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Sunrisers keep three-peat dream alive as Marco Jansen makes the difference again

Sunrisers Eastern Cape 184 for 6 (Markram 62*, Tahir 2-21) beat Joburg Super Kings 152 for 7 (Bairstow 37, Overton 2-20) by 32 runs
Sunrisers Eastern Cape remain on course for the SA20 three-peat after beating Joburg Super Kings in the Eliminator in Centurion, having recovered spectacularly from three defeats in their opening three games. They will play Paarl Royals in the second qualifier in less than 24 hours' time to determine who will face MI Cape Town in Saturday's final.
Even before the match, he was already the leading wicket-taker for this season, and in SA20's history, and what we might call the only genuine allrounder in this tournament. None of the other bowlers who have taken 10 wickets or more have come close to scoring even 100 runs - Mujeeb Ur Rahman is closest with 55 - and, naturally, none of the batters who have scored 100 runs have taken 10 wickets.
Jansen was in in the 17th over, when Tristan Stubbs was bowled by Imran Tahir, and SEC were 131 for 5, with a target under 170 still within JSK's grasp. They scored 15 runs off the next 11 balls and were 146 for 5 with two overs to go. Arguably, JSK made a tactical blunder by bringing back Lutho Sipamla, whose first three overs had cost 44 runs, but in the absence of many other options, they chose to back a player who has been good for them through the tournament.
Jansen made sure he had an ending to forget. He picked his slower ball early and sent Sipamla's first ball for six and then took 16 more runs off four balls he faced in that over, including ending it with another six. In total, 21 of Jansen's 23 runs came off the five he faced from Sipamla and his contribution pushed SEC over 180.
Markram said at the post-match press conference that he was "hoping for 195-plus", but in the end 184 proved enough, despite JSK getting off to a good start. Conway and Faf du Plessis put on 40 inside five overs before Jansen dismissed Conway to open JSK up and set SEC on course for victory. According to his team-mates, that is ultimately the thing Jansen does best.
Markram echoed the idea that contributing to the team is the most important thing to Jansen. "He's a very quick learner and he absolutely hates losing. He just gets fired up every time he plays and he's marrying that fired up energy with better smarts," Markram said.
There's also something else Jansen does before every game which may actually be the secret to his success. "He eats a triple-decker pizza before every game on the bus," Markram said. "And a Coke. That's not a joke."
Jansen's dietary habits aside, if there is an individual who has played the biggest part in SEC's success, it's him - which means he is playing the game exactly as he wants to. JSK can only look on in envy, especially after their bowling resources were "decimated", as coach Stephen Fleming put it.
Nandre Burger and Lizaad Williams were ruled out before the tournament began, Gerald Coetzee could only play one game and David Wiese four, while Beuran Hendricks withdrew after the tournament started and was replaced by Sipamla, who finished as their highest wicket-taker. On the eve of the Eliminator, they also lost spin-bowling allrounder Donovan Ferreira to a side strain and du Plessis joked that he was struggling to find 11 fit players to field. He did, but only just.
Maintaining a tournament run that lasts for 13 games over four weeks with so many players missing cannot be easy but for JSK, it will also not be an excuse.
"I hate looking for excuses, but the turnover was high," Fleming said. "If you look at our squad, when we first put it all together, it was very strong with South African bowling and overseas batting but it's not the only reason. You do have to adapt. It is part of franchise cricket. But we just weren't able to settle enough. I take some responsibility with that as well as we're trying to find the team that's going to take us forward: the right batting order. So we were chopping and changing and the whole thing just felt a little bit confusing. We just weren't good enough."
Firdose Moonda is ESPNcricinfo's correspondent for South Africa and women's cricket
Sri Lanka hope for Nissanka boost as Australia target rare series win in Asia

Big picture: Australia look to build legacy, Sri Lanka hope to salvage series
Australia inflicted Sri Lanka's worst defeat in Test cricket in a beatdown that felt out of the golden era under Steve Waugh. But this team isn't satisfied just yet despite having already retained the Warne-Muralidaran Trophy on the back of their momentous series victory against India, which put them in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
A victory in the second Test will add to their growing legacy and secure a rare series victory in South Asia, adding to their triumph in Pakistan in 2022 - their only series win in the subcontinent since winning in Sri Lanka in 2011.
It is unlikely to be as straightforward on a different Galle surface - it was extremely dry a day out from the game - expected to rag and against a Sri Lanka team having had to undergo some soul-searching.
Their bid to regain the Warne-Muralidaran Trophy are over, but Sri Lanka can still salvage a drawn series and arrest a recent slide in Test cricket after some strong performances last year had them close to qualifying for the WTC final.
Form guide
Sri Lanka LLLWW (last five completed matches, most recent first)
Australia WWWDW
In the spotlight: Dimuth Karunaratne and Marnus Labuschagne
Team news - SL could get Nissanka boost, Connolly in line for debut
Sri Lanka (possible): 1 Dimuth Karunaratne, 2 Pathum Nissanka, 3 Dinesh Chandimal, 4 Angelo Mathews, 5 Kamindu Mendis, 6 Dhananjaya de Silva (capt), 7 Kusal Mendis (wk), 8 Ramesh Mendis, 9 Prabath Jayasuriya, 10 Jeffrey Vandersay, 11 Asitha Fernando
Australia (possible): 1 Usman Khawaja, 2 Travis Head, 3 Marnus Labuschagne, 4 Steven Smith (capt), 5 Josh Inglis, 6 Alex Carey (wk), 7 Beau Webster, 8 Cooper Connolly/Todd Murphy, 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Matthew Kuhnemann, 11 Nathan Lyon
Pitch and conditions
The first Test's slow surface won't be reused. Instead, a couple of pitches away, the surface for this match has looked drier in the lead-up, fueling belief that conditions might be heavily skewed towards spin.
The players will again have to come to grips with stifling humidity, but clear conditions are forecast through the match after wet weather impacted some of the opening Test.
Stats and trivia
- Khawaja needs 133 runs to become the 16th Australian to reach 6000 Test runs
- Starc needs five wickets to overtake Ian Botham's tally of 383 wickets and move into the top 20 on the all-time list
- Sri Lanka are on a three-match losing streak - they have lost four consecutive Tests only twice in the past decade: to New Zealand/England in 2015-16 and against South Africa/England in 2020-21
Quotes
"Dimuth's proved that he's the best opener around, if you look at his stats. If you take Sri Lanka batters, he's in the top five in terms of runs scored. In the last while, he's taken a lot of responsibility and taken the game forward."
Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva on the retiring Dimuth Karunaratne
"Same as last Test, we're going to wait pretty late and see what the wicket looks like. It looked drier two days out compared to the first [Test]"
Steven Smith, Australia stand-in captain, about any potential changes to his team
Tristan Lavalette is a journalist based in Perth
Browns' Garrett consulted LeBron on trade wish

Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett spoke publicly Wednesday for the first time since announcing a trade request Monday, telling the "Rich Eisen Show" that he and the organization are not aligned on the team's future.
"It's not a decision I take lightly," said Garrett, speaking on Radio Row in New Orleans. "It took time and lots of conversation. Just looking at the trajectory of the team, talking to some of the higher-ups, I have a lot of respect for them, but I just don't think we're aligned on where the team is going in the near future."
Garrett, the NFL's reigning Defensive Player of the Year, on Monday released a statement announcing his desire to be traded from the Browns, who drafted him with the No. 1 pick in 2017.
Garrett, who has made the playoffs only twice in eight years, made comments during the season that he wanted to know the team's offseason plans before further committing to the organization. The 29-year-old has two years remaining on the record-breaking five-year, $125 million extension he signed in 2020 but has no more guaranteed salary.
The Browns' 3-14 finish was their worst since going 0-16 in 2017, Garrett's rookie year. Cleveland holds the second pick in the 2025 NFL draft.
"I just felt it was time," Garrett said. "I had taken my time after the season, kind of relaxed and decompressed emotionally. Wanted to distance myself a little bit and spent a little time talking to my family about how we feel about this decision."
Garrett said he also consulted with Lakers star and Akron native LeBron James, who twice left the Cleveland Cavaliers, about "what a transition looked like for him, what was his thought process going into it before he left Cleveland."
A six-time Pro Bowler and four-time All-Pro, Garrett reiterated his desire to go to a contender but acknowledged "I don't have much say in where I go." Garrett's contract does not include a no-trade clause.
Twice in the past month, Browns general manager Andrew Berry told reporters he had no intention of trading Garrett. And in the aftermath of Garrett's trade request, multiple team sources told ESPN that nothing had changed within the organization.
"It's never been about the Hall of Fame for me," Garrett said. "It's not about money or records. You're remembered for winning."
LSU's Kelly disputes claim he abandoned player

Brian Kelly on Wednesday disputed comments made by the father of former LSU safety Greg Brooks Jr., who alleged the Tigers coach abandoned the player after he had surgery to remove a brain tumor in September 2023.
In an interview on "Good Morning America" on Monday, Greg Brooks Sr. said his family hadn't heard from Kelly or anyone on LSU's coaching staff since shortly after the surgery.
"There's many things I can't say because it is pending litigation, but here's what I can tell you: It is factually incorrect to state that I was not there by Greg's side through this ordeal on multiple occasions," Kelly said during a news conference Wednesday. "I had somebody from my staff that was there virtually every single day.
"We love Greg, we love him for the person that he is, for the competitor that he is and the battler that he is. We only wish him continued progress as he goes through an [incredibly] difficult time."
In a lawsuit filed in August against LSU and Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Brooks Jr. accused the Tigers coaching staff of encouraging him to practice after he showed symptoms in practice that something was wrong. He alleged that team athletic trainers misdiagnosed his condition for weeks and waited too long to send him to a neurological specialist.
Brooks Jr., a team captain who transferred to LSU from Arkansas, played in two games in 2023 before doctors discovered the brain tumor.
The complaint alleges that the surgeon who removed the tumor wasn't qualified to perform the procedure and caused "catastrophic neurological injuries" that left Brooks Jr. permanently disabled. The lawsuit says Brooks Jr. suffered multiple strokes during surgery.
More than a year after the surgery, Brooks Jr., 23, can't walk and uses a wheelchair. He had to learn how to write and speak again through rehabilitation.
Doctors told Brooks Jr. that he is cancer-free after undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatments, according to "Good Morning America." During the interview, Brooks' father said he hadn't heard from LSU coaches during his son's recovery.
"Specifically, Brian Kelly," Brooks Sr. said. "My son almost lost his life. Coach, where were you? Forget about football. Pick up the phone and say you love the kid, man."
Kelly denied the accusation Wednesday.
"You can question me as a football coach, you can question me with things we do on the field but off the field, as a parent, a husband, as someone who is actively involved in every community that I've been involved with, this is where I draw the line for me," Kelly said. "That comment struck a nerve with me. It hit my heart. I'm in this business for our players, and it rattled me that somebody could possibly be so factually incorrect in stating that I was not a part of Greg Brooks Jr.'s care and support. The support was the entire university and entire community. I needed to make sure that record was clear."
Sources: Hartline to be Ohio State's primary OC

Ohio State is set to promote Brian Hartline as its primary offensive coordinator, replacing Chip Kelly, and will have him handle playcalling, sources confirmed to ESPN on Wednesday.
Hartline, a former Ohio State standout wide receiver who has coached the team's wideouts since 2018, served as co-offensive coordinator under Kelly last season as the Buckeyes won their first national title in a decade. He held the primary offensive coordinator title in 2023, although head coach Ryan Day handled much of the playcalling. Day gave up playcalling to Kelly after the 2023 season, choosing to focus on the team's overall operation, and is expected to keep the approach with Hartline, according to a source.
Kelly left earlier this week to become Las Vegas Raiders offensive coordinator under new coach Pete Carroll. 247 Sports first reported Hartline's expected promotion.
Hartline played for Ohio State from 2006 to 2008, before entering the NFL draft, where he was selected in the fourth round. He played six seasons for the Miami Dolphins and one for the Cleveland Browns.
Since returning to his alma mater, Hartline has overseen one of the nation's top wide receiver rooms, which has produced five NFL first-round draft picks in the past three drafts, including Marvin Harrison Jr., the No. 4 pick in 2024. Ohio State returns record-setting wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and others for the 2025 season but will be looking for a new starting quarterback.
Offensive analyst Billy Fessler is expected to be promoted to quarterbacks coach, sources confirmed to ESPN's Pete Thamel.
Hartline's offensive staff also will include new line coach Tyler Bowen, who had previously been Virginia Tech's offensive coordinator, sources told Thamel earlier Wednesday. Bowen replaces Justin Frye, who left to coach offensive line for the Arizona Cardinals.
Sources: Kings to acquire Valanciunas from Wiz

The Washington Wizards are trading Jonas Valanciunas to the Sacramento Kings for Sidy Cissoko and two second-round picks, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania on Wednesday.
The deal comes ahead of Thursday's NBA trade deadline.
Sacramento is using most of its $12.8 million non-taxpayer midlevel exception to acquire Valanciunas' $9.9 million salary. Sources told ESPN's Bobby Marks that the Kings are sending a 2028 Denver Nuggets second-round pick (if No. 34-60) and their own second-rounder in 2029 to Washington. The Denver second-round pick was acquired from San Antonio in the De'Aaron Fox trade.
Valanciunas, 32, was in his first season with Washington after signing a three-year, $30 million deal with the Wizards in June.
He has started the majority of his 13-year career, but he has been coming off the bench this season behind No. 2 pick Alex Sarr.
Valanciunas, a 6-foot-11 center, boasts an excellent touch around the rim and has the ability to stretch the floor at times, particularly from 3-point range.
The moves reunites Valanciunas with DeMar DeRozan, his former teammate in Toronto.
It also gives the Kings a powerful, all-Lithuanian frontcourt with Valanciunas and Domantas Sabonis, former Olympic teammates. Each has 376 career double-doubles, tied for 12th most among active players.
Both the Wizards and Kings have been busy ahead of the deadline.
Earlier Wednesday, Washington acquired Khris Middleton from the Bucks as part of a deal that sent Kyle Kuzma to Milwaukee.
And the Kings previously acquired Zach LaVine as part of the three-team deal that sent Fox to the Spurs. Cissoko was also part of that deal.
Sources: KD has no interest in Warriors reunion

Phoenix Suns superstar Kevin Durant has no desire for a reunion with the Golden State Warriors, league sources told ESPN's Shams Charania.
The Warriors have been seriously pursuing a trade before Thursday's deadline with Durant as one of their targets. Golden State is eager to find another star to play alongside franchise star Stephen Curry.
Due to Phoenix's 25-24 record and ninth-place standing in the West entering Wednesday, teams have been aggressively calling the Suns and have inquired about Durant.
However, sources told Charania that Durant does not want to go back to Golden State, after he helped the Warriors win back-to-back titles in two of his three seasons there.
Durant won Finals MVP in both the 2017 and 2018 NBA Finals.
The Suns hope to continue to build around Durant and Devin Booker, but it is unclear where trade talks go between now and the deadline.
Angels extend stadium lease in Anaheim thru '32

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- The Los Angeles Angels have extended their lease at Angel Stadium through 2032.
The team and the city of Anaheim, which owns the stadium, announced the decision Wednesday to extend the Angels' stay at the ballpark they have called home since 1966.
The team's current lease runs through 2029, but includes three three-year extensions that will keep the Halos in the stadium through 2038 if exercised.
"We are excited to announce that we have extended our lease securing the Big A as the home of Angels Baseball into the next decade," Angels spokesperson Marie Garvey said. "As we prepare for our 60th season in Anaheim, we wanted our fans and community partners to know that Angels Baseball and its foundation remain committed to being an active part of this city and region."
Angel Stadium is the fourth-oldest stadium currently in use in the majors. Just like the older Fenway Park, Wrigley Field and Dodger Stadium, the Angels' Orange County home has undergone extensive renovations in the decades since its opening.
The Angels and the city share revenue from ticket sales, parking and other events held at the ballpark, which was known as Anaheim Stadium for its first 32 years of existence.
Angels owner Arte Moreno has spoken for years of his desire to buy Angel Stadium and the surrounding land, likely building a new stadium and developing the parking lots. The city approved a $320 million sale to Moreno in 2020, but the deal collapsed in 2022 amid a corruption investigation of Anaheim Mayor Harry Sidhu, who resigned.
Just across Katella Avenue from Angel Stadium, Anaheim Ducks owner Henry Samueli is well into construction on OCVibe, a 100-acre entertainment district with extensive commercial and residential development. The reported $4 billion project will soon surround the NHL team's Honda Center, which is also owned by the city.
While the Angels' long-term future is still theoretically up in the air, the current extension acknowledges the obvious unlikelihood of Moreno building another stadium within the next four years.
"The extension is not the result of any long-term discussions between the team and the city, and there are no long-term lease or other talks underway," the city said in a statement.
Reports: Twins signing OF Bader to 1-year deal

MINNEAPOLIS -- Outfielder Harrison Bader and the Minnesota Twins have agreed to a one-year contract with a mutual option for 2026, according to multiple reports.
A Gold Glove winner for St. Louis in 2021, Bader will be playing for his fifth team in five seasons.
He hit .236 with 12 homers, 51 RBI and 17 stolen bases in 25 attempts for the New York Mets last year. He was limited to just two postseason starts in 12 games.
Bader is expected to provide an experienced right-handed bat off the bench and excellent defense in the outfield that can keep the Twins from too much of a drop-off in the field when Byron Buxton needs a break.
Bader has spent most of his time in center field but also is capable of playing in the corners. He would fill a role similar to Michael A. Taylor in 2023, one the Twins hoped to rely on Manny Margot for last year, but Margot struggled and was not re-signed.
Bader has a .242 average with 71 homers, 268 RBI and 94 steals in 120 attempts for the Cardinals (2017-22), New York Yankees (2022-23), Cincinnati (2023) and the Mets, who signed the New York native to a $10.5 million, one-year deal.
ITTF Pan American Cup 2025: Continents Top Players Set to Battle for World Cup Spots

The Americas most prestigious table tennis tournament is set to electrify Burlingame, California, as the 888 Table Tennis Centre prepares to host the 2025 ITTF Pan American Cup from 18-23 February. With a record USD 20,000 in prize money and coveted ITTF Singles World Cup qualification spots on the line for players who make it to the semifinals, the tournament promises to showcase the best table tennis talent from across the American continent.
Last years edition of the ITTF Pan American Cup in Corpus Christi, Texas, delivered remarkable moments that will be remembered in the regions table tennis history. Brazils Bruna Takahashi claimed a dramatic seven-game womens singles victory over Amy Wang, showcasing extraordinary resilience in a nail-biting final that ended 11-9 in the deciding game. On the mens side, Canadas Edward Ly wrote his own underdog story. Entering as the thirteenth seed, Ly defeated higher-ranked opponents, culminating in a stunning victory over top seed Nicolas Burgos. His four-game triumph demonstrated the unpredictable and thrilling nature of the Pan American Cup.
Host Team USAs performances further highlighted the growing competitive strength of the region, with Amy Wang and Lily Zhang both making significant impacts and later competing in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. This years tournament continues to build on that momentum, bringing together an exceptional line-up of players from across the continent.
The tournament will feature a stellar lineup of 32 players across two categories:
Mens Singles:
- Hugo Calderano (Brazil)
- Edward Ly (Canada)
- Alberto Miño (Ecuador)
- Rogelio Castro (Mexico)
- Heber Moscoso (Guatemala)
- Jorge Campos (Cuba)
- Adrián Pérez (Cuba)
- Horacio Cifuentes (Argentina)
- Eric Jouti (Brazil)
- Kanak Jha (United States)
- Eugene Wang (Canada)
- Nandan Naresh (United States)
- Daniel González (Puerto Rico)
- Brian Afanador (Puerto Rico)
- Santiago Lorenzo (Argentina)
- Marcos Madrid (Mexico)
Womens Singles:
- Adriana Díaz (Puerto Rico)
- Bruna Takahashi (Brazil)
- Amy Wang (United States)
- Lucia Zavaleta (Costa Rica)
- Marbella Aceves (Mexico)
- Daniela Fonseca (Cuba)
- Brianna Burgos (Puerto Rico)
- Giulia Takahashi (Brazil)
- Daniela Ortega (Chile)
- Lily Zhang (United States)
- Mo Zhang (Canada)
- Ana Codina (Argentina)
- Paulina Vega (Chile)
- Arantxa Cossio (Mexico)
- Ivy Liao (Canada)
- Rosalba Aguiar (Cuba)
The tournament will also feature a unique two-stage format designed to test the players skill and consistency:
- Preliminary Stage: 18-19 February 2025
- Main Draw: 21-23 February 2025
Competition Format:
- Two individual events: Mens Singles and Womens Singles
- Preliminary Stage: Knock-out system
- All preliminary matches played best of five games
- Top eight (8) players from the preliminary stage will qualify for the Main Draw
With USD 20,000 in prize money at stake, the Pan American Cup offers players a critical opportunity to showcase their skills, earn valuable ranking points, and secure a coveted spot in Macao. Table tennis enthusiasts can follow the high-stakes competition, which promises intense matches and world-class performances. The tournament represents a gateway to the world stage of table tennis, offering players a crucial platform to demonstrate their talents on an international stage.
Event Details:
- Date: 18-23 February 2025
- Venue: 888 Table Tennis Centre, Burlingame, California, United States
- Prize Money: USD 20,000
- Qualification: ITTF Singles World Cup (14-21 April 2025)