Foxes forge further ahead of pack

Proteas’ selection headaches ...

THE unpopular decisions are the toughest to make in sport.

They cause the most chaos, they divide opinion and, occasionally, they disrupt a team that is on to a good thing.

The Proteas will have to make a few of these tough decisions over the next month if they are to go all the way in the upcoming World Twenty20 in India. There is one too many batsman at the top of the order, and the same can be said of their specialist bowlers.

On Friday night, long before David Miller sent a timely reminder of why he remains a member of the squad with a clinical finish, the most eyecatching sight on the field was that of Hashim Amla. There he was, sporting a fluorescent vest, serving drinks, which is not something we are accustomed to seeing.

But, as things stand, we may well have to get used to it, if the T20 brains trust opts for Quinton de Kock instead of Amla as AB de Villiers’s opening partner. What has become clear is that De Villiers is cemented as the opener, on the premise that South Africa’s best player must be given as many balls as possible to face in a contest that offers just 120.

That is the plan. That has been the plan for the last two years, after a team that has often been accused of lacking direction and structure when it comes to major tournaments made a firm commitment on this particular point.

Of course, as De Villiers’s one-ball demise on Friday reminded, the best-laid plans can sometimes come to nought, so perhaps a measure of flexibility is still required.

England have made a commitment to kamikaze cricket, where every man – save for Joe Root, perhaps – swings at every ball as if it is their last.

When it comes off, it is destructive and dominating, but when that shot-a-ball script hits a few snags, a promising blueprint can suddenly look very, very amateurish.

The funny thing about T20 cricket is that its nature leans towards a frantic approach, but most close games are decided by the teams and players who add a touch of normality to the routine.

It is ‘brave’ and ‘modern’ to

THE underdog Leicester City team pulled off a 1-0 win at midtable Watford last night to extend their lead at the top of the table to five points over their nearest rivals, Tottenham Hotspur.

Astoundingly the Foxes are now 20 points in front of defending champions Chelsea.

The race for the title, and the four Champions League berths, is being set by Leicester, followed by Tottenham, Arsenal and Manchester City.

Earlier in the day Alexis Sanchez earned Arsenal a point in a pulsating North London derby at White Hart Lane after Tottenham had looked set to join Leicester at the top of the Premier League table.

Spurs had come from behind to turn the game on its head in the second half and when Harry Kane’s strike put them ahead after 61 minutes it seemed Tottenham was on course for victory.

In the end, the 2-2 draw was just about a fair result as Arsenal showed plenty of fight after playing most of the second half with 10 men after Francis Coquelin was dismissed for a second booking.

Spurs’ Mauricio Pochettino appeared the happier of the two managers.

“When it was 2-1 I was a little bit disappointed with the result, but we have to be happy we keep the three-point gap to Arsenal. After Harry’s goal it was 11 versus 10, and they scored a good goal, but it was our mistake. The response after the West Ham game was fantastic,” said Pochettino.

Arsene Wenger was not as chipper: “I am proud of the spirit, but there are big regrets. Going down to 10 men was the big regret for the day and it was hard to take.”

Tottenham, bidding for a first title since 1961, remained in second place on 55 points, three ahead of Arsenal.

The Gunners, reeling after two consecutive league defeats, went in front against the run of play before half-time when Aaron Ramsey beat Hugo Lloris with a deft flick from Bellerin’s ball into the area.

When Coquelin was sent off after a foul on Kane in the 55th minute, Tottenham sensed their chance and were denied an equaliser when Kane’s close-range effort was kept out by David Ospina.

The hosts did not have to wait much longer to draw level. A corner found its way to central defender Toby Alderweireld at the far post and he lashed in from close range.

Kane then took his goal tally for the season to 20 with an effort worthy of winning any game. Picking up the ball near the corner flag he advanced towards the area before curling a sublime shot past Ospina.

Kane was inches wide with another chance as Tottenham went for a third, but the hosts were stunned when Bellerin picked out Sanchez, who beat Lloris with clinical precision to end a run of 11 league games without a goal.

A fine goal by Gylfi Sigurdsson earned Swansea a vital 1-0 win over fellow strugglers Norwich. Sigurdsson struck after 61 minutes, running on to a fine pass by substitute Leroy Fer and driving a firm shot into the far corner.

Southampton’s Virgil van Dijk scored in stoppage time to earn his side a 1-1 draw with struggling Sunderland.

Saints defender Jose Fonte was sent off 10 minutes from time before Sunderland substitute Jermain Defoe slid in his 14th goal of the season with six minutes left. Sunderland, who lost the corresponding fixture 8-0 last season, looked set for a vital win in their battle to avoid the drop before Van Dijk struck three minutes into added time.

Mame Diouf secured a late point for Stoke at Chelsea, heading home an 85th-minute goal after goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois could only punch at Xherdan Shaqiri’s cross.

The champions had gone ahead in the 39th minute through Burkino Faso striker Bertrand Traore – leading the line in place of the injured Diego Costa – who turned and sent a pinpoint shot into the corner of Jack Butland’s net.

West Ham scored three late goals to recover from 2-0 down and beat 10-man Everton 3-2 in a dramatic game at Goodison Park. Romelu Lukaku put Everton ahead with a firm shot from the edge of the penalty area and winger Kevin Mirallas, already booked for diving, was sent off shortly before half-time for a late challenge.

Everton doubled their lead when winger Aaron Lennon cut in from the left, played a one-two with Lukaku and tucked the ball into the net.

Lukaku had a penalty well saved by goalkeeper Adrian and West Ham pulled a goal back when Michael Antonio nodded in Mark Noble’s cross before Diafra Sakho rose to head home Dimitri Payet’s cross nine minutes from time.

Payet grabbed the winner when he latched on to a loose ball in the final minute to lift West Ham to fifth in the table.

Relegation-threatened Newcastle were beaten 3-1 at home by Bournemouth, heaping more pressure on coach Steve McClaren.