تحدث البرتغالي جوزيه جوميز المدير الفني لنادي الزمالك، عن مباراة فريقه أمام أبو سليم الليبي، التي أقيمت اليوم ضمن منافسات بطولة الكونفدرالية الإفريقية، مشيراً إلى أنهم كان باستطاعتهم تحقيق الفوز بنتيجة أكبر.
وواجه الزمالك نظيره أبو سليم، على ملعب استاد 19 مايو 1956 بمدينة عنابة الجزائرية، ضمن مباريات الجولة الخامسة لدور المجموعات ببطولة كأس الكونفدرالية الإفريقية، والتي انتهت بفوز الأبيض بهدفين مقابل هدف.
وقال جوميز في تصريحات خلال المؤتمر الصحفي عقب المباراة: “كنا نستطيع إنهاء المباراة في الشوط الأول بعدما نجحنا في فرض السيطرة والاستحواذ على الكرة”.
طالع أيضاً.. الزمالك يُعلن تشخيص إصابة زيزو أمام أبو سليم الليبي
وأضاف: “سعيد بأداء اللاعبين خاصة في الشوط الأول، صنعنا أكثر من فرصة وفي كرة القدم يجب أن تستغل هذه الفرص لإنهاء المباراة مبكرًا خاصة أننا نعلم قوة المنافس في الكرات الثابتة ورميات التماس الطويلة، لكل فريق طريقة لعب محددة لكن استطعنا أن نفرض سيطرتنا”.
وأوضح: “أهدرنا العديد من الفرص مثلما حدث في مباراة الإسماعيلي وكان علينا تدارك هذا الأمر، وحذرت من الكرات الثابتة ورميات التماس وهو ما حدث وجاء هدفهم في مرمانا”.
وأختتم: “بكل تأكيد في الأدوار المقبلة سنواجه فرقًا أقوى، لذلك علينا التركيز في عدم إهدار هذا الكم من الفرص، والتراجع في المباراة في آخر 25 دقيقة أتحمل مسؤوليته خاصة بعد إجراء 4 تغييرات مرة واحدة، ولاعبو الفريق الذين شاركوا كانوا يحتاجون لبعض الوقت للدخول في الأجواء”.
Group B round-up: Vidarbha slump to a new low, KL Rahul returns to action and Prerak Mankad rescues Saurashtra
ESPNcricinfo staff13-Nov-2016
Anupam Sanklecha took a career-best haul to skittle out Vidarbha•PTI
Vidarbha slumped to their fifth-lowest score in Ranji Trophy history as Maharashtra bowled them out for 59 runs in Kolkata, on the back of Anupam Sanklecha’s career-best figures of 7 for 25.Shalabh Shrivastava top scored with 19, but with no other batsman reaching double figures. Sanklecha cleaned up the tail as they lost their last five wickets in the space of eight runs. In response, Maharashtra’s Naushad Shaikh scored his second-consecutive ton. He remained unbeaten on 111 with Ankit Bawne (75) as Maharashtra finished on 240 for 3, with the partnership worth 181.In Agartala, Prerak Mankad’s 137-ball 96 helped Saurashtra post 277 against Jharkhand. Asked to bat, Saurashtra fell from 11 for 0 to 38 for 4, before the captain Jaydev Shah (51) and Mankad put together 62 runs to take them to 100, following which Jaydev was bowled by Samar Quadri. Mankad reached his second fifty in his second first-class match before falling short of a maiden century when Ashish Kumar dismissed him four shy of triple figures. A 40-run last wicket partnership between Vandit Jivrajani and Kushang Patel took them to 277. Kumar and Shahbaz Nadeem were the pick of the Jharkhand bowlers picking up four and three wickets each, respectively. In the 9 overs Jharkhand batted, openers Anand Singh and Pratyush Singh scored 29 runs by stumps, trailing by 248.Three half-centuries from Karnataka’s batsmen powered them to 345 for 6 at stumps against Rajasthan in Vizianagaram. Choosing to bat, openers Ravikumar Samarth and KL Rahul scored 111 runs before Rahul, returning to first-class cricket to prove his match fitness ahead of the third England Test, was dismissed on 76 by left-arm pacer TM Ul-Haq. Mayank Agarwal, who has just one fifty-plus score this season, stitched together a 68-run stand with Stuart Binny. He made 81 and was dismissed with Karnataka on 283 for 5. The lower middle order then conjured up a fight to take them close to 350.Assam scored 224 for 5, on the back of a 131-run partnership for the fifth wicket, against Odisha in Hyderabad.After losing their first three wickets for 37 runs, Sibsankar Roy laboured to a 142-ball 37, before being dismissed after adding 60 runs for the fourth wicket. Kunal Saikia and Arun Karthik then batted till second-last over of the day, adding 131 before the latter was dismissed by Basant Mohanty on 62. Saikia finished not out on 88 – his highest first-class score – with Arup Das (0) as play ended on day 1. Mohanty and Suryakant Prasad finished with two wickets each for Odisha.
Manchester United are reportedly plotting a move for Wolfsburg midfielder, Felix Nmecha, with the German maestro potentially set to be available on the cheap this summer.
What's the latest on Nmecha to Man United?
According to SPORT1, the Red Devils are said to have 'thrown their hat into the ring' with regard to the signing of the 22-year-old, with the Premier League giants ready to rival Borussia Dortmund in the battle for the playmaker's signature.
The report suggests that United have already held talks with the player's father ahead of a potential move to Old Trafford, with the youngster potentially set to be available for as little as €15m (£13m), due to his expiring contract.
This comes amid reports that Newcastle United are also readying a bid for the former Manchester City youth product, ensuring that Erik ten Hag and co may have a fight on their hands if they are to land an agreement.
Who is Felix Nmecha?
The one-cap Germany international – who previously turned out for England at youth level – began life on the books at the Etihad, before sealing a free transfer switch to Germany back in the summer of 2021, following his old brother, Lukas who had made an earlier £11m move to Wolfsburg.
In the case of the younger man – who made just three appearances for City at first-team level – the promising midfielder appears to have blossomed following that move to the Bundesliga outfit, with current boss Niko Kovac having recently stated:
"Previously, he never got into a rhythm. He played in so many different positions. Now he's playing in midfield and you can see his technical ability. He has [also] improved physically."
That consistent run in the side in a midfield berth appears to have paid dividends for the Hamburg native as he racked up three goals and six assists in 30 league games in 2022/23, having also received hefty praise from journalist Josh Bunting, who stated:
"He’s very quick,technical ability is good, a ball carrying number 8, strong in his duels and has an intelligent eye for a final pass."
Man United's Christian Eriksen
That latter trait could ensure that Nmecha proves to be a dream heir to current United man Christian Eriksen, with the 31-year-old having also been lauded as a "player who plays with intelligence" by club legend, Paul Scholes.
Having been signed on a free transfer last summer, the Danish ace went on to provide two goals and ten assists in 44 games in all competitions in the most recent campaign, thus mirroring Nmecha in that ability to be a creative spark from the centre of the park.
A more youthful alternative to the one-time Tottenham Hotspur man may be in order amid Eriksen's recent woes since returning from injury, however, with journalist Scott Saunders highlighting the 120-cap gem's physical shortcomings after stating that he is "bypassed too easily in a deep role".
Nmecha, therefore, could offer greater athleticism in that midfield berth – shown by the fact that he ranks in the top 19% among his European peers for successful take-ons – as well as a superior defensive presence, with the 6 foot 2 starlet ranking in the top 7% for aerial duels won.
Eriksen, by contrast, ranks in just the bottom 18% and the bottom 12% for those same two metrics, respectively, while the experienced asset also averaged just 0.8 tackles and 0.4 interceptions per game from his 28 league outings, while the former City ace averaged 1.4 tackles and 0.8 interceptions per game from his 30 league appearances.
With Nmecha evidently able to replicate Eriksen's creative brilliance as well as being able to offer a greater work ethic in midfield, the £2k-per-week ace could well represent a long-term successor and replacement for the gifted Dane.
تحدث هشام نصر نائب رئيس نادي الزمالك، عن مباراة نهائي كأس مصر أمام الأهلي، التي ستقام في المملكة العربية السعودية، كما تطرق لأزمة لاعب الفريق أحمد فتوح، وحقيقة التفاوض مع رمضان صبحي نجم بيراميدز.
وقال هشام نصر في تصريحات عبر قناة “أون تايم سبورتس”: “المفترض أن يكون هناك اجتماع تنسيقي بين الأهلي والزمالك قبل نهائي الكأس لكي تقام المباراة في أبهى صورة، وستكون هناك مكافآت تحفيزية للاعبي الأبيض”.
وأضاف: “لا ننظر إلى السن في التعاقدات ولكن بالعطاء، وعبد الله السعيد نجم، بدأنا المفاوضات مع شيكابالا بشأن تجديد تعاقده مع الزمالك”.
طالع أيضاً.. هشام نصر: شيء واحد ننتظره من الأهلي بعد الزيارة التاريخية.. ولن نتبادل الصفقات
وبسؤاله، هل هناك مفاوضات مع رمضان صبحي؟ أجاب: “لا شك أنه لاعب ممتاز، لكن رأيي الشخصي أن يكون هو حابب ذلك، هذا الأمر يفرق جدًا، أن يُحب التواجد، إذا حدث فأهلًا وسهلًا”.
عن مباراة الكأس؟ قال: “مباريات القمة لا يوجد لها مقياس، والعبرة بالنتائج، الحظوظ متساوية ومن سيتمالك أعصابه أكثر سيفوز، والزمالك يحتاج هذه البطولة أكثر”.
وبسؤاله ماذا عن التعاقد مع جوميز؟ أوضح: “المعايير أن يكون حابب التواجد في الزمالك، وعمل في الدول العربية، وأن يكون سنه ليس كبيرًا، وهو مدرب يمتلك شخصية جيدة، وإن شاء الله قادر على تحقيق بطولة مع الفريق، ومع الوقت سيبني فريقًا جيدًا”.
وبسؤاله، هل الزمالك منفتح على مسألة بيع زيزو؟ أفاد: “في مثل هندسي يخص زيزو وفتوح، عندما يكون هناك مبني على عمودين أساسيين، لو أزلت أحد الأعمدة سينهار المبنى، لكن لو عندنا 6 أو 7 أعمدة ممكن تزيل العمود، عندما نصل في الزمالك لعدد من البدلاء الأقوياء وقتها قد نُفكر”.
وأكمل: “الزمالك لم يتنازل في أي شيء خاص بأزمة فتوح، نحن قمنا بإرساء مبادئ”.
واستكمل: “مكسب الفرق لا يكون من داخل الملعب، يجب أن تكون غرفة الملابس منضبطة وكل اللاعبين يحصلون على مستحقاتهم وتوفير المناخ المناسب، وهذا نسير فيه”.
وعن ملف بن شرقي وساسي وإمكانية عودتهما؟ أجاب: “لا هذا الملف ليس مفتوحًا، نحن بالتأكيد نُرحب بهما، على الرغم من أنني حزين من ساسي بسبب رفع قضية على النادي، لكن عندنا مدير فني هو المسؤول عن الصفقات القادمة”.
وأردف: “الموظفون والعمال يتقاضون رواتب شهريًا حوالي 10 ملايين، والمدربون حوالي 3 ونصف مليون، لا يوجد هيكل، ولا بد أن تُعاد هيكلة هذا الأمر، وهذا الملف سيأخذ وقتًا، النادي به موظفين وعمال أكثر من 2000”.
واستطرد: “تعاملت مع 4 مكاتب استشارية، وبعضهم سيقوم بتصميم فرع 6 أكتوبر مجانًا”.
وبسؤاله هل ترحبون بالحصول على غرامة كهربا بالجنيه المصري؟ أتم قائلاً: “لا، نريد الدولار لكي نسد بعض المديونيات”.
Amy Satterthwaite took two wickets and slammed an unbeaten 115 to give New Zealand an eight-wicket win in the third ODI against Pakistan Women and take an unassailable 3-0 lead
ESPNcricinfo staff13-Nov-2016 ScorecardFile photo – Amy Satterthwaite took two wickets, two catches, effected a run out and scored an unbeaten century to lead an eight-wicket rout of Pakistan•IDI/Getty Images
Amy Satterthwaite’s two wickets and fourth ODI century studded New Zealand Women’s dominance in the third ODI, which they won by eight wickets to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series against Pakistan Women. Satterthwaite struck an unbeaten 115 off 101 balls – her second consecutive century, coming on the back of a career-best 137 not out in the second match – as New Zealand chased down 264 in 44.2 overs at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln. That, after Pakistan backed their captain Sana Mir’s decision to bat by putting up 263 for 6, their third-highest total in ODIs and the best against New Zealand in ODIs.Satterthwaite walked out at the fall of Rachel Priest, who had laid a good foundation with New Zealand captain Suzie Bates, putting on 60 for the first wicket. Satterthwaite consolidated with her captain, taking New Zealand to 162 for 2 in the 31st over, before Mir struck for a second time, having Bates caught on 74. Katey Martin joined Satterthwaite and slammed an unbeaten 50 off 45 balls to see New Zealand through. Satterthwaite ended up with 11 fours.”She’s so good to watch. Amy has been outstanding. In South Africa, she really led from the front with the bat and she has just continued to score runs and doesn’t even look like getting out,” Bates said. “And then, Martin at No. 4, pretty new in that role, and for her to show her huge potential at this level and score fifty after fifty, she’s brilliant for the team going forward, and in going into the World Cup, we’ve got two batters in really good form. We’ve asked our top-four in the last few seasons to be consistent and now we’re starting to see that.”We knew it was a really good wicket. Bowling out there, there was no margin for error. No demons in the wicket at all, we just had to play good cricket shots and (there were) plenty of runs out there.”Pakistan used seven bowlers and Mir had the best figures, finishing with 2 for 43 in 10 overs.New Zealand could have been potentially chasing a stiffer target had Pakistan finished better. Ayesha Zafar (30) and Nahida Khan (25) made steady starts, before Javeira Khan (73) and Bismah Maroof, who top-scored with an unbeaten 91, took them to 200 for 2 in the 40th over. The 117-run partnership, Pakistan’s joint third-highest in ODIs, ended with Satterthwaite dismissing Javeira, and though Dar stayed on, regular wickets prevented a late surge with Pakistan scoring just 59 runs in the last 10 overs.Bates, however, still felt New Zealand’s effort on the field could have been better. “Very disappointed with the way we started with the ball and we never really pulled it back. And credit to Pakistan, they batted outstandingly,” she said. “Not taking anything away from them, but I don’t think we had our lines as often as we would have liked and we were perhaps on the backfoot in the field, so there’s a huge learning to take from that fielding performance.”Satterthwaite had a busy day, topping the wickets column and finishing with 2 for 65 in 10 overs, apart from taking two catches and being involved in a run-out. New-ball bowler Lea Tahuhu took 1 for 30 in 10 overs and Bates finished with none for 31 in 10 overs.The fourth ODI takes place on Thursday at Nelson, before the series concludes on Saturday at the same venue.
Leeds United are finally rid of Andrea Radrizzani, and his exit brings hope for a brighter and more sustainable future in Yorkshire for this prestigious club.
Despite being the man to lure Marcelo Bielsa to Elland Road, leading them back to the Premier League, the Italian former chairman made some questionable decisions during his ownership which drew scrutiny from the fans. By placing their home stadium up as security in a bid to buy Sampdoria, he had burned his final bridge.
However, the 49ers were willing buyers of such a staple of English football, with their desire to gain an instant return to the top flight surely high on their list.
This is a task that will not come easy given the diminished allure of their outfit, so perhaps a shrewd acquisition in the mould of a top Championship player could be a more intelligent investment.
Fortunately for the Whites, Bright Osayi-Samuel is one such name who reportedly wants a return to English football after a spell in Turkey. Leeds could give him just that, given their interest.
Who is Bright Osayi-Samuel?
Although he left Queens Park Rangers for Fenerbahce back in 2021, the 25-year-old dynamo remains a highly-rated asset who boasts fine experience in the division.
Given the struggles faced in that right-back spot last term for the Whites, he could mark a top option to make them immediately solid in a position of weakness.
Whilst he has struggled somewhat this year, the Nigeria international did maintain a 6.89 average rating the campaign prior, upheld by an 88% pass accuracy, 75% dribble success rate and 1.3 tackles per game, via Sofascore.
For comparison, Luke Ayling could only muster a 6.60 average rating, somehow outdoing his torrid 6.61 rating from the 2021/22 season.
Having spent two years in Blackpool and a further four in the capital, Osayi-Samuels' experience is vast despite remaining quite young.
Through the words of his former boss too, it is easy to understand why this would be such a masterclass by the 49ers, as he has shown form of shining within the Championship.
Mark Warburton once claimed:
"I thought he was very, very good. If you remember Bristol City away earlier in the season he gave the full-back a torrid time. He's been very good in spells in games but today he was consistent from the first whistle to the 75th minute. I'm not sure many teams have that blistering pace. As long as he knows how to use it and that's the key for him learning the game."
luke-ayling-leeds-united
He continued:
"He's working so hard. He's got that sheer pace which terrifies defenders and when he uses it wisely like he did today he looks a real handful. Today he was outstanding and deserved the applause."
The £15k-per-week whiz clearlt has all the attributes of an electrifying winger, but the added intelligence to defend staunchly now.
He could utilise all these skills to return to England and help reinstate Leeds into the Premier League, marking a true transfer coup to help them cruise out of this division.
كشفت تقارير صحفية عن تطورات جديدة فيما يتعلق بأنباء مفاوضات برشلونة للتعاقد مع هانز فليك لتدريب الفريق خلفًا لتشافي هيرنانديز المدير الفني الحالي.
تشافي أعلن في وقت سابق رحيله عن برشلونة بنهاية الموسم الجاري، حيث لن يستمر في منصبه كمدير فني.
وارتبط برشلونة بعدة أسماء من بينها فليك، مدرب ألمانيا وبايرن ميونخ السابق، وسبق وحضر بيني زاهافي، وكيل فليك، إلى برشلونة لمشاهدة مباراة الفريق أمام خيتافي والتقى بالرئيس لابورتا للحديث عن المدرب الألماني.
وبحسب شبكة “سكاي سبورتس”، فقد جرت بالفعل أولى المحادثات الملموسة بين نادي برشلونة وفليك.
وأوضح التقرير أن لابورتا يؤيد تولي فليك مهمة تدريب برشلونة، وكان بالفعل على راداره قبل التوقيع مع الفريق الألماني.
اقرأ أيضًا | تشافي: أتلتيك بلباو أكثر فريق حدة في الليجا ولاعبو برشلونة جاهزون
ويوضح التقرير أنه لم يتم اتخاذ القرار في برشلونة حتى الآن، لكن فليك مرجح أن يصبح خليفة تشافي في النادي الكتالوني.
على الرغم من ذلك، بحسب صحيفة “موندو ديبورتيفو” الإسبانية، نفت مصادر قريبة من فليك أن برشلونة تحدث بشكل مباشر مع المدرب الألماني.
فليك يتصدر قائمة المدربين التي تتبعتها الإدارة الرياضية لبرشلونة لكنه ليس المرشح الوحيد، حيث يبحث النادي إمكانية التعاقد مع دي زيربي مدرب برايتون، وميكيل أرتيتا مدرب آرسنال، ولويس إنريكي مدرب باريس سان جيرمان.
وأتمت الصحيفة تقريرها مشيرة إلى أن خياري أرتيتا وإنريكي معقدان لارتباطهما بمشاريع مع آرسنال وباريس سان جيرمان على المدى الطويل.
Left-arm spinner Jon Holland ran through Tasmania with a five-wicket haul on the first day in Hobart, where the Tigers were dismissed for 203 after choosing to bat first
ESPNcricinfo staff05-Dec-2016 ScorecardJon Holland claimed his third five-wicket haul in first-class cricket•Getty Images
Left-arm spinner Jon Holland ran through Tasmania with a five-wicket haul on the first day in Hobart, where the Tigers were dismissed for 203 after choosing to bat first. At stumps Victoria were 3 for 54 in reply, with nightwatchman Scott Boland on 1. Jackson Bird, captaining Tasmania for the first time in any format, had 2 for 25, having dismissed Travis Dean and Marcus Stoinis cheaply.But Tasmania still had much work ahead of them after their own batting struggles. Dom Michael made 54 and Simon Milenko chipped in with 52, but they were the only contributions of note as Victoria’s strong attack – all of its members have represented Australia in one format or another – gave them little respite.Holland finished with 5 for 49, the second-best figures of his first-class career, and he now has 25 at 17.08 in this Sheffield Shield season. John Hastings, overlooked for Australia’s ongoing Chappell-Hadlee campaign against New Zealand, picked up 2 for 29 from 16 overs, and Chris Tremain also claimed two wickets.
West Bromwich Albion can finally gear up for the start of the new Championship campaign with news that head coach Carlos Corberan is no longer a target for Leeds United.
Former Leeds coach Corberan was considered the favourite to succeed Sam Allardyce at Elland Road at one point, but Football Insider reports that the Whites are working to bring in a manager with Premier League experience.
That can only be considered a huge boost for Albion some six weeks out from the opening weekend of the 2023-24 campaign, and it means full focus can now be on transfer activity.
Indeed, the Baggies could make it a double reason for celebration by bringing in one of Corberan's targets, with The Sun reporting last week that they are showing an interest in Blackpool striker Jerry Yates.
Who is Blackpool striker Jerry Yates?
Yates' 20 goals helped fire Blackpool to promotion to the Championship two years ago, and he has since scored 22 goals in the second tier.
As well as netting 14 goals last time out, which were not enough to keep Blackpool up, Yates also chipped in with four assists. It is that ability to both score and create that earned strong praise from his former boss Richie Wellens.
"He's good at everything," Wellens told Quest. "He's got decent pace and he can hold the ball up." Yates' ability as an all-rounder is further reflected when looking at the positions he was fielded last season, courtesy of WhoScored, ranging from a central midfielder to a striker, as well as operating on both flanks.
The 26-year-old can also help out in terms of the defensive side of the game, with FBref ranking him in the top 3% of his positional peers for interceptions and top 7% for blocks.
It is unsurprising, then, that a number of Championship teams are taking a close look at Yates – heavyweights Leicester City among them. The Sun reports that Premier League club Luton Town may also be tempted to make a move for a player valued at £4m by Blackpool.
Yates would undoubtedly be an upgrade on what Corberan currently has available, as his 18 combined goals and assists in the Championship last season are three more than West Brom's best performer John Swift managed.
In fact, Jed Wallace (14) was the only other Albion player to register double figures in that metric, which shows the importance of bringing another talented attacker to The Hawthorns.
Factor in the 1.63 aerial duels per 90 minutes Yates wins, which is more than Swift (0.84) and Wallace (0.48), and it may well be that the Englishman's combination with Corberan next term proves the difference between mid-table obscurity and a serious push at promotion.
A stubborn third-wicket partnership between Azhar Ali and Younis Khan, worth 120 runs at stumps, helped Pakistan fight back after a ragged day in the field
The Report by Daniel Brettig04-Jan-2017 Scorecard and ball-by-ball details4:51
Samiuddin: Management don’t seem convinced of Yasir’s injury
Azhar Ali and Younis Khan indicated they had no intention of leaving Australia quietly with a stubborn stand after Peter Handscomb maintained his Test-match honeymoon phase with a second century to lift Australia to 8 for 538 on a batsmen-friendly day two of the SCG Test.When the visitors lost two wickets before tea, having been run ragged by David Warner, Matt Renshaw and then Handscomb, there seemed every chance of the procession continuing in the final session. Instead Azhar maintained his fine touch and found support from Younis, who was in need of a score after a barren tour.Australia were not at their best in the field, Warner, in particular, was untidy, missing two run-outs and also dropping a difficult chance at leg slip off the bowling of Nathan Lyon in the day’s penultimate over. The first run-out chance was the most egregious error, as Warner shied for a glory direct hit rather than passing the ball to the bowler Mitchell Starc with Azhar stranded halfway up the pitch.Earlier, the hosts strode steadily towards an enormous first-innings tally against bowling that improved somewhat on the first day’s effort, though Pakistan were not helped by more indifferent fielding from the captain Misbah-ul-Haq down.Matt Renshaw’s 184, which seems to have set him up for a long and fruitful Test career, was the highest by an opening batsman under the age of 21, and was only ended by a fine over from Imran Khan, who moved the ball to the left-hander across the crease before prompting him to drag onto the stumps.Handscomb, meanwhile, did not allow himself to be frustrated by periods of slow scoring, utilising the sweep in particular to excellent effect – a good sign ahead of the tour of India. He survived a nervous period in the 90s to pass three figures on the same ground where he made a double century in the Sheffield Shield earlier this season to earn his Test spot.Hilton Cartwright also showed patience, and showcased an organised technique with the exception of a couple of chances: a Yasir Shah leg break that beat him but also the wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed, and an edge off Azhar’s part-timers that eluded Younis at first slip.There had been hope of Renshaw going past 200 when play began, and, in the early overs, it seemed there was little to stop him. It took Imran’s artful use of the crease and line to prompt the false stroke that brought his downfall, but he departed the ground with the applause of thousands ringing in his 20-year-old ears.Cartwright arrived to face a first ball from Mohammad Amir, and stroked a full offering through cover with plenty of confidence. Thereafter he was somewhat becalmed and gave up the aforementioned chances, but a half-century stand in Handscomb’s capable company was a more than useful start.After lunch, Handscomb reached the outskirts of his hundred before Cartwright was bowled by Imran; then, some quick scoring by Matthew Wade and Mitchell Starc drew Steven Smith’s declaration. In the 15 minutes to the tea interval, Hazlewood had an impact, though debutant Sharjeel Khan’s technique was questionable to say the least, as he waved his bat at Hazlewood to be taken at slip.Babar Azam, who fell in the same over, should also have been expected to keep out a ball that was full and straight but not really moving through the air or off the seam, evidence that the time in the field had left the visitors with heavy legs. There was time for one over of spin – from the recalled Steve O’Keefe – before the tea break.When Azhar hurtled down the wicket for a single that did not interest Younis, it appeared a third wicket was about to fall, but Warner’s preference to shy at the stumps offered the reprieve the batsmen needed. Both would play some fine strokes off pace and spin, as neither Lyon nor O’Keefe could get much turn from a drying but still decidedly flat surface. Cartwright’s bowling debut was steady at best.This is not to say Pakistan are out of trouble; the way the Melbourne Test panned out attests to the fact they are far from it. But the comfort with which Azhar stroked a boundary in the final over of the day suggested that plenty of runs remain in the surface, provided the tourists put their minds to it.