Chris Sutton believes Harry Kane will be "jealous" of Tottenham's resurgence this season, with Bayern struggling to defend their Bundesliga title.
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Kane left Spurs in summer
26 goals for Bayern already, but title bid faltering
Sutton suggests he should return to England
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WHAT HAPPENED?
Kane has made an instant impact at Bayern Munich since his £100 million ($135m) move from Tottenham last summer, scoring 26 goals in his first 24 appearances across all competitions. Thomas Tuchel's side have found consistency elusive despite Kane's prolific output, though, and trail current Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen by seven points after a shock 1-0 home defeat to Werder Bremen at the weekend.
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WHAT CHRIS SUTTON SAID
Bayern have also seen DFB-Pokal and German Super Cup trophy routes closed off, while back in England, Tottenham have emerged as Premier League title contenders under Ange Postecoglou. Former Chelsea and Blackburn frontman Sutton has suggested that Kane must be feeling "jealous" of his old club and urged him to retrace his steps, telling 'It's All Kicking Off' podcast: "Harry, you're out of the German Cup. You've got to come home. You're not going to get your medal at Bayern. You've got to come home. Come back to Tottenham, mate. I think Harry will be looking at what's gone on at Spurs, watching their brand of football. I think there's a bit of jealousy there."
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
It's not all doom and gloom for Bayern right now given they still have a game in hand on Bayer Leverkusen and the Champions League round of 16 to look forward to, but Tuchel is starting to come under pressure in certain media circles. The German boss expressed his frustration after the Werder loss, telling reporters: "It was clearly not enough. For over 70 minutes I didn't have the feeling that we were playing for victory. Afterwards I noticed it. Not until there. We were extremely static in the first half. We lost a lot of the ball, allowed a lot of counterattacks, and were sloppy in possession. Deserved defeat."
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WHAT NEXT FOR KANE?
Kane will still be hopeful of landing the first major trophy of his career this season, especially if he can continue to deliver the goods for Bayern in the final third. The England international has already equalled Robert Lewandowski's record for the most goals scored in the first half of a Bundesliga season (22), and will hope to get a step closer to the former Bayern star's leading mark for a full campaign (41) when Tuchel's side host Union Berlin on Wednesday.
Ben Stokes has promised a “full explanation” of what went on in Bristol on the night of his arrest for alleged Actual Bodily Harm last month, after acknowledging – via his agent – that his actions have had a negative impact on his team-mates ahead of this winter’s Ashes, as well as the ECB and the wider sport of cricket.Stokes, who was last week withdrawn from England’s Ashes squad pending further investigation into the events outside Mbargo nightclub on the morning of September 25, yesterday parted company with his bat sponsor, New Balance, a contract that is believed to be worth £200,000 a year.He also issued an apology to the British celebrity Katie Price, after being filmed appearing to mock her disabled son Harvey, an incident that generated further negative headlines on the back of the Bristol incident, in which he was shown allegedly throwing punches at two men in a street brawl.However, Stokes’s agent, the former England batsman Neil Fairbrother, has insisted that the player retains the full support of his management company, ISM, and added that the full details of what went on that night would be made public at an appropriate time, after the investigation by Avon and Somerset Police has been concluded.”Ben explained to me the full circumstances of what happened in Bristol and I told him that he has my total support and backing,” said Fairbrother in a statement. “I am aware that he has fully cooperated with the police inquiry and voluntarily provided a detailed statement on the same day as the incident. He will continue to assist the police in any way he can.”Ben will also make public his full explanation and evidence when the time is right. On legal advice, that is not possible whilst the investigation continues and no charges have been brought forward. Ben does not wish to prejudice the process.”He is also concerned about the impact the widespread publicity has on everyone involved including the ECB, his team mates and the game of cricket itself which he loves.”We will not be making any further comment relating to this at this time.”
The South Africa quick, who has not played since July due to back spasms, is set to turn out for Cobras in a first-class fixture against Dolphins from Monday
Firdose Moonda22-Oct-2017
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Vernon Philander will make a much-anticipated return to cricket this week, after being named in the Cobras squad for the first-class fixture against Dolphins that starts on Monday.Philander has not played any cricket since July, when he suffered a stomach bug during the third Test against England at The Oval. He was due to turn out in the fourth Test a week later in Manchester but back spasms sidelined him and he has been recovering from the issue since. He was not considered for South Africa’s recently-completed two-Test series against Bangladesh but could put himself into contention for the inaugural four-day, day-night Test against Zimbabwe on Boxing Day.South Africa’s cricketers are not scheduled to play any long-form fixtures in November or the first three weeks of December, a window that was created for the T20 Global League. With that tournament now postponed, the domestic franchise T20 competition is expected to be brought forward and, if fit, Philander will feature for Cobras in that event as well.Another injured quick, Dale Steyn, is also targeting the November matches for a return to action but there is no confirmation on the availability of Morne Morkel, Chris Morris or Wayne Parnell, who are recovering from a side-strain, a back problem and a groin injury respectively. Lungi Ngidi, the young Titans quick, who was not played top-flight since June with a back injury, has been named in the franchise’s four-day squad to play this week.South Africa are currently carrying a long list of walking wounded. Apart from the six bowlers mentioned, David Miller has missed the last two ODIs against Bangladesh with a groin injury and captain Faf du Plessis had to retire hurt in East London after sustaining an acute lower-back strain while batting.The number of niggles would have been a major concern if the T20 Global League had kicked off as planned on November 3. Instead, these players now have additional time to prepare for a heavy international workload from January, when South Africa will host India for three Tests, six ODIs and three T20s, followed by Australia for four Tests.
Leigh Kasperek last played an ODI in February 2016 and suffered multiple injuries after that but returned with figures of 10-6-17-3 when she got a chance to play West Indies on Thursday
ESPNcricinfo staff06-Jul-2017Leigh Kasperek had played all of nine ODIs – the last one in February 2016 – until Thursday and only against three oppositions – India, Sri Lanka and Australia. She made her debut nearly two years ago, but Kasperek had suffered multiple finger fractures recently and missed almost the entire international 2016-17 season in the New Zealand summer.Once the World Cup started, New Zealand decided to play two legspinners – Erin Bermingham and Amelia Kerr – for their first few matches. But Kasperek got her chance against West Indies on Thursday because Bermingham picked up a niggle. Kasperek was now without much match practice, against an unfamiliar team, and the captain Suzie Bates even decided to open the bowling with her, along with pace spearhead Lea Tahuhu. And what happened? Kasperek’s offspin fetched her the wickets of Stafanie Taylor, Deandra Dottin (for a golden duck) and Merissa Aguilleira.”She knew she was going to go for little runs and take wickets,” Bates joked about Kasperek’s magical figures of 10-6-17-3. “Before the game she said she didn’t know much about the West Indies, we’ve played Australia so much and she knows the plan. She said, ‘I don’t really know too much about them’, so when players like Dottin and Taylor come out, she just bowls.”After opting to bowl with hopes of some “juice in the wicket”, New Zealand were planning to start the match with Tahuhu and Holly Huddleston. But Bates saw a left-handed Kycia Knight, coming in the squad as an injury replacement, walk out with Hayley Matthews and the captain changed her plan to hand the second over to Kasperek.The offspinner started with two maidens and conceded only a run in her third over with control, flight and fuller lengths. Once Tahuhu got rid of the openers from the other end, Bates brought on the medium-pacers and Kasperek returned to bowl alongside Kerr in the 17th over to dismiss Taylor and Dottin with her first two deliveries, strikes that went a long way in contributing towards New Zealand’s eight-wicket win. Aguilleira survived the hat-trick ball but was eventually stumped off Kasperek 10 overs later, trying to up the run rate.Kasperek was quick make her mark but was happy to pass the question about bowling in the first Powerplay to Bates, saying, “you take it”, prompting a few laughs around.It was just after Kasperek had been sidelined with her first injury of the 2016-17 season that 16-year-old Kerr made a memorable start with 3 for 16 in a T20I against Pakistan. And when Kasperek was injured again four months later, she was replaced by Kerr in the squad to play against Australia. On Thursday, the two spinners bowled in tandem – for the first time in international cricket – to stifle the West Indies middle and lower order.”We thought it was an opportunity with Amelia Kerr still in the side to add Leigh, and it just shows that we’ve got real competition in three world-class spinners,” Bates said of the spin combination. “So it’s going to be a tough team to pick and hopefully in Derby (against England on July 12) where the wicket’s a bit slow, our spinners will come into play.”Kasperek barely spoke at the post-match conference, only saying she was “stoked to be back playing” and felt “good to get a couple of wickets”. Bates, also her captain at Otago, teased Kasperek, quipping: “She would have liked to bat today as well, though.”
Harry Kane has broken two more Bundesliga records after opening the scoring for Bayern Munich against FC Koln on Friday.
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Kane has been in tremendous formScored again on FridaySets two more recordsWHAT HAPPENED?
Kane scored a tap-in on 20 minutes, after Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting saw his effort cleared off the line. It gave Bayern a 1-0 lead and ensured that Kane has become both the first Bundesliga player to score 18 goals in the first 12 games of a season, and the first Englishman to score 18 goals in a single Bundesliga season.
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Kane's form has been simply electric since his move from Tottenham to Bayern in the summer. In 12 games he has scored 18 times, and has also netted four times in four games in the Champions League. Such incredible form has seen Bayern establish a lead at the top of the table, although they are only set to move four points clear of Bayer Leverkusen, who face Werder Bremen this weekend.
DID YOU KNOW?
Kane is currently on a goalscoring rate of 1.5 goals per game. As a result, he is on track to score a staggering 51 goals, in the Bundesliga alone, this season. He has already outstripped last season's Golden Boot winner.
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Kane is likely to keep smashing records as the England international continues to hit the back of the net. Bayern face Copenhagen in the Champions League in midweek.
Alex Wakely’s unbeaten hundred condemned Lancashire to a third successive defeat and left them in danger of elimination in the Royal London Cup
ECB Reporters Network05-May-2017 ScorecardAlex Wakely’s unbeaten hundred fashioned an excellent run chase•Getty ImagesA well-crafted unbeaten century by Northants Steelbacks’ captain Alex Wakely piloted his side to their first win in this year’s Royal London One-Day Cup and condemned Lancashire Lightning to their third successive defeat, a position from which they will find it immensely difficult to qualify for the quarter-finals.Needing 325 to win this 50-over match at Aigburth, the Steelbacks reached their target with 20 balls to spare and with six wickets in hand. Wakely was 109 not out when the win was confirmed by Adam Rossington’s four and six off Liam Livingstone and never during their pursuit of Lancashire’s target had the visitors appeared seriously discomfited.That this was so was partly due to Richard Levi, who bludgeoned twelve boundaries in his 46-ball 62, and helped Northants reach three figures inside 15 overs. When Levi had holed out to mid on Ryan McLaren off Jordan Clark, Rob Newton continued the assault but was caught by Alex Davies off Tom Bailey for 44 when the score was 125.With Josh Cobb having been Anderson’s first victim in the second over of the innings, Northants’ reply was interestingly poised but Wakely and Rob Keogh then put the game beyond Lancashire’s reach with a 152-run fourth-wicket stand in 23 overs.Wakely survived a stumping chance on 24 when Davies failed to gather the ball and was also dropped by the Lancashire keeper when he inside-edged a very difficult chance off Anderson, the resulting boundary taking him to his 42-ball fifty.From then on it was the plainest of sailing on the calmest of seas for the Northants batsmen as they put Lancashire’s total into perspective on a very hard, very true pitch. Wakely reached his century having hit 12 fours and faced 92 balls. Keogh played on to Anderson when he had made 69 five overs before the close but that was of little more than statistical importance. The game had been all but settled long before.Earlier in the day four batsmen had made fifties in Lancashire’s total and the most crucial was that of Jordan Clark who finished the innings with 76 not out off 51 balls and took 24 runs off Nathan Buck’s final six balls. Clark’s fine knock included eight fours and two sixes and it placed on the finishing touches to a recovery which saw Lightning recover from 94 for 5 in the 19th over when Steven Croft was superbly caught at the wicket by Rossington off Muhammad Azharullah for 19The fightback was begun by Dane Vilas and McLaren who put on 86 for the sixth wicket before Vilas cut Ben Sanderson to Newton on the point boundary and departed plainly angry with himself despite having batted with considerable responsibility for his 47-ball 61.Vilas and McLaren’s partnership was a List A record for Lancashire’s sixth wicket against Northamptonshire and a similar mark was established for the seventh wicket by McLaren and Clark’s 108-run stand, which was only ended when McLaren hoisted Azharullah high to long on where Steven Crook took a fine running catch.Some of the Northants’ bowling figures hardly reflected the merit of their earlier efforts, most notably in the first twenty overs of the innings when Lancashire lost five prime wickets. That early period in the game was marked by Karl Brown’s stylish 58 off 47 balls and including 11 boundaries, but it also saw Davies caught at the wicket for a first-ball nought off Sanderson in the opening over and Haseeb Hameed caught at backward point by Graeme White off Buck for nine.When Livingstone fell into Azharullah’s none too subtle trap and hooked a short ball straight to substitute fielder, Saif Zaib at deep backward square leg Lancashire were 77 for 4 and a total in excess of 300 appeared a distant objective. Azharullah was the most successful Steelbacks bowler with three for 55 but White sent down ten overs of left-arm spin at a cost of 47 runs and Sanderson took two good wickets before coming in for some late punishment.
Aston Villa have been linked to a La Liga ace as the transfer window officially opens, as Unai Emery looks to bolster his squad this summer.
The Villa and Spain connection is looking likely to extend, not just on the field but in the business room too, as Sevilla sporting director Monchi is set to join the club as per reports.
The latest player linked to Villa Park already has a strong relationship with Emery, and could cause his former manager a potential headache for selection.
What’s the latest on Nicolas Jackson to Aston Villa?
As reported by GIVEMESPORT when speaking to journalist Ryan Taylor last week, Aston Villa are interested in Villarreal forward Nicolas Jackson.
An update from Rudy Galetti this week reinforced Taylor’s speculation, claiming that the Villans are “really interested” in the striker.
The 21-year-old almost secured a Premier League move in January, however, he failed a medical at Bournemouth due to concerns over a hamstring injury.
The reported fee at the time was in the region of £20m.
What could Nicolas Jackson offer Aston Villa?
Having been hailed as being one of the Yellow Submarine’s “jewels” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the versatile attacker has thrived since graduating from the club’s academy.
It was Emery that decided to pull the forward from the academy to the first team, seeing his potential in a move that paid off for all parties involved.
Across 26 LaLiga appearances this season, the Senegalese ace has contributed to 16 goals, scoring 12 and assisting four in a delightful individual campaign to introduce himself to senior football, via FBref.
Goals haven’t been his only strength, making him a player identified as a potential target to follow his former coach to Villa Park in an environment where he could flourish even further.
The free-flowing football that the four-time Europa League winner encourages his side to play in the Premier League could suit Jackson, as well as current frontline leader Ollie Watkins.
After scoring 15 goals this term, the Englishman has found his stride playing in Emery’s set-up and could become part of a deadly partnership alongside the 21-year-old should he make the move.
Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins
When speaking to The Athletic in April, the Spaniard revealed his plans to sign a second striker this summer to either play alongside or alternate with Watkins, statistics suggest that the LaLiga gem could be the perfect fit for the 27-year-old.
While the duo are both impressive in the final third, they have slightly opposing strengths that indicate that a perfect partnership could be formed.
When comparing the two via FBref in their respective leagues this season, the Villarreal star proves to have more of an impact in carrying and creating play than the Englishman, averaging 2.25 progressive carries to his 1.44 per 90.
A similar pattern is evident when comparing the rate of successful take-ons that the pair average per 90, with Jackson recording 1.30 to Watkins’ 0.52 suggesting that he could be a useful partner in generating chances.
Lauded as “extraordinary” by manager Quique Setien, the 21-year-old gem could add a more dynamic approach in the final third to the Villa ace, who is slightly more effective in front of goal, averaging 1.3 shots on target per game to Jackson’s 0.9.
Their two strengths combined could create a deadly duo for Emery to lead his line with, the Villans will hope that the faith shown by the Spaniard to develop the player in Villarreal could well be repaid in the Midlands.
More than eight years after his previous Test match, and four years after his last international, wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel has earned a recall to India’s Test team
Arun Venugopal23-Nov-20160:49
Quick Facts: Parthiv Patel
More than eight years after his previous Test match, and four years after his last international, wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel has earned a recall to India’s Test team. At 17 years and 153 days, he became Test cricket’s youngest wicketkeeper in 2002; now he will be the second-oldest member in the XI if no other change is made to the side that took field in Visakhapatnam.Parthiv came in because of an injury to first-choice keeper Wriddhiman Saha, who strained his left thigh during the second Test against England in Visakhapatnam. He will not play the third Test to avoid aggravating the injury.Updated India squad
Virat Kohli (capt), Ajinkya Rahane, KL Rahul, M Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Karun Nair, Parthiv Patel (wk), R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Jayant Yadav, Amit Mishra, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Hardik Pandya
The announcement came about 15 hours after the India squad had been announced with only one change. Gautam Gambhir had been dropped with Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s return bolstering the pace department.In a release, the BCCI said: “As a precautionary measure, Saha has been advised rest and will not play in the next Test match of the series. Parthiv Patel will replace Saha in the Indian team for the third Test.” The match is set to be played from November 26 in Mohali.ESPNcricinfo understands that Parthiv, 31, was ahead of other candidates to fill Saha’s role because he offers the option of a left-hand batsman. Also, it is understood that the selectors felt it was too early to hand a debut to the 19-year-old Rishabh Pant, who has hit a triple-hundred for Delhi this Ranji Trophy season and smashed a 48-ball ton in a game in which he scored twin centuries.The other big contender was Madhya Pradesh’s Naman Ojha, who played the last Test that Saha missed. Ojha missed the start of the Ranji Trophy with injury. However, he did play MP’s last match.Tamil Nadu’s Dinesh Karthik, who has also had a good recent run with the bat, is believed to have lost to Parthiv because of the latter’s better glove work and the left-hand batting variation.Parthiv, who last played Test cricket in August 2008, also had a fine start to the 2016-17 Ranji Trophy with the bat for Gujarat. He scored 415 runs in his first eight innings at 59.28, with three fifties and a hundred. The century came in the previous round of games, in Gujarat’s second innings against MP. It was a brisk, unbeaten knock: 139 not out off 170 balls.”Parthiv was considered going by form and also the wicketkeeping aspect. More importantly, being a left-hand bat – England have a legspinner and a left-arm spinner in Adil Rashid and Zafar Ansari. So, a left-hander will add more to the team,” a BCCI official told ESPNcricinfo.”Naman had some injuries; he didn’t play in the first three-four matches of the Ranji Trophy this year. As far as keeping is concerned as well, Parthiv stands ahead of Dinesh Karthik. Overall, as a package, he fits the team’s requirements. There is no doubt that Parthiv’s glove work has improved considerably in the last few years. Not sure which position he will bat in; it is up to the team now.”Parthiv debuted in England in 2002, and has played 20 Tests till date for 41 catches, eight stumpings and 683 runs at 29.69 with a best of 69.
Sri Lanka will host the Under-19 Asia Cup between December 8 and 22, Sri Lanka Cricket has announced
ESPNcricinfo staff25-Sep-2016Sri Lanka will host the Under-19 Asia Cup between December 8 and 22, Sri Lanka Cricket has announced.After a meeting of the SLC’s executive committee on September 24, the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium in Hambantota, the Galle International Cricket Stadium and Matara Uyanwatte Stadium were approved as venues for the tournament. The tournament itinerary and other details will be decided in due course.The committee further approved the appointment of Thusith Perera, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) general manager, as the event director, while Sultan Rana, the ACC’s events manager, will serve in the same role for the U-19 tournament.
David Miller’s third ODI hundred helped South Africa pull off the second-highest chase of all time and seal the series against Australia with two matches to spare
The Report by Firdose Moonda05-Oct-2016
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details0:59
By the Numbers: South Africa’s second-highest successful chase
David Miller’s third ODI hundred helped South Africa pull off the second-highest chase of all time and seal the series against Australia with two matches to spare. Miller has chosen not to play his domestic cricket at the Durban-based Dolphins this summer but thrilled his former home crowd during the highest successful chase at Kingsmead with a heroic knock that will become the stuff of legend.In the 31st over, with Miller on 26 and South Africa needing to score at more than eight runs an over, he tweaked a groin muscle running between the wickets. At the start of the next over, South Africa lost their fifth wicket and their last specialist batsmen when JP Duminy holed out. They were 217 for 5 and victory was 155 runs away. But Miller dug deep and along with another local lad, Andile Phehlukwayo, with whom he put on 107 off 70 balls for the seventh-wicket, took South Africa home.Miller’s innings completely overshadowed Australia’s efforts. David Warner and Steven Smith notched up a century each to build on an opening stand of 110 in 13 overs. Australia plundered 71 runs off the last five overs to post what they would have thought was a match-winning score. The truth is that they should have put on more. Australia went quiet in the middle period and managed just 67 runs between the 14th and 28th over, at a rate of under five.Imran Tahir controlled the squeeze but was assisted by Dwaine Pretorius, Phehlukwayo and Duminy, who all understood that pace off the ball would be the most effective. Australia’s inexperienced attack, which has been their Achilles heel throughout the tour, could not copy that. Mitchell Marsh was their most economical bowler while the spinners, Adam Zampa and Travis Head, conceded 83 runs in 10 overs between them. That was less than Dale Steyn, who leaked 96 runs to hold the unenviable record of the most expensive effort by a South African bowler in ODIs. But Steyn won’t mind after the batsmen bludgeoned the bowlers’ blues away.South Africa’s chase was set up by Hashim Amla, who underlined his return to the side with a quickfire 45 that included nine fours in a rare display of power-hitting from the master of finesse, and Quinton de Kock, who topped up on his Centurion hundred with 70 off 49 balls. But they lost 3 for 39 when Faf du Plessis, de Kock and Rilee Rossouw were dismissed in the space of 39 balls and although they had kept up with the required run rate, it seemed Australia had taken control.Duminy and Miller saw off three boundary-less overs and the match seemed to be drifting to the inevitable but then Miller changed his tone. He took 15 runs off Zampa, including a six and two fours – a flat sweep over midwicket for six and fours on either side down the ground – to hint that South Africa were still in the hunt.Three more boundary-less overs followed and then Duminy was dismissed and responsibility fell on Miller. He survived a review in the 34th over, on 40, when Matthew Wade was convinced Miller had edged John Hastings behind but Snicko did not agree. That gave Miller the rare opportunity to spend a lengthy period of time in the middle and made full use of it, despite his injury.Miller pulled with power and timed the ball well. Even when he lost Pretorius to a leading edge, after a stand of 48 in 6.3 overs, he found the perfect partner in Phehlukwayo, who should have been dismissed from his first ball. Chris Tremain appealed for a caught behind but umpire Adrian Holdstock did not hear the edge. Australia had used their review so could not refer it upstairs but if they had been able to, replays showed Phehlukwayo would have been out. If he felt guilty, it did not show. His response was to flick Mitchell Marsh off his pads to allow South Africa to enter the last 10 overs needing 88 runs to win.On 71 off 54 balls, Miller was the man in charge and ushered Phehlukwayo through strike rotation while scoring boundaries seemingly at will. When Australia decided to pitch it up, Miller got underneath full deliveries and swung hard. He reached his hundred off 69 balls when he whacked a short-of-a-length delivery behind square on the leg side but the best was yet to come. As the 47th over came to an end, Miller sent Daniel Worrall on to the grandstand roof and out of the ground with the biggest of his six sixes.South Africa needed 24 runs of the last three overs, 17 off the last two and thanks to Phehlulwayo’s ten in the penultimate over, just three off the final over. Phehlukwayo hit the winning runs, with four balls remaining, to leave Australia stunned.After Warner’s eighth hundred – and fourth in 2016 alone, which makes this year his most successful in the format – and Smith’s shifting gears to go from 16 off 31 balls to a hundred off 104 balls, they would have thought they had done enough. But, on batsmen-friendly surfaces throughout the country, South Africa have showed that enough is a relative concept. In so doing, they won their first bilateral series against Australia since 2009 and their first ODI in five meetings against Australia at Kingsmead, dating back 2000.