Knocked off his board by an attacking shark, three-time world champion Mick Fanning punched the creature before escaping unharmed during the televised finals of a world surfing competition in South Africa on Sunday.

The Australian surfer was struck by the shark from behind and knocked into the water as he sat on his board awaiting his turn during the JBay Open in Jeffrey’s Bay in the Eastern Cape Province.

As he scanned the water, two fins appeared and with a splash he disappeared under the surface. He was next seen furiously trying to swim to safety before a rescuer pulled him out of the water.

“A big sigh of relief seeing Fanning in one piece,” a commentator was heard saying, on the video of the event posted on the World Surf League website.

“I felt something grab, get stuck in my leg rope and instantly jump away. And it just kept coming at my board,” Mr. Fanning said, once safe on the rescue boat.

Strikes back

Mr. Fanning said at first he swam away but then decided to defend himself and turned to punch the shark in the back.

“I saw it taking my board away and I just started cracking it,” he told a crowd that gathered around him once he was back on shore, referring to how he struck the shark.

“I’m totally fine. I’ve got nothing wrong with me,” Mr. Fanning said in an interview. “There’s a small depression in my board and my leg wrap [was] bitten. I’m just totally tripping out. To walk away from that, I’m just so stoked. Oh man.”

Mother relieved

Mr. Fanning’s mother, Elizabeth Osborne, who watched the incident live on television in Australia, wept as she told Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio the attack was “the worst thing I’ve ever seen happen to any of my family because it was just there in front of me.”

Ms. Osborne said she believed Fanning’s brother Sean, who died in a car accident 17 years ago, was watching over his sibling.

The World Surf League cancelled the remainder of the event and Mr. Fanning will split the prize money with fellow Australian surfer Julian Wilson, who was also in the water when the attack happened. The two will share second place.

“We are incredibly grateful that no one was seriously injured today [Sunday],” the league said in a statement. “Mick’s composure and quick acting in the face of a terrifying situation was nothing short of heroic.”

Occasional shark sightings

Commentator Ross Williams said there were occasionally shark sightings in and around events but an actual attack was very unusual.

“For it to happen in that fashion during the finals, where it actually showed that crazy aggression toward Mick Fanning, such a crazy thing,” he said on the video.

Dhaka: Bangladesh beat South Africa by seven wickets in the second one-day international to square the three-match series 1-1 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka on Sunday.

Asked to bowl first, Bangladesh dismissed South Africa cheaply for 162 runs in 46 overs before reaching 167-3 with 22.2 overs in hand. The third and final match of the series will be held in Chittagong on July 15.

Earlier, Nasir Hossain and Mustafizur Rahman claimed three wickets each as Bangladesh dismissed South Africa cheaply for 162 runs.

Seeking to stay alive in the three-match series after going down by eight wickets in Friday’s opening match, a spirited Bangladesh made regular breakthroughs to keep the visitors in check.

Nasir finished with a career best 3-26 while Mustafizur grabbed 3-38 as South Africa were bowled out to their lowest score against Bangladesh on a slow pitch at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.

Left-arm pacer Mustafizur struck first in the fifth over when he forced a leading edge from opener Quinton de Kock as Sabbir Rahman took a simple catch at backward point. Rubel Hossain, who made a comeback to the starting lineup for Jubair Hossain, made an instant impact by knocking the off stump off Hashim Amla (22).

New Delh: The Internet is going crazy on a lot of things.  Recently, this picture of a little baby in South Africa is puzzling many minds across the world.  According to many viral posts and blogs, this baby is the ‘darkest baby in the world’

Only because the baby is believed to be the ‘blackest baby in the world’, this photo is going viral. The baby has intense black skin and completely shiny black eyes, this picture is actually generating curiosity amongst many people all over the world.

Also, one is not able to see the white area around the black eyes of this baby which is quite an unusual thing.

Since it’s something weird and never seen before experience, many people find it hard to believe that this is a real baby and hence it is just another creation of photoshop or editing to generate excitement and curiosity amongst the people. The baby looks like a real doll.

The authenticity of this photo is still the hot topic for debates around.

It is for sure that the picture has generated curiosity, but the question is still not clear whether the baby really exists or is it just a normal dark skin colored doll!

Auckland: Johannesburg-born Grant Elliott hit a six off the penultimate ball to take New Zealand into their first World Cup final when they defeated the Proteas by four wickets in a rain-hit semi-final thriller at Eden Park on Tuesday.

Elliott smashed Dale Steyn into the stands as the South African native hit an undefeated 84 to earn a place in Sunday's title match in Melbourne where New Zealand will face either Australia or defending champions India.

Brendon McCullum made a 26-ball 59 and Corey Anderson (58) to also help the Black Caps to their rain-adjusted target of 298 after South Africa had made 281 for five batting first in a match reduced to 43 overs a side.

For South Africa, Faf de Plessis made 82, AB de Villiers was not out 65, while David Miller smashed an 18-ball 49.

With Duckworth–Lewis method coming into play, New Zealand need 298 runs to win the semifinal and reach their first World Cup final.

New Zealand chase began with a flurry of boundaries and sixes as Brendon McCullum smashed Steyn and Philander around the park with a lot of ease. While the Kiwi skipper scored 18 off Philander’s over, it was his six, over the covers, off Steyn’s bowling that stole the show.

The aggressive right-hander brought up his fifty in 22 balls as New Zealand dominated the South African bowling attack.

The run-rate dipped relatively after Imran Tahir bowled a maiden. While he could not get a wicket, he tested Guptill with guile and some sharp spin.

Then South Africa landed a big blow when Morne Morkel ended McCullum's blitz. The Kiwi captain decided to move down the wicket to hit Morkel over the infield. But he could not go past Dale Steyn, who was standing at mid-on, and got out in the eigth over.

Morne Morkel struck again when he dismissed Kane Williamson as the New Zealand batsman dragged one onto the stumps in the 9th over of the chase.

The pair of Ross Taylor and Martin Guptill then steadied the New Zealand innings, without compromising much on the run-rate. the duo scored 47 runs in 50 balls . But then a deja-vu of what happened during the game against West Indies took place; with a minor change of Guptill getting run-out.

Taylor pushed one towards point area and ran for a quick single but Amla made sure the slight confusion between the pair worked in South Africa's favour.

South Africa struck once again and dismissed Ross Taylor. The New Zealander tried to guide a Duminy-delivery towards the leg-side only ended giving an easy catch to wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock. New Zealand were 149/4 when Taylor got out.

Corey Anderson joined Grant Elliott in the middle. While the big left-hander hit a few lusty blows, the right-hander played his role sensibly to make sure that New Zealand maintained their run-rate. South Africa had a golden opportunity to break this partnership when a confusion between the New Zealand duo left Anderson stranded.

But of all the people, AB de Villiers messed up big time to prolong Corey's stay in the middle.

South Africa had to pay for letting off Anderson. The New Zealand all-roudner brough up his fifty and completed the 100-run partnership with Grant Elliott. For Elliott's credit, he did a fine job keeping his cool and accompanying Anderson as New Zealand fought hard.

However, their partnership was broken when Corey did not middle a Morne Morkel-delivery and Faf du Plessis held his nerve to take a fine catch.

Batting first, South Africa were edgy as Brendon McCullum attacked with three slips and a gully to put the Proteas under pressure. Quinton de Kock was beaten and in fact, edged one off Southee's bowling. Luckily for him, Ronchi could not hold onto a catch. Amla too looked shaky as he top edged off Southee's bowling but the ball could not carry to the fine-leg fielder. However, Amla's luck ran out as he dragged one off Trent Boult's bowling in the fourth over.

Boult struck once again in the eigth over to end Quinton de Kock's struggle and his stay in the middle. The South African wicketkeeper danced down the track to put pressure on the Kiwi pacer but only managed to edge one to third-man where Tim Southee made no mistake holding onto an easy catch. McCullum continued to attack with even more aggressive field placements to make sure South Africa did not get any breathing space. But Faf du Plessis and Rossouw managed to keep New Zealand bowlers at bay as the duo played safe in order to steady the South African innings after two early blows. The pair did not take too many chances and made sure South Africa get a few runs of the board.

But just when they looked good to bat for a long time, Martin Guptill's stunning catch off Corey Anderson's bowling broke the Rossouw-du Plessis's 83-run partnership and gave New Zealand their third breakthrough. But from thereon it was AB de Villiers and Faf du Plessis show as the South African duo counterattacked New Zealand. Faf, South Africa's T20 skipper brought up a much-needed half-century, fighting some hostile bowling from the Kiwis.

AB de Villiers, who survived a close run-out chance and what could have been a stunning catch, upped the scoring rate with some big hits.

The South African skipper completed his fifty in just 32 balls as the Proteas looked settled to post a big total on the board.

Just when the pair were tormenting the Kiwi attack, rain interrupted play at Eden Park.

South Africa lost Faf du Plessis in the first over after the play resumed following a rain interruption at Eden Park. While the on field umpire ruled du Plessis not out, Kiwis opted for a review and that ended Faf's stay in the middle.

However, David Miller straightaway hit the 'attack mode' as he smashed four boundaries in the 40th over bowled by Tim Southee. The  left-hander bulldozed New Zealand attack as he scored 49 off 18 balls to help South Africa post 281 runs on the board in 43 overs.

With Duckworth–Lewis method coming into play, New Zealand need 298 runs to win the semifinal and reach their first World Cup final.

Earlier, Matt Henry replaced injured Adam Milne for the Black Caps while Vernon Philander came in for Kyle Abbott for South Africa.

 

Sydney: AB de Villiers cut through years of cod psychology and analysis of South Africa's inability to win a World Cup with a simple statement of intent on Tuesday. Eight Quarter-finalists 

Wrapping up his news conference on the eve of the quarter-final against Sri Lanka, the Proteas captain was finally asked the question about his team's mental strength.

"All I can say is we're not going to choke tomorrow," he said. "We're going to play a good game of cricket and come out on top. Simple."

 
Just how good that performance would be was not too much of a concern for the 31-year-old either.

He has been in brilliant form and hit a magnificent unbeaten 162 from just 66 balls at the Sydney Cricket Ground to lead South Africa to a victory over West Indies earlier in the tournament.

He suggested, however, that he did not care whether victory came from another of his destructive innings or a rushed single from a tail-ender.

"We have to win tomorrow," he said. "That's what it comes down to, no one is going to ask us if we played exceptional cricket when we win the World Cup.

"We are just going to say that 'we won the Cup'. So we just want to find a way to win the game tomorrow."

South Africa have never won a knockout match in their six World Cups and De Villiers said from his experience in two earlier tournaments, Proteas sides have tended to over-analyses ahead of big matches.

De Villiers gave his team the day off training on Tuesday and said they were trying to keep everything as simple as possible.

"We're a bunch of good guys, we really enjoy each other's company," he added.

"There's enough laughing, there's enough stress, there's enough nerves, there's enough good cricket, there's enough bad cricket, we've got a mixture of everything in this team.

"We've just got to find a way to win tomorrow, that's my message to the guys. I believe we're ready for that."

After South Africa suffered both of their defeats at this World Cup when batting second, some pundits believe the toss will be crucial to deciding which team reaches the semi-finals.

De Villiers disagreed.

"I'm not too worried about that," he said.

"Whatever happens tomorrow, we'll try to adjust as quickly as possible and whether we bat or bowl first, try to find a way to run through them if we bowl first and if we don't, try to find a way to post a big total."

Johannesburg: The news of a man getting a penis transplant has gone viral, and now it has been revealed how the procedure was actually done.

 

The 21-year-old patient, whose identity has been kept anonymous, had to have his penis amputated 3 years back following life threatening complications caused by a traditional circumcision, the News24.com reported.

 

Professor Andre van der Merwe at the University of Stellenbosch conducted the operation, where the doctors fashioned a penis from abdominal skin for the donor.

 

The operation lasted for nine-hours, and was the first successful penis transplant in the world with long-term results, after one previous attempt failed.

 

Van der Merwe said that their aim was for it to be fully functional at 2 years and Professor Frank Graewe, who assisted in the operation, added that the breakthrough has proved that the transplant was possible.

 

It is believed that now nine more patients are to receive the penis transplant.

 

Canberra: South Africa put one foot in the World Cup quarter-finals by batting past the 400-run mark for the second successive match to hand Ireland a thumping defeat by 201 runs with five overs to spare at Manuka Oval on Tuesday.

Hashim Amla hit his highest one-day score with a majestic 159 and Faf du Plessis grabbed a century to drive the Proteas to 411 for four before Ireland, despite some stiff resistance from their middle and lower orders, were dismissed for 210.

The Irish were unbeaten in the tournament coming into this Pool B clash but were simply outclassed in all departments by the in-form South Africans, who crushed West Indies by 257 runs in Sydney on Friday.

That victory had been set up by AB de Villiers' 162 in a total of 408 for five but on Tuesday it was opener Amla who led the way as South Africa fell just two runs short of the World Cup record innings tally.

The record would surely have fallen had Irish off-spinner Andy McBrine not removed Amla and de Villiers (24), the two top-ranked batsmen in the world, in three balls in the 42nd over.

Amla had been dropped on 10 and should have been run out on 104 but otherwise batted with his trademark calmness and at one stage it looked like he would match Chris Gayle's double century on the same pitch last Tuesday.

As measured as his captain de Villiers is explosive, Amla reached his 20th one-day century at a run-a-ball in a partnership of 247 with Du Plessis -- a record second-wicket stand for South Africa.

The 31-year-old's 159 came off 128 balls and he had hit 16 fours and four sixes by the time he holed out to Ed Joyce in the deep, 36 overs after the former England batsman had dropped him at midwicket off Kevin O'Brien's first delivery.

Amla has scored his 20 one-day centuries in fewer innings than any other batsman, taking 108 knocks compared to the 133 it took India's Virat Kohli to reach the mark.

Du Plessis made his 109 from as many balls for his fourth ODI century, while Rilee Rossouw confirmed his fine form with a second successive quickfire innings of 61.

Ireland's renown as a side capable of chasing big targets was always going to be sorely tested by a South African bowling unit led by Dale Steyn, who took 2-39 in his 100th one-day international.

The paceman, bowling at speeds approaching the 150 kph mark, picked up two early wickets and Kyle Abbott pitched in with three to reduce Ireland to 48-5 in the 11th over.

Andrew Balbirnie and Kevin O'Brien stopped the rot with a 81-run partnership that ended when the former was caught in the deep by Rossouw off Morne Morkel for 58.

O'Brien batted on as de Villiers gave all but three of the team a bowl but departed for 48 when Abbott (4-21) returned to claim his first four-wicket haul in one-day internationals.

Sydney: AB de Villiers' brilliant unbeaten 162 from just 66 balls and Imran Tahir's five-wicket haul drove South Africa to a 257-run win over West Indies in their World Cup Pool B clash on Friday.

Powered by AB de Villiers' breathtaking 166, South Africa scored 408 runs in 50 overs.

Needing 409 runs to win, West Indies hoped for a Gayle show. But the left-hander could only score 3 and was dismissed Kyle Abbott. The right-arm pacer struck again to send Marlon Samuels, who scored a ton against Zimbabwe, packing.

West Indies continued to stumble further as Morne Morkel got Carter out. imran Tahir was next to strike after the leg-spinner ended Dwayne Smith's stay in the middle to give South Africa their fourth wicket. Tahir was quick to add one more wicket to his account when he caught Simmons plumb in front.

Tahir continued to run riot as he scalped two more wickets in one over, dismantling the West Indies batting and taking South Africa inches closer to a huge victory.

While Jason Holder scored a fifty, his fifty was never enough to resurrect West Indies' inning. South Africa eventually ended West Indies innings for 151, sealing a huge 257-run win.

Earlier, the Proteas skipper utilised his full repertoire of strokes in an awesome display of batting, peppering the boundaries at a sun-bathed Sydney Cricket Ground with eight sixes and 17 fours in a 104-minute innings that will live long in the memory.

He shared stands of 134 runs with Rilee Rossouw (61), another of 48 with David Miller (20) and a third of 80 with Farhaan Behardien (10) to turn around his country's innings after West Indies had made a promising start to the match.

By the end of his knock, the crowd were on their feet chanting "AB!, AB!, AB!" as the 31-year-old, who reached his century with a six from the 52nd ball he faced, accelerated towards the finishing line.

His 64-ball 150 is also the fastest in one-day international history.

South Africa were desperate to kickstart their campaign after their 130-run defeat to India and De Villiers had given them every chance of doing so by the time he walked of the field.

West Indies, charged with confidence after their defeat of Zimbabwe on Tuesday, had initially looked a completely different side to the rabble that lost their tournament opener to Ireland.

Skipper Jason Holder and to a lesser extent Jerome Taylor got menacing bounce off the wicket with the new ball and opener Quinton de Kock (12) departed in the sixth over.

Hashim Amla (65) and Faf du Plessis (62) then put together a second wicket partnership of 127 but the disciplined West Indies kept up the pressure.

Amla smashed a huge six to bring up his half century off 75 balls, though, and Du Plessis almost matched the feat for his fifty only for the ball to fall just short of the boundary rope.

West Indies desperately needed a breakthrough and it fell to Chris Gayle, whose innings of 215 fired the Zimbabwe victory, to provide it in the 30th over.

Du Plessis was brilliantly caught behind by Denesh Ramdin off an edge and two balls later Amla was trapped lbw, Gayle celebrating reducing the South Africans to 146-3 with a dance down the wicket.

That brought Rossouw and De Villiers to the middle and they wasted no time in taking the game to their opponents, rattling up a fifty partnership in just over half an hour from 39 balls.

Rossouw, brought into the side in place of JP Duminy, also brought up his half century with a flourish, slapping a rising delivery into the grandstand for a six.