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Is there any silver lining in the 3-0 loss? Likely not, but a valiant attempt will be made nevertheless

Andy Zaltzman25-Dec-2013Happy Christmas, Confectionery Stallers. If Christmas is your bag. If not, happy late December, I hope Santa gives you as wide a berth as he seems to have given the England cricket team so far in their not-even-slightly-festive season. I imagine that when Alastair Cook packed his Christmas stocking in his suitcase a couple of months ago, he would have assumed that he would wake on Christmas morning – his own birthday also, although even Jesus might have struggled to finesse a series draw from England’s current position – and find it packed with the usual goodies, from cricket gloves to farming equipment, from satsumas and chocolate coins to sticker books.Instead, he will have woken in Melbourne desperately hoping that his stocking contained some, or preferably all, of the following: a new spinner (preferably one of the expensive ones that can also bat, field and crack the odd gag); an in-form wicketkeeper; some footwork; a genuine fully operational Len Hutton; some t-shirts for his top-order batsmen, emblazoned with the slogan “I will not get out playing a stupid shot at the first available opportunity”; a coin that works for the MCG toss, some replacement batteries suitable for use in a struggling swing bowler; and a signed affidavit from Australia’s bowlers promising not to bowl him unplayable jaffas at the top of his off stump for the rest of the series.These are troubling, fascinating times for the England cricket team. For a long time you could predict what the likely line-up of the Test XI would be a couple of years in advance. In fact, of the team that played the final Test before Andy Flower took over as head coach – the Mohali Test of December 2008 – seven were playing in Perth (Cook, Bell, Pietersen, Prior, Broad, Swann and Anderson, all almost ever-present during the Flower years), and an eighth (Panesar) played in Adelaide.Now, after Australia’s Samsonesque demolition of the pillars of the England team, it is in a state of flux, much as it was between every single match in the late 1980s, when the England selectors seems to be on a crazed mission to produce enough former Test cricketers to form a new political party and win a parliamentary majority within two elections.England have had three major failures in the last two years – against Pakistan, South Africa and now Australia – and avoided a fourth, in New Zealand, largely due to some rogue physics operating on Matt Prior’s stumps en route to his match-saving hundred in Auckland. Cook is their highest-averaging regular batsman in that time, at 40.9, and even he has only had one good series out of the nine played in that time. With the ball, only Broad is averaging under 30 since January 2012.Before that Pakistan series, England had three of the top four bowlers in the world rankings, and four of the top ten batsmen (including two of the top three). At the start of last summer’s Ashes, they still had Cook, Trott, Swann, Anderson and Broad in the top tens. Now Broad – currently ninth in the Test bowling rankings – is England’s only top-ten representative with either bat or ball.This team needs renewal. Ideally not the kind of 20-year process of unending and often gratuitous renewal that seemed to happen in the 1980s and 1990s, but renewal nonetheless. Hopefully, if Santa is kind to Cook, beginning at the MCG, with another entry in the impressive catalogue of Pointless England Consolation Victories In Dead Ashes Test Matches.* Just a short blog this week, as I need to stake out my garden to see if I can catch a reindeer, or at least hurl abuse at them and their irresponsible owner after they befouled my lawn last year after gorging on carrots and mince pies. I will address the captivating simultaneous snatching of a draw from the jaws of victory and the gullet of defeat by both South Africa and India in next week’s Confectionery Stall. Suffice to say, it was a brilliant Test match that has set the stage for a truly unforgettable Test series. Unfortunately, that stage will be instantly dismantled after the second Test in Durban. Congratulations to all those responsible for this travesty. I hope you enjoyed your petty power games. They must have been fun. Please pop an apology note in the post when you have time, addressed to “Cricket In General, c/o The World”.

New Zealand seem the ideal opposition for youngsters like Angelo Mathews to take charge of the team, before the sterner challenge in Australia

Andrew Fernando28-Oct-2012When Angelo Mathews strode to the crease in the World Twenty20 final, the Premadasa still believed. There were plenty of runs yet to make, and the required run rate was beginning to wrap its tendrils around the innings, but something about the new man in the middle inspired confidence. Mathews had scythed Sri Lanka out of thornier tangles before.But this time it was his anxious dismissal that ushered in the panic that asphyxiated the middle order. When Darren Sammy brought fine leg in after bowling three consecutive dot balls to Mathews, the batsman should have become aware of the trickery that was afoot. Instead, he dove into the trap. Having goaded Mathews into playing the scoop, Sammy bowled an off cutter, and ball gripped on the dry surface, evaded Mathews’ stroke, and clattered onto the stumps. Fifteen balls later, Thisara Perera and Jeevan Mendis had also lost their wickets, mindlessly. It was a dispiriting display from a middle order that forms the core of Sri Lanka’s future.Mathews is now officially a captain, perhaps in all formats from February, and he and Thisara Perera are now too experienced to claim youth as justification for their failures. Both men, and others like Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal and Lahiru Thirimanne have proved capable and have built encouraging reputations, but they haven’t yet taken full ownership of a team that will soon be theirs. They are not yet thinking, planning or performing on the level their seniors operate on. A home tour against New Zealand is their chance to show how much they have grown, and crucially, that they are ready to shape the team they play in, rather than simply being shaped by it.In many ways, New Zealand is an appropriate foe against whom Sri Lanka’s youngsters can test themselves against. The visitors are not so soft that any battle scars earned will be of no value but they are also not so brilliant that every minor flaw in developing techniques will be exposed and exploited.New Zealand have no bowlers that will frighten Sri Lanka’s youngsters, but the hosts can be assured that on this tour, they will be worked over, analysed and plotted against. Tim Southee bowled one of the spells of the World Twenty20 to force a tie against Sri Lanka in their match in Pallekele and Jacob Oram has also had success in Sri Lanka recently. Adam Milne has pace, though his talent may be too raw to be classified as a major menace, and Doug Bracewell and Trent Boult will provide a robust challenge in the Tests. New Zealand’s batsmen aren’t flawless either, but they are good enough to scourge poor bowling, and Kane Williamson is one of the better players of spin from outside the subcontinent.The stakes are slightly higher because the tour is played at home, and there are no ready excuses should Sri Lanka’s younger crop fail. There is pressure to succeed, and familiar pitches and venues at which to perform. The stage is almost perfectly set for them to take the baton from the seniors and bring Sri Lanka’s post-Murali transition phase to a close.The youngsters are also better placed to help the team overcome the disappointment of another major-finals loss. Watching another team lift the trophy in Colombo would have hurt more than any of the other runners-up medals, and the loss would have been hardest on Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara and Tillakaratne Dilshan, who for all their success, know that they are fast running out of chances to win a world title. When Sri Lanka lost their last final in 2011, the team couldn’t shake their funk for eight months, when they seemed rudderless and listless in all three disciplines. Mathews and company can harbour better hopes for their own futures, and it may be upto them to provide the positivity and energy that will help Sri Lanka focus on a new challenge.Beyond New Zealand, an Australian summer beckons. It is perhaps Sri Lanka’s biggest tour in years given the enthusiasm most Sri Lankans have for seeing their side get the better of Australia, and the fact that they will play their first Boxing Day Test since 1995 – when Muttiah Muralitharan was no-balled by Darrell Hair. Some of the seniors may not have enjoyed previous tours there, but Mathews, Chandimal and Perera have already shown they are not daunted by a little extra pace and bounce. If they can emerge from the New Zealand tour with form behind them, Sri Lanka’s hopes of a maiden Test win in Australia will be boosted significantly.Before then though, there is plenty to achieve. Jayawardene and Sangakkara have shown no signs of slowing down yet, but they have repeatedly shown a desire to unburden themselves of leadership to focus on giving whatever they have left with the bat. Sri Lanka’s youngsters must come into their own, before the reins are upon them.

A virtual quarter-final that goes down to the penultimate ball. Both teams go through. Couldn’t ask for more

Ross Done23-Sep-2010Choice of game
I made sure I could attend all the Champions League games in PE, even if it meant going alone (as was the case tonight). It was so worth it. The match was a virtual quarter-final, and while it wasn’t as dramatic an ending as the Chennai v Victoria game, in some ways it was even better.Team supported
I was supporting the Warriors, just for them to make the semis. And my wish came true.Key performer
For the Warriors, Justin Kreusch was the main performer, followed closely by Rusty Theron with his awesome death bowling. Keen to see what happens to him come IPL auction time. For Chennai, Hussey on the batting side, and in the field I’d give it to Justin Kemp and Hussey. Catches win matches, as they say.One thing I’d have changed
I was really hoping for Colin Ingram to show his mettle. He top-scored in both the 40- and 20-over domestic competitions last season, and has just been selected for the SA squad. He’s having a rather dismal Champions League though.Face-off I relished
I was looking forward to seeing how Makhaya Ntini did against the IPL team that didn’t want him anymore, and also how the Warriors spinners would do against Indian batsmen. Ntini seemed pumped up, but the spinners got a bit of stick.Wow moment
In the fifth over of Chennai’s innings, the band started up in earnest. It got the crowd going and the sounds of cheer echoed around the stadium.Player watch
It was a bit chilly, so the crowd stayed in their seats and didn’t give the players too much trouble. Ingram took a great catch at long-on, where I was sitting, but later made a bit of a botch of another attempt. He dropped the catch, almost forgot to chase after it, and having finally stopped it before the boundary, picked it up again when he was out of play. Four runs!Shot of the day
Notable was Murali Vijay’s six off Boje’s first ball. Nothing says “We’re going after you” like a mow over cow corner. That over went for 16. The best shot, though, was Mark Boucher’s four, which got the Warriors enough runs to get into the semi-finals. The crowd cheered like the home team had won the match.Crowd meter
It was overwhelming support for the home team, with spots of Chennai supporters here and there. The mood was great, though. The first Mexican wave went around three times and the band meant there was lots of supportive singing going on. It really is something you have to experience live.Fancy-dress index
The day started off rather windy and cold, but there was a bunch of guys with their shirts off and “Warriors” spelt on their chests. Brave souls.Entertainment
Having been to all the PE games, this was definitely the tops. The attendance was slightly lower than on the previous Saturday, but they pulled out all the stops. The fireworks were great. The DJ helped keep the vibe without any repeats (but for the Chennai theme song). The band was on song, and at one point started playing “Wave Your Flag”, and most of the audience joined in.Accessories
The facilities at St George’s are pretty good, so I didn’t really need to bring much. Just some warm clothing and my phone to keep track of deliveries on Cricinfo, as I can’t call the carrom ball from the boundary.Banner of the day
Some female admirers of young Mr Ingram had a “Colin’s Corner” poster. They also cheered loudly for him.Overall
It was great cricket: a game that went down to the second-last ball, a brilliant vibe, and both sets of fans went home happy as their teams qualified for the semis.Marks out of 10
9/10. It would have been better if some of my friends could have made it and if the attendance could have been just a little higher. It was Rudi Koertzen’s last game umpiring at St. George’s Park. After the game he did a lap of honour and the crowd cheered. When he got to the band, they sang “Bye bye Rudi, we hope we see you again”. Nice moment.

When Manoj Tiwary hits he hits, when he defends he defends. There are no half-measures, no lack of clarity, writes Sidharth Monga

Sidharth Monga in Mumbai05-Feb-2007

Manoj Tiwary: pockets bursting with confidence © Cricinfo Ltd
Manoj Tiwary hits Zaheer Khan, India’s strike bowler who tormented Bengal in the first innings, over mid-off for a mighty six, watches the ball thud against the boundary board and walks away towards square-leg. He then lets his bat rest against his thigh, unstraps his gloves, pulls his shirt sleeve up to form creases around the shoulder area, walks back towards the stumps, holds the bat pointing skywards and bends slightly along the knee.For a moment he reminds viewers of the audacious Kevin Pietersen just after he’s fearlessly swept Shane Warne out of the rough in front of square. When you ask him if it’s a coincidence, he lets out a shy smile and says, ” [I am a big fan of Pietersen’s]. I just love his aggression. And this [styling himself according to Pietersen] started the first time I saw him.” And somewhere there’s more than just a routine that’s Pietersen-esque; he has got a swagger to go along as well.When Tiwary hits he hits, when he defends he defends. Whatever he does, he seems to know what he’s doing. There are no half-measures, no lack of clarity. When his team is down, he attacks, usually picking out the best bowler. He’s aware of his technical limitations and makes no bones about it. He likes to score quickly, but doesn’t stick to the book. He’s not wary of taking the aerial route, yet there’s is no recklessness to his batting. He leaves a number of balls outside the off stump, has a plan as to when and what to hit.When he gets in, he scores big – his 94 today was the first time this season when he’d missed a century after crossing 50. And the three earlier times he’d gone on to at least 150. One must recognise the bucketfuls of confidence behind the boyish frame. “I am not scared of anything; I know I am good.” It shows even in his defensive shots, pushing a ball back to the bowler and, just as he’s been eye-balled, disdainfully walking away towards square leg, concentrating on pulling his shirt sleeve up. At the same time, he’s not one to shirk away from a sledge or two. “I enjoy it,” he says. “I enjoy that a bowler is making an extraeffort to get me out. And I always give it back when it gets verbal.”Tiwary couldn’t finish off the job today, falling to a rash stroke in a critical juncture. Until then, he’d gone after Zaheer, smashing 40 off 42 deliveries, clattering seven fours and a six. And while he was there, in partnership with Deep Dasgupta and Ganguly, even 472 looked achievable. But the nerves seem to take over as he closed in on a century. He tried too many shots, including a reverse-sweep off Ramesh Powar, before finally slashing at a wide one from Abhishek Nair. Dasgupta admitted it was an uncharacteristic phase. “This is his first half-century in the season and he has got 796 runs. Had this been his first century I would have agreed he was nervous.” Tiwary preferred to dead-bat the question. “I was not nervous, nor was I flustered that the runs were not coming. That’s my style of play, it sometimes doesn’t pay off.”

Sourav Ganguly believes that Tiwary is ‘one for the future for India’ © Cricinfo Ltd
Yet one musn’t forget what a memorable season it has been. Two innings stand out. His 151 against Karnataka in the semi-final at Eden Gardens followed a first-innings duck and was made under serious pressure after Bengal had let a first-innings advantage slip while chasing 307 on the last day. He’s also managed a double-century to bat Mumbai out of the league game at Kolkata, allowing Bengal, for the first time in their Ranji Trophy history, to inflict a follow-on on Mumbai.But will he be able to carry this confidence forward as smoothly as he did from age groups cricket to first-class cricket? Are we over-estimating him? Not if Sourav Ganguly is to be believed. “He is one for the future [for India],” Ganguly insisted while prasing Tiwary’s efforts in the final. He’s already earned the moniker “”. For, like Ganguly, Tiwary doesn’t back away from a fight, always has a trick up his sleeve, and has a special fondness forthe big-match environment. He’s captained Bengal to a Cooch Behar Trophy [Under-19] triumph this year, where he scored a fifty against Mumbai in the final, and a double-century in the semi-final. And the journey from age-groups cricket to first-class has been a smooth transition. “The purpose of batting everywhere is to make runs; bowlers are meant to be hit,” he says, “And I enjoy the challenge.”He’s become the highest run-getter for Bengal in a single Ranji season, overtaking Arun Lal’s record in 1993-94. Four more runs and he would have ended the season with an average of 100. Unintentionally, and at a more trivial level, he can claim comparisons with another great. He would prefer sticking to Pietersen though; Sir Don Bradman might not have lofted so many shots in the air in an entire season.

Openers Litton Das and Tamim Iqbal made light work of a 102-run target as Bangladesh beat Ireland by ten wickets in the third ODI in Sylhet and completed a 2-0 series win. The visitors were bowled out for 101 in 28.1 overs after the Bangladesh fast bowlers took all ten wickets in an innings for the first time in the format.The short chase was enlivened by Tamim and Litton, who put on an exhibition of strokeplay, finishing the game in just 13.1 overs, Bangladesh’s second-shortest chase in ODIs. After Bangladesh beat Ireland by a record margin of runs in the first ODI, this was also their first ten-wicket win in ODIs.A small crowd turned up at the picturesque Sylhet venue on the eve of the holy month of Ramadan starting, and went home shortly after sunset. Ireland’s 101 broke a sequence of five successive 300-plus totals by the side batting first on this ground.Hasan Mahmud’s maiden five-wicket haul, Taskin Ahmed’s three-wicket burst and Ebadot Hossain’s two-for summed up the absolute dominance by the Bangladesh fast bowlers. The spinners were needed for only four overs in all with Shakib Al Hasan not getting a chance to bowl for only the third time in his ODI career. It was a day out for the quicks on the hard and bouncy Sylhet surface, a rarity among grounds in Bangladesh. The conditions prompted the team management to pick six bowlers including the three seamers.Hasan Mahmud leads his team off the field after picking up his maiden ODI five-for•BCB

Mahmud removed openers Stephen Doheny and Paul Stirling in a disciplined opening burst. Doheny was caught behind for 8 after scratching around for 20 balls before Stirling, dropped on 5, got to 7 before Mahmud trapped him lbw in the ninth over. The skiddy fast bowler soon picked up his third when he trapped Harry Tector lbw later in the same over. Taskin got captain Andy Balbirnie caught at first slip for just 6 as Ireland collapsed to 26 for 4 before the first powerplay was up.Then came their only partnership of note. Lorcan Tucker and Curtis Campher added 42 runs for the fifth wicket, which effectively helped Ireland reach the three-figure mark. Campher top-scored with 36, while Tucker made 28, the only two double-figure scores in the innings.But it was soon over. Ebadot’s in-dipper had Tucker lbw. Next ball, Ebadot clean-bowled George Dockrell for a golden duck as Ireland slipped to 68 for 6.Taskin then took a brace in his seventh over, first getting Andy McBrine to top-edge a quick bouncer before Adair inside-edged his second ball onto the stumps.Campher was the ninth wicket that fell, top-edging Mahmud towards fine leg. Taskin took a comfortable catch, celebrating the younger team-mate’s first four-wicket haul. It soon became five when Mahmud trapped Graham Hume lbw for 3.Tamim started the chase with a slashed four over point, before pasting the Ireland fast bowlers for boundaries through cover and square-leg. Most of Litton’s boundaries came through the covers, including a back-foot punch that looked scrumptious from every angle. Left-arm spinner Matthew Humphreys then went for two expensive overs, before the Bangladesh opening pair calmed down briefly.Tamim lofted Humphreys for a straight six in his third over, before Litton drove Campher through the covers. Then he struck two fours off Humphreys to reach his ninth ODI fifty, before Tamim hit the winning runs.

Bayer Leverkusen chief Simon Rolfes appeared to indicate there are no regrets over Erik ten Hag's sacking, saying a "good atmosphere" has returned.

Leverkusen chief takes swipe at Ten HagAdds players are not clueless anymoreDutch coach sacked after three gamesFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Leverkusen's managing director of sport is leaving no stone unturned in re-emphasising that Ten Hag's appointment was a disaster, but that his subsequent shock sacking could be nothing less than a blessing. Indeed, Rolfes has claimed that the good vibes have returned in the dressing room after the Dutchman's dismissal, with players now aware of "what they are supposed to do" on the pitch. 

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The 2023-24 Bundesliga champions decided to take a gamble on Ten Hag after Xabi Alonso's appointment as the next Real Madrid manager was made official at the end of May. Following an underwhelming spell at Manchester United, the expectation was that the former Ajax coach would thrive in Bundesliga, where the media spotlight and the pressure are considerably lower than the Premier League. 

However, Ten Hag was handed the massive task of taking on a Leverkusen in the depths of a massive overhaul. Indeed, Die Werkself offloaded core players such as Florian Wirtz, Jonathan Tah, Jeremie Frimpong, Piero Hincapie, Lukas Hradecky, Granit Xhaka and Victor Boniface without reinforcing the squad adequately. While Ten Hag won his first competitive game with Leverkusen, a 4-0 win in the first round of the DFB-Pokal, he was relieved of his duties after a loss and a draw in the opening two games of the league. 

WHAT SIMON ROLFES SAID

Leverkusen bounced back with a 2-1 win over third-tier side Viktoria Koln in a friendly on Wednesday, with Rogier Meijer and Andries Ulderink in charge as interim coaches. Rolfes was delighted after the win, saying he has noticed a significant uptick this week. 

"I definitely sense a good atmosphere. That was also the case during the last two days of training and in the game," he said. "We had a good structure, good routines, so it was really good. Rogier did a great job in his speech and in his preparation for the game. I think that showed. The boys knew what to do, what they were supposed to do, and they executed it well."

He added: "Lucas [Vazquez] naturally brings a lot of experience and quality to our game, and he and Loic [Bade] led the way in terms of communication today. With Equi Fernandez you could see that he was getting better every minute. It was important for all of them today."

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(C)Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR BAYER LEVERKUSEN?

Meijer, the assistant coach, has taken over managerial duties in the interim, as Leverkusen scramble to find a suitable replacement for Ten Hag. In the days since his sacking, the Bundesliga giants have been linked with some high-profile names. Former Borussia Dortmund coach Edin Terzic is reportedly on the club's radar, while speculation also suggests that Real Madrid legend and former Schalke forward Raul could possibly land his first top-flight job after he was linked to Eintracht Frankfurt. Ange Postecoglou, who was fired by Spurs after guiding them to Europa League triumph at the end of last season, is another name Leverkusen are interested in.

Richarlison launched a passionate defence of Tottenham team-mate Mathys Tel after the French forward was targeted with racial abuse following their UEFA Super Cup defeat to Paris Saint-Germain. The club also put out a strongly-worded statement expressing their "disgust" at the incident.

Richarlison slams vile racist abuse at TelTottenham vow to hunt down online trollsFrench striker targeted after penalty missFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Tottenham had a sensational start in Udine, but their night ended in despair and selective outrage. Leading Paris Saint-Germain 2-0 with just five minutes of normal time remaining in the Super Cup, Spurs seemed destined for glory after Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero struck in either half at the Bluenergy Stadium. But a late collapse saw Lee Kang-in and Goncalo Ramos haul PSG level before a nerve-shredding penalty shoot-out decided the contest.

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The drama intensified when Tel, who joined Spurs permanently from Bayern Munich for £30 million in June, sent his spot-kick wide. PSG sealed a 4-3 shoot-out win, and soon after, the 20-year-old found himself at the centre of a storm of racial abuse on social media.

WHAT RICHARLISON SAID

Tel’s Spurs team-mate Richarlison was one of the first to leap to his defence, blasting the trolls in a furious post on social media.

"Winning or losing, getting it wrong or right, it’s all part of the game," he wrote. "Racism is not! Tel is still a young lad, great player at the beginning of his journey… and doesn't deserve this, just like anyone else. This type of behaviour has no place anywhere anymore. I hope these people (if I can even call them that) are severely punished!! It's so easy to hide behind a social media profile spreading hate and this kind of speech. Something has to change! We're with you, Tel!"

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DID YOU KNOW?

Tottenham issued their own statement, branding the racist attacks "disgusting" and the perpetrators "cowards".

"We are disgusted at the racial abuse that Mathys Tel has received on social media following last night's UEFA Super Cup defeat," it read. "Mathys showed bravery and courage to step forward and take a penalty, yet those who abuse him are nothing but cowards – hiding behind anonymous usernames and profiles to spout their abhorrent views. We will work with the authorities and social media platforms to take the strongest possible action against any individual we are able to identify. We stand with you, Mathys."

Chasing a big target, MI were in the hunt courtesy Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya and Tim David, but they fell short in the end

Hemant Brar27-Apr-20242:02

Moody: ‘Fraser-McGurk’s mind in the right place’

In another run fest in IPL 2024, Jake Fraser-McGurk’s 84 off 27 balls proved to be the difference as Delhi Capitals (DC) beat Mumbai Indians (MI) by ten runs in Delhi.Apart from Fraser-McGurk, Shai Hope and Tristan Stubbs also played crucial knocks for DC as they posted 257 for 4 after being sent in. In reply, MI lost three wickets in the powerplay – the big ones of Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav – but Tilak Varma and Hardik Pandya kept their hopes alive.Rasikh Salam, however, turned the game by dismissing Hardik and Nehal Wadhera in the same over. While Tilak and Tim David fought till the end, MI eventually fell short.The win took DC to fifth place on the points table with ten points from as many games. MI stay rooted to ninth with six points from nine matches.2:15

Did Mumbai miss a trick against Fraser-McGurk?

Fraser-McGurk gives DC a blazing startAs he has done often in his fledgling career so far, Fraser-McGurk did not waste time getting his eye in and his bat swinging. With a slightly open stance to left-arm seamer Luke Wood, he smashed the first three balls of the innings for 4, 4 and 6.After taking 19 from the first over, he greeted Jasprit Bumrah in the same manner. Bumrah started his over with a slower ball only to be launched over long-on for a six. To make things worse, Bumrah had overstepped, and Fraser-McGurk drilled the free-hit past long-on for four. Fraser-McGurk ended the over with another boundary, making it Bumrah’s most expensive over (18 runs) of the season.DC reached 50 in just 2.4 overs, the joint-fastest for a team in the IPL. In the next over, Fraser-McGurk got to his own fifty. Coming off just 15 balls, it was the joint-fourth fastest in the tournament’s history.Kishan fined for Code of Conduct breach

Mumbai Indians’ wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan has been reprimanded and fined 10% of his match fee for breaching the IPL’s Code of Conduct. Kishan, who scored 20 off 14, was charged with a Level 1 offence under Article 2.2 of the IPL’s Code of Conduct. Kishan admitted to the offence and accepted the match referee’s sanction.

Hardik brought himself on for the fifth over but there was no stopping Fraser-McGurk, who hammered the MI captain for two fours and two sixes to take DC to 89 for no loss after five overs.For a moment, it looked like Fraser-McGurk might break the record for the fastest T20 hundred – he already has the fastest List A hundred to his name – but he holed out to deep midwicket against Piyush Chawla for a 27-ball 84.Shai Hope smashed five sixes in his 17-ball 41•BCCIHope, Stubbs keep DC on course for big totalWalking in at 114 for 1 in 7.3 overs, Hope ensured there was no dip in the momentum. Over the last one year or so, he has worked on his six-hitting skills and has demonstrated the same in ODIs but was unable to do so in T20s. On Saturday, though, he smashed five sixes in a 17-ball 41 to keep DC going in the middle overs.After Hope fell, Stubbs took over and raced to 48 not out off 25 balls. In the 18th over, he used scoops, reverse-scoops and pulls to hit five fours and a six off Wood. Despite Bumrah dismissing Rishabh Pant in the 19th and conceding only six, DC had no trouble in crossing 250.DC dominate the other powerplay tooMI had a brisk start to their chase with Ishan Kishan hitting three successive fours off Khaleel Ahmed in the second over. But Khaleel made a good comeback and had Rohit Sharma caught at mid-off in his next over. From the other end, Mukesh Kumar had Kishan miscuing one to make it 45 for 2.Suryakumar Yadav started with a flurry of boundaries, including two scooped sixes. But in the last over of the powerplay, he failed to pick a slower ball from Khaleel and fell for 26 off 13 balls.Rasikh Salam sent back Hardik Pandya and Nehal Wadhera in the same over•BCCIRasikh has an impact, againMI had slowed down a bit after the powerplay but Hardik put them back on track. He hit Axar Patel for a six off the last ball of the eighth over and then smacked three fours and a six off Kuldeep Yadav in the ninth. Tilak, who was batting on a run-a-ball eight till then, also got into the act with a six and a four in Axar’s next over.MI were still playing catch-up when Rasikh, after coming in as Impact Player, pegged them further back with a two-wicket over. Hardik ended up skying a back-of-the-hand slower ball to backward point and Nehal Wadhera guided a length delivery straight to Pant. That left MI needing 117 from seven overs with five wickets in hand.Tilak, David fight hard but in vainTilak and David kept the fight going. Tilak hit Kuldeep for two fours and two sixes in a 21-run 15th over to bring the equation down to 85 from five overs. But another excellent over by Rasikh, which went for only seven, made it 64 required from three.David took on Mukesh and hit him for two sixes and a four to start the 18th over but was lbw off the next ball. Rasikh went for 16 in the penultimate over but dismissed Mohammad Nabi, which meant it was Tilak or bust for MI with 25 required from the final over.Tilak went for a risky second run off the first ball of that over only to be caught short, and Mukesh held his nerve for the next five balls to seal the win for DC.

تحدث عمرو السولية، لاعب الأهلي السابق وفريق نادي سيراميكا كليوباترا الحالي، عن رحيله عن صفوف القلعة الحمراء، في الصيف الجاري.

وجاء انتقال عمرو السولية إلى سيراميكا كليوباترا بعد مشوار حافل دام 9 سنوات داخل القلعة الحمراء، وأعلن الأهلي نهايته مؤخرًا، بعدما قرر النادي توجيه الشكر للاعب مع نهاية تعاقده.

طالع| “مثل الأهلي”.. عمرو السولية يوضح أسباب انتقاله إلى سيراميكا كليوباترا

وقال السولية، في تصريحات لقناة الأهلي: “سيراميكا كليوباترا نادي ينافس على بطولات، فريق محترم ومعهم جهاز فني محترم والإدارة نفس الشيء، ومجموعة لاعبين جيدين جدًا”.

وتابع: “مركزين جدًا هذا الموسم نحقق أشياء أكثر من التي تحققت الموسم الماضي، بداية من مباراة يوم الجمعة المقبلة أمام الزمالك، ونقدر نفوز بالثلاث نقاط”.

ويعد السولية أبرز لاعبي خط الوسط في الكرة المصرية خلال العقد الأخير، حيث شارك في 342 مباراة بقميص الأهلي في مختلف البطولات، سجل خلالها 34 هدفًا وصنع 29، وفقًا لموقع “ترانسفير ماركت”.

Marizanne Kapp had earlier rescued South Africa from 125 for 5 with a quick 72 but it went in vain

Vishal Dikshit01-Oct-2023New Zealand 210 for 4 (Kerr 100*, Halliday 37*, Malta 2-41) beat South Africa 209 (Kapp 72, Devine 3-33, Tahuhu 3-43, Kerr 2-43) by six wickets (DLS method)A calm and composed Amelia Kerr took New Zealand over the line with an unbeaten century after they were set a target of 210 in 45 overs, in Durban, on what their captain Sophie Devine called a “tricky surface”. It was a consolation win for New Zealand as hosts South Africa had already won the series by claiming the first two ODIs. But two points took New Zealand to the top half of the Women’s Championship table, where they are now fifth and South Africa second, behind India.Even though South Africa lost a fired-up Marizanne Kapp after she had bowled just three overs in the chase – her heart rate spiked up and she left the field as a precaution. CSA had later said she was “doing well and resting in the changeroom” – they will also rue the fielding lapses, dropped catches and missed run-out chances that might have changed the result. New Zealand’s batters, led by Kerr’s fourth ODI century, cashed in on the slip-ups and got home with ten balls to spare.After opting to bowl, New Zealand had the hosts in a spot of bother when their quick bowlers Hannah Rowe, Lea Tahuhu and Devine combined to reduce South Africa to 43 for 3 in the 12th over. When it looked like in-form captain Laura Wolvaardt and Kapp were going to keep them steady, Devine sent Wolvaardt back for a 54-ball 24 with a drag-on while playing her trademark drive. From there, Kapp not only salvaged the innings but pushed along at a brisk pace even though wickets fell around her.She was mainly assisted by Chloe Tryon, playing her 100th ODI, in a fifth-wicket stand of 58 and then by Sinola Jafta for a partnership of 41 for the seventh wicket. Once Jafta was caught behind off Tahuhu, Kapp also edged behind, for 72 off 73 off Kerr, with the score on 188. South Africa were soon bowled out for 209 in 44.3 overs.Morning showers had turned this into a 48-over game at the start, a further interruption in the middle reduced it to 45 overs a side and since the hosts were all out, New Zealand had to chase 210 and not a revised target.South Africa started their defence in strong fashion when Suzie Bates, playing her 300th international game, was caught at midwicket by a diving Tazmin Brits off Masabata Klaas for 9. The ease with which Kerr and Devine then put on 64 for the second wicket, taking them past 100 in the process, made it look like the visitors would stroll to the target. But Nonkululeko Mlaba’s double-strike and Maddy Green’s duck added a twist. Devine and Green were both victims of misfortune: the New Zealand captain tried to push a seemingly innocuous ball to the covers, but it kept low and rolled onto her stumps. In the next over, Green danced down the track and went for a drive, she missed it as did Jafta but the ball bounced off the wicketkeeper’s gloves and hit the stumps. Georgia Plimmer’s cut, away from the body, offered a simple catch to point off Mlaba. It had New Zealand tightly placed 127 for 4, having lost 3 for 21 in the previous 49 balls.The wickets added to a boundary drought that lasted over 12 overs, but Brooke Halliday broke the shackles in the 31st over. The fifth-wicket stand saw off a tense phase with Kerr surviving a close lbw shout, off Tryon, and Halliday’s chip down the ground falling just short of mid-off in the same over. Halliday soon survived a run-out chance as well, thanks to a full-length dive. She got another life when Klaas put down a sitter at midwicket in the 41st over. By now, Kerr had reached a solid 87 with the help of 11 fours, most of them coming behind square and through the covers, and she, with Halliday, had ensured the asking rate never crossed six an over for most of their partnership. And when it did, Halliday smacked Klaas for three fours in an over before Kerr got to 99 with a four next over and tapped the ball towards point to pinch the single that completed her match-winning century along with the game.