Cricket

Neil Brand, the former Test captain who led a second-string South African side in New Zealand earlier this year, has been appointed to lead a South Africa A team against Sri Lanka A next month. The series, which runs from August 31 to September 18, will include three one-day games and two four-day matches.The one-day squad, captained by Test wicket-keeper Kyle Verreynne, features several promising young players, including David Bedingham, who scored a Test century in New Zealand under Brand, and Tristan Luus, who played at the Under-19 World Cup. The four-day squad includes two players from the current Test tour to West Indies: Matthew Breetzke and Nandre Burger. Dewald Brevis, the breakout star from the 2022 under-19 World Cup, is in both squads.Notably, the number of black African players in the squads exceeds the national target of two players per XI. This is a positive step towards Cricket South Africa's goal of developing more black African batting talent ahead of the home ODI World Cup in 2027.The selection of Mihlali Mpongwana, who is currently captaining a South African Emerging squad in Zimbabwe, in both squads is a testament to his all-round abilities. Lutho Sipamla, who has been capped 17 times across all formats internationally, is also included in both squads despite recent injury struggles.The series will be overseen by Test coach Shukri Conrad, with white-ball coach Rob Walter involved with the national team on trips to West Indies and the UAE. All three one-day games will be played in Potchefstroom, while the four-day matches will be held in Kimberley and Benoni.

In a thrilling Major League Cricket 2024 encounter at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas, the San Francisco Unicorns emerged victorious over the defending champions MI New York by a narrow margin of 3 runs.The Unicorns, batting first, faced an early setback, losing five wickets for just 33 runs. However, skipper Corey Anderson and Hassan Khan steadied the innings with an 87-run partnership. Anderson remained unbeaten on 59 off 37 balls, while Khan contributed 44 off 35.MI New York's bowling attack was led by Nosthush Kenjige and Trent Boult, who claimed two wickets each. Romario Shepherd and Rashid Khan also chipped in with one wicket apiece.In response, MI New York lost Ruben Clinton for a duck, but Dewald Brevis and Nicholas Pooran put on a 77-run stand for the second wicket. Brevis scored a quickfire 56 off 36 balls before being dismissed.The Unicorns bowlers, led by Brody Couch and Matthew Short, who shared five wickets between them, kept the pressure on MI New York. Haris Rauf and Hassan Khan also contributed with one wicket each.As the match reached its climax, MI New York needed 20 runs off the final over bowled by Haris Rauf. Heath Richards hit the penultimate ball for a six, leaving 4 runs needed off the last ball. However, Rauf dismissed Richards with a full-length delivery, trapping him plumb in front.Richards did not review the decision, and the Unicorns secured a thrilling victory. The win propelled them to second place in the points table, while MI New York suffered their fourth loss of the season.With just one game remaining, MI New York faces an uphill battle to qualify for the playoffs. They must not only defeat the Knight Riders in their must-win encounter but also do so by a significant margin.

Suryakumar Yadav's 'Supla' Shot: A Masterclass for Mumbai Indians TeammatesThe 'supla' shot, a paddle to fine leg off full-length deliveries, has become a signature move for South African legend AB de Villiers. Now, Mumbai Indians' (MI) star Suryakumar Yadav is taking the shot to new heights with his exceptional big-hitting skills. And he's not keeping his knowledge to himself, as he's eager to share the technique with his MI teammates.In a recent video posted by MI on social media, Yadav can be seen teaching the 'supla' shot to South African batter Dewald Brevis during a training session at the Wankhede Stadium. "Out of 10 times, 3 times you will connect, seven times you will not," Yadav advises Brevis, emphasizing the importance of practice and persistence.Yadav's willingness to share his expertise highlights his commitment to team success. Despite his own impressive performances this season, with 176 runs in 7 matches at a strike rate of 170.87, he recognizes the value of collective improvement.The 'supla' shot is particularly effective against fast bowlers, as it allows the batter to generate power and precision even on full-length deliveries. Yadav's mastery of the shot has made him one of the most dangerous batsmen in the world, and his teammates are eager to learn from his experience.As MI prepares for their upcoming match against Kolkata Knight Riders, Yadav's guidance could prove invaluable. The five-time champions have struggled this season, winning only three of their first 10 matches. However, with Yadav's leadership and the team's newfound knowledge of the 'supla' shot, they hope to turn their fortunes around and make a late push for the playoffs.