The idea of a South African pace pack should conjure up images of fire and fury, speed and snarling, aggression and attitude. Its vinnige (fast) Fanie, angry Allan Donald, dramatic Dale Steyn. Theres not much room for boring, even less for subtle, except now.In Hobart, South Africa showed not just their skills but also the consistency with which they can execute that talent. They have mastered the margins and operate within them with such accuracy that theyve taken 10 wickets for under 100 runs seven times in the last five years. Thats more than any other team. In this series, theyve already done it twice.Their three-pronged pace pack, even without Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel, can apply consistent pressure. They bowl on a ten cent piece, Steven Smith, Australias embattled captain, said. They dont give you any freebies. They challenge your defenses.As a collective, they always challenge batsmens defenses, albeit in different ways. First there is Vernon Philander, whose strategy is the simplest. On a surface which offers any assistance, he is doubly effective. He showed it on the first morning: fourth stump, outside off, move the ball a little. He chases the edge and targets the pads, limits the runs but does not search for speed. It doesnt matter if you bowl 115 or 150, he said. He reeled off five successive maidens on the final morning as proof.From the other end, there is Kagiso Rabada, who can send the speed gun soaring towards 150kph and can unleash a yorker as dangerous as his bouncer. Rabada has endless energy, the stamina for long spells and the sensibility to know what to do during them. A thoroughbred, former bowling coach Allan Donald called him. The ace for South Africa in this Test was Kyle Abbott. Coming off the bench, having last played a Test match in January and considering himself outside the first three or maybe even four seamers to play he looked the part. Abbott was picked ahead of Morkel not only because the latter is still searching for match fitness, but also because seam movement was going to be a factor. Abbott more than justified his inclusion. He worked Usman Khawaja over on the final morning by pitching it up and either moving it away or straightening; eventually he cashed in on Khawajas uncertainty. Adam Voges also misjudged the length, underlining Abbotts ability to force the batsmen into a shot.I stick to top of off with the odd bouncer. My theory is always to make the batsmen play, Abbott said.Especially because when they are playing, they can never be quite sure what they playing at. Abbott told the ABC that seam movement is something that surprises him as much as it does the batsmen. I actually dont know when its going to do that. If you watch my seam closely, the ones that nip back - its quite upright, but then when it gets a bit towards second slip to the right-hander it hits the shiny side and goes the other way. Thats a little bit of inconsistency in my wrist but I suppose if I dont know when its coming how the hell does the batsman know? I try and hit the stumps - off, middle, whatever it is - as hard as I can and let the natural variation do the work.It must be noted that discipline of the South African attack has gone up a notch since Charl Langeveldt took over as bowling coach after the 2015 World Cup. He was a relentless bowler himself - not emphatic - but insistent and he seems to be passing on the baton.The skills South Africa have were on display, not on the final morning, but on the third evening. Abbott termed it the investment session when they beat the bat repeatedly but failed to find the edge. Philander showed some frustration but in general, South Africa were gearing up for a protracted battle against batsmen Quinton de Kock said looked determined to hang around. From the start of a Test match, we talk about winning it on the last afternoon, willing to take it deep and be as patient as possible, de Kock said after the days play.Australia did not have the same idea. They collapsed for the third time in the series, against an attack that made it clear they could keep coming at them for as long as it took. Test cricket is a ruthless environment. Its about who can hold those pressure situations most and be ruthless with just wanting more. Its about never being happy with what youve done and always trying to be your best for the team, Abbott said.Max Pacioretty Jersey . After Martin Skrtel put the Reds in front from close range at Stamford Bridge after only four minutes, Hazard hit back in the 17th with a superb strike. Etoo gave Jose Mourinhos team a decisive lead from Oscars back pass in the 34th. Cody Glass Jersey .J. -- Seven games into a disappointing season, New York Giants defensive catalyst Jason Pierre-Paul is getting the feeling hes back. https://www.cheapgoldenknights.com/ . The No. 1-ranked Nadal tweaked his back warming up for the Australian Open final, which he lost almost four weeks ago in a major upset against Stanislas Wawrinka. His first stop after the layoff is the clay in Rio as he tests the back and tries to stay healthy for the French Open in three months. Jonathan Marchessault Jersey . Scott won the Australian PGA last week in his first event in Australia since winning the U.S. Masters in April. American Matt Kuchar, ahead by two strokes with four to play and even with Scott with one to go, double-bogeyed the 18th after taking two shots to get out of a bunker. Ryan Reaves Jersey . -- The Magic have their first victory of the new year.TORONTO -- A milestone win for Rick Porcello gave the Boston Red Sox some breathing room atop the AL East.Porcello pitched seven innings to become the first 20-game winner in the majors, Hanley Ramirez hit a three-run homer and the Red Sox increased their AL East lead to two games by routing the Toronto Blue Jays 13-3 on Friday night.Xander Bogaerts homered and Dustin Pedroia had three hits and four RBI as the Red Sox used 18 hits to rough up the sloppy, slumping Blue Jays in the opener of a pivotal three-game series between the divisions top two teams.Porcello (20-3) allowed two runs and six hits to become Bostons first 20-game winner since Josh Beckett in 2007.Its definitely a huge honor, Porcello said. Its hard to win one game in the big leagues, let alone 20. Im definitely very proud of that.Porcello has worked at least seven innings and held opponents to three earned runs or fewer in nine consecutive starts, the longest streak by a Red Sox pitcher since Pedro Martinez did it in 11 straight in 2000.Just a model of consistency, Red Sox manager John Farrell said. He keeps rolling along and we play with a lot of confidence. His execution has been outstanding. Hes pitching with average velocity but his location is tremendous.Porcello said he had received a number of congratulatory text messages, but had one he was going to respond to right away.Ive got to call my parents, he said. Thats first and foremost.Porcello came in 6-7 with a 5.27 ERA in 15 career games against Toronto but kept the Blue Jays in check.The Red Sox broke it open by scoring six runs in a 10-batter seventh. Bogaerts hit a leadoff drive off Scott Feldman, his 18th. Three batters later, Ramirez connected off Feldman, his 22nd. Pedroia capped the rally with a two-run single off Ryan Tepera.Boston (79-61) surpassed its win total from a last-place finish in 2015, when it went 78-84.Toronto, which was swept in a three-game series at Yankee Stadium earlier this week, fell to 1-6 in September. The Blue Jays had won six of their previous eight against the Red Sox.We havent necessarily been playing good baseball the last week but I sstill believe, Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said.ddddddddddddBlue Jays right-hander Marco Estrada (8-8) allowed four runs, three earned, and six hits in 2 1/3 innings, his shortest outing of the season. The last time Estrada failed to finish three innings was June 30, 2015, also a home loss to Boston.He was off, no question about it, Gibbons said. He lives on the edges and he was just missing.Estrada is 3-5 with a 5.32 ERA in nine starts since being named an All-Star for the first time. He missed the All-Star Game after being placed on the disabled list because of a sore back.Nothing went our way today and obviously it started with me, Estrada said.PARKA FOR PAPIBlue Jays sluggers Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion presented retiring Red Sox DH David Ortiz with a winter parka and a leather jacket before his final series in Toronto. Ortiz has 40 career home runs at Rogers Centre, more than any other road ballpark. Ive seen enough of him, Gibbons joked about Ortiz. The Blue Jays made a donation to Ortizs foundation.STREAKINGPedroia has at least one hit in 27 consecutive games against Toronto, the longest streak by any Blue Jays opponent.TRAINERS ROOMRed Sox: OF Andrew Benintendi (left knee) ran the bases before the game and will try sliding as early as Saturday. A very good day for him, Farrell said. There is still no timetable for Benintendis return. ... Boston recalled LHP Henry Owens from Triple-A Pawtucket.Blue Jays: C Russell Martin (left knee) was held out of the lineup. Martin aggravated the injury in Wednesdays loss at New York and was replaced by a pinch-hitter in the ninth. Hes still pretty sore, Gibbons said.UP NEXTRed Sox: LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (2-6, 4.83) has a 2.73 ERA in nine starts since the All-Star break. Rodriguez is winless in his past five outings.Blue Jays: LHP J.A. Happ (17-4, 3.44) is winless in three starts since his 11-game winning streak ended Aug. 25. Happ won his only start against Boston this season, allowing one run in seven innings. ' ' '