Iftikhar starred with two wickets for just four runs, before staying unbeaten on 33 to guide his team home against Lahore

The Report by Danyal Rasool28-Feb-2019

Iftikhar Ahmed was excellent with ball and bat•PSL

How the game played outKarachi and Lahore are the two largest cities in Pakistan, boasting a population in excess of 25 million. These are gigantic numbers, but when the two have met in the latest edition of the PSL, big numbers have been in short supply. The two played out an edgy low-scoring contest for the second time in ten days, but this time Karachi Kings prevailed, thanks to an an all-round performance from Iftikhar Ahmed, which helped them to a five-wicket win. Karachi’s need was greater, and they have now propelled themselves back in contention for the playoffs.It was a subdued batting performance from Lahore Qalandars, who never seemed to get the lift-off they needed to put up a more testing total. Fakhar Zaman was well contained at the top, while Haris Sohail could manage no more than a start. Even AB de Villiers couldn’t be his destructive self, and though the South African was at the crease for the better part of Lahore’s innings, the team would have hoped for more than the somewhat plodding 32-ball 33 he scored.Iftikhar was the pick of Karachi’s bowlers, oddly bowling just two overs, but conceding just four runs in them and taking the wickets of Fakhar and Haris in the process. It meant they put up 133, left needing another big performance from their bowlers on a track that had begun to slow down.The bowlers did give it a right go, with Sandeep Lamichhane continuing his dazzling form. He took 2 for 17 in his four, with David Weise impressively economical and Haris Rauf irrepressibly valiant. But not everyone was able to deliver in the way they needed to with only a low total on their side. Yasir Shah was disappointing and expensive, and when Aizaz Cheema bowled a no-ball that went for four, Imad Wasim thumped the ensuing free hit for another boundary. That was it for the Lahore fightback, and impressive as it had been, the flawlessness necessary to defend 133 wasn’t quite there.Turning point Iftikhar’s first over was the stuff of dreams for Imad’s side. He bowled wide to the left-hander, frustrating Fakhar, who skied his second ball straight to Babar Azam at point. Two balls later, he had de Villiers sweeping straight to Babar, who dropped a simple catch. Off the last ball, there was a run-out chance, de Villiers surviving by inches. Iftikhar’s day had just begun, and Lahore would never get on the front foot again. Fakhar opened the bowling in defense of a low total. There was little margin for error in the Powerplay, and the gamble did not work. Karachi carted him around for 14, and they were already off and running.Star of the dayHe won’t get the plaudits today because there was just so much happening, but just when Karachi seemed like they might lose their way, Liam Livingstone’s calm head set them back on course. Coming in during a time when Karachi had scored just ten runs in four overs, he began by taking six singles in Lamichhane’s third over along with Colin Ingram. In the next two overs, he found a four and a six off Wiese and Yasir to keep the asking rate in check. That fifty-run partnership with Ingram may not have been the most explosive, but it was precisely what Karachi required in a moment when Lahore threatened to undo all their good work. Livingstone ensured that wouldn’t happen, scoring 38 off 34 to become the tournament’s leading run-scorer, and more importantly, keep his side in real contention.The big missIt might have been conjectured that bowling with Yasir would give Lamichhane an invaluable learning experience, but on the evidence of their performances, much of the advice may be heading the other way. While Lamichhane has thrived after a rough start, Yasir’s game looks like it has fallen away. He never looked in control of the spinning deliveries, and whenever he tried the googly, he invariably ended up dragging it short. The batsmen appeared to pick him out of the hand far better than they did the Nepal teenager.The 11th over saw Livingstone mete out the toughest punishment, smashing him for two fours and a six. That brought the asking rate from 7.5 to almost a run a ball, with Yasir conceding 21 off 3.1 overs. The contrast with Lamichhane gives the more experienced Yasir plenty to ponder with regards to adapting his game for the shortest format.Where the teams standKarachi and Lahore now both have three wins in seven games, occupying the fourth and fifth positions respectively. They are ahead of Multan Sultans, who have just two wins in seven.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Red Bull Bragantino deve exercer a opção de compra do lateral-esquerdo Weverson, emprestado pelo São Paulo até o final de fevereiro. A informação foi divulgada inicialmente pelo ‘GE’ e confirmada pelo LANCE!. A reportagem apurou que o Massa Bruta pretende comprar70% dos direitos do jogador.

Quem foi a grande revelação do Brasileirão? Veja os votos da redação do LANCE!

Os clubes ainda negociam os valores, que são mantidos em sigilo. No entanto, as conversas estão encaminhadas e a expectativa é de um desfecho rápido de ambas as partes.

SIMULE A ÚLTIMA RODADA DO BRASILEIRÃO

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Logo após a sua chegada no Red Bull Bragantino, Weverson atuou cinco vezes no Campeonato Paulista, atuando também no meio-campo sob o comando do então treinador Felipe Conceição. Já no Campeonato Brasileiro, ele jogou 15 partidas, sendo sete como titular, agradando a comissão técnica de Maurício Barbieri.

Weverson começou a sua carreira no São Paulo, onde sempre foi tido como grande promessa das categorias de base do São Paulo. As boas atuações no Tricolor fez ele disputar com a seleção brasileira o Sul-Americano Sub-17 de 2017, em que foi campeão, e o Mundial Sub-17.

No Tricolor Paulista, o lateral do Massa Bruta tem o título da Copa São Paulo de Futebol Júnior do ano passado.

Durham’s openers stood firm to halt Derbyshire’s victory charge on day three of the Division Two match at the County Ground. Alex Lees and Gareth Harte battled through a testing last session to reach 10 without loss at the close in pursuit of an unlikely victory target of 361.Derbyshire had taken control with Tom Lace making his maiden first-class half-century before Harvey Hosein and Matt Critchley also scored fifties as Derbyshire reached 334, with Matt Salisbury taking 3 for 65. That left Durham an awkward 17 overs to survive and Lees and Harte dug in to deny Derbyshire before bad light ended play early.Although Derbyshire went into the day with an advantage of 133, Durham still had a chance if they could take early wickets but they managed only one in the morning as Lace and Alex Hughes wore down the bowlers.The ball moved around in murky conditions but although the bat was beaten numerous times, Durham had to wait 18 overs for the breakthrough. Lace and Hughes played with discipline and restraint until Lace fenced at a wide one from Harte and was caught at second slip.Hosein provided some acceleration to take the lead past 220 at lunch and after Hughes had been caught behind off Harte for a three-hour 39, Critchley took the game away with some punishing strokes. He reached 50 off 60 balls and Durham’s frustration grew as both Hosein and Critchley survived dropped catches that should have been taken.Both fell before tea but by then, Derbyshire were 320 ahead and they batted on with Ravi Rampaul striking Liam Trevaskis for two big sixes before he was last out pulling Salisbury to midwicket.Durham were set what would be the second-highest successful fourth-innings chase at Derby and although the pitch had flattened out, they faced a tricky period before the close.At least conditions were better for batting but there was some swing with the new ball and Tony Palladino almost found the edge of skipper Lees’ bat in the second over. Lees responded by punching an overpitched delivery down the ground but generally the batsmen were content to leave as many balls as possible with survival until stumps the prime objective.Only nine runs came from the first 11 overs as Lees and Harte concentrated on defence and their application was rewarded when the umpires took the players off the field two balls into the 15th over.

Ask a Liverpool supporter where Jurgen Klopp needs to strengthen his squad; the most likely answer would be a request for defensive additions.

While the Anfield side have been excellent this season and perch atop the Premier League table after 20 matches, it would be negligent to turn away from the fragility of the backline, which is perhaps one injury away from alarm bells ringing at the transfer table.

Liverpool could sign exciting £34m talent who plays like Luis Diaz

Jurgen Klopp’s side have got one eye on this “electric” winger.

ByAngus Sinclair Jan 5, 2024

Joel Matip, paragon of commitment and resilience, ruptured his ACL against Fulham last month and is out of contract at the end of the campaign. While the young Jarell Quansah has burst onto the scene with age-belying command, it's clear a further option is desired.

Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate make for a formidable first-choice partnership, and with this in mind, perhaps Klopp would be wise – transfer kitty permitting – to move for prodigious up-and-comer Leny Yoro.

Liverpool transfer news – Leny Yoro

Yoro has risen to the fore with LOSC Lille in his French homeland over the past two years, with Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United all taking note of his displays in December.

And now, with the January market open for business, such speculation is intensifying, with Le10 Sport claiming that Lille are getting rather fed up with the persisting interest in their prodigy and have slapped a €90m (£78m) price tag on his signature.

Manchester United and Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain are leading the race, or so it is believed, but Liverpool are not far behind and are even believed to have held talks with Yoro's club last month.

Leny Yoro's season in numbers

Last year, Yoro burst onto the scene with Lille's senior set-up and played 13 times in the French top flight, before he had even reached adulthood.

Now, the 18-year-old has established himself as a starring member of Paulo Fonseca's squad and has started 15 matches in the league, scoring twice, completing 91% of his passes, averaging 4.2 ball recoveries and 3.4 clearances per game and impressively winning 67% of his contested duels, as per Sofascore.

Described as a prospect made of "world-class material" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Yoro's innate ball-playing ability and robustness in recycling possession and blasting away danger hint toward a fruitful future at the top of the European game.

He's currently out of contract in 2025, and while a fresh deal is certainly not out of the question for the player, who might want to continue his immediate development in homey surroundings, should he deem that his prodigious beginning beckons the call of the Premier League despite his age, then Liverpool would find that the expensive transfer demands are reduced.

Leny Yoro's style of play

Standing at 6 foot 1, Yoro is not the tallest defender on the block but he has an innate understanding of distance and spatial awareness to take control of each situation he finds himself in, with his 68% success rate in aerial battles in Ligue 1 evidence of this.

Just to put that in perspective, Ibrahima Konate has won 69% of his aerial duels in the Premier League this season, and the 6 foot 4 colossus is one of the most imposing around.

Yoro's technical ability is probably the most eye-catching element of his game, but he is not defined by his distribution, also one of the crispest, most precise in a duel across Europe, as is expounded below.

A natural eye for goal is hardly a negative either, with the teenager ranking among the top 13% of centre-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 7% for pass completion, the top 20% for passes attempted and interceptions and the top 24% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.

With all the trappings of a first-class defender at the height of the game, Yoro – who has been dubbed a "Rolls-Royce" by journalist and U23 scout Antonio Mango – now just needs to build and sustain his performances, and by moving to Liverpool perhaps he could emulate his countryman William Saliba.

How Leny Yoro compares to William Saliba

Saliba joined Arsenal from Saint Etienne for around £27m back in 2019 but only made his debut at the start of last season, having remained in France for several years to hone his craft, a prudent move, it must be said.

Like Yoro, the Gunners titan is an incredible passer of the ball, ranking among the top 6% of positional peers for pass completion and the top 8% for passes attempted per 90 and also regarded as a "Rolls-Royce" – as was said by teammate Aaron Ramsdale.

He's not averse to finding the back of the net either and has netted four goals since properly arriving at the Emirates Stadium a year and a half ago.

In the Premier League this season, the 12-cap Les Bleus star has completed 93% of his passes, averaging 6.1 recoveries and 2.0 clearances per match and succeeding with 60% of his aerial duels.

#

Player

Club

1

John Stones

Manchester City

2

Ruben Dias

Manchester City

3

Jules Kounde

Barcelona

4

Alessandro Bastoni

Inter Milan

5

Antonio Rudiger

Real Madrid

*Sourced via Football Transfers

The table above highlights the kind of player that Yoro could become if he continues his rise, plying his trade industriously and proving his skills.

It's worth noting that Saliba spent several seasons making the improvements to his game that have now placed him in the conversation for the Premier League's finest defender; had he been rushed in this regard, perhaps he might not have found his feet with such success.

Yoro will likely feel that he is ready to take on the world and will unquestionably be somewhat attracted to a transfer to one of the illustrious suitors, but for the good of his career, perhaps joining Liverpool's project on Merseyside would be the perfect move.

Price’s first challenge will be to try and take USA to the T20 World Cup qualifiers in Scotland in August

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Mar-2019Former Australia international Julia Price has been appointed the head coach of the USA women’s team. Price was part of the Australia women’s World Cup-winning team in 1997 and 2005. The appointment follows a process that ended with interviews of three candidates, with Price emerging the winner.USA are looking to qualify for the women’s T20 World Cup, to be held in Australia next year, and Price’s first task will be to identify a squad of 14 players – the selection process will take place on March 23 and 24 in California.Her first assignment will be a three-match Americas qualifying tournament against Canada in May, with the winners progressing to the eight-team T20 World Cup qualifier to be held in Scotland in August.”I’m absolutely thrilled to have been appointed as head coach for the USA Cricket women’s national team,” Price was quoted as saying in a press release. “I believe that the potential for growth of cricket in America, particularly in the women’s game, is quite phenomenal. We have a huge year coming up so I can’t wait to get going with the squad and hit the ground running from this weekend.”Price was until last month the head coach of WBBL franchise Hobart Hurricanes. In the past, apart from coaching the Australia women’s team, she has served as a consultant with USA Cricket Combines, a partnership between USA Cricket and Cricket Australia.

Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA) chief executive David Leatherdale will step down from his role this year.Leatherdale took time off last year, due to stress amid a heavy workload and family health problems.He returned with a number of issues on the PCA agenda including members’ concerns over how “The Hundred” competition would impact them, a new pay deal for centrally contracted England players and at the County Partnership Agreement – which includes salaries and payments for county players – for the period 2020 to 2024.Daryl Mitchell, chairman of the players’ union, said Leatherdale had recently informed the PCA board of his intention to step down once a successor has been appointed.”David’s skill, dedication and determination over the last three years has been instrumental in championing the best interests of all PCA members during a time of immense change in the professional game,” Mitchell said. “We are immensely grateful.”David will continue in his role until a successor is appointed and has made it clear he wishes to conclude the negotiations surrounding the County Partnership Agreement and the Team England and PCA-ECB MOU contracts which will ensure playing professional cricket from 2020 onwards is the most rewarding career it has ever been.”The board is grateful to David for his commitment to complete these negotiations which will see every current member of the PCA materially better off. The PCA board has already commenced the search for David’s successor.”

A Kylian Mbappe-less and youthful Paris Saint-Germain side rounded off their Ligue 1 season with a comfortable 2-0 win away at Metz on Sunday night.

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• PSG beat Metz 2-0 in final Ligue 1 game
• Mbappe & Dembele not in matchday squad
• Soler & Lee score for much-changed side

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  TELL ME MORE

  Two goals inside the first 12 minutes from Carlos Soler and Lee Kang-in secured all three points for the visitors at Stage Saint-Symphorien. With the likes of Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Marquinhos, Vitinha, and Fabian Ruiz rested, manager Luis Enrique gave a host of players under the age of 23 a chance to shine. Senny Mayulu, 18, Lucas Beraldo, 20, Nuno Mendes, 21, and more, did just that as the French champions rounded off their latest Ligue 1 campaign in style.

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  THE MVP

  In a game where PSG fielded a host of exciting but raw youngsters, older, wiser heads are sometimes needed. And while he may not have meant it, 27-year-old Soler's curling effort proved too much for Alexandre Oukidja and settled any nerves for the visitors. He has been linked with a summer transfer exit but he proved his worth for PSG in this encounter.

• THE BIG LOSER

  Metz as a whole had a great chance to get a rare win against this young, inexperienced PSG side but they had just 23 percent possession and 10 shots to the visitors' 19. They didn't do nearly enough to trouble Keylor Navas in goal.

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  WHAT COMES NEXT?

  Following the conclusion of the Ligue 1 season, PSG will try to complete a domestic double when they take on Lyon in the French Cup final on May 25. For that match, Mbappe and Co will be back, as the French World Cup winner prepares to play his last game for the club before he completes a reported free transfer to Real Madrid this summer.

Dougie Brown reflects on poor finish to their batting as one of the turning points

Peter Della Penna13-Apr-2019

Peter Della Penna

UAE may have been denied an opportunity to pull off an upset courtesy bad light, but their head coach Dougie Brown feels it was the correct decision to walk off. When the match was decided by DLS method, Zimbabwe needed 25 off three overs with six wickets in hand.Brown felt the light had been deteriorating badly for some time as play continued for several minutes beyond the sunset time of 5.49pm. This extension was largely a result of a two-hour delay for rain in the first innings that resulted in the chase being truncated to 35 overs, off which Zimbabwe were set a revised 210.”It’s not an ideal way to finish a one-day international, because of bad light,” Brown told ESPNcricinfo. “If I’m honest, it was very, very dark. We probably could have come off a couple of overs earlier but we didn’t. The umpires tried to keep us on the field, which I think was the right decision, while spin was being bowled. But the game was still very much in the balance at 25 required off 18 balls.”I think going off because of the light was the correct decision, but it’s really bitterly disappointing for either team that none of us really got a chance to win the game.”Brown gave credit to Shaiman Anwar and Ghulam Shabber giving UAE a chance to win in the first place. The pair offset Kyle Jarvis’ three-for inside seven overs by putting together 131 on either side of the rain break at the 29-over mark.”We lost the toss again and it was very favourable conditions to bowl,” Brown said. “They bowled really well for the first three wickets but thereafter Shaiman and Shabber played exceptionally well and they deserve a hell of a lot of credit for the way that they went about constructing their innings. Disappointing to not finish as well as we could have done, but was wery happy to be defending 209 in 35 overs.”The pitch was still offering a little bit for us although the outfield was wet so we had to try and make sure we dipped in with the new ball. We bowled pretty well. We didn’t quite manage to get too many wickets with the new ball but we chipped away and got ourselves into a winning position at one stage. It was disappointing not to get across the line but you would expect a Full Member like Zimbabwe with experience in their ranks to fight, and fight is exactly what they did.”Even though UAE was in a decent position in the field at 92 for 4 in the 20th over in the field defending an adjusted total of 209, Brown says the Zimbabwean pair of Regis Chakabva and Peter Moor batted exceptionally well to get back in front in DLS before play was called off. Moor in particular boosted Zimbabwe in the waning overs to finish with an unbeaten 45 off 33 balls.”We need to give a bit of credit to Zimbabwe for the way that they scrapped,” Brown said. “They got themselves into a bit of a hole themselves. We dug ourselves out of one and they managed to dig themselves out of one. At 92 for 4, if they lose a fifth wicket, particularly Moor – we know he’s a dangerous player and as captain he feels that he’s got to carry the team’s outcome on his shoulders. We knew we had to get him out but he didn’t give a chance and he played really well.”Brown also underlined UAE’s poor finish to their innings as one of the factors in the loss. In the six overs left to bat after play was reduced to 35 overs, UAE lost six wickets, including 4 for 4 runs in the last 11 balls.”We messed up the last five overs,” Brown said. “We only scored 31 runs and lost six wickets. We probably pride ourselves in being able to finish an innings pretty well but I think they played well. They bowled well, made good plans and we didn’t quite manage to react to the plans that they had. It’s disappointing to come away having only scored the 31 runs off the last five overs but they deserve a bit of credit for the plans they put in place.”

Marchant de Lange scores unbeaten fifty in 113-run stand with Root as Surrey are stranded on one win

ECB Reporters Network28-Apr-2019An unbroken century stand between Billy Root and Marchant de Lange allowed Glamorgan to fight back from an indifferent start to claim their first victory of the Royal London Cup season, leaving Surrey stranded on just one win.Root was unbeaten on 113 and de Lange 58 not out as Glamorgan recovered from 160 for 6 to post a total of 323 for 7, thanks largely to the unbroken eighth-wicket stand between Root and de Lange, who put on 113 off 63 balls. The home side then bowled Surrey out with 20 balls to spare – de Lange chiming in with four wickets and Graham Wagg taking three – to win by 64 runs.De Lange accounted for the Surrey top order with a devastating spell of 3 for 14 from his opening three overs, as the visitors slumped to 28 for 4 in the fifth. Will Jacks was bowled off his pads and Rory Burns was well caught low down at third man, before Dean Elgar slapped one to cover. Earlier, Mark Stoneman was undone by Michael Hogan, with David Lloyd taking a low catch at first slipJamie Smith, a promising 18-year-old batsman, and Ben Foakes staged a recovery by adding 64 for the fifth wicket, before they were dismissed in quick succession. Smith was well held by Chris Cooke, standing up to Graham Wagg, who then had Foakes caught at mid-on.Jordan Clark, who joined Surrey from Lancashire this season, top scored for his new county with an aggressive 79, and his partnership of 107 with Stuart Meaker gave Surrey a glimmer of hope. There were 108 needed from the final 10 overs, but de Lange captured his fourth wicket when Clark, who had struck the previous ball for six, holed out at long leg.Meaker (50) achieved his career best List A score, but with 70 needed from the last five overs, there was little hope for the visitors, with de Lange ending with 4 for 63.The home team, who had been put in on a pacey pitch, were soon in trouble against Morne Morkel, who dismissed the first three batsmen with a superb display of seam bowling.Marnus Labuschagne was the first to go, plumb in front of a full-length ball, before Cooke was bowled by one that trimmed his off stump, then Jeremy Lawlor guided one the gully.Lloyd struck Conor McKerr for three successive boundaries but, attempting to pull a short delivery from Meaker, he holed out at mid-wicket.Charlie Hemphrey and Wagg helped Root take Glamorgan past 200, before de Lange began his assault. He began with successive boundaries, before a flurry of enormous sixes gave Glamorgan hope of a substantial total.Root reached his century – his second in List A games – from 111 balls and, from the next ball, de Lange reached his first fifty for Glamorgan from just 27 balls. They both achieved career best scores, as 113 runs were plundered from the final 10 overs and 51 from the final five.Root said: “It was great to get not only my career best, but also to win the game. Marchant played a terrific innings and it made my job a lot easier.”De Lange added: “I played my own game. I am not a top order batsman and if the ball is there to be hit I’ll have a go. My job was to support Billy, and it worked.”

أفادت وسائل إعلامية إسبانية عن توقيع نادي ريال مدريد الإسباني عقداً جديداً مع لاعبه خلال الفترة الحالية من الموسم.

ويسعى الفريق الملكي ريال مدريد إلى الحفاظ على قوامه الأساسي، للمنافسة على الألقاب المحلية والقارية.

اقرأ ايضاً.. حرب الـ47 مليون جنيه إسترليني.. وسيط لحل أزمة مبابي مع باريس سان جيرمان

وذكرت صحيفة ماركا الإسبانية أن ريال مدريد توصل إلى اتفاق نهائي حول تمديد عقد حارس مرمى الفريق الملكي، أندريا لونين، بالفترة القادمة.

وتابعت الصحيفة أن عقد الحارس الوكراني لونين الجديد مع ريال مدريد سيكون حتى عام 2028.

وكان من المقرر أن ينتهي عقد لونين مع ريال مدريد في صيف 2025، لكنه وبعد البقاء في سانتياجو برنانبيو هذا الصيف، سيوقع اللاعب على عقد جديد.

وخاض لونين العام الماضي 31 مباراة مع ريال مدريد بجميع المسابقات، حيث تمكن من المحافظة على نظافة شباكه في 17 مباراة طوال الموسم.