nd pinch-hitter Addison Russell drove in the tying run with an infield hit, sliding headfirst into the bag to beat the throw from Gennett at second. The Cubs had the bases loaded with one out, but Matt Szcz

On his debut Test, against Australia in 2008, JP Duminy was involved in a historic run-chase: South Africa overhauled a fourth-innings target of 414 in Perth, the second-highest successful run-chase ever in Test history. Duminys contribution to this mighty effort was a not-insignificant unbeaten 50, and his unbroken 111-run stand for the fifth wicket with AB de Villiers ensured a smooth chase, with no hiccups towards the end. In the next Test, on Boxing Day in Melbourne, Duminy made a superb 166, powering South Africa from 251 for 8 to 459, and played a key role in a nine-wicket win that sealed the series. Duminy was only 24 then, and it seemed South Africa had unearthed a gem who would be a mainstay in the middle order for years to come.Eight years later, the narrative - from the Test perspective at least - has changed and is one of unfulfilled promise. His ODI and T20I records are healthy - he averages more than 38 in each - but in Tests he has slipped considerably. After 35 Tests, his batting average has dropped to less than 32, which hardly does justice to the potential that was obvious in his early performances.Till the end of 2012, the Test numbers were still healthy: after 17 matches, he averaged 37.57. It wasnt earthshattering, but it was a solid base to build from: many top batsmen in Tests have averaged in the late 30s in the first few years, before going on a roll and taking that number much higher. Duminy was 28 at the end of 2012, an age which many believe is the start of the peak period for batsmen.What has followed since, though, is anything but a player at the peak of his powers. It is true that he has also been unlucky with injuries, and has missed some of South Africas 29 Tests since 2013 because of them, but even in the Tests he has played his numbers have been underwhelming. In his last 18 Tests he averages 27, with only six 30-plus scores in 28 innings during this period. He has gone 11 innings with a half-century, and in 14 innings since his last century, he averages 16.76, with only one 40-plus score.There has been no such slump in the limited-overs formats, though: he averages 35.32 in ODIs (strike rate 83) and 50.14 in T20Is (SR 125) during this period. Duminy began his Test career batting at No. 6, and has largely stayed there through his career so far, instead of moving up the order as most batsmen tend to. Of the 54 innings he has played, 26 have been at No. 6 and 17 at No. 7, while only six times he has batted higher than No. 6. One of those instances was against New Zealand in Wellington in 2012, when he scored 103 from No. 4, but that didnt lead to a more permanent spot higher up the order. In 43 innings at Nos. 6 and 7, Duminys average is a mediocre 25.17, the lowest among the batsmen who have batted at least 25 times at these positions since December 2008. There are three wicketkeepers among the five players with the poorest averages at these positions, with the only other specialist batsman being another left-hander who bowls some offspin, Suresh Raina. Duminys average of 27.13 when batting in the top seven positions is also among the poorest for batsmen who have batted at those positions at least 40 times in the period since Duminys debut. There are 73 batsmen in this list, and 69 of them have better averages than Duminys. The only ones with poorer averages are Mohammad Ashraful, Lahiru Thirimanne and Daniel Flynn, and all of them are not in their current national teams. Till about three years ago, South Africas batting was in good hands, with Jacques Kallis and Graeme Smith still around to add to the runs made by Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers. Since their retirements, though, the batting has looked iffy: Amla had a poor 2015, while Faf du Plessis hasnt contributed consistently either. Quinton de Kock and Temba Bavuma have shown promise, but the onus is on the senior players to play bigger roles and show greater responsibility. South Africa have shown a fair amount of patience with Duminy; it is now time for Duminy to justify the faith placed in him.* Excludes batsmen who have retiredWholesale Nike Shoes Ireland . It was Kerbers third final of the year after losing to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia in Monterrey in April and to Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic in Tokyo two weeks ago. The 10th-ranked German improved her record in finals to 3-5. Nike Shoes Ireland Online . The visitors took a deserved lead in the 16th minute with midfielder Yohan Cabaye curling the ball beyond Adrian from inside the penalty area. http://www.nikeshoesoutletireland.com/ .S. 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The team also has yet to decide on the future of Doug Berry, who began the season as a consultant to the head coach but took over the offensive co-ordinators duties in July.CHICAGO -- Miguel Montero and the Chicago Cubs were going to celebrate no matter what happened in Fridays game against the Milwaukee Brewers.One sweet swing by the veteran catcher turned it into one raucous party.Montero homered in the 10th inning, and the Cubs celebrated the NL Central title with a dramatic 5-4 victory over the Brewers.It all worked out pretty good, a champagne-soaked Montero cracked.The Cubs became the first major league team to clinch their division when St. Louis lost at San Francisco late Thursday night. They had a chance to wrap it up in front of their delirious fans at Wrigley Field earlier Thursday, but Scooter Gennetts tiebreaking two-run double in the seventh lifted Milwaukee to a 5-4 win.A day later, they put a stylish finish on their summer-long dominance of the Central.Chicago (94-53) pushed across two runs in the ninth and Montero connected for a leadoff drive in the 10th against Blaine Boyer (2-4). The Cubs poured out of the dugout to mob Montero at home plate, and then pulled on postseason hats and shirts as the crowd of 40,823 cheered wildly.There were hugs all around before the team gathered for a photo in front of the pitchers mound with one of the `W flags that fly all over the Chicago area after Cubs victories. The celebration then transitioned to the teams refurbished clubhouse, where players sprayed each other with champagne while a DJ played dance music.If we had lost, wed still be having fun, but it wouldnt be as fun as it is right now, said second baseman Ben Zobrist, one of several regulars who got the day off. This team all year long, we dont give up. We never quit.Chris Coghlan had three hits for the Cubs, including an RBI single that sparked the ninth-inning rally. Albert Almora Jr. hit a two-run homer, and Aroldis Chapman (4-1) struck out the side in the 10th for his first win with the Cubs.Ryan Braun, Orlando Arcia and Scooter Gennett homered for Milwaukee (66-82), which wasted another solid start by Chase Anderson. Andrew Susac added two hits.The Brewers also lost two outfielders to injuries. Center fielder Keon Brooxton slammed into the wall in left center while tracking down Tommy La Stellas drive in the third inning, breaking his right wrist.dddddddddddd He was replaced by Kirk Nieuwenhuis, who left in the seventh inning with an abdominal strain.Its very disappointing, Broxton said. I wanted to finish out the season, keep working, keep getting comfortable and keep getting more experience. Its a tough loss right now, but Ill come back strong.Gennetts tiebreaking two-run drive made it 4-2 in the seventh, but the Cubs responded in the ninth.Coghlan singled in Willson Contreras and pinch-hitter Addison Russell drove in the tying run with an infield hit, sliding headfirst into the bag to beat the throw from Gennett at second. The Cubs had the bases loaded with one out, but Matt Szczur lined to center and Javier Baez tapped back to reliever Carlos Torres, ending the inning.Torres escape delayed the start of the Cubs party, but they quickly made up for lost time.Just got to keep pushing, Russell said. This is only the beginning.RESTINGBrewers infielder Jonathan Villar was out of the starting lineup. He struck out swinging as a pinch hitter in the ninth.Villar is batting .129 (4 for 31) with 11 strikeouts in his last nine games.TRAINERS ROOMCubs: LF Jorge Soler departed after three innings due to tightness on his right side. Soler grounded into a double play in the first in his only at-bat. It was unclear when the injury occurred. ... C Contreras was shaken up after he was hit in the groin by a Ryan Braun foul ball in the first inning. Manager Joe Maddon and a trainer came out to check on him, but he stayed in the game.UP NEXTRHPs Jake Arrieta of the Cubs and Zach Davies of the Brewers face off on Saturday. Arrieta (17-6, 2.91 ERA) is 5-1 with a 3.40 ERA in his last seven starts. Davies (10-7, 3.87 ERA) pitched 7 1/3 innings of one-run ball in a no-decision at St. Louis on Sunday in his last outing.---Follow Jay Cohen at http://www.twitter.com/jcohenap ' ' '