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Jason Holder praised Shai Hope for batting with great degree of control on the fourth day to open up the possibility of a West Indies win, which the bowlers sealed on Thursday

Danyal Rasool04-May-20171:45

‘The series is wide open’ – Holder

It was a match where momentum swung sharply one way and then the other, but still left one feeling that West Indies were up against it. Ever since Pakistan had dominated the opening two sessions of the first day, reducing their opponents to 154 for 6, they kept snuffing out any West Indian resurgence. All those efforts came undone on a famous morning in Bridgetown, with the West Indies needing under 35 overs to blow Pakistan away for 81 and seal an astonishing 106-run series-levelling victory.The seeds of the win were sown during the course of the fourth afternoon when Shai Hope, who averaged little over 15 in eight Tests prior to this, negated the Yasir Shah threat to make a gritty 90 that stretched the lead to 187.”It was a collective team effort,” Jason Holder, the West Indies captain, said. “We got runs in the first innings which I felt was crucial, and we were able to back it up with a solid second-innings performance on that kind of pitch. I think credit must go to Shai Hope, and obviously our bowling department was outstanding the entire game.”We felt if we could give them anything in excess of 170, we were in with a really good chance on a day-five pitch. It was all about being patient, we needed to hit our lengths, and use our cutters, cross-seam deliveries, anything that would give us assistance off the wicket. We dropped one or two chances, an area we need to improve on, but it was still a strong collective team effort.”Holder’s one regret was Hope missing a maiden Test century. “His innings was outstanding. He likes batting here; I think he has two double-centuries at this ground. And it’s good he came here, playing his second Test match here, and went on to score a half-century. Unfortunately, he didn’t go on to score a hundred, I felt he deserved it, but that’s the way cricket goes. But I felt his innings was really crucial. He was patient and selective. He played on merit and was able to get a good score for us.”Misbah, for his part, refused to play up the troubles of chasing on a crumbling surface. “You can easily say that it’s about batting on a day-five pitch. But after getting them 150-odd for 6 in the first innings and letting them score 300-plus, we let it slip. Then, we were in control batting at 316 for 4, but could only manage a lead of 81. I think that made a huge difference, and we all knew even on the first day that it’s [the pitch] going to get worse.”So if we had managed a bigger lead in the first innings that could have made a difference. On the last day, all credit to the West Indian bowlers, they hit their lines, they bowled their heart out, and we really had no answers.”

Warriors captain JJ Smuts’ all-round show – a 56-ball 33 and returns of 4 for 4 – headlined his side’s emphatic 64-run win over Knights in a low-scoring contest in Kimberley. The bonus-point victory was the first for Warriors after three games in this season of the Momentum One Day Cup.Chasing 186, Knights lost their openers, Grant Mokoena and Rudi Second, in the space of three balls across the 10th and 11th overs with 34 runs on the board. Pite van Biljon, the Knights captain, took the lead in a 47-run partnership for the third wicket with Leus du Plooy, who made 5. Once that partnership was broken, with du Plooy’s wicket, Knights capitulated, losing eight wickets for 40 runs, and were bowled out for 121 in the 36th over.Van Biljon top-scored with a 60-ball 43 that included six fours and one six before his dismissal off Smuts in the 27th over gave Warriors a clear edge. Smuts’ left-arm spin also accounted for the Knights tail, as he cleaned up Marchant de Lange and Mbulelo Budaza in the space of three balls in the 34th over, and ended Dillon du Preez’s knock to finish with career-best returns of 4 for 4 in 5.3 overs. This was also his first List A four-for.All of Warriors’ top-six batsmen got starts after the side opted to bat, but no batsman went on to score more than 35. Smuts was the top scorer with 33 off 56 balls but Warriors kept losing wickets in clumps after promising partnerships. An eighth-wicket partnership of 38 between Sisanda Magala and Andrew Birch guided their side to 185, before they were bowled out in 47.5 overs. Seamers Shadley van Schalkwyk and du Preez took three wickets apiece.

Shakib Al Hasan isn’t thinking about the impending spin battle with R Ashwin. What he is focused on instead is how best he can contribute to Bangladesh’s cause. The visitors have reiterated that their prime focus on this short tour is to do well as a team, with the batsmen and bowlers pitching in together.Shakib has a role to play in both aspects: a spell from him can change the course of a game while a typically rapid innings can help set up big scores for Bangladesh. Both happened in New Zealand but neither performance translated to a better result for the team, as they lost both Tests.”It is a challenge for everyone,” Shakib said. “Say, you score 250 runs and your bowlers do well, then 250 runs is lot of runs. But then you score 500 runs, but your bowlers give away that many runs. So the team can perform well only when everyone contributes. The team cannot win depending on one particular department. In New Zealand it so happened that one day we batted well and the other day we bowled well – but there was no joint contribution.”He stressed on the collective responsibility of individuals to ensure the team performed as a single unit. “Everyone has a contribution in it, even those who were new. The responsibility is everyone’s,” he said, emphasising on the last word.Shakib is the focal point of Bangladesh’s bowling attack, like R Ashwin is for India. While Shakib’s approach is different from the India offspinner, leading an attack is one of the few similarities they share.Shakib’s role as an allrounder has earned him much success but he was quick to brush aside any comparisons with Ashwin, given his predominant focus on batting and Bangladesh’s generally low volume of Test cricket in the last six years. Shakib was all praise for Ashwin’s rise as a spinner in the last three years, highlighting his control.”There is no competition,” Shakib said in Hyderabad, where the Test will be played from February 9. “I do not think of it that way nor does he. In fact I think no one thinks of it that way. He is doing well from his place and I am trying to do well at my end. The better I do the more help the team gets. The importance of a player differs from team to team. I will be happy if I get to contribute for my team in the role I am in.”He [Ashwin] has been bowling really well for India for the last 2-3 years. The control makes him different. He does whatever he wants to do with the ball. If you can do that, you don’t need to do anything else as a bowler. His control and the confidence makes him the No 1 bowler at the moment.”If Bangladesh are to make an impact in the Test in India, Shakib Al Hasan will need the support of other spinners like Mehedi Hasan Miraz•Getty Images

Despite his different role in the Bangladesh side, there is little doubt over Shakib’s importance as a bowler in all seasons and formats. Against England at home last October, he was instrumental in setting up the opposition and relentlessly hammering on a single line and length. Even in Christchurch last month, where New Zealand’s left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner didn’t bowl an over, Shakib’s three-wicket burst gave Bangladesh a lifeline on the second day.He has, over the years, shown he can bowl long spells and his high-impact bursts have given Bangladesh’s bowling a much-needed edge. Mehedi Hasan Miraz and Taijul Islam are good additions to the bowling attack, and both may need to bowl spells that allow Bangladesh to control proceedings and not let India’s in-form batsmen take the game away from them.Shakib conceded that the biggest challenge was to contain the India batsmen. “You also need to think that they play spin well,” he said. “I think they are the best in playing against spin, so it will be a big challenge for us. If we can do well here it will boost our confidence for the Sri Lanka series.”Bangladesh’s bowling unit will revolve around Shakib at one end with Mehedi, Taijul and the pace attack trying to bring consistency into their game. As Shakib said, the buck shouldn’t necessarily always stop with him, and the responsibilities must be shared by the team.

Sri Lanka disintegrated to 110 all out on the second day in Cape Town as Kagiso Rabada and Vernon Philander collected eight wickets between them

The Report by David Hopps03-Jan-2017
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details0:52

Fernando: SL troubles at No. 3 continue

The Cape Town monster was more in Sri Lanka’s own mind than the startling nature of the Newlands pitch, but the monster reared its head nevertheless on the second day of the second Test and engulfed them in a trice. South Africa had been candid about their wish for a pitch offering pace and seam, and it was delivered to order effectively enough, but Sri Lanka’s disintegration to 110 all out represented a huge overstatement of the difficulties they faced.Sri Lanka were spared the follow-on – South Africa instead stretched their lead of 282 to 317 by the close – so escaping their fate on their last appearance in Cape Town five years ago. On that occasion Sri Lanka’s batsmen did have an alibi in that they were responding to South Africa’s 580 for 4. On this occasion, as nine wickets went down for 54 in 19.3 overs, their batting often lacked nous and sometimes verged on impulsiveness.The chief instigator of Sri Lanka’s rickety resistance was Kagiso Rabada with three for 10 in 25 balls at the start of the final session. Vernon Philander then swept aside the tail with 4 for 5 in 12 balls as South Africa found things all too easy.For Sri Lanka, it brought back memories of their batting inadequacies on their tour of England last May when they returned 91, 119 and 101 in successive Test innings in a chilly northern spring. It is easy to talk of irresponsibility, and that charge could be levelled against Dinesh Chandimal in particular, but Sri Lanka were never likely to replace giants like Sangakkara, Jayawardene and Dilshan without pain, especially as there is barely an indoor net in the country.From South Africa’s perspective, at least it deflected attention away from Kyle Abbott after ESPNcricinfo revealed that he is agonising over whether to abandon his international career and take up a deal in England with Hampshire as a Kolpak player. CSA was expected to meet Abbott’s agent on Wednesday before making a statement.Abbott, who went into his 11th Test with 39 wickets at 21.30, was given the new ball and a strong breeze at his back, but after tea he had a watching brief, remained wicketless and had much time to muse in the outfield about the meaning of life. For an international of his calibre to be seriously considering a county future at 29, whatever the outcome, is deeply disturbing not just for South Africa but for the future of Test cricket where there are already not enough strong teams to go round.Sri Lanka’s openers survived diligently against the new ball – there was not much swing to be had in a buffeting wind – but such staunch beginnings did not last for long. Kaushal Silva was bowled by Rabada off an inside edge and then Kusal Mendis, who had met the introduction of the left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj by slog-sweeping him for six, envisaged a repeat in his next over and top-edged a simple catch into the off side.As a thrilling accompaniment, Temba Bavuma almost pulled off a repeat of his wonderful run-out in Perth, Dimuth Karunaratne’s dive at the non-striker’s end just beating his pick-up and underarm flick from cover. Having been reminded of Bavuma’s brilliance, Karunaratne cut the third ball after tea, from Rabada, low to the fielder’s left and paid a predictable price.Not all Sri Lanka’s dismissals were down to state of mind. Angelo Mathews pushed at a decent back-of-a-length ball from Rabada to be caught at second slip. But Dhananjaya de Silva was overly hasty as he sought to come down the pitch to Maharaj, got his feet in a muddle as he flicked to leg, and was lbw, despite a review. As for Chandimal’s wanton drive at a wide one from Rabada, that was inexplicable, especially for a vice-captain.Philander was aching to get into the act. Three successive deliveries to Rangana Herath were followed by resounding lbw appeals. The third was given. Herath, who seemed resolutely intent on keeping his legs out of the way as the ball jagged back, understandably reviewed, but the decision was narrowly upheld.Three balls later, Suranga Lakmal was caught at first slip – a knock-on from third – and the job was completed when Lahiru Kumara and Nuwan Pradeep, the latter batting despite a thigh strain that prevented him from bowling, were rounded up in successive balls.The morning had belonged largely to Quinton de Kock, who completed a third Test century as South Africa were dismissed at the end of a slightly extended session for 392. De Kock, who made 101, was one of six wickets for Kumara whose unflinching efforts in only his third Test pronounced himself a combative bowler of genuine promise.De Kock does not spend too much time on reconnaissance: life is for living, and the sooner the better. Resuming on 68, he set the tone by confidently driving Lakmal’s introductory ball of the day to the extra-cover boundary. He secured an entertaining hundred around 40 minutes later, benefiting from a final slice of good fortune as an inside-edge against Kumara skimmed past leg stump.He fell later in the over, jabbing a catch to the wicketkeeper as Kumara seamed a fullish ball away from around the wicket. Chandimal took the catch, back behind the stumps after handing his duties to Mendis on the first day because of illness. Mendis had kept well, so encouraging a rapid recovery. There were seven keeper’s catches in all – plenty to share around.Abbott, perhaps unsurprisingly in the circumstances, fell in the second over of the day without adding to his overnight score of 16, the nightwatchman beaten by turn and bounce from the left-arm spinner Herath. In the absence of Pradeep, Herath conducted a holding operation with the gentle motions of a man philosophically getting up from a sofa to pick up the TV remote.Kumara, as strong as a bullock, produced a delivery of excellent off-stump line to dismiss Philander and lunch was delayed with South Africa nine down. Kumara did not deserve that. He roused himself for a final time to have Rabada caught off an inside edge, finishing with 6 for 122. A bright spot for Sri Lanka on a bleak day.

Arsenal are "firmly in the driving seat" to sign Brighton star Moises Caicedo after "multiple conversations" with his agents, according to reports.

Who could Arsenal sign this summer?

The north Londoners, according to various reports, have earmarked the signing of a central midfielder, or even two, during the upcoming summer transfer window.

This has lead to links with Man City captain Ilkay Gundogan, Wolves star Ruben Neves and Chelsea's Mason Mount among others – but it is in the defensive midfield where Arsenal are determined.

Indeed, a plethora of targets have been mentioned, including Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia, yet perhaps the top two names are West Ham United's Declan Rice and Caicedo.

The former has attracted serious interest, with a bid apparently in the pipeline and verbal agreement already being reached, according to recent claims.

It appears the Gunners are favourites for Rice as things stand, but that apparently won't stop them making a move for Caicedo either.

According to Football Transfers, Arsenal do indeed want two midfielders this summer, so their "exciting progress" on a Rice deal won't affect Caicedo's potential arrival.

On the Ecadorian, it is believed Mikel Arteta's side are "firmly in the driving seat" to sign him this summer, coming after "multiple conversations" with the player's representatives and the ability to offer Champions League football.

In a further promising piece of news from the outlet, Brighton apparently believe Arsenal will pay the £75 million fee required for Caicedo's signature. The Premier League top four side agreed personal terms with him back in January, and they apparently still stand heading into the summer.

Who is Moises Caicedo?

Having starred on the south coast under Roberto De Zerbi last season, Caicedo is currently a hot commodity.

Only Pascal Gross and Lewis Dunk were selected more in the league for Brighton, with Caicedo also averaging more tackles and interceptions per 90 than any of his teammates over 22/23 (WhoScored).

South American football expert Tim Vickery is in no doubt over his quality, either, who said this on the 21-year-old before Brighton managed to sign him (BBC via Sussex Express):

“Caicedo is a terrific player. Independiente del Valle are a small club that continue to exist based on developing players in order to sell them.They do it unbelievably well, bringing in top-class Spanish youth coaches to develop their players. Caicedo made stepping into the first team at his club and with his national team look like a breeze in 2020.“He’s a box-to-box midfielder, a terrific athlete who is cool in possession. He’s not a wizard, not a glamorous player but he’s got so much to offer.”

England are facing an anxious wait to see if Joe Root will be able to take any further part in the second Test against Bangladesh in Dhaka.Root was forced off the pitch during the evening session of day two after complaining of an upset stomach. He was subsequently isolated from the rest of the squad to limit any chance of contagion, driven back to the hotel on his own and confined to his room.While the team management are hopeful that a night’s sleep will help Root make a swift recovery, they will be anxious to see how he is on Sunday morning. Such is England’s reliance upon him, their chances of chasing down their fourth-innings target on a demanding Dhaka pitch will be substantially diminished if he is rendered unavailable.He is rated the No. 3 Test batsman in the world, top-scored in England’s first innings and is the only member of their top four to reach 20 this series.Given that nobody else in the squad has reported similar symptoms and everyone has eaten the same food – due to security fears, the team are obliged to eat in the hotel restaurants every day and in the players’ dining room during the match – there is a theory that he may have contracted the illness in his role as the team’s ball polisher.Root is one of very few England players allowed to handle the ball when the team are in the field and it is noticeable that, after almost every delivery, it is returned to him to shine before it is returned to the bowler. As part of that process, Root often licks his fingers before transferring his saliva on to the ball. It is, therefore, possible that he could have picked up something from the ground or even the ball.England may have missed Root in that role already. While they have unlocked Bangladesh’s batting in previous innings by utilising reverse swing, it was noticeable on the second evening that their seamers were unable to gain any movement.

Arsenal remain in the hunt for their first Premier League title since 2004, as the Gunners hope for Manchester City to fumble in their final run-in.

Mikel Arteta’s side have been front-runners for the majority of the season, however when injury struck the defence, form came to a halt in April, costing them points at a vital time and taking the league out of their hands.

Defensive blows to both William Saliba and Takehiro Tomiyasu proved too costly to the north Londoners, ultimately highlighting their lack of depth in comparison to league leaders City.

Now that Arteta knows what it takes to go all the way, Arsenal are reportedly looking towards the summer transfer window already, with a number of players speculated to be on their radar.

One of those linked with a move to the Emirates is £45m Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia.

As reported by Fabrizio Romano earlier this year, the Gunners are one of a host of teams interested in the former Manchester City academy player, who has been magnificent for the struggling Saints.

The headlines regarding Arsenal are dominated by talk of Declan Rice potentially relocating across London, however, with Granit Xhaka rumoured to be leaving this summer, chances for a midfield rebuild are there.

How can Romeo Lavia improve Arsenal?

Described by Southampton correspondent Benjy Nurick as an "absolute monster", the midfielder displays the talent of a true holding player, acting as a metronome in the middle of the park.

At just 19 years old the Belgian is competing among Europe's elite this season, despite being in a Championship-bound squad.

The Brussels-born teen ranks in the top 9% for blocks made per 90 minutes this season in Europe’s top five leagues for midfielders, averages a pass completion rate of 86.1% – as per FBref – and sits inside the top 7% for fouls drawn as a marker of his industrious and bustling nature.

The signing of the young midfielder with heaps of potential resonates with the capture of Cesc Fabregas in 2003, who joined Arsenal’s academy to become the World Cup-winning footballing legend he is today.

The Spaniard arrived in north London and quickly became a world-beater in midfield, orchestrating attacks with his innate ability to read the game. Similar attributes are shown by Lavia, who has been described by Paul Scholes as being a player who "sets the play in motion."

The Manchester United legend went on to say the Belgian has "so much potential" and is as good going forward as he is sitting back in midfield.

That was certainly the case for that man Fabregas, who scored 19 goals and registered 17 assists in the 2009/10 campaign. That was at the peak of his powers with the Spaniard eventually moving back into a deeper role, but even then, he won 2.3 tackles per game, similar to Lavia's two per game.

It's unlikely the teenager will ever register those attacking numbers but he could certainly act as a metronomic presence in the way Fabregas did in the later stages of his Premier League career.

That said, with this being Lavia's first full season playing senior first-team football, the sky is the limit for the teen sensation, who if nurtured correctly at a club like Arsenal, could prove to be one for the ages at the Emirates.

The BCB has formed a four-member committee to investigate a Dhaka Premier League match that was abandoned last week after the umpires walked off the field

Mohammad Isam19-Jun-2016The BCB has formed a four-member committee to investigate a Dhaka Premier League match that was abandoned last week after the umpires walked off the field.When a stumping appeal against Prime Doleshwar Sporting Club was turned down by umpire Tanvir Ahmed, the players and fans of Abahani Limited began to protest. That led the umpires to consult with match referee Monu Datta and take their leave citing “illness”. The match did not resume on the reserve day.The board’s umpires committee chairman Nazmul Karim, disciplinary committee chairman Sheikh Sohel, technical committee member Athar Ali Khan and match referee Raqibul Hassan will interview players and umpires before reporting to the BCB president within 72 hours. If the match is replayed, it could be held on June 24.BCB president Nazmul Hassan said: “Such an incident should not have happened but we will get to the bottom of what happened in that game.”The BCB also formed the bowling action review committee, to be headed by Jalal Yunus with Dipu Roy Chowdhury, Omar Khaled Rumi and Golam Faruq Suru as the other members. Technical personnel will be appointed at a later date.The DPL players were supposed to get 60% of their fees by the end of the first stage of the tournament, and the clubs who have defaulted on the payments have been given three days to get up to date.”If they don’t pay within this time, the board will pay the amount from their coffers,” Hassan said. “In that case, the board will take stern action against the clubs.”Hassan also confirmed the 2016 BPL will begin on November 6 and added the BCB would take legal action against Sylhet Superstars franchise after their bank guarantee couldn’t be encashed. “They owe around Tk 3 to 4 crore to us and the players. We condemn this and will take legal measures.”

تحدث محمد بركات لاعب الأهلي الأسبق، عن إمكانية بيع ثنائي الفريق أحمد عبد القادر وأليو ديانج، في موسم الانتقالات الشتوي القادم.

وقال بركات في تصريحات عبر قناة “المحور”: “أليو ديانج لا يعتمد عليه كولر مثل السابق، وأصبح هناك بديل له في وسط الملعب، مثل أحمد نبيل كوكا”.

وتابع: “ديانج لاعب جيد، ولكن قد يستغنى عنه الأهلي ويحصل على مقابل مادي يصل إلى 5 ملايين يورو، ووارد بيعه في يناير”.

طالع أيضًا.. هيثم عرابي يوضح مصير الجهاز الفني لـ فيوتشر.. وموقف عمر كمال

وعن أحمد عبد القادر: “الفترة الأخيرة كولر لا يعتمد عليه، ودخل في صدام معه، ووارد أن المدرب منزعج منه نوعًا ما، وسيتم حسم أمره في يناير أيضًا”.

وأتم: “كولر يدرس احتياجاته في الفترة الحالية، واللاعبين الذين من الوارد الاستغناء عنهم في فترة الانتقالات الشتوية”.

جدير بالذكر أن هناك تقارير صحفية كشفت أن أحد الأندية التركية، تقدم بعرض للحصول على خدمات لاعب الأهلي، أليو ديانج.

Arsenal are not currently looking at Victor Osimhen as a potential summer signing despite his impressive 2022/23 campaign in Serie A with Napoli.

Are Arsenal interested in Victor Osimhen?

There are reports suggesting the Nigerian forward could potentially be set for a summer move to the Premier League with the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United credited with an interest.

And his recent comments have indicated these clubs that he would certainly be in favour of a move to England after claiming it would be a dream move:

“I’m working so hard to make sure that I achieve my dream of playing in the Premier League someday but like I said, it’s a process and I just want to keep on this momentum and continue to do well,” he said.

The Premier League leaders, Arsenal, have also had their name linked with the 24-year-old with reports coming out of Italy (via Tutto Napoli) suggesting the north London side are currently leading the race.

However, speaking on his YouTube channel, Fabrizio Romano has suggested Edu Gaspar has his radar set on other priorities ahead of the summer window:

“We had Arsenal links in the last 24 hours, but from what I understand, Arsenal have different kinds of priorities in this moment on the market – midfielder, probably a winger, let’s see what they will do also in the defensive position.

“So for Victor Osimhen, at the moment, the fee is going to be crazy because Napoli don’t want to sell the player, and if they will sell the player, [it] has to be something really huge.”

Who does Arsenal want to sign in the summer?

According to Romano, it seems as if the Gunners are looking to make some additions in the summer, however, they are looking to do so in almost every position but at striker.

Goals have not been an issue for Mikel Arteta’s side this season with only Manchester City (66) having scored more than Arsenal’s return of 59 so far this season.

And they have done this with their main striker, Gabriel Jesus, having missed a large chunk of the campaign as a result of an injury he picked up at the World Cup.

The Brazilian had made a bright start to the campaign with 11 goal involvements in his opening 14 appearances but injury has kept him out of the last 12 league games.

But in his place has stepped Eddie Nketiah who the club have put a lot of faith in by rewarding him with a £100k-per-week deal last summer.

However, they have endured some defensive issues over recent weeks with eight goals conceded in their last six Premier League games.

And although Osimhen is enjoying a stunning campaign in Italy and would likely improve most Premier League sides if he was able to carry that form over, it is a position in which Arsenal have invested heavily over the last year.