Mahedi, Taskin help Bangladesh defend 129 to claim series

A combined bowling effort followed a powerful cameo of 35 off 17 from Shamim Hossain

Mohammad Isam18-Dec-2024

Taskin Ahmed returned 3 for 16•Cricket West Indies

Bangladesh defended their modest score of 129 to clinch the T20I series with a 2-0 lead, beating West Indies by 27 runs in the second game at the Arnos Vale Ground in St Vincent. It was Bangladesh’s lowest total winning a game while batting first against West Indies. It was a combined effort from their quicks and spinners who took advantage of a pitch that offered a lot to the bowlers throughout the game.Bangladesh were stretched to their total by Shamim Hossain’s late blast, hitting an unbeaten 35 off 17 balls. The bowlers responded superbly thereafter, with Taskin Ahmed taking three wickets while Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain and Tanzim Hasan all taking two each.Bangladesh’s only concern was Soumya Sarkar suffering a finger injury when he dropped a catch in the slips in the seventh over of the chase. Otherwise, Bangladesh were all over West Indies, having reduced them to 42 for 6 in the ninth over.Taskin, Mahedi make the early strikesTaskin Ahmed provided the first breakthrough in the third over when he had Brandon King caught behind for 8, with a beautiful delivery outside off. Four balls later, Taskin had Andre Fletcher caught behind too, for his second consecutive duck in the series. This one was wider but Fletcher got beaten by pace, under-edging to wicketkeeper Litton Das.Mahedi, who took career-best figures of 4 for 13 in the first T20I, then got into the act. He trapped Johnson Charles lbw in the fourth over, as the hosts slipped to 28 for 3. In his next over, Mahedi got Nicholas Pooran caught at slip where Soumya Sarkar didn’t have to move as Pooran’s probe at a length ball took the outer edge went to him softly.Chase holds fort after Powell but…Bangladesh might have felt Rovman Powell as a major threat after his exploits in the first match, nearly taking the hosts over the line. Powell, however, fell cheaply this time, when Mehidy Hasan Miraz took a diving catch in front of point, off Hasan Mamhud. When Tanzim Hasan had Romario Shepherd glove to slip off a short ball, West Indies were 42 for 6 and there was almost no coming back from there.Roston Chase was their only remaining specialist batter after that. He batted conservatively until the 16th over when he slammed Mahmud for consecutive sixes. Akeal Hosein gave Chase good support at the other end, also hitting Rishad for a straight six, but the asking rate was still nearly 12 an over in the death overs.The three sixes gave West Indies some hope but Rishad fought back in the same over to remove Chase, who missed a big slog. The young legspinner removed Gudakesh Motie next ball when the left-hand batter holed out to long-off. Alzarri Joseph then handed a return catch to Tanzim in the following over before Hosein clipped a slower delivery from Taskin straight to backward point as Bangladesh started their celebrations.West Indies boss the powerplayThe assistance for the spinners from the pitch was evident from the start. Hosein removed Litton again early in the Bangladesh innings, this time getting him stumped for 3. Litton’s dismal form continues, while Hosein continued his powerplay dominance. Chase followed up with Tanzid Hasan’s wicket, hitting his off stump with a ripper of a delivery.Mehidy and Soumya got Bangladesh out of that mire, batting sensibly till the ninth over. That’s when Soumya was run out when he responded to a Mehidy call for a single to short third. Mehidy fell in the next over, hitting Joseph to deep square leg, for 26, after striking three fours and a six in his 25-ball stay.Shamim’s flourish lifts BangladeshMotie then got into the Bangladesh middle order, cleaning up both Rishad and Mahedi by the 15th over. Jaker Ali tried to resurrect the innings somewhat, with his 20-ball 21, but when he fell in the 17th over with the score 88 for 7, there were chances that the visitors could be bowled out for under 100.Shamim, however, had the final say in the death overs, hitting a couple of sixes and as many fours. Both his sixes came off the local boy Obed McCoy, hitting him over fine leg and midwicket. He ensured Bangladesh finished on a score just above 120, which was considered to be par for the course given the type of pitch.

Florian Wirtz snubbed captain Joshua Kimmich & Germany coaches' advice to stun Julian Nagelsmann with 'superb' free-kick goal

Florian Wirtz says there were many voices giving him advice before he stepped up to score his decisive free-kick as Germany beat Northern Ireland.

  • Wirtz scores free-kick against Northern Ireland
  • Dismissed opinions from the sidelines
  • Says it was simply good
Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱
  • WHAT HAPPENED?

    Under immense pressure following their disastrous performance against Slovakia, the German national team desperately needed a win from Sunday's World Cup qualifying clash. With his side 2-1 up in the second half, Wirtz had the chance to put the game beyond doubt when he stepped up for a free-kick outside the visitors' box. The Liverpool player was met with a chorus of advice from his team-mates, but their words fell on deaf ears as he had already decided on the perfect approach.

  • Advertisement

  • WHAT WIRTZ & NAGELSMANN SAID

    Asked what captain Joshua Kimmich and his team-mates were telling him before his effort, Wirtz said to : "Honestly, I don't know. There were too many comments from the sidelines – various ideas. I knew I wanted to try it because the position was simply good. So I did it."

  • AFP

    THE BIGGER PICTURE

    Germany took an early lead through Nick Woltemade, but were pinned back later in the first half when their opponents pulled level. In desperate need of a win, coach Julian Nagelsmann was relieved to see Wirtz wrap up the three points.

    "He practices it often enough," he told . "He felt good – actually, even against Slovakia. He didn't shoot then. Unfortunately, he won't always score like that, but it was a superb goal—a good topspin free kick."

  • ENJOYED THIS STORY?

    Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

  • Getty Images Sport

    WHAT NEXT FOR GERMANY?

    Germany are level on points with Northern Ireland but remain three behind Slovakia, who beat Luxembourg 1-0. Germany will be in action again in October against Luxembourg and Northern Ireland.

Pep's own Mbeumo: Man City accelerating move for ÂŁ21.5m "monster"

Manchester City have been making waves so far during the summer transfer window as Pep Guardiola attempts to win back the Premier League title.

Indeed, no fewer than four players have moved to City, and there is scope for plenty more in the coming weeks.

Manchester City manager PepGuardiolareacts

Kyle Walker has left, as has Kevin De Bruyne, with Guardiola streamlining his squad.

With the Englishman departing, City have targeted a swoop for a Serie A player who could add something extra to the right side of their defence.

Man City ready to close in on Serie A star

Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Ait-Nouri and Rayan Cherki have all arrived at the Etihad ahead of the 2025/26 season. Despite City exiting the Club World Cup earlier than anticipated, the three players could be vital for the club next season.

Now, according to reports in Spain, City could be set to close in on a deal to sign Inter Milan star Denzel Dumfries, with the Etihad side ready to accelerate their move for the rampaging talent.

He has a release clause worth ÂŁ21.5m, as per the report, but this expires on July 15 and it looks as though Guardiola is keen to activate it before the deadline.

Denzel Dumfries in action at the Club World Cup.

The right side of the defence is a position which needs to be strengthened massively and Dumfries could be an excellent signing.

He could turn out to be Guardiola’s very own Bryan Mbeumo, who has been heavily linked with a move to rivals Manchester United this summer.

Why Manchester City must sign Denzel Dumfries

United’s attack could look very different should they secure a deal for Mbeumo in the coming weeks.

Off the right flank last season, he registered 28 goal contributions in the Premier League – 20 goals and eight assists – proving he would be an excellent signing for Ruben Amorim.

Dumfries could turn out to be Guardiola’s own version of the Brentford forward. Despite not playing in quite such an advanced position, the Dutchman did record similar statistics to Mbeumo throughout last season, with FBref noting the pair to be similar players among wingers across Europe’s top five leagues.

Indeed, according to FBref, the pair performed similarly when it came to shots per 90 (1.74 vs 2.08), shot-creating actions (2.53 vs 3.8) and goal-creating actions (0.18 vs 0.53) in their respective domestic leagues.

Denzel Dumfries’ stats in Serie A last season

Goals

7

Assists

2

Big chances created

6

Total duels won per game

3.9

Tackles per game

0.9

Balls recovered per game

2.2

Via Sofascore

Both players are superb at bursting forward down the right flank in order to either get a shot away or to create chances in the final third, with Dumfries notably registering 17 goals and assists in all competitions last term as an advanced wing-back.

Journalist Alan Rzepa described Dumfries as a “monster” all the way back in 2021, but fast-forward four years, nothing has changed.

In Serie A last term, he scored seven goals and grabbed two assists. Given that City’s full-backs scored just eight goals between them all season, adding someone like Dumfries would be an excellent move.

For a fee of ÂŁ21.5m, Guardiola could well be signing his very own Mbeumo-esque figure on the cheap. Someone capable of shining in the Premier League with his attacking talents on the right flank.

If it all works out, Dumfries might just quietly be the signing of the summer for City.

Romano: "Agreement sealed" as Man City win race and sign 18 y/o ex-PSG gem

The paperwork has now been “signed” over a move to the Etihad.

ByHenry Jackson Jul 11, 2025

He'd be better than Gyokeres: Liverpool in talks to sign "world-class" CF

There was a point during the overtures of the summer transfer window that Liverpool were clear ahead of any hopefuls in the race for Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike.

Liverpool are considered frontrunners in the race to sign the French forward, but Chelsea and Manchester United are also locked in negotiations with the Bundesliga club and the player’s representatives.

Hugo Ekitike for Frankfurt.

It’s an open race, and one which the Anfield side will be frustrated that they cannot advance in, given Darwin Nunez still sits firmly in Arne Slot’s squad. The Uruguayan striker is expected to leave the club this summer but, despite interest from Serie A and the Saudi Pro League, real progress has not yet happened.

Luckily, not much should change on the Ekitike front just yet, with his employers standing firm on their €100m (ÂŁ85m) price tag – a valuation they don’t seem keen to meet.

Since Nunez is all but set to go, it would be wise for the Reds to search for alternatives, and Viktor Gyokeres is a name that has been bandied about.

Liverpool's interest in Viktor Gyokeres

Newcastle United qualified for the Champions League and does have the capacity to double down on their staggering ÂŁ150m valuation of Alexander Isak.

Thus, alternatives like Ekitike and Sporting’s Gyokeres have been mapped out, and the latter is certainly an attractive option, given he has scored 97 goals across 102 appearances for the Portuguese club.

Sporting CP's ViktorGyokereskisses the trophy as he celebrate after winning the Taca de Portugal

Arsenal and Manchester United have both shown more concrete interest than Liverpool in recent weeks, even if the Reds are keen, with the Gunners sure to be emboldened by the striker’s intimation that he would rather move to the Emirates than Old Trafford.

There’s no doubt that Gyokeres would prove an upgrade on Nunez, whose natural talent hasn’t been enough to make things click in England’s top flight, but the former is 27 and Sporting chiefs want his €100m (ÂŁ85m) release clause met, which would put him in the same park as Ekitike.

Sporting CP's ViktorGyokerescelebrates scoring their third goal to complete his hat-trick

Liverpool reportedly made contact with the Sweden international back in May, though there are concerns that his ridiculous rate of scoring would struggle to translate into Premier League life, and that’s why Liverpool have made contact with an exciting upgrade.

Liverpool open talks for Nunez replacement

As per the latest from TEAMtalk, Liverpool believe they have found a way to offload Nunez and solve their quest for a number nine at the same time.

Indeed, that’s by offering the 25-year-old, along with Federico Chiesa, to Napoli in return for Victor Osimhen, with talks having already happened regarding a potential swap deal.

Osimhen, 26, has just completed a successful loan spell with Galatasaray after a divorce from the Naples side, and his summer transfer is a given.

Valued at ÂŁ60m, the Nigerian goalscorer is more affordable than the other forwards we’ve mentioned, and if Nunez, Chiesa or both are included in the package, he would be cheaper still.

Why Liverpool should sign Victor Osimhen

Frugality has been something that dissenters have targeted FSG with for a while, but who can say Liverpool’s owners have been anything but ambitious in the market thus far this month?

Even so, there’s a lot going on in the Anfield offices, and the coffers aren’t inexhaustible. Osimhen represents an affordable deal for an elite-level marksman.

Galatasaray's VictorOsimhencelebrates after the match

Ekitike has a high ceiling, but the Frenchman isn’t as refined as Napoli’s man right now, and perhaps Osimhen is also more accomplished than Gyokeres, who has yet to prove himself at age 27 in one of Europe’s top five leagues.

Indeed, the rangy centre-forward has been hailed for his “world-class” finishing by Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley, and that’s something Liverpool have been lacking at the front of the ship to be sure.

24/25 – Galatasaray

41

37

8

23/24 – Napoli

32

17

4

22/23 – Napoli

39

31

5

21/22 – Napoli

32

18

6

20/21 – Napoli

30

10

3

But goalscoring isn’t Osimhen’s sole forte. Powerful, robust and more dynamic than he might seem at a glance, the ÂŁ83k-per-week striker likes to drive forward with the ball at his feet and make things happen for his teammates.

Make no mistake, Gyokeres is a high-level finisher and complete in his forward play, but Liverpool would be gambling in bringing him to the Premier League over someone more proven in Osimhen. The Premier League champions, after all, need the best of the best.

Napoli star Victor Osimhen

As per FBref, he ranked among the top 4% of forwards across Europe last season for shot-creating actions, the top 18% for progressive carries and the top 16% for ball recoveries per 90.

This shows that he’s mobile and efficient in utilising his athleticism, not just standing as a target man in spite of his prowess in the box.

Silky and stylish and all the rest, Osimhen would be a credit to Liverpool’s first team, bringing a fiery personality and a winning mentality.

Gyokeres is a physical force of a player himself, but he simply hasn’t achieved the same heights as Osimhen despite being a year his junior, and given that he would cost more, Liverpool will need to consider their options carefully, lest they make the wrong choice and hinder their chances of defending their Premier League title with Slot at the helm and indeed struggle to conquer trophies on tournamental fronts.

He's better than Gordon: Liverpool among favourites to sign ÂŁ77m winger

Liverpool may need to replace Luis Diaz in the transfer market this summer.

4 ByAngus Sinclair Jun 17, 2025

Pakistan knocked out of T20 World Cup 2024 in first round

This is the earliest they have ever gone out of the competition, triggered by defeats to USA and India

Danyal Rasool14-Jun-2024

It has been a World Cup to forget for Pakistan•ICC/Getty Images

Pakistan have been eliminated from the T20 World Cup 2024 after inclement weather in Lauderhill meant points were split between Ireland and USA. USA have qualified for the Super Eight alongside India from Group A, also sealing their berth in the 2026 T20 World Cup.For Pakistan, though, a torrid tournament culminated in a hasty exit under gloomy skies that epitomised the grim nature of their World Cup campaign. They arrived in the USA with no warm-up games scheduled, and most of their practice sessions were cancelled due to rain. Their unfamiliarity was punished by the home team in their opening fixture as USA pipped them in the Super Over, before Pakistan fell apart chasing 120 against India, losing by six runs.Related

Imad: Pakistan have 'moved back' in T20 cricket, need to get rid of fear of failure

USA qualify automatically for T20 World Cup 2026

India and Australia in same Super Eight group

Southee reprimanded for smashing hand-sanitiser dispenser

That left them depending on other results, most significantly the outcome of this particular game in Lauderhill between USA and Ireland. An Irish win would have kept Pakistan alive, with any other outcome giving USA an unassailable lead over Pakistan in the points tally.Pakistan’s only win so far has been a seven-wicket triumph over Canada. They still have one game left as they play Ireland – who were also eliminated as a result of this washout – on Sunday.However, this does not mean they will have to play the qualifiers to secure a place at the next T20 World Cup, with their current T20I ranking – seventh – sufficient to guarantee a spot at the tournament in 2026, jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka.This is the earliest Pakistan have ever been knocked out of a T20 World Cup, having played just three games before their fate was sealed. They also suffered group-stage eliminations in 2014 and 2016, but reached at least the semi-finals on every other occasion. No side has reached more finals than Pakistan (England are joint-top with three), and Pakistan won the title in 2009.

Unlike Son & Odobert: Ange must now axe 5/10 Spurs flop for the final

The bad news is that Tottenham Hotspur picked up their 21st defeat of the Premier League season last night, but the good news is that there is just one more game to go.

In fact, the even better and more consequential news from last night was probably that the North Londoners didn’t lose any more important first-teamers ahead of the Europa League Final next week.

However, with all that said, Ange Postecoglou can’t be particularly pleased with his team, as even though they had some good chances and put in a far better showing than they did on Sunday, they’re still going into their most important game in years off the back of a defeat.

Aston Villa vs Spurs

Villa

Statistics

Spurs

2

Goals

0

1.56

Expected Goals

0.32

2

Big Chances

1

18

Total Shots

3

69%

Possession

31%

579

Passes

260

40

Touches in the Penalty Area

8

5

Fouls

12

15

Tackles

9

All Stats via Sofascore

Moreover, while some players made a good case for why they should stay in the team, like Wilson Odobert and Son Heung-min, other players most certainly did not.

Odobert & Son's game vs Aston Villa

So, while they might be rather small, let’s start with the positives then, like Odeobert and Son.

Performance in Numbers

Want data and stats? Football FanCast’s Performance in Numbers series provides you with the latest match analysis from across Europe.

The former moved from the right wing to the number ten position in the absence of Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison, and while he didn’t exactly blow us away, he offered something fresh.

While he was guilty of a mistimed shot here or a dodgy pass there, the Frenchman was incredibly busy and, at points, interchanged with his fellow attackers in a way that could cause problems for Manchester United on Wednesday night.

It was a performance that left a somewhat favourable impression on the Standard’s Dan Kilpatrick, who awarded him a 6/10 match rating.

He gave the same rating to Son, praising him for showing some of his ‘trademark bursts down the left flank’, which at points were the team’s best moves.

Moreover, while his end product wasn’t ideal, journalist Seb Stafford-Bloor argued that he looked “quicker with the ball at his feet than he has in months.”

In all, while it would be hyperbolic to suggest either player was fantastic last night, it would also be fair to say they both showed enough to be in contention to start the final, which cannot be said for one of the other starters.

The Spurs star who has to be dropped

Unfortunately, there were a few players who were rather unimpressive last night, such as Mikey Moore and Pape Matar Sarr, but the starter who has to be dropped ahead of Wednesday is Archie Gray.

Now, it should be said that the former Leeds United gem has generally been great for Spurs this season and has done an admirable job filling in across the backline.

However, just like last weekend against Crystal Palace, the versatile 18-year-old really struggled in the middle of the park.

If he wasn’t making a poor pass, he was struggling to cope with the defensive side of the game, and there was more than one occasion in which the Villans simply bypassed him without much trouble.

Kilpatrick wasn’t particularly impressed with him either, awarding the Englishman a 5/10 match rating at full-time and writing that he ‘struggled to impose himself on the game.’

Ultimately, while it was another night to forget for Spurs, Son and Odobert showed that they might be able to make something happen on Wednesday. On the other hand, Gray reminded Postecoglou that he is not ready to start in the middle of the park.

He'd send Tel packing: Spurs race to sign ÂŁ19m "future ballon d'Or winner"

The incredible talent would be an unreal signing for Spurs.

ByJack Salveson Holmes May 16, 2025

Liverpool make contact with ÂŁ150,000-a-week star over new Anfield contract

After tying both Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah down to new deals, Liverpool are now reportedly set to offer another star man a fresh contract in the hope that he stays put.

Liverpool still trying to convince Alexander-Arnold

Although the Reds have plenty to celebrate with Van Dijk and Salah staying put before they sealed their status as Premier League champions last weekend, there still remains questions to be answered in the coming weeks. And the first on everyone’s mind will undoubtedly surround Trent Alexander-Arnold and his future at the club.

Yet to follow in his teammates’ footsteps by putting pen to paper, it seems likely at this stage that the academy graduate will be off to Real Madrid as a free agent when the summer arrives. Liverpool, however, are reportedly yet to give up hope and after Alexander-Arnold received a reminder of what Anfield glory truly feels like, perhaps they are right to hold onto that belief.

Alexander-Arnold, himself, chose to remain reserved when questioned about his future following his winning goal against Leicester City, meanwhile. He told reporters: “I have said all season that I am not going to speak on my situation. I am not going to go into the details.

“But days like today are always special. Scoring goals, playing games, winning games, winning titles — they are special moments for me and I am glad to do my part.”

Revealed: The "exciting" 9-goal winger Liverpool chiefs have enquired about

The Premier League champions could swoop in…

ByTom Cunningham Apr 29, 2025

With that said, the right-back isn’t the only Anfield star who has found himself at the centre of contract headlines, with one of Liverpool’s most important players now reportedly set to be offered a fresh deal in Merseyside.

Liverpool set to offer Ryan Gravenberch fresh contract

According to The Boot Room, Liverpool have now made contact with Ryan Gravenberch’s camp over a fresh deal at the club, as they look to tie down yet another one of Arne Slot’s key men.

The Dutchman, who is currently on ÂŁ150,000-a-week has been a revelation under Slot, converting from a struggling midfielder to Liverpool’s unlikely solution in the No.6 role – replacing Fabinho at long last.

The Liverpool boss has rarely hidden his admiration for the former Bayern Munich star either, telling reporters earlier in the campaign after his side drew against Fulham: “Impressed, like everyone who was in the stadium or saw the game. Ryan did outstanding again today.

“Without the ball, he was mostly in our last line, had to play sometimes against a nine, against wingers who are really fast. And with the ball, he came into the midfield. An outstanding performance from him.”

With three years left on his current deal, it looks as though Liverpool are keen to ensure that Gravenberch is at the heart of their midfield for years to come and even beyond those three years.

Should RR use Ashwin in the powerplay vs RCB – with bat and ball?

The tactical match-ups and strategies to watch out for in the Eliminator in Ahmedabad on Wednesday

Sidharth Monga21-May-20242:35

How can Ashwin and Chahal counter Patidar?

They were No. 1 and No. 10 just after the halfway stage of the league phase, but now Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have all the momentum coming into the Eliminator against Rajasthan Royals (RR). RR won the only league match between these two teams but a lot has changed since then: Virat Kohli is playing his best T20 cricket, the RCB bowlers are turning up, and RR have lost steam and Jos Buttler. Here are some tactical moves to watch out for in the Eliminator in Ahmedabad on Wednesday.Who replaces Buttler?Of all the teams in the playoffs, RR have been the most old-fashioned, almost like vintage CSK. Their batters prefer to take their time before hitting out, and their bowlers have covered for them, at least in the first half of the season. They are the fifth-slowest scoring team, but second best when it comes to bowling economy. So they should keep an overseas slot open for either the fast bowler Nandre Burger or left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj to back their strength. Especially since Burger had success in the previous match against RCB, and Maharaj’s bowling style is more effective than others against Kohli despite a stellar IPL.Tom Kohler-Cadmore appears to be a direct replacement for Buttler, but he has batted more at No. 3 and 4 than as an opener. So if RR bat first, they can bring in Kohler-Cadmore in case of early wickets, and otherwise follow through with their extra-bowler plan. If they end up bowling first, they can start with three overseas players – Boult, Burger/Maharaj, Powell/Hetmyer – and decide if they need the extra bowler or batter.An out-of-the-box idea is to open with Yashasvi Jaiswal and R Ashwin, not to pinch-hit but to bat properly and set up the innings for the middle order.Related

Swapnil's journey from almost calling it quits to going on a dream run

The RCB catharsis and the need to go again

Form vs funk in RCB vs RR winner-takes-all rumble

Bowl Ashwin in the powerplayTrent Boult might not be taking wickets of late, but he has to open the bowling not least because he enjoys good match-ups against Faf du Plessis, Rajat Patidar and Glenn Maxwell.Kohli is in the T20 form of his life and he has been enjoying left-arm pace. His match-up against Ashwin, though, is tantalising. Throughout their long T20 careers, they have respected each other: Kohli doesn’t take risks against Ashwin, who doesn’t go searching for a wicket against Kohli. It is worth asking this new version of Kohli to chance his arm against the unerring Ashwin. He also enjoys good match-ups against du Plessis and Patidar despite them being right-hand batters.Avesh, Sandeep for deathYuzvendra Chahal has a good record against du Plessis, Kohli and Dinesh Karthik, but Maxwell and Cameron Green have both been good against the two RR spinners. Looking at that, RR might not save an over from Chahal for the death, and go with the pace of Avesh Khan and Sandeep Sharma instead.RCB will want one of Maxwell and Green at the wicket for the last 10 overs and should look to split the two as they did in the last match, when Green batted at No. 4 and Maxwell No. 6.Maxwell to open; Dayal vs JaiswalYashasvi Jaiswal has a good record against Maxwell but 20 balls is a small sample size. Given RR are the third-slowest side in the powerplay this IPL, it is never a bad time to get in a couple of cheap overs from a part-timer.If Maxwell can bowl tightly, it opens a window for Yash Dayal to go searching with the new ball. Dayal should bowl ahead of Mohammed Siraj because he has got Jaiswal out twice in 12 balls for 11 runs. An early wicket or two can challenge RR’s plan of playing the extra bowler as Impact Player.Siraj for SamsonOpening the bowling with Dayal and Maxwell gives RCB with the option of going to Mohammed Siraj when Sanju Samson comes out to bat: he has got the RR captain out three times in 31 balls.Lockie Ferguson, who has been used in the second half of the innings by RCB, will play a key role when Shimron Hetmeyer or Rovman Powell bat. He enjoys a good match-up against Hetmeyer: 25 balls, 26 runs, one wicket.Win the toss and?The new ball moved around in Qualifier 1 and there was dew later on so the team that wins the toss would want to chase. RCB have a 50% win-loss ratio while batting first and chasing, but RR have done better when chasing, winning six and losing two. They have failed to defend a target three times out of five.

Australia 'have completed the trifecta'

The reactions to the Commonwealth Games final, where Australia trumped India in a thrilling contest

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Aug-2022

'Oh my goodness, that is insane' – when Jess Kerr found out about sister Amelia's record-breaking day

“I wanted to do something really special and make sure I was there till the end as well and finish the job’

Chinmay Vaidya25-Sep-2020Jess Kerr remembers getting the call.”Do you know what happened to Amelia?”The New Zealand women’s team had played an ODI against Ireland overnight. Since the match wasn’t televised, Jess hadn’t caught any of the action. She didn’t know yet what her sister had accomplished.”I just thought, ‘Oh yea she would’ve got a 50 or a few wickets’,” Jess recalled.Technically, she wasn’t wrong. At one point, Amelia Kerr did have 50 and a few wickets.”Then I checked the scoreboard and I was like ‘Oh my goodness that is insane’.”ALSO READ: The irresistible rise of Amelia Kerr, New Zealand’s ‘once-in-a-generation’ prospectThe scoreboard from June 13, 2018 revealed 232 not out to Amelia Kerr’s name with 31 boundaries and two sixes. Amelia had become the youngest cricketer, male or female, to hit a double hundred in an ODI. She was the second woman to reach a double century in a one-day match and the eighth cricketer overall to hit the milestone and now held the third-highest individual score in the format.”It was the first time I got the opportunity to open the batting, so I wanted to make the most of that opportunity,” Amelia recalled.She relished the chance to start the innings with in partnership with Amy Satterthwaite, someone Amelia says she watched a lot growing up and considers one of the best cricket brains around. She also got to watch Leigh Kasperek, normally her bowling partner, reach her first century.”My dad always told me once you get to a hundred make it big. Lots of people get out as soon as they get a hundred,” Amelia said. “Once I was in that zone, I wanted to do something really special and make sure I was there till the end as well and finish the job.”Amelia Kerr took three wickets in an over•Getty ImagesAmazingly, Amelia’s record-setting double hundred was only half of her total contribution to New Zealand’s 305-run win.”I checked the wickets too and it was five wickets,” Jess remembered.After batting through 50 overs, Amelia didn’t think her eventual five-wicket haul was going to happen. Even a nap during the innings break couldn’t shake the toll of a double hundred.”I didn’t think I was going to bowl,” Amelia said. “[Then captain] Suzie Bates told me to warm up and I was pretty sore, but again you’re representing your country and every time I have the ball or bat in my hand I want to do the best I can.”Amelia bowled seven overs, taking five wickets and conceding just 17 runs. “For me once I had the ball in hand it was just bowling, trying to bowl consistently and set batters up for plans and I sort of happened to get five wickets,” she said.”I’m very proud of her. Can’t really believe it still,” Jess said”I guess it was just one of those days where everything seemed to go your way,” Amelia added.Everything except for the law, that is. “I think I was too young to buy lottery tickets then,” Amelia said. “Should’ve got one of the girls to though.”Following her historic match, Amelia received her first central contract with New Zealand in August 2018. In June 2020, Jess joined her sister with a contract of her own following an appearance at the Women’s T20 World Cup in Australia.The duo are now back in Australia for the limited-overs tour as the women’s game resumes in the Covid-world, the pandemic having caused the ODI World Cup that was due to be held in New Zealand next February and March to be pushed back to 2022.”To be able to play in front of your friends and family for a tour is really special, but for a World Cup is a step higher. To be in a final for that would just be incredible especially with sort of the year that’s been happening too,” Jess said. “It’s good motivation.””There’s nothing like playing at home,” Amelia said. “Other countries coming over to New Zealand and experiencing the culture, playing in front of friends and family, you can’t beat that. It would be a big event for women’s sport in New Zealand.”

Game
Register
Service
Bonus