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England level ODI series after chaotic SA collapse

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England levelled the one-day international series against South Africa with a clinical six-wicket win after the hosts’ chaotic middle-order collapse in Durban.

The Proteas were in control at 72-2 after 16 overs before calamitously losing five wickets for four runs in the space of 12 balls, with England spinner Charlie Dean taking a hat-trick split across two overs.

Dean finished with 4-45 as the hosts were bowled out for 135 in 31.3 overs, while fellow spinner Sophie Ecclestone and seamer Lauren Filer took three wickets each.

Tammy Beaumont and Maia Bouchier added 69 for the first wicket in England’s positive reply, before Danni Wyatt-Hodge’s unbeaten 25 steered them over the line in the 24th over.

The drama of South Africa’s innings was preceded by a patient stand of 58 between Annerie Dercksen and captain Laura Wolvaardt, after Filer’s eye-catching opening burst saw the Proteas reduced to 14-2 inside the first four overs.

The dismissal of Dercksen triggered the collapse as she fell to Dean for 29 in the 17th over, before star all-rounder Marizanne Kapp uncharacteristically chipped to mid-off for a duck three balls later.

Ecclestone claimed the prized wicket of Laura Wolvaardt for 35 in the following over, before Dean completed her hat-trick with Nadine de Klerk caught at slip and Sinalo Jafta pinned lbw to leave South Africa’s innings in tatters on 76-7.

Chloe Tryon’s counter-attacking 45 from 49 rescued the Proteas from total capitulation but, with so few runs to defend, their bowlers struggled to build pressure and England made light work of a modest chase.

The series decider takes place at Potchefstroom on Wednesday.

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Havertz online abuse has terrible consequences – Arteta

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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says the online abuse of striker Kai Havertz and his wife has “terrible consequences” and needs to be “eradicated from the game”.

Havertz was criticised for his performance in Sunday’s FA Cup defeat by Manchester United, after he missed a glorious chance to win the game in normal time and then had his penalty saved in the shootout as United won 5-3 on penalties following the 1-1 draw.

The German’s wife Sophia shared screenshots of the “shocking” abuse she received on social media amid the game, including threats to the couple’s unborn child.

Arsenal have reported the abuse to the police and are working with a specialist data firm to identify the culprits, but Arteta says more must be done as he spoke before Wednesday’s north London derby against Tottenham.

“It’s incredible, honestly,” he said. “We really have to do something about it, because accepting that and hiding this has terrible consequences.

“It’s something we have to eradicate from the game because it’s so cynical and dependent to a result of an action.

“There is no other industry like this. When we played Ipswich on December 27, we won 1-0 and Kai Havertz scored. The whole stadium after that is singing the ‘Waka, Waka’ (his chant). That was 20 days ago. Where is the perspective?

“We are all responsible. That’s a really serious matter. It affects me. It affects him and everybody that is in the industry.

“We can accept it and say ‘that’s our job’, but there are certain limits and the line has to be drawn. We put a lot of attention on technology and what is next in football.

“What is next in football is that this should be prohibited. It cannot happen. That’s it.”

Meta, who own Instagram, removed the content for violating its policies.

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I will not be the coach of a Red Bull team – Klopp

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Jurgen Klopp says he has made a “clear commitment” that he will not become manager at one of the Red Bull clubs after starting his role as the organisation’s head of global soccer.

The former Liverpool manager was named in the role last year before officially starting at the beginning of 2025.

He has not had a managerial role since leaving Anfield last summer following a highly-successful nine year spell.

Klopp’s new role sees him take more of an oversight role across a number of clubs including RB Leipzig, Red Bull Salzburg and New York Red Bulls.

But when asked at a media conference on Tuesday whether he might be tempted back into day-to-day management if a role at one of the clubs becomes available, Klopp said emphatically said “no”.

“I will not be the coach of a Red Bull team,” he said. “That is a clear commitment. As much as you can give a guarantee, I will not be a coach at all.

“I am probably the only person in this room who will be asked where are you in five years, I don’t have a clue.

“But I will not be a replacement of one of the Red Bull coaches.

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Rising star Fonseca knocks out ninth seed Rublev

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Joao Fonseca had a Grand Slam debut to remember as he knocked out ninth seed Andrey Rublev in the first round of the Australian Open.

The 18-year-old Brazilian thrilled the crowd as he caused the biggest upset of the tournament so far with a 7-6 (7-1) 6-3 7-6 (7-5) victory against Rublev.

Fonseca was playing in his first main-draw match at a major, having come through three rounds of qualifying without dropping a set in Melbourne last week.

The victory extends his winning streak to 14 matches – but who is tennis’ latest rising star?

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