Hasan Mahmud and Nahid Rana put Bangladesh in sight of historic sweep

Chasing 185, Bangladesh need another 143 with all ten wickets intact

Ashish Pant02-Sep-2024Hasan Mahmud and Nahid Rana combined to pick up nine wickets as Bangladesh took a big stride in their quest towards a 2-0 series sweep over Pakistan on the fourth day of the second Test in Rawalpindi.Mahmud, who picked two wickets at the fag end of the third day, added three more to his tally on the fourth afternoon to claim his maiden five-wicket haul in Test cricket, finishing with 5 for 43 in 10.4 overs in his third Test. Rana also registered his best Test figures – 4 for 44 – as Pakistan were bowled out for 172 in their second innings, setting up a target of 185. With Taskin Ahmed taking the other wicket, this was the first time in Bangladesh’s Test history that all ten wickets were picked up by fast bowlers.Zakir Hasan then came out with a positive intent and scored 31 not out off 23 balls with two fours and two sixes as Bangladesh wiped 42 runs off the target in just seven overs. He had Shadman Islam for company on 9 when bad light and then rain forced an early finish to the day shortly after tea. Bangladesh require another 143 runs on the final day to secure just their third overseas Test series victory and first since their 1-0 win in Zimbabwe in 2021.Related

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Resuming on 9 for 2 with a lead of 21, it was shaping up to be a good morning for Pakistan, with Shan Masood and Saim Ayub looking positive. Masood began by punching Taskin down the ground before Ayub clipped the pace bowler off his pads. There were a few plays and misses, and tight leaves, but the duo largely looked untroubled as they collected 34 runs in the first 6.2 overs of the day.But soon after that came a loose drive from Ayub and Bangladesh came galloping back. Taskin bowled one full outside off stump and Ayub went for a drive on the up only to find Najmul Hossain Shanto at mid-off. Babar Azam started with a cracking a square cut off Taskin but was far from his usual self. He missed a straight ball from Mehidy Hasan Miraz and was hit on the pad. Bangladesh reviewed the on-field decision of not out, but replays suggested the ball was missing the leg stump.Nahid was brought into the attack in the 17th over, and it took him all of three balls to strike. He sent back Masood, whose half-hearted attempt at a drive only found the outside edge for a simple catch to the wicketkeeper. Nahid then had Babar edging to first slip with a good-length ball that bounced a touch more than what the batter expected. He should have dismissed Mohammad Rizwan first ball but Shadman, who had taken a catch the previous delivery, spilled an almost identical chance.Zakir Hasan stared briskly in a chase of 185•AFP/Getty ImagesEven when he was not taking wickets, Nahid caused plenty of trouble. He consistently bowled over 140kph and generated awkward bounce with his high-arm action. He threatened both edges and even hit Rizwan on the helmet with a nasty bouncer. Rizwan, visibly shaken, called the physio a few times but carried on.Nahid picked up his third wicket when Saud Shakeel hung his bat out, offering a simple catch to Litton Das as Pakistan slipped from 47 for 2 to 81 for 6. Rizwan and Salman Agha, though, made sure Pakistan did not lose another wicket till lunch while extending the lead to 129.With Rizwan still feeling fuzzy and looking for quick runs, Bangladesh stuck to their plan, making sure there were no easy runs. Mahmud, who wasn’t as incisive in the first session, stuck to the channel outside off stump. That brought about a false shot from Rizwan, playing away from his body and getting a thin edge to the wicketkeeper. The very next ball, Mahmud had Mohammad Ali edging to first slip.While the hat-trick was averted, Abrar Ahmed lasted only 12 balls and became Rana’s fourth victim with the scoreboard reading 145 for 9. But a swift end to the innings was delayed by Agha, who added vital runs with the lower order for the second time in the match. He stitched a 27-run stand with Mir Hamza before Mahmud claimed his fifth wicket. It came via an inside edge onto the pad with the ball lobbing to Mehidy at second slip. Mahmud bowed to the turf before leading the team off the field with the ball raised high.Pakistan needed early wickets but their hopes were quashed by Zakir, who was on the move early. He was aggressive with his footwork, often charging at the bowlers early. He clipped Khurram Shahzad for a six over long leg before pulling him for another six, this time over deep-backward square leg as Bangladesh moved 37 for no loss in six overs at tea.Only one over was possible after the break before it got too dark for play to continue.

Jos Buttler ruled out of the Hundred with calf injury

Jos Buttler has been ruled out of the Hundred with a calf injury, after missing Manchester Originals’ first three matches.Buttler, who has been backed to continue as England’s white-ball captain by managing director Rob Key, took a short break from the game after the T20 World Cup and is understood to have sustained the injury while preparing for the Hundred. An initial scan was inconclusive, raising hopes he would be available towards the end of the competition, but his withdrawal was confirmed on Saturday.Key confirmed earlier this week that Buttler would continue as captain after Matthew Mott lost his job as England’s white-ball coach, with Marcus Trescothick due to fill that role on an interim basis during September’s series against Australia. At this stage, he appears likely to be fit in time for the first T20I on September 11.Related

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“Gutted to be missing the Hundred this year,” Buttler wrote on his Instagram story. “Best of luck to the Manchester Originals for the rest of the campaign. Working hard to be 100% fit asap [as soon as possible].”Buttler has suffered several calf injuries in recent years, including a strain two years ago which ruled him out of England’s seven T20Is in Pakistan and briefly threatened his participation in the T20 World Cup 2022.The Originals were losing finalists in the last two editions of the men’s Hundred but are winless this year in Buttler’s absence. Phil Salt, his opening partner, has deputised as captain but has managed only 23 runs in three innings, and their batting line-up has looked noticeably short at the start of the season.Simon Katich, the Originals’ coach, had initially lined up Keaton Jennings, Lancashire’s club captain, as a replacement but the move stalled amid confusion over Buttler’s status, and Jennings has since signed for London Spirit. The Originals are yet to confirm a new replacement ahead of Sunday’s match against Northern Superchargers.

'Prejudicado' por Abel, Breno Lopes tem o segundo melhor índice de participação em gols do elenco do Palmeiras

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da wazamba: Tendo marcado um dos três gols do Palmeiras na vitória diante do Fortaleza por 3 a 1 no último sábado (22), Breno Lopes vive uma verdadeira montanha-russa no Verdão. Apesar de ser atualmente reserva da equipe de Abel Ferreira, o atacante é o segundo jogador do time que precisa de menos minutos para ter uma participação em gol, estando atrás apenas de Raphael Veiga.

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da fezbet: + Palmeiras pode lucrar com negociação de zagueiro para o futebol da Turquia

Breno Lopes precisa de 129 minutos para ter participação em gol, estando à frente de jogadores titulares e que recebem mais oportunidades como Rony (151), Artur (172), Dudu (324) e Endrick (181). Veiga lidera a estatística, precisando apenas de 114.

Contra o Leão do Pici, pelo Campeonato Brasileiro, o camisa 19 voltou a aparecer após um tempo sem muito destaque, o que rendeu elogios de Abel na entrevista coletiva após o duelo. O treinador português disse que Breno Lopes é um dos jogadores que ele mais ‘prejudica’, visto que é um dos que menos joga e mais produz.

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Ainda, Abel afirmou gostar muito do atacante e revelou que pediu a Anderson Barros, diretor de futebol do Palmeiras, para que não o vendesse nesta janela de transferências, já que vários clubes queriam a contratação do camisa 19.

– O Breno talvez seja um dos jogadores que eu mais prejudico e que mais rendimento tem. Acredito que seja um dos jogadores que temos aqui que menos joga e que mais produz. Ele entrou, teve três ou quatro oportunidades para marcar, isso é o normal dele. Eu particularmente gosto muito dele, é outro jogador que também todo mundo queria, e eu disse ao Barros “não, eu quero esse jogador, eu gosto dele”. Parabéns para ele que fez o gol – disse Abel Ferreira.

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+ Torcida do Palmeiras vibra com estreia brilhante de Ary e Bia Zaneratto na Copa do Mundo

Mesmo sendo o ‘herói’ da Libertadores de 2020, tendo marcado o gol do título diante do Santos nos acréscimos da decisão, Breno Lopes divide opiniões entre os palmeirenses. Apesar das constantes críticas, o atacante vem se mostrando que pode ser uma peça importante, especialmente nos minutos finais.

Praticamente metade dos gols marcados pelo camisa 19 desde que ele chegou ao Palmeiras, em outubro de 2020, foram justamente nos acréscimos. Nove das 20 bolas na rede de Breno Lopes entraram depois dos 45 minutos do segundo tempo. Neste ano, já foram dois gols anotados no tempo adicional – contra Fortaleza (Brasileirão) e Bragantino (Paulistão).

Nesta temporada, Breno Lopes participou de 37 jogos e totalizou 1034 minutos em campo, entrando na maioria das partidas vindo do banco de reservas. Além disso, já balançou a rede quatro vezes e distribuiu quatro assistências. Logo, não tendo nenhum pênalti sofrido, o camisa 19 já teve participação direta em oito gols em 2023.

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Palmeiras

Mbeumo's new Wissa: Man Utd eyeing move for "unplayable" £60m star

Positivity has been a short-lived thing at Manchester United in recent times, although the past week has provided reason for optimism, following a pivotal few days off the field.

With manager Ruben Amorim confirming his future at the club ahead of the final game of the season against Aston Villa – which ended in a rare victory – the Red Devils were further boosted by the news on Tuesday that his compatriot and captain, Bruno Fernandes, has turned down a move to Al-Hilal.

Despite admitting to having held talks with the Saudi side, the 30-year-old outlined that he remained committed to the Old Trafford outfit, with the club seemingly only intending to cash in had the playmaker requested to leave.

Elsewhere, meanwhile, United have also confirmed that an agreement has been reached for the signing of Wolverhampton Wanderers talisman, Matheus Cunha, with that £62.5m deal looking set to be followed by the capture of Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo.

The latest on Mbeumo's move to Man Utd

Much to the irritation of rival supporters, a United side who finished 15th in the Premier League last season still appear to have some of the old magic left, having been able to convince Cunha into sealing a move, despite the lack of European football next term.

The same looks to be true in the case of Mbeumo, with The Athletic’s David Ornstein breaking the news on Monday evening that the Cameroon international wants to join the Red Devils, with club-to-club talks set to take place with the Bees.

Ornstein revealed that despite rival interest from the likes of Arsenal, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur – all of whom have qualified for the Champions League – the 25-year-old’s preference is to move to Manchester, should a deal be agreed.

While a stumbling block could emerge amid reports from The Times that the winger is set to demand a wage increase to £250k-per-week, it would be a surprise not to see the former Troyes man lining up under Amorim next season.

With Cunha and perhaps Mbeumo in the bag, United could now turn their attention to another Premier League star in the bid to bolster the forward line.

Man Utd keeping tabs on Premier League forward

The Athletic’s Laurie Whitwell – writing in the Transfer Deal Sheet – noted that the ‘priority’ for United this summer is ‘adding goals to the team’, with the top-flight strugglers netting just 44 times in total in the league. For context, Cunha and Mbeumo alone scored 35 league goals between them.

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That search for more firepower has led to INEOS turning their attention toward Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo, with Whitwell outlining that the Ghanaian is a player being ‘looked at’ by the club.

This follows prior reports which indicated that United were actually leading the race for the 25-year-old’s signature, albeit with it yet to be seen if they would be willing to meet the Cherries’ reported £60m asking price.

Antoine Semenyo for Bournemouth.

Having already missed out on Chelsea-bound striker, Liam Delap, moving for another Premier League-proven talent like Semenyo could be the perfect solution for Amorim this summer.

Why Semenyo can thrive with Mbeumo

While there will be the question of whether Mbeumo will be able to replicate his recent heroics amid the pressures that come with playing for the Red Devils, there will also be an intrigue as to whether he can thrive without his current partner-in-crime, Yoane Wissa.

Mbeumo and Wissa

Indeed, under Thomas Frank’s guidance in 2024/25, the United target scored 20 goals in the top-flight, with the 28-year-old Wissa registering a remarkable tally of 19 league goals of his own.

That deadly and fluid combination saw the in-form pairing dovetail beautifully as the spearheads of Brentford’s frontline, with the duo both able to operate on the flanks or in a central role.

It could be argued that bringing Semenyo into the fold could allow Mbeumo to find his new Wissa in the process, with the former Bristol City man also a highly flexible and versatile asset who can thrive out wide, through the middle or even in a wing-back role.

Described as “almost unplayable on his day” by journalist Ed Aarons, Semenyo enjoyed a positive season of his own at the Vitality Stadium, having registered 11 goals and five assists in the Premier League, after previously racking up eight goals in 2023/24.

The beauty of the 6 foot 1 sensation is just how two-footed he is, with the record above outlining his similarity to Wissa, with regard to his ability to score with either foot, thus making him a particularly dangerous proposition.

What is particularly key regarding the Wissa-Mbeumo combination has been their speed on the counter-attack, something that pundit Danny Murphy noted last year, after highlighting the “width and pace with Wissa and Mbeumo, two players playing with confidence with a real threat.”

Non-penalty goals

0.31

Top 24%

Assists

3.51

Top 5%

Shots

0.14

Bottom 43%

Shot-creating actions

3.71

Top 34%

Pass completion

73.4%

Bottom 35%

Progressive carries

3.06

Bottom 42%

Progressive passes

3.93

Top 29%

Successful take-ons

1.94

Top 20%

Tackles

1.55

Top 40%

Aerial duels won

1.85

Top 8%

*compared to attacking mid/wingers in PL

Those attributes are certainly shared by the Bournemouth man, his former Bristol boss Nigel Pearson having described him as “very difficult to play against” due to his “power and pace”.

Semenyo’s ability to thrive in tandem with his fellow forwards is also showcased by the fact that he created 11 ‘big chances’ in 2024/25, while averaging 1.2 key passes per game, thus ensuring that Mbeumo would again have quality service to thrive off.

While not an orthodox striker by trade, having Semenyo operating through the middle could then allow Mbeumo to flourish alongside him, with that final attacking berth taken up by the aforementioned Cunha.

Having so often witnessed a limp attacking unit at the Theatre of Dreams of late, what a mouthwatering prospect that trio would be.

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تطورات جديدة في ملف مدرب الأهلي الجديد.. وحقيقة المفاوضات مع فاتح تريم

كشف الإعلامي أحمد شوبير عن تطورات ملف المدير الفني الأجنبي الجديد للنادي الأهلي، مؤكدًا أن عماد النحاس يقترب من الاستمرار في الفترة المقبلة لوقت أطول.

وقال شوبير في تصريحات إذاعية عبر “أون سبورت إف إم”: “منذ البداية، الحقيقة، أخبرتكم أن وليد صلاح قال لي علانية وعلى الهواء إن عماد النحاس سيكمل الخمس مباريات، وبقيت له مباراة واحدة”.

وأوضح: “كلما فاز عماد النحاس بمباراة، كلما أصبحت الأمور أفضل، ويقترب من تثبيت قدميه قليلاً، واستعادة ثقة الجماهير، وهو يتمتع بقبول كبير لدى جمهور النادي الأهلي، فالأمور مستقرة معه ومع الجمهور، فترتفع النغمة بأنه يجب أن يكمل عماد ويستمر”.

وواصل: “أما ملف المدرب الأجنبي فقد وصل ثلاث مرات، ويقترب الأهلي من انهاء الأمر مع مدرب دون أن يكمله، آخرها الرجل الدنماركي (يقصد توماس توماسبيرج)، وعلى فكرة، الذين اجتهدوا لم يخطئوا، لأنه كان على وشك التوقيع مع النادي الأهلي، إذ بقيت له ساعات قليلة فقط، لكن جاءه العرض البولندي فذهب إليه”.

واستطرد: “الأهلي قرر أن يتريث خطوة أو خطوات في موضوع المدير الفني؛ سيهدأون قليلاً الآن، غير مستعجلين، وقالوا لأسامة هلال انتظر، ولا تتعجل وإذا مدربًا يليق بالنادي الأهلي، مليون مرحبًا به، وإذا لم تجد اصبر قليلا وليس هو الوحيد الذي يعمل على هذا الملف”.

وأضاف: “ليس سرًا أن النادي الأهلي نظر قليلاً إلى المدرب التركي فاتح تيريم، رغم أن عمر 73 عامًا، لكن مساعده حمزة أوغلو،  درب جالطة سراي من قبل وفاز معهم بالبطولات، ولكنه يعود لمساعدته حتى بعد أن أصبح مديرًا فنيًا”.

طالع | بينهم سيد عبد الحفيظ.. تفاصيل مهام أعضاء قائمة الخطيب في انتخابات الأهلي

وزاد: “الأهلي نظر قليلاً إلى فاتح تيريم وعلى حمزة أوغلو، ونظر قليلاً إلى برونو لاج البرتغالي وقال لهم عن طلباته، وقد أخبرتكم أن النادي الأهلي ينتظر؛ ولكن الرجل الآن ينتظر موافقة الأهلي”.

وأردف: “برونو لاج وضع شروطا وطلبات لا يحتاجها الأهلي مثل أن الشرط الجزائي كاملاً مدة العقد كاملاً، وهو ما رفضه النادي خوفا من تكرار سيناريو كولر”.

وتابع: ” الأهلي قرر تأجيل ملف المدرب الأجنبي لإشعار آخر حتى يروا ما سيحدث، وكيف ستكون القصة، خاصة أن هناك توقفا دوليا خلال أكتوبر الجاري، وبعد ذلك سيعودون ليلعبوا مباراتين، ثم يعود توقف آخر، وهو توقف طويل بسبب كأس العرب، وأمم إفريقيا”.

وأتم: “من الممكن أنه حتى التوقف خلال نوفمبر أيضًا لا يكون هناك مدرب للنادي الأهلي؛ هنا أقول لكم كيف يفكر الأهلي، لكن كل شيء قد يتغير إذا ظهر مدرب مثالي تمامًا، وقال (أريد تدريب الأهلي)، فسيقولون له (أهلاً وسهلاً)”.

Conte 2.0: Spurs looking at hiring "phenomenal" Postecoglou upgrade

da pinup bet: Before the Ange Postecoglou era, the permanent manager of Tottenham Hotspur was none other than Antonio Conte.

da leao: Now, it would be fair to say that for all of his success with other teams, the Italian icon didn’t fare too well in North London, as while he secured Champions League football for the club in his first season, he didn’t even make it to the end of his second one in charge.

The former Chelsea boss was infamous for playing a pragmatic, boarding-on-tedious style of football that couldn’t be any more different to the one Spurs try to play today.

However, while it didn’t quite work out for Conte, he did leave the club with a points per game average of 1.78 and now looks on track to win Serie A with Napoli, so recent news linking the Lilywhites with another manager who could easily be compared to the 55-year-old should excite fans.

Tottenham's manager search

Before getting to the manager in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other managers linked with the Tottenham job in recent weeks, like Brentford’s Thomas Frank and Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola.

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The former has done an exemplary job in West London, taking the Bees from a Championship side and turning them into one of the most entertaining sides in the Premier League, who still score goals for fun, even in the absence of former star striker Ivan Toney.

In a similar vein, Iraola took charge of the Cherries when they looked destined to return to the second tier last season and has transformed them into a team now fighting for a place in Europe next year.

However, a club like Spurs requires someone who can do more than improve the fortunes of smaller teams, which helps to explain their interest in Simone Inzaghi.

According to reports from Italy, the idea of the Italian coach moving to North London in the summer is ‘gaining traction’ and could soon develop ‘into something concrete.’

The report claims that a combination of a Premier League salary and his project at Inter coming to an end could convince the talented manager to move to N17 at the end of the season.

While it could be a challenging deal to get over the line, Spurs must do all they can to secure Inzaghi’s services. Not only would he be a monumental upgrade on Postecoglou, but he could be a more successful Conte 2.0.

How Inzaghi compares to Postecoglou

Okay, so before we compare Inzaghi to Postecoglou, why could his arrival be described as Conte 2.0?

Inter Milan coachSimoneInzaghi

Well, simply put, he’d be joining Tottenham from Inter Milan, a fellow Italian and, crucially, while he’s not quite as defensively minded as the former Spurs boss, he can be just as pragmatic.

Moreover, and this is one of the big advantages he has over Ange, the 49-year-old is a proven winner in a top-five league, having led Lazio to the Coppa Italia in 18/19 and then winning another two with Inter Milan, as well as leading them to the Scudetto last season.

In contrast, all the Australian’s successes have come in smaller leagues, be that in Scotland, Japan or Australia, and while that is not meant to demean his achievements, it is undeniable that the pressure to succeed in those leagues is far less intense than it is here or in Italy, for example.

Moreover, when we compare the two managers’ records at their current sides, it’s abundantly clear who is doing the better job.

Inzaghi vs Postecoglou current clubs

Manager

Inzaghi

Postecoglou

Games

212

96

Wins

138

45

Draws

40

14

Losses

34

37

Points per Game

2.14

1.55

All Stats via Sofascore

For example, since taking the job at the San Siro, the “phenomenal” Italian, as dubbed by Felipe Salvador Caicedo, has overseen 138 wins, 40 draws and 34 losses, which comes out to an average of 2.14 points per game.

In contrast, the former Celtic boss has overseen 45 wins, 14 draws and 37 losses since taking charge of the North Londoners, which comes out to a rather paltry 1.55 points per game.

Ultimately, Inzaghi has shown himself to be tactically flexible, has won major trophies and has far more experience in a top-five league than Postecoglou, so if Spurs can hire him this summer, they should.

Amazing upgrade on Solanke: Spurs ready to pay £30m for "remarkable" CF

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Rohit Sharma and the art of the non-violent six

He eases the ball over the rope with minimum fuss and a lack of warning about what is coming

Sambit Bal08-Jul-2019So you think the ball has come out all right, the way you visualised it in your run-up – not full enough to be driven, not short enough to cut or pull, not on the legs to be clipped way, not wide enough for the batsman to free his arms. At best he can bunt or dab it for a single, but the percentages favour it being a dot ball, and that’s what it looks like when you’re in your follow-through. The batsman hasn’t moved much, no intent at all, the bat is coming down straight – a pat down the wicket mostly, and you are thinking about your next ball.And Rohit Sharma has hit you for a six. Maybe over your head. Maybe over long-off. Maybe over extra cover. Wherever the mood has taken him. Ask Mustafizur Rahman. Ask Pat Cummins. Ask Dhananjaya de Silva. Left-arm wobbler, right-arm fast, offspinner – when Rohit chooses the moment, the ball travels. Minimum fuss, maximum impact. He doesn’t savage you, he chaperones you over the ropes in the manner of an aristocrat.At worst, it’s a masterful con job – he has deceived you into believing all is well, before extracting maximum value. At best, it’s a work of art, a wonder of wonders, and if you were as generous a soul and as besotted with the game as Bishan Bedi, you would follow the arc of the ball till it finished its descent, and turn back to applaud. You know you have played your part in something quite divine. It’s no humiliation, it’s a moment of grace.

There are more prolific and devastating six-hitters than Rohit in contemporary cricket. Chris Gayle monsters them from as stationary a post. Andre Russell muscles them more regularly in T20. Jonny Bairstow can swing them hard. Jos Buttler can hit them all around the ground. But no one can be as explosive as non-violently as Rohit Sharma. What is a bludgeon for most is a caress for him.There have been touch players who could clear the ropes with ease. Brian Lara did it with twinkling feet and a magic wand; Mark Waugh with rubber wrists; Sourav Ganguly with the gift of timing and by giving himself space. But even with those players, the effort was visible. They created momentum either with footwork or by cocking the wrists, or often with both, and there was always a forewarning. It’s impossible to remember a batsman hitting a six with as much stillness and as languidly as Rohit.ALSO READ: Rohit Sharma and the magic in his touchThe best driving is often an extension of a defensive shot, and it has been the hallmark of several great batsmen from India. Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar stroked past the bowler with little more than a push, and Virat Kohli often cover-drives without a hint of a follow-through, but Rohit extends this to casual six-hitting. The simple downswing of the bat and timing give the ball both elevation and distance. “Killing Me Softly with His Song” was perhaps composed in anticipation of his sixes.Effortlessness, however, hasn’t been the only theme of his record-breaking World Cup campaign. Five hundreds in eight innings don’t come with six-hitting alone. Restraint, in fact, has been the distinguishing feature of his campaign. Like in the past, he has built his innings steadily, but unlike in the past, he has chosen to grind through the middle overs and has been unruffled by tough phases or dropped catches. He was unable to take India over the line against England on a pitch that got progressively more sluggish, but he fought his way through excellent spells from the English quick bowlers.Rohit’s sixes win Nobel Peace prizes for gentleness•Getty ImagesThough it seems ages ago, his first hundred came against the toughest bowling India have encountered in this World Cup. On a pitch where the second-highest score was 42, he marshalled India’s tricky chase against South Africa as wickets fell steadily, with a determination and measured brilliance that set the tone of his campaign. Kagiso Rabada versus Virat Kohli was the anticipated battle, but Kohli ended up facing only five balls from Rabada before being dismissed by Andile Phehlukwayo, and it was Rohit who absorbed the full impact, facing 35 of Rabada’s 60 deliveries.The pitches were fresh and the weather heavy in that part of the tournament. Rabada harried Rohit with pace and skiddy bounce early on, and a miscued pull barely eluded a fielder. He was pinned on the pad, beaten past the outside edge, and even Chris Morris got a ball past him and had him fending over point. But Rohit battled through, and it was a six that turned the tide.ALSO READ: What I think about when I watch Kohli and RohitHe had just been beaten on a drive the previous ball, and Rabada followed it with a ball at the ribs. In his normal position, Rohit would have been cramped for space, and been able to, at best, fend it off for a single. But behind every genius stroke there is anticipation and instinct: in this instance, he moved a shade inside, just a shade, mind you, not by way of premeditation but with a touch of intuition, and it was not so much the feet that moved but the upper body – just enough for the arms to free up and for the bat to meet the ball on the upswing. He pivoted on the back foot to complete a pull that took the ball flat over square leg.In that moment you sensed the mood of the game change. Two fours came off the next four balls, one a defensive prod with an angled bat, and then a ferocious cut off the back foot behind point. Rabada would bowl one more over in that spell, but all through it he was perhaps replaying that one ball: just where did that stroke come from?Now, that is perhaps our imagination. Rabada has probably put it out of this mind. But in the mind of the viewer, the mellow warmth of a Rohit Sharma six always lingers.

Sunrisers demolish DSG to claim back-to-back SA20 titles

Sunrisers Eastern Cape 204 for 3 (Stubbs 56*, Abell 55, Markram 42, Hermann 42) beat Durban’s Super Giants 112 (Mulder 38, Jansen 5-30) by 89 runsMarco Jansen led the line with an outstanding five-wicket haul, as Sunrisers Eastern Cape crushed Durban’s Super Giants by 89 runs to claim back-to-back SA20 titles in a formidable team performance at Newlands.After winning the toss and choosing to bat first, Sunrisers put a hefty total of 204 for 3 on the board, thanks to a forceful batting display built around two distinct partnerships – 90 from 52 balls between Jordan Hermann and Tom Abell, and then an unbroken 98 from 55 balls between Aiden Markram and Tristan Stubbs, who top-scored with 56 not out from 30 balls.By contrast, Durban’s innings never got any traction. After travelling down from Johannesburg in the morning following Friday’s Qualifier victory over Joburg Super Kings, their batters were caught cold in a feisty powerplay performance, led by Dan Worrall’s attacking seam and swing, and capped by Jansen’s towering left-arm angles.Their innings was rocked by the early loss of Quinton de Kock, who drove flat-footedly at Worrall and inside-edged onto his stumps for 3. He might have had two in two had Jansen not spilled JJ Smuts at slip first-ball, but Jansen made immediate amends, inducing Smuts into a chipped drive to mid-off from his second delivery, before Bhanuka Rajapaksa flapped a loose clip to the same fielder, Patrick Kruger, for a third-ball duck.At 7 for 3, the contest was already as good as over, and though Wiaan Mulder did his best to reboot Durban’s innings in a 56-run stand with a near-strokeless Matthew Breetzke, Jansen would once again be the man to strike for Sunrisers, this time in the field. Few other players could have reached Mulder’s swing for the ropes off Simon Harmer at the end of the tenth over, but he stretched over the boundary with his arms at full extension, to send Mulder on his way for 38.One ball later, Breetkze’s static knock of 18 from 27 balls ended as he lost his off stump to Ottniel Baartman, and in the same over, Baartman ended any faint hopes of Durban miracle. Heinrich Klaasen has been the outstanding ball-striker of the tournament, in rushing along to 447 runs at an extraordinary strike-rate of 207.90, but this time he lasted a solitary delivery, as Baartman landed his inswinger and extracted the on-field lbw from Stephen Harris, with the ball shown to be clipping leg.The end came in a rush. Jansen returned for his third over and plucked off Keshav Maharaj’s off stump, then ended any remaining resistance with two wickets from his final three balls. Junior Dala flicked him off his pads for a token six before picking out Harmer at long-on one ball later, before another off-stump heat-seeker dealt with Reece Topley to cue the celebrations.Durban’s display arguably went awry from the very first over of the match. They deviated from the plans that had proven so effective against Joburg Super Kings in the Qualifier, handing an opening over to the left-arm spinner Smuts that was milked for nine chanceless runs – two more than Sunrisers would concede in claiming their first three wickets. It set the tone for a passive display with the ball, even after Topley had struck with his fourth delivery in the second over, a plumb lbw against Dawid Malan (6).That brought Abell to the middle, and though he would finish with the Player-of-the-Match award, he led a charmed life for the first 14 balls of his innings. He was dropped on 6 in Topley’s second over then survived a potentially innings-turning moment from his very next ball, as Maharaj scooped up a low chance at mid-off, but signalled to the umpires that he was unsure if it had carried. That doubt potentially informed the subsequent TV referral, despite the replays suggesting that his fingers had been under the ball.Abell’s innings kicked up a gear as he turned to his favoured scoop shot, with a four and a six from consecutive Mulder deliveries, and with gaps suddenly appearing in the field, he rushed through to a 30-ball fifty with seven fours and two sixes inside the 10th over, with Sunrisers’ 100 coming up in the same over.Durban hit back in style, however, with Maharaj bagging both set batters in the space of four balls. Hermann holed out to Klaasen at long-on for 42 from 27 balls, before Abell was beaten in flight on the slog-sweep to be bowled for 55 from 34. That brought Stubbs and Markram together in the 11th over, with a bit of a rebuild required at 106 for 3.Each man picked off an early boundary but it was Stubbs who was the first to step up the tempo with back-to-back fours to end Dwayne Pretorius’ second over. After that it was over to Stubbs’ long levers, with three sixes in eight balls powering the total past 200. In the end, it would prove to be more than enough.

RCB searching for answers against in-form Rajasthan Royals

RCB’s overseas batters haven’t fired and they are up against a bowling attack with a superb powerplay and death-over record this season

Karthik Krishnaswamy05-Apr-20242:36

McClenaghan: Royals arguably have best bowling combination this IPL

Match detailsRajasthan Royals (RR) vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)
Jaipur, 7.30pm IST (2pm GMT)Big picture – RCB stars looking for spark New season, newish team name, same old problems. Four games into IPL 2024, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have just one win. The top quarter of their line-up is full of superstars, but most of them are yet to fire, which has put immense pressure on the not-quite-superstars who make up the rest of their batting. The bowling has been, well, RCB.Rajasthan Royals have a pair of not-quite-firing superstars too, right at the top of their line-up, but that hasn’t impacted their results so far, with their opening three games bringing them three wins. How good could the Royals be, then, if Yashasvi Jaiswal and Jos Buttler begin scoring runs?Equally, though, it may take just one of Faf du Plessis, Glenn Maxwell and Cameron Green to find form for RCB’s campaign to spark to life. It’s still early days in IPL 2024, and you only have to go back to last season to know that a good start is only a start. Royals began with four wins in their first five games, and RCB with two wins in five, but by the end of the league stage both teams had the same points and similar net run rates.There’s a long way to go, then, but RCB will know that a turnaround, if there is to be one, will need to begin soon.Form guideRoyals WWW (most recent match first)
RCB LLWL1:59

Moody on Maxwell: ‘You need to allow the free spirit to be free’

Team news and Impact Player strategyRajasthan Royals
Sandeep Sharma missed Royals’ last match, away in Mumbai, with a niggle. If he’s fit again, expect him to slot back, with Nandre Burger slipping back into the Impact Player rotation alongside the likes of Rovman Powell and Shubham Dube. Royals like to use their substitute depending on match situation rather than in a wholly toss-dependent way, and ideally like to have six full-time bowling options whenever possible.Likely XII 1 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 2 Jos Buttler, 3 Sanju Samson (capt & wk), 4 Riyan Parag, 5 Shimron Hetmyer, 6 Dhruv Jurel, 7 R Ashwin, 8 Trent Boult, 9 Avesh Khan, 10 Sandeep Sharma, 11 Yuzvendra Chahal, 12 Royal Challengers Bangalore
Since making an impressive 25-ball 48 in the season opener in Chennai, Anuj Rawat has scored 25 off 48 balls across his next three innings. There is a chance RCB might leave him out on Saturday and hand the keeping gloves back to Dinesh Karthik. It could allow them to start Mahipal Lomror instead of using him as an Impact Player, and give the middle-order batter Suyash Prabhudessai or the allrounder Manoj Bhandage a look-in. There could be a temptation to try and bring Will Jacks into the mix too, but RCB may find it hard to fit him in unless they leave out their big-money trade signing Cameron Green.Likely XII 1 Virat Kohli, 2 Faf du Plessis (capt), 3 Rajat Patidar, 4 Glenn Maxwell, 5 Cameron Green, 6 , 7 Mahipal Lomror, 8 Dinesh Karthik (wk), 9 Mayank Dagar, 10 Reece Topley, 11 Mohammed Siraj, 12 Yash Dayal.In the spotlight: Shimron Hetmyer and Dinesh KarthikHe has one of the most specialised batting roles in the IPL, to the extent that R Ashwin routinely bats ahead of him if Royals feel the ideal entry point for their death-overs hitter hasn’t yet arrived. Consequently, IPL 2024 has seen very little of Shimron Hetmyer so far. He’s batted only twice in their first three games, and one of his innings was an unbeaten 14 off seven balls. And when Royals bring in a bowler as Impact sub, it’s usually Hetmyer who makes way. If he makes an appearance in his designated role on Saturday, he’ll be up against an RCB attack that has an economy rate of 11.30 in the death overs this season, while picking up just four wickets in that phase in four games.2:39

Jaffer: Green has to bat at No.3 and Rawat at 4

For RCB, Dinesh Karthik plays a similar role to Hetmyer, his entry point is often delayed so he can bat at the death. Royals are aware of this, and also of Karthik’s preference for batting against pace. Karthik is particularly averse to batting against legspin, and doesn’t have a great record against Yuzvendra Chahal. In all their IPL meetings, Chahal has bowled 51 balls to Karthik and conceded only 47 runs while dismissing him three times. Chahal is happy to bowl at the death, and Royals are happy to keep two of his overs for that phase whenever they’re up against RCB and Karthik. Chahal bowled the 17th and 19th overs in both meetings between these sides last season, picking up 2 for 11 in that mini-spell in Bengaluru, where he got to bowl to Karthik, and 0 for 22 in Jaipur, where he didn’t.Stats that matter RCB did the double over Royals in IPL 2023, beating them by seven runs in Bengaluru and walloping them by 112 runs in Jaipur, where Royals were bowled out for 59. Jaipur is the scene of one of Virat Kohli’s most jaw-dropping international innings, an unbeaten 52-ball 100 against Australia in a landmark ODI chase in 2013, but it hasn’t been a happy venue for him in the IPL. In eight innings here, he’s yet to score a half-century, and he averages 21.28 while striking at less than a run a ball. Of all venues where he’s batted at least eight times in the IPL, he has the worst average in Jaipur. Du Plessis, Maxwell and Green have scored 159 runs between them so far this season at an average of 13.25 and a strike rate of 119.5. Royals have by far the best death-overs economy rate (7.41) of any team in IPL 2024 so far, with Lucknow Super Giants a distant second best at 9.60. Royals also have the second-best powerplay economy rate (8.44) of all teams behind Chennai Super Kings (8.16), while taking more wickets (9) in that phase than any other team. Any Royals-RCB game is an opportunity to bring up Kohli vs Sandeep Sharma. In 15 IPL meetings, Kohli has scored 87 off 67 balls from Sandeep while being dismissed seven times. No bowler has dismissed Kohli as often, with Ashish Nehra in second place with six dismissals.Pitch and conditionsRoyals have won both their home games so far, batting first both times and defending totals of 193 and 185. The chasing team was in with a good chance in both games, so the Sawai Mansingh Stadium isn’t necessarily a bat-first ground, though the large outfield and relative lack of dew do tend to even things up for the team bowling second.

Mott calls for patience with England's new-era white-ball team

Matthew Mott has called for patience with England’s new-era white-ball team as a work in progress, stressing that they’ve only had three opportunities to play together.England succumbed to a four-wicket defeat in Barbados to lose their first series following a difficult World Cup campaign 2-1.A group which featured just four players to have played more than 10 ODIs, found themselves in strong positions in all three matches against a West Indies side going through a similar reboot having failed to qualify for the World Cup.However, a late-innings onslaught from Shai Hope and Romario Shepherd in the opening match saw England slip to a four-wicket defeat in Antigua, before losing by the same margin at the Kensington Oval after a top-order collapse gave England a total of just 188 to defend in a rain-reduced game.Related

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“We haven’t put a complete game together and that’s the frustration,” Mott, England’s head coach, said immediately after the defeat. “We put ourselves in a chance to win all three games and come away with a series loss, so that’s not ideal.”But there are definitely some really good signs there that there’s a group of players who love playing with each other. They’re some really good mates in there and I think it’ll really take the game forward.”In line for particular praise were Rehan Ahmed and Sam Curran. Rehan, described by Mott as a “revelation”, has been tasked with filling the almighty shoes of Adil Rashid and took five wickets across the series at an average of 23.40 and an economy of 4.33. On the other hand, Curran had a mixed series. In the opening ODI, he showed his class with the bat to save England’s innings from the perilous position of 239 for 7, before conceding the worst ever figures of an England player in ODIs as he was taken for 0 for 98.”Sam’s definitely a player that we really want to invest in,” Mott said, with Curran proving his qualities with the ball in the second match where his triple-strike in the powerplay put England ahead of the game. “He’s got a lot of qualities that we like and he’s got the game to really play well.”A point of pride for Mott was the fight England showed to almost steal an unlikely victory from the final ODI. Suffering from the natural disadvantage of bowling second in a rain-affected match, England were faced with greasy conditions that made it harder for their spinners to grip the ball and easier for the West Indies batters to play seam. But thanks to a Will Jacks-inspired performance with the ball, England reduced West Indies to 135 for 6, with 53 runs still required for victory.”I thought today we showed a lot of character and spirit to fight all day,” Mott said. “You don’t want to make excuses, but to hang in there as a team and show the fight that they did, throwing themselves around and nearly snatching one was something that we’re looking for.”After three months of almost exclusive ODI focus, England’s attention now turns to T20s, with the five-match series against West Indies starting on Tuesday in Barbados.”We’ve played really good T20 cricket over a period of time. It’s always good when you lose a series to change the format,” Mott said, also confirming that Jos Buttler will return to opening the batting after spending the New Zealand series in September lower down the order. “You move on pretty quickly. It’s only a couple of days, it won’t be that different. Obviously you’ve got a few new players coming in with experience. But it’s much of a muchness really.”There are five changes to England’s personnel in the Caribbean, with Chris Woakes, Rashid, Moeen Ali, Reece Topley and Tymal Mills joining the squad for the T20 leg. Ollie Pope, Zak Crawley, Matthew Potts, Tom Hartley and Brydon Carse will head home.”It’s probably easier transitioning back,” Mott said. “T20 is, particularly for the batting group, pretty clear, you go out and take the game on, there’s not a lot of dead balls. And from the bowling group, you’re trying to hit your variations as much as you can and deny them hitting opportunities. So I think we’ll be fine. We’ve got a couple of days to work on it and looking forward to it.”Also joining the England set-up is Andrew Flintoff, who will continue the first team mentoring role he took up in the summer as part of his first steps back into the public eye following his serious car crash whilst filming Top Gear.Flintoff, whose role is now paid, was part of the backroom staff for both the New Zealand white-ball series and the home ODIs against Ireland before he flew to Abu Dhabi along with Graeme Swann as part of the England Lions’ red-ball training camp. It has been a high-profile return to coaching for Flintoff, who has also been hired as Northern Superchargers head coach for the 2024 edition of The Hundred.

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