Temba Bavuma played a historic innings against Australia, inspired by Sachin Tendulkar's technique

The South African off-spinner, Simon Harmer, achieved a remarkable feat in the second match of the series against Australia, entering history books. Harmer scored an impressive 82 runs, thereby breaking Dale Steyn's 18-year record.

He reached this result at a time when the South African team was in a difficult situation and desperately needed a big partnership. On Tuesday, the third day of the match played at Centurion Park in Gqeberha, Harmer faced 91 deliveries, scoring 10 fours and one six.

This figure is the highest for a South African batsman batting at number 9 or lower against Australia in Test matches. The previous record was 76 runs, set by Dale Steyn during a match in Melbourne in 2008.

In the first innings, South Africa lost six wickets for 110 runs. Following this, captain Temba Bavuma and Marco Jansen stabilized the game, adding 132 runs for the seventh wicket. Jansen departed after scoring 85 runs, after which Harmer supported Bavuma. Both players formed a crucial partnership on the eighth wicket, accumulating 183 runs.

This is the second-largest partnership on the eighth wicket or lower in South African history. The record is currently held by Marco Boucher and Pete Symcox, who scored 195 runs against Pakistan in 1998.

For his part, captain Temba Bavuma demonstrated exceptional patience and technique under pressure, scoring 179 runs off 334 balls, including 18 fours and one six. When the team score was only 12 runs with two wickets down on the first day, Bavuma took responsibility and prevented the innings from collapsing.

Simon Harmer had the opportunity to earn his first hundred in Test matches, but Marnus Labuschagne dismissed him. After South Africa fell victim to Mitchell Starc, they declared the innings closed at 425/9. By the end of the third day, Australia had scored three runs for the loss of one wicket. Kagiso Rabada dismissed Nick Maddinson, preventing him from scoring any runs.

In the fourth T20 match between India and West Indies, held in Hyderabad on Wednesday (October 14), the bowling tactics of West Indies bowler Shamir Joseph caused significant controversy. West Indies won the match by 24 runs, leveling the series at 2-2.

Sriwats Goswami, a former cricketer from Bengal, expressed dissatisfaction with Joseph's actions in the final over against Arshdeep Singh. He stated that instead of targeting Arshdeep Singh's body, Joseph should have bowled to the stumps, especially when India's chances of winning were virtually gone.

India needed to score 35 runs in the last over while having only one remaining batting wicket. Arshdeep Singh was batting, and Maink Yadav was at the opposite end. Under these conditions, a West Indies victory was considered highly probable. Shamir Joseph used short balls against Arshdeep in this over; one such delivery hit the Indian fast bowler's shoulder and arm, causing Arshdeep to fall on the field and requiring a physiotherapist.

After a short break, Arshdeep Singh resumed play, but Joseph continued to use short deliveries. Following this, India's captain, Shreyas Iyer, indicated that Arshdeep should be declared injured, thus ending the Indian innings. Goswami reiterated his indignation regarding Joseph's conduct, writing: 'What Shamir Joseph did on the last three balls against Arshdeep contradicts the spirit of sportsmanship.'

Sriwats Goswami acknowledged that international cricket is an extremely competitive sport, but in his opinion, the bowler always had another option in such a situation. He emphasized that Joseph could have bowled to the stumps instead of constantly aiming short balls at the batsman's body. His comments drew attention to Joseph's strategy in the final over, although this remains Goswami's personal opinion.

Overall, West Indies, having lost the toss and batting first, scored 247 runs, losing three wickets. In response, the Indian team managed to reach 223 runs but ultimately lost the match by 24 runs. This victory allowed the visiting team to level the series at 2-2. Shamir Joseph is known for his fast bowling and regularly bowls at speeds exceeding 140 kilometers per hour.