Bairstow seals England rout of South Africa

Southampton
Jonny Bairstow made a dashing 60 not out as England thrashed South Africa by nine wickets in the first T20 International at Southampton on Wednesday. England, set just 143 to win, reached their target for the loss of only one wicket with 33 balls left. The foundations of the victory, which put England 1-0 up in this three-match series, was laid by their bowlers. They restricted South Africa to 142/3 after Proteas skipper AB de Villiers won the toss. De Villiers made 65 not out and Farhaan Behardien an unbeaten 64.  

WELLINGTON
Ronchi retires from international cricket

New Zealand wicket-keeper Luke Ronchi has retired from international cricket but will continue to play in franchise-based T20 tournaments around the world. The 36-year-old played four ODIs and three T20Is for Australia in 2008 and 2009 before switching his allegiance back to his native New Zealand in 2013. Ronchi went on to play four Tests, 85 ODIs and 32 T20 matches in total with this month’s Champions Trophy match against Bangladesh his last for the Black Caps. 

Colombo
Malinga in hot water over ‘monkey’ comment

Lasith Malinga faced an investigation after he compared a government minister to a monkey following criticism that the country’s cricketers were too fat. Sports minister Dayasiri Jayasekera said he ordered an inquiry after Malinga lambasted him for questioning the endurance of players following their failure to reach the CT semifinals. “In my criticism of the appalling fitness levels of our players, I did not name Malinga, but he has chosen to put the hat on and attack me publicly,” Jayasekera told said. Malinga told a television network the minister knew nothing about cricket. “I don’t care about criticism from those who are simply warming chairs,” he said. “What does a monkey know about a parrot’s nesting hollow? This is like a monkey getting into a parrot’s nest and talking about it.” Jayasekera said some Sri Lankan players had pot bellies that stopped them moving and that often they could not hold catches.

London
Flintoff to tread the boards in musical

Andrew Flintoff is to try his hand at a different type of live performance — starring in a musical it was revealed today. The 39-year-old former England skipper is taking the lead role of Kevin Chadwick in Fat Friends on a tour of England. The curtain will go up on the show — which was originally a hit TV show written by award winning writer Kay Mellor — in Leeds, Yorkshire, in November. Flintoff has also appeared in Mellor’s TV drama Love, Lies and Records due to screen on BBC. 

New Delhi
Devendro in semis, medal confirmed in Ulaanbaatar    

Devendro Singh (52kg) assured himself of his first international medal of the year by advancing to the semifinals of the Ulaanbaatar Cup boxing tournament. Devendro defeated Russia’s Dimitrii Yusupov to make the last-four. It was curtains for Rohit Tokas (64kg), who lost to Chinzorig Baatarsukh of Mongolia. Tomorrow, MC Mary Kom (51kg), who got a bye into the quarterfinals, begin her campaign. — Agencies