Zapiro calls the royal weeding spot on, again

A bloody irritating anachronistic irrelevance.

Couldn't she wait?

Look at the expression on the little girl's face!

Being Shane Warne has its perks ...

... like kissing the living daylights out of Liz Hurley today.

US tornadoes ... inconceivable

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110429/ap_on_re_us/us_severe_weather

PLEASANT GROVE, Ala. – Firefighters searched one splintered pile after another for survivors Thursday, combing the remains of houses and neighborhoods pulverized by the nation's deadliest tornado outbreak in almost four decades. At least 291 people were killed across six states — more than two-thirds of them in Alabama, where large cities bore the half-mile-wide scars the twisters left behind.


http://yhoo.it/jPCoHG

One view of the royal wedding

Far prefer this to the actual event.


http://oskarsmith.com/bbc/

Zapiro sums up my feelings

This royal wedding is a load of total cockalox. Roll On Monday, when it's all past. I'm going to hibernate for 96 hours. The UK royal family are worth squat, consume billions, add no value, and are a passing irritation. Good riddance, the lot of them. We may as well spend millions on a Zuma wedding.

Oh, wait, we just did.

Youngest county cricketer ever

15 years and 27 days ... and totally polished already. To put this into context, Sachin was 16 when he made his debut.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/counties/8478831/Barney-Gibson-makes-history-at-just-15-as-Englands-youngest-ever-county-cricketer.html

At the age of just 15 years and 27 days, the Leeds-born Gibson strode out to keep wicket for Yorkshire against Durham MCCU at the picturesque Racecourse ground. He became the youngest county cricketer, surpassing a record set by Charles Young, who was 15 years and 131 days old when he played for Hampshire against Kent at Gravesend in 1867.

The fattest man in the world?

476kg and counting!

http://www.health24.com/dietnfood/Weight_Centre/15-51-2968-2973,62561.asp

Fascinating to see that Duncan Fletcher has been made coach of India

http://www.espncricinfo.com/india/content/current/story/512770.html

My mate Archie points out that his schoolmasterish management style might have sat well with UCT, WP and England, but it might not be the appropriate approach with India, who did not take to an authoritarian and confrontational Greg Chappell, but embraced the far more inclusive Gary Kirsten. This could be the making and/or breaking of both Fletcher and India.

I have had inquiries re Scotch eggs and what they look and taste like

Let me put it this way. At Systems Publishers, the MD's wife, Anne Murphy, would make them. Terry, the MD, would tuck into these cold delights and proceed to talk without licking his lips. Crumbs and bits of egg would fly forth. No one looked at Terry for half an hour after lunch was served. I ate one of them. I thought the heartburn would kill me. Hunger infinitely preferable to a Scotch egg, any day of the week.

Terry was also a dab hand with tea-time scones, cream and strawberry jam. Again, no licking of lips or dabbing with serviette. Oh, yes, snack time at Systems was fun.

Proof that three monitors are better than one or two ...

A good friend of mine has put three monitors to good use ... what innovation!

A real old book surfaces in Utah

Unlike the Mormon fakes, this is a real 500-year-old book (or part of it). Just amazing it popped up in Utah.

http://townhall.com/news/us/2011/04/25/500-year-old_book_surfaces_in_utah
500-year-old book surfaces in Utah

Book dealer Ken Sanders has seen a lot of nothing in his decades appraising "rare" finds pulled from attics and basements, storage sheds and closets.

Sanders, who occasionally appraises items for PBS's Antiques Roadshow, often employs "the fine art of letting people down gently."

But on a recent Saturday while volunteering at a fundraiser for the small town museum in Sandy, Utah, just south of Salt Lake, Sanders got the surprise of a lifetime.

"Late in the afternoon, a man sat down and started unwrapping a book from a big plastic sack, informing me he had a really, really old book and he thought it might be worth some money," he said. "I kinda start, oh boy, I've heard this before."

Then he produced a tattered, partial copy of the 500-year-old Nuremberg Chronicle.

Rough and raw analysis of the Pope ...

Extremely funny, but do *not* open if at all offended by rough language or discussions of how really nasty the Catholic Church is when it comes to protecting paedophiles in its midst. Thanks, as always, to Donovan Jackson for the excellence of his Tweets.

http://www.shrubmonkey.com/

John Mitchell of the Lions is gatvol ...

... and if I had an inch of allegiance to the Lions, so would I be.

Joke: How do you become a Lions millionaire?


Start out as a Lions billionaire.

http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Super15/Mitchell-tired-of-mediocrity-20110425

Fed-up Lions coach John Mitchell urged his team’s billionaire investors to take action if they want to put an end to the losing culture at the union.

Mitchell was speaking after his team’s 34-30 loss to the Chiefs on Saturday and made it painstakingly clear that he was not going to put up with the mediocrity of some of his players.

"I’m sick of making excuses," he said.

"It is the same old errors turning up and some individuals are leaving me no choice looking forward to the future."

Imagine our rivers (any of them) looked like this

Expat Donovan Jackson sends this pic of the Tarawera River in New Zealand. He notes: "Check how blue the water in the Tarawera River is. Like a swimming pool!"

Mind-blowing pics of New Dawn launch

Thanks to Duncan McLeod of TechCentral for these.

http://www.techcentral.co.za/new-dawn-blasts-off-into-space-pictures/22723/

One by one, the top cricketers go to the lure of T20

Lasinth Malinga retires from Test cricket, way too early.

http://bit.ly/gRvlyw

Best Hubble pic ever ...

It looks like an artist's rendition, but it's real.

Zapiro on ANC election promises

Japan a month later ... nothing can prepare you for these images

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2011/04/japans_crisis_one_month_later.html?tidder

The cancer in South African cricket

Majola means "snake".

Nyoka means "snake".

Go figure. There was a time when people with honour ran cricket.

http://www.timeslive.co.za/opinion/editorials/article1030929.ece/Cricket-bosses-must-have-the-balls-to-deal-with-bonuses

Cricket bosses must have the balls to deal with bonuses
Apr 19, 2011 11:35 PM

The Times Editorial: The scandal in South African cricket just won't go away. No matter how much the officials in the game try to pretend it is not there, it keeps returning, like an ugly bouncer aimed at a batsman's head.
President of Cricket South Africa, Dr Mthuthuzeli Nyoka, during the press conference at the Wanderers club, in Johannesburg. Pic: Sydney Seshibedi. 30/07/2009. � The Times.

Essentially, the problem with the bonuses paid to employees at Cricket South Africa is the unwillingness to face up to the issue and deal with it openly and honestly. This unwillingness stems from moral cowardice among its most senior members - those who, as part of Cricket South Africa's board, are responsible for corporate governance in the game.

The scandal started a long time ago, but was uncovered only recently. It entailed the payment of bonuses to Cricket South Africa workers who were involved with the organisation of two tournaments staged in South Africa in 2009, the Indian Premier League and the follow-up Champions League, which is held under the auspices of the International Cricket Council.

Despite clear warnings that the payments were highly irregular, the directors of Cricket South Africa chose to turn a blind eye to the emerging scandal and swept it under a carpet (a cricket mat?) with an internal investigation that failed to convince the broader public.

This failure to deal with the problem also led to the ousting of Cricket South Africa's president, Mtutuzeli Nyoka, when he insisted on a more transparent investigation. It was a strange way to deal with an issue that has now become a huge embarrassment for the game in this country.

Nyoka took his dismissal to court, and won. From the evidence in the case, it is now clear that senior employees of Cricket South Africa, notably chief executive Gerald Majola, were less than transparent about the bonuses.

The scandal is set to haunt Cricket South Africa until its directors, the guardians of the game, show some so far non-existent backbone and cut out this cancer from our cricket.

Here's why AB de Villiers might not be our best bet as skipper to replace Captain Crossbat

"I really can't pin-point anything that we are doing wrong except for bad fielding, bad bowling and bad batting." - AB de Villiers explains that gelling together as a team is not where Royal Challengers Bangalore's problems lie.

SA's own Paris Hilton

Rapport has this on the front page. A woman who is famous for being famous and the idol of many a wealthy man's eye. Surreal.

Holding rates Thommo the toughest to face

Michael Holding was terrifying. So was Jeff Thomson. Holding says it was tough facing Thommo without protective equipment. Normal human beings cannot comprehend what it is facing this stuff.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/apr/15/michael-holding-small-talk

Who was the toughest opponent you ever faced? As far as degree of difficulty is concerned, batting against Jeff Thomson. It wasn't very nice batting against Jeff Thomson bowling that fast with no helmet and no chest pad and all that

My first post on my new SportsCentral JV

Run with Duncan McLeod. We are going to be pumping copy, much of it outstanding.


http://www.sportscentral.co.za/thursday-cricket-wrap/169/

Compelling evidence that language arose in southern Africa

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/15/science/15language.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha2

Phonetic Clues Hint Language Is Africa-Born
By NICHOLAS WADE
Published: April 14, 2011

A researcher analyzing the sounds in languages spoken around the world has detected an ancient signal that points to southern Africa as the place where modern human language originated.

The finding fits well with the evidence from fossil skulls and DNA that modern humans originated in Africa. It also implies, though does not prove, that modern language originated only once, an issue of considerable controversy among linguists.

Great news: Nyoka has to be reinstated by Cricket SA

Hopefully this is the beginning of the end for some of the self-interested scumbags who are at the core of all the ills at Cricket SA.

Decision handed down at South Gauteng High Court minutes ago. I will bring all the details as they break.

Remarkable story about India's new cricket find, Paul Valthaty

http://epaper.indianexpress.com/IE/IEH/2011/04/14/ArticleHtmls/14_04_2011_001_034.shtml?Mode=1

Let's hope and pray Donald Trump never becomes US prez ...

Four or eight years with that hairstyle ...

First night out with Daddy

My wife Karen had to run a function for a client last night, and she did so brilliantly. Gave me a chance to spend an evening alone with my sublime son Matthew, and it started with a night at the Spur, our first without Karen. So life takes on its own rhythms. No work, just my son. Heaven in a handbasket.

The genius of Sachin recognised at last

http://www.espncricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/510811.html?CMP=NLC-DLY

 (But a bit odd that the world's best cricketer doesn't crack the cover, while Alastair Cook does.)

Evergreen Tendulkar feted by Wisden

April 13, 2011

The 148th edition of Wisden Cricketers' Almanack, launched today, reflects on a year of dramatic contrasts for the game, from the soul-searching that accompanied the Pakistan spot-fixing scandal at Lord's, to the near-perfection of England's Ashes campaign in Australia. But between those extremes, one of the game's most constant presences is recognised for attaining new heights of brilliance.

In 2010, Sachin Tendulkar enjoyed a year that even by his own exalted standards was phenomenal. He hit over 1,500 Test runs and seven Test hundreds, including an unparalleled 50th. Tendulkar also became the first to hit a one-day international double-hundred. Wisden acknowledges his greatness by naming him as the Leading Cricketer in the World for 2010.

It's the first time Tendulkar has won the award since it started in 2004, although Wisden 2007 identified him as the player who would have won such an award for 1998 - had it been devised then. Ramachandra Guha traces the three phases of Tendulkar's career, and reveals that he is held in such esteem by the Australians that they do not sledge him; and by his team-mates so that the Indian dressing-room, once riven by turf wars and petty jealousies, is now calm.

The Guardian on SA's cricketers

We know we dominate world cricket but can't win a trophy of note. Fascinating insight:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/barneyronay

The other really outstanding figure is the number of South Africans in both cases. The IPL has 13. It is 11.8% South African. The County Championship has 25. It is 12.6% South African. The talent and sheer determination of South Africa's peripatetic cricketers really is phenomenal. Like ant colonies, or Starbucks franchises, they just keep on popping up everywhere. It is a great achievement.

The Guardian on SA's cricketers

We know we dominate world cricket but can't win a trophy of note. Fascinating insight:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/barneyronay

The other really outstanding figure is the number of South Africans in both cases. The IPL has 13. It is 11.8% South African. The County Championship has 25. It is 12.6% South African. The talent and sheer determination of South Africa's peripatetic cricketers really is phenomenal. Like ant colonies, or Starbucks franchises, they just keep on popping up everywhere. It is a great achievement.

A move in UK to ban salt from fish 'n chip shops!

http://www.dailyexpress.co.uk/posts/view/237789


SALT shakers are being removed from fish and chip shops in a nanny state ruling on what we can eat.

The petty diktat is supposed to be part of a healthy living drive to lower salt consumption which has been linked to high blood pressure.

But critics condemn council bosses for the decision and call for customers to be free to make up their own minds about their diet.

They say that at a time of cutbacks, local politicians should concentrate on saving money and not attempt to bully people by removing one of the simple pleasures of life.

Cash-strapped Lib Dem-run Stockport Council, facing cuts of £50million over four years, wants fish and chip shops, cafes and Indian restaurants to hide salt shakers behind the counters.

As part of its campaign, customers who notice no salt on the counter or table will have to ask for it.

Emma Boon, campaign director of the TaxPayer’s Alliance, said: “Stockport council has to find millions in savings in the coming years so officials should be focusing on delivering services that matter to taxpayers, not running around removing condiments from local eateries as part of a silly PR stunt.” She added: “This is unbelievable nanny-state behaviour. People expect to be able to put salt on their food whether they’re eating out or at home. Taking away shakers won’t change that.”

There *is* a God: Lady Gaga falls off her piano

http://dlvr.it/NBwDM

(Thanks to Donovan Jackson for this link)

Lady Gaga falls off piano during live show

A diamond-studded bikini and high-heeled boots are probably not the best things to wear if you're planning on dancing on top of a piano.

Lady Gaga discovered this for herself during a recent show in Houston, when she took a mighty tumble while performing the song You and I.

The controversial pop star was playing air guitar on top of her piano when she slipped, tumbled onto a chair and fell head first onto the floor.

But she recovered well, coming to her feet and finishing the song's acapella closing notes.

Gaga was in Houston as part of her Monster Ball 2011 tour.

Check Zuma's body language ... nice shoes

Update: Sunday Times's Hogarth reports: "Gaddafi went on to ignore our president, as so many do, and resumed bombing his people a few hours later."

http://www.timeslive.co.za/opinion/columnists/article1025003.ece/Hogarth---17-April-2011

Thanks to Ivo for this post. It must be remembered that Zuma managed to dodge the rape trial bullet in between trips to Brother Leader, as widely reported. This is what he had to say yesterday: ""We have completed our mission with the brother leader, and the brother leader's delegation has accepted the road map as presented by us."

Nice and firm, then.

http://bit.ly/hqLItB

Peace in our time. Ivo Tweets: "Zuma = Neville Chamberlain with 8 wives." (It's 3, Ivo!)

India's new fast bowling prospect ... check the video

And at 21 probably the fastest in the world (thanks to Paul Furber for bringing this to my attention.) He has been clocked in India at 153,4kph.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckkW05uX8hs

Surreal innings by Shane Watson of Oz vs Bangladesh

185 not out off 96 balls, with 15 fours and 15 sixes. Breaks every kind of record, except for Tendulkar's 200.

My son at the fire station yesterday ...

Could not be happier:

Third unfortunate headline in a series

MEC fingered in tender probe

‎
iAfrica.com - 6 hours ago

Northern Cape finance MEC John Block has been implicated in a new Hawks investigation involving government buildings' security tenders worth R300-million, ...

 

(Reminds of Computing SA headline: Everyone wants slice of streaming media pie)

Zapiro on the ANC

We have been trying for weeks to get hold of the ANC to tell us of their plans for our neighbourhood. The DA is available through every possible channel, and assists with every ounce of its energy, despite our area representing just a few hundred potential votes. The ANC is completely opaque, and we cannot get through to any structure or living entity.

Maybe this is why.

Nice boobs, pity about the divorce

http://www.rapport.co.za/Suid-Afrika/Nuus/Magnaat-moet-opdok-na-borste-vir-skelmpie-20110408

For those who can't read Afrikaans, a property magnate gave his squeeze new boobs at a cost of R28k and dumped his wife. He's worth around R250m, and has had to put up his 57-year-old wife in the kind of luxury to which she's accustomed. Very funny story.

Peter Roebuck says cricket is stuffed

... and points out that SA cricket is among those complicit in driving mediocrity and self-interest.

http://www.hindu.com/2011/04/09/stories/2011040967952500.htm
The game is in deep trouble


South African cricket has belatedly managed to rid itself of Ray Mali and Norman Arendse, but complications continue.

The chairman has accused his CEO and others of hiding substantial payments given by IPL, pointing out that bonuses had already been paid by their employers.

Isolated and ejected

Far from being thanked, the chairman has been isolated and ejected. That's modern cricket.

Hayibo on Graeme Smith's engagement ...

http://www.hayibo.com/graeme-smith-engaged-amidst-fears-for-wedding-night-performance/

“I think we all know how this will go,” said Googly van Rooyen, chair of the Recovering  Proteas Fans Support Group. “He’ll start off strong, there’ll be a lot of positive hype and a reasonable expectation that this will end in a joyful climax, and then – total collapse.”

“I’m predicting a soft dismissal,” confirmed co-chair Mankad Tshabalala. “He’ll be taking senseless risks with his balls and at the end of the day, there’s just not enough power in that lower order.”

Second in a series of unfortunate headlines

"Police: Man Tried to Steal Frozen Shrimp Stuffed down His Pants" -- York (Pa.) Daily Record headline

Week's cricket wrap

http://www.sportscentral.co.za/the-week-in-cricket/105/

Boycott tries to steal the limelight at Fred Titmus's funeral

http://blogs.espncricinfo.com/surfer/archives/2011/04/why_irelands_wo.php

Last Tuesday saw the funeral of Fred Titmus, and at his wake John Murray proposed a toast. He mentioned the BBC appreciation and the contribution therein of Geoffrey Boycott, whose capacity to turn any situation to one about himself is unrivalled. Fred, said Geoffrey, was a good bowler ("Good!" snorted JT in derision) but he couldn't recall ever getting out to him. So to boost what is clearly an ailing memory, I offer, for starters, the following: Lord's, 1967, b Titmus 24; Lord's, 1971, b Titmus 6; Middlesbrough, 1974, c Edmonds b Titmus 24 and lbw Titmus 63 (please God let it be sweeping); and Lord's, 1974, b Titmus 8. Hope that helps, Fiery.

Paul Nixon remembers Donald's debut appearance in county cricket

Paul Nixon is one of only three cricketers in England to have played across four decades. He is still good enough at 40 to command a permanent slot.

http://blogs.espncricinfo.com/surfer/archives/2011/04/paul_nixon_marc.php


"I was 18 and had grown up on a farm. I came down to Grace Road and it was Allan Donald's trial game for Warwickshire.

"I turn up, the first ball I see is Russell Cobb, our batsman, two feet in the air. He gloves it in front of his face and Keith Piper takes the catch standing 30 yards back.

"Five minutes later it was like a parachute jumping out of the dressing room, but I got 35 and 38." Leicestershire had seen enough.

If Donald inadvertently played a part in Nixon's entry into the first-class arena, he was also responsible for wrecking what Nixon saw as his greatest chance to break through into the England Test side.

"It was 1995 and I'd had a good winter with England A in India and Bangladesh," he recalls. "I was playing for England A against the champions of the previous summer, Warwickshire.

"I was 50 not out when Donald smashed my thumb and put me out for six weeks. I believed that was going to be my time."

Citizen-McBride ... vital judgment for media freedom

Update: 

http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/kwazulu-natal/mcbride-can-be-called-a-murderer-1.1054175

Robert McBride can be called a murderer despite his being granted amnesty for the apartheid-era bomb that killed three people.

The Constitutional Court on Friday ruled that despite the Citizen newspaper's “vengeful and distasteful” series of articles, it was entitled to “protected comment”.


Update: Judge Cameron says (as reported on 702) that The Citizen must still pay McBride R50 000 for defaming him by saying he showed no contrition for his bombing.

Stephen Grootes Tweets: (Judge Edwin) Cameron The Citizen wins its main argument. Reconciliation Act doesn't render it untrue that Mcbride committed a crime.

Genuinely funny and acerbic piece on Jhb's restaurant scene

http://newsletters2.mg.co.za/servlet/link/6026/50563/6491826/475858

I've now been eating out at editor pace for two years exactly, and asking questions of every native Jo'burger I meet who cares even a little about food. I now feel ready to say it out loud: for all its creativity and cosmopolitanism, for all its monuments to material consumption, this town is a culinary desert or, perhaps more accurately, parking lot -- which is what you will find yourself looking on to from most of the very few places I do feel able to recommend.

Unmissable piece on Avusa and hiding dirty laundry

There was a time three years ago when the Sunday Times got it chronically wrong almost every weekend. There is the constant threat of a media tribunal, and the Times leads the charge against it, but this report shows how it does not live by the standards of disclosure it demands of other bodies.

David Bullard points out that those who make massive errors at the Sunday Times get promoted.

This piece tends to support his views.

http://emma.thedailymaverick.co.za/servlet/link/3890/50787/4252125/475763

Always sad when a sports colleague goes

Trevor Chesterfield was a colleague when I made my sports writing debut for the long-defunct Die Oggendblad. A New Zealander by birth, he then wrote for the Pretoria News and had little regard for anyone who did not worship Northern Transvaal cricket.

He would have been a fine cricketer himself, but for a terrible limp caused by I forget what. He channeled his love for the game into writing, and spent the last decade or so of his life in Sri Lanka.

One by one the great writers of the game exit. He was struggling financially when he died at the age of 75. Here he is greeting Shoaib Akhtar.

Victorian collar on a bulldog

My mate Duncan McLeod has a bulldog which developed an ear problem. Around R10 000 later, the ear is fixed, but the dog, Max, cannot be allowed to gain access to it. So the Victorian collar.

The dog is now renamed DSTV for the similarity to a satellite dish. Problem was, DSTV couldn't reach his water or food, so Duncan cut back the collar. Duncan chirps: "Now he can't watch the French canine porn channels."

Prayers

My Abu Dhabi-based daughter Nicky writes: "‎3 year old Luke Welkner's prayer at dinner time. "mumble...mumble...mumble...thank you Jesus Christ...James and Ben and Lukey and Mommy and Daddy and James and Ben and Ninjas! Amen."

This reminds me of Frances Wright's true story of the pastor's three-year-old daughter running up and down the aisle at church during service, barefoot. She sees a bee, stamps on it and it stings her. To the delight of the entire  congregation she shouts out: "Fokken mot!"

Spring in the UK

Apart from the last two days, we have so much sunshine we can't appreciate just what it feels like to emerge from winter in Europe and the UK. My in-law Craig Astfalck writes on Facebook:

Craig Astfalck

White legs, meet Mr Sun. Lit BBQ, meet sticky chicken. Thirsty boy, meet can of beer. Love spring time.

World record performance by another South African playing elsewhere

FIVE WICKETS IN AN OVER FOR SA’S NEIL WAGNER

http://www.odt.co.nz/sport/cricket/155108/neil-wagners-record-breaking-over

As reported by ESPNcricinfo, Pretoria-born left-arm fast bowler Neil Wagner took five wickets in an over to help Otago rout Wellington by an innings and 138 runs in three days at the Queenstown Events Centre, New Zealand.

ESPNcricinfo reports: “Wellington, who ended the second day on 57 for 1, looked in relative comfort on 112 for 1 in pursuit of Otago's first innings total of 441, before Harry Boam, Grant Elliott (also South African-born) and Neal Parlane fell in quick succession. At 136 for 4 with opener Stewart Rhodes looking solid on 77, Wellington would still have hoped to put up a competitive total. However, they hadn't bargained for South African born Wagner's searing spell.

“Wagner, bowling the last over before lunch, had Rhodes caught by Neil Broom off the first ball of the over. He then bowled Justin Austin-Smellie and Jeetan Patel off the next two deliveries to register his hat-trick and followed up that with the wicket of Ili Tugaga to make it four in four. No. 10 Mark Gillespie survived the fifth ball, only to get bowled off the final ball off the over. Wagner's performance eclipsed the previous best performance in an over by a bowler in New Zealand which was in 1929-30 when Englishman Maurice Allom took four wickets in five balls against New Zealand at Lancaster Park in Christchurch. Wagner returned after lunch to bowl the last batsman Andy McKay to end up with career-best figures of 6 for 36 as Wellington collapsed to 148 all out.

“Following on, Wellington's batting stuttered yet again as they lost their first three wickets, including that of Rhodes, with just 16 runs on the board. Elliott resisted with 61, but failed to receive support from the other frontline batsmen. Gillespie and McKay added 39 runs for the last wicket, but that only delayed the inevitable as Wellington were bowled out for 155 to hand Otago a convincing win. Wagner was among the wickets again, accounting for Elliott, Patel and Tugaga to end up with match figures of 9 for 66.”

A few notes here: Wagner will be playing for New Zealand before long, especially after this performance. He is one of the very few bowlers in the world to be taking wickets at a Shaun Pollock/Allan Donald average, with 189 wickets at 22,75 in 44 games. He maintains a good average in one-day cricket too, but could scarcely get a look-in while at the Titans. While not a true all-rounder, he averages 21,27 with the bat, with a highest score of 70. He is going to give South Africa many headaches in the future, as he is only 25.

Another one that slipped through our net!

Armed robbery in our neighbourhood

http://linbropark.blogspot.com/2011/04/robbery-at-111-hilton-road.html

Update on drag racing: shocking!