Cox 90* gives Tigers first win; Shamsi and Zazai help Warriors to the top of the table

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Moeen and du Plessis combine to give Samp Army their first win of the tournament too

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Nov-2023The Jordan Cox show put Bangla Tigers on the board and condemned Deccan Gladiators to their second defeat in three games in the final fixture of the Abu Dhabi T10 league on Thursday.Cox, after Gladiators had asked Tigers to bat, smashed eight fours and six sixes in a rollicking 36-ball 90 not out that gave Tigers 143 for 4, the highest total in the tournament so far. It became the highest-scoring match of the tournament so far too, as Gladiators gave it a good thump in the chase, putting up 123 for 3 with quick 40s from Nicholas Pooran and Fabian Allen keeping them in the contest, if only just.There were three ducks in the Tigers innings – Chris Lynn, David Miller and Daniel Sams totaling zero from seven balls between them – but with Cox in marauding form, they didn’t have much to worry about. Contributions also came from Kusal Mendis (19 in eight balls) and Dasun Shanaka (25* in 11).In reply, Gladiators’ batting star of the previous two games, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, was dismissed cheaply, but Andre Fletcher (17 in five balls) and Pooran kept them going. After Pooran was dismissed for a 17-ball 41, with Gladiators 72 away with 4.5 overs left, it was game on. But Andre Russell’s 11 not out took 17 balls, and despite Allen’s 40 not out in 16 balls, Gladiators ended well short.Hazratullah Zazai brought up his fifty with a six•Abu Dhabi T10Shamsi and Zazai take Northern Warriors to the top of the tableNorthern Warriors 106 for 0 (Zazai 52*, Lewis 46*) beat Team Abu Dhabi 103 for 7 (Banton 33, Shamsi 2-17) by 10 wicketsTabraiz Shamsi’s wristspin and some power-hitting from openers Kennar Lewis and Hazratullah Zazai lifted Northern Warriors to the top of the table with a thumping 10-wicket win against Team Abu Dhabi.Abu Dhabi started off on the right note when their English openers Tom Banton and Alex Hales raced to 39 in under four overs but Shamsi truck to have Banton hole out off a slog sweep. Once Colin Ingram fell for 10 two overs later, Abu Dhabi struggled to get sizeable partnerships going as Shamsi removed Hales as well and only one of their next four batters dismissed reached double digits. Asif Khan scored a quick 19 off seven with two sixes to help Abu Dhabi reach 103 for 7.Lewis and Zazai crossed that target with an over to spare, facing 27 balls each of which 10 reached the boundary rope and five went over. While Lewis remained not out on 46, Zazai reached his fifty with a winning six over long-on.Faf du Plessis struck three sixes in his quickfire knock•Abu Dhabi T10Janat, Moeen, Gous, du Plessis get Samp Army off the markSamp Army 99 for 3 (Gous 43, du Plessis 31) beat Chennai Braves 97 for 7 (Asalanka 31, Janat 2-15, Moeen 2-17) by seven wicketsTwo wickets apiece from Karim Janat and Moeen Ali kept Chennai Braves to 97 for 7 before Samp Army’s openers Andries Gous and Faf du Plessis put on a rapid fifty stand to script a seven-wicket win with one ball to spare.Jason Holder and Janat first combined to reduce Braves to 6 for 2 in the second over before three wickets in the fifth over, including a run out, placed them on 27 for 6. Charith Asalanka, however, smoked a counter-attacking 31 off 13 before unbeaten cameos from Aayan Afzal Khan and Bhanuka Rajapaksa stretched them to a more respectable total, even as Holder finished with stunning figures of 2-0-8-1.Gous and du Plessis scored at a good clip at the top and even though du Plessis and Moeen fell in successive overs, the quick start meant Samp Army needed 30 runs off the last three, which Najibullah Zadran ensured they scored by hitting a winning six on the penultimate ball of the game.

Trott to continue as Afghanistan men's head coach in 2024

by csb10.top Uncategorized

Following a successful stint with the Afghanistan men’s cricket team, former England batter Jonathan Trott’s contract as head coach has been extended for a year. His 18-month tenure came to an end with 2023 but the ACB has chosen to keep him for 2024 as well.Afghanistan made excellent gains on the field last year, which culminated in their performance in the ODI World Cup where they beat Pakistan, England, Sri Lanka and Netherlands. They were also within reach of victory over the eventual champions Australia until Glenn Maxwell played one of the greatest innings of all time.Trott spoke to ESPNcricinfo in the aftermath of that campaign where Afghanistan went in with only one win in World Cup cricket and increased that count to five by the end of the tournament. “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time with them so far,” he said. “It’ll be nice to be able to build on the success we had at this World Cup.”In all, Trott, who was first appointed as head coach of Afghanistan in July 2022, has helped the team to win eight out of 23 ODIs, including a maiden series win over Bangladesh, and 11 out of 26 T20Is, including a maiden series win over Pakistan.Afghanistan are currently playing a three-match T20I series against the UAE, where the scoreline is 1-1. They will then play India in a set of three T20Is in January in preparation for the T20 World Cup in West Indies and the USA in June.Trott had a storied time with England, especially in Test cricket where he made 3835 runs in 52 matches, and was one of the pillars of their Ashes triumph in 2010-11. At his peak a player capable of batting long periods and constructing massive innings, Trott’s success also translated well into ODI cricket where he made 2819 runs at an average of 51 with four hundreds and 22 fifties. Towards the end of his career, though, the intensity of his game took a toll on him and he needed a break from cricket in 2013-14. Trott eventually retired from England duty in 2015. The Afghanistan job was his first time as head coach of a senior men’s team in international cricket.

Adelaide Strikers' bowlers do it again to secure back-to-back titles in final thriller

by h79snht.top Uncategorized

A low-scoring match in front of more than 12,000 spectators produced a gripping finish that went to the last ball

Tristan Lavalette02-Dec-2023

Tahlia McGrath gave Adelaide Strikers hope with two in two balls•Getty Images

Adelaide Strikers 125 for 5 (Wolvaardt 39, McGrath 38, Hancock 3-23) beat Brisbane Heat 122 for 8 (Kerr 30*, Wellington 3-16)Adelaide Strikers claimed back-to-back WBBL titles after their star-studded attack superbly defended a low total to thwart Brisbane Heat in a nerve-jangling final.Strikers had been limited to 125 for 5 at the Adelaide Oval after being shackled by disciplined Heat bowling and inventive captaincy from Jess Jonassen.But on a slow surface under lights, the final was on a knife’s edge when Heat slumped to 62 for 4 after seamer Tahlia McGrath dismissed Mignon du Preez and Laura Harris on consecutive deliveries in the 13th over.Strikers appeared set to rue missed chances to dismiss Amelia Kerr and Charli Knott in the 16th over. But seamer Megan Schutt dismissed Knott and Jonassen as Heat were left needing 13 runs off the final over.Legspinner Amanda-Jade Wellington dismissed Georgia Voll on the third delivery before Mikayla Hinkley hit a first ball six as Heat required five runs off the last two deliveries.But Hinkley fell next ball and Wellington cooly denied Nicola Hancock’s attempts at a match-winning six as a crowd of 12,379 fans erupted in jubilation.Strikers’ remarkable victory thwarted Heat, who were playing their third game in five days. A late season slump had cost them a home final, but third-placed Heat reached the final after beating Sydney Thunder and Perth Scorchers on consecutive days at the WACA.But a well-rested Strikers, who had the week off, finished stronger to clinch a title defence with a 10th win from their last 11 games.Much of the pre-match talk had been centred around Strikers’ strong attack against Heat’s powerful batting line-up. But that battle had to wait after McGrath elected to bat in good batting conditions.Much like during the two finals at the WACA, Heat exploited bounce in the surface with Hancock bowling in-form Katie Mack in the second over.But McGrath countered with a superb cover drive boundary to get off the mark in style as she peeled off a trio of fours in her first nine balls. Her assertiveness ignited opener Laura Wolvaardt, who hit three boundaries in a row off Jonassen capped by a horror misfield in the outfield by Voll.Megan Schutt came to the fore at the death•Getty Images

Strikers recovered to reach 34 for 1 after the powerplay as an intriguing tactical battle was playing out. Six different bowlers were used in as many overs to start the match as Jonassen kept rotating her bowlers in one-over spells in a bid to unsettle the batters.The tactic eventually did the trick as Heat pegged back Strikers before Hancock produced an innings-changing over in the 10th over. She bowled an unrelenting back of a length line which left McGrath rattled after top-edging into her helmet and requiring medical attention.In the last delivery before drinks, Hancock hit the top of McGrath’s off bail after the batter charged down the pitch as Heat gained a stranglehold.Strikers only mustered 54 runs in the last 10 overs with Wolvaardt unable to rediscover her earlier rhythm and she was left frustrated on 39 after being stumped off Jonassen.In a bid for a late rally, Strikers took the power surge but Bridget Patterson fell on the first ball of the 17th over as their innings withered away.Heat had one hand on the title, but needed to get past an attack rated as the WBBL’s best. Opener Grace Harris particularly relished an early boundary against Schutt who she had delivered a barb to in the match’s lead-up.Strikers’ hopes sank when Harris, who ignited Heat in the Perth finals with belligerent batting, was dropped on 13 by Madeline Penna at first slip off returning quick Darcie Brown.But Harris fell shortly later when she holed out after failing to connect on a short delivery from offspinner Jemma Barsby. On a turning surface, Wellington proved a handful and dismissed opener Georgia Redmayne in the eighth over as Strikers clawed back.Heat were unable to get the ball away in the middle overs as the pressure heightened when du Preez and Harris were bowled on consecutive deliveries by McGrath.Having been badly dropped by Mack at deep midwicket in the 16th over, Knott fell shortly after to Schutt as the twists continued until the final ball.

Real Madrid player ratings vs PSG: Defensive meltdown combined with Vinicius Jr and Kylian Mbappe no-shows lead to Club World Cup embarrassment for Los Blancos

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Xabi Alonso's men were entirely outclassed by the Champions League winners to crash out of the tournament

Kylian Mbappe endured an ugly reunion with his former team as Real Madrid were torn apart by a rampant Paris Saint-Germain en route to a 4-0 loss in the semi-final of the Club World Cup. Los Blancos toiled throughout, a combination of defensive errors and inferior quality leading to an embarrassment at the hands of Luis Enrique's side.

It was an even game for about five minutes, and a couple of early Madrid attacks suggested that this might be a more competitive contest than most predicted. But Xabi Alonso's side then self-destructed in defence, as Raul Asencio's heavy touch was picked off by Ousmane Dembele, before Fabian Ruiz finished into an open net. Antonio Rudiger went one better shortly after when he generously surrendered the ball to Dembele, who ran through on goal and finished.

Ruiz got his second of the game before the half-hour mark, with five PSG touches needed to get the ball from their own 18-yard box to a comfortable finish for the Spain midfielder. It might have been worse by half-time, too, but Khvicha Kvaratskhelia fired wide after a clever shuffle through the Madrid defence.

PSG rather took their foot off the gas in the second half, but Madrid didn't really take advantage as Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Jr. were replaced after an hour. Luka Modric and Lucas Vazquez came on for their swansongs in white before Goncalo Ramos made it four with three minutes left on the clock.

GOAL rates Madrid's players from MetLife Stadium…

  • AFP

    Goalkeeper & Defence

    Thibaut Courtois (6/10):

    Could he really do anything about any of the four goals? Perhaps a bit caught out of position for the first, but otherwise can't be blamed.

    Federico Valverde (6/10):

    Outnumbered all afternoon, but did quite well here and there. Madrid could have used his legs in midfield.

    Raul Asencio (3/10):

    A terrible error started the onslaught, and wasn't much better after that. The drop off from Dean Huijsen is significant.

    Antonio Rudiger (3/10):

    Uncharacteristically loose, and stripped of the ball leading up to the PSG second.

    Fran Garcia (5/10):

    Poor guy. Constantly outnumbered by Hakimi and Doue due to Mbappe's aversion to tracking back, and thus struggled despite his best efforts.

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    Midfield

    Arda Guler (5/10)

    Never really in it. Doesn't have the legs to play centrally in games like this.

    Aurelien Tchouameni (5/10):

    Couldn't do anything at the base of midfield. Overrun and didn't know who to try to tackle. Got away with a very heavy challenge.

    Jude Bellingham (4/10):

    Entirely bypassed throughout – save for a nice run or two. Deservedly subbed after an hour.

  • Getty Images Sport

    Attack

    Vinicius Jr (3/10):

    Really struggled on the right. Didn't know whether to go inside or out, lacking in his final ball, and didn't do much off ball work.

    Gonzalo Garcia (5/10):

    A weird one. Good in moments in the middle, but was then forced to play on the right to make up for everyone else's aversion to defending.

    Kylian Mbappe (4/10):

    What a miserable one against his old team. Offered next to nothing going forward and his defensive work was non-existent.

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    Subs & Manager

    Luka Modric (5/10):

    Not the Madrid swansong he would have wanted. Hardly touched the ball and caught in a mass of swarming blue.

    Eder Militao (5/10):

    A good 30 minutes or so. Will be back in contention to start by August, presumably.

    Brahim Diaz (5/10):

    A few nice touches, but didn't release the ball quickly enough on a few occasions.

    Dani Carvajal (4/10):

    Welcome back, Dani. Not be best game to return to. Booked within a couple minutes of coming on.

    Lucas Vazquez (N/A):

    No time to make an impact.

    Xabi Alonso (4/10):

    There's a wake-up call! Madrid were outdone man for man, and he was outcoached. Back to the drawing board.

First-ball joy: Shamar Joseph starts Test cricket with Steven Smith's wicket

by csb10.top Uncategorized

Shamar Joseph, the West Indies fast bowler with just five first-class matches under his belt, made a remarkable start to his Test career when he removed Steven Smith with his first ball during West Indies’ first Test against Australia in Adelaide.Joseph, 24, had already made an impression on the opening day in Adelaide when he struck 36 in a last-wicket stand of 55 with Kemar Roach.But it was when he was given the ball for the ninth over of Australia’s innings that he wrote himself a place in the game’s history. Hitting a good length outside off with his first delivery, he drew Smith – opening for the first time in Tests – into playing, and the thick edge was well held at third slip.It made him the 23rd bowler to take a wicket with his first ball in men’s Tests, and just the second West Indian after Tyrell Johnson against England at The Oval in 1939.There is another member of the club playing in this Test: Nathan Lyon struck with his first delivery on debut against Sri Lanka in 2011Joseph, who is from the small village of Baracara in Guyana, was one of three debutants included in West Indies’ side, alongside Kavem Hodge and Justin Greaves. He had made a mark on last year during West Indies A’s tour of South Africa, where he claimed 12 wickets.”I first ran into him live last year when West Indies were playing in Guyana. I caught a sight of him in the nets, and he has hustle, bustle, and really comes at you,” Ian Bishop had told ESPNcricinfo before the Australia series. “There’s a lot of high hopes for him because of his attitude and his physical capabilities.”

قرار جديد من الأهلي تجاه زيزو.. وأزمة وحيدة تمنع ديانج من التجديد

by h79snht.top Uncategorized

تحدث الإعلامي أحمد شوبير، عن أزمة أحمد سيد زيزو، لاعب الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بالنادي الأهلي، مع فريقه السابق الزمالك، بعد توجيه جماهير الأبيض السباب له.

وشهدت عقوبات الجولة الأولى توقيع غرامة مالية على نادي الزمالك قيمتها 100 ألف جنيه، وذلك بسبب السباب الجماعي من جماهير الفريق للاعب الفريق المنافس وحكم المباراة.

طالع| خاص| حقيقة توقيع عقوبات على جماهير الأهلي بسبب أحداث مباراة مودرن سبورت

وقال شوبير في برنامجه حارس الأهلي على قناة الأهلي: “النادي الأهلي قال لـ زيزو ليس لك علاقة بملف الزمالك، وطالبوه بالتركيز في الملعب والنادي سيتولى الملف مع الرابطة واتحاد الكرة، وطالبوه بأن يمنع أي أحد من من حوله من الحديث في الموضوع، لأن الأهلي يعرف كيف ستسير الأمور ويعرف كيف سيأتي بحق كل نجومه”.

وتابع: “أليو ديانج ليس لديه مشكلة في تجديد تعاقده، لكن قال إن التجديد مرتبط بحصولي على فرصة في الملعب، الأهلي كان على وشك الوصول لاتفاق نهائي لكن بعد عدم مشاركته في المباراة الأولى تأخر الأمر، والكابتن محمد يوسف كان قد طالبه بالتدرب جيدًا وأنه من المؤكد ستكون لك فرصة”.

وأضاف: “أحمد نبيل كوكا بعد فشل انضمامه لـ قاسم باشا، أصبح في طريقه لتمديد تعاقده مع الأهلي لمدة 5 سنوات، واللاعب مرحب بالاستمرار”.

وكشف: “إمام عاشور غالبًا سيتواجد في المباراة بعد القادمة، والأهلي أوقف المفاوضات الخاصة بتجديد تعاقده الآن للتركيز في الفترة الحالية في الدوري، واللاعب يتفرغ لاستعادة مستواه، غدًا سيحسم مصير مشاركته في المباراة القادمة وأنا أعتقد أنه سيكون صعبا”.

وأردف: “أنباء ترددت أن أهلي طرابلس قدم عرضًا لضم أحمد عبد القادر، لكن مصدر مسؤول في الأهلي نفى وصول أي عروض للاعب، والكابتن محمد يوسف يحاول إقناع ريبيرو بأن يتدرب عبد القادر مع الفريق ولا يتدرب منفردًا”.

واختتم: “أنا أتمنى أن ينجح محمد يوسف في اقناع المدرب، ومن يدري قد يكون نجم الفريق أو ينتقل لأي ناد خارجي، لكن من حقه أن يتدرب مع الفريق وهذا حقه وأي شيء غير ذلك ظلم للاعب”.

Vasco: Paulo Bracks quer Abel Braga como diretor-técnico, mas precisa do aval da 777

by h79snht.top Uncategorized

MatériaMais Notícias

O futebol do Vasco está em processo de reestruturação, e uma das inovações propostas pela 777 Partners na estrutura do departamento é a contratação de um diretor-técnico, conforme informou o LANCE! há 10 dias. O nome em questão para o cargo é o de Abel Braga, noticiado primeiro pelo canal “Gigante Vasco” e confirmada pela reportagem.

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Abel Braga é o preferido do diretor de futebol Paulo Bracks, com quem trabalhou no Internacional. Entre os dois a negociação está praticamente acertada, mas será finalizada apenas depois do retorno do dirigente, que está na Europa. No entanto, a contratação do ex-treinador, aposentado desde abril quando deixou o Fluminense, precisa do aval da 777 Partners.

+ Copa do Mundo começa neste domingo; confira a tabela

O diretor técnico entrou em pauta no organograma do futebol do Vasco para ser a ponte entre o Cruz-Maltino e a 777 Football Group, braço esportivo do grupo norte-americano. O profissional será o responsável por definir questões técnicas do jogo, como modelo e forma de jogar, alinhado ao que pensa o diretor esportivo Johannes Spors.

A ideia inicial era trazer um estrangeiro para assumir a função, mas a experiência e o prestígio de Abel Braga podem ser determinantes para Paulo Bracks convencer os gestores da 777 Footbal Group. O dirigente vai se reunir nesta semana com todos os diretores esportivos dos clubes do grupo, em Genoa, na Itália.

Liverpool enter 'direct talks' with Rodrygo over summer transfer with Real Madrid ready to sanction sale of star winger

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Liverpool have reportedly begun 'direct talks' with Real Madrid star Rodrygo over a summer transfer.

  • Rodrygo facing uncertain future
  • Real Madrid 'open' to summer sale
  • Liverpool begin 'direct talks' with him
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  • WHAT HAPPENED?

    According to journalist Santi Aouna, there are 'direct talks' between Liverpool and Rodrygo's entourage but there are no negotiations between the two teams at present. Moreover, Florian Plettenberg claims Madrid would be open to selling the Brazilian, and the winger is aware of this.

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    THE BIGGER PICTURE

    Plettenberg adds that Liverpool are keeping tabs on Rodrygo in case Luis Diaz leaves Anfield, with Bayern Munich targeting the Colombia international, but a move for the 24-year-old would be 'very expensive'. The Brazil international is said to be earning up to €10 million net per year, which is putting off teams such as Chelsea, among others.

  • DID YOU KNOW?

    Rodrygo – who can play as a centre-forward, a supporting striker, and as a winger – has scored 68 goals and added 51 assists in 270 games for Madrid so far. But after reports of him being 'sad' over his diminishing game time, he could be heading for pastures new this summer.

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    WHAT NEXT?

    It remains to be seen if any team will submit a concrete offer for Rodrygo, who still has three years left on his contract at Santiago Bernabeu. Incidentally, he played three times in Madrid's six Club World Cup games this summer, which may be a sign of things to come at Los Blancos.

Lucy Bronze is a living Lionesses legend: England defender's longevity is a blessing as Sarina Wiegman's side chase Euro 2025 title

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

The Chelsea defender grabbed the quarter-final win over Sweden by the scruff of the neck and will be vital again in Tuesday's clash with Italy

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Lucy Bronze has accumulated her fair share of iconic moments on the international stage over the past decade. It’s 10 years since she scored in back-to-back knockout games to propel England to their first Women's World Cup semi-final, and it was her sensational strike that put the gloss on the Lionesses’ win over Norway four years later, as they again made the last four. On Thursday, she added another to the list, as her header kickstarted an unlikely comeback in the quarter-finals of Euro 2025, before her thumping penalty proved to be the winner in the shootout against Sweden.

As England have become a mainstay in the latter stages of major tournaments in recent years, Bronze has been a stalwart. It's remarkable to think that, just two years before her breakout at the 2015 World Cup, she was struggling for call-ups and considering representing Portugal, the nation of her father, instead.

Fortunately for the Lionesses, it never came to that. Now, as the Euro 2022 winners prepare for a sixth-successive major tournament semi-final, Bronze, who has played in all of the last five, is only enhancing her status as an England legend in a remarkable show of longevity that few can match.

Getty ImagesStanding tall

For all of England's defensive issues at this tournament, Bronze's right-hand side has stayed relatively steady. One might assume that the oldest player in the Lionesses' squad might be worth targeting, but after finding things tough against Chelsea team-mate Sandy Baltimore in the opening round of games, as France emerged 2-1 winners, Bronze had stood tall.

No one has won more aerial duels or made more clearances in the England squad than the 33-year-old, who also ranks second for how often she has won possession, second for interceptions made and third for tackles won.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesDefying age

Perhaps the most impressive thing about Bronze continues to be her athleticism, which hardly seems to be dwindling as she enters her mid-30s. That's despite the injuries she's had and the amount of football she plays, with only two outfield players racking up more minutes last season in the Women's Super League for Chelsea, and just three England team-mates sitting above her in that column at Euro 2025.

She plays her full-back role with remarkable commitment, flying forward and hurrying back to ensure she makes her mark at both ends. It's that which makes her capable of switching seamlessly to wing-back too, as was the case during the 2023 Women's World Cup and the latter stages of Chelsea's past season. If Wiegman was to switch to that 3-5-2 system again at this Euros, which could well address the issues on the opposite side of the defence, Bronze would by no means struggle with the workload. In fact, there's an argument that she'd be better for it.

Getty ImagesNot without doubters

Despite being a five-time Champions League winner and an England icon, there have been doubts about the full-back over the years. Long considered the best player in the world in her position, many have questioned whether Bronze can still reach that level, whether age was catching up with her and whether she was not longer capable of getting forward in the same manner as before, as it left her exposed defensively.

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Getty ImagesFighting back

But she continues to fight back whenever those doubts are raised. At Chelsea this season, she was one of the best players in the WSL, despite plenty of questions being asked about her signing by the club. Now, she's backing that up with a solid Euros, the highlight of which was undoubtedly her performance against Sweden.

It wasn't just the header that kickstarted England's comeback, impressive because of the awareness of the run as well as the finish itself, or the thumping penalty that flew down the middle of Jennifer Falk's goal and gave the Lionesses the lead in the shootout at a vital moment. It was also the grit she showed, taping up her hamstring herself in the late stages of extra-time while others received treatment, and the know-how that was central to her winning spot-kick.

"I watched the goalkeeper in every single penalty and she dived quite early," Bronze explained to . "Statistically, in a penalty shootout it's quite risky for the goalkeeper to stand still and go down the middle."

She was thinking about the numbers when she won the coin toss ahead after extra-time, too. "You're more likely to win if you go first," she explained, citing her "love" of "maths". "I've been around long enough," she added. "I need to know the ins and outs of the game. All the little things can make a difference and for me it felt like it did tonight."

For Deepak Chahar, rehab is a chance to get stronger – with ball and bat

by h79snht.top Uncategorized

The CSK man is making use of his time away from the game to increase his pace and add more shots to his repertoire

Deivarayan Muthu08-Feb-2024

“If there’s a family emergency, you don’t think about anything else”•BCCI

Deepak Chahar hasn’t played competitive cricket since December 2023, but he is preparing to shake off the rust and return to action in the IPL as an improved bowler and batter. He is using the downtime before the tournament to add an extra yard of pace to his bowling and more shots to his batting.”When you’re doing rehab – or just playing – you’re not gaining strength. You’re losing strength of your body,” Chahar said on the sidelines of an event in Chennai where Etihad Airways was announced as the new official sponsors for Chennai Super Kings. “So this is the right time for me or any athlete… when you get one-and-a-half months or two months, you need to gain strength. If you gain strength you increase your pace as well.”So, yeah, when I played in 2018, I was nearly bowling around 140ks. When you’re playing regularly you don’t get the chance to do strength training and your pace comes down. This is the right time for me to increase my pace. Skill-wise, I’ve obviously been doing well with batting and bowling. So I’m trying to develop a few shots with the bat too, because when you bat at No. 8 or No. 9, you only get to play three-four balls. So you have to utilise those balls with different shots.”Related

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The presence of Chahar and Shardul Thakur could potentially give CSK batting depth all the way down to No.9, with the Sri Lanka pair of Maheesh Theekshana, who has also improved his batting, and Matheesha Pathirana to follow. Stephen Fleming had originally scouted Chahar as a batting allrounder at Rising Pune Supergiant/s, and MS Dhoni had even used him as a pinch-hitting No. 3 in 2018 – remember chaos theory? The introduction of the Impact Player rule has somewhat diminished CSK’s need for Chahar, the batter, but his lower-order skills give the top order the license to take more risks.”That was the only game where Mahi [Dhoni] gave me batting before him and I scored some runs in that game,” Chahar said with a laugh. “And we won that game. It has been good for the team because we haven’t needed my batting. Mahi himself bats at No. 8 and I bat at No. 9 and you know that gives a lot of balance to the team and see the batters before us having this [depth].”I can give you an example of one game. It was the first game in Dubai after Covid. The first game was against Mumbai [Indians]. We were 40 for 4 [24 for 4], I think, and from there we ended up scoring 160 runs. Rutu [Ruturaj Gaikwad] and [Ravindra] Jadeja were playing, and they started hitting from the 14th over. Other teams won’t do that because they don’t have that depth in their batting. They have to go till the 18th or 19th over and then they start hitting. You are late and you don’t end up scoring those many runs.”MS Dhoni and Stephen Fleming have a happy headache when it comes to getting the playing XI right•BCCI

‘Dhoni, Fleming will have a problem with the combination’The addition of New Zealand players Daryl Mitchell and Rachin Ravindra, who are both particularly strong against spin, and Thakur lends even more flexibility to the CSK line-up and could result in a problem of plenty for the team management, in Chahar’s opinion.”We had a very good auction and I also said recently that we have such a good balance that Mahi and Fleming will have problems to make the combinations,” he said. “We will have plenty of combinations to play with, so they’re the ones who are going to decide. It’s challenging for them to pick the combination for the 22nd [March].”Chahar had missed the South Africa tour and the home T20Is against Afghanistan because his father was unwell. Since India don’t play any more T20Is until the start of the T20 World Cup in June, the IPL is last-chance saloon for him.”I’d say family comes first. If there’s a family emergency, you don’t think about anything else,” Chahar said. “When you face a situation like this, you don’t think about what’s going to happen next. When I came out of that situation, I could think about what next I can do. When anyone sees me play the next time, they should be thinking: ‘he’s an improved cricketer’.”At CSK, Chahar could lean on the experience of bowling coach Dwayne Bravo, who was often hands-on with the fast bowlers during the death overs in IPL 2023. Bravo stationed himself right behind his fast bowlers at the boundary to track their progress with the old ball.”He has so much experience. He has more than 600 [623] wickets in T20 cricket,” Chahar said. “He doesn’t teach me a lot [with the new ball], but when it comes to the old ball, he starts giving his coaching. He’s helped the bowlers a lot, especially those who bowl more at the death, because he knows the mindset of batsmen – what he is thinking.”At that time, you need to understand the game, have a mindset of our own, and understand the mindset of the batsman too. He’s been trying to do that with the youngsters.”