Ambitious Proteas seek to close gap

TV highlights: what’s best on the box Volta Ciclista a Catalunya, stage 4, Llívia World Golf Championships Dell Match Play, – Igualada, 194.3km, 4.50pm, SS6 day 3, 8pm, SS5; PGA Tour, Puerto Rico Open, day World Golf Championships Dell Match Play, 2, 4.30pm, SS5 day 2, 8pm, SS5 F1: Australian Rolex GP, first World Cup qualifier, Colombia v Bolivia, practice, 3am, SS6; second practice, 6.50am, SS6 10.20pm, SS3 Super Rugby, Crusaders v Force, 8.30am, ATP World Tour 1000, Miami Open, day SS1; Rebels v Waratahs, 10.40am, SS1 2, 5pm, SS7 Future Champs, play-offs, 11.15am, SS4; semi-finals, 2.25pm, SS4; World Cup qualifiers, Uruguay v Brazil, 12.50am, SS3; Argentina v Chile, 1.20am, SS4; Venezuela v Peru, 1.20am, SS9 ATP World Tour 1000, Miami Open, day 3, 5pm, SS7 Dwars door Vlaanderen 72nd Edition, 3.20pm, SS2; Volta Ciclista a Catalunya Stage 3 Mataró – La Molina 181.1km, 4.45pm, SS6 World Golf Championships Dell Match Play, day 1, 8pm, SS5 Future Champs, Gauteng, 11.15am, SS4; Friendly, Germany v England, 9.30pm, SS3 ATP World Tour 1000, Miami Open, day 1, 5pm, SS7 Momentum One Day Cup, TBC, 1.50pm, Third Test, New Zealand v South Africa, day 1, 11.30pm, SS2 Volta Ciclista a Catalunya, stage 5, Valls – Lo Port, 182.0km, 4.50pm, SS6

BALL IN FIFA’S COURT ON ‘FIXED’ GAME

SAFA yesterday refused to be drawn into the latest match-fixing scandal – one which involves yet another Bafana Bafana game – uncovered by world governing body Fifa earlier this week. Ghanaian referee Joseph Odartei Lamptey received a lifetime ban from all football-related activities after the Fifa Disciplinary Committee found him guilty of “manipulating” Bafana’s 2-1 win over Senegal in a 2018 World Cup qualifier in November last year.

The match was played at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane and is not only remembered for the dubious penalty awarded by Lamptey to South Africa and converted by captain Thulani Hlatshwayo on the stroke of half-time, but also coach Shakes Mashaba’s infamous rant aimed at his bosses shortly after the final whistle.

Mashaba was subsequently suspended and eventually fired by Safa a month later for gross misconduct, insubordination and violating his employers’ communication policy.

On Monday, the events of that day appeared to have claimed another victim, albeit for different reasons. Fifa said in a statement that it “follows a zero-tolerance policy on match manipulation and is committed to protecting the integrity of football”.

The statement also further read: “As a result, Fifa will continue with its ongoing efforts to combat match manipulation through a variety of initiatives, which include the monitoring of international betting and a confidential reporting system with a dedicated integrity hotline and e-mail address.”

With regards to additional information on the World Cup qualifier between Bafana and Senegal, the Fifa media department said it would provide that when it was available.

Contacted yesterday, Safa spokesperson Dominic Chimhavi said the association were not involved in the appointment of referees for the World Cup qualifiers and referred all questions to Caf, which governs football in Africa, and Fifa.

This week’s match-fixing allegations bring back into focus the 2010 scandal, in which Fifa claimed the results of the friendly matches leading up to the World Cup hosted in South Africa that year were targeted and altered by convicted fraudster, Wilson Raj Perumal. Fifa handed out bans to then president Kirsten Nematandani (six years), former Safa chief executive Leslie Sedibe (five years) and two former heads of referees Adeel Carelse and Steve Goddard (both two years). – Mazola Molefe ACROSS continents, there are two engaging Test series nearing their conclusion, and both will have an impact on the order atop the ICC rankings come the end of the month.

India, thanks to an excellent record at home for the past few years, are still comfortable leaders in the latest rankings, but the battle for second place is tight, with Australia knowing full well that a slip-up will allow South Africa in.

The Proteas, who lead their three-match series against a struggling New Zealand 1-0, with the final Test in Hamilton starting at midnight on Friday (SA time), have made no secret of their desire to get back to the top of the Test tree.

Convener of selectors, Linda Zondi, admitted that it was a goal that was on the horizon, for a team that already leads the ODI rankings.

Of course, South Africa’s reign in the ultimate format nose-dived in India, when they were confronted by the turning ball and an opportunistic foe.

Since then, India have kicked on to become the world leaders in five-day cricket, though South Africa will have a lot to say about that in the summer, when they host Virat Kohli’s men in a bumper 2017/18 campaign.

Before that, though, South Africa have to finish the job against New Zealand in Hamilton where, coincidentally, the ball is expected to turn a lot more than anywhere else they have been on their trek across the Antipodean islands.

At the same time, Australia meet India under the mountains of the Himalayas, in Dharamshala, certainly one of the game’s most breathtaking venues.

Australia will go into that final match buoyed by their defiant stand in Ranchi, when their middle-order refused to let the Indian spinners steal a WGC-Dell Match Play 8pm, SS5 2-1 series lead. It is ominously set up for the final match of an engaging series, where bat and ball have had a chance to shine, and the result has been an excellent advert for Test cricket.

In New Zealand, meanwhile, the Proteas have established a lead, with scattered contributions from their top-order. Dean Elgar,

started the series well, but Stephen Cook is in a dark place, and Hashim Amla is still locating his best touch using a candle.

The pressure has been passed onto the middle-order, and even the tail, but the character within the side has seen the second Test won with surprising comfort.

In the absence, through injury among other things, of several big names, South Africa has again found fresh inspiration.

A rejuvenated Morne Morkel has galloped in freely, with a mind free of doubt, and has thus bowled with a fuller length that has examined technique and temperament in the Kiwi ranks. Keshav Maharaj,

still in his first year of Test cricket, has become increasingly important to Faf du Plessis, with his accuracy a real source of security – and force – when he has been called upon.

In Hamilton, he may have a spin twin in Dane Piedt, another wily customer. It has been a while since South Africa have leant on spin over speed outside the sub-continent, but this may be the week where Messrs Maharaj and Piedt share centre stage.

The likes of Vernon Philander and Kagiso Rabada will still pose a threat, but it may well be a spinner who again takes the plaudits, as Maharaj did in the second Test.

A win for South Africa, coupled with a loss for Australia, would see the Proteas go second.

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