تحدث محمد يوسف، المدير الرياضي، للنادي الأهلي، عن التطورات الجديدة في ملف المدير الفني الجديد لقيادة القلعة الحمراء في الفترة القادمة.
ويواصل مجلس إدارة النادي الأهلي، برئاسة محمود الخطيب، البحث عن مدير فني جديد لقيادة الفريق، خلفًا للإسباني خوسيه ريبيرو بعد رحيله لسوء النتائج.
ويقود فريق النادي الأهلي، حاليًا، جهاز فني مؤقت بقيادة عماد النحاس مديرًا فنيًا، ومعه عادل مصطفى ومحمد نجيب مساعدين، وأمير عبد الحميد مدربًا للحراس.
وقال يوسف خلال تصريحات عبر قناة “إم بي سي مصر” لبرنامج “اللعيب”: “ملف المدير الفني، لا بد أن يأخذ وقته بالكامل، لأننا نريد مديرا فنيا بمعايير النادي الأهلي”.
وأضاف: “كان لدينا أكثر من مدرب كبير قبل كأس العالم للأندية، لكن مع الاستقرار على خوسيه ريبيرو، هؤلاء المدربين تعاقدوا مع أندية أخرى”.
طالع | محمد يوسف يوضح موقف الأهلي من تعاقد إمام عاشور مع آدم وطني
وتابع: “نبحث عن مدير فني له معايير خاصة بالنادي الأهلي، مثل الشخصية القوية والمرونة التكتكية وقدرته على التعامل مع لاعبين دوليين وأيضًا لدينا اهتمام بسنه والجانب المادي، لذلك التفكير يكون دقيق لدينا، لا أملك الآن إعلان وقت تواجد المدير الفني الجديد”.
وأتم: “لدينا دراسة الآن لأكثر من مدرب، ونحن نأخذ رأي جماعي في الأهلي، ندير الموضوع بشكل مؤسسي، لا بد من الصبر لاختيار مدرب يستطيع تحقيق طموحات وأهداف الأهلي”.
Manchester United have wasted no time in the transfer market to aid Ruben Amorim in being a success at Old Trafford, already making a move to sign one player.
Matheus Cunha has been a player constantly linked with a switch to join the Red Devils over recent months, with a deal seemingly edging ever closer ahead of the final game of the Premier League campaign.
It’s been widely reported that the club have been in advanced talks with Wolves over a deal for the Brazilian international ahead of the summer despite the failure to win the Europa League.
Wolverhampton Wanderers' MatheusCunhacelebrates after Rodrigo Gomes scores
The 25-year-old has a £62.5m release clause within his current contract, but that doesn’t appear to be an issue after agreeing a deal to pay such a figure out in multiple instalments.
However, despite the movement with a deal for Cunha, it appears as though one deal could be completed before him, with another deal edging closer to completion.
The latest on United’s hunt for new additions this summer
After such a dismal year in the Premier League throughout 2024/25, new additions are to be expected at United to try and right the wrongs of the current campaign.
The likes of Ronald Araujo, Ederson and Viktor Gyokeres have all been strongly linked already ahead of the off-season, as the hierarchy look to bolster various areas of the pitch.
However, despite the interest in the aforementioned players, Palmeiras star Richard Rios could be the first summer signing, according to one Spanish outlet.
Their report claims that he’s seen as a key part of the revival at Old Trafford, and could be available for a fee in the region of just £20m – an absolute bargain.
It also claims that, despite the move for Cunha, the 24-year-old could be set to be the first addition to the new project led by Amorim to lead the club back to their former glory.
Why Rios would be an upgrade on Ugarte
Midfielder Manuel Ugarte was seen as a huge signing last summer after joining in a £50m deal from PSG, looking to be a key part of the rebuild conducted by former boss Erik ten Hag.
The Uruguayan has started 22 league games to date, often having a stop-start period in the North West and being unable to string up a real run of games over the last few months.
He was benched for the Europa League final defeat against Spurs on Wednesday night, not even being brought on by Amorim – potentially highlighting his form of late in the first-team.
It remains to be seen if he will be part of the manager’s long-term plans at the club, but a deal for Rios could further limit his game time and offer Amorim a quality option in the middle of the park.
The Colombian, who’s been labelled a “machine” by analyst Ben Mattinson, has managed to match or better him in numerous key areas this campaign – highlighting why his £20m fee would be a bargain.
Rios has registered more goals and assists throughout 2024/25, handing the side an added attacking option from a deep-lying role, something which is needed given their lack of threat this season.
He’s also managed to complete more of the passes he’s attempted, registering more key passes per 90 – handing the players ahead of him the chance to bolster their own tallies.
Games played
27
29
Goals & assists
6
3
Progressive carries
1.1
0.8
Progressive passes
2.5
3
Pass accuracy
91%
89%
Key passes
1.1
0.5
Blocks made
2.2
1.6
Interceptions made
1.4
1.3
The 24-year-old’s talent out of possession is just as impressive, making more blocks and interceptions per 90, offering the added defensive presence they need, given their lowly league standing.
£20m in today’s market is a bargain price, especially for a player of Rios’ quality, with his skillset certainly bolstering the options currently at Amorim’s disposal.
As seen by the stats produced in recent times, he’s managed to better Ugarte in such a role, possibly being a key player in their ambitions of pushing back up the league table in 2025/26.
He's like Pogba: Man Utd begin talks to sign "world-class" £50m talent
Manchester United could be about to make a move for a star who may follow in Paul Pogba’s footsteps.
da luck： A venda de ingressos para o clássico entre Botafogo e Vasco já está disponível para o público geral. O clássico acontece no próximo domingo (02/07), às 16h, no Nilton Santos, pela 13ª rodada do Brasileirão.
RelacionadasBotafogoLuís Castro se inclina ao mundo árabe, e Textor tenta ‘segurar’ português no BotafogoBotafogo26/06/2023Fora de CampoComentarista da Globo rasga elogios ao Botafogo: ‘É campanha de campeão’Fora de Campo26/06/2023BotafogoLuís Castro celebra vitória do Botafogo nas redes e recebe apelo de torcedores: ‘Fica, mister’Botafogo26/06/2023
da fazobetai： As duas equipes vivem situações opostas na temporada. O Glorioso é o líder do campeonato e busca uma vitória dentro de casa para se distanciar na primeira colocação. O Cruz-Maltino, por outro lado, está na penúltima posição e tenta um triunfo para sair da zona de rebaixamento.
+ Barbieri perto de sair do Vasco! Veja técnicos brasileiros que estão sem clube
+ Textor confirma proposta saudita por Castro e comenta futuro do técnico no Botafogo: ‘Decisão difícil’
SETORES EM FUNCIONAMENTO:
Leste Inferior, Leste Superior e Oeste Inferior (Botafogo) / Vasco da Gama (Sul)
(Os setores Oeste Superior A e Oeste Superior B estão,INICIALMENTE, bloqueados e estarão disponíveis de acordo com a demanda)
VALORES DOS INGRESSOS
Setor Leste Inferior
Inteira: R$150 / Meia: R$75
CAMISA 7
Plano Glorioso – Grátis – Check-in Plano Alvinegro – Grátis – Check-in Plano Preto – R$20 Plano Branco – R$30
Setor Leste Superior
Inteira: R$60 / Meia: R$30
CAMISA 7
Plano Glorioso – Grátis – Check-in Plano Alvinegro – Grátis – Check-in Plano Preto – R$20 Plano Branco – R$30
Setor Oeste Inferior
Inteira: R$200 / Meia: R$100
CAMISA 7
Plano Glorioso – Grátis – Check-in Plano Alvinegro – Grátis – Check-in Plano Preto – R$20 Plano Branco – R$30
Tribuna de Honra (EXCLUSIVO PARA A TORCIDA DO BOTAFOGO)
Inteira: R$500 / Meia: R$300
CAMISA 7
Plano Glorioso – R$ 180 (Direito a comprar mais dois ingressos por R$ 180) Plano Alvinegro – R$ 220 Plano Preto – R$260 Plano Branco – R$300 Benefícios: Lugar exclusivo, vista privilegiada para o campo e serviço de buffet incluso com direito a bebidas alcoólicas. IMPORTANTE: A Tribuna de Honra NÃO possui gratuidade. Crianças em qualquer idade pagam o valor de meia-entrada
Al-Nassr are reportedly shifting their focus to Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli as they continue their hunt for a marquee left winger. After failing to persuade Liverpool to sell Luis Diaz, the Saudi Pro League side have identified the Brazilian international as a prime alternative to bolster their squad this summer.
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Duran to join Fenerbahce on loan
Al-Nassr view Martinelli as his replacement
Ready to pay €85m (£73m) for the forward
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WHAT HAPPENED?
This summer’s transfer dealings have kicked off early in Saudi Arabia, with the league’s window officially opening 17 days ahead of schedule on Thursday. And according to ’s podcast, Al-Nassr are preparing a serious bid to lure Martinelli to the Middle East as Duran is set for life in the Turkish Super Lig with Fenerbahce.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
Al-Nassr had initially set their sights on Liverpool's Diaz as their preferred target, but the Merseyside club remains adamant that the Colombian is not available at any price. With that door firmly closed, attention has now turned to Martinelli, who could prove to be both an exciting and attainable alternative. Al-Nassr are reportedly willing to test the Gunners’ resolve with a substantial offer of approximately €85 million (£73m/$99.5m).
TELL ME MORE
While Arsenal have no immediate intention of letting Martinelli leave, there is a growing belief that a lucrative offer from Al-Nassr could open the door for negotiations. Arsenal have been linked with Real Madrid’s Rodrygo and Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon as possible replacements. The capital raised from selling Martinelli could be crucial in financing a deal for either winger.
DID YOU KNOW?
Al-Nassr are also considering a move for West Ham United’s Mohammed Kudus and Bayer Leverkusen’s Victor Boniface. Boniface was reportedly close to signing before Al-Nassr opted to bring in Duran instead, and now the Nigerian could be back on the radar. Meanwhile, Kudus remains a more complicated pursuit, as Saudi clubs are subject to a £120m ($164m) release clause in his contract.
Andrew Fidel Fernando02-Jul-2020The Briefing Our bodies are ready It’s almost here. Cricket. Not that YouTube nostalgia stuff. Actual live cricket.In the past, perhaps we’ve all occasionally turned our nose up at cricket that is not of the highest quality. No longer. Kids imitating their favourite bowlers or batsmen? Yes, please. Matches where bowlers start with several wides? They’re allowed a few lockdown looseners, it’s fine. Batsmen playing and missing straight ones, fielders dropping sitters, wicketkeepers fluffing stumping chances, commentators butchering Asian names, players giving away six overthrows at a World Cup final – look, just come back. There’s really no amount of incompetence we are not willing to forgive right now.The turnaround manMohammad Hafeez. What a fellow. Capable of almost incandescent innings at times, and yet, perpetually on the verge of being left out of the team. Batting form is not the only inconsistent thing in his life. Remember those biomechanics tests? He’d get reported for chucking. Go for a bowling test. Fail that test. Then a few months later, he’d retake the test. He’d pass. He’d bowl again. Get reported. Fail.This month, as Pakistan prepared to leave for their tour in England, Hafeez was found to be positive for the virus. But then he got himself tested privately, and apparently returned a negative test. Later, an official test found him to be negative as well. In the midst of global crises, Hafeez’ commitment to taking a bit of the old world into the new is almost comforting.Won’t somebody come to play? Despite being among the nations hardest hit by the pandemic, England is preparing to host the first cricket international in months. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, has one of the best Covid-19 records so far, with only 11 confirmed deaths from the disease, and no one wants to come and play. SLC has been desperately trying to coax teams over, asking Bangladesh and India to keep their mid-year commitments, securing hosting rights for the Asia Cup this year, and also suggesting the IPL should be played on the island. So far, none of these tours has materialised. As if to underline just how keen it is to have cricket on, SLC has even threatened to start a T20 franchise tournament – the type they have announced on at least four different occasions and failed to get off the ground. Help them out, somebody. SLC administrators aren’t used to going this long without having their jowls being beamed into living rooms around the world, as they sit around smiling in the president’s box. They’re not used to having to work this hard. Send a team before these people hurt themselves.The new normal Like rats during the bubonic plague, or badly neglected public toilets, a cricket ball could be a vector of disease. Which is why the ICC’s cricket committee warned against the use of saliva. Don’t lick your finger and then use it on the ball. Don’t kiss the ball (looking at you, Lasith Malinga). Definitely don’t bite it (#getwellsoonShahidAfridi). Just use sweat, which somehow, apparently, is less gross.Pricking the bubble Some coaches have the trust and support of their boards. Others have to constantly watch their backs. Over the last few weeks, West Indies coach Phil Simmons faced more calls for his swift sacking, apparently because he broke the team’s biosecure bubble. His crime? Coughing over the team cutlery? Opening up a kissing booth in an elderly care home? Nope. Just attending the funeral of his father-in-law. Which it seems he had been allowed to do anyway. And after which he put himself in quarantine, isolated from the team.Next month on the Briefing:- Mohammad Hafeez gets reported for his action.- Mohammad Hafeez has his action cleared.
Duo notch up Hampshire’s highest second-wicket stand against Surrey
ECB Reporters Network25-May-2024Toby Albert grabbed his chance to score a maiden Vitality County Championship century and Nick Gubbins plundered his first as a father as Hampshire took complete control over Surrey.Homegrown batter Albert took advantage of Ali Orr’s back problems to grind out a ton on his sixth first-class appearance as he and Gubbins knocked up Hampshire’s highest second-wicket stand against Surrey.After the 201-run partnership had ended, Gubbins raised his bat on his second century of the campaign in his first innings since daughter Ottilie was born two weeks ago.James Vince, Ben Brown and Liam Dawson also grabbed half-centuries as Hampshire piled on 495 for 4 to boast a huge 368-run lead over the champions.Albert had ended last season opening the batting with Fletcha Middleton, but his unsteady performances saw him lose his place when Orr was signed from Sussex in the winter.A couple of multi-day fifties had kept the pressure on Orr and Middleton, but the incumbents’ centuries meant there was no place for Albert.He had begun last week pumping the Royal Air Force for an outrageous 86 off 31 balls before taking apart Sussex’s Second XI with 51 off 33 balls, as he prepared for the Vitality Blast.But back spasms for Orr meant he was given a fresh chance in the Championship side, and gave head coach Adi Birrell a massive future selection headache.Albert, the son of two Olympic equestrians, had ground out 34 in 139 balls on the first evening to make sure Hampshire didn’t follow Surrey’s 127 collapse – during which he and Middleton scored Hampshire’s first fifty opening stand of the season. He and Gubbins trotted through into a lead within half an hour on a more proactive second morning, with their fifties coming in 173 and 109 deliveries.Albert was completely chanceless in his century, which came in 280 deliveries, despite a strong Surrey attack bowling accurately, but ineffectually. He top-edged to fine-leg on 114 to end his impressive innings and a record alliance against Surrey – beating the 180 Roy Marshall and Henry Horton put on at the Oval in 1961.Gubbins had started his season in good form, with 50, 69 not out, 119 and 45 the shining lights in his six innings. But he had missed the second innings versus Durham and the victory over Nottinghamshire when on paternity leave.Ottilie got her first taste of Utilita Bowl on the first evening, as she posed with a padded-up Gubbins at the end of the day – which was posted on his Instagram Story with the caption “introducing Ottie to the bowl.”Her late-night feeds haven’t impacted Gubbins’ batting, with the left-hander as assured as ever for his 18th first-class century.Once that milestone was hit the target for Hampshire was bonus points, which Vince’s aggressive approach was perfect for. He secured a second batting point with 40 in 37 balls, before heading to fifty in 49, as Hampshire cantered.Ben Foakes remained off the field due to back spasms throughout the day, with Jamie Smith taking the gloves. And he ended Vince’s onslaught on 52 when the home skipper was strangled down the leg side by Dan Worrall, with Gubbins previously well caught at gully off the Australian-born quick.Brown and Dawson reached their half-centuries at a gallop during an unbroken 157-run partnership – with the former unbeaten on 99 overnight.
Liverpool have confirmed they will retire the No. 20 shirt across all the club's teams following the Portuguese's passing earlier this month.
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Liverpool retire No. 20 shirtJota passed away in car crashDecision made with his familyFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Liverpool have decided to retire the No. 20 across all of their teams following the passing of Portuguese forward Jota. The former Wolves winger passed away after a car crash alongside his brother Andre Silva in Spain earlier this month and wore the 20 shirt upon his arrival at Anfield in 2020.
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The Reds made the decision after consulting his wife, Rute, and the rest of his family. FSG CEO of football Michael Edwards said: "By retiring this squad number, we are making it eternal – and therefore never to be forgotten."
WHAT LIVERPOOL SAID
A statement from Liverpool reads: "It was the number he wore with pride and distinction, leading us to countless victories in the process – and Diogo Jota will forever be Liverpool Football Club’s number 20.
"After consultation with his wife, Rute, and family, the club can announce the squad number will be retired in honour and memory of Diogo across all levels, including LFC Women and Academy.
"The move is recognition of not only the immeasurable contribution our lad from Portugal made to the Reds’ on-pitch successes over the last five years, but also the profound personal impact he had on his teammates, colleagues and supporters and the everlasting connections he built with them."
WHAT NEXT?
Jota's family and Liverpool players were seen paying their respects on Friday as condolences continue to pour in. The club has confirmed their pre-season friendly with Preston will go ahead with tributes planned.
The fast bowler hopes some technical changes can put him on track to revive his Australia career
AAP15-Aug-2024Jhye Richardson has returned to the run up that earned him three Tests for Australia, with the hope that his horror run of hamstring woes are behind him.Richardson has made a successful return to competitive cricket this week, playing as part of a Perth Scorchers side in the Top End T20 series in Darwin.Related
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Held back by injuries since his Test debut in 2019, Richardson has suffered four separate hamstring setbacks since his most recent limited-overs international in June 2022.He was initially named to return to Australia’s white-ball squad last summer, before being ruled out when he suffered his latest hamstring injury in the BBL.In the months since, Richardson has been able to get a solid block of net bowling in while only playing one game in the IPL, before pre-season stints in Perth and Brisbane.”I’m trying to avoid problem areas and build that resilience that I haven’t had in the past couple of years,” Richardson told AAP. “I’ve played two games [in Darwin], the body has been good. It’s obviously a different intensity playing competitive cricket again.”Richardson had tinkered with his run up before his most recent hamstring injury, only reaching top speed closer to the crease in a bid to make it more efficient. But he has since returned to his more traditional style, which sees him sprinting in at speeds of close to 22.5kph from earlier in his run up.Jhye Richardson’s injury issues have limited him to three Tests•Getty Images
“We wanted to explore what that looked like, with the goal of getting back to red-ball cricket,” Richardson said. “But I am back to my old run up now, understanding that what I had done previously for 10 years had probably somewhat worked.”I probably just felt a bit rushed. I didn’t feel as balanced. Everyone speaks about rhythm and feeling balanced and strong at the crease. And the ultimate goal is to perform, right? I have put a lot of work into my hamstring, so everyone is comfortable with the fact I can go back to what has worked previously.”Richardson’s fitness comes as a big few years loom for the 27-year-old. Selectors have kept the faith in the West Australian, retaining him on the national contract list despite the long run of injuries.Change is also coming in the Test team, with all three frontline quicks over the age of 30 and back-up paceman Scott Boland 35. Richardson appears the most credentialed man to one day lead the attack, with 11 wickets at 22.09 in his three Tests to date.”I think [it is important to be fit then], but we are looking pretty far into the future there,” he said. “Taking it one step at a time, getting the body right and making sure everything is right on my end, and not worrying about what is happening externally.”We obviously know there will be a transition point at some stage. When that happens, I am not too sure. But ultimately being fit at any time is my goal. Regardless of when the transition happens. And to be able to play Test cricket regardless of who is in the team.”
South Africa survived an almighty scare to to maintain a 100% win-record at the T20 World Cup 2024, and in New York, where they chose to bat first in their final fixture at Eisenhower Park. On a used wicket, Aiden Markram decided to put a total on the board, and it almost looked like a mistake. South Africa were 23 for 4, but a record 79-run fifth-wicket stand between Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller took them to 113, which they scrapped hard to defend.Bangladesh’s start was not ideal. They were 50 for 4 after ten overs, but Towhid Hridoy and Mahmudullah put on 44 for the fifth wicket and got them back on track. They almost also got them over the line and will look back on one incident which could have forced a Super Over. In the 17th over, Mahmudullah missed a flick off Ottneil Baartman, which hit his front pad and deflected to the boundary for what looked like four leg byes. But he was given out off that ball, which made it dead at the point of impact, and reviewed the decision. Ball-tracking showed Mahmudullah was not out, but because he had been given out, the four runs did not count, as outlined by the ICC’s protocols on DRS (3.7.1) in the playing conditions for T20Is.In the end. Bangladesh fell short by four runs. That, and their inability to capitalise on Keshav Maharaj bowling the final over for the first time in T20Is and sending down three full tosses, cost them the game.Maharaj was tasked with the final over after Markram bowled the seamers out earlier. It seemed a miscalculation, but he got two wickets as Bangladesh sought to clear the boundary though neither Jaker Ali nor Mahmudullah could. Mahmudullah was out on the penultimate ball – off a full toss – to a well-timed running catch by Markram from long-on, which all but ended Bangladesh’s hopes.0:59
Morkel: South Africa held their nerve defending a low total
South Africa leave the USA with three wins from three matches, and will move to St. Vincent to play Nepal in their last group match. They are in pole position to qualify for the Super 8s. Bangladesh also head to the West Indies, and will play Netherlands and Nepal, with the Super 8s still in sight.
Top-three troubles
For all the talk about the power of their batting line-up, South Africa’s top three have underperformed thus far, albeit on tough batting surfaces. Collectively, Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks and Markram have scored 61 runs in nine trips to the crease at an average of 6.77. Of teams that have played at least two matches at the tournament, only Uganda and PNG average lower.The biggest concern will be Hendricks, whose scores of 4, 3 and 0 are the lowest of the trio, and whose methods of dismissal appear to show a technical deficiency. Twice in two games, Hendricks has been stuck in his crease and then played down the wrong line. He’ll be looking over his shoulder knowing fellow opener Ryan Rickelton is waiting on the bench, and could get an opportunity in the next match.Things got even worse when Tristan Stubbs was dismissed for a duck in the fifth over. South Africa have only lost their first four wickets by end of the fifth over on five occasions in men’s T20Is, and two of them came in this competition. Happily for them, they had Klaasen and Miller on hand to shore up the mid-section of the innings.
Three overs: 13 runs
After Tanzim Hasan (3 for 18) set the tone with wickets upfront, Taskin Ahmed took charge of the latter stages, helped by Rishad Hossain and Mustafizur Rahman. Between them, the trio gave away just 13 runs in the last three overs of South Africa’s innings, and removed both danger batters Klaasen and Miller in a clutch display of death bowling. Klaasen was dismissed halfway through the 18th over, when he slogged across the line but was early on his shot, and the low bounce took the ball onto leg stump. Taskin only conceded three singles off the rest of that over to finish with 2 for 19 from his four overs.It may have been a gamble to use legspinner Rishad for the penultimate over, especially when his previous three cost 28 runs, but he knocked Miller out with a topspinner second ball, and Maharaj could not get him away. Rishad’s final over cost just four. Then came the Fizz, who took the ball away from Maharaj for four consecutive dots before a fifth went wide and was called as such. The batters scored three runs off the last two balls and were frustrated by their inability to score any boundaries in the last three overs.1:24
Morkel: Miller and Klaasen showed maturity against spinners
Happy Birthday David Miller
On his 35th birthday, Miller was given a gift when he edged the first ball Mahmudullah bowled. But Litton Das, who was standing up to the stumps, was unable to react quickly enough to take the catch. Miller was on 13 at the time and went on to more than double his score and finish on 29. But that wasn’t the end of the presents for him. He was stationed at extra cover when Maharaj was brought on to bowl the first over after the powerplay, and Litton, not content with what he had already given Miller, slapped the ball straight to him. Miller made no mistake, and Bangladesh were 29 for 2 in the seventh over.
Three overs: 15 runs
Bangladesh had to get 20 runs off the last 18 balls, and after putting on the squeeze in that period would have expected it to be difficult but perhaps not difficult. Kagiso Rabada bowled the 18th over, despite not being his best at the tournament so far. He only half-appealed when Hridoy missed an attempted clip to the leg side but was rewarded with a wicket first up. Rabada went on to concede only one more run in an over of hard lengths.Then Baartman stepped up for the 19th, and stuck to a slightly fuller length which neither Mahmudullah nor Jaker could get away. He conceded seven runs. The test was when Maharaj, who has never done this job before, was left with the final six balls. He started with a wide. His second legal ball was a low full toss that Mahmudullah hit hard down the ground, but the slow outfield stopped it from getting to the rope. Jaker tried to send the next one over the rope but couldn’t clear long-on, and then Rishad managed a leg bye.But the last two balls were both full tosses that should have been dispatched over the rope. However, Mahmdullah’s effort found Markram, while Taskin could only hit the final ball to cover to give South Africa a nervy anti-choke win.
Trent Rockets slip to third straight defeat after under-powered batting effort
ECB Media03-Aug-2024Welsh Fire made it three wins from four in the Hundred as they beat Trent Rockets – who have now lost three in a row – in a controlled chase with two balls to spare.Rockets skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt won the toss and opted to bat but lost both openers to their first ball: Bryony Smith played on against the impressive Freya Davies, and Grace Scrivens also chopped on facing Beth Langston.The Rockets’ powerful and dependable middle order of Sciver-Brunt and Ash Gardner went some way to repairing the damage after Natalie Wrath had hit a 24-ball 28. They were 33 for 2 after the 25-ball Powerplay, and 60 for 3 at the halfway mark.But when Sciver-Brunt overbalanced against Jess Jonassen and was stumped for a predictably excellent 37 from 26, Welsh Fire were right on top. Gardner and Heather Graham were able to press the accelerator to an extent, but a total of 130 seemed under par, with all of the Fire bowlers proving tricky to get away, Davies excellent up top and Aussie Jonassen picking up two wickets with her ever-accurate left-arm spin.Fire also lost two early wickets, Sophia Dunkley brilliantly caught by Kirstie Gordon and Tammy Beaumont lbw to England colleague Sciver-Brunt to provoke a few jitters on the bench.But West Indian superstar Hayley Matthews and Scottish keeper Sarah Bryce rebuilt, taking the score up to 49 from 33 balls before Sciver-Brunt repeated her lbw trick to get rid of the dangerous Matthews.From there Jonassen and Bryce kept the required run-rate in check in, putting on 38, and Georgia Elwiss took over once Jonassen was out, adding a further 44 with the impressive Bryce, who ended up with an unbeaten 51 from 39 balls.”We knew if we just built partnerships together, there were runs out there, with big pockets where you could run hard, and I think we did that really well,” Bryce said. “Jess is a great runner. They say winning is a habit and we have had some tight games when different people have stood up at different times and I think as a team that is really exciting.”