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While New Zealand’s impressive and unbeaten run make them clear favourites, West Indies are as capable as any team of pulling a performance out of nothing

Andrew McGlashan19-Mar-2015Unbeaten New Zealand, unpredictable West Indies. The qualification paths for the two sides playing the final quarter-final were poles apart. New Zealand’s progress was sealed with a six by Kane Williamson against Australia (apologies to MS Dhoni) while West Indies’ was sealed with a scamper against UAE.New Zealand’s three early games in a week gave them a kick start and left them well ahead of the pack. Since then, especially after the drama of the Australia game, they have often been kicking their heels waiting for their subsequent matches. They completed their group stage, sitting comfortably top of the pile, then waited to see who they would meet in Wellington.West Indies, by contrast, have always been at the centre of the will-they, won’t-they debate. An opening-match defeat against Ireland was always likely to leave them battling, but back-to-back wins against Pakistan and Zimbabwe sparked them only for heavy defeats against South Africa and India to threaten elimination. Then there was concern over the weather; they allowed UAE to fight back from 46 for 6 but in the end got home with time to spare.Brendon McCullum and Mike Hesson have been keen to stress they believe New Zealand have been stretched at various stages of their qualifying campaign. That is true, but none of them were the ultimate make-or-break moment. Momentum, and perhaps a little belief, was on the line – but not their World Cup campaign. West Indies have had to play every day as though it might be their last.Now form and the manner of qualification can mean everything and nothing at the same time. It is a point that has not escaped those with a close eye on New Zealand’s fortunes. On the eve of the tournament, McCullum actually picked out his greatest fear as being that one, uncontrollable display that takes the game away.”When you talk about major fears that’s probably it. You’re dominating a game, in a position of authority and one of those match-winners comes out and takes game away from you,” he said back in Christchurch before New Zealand faced Sri Lanka.The belief around New Zealand has strengthened throughout the tournament, but the fear of the one-off remains. “The worrying fact is that when you get to quarter-finals, any one player in the opposition can have a great day,” said former captain Stephen Fleming. “It doesn’t matter who you play against – in the knockouts each team is going to have someone who can do that. That’s the only worrying aspect from an outsider’s perspective.”And West Indies, for all their qualifying stresses, are as capable as any team of pulling a performance out of nothing. Chris Gayle has a bad back and Marlon Samuels can sleepwalk through a game, but they can both score big hundreds. Darren Sammy and Andre Russell can slog one up in the air, but also out of the ground. Jason Holder and Jerome Taylor can concede ten-an-over but also take 4 for 20.West Indies have scored three individual hundreds to New Zealand’s one, but the top order limped against Ireland, India and South Africa (the latter in the face of 408 for 5). New Zealand were pushed to limited chasing 152 against Australia and needed most of their resources against Bangladesh, but were very convincing against Sri Lanka, England and Afghanistan.Holder has already talked about getting into New Zealand’s middle order. While they eventually hauled themselves over the line against Bangladesh, it was not without problems. But, ultimately, they have still won. It takes a lot to break New Zealand’s belief at the moment, but West Indies’ confidence and composure forever seems on a knife-edge. On the ground where Tim Southee blitzed England with 7 for 33, New Zealand are likely to want to bowl first to allow him and Trent Boult to set the tone as they have so often done.As Richard Hadlee stressed on Thursday, it is not just a month’s work on the line. “This is four years of planning and preparation to get to seven hours of cricket and if you’re good enough, you’ll get another seven hours,” he said. “Get it wrong in the quarter-final, drop a catch, top order fails, the bowlers don’t get it right, the fielding is not as good as it has been, those sort of things and it can all be over in that seven-hour period.”Injuries have also impacted one side far greater than the other. Darren Bravo went home after two games, Gayle’s back injury is always looming and Sulieman Benn has also struggled. In contrast, the worst New Zealand have had to contend with is Adam Milne’s shoulder and few flying-ant bites in Hamilton.Gayle, it seems, will appear come what may in Wellington. And that embodies the threat West Indies bring to the quarter-final. They are creaking, prone to imploding and forever on the cusp of another internal meltdown. Yet, they could ride on a performance from at least half a dozen of the team.”When you think they’re down, one of their players comes out and plays an explosive innings or bowls a spell that can take you out of the game,” Hesson said earlier this week. “Sometimes it’s easier to play a side that’s a bit more predictable whereas the West Indies on their day are exceptional.For all the scouting New Zealand will do, the videos they will watch and plans that have worked so well for more than a year it becomes difficult to prepare for a side who even themselves do not know which version will turn up.

Plays of the day from the IPL game between Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals in Kolkata

Devashish Fuloria03-May-2013The surpriseRahul Dravid sent in James Faulkner at No. 3 and you thought that was the surprise of the day. But as Rajasthan Royals’ batsmen started falling one by one, everyone expected to see Dravid walking in. Samson came in to bat, then came Yagnik, then Owais Shah, surely Dravid was the next in line? Apparently not. He came in to bat at No. 8, possibly the lowest he has ever batted. He struck his first ball for four, missed the second and charged back for a quick couple off the last ball of the innings. Three balls. That’s it for the legend.The buggy algorithmShane Watson had been making smooth progress and looked set for another important innings, until Sunil Narine was introduced in the 11th over. Watson got a leading edge off the first delivery, then survived a very good shout for lbw to one that was going away, then survived another shout to one that came into him, and was finally trapped in front off the fifth ball. What does one expect of lesser batsmen when an international biggie like Watson still has no algorithm to decode the mystery?The dropWhile the rest of Royals’ batting line-up was struggling against spinners on a pitch that magnified the effect, Sanju Samson, all of 18 years, was stroking the ball beautifully. But then he tried to go leg side to a Sunil Narine wrong ‘un and got a thick leading edge that ballooned towards short cover. Manvinder Bisla, the wicketkeeper, called for it and comfortably got under it, only to see the ball pop out of his hands. Bisla couldn’t believe it, Eoin Morgan, who had tried to catch the fumble, couldn’t believe it, the bowler couldn’t believe it, but reaction of the day came from team co-owner Juhi Chawla, who stared with a blank expression like she had seen a ghost.The wide Manvinder Bisla had just been beaten by a Brad Hogg wrong ‘un which he didn’t read as he went for a sweep. The next ball he tried the sweep to a chinaman that was down the leg side. He missed that one too and the keeper was unable to stop it cleanly, allowing the batsmen to change ends. The umpire, CK Nandan, didn’t signal anything, which means it would have counted as runs for Bisla. The batsman, though, signalled to the umpire that he hadn’t touched it after getting to the non-striker end. A polite request was all the umpire need to call it a wide belatedly.

ESPNcricinfo presents the Plays of the Day from the IPL match between Delhi Daredevils and Royal Challengers Bangalore

George Binoy26-Apr-2011Impact moment of the day
Virat Kohli had played the ball towards deep midwicket and he and AB de Villiers returned for the second run, taking on the fielder because he needed to get to the ball from deep square leg. That fielder was David Warner, though, who covered ground at incredible speed, reaching the ball quicker than the batsmen anticipated. He picked it up while on the run and aimed at de Villiers’ end, challenging one of the fastest men in cricket. The throw was flat and fast from nearly 60 metres out and it crashed into the stumps at the bowler’s end with de Villiers barely in the frame. The ball went to Warner several times after that, and the batsmen did not even think about a second.The referrals
Tillakaratne Dilshan had flung the ball high in celebration, after catching a stinging slash at point from James Hopes, who was single-handedly dragging Delhi to a competitive score. Abhimanyu Mithun had reason to be relieved, for the ball was full, wide and rather average. The umpire wanted to check whether Mithun had over-stepped, though, and replays showed that he was not behind the line by a fraction. Hopes, on 43, survived. Eleven runs later, Hopes edged Mithun to the wicketkeeper but the ensuing celebrations were dampened again when the umpire checked for another over-step. This time Mithun was okay, by the tiniest of margins.The ambush
Dilshan made a duck, and Chris Gayle had not scored a run. Yet Bangalore were 26 after two overs, due to an astonishing blitz from Kohli, who struck six fours in his first ten balls. Dinda suffered first, getting cut in front and behind point, but Irfan Pathan suffered most. Kohli feasted on his friendly pace and, in the absence of movement, clipped through square, glanced to fine leg, drove through extra cover and flicked through midwicket. Every shot was timed impeccably, and placed with precision.The final lifeline
A seesawing chase had decisively swung Bangalore’s way. They needed two off five balls with three wickets in hand. And then Delhi had a glimmer of hope, as Daniel Vettori spooned an off-drive flat towards Pathan at mid-off. A wicket would have dismissed the last set batsman and left the finish to unaccomplished tailenders. Pathan moved to his right and dived forward, he got both hands to the ball but couldn’t hold on as he was off balance. With that drop, Delhi was truly sunk.

More than four years on, you can still stand on the balcony of the Bradman Stand and recall the shot that clinched one of Test cricket’s most remarkable come-from-behind victories

Dileep Premachandran23-Jan-2008

Respect: Steve Waugh hands Rahul Dravid the match ball after his unbeaten 72 guided India home by four wickets © AFP
More than four years on, you can still stand on the balcony of the Bradman Stand and recall the shot that clinched one of Test cricket’s most remarkable come-from-behind victories. Stuart MacGill, with his round-arm action, terrified other teams, but had little or no impact on the Indians, about whom he once said: “It’s not that they know what I bowl, it’s that they don’t care.”When MacGill pitched one short and wide of off stump, Rahul Dravid gave himself room and cut hard. As it sped across the outfield towards the fence in front of the George Giffen stand, he let out a yell of delight. As the team poured on to the field to celebrate coming back to win after conceding 400 for 5 on the opening day, Steve Waugh jogged across to pick up the ball. Once he did, he presented it to Dravid, whose 72 not out had glued together a run chase that was anything but straightforward.Eight years earlier, Waugh had composed his magnum opus at Sabina Park, making 200 in the face of hostile and intimidatory bowling that left huge welts and bruises all over his body. At Adelaide, he was quick to recognise the magnitude of what Dravid had achieved. He had batted 835 minutes and faced 616 balls for 305 runs, with the monumental 233 in the first innings signalling the turning of the tide.Less than three years after decimating Australian hopes with a 376-run stand at Eden Gardens, Dravid and VVS Laxman had added 303, albeit at a more sedate pace. The circumstances when they came together had been similarly dire, with India reeling at 85 for 4 after the openers had cruised to 66.It didn’t help that Australia had already posted 556. At one stage on the opening day, it had looked like it might be much more, with Ricky Ponting and Simon Katich flaying tiring bowlers in a final session that produced 159 runs. Irfan Pathan had made a dream debut, shaping one away from Matthew Hayden to have him caught behind, but India’s day had got progressively worse as Ponting and his mates took control.After Harbhajan Singh’s eleventh-hour withdrawal with a finger injury that required surgery, Anil Kumble was once again India’s frontline spinner. But with Ponting in prime form, this was a day to soak up the punishment and try to stay on your feet. By the end of day one, he had figures of 1 for 115, even worse than the 5 for 450 he had managed through the tour of 1999-2000.Ponting completed his double-century on the second morning, blowing a kiss to his wife up in the stands, and with Jason Gillespie in stroke-playing mood, Australia were on course for over 600. But Kumble’s perseverance hastened the end, and three wickets in five balls allowed the openers to head out with something resembling a spring in their step.After 12 overs of making merry, the wheels came off, but with Laxman and Dravid adding 95 before stumps, there was a frisson of hope. And when India made 297 for the loss of only three wickets throughout the third day, Kolkata had almost been reprised. Final-day chases at Adelaide are traditionally tricky though, and Australia’s eventual lead of 33 still had the potential to be decisive.On the ill-fated tour four years earlier, Ajit Agarkar had taken out the Waugh twins and Greg Blewett in the second innings, but it had been to no avail as India lasted just 38.1 overs in pursuit of 396. This time, he got his rhythm right almost from his first delivery, swinging the ball at lively pace and with immaculate control.The final day was as engrossing as any you could wish to see. Each time India appeared to be cruising, Australia would fight back. Every batsman got a start, but only Dravid stayed on, combining limpet-like adhesion with unflappable temperament Australia were two down by lunch, and all out an hour before stumps. Agarkar had figures of 6 for 41 from 16.2 overs and India were left to make 230 to clinch a first win on Australian soil since a hamstrung Kapil Dev inspired victory at the MCG in 1981. Katich’s miscued hook epitomised Australia’s almost-reckless approach, and the Indians had knocked off 37 by the time stumps were drawn.The final day was as engrossing as any you could wish to see. Each time India appeared to be cruising, Australia would fight back. Every batsman got a start, but only Dravid stayed on, combining limpet-like adhesion with unflappable temperament. With the pressure on, it was Australia that cracked.Dravid had made just 9 when Brad Williams induced an edge. Adam Gilchrist dropped it, and the fate of the match was sealed. MacGill and Katich gave them fleeting hope, while Williams and Andy Bichel were tireless and unlucky, but the moment had come and gone. Laxman’s breezy 32 sealed it, but it was fitting that the last act belonged to Dravid, who had done a Waugh in the great man’s final series.Four years on, there are 10 survivors from that epic game. Ashish Nehra has long since slipped off the radar, Aakash Chopra was dropped soon after but is now among the runs in the domestic circuit, while Parthiv Patel has to play third fiddle to MS Dhoni and Dinesh Karthik. Missing too is Agarkar, who could never replicate his heroics of that afternoon, and whose days in an India Test cap are probably done.Australia’s line-up has also been irrevocably altered by retirement and the passage of time. Justin Langer and Damien Martyn followed Waugh into retirement last year, while the likes of Gillespie, MacGill and Katich operate on the fringes. Williams, so nearly the hero, played only two more Tests before increasing disillusionment took him to the Gold Coast and life as a house painter.Bichel, Australia’s top wicket-taker in that game, never wore the baggy green again, but continued to star for a Queensland team in decline until shoulder surgery cut short his season last November. Ponting, Gilchrist and Hayden remain, and given the travails of the first two, Hayden’s bulldozing style will be central to Australia’s hopes of clinching the current series. If it’s even half as good a contest as the one in 2003, the next five days will be worth losing sleep over.

A few hours later though, news came through of Tamim reversing his decision to retire from international cricket

Mohammad Isam07-Jul-2023

“Is this press conference being held about tomorrow’s match? If not, then Litton Das doesn’t need to be here. Call the board president or the coach. They can tell you. I came here to speak about tomorrow’s game.”This was Litton himself speaking in third person. It was around the halfway mark of a long press conference where he had been unveiled as Bangladesh’s interim ODI captain but all anyone wanted to talk about was Tamim Iqbal’s sudden retirement from international cricket. Litton had been fending them all off for the most part, but eventually his patience ran out.Bangladesh players have long held the belief that “retirement” is a touchy subject. The BCB president Nazmul Hassan made it abundantly clear he expects the players to do what they do only after taking his consent. For example, when Mahmudullah retired from Tests in Harare two years ago, Hassan was furious with him and did not accept his decision. It was only much later that Hasan and the board acknowledged the retirement.Tamim’s absence during Friday’s training was a bit jarring. There wasn’t any outward show of solidarity or tribute to him from the rest of the squad. After all, they’re in the middle of an important series, and they’re 0-1 down. But Tamim had a deep and meaningful impact on this Bangladesh team. If his now former team-mates, coaches and support staff find it emotional, they can’t be faulted.Related

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“I learned about it at 1:00pm yesterday,” Litton said. We didn’t expect such a decision. We have been playing together for a long time. It is totally elder bother’s decision. He has given a lot to Bangladesh cricket in his long career. The whole team respects his decision.”I don’t think I should answer these questions, especially with a match coming up tomorrow. We are 1-0 down. We are all focused on winning tomorrow. Even elder brother said that the team comes first. There’s no point talking about it (whether it was professional to criticise Tamim). BCB has given me the responsibility which I want to perform to the best of my ability.”It is hard to say (if we miss Tamim). I am here today. If I am not here tomorrow, maybe due to an injury, Bangladesh team won’t miss me. This is normal. New cricketers will come, and there will be a time when we will also be gone. It will keep happening. If he was around, it may have been good or bad. I don’t think we need to talk about it now that he is not around.”Retirement is a touchy subject in Bangladesh cricket, so much so that the new captain is reluctant to talk about his feelings towards a senior player with whom he had spent eight years of his professional career. This is life under the BCB.The board announced Litton as the ODI captain only a few minutes before he walked into the press conference room on Friday morning. He must have known beforehand, since the decision was made the night before. Some of the BCB directors had a meeting with Hassan in Dhaka, after which it was decided that Litton would lead in the interim.Litton, who has led Bangladesh in the past but only in a stand-in capacity, was the vice-captain for the ongoing ODI series against Afghanistan. It is understood that he is once again a temporary measure, for just the rest of this series, and Shakib Al Hasan is the frontrunner to become captain of the ODI side to go with his leadership roles in Tests and T20Is.The Tamim question put to the Afghanistan captain produced a more straightforward response. “He was definitely a top player for Bangladesh,” Hashmatullah Shahidi. “He was an experienced captain. He was around for a long time. It will be a good advantage for us. His absence. We are looking forward for tomorrow’s game.”I don’t know what’s happening with them. I focus on us. You can say it is surprising for everyone that he left in between. He is a nice and kind guy. I respect him too much.”At around 6pm Dhaka time on Friday, the final turn of this incredible drama was revealed as Tamim withdrew his retirement after a meeting with the Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Manchester United legend Gary Neville dropped a brutal verdict on Ruben Amorim's squad ahead of their Europa League final against Tottenham.

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Article continues below

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• Neville criticised the Man Utd squad
• Spurs are superior to Man Utd
• Two Premier League clubs to lock horns in Europa League final

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  United are all set to compete in the biggest match of their 2024-25 campaign next week as they take on fellow Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur in the final of the Europa League in Bilbao. The Red Devils, who endured a nightmare journey domestically in the current season, will hope to pick up a win and secure a spot in the Champions League next season.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Ahead of the all-important final, club legend and pundit Neville took a dig at Amorim's players as he claimed that only one player from United's current roster would make it to Spurs' starting lineup. Like the Red Devils, the Lilywhites also had a disappointing campaign and are eyeing the Europa League title as their saving grace.

• WHAT GARY NEVILLE SAID

  Speaking on podcast, the 50-year-old said: "When you look at Tottenham's players like-for-like with United's, only Bruno Fernandes would get into Tottenham's first eleven. I would choose EVERY single Tottenham player over Man United’s in the final."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MANCHESTER UNITED?

  Before the mega final in Spain, United are scheduled to travel to London on Friday as they take on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League.

MatériaMais Notícias

Na semana em que três jogadores do Palmeiras foram convocados à Seleção Brasileira, sendo dois deles pela primeira vez, o técnico Abel Ferreira, do Verdão, avaliou que mais dois atletas do clube poderiam ter sido lembrados para vestir a Amarelinha. O treinador, no entanto, não disse quem seriam esses atletas.

– Acho que tinham mais dois que poderiam ir, mas essa não é minha função, mas isso não é minha função, mas trabalham para isso. Temos o sonho de não vê-los desistir, independentemente da idade que tenham, temos que continuar a trabalhar e continuar fazendo história para o nosso clube – destacou o comandante palmeirense durante entrevista coletiva após o empate sem gols do Palmeiras com o Guarani, em Campinas.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasPalmeirasVeiga lamenta gol perdido e vê empate com o Guarani injusto com o PalmeirasPalmeiras05/03/2023PalmeirasGuarani e Palmeiras ficam no empate, mas Verdão mantém invencibilidade e mando de campo no PaulistãoPalmeiras05/03/2023PalmeirasDar o seu melhor dentro de campo! Rony prepara lema no Palmeiras para a Seleção BrasileiraPalmeiras04/03/2023

+Raphael Veiga é destaque, mas não evita empate do Palmeiras com o Guarani

Abel Ferreira, por sua vez, exaltou a relação de Weverton, Raphael Veiga e Rony à Seleção. O goleiro costuma ser convocado com constância, inclusive esteve na Copa do Mundo do Qatar, no fim do ano passado, já o meia e o atacante são estreantes na missão de representar o Brasil.

Para o treinador português, o fato do trio ter sido lembrado para representar a Seleção Brasileira é um prêmio também para todos no Verdão.

+ Confira a tabela do Paulistão e veja quem são os classificados ás quartas de final

– Fruto de um trabalho feito por todos, inclusive pela comissão técnica. Não só a satisfação pelos jogadores, futuro do seu trabalho, pela satisfação. Prêmio para eles de forma individual, mas um prêmio também para a Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras e a sua estrutura. Não sei se é a primeira vez, ou não, mas convocar três jogadores para a Seleção Brasileira é um orgulho para todos que trabalham no CT e também para os torcedores. Estamos muito felizes com isso – destacou Abel.

Weverton, Veiga e Rony vão se juntar a delegação brasileira em duas semanas. No próximo dia 25 de março, o Brasil enfrenta o Marrocos, em amistoso que será disputado no país africano.

KKR are top of the table at this stage, but are yet to confirm a top-two finish, which will be their target in Ahmedabad

Ashish Pant12-May-2024

Match detailsGujarat Titans (8th; W5, L7) vs Kolkata Knight Riders (1st; W9, L3)Ahmedabad, 7.30pm IST (2pm GMT)Big picture – Rashid might be GT’s best hopeIt’s a quick turnaround for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), who on Saturday night confirmed a spot in the playoffs with a win over Mumbai Indians. Though they are table-toppers, they aren’t assured of a top-two finish yet. After finishing seventh in each of the last two seasons of the IPL, that will be KKR’s target when they go to Ahmedabad.The primary reason for KKR’s success this season is right at the top. Each of their top four wickets has added 300-plus runs at a scoring rate of over 10. It’s a first in the IPL. Openers Sunil Narine and Phil Salt have been key – they have had six 50-plus opening partnerships in 12 innings, averaging 46.58 and going at 12.46. Unfortunately for KKR, Salt will be leaving soon, so that will end soon.Related

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But it’s not just the top-order batters. KKR have four batters – Ramandeep Singh, Andre Russell, Salt and Narine – who have scored 100-plus runs at a strike rate of 180-plus in IPL 2024. The only other team to do this in any IPL season is Sunrisers Hyderabad, also in 2024.And what about the bowling? KKR have four – Varun Chakravarthy, Harshit Rana, Narine and Russell – who have taken 15 or more wickets at sub-21 averages – also a first in the IPL.How do GT counter the batters, though?Rashid Khan could be the answer.He has a decent record against most of the KKR batters. He has bowled 25 balls to Narine in all T20s and dislodged him twice. Salt hasn’t faced Rashid in the IPL, but played him once in the Hundred where he fell first ball. The Iyers have fared marginally better against Rashid – Shreyas has been dismissed twice in ten innings by Rashid but strikes at only 107.79 in the IPL against him, while Venkatesh has fallen to him only once in three innings. Russell has been dismissed by Rashid three times in 24 balls in the IPL and averages just 8.0 against him.But that’s where Rahmanullah Gurbaz could come in.With Salt set to miss the playoffs to prepare for the T20 World Cup for England, KKR could make the switch right away, slot in Gurbaz as the keeper-batter at the top, and give him a few games rather than shuttle him in directly for the playoffs. Gurbaz has a stellar record against Rashid, having hit him for 30 runs off 11 balls in the IPL without being dismissed.GT are currently eighth on the points table, and while they are not out of the playoffs race yet, it looks very tough.Titans might have identified their best opening pair with Shubman Gill and B Sai Sudharsan•Associated Press

Form guideGujarat Titans WLLLW
Kolkata Knight Riders WWWWLTeam news and Impact Player strategyGujarat Titans
GT have been very inconsistent with their selections. They have used 23 players so far in the tournament, the most for any team. But having won their last game comprehensively, they might feel they have struck the right balance. The B Sai Sudharsan-Shubman Gill opening stand worked wonders, and they might go with the same even if Wriddhiman Saha is fit. Depending on the surface, one of R Sai Kishore and Sandeep Warrier could come in as an impact sub for Sai Sudharsan.Likely XII: 1 Shubman Gill (capt), 2 , 3 M Shahrukh Khan, 4 David Miller, 5 Matthew Wade (wk), 6 Rahul Tewatia, 7 Rashid Khan, 8 Noor Ahmad, 9 Umesh Yadav, 10 Mohit Sharma, 11 Kartik Tyagi, 12 Kolkata Knight Riders
KKR had Vaibhav Arora swapping for Nitish Rana in their last game and could do the same. That aside, of course, Gurbaz could come in for Salt, unless they want to leave that for when they have to do it.Likely XII: 1 Phil Salt/Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), 2 Sunil Narine, 3 , 4 Shreyas Iyer (capt), 5 Venkatesh Iyer, 6 Andre Russell, 7 Rinku Singh, 8 Ramandeep Singh, 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Varun Chakravarthy, 11 Harshit Rana, 12 Varun Chakravarthy is a strong contender for the purple cap this season•BCCI

In the spotlight – B Sai Sudharsan and Varun ChakravarthyB Sai Sudharsan has been the shining star in GT’s otherwise inconsistent top order. The highest run-getter for GT with 527 runs in 12 innings, he will hope to continue his love affair with the Ahmedabad stadium, where he has scored three half-centuries and a century in 12 outings in the IPL and averages over 50.It’s been an IPL of two chunks for Varun Chakravarthy. In the first eight games, he had only eight wickets at an average of 35.25 and an economy rate of 9.72. In his next four, he’s picked up ten wickets at 8.50 and 5.66. His recent spree has taken him up to third on the wicket-takers’ list, just two behind Jasprit Bumrah and Harshal Patel, both on 20. With Mumbai Indians and Punjab Kings, Bumrah and Harshal’s teams respectively, knocked out, Varun has a shot at winning the purple cap.Stats that matter GT have the lowest run rate in the powerplay of all the teams: 7.72; KKR, meanwhile, have the second-highest: 11.04 GT have hit the least number of sixes in the tournament so far: 67; KKR have hit almost double that: 125 Gill has fallen to Narine twice in 13 balls in T20s, averaging just 6.5. But David Miller has fared better against Narine in T20s with 95 runs in 72 balls and just one dismissal Nitish Rana has an average of 95.0 against Rashid in the IPL, having struck him for 95 runs in 76 balls and been dismissed just oncePitch and conditionsThe team batting second has won four out of six games in Ahmedabad this season. The dew has made its presence felt more than once, and could be the reason behind captains wanting to chase. Having said that, GT won their last game batting first and piling on a huge score. The average first-innings score this season here is 175.Quote”Other teams are trying to get explosive opening partnerships. Our openers have a different style, but we have also been getting 200, or close to it. It’s not like they only played well that day. They’re trying their best – all batters want to score hundreds and bowlers want to take five wickets. Sometimes you try but it doesn’t happen. Since we qualified for the playoffs the last two seasons, the expectations are high. We’re trying our best.”

Liverpool legend Ian Rush took part in a moving tribute to Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva ahead of a pre-season friendly in Japan.

Liverpool in Yokohama for a friendlyPay moving tribute to Jota in stadiumReds go on to win game 3-1Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The Reds faced Yokohama F. Marinos on Wednesday in a friendly in Japan and paid a touching tribute to Jota before kick-off. The floodlights were turned down and fans lit up the stadium with their mobile phones instead. Rush then made his way onto a darkened pitch and laid of wreath of flowers on the pitch in a moving tribute to the late Liverpool forward and his brother.

AdvertisementJ.LEAGUEAPPLAUSE FOR JOTA

There were further tributes in the stadium for Jota. Fans came together to applaud the forward in the 20th minute in recognition of his shirt number. Supporters were also seen holding up Jota shirts and banners in memory of the Portugal star.

LIVERPOOL WIN FRIENDLY

Liverpool went on to win the friendly match 3-1 thanks to three second-half goals from Florian Wirtz, Trey Nyoni and Rio Ngumoha. The match is Liverpool's final Asia tour game and the Reds will now head home in time for another friendly at Anfield against Athletic Club.

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR LIVERPOOL?

Liverpool have announced more tributes to Jota will follow. A memorial sculpture is planned outside Anfield, while the team will wear a ‘Forever 20’ emblem on their shirts for the 2025-26 season. Arne Slot's side begin their Premier League campaign against Bournemouth.

يخوض منتخب مصر تحت 19 عامًا، مباراة قوية اليوم الإثنين أمام التشيك، في المواجهة التي تجمع بينهما ضمن منافسات بطولة كأس العالم لكرة اليد للناشئين.

وتقام مباراة منتخب مصر أمام التشيك على صالة استاد القاهرة الدولي، ضمن منافسات الدور الرئيسي للبطولة العالمية.

وتواجد منتخب مصر في المجموعة السابعة من بطولة كأس العالم لكرة اليد تحت 19 عامًا، والتي ضمت في دورها الأول كوريا الجنوبية والبحرين واليابان، قبل الانتقال لمنافسات الدور الرئيسي.

وكان منتخب مصر قد تأهل إلى الدور الرئيسي بعدما حقق الفوز في مبارياته الثلاث السابقة على كوريا الجنوبية والبحرين واليابان بنتائج 46-27 و36-28 و39-28 على الترتيب.

وتستضيف مصر البطولة خلال الفترة من 6 إلى 17 أغسطس الجاري، على صالات استاد القاهرة والعاصمة الإدارية الجديدة، وحسن مصطفى بمدينة 6 أكتوبر. موعد مباراة مصر والتشيك في كأس العالم لكرة اليد تحت 19 عامًا

تقام مباراة مصر والتشيك اليوم الإثنين، الساعة السابعة والنصف مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية. القناة الناقلة لمباراة مصر والتشيك في كأس العالم لكرة اليد تحت 19 عامًا

ومن المقرر أن تنقل المباراة بين المنتخبين على قناة أون تايم سبورت 1، الناقل الرسمي للبطولة. معلق مباراة مصر والتشيك في كأس العالم لكرة اليد تحت 19 عامًا

ويتولى المعلق الرياضي خالد خيري، مهمة التعليق على أحداث المباراة.

ويُمكنكم متابعة أحداث مباريات اليوم لحظة بلحظة من مركز المباريات من هنـــا