Arsenal could still make one more major signing before the transfer deadline on September 1, with sporting director Andrea Berta potentially capable of reinforcing another key area depending on outgoings.
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Mikel Arteta led his Premier League title hopefuls to a solid 1-0 win away to Man United on Sunday, and despite not pulling up trees with their overall display, Arsenal withstood a barrage of pressure to come away with a clean sheet after robust defending.
There were positive takeaways from their first league outing of the campaign, namely how they put aside a determined United on away soil, who themselves are looking to rebuild under one of Europe’s most exciting young managers in Ruben Amorim.
Away from the pitch, Berta could still sign another left-winger, if Leandro Trossard leaves the Emirates Stadium.
Trossard, who’s entered the final 12 months of his deal, is apparently more likely than not to depart amid interest from the likes of Aston Villa and Brentford, with Berta looking to potentially sell now rather than lose the Belgian for nothing next year.
If Trossard does depart, it would free up space for Arsenal to move for that other wide player (Ben Jacobs), and reports suggest that they’re still firmly in the running for Real Madrid forward Rodrygo.
The Brazil international is attracting serious interest from Man City as a replacement for Savinho, amid his talks to join Tottenham, but Arsenal are believed to maintain their own interest in Rodrygo amid his uncertain Bernabeu future.
According to TBR Football and journalist Graeme Bailey, though, Real squad members have made their stance on him potentially joining Arteta’s side crystal clear behind-the-scenes.
Real Madrid players urge Rodrygo not to join Arsenal
As per their information, a number of Los Blancos stars, including the likes of Kylian Mbappé, have stepped in to urge Xabi Alonso and Real’s hierarchy not to green-light Rodrygo’s exit.
Real Madrid's Rodrygo
However, unfortunately for them, the consensus as things stand is apparently that Rodrygo is heading towards the exit door, regardless of his teammates urging him not to join Arsenal.
The 24-year-old racked up 14 goals and 11 assists in all competitions last season, but Fabrizio Romano has suggested that Rodrygo will likely cost around £86 million, so it’ll perhaps take a few key sales before Arsenal muster up the cash for such a mega-money transfer.
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Konstas later brushed the incident aside, but Ricky Ponting said on commentary that Kohli “instigated that confrontation”
ESPNcricinfo staff26-Dec-2024
Virat Kohli and Sam Konstas exchanged words•Getty Images
Virat Kohli has been fined 20% of his match fees and awarded one demerit point for his altercation with Australia’s 19-year-old debutant Sam Konstas during the fourth Test at the MCG. The incident occurred after the tenth over of the morning session, when Kohli and Konstas bumped shoulders while moving across the pitch between overs.Both players exchanged words after the contact before Konstas’ opening partner Usman Khawaja and umpire Michael Gough interrupted to cut the altercation short.Kohli was sanctioned for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct that relates to “inappropriate physical contact with a Player, Player Support Personnel, Umpire, Match Referee or any other person (including a spectator during an International Match”. No formal hearing was required as Kohli accepted the sanctions.Replays that emerged later in the session showed Konstas had turned around from the crease after the last ball of the tenth over, and was walking towards the other end while looking at his gloves, whereas Kohli – while tossing the ball in his hand – was looking ahead and went from outside the pitch towards Konstas and bumped into him.”I think the emotions got to both of us,” Konstas later told in the second session. “I didn’t quite realise; I was doing my gloves, then [there was] a little shoulder charge. But it happens in cricket.”
“Have a look at where Virat walks,” former Australia captain Ricky Ponting observed on commentary for while watching the replay of the incident. “Virat’s walked one whole pitch over to his right and instigated that confrontation. No doubt in my mind, whatsoever.”While talking to Star Sports at the end of the day, former India coach Ravi Shastri said what Kohli did was “unnecessary”.”When you see that, it’s not needed at that moment of time,” he said. “I think Virat will realise that later, with the stature he has in the game, he’s captained the side for many, many years. In heat of the moment, things do happen. But on reflection, I would say it was unnecessary. You don’t want to see such things. There’s a line, you don’t want to overstep that line.”Konstas made his Test debut with a stunning half-century off just 52 balls, by taking on Jasprit Bumrah, the best bowler of the series, who had dismissed Nathan McSweeney four times in six innings in the first three Tests. Konstas replaced McSweeney for this Test, and struggled to 5 off 21 after being beaten several times before moving to 27 off 38 at the time of the altercation with Kohli.By then, Konstas had reverse-scooped Bumrah for a six over the slips which had followed a more straightforward scoop that had fetched him four runs after moving across and flicking the ball over the wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant.Konstas finished on 60 off 65 balls with six fours and two sixes, having scored 34 from 33 against Bumrah and 20 from 19 off Mohammed Siraj.Tests between India and Australia have been high-intensity, and known to throw up such altercations and controversies, especially involving Kohli. He had once collided – when he was captain – for an altercation with the opposite captain Tim Paine in 2018-19, and had a duel with Mitchell Johnson while scoring a stunning century in Adelaide in 2014.
أعرب وليد صلاح الدين، مدير الكرة بالنادي الأهلي، عن سعادته بعد الفوز على كهرباء الإسماعيلية ومواصلة الانتصارات في الدوري المصري.
وقال وليد صلاح الدين في تصريحات عبر قناة “أون سبورت”: “الحمد لله، المكنة مطلعة قماش من أول يوم، الحمد لله”.
وواصل بخصوص وساطته لمصالحة ياسر إبراهيم مع ياسر عسكر، المسؤول الرياضي لشركة “نايل”: “هذا واجبنا وتلك أخلاق النادي الأهلي، وجعلت ياسر يتحدث مع أيمن يونس ومحمد فضل”.
وتابع: “ياسر لم يكن يعلم الجهة التي تختار رجل المباراة وهذا طبيعي فهو حماس ملعب، ولم يكن يعلم أن مروان عطية هو من فاز بالجائزة، لكنه عرف بعد هدوء الأمور وتلك أمور بسيطة”.
طالع.. عماد النحاس: لن نُعاقب لاعب الأهلي.. وهذا ما أخشاه في الفترة القادمة
وأكمل: “الرجل مشكور أنه تحمل الموقف، وقلت له المباراة المقبلة سيأتي للاعتذار لك، وياسر إبراهيم واحد من نجوم منتخب مصر، وإن شاء الله منتخب مصر يصل كأس العالم وياسر من الرجال الحقيقيين، ومن اللاعيبن الذي حملوا الفريق وواحد من القادة، ونحن الأهلي ليس أي شخص يدلي تصريحات”.
واستكمل: “عماد النحاس المدير الفني يحافظ على خصوصية الفريق ويركز بشكل كبير، وممنوع تصريحات اللاعبين لكن أحيانًا نسمع عن أمور مغلوطة، فبصفتي مدير الكرة أرد تفاديًا لأي مشاكل وغضب الجمهور”.
واسترسل: “هناك أمور كثيرة مثل تواجد زيزو في معسكر مباراة الزمالك وجلوسه مع عماد النحاس ووليد صلاح الدين، كلها شائعات تنتشر بسرعة، ومثل تلك الأمور إن لم نرد عليها تحدث بلبلة داخل الفريق”.
وأضاف: “لابد أن تعرف الجماهير أن اللاعبين ملتزمين من أول يوم، ويجب على جماهير الأهلي أن تعلم أن معنا لاعبين ملتزمين جدًا، وقلت لهم منذ أول يوم انتهت فكرة تجديد العقود، ولا أحد يتحدث في هذا الأمر”.
وقال: “في نفس الوقت ملف التجديد ما زال في بدايته، هناك أشهر أكتوبر ونوفمبر وديسمبر قبل يناير، بمعنى متبقي 3 أشهر، وفي نفس الوقت أعمل بطريقة مختلفة، فلابد أن أرى الأداء أولًا”.
وأردف: “في النهاية، نحن نعمل وفق نظام جديد وشرحناه للناس، أي هناك لجنة تخطيط، وهناك قيمة تُحدد لكل لاعب وفق معايير معينة لذلك، لا يزال الوقت مبكرًا، ولا تزال هناك بطولات، بما فيها السوبر، وفي الوقت نفسه يجب أن أتابع البدائل”.
وأشار: “هذه نقطة مهمة جدًا، يجب أن أؤمن نفسي بالبدائل، وسنناقش مع أنديتهم طلباتهم، هناك الكثير من الأمور، لأتمكن من وضع خطة كاملة أقدمها للكابتن الخطيب ولجنة التخطيط”.
وواصل: “سوف نقدم لكل لاعب عرضًا، سواء قبل اللاعب أو رفضه نحن نتمنى بالطبع أن يبقى جميع لاعبينا معنا، لكن إذا رفض أحدهم، سأكون قد حضرت البديل الكفء، وأعرف جميع المعايير التي تنطبق عليه، سواء العمر أو المهارة”.
وتابع: “وبالطبع، لدينا خبرات قوية جدًا، ولكن قدر الإمكان سيكون البديل قريبًا من اللاعب الذي يقدم له العرض، في نفس المركز، وقد يكون أصغر سنًا وهكذا”.
وتطرق إلى علاقته بمحمد يوسف المدير الرياضي وسيد عبد الحفيظ المرشح لعضوية مجلس الإدارة، قائلًا: “عبد الحفيظ حبيبي، هو أسطورة من أساطير الأهلي، أحد الذين لعبت معهم كثيرًا، وزاملتهم في الملعب، وهو أحد أكثر مديري الكرة خبرة في تاريخ النادي الأهلي مع الأساطير الكبيرة”.
وأكمل: “كل من يعمل في النادي الأهلي يعرف مهام عمله، أنا مدير الكرة، داخل غرفة الملابس ومع اللاعبين وجميع القرارات المتعلقة باللاعبين أو غرفة الملابس معي، والكابتن محمد يوسف، المدير الرياضي، لديه ملفات كثيرة، سواء قطاع الناشئين، الأكاديميات، الكرة النسائية، وملف الفريق الأول فيما يخص المدرب”.
واستمر: “سنجلس معًا في كل شيء وسيكون الكابتن سيد عضو مجلس إدارة، وقد حدث ذلك سابقًا مع الكابتن طارق سليم والكابتن الخطيب، ومع أساطير النادي، ووجود أحد أعضاء مجلس الإدارة كمشرف على ملف الكرة أمر مهم، إذا وضع الكابتن الخطيب التفاصيل سيُعلن ذلك للناس جميعًا”.
وذكر: “سيد عبد الحفيظ إضافة قوية جدًا جدًا، ونحن أيضًا على المستوى الشخصي متفاهمون بشكل غير عادي، تحديدًا أنا وسيد، لأننا عملنا معًا سابقًا، نحن تلميذان للكابتن محمد رمضان”.
وأوضح: “الكابتن محمد رمضان، أول من تولى إدارة أكاديميات النادي الأهلي، جلبني أنا وسيد عبد الحفيظ، وشرح لنا فكرة الإدارة وكل شخص يدير بشخصيته، تمامًا كما كان في الماضي عندما تولينا قيادة الأهلي، كنت أنا قائد الفريق رقم واحد، وخلفي هادي خشبة، وخلفه سيد عبد الحفيظ”.
واستمر: “كان قائد الفريق في الماضي يعنف اللاعبين ويصرخ بشدة، وتكون هناك طريقة محددة، لكن عندما جئنا، غيرنا هذا الشكل، وأصبح لدينا أسلوب مختلف قليلًا، قد يكون هادئًا ويحتوي على مزيد من الحب، وكسبنا جميع البطولات، بما فيها دوري أبطال أفريقيا”.
وأضاف: “بعد ذلك، استمر الجيل الكبير من تريكة وجمعة وعماد متعب على نفس الفكرة، هذه مدارس، كل شخص يدير حسب شخصيته، ولكن في النهاية كلنا أولاد الأهلي، ونخدم النادي في أي مكان، ولا أحد يتدخل ولا يتحدث في هذا الموضوع الآن، كل شيء مغلق منذ اللحظة الأولى، والله”.
وأتم عن إصابة حسين الشحات: “شعر بشد في الخلفية، سنقوم بعمل آشعة أولًا، ثم سنتأكد إن شاء الله ألا تكون الإصابة كبيرة”.
Para quem buscou tentar buscar “passar pano” para a atuação do Palmeiras diante do Santos, no último sábado, basta acompanhar as entrevistas de Luan e João Martins após a partida. Ambos foram bastante incisivos ao analisarem o desempenho do Verdão no empate em 0 a 0, na Vila Belmiro. O resultado não somente exemplificou o que foi o desempenho palmeirense, mas também permite com que os rivais se aproximem na classificação do Brasileirão. Esses últimos tropeços devem fazer falta lá na frente.
continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasPalmeirasGómez passa por avaliação no hospital, mas retorna para São Paulo com o PalmeirasPalmeiras21/05/2023BrasileirãoVÍDEO: Assista aos melhores lances do empate em 0 a 0 de Santos e Palmeiras pelo BrasileirãoBrasileirão21/05/2023PalmeirasJoão Martins evita colocar atuação ruim do Palmeiras na conta do cansaço: ‘Não conseguimos nos adaptar ao contexto do jogo’Palmeiras21/05/2023
+ Veja tabela e classificação do Brasileirão-2023 clicando aqui
Tanto o zagueiro quanto o auxiliar de Abel Ferreira descartaram colocar a culpa do mau desempenho na conta de outros fatores que não fossem o próprio jogo. Luan não escondeu que não gostou do que o time fez. Ele bateu na tecla da lentidão nas saídas de bola e na falta de inspiração no ataque. Já João, que criticou o campo, descartou a questão do cansaço e falou abertamente da falta de capacidade da equipe em se adaptar ao que a partida pedia. Para ele, os jogadores não conseguiram perceber que não era ocasião para propor ou impor um padrão de jogo.
+ Todos os jogos do Brasileirão você encontra no Prime Video. Assine já e acompanhe o seu time do coração!
O excesso de jogadas individuais e a insistência em carregar a bola foram fatores que também se juntaram a esses citados pelos personagens palmeirenses. Assim como o dia ruim de Dudu, que até tentou mais do que os outros, mas errou muito, ou como Raphael Veiga, que praticamente desapareceu no duelo e fez uma de suas piores atuações em muitos meses. Não é exagero dizer também que o Santos teve uma “pegada” maior. Quando um jogador do Palmeiras pegava na bola, pelo menos três santistas já estavam no lance para tentar recuperar a posse.
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A verdade é que os times poderiam jogar 500 minutos, que a bola não balançaria a rede, tamanha a falta de inspiração de ambos. Mas o resultado não era ruim para o Santos, foi ruim apenas para o Verdão, que briga pela liderança do Brasileirão. Seu adversário direto neste momento, o Botafogo, venceu o clássico contra o Fluminense e subiu para 18 pontos. Com a vitória, o Alviverde chegaria a 17, um a menos, porém ficaria próximo do líder. Com o empate, acabou ficando com apenas 15 pontos, três atrás do Fogão.
Não precisamos ir muito longe para buscar uma atuação ruim do Alviverde. No rodada anterior do campeonato, diante do Bragantino, o desempenho também foi ruim. Naquele dia, porém, o time de Abel Ferreira conseguiu abrir o placar com muito custo. O problema é que alguns minutos depois sofreu o empate e acabou saindo de campo com apenas um ponto no Allianz Parque. Ou melhor, com menos dois pontos.
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+ Luan analisa erros do Palmeiras no clássico e lamenta atuação ruim: ‘Queríamos os três pontos’
Aquele já era um jogo em que provavelmente a comissão técnica irá lamentar ter deixado de levar mais dois pontos. Em casa, em um gramado bom, diante da torcida, logo após uma grande atuação contra o Grêmio… Ou seja, vários elementos a favor de uma vitória. Sem contar os outros resultados da rodada, como a derrota do Botafogo, que permitiria ao Palmeiras alcançar a liderança do Brasileirão pela primeira vez em 2023.
Com isso, era importante que o jogo contra o Santos pudesse funcionar como uma forma de “recuperar” os pontos perdidos em casa. Isso, claro, sem menosprezar o adversário gigante em um clássico estadual. No entanto, diante do retrospecto recente com oito vitórias seguidas e longa invencibilidade, o natural seria pensar em um triunfo do Palmeiras, que obviamente é um time bastante superior neste momento.
+ João Martins evita colocar atuação ruim do Palmeiras na conta do cansaço: ‘Não conseguimos nos adaptar ao contexto do jogo’
A vitória não veio, como já dito acima, mas mais do que se preocupar com o distanciamento do Botafogo, o Palmeiras agora se preocupa com a chegada de rivais que virão forte para a disputa do título. Caso do Atlético-MG, que agora está a apenas dois pontos do Verdão (vantagem já foi de seis) e será o adversário da próxima rodada do Brasileirão. Ou podemos também citar o Flamengo, que pode atingir 12 pontos neste domingo e ficar a apenas três do Alviverde. Se não fossem esses tropeços, a situação poderia (e deveria) estar confortável, mas agora já é tarde e os resultados deixaram essa “tropa de choque” chegar para a briga. Time que briga por título não pode perder ponto “bobo” pelo caminho.
The transfer window is finally at its end, and after the controversial few months Newcastle United have had, those at St James’ Park might be relieved to see it slam shut today.
Magpies fans might have noticed the breaking news in the early hours of Monday, with reports suggesting a deal has been agreed to sell Alexander Isak to Liverpool for £130m.
It means they are likely to be in the market for another striker after signing Nick Woltemade.
Newcastle striker latest
Eddie Howe’s side have been pushing for a couple of different centre-forwards all summer, so it is no surprise that talkSPORT reported that they are plotting one last attempt for Wolverhampton Wanderers star Jorgen Strand Larsen.
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They are said to ‘remain keen’ on the Norwegian striker, despite seeing two bids rejected already for the 25-year-old.
The Old Gold could ask for as much as £65m for their star striker before the window slams shut at 7pm.
Why Strand Larsen would be a good signing
Now into his second season of Premier League football, Strand Larsen has certainly impressed in his short time in England. His manager at Molineux, Vitor Pereira, described him as a “phenomenal” striker, and it is easy to see why.
Last term, he demonstrated great adaptability and was a threat in the Premier League from the outset, after moving to the West Midlands from Celta Vigo. In 35 games for the Old Gold, he found the back of the net 14 times and assisted four.
Already in 2025/26, Strand Larsen, who missed Wolves’ game this weekend in light of transfer speculation, is off the mark. He bagged twice against West Ham United in Wolves’ 3-2 Carabao Cup victory at home.
St James’ Park faithful could get used to seeing an unstoppable link-up between Strand Larsen and new signing Woltemade.
The German international joined from Stuttgart last week for a club-record fee of £69m, eclipsing the previous fee of £63m they paid for Isak.
Whilst it is a big fee for the 23-year-old, who stands at six foot six, he certainly comes with a great pedigree.
He scored 17 goals and assisted three in 33 games last season, as well as scoring and assisting nine goals in the under-21 European Championship over the summer.
Well, football scout Antonio Mango seems to be a fan of the pairing, explaining that the two players “really complement each other” on X. German journalist Constantin Eckner said he “works best in two-striker set-ups or playing behind the striker”, with his silky link-up play in and around the box perfect alongside a finisher as clinical as Strand Larsen.
The stats back up that theory, too. Last season, the former Stuttgart star averaged 2.06 key passes per 90 minutes, more than the Wolves striker, who comes in at 0.73. Strand Larsen’s clinical nature in front of goal, with an average of 0.26 goals per shot, shows he is capable of putting those chances away, and ranks just higher than Woltemade’s 0.22 each game.
Strand Larsen & Woltemade key stats
Stat (per 90)
Strand Larsen
Woltemade
Goals and assists
0.63
0.73
Goals per shot
0.26
0.22
Shot on target %
61.1%
50%
Key passes
0.73
2.06
Shot-creating actions
1.46
4.38
Stats from FBref
It seems like Howe might want to implement a two-striker system at St James’ Park, based on Newcastle’s summer business. It could be perfect profiling from the Magpies boss, signing a silky link-up striker to go along with a penalty box presence in Strand Larsen.
With the Isak fund now available, it is easy to see why this £65m investment for the Norwegian star on deadline day could be a dream move for the Magpies.
Better deal than Woltemade: Newcastle join late race to sign £45m "machine"
Newcastle are hoping to sign a centre-midfielder before the transfer window slams shut.
O Palmeiras venceu o Barcelona-EQU, por 4 a 2, de virada, nesta quarta-feira (7), no Allianz Parque. Com o resultado, o Alviverde se classificou para as oitavas de final da Libertadores com uma rodada de antecedência. No entanto, o que chamou a atenção mesmo foi a reação do time para conseguir ficar à frente no placar. Para Abel Ferreira, foi uma noite mágica, que teve participação essencial do torcedor.
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+ Veja tabela e classificação da Libertadores-2023 clicando aqui
Em entrevista coletiva após o duelo, o treinador do Verdão explicou o porquê de ter aplaudido as arquibancadas logo na sequência do apito final. Além disso, ele fez questão de dizer o quanto a música do “time da virada e do amor” o fez acreditar que o resultado não seria outro que não fosse a virada e a vitória alviverde.
– Foi a forma que eu tive de agradecer a energia que eles passaram para a nossa equipe. Eu sinto e meus jogadores também sentem. No primeiro minuto do segundo tempo não me passou outra coisa na cabeça, que não fosse virar o resultado. Sem a energia deles seria bem mais difícil.
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Ao ser perguntado se o time do Palmeiras é o time que traz mais magia ao futebol brasileiro por conta de atuações como desta quarta-feira, Abel Ferreira falou de outras coisas mágicas que acabam levando a equipe a esses resultados.
– Foi uma noite mágica dentro daquilo que vejo da minha vida, é resiliência, persistência, Uma vitória de uma equipe que jamais se rende. Magia do trabalho, de acreditar, da resiliência, do esforço, do jogo coletivo, jogue quem jogar, seja onde for. às vezes parece fácil, mas se olhar para a historia, você vê quanto é difícil manter uma invencibilidade (Palmeiras está quase um ano sem perder em casa) no futebol brasileiro. A forma com que trabalham, se dedicam, e a magia acontece, cada um tem a função de dar o seu melhor. Temos um clube que dá tudo. Uma equipe extremamente competitiva. Sempre faremos o máximo esforço para proporcionar alegrias ao nosso torcedor.
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+ ATUAÇÕES: Coletivo do Palmeiras funciona no segundo tempo e conquista grande virada na Libertadores
Com o resultado, o Palmeiras vai a 12 pontos e garante sua classificação no Grupo C da Libertadores. No entanto, ainda segue na segunda posição na tabela, deixando a definição do líder da chave para a última rodada, contra o Bolívar-BOL, no Allianz Parque, no dia 29 de junho, às 21h. Enquanto isso, o Verdão foca no Brasileirão, campeonato no qual enfrenta o São Paulo, neste domingo, às 16h, no Morumbi.
Mumbai went from 113 for 2 to 118 for 6 in the space of 11 balls
Shashank Kishore18-Feb-2025
Parth Rekhade picked up three wickets in an over to dent Mumbai•PTI
A full-blown middle order collapse – four wickets in 11 deliveries – has left Mumbai with an uphill battle in their Ranji Trophy semifinal against Vidarbha in Nagpur.Parth Rekhade, the left-arm spin allrounder playing in only his second first-class match, dismissed Ajinkya Rahane, Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube in a single over, the 41st of the innings, as Mumbai went from a comfortable 113 for 2 to 113 for 5.Rahane was the first to go in the triple-wicket over for 18 when the ball rolled back onto the stumps off a defensive push. Suryakumar Yadav was next, out for a two-ball duck when he jabbed at an in-drifter with hard hands. Danish Malewar at silly point held it on the second attampts as it came off the pad after taking the inside edge. Dube then played back to one that skidded across from around the stumps as the thick edge was superbly taken at slip by Atharva Taide.There was more drama in store when Shams Mulani, who orchestrated a stunning turnaround in the quarter-final courtesy a century stand with Tanush Kotian, was trapped lbw by Harsh Dubey, the left-arm spinner. Originally given not out as he played around a sharp-turning delivery, Akshay Wadkar opted to review the decision and replays confirmed the ball would’ve crashed into the stumps. Mulani had to walk back for 4 as Dubey picked up his 60th wicket – it made him the sixth bowler in Ranji history and the first since Jaydev Unadkat in 2019-20 to pick up 60 or more in a season.Shivam Dube picked 5 for 49 as Vidarbha were bowled out for 383•PTI
As he has often done, Shardul Thakur led a fierce Mumbai fightback as he put on a half-century stand with wicketkeeper Akash Anand, who battled his way to make a half-century from the top of the order. Shardul played his strokes and attacked the bowlers to pick up runs at every available opportunity. Their partnership was worth 60 when Shardul holed out to deep square for a 41-ball 37 while attempting to pull Yash Thakur, which was one of the last acts in an action-packed session.Yash Thakur bounded in full intensity on a hot afternoon, his figures of 2 for 56 in 11 overs doing no justice to his efforts. This included the big wicket of Siddhesh Lad to break a half-century stand when he got one to angle in and hold its line to burst past Lad’s outside edge. He should’ve also had Rahane lbw on 11, but for a no-ball he delivered in trying to hit the deck hard.In the morning session, Vidarbha managed to add just 75 to their overnight 308 for 5 with Yash Rathod, their top run-getter this season, bringing up his half-century before falling to trigger a slide. Dube, who had dismissed Rekhade and Karun Nair on the opening day, picked up three wickets in three overs to finish with figures of 11.5-1-49-5, his third five-for in first-class cricket.
أنهى منتخب المغرب مشواره في تصفيات قارة إفريقيا المؤهلة إلى بطولة كأس العالم نسخة 2026، مساء يوم الثلاثاء، بمباراته ضد نظيره منتخب الكونغو.
واستضاف ملعب “مولاي عبد الله” مباراة منتخبي المغرب والكونغو، في الجولة الأخيرة من تصفيات القارة السمراء المؤهلة إلى كأس العالم، حيث فاز أسود الأطلس بهدف دون رد.
جاء هدف فوز المغرب والمباراة الوحيد في الدقيقة 63، وذلك عن طريق النجم يوسف النصيري بعد تمريرة من لاعب باريس سان جيرمان، أشرف حكيمي.
بتلك النتيجة، ارتفع رصيد منتخب المغرب إلى 24 نقطة في صدارة المجموعة الخامسة، بينما تجمد رصيد منتخب الكونغو عند نقطة واحدة في المركز الخامس.
وحقق منتخب المغرب بذلك العلامة الكاملة حيث فاز في مبارياته الثمانية في التصفيات، وسجل 22 هدفًا ولم تستقبل شباكه سوى هدفين فقط، في سجل مميز من جانبهم.
A win at home on Thursday will put them top of the table in WPL 2025
Ashish Pant26-Feb-2025
Gujarat Giants appear to be heavily dependent on Ash Gardner and Deandra Dottin•BCCI
Who’s playingRoyal Challengers Bengaluru vs Gujarat Giants M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, 7.30pm ISTWhat to expect: Can Giants find form?Two teams coming off back-to-back losses, but in no way comparable. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have actually been really good in WPL 2025. Yet, they find themselves under pressure as they get ready to face Gujarat Giants at home.After two commanding wins, they went down to Mumbai Indians off the second-last ball of the game, and then lost to UP Warriorz in a Super Over, despite dominating most of the match. Momentum in cricket is a double-edged sword. Wins under the belt can act as a confidence booster, but losses can be deflating. And having suffered two heartbreaking losses, RCB will want to get back to winning ways, especially with the tournament entering its business end.RCB have a good record against Giants. They have won three out of five matches, which includes a solid win in this year’s season opener. In addition, they have never lost to them in Bengaluru. They also have the current purple cap holder and an all-time great in touching distance of the orange cap, and will want to move up the points table before the Bengaluru leg ends.Giants, on the other hand, have a number of problems to sort. They ended WPL 2023 and 2024 bottom of the pile, and are down there again. They are too dependent on Ashleigh Gardner and Deandra Dottin, who have also failed to get going in the last two matches.Their problem starts right from the top in the batting. Giants have the worst run rate (5.79), least runs, least boundaries (16 fours and four sixes) and have lost the most wickets (11) in the powerplay this season. With Beth Mooney not in form, and Harleen Deol not a natural striker, do they need one of Gardner or Dottin to go up the order and go on the assertive?Recent resultsRoyal Challengers Bengaluru: LLWW Gujarat Giants: LWLLESPNcricinfo Ltd
Team newsIt is unlikely that RCB will make any changes to their playing XI from the previous match against Warriorz.Royal Challengers Bengaluru (likely): 1 Smriti Mandhana (capt), 2 Danni Wyatt-Hodge, 3 Ellyse Perry, 4 Raghvi Bist, 5 Richa Ghosh (wk), 6 Kanika Ahuja, 7 Georgia Wareham, 8 Sneh Rana, 9 Kim Garth, 10 Ekta Bisht, 11 Renuka SinghGiants made three changes to their playing XI in the previous game, but didn’t have Phoebe Litchfield open the innings. There is a chance she moves to the top with Harleen Deol moving to the No. 3 position. Simran Shaikh has failed to make an impact so far in the tournament, and it is possible Giants might draft in Dayalan Hemalatha to shore up the batting.Gujarat Giants (likely): 1 Beth Mooney (wk), 2 Phoebe Litchfield, 3 Harleen Deol, 4 Ashleigh Gardner (capt), 5 Deandra Dottin, 6 Dayalan Hemalatha, 7 Bharti Fulmali, 8 Kashvee Gautam, 9 Tanuja Kanwar, 10 Priya Mishra, 11 Meghna SinghPlayers to watch: Ellyse Perry and Kashvee GautamEllyse Perry seems to have gone up a gear with the bat in WPL 2025. The second-highest run-scorer this season with 235 runs in four innings at 117.50, Perry, in the last game, also went past Meg Lanning to become WPL’s overall highest run-scorer. Coming into the tournament with a hip injury, Perry did not bowl in RCB’s first three games, but sent down two overs against Warriorz, picking a wicket. If she can contribute with four overs, it could help in balancing the RCB unit even better.In an otherwise demoralising tournament so far, Kashvee Gautam has been a bright star for Giants. She was picked up for a whopping INR 2 crore ahead of the WPL auction for 2024, but was ruled out of the season due to an injury. Giants still retained her, and she is repaying the faith. She started poorly against RCB going for 22 off her two overs, but in the next three games, the 21-year-old has picked five wickets at a miserly economy. Out of all the bowlers who have bowled a minimum of 30 balls this WPL, Gautam’s economy of 6.00 is the fourth-best. Apart from the 15-ball 20 against Mumbai, Gautam hasn’t done much with the bat, and that’s one area she might want to improve.Stats that matterMandhana has been dismissed by Gardner nine times in 26 T20 innings and three times in five innings at the WPLGiants have won just five matches in the WPL and two of those wins have come against RCBGiants have the two lowest scores this season – 120 against Mumbai and 127 for 9 against Delhi CapitalsRCB have the worst economy rate in the powerplay this season: 9.04. Giants have the best, 7.29Giants have conceded 175 runs across four innings in the powerplay this season. Only Mumbai with 142 runs in three games have conceded fewer