JOHANNESBURG—Chris Gayle was again sensational as West Indies incredibly pulled off the highest ever run chase in the history of Twenty20 Internationals, to beat South Africa by four wickets with four balls to spare, and clinch a winning 2-0 lead in the three-match series here yesterday.

The big-hitting opener top-scored with a stunning 90 off 41 balls to help West Indies overhaul South Africa’s 231 for seven and silence a capacity crowd which crammed into the Wanderers.

Gayle struck nine fours and seven sixes and put on a record 152 for the second wicket with Marlon Samuels who stroked a classy 60 from a mere 39 balls, with seven fours and two sixes.

Their heroics outshone South Africa’s captain Faf du Plessis who unfurled a classic 119 off 56 balls, his maiden T20 hundred, to guide the hosts to the fourth highest T20 International total, after they were sent in.

South Africa lost two early wickets but du Plessis counted 11 fours and five sixes and combined with David Miller, who struck 47 off 26 balls with four fours and three sixes, in an up tempo 105 for the third wicket.

The partnership was finally broken when Andre Russell ran out Miller at the nonstriker’s end in the 11th over with the Windies running out of ideas, and du Plessis added a further 66 for the fifth wicket with Farhaan Behardien (8 not out), before he holed out at the end of the 19th over off pacer Jason Holder.

Seamer Dwayne Bravo (2-32) and Holder (2-40) finished with two wickets apiece.

Left with the challenge of re-writing history, the Windies seemed in danger of wasting the brilliance of Gayle and Samuels when they lost five wickets for 38 runs, slumping from 171 for one in the 14th over to 206 for six in the 18th.

But captain Darren Sammy uncorked a little cameo of 20 not out off seven balls, with two fours and a six, that lifted West Indies over the line.

The game, though, remained up for grabs with the Caribbean side requiring 21 runs from the last two overs only for Sammy and Denesh Ramdin (7 not out) to belt wayward speedster Kyle Abbott for 18 runs off the penultimate over.

With three runs needed from the last six balls and victory all but assured, Sammy finished the game in style by depositing fast bowler Marchant de Lange over the ropes at deep mid-wicket, to spark celebrations among the visitors.

Needing to score at nearly 12 an over to win, West Indies displayed their attacking intent from as early as the first over when Dwayne Smith gathered three fours off Abbott. He took another one off de Lange in the second over before missing the next delivery and falling lbw for 17.

Gayle and Samuels then launched an exhibition of stroke-play which left South Africa in disarray.

While Gayle struck the ball with brute force, Samuels was surgical in his execution, as they scored at a remarkable rate of 13 runs an over through the first ten overs.

The left-handed Gayle came to life in the third over bowled by Abbott. The first ball was a dot one but Gayle then crunched four consecutive off-side boundaries before finishing off with a six over mid-wicket.

Not to be left out, Samuels punched seamer David Wiese past mid-off for four in the next over and then struck him for a straight six to end the over—a shot that raised the Windies fifty off just 24 deliveries.

Gayle took another two fours and a six off Abbott in the fifth over that cost 15 runs while Samuels singlehandedly took another 16 from the sixth over from Wiese, as the first six overs gushed 86 runs.

A straight six off leg-spinner Imran Tahir’s third ball of the innings brought Gayle his second half-century in three days, and his 13th in T20 Internationals, and he quickly celebrated by tearing into Aaron Phangiso with two sixes and a four in the left-arm spinner’s second over.

The century stand—the best for any wicket against the Proteas in T20s—came off 43 balls in the ninth over and Samuels strolled to his half-century off 29 balls in the 13th over, before the partnership ended when Gayle missed a tired- looking dab to third man and was caught behind off Wiese (3-43).

Samuels followed nine balls later with seven runs added, holing out to long on in Wiese’s next over, and the customary collapse followed with Kieron Pollard (7), Andre Russell (14) and Bravo (10) all perishing cheaply as the game tilted South Africa’s way.

Sammy, however, kept his wits about him and pulled the innings around with a late flourish. (CMC)

SCOREBOARD

West Indies vs South Africa
SOUTH AFRICA
R Rossouw c wkp Ramdin b Holder . . . . .15
M van Wyk c Pollard b Benn . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
F du Plessis c Bravo b Holder . . . . . . . . . . .119
D Miller run out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47
J Ontong c Holder b Bravo . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
F Behardien not out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
D Wiese c Smith b Bravo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
K Abbott run out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Extras (lb2, w7, nb2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
TOTAL (7 wkts, 20 overs) . . . . . . . .231
Did not bat: M de Lange, Imran Tahir, A
Phangiso
Fall of wickets: 1-5 (van Wyk, 0.5 overs),
2-21 (Rossouw, 2.2), 3-126 (Miller, 10.3), 4-
156 (Ontong, 13.3), 5-222 (du Plessis, 19), 6-
228 (Wiese, 19.2), 7-231 (Abbott, 20)
Bowling: Benn 3-0-42-1, Cottrell 3-0-47-0
(nb1), Holder 4-0-40-2 (w2), Russell 4-0-
39-0 (w4, nb1), Bravo 4-0-32-2 (w1),
Sammy 1-0-17-0, Pollard 1-0-12-0.
WEST INDIES
D Smith lbw b de Lange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
C Gayle c wkp van Wyk b Wiese . . . . . . . .90
M Samuels c Behardien b Wiese . . . . . . .60
K Pollard c Behardien b Wiese . . . . . . . . . . . 7
A Russell c Miller b Abbott . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
DJ Bravo c Ontong b Phangiso . . . . . . . . . .10
D Sammy not out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
D Ramdin not out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Extras (b4, w7) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
TOTAL (6 wkts, 19.2 overs) . . . . . . .236
Did not bat: J Holder, S Benn, S Cottrell.
Fall of wickets: 1-19 (Smith, 1.5 overs), 2-
171 (Gayle, 13.4), 3-178 (Samuels, 15.1), 4-
185 (Pollard, 15.5), 5-198 (Russell, 16.4),
6-209 (Bravo, 17.4)
Bowling: Abbott 4-0-68-1 (w1), de Lange
3.2-0-42-1 (w2), Wiese 4-0-43-3 (w3),
Phangiso 3-0-33-1, Imran Tahir 4-0-29-0
(w1), Ontong 1-0-17-0.
Result: West Indies won by four wickets.
Series: West Indies lead three-match
series. Man-of-the-Match: Chris Gayle.
Toss: West Indies.
Umpires: S George, A Holdstock; TV—J
Cloete. (CMC)

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Sei Daniel, Nijsane Phillip and Kwesi Browne completed a satisfactory weekend for Trinidad and Tobago cyclists with four more medals between them in the sprint and keirin events as the Milton International Challenge in Canada concluded yesterday.
Daniel, T&T’s main sprint prospect for the Pan Am Junior Championships later this year, boosted his confidence with gold and bronze in the junior sprint and keirin. In the sprint, he beat the event’s fastest qualifier, Nick Wammes of Canada in straight rides in the final on Saturday evening.
On his way to that triumph, Daniel also all set a personal best of 11.713 seconds in the qualifying Flying 200 metres ride. Wammes had topped the list in 11.406.
In the quarter-finals, Daniel came up against another Canadian, Jake Allaire and won in straight rides to move to the semi-finals where he also needed just two rides to get past Lucas Taylor to set up his successful final showdown with Wammes.
Daniel also got to the 1-6 final in the Junior keirin yesterday after placing second in heat two and then finished third behind Wammes and Taylor.
Phillip, meanwhile, coming off a difficult 2014 in which he struggled to find top form following kidney problems early in the year, started 2015 in more positive fashion by getting on the medal rostrum on Saturday.
He rebounded from his semi-final loss to training partner and Canadian champion Hugo Barrette in straight rides, by beating another Canadian, Evan Carey, also in straight rides in the bronze medal ride-off.
Barrette went on to win gold, coming from a ride down to beat Joseph Veloce who had qualified with the fastest time.
“Njisane is on his way back and he is moving in the right direction,” Trinidad and Tobago Cycling Federation president Robert Farrier told the Express yesterday. Farrier, who is at the meet being held at the new 250-metre track as an observer, added that Phillip, who used the event to sharpen up technically, “was very much pleased with this weekend.”
Phillip was also down to compete in the keirin but scratched from the event.
Yesterday, Browne battled to the bronze in the keirin behind Veloce and Barrette.
Browne qualified for the second round after winning heat two, while teammate Keron Bramble went into the repechage after finishing third in heat one. Bramble was second in heat one of the repechage but was eventually disqualified in the rideoff for seventh to 12th places.
Also yesterday, Varun Maharajh finished fourth in the omnium series of six races. In the women’s keirin, both Aziza Brown (third) and Jodi Goodridge (fifth) went into the repechage after failing to gain one of the two automatic qualifying spots. Keiana Lester finished bottom of the field in heat three and Kollyn St George was fifth in heat four.
Brown and Goodridge then finished one-two in heat two of the repechage, while Lester and St George were third and fourth in heat four. Only Brown advanced to the second round where she was fourth and in the rideoff for seventh to 12th places she ended 11th.
“For these kids, it was a great experience. They were all competitive,” said president Farrier.
Up to press time yesterday, T&T had won five medals, having also copped gold in the men’s team sprint on the opening day of competition on Friday through Phillip, Browne and Bramble.
Next up for the national cyclists will be the Cali, Colombia leg of the UCI’s World Cup series where Phillip, Browne and Bramble will be
competing.

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Trinidad and Tobago’s senior men’s football team will commence its 2018 World Cup Qualifying Campaign in November after being seeded among the top six teams in the region by CONCACAF. The Soca Warriors, based on its ranking in August 2014, will join the US, Costa Rica, Mexico, Panama and Honduras as the Confederation’s top six teams for Round Four.

Mexico-based Kenyans Leah Kigen and Hillary Kipchirchir Kamaiyo will defend their female and male crowns when the Trinidad and Tobago International Marathon and Half Marathon runs off January 25.
The Trinidad and Tobago Marathon Committee (TTMC), organisers of the event, will also offer awards to the first local male and female of the marathon will receive an individual award.
More than $200,000 in prizes will be awarded for the 2015 event, which is being run in honour of the late Dana Seetahal, who was visible in many of the races in the marathon’s history. 
“We hope that her running legacy will live on through the many females who choose to run the marathon and encourage healthy lifestyles,” organisers stated.
The T&T Marathon Committee will also partner with the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee as it launches its 10 golds 24 Athlete Welfare and Preparation Fund, with the aim of raising $500,000 to help finance local athletes in their preparation for Rio 2016. President of the TTOC, Brian Lewis will walk in the TTIM on January 25 to launch the initiative. Organisers said this year’s events will comprise just two races: the Trinidad and Tobago International Marathon (TTIM) and the Half Marathon. Both races will be run off on January 25 on the same courses as in recent years.
The TTIM will start at 5 a.m. from St Mary’s Junction, Freeport and finish outside Whitehall, Queen’s Park West. But walkers and slower runners will start at 3.30 a.m. The Half Marathon will start at 5.45 a.m. at ETech Park, Caroni and will also finish outside Whitehall.
Interested persons can sign up online at Active.com. To register for the race, persons can go to http://ttmarathon.com  and check the online registration tab.
Offline registration will be held at the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) office on Abercromby Street from Monday. Race bibs will be distributed during the week prior to race day at the TTOC office.
Athletes are advised to keep checking the Active.com for race info updates.
For race information persons can check the website or contact Diane Henderson at 757-7772.

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The International Olympic Committee (IOC) are investigating the case of marathon runner Guor Marial, who has been suspended after refusing to share a grant he was awarded to help him prepare for Rio 2016.

The South Sudan Athletics Federation have revoked the membership of 30-year-old Marial, potentially stopping him competing in Brazil, in a row over funding he has received from Olympic Solidarity.

Marial was awarded the IOC scholarship to help him prepare for the Rio Olympics but the South Sudan Athletics Federation demanded he hand it over in accordance with its policy of putting athletes together for training and to compete under one umbrella and administration, rather than operating in separate entities.

The marathon runner, who finished 47th at London 2012 when he competed as an independent athlete under the Olympic flag, insisted that because the scholarship was awarded solely to him and not to the Federation nor other athletes, he has no obligation to hand it over.

"I have just received note from the secretary general of the South Sudan Athletics Federation that I have been suspended from any South Sudan federation activities, simply because they want me to hand over to them the scholarship, which the International Olympic Committee is about to give me for my Olympic preparation," Marial wrote on Facebook.

"To me, this is really a huge crime and against the IOC's scholarship polices.

"Its great shame to the people of South Sudan and the country as a whole."

The IOC has since told insidethegames that they "are aware of this issue and currently in discussion with the concerned parties in order to understand what exactly the problem is and what actions need to be taken - if any - to reach a solution that works for all."

The situation is further complicated by the fact that the South Sudan Athletics Federation is recognised by the International Association of Athletics Federations but it still does not have a National Olympic Committee that fulfills the requirements of the IOC, meaning they are not eligible to compete in the Olympics.

South Sudan is the world's newest country having only gained its independence from Sudan in 2011 following a bitter civil war in which Marial lost 28 relatives, including eight brothers and sisters.

Marial, who fled to the United States in 1994 and has not seen his parents for more than 20 years, was offered the opportunity to compete for Sudan at London 2012 due to South Sudan not being recognised by the IOC.

He refused the offer, however, stating, "If I ran for Sudan, I would be betraying my people.

"I would be dishonouring the two million people who died for our freedom.

"I want to bring honour to my country.

"People who just want glory, the spotlight of the Olympics, they don't care about other people.

"I'm fighting for independent status because I do care.

"When I run, I want people to see me and say, 'He is from South Sudan'."

Instead, the IOC offered him the opportunity to compete as an independent athlete under the Olympic flag.

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International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach has addressed a letter to President François Hollande and to the French people, to express his "shock and grief" regarding the Charlie Hebdo magazine headquarters attack in Paris.

Gunmen shot dead 12 people at the Paris office of French satirical magazine in the capital yesterday, with the editor and three leading cartoonists among those killed..

In the letter, President Bach denounced the attack stating that "such barbaric acts are an attack on the values of all civilised people from whatever country, religion or creed".

Bach shares a close relationship with the French President and met with Hollande in November 2013 to discuss a potential bid from Paris, for the 2024 Olympics, before another meeting late last year during the 15th Summit of French-speaking nations in Dakar.

"Let me assure you that the entire Olympic Movement, just as all right-thinking people, stand shoulder to shoulder with you and France today," the letter continued.

"This was a shocking, brutal attack not just on France but on the values for which we all stand, and the values on which the Olympic Movement is also built.

"Those guns were aimed not just at journalists but at freedom of speech and the values for which France stands so strongly.

"These terrorist atrocities will only serve to unite the people of France to stand together against such mindless violence and we in the Olympic Movement stand side by side with you and with France in solidarity."

Bach's letter and support for France, in light of the attack, continues to highlight his belief that the IOC has a wider role to play in the political landscape and should use sport to help promote peace and wider development.

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