While You Were Asleep: Alzarri Joseph takes WI to victory, De Bruyne stars in Belgium’s 3-2 win over Germany and Elena Rybakina registers 12th straight win
Chasing a target of 221, South Africa threatened for a moment, mainly because of Reeza Hendricks' 83 from 44 balls, but ultimately only managed 213-6 in its 20 overs.
While you were asleep: West Indies bowler Alzarri Joseph, Belgium's Kevin De Bruyne and Tennis star Elena Rybakina in action. (AP) West Indies fast bowler Alzarri Joseph took his team to a 7-run win over South Africa on Tuesday as he grabbed 5-40. Windies also won the series 2-1. Joseph’s later burst also ensured South Africa fell short of West Indies’ challenging total of 220-8.
Chasing a target of 221, South Africa threatened for a moment, mainly because of Reeza Hendricks’ 83 from 44 balls, but ultimately only managed 213-6 in its 20 overs.
South Africa needed 35 runs off the last two overs and was up against it already, but Joseph then had Heinrich Klaasen caught two balls after Hendricks’ departure and sent a delivery smashing into Wayne Parnell’s stumps two balls after that to set up the victory.
First SERIES WIN as CAPTAIN! Thanks to all involved, until next time South Africa 🇿🇦.#Rpowell52 pic.twitter.com/703d9d74Wy
— Rovman Powell (@Ravipowell26) March 29, 2023
With his team needing 26 off the last over, South Africa captain Aiden Markram (35 not out off 18 balls) hit three fours and the home team took 18 off the last six deliveries but still came up short.
West Indies posted its strong total thanks largely to an unbroken stand of 59 off 26 balls for the ninth wicket between Joseph and Romario Shepherd.
De Bruyne leads Belgium to 3-2 win in Germany
Kevin De Bruyne steered Belgium to a 3-2 friendly win over Germany in new coach Domenico Tedesco’s return home on Tuesday.
De Bruyne set up both opening goals then sealed the victory just as Germany was threatening an equalizer after recovering from a very poor opening half hour.
It gave Tedesco, the former Leipzig and Schalke coach, a second win from his first two games after his team started Euro 2024 qualifying with a 3-0 win in Sweden last week.
Very proud of the team! Well done, boys! 🇧🇪 pic.twitter.com/2NfHXzZ08p
— Kevin De Bruyne (@KevinDeBruyne) March 28, 2023
Yannick Carrasco opened the scoring in the sixth when he easily eluded Germany right back Marius Wolf and dispatched the ball past goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen after De Bruyne sent him through on the left. De Bruyne was involved again three minutes when Romelu Lukaku made it 2-0.
Germany’s defense was looking shaky in the absence of Real Madrid’s Antonio Rüdiger and Borussia Dortmund’s Niklas Süle and Nico Schlotterbeck. Neither Matthias Ginter nor Thilo Kehrer were able to capitalize on their absences.
Elena Rybakina hits 10 aces in Miami for 12th straight win
Reigning Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina extended her winning streak to 12 matches by delivering 10 aces — her fourth consecutive outing with at least that many — in a 6-3, 6-0 victory over 25th-seeded Martina Trevisan on Tuesday in the Miami Open quarterfinals.
Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan waves after defeating Martina Trevisan of Italy during the Miami Open tennis tournament, Tuesday, March 28, 2023, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Rybakina has 46 aces through four matches at the hard-court tournament in Florida and a WTA-leading 201 this season.
The 23-year-old, who represents Kazakhstan, improved to 20-4 in 2023, including a run to the Australian Open final in January and a title at Indian Wells, California, last week.
She is trying to become only the fifth player to win the women’s trophies at Indian Wells and Miami in the same season. Top-ranked Iga Swiatek did it a year ago; she withdrew from Miami this time because of a rib injury.
“Of course it would be amazing to achieve something like that,” the 10th-seeded Rybakina said about the prospect of completing what’s known as the Sunshine Double, “but it’s still far away.”
So far in Rybakina’s career, 13 of her 18 semifinal appearances have come on hard courts. She will face No. 3 Jessica Pegula or No. 27 Anastasia Potapova for a berth in the final.
With AP inputs
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