20 Monday, February 19, 2018 SPORTS

Johannesburg broke the partnership fter thrashing the hosts 5-1 in the when he dismissed Behardien, who was AODI series, India started the T20I holed out at long-on by , Bhuvneshwar series with a comprehensive 28-run win in the 15th over. over South Africa in the first of the three- Then Bhuvneshwar’s four- over match series at the New Wanderers happened. Kumar takes Stadium in Johannesburg yesterday. Sent in to bat, Bhuvneshwar Kumar took career-best smashed a quick-fire fifty to help India 5/24, his maiden five-for in T20Is, as post 203/5 against South Africa. Dhawan career-best South Africa could managed 175/9 while anchored the innings with a 39-ball 72 as chasing 204-run target. Bhuvneshwar India kept the scoring rate high from the also became first India pacer to take five- start. Indians scored boundaries at will 5/24 wicket haul in T20Is. and from the word go. As many as seven kept South Africa in the hunt with 70 off sixes and 20 fours are scored in the India 50 balls, but his wicket in the 18th over innings. (AFP) triggered a late collapse. Bhuvneshwar’s final over, the 18th, Shikhar Dhawan of India plays a resulted in the fall of four Proteas shot (Pic courtesy: BCCI) including a run out - Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, Chris Morris and Dane Paterson (run out), as the hosts were reduced to 159/8 from 154/4 before the start of the over. That particular over literally ended the run chase for South Africa. India After 20 without loss in first two overs, South Africa lost three wickets at regular intervals. Bhuvneshwar struck twice inside five overs to jolt South Africa run chase, before sent back dangerous David Miller (9) in the seventh over. Bhuvneshwar broke the opening stand in the third over by dismissing rout JJ Smuts for 14, and dismissed South Africa skipper JP Duminy in the fifth. The Proteas were reduced to 38/2 in five overs. BRIEF SCORE Hendricks and Farhaan Behardien India 203 for 5 (Dhawan 72, Dala (39) resurrected the innings with 81-run 2-47) beat South Africa 175 for stand for the fourth wicket. Hendricks 9 (Hendricks 70, Behardien 39, reached his maiden fifty off 37 balls to SA Bhuvneshwar 5-24) by 28 runs keep South Africa hopes alive. Spinner Bhuvneshwar Kumar of India celebrates (Pic courtesy: BCCI) England beat NZ Mendis stars as SL sweep tour but miss final Sylhet, Bangladesh ’s (L) and pener Kusal Mendis Hamilton , posted smashed a career- n aggressive 194 for seven after being sent bestO 42-ball 70 as Sri Lanka belted New Zealand into into bat. completed a tour sweep, sealing Athe tri-series final New Zealand, with Martin a 75-run win over Bangladesh against Australia despite Guptill adding 62 and Hong in the second and final T20 England claiming their final Kong-born Mark Chapman international yesterday. round-robin match by two unbeaten on 37, made 192 for Sri Lanka also claimed the runs in Hamilton yesterday. four in reply. tri-nation one-day trophy and Munro plundered the The narrow two-run margin took the Test series 1-0 in its England attack at the top of the was not enough to save an one-and-half-month long New Zealand innings, equalling England side who had lost Bangladesh tour. the sixth-fastest half-century all their previous games in A second straight half- of all time in ’s shortest the competition, and needed century of the series for Mendis form as he raced past 50 in just to win by 20 runs to overtake steered Sri Lanka to a hefty 18 deliveries. New Zealand on overall run- 210-4, before the bowlers put England, on the back of rate to face unbeaten Australia on a fine display to dismiss an unbeaten 80 by returning in Wednesday’s final. (AFP) Bangladesh for 135 in 18.4 BRIEF SCORE overs. Sri Lanka 210 for 4 (Mendis Eoin Morgan, Curran and Jordan react against New Zealand Opener Danushka 70, Gunathilaka 42) beat Gunathilaka made 42 while Bangladesh 135 ( scored 31. 41, Gunathilaka 2-3, Madushanka smashed an 2-23) by 75 runs 11-ball 30 towards the end to help Sri Lanka propel past 200. out to at long-off Tharanga (25) added 63 runs Pace bowler Shehan Mendis and Danushka for 42. in the last five overs to help the Madushanka and off- Gunathilaka combined for Thisara Perera joined side post a big total. spinner BRIEF SCORE a 98-run partnership for the Mendis to accelerate the For Bangladesh, captain reduced Bangladesh to 22-3 England 194 for 7 (Morgan 80*, Malan opening stand that set up the innings but made Mahmudullah was the side’s in three overs before opener 53) beat New Zealand 192 for 4 platform for a big total. him his maiden wicket to stall high scorer with 41 and Tamim Iqbal and captain (Guptill 62, Munro 57) by two runs Gunathilaka survived twice the progress. opener Tamim Iqbal added Mahmudullah put on their on 15 and 28 before he holed However, Shanaka and Upul 29. stand. (AP)