Lionel Messi's Argentina career began in 2005 with an absurd red card in a friendly against Hungary after he was adjudged to have thrown an elbow at a defender. Fourteen years later, equally bizarre circumstances saw him sent off for the second time in his career.

With eight minutes to go until half-time in the Copa America's game for third place that Argentina ultimately won 2-1, there is no doubt that he was guilty of a push on Chile's Gary Medel, who responded by repeatedly charging Messi with his chest. What followed, though, was hardly warranted.

The incident came after a series of fouls by both teams and led to referee Mauro Diaz de Vivar trying too hard to compensate for losing control. The Paraguayan official was never likely to have an easy game and, with scuffles breaking out across the pitch, he sent Messi and Medel off. After several more minutes of remonstrating and protest, both men left the pitch.

Argentina had taken the field driven by a sense of injustice, wounded by refereeing decisions that did not go their way in Tuesday's semifinal against Brazil. Chile, meanwhile, were fuelled by the bittersweet -- but mainly bitter -- sensation that an era was ending.

This was surely the last time that the greatest team in the country's history, Copa champions in 2015 and 16, would play together. They did not want to go out with a whimper, but quickly found themselves two goals down, with Argentina's sharp attack finding gaps in an ageing defence.

The ball may have been rolling when, after 12 minutes, Messi took a quick free kick to find a characteristically intelligent run by Sergio Aguero, who finished with aplomb. Ten minutes later, Giovani Lo Celso's delightful defence-splitting pass was collected by Pablo Dybala for Argentina's second.

Messi set up Dybala for what probably should have been the third, but the Juventus striker volleyed just wide, and it looked like a rout might be in the offing. But this great Chilean generation had no intention of being humiliated as they left the scene and the game turned ugly, with flare-ups and fouls aplenty.

Out of his depth, Diaz de Vivar overreacted. Perhaps the old ploy of trying to establish control by sending off one player from each side was premeditated or maybe he convinced himself that the next flashpoint would give him a chance to reach for the red and re-establish his authority.

But it was foolish. Medel, perhaps, was pushing his luck, but Messi had done nothing to merit his marching orders. Many of the Sao Paulo crowd had come to see the Argentinean No. 10 and they made the referee well aware of their feelings.

The knock-on effect for Argentina is that, if the red card stands, Messi will be suspended for the start of World Cup qualifying next year. Before then, though, there is some serious thinking to do.

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- Copa America: All you need to know
- Full Copa America fixtures schedule

Caretaker coach Lionel Scaloni has been told he will stay in charge until the end of the year. If he is not going to be retained long-term, then that seems bizarre. Friendlies in September, October and November are vital for whipping the team into shape, so it makes no sense to keep a temporary coach, unless the top choice is not yet available.

There is much speculation that River Plate's Marcelo Gallardo will be the new man, but he might not want to free himself from club duties while his side are still in contention for the Copa Libertadores title they won against Boca Juniors earlier this year.

Scaloni would appear to want to stay on and can use the argument that his side finished the Copa America much better than they started the competition, but the truth is that Argentina's poor start was in large part down to the incoherence of the temporary coach.

He took over last August shouting loud about a new style based upon winning the ball, transferring it quickly to the wingers and being in a position to shoot within three or four seconds. The problem was that the idea did not work once Messi was available; Argentina could not possibly field him, as well as two open wingers and a centre forward.

The last few weeks have seen Scaloni trying to find a way out of the confusion that he created and, to his credit, by the end of the Copa his team was more compact and had created a circuit of passing through the middle of the field that brought Messi into play strikers working heroically.

The opening half hour against Chile featured Argentina's best football of the tournament and the opening goal -- that quick free kick from Messi to Aguero -- brought back memories of the Diego Maradona-inspired strike by Claudio Caniggia against Nigeria in the 1994 World Cup.

Argentina await their first senior title since the year before that goal, when they won the 1993 Copa America in Ecuador, but while it is striking that so many talented attackers have not subsequently been able to get their hands on silverware, the main problems are at the other end of the pitch.

Lack of defensive pace remains a thorn in the side. Scaloni has changed some of the names, but the way that Paraguay scored in group-stage play, as well as the nature of Brazil's second goal in the semifinal, highlights the need for a new generation of quicker, better defenders.

Chile, meanwhile, need a new generation of everything. They pushed themselves as hard as they could in this tournament, but there is only ever one winner in the long-term battle between athlete and time. It was fitting in a way that, when Alexis Sanchez limped off early in this game, he was replaced by Junior Fernandes, himself 31.

Results will suffer, but a major rebuilding job is unavoidable and it will begin in their next game: A September friendly in the U.S., against Argentina.

Usman Khawaja and Marcus Stoinis are fitness doubts for Australia ahead of their World Cup semi-final after both sustained injuries during defeat to South Africa at Old Trafford.

Khawaja retired hurt on 6 with what was subsequently described as a "hamstring strain" by a team spokesperson and will undergo a scan on Sunday. His captain, Aaron Finch, admitted he was not especially optimistic about the outcome.

"It doesn't look ideal for Usman," Finch said. "He'll have a scan tomorrow and if we need a replacement - and I think we will - but until you get the definitive scan it's hard to know. But it's not looking great for him, in all honesty. He's done a couple of hamstrings before and he said it feels a bit similar."

Australia's other concern is over Stoinis, who clutched his right side after throwing a ball in from the boundary and only bowled three overs. He then received treatment while batting and was run-out when it appeared he was unwilling - or unable - to stretch and dive when called through for a sharp run by his partner, David Warner.

Stoinis had previously suffered an injury to his other side earlier in the tournament. He, too, will undergo scans on both sides on Sunday.

"Marcus is just a bit sore in his side," Finch said. "We'll have to wait for the scans."

Australia have already lost Shaun Marsh in recent days. Marsh was hit by a delivery from Pat Cummins while batting in the nets and subsequently diagnosed with a broken arm. Peter Handscomb has joined the squad as his replacement.

Watch on Hotstar (India only) - David Warner's 122

There was some silver lining in losing to South Africa. Had Australia won, they would have been obliged to play in the first semi-final on Tuesday. As it is, defeat means they have to play in the second semi-final on Thursday, giving their players slightly longer to recover.

They also know they have reinforcements close at hand. Australia A are currently touring England, so any potential replacements should be able to join up with the senior squad quickly having already acclimatised to conditions.

But it was something of a surprise when Khawaja returned to complete his innings after Australia lost their seventh wicket. Their pursuit seemed almost hopeless at that stage - they required 51 runs off 28 balls - and Khawaja ran the risk of exacerbating the injury. As it was, he added another 12 runs and was unable to pull off an unlikely victory.

ALSO READ: Du Plessis leads South Africa to consolation victory

"He didn't aggravate it," Finch said. "It didn't work out the way we planned, but he put the team first, which is a great quality to have. He was more than happy to go back out."

The desperation Australia showed in the final moments of the match, however - not least in sending Khawaja back out to bat - and the disappointment they showed in defeat did suggest they would have rather played in the first semi-final. Not only would that have avoided the need to travel - the first semi-final is in Manchester, where Australia have been based for some time - but they would have faced New Zealand who would appear to be, according to the rankings at least, the weakest of the four teams left in the competition.

As it is, Australia will face the No. 1-rated hosts at Edgbaston, where England have won their last 10 international games.

Steph Twell wins individual race as Eilish McColgan leads Britain to European Cup team victory at Parliament Hill in London

Steph Twell had what many believe was her greatest race as a senior as she won the women’s event at the Night of the 10,000m PBs in a superb 31:08.13.

It gave her a clear win over last year’s winner Lonah Chemtai Salpeter of Israel and moved her to sixth all time in the UK as third-placed Eilish McColgan moved to seventh with 31:16.76.

Twell plans to tackle the Berlin Marathon this autumn, however, instead of the IAAF World Championships in Doha, while similarly McColgan hopes to focus on the 5000m in Doha instead of the 10,000m.

The women’s championships race was the penultimate event of the meeting and athletes had their eyes on the World Championships qualifying mark of 31:50 and initially a huge group were on pace including seven Britons at 2km although many would pay for their aggressive starts,

Salpeter ignored the pacemakers and blasted the first lap in 73 seconds and after a kilometre in 3:05.70 she had a three-second lead on a main pack which was led by pacemakers Roselida Jepketer and Eva Cherono with McColgan, Twell and Alice Wright near the front.

By 3km the Israeli (9:18.55) had extended the lead to seven seconds, which closed a little at 4km (12:28.33 to 12:34.94) and it was similar as Salpeter led past halfway in 15:37.62 to the chasing pack’s 15:43.09 with Twell and McColgan still well placed.

The margin was the same at 6km (18:44.57) but at 7km (21:53.58) the gap was down to five (21:58.17). In the next kilometre Twell closed but McColgan had to let go.

At 8km Salpeter (25:01.28) was barely ahead of Cherono, who dropped out, and a strong-looking Twell (25:03.25). With four laps remaining it was down to the two with Twell on Salpeter’s shoulder but seemingly biding her time.

At 9km in 28:09.86 there was barely a stride between them as a huge crowd at the Parliament Hill venue roared their support.

Twell made her move on the penultimate lap when she saw a big group ahead that she was about to lap and she powered through the bell. Completing the final kilometre in 2:58 she won by over seven seconds.

She said: “I can’t believe how easy I felt and I’m delighted. The crowd were amazing. I’ve never heard a roar like that and it really lifted me.”

Twell was shortly after celebrating with her mentor Wendy Sly and a glass of Prosecco, although the Aldershot athlete was curiously not actually part of the GB winning team.

McColgan was, however, and she ran her usual superb last lap and almost caught Salpeter, who ran 31:15.78 and won the European Cup from the Scot.

“I wanted to win but I’m pleased with that and the time,” said McColgan, who was also watched by her mother, Liz, the former world champion at the distance. “This is one of the best events I’ve ever done in terms of atmosphere and support.”

Liz Westphall and Fionnuala  McCormack completed the top five whereas other Britons to place highly were Wright 9th in 32:27.57, Verity Ockenden 12th in 32:34.47, Charlotte Arter 14th in 32:40.63 and Sarah Inglis 17th in 32:52.51.

The women’s B race highlighted the pacer lights perfectly as the runners stayed around the 33:00-paced light almost all the way. Emily Hosker-Thornhill helped in the traditional pacer method and stayed within the lead group for 20 minutes after halfway was reached in 16:29 before ending her workout. Elinor Kirk also helped with the pacing but they were the only two Brits in the race.

With a 72-second last lap, Belgium’s Nina Lauwaert won in 32:52.29 narrowly ahead of Belarus athlete Nina Savina (32:52.66) and Sevilay Eytemis of Turkey (32:54.66).

Such is the progress of women’s 10,000m running thanks to this event it was notable that while a few years ago there was one competitor in the British Championships that here the C race alone had 33 women.

Most were Brits but the race was led home by Hanne Verbruggen of Belgium, who won in 33:30.67 and who said she would have run in the B race but her national federation omitted to enter her.

Abbie Donnelly was the leading Brit in third in 33:56.13. With runners spread over four minutes this was one of the few events to encounter lapping problem and both Sophie Harris and Charlene Jacobs-Conradie thought they had finished after getting the bell prematurely the lap before but were persuaded by the AW correspondent to reluctantly complete another lap!

During Wimbledon, six-time Grand Slam doubles champion Jamie Murray is writing a column for BBC Sport. In his second, he discusses his mixed start to the tournament, brother Andy's partnership with Serena Williams, and his ambition to help the tennis stars of the future.

My men's doubles partner Neal Skupski and I lost in the first round of Wimbledon on Friday and it was a disappointing result. We got outplayed by Ivan Dodig and Filip Polasek and lost 2-6 7-6 (7-2) 3-6 6-1 6-4.

Those guys played really well. They played very aggressively and were serving big, so we just got overrun a bit, which was unfortunate.

Play had started on Thursday but was suspended because of bad light, and it was disappointing for us not to be able to finish the match then because we were looking stronger, but that was just bad luck on our part and it didn't work out so well for us.

Unfortunately, it was just one of those things. It's only really at Wimbledon that it happens - at other tournaments, it only occurs if there are strong winds or you get rain. It's happened to me a few times before and it is never ideal because you have to start again from scratch; it's a new day, new feelings.

It also gives the players of both teams time to speak to their coaches, and to get a better handle on what has been happening in the match.

It changes the momentum in a way because it's a fresh start. We were just unlucky because I think we were the only court that didn't finish that night.

Neither Neal nor I felt that we did a lot wrong. It's a new partnership and I think we both felt good together on the court.

We didn't have great results instantaneously but that doesn't mean we're not going to be a good team and have a successful partnership going forward. We haven't lost any belief at all in the team. We just have to look ahead now and prepare for the hard court season.

'I'm really happy we won our mixed doubles opener'

Later on Friday afternoon, I had my first round mixed doubles match with my partner Bethanie Mattek-Sands. We beat Joe Salisbury and Katy Dunne 7-5 7-6 (10-8) but it took me a little while to get going because it was pretty soon after the disappointment of the men's doubles.

Bethanie is great fun, a great character and a great player as well, and she's a good partner to have in that situation. I was really happy that we were able to get the win and hopefully we will have a good few matches together over the next week.

Moving from clay to grass takes a bit of adjusting. On clay, you're sliding around, the ball is bouncing up and you're having to play a lot of balls around shoulder height.

But then you get on grass and you need a lot of small adjustment steps. The ball is bouncing lower so you are using a lot of different, smaller muscles and you need a stability that maybe you don't need on other surfaces.

You're able to move the ball around a lot more too. On serve, you can swing the ball a lot more so you get a lot more help from the grass courts than you would on other courts.

I prefer playing on hard courts; that is where I have had all my best results throughout my career. I do like playing on grass, but it's such a short season and sometimes it feels like it's over before it's even started.

'Andy and Serena playing together is very unique'

I think it's really cool that Andy has partnered up with Serena Williams in the mixed doubles. We didn't speak about it before it was announced, but it's great for the event because it puts it in the spotlight a lot more than it normally would be.

You've got two greats of the game competing with each other. We never get that at a Grand Slam, so it's a very unique situation.

Hopefully, they can compete hard and play until the end of the tournament because it would be great for the event of mixed doubles.

There was a lot of build-up pre-match and it was fun to see them playing in front of a packed Centre Court on Saturday night.

'I want to coach when I finish playing'

I have recently launched a YouTube channel because I wanted to document my life as a tennis player, because it's a very unique life that we live.

I wanted to showcase all the things we have to go through in our daily lives that the public wouldn't see. They see us on TV hitting tennis balls but they don't necessarily see what goes into getting us onto the match court in terms of the preparation.

There will also be a lot of instructional videos going up, with tips, advice and tactics on the game, and on training. Singles and doubles are very different and I just thought it would be interesting for people to see how we train.

I would like to coach once my playing career is over, but whether I would like to coach on the Tour, I'm not sure, because I have been travelling for so long.

I would like to help some of the younger players in our country. Not a lot of people have made it to the top of the game and can therefore share their experiences. I certainly feel that's something I would be passionate and enthusiastic about.

Jamie Murray was speaking to BBC Sport's Katie Falkingham at Wimbledon.

This story appears in the July issue of Sprint Car & Midget Magazine and the full version can be viewed at www.sprintcarandmidget.com. This story requires a print subscription to Sprint Car & Midget Magazine or online subscription to www.sprintcarandmidget.com to read.

He’s the winningest driver in USAC National Sprint Car Series history, one of just six members of USAC’s Triple Crown club of drivers having won championships in all three major USAC divisions, one of the most popular drivers in USAC history, and a 2017 inductee to the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame. He’s still fast; last season he earned three USAC National Sprint Car Series feature wins. And yet, he currently has no fulltime ride.

We sat down with Dave Darland to talk about his career in the sport, from beginning through to today, to find out what comes next.

SC&M: This year, you started out the season with Chase Briscoe Racing and you were set to run for them all season, but that didn’t work out. What happened?

DAVE DARLAND: The sponsor money they were needing to get for that situation just didn’t come through. The money connection just didn’t come through for just a couple different reasons there. So, we were looking forward to running for the Briscoes – you know they’ve got a good team and Chase and Kevin and Dick Briscoe have been friends of mine for all my life, going back to Dick and Kevin. I was certainly looking forward to driving for that team with Chase Briscoe, and Brady Short as the mechanic and another guy on the team that I’m buddies with. You know, we were gonna have some fun. Just, unfortunately it didn’t materialize.

Read the full Sprint Car & Midget Magazine exclusive story by clicking here.

Argentina secured third place at the Copa America with a 2-1 victory over Chile in an eventful consolation playoff that saw Lionel Messi sent off for just the second time in his career.

Sergio Aguero and Paulo Dybala fired the 1993 Copa winners to an early lead, but Messi's red card stole the headlines after a clash with Chile defender Gary Medel just before half-time.

- Copa America: All you need to know
- Full Copa America fixtures schedule

With Argentina up 2-0, Messi put in a hard challenge on Medel who was shepherding the ball out of play. The two players then aggressively bumped chests a number of times before the match referee intervened and immediately flashed reds for both.

The expulsion marked the first time the Barcelona forward had been sent off in a senior game for club or country since his debut with the national team in 2005.

With Messi out, Chile converted a penalty 14 minutes after the restart to cut Argentina's lead in half -- Arturo Vidal beating Franco Armani after a VAR review.

The defending champs could get no closer, however, as Argentina held out for the win in Sao Paulo.

Dhananjaya de Silva tossed an offbreak on fourth stump. The ball was in the slot. Rohit Sharma stood his ground and hit an inside-out six high over extra cover. Effortlessly. It was a full-blooded stroke as the ball banged the advertising board and rolled back on to the playing turf. Two balls later Rohit charged Dhananjaya, without even bothering about the line of attack, disposing the ball high over the sightscreen at the Kirkstall Lane end. The ball hit the railings on the second tier and bounced back on to the turf.

In those two massive hits, Rohit destroyed Dhananjaya's plans and confidence. Sri Lanka had elected to bat thinking the pitch would become far slower in the afternoon and take turn, thus bringing the spinner into play. In a matter of minutes, Rohit threw Dhananjaya out of the equation.

The sound of ball hitting Rohit's bat is sweet. It does not reverberate possibly the same way as the sound of the ball hitting Virat Kohli's bat. Kohli's batting looks definitive due to his electric body language. It's preciseness. It's compactness. It can be robotic.

Rohit's languid body movements make his strokes flow. You admire the quality of Kohli's strokeplay. Rohit's strokes give a realisation that his artistry is simple but unattainable. Yet, there is this instant delight they bring, along with an instant affection for Rohit.

WATCH on Hotstar - Rohit's fifth ton of the World Cup (India only)

Ten runs short of becoming the first batsman to make five hundreds in a World Cup edition, Rohit lined up to face Lasith Malinga, playing his final World Cup match. Malinga flung a low, straight full-toss, wide of off stump. Rohit was static. Having read the line, he calmly brought the bat down, opened the blade and punched a square drive that beat the three-man net cast exactly to block such a stroke. The only thing the three fielders - two points and the short cover - could do was stare in disbelief. The only thing you, as a fan, can do is exclaim: "Shot."

The man has six centuries in World Cup history, the same now as the great Sachin Tendulkar, who played half a dozen editions to achieve that incredible feat. This is Rohit's second World Cup, having sorely missed India's triumph at home in 2011. He does not want to lament or regret anymore what might have happened. What matters, he says, is being a good head space, something his good friend Yuvraj Singh advised him before this World Cup.

Before the 2011 edition of the tournament, Yuvraj was not scoring fluently and was worried. This IPL, Rohit, too, was not striking fluently and the big scores were absent. But by being in a "good space", Rohit has managed to get over his insecurities and doubts. Being in a good space has allowed him to create a good energy in the dressing room. It has allowed him to help his new-found opening partner KL Rahul settle down.

Both men were brought together in the needle contest against Pakistan for the first time. Rahul scored a half-century, Rohit a century, the pair setting up the highest opening stand in India-Pakistan contests in the World Cup. Then against Afghanistan, in the following match, they barely managed to get double digits in the first half of the first Powerplay segment. Their lack of intent forced even Tendulkar to question their approach. Against Bangladesh, Rohit and Rahul scored 69 runs in the first Powerplay, India's best start. Against Sri Lanka was their second-best, as India made 59 in the first 10 overs.

Rahul maintained an even tempo as he constructed his maiden World Cup century. It took him a lot of belief, a lot of frustration, a lot of patience. He did it eventually. His reaction - just like Rohit's - upon reaching the century, was solemn: a wave to the dressing room and the fans. The start-stop-stutter routine prevalent in his previous innings was not repeated.

WATCH on Hotstar - KL Rahul's 118-ball 111 (India only)

Rahul was thankful to Rohit, when he spoke to former India batsman VVS Laxman during the post-match chat with Star India. The beauty of his senior opening partner's success was in the "ease" with which he has been able to score the runs. "The way he has been able to change his gears, the way he has been able to manoeuvre and hit gaps is just outstanding to see. It just takes the pressure off me."

The vulnerability of the lower order must have been on the Rohit's mind, considering he did not accelerate as fluidly as in the past, where he would end up with massive scores. Against England, where India chased for the second time, Rohit scored a century, but it lacked the oomph and the command. Worse, he could not carry on till the end.

But in the last two matches, both openers have finally established the chemistry that openers need. Both Rohit and Rahul have alternated to pile pressure on the opposition. The runs have flowed. The middle order worries have not vanished, but subsided. Amazingly, the openers' success - including Shikhar Dhawan, who scored a half-century and a ton in the two innings he played before injury ruled him out - has not allowed Kohli to get enough batting time on several occasions. Kohli will not lose sleep as long as his men are performing their roles.

Rohit and Rahul were clinical in the chase as they flattened Sri Lanka. Even Malinga, magical against England, was rendered ineffective. As Rohit said later, it was important India keep ticking all the boxes they wanted to before the semi-finals where they could not afford many mistakes.

At a personal level, the biggest success for Rohit this World Cup has been his discipline. His hunger.

Talking to Sanjay Manjrekar during a post-match chat with the host broadcaster, Rohit described that hunger nicely. "I come out thinking that I have not played any ODIs," he said. "I have not got any hundreds in the tournament. It is just the first game in the tournament."

Chris Gayle keeps telling the world he is the Universe Boss. He once was. Rohit Sharma is the true Universe Boss in ODI cricket. And when he bosses around, India boss around.

South Africa 325 for 6 (du Plessis 100, van der Dussen 95, Lyon 2-53) beat Australia 315 all out (Warner 122, Carey 85, Rabada 3-56)

They have one foot on the plane home, and South Africa have finally turned up at the World Cup. In the final league game of the tournament, the Proteas corrected many of the mistakes that had plagued their campaign to secure a consolatory 10-run victory over Australia at Old Trafford.

Their batsmen have struggled to convert starts, yet here there were very nearly two tons scored, Faf du Plessis leading the way with a round 100 and Rassie van der Dussen backing him up with 95. Kagiso Rabada has struggled for incision in the UK, but he bounced back with three vital wickets. And where they have wilted under pressure in previous games, South Africa steeled themselves to come out ahead in the crunch moments, holding the catches that mattered and weathering David Warner's third hundred of the World Cup and a career-best knock from Alex Carey to secure a winning end to the ODI careers of Imran Tahir and JP Duminy.

The result means that it's the old firm, Australia v England, who will meet in the second semi-final at Edgbaston on Thursday. New Zealand will play India in the first semi, here at Old Trafford, on Tuesday.

Twenty years on from the Greatest ODI Ever, this wasn't quite the game it could have been had South Africa's campaign through this tournament charted a different course. But on a day when 640 runs were scored and the final result was not decided until the penultimate delivery of the match, this was still an excellent exhibition of cricket, and du Plessis, accepting the Player of the Match award, said that South Africa's first World Cup win over Australia since 1992 meant they would at least " go home with a smile, a small smile".

Watch on Hotstar (India only) - Faf du Plessis' 100

Du Plessis also had a smile on his face when he brought up a cathartic hundred in the 43rd over. He got close in South Africa's last match against Sri Lanka, finishing on 96 not out while completing a nine-wicket win, but if there was any team against which you'd back du Plessis to score a hundred, it's probably Australia. He now has eight tons against them, across formats, and averages well over 50 against Australia in ODIs. "I do like playing against Australia, I've tried to figure out why I bat nicely when I play them as compared to the other teams," he said afterwards.

Whatever the reasons, Australia certainly seem to bring out a defiant streak in him, and a keenness for a scrap. It was there in his hundred on Test debut in Adelaide almost seven years ago, in his four previous hundreds against them in ODIs, and it was there again as he hit Mitchell Starc out of the attack early in his knock, and charged Pat Cummins to smite him back over his head later on.

He was helped along the way by van der Dussen, who once again showed the composure that is becoming his calling card during a 151-run third wicket stand. Van der Dussen seemed to have been ruffled when he was struck on the head by a Cummins bouncer before he had reached double figures, offering up three half-chances in the space of two overs thereafter, but once he settled back down he gave further indications that he will be a vital part of South Africa's immediate post-World Cup future and came within a couple of feet of clearing Glenn Maxwell in the deep and bringing up what would have been a maiden international ton off the last ball of the innings.

He didn't quite get there, but he and du Plessis had done enough for South Africa to build a challenging total from what was - by far - their best start of the tournament with the bat. With Hashim Amla sidelined by an injury picked up during a warm-up game of football on Friday, Aiden Markram opened with Quinton de Kock and together they cruised through the Powerplay at seven an over before they were eventually parted by Nathan Lyon.

Australia needed a similarly rapid start from their openers to set up their chase, but du Plessis decision to open the bowling with Tahir brought immediate dividends. Finch chipped the first ball of Tahir's second over to a diving Markram in the covers, and for the last time in ODI cricket Tahir set off on a solo celebratory run into the outfield.

Worse was to come for Australia as Usman Khawaja tweaked a hamstring running between the wickets and had to leave the field having faced just five deliveries. Khawaja came out to bat later in the innings, but Finch admitted that things "don't look ideal" afterwards and he could join Shaun Marsh on the injury list ahead of the semi-final. And his wasn't the only injury worry for Australia, with Marcus Stoinis also batting through some discomfort that seemed to be located in his lower back, and Starc showing some strain on his knee in the midst of a generally off-colour performance with the ball.

One area that certainly won't be a worry, however, is Warner's form. Once again, he took his time to settle at the top of the innings, but when he got going, he was virtually unstoppable. A quick single to mid-off took him to a 58-ball fifty in the 18th over, and he only built momentum even as two moments of brilliance from de Kock in the field - an unsighted, back-handed run-out and a leaping one-handed catch - sent Stoinis and Maxwell packing.

Wickets in the middle put South Africa ahead, but Warner found an able partner in Carey, whose crisp hitting added 50 to a sixth-wicket stand of 108. It took a sprawling blinder of a catch from Morris, tumbling to his left at mid-on, to get rid of Warner, but Carey wasn't done yet, and he proceeded to record his highest ODI score before holing out on the cover boundary in pursuit of an unlikely victory.

Unlikely looked like impossible when Cummins and Carey both fell in the space of four deliveries as the match neared its end, but Khawaja hobbled back out to the middle and, with Starc, proceeded to take 17 from Morris' ninth over to keep Australia in the hunt. A Rabada double-strike, and a nerveless final over from Andile Phehlukwayo, put paid to those hopes.

LAS VEGAS -- Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard says star players recruiting each other has become a more "powerful" way to join forces than the traditional approach of franchises holding pitch meetings during free agency.

"It's become huge," Lillard said during a news conference to announce his four year, $196 million extension on Saturday. "Because sometimes the coaches and the front offices, they don't have as much power as the players. The players are so friendly now. I think in the past it was like [Michael] Jordan probably didn't go out searching and trying to get guys to come join him. It was like they was competing against each other.

"Now it's, 'Well, they got three stars on their team, so I know this guy and that guy, I'm going to try to get them to come to my team.' So I think you see [recruiting] a lot more now where it's just players recruiting players is more powerful than the pitch meeting with the team. That's just what it is now, so it's a huge part of the game now."

Lillard's comments come in the wake of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George joining forces to play for the LA Clippers, a move that Lillard acknowledged even surprised him on Friday night. Lillard, who has spent his entire career with the Trail Blazers, says he continues to strive to become the greatest player in the history of the organization.

"I think we've built something special," Lillard said. "It's been built genuine and in an environment that we've created. It's something that I've been a part of and something that I want to continue to be a part of. And having my family in Portland, everything is set up. I've kind of gotten comfortable, and it feels like things are the way it needs to be, that it should be. And everybody around me is happy with that, so aside from the personal stuff, even my career, I feel like it's only right that this is where I continue to play."

Argentina star Lionel Messi was sent off in the 37th minute of Saturday's Copa America third-place playoff with Chile after a clash with defender Gary Medel.

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The straight red card marked the first time the Barcelona forward has been sent off in a senior game for club or country since his debut with the national team in 2005.

With Argentina up 2-0, Messi put in a hard challenge on Medel who was shepherding the ball out of play. The two players then aggressively bumped chests a number of times before the match referee intervened and immediately flashed reds for both.

Confusion ensued, with players from both teams surrounding the referee. But moments later, Messi and Medel walked off the field.

Sergio Aguero and Paulo Dybala had scored the goals for Argentina.

Hosts Brazil face Peru in the final on Sunday in Rio de Janeiro.