Sussex hopes snuffed out as Joe Denly, Grant Stewart give Kent rare win

The Sussex Sharks’ slim chances of qualifying for the Vitality Blast quarter-finals are over, after they were beaten by six wickets by the Kent Spitfires at Canterbury.Joe Denly hit 58 and Sam Billings was unbeaten on 33 as Kent eventually coasted home with seven balls remaining, to finish on 159 for four.Grant Stewart earlier took 3 for 38 and George Linde two for 14 as Kent restricted Sussex to 158 for seven. Ali Orr made 36 and Harrison Ward 33, but the Sharks failed to kick on after racing to 76 for 1 at the end of eight overs.In a derby billed as “The War of the Wealds”, Kent made an early breakthrough when, having won the toss and chose to bowl, Fred Klaassen had Mohammad Rizwan caught at gully for four with the fourth ball of the innings, but Orr and Ward responded with a rapid partnership of 73.Having endured a brutal debut at home to Gloucestershire on Tuesday night, when his only over went for 26, Jas Singh looked like getting a deserved wicket when Ward skied him to mid on, but Klaassen dropped the catch. and the run rate was threatening to get out of hand until the Spitfires took two wickets in the ninth over. Ward was run out by Ahmad, chasing a non-existent single to point and Qais then caught Tom Alsop for one off George Linde.Orr fell in Linde’s next over, caught at deep backward square by Jack Leaning for 33, and the same fielder caught Ravi Bopara off Qais Ahmad for seven at cow corner.A nonplussed Delray Rawlins was given caught behind off Qais for 28 and Rashid Khan had made just three when he chipped Stewart to Tawanda Muyeye at mid off, before George Garton gave Sussex something to defend with 31 from 15 balls, before he edged the final ball of the innings to Klaassen to hand Stewart his third wicket.Rawlins had Muyeye plumb in front for a duck in the first over of the chase but Henry Crocombe then dropped Cox off Steven Finn when he was on four.Crocombe took his revenge when he tempted Cox into a miscue that was caught by Orr at short fine leg, dismissing him for 18, but Denly batted Kent into a winning position with another explosive innings that included a six off Will Beer that cleared the Frank Woolley stand – for for only the third time in its history. He moved to 50 with a single off Rawlins and then hit Bopara for another six, but edged the next delivery to Brocombe.With Denly gone Billings was left to anchor the chase. He lost Alex Blake was lbw to Khan for six and the boundaries dried up, but managed to keep the scoreboard ticking over with George Linde at the other end, chipping away at the target with ones and twos.Bopara and Khan kept Sussex in it with some tight bowling and Kent still needed 24 from 18 when Finn came on at the Pavilion End, but the former England man was pummelled for 18 runs, including successive fours off the final two balls from Linde.Linde hit the winning run when he edged Beer and Orr couldn’t pull in a difficult, diving catch. The result means Sussex cannot now qualify for the last eight, while the already eliminated champions Kent recorded their third Blast win of the season.

قائمة الأهلي لمباراة صن داونز في ذهاب نصف نهائي دوري أبطال إفريقيا.. موقف معلول

كشف الجهاز الفني لفريق الكرة الأول بالنادي الأهلي بقيادة مارسيل كولر، النقاب عن قائمة المارد الأحمر لمواجهة ماميلودي صن داونز الجنوب إفريقي، ضمن منافسات دوري أبطال إفريقيا.

وتستعد بعثة فريق النادي الأهلي برئاسة محمد الدماطي الآن للسفر إلى جنوب إفريقيا من أجل خوض مواجهة الذهاب في دور نصف النهائي من عمر البطولة القارية.

الأرقام لا تكذب.. الأهلي يتفوق هجوميًا وصن داونز يعاند بالتاريخ في موقعة دوري الأبطال

ومن المقرر أن تقام مباراة الذهاب يوم السبت المقبل في جنوب إفريقيا، على أن يستضيف الأهلي منافسه صن داونز في مباراة الإياب يوم الجمعة 25 أبريل.

ويطمح الأهلي في تحقيق نتيجة إيجابية في مباراة الذهاب تمكنه من حصد بطاقة الصعود للدور النهائي والمضي قدمًا نحو تحقيق الكأس الثالثة تواليًا.

وشهدت المباراة استمرار غياب الظهير الأيسر التونسي علي معلول، بالرغم من مغادرة الثنائي يحيى عطية الله وكريم الدبيس مباراة بيراميدز الماضية بسبب الإصابة. قائمة الأهلي لمباراة صن داونز

حراسة المرمى : محمد الشناوي – مصطفى شوبير – حمزء علاء.

الدفاع : محمد هاني ـ عمر كمال عبد الواحد ـ رامي ربيعة ـ أشرف داري ـ ياسر إبراهيم ـ مصطفى العش.

خط الوسط: أكرم توفيق ـ مروان عطية ـ عمرو السولية ـ كريم نيدفيد ـ إمام عاشور ـ أحمد رضا ـ محمد مجدي أفشة ـ محمد عبد الله ـ حسين الشحات ـ طاهر محمد طاهر ـ أشرف بن شرقي.

خط الهجوم: وسام أبو علي ـ جراديشار.

Mithali wants to be part of 250-plus trend, Maroof is backing Pakistan to pull a West Indies on India

With bilateral series cancelled because of non-cricketing reasons, the two teams have almost no experience of playing each other

Annesha Ghosh05-Mar-20221:09

Bismah Maroof – ‘When we play to our potential, we can beat any team’

Four of six innings at the 2022 Women’s ODI World Cup so far have had totals in excess of 250, with at least one batter scoring a hundred in them. Mithali Raj, whose India will begin their campaign on Sunday against Pakistan, believes that – one batter playing a long, decisive hand – could well be the norm if the trend of high scores is to continue.”The first game [between New Zealand and West Indies] and even today, watching England versus Australia, I think the wicket is definitely helpful to the batters but 250 is something every team is looking at to put up,” Raj said on the eve of the big game. “But it’s equally important to have a set batter playing throughout the innings because the wicket is a little on a slower side, so it’s not something that a new batter can come in and straightaway get to scoring runs.”Having said that, the bowlers also have… they can use the variations on these wickets. So it’s not completely a belter of a wicket, I would say. To start off the tournament, it is good that they are posting totals of 250, but as the tournament goes on, I’m assuming that it might come down a little with the wickets tending to be used more.”Bismah Maroof, the Pakistan captain who is leading her team at an ODI World Cup for the first time, agreed on the trend, and was also hoping to add to the list of upsets after West Indies beat New Zealand in the opening game.”It was a really exciting match and I think the wickets (pitches) here are very good,” she said. “And they assist bowlers as well. And I think we will see very high-scoring matches – and yes, I think the teams can upset, and we can expect higher-scoring matches in this World Cup.”India and Pakistan have not played in an ODI since the 2017 World Cup•ICC via Getty

The 2017 ODI World Cup, which had as many matches (31) and teams (eight) as this edition, had 15 250-plus totals, and the overall run rate for the tournament was 4.69. In the ongoing edition, the rate is 5.03 at the moment. Two chasing sides have come close to overhauling totals in excess of 250 so far – New Zealand posted 256 in response to West Indies’ 259 and England made 298 for 8 in reply to Australia’s 310 for 3 – with at least one batter scoring a century in each innings. The only exception was the Bangladesh vs South Africa game, where Bangladesh made 175 after bowling South Africa out for 207.Related

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Yastika Bhatia wants to erase the pain of 2017 WC final

India have the ability, but are lacking in consistency

Since the end of the 2017 World Cup, India have made 250 or more only eight times in 40 matches, winning three of those, two while chasing. Their opponents for their 2022 ODI World Cup curtain-raiser, Pakistan, have made 250 or higher in three out of their 34 outings in the same period, winning two – both times batting first – and tying one game.Though both teams have historically relied heavily on spinners, Maroof expected the young Pakistan pacers, Diana Baig and Fatima Sana, to have a strong impact on the fixture.”Yes, we have improved as a fast-bowling unit, especially Diana and Fatima Sana have come far away and we have gelled together and we have the right combination in our bowling and all the bowlers complement each other,” Maroof said. “And yes, it’s just that (our) batting (needs to click). We’re looking forward that if we can put up a good show in batting, we really know that our bowling unit can do well.”

Pakistan’s circuitous entry into the World Cup – via the qualifier, which was cancelled because of the pandemic – has, to an extent, been because of circumstances beyond their control, one of them being the bilateral series against India not taking place, not for the first time. As such, the two teams haven’t faced each other in the format since the 2017 World Cup, when India won by 95 runs.”Of course, if we could have qualified directly [which might have been possible if Pakistan had earned full points for the cancelled series, like before the previous World Cup; this time, points were split], it would be a very good booster for our team,” Maroof said about the series that wasn’t. “But, having said that, yes, that was a missed opportunity – against India, we couldn’t play because of some reasons. If we could have played, it was very good for the subcontinent, the girls in the subcontinent, and now we are really looking forward in this World Cup. And we are really focused that we can put up a good show.”Raj said India’s approach going into the face-off with Pakistan would be one of taking things as they come, since the opponents are quite unfamiliar.”As a team, we need to get in with a clean slate, [as a] confident unit, and believe that we can always turn things around and play according to the situation,” she said. “It’s very important when you have a longer tournament, important to be present be aware on the ground and play according to the situation.”

Australia romp to nine-wicket win and 1-0 lead

Nathan Lyon finally claimed his 400th Test wicket as another calamitous collapse from the visitors handed the hosts a comfortable win

Alex Malcolm11-Dec-2021

Nathan Lyon leads Australia off the field•Getty Images

The power went down at the Gabba and England went down with it as Nathan Lyon finally claimed his 400th Test wicket and Australia claimed a one-nil series lead after another calamitous collapse from the visitors handed the hosts a comfortable nine-wicket win.Lyon took four wickets on the fourth morning, including that of Dawid Malan’s for his 400th to start the rot prior to the new ball being taken, while Cameron Green claimed the prized scalp of Joe Root for 89 as England lost 8 for 74 to be bowled out for 297 and set Australia just 20 runs to win.Related

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Root: 'We are not scared of a challenge'

The best of Nathan Lyon: Galle debut, Bengaluru eight-for, Adelaide game-changer, and more

Gabba power failure causes TV broadcast blackout

'I thought I would never play another Test again' – Malan

Australia’s only concern came when David Warner did not come out to bat in the fourth innings. He did not field during England’s second innings after he was hit in the ribs by Ben Stokes during his first-innings 94. Cricket Australia released a statement on day three saying he had bruised ribs and Warner told on the morning of day four that he was sore but would bat with the aid of some pain killers. However, with only 20 runs required to win Warner did not take to the crease raising concerns about his fitness for the second Test in Adelaide, with just four days to recover.Alex Carey opened alongside Marcus Harris. It was just the third time Carey has opened in first-class cricket having opened in just his third first-class match back in 2013. He tried to play positively. He was nearly run out twice before Ollie Robinson found his outside edge with a superb delivery that nipped off the seam. Harris was far from convincing early as the new ball zipped around but played a glorious cut shot and equally good square drive to bring up the winning runs without Marnus Labuschagne having to face a ball.Earlier, England regressed to their mean on the fourth morning after the sublime day three partnership between Root and Malan had sprung hopes of a 2010-style Gabba revival, having erased 220 of the 278-run first-innings deficit just two down.But hope springs eternal as Lyon snuffed out any chance of a miracle removing Malan in the fourth over of the morning. Lyon had been stuck on 399 wickets for 326 days and Malan revealed to ABC radio after play on day three that Lyon should have had him out caught and bowled in the afternoon when a ball ballooned off his pad and brushed the glove on the way back to Lyon but the Australians did not appeal.Lyon finally got him a similar manner for wicket 400 with Malan deceived in flight as he skipped down to the wrong length. He groped in defence only to get a thick inside edge onto pad with Labuschagne claiming the chance at a well-placed silly mid-off. The relief for Lyon and the Australians was palpable as he celebrated becoming the 17th Test bowler to claim 400 wickets, and just the third Australian behind Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath.Cameron Green roars in celebration after dismissing Joe Root•CA/Cricket Australia/Getty Images

But the biggest wicket of the morning came from the unlikeliest source. Green bowled a superb spell with a 70-over old ball to fill a hole for his captain Pat Cummins while Australia’s thoroughbred quicks were held back for the new ball. Green banged away at a good length at 140kph/87mph for several overs and finally found a hint of outswing, luring Root into a false prod outside off stump and catching his outside edge. Root fell 11 short of his 7th century of 2021 and is still yet to register three figures in Australia.Lyon then picked up Ollie Pope, whose struggles against spin continue. He tried to cut a ball that bounced and spun back from outside off and succeeded in only gloving it to slip.The game went dark for a period of five overs after Australia took the new ball as a power outage at the Gabba saw the entire television feed go down. Josh Hazlewood returned to the bowling crease after questions were raised about his fitness having only been used for eight overs out of 70 on the third day, but only those at the ground could see it.Television pictures were restored just in time for Cummins to pick up Stokes for the second time in the match. Stokes was squared up again by Cummins, this time from over the wicket, as he closed the bat face to a ball that leapt from a length. Green held the leading edge at gully with ease.Jos Buttler was unable to produce the same counter-attack he offered in the first innings, poking meekly wide of his off stump at Hazlewood to give Carey his seventh catch of the match. Lyon and Green cleaned up the tail handing Lyon a well-deserved four-wicket haul after toiling without reward on day three, while Carey claimed a record-breaking eighth catch to end the innings in a flawless display behind the stumps. It is the most catches on Test debut by a wicketkeeper and the equal-most dismissals alongside fellow Australian Brian Taber and England’s Chris Read.

‘I know a lot of things’ – Liverpool sent warning about Mo Salah contract extension as former team-mate explains why Egyptian star is still ‘closer to leaving than staying’

Mohamed Salah's former team-mate Dejan Lovren believes Liverpool do not "respect him enough" and that he's "closer to leaving than staying".

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

  • Salah in last months of Liverpool contract
  • Told Reds "don't respect him enough"
  • Ex-team-mate says he's closer to "leaving than staying"
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  • WHAT HAPPENED?

    Former Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren played alongside Salah for three seasons and says he still keeps in touch with the Egyptian. He added, "I know a lot of things" when speaking about Salah's ongoing contract situation, that an Anfield transfer exit beckons this summer, and that Liverpool should satisfy his wage demands as he is delivering on the pitch.

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    WHAT DEJAN LOVREN SAID

    He said, via The Mirror: “We are still in touch. We talk every now and then, yes. I have to be careful what I say now, because I know a lot of things. Honestly, I don’t know the exact numbers, but whatever he’s asking for, I think he deserves it. It’s simple, this guy is doing his job on the pitch.

    “Don’t look at his age, some will say he’ll be 33, but look at Ronaldo, he’s 40 and still playing. Mohamed Salah is still scoring goals, he’s in great physical and mental shape. He’s still playing for the national team, so what’s the problem? He’s seven or eight years younger [than Ronaldo]. So what’s the problem with Salah? Nobody can find an answer, that’s why I find it difficult.

    “I can talk in more detail. Salah believes that there are things missing from the club side, and I hope they’ll be resolved soon. But the current reality is that he’s closer to leaving than staying. Everyone wants him to stay, and I personally want him to stay. I called him one day and said: 'Mo, you have to think about yourself. Look at everything you've given this club and what you can still give.'

    “In the end, I came to the conclusion that the club doesn't respect him enough, or at least not as much as they think they deserve, but that's another side of the story, it's all about what goes on behind the scenes. Everyone can agree when they look at the numbers, there is no player who has the statistics like Mohamed Salah, not only this season, but over the last 5-6 seasons in a row, they are not just amazing numbers, they are crazy.

    “I think he does not get enough attention despite these numbers, because if it was Messi or Ronaldo, we would see talk every day about why his contract was not renewed and why the right offer was not made to him, but unfortunately, I think Mohamed Salah does not get this attention.”

  • THE BIGGER PICTURE

    Salah said last month that he and Liverpool were "far away" from a contract extension, with the 32-year-old's deal expiring this summer. The ex-Roma star has scored a whopping 26 goals and bagged 18 assists in 34 appearances and is, arguably, playing some of the best football of his career. But there is a real chance this could be his last season at the Reds.

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    WHAT NEXT?

    While contract talks between Liverpool and Salah continue, he has a Merseyside derby to look forward to in a Premier League clash at Everton on Wednesday.

Rangers could replace Clement by hiring four-time title-winning manager

Glasgow Rangers made it through to the League Cup final for the third season in a row, although the Ibrox side didn’t do it the easy way.

The Light Blues went into the interval trailing by an Andy Halliday goal to Motherwell, and it was clear Philippe Clement had to make changes.

The likes of Mohamed Diomande and Danilo made all the difference during the second half as the club turned the tie around, with Nedim Bajrami netting with ten minutes to go, which sealed a 2-1 win.

Although the victory offers some respite from the poor results over the previous few weeks, Clement is still a man under pressure.

Why Philippe Clement’s job isn’t safe

This season has been disappointing so far. Not only did the Gers fail to qualify for the Champions League group stages, but they also trail both Celtic and Aberdeen in the Premiership title race by nine points after just ten matches.

Combine these results with the dismal performances on the field, and it is clear that resentment has set in among large sections of the Ibrox support.

The 2-1 defeat to Aberdeen last week appeared to be the straw that broke the camel’s back, with the team looking both lethargic and short of ideas against a well-coached Dons side.

Rangers defeats this season so far

Date

Opponent

Score

13/08/2024

Dynamo Kiev

2-0

01/09/2024

Celtic

3-0

03/10/2024

Lyon

4-1

20/10/2024

Kilmarnock

1-0

30/10/2024

Aberdeen

2-1

Via Transfermarkt

Unless something drastic happens between now and Christmas, Clement will surely be shown his marching orders. The question is, who can the Light Blues turn to as a potential replacement?

An ideal replacement for Clement

The rumour mill is already circling surrounding Clement’s future, with a few replacements being touted.

One name to have been touted with the Ibrox hotseat is Malmo coach Henrik Rydstrom, who coincidentally has faced the Gers this season in the Europa League.

Manager Focus

Who are the greatest coaches in the land? Football FanCast's Manager Focus series aims to reveal all.

The Swedish side may have looked poor during the 2-0 loss to Rangers, but praise has been high for the manager, with Sky Sports journalist Adam Bate waxing lyrical about the 48-year-old:

Rydstrom has led Malmo to another league title this season, which means the club have now won four of the previous five Swedish titles. How has he done that? Well, his enterprising 4-2-3-1 formation that’s seen him boast a 2.08 points-per-game record in the Allsvenskan has gone down a treat.

The Swede’s penchant for attacking play could certainly appeal to the Ibrox faithful, who are growing sick and tired of Clement’s team and their laborious nature.

As per Breaking the Lines, one of the most innovative aspects of Rydstrom’s Malmo side are the Brazilian concepts integrated into the team’s playing style with one-twos and short passing triangles/diamonds used to move the ball around quickly and with purpose.

Rydstrom looks to be at the peak of his powers. Might he fancy a new challenge away from Sweden in the near future? Aberdeen have enjoyed plenty of success this season under Jimmy Thelin, who recently managed Elfsborg so there is a pre-made recipe for success there.

Could the 48-year-old have a similar sort of impact if he moved across the North Sea and took charge of the Light Blues?

The next few weeks will be the most important in Clement’s managerial career. Another couple of defeats, and he will be on his way out the door, that’s for sure.

Game-changer: The 8/10 Rangers star who was even better than Cerny

The Rangers midfielder enjoyed a terrific afternoon at Hampden Park on Sunday.

ByDan Emery Nov 3, 2024

Biggest coup since Defoe: Le Bris could land a ‘lifelong Sunderland fan’

Sunderland fans will be well aware that there’s a long and winding road still ahead for their team this Championship season, but they will be dreaming of a triumphant Premier League return all the same.

Regis Le Bris could be the man in the dug-out that finally steers the Black Cats back to the promised land, with Sunderland having been put through the wringer since their relegation from the top-flight come the end of the 2016/17 campaign.

In the here and now, however, after spending some dire years in the League One wilderness, the Wearside outfit find themselves at the top of the second-tier pile.

If they do return to the Premier League, Le Bris will know he needs to add more experience to his young and hungry side to make that step up not feel too weighty, with the Black Cats striking gold in the past when bringing in an old head who knew the top-flight inside out.

Defoe's time at Sunderland

Jermain Defoe was an instant hit with the Stadium of Light masses when he first arrived in through the door in January of 2015, with his new side staring precariously at the relegation zone in the top division and in need of sharpshooter to raise spirits.

The ex-Tottenham Hotspur poacher would fire home four goals from 17 Premier League games during his debut season, as the Wearside club managed to just about stave off the drop.

One of his finest moments in a Black Cats strip during his first season at the club would be this sensational volley against Sunderland’s arch-rivals in Newcastle United cannoning into the back of Tim Krul’s net, as Sunderland boasted a dramatic 1-0 win over their main nemesis courtesy of their new star-man’s heroics.

The following campaign, Defoe would really spark into life in his new surroundings as an impressive 15 league goals were fired home from 33 games, before the experienced head would then bow out with another 15 league strikes from 37 contests the season after, even as Sunderland finally succumbed to relegation.

Le Bris will hope he can pick up a similar game-changing recruit in January that can aid Sunderland in their mission to return to the league where Defoe – who also returned for a brief second spell in January 2022 – consistently wreaked havoc, with reports suggesting that this surprise move could get off the ground.

Sunderland's biggest deal since Defoe

According to reports that emerged late last week, the wheels could soon come into motion for Jordan Henderson to make a spectacular return to his hometown club, having found game time at Ajax hard to come by.

The former Liverpool man would undoubtedly be a fantastic signing for Le Bris’ men, who is rumoured to be on the agenda of many Championship clubs on loan, as per the report, with his vast experience playing for the Merseysiders in many tight and edgy games in elite competitions coming in handy for a potential promotion push.

Henderson’s major trophy honours at Liverpool

Trophy

Times won

Premier League

1x

FA Cup

1x

League Cup

2x

Champions League

1x

Sourced by Transfermarkt

Just taking a glance at the midfielder’s ridiculous trophy honour list when playing at Anfield, it’s clear that the now 34-year-old would still be able to offer lots to the raw Black Cats group if he does rejoin his boyhood employers in January.

Jordan Henderson

Like in the case of his ex-Three Lions colleague, Defoe – who arrived for his first spell after a stint away from England in Toronto – the Stadium of Light could represent a welcome return to these shores for the ‘lifelong Sunderland fan’, as Henderson has described himself, after two stints abroad in the Middle East and Amsterdam.

His presence would be extremely beneficial to the likes of Chris Rigg, with the 17-year-old able to link up with a talent who has been there and done that across a very successful career after starting out at Sunderland, whilst also being able to strut his stuff more in an attacking capacity with Henderson content at sitting back.

Labelled as “underrated” by Jurgen Klopp when he decided to move to Saudi Arabia last year, in terms of what he offered during Liverpool’s hay-day under the German, Henderson could also be keen for a special reunion owing to his career taking a nosedive ever since walking away from Anfield.

This could be the perfect opportunity for the veteran asset to enjoy his football again, with the possibility of adding a promotion up to the Premier League with his boyhood club to his decorated CV.

dan-neil-jordan-henderson-liverpool-transfer-premier-league

As for Sunderland, the prospect of signing an experienced England international – like in the case of Defoe at the time – would represent a sizeable coup, particularly in contrast to some of the club’s recruitment in recent years, amid their struggles in League One and the Championship.

Before January comes into view and transfer talk dominates every conversation, however, Sunderland will just aim to pick up more victories to secure their grip on top spot, starting with a visit to Hull City after the international break.

Le Bris confirms Sunderland star could be out 3 times longer than feared

This is not what Black Cats supporters want to hear.

2 ByHenry Jackson Oct 5, 2024

No panic button: New Zealand aim to reassess batting targets after lapse in assessing conditions

Debutant Rachin Ravindra rushed through a leg-side clip in the very first over and chipped a simple return catch to offspinner Mahedi Hasan. Will Young slashed at Shakib Al Hasan and dragged a non-turning ball back onto his stumps. Colin de Grandhomme tried to slog his way out of the mess, but holed out to deep square leg – the only fielder in the deep on the leg side in the powerplay. Tom Blundell misjudged an arm ball from left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed and was also knocked over. Just like that, New Zealand lost four wickets in their first four overs of the series opener against Bangladesh, and the fall turned out to be so cataclysmic that they were rolled over for 60 – their joint-lowest total in T20I cricket.New Zealand’s stand-in coach Glenn Pocknall conceded that their inexperienced side misread the conditions at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, which offered sharp turn and bounce to the spinners, even with the new ball. In addition to that, the track was two-paced, with Shakib even saying that Wednesday’s pitch was “more difficult” than the ones rolled out for the recent Australia T20Is.”We probably didn’t quite assess the conditions as well as we thought we did,” Pocknall said after the defeat. “Losing four wickets for not many runs was always going to be a challenge in any form of cricket, especially this. We came back really well from that [collapse] with a good little partnership between Tom Latham and Henry Nicholls. I think we will take a lot from that performance in the way that they batted in the middle for our game in a couple of days’ time.”Stand-in captain Latham and Nicholls provided a glimpse into how New Zealand can tackle these turners. Both batters were decisive in their footwork – fully forward or right back – and often used the depth of the crease or their feet to disrupt the Bangladesh spinners. However, when they looked to raise the tempo against the seamers, they both holed out off Mohammad Saifuddin. The 34-run fifth-wicket stand between Latham and Nicholls was the highest of the match.”Yeah, obviously slightly disappointing with the start. I thought the way we managed to build a little bit of partnership through the middle… we knew it was going to be tough and unfortunately we kept losing wickets at crucial times really,” Latham told the host broadcaster at the post-match presentation. “As soon as the guys came in, it was certainly hard to start. We knew it was always going to be a challenge. We were prepared for this, but unfortunately we couldn’t quite put it together today.”Hopefully, we will take plenty of learnings from what happened today and for us it’s about trying to find a way in these conditions and obviously it’s completely different to what we have back home. So, it’s about trying to assess what a good score is on this sort of surface and as we showed with the ball tonight, certainly it isn’t easy with runs on the board. So, if we can put a competitive total and put pressure on if we do bat first, you never know what might happen.”Related

  • Ajaz Patel keen to pick Daniel Vettori's brain after a 'good night' with the ball

  • Finn Allen back in NZ bubble after returning two negative tests

  • Shakib: 'The wicket was more difficult than the Australia series'

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Pocknall echoed Latham’s comments, saying the New Zealand attack could apply pressure on Bangladesh if their batters work their way to a competitive total.”Both teams performed exceedingly well with the ball and two quality outfits in terms of spin bowlers and the fast bowlers were able to execute their slower balls,” Pocknall said. “I think the bowling attacks really even themselves out. So, the challenge in two days’ time is to [find out] how we can get to a 100 and then, yeah, defend that. I think we can defend that with an extra few runs.”The lone bright spot on an otherwise forgettable day for New Zealand was how their spinners immediately got cracking in Dhaka. Cole McConchie struck with his first ball in international cricket as Mohammad Naim scooped a catch to short cover while Ajaz Patel matched the relentless accuracy of the Bangladesh spinners, returning 1 for 7 – the second-most economical four-over effort for New Zealand in T20Is. As for Ravindra, he came back after conceding 10 in his first over to end with 1 for 21 in his four overs.”They [conditions] do favour them but they’re also very inexperienced at this level. Cole and Rachin made their debuts and Ajaz, I think, has played two or three Twenty20 international games,” Pocknall said. “But, the thing that all three of them have is they have performed very well at domestic level and that’s a big reason why they’re here. So, to see them do what they do is a really positive sign for the rest of the series.”New Zealand have a one-day break to reflect further on their first-ever T20I loss against Bangladesh before they face Mahmudullah’s men again in the second game at the same venue. The one way for them – from 60 all out – is up.

England, Pakistan bid for the Freedom of Manchester in series decider

Big picture

Happy Freedom Day one and all! Yes, the time has come for the UK to throw off its shackles, fling caution to the wind, dive headlong into the moshpit of civil society and rejoice in the restoration of liberty to its people. (Give or take a chorus of pings from the NHS Test-and-Trace app, of course…)For England’s cricketers, however, Freedom Day came one day early. Honestly, has there ever been a more on-brand performance than the one rustled up by their batters at Headingley on Sunday? Bowled out for 200 in 19.5 overs, including a riotous denouement of seven wickets in as many overs – the promiscuity of their short-lived strokeplay making the humble mayfly seem a model of celibacy.It was rollickingly good fun, and as gloriously effective as their hell-for-leather chase at Trent Bridge had been gloriously futile. Pakistan responded by climbing into the threshing machine with admirable purpose, but they were all thrashed out by the 13th over, thanks largely to England’s own trio of players with Pakistan heritage – Saqib Mahmood, Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali, whose Player-of-the-Match-winning haul of 36 runs at 225.00 and two wickets in three overs was CSK-esque in its effectiveness.And so to the decider, a day-night affair at Old Trafford, where England can be expected once again to spread the opportunities across their squad, as they take the field for the final time before that preliminary squad needs to be submitted to the ICC ahead of the T20 World Cup this winter.And even if they cannot get over the line in this contest, to claim their ninth series win in their last 11 T20I campaigns, the gains made by the white-ball squad, both in this leg and in the makeshift ODI campaign before it, have been immeasurable. Most of all, the sense of collective buy-in is absolute – that every player in the frame for selection recognises and embraces the free-spirited ethos that Eoin Morgan has espoused in the past six years. Full-throttle cricket might not win them every game, but it’ll lose them far fewer than the safety-first reticence of yore.As for Pakistan, their response to those indignities in the ODIs has been admirable. At Headingley, they were unable to replicate the landslide of runs that carried them to a hugely cathartic victory at Trent Bridge, but in Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, they have an opening pairing that can carry any fight, while Shaheen Shah Afridi’s pace and incision from his left-arm line provides an air of menace every time he gets thrown the ball. They are one of only two teams not to have lost a series to England’s T20I team in the last three years – their 1-1 draw in 2020 was followed by India’s 3-2 win in March – and there’s every reason to believe they’ve got a few haymakers left in them in this campaign.

Form guide

England WLWWW (last five completed T20Is, most recent first)
Pakistan LWWLW

In the spotlight

Is it fair to point out that Dawid Malan needs an urgent uptick in his form? Every time he gets written about in a white-ball context, it feels as though there’s an air of persecution in the analysis. But suffice to say, Malan’s methods are different to those of his England peers – not least Moeen, who is as likely to carve his first delivery straight to deep cover as he is to ping it clean over the ropes for six. That’s not Malan’s way. He builds his head of steam with relative early caution, then lets the ends justify the means as he stares back down the track with another half-century at a 150-plus strike-rate. Or at least, that’s how it’s meant to be. Instead in this series, he’s made consecutive scores of 1 (6) and 1 (5) … two runs in 11 all told, and 2 in 17 in his past four innings, after back-to-back ducks in the ODIs. Prior to that, of course, he made a match-sealing 68 not out to guide Ben’s Babes home in that extraordinary opening victory at Cardiff, so the runs are still in there somewhere. And so too, no doubt, is the bloody-mindedness. Malan has finished each of his last three T20I series with a half-century – against Sri Lanka, India, and South Africa, where he cracked a remarkable 99 not out from 47 balls. And such are the reasons another swift rebuttal cannot be discounted.Related

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It’s been a quietly significant series for the under-fire Shadab Khan. Pakistan’s vice-captain came into the series with a burdensome recent record after a fallow tour of New Zealand, and with his allround credentials under some scrutiny. He’s answered those charges emphatically in the first two games, with three vital wickets in the Trent Bridge victory, swiftly followed by a bold bout of biffing in a lost cause at Headingley. In between whiles, he has been a livewire in the outfield, with a series of outstanding catches and intercepts to lift his team’s morale when the heavy artillery has been raining down. He has a chance to finish a morale-boosting campaign on a high.

Team news

Moeen and Liam Livingstone appear to be locked into England’s middle-order for the moment, with Eoin Morgan indicating that both men would get a full run of games to make their cases – emphatically so, as things have turned out. Morgan himself dipped out of game two to share the opportunities around and to give Buttler a turn at the wheel, so if he is to return, then Jason Roy or Jonny Bairstow might be the obvious absentees, given their integral statuses in that first-choice XI. Tom Banton, his development arrested for various reasons in this white-ball campaign, might struggle to get a look-in now. England already have a selection headache looming when Stokes returns to overload their batting options. There seems little point in inflicting a migraine on themselves. Though it’s not impossible that Lewis Gregory gets another outing to provide a modicum of balance in the short term.England (probable): 1 Jason Roy/Jonny Bairstow, 2 Jos Buttler (wk), 3 Dawid Malan, 4 Moeen Ali, 5 Liam Livingstone, 6 Eoin Morgan (capt), 7 Lewis Gregory/Tom Curran, 8 David Willey, 9 Chris Jordan, 10 Adil Rashid/Matt Parkinson, 11 Saqib MahmoodAfter their struggles in the ODIs, Pakistan have found a formula that can keep them competitive in T20Is. Wholesale changes seem improbable.Pakistan: (probable): 1 Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 2 Babar Azam (capt), 3 Fakhar Zaman, 4 Sohaib Maqsood, 5 Mohammad Hafeez, 6 Azam Khan, 7 Shadab Khan, 8 Imad Wasim, 9 Haris Rauf, 10 Mohammad Hasnain, 11 Shaheen Shah Afridi

Pitch and conditions

Another sweltering day in prospect as summer’s late arrival continues to kick in, so it’s conceivable that the pitch may break up a touch as the match progresses. Scores in this season’s Vitality Blast haven’t been astronomical – only one game has seen scores higher than the 172 that Lancashire and Notts both made in their tie in June, so the range-hitting may be dialled down a notch compared to the first two games.

Stats and trivia

  • England have won four of their seven completed T20Is at Old Trafford, dating back to a nine-wicket win over New Zealand in 2008.
  • However, two of their three losses at the venue both came against Pakistan, by nine wickets in 2016 and by five runs in their most recent encounter last summer, when the series was squared 1-1.
  • Mohammad Rizwan needs 57 runs to reach 1000 in T20Is. Should he achieve it in his next innings, his 31st, he will be the second-fastest Pakistani to the landmark, behind Babar Azam (26). England’s Dawid Malan holds the record with 24 innings.

Quotes

“He claims he’s hit two bigger – that was his chat last night. He has hit me for a couple of similar ones in training but it’s the biggest I’ve seen in a game. Some of the lads didn’t actually believe it had gone out the ground.”

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