Top Sports News Headlines Today, October 5, 2019: Dean Elgar and Quinton de Kock struck centuries to help South Africa avoid the threat of a follow-on and reach 385/8 at stumps on Day 3 of the first Test against India on Friday. Offspinner Ravichandran Ashwin took his 27th five-wicket haul in tests to keep India in control of the series opener, however, with South Africa still trailing by 117 runs.
Some breath-taking basketball was on display on Friday as Indiana Pacers edged past Sacramento Kings 132-131 in a thrilling contest, in what was National Basketball Association’s debut game in India.
Following weeks of bitter political slugfest, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot’s son and General Secretary at Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee, Vaibhav Gehlot, was elected as the president of Rajasthan Cricket Association on Friday with the C P Joshi faction sweeping the RCA elections. Read more
The name ‘NBA’ isn’t exactly unheard of in this part of the world. But the novelty of having teams from the marquee league – along with the support staff, and of course, celebrity guests – play on Indian soil is overwhelming. Read more
Ashwin ran into three factors: A resurgent Elgar, whom he had troubled in the past and even dismissed twice in a county game, the attacking De Kock, and a sluggish pitch. But he fought through gamely, trying every little trick that he knows. Read more
Prior to his maiden hundred in Asia, Quinton de Kock was averaging 21 in nine innings in the continent, perishing to spinners on eight instances. But the century against R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja on a (slow) turning track dispelled doubts regarding his ability to not only negate but dominate the spinners. Read more
One man who wasn’t surprised when Dean Elgar smashed a six to bring up his most positive, aggressive hundred of his career in these conditions was his long-time coach Louis Klopper. Klopper was at his school in South Africa, following the match online and trying to get an occasional glimpse on television. He laughed when asked if Elgar’s refreshing approach on the verge of the milestone took him by surprise. Elgar’s wonderful 160 and Quinton de Kock’s stroke-filled 111 propelled South Africa’s heart-warming fight that has perked up the series, which looked dire after the visiting team’s top order perished on Thursday evening. Read more