SINGAPORE: United States great Katie Ledecky beat Summer McIntosh in a titanic three-way battle to win a thrilling 800m freestyle world title in Singapore on Saturday.
Ledecky won her seventh career gold in the event but she was challenged like never before, touching the wall in a championship-record 8min 05.62sec -- a fingertip ahead of Australia's Lani Pallister (8:05.98) and McIntosh (8:07.29).
It was Canadian sensation McIntosh's first defeat of the championships and ended her bid to match Michael Phelps as the only swimmer ever to win five individual golds at a single world championships.
The 18-year-old has already won three golds this week in Singapore.
Ledecky, 28, had too much staying power for her younger rival, with Pallister also in gold-medal contention until the final lunge for the line.
"They pushed me all the way," said Ledecky, a four-time Olympic champion in the event.
"I'm just really happy I could put that together. I just kept telling myself to trust my legs."
The race was billed as a potential changing of the guard, with McIntosh in red-hot form.
She had also threatened Ledecky's world record earlier this year.
Pallister was determined to insert her name into the conversation as well, as the Australian kept pace with Ledecky and McIntosh in a fast start.
The lead changed hands several times but Ledecky, swimming between her two rivals, looked best-placed to strike for home.
In the end it was the American celebrating with her country's flag on the pool deck after an epic race.
"I think I just came into tonight trying to enjoy it as much as I can," said Ledecky.
"I don't feel like I have much to lose at this point in my career.
"I just try to enjoy it every time I get to walk out in front of a crowd like this."
Ledecky wins 800m freestyle world title in thriller
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Ledecky wins 800m freestyle world title in thriller
- United States great Katie Ledecky beat Summer McIntosh to win a thrilling 800m freestyle world title in Singapore on Saturday
Abrar’s four wicket haul helps Pakistan skittle South Africa for 143
- Quinton de Kock led South Africa with 53 off 70 balls after a strong opening stand
- Pakistan’s spinners triggered a collapse as the visitors lost nine wickets for 56 runs
FAISALABAD: Spinner Abrar Ahmed took a career-best four wicket haul as Pakistan dismissed South Africa for a paltry 143 in the third and final one-day international in Faisalabad on Saturday.
The 27-year-old grabbed 4-27 while fellow spinner Salman Agha (2-18) and pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi (2-18) shared wickets as only four batters crossed double figures after South Africa won the toss and batted.
The series is level at 1-1 with Pakistan winning the first game by two wickets and South Africa took the second by eight wickets, both in Faisalabad.
Quinton de Kock followed his hundred in the second match with a top score of 53 off 70 balls with a six and six boundaries while Lhuan-dre Pretorius knocked a 45-ball 39 with a six and four boundaries.
De Kock and Pretorius set the platform with a 72-run opening stand before the spinners hit back for Pakistan as the visitors lost their nine wickets for 56 runs.
Agha dismissed Pretorius and Tony de Zorzi for two in the space of 15 runs before left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz ended all hopes of a big total with the wicket of De Kock in the 25th over.
Abrar jolted the innings by dismissing Rubin Hermann (one), Donovan Ferreira (seven) and Corbin Bosch (nought) in successive overs.
He then ended skipper Matthew Breetzke’s resistence-filled 16 to improve on his previous best of 4-33 which came against Zimbabwe in Harare last year.
Shaheen had Nqabayomzi Peter (16) and Lungi Ngidi (nought) to wrap the innings in the 38th over.
