This past weekend was a thrilling one for sports enthusiasts. We witnessed history being made on the cricket field, heart-stopping spills on the MotoGP track, and even some heated emotions from an under-fire coach.
For those who may have missed out, here’s a recap of the action-packed sport events.
1 – Brad Binder in the top 6 in the MotoGP season opener
Over the past few MotoGP seasons, Brad Binder earned himself the nickname “Mr. Sunday”. This is due to his impressive performances during races despite underperforming in qualifying.
The opening race of the 2023 season saw this trend continue.
During the GRANDE PRÉMIO DE PORTUGAL at the Algarve International Circuit, Binder started in 14th place, but fought his way into the points, ultimately finishing in a respectable 6th place.
This gave his team, Red Bull KTM Factory, the hope of becoming a serious contender for the Championship this season.
Two of the big hitters are OUT! 😮
The luckless @_moliveira88 is collected by @marcmarquez93 on the brakes into Turn 3! 💥
Hopefully Miguel is all OK 🤞#PortugueseGP 🇵🇹 pic.twitter.com/fcoWDOPyT8
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) March 26, 2023
Meanwhile, the defending champion, Marc Marquez, suffered a severe accident, leading to a disastrous start to his season.
Home hero @_moliveira88 couldn't see it coming! 💥@marcmarquez93 clipped @88jorgemartin and wiped the @rnfracingteam rider out of contention ⚠️#PortugueseGP 🇵🇹 pic.twitter.com/ij6lawV1Jt
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) March 26, 2023
2 – Cheslin Kolbe injury scare
Springbok management was given quite a scare when news broke that Chelsin Kolbe had to be carried off the field over the weekend. The lightning-fast winger from Kraaifontein had twisted his ankle after scoring a try in Toulon’s Top14 match against Lyon.
@ziaansiems Cheslin Kolbe out injured six months from the Rugby World Cup #cheslinkolbe #Rugby #SouthAfrica
Kolbe appeared to be in immense pain, causing fans and pundits alike to fear the worst.
However, Toulon’s coach, Pierre Mignoni, quickly put those fears to rest by confirming that it was just a sprain and not a fracture.
While the extent of the sprain is still unknown, it is expected that the Rugby World Cup winner will be ready for the Springboks’ title defense in France, which is set to begin in September.
3 – Broos Boils after Bafana Blunder
The pressure is mounting on the Bafana Bafana coach, Hugo Broos, as his team fights for a spot in the upcoming AFCON tournament in Cote d’Ivoire. Failure to qualify could mean the end of Broos’ tenure as coach.
In a recent interview with Sport 24, Broos emphasized the importance of their match against Liberia over the weekend. The team started strong, taking a 2-0 lead into the break. However, they were unable to maintain their lead and ended up with a disappointing 2-2 draw.
This result left many South African football fans frustrated, and Broos himself was visibly upset. He stormed off the pitch before the end of the match and refused to participate in the post-match media conference.
Despite the criticism from fans and SAFA President, Danny Jordaan, it’s great to see that there is at least one person in the Bafana camp who remains passionate about the team’s success.
4 – Phenomenal Proteas make history in Pretoria.
Seventeen years ago, the Proteas made sport history in what is widely regarded as the greatest ODI ever played. Fast forward to the present day, and less than 37 kilometres away from the Wanderers, at SuperSport Park, the Proteas have once again etched their name in the history books. This time in the greatest T20I ever played.
Batting first, the West Indies showed no mercy to the South African bowlers. The Protea bowlers were dispatched to all ends of the cricket ground. Boundaries were flowing, with Johnson Charles leading the charge and bettering a West Indies record for the fastest T20I century. Charles’ efforts were nothing short of remarkable. He raced to three figures in just 39 deliveries, smashing the record set by Chris Gayle.
The West Indies ended their innings with a daunting total of 258 for 5, leaving South Africa with a mountain to climb.
Quinton de Kock and Reeza Hendricks got the Proteas off to the perfect start. De Kock was especially destructive, and earned his maiden T20I century in just 43 deliveries. That helped put South Africa in a strong position to chase down the mammoth total.
And chase it down, they did, with the Proteas earning the record for the highest-ever successful T20I chase to bring the three-match series to a 1-all stalemate. The third and decisive match will be played on Tuesday, 28 March.
It was a truly remarkable performance, one that will be remembered for years to come.
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