now I will have to start all over again. I cannot say that we will be successful or not because they have families, they will have their associations which will guide them.”Though Sethi and the PCB have insisted all along that the final will go ahead in Lahore, with or without foreign players, the increasing probability that none may come now, would seem to have compelled a shift in that stance. On his show, Sethi asked the public to decide whether they want to see a final in Lahore most likely only with Pakistani players, or a final in Dubai with foreign players as well.Sethi did expand on his personal belief, that the final should go ahead and be played in Lahore.”[People] were calling me up as well [and saying] that whatever the situation this is Pakistan’s resolve that the PSL final has to happen [in Lahore]. That we have to show terrorists that we are not scared and we have to show we can do it because it is very important for us.”I agree with this and this is my thought. I also think that these terrorists cannot think they can threaten us like this, that they can stop our businesses, stop our lives. No. We will stand firm, we will fight, we will do this. In that matter this is my resolve and I can see it is the resolve of every Pakistani, and their desire of having the final in Lahore. This is our stance. I think the Punjab government will be the same.”But the situation is this that the question Pakistanis have to answer is if the foreign players do not agree to come to Lahore, or a lot of them don’t, should we still have a final with just Pakistan players in Lahore, or should we have it with foreign players and do it in Dubai? This is the question the Pakistani public has to answer and whatever their wish we will see to it.”My heart says we have to show the world. If foreign players come to Lahore then good and if they don’t, then with our Pakistani players we should have a PSL final in Lahore. But I want public opinion on this, I want cricket-lovers to tell me, cricket fans – what do they want? Whatever they want, we will do.”Last month, the Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations (FICA) issued a report warning that an “acceptable level of participant security and safety cannot be expected or guaranteed” in Pakistan. In response, the PCB accused FICA of doing “great disservice to the cause of Pakistan cricket in particular” and called their approach “careless and cavalier”, which then prompted FICA to issue a justification.

A round-up of the Momentum One Day Cup matches played on March 17, 2017

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Mar-2017

Andrew Birch conceded only four runs to clinch a final-over finish for Warriors against Knights at St. George’s Park, where JJ Smuts scored his second consecutive century in the tournament.Needing 11 off the last over while chasing 285, with Aubrey Swanepoel on strike on 73, Birch denied Knights any run off his first delivery. Three singles off the next three balls brought the equation down to eight off two. Seeing a fullish fourth delivery from Birch, No. 9 Merchant de Lange holed out to long-on, effectively securing the win for Warriors, as Swanepoel only managed to squeeze a single off the last ball, with Knights ending on 278 or 8.Birch, who finished with 3 for 45, had earlier accounted for opener Rudi Second in the second over of the Knights innings, and bowled David Miller for 18 in the tenth, reducing the opposition to 48 for 4. Captain Pite van Biljon then resuscitated the innings with a 104-ball 84 and two consecutive 80-run partnerships with Luthando Mnyanda (43) and Swanepoel (76) for the fifth and sixth wickets respectively, to guide his side past 200 in 39 overs.Earlier, having elected to bat, Warriors captain Smuts bludgeoned eight fours and five sixes on his way to a 144-ball 132, his sixth List A hundred, and strung a third-wicket stand of 151 with Colin Ackermann, who scored 86 off 96 balls, to take his side to 214 for 2 in 43 overs. Smuts, the second-highest run-scorer in the tournament with a tally of 453 in seven innings, added 52 off only 28 balls with Lesiba Ngoepe (12) for the fourth wicket, before both fell off consecutive deliveries in the 48th over to left-arm fast bowler Mbulelo Budaza, who returned 4 for 69, the best figures for Knights on the day. Three quick wickets in the last two overs meant Warriors could squeeze in only another 18 runs, finishing on 284 for 8.File photo – Aiden Markram smashed a 138-ball 183, his highest List A score•Getty/ICC

Centuries from Titans openers Aiden Markram and Henry Davids handed Lions a 169-run thrashing as records tumbled in Johannesburg. Titans had amassed 415 for 3, their highest one-day score, on the back of Markram’s 183, the highest in South African one-day matches, supported by Davids’ 128 before Lions were bowled out for 246 for the visitors’ bonus-point win. Titans are now placed third behind Dolhpins and Warriors while Lions are second from bottom with five losses from eight games.Titans cashed in on their decision to bat as Markram and Davids hammered 222 for the opening stand, studded with 21 fours and seven sixes. They brought up the century stand in the 20th over before hitting the pedal to push the run rate. While Davids brought up his hundred off 94 balls, Markram took 99 balls for his third List A century. Once Davids fell for 128 off 108 in the 34th over, Markram and Heino Kuhn (34 off 23 balls) charged them past 300 by smashing 21 runs in the 41st over off Carmi le Roux. Markram raced past 150 in the next over and soon surpassed Reeza Hendricks’ record of 181 for the highest one-day score in South Africa domestic matches. Titans were 387 for 3 when Markram was caught for 183 off 138 balls, that featured 18 fours and five sixes, and Farhaan Behardien’s half-century that was scored at a strike rate of 200 – 62 off 31 – took Titans over the 400 mark for the second time this season.Beuran Hendricks (10-071-1) and Nono Pongolo (3-0-23-0) were the only two Lions bowlers to concede at less than eight runs per over.In reply, Lions could not recover when they lost the openers in the first seven balls, leaving them on 4 for 2. Wicketkeeper-batsman Mangaliso Mosehle scored a rapid fifty – 74 off 44 balls – but he fell at the team score of 112 in the 16th over, becoming Tabraiz Shamsi’s second victim. Markram chipped in with a wicket too before Shamsi took three more to finish with 5 for 74, his maiden List A five-for. Even though the hosts score at close to eight per over through the chase, they were dismissed in 33.5 overs.