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The wait proves worth it: Mumbai turns on a celebration for India's homecoming

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Thousands crammed into the parade route along Marine Drive and in Wankhede Stadium as fans got to see a World Cup again

S Sudarshanan05-Jul-20242:11

Scenes from India’s victorious homecoming

Rohit Sharma held the mic and the near-full Wankhede Stadium erupted in cheers. It was perhaps the much-awaited moment of the day. He started to speak but they wouldn’t allow him to. He tried again. Nah, not happening.The cricket faithful in Mumbai waited for what felt like eternity. Those from far off suburbs had thronged Marine Drive from as early as morning. Fans were to be allowed free entry into the Wankhede only from 4pm on first-come-first-serve basis, but the long queues made them throw the gates open more than half an hour before that. The heavens opened up just as they rushed in to grab their spots, leaving pairs of footwear strewn behind.Related

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But none of that mattered at around 8:55pm. Not their parched throats. Not the lack of water or food. Nor the couple of brief spells of showers in the evening. Their energy levels when the victorious Indian squad made their way down the steps of the dressing room were just as high – if not higher than – as what they were when they had made their way in.The traffic on Marine Drive had come to a standstill since the afternoon, thanks to the hordes of people that thronged it despite it being a working day. Rohan and Savtya, both in their early 20s and clad in India’s 2023 World Cup jersey and 2016 T20 jersey respectively, had left their homes in Karjat – about 75kms to the south-east of Mumbai – at around noon. They were drenched in sweat and barely had their vocal cords intact when they boarded a train back home close to midnight. Through the five-hour wait, those at the venue grooved to popular numbers, interspersed with chants of ” (Mumbai’s king, Rohit Sharma)”, “India, India!”, “Sachiiinnn, Sachin!” The evening seemed endless, but not if you were among the 30,000-plus at the venue.

The open-top bus parade from Nariman Point to Wankhede began only after 7:30pm, a delay of over two and a half hours. The 1.5km journey, took close to 90 minutes with players soaking themselves every bit in the adulation from their fans. Rohit perhaps knew this feeling. He was part of the bus parade in 2007, when India had won the inaugural T20 World Cup. He alluded to the desperation of the fans for a world title being a bit more than the players.Hardik Pandya was jeered in almost every game at the venue in IPL 2024, when he captained Mumbai Indians for the first time. But first when Hardik held the trophy aloft after the players entered the turf, and then when Rohit mentioned the last over of the Bridgetown game bowled by Hardik, the decibel levels were second to none. Hardik had, after all, played a telling role in the T20 World Cup 2024 – 144 runs at a strike rate of 151.57 and 11 wickets at an average of 17.36.Virat Kohli, who was part of the 2011 World Cup win at this venue, broke into a dance in front of the MCA Pavilion when the group there played the famous Nashik Dhol. He had company in local boy Suryakumar Yadav and Axar Patel and pulled Rohit in, before the other players joined. It was an evening he wouldn’t forget in a hurry, he later said. The crowd broke into a thunderous applause as soon as he praised Jasprit Bumrah for turning the tide against South Africa.Grand homecoming: Rohit Sharma, trophy in hand, soaks in the atmosphere of the open-top bus parade•AFP/Getty ImagesIndia’s win in the T20 World Cup ended a wait of 11, 13 or 17 years, depending on whether their last ICC title – the Champions Trophy in 2013, their last World Cup win in 2011 or their previous World T20 title – is the starting point. It is a long span. They came within touching distance last year in the ODI World Cup, finishing runners-up. That only made the players, and fans no less, hungrier. Which reflected in the ceremony and celebration held five days after they won the final.Hurricane Beryl delayed India’s departure from Barbados, and they landed in New Delhi in the wee hours of Thursday after a 16-hour non-stop charter flight – AIC24WC (Air India Champions 24 World Cup). There they were greeted by enthusiastic fans despite heavy security, after which they met Prime Minister Narendra Modi for breakfast. Their flight to Mumbai for the victory parade and the felicitation was delayed by close to two hours. And then heavy traffic meant they had to take a detour to get to Nariman Point.None of it diminished their spirits. Much like the Mumbaikars’, who braved rain and traffic to be there for their stars. Mumbai Police had to issue warnings of overcrowding. Announcements were made at Churchgate station in the evening, asking people to refrain from heading towards Marine Drive or Wankhede Stadium. On a weekday evening, Mumbai left no stone unturned to show their affection towards the world champions.”I am going to miss this… what I saw in the streets tonight,” Rahul Dravid, India’s head coach, said, his voice cracking because of a sore throat. Mumbai’s gathering was perhaps just the right balm. On their first day in India as two-time T20 world champions, Rohit and co. couldn’t have asked for more.

Luke Wood returns to Edgbaston as Finals Day's Denominator

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Lancashire seamer is back for his sixth Finals Day in seven years

Paul Edwards15-Jul-2022Superheroes and supervillains come in various forms and have various monikers. There is The Terminator and The Exterminator and probably many others, most of them attached to seriously dreadful films.Luke Wood’s performances for the three counties he has represented on Finals Day have often been rather heroic and he has been at Edgbaston for English cricket’s biggest hogfeast for five successive years from 2016 to 2020. So with due acknowledgement to Lancashire’s physio, Sam Byrne, residents in south-west Birmingham should know that coming on Saturday to a cricket ground near them will be…The Denominator.It is a wonderfully low-key name for one of the county game’s most high-voltage cricketers. Watch Wood steam in to bowl deliciously laser-guided bouncers at well-set openers and you might think that he has more in common with Ted Hughes’ hawk. His manners are also tearing off heads.On Saturday, though, Wood will discipline the formidable skills that have already earned him an England one-day call-up this season, although not yet an international appearance. (He might just as well have spent his week in the Netherlands going round the Rijksmuseum.) Wood will play in the morning semi-final, hoping that the first time a T20 Roses match takes place on Finals Day is also the prelude to Lancashire’s appearance in the evening.Supporters from Manchester and its surrounds know all too well that losing that opening game is like being thrown out of a party before the decent booze arrives. Wood has had similar experiences; he was in the Nottinghamshire team that seemed certain to beat Worcestershire in 2019, only to lose the game in a final over no-one quite believed.”Losing that game was hard but a lot of learnings came out of it,” Wood told ESPNcricinfo. “And it’s important to remember that it’s not always about the last ball and one player. It can also be about saving that one run in the field at a point in the game when you can’t know what the consequences of that will be.”Related

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Wood’s experience of five Finals Days – although he was simply a Nottinghamshire squad member for the first two – may be useful in helping the younger members of Lancashire’s team cope with English cricket’s longest day. For example, it is impossible, useless and probably debilitating to try to maintain anything like the same level of concentration throughout the day, even if victory in the first game affords you such an opportunity. Ian Bell was wont to play nine holes’ golf at his local course but Wood’s approach is a little more conventional.”If you want to go back to the hotel, you can, but most players stick around, have some food and watch the other game for a bit,” he said. “Not everyone will want to watch more cricket but you can always take things out of the second semi: how the pitch is deteriorating, for example, or how people are playing. There isn’t a massive turnaround between the semi-final and the final but it’s a long day if you’re there from the build-up to the first semi-final to the end of the final. You can only stay in the changing-rooms until you get chucked out.”There are, however, two new elements to Finals Day this year. The first is that the event is being tightly sandwiched between two rounds of County Championship matches. On Thursday evening Lancashire, Yorkshire and Somerset were all involved in tightly-contested four-day games. It is, as it were, rather more than 110 miles between the idyllic surroundings of Trafalgar Road, Southport, the venue for Lancashire and Somerset’s match, and Edgbaston. Hampshire had the slight advantage of having beating Gloucestershire quite early on Thursday.”We’ll go down to Edgbaston on Friday and have a training slot,” said Wood. “Some people will have played in the game at Southport, so if they feel they need to do some white-ball training, they will and if others need a break, they’ll probably get one. People will simply get what they need ahead of the big day on Saturday.”Wood (far left) celebrates winning the Blast with Worcestershire in 2018•Getty ImagesThe other problem is that a clash with England’s ODI series against India means Lancashire will be without Jos Buttler and Liam Livingstone, two of six players who are unavailable for their respective counties on Saturday. Matt Parkinson and Phil Salt have been released to play but the schedule gives a clear impression that the Blast’s showpiece occasion has been devalued – something that cannot be said of the Hundred, which has been given a window for its own knockout stages in early September.The question of the England players is an interesting one,” Wood said. “I imagine that before Finals Day they’ll know the team for Sunday’s One-Day International at Emirates Old Trafford and I want the best for all the Lancashire players in the England team. But if they’re not playing for England, they’re certainly big players for us. So on the one hand, you want them back; on the other, you want them to play well for England.”It’s tough one because it doesn’t affect every county. The chief ones have been Yorkshire, Surrey and Lancashire this year, but at least it does show the depth of our squad. On the other hand, it’s a bit of a shame because supporters might say their team has lost big games because they didn’t have certain players available. We’ll never moan about not having players available, we’ll just put out the best team we can and try and win every game. But that may not be an outsider’s perspective on it. The fans may not be happy that you’re losing X, Y and Z but that’s the way it is.”

'Incredibly skillful' Poonam Yadav leaves Australia in a spin

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Australia were halfway towards their target to launch a home World Cup campaign with a win before Yadav turned it around

Andrew McGlashan in Sydney21-Feb-20202:47

Spinners can always turn the game for us – Kaur

Alyssa Healy was back in the runs, Australia were halfway towards their target with a run-a-ball needed and eight wickets in hand to launch a home World Cup campaign a long time in the making. Then it all changed.The ball after bringing up her fifty with a six, Healy chipped a flighted leg-break back to Poonam Yadav who held her nerve following a big full toss. From there, Australia’s innings unraveled as she caused havoc with her googly. Yadav, the leading wicket-taker in T20Is over the last two years, picked up three more in her next 11 deliveries and was only denied a hat-trick when wicketkeeper Taniya Bhatia made her one mistake on an evening where she was otherwise outstanding behind the stumps.

The Law that denied Yadav a fifth wicket

Over 17.3: Poonam Yadav to Gardner, 1 no ball, what was that? Grubber, bounces twice, sneaks through the legs and rattles the timber. Gardner hangs on and chats to the umpire. Since it bounced twice before reaching the crease, it is a no-ball

Law 21.7: Ball bouncing more than once, rolling along the ground or pitching off the pitch: The umpire shall call and signal No ball if a ball which he/she considers to have been delivered, without having previously touched bat or person of the striker…bounces more than once or rolls along the ground before it reaches the popping crease

The fact Australia were all but out of the chase come the last over showed how complete the shift to India had been. In the moment it is easy to overstate the importance of something, but this had the feel of a very significant start to the tournament.With victory in front of a record-breaking crowd for a standalone women’s game in Australia of 13,432 – a healthy proportion cheering for the side in blue – India secured a sizeable step towards making the semi-finals. Conversely, if Australia are going to win a World Cup where there is so much expectation they are going to have to take a much harder route than many envisaged just a few weeks ago. They can’t afford another slip-up now.Not that the result itself should be considered a huge shock. Australia were favourites – rightly so – but only a couple of weeks ago India dusted them up in the tri-series (only to lose a final they probably should have won) and have now beaten them in the last three global events: the match at the 2017 World Cup is famous for Harmanpreet Kaur’s 171, the match at the 2018 T20 World Cup was less significant as it didn’t impact progression for either team – this one feels much closer to the former for impact, although they could yet have to do it again if they want to claim the title.

“She [Poonam Yadav] bowled the first over pretty regulation as a legspinner then slowed it up immensely after that. We probably didn’t adapt well enough.”Alyssa Healy

Yadav had not played in the tri-series earlier this month as she nursed an injured finger on her left hand that remained bandage as she smiled her way through the post-match press conference alongside Kaur. “It is painful, but when I play the match I forget it,” Yadav said. “Bowling-wise I was confident I could bowl at any time.”During her time sidelined, fitness has been her focus which has included a gluten-free diet that hasn’t exactly been to her tastes. “I am surviving on rice which I don’t like at all. [They] scold me saying, “no, you are not allowed to eat gluten.” They take it off my plate, but I understand that they are doing this for the sake of the team.”Poonam Yadav celebrates•Getty ImagesHer absence meant Australia had not seen her recently – last facing her in the group match at the 2018 tournament where she claimed 2 for 28 – and when the injury was referenced to Healy she admitted being unaware, saying she thought the tri-series non-selection may have been tactical. As it’s turned out, maybe it was a useful coincidence for India.”We prepared really well,” Healy said. “She bowled the first over pretty regulation as a legspinner then slowed it up immensely after that. We probably didn’t adapt well enough. We don’t get legspinners coming down at 60kph very often and she’s incredibly skillful.”While Yadav, who was held back until the 10th over, bowled beautifully after the early full toss, the Australians produced some poor batting and were unable to read her wrong ‘un – Rachael Haynes missed by a long way and Ellyse Perry, who slipped down to No. 6 in a curious reshuffle of the batting order, played a loose stroke across the line. Looped up at around 60kph, dipping late on the batters (and even being called no-ball for bouncing twice at one point which denied her a five-wicket haul), it preyed on their eagerness to put bat to ball on a surface that was sluggish and probably aided spinners more than the hosts would have liked.”We went out thinking it was a flat wicket and played some shots we shouldn’t have,” Healy said. “Most of the wickets that fell today were batters playing across the line in both innings, so for us we’ll have a look at that and say we didn’t adapt.””Poonam did a great job for us, credit goes to our bowlers – they trusted themselves and won the game for us,” Kaur said. “She is a very good T20 bowler, she always bowls for the team and it’s not easy to play, she is a little slower in the air. When you have to hit her, you have to show patience and very good skill.”Yadav praised the role played by Narendra Hirwani, the former India legspinner, who is on the team’s coaching staff. “Mentally he helps us a lot. He talks about understanding the bounce. He talks about we all have variations, but when to use them how to use the bounce and the right areas to pitch.”As it is for Australia, this is just one game for India, but given their victory was also fashioned after a top-order collapse, which was repaired by a career-best 49 from Deepti Sharma in the much-criticised middle-order, it was a win that made a statement. The next couple of weeks will show if they live up to it.

Marsh says 'depth is a privilege' as Australia make T20 statement

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

The building blocks of a formidable T20 side are coming together with some big names still to slot in

Andrew McGlashan29-Jul-20250:42

Dwarshuis makes early breakthroughs for Australia

Australia’s build towards next year’s T20 World Cup could not have got off to a better start with the 5-0 sweep over West Indies in which several players staked claims for permanent spots in the team, leaving some potentially big calls for the selectors in the coming months.Cameron Green was player-of-the-series for his performances at No. 4, looking the ideal make-up for a role that can be required to play in various ways depending on the start. Meanwhile, Mitchell Owen made an immediate impact in the middle-order, having been challenged to develop his game away from the opening slot that has brought him considerable T20 league success.Tim David produced the performance of the series with his record-breaking 37-ball hundred, batting higher than has often been the case at No. 5, while Josh Inglis settled in at No. 3. With the ball, it’s difficult to see how Nathan Ellis does now not command a full-time place in the XI while Ben Dwarshuis had a productive series.Related

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“Depth is a privilege to have, and hopefully we can keep building on that,” Australia T20I captain, Mitchell Marsh said. “We saw a lot of guys come in: Mitch Owen, I thought Cam Green was fantastic, Nathan Ellis, again, was outstanding. Everyone played their part. It’s going to be a good challenge for us, but we certainly will welcome a few blokes back in.”Travis Head and Josh Hazlewood are expected to return for the series against South Africa which begins in Darwin on August 10, as could Matt Short if he has recovered from the side strain he picked up early in the West Indies tour. Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc will, however, continue to rest ahead of the home summer, so the major calls around the make-up of the pace attack will wait a bit longer.

However, Ellis can’t have done any more to lock himself in as a starter, regardless of who is available, having conceded 7.88 runs an over in a series where runs came at 10.23 overall and he regularly closed out innings at the death. Australia did not concede more than 39 in the final four overs.”He’s been our go-to guy,” Green told ESPN’s . “And I think he’s, real, real close to getting to that main team, if not in it. He’s the guy that we probably go to [in the] sixth over in the powerplay, we always know that’s so tough, especially when they’ve been none down at a couple of games. I think he bowls three at the death for us, so he’s just doing all the hard roles. He seems to thrive in them. He’s got so many tricks up his sleeve, so we’re really pleased with how he’s going.”Head’s return at the top alongside Marsh, who was the one first-choice batter not to make a significant contribution against West Indies, will likely see Glenn Maxwell slip back to the middle-order, where Owen has made a strong start with 125 runs at a strike-rate of 192.30.”In the last 12 months, [Owen has] done a lot of batting at the top of the order, but we wanted to give him that opportunity to play a finishing role and keep building out his game with guys like Travis Head coming back in,” Marsh said. “He was awesome. He’s a ripping kid, took on the challenge, didn’t seem overawed by the occasion of playing international cricket and seems like a pretty calm figure, so that was great.”Owen contributed 12 of the 64 sixes Australia hit in the series – West Indies struck 53 in what became the second-highest tally for a bilateral T20 series – with this latest iteration of the T20 side shaping as the most powerful yet with no thought of a backwards step. Since the start of 2024, Australia are the fastest-scoring team in T20Is.Attack leader: Nathan Ellis was outstanding throughout the series•AFP/Getty Images”I think the way T20 is going, even again tonight, we were in a little bit of trouble and Tim David came out and batted the way he did,” Marsh said at the presentation. “And teams just keep going now. That’s the way the game’s going.”Perhaps the only question is whether, after the series was wrapped up, Marsh should have taken the opportunity to challenge his side to set a target as he kept winning the toss, but it was never considered. “This outfield was obviously super small and as we saw, it was really hard to defend,” he said.The five wins in West Indies make it eight in a row and 12 from 13 completed matches for Australia since the last World Cup in the Caribbean. Since the beginning of 2024, Australia have won 22 of their 26 completed T20Is, although two of those defeats were to Afghanistan and India in the Super Eights which saw them miss the semi-finals.They have 14 more matches over the next six months, with the three against South Africa next month, followed by three in New Zealand in early October. They will then host India for five as part of their white-ball tour ahead of the Ashes. They then have three matches in Pakistan pencilled in as the final lead-up to the World Cup. If the current form line remains, they will be one of the teams to beat come February in India and Sri Lanka.

St. Louis Cardinals Great Named Puerto Rico Manager for WBC

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Former St. Louis Cardinals star catcher Yadier Molina will reprise his role as the manager for Puerto Rico at the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

Molina has participated in every World Baseball Classic so far, competing in the 2006, '09, '13 and '17 tournaments, then coaching in the 2023 event. In his coaching debut at the last WBC, Puerto Rico reached the quarterfinals round. As a player, Molina was runner-up with Puerto Rico twice in '13 and '17.

Molina retired from MLB following the 2022 season after 19 years with the Cardinals. He won two World Series titles, earned 10 All-Star selections and won 9 Gold Glove awards during his tenure. He's known as one of the most impressive catchers in recent MLB history.

New York Mets star Francisco Lindor will serve as Molina's captain of Team Puerto Rico, just as he did back in 2023.

The WBC will kick off on March 5, 2026 with Puerto Rico competing in the Pool A group, consisting of Canada, Colombia, Cuba and Panama. The games will be held at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Jamie Vardy's Italian breakfast revealed as Cremonese head coach admits former Leicester star's diet is being embraced

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Former Leicester City star Jamie Vardy's Italian breakfast has been revealed as Cremonese head coach claimed that the former England striker's diet is being embraced in Italy. Having left the Foxes at the end of the 2024-25 season when his contract expired, 38-year-old Vardy signed an initial 12-month deal with the Serie A outfit to cover the 2025-26 campaign.

  • Vardy enjoying life in Italy

    Vardy has already adjusted to life in Italy as he scored his first Serie A brace in Cremonese's dominating 3-1 victory over Bologna in the Serie A on Sunday. The defeat ended Bologna's 12-game unbeaten run in a rain-soaked encounter at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara. Martin Payero opened the scoring for Cremonese before Vardy doubled his team's lead in the 35th minute. Riccardo Ordolini's penalty goal at the stroke of half-time helped Bologna reduce the margin, but the ex-England star completed his brace and sealed a crucial win for the side as he scored in the 50th minute.  Vardy has scored four times in the Serie A this season. 

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    Vardy's breakfast in Italy revealed

    Cremonese boss Davide Nicola recently changed the single menu at the club, so players of different ethnicities and nationalities can have food of their choice and remain satisfied. Vardy is known to have cheese and ham omelettes with beans on the side from his time in Leicester and the veteran striker reportedly is still having the same food as the first meal of the day.

    Speaking to reporters, Nicola said: "We now have individualised breakfasts and lunches. “There is no longer a single menu for everyone. Cultures are different, needs are different, and so are allergies. Each player has their own personal menu, there’s not even need to monitor these things because they’re part of the players’ lifestyle."

    He added: "Jamie is a point of reference for us. As a coach, I can only say that great champions are incredibly simple people. They already know what they must do and how they must do it. They never show attitudes that aren’t constructive to the team. A champion differs from an ordinary player not only because he has immense qualities on the pitch, but also because he has the spirit and awareness of what he represents. A true champion never gets his attitude wrong. He’s very self-confident and light-hearted, someone who always trains. “He has his habits, but he came here with the mentality of making himself available."  

  • Vardy found similarity in Italy and UK weather

    After scoring his first Cremonese brace in a rain-soaked match, Vardy told reporters: "I think we were just missing a bit of rain – this is a typical midweek in the UK. The most important thing was getting the three points and keeping that progress going. It's another step in the right direction. It's all about commitment and wanting what's best for the club. Everyone's on that same page and everyone's pushing forward to make sure that, come the end of the season, it will have been a successful year."

    Nicolas later said on Vardy: "Great players are easy to handle as they know what they're supposed to do – and they know how to do it. That's how he is – he's comfortable with who he is, good humoured. He came here with the mentality of making himself available for the team."  

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    Vardy learning Italian

    Seems like Vardy is loving his life in Italy and he wants to mingle more with the local crowd to feel at home there. Accordingly, he is learning the Italian language, as he told recently: "I only know the basics, good morning, thank you, numbers, but I’ll be taking lessons as of next week, so hopefully that will start the bringing on the language a bit more. I have to learn, as my kids are learning, and I can’t have them learning it before me, otherwise they’ll be taking the mickey out of me!"    

    With Cremonese now sitting 11th on 17 points after 13 games, the mood around the club is one of cautious optimism. Avoiding relegation would trigger a one-year contract extension to the summer of 2027 for Vardy, something that suddenly looks plausible. They sit seven points clear of the relegation zone, a comfortable position for a newly-promoted side. Cremonese return to the Stadio Giovanni Zini on December 7 to face Lecce.

Nepal send out shockwaves beating West Indies 2-0

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Aasif and Jora’s half-centuries set the stage for a decimation of the former T20I world champions

Abhijato Sensarma29-Sep-2025As fans clad in red and blue danced in the Sharjah aisles, the result was a foregone conclusion: Zishan Morata was the last man out, caught in the deep by Karan KC, and West Indies had been bundled out for 83. Three days ago, Nepal had never played a T20I series against a Full Member nation. Now, they had sealed it 2-0, with one match to spare.West Indies struggled to move beyond single-digits in the powerplay. Only thanks to a boundary in the sixth over did they reach 16 for 2. By then, Dipendra Singh Airee had scalped the first wicket when he bowled Jewel Andrew (2), while Kushal Bhurtel had taken a stunning catch at cover to send back Keacy Carty (1).Nepal’s vice grip over the scoring rate was the result of their slower balls and full deliveries in the blockhole, with their quicks often marrying the two to great effect. An inexperienced West Indies unit kept mistiming their shots on a pitch where none of their batters, barring Jason Holder’s 15-ball 21, played with any degree of comfort. Eight-three all out represents the former T20 World Champions’ sixth-lowest total. The 90-run defeat is their joint fourth-biggest by runs.Medium pacer Mohammad Aadil Alam – who ended with figures of 4 for 24 – was the next bowler to get on the scorecard, thanks to the biggest point of difference between the two sides: Nepal’s fielding. Nineteen-year-old Gulsan Jha’s diving catch at sweeper cover in the eighth over bettered their previous effort, and sent Kyle Mayers back after a sluggish 6 off 16 balls.The going never got better for West Indies, as they kept losing wickets in the middle overs and found gaps in the field plugged by a Nepal team who threw themselves at the ball. Alam sent back Ackeem Auguste (17) and Amir Jangoo (16) in back-to-back overs. By then, West Indies had slipped to 63 for 5 and the required rate had leaped to above 13.Kushal Bhurtel took three wickets to mop off the West Indies tail•ICC/Getty ImagesBhurtel added to his contributions in the field with a three-for that swept up the tail. Holder – the last nominal hope for West Indies – fell to Lalit Rajbanshi in the 17th over, when Jha took his second screamer of the day. Soon after, Bhurtel came back to toss up a legbreak and fount it caught on the outfield once again. This was a day when West Indies kept finding fielders at the rope instead of clearing them.Earlier in the day, Nepal’s own innings had been one of two distinct halves: in the first ten, they did not hit a single six, but opener Aasif Sheikh had established a burgeoning partnership with Sundeep Jora, and a productive powerplay had taken them to 74 for 3 at the midway point of the innings.In the next ten, the pair raced away and put on what would end up being a 100-run partnership. Jora’s 39-ball 63 eventually ended in the 18th over. He had hit five of the nine sixes Nepal hit in the second half of the innings.Sheikh remained unbeaten on 68 off 47 himself. At the other end, Alam’s 5-ball 11 took Nepal’s total to 173. Alam was playing his first match for Nepal after more than three years, having last appeared for them in August 2022. His cameo would become a footnote to his starring role in the second innings.It would also overshadow the efforts of West Indies’ best bowler on the day – their captain Akeal Hosein – who took 2 for 21 and had reduced Nepal to 14 for 2 in the fourth over. However, any hopes of a rally after their loss in the first T20I were soon left far behind, as his team slipped to 83 all out – the lowest total by a Full Member team against an Associate nation – as well as a 90-run loss – the biggest margin by which an Associate team has defeated a Full Member nation.What makes this result more significant is that Nepal have secured it ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup qualifiers next month, and in the absence of their lead spinner Sandeep Lamichhane, who has sat out both matches of the series. Nepal coach, Stuart Law, said Lamichhane excused himself citing personal reasons.Nepal now know they will be favourites to win the third and final match of the series, to be played on Tuesday, having sealed the most significant series win in their cricket history.

Better than Guehi: Liverpool now chasing for 'one of the 'world's best CBs'

by h79snht.top Uncategorized

Arne Slot sat and beamed at the reporters in front of him. The mood had shifted considerably from the pre-match press conference only one week before, when Liverpool prepared for the visit of Aston Villa, having lost four Premier League matches in a row.

Now, the Reds have established the foundation of a revival, having beaten off the Villans and then produced a resounding display to sink Real Madrid in the Champions League. The 1-0 win could have been heftier, save for the many saves of Thibaut Courtois between the sticks.

Liverpool looked like themselves, and we haven’t been able to say that all too often this term. Slicker in attack, far more robust and steely in midfield, whilst the defence kept the likes of Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe at bay.

Some, such as Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher, still feel improvements are needed in defence, and it might be that Liverpool require external reinforcements, having failed in their efforts to sign Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace last summer.

A deal for the England international may yet materialise, but Liverpool have widened their scope.

Liverpool preparing to sign a centre-back

Liverpool have not been at the races defensively this season, shipping far too many goals across the opening months of the campaign. The past few fixtures have indeed rebalanced the equilibrium, but time will tell whether this is a false dawn or a sustained return to form.

Despite summer recruit Giovanni Leoni’s season-ending injury on his debut, the Reds have the resources at the back to achieve their goals this year. However, Ibrahima Konate is out of contract at the end of the term and is being considered by Real Madrid. Virgil van Dijk is here until the end of next season at the least, but the skipper is 34 years old and a replacement will need to be signed.

Guehi was earmarked as the man for the job, but that deal fell through on deadline day after Crystal Palace failed to land a replacement.

Liverpool remain keen, but Guehi, who is a free agent in June, is now being chased by a whole host of top European outfits, and so sporting director Richard Hughes has found an exciting alternative with a wealth of Premier League experience.

And that man is Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa, who, according to Italian outlet L’Interista, is emerging as a candidate for the centre-back vacancy on Merseyside. Inter Milan are also keen on striking a deal.

Rumour has it that the 28-year-old is available for a relatively affordable €35m (about £31m) fee, too. FSG will maintain their pursuit of Guehi, sure, but Konsa could be a fantastic alternative, and perhaps even a better fit.

What Ezri Konsa would offer Liverpool

Guehi is a talented Premier League player. He is composed on the ball and adventurous in the right moments. He picks and chooses, and he gets it right.

But he is rivalled in this by Konsa, who has actually been described as “one of the best CBs in the world” by journalist Joe Mulberry. Villa’s Three Lions star is not quite so outgoing with his passing, but he is as sharp as a tack and always aware of his surroundings.

Indeed, Konsa is one of the strongest defenders in the duel out there. By placing him alongside Van Dijk or Konate or whoever, Slot’s side will only improve, sending a tactical throughline into the midfield and then to the attack.

Ezri Konsa’s Duel Success in the Premier League

Season

Apps

Duel Success

25/26

9

60%

24/25

34

69%

23/24

35

76%

22/23

38

72%

21/22

29

64%

20/21

36

68%

19/20

25

57%

Data via Sofascore

Guehi is a commanding challenger himself, but the 6 foot talent hasn’t always been the most convincing aerially. As per Sofascore, the 25-year-old only won 54% of his aerial duels in the Premier League last year, albeit having improved in this metric across ten fixtures so far this season.

But Konsa is more convincing in this regard, and partnered alongside a more expansive defender beside him, he might even prove the perfect addition to Slot’s backline. The Dutch coach is all about control, after all, and thus Konsa might hold the key to lasting success.

The Englishman is hardly one-dimensional, though. Konsa is so composed and intelligent on the ball, with Aston Villa writer Ryan McKeown hailing him as a “possession-retaining monster” for Unai Emery’s outfit.

In this, he could excel under Slot’s wing, providing a rhythm from defence and into the centre of the park, keeping things simple while ferrying the ball forward consistently.

Moreover, he is accomplished in a four-man backline, whereas Guehi has principally played in a back-three under Oliver Glasner’s wing at Selhurst Park. Guehi is adaptable, for sure, but might it be that Konsa’s playing style would allow him to sail more smoothly into Slot’s project on Merseyside?

Given that he has played a healthy share of football at right-back, Konsa also boasts versatility that could please Slot. Inverted full-backs are becoming more common in football, and the Villa man’s more pragmatic style suits the role he would be designated to perform. No defender in the Premier League boasts a higher pass completion rate this season than Konsa (94.8%).

Liverpool need to sign a central defender in 2026. This much is clear. However, as we have seen this season, an influx of players from overseas has hampered the fluency that was so effectively strung together last year. Konsa has only gone from strength to strength since joining Villa Park from

He has made 208 appearances in the Premier League, and he is at the top of his game. Guehi would be a credit to Liverpool’s squad, but Konsa might be the better fit, a shrewd signing whose skills would raise the level o those Liverpool players around him.

Slot has just found the new Gini Wijnaldum in "special" Liverpool star

Liverpool produced a show-stopping performance to send Real Madrid packing in the Champions League.

ByAngus Sinclair Nov 7, 2025

James double-century bags maximum batting points for Nottinghamshire

by h79snht.top Uncategorized

Hampshire reply with resolve after title-chasers post imposing 578 for 8 declared

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay23-Jul-2025

Lyndon James produced a key century from No.7•Getty Images

Hampshire 90 for 0 (Weatherley 43*, Middleton 34*) trail Nottinghamshire 578 for 8 dec (James 203*, Haynes 103, McCann 79, Hutton 71) by 498 runsLyndon James masterfully struck his maiden double-century as title-chasing Nottinghamshire took control of their Rothesay County Championship clash with Hampshire.James helped his side to maximum batting points with an awesome 203 not out, overtaking his previous personal best of 164.With him, Jack Haynes took himself to a fourth hundred of the season – the most in Division One – while Brett Hutton’s 71-run cameo allowed Nottinghamshire to declare on 578.Joe Weatherley and Fletcha Middleton reached close with no damage for the hosts – ending on 90 without loss, in arrears by 498 runs.The day was a procession of bat raises from Nottinghamshire batters – six of them in total.Haynes was the first as he converted his overnight 70 to three figures in 42 day-two balls – 129 in total. It was the fourth time he had passed fifty, and the fourth time he had converted to a hundred this season.But after a flourish of drives and boundaries, his 106-run stand with James was ended when Kyle Abbott got Haynes chipping the second new ball to mid-on.Hampshire had an inexperienced attack – without Keith Barker, Liam Dawson, Brad Wheal and John Turner – and failed to build any pressure throughout the day, albeit with an unhelpful ball.However trouble-free much of the bowling was, the batter standards were incredibly high – led by James.The all-rounder kept up the scoring rate throughout his innings as he mixed a constant yearning for runs with a tight technique.His one major life came on 94 when Hampshire missed a third chance in the slips during the innings – a frequent pattern this season, and one which was met by derision in the stands and by Abbott curling into a frustrated ball at mid-on.James shook off the nineties nerves to reach his second century of the season, and the sixth of his career – one of real fluency.Liam Patterson-White had accompanied him for 66 runs – one of six partnerships to pass 40 – before James Fuller pinned him lbw.But Hutton – who will be replaced by Josh Tongue from day three onwards after his release from the England squad – arrived to ignite the innings even further.Where fours had previously been struck, short balls were cannoned into the stands by both Hutton and James – combined they struck 12 in total – as any hope of containing them had disappeared for Hampshire.Nottinghamshire reached maximum batting points – which could be crucial in their Championship bid. They had started the round just a point behind leaders Surrey.Hutton picked out long-on for an 87-ball 71, but James kept going despite being disturbed by tea when on 197. He reached his double century with a flick to the boundary and a fist pump.Nottinghamshire immediately declared on 578 and gave Hampshire’s refreshed opening pair of Middleton and the recalled Weatherley a testing 32 overs – with Ali Orr absent with a concussion suffered in the Second XI.As it happened, both breezed through with sturdy defences, although the defensive nature could harm their quest for much needed bonus points in the long term.

Jamie Carragher admits he was wrong about Arsenal star who's "becoming a real leader"

by z3u9t.icu Uncategorized

Arsenal are braced for another Premier League title challenge with Liverpool, and Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher suggests an emerging leader in their squad could be crucial.

Arsenal agree William Saliba deal in huge boost for Mikel Arteta

Mikel Arteta was boosted by the official announcement of a new deal for star defender William Saliba earlier this week.

The Frenchman, who’s been a vital component of Arsenal’s title-chasing side since the beginning of 2022/2023, was attracting serious interest from Real Madrid. Los Blancos even approached him in the summer window, but Saliba was clear that he wanted to remain at the Emirates Stadium (HandOfArsenal).

Appearances

5

Minutes played

319

Clean sheets

2

Tackles made

8

Interceptions

3

Ground duels won

24/34

Aerial duels won

12

Clearances

20

via Footy Stats

Saliba’s contract was due to expire in 2027, and sporting director Andrea Berta took a hands-on role in new contract negotiations as he eventually convinced the 24-year-old to agree fresh terms (Charles Watts).

Saliba’s new deal expires in 2030, committing him to Arsenal for another five years, with Berta praising the “incredible” defender after the Gunners confirmed his extension.

Arteta’s side take on Olympiacos in the Champions League tonight, with the Greek Super League champions travelling to North London and could face off against Arsenal’s newly-committed star in Saliba.

The France international is slowly being reintegrated into the starting eleven after recovering from an ankle injury, having started their 1-1 draw with Man City and Carabao Cup win over Port Vale, but was dropped to the bench for Arsenal’s dramatic victory at Newcastle.

Summer signing Cristhian Mosquera has seriously impressed whenever he’s asked to fill in for Saliba, and that is an avenue Arteta may well go down again in Europe tonight as he looks to avoid any more fitness issues with his star man.

Alongside Saliba, another defender has been vital to Arsenal’s success in recent years.

That man is, of course, Gabriel.

According to some reports, Saliba and Gabriel made a pact to remain at Arsenal and challenge for major silverware, with the Brazilian also signing a contract extension earlier this year.

Jamie Carragher admits he was wrong about Arsenal star Gabriel

He’s been just as crucial to Arsenal’s defensive prowess as Saliba, and their partnership is widely viewed as one of Europe’s best.

Largely thanks to the duo, Arteta’s men have conceded the fewest goals of any Premier League side in each of the last two seasons.

Gabriel’s threat from set pieces has also got Arsenal out of jail on numerous occasions, with the 27-year-old — after his winner against Newcastle — bagging more goals than any other defender in the Premier League since he made his debut in 2020 (18).

Speaking to Sky Sports (via The Metro), Carragher has made an admission about Gabriel in praise of the ex-Lille star — claiming he was wrong about Saliba being on another level to his centre-back partner.

The ex-Liverpool defender also praised Gabriel as an emerging leader in Arsenal’s side.

While Carragher has taken more time to hand Gabriel his well-deserved praise, the South American’s quality has never been lost on Arteta, who called the defender’s performances “undeniable” as far back as September last year.

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