England Womens Kate Cross on being the fines master, Sarah Taylors milestone and Sundays deciding T20I at the Bullring. 100 is the Magic Number After our successful start to the one-day international campaign we were looking forward to the opportunity to play the second encounter at SuperSport Park in Centurion, and hoping to wrap up the series. Unfortunately it wasnt to be. After a bit of a shaky start, the batting unit managed to post a competitive total thanks to a great 10th-wicket partnership from Danielle Hazell and the Hoof (Anya Shrubsole). A pan of SuperSport Park at Centurion In the field, unfortunately strike bowler Katherine Brunt had to bow out of the match due to injury in the 10th over, which was a huge blow to the bowling unit - we never really looked ourselves, and the South African girls crossed the line thanks to an impressive innings by Lizelle Lee.Although we lost at Centurion and the series was level at 1-1 it wont take away what a special day we all shared with Sarah Taylor, who, before the game, was presented with her 100th ODI cap from former England Womens World Cup-winning captain, Karen Smithies.Not many people can say they have represented their country that many times and we are all really proud of Sarah and what she has achieved. I think it was even more fitting that she got that cap at Centurion! Sarah Taylor receives her 100th ODI cap Series Decider/Valentines Special It was then to the Wanderers on Valentines Day where the series decider was played at the Bullring. What a ground that is, by the way!Due to Katherines injury it meant I got an opportunity to play, and it is always a special day when you pull your England shirt on. We bowled first and restricted South Africa to 196, and we then knocked them off to take the series 2-1.The batting performance was steadied by Heather (Knight) and Georgia (Elwiss) who also managed to bag her maiden ODI half century. Im really pleased I was there to see it. Well done G! Kate reckons a rose she was given by Heather Knight proved crucial! Special mention as well goes to Trev (Heather) for picking up player of the match as well as player of the series. Guateng Cricket had kindly given us all a red rose before the game and Heather offered hers to me, so Im putting her success down to that! Everybody loves the red rose after all. After a series win the changing room is always a very happy place, and it meant we were able to belt out the new team song. There were also a few nerves around as it was our first rendition in front of Queen Clare Connor! Talk about pressure to perform!The ODI series contributes towards the ICC Womens Championship table which leads to qualification for the Womens World Cup in England next year, so it was good to get some more wins on the board. Double bonus! England Women celebrate with the ODI trophy The day was completed nicely with a fines meeting in the dressing room. I was fines master this trip which was good fun. Safe to say Robbo (Mark Robinson) picked the most fines up with Katherine Brunt coming in a close second, mostly because she contested all her fines. Schoolgirl error, Brunty!This is where I left the girls to take on South Africa in a three-match T20 series, and Im writing this now with the scoreline once again poised at 1-1.Exactly seven days on from the ODI series decider at the Wanderers, the girls will be back there tomorrow, with the action live on Sky Sports 2 from 7.55am UK time. Tune in and send them your support!Crossy (Kate Cross, England Womens fast bowler)Watch England Womens T20I series decider with South Africa from 7.55am, Sunday, Sky Sports 2. Then catch the men in action from 12pm on the same channel. Also See: SA Women set up decider Womens cricket home Sportswomen Get Sky Sports Jean Beliveau Jersey .Y. -- The Buffalo Sabres have placed centre Cody Hodgson on injured reserve and recalled two players from their AHL affiliate in Rochester. Xavier Ouellet Jersey .25 million option on reliever Jose Veras. http://www.canadienssale.com/authentic-artturi-lehkonen-canadiens-jersey/ . After a lengthy wait, persistent rain finally forced the postponement of the Nationals game against the Miami Marlins on Saturday night. The teams, and a few thousand fans, waited nearly four hours from the 7:05 scheduled start time before an announcement was made shortly before 11 p. Brendan Gallagher Canadiens Jersey . If ever they start actually putting pictures beside words in the dictionary, the Blue Jays left-handers mug will appear beside “Consistency. Carey Price Canadiens Jersey . With Parker having a quiet game for once, Nicolas Batum and Boris Diaw provided the scoring as France won its first major basketball title by beating Lithuania 80-66 on Sunday. It was a victory that ended a decade of frustration for Parker and a talented French generation, which lost the final against Spain two years ago and took bronze in 2005. Goatbusters11 Wins To Take the World Series, 11 Curses To Conquer. Heres A Game-By-Game Look At How The Cubs Did It.Congrats Cubs Fans! Soak up Chicagos path to victory. Crushing the curse of the billy goatThe curse The most well-known of the Cubs many curses began when Billy Goat Tavern owner Billy Sianis brought his goat, Murphy, to Game 4 of the 1945 World Series at Wrigley. His goat didnt smell so great and fans complained so he was kicked out. On his way out, Sianis said the Cubs aint gonna win no more.How the curse was killed108 years of heartache. Gone. The Cubs held on in one of the wildest Game 7s baseball has ever seen and suddenly wait til next year became its happening this year with a World Series-clinching win.Next upA championship parade through the streets of Chicago.Win probability shiftBen Zobrists RBI double increased the Cubs chances of winning by32.2%Chances of winning it allThe curse is over. The Chicago Cubs are World Series champions!100%Pictured: Ben Zobrist celebrates his 10th-inning RBI in Game 7. Crushing the Bartman curseThe curse Steve Bartman - donning his now-infamous hat, glasses and headphones - had his hand on one of the Cubs most painful moments when he knocked a foul ball away from Moises Alou in Game 6 of the 2003 NLCS. Chicago never rebounded from the moment, losing the series to the Marlins in seven games.How the curse was killedTyler Naquin and the Indians gave the Cubs an inch with their outfield miscue, and Addison Russell took over from there. After driving his first two runs of Game 6 when a miscommunication in the outfield allowed a two-run double to drop in, Russell left no doubt there would be another night of baseball when he belted a grand slam in the third.Next upWorld Series Game 7: Wednesday, November 2, 2016 @ IndiansWin probability shiftAddison Russells two-run double increased the Cubs chances of winning by16.1%Chances of winning it allWith the World Series tied 3-3, the Cubs are 1 win from the ultimate prize.46%Pictured: Addison Russell celebrates as the Cubs roll in Game 6. Crushing the curse of the black catThe curse 1969 was looking good for the Cubs - until a black cat appeared in front of their dugout and circled Cubs star Ron Santo at Shea Stadium during a September game. The omen foretold a collapse of epic proportions as Chicagos grip on first place disappeared and the Mets went on to win the World Series.How the curse was killedKris Bryants bat woke up. After a rough start to the World Series, the MVP candidate got the Cubs going in a must-win Game 5 when he belted a Trever Bauer pitch into the left-field bleachers to spark a three-run fourth inning and help keep Chicagos season alive.Next upWorld Series Game 6: Tuesday, November 1, 2016 @ IndiansWin probability shiftKris Bryants home run increased the Cubs chances of winning by14.1%Chances of winning it allTrailing the World Series 3-2, the Cubs are 2 wins away from the ultimate prize.23%Pictured: Kris Bryant circles the bases after his Game 5 home run. Crushing the Babe Ruth called shot curseThe curse You thought the Red Sox were the only team cursed by the Bambino? Wrong. The 1932 Cubs made it all the way to the World Series, where they went up against Ruths Yankees. Legend has it that the Cubs were riding him throughout the series, leading to his famous called shot in Game 3 of a Yankees sweep.How the curse was killedAnthony Rizzo drove in Kris Bryant to get it started and Jake Arrieta dominated on the mound, but Cubs fans will always remember World Series Game 2 for Kyle Schwarbers contributions. From the Arizona Fall League to World Series DH, Schwarber powered Chicagos attack with two hits and a pair of RBIs.Next upWorld Series Game 3: Friday, October 28, 2016 vs. IndiansWin probability shiftKyle Schwarbers third-inning RBI single increased the Cubs chances of winning by11%Chances of winning it allWith the World Series tied 1-1, the Cubs are 3 wins away from the ultimate prize.55%Pictured: Kyle Schwarber celebrating his third-inning RBI single. Crushing the Prior/Wood curseThe curse As the old adage goes, pitching wins championships -- and the Cubs were set up with the aces to do exactly that in Kerry Wood and Mark Prior. But this is the Cubs were talking about here, and a run of injuries too long to list kept Chicago from riding its ace duo to World Series glory in the early 2000s.How the curse was killedIn case you havent heard: The Chicago Cubs are going to the World Series! Dexter Fowler got things started with a double, Kris Bryant drove him in and the NLCS-clinching drubbing of Clayton Kershaw was on at Wrigley Field.Next upWorld Series Game 1: Tuesday, October 25, 2016 @ IndiansWin probability shiftKris Bryants first-inning RBI single increased the Cubs chances of winning by7.6%Chances of winning it allWith a 4-2 triumph in the NLCS, the Cubs are 4 wins away from the ultimate prize.63%Pictured: Dexter Fowler scores the Cubs first run of NLCS Game 6. Crushing the Kwa-Ma-Rolas curseThe curse The Kwa-Ma-Rolas totem pole was erected on Lake Shore Drive in 1929. According to Native American legend, it should be facing east, toward Lake Michigan. But instead it ffaces Wrigley Field -- a bad omen for the team that calls the ballpark home.ddddddddddddHow the curse was killedRemember that Addison Russell playoff slump? Well, you can forget about it. For the second straight night, the Chicago shortstop blasted a home run at Dodger Stadium. This time his two-run shot broke a 1-1 tie and pushed the Cubs to within a win of their first World Series since 1945.Next upNLCS Game 6: Saturday, October 22, 2016 | vs. DodgersWin probability shiftAddison Russells fourth-inning home run increased the Cubs chances of winning by25.6%Chances of winning it allWith a 3-2 lead in the NLCS, the Cubs are 5 wins away from the ultimate prize.37%Pictured: Addison Russell celebrates his go-ahead home run in NLCS Game 5. Crushing the Back to the Future curse The curse Back to the Future II predicted that 2015 would be the Cubs year, and for a while it seemed it would be true ... until Daniel Murphy had a series that even Marty McFly couldnt see coming and the Mets swept the 2015 Cubs right out of the NLCS.How the curse was killedSometimes it takes a spark to start a fire. When Willson Contreras RBI single fell in during the fourth inning, it gave the Cubs their first run in 21 innings. After that, the offense kicked into high gear in an NLCS-squaring 10-2 pounding of the Dodgers.Next upNLCS Game 5: Thursday, October 20, 2016 | @ DodgersWin probability shiftWillson Contreras fourth-inning single increased the Cubs chances of winning by16.6%Chances of winning it allWith the NLCS tied 2-2, the Cubs are 6 wins away from the ultimate prize.32%Pictured: Willson Contreras celebrates driving in the first run of Game 4. Crushing the curse of the centuryThe curse It all set up perfectly for the Cubs in 2008. Exactly 100 years after their last title in 1908, the Cubs entered the playoffs with arguably the best team in baseball. What could possibly go wrong? Everything. A three-game NLDS sweep at the hands of the Dodgers put an end to one of Chicagos best hopes.How the curse was killedJust when it looked like NLCS Game 1 might slip through the Cubs hands, Miguel Montero stepped up and delivered a pinch-hit grand slam that will go down in Chicago lore to power an 8-4 victory over the Dodgers.Next upNLCS Game 2: Sunday, October 16, 2016 | vs. DodgersWin probability shiftMiguel Monteros grand slam increased the Cubs chances of winning by35.5%Chances of winning it allWith a 1-0 lead in the NLCS, the Cubs are 7 wins away from the ultimate prize.46%Pictured: The Cubs celebrate Miguel Monteros NLCS Game 1 grand slam.Crushing the Greg Maddux curseThe curseGreg Maddux started his Hall of Fame career in Chicago before leaving for Atlanta, where he became an October regular. The most painful part for Cubs fans? Maddux was part of two teams that eliminated the Cubbies from the playoffs -- as a Brave in 1998 and a Dodger in 2008.How the curse was killedAfter being stymied by Matt Moore for eight innings, the Cubs made the most of their one shot at the Giants bullpen. Javier Baez provided the go-ahead hit, but he wasnt the only star of a four-run ninth as Willson Contreras and Ben Zobrist also drove in runs during the NLDS-clinching rally.Next upNLCS Game 1: Saturday, October 15, 2016 | vs. Dodgers or NationalsWin probability shiftJavier Baezs go-ahead single increased the Cubs chance of winning by29.9%Chances of winning it allWith a 3-1 triumph in the NLDS, the Cubs are 8 wins away from the ultimate prize.39%Pictured: The Cubs celebrate during their ninth-inning rally in NLDS Game 4. Crushing the curse of the Gatorade gloveThe curseBefore there was Buckner in Boston, there was Leon Durham in Chicago. In Game 5 of the 1984 NLCS, Durhams error on a crucial play led to the Cubs exit. The cause of the first basemans poor glove work? A mitt soaked in Gatorade that spilled in the Chicago dugout.How the curse was killedHitting from pitchers led the Cubs in NLDS Game 2. Travis Wood homered after entering for Kyle Hendricks, who had a two-run single earlier in the game.Next upGame 3: Monday, October 10, 2016 | @ GiantsWin probability shiftTravis Woods home run increased the Cubs chances of winning by7.9%Chances of winning it allWith a 2-0 lead in the NLDS, the Cubs are 9 wins away from the ultimate prize.34%Pictured: Travis Wood celebrates after going deep for the Cubs. Crushing the Brock for Broglio curseThe curseOn June 15, 1964, the Cubs traded Lou Brock to the Cardinals for Ernie Broglio. Brock went on to a Hall of Fame career in St. Louis. Broglio? Hes best-known as a footnote in one of baseballs most lopsided trades.How the curse was killedWith one swing of the bat, Javier Baez put an end to Johnny Cuetos scoreless outing and carried the Cubs to an NLDS-opening victory.Next upGame 2: Saturday, October 8, 2016 | vs. GiantsWin probability shiftJavier Baezs home run increased the Cubs chances of winning by30.2%Chances of winning it allWith a 1-0 lead in the NLDS, the Cubs are 10 wins away from the ultimate prize.31%Pictured: Javier Baez hits a solo home run to put the Cubs up 1-0. ' ' '