Lionel Messi scored and assisted two truly beautiful goals for Inter Miami Saturday en-route to three points against Sporting Kansas City.
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Mets pitcher Nolan McLean debuted ably Saturday with 5 1/3 shutout innings against the Mariners, striking out eight while allowing just two hits.
The Willow Spring, N.C., native, however, went above and beyond to help his own cause in the field.
With one out and the bases loaded in the top of the third inning, Seattle center fielder Julio Rodriguez sent a screaming grounder McLean's way. McLean went behind the back to snare it, threw to Brett Baty at second base, and watched Baty find first baseman Pete Alonso to complete a double play.
The play kept the Mariners off the board and paved the way for a much-needed 3–1 New York victory, which increased the Mets' cushion over the Reds in the National League wild-card race to one game.
McLean joined the squad with a scintillating minor-league season under his belt. He's 8-5 with a 2.45 ERA and 127 strikeouts in 113 2/3 innings for the Double-A Binghamton Rumble Ponies and Triple-A Syracuse Mets.
Led by seniors like Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan, Bangladesh are not shying away from responding to on-field sledging with some aggression of their own
Mohammad Isam06-Sep-2017One area in which Bangladesh’s growing confidence at home has manifest itself is in their on-field aggression, and in particular, their sledging. In the first Test against Australia in Mirpur, a few players regularly fired back at the opposition, who had usually done the talking in the contest. Things have been calmer in Chittagong so far, but the series has once again highlighted Bangladesh’s transformed body language on the field.Tamim Iqbal got a demerit point from the ICC for debating with umpires while Australia’s batsmen changed their gloves regularly, and later for his send-off of Matthew Wade in Mirpur. After the 20-run win, Shakib Al Hasan said Bangladesh were giving it back because they are more confident on the field now. Australia, said the captain Mushfiqur Rahim, had seen a new, aggressive side to Bangladesh.Mashrafe Mortaza, Bangladesh’s ODI captain, is not surprised. The new attitude, he says, is to look an opponent in the eye, while being mindful to not overstep a line.”As a captain, I don’t encourage [them] to do anything that gets them into trouble, especially after the introduction of demerit points,” Mashrafe said. “We might end up losing a player ahead of an important match, which isn’t ideal. But I would always tell them to look into the opposition’s eye when they are looking at you.”Before 2015, we didn’t have a significant win under our belt. But in the last two years, I think we have played fearless cricket but that doesn’t mean we will abuse anyone.”Mashrafe feels the team’s outlook changed following the 2015 World Cup, with the ODI series wins over Pakistan, India and South Africa at home.In April 2015, after thumping Pakistan 3-0 in the home ODIs, Shakib got into a finger-wagging joust with Wahab Riaz in the first Test in Khulna. Lip-readers were taken aback by Shakib’s verbal attack.In the ODIs against India in June that year, there was noticeable chatter from some of the Bangladesh players when India’s wickets fell. Ravindra Jadeja was a target, having apparently given similar treatment to Bangladesh’s players previously.”I think it really started around 2015, after the World Cup,” Mashrafe said. “We were prepared to go toe to toe in every match. But one thing that we don’t do is start the conversation in the field. We celebrate a wicket usually and only reply to what they have to say.”Look, we don’t think that we can win a game through sledging. Most of our opposition have been doing it for years. What I believe is that when you are out there, you have to look them in the eye.”Mahmudullah is a good example of the transformation, of players becoming confronters. It is a change that has also come about as individual players have cemented their place in the team through performances.In 2009, Mahmudullah was barely audible when he told off Brendan Taylor in an ODI. In 2012, he reacted tamely when Aizaz Cheema blocked his attempt for a second run in the last over of the Asia Cup final.Last year, however, in the second ODI against England, Mahmudullah stood in front of a team huddle and gave Jos Buttler a proper send-off. A normally quiet Buttler fired back and argued with the Bangladesh players, before Mashrafe intervened.”I think the England incident went on to for too long and I had to step in,” Mashrafe said. “But it wasn’t all one-sided. Both sides had their say that day but it should have stopped earlier.”There was a lot of needle in that England game, and it ended with a confrontation between Jonny Bairstow and Tamim when the teams were shaking hands after the match. Ben Stokes was shown on TV to be apparently pushing Tamim, and an argument ensued.Tamim has always been in the thick of things, right from the time Daniel Vettori got under his skin in 2007. He spoke out against Zaheer Khan when the two collided during an ODI in Mirpur in 2010 and, at times when many Bangladesh players hardly responded to on-field comments, Tamim made it a point to respond to criticism, even when it came from a legendary player like Geoffrey Boycott.Shakib got in on the act. In the 2010 ODI series against New Zealand, he was told off by Nathan McCullum, who complained about the Bangladesh bowlers taking time to finish overs. Shakib, who was the stand-in captain at the time, dismissed McCullum and gave him a send-off.These signs of Bangladesh cricketers standing up for themselves were, however, limited. Instead Virat Kohli telling Rubel Hossain to “f*** off” became a symbol for Bangladesh’s timidity on the field. When Rubel got his own back at Kohli in the 2015 World Cup, it had more to do with the confidence of his match-winning performance against England a week before and less to do with aggression.Mahmudullah in a spat with Jos Buttler during an ODI in Bangladesh last year. The match ended with another argument between Tamim and Ben Stokes•Getty ImagesThese days, even a youngster like Sabbir Rahman has made his presence felt in the middle, getting into arguments with David Warner during this series and Suranga Lakmal in Sri Lanka earlier this year. If he goes on to score bigger runs, he could end up as another vocal presence for Bangladesh in the middle.Before the 2015 World Cup, Bangladesh’s players could say little given the regularity of their losses. Mashrafe recalls an incident at the team hotel during the 2008 Asia Cup. “Once during an Asia Cup in Pakistan, we were subjected to a lot of talk off the field. There was once an incident in the swimming pool at the team hotel. I won’t mention the team but we were waiting for them to leave the pool as it was our time. They made us wait and when getting off, one of them told me, ‘What are you doing in the swimming pool? You concentrate on playing cricket. What will you learn in the pool?'”In previous years, we were told a lot of things on the field but when this happened, we were taken aback. Now we are realising that it was not normal.”Shahriar Nafees, who played 24 Tests and 75 ODIs, recounts his experience in the second Test of Australia’s previous tour to Bangladesh, in 2006. In the first Test in Fatullah, Nafees had scored 138 and did not encounter a lot of sledging but that changed in Chittagong.”During my 138 [in Fatullah], they were in shock so they didn’t say anything. But when I was unable to score for the first 21 balls in the second Test in Chittagong, I heard a lot of things from Matthew Hayden,” Nafees said. “Even when they were chasing in the fourth innings in Fatullah, some of their batsmen were sledging our bowlers. I think they were trying to get themselves out of pressure. And that’s how it was for many teams when we were on top. They’d sledge us.”Nafees says he had heard stories of how Bangladesh were subjected to much more on the field during their early years as a Test side, particularly when they threatened to get on top of the opposition.”I played in one game in which the Sri Lankans questioned our batting and bowling skills,” Nafees said. “From players who played between 2001 and 2004, I heard that a lot of them heard the opposition questioning Bangladesh’s status as a Test-playing nation. I think anyone who has been in an elite club for a long time would take a bit of time to accept a newcomer, and that’s how it was back then.”During a ten-year career for Bangladesh, in which they sporadically played ODIs, Athar Ali Khan says he experienced very little sledging. Now a TV commentator, Athar is happy the current crop is standing up for itself.”The first time I experienced such a thing was when an England A bowler spoke to me. I was initially a bit surprised so I waited till the end of the over before replying to him,” Athar said. “I think afterwards someone said something to me when I was walking in to bat against Pakistan. But I didn’t pay much attention to him. I was taking guard.”Now it is obviously different. I think our team is standing their ground and saying that you can’t push us around anymore. I think they have managed to get out of the culture of backing off. I think that’s how it should be.”
حسم مجلس إدارة النادي الأهلي، برئاسة محمود الخطيب، مصير المهاجم الفلسطيني وسام أبو علي، لاعب الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بالقلعة الحمراء.
وتلقى وسام أبو علي، عرضًا من جانب نادي كولومبوس كرو الأمريكي، خلال الأيام الأخيرة، حيث طلب من إدارة الأهلي ضم وسام أبو علي.
اقرأ أيضًا.. مدرب سنترال الأمريكي: وسام أبو علي ليس ميسي.. وكولومبوس لن يدفع 10 ملايين دولار للاعب أحرز ركلة جزاء وعلم بطولات من مصادر خاصة أن الأهلي توصل لاتفاق مع نادي كولومبوس من أجل انتقال وسام أبو علي لصفوف الأخير خلال فترة الانتقالات الصيفية الجارية.
وجاء الاتفاق على انتقال اللاعب مقابل حصول الأهلي على 7.5 مليون دولار يتم دفعها على دفعتين، بالإضافة إلى بند نسبة إعادة البيع وإضافات.
ومن المقرر أن يتلقى الأهلي الدفعة الأولى بقيمة 5.5 مليون دولار والدفعة الثانية 2 مليون دولار في بداية العام المقبل، ونسبة إعادة البيع تصل إلى 15%، بجانب مليون ونصف المليون دولار إضافات.
“First it will be decided whether we are going or not, then the government decides where we will go,” PCB chairman says
Umar Farooq16-Jun-2023
The India vs Pakistan fixture is set for October 15 in Ahmedabad•AFP/Getty Images
Pakistan’s involvement at the 50-over World Cup in India later this year remains subject to their government’s approval. According to PCB chairman Najam Sethi, the board has written to the ICC, following the release of a draft schedule to all participating countries last week, to stress that they cannot unilaterally approve the fixture list.”We have written to the ICC that we can’t give approval or disapproval to this (World Cup schedule),” Sethi said. “It’s our government who has to decide, just like when it comes to India, it’s their government that decides when they go to play. There is no point asking us if we will play in Ahmedabad. When the time comes, first it will be decided whether we are going or not, then the government decides where we will go. Our decision will rest on these two important conditions.”Related
Pakistan's foreign office is evaluating the team's involvement in ODI World Cup
India vs Pakistan set for October 15 in draft schedule of ODI World Cup
The 2023 World Cup, as reported by ESPNcricinfo, is slated to begin on October 5. The India vs Pakistan fixture is set for 10 days later in Ahmedabad. Pakistan are scheduled to play across five venues during the league phase. They haven’t toured India since the 2016 T20 World Cup.There has been an unprecedented delay in announcing the schedule; World Cup itineraries are put out at least a year in advance. A fresh update may come on June 27.The BCCI secretary Jay Shah had originally indicated the fixture list would be made available during the World Test Championship final, played on June 7-11 in London. But that didn’t happen.Sethi suggested the delay could be because of the PCB needing more time to respond after the ICC had sought feedback on the World Cup itinerary from the boards of all the participating countries as well its broadcasters. “The BCCI were about to announce the schedule but we told them we can’t confirm without government approval.”Sethi did not put a timeframe on when the Pakistan government would give them an answer, but it is unlikely to be soon considering the country is preparing for the general elections due to take place in October.Najam Sethi speaks to media personnel outside the PCB headquarters•PCB
Even in 2016, the PCB had sought government clearance after which a three-member team came to India to do recon of the venues where Pakistan were scheduled to play their matches. Eventually Pakistan’s match at Dharamsala was moved to Kolkata.”I have taken up the issue with Prime Minister and they haven’t deliberated about this,” Sethi said. “The PM said they have to involve the foreign office as well and have to think through so it’s premature [to ask permission now]. Also, we don’t know who will be in power by then so there is no development right now. But when there is a stable government, the time will come and we will ask them [whether we can tour India].”We have also told ICC that considering the security situation, if our government allows us to go we will go otherwise we can’t do much. But if they give us permission then it comes down to our venue preference where we are going to play. It’s the government’s decision, not the board’s so we leave it to them. The PCB and BCCI can’t decide. Our respective governments will take that call just like we did back in 2016.”India and Pakistan will be facing each other several times over the coming months with the Asia Cup starting August 31. The tournament will be played in Pakistan and Sri Lanka with PCB as the official hosts. This hybrid model was PCB’s idea in response to Shah saying India will not be visiting Pakistan for the Asia Cup.The PCB took strong exception to Shah’s statement and initiated discussions with all participating boards until finally there was a consensus. While Sethi said a full schedule will be put out in a week’s time, it is known that four matches will take place in Pakistan and remaining nine will be held in Sri Lanka, including the final. India and Pakistan, who are in the same group as Nepal, will face each other twice during the group stages, and then once more if they make the final.”The formula we gave to the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) was a middle ground, it was not like win or lose but it was a rational way to the problem. The schedule is being worked out, we demanded few changes and the debate is ongoing on it, but they have already said that there will be four games in Pakistan. There’s a misconception that there are two hosts, all the gates receipts are ours. Initial four matches will be in Pakistan and then the teams will travel back to Sri Lanka. It’s a very tight schedule and there are lots of logistical issues. We sat together with broadcasters and the five participating countries and it wasn’t easy to finalise it. But finally, we have broken the ice and tackled all the problems.”Sethi also highlighted how difficult it was to arrive at this solution. “India has a big clout in the ICC, and you can well imagine how much their clout would have been in the ACC. We did a lot of hard work, nobody was willing to listen to us. I pulled the strings, did several meetings in Dubai and Bahrain, and countless Zoom calls and then we reached that we are the hosts. They were even saying that we will take the hosting rights from you and give them to Sri Lanka. But finally, our hybrid model was accepted. The importance of the hybrid model will be known to you in the future when we want to use it.”
Last night’s game against Liverpool in the League Cup was an enormous one for Tottenham Hotspur, and the players did themselves proud.
Ange Postecoglou’s side might be falling apart in the Premier League, but after yesterday’s superb performance, they are now just 90 minutes away from a final and have a one-goal lead to take to Anfield.
There were brilliant displays across the pitch for the Lilywhites, from the newly signed Antonín Kinsky in goal to the ever-impressive Dejan Kulusevski in midfield and the constantly dangerous Dominic Solanke up top.
However, two starters really stood out for us, and one of them was none other than Lucas Bergvall.
Bergvall's game vs Liverpool
So, one of the two best players for Spurs last night was the 18-year-old prodigy Bergvall, who started in midfield and looked cool, calm and collected from the first minute to the last.
On top of covering what felt like every blade of grass for Postecoglou, the former Djurgården ace was also a creative spark in the middle of the park and, most importantly, made the perfect run into Liverpool’s penalty area to put away the winner in the 85th minute.
Unsurprisingly, the watching press were full of praise for the talented midfielder with football.london’s Alasdair Gold awarding him a 9/10 at full-time, writing that he was ‘busy’ throughout and that he’s ‘adapting so quickly’ to first-team football.
Such a glowing appraisal of the young Swede is more than backed up by his statistics from the game.
For example, in 98 minutes of football, he scored a goal, created two big chances, played three key passes, took two shots on target, took 44 touches, won one foul, made two interceptions and completed three tackles.
Minutes
98′
Goals
1
Big Chances Created
2
Key Passes
3
Shots on Target
2
Touches
44
Fouls Won
1
Interceptions
2
Tackles
3
In short, it was a simply sensational performance and one that has to keep him in the starting lineup for every important game going forward, which is exactly what can be said about Djed Spence as well.
Spence's game vs Liverpool
Yes, the other starter who really caught our eye was Spence.
The talented full-back made just his sixth start of the campaign, and as has been the case in most other appearances he’s made this season, his performance was so good that it simply raises more questions about why he hasn’t started more games.
The “unbelievable” ace, as dubbed by the iconic Ian Wright, was absolutely rock-solid at the back, so much so that we forgot Mohamed Salah was even playing, as well as a useful outlet in attacking moves.
Like his Swedish teammate, the 24-year-old star seriously impressed Gold, who awarded him another 9/10 match rating and wrote that it was an ‘excellent display’ from the former Middlesbrough gem and that ‘he really is challenging now to keep his spot for the longer term.’
That might all sound like hyperbole, but it really isn’t, and his statistics from the game prove as much.
Minutes
98′
Touches
78
Passing Accuracy
36/43 (84%)
Duels (Won)
12 (8)
Interceptions
1
Tackles
2
Clearances
6
Dribbles
2
For example, in his 98 minutes on the pitch, the 6 foot titan took 78 touches, made 36 passes, won eight of 12 duels, made one interception, two tackles and six clearances and completed two dribbles.
Ultimately, it might only be half-time in the tie, but Spurs were superb last night, and while there were brilliant performances across the pitch, Bergvall and Spence stood out and simply have to start every important game from here on out.
He'd be even better than Kolo Muani: Tottenham plotting to sign £30m star
The exciting winger would add some much-needed dynamism to Spurs’ attack.
ByJack Salveson Holmes Jan 8, 2025
da casino： Liverpool were out of sorts as they drew against struggling Manchester United at Anfield for the second season running, but Arne Slot’s side remain in a noble position at the top of the Premier League.
da betcris： Six points clear of Arsenal and Nottingham Forest in joint-second (with a game in hand), the Reds know that they will only have themselves to blame if they fail in their quest for the prize.
Off-field contract distractions felt like they seeped onto the pitch as Ruben Amorim’s United called upon long-lost fluency to impress as they claimed a point off their arch-rivals, Trent Alexander-Arnold bearing the brunt of Merseyside’s reprovals.
Regardless of how these issues resolve themselves, Liverpool will need to strengthen in 2025. Hopefully, FSG succeed in tying Trent, Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk down, keeping the club’s key framework in place and allowing for investment in other areas.
Liverpool targeting a new winger
As per TEAMtalk, Liverpool are keeping a close eye on Napoli superstar Khvicha Kvaratskhelia with hopes of securing a deal this year. That said, so are Manchester United.
The report claims that Slot’s side showed interest last August but ultimately kept the faith in Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz, the latter being linked with moves to Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain.
Kvaratskhelia earns ‘peanuts’ in Naples at £32k-per-week, and though his club are seeking to extend his stay on bumper new terms, there is an opportunity there for Liverpool to strike.
Diaz, 28 in less than a week, is contracted until 2027 but could be sold for the right price, should a new deal fail to materialise. Kvaratskhelia would be the ultimate replacement, though Napoli have placed a £90m price tag on his name, meaning Liverpool would need to break their transfer record.
What Kvaratskhelia could bring to Anfield
Described as a “phenomenon” by Italian football pundit Mina Rzouki, Kvaratskhelia is the jewel in Napoli’s crown, the poster boy now that Victor Osimhen has fled to Galatasaray on loan as he waits for a permanent transfer away.
Still only 23, the balletic winger notably ranks among the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for total shots taken, the top 9% for progressive carries and the top 18% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.
His fleet-footedness blends perfectly with clinical offensive qualities and an authoritative aura that stems, perhaps, from being the main man for his nation.
Georgia dazzled at Euro 2024 as they reached the knockout phases and lost valiantly against eventual winners Spain, and Kvaratskhelia “lived up to his reputation” – said analyst John Walker – as the team’s talisman.
The caveat to Liverpool’s interest is of course that Diaz would need to leave for him to be welcomed to Anfield’s pitch, but given that FBref records the Colombian to be one of his most tactically similar players, there’s a good chance that he would hit the ground running under Slot’s wing.
But the Napoli sensation might actually prove to be an upgrade on the thriving Gakpo, who has been incisive in recent weeks and has four goals and an assist from his past five Premier League fixtures.
Cody Gakpo vs Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (24/25)
Match Stats*
Gakpo
Kvaratskhelia
Matches (starts)
19 (11)
17 (15)
Goals
6
5
Assists
2
3
Shots (on target)*
1.7 (0.6)
2.9 (1.0)
Big chances missed
4
2
Pass completion
84%
83%
Key passes*
1.0
1.7
Dribbles*
1.1
1.1
Total duels won*
3.1
4.2
Stats via Sofascore
Focus your attention on Kvaratskhelia’s keen clinical edge, having missed just two big chances in Serie A this season. In fact, the 23-year-old has only missed 16 big chances since joining Napoli at the start of the 2022/23 campaign, as per Sofascore, scoring 28 goals in total.
That’s a ball-striking quality to rival Gakpo’s while bringing a more electric and dynamic approach, as far as his overall play goes. He might even be Liverpool’s best left winger since the halcyon days of Sadio Mane.
Mohamed Salah might have unbelievable potency, but Mane was every bit as deadly in one of the Premier League’s all-time great frontlines, with Jurgen Klopp even hailing his maverick as a “world-class” player. It’s something that was echoed across all of Merseyside and beyond.
Like Kvaradona, Mane boasted blistering speed and deft, artful dribbling, with an innate striker’s sense that saw him bag so many goals due to his expert movements. Moreover, he was deadly when striking on goal, only missing 13 big chances during his final Premier League campaign with the Reds, clinching 16 goals as Liverpool narrowly missed out on the title.
Across 269 Liverpool appearances, Mane, now 33 and plying his trade for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, scored 120 goals and supplied 42 assists, though the magnitude of his brilliance under Klopp’s wing was something not so easily defined through goal numbers, through metrics.
Kvaratskhelia could be Slot’s own version of the Senegal legend. He’s got his prime years ahead of him and has demonstrated over the past few years that he has the pace, power and potency to excel on English soil.
Liverpool have long enjoyed the fruits of high-class wingers, and though Gakpo and Diaz have been immense this season, signing Kvaratskhelia would take FSG’s project to a whole ‘nother level.
FSG must take £60m bid for Liverpool dud who was nearly as costly as Trent
Liverpool looked lacklustre as they were held to a draw by Manchester United.
ByAngus Sinclair Jan 6, 2025
Tottenham are looking to get ahead of Barcelona in the race to sign a new target for Ange Postecolgou in the January transfer window, according to a fresh report from Spain.
Tottenham draw 2-2 with Wolves
Spurs failed to record a first Premier League win in three on Sunday, drawing 2-2 at home to Wolves. Tottenham came from behind thanks to goals from Rodrigo Bentancur and Brennan Johnson, however, Jorgen Strand Larsen’s late equaliser made it just one point from nine in the last seven days.
Ange considers cut-price January deal for ex-Man City defender at Tottenham
The Australian has been made aware that he could be available next month.
ByEmilio Galantini Dec 28, 2024
The result leaves Tottenham in the bottom half at the halfway stage of the season, with the club miles away from challenging for European football next campaign.
Fortunately, with the January transfer window just around the corner, Tottenham will have the chance to strengthen their squad as they look for a better second half of the campaign, with Postecoglou keen to add new blood to his ranks in the next month.
Ahead of the Nottingham Forest defeat, the Australian coach explained: “Like I said a while ago, we’ve been planning. A lot of it was going to be around where we’re at around this time. [It’s] fair to say we’re still a little bit short in a couple of areas and we need to reinforce.”
A defender and a new forward are reportedly on their wishlist, and now they may have found a new option to bolster their backline.
Tottenham in race for defender who could leave in January
Spurs have been linked with moves for the likes of Ben Godfrey and Abdukodir Khusanov already ahead of the January transfer window, but have now been handed another, more unlikely name.
Now, a report from Spain has claimed that Tottenham are now in the mix with Barcelona and several other clubs around Europe to land Rayo Vallecano defender Andrei Ratiu in January, with the defender “very likely to leave” the La Liga side in January.
Though Ratiu is under contract until 2028, the report claims that the defender is set to leave this winter after a string of impressive performances. An international teammate of current Spurs defender Radu Dragusin, Ratiu has a €25m [£20.7m] release clause in his deal in Spain, which the report suggests could be triggered this winter.
Alongside Barcelona and Tottenham, Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen and AS Roma are all named as potential destinations, with Barcelona reportedly having an advantage due to strong agent relations. However, the Catalan club currently have no money to sign new players in January, already struggling to register summer signing Dani Olmo for the second half of the season, leaving them an unlikely destination for the 26-year-old.
Despite that, a move to Tottenham seems equally far-fetched unless there is an exit from north London, with Ratiu’s 16 appearances this season having all come at right back, where Spurs are already well-stocked with Pedro Porro and Djed Spence, while Archie Gray also spent much of his Leeds career at fullback.
Position
Games played
Right Back
143
Right Midfield
9
Right winger
7
Left back
3
Centre back
1
Therefore, though a transfer may be likely for the Romanian defender, it seems unlikely that it will be to north London this January, with a centre-back likely to be far more of a priority for Postecoglou and co given their current situation.
Mills replaces Topley for England while UAE’s Nawaz is pushed up to the main squad after Fahid fractured his left foot
ESPNcricinfo staff19-Oct-2022Right-arm fast bowler Kasun Rajitha has replaced fellow speedster Dushmantha Chameera, who suffered a grade two tear in the calf of his left foot, in Sri Lanka’s T20 World Cup squad. Rajitha, who last played a T20I in October 2019, is in Sri Lanka and will travel to Australia as soon as possible.In addition to Chameera, batter Danushka Gunathilaka has also been ruled out of the T20 World Cup due to a hamstring tear. Ashen Bandara, one of the travelling reserves, will replace him. Gunathilaka had missed the match on Tuesday.Chameera winced and walked out of the field after bowling the last over of his spell in Sri Lanka’s win over UAE. The injury is connected to his ankle and calf issue that kept him out of the Asia Cup last month. Arjuna de Silva, head of SLC’s medical advisory committee, confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that Chameera will be undergoing an ankle surgery and said, “The previous injuries were on the anterior part of the ankle, but this is in the calf. It’s a grade-two tear.”Rajitha was called up to the T20I squad for the home series against Australia in June but did not get a game. He then picked up a sole wicket in three outings for SLC Blues in the SLC Invitational League in August, which was his last T20 outing. His last international match, though, was the Test against Pakistan in July this year.Meanwhile, Tymal Mills has replaced Reece Topley, who injured his left ankle, as a like-for-like in England’s squad. Topley had suffered the injury after standing on the boundary cushion during a fielding drill ahead of England’s warm-up match against Pakistan.For UAE, travelling reserve Fahad Nawaz replaced Zawar Farid, who fractured his left foot.
Rehan Ahmed scored a superb maiden century to save Leicestershire from defeat in the LV=Insurance County Championship match against Derbyshire at Derby.The England Under-19 allrounder decorated the last day of the season at the Incora County Ground with a breathtaking 122 off 113 balls to provide a memorable finale to a miserable season for Division Two’s bottom club.It was also a record-breaking performance as he became the first Leicestershire player to score his first hundred and take his maiden five-wicket haul in the same match. The 18-year-old was well supported by Lewis Hill who scored 60 off 157 balls and shared a fourth wicket stand of 163 in 35 overs with Ahmed.Harry Swindells, with 48, and Tom Scriven, (30), added a further 70 and although Sam Conners celebrated his county cap by taking his 50th Championship wicket for the summer, Leicestershire were 86 ahead at 405 for 7 when rain consigned the game to a draw with 20 overs remaining.Derbyshire probably sensed the chance of an early finish when Ben Aitchison struck in the fourth over of the morning. Sam Evans had driven the fast bowler square to the boundary but the next ball drew him into playing and Wayne Madsen held a low catch at second slip.Leicestershire’s top order had collapsed in the first innings but Ahmed joined Hill to provide another impressive demonstration of his talent.After a frenetic start, Ahmed settled in to bat with controlled aggression, playing shots all around the wicket to reach a brilliant hundred. An upper-cut for six off Aitchison was one of the memorable shots in a maiden fifty which came off 60 balls and he needed only 39 more to reach three figures.There were no signs of nerves as he waltzed down the pitch after lunch to deposit Leus du Plooy’s left-arm spin over the long-off boundary and he dished out the same treatment to off-spinner Alex Thomson. Another six off Thomson took him to 99 and the next ball he drove through the covers for his 12th four to reach three figures in only his third first-class match.Ahmed is now in the distinguished company of former England allrounder Phillip DeFreitas who was the last Leicestershire player to score a century and take five wickets in an innings in the same game, in 2003 against Sussex at Grace Road.It was the first time it has been done in a first-class game between the two counties at Derby since Derbyshire’s Garnet Lee made an unbeaten 107 and took 5 for 31 in 1928.Ahmed drove Thomson for a fifth six but in the next over he skied a slog-sweep at du Plooy and Luis Reece ran in to take the catch at mid-on.Hill had played a valuable supporting role but he fell to the second new ball when he tried to cut Aitchison and was caught at first slip.Conners beat the bat numerous times before he struck twice in consecutive overs, having Scriven caught behind pulling before Swindells dabbed the fast bowler into the gloves of Brooke Guest. But the light was fading before rain swept in just after 4.30pm with Derbyshire finishing fifth in Division Two while Leicestershire end the season without a Championship victory.