Quinton de Kock's sensational century propelled South Africa to a remarkable six-wicket victory over West Indies in a thrilling T20I after a record-breaking knock from Johnson Charles at Centurion.
Charles' astonishing 118 from 46 balls and an excellent 51 from Kyle Mayers got the Windies to what looked to be a series-winning total of 258-5 on Sunday.
Yet De Kock (100 off 44) had other ideas, with South Africa's former captain leading the Proteas to a sensational triumph and the highest successful run chase in T20Is.
By the end of the third over the hosts had scored 62 without loss, and they added an additional 20 runs from the next 18 deliveries. South Africa's total of 102-0 from the first six overs is the highest powerplay score in a T20I involving Test-playing nations, and the fastest first hundred runs scored in a T20I involving a full ICC member.
In the process, De Kock struck South Africa's quickest 50, from just 15 balls – the fifth-fastest half-century in the shortest format.
De Kock should have been caught in the deep shortly after, but did not let up as he cruised to his maiden T20I century, taking just 42 deliveries to get there, before falling to Raymon Reifer soon after.
Reeza Hendricks (68 from 28 balls) picked up the slack, though he followed Rilee Rossouw (16) in heading back to the pavilion when the Windies claimed wickets in swift succession in the 12th and 13th overs.
Romario Shepherd caught David Miller to hand West Indies a further flash of hope, yet three big hits from new captain Aiden Markram (38) put the Proteas back in control as they cantered to victory and levelled the series.
Charles' record ton overshadowed
If it was not for De Kock's sparkling knock, Charles would have been the story.
His century, which came from 39 deliveries and included 11 sixes and 10 fours, was the fastest T20I hundred by a West Indies player, surpassing a record set by Chris Gayle in 2016 (47 balls). Unfortunately for the tourists, it was not enough.
Bad day for the bowlers
It was certainly a day for the batters at SuperSport Park. South Africa's bowlers set the tone for what was to come as they struggled to keep the Windies under wraps, despite Wayne Parnell (2-42) dismissing Brandon King in the first over.
The Windies attack then suffered as De Kock, Hendricks and then Markram put them to the sword in a stunning display.
As of this year, the annual run and walk event, known as Reggae Marathon, Half Marathon and 10K, will no longer offer a marathon segment.
In making the announcement Saturday, race director Alfred ‘Frano’ Francis said it had become necessary to restructure the event as “we have been constantly challenged to provide the same level of runner care to our marathoners as those participating in the half marathon and 10K events. “
Francis said the change had been on the table for some time but the board of directors of the world-renowned sporting event took the decision to eliminate the marathon during the 2023 staging. However, the half marathon and 10K will remain as part of the brand’s offerings.
“Of course, we are disappointed that we have had to discontinue the marathon segment of the popular run/walk, but we have come to the realization that the challenges are greater than our ability to provide the best experience for our marathoners. With this change, we can now focus comfortably on providing the best experience for the participants in our Half Marathon & 10k events, as well as to our supporters and partners", Mr. Francis said.
The annual Reggae Marathon, Half Marathon &10K was launched in 2000 and is organized by the Jamdammers Running Club of Kingston
Over the past 23 years, the event has had runners from over 35 countries participating, with the inclusion of virtual races in the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic. The brand’s reach also expanded exponentially across the world with the use of the various digital platforms.
The 23rd staging of the event takes place in Negril on Sunday, December 3, 2023 with the usual 5:15 a.m. start time.
Dr Kishore Shallow was elected unopposed as the new president of Cricket West Indies at the organisation’s Annual General Meeting in Antigua on Saturday. He will have Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board President Asim Bassarath as his vice president.
Dr. Shallow succeeds Ricky Skerritt, who decided not to seek a third term. Skerritt became president in 2019 after defeating three-term president Dave Cameron in Kingston.
The new president, who also leads the Windward Islands Cricket Board, has promised significant changes to the way the CWI operates going forward. Those changes will manifest atop four key pillars that include cricket development; human capital, commercial and marketing as well as governance.
In a recent interview, Dr Shallow said he intends to invest in the development of young cricketers from the grassroots to the senior level while establishing a culture of pride and passion for West Indies cricket.
The new president also plans to incorporate modern-day best practices that align with Caribbean culture as well as implementing a viable and lucrative commercial model to enhance revenue streams for Cricket West Indies.
Atlanta United lost their position atop the MLS' Eastern Conference standings after a surprise 6-1 hammering at the hands of the Columbus Crew on Saturday.
Atlanta boasted three wins and a draw from their first four matches of the season – and had won their past two by a combined margin of 8-1 – but they were no match for an inspired Columbus outfit in front of their home fans.
Crew forward Christian Ramirez bagged a brace in the second half, while Alexandru Matan was credited with three assists in Columbus' second win of the campaign.
Meanwhile, Seattle Sounders striker Jordan Morris raced out into the Golden Boot lead with a four-goal haul in his side's 4-1 away win against Sporting Kansas City.
The 28-year-old American more than doubled his three goals from the opening four matches, opening up a two-goal lead on rest of the competition.
With Atlanta going down, it was the New England Revolution capitalising and taking over as the Eastern Conference leaders, overcoming a first-half strike from Christian Benteke to defeat D.C. United 2-1.
The loss left D.C. near the bottom of the standings with four points from five matches, where they are joined by Charlotte after their 1-1 home draw against New York Red Bulls.
Cincinnati are the only undefeated team in the East through five matches, securing their third win with a 1-0 triumph over Nashville, to go with two draws as they sit one point behind New England.
A 92nd-minute winner gave the Chicago Fire a 3-2 victory away from home against Inter Miami – their first win of the season – while two goals in the first 10 minutes were enough for Orlando City to prevail 2-1 against the Philadelphia Union.
LA Galaxy remain winless after battling out a 0-0 draw against the Portland Timbers, while it was more dramatic for the Vancouver Whitecaps as they needed a 98th minute equaliser to snatch a point in their 1-1 tie with Minnesota.
Austin FC let a golden opportunity to climb the Western Conference slip away as they dropped points in a 1-1 home draw against the cellar-dwelling Colorado Rapids, who doubled their points tally for the season with the result.
A 55th-minute penalty from Amine Bassi was enough to give the Houston Dynamo a 1-0 win against New York City, while expansion side St. Louis City continued their perfect start to their first season with a convincing 4-0 drubbing of Real Salt Lake, leaving them the only side with the maximum 15 points from five matches.
In the late window, Los Angeles FC benefitted from a first-half red card to defeat FC Dallas 2-1, while Toronto FC battled out a scoreless draw with the San Jose Earthquakes.
GC Foster College emerged as overall winners on the Men’s and Women’s sides at Friday’s Inter Collegiate Track and Field Championships held at the GC Foster College track.
The men finished with 203 points, 71 points ahead of UWI Mona in second while the rest of the top five included Mico University College (77 points), Moneague College (50 points) and Shortwood Teachers College (39 points).
On the women’s side, GC Foster racked up 175 points wo win ahead of Moneague College (96 points), Mico University College (84 points) and UWI Mona (74 points).
Lushane Wilson was a standout performer on the men’s side, jumping a record 2.21m to win the high jump, breaking the late Germaine Mason’s record of 2.20m done all the way back in 2003. Wilson also won the triple jump with 15.38m ahead of teammate Chevau Parkinson (14.89m) and UWI Mona’s Jeremy Hibbert (14.29m).
GC Foster’s Kadrian Goldson was also in fine form, running 10.28 to win the 100m ahead of UWI Mona’s Guyanese Olympian, Emmanuel Archibald, who ran 10.35 for second. Goldson’s GC Foster teammate Odaine McPherson was third in 10.41. The 200m was won by UWI Mona’s Manzinho Barrett in 21.15 ahead of the GC Foster pair Jevaughn Whyte (21.20) and Michael Sharp (21.22).
Archibald rebounded to win the long jump in 7.55m ahead of triple jump runner-up Parkinson (6.83m) and GC Foster’s David Tomlinson (6.77m).
GC Foster’s Zandrion Barnes ran 45.75 for a comfortable victory in the 400m. UWI Mona’s Blaine Buckle was second in 48.01 while GC Foster’s Sage Primus ran 48.51 for third.
On the women’s side, GC Foster finished first and second in the 100m through Mickaell Moodie (11.65) and Keiffer Bailey (12.02) while UTECH’s SHanaka Anderson was third in 13.01.
The 400m saw a similar result for the hosts as Odeisha Nanton ran 55.94 for victory ahead of teammate Toniann Lindsay (57.57) while Moneague College’s Shanita Beckford was third in 58.99.
Preston McSween starred with his fifth first-class five wicket haul as the Windward Islands Volcanoes completed a comfortable six-wicket win over the Leeward Islands Hurricanes on day four of their fourth-round fixture at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba on Saturday.
The Hurricanes started the day 99-5 off 39 overs with a lead of 128 runs in their second innings with Montcin Hodge on 45 and Kofi James yet to get off the mark.
Hodge ended up making a top score of 59 as the Leewards eventually folded for 144 off 55 overs.
McSween led the charge with the ball for the Volcanoes with 5-39 off 13 overs while Larry Edward took 3-9 from eight in support.
Chasing 174 for victory, the Volcanoes reached 32-0 at lunch with Teddy Bishop on 15 and Keron Cottoy on 12.
They lost three wickets after the resumption, including first innings centurion Kavem Hodge, but Alick Athanaze, who also got a century in the first innings, and Sunil Ambris steadied the ship.
At tea, the Volcanoes were 151-3 off 34 overs, needing only 23 more runs to win with Athanaze on 31 and Ambris on 28.
Shortly after tea, Athanaze was dismissed for 38 before Ambris and Tevyn Walcott guided the Volcanoes to 174-4 off 38 overs. Ambris finished 40*.
Rakheem Cornwall took 2-53 off 13 overs for the Hurricanes.
New skipper Rovman Powell powered West Indies to a stunning three-wicket win against South Africa in a rain-reduced T20I clash on Saturday.
The start in Centurion was pushed back because of wet conditions and the contest was reduced to an 11-overs-a-side thrash, with South Africa totting up 131-8, helping by David Miller crunching 48 from 22 balls.
Miller struck three sixes as the home side recovered well from losing opener Quinton de Kock to the first ball of their innings at SuperSport Park.
West Indies made a flying start to their reply as Brandon King and Kyle Mayers took 17 runs from the first four deliveries. King's 23, and 28 from Johnson Charles, helped to put the tourists in a strong position, but it was Powell who played the crucial innings.
The 29-year-old Jamaican hit five sixes in an explosive 43no from 18 balls, holding his nerve after West Indies lost two wickets to Sisanda Magala (3-21) in the 10th over.
Powell's maximum from the second delivery of the 11th over brought the teams level, and he tucked away a single into the leg side from the next ball to seal the win, taking West Indies to 132-7.
Powell starts as he means to go on
The chance to lead arose for Powell when Nicholas Pooran resigned as West Indies' white-ball captain after last year's T20 World Cup.
Powell has taken on the T20I job, with Shai Hope leading the ODI team, and this was a whirlwind beginning for the incoming captain, firstly with the match being reduced to a quickfire slog, and then with the pressure falling on his shoulders with the bat.
He came in at 66-3 in the fifth over, after the breakneck start, and saw the job through, posting his joint-sixth highest T20I score in what was his 47th innings at this level.
Trend to continue?
The last three T20I series between these teams have been won by the touring side, and with two games remaining in this series we might be on for a repeat.
South Africa are experiencing a dire run of series results in T20Is at home, having lost their last four such series, last getting a home success against Sri Lanka in March 2019.
Over the longer course of a full 20 overs it might prove a different story between these teams, with the win for West Indies on this occasion being just the second in their last 16 T20Is away from home. They and South Africa go again on Sunday, also in Centurion.
Kevin Sinclair took 4-37 to lead the Guyana Harpy Eagles to a 228-run win over the Jamaica Scorpions on day four of their fourth-round fixture at Providence on Saturday.
The Scorpions started day four 176-1 off 43 overs with a glimmer of hope of pulling off a historic chase.
That hope was quickly dashed as Tevin Gilzene and Jermaine Blackwood, who entered the day on 81 and 66, respectively, were swiftly dismissed for 85 and 67. Paul Palmer Jr also went for a duck in between those wickets as the Scorpions were suddenly 207-4.
The wickets continued to tumble as the Scorpions were eventually bowled out for 229 in the 67th over.
Sinclair finished with figures of 4-37 off 18.2 overs while Ronsford Beaton took 3-85 off 17 and Veerasammy Permaul took 2-23 off 11.
Opener Zachary McCaskie hit his second fifty of the game to lead the Barbados Pride to a seven-wicket victory over the Trinidad & Tobago Red Force on day four of their fourth-round fixture at Queen’s Park Oval on Saturday.
The Pride started day four 52-2 off 23 overs, needing a further 66 runs to win with McCaskie and Jomel Warrican at the crease on 29 and zero, respectively.
Only Warrican was dismissed for the Bajans as they needed only 14.4 overs on Saturday to complete a successful chase.
They ended up 118-3 off 37.4 overs. McCaskie, who made a career-best 92 in the first innings, ended 55* while Jonathan Drakes produced a 29-ball 27*.
Bryn Charles took 3-29 off 16 overs for the Red Force.
Christian Pulisic believes the United States can take confidence from setting a record for away goals as they thumped Grenada.
In winning 7-1 on Friday in the CONCACAF Nations League, it was the first time they had scored seven goals in a match taking place outside the US.
It was USA's first competitive match since the World Cup, with Ricardo Pepi and Weston McKennie each scoring twice.
Chelsea star Pulisic also got on the scoresheet, and had a hand in four other goals too.
"We came out really strong with a lot of energy and just kind of put with them right away," Pulisic said.
"So I think they were kind of surprised by that. Took our goals well and just a great all-around performance. Definitely gives us confidence."
The game was also the first time USA played a competitive match without using a single MLS player since the league began in 1996.
Interim coach Anthony Hudson was impressed by what he saw from his team, but urged them to finish the job as they bid to reach the Nations League final four.
USA are top of their group ahead of hosting El Salvador on Monday at Exploria Stadium in Florida.
Hudson said: "With a [good] performance and a result like this, you don't want to get carried away.
"The importance for us is just to make sure that we do all the right things between now and the next game and we finish the job off.
"But the actual performance, I thought it was the result of just a really, really good week."
Jamaica Scorpions chasing a mammoth 459 for victory against Guyana Harpy Eagles were 176-1 at stumps, needing a further 282 to achieve an unlikely victory on Friday.
When play resumes on Saturday morning, Tevin Gilzene will carry on from 81 hoping for a big century as is Jermaine Blackwood, who was unbeaten on 66. The pair has so far put on 166 for the second wicket after losing opening batter Leroy Lugg for 10.
Earlier, Guyana picked up from their overnight score of 138-4 with Tagenarine Chanderpaul on 60 and Tevin Imlach on an even 50. The pair had extended their partnership to 175 when Chanderpaul was trapped lbw by Blackwood for 89.
Meanwhile, Imlach went to make an unbeaten 136 as Guyana declared at 294-7, 458 ahead of the Scorpions.
Mindley finished with the impressive figures of 6-54 after running through the Guyana middle order. Blackwood took 1-41.
Kavem Hodge scored his fourth first-class hundred but it was the Leeward Islands Hurricanes who ended day three of their fourth-round fixture against the Windward Islands Volcanoes with a 128-run second innings lead at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba on Friday.
The Volcanoes started the day 206-2 with Alick Athanaze and Kavem Hodge at the crease on 105 and 85, respectively.
The pair, who came together with the Volcanoes 10-2, brought their third-wicket partnership up to 246 before Athanaze’s knock was brought to an end on 128.
It was quickly 256-4 when Sunil Ambris only lasted one ball.
During the innings Hodge brought up his fourth first-class hundred, reaching 125 by the time lunch came around.
His partner at lunch was Justin Greaves who was on four as the Windwards were 298-5 off 75 overs, trailing the Hurricanes by 84 runs.
After the break, The Windwards lost the wickets of Hodge for 137 and Tevyn Walcott for 17 to be 314-6 in the 81st over.
Justin Greaves had to leave the field when he was on eight after being struck on the helmet by a Jeremiah Louis bouncer. He would later return to the crease when the Windwards were 348-9.
On the stroke of tea, the Windwards innings ended on 353-9 off 95 overs, with them just 29 runs short of a first-innings lead, after Shermon Lewis retired hurt after apparently feeling ill on the field. Greaves was left stranded on 12.
Louis took 4-46 while Cornwall took 4-102 for the Hurricanes.
At stumps, the Hurricanes reached 99-5 off 39 overs. Montcin Hodge has, so far, faced 114 balls for his 45.
Earlier, Preston McSween removed Kieran Powell and Akeem Saunders for four and 11, respectively, to have figures of 2-26 off six overs so far.
A new era will start for both South Africa and West Indies when Aiden Markram and Rovman Powell lead the sides in the opening Twenty20 International match of the series on Saturday.
Markram this month replaced Temba Bavuma as captain, with the Test and one-day international skipper axed from the T20I squad.
The opener at SuperSport Park will also be the first T20I since Rob Walter took over as white-ball head coach and comes on the back of a 1-1 ODI series draw with the Windies.
Markram was given the honour of captaining his country in only his third ODI back in 2018, when Faf du Plessis was absent along with other senior players.
The batter felt that opportunity came too soon and believes the experience he has gained since then should stand him in good stead.
He said: "I was quite fresh back then. I was very hard on myself, and always wanted to do well and we know this sport, it doesn't always work out that way."
Markram added: "Being with the legendary team the Proteas had at the time, I paid attention to how Faf managed to marshal his troops.
"That is something I looked up to and strived for probably without him knowing, it was just through me observing from the side."
It will also be a special weekend for Powell in Centurion, where there will be a double-header before the series ends with a contest at JB Marks Oval Potchefstroom on Tuesday.
Powell was selected as the man to replace Nicholas Pooran, who stepped down after the T20 World Cup in Australia last November.
South Africa will be looking to take the momentum from a record-breaking series-levelling ODI win over the Windies in which Heinrich Klaasen was the star of the show.
Klaasen struck 119 off 61 balls as the Proteas chased down their victory target of 261 in just 29.3 overs in Potchefstroom, becoming the first team to score 250 or more to win in under 30 overs.
De Kock set to move level with De Villiers
Wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock is set to go joint-third on the list of the highest appearance-makers for the Proteas in T20Is, as he is currently one behind AB de Villiers' tally of 78.
De Kock has enjoyed facing West Indies in the shortest format, scoring half-centuries in each of his past three knocks.
Windies away form must be addressed
West Indies have won only one of their past 15 T20Is on tour, that coming against Zimbabwe last October.
Facing South Africa could present a good opportunity to address that poor record, as the Proteas have lost four multi-game bilateral T20I series at home – that is their longest losing run in this format.
An early Maykel Reyes goal was enough for Cuba to get past Barbados 1-0 in a Concacaf Nations League B Group A contest on Thursday night at the Wildey Turf Stadium in Barbados.
Reyes, 30, was able to put one past Barbados goalkeeper Liam Brathwaite after latching on to a pass from midfielder Willian Pozo which deflected off forward Luis Paradela.
The job was made even tougher for the visitors when, in the 33rd minute, Barbados midfielder Omani Leacock picked the pocket of Cuba defender Yosel Piedra and was off and running the other way.
The centre back was forced to bring him down from behind, earning his second yellow card in three minutes meaning Cuba would defend its lead with 10 men for an hour.
The Tridents looked for an equalizing goal that would have earned them their first point of the Nations League, but weren’t able to beat Cuba goalkeeper Sandy Sanchez.
They got an opportunity in the 84th minute when a chipped ball over the top from the edge of the penalty area nearly got to Barbados forward Ryan Trottman but Sanchez was quick off his line to scoop up the ball and secure the clean sheet.
Cuba stays atop the group and will look to earn promotion to League A when it hosts Guadeloupe on Sunday, while Barbados closes out the tournament with a trip to face Antigua and Barbuda at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.
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