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West Indies captain Dwayne Bravo and fast bowler Tino Best said the outcome of the fifth ODI in St Lucia, and of the series, may have been different if some umpiring decisions had gone in favour of the hosts

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Jul-2013

West Indies captain Dwayne Bravo and fast bowler Tino Best have said the outcome of the fifth ODI in St Lucia, and of the series, may have been different if some ‘key’ umpiring decisions had gone in favour of the hosts.”The matches could have gone either way. Even today a few key decisions went against us,” Dwayne Bravo said, after Pakistan beat the West Indies by four wickets in the final ODI. “We can’t fault the effort of the players. The series could have gone our way if some key decisions had gone our way.”Best, too, shared a similar opinion in a post-match interview with , where he said that the third umpire’s decision in favour of Misbah-ul-Haq could have changed the game. In the 43rd over, West Indies appealed after Misbah appeared to have gloved a Best bouncer going down the leg side. Misbah was on 49 at the time and Pakistan would have needed 53 off 46 if he had been given out. West Indies referred the decision after the on-field umpire turned down the appeal, a decision backed by the third umpire who had to rely on video and sound replays. Earlier in the match, Darren Bravo was given out after a similar appeal.”We had a plan for Misbah-ul-Haq. Unfortunately, the decision didn’t go our way, otherwise it would have changed the game,” Best said.For Pakistan, the victory was their third successive bilateral series win against West Indies in the Caribbean. Misbah-ul-Haq, who scored his fourth fifty in five matches to set up the 3-1 triumph, praised his bowlers for responding to the challenge of bowling first under pressure.”A win is always good, especially after the losses in [the] South Africa series and Champions Trophy,” Misbah said. “I knew this pitch was really good to bat on, and if we kept batting till the end, nothing was impossible. The bowling has obviously been our strength. Everybody bowled really well, which was the key in this win. Always tough to bowl first, especially in pressure games like this, but everybody was really positive that we were going to chase well.”Bravo praised his team for their performance in a closely fought series, while admitting that he was still adapting to the role of a leader. “If you bowl well, 242 was going to be a challenging total,” Bravo said. “I liked how we believed right until the end. Those key decisions at crucial times cost us. A learning process to me, a new role for me. With the talent we have, I enjoy leading the team. We can’t turn things around overnight, but with the talent we have we can become a very dangerous team.”Best, who finished with figures of 3 for 48 was happy with the manner in which he dismissed the Pakistan batsmen. “With [Ahmed] Shehzad, I just tried to hit the deck. He plays the hook and pull shots well. But I backed myself. Bravo took a brilliant catch and that gave me a lot of confidence and impetus to run in even harder. Haris Sohail was always going to be beaten for pace, so that was a good nick as well and Umar Akmal at the end, I think I bowled one bad ball which he hit for six, which swung things their way, but I came back and got his wicket. I feel good about those wickets because they are very good players.”

South Africa head coach doesn’t want the pressure of the WTC final to get to the players

Firdose Moonda09-Jun-2025When you’re part of a team that has a history of falling at the final hurdle and the final hurdle is right in front of you – as was the case on the third evening of South Africa’s Boxing Day Test against Pakistan – the last thing you want is to be reminded of all the times you’ve fallen. So what did South Africa’s coach Shukri Conrad do?He reminded them.”I thought it was the opportune time to lay down that challenge. Maybe because we had another chance. If it didn’t go our way, we had another chance in Cape Town,” Conrad said at Lord’s, two days before the World Test Championship [WTC] final. “It didn’t go down kindly, but at some stage that conversation needs to be had. It’s all about choosing when to have that.”And that is the way Conrad operates. He does not sugarcoat because, as he told ESPNcricinfo, “in our country, the minority are walking for pleasure but the majority are still walking to get to work,” and there are far more real pressures than the result of a cricket match.Related

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So with South Africa 19 for 3 during the Boxing Day Test, chasing 148, he asked them if they wanted to be remembered as chokers. By lunch on day four, they were 116 for 8, but an hour later, Marco Jansen laced Mohammad Abbas through point for the winning runs and answered Conrad. Emphatically.Does winning under the kind of pressure South Africa faced at SuperSport Park mean they will no longer be referred to by their least-favourite c-word? Obviously not. Only winning an ICC trophy will do that, and probably not even this one. It may take winning an ODI World Cup. But they’ve started to address the decades-old elephant in the room in case it takes a peep at them again this week.”We touched on it (the Boxing Day Test) briefly the other day,” Conrad said. “What were the learnings from that? And what’s the response we can expect, and we’re looking for?”Crucially, one of the learnings was that Jansen, who had the yips at the 2023 ODI World Cup semi-final, was among the pair that got them over the line against Pakistan and seems to have outgrown his nerves. At that World Cup, Jansen admitted to feeling extremely anxious before big games, to the point where his father had to provide him with soothing Bible verses. Now, he holds his own but Conrad was careful to remind those present that Jansen is only 25 years old, and may still get overawed.”The sense of the occasion and the expectation weigh on them, but they’ll get better the more they’re exposed to that,” Conrad said. “There’s been a lot of growth. You look at the calmness he showed towards the end in that chase against Pakistan and I think that will stand him in really good stead.”At least, Jansen is one of the seven players who have played at Lord’s and against Australia before. For the others, there is the additional challenge of being at a hallowed ground against a much-vaunted opposition for the first time, but they’ve spoken about that too.”It’s difficult not to get the place out of your system. Let’s embrace it and whatever comes with it,” Conrad said. “We can’t wish it away. These were some of the conversations that we’ve had, taking it in and making sure you settle yourself down. There are going to be nerves and the excitement levels are starting to ramp up. It’s a great occasion, and I’d rather be part of it than not.”Especially because, “you can only win it if you play in finals,” Conrad said, refusing to dwell on the one South Africa lost at the T20 World Cup last year. “The more finals you play in, you obviously improve your chances of winning. It doesn’t weigh heavy on us. It’s unfair to burden this group with anything that’s gone before. We know we want to and we need to win another ICC event, (after the 1998 Champions Trophy) but whatever tags come along, we don’t wear that.”Instead, what South Africa have chosen to label themselves as is a team that pull together rather than relying on any standouts because they have so few. Over the cycle, they have nine different batters score hundreds and four different bowlers take five-fors and they’ve cast the selection net wide while Conrad’s gambles have often paid off. Now, he has a final roll of the dice and two major selection decisions: who will bat No.3 and who will be his third seamer?Wiaan Mulder looks set to take the No. 3 spot•AFP/Getty Images

Wiaan Mulder seems set to take the No.3 spot, as he did in the warm-up game, but Conrad appears to still be debating who that seamer will be. “The new ball is critical. There’s been a lot of talk about when the lacquer comes off the ball, and you obviously still need guys that are as effective with that ball when the lacquer comes off and it tends to swing a little bit more. That will be a consideration. The bounce here with the older ball can be a little bit inconsistent, can be a bit slower.”That implies Lungi Ngidi could get the nod over Dane Paterson or Corbin Bosch while South Africa are unlikely to dispense with a spinner, especially as dry conditions have dominated in the lead-up. “Obviously, this is not a venue where spin is a massive factor in terms of wickets taken but we know spinners can play a role here both as wicket-takers and doing an important holding role.”Keshav Maharaj is one of only three players – Temba Bavuma and Kagiso Rabada – being the other two to have played more than 50 Tests and South Africa’s inexperience is considered to be one of the things that make them the underdogs against an impressive Australian team.”Inexperience of the batters is very apparent in terms of the number of Tests played, but I think there’s a quiet confidence amongst the batting group,” Conrad said. “They might not have the superstar names amongst them, but I think as a collective we’re pretty confident.”

The WICB and Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) have been given a financial boost by signing an agreement with the ICC under the Targeted Assistance and Performance Programme (TAPP), which is aimed at developing more competitive teams in international cricket. Under this programme, the WICB will be awarded US$3 million and Zimbabwe Cricket US$1.5 million over the next three years.The funding will aim to provide enhanced support to the current elite West Indian players and future generations. “We are delighted to be signing a TAPP agreement with the ICC, and are grateful for this enhanced support to help WICB achieve our high performance objectives,” Julian Hunte, the WICB President, said. “We have started to make progress on the field over the past year and this support will allow us to build on that by investing more resources than ever in the development of emerging talent in the West Indies.”For Zimbabwe, on the other hand, the amount would be used to support an expansive schedule of their ‘A’ team and identify and support future international players. Wilfred Mukondiwa, the ZC managing director, said the funding would help them become more competitive at international level. “Zimbabwe Cricket is grateful for this support and looking forward to being able to strengthen our high performance pathway with this investment,” he said. “We believe the TAPP award will help us become more competitive in the international arena and facilitate the continued growth of the game in our country.”David Richardson, ICC chief executive, said he was eager to see the impact of the funding on the two teams. “It is very important to the long-term prosperity of international cricket that we have competitive teams at the highest level and both the West Indies and Zimbabwe have been very clear in identifying the factors that will support improved performance,” Richardson said. “The TAPP agreements provide an opportunity for both Members to increase their investment in high performance and we look forward to witnessing the impact of these programmes.”The agreements with the two boards were similar to the ones signed by the ICC with Ireland, Netherlands and Scotland.

نجح فريق بترو أتلتيكو في تحقيق الفوز على نظيره فيتا كلوب، بهدف دون رد، خلال المباراة التي جمعت بينهما اليوم، ضمن منافسات بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا.

بترو أتلتيكو واجه فيتا كلوب على أرضية استاد 11 نوفمبر، في إطار مواجهات الجولة السادسة والأخيرة من عمر البطولة القارية.

وسجل جاريدي هدف بترو أتلتيكو الوحيد في المباراة في الدقيقة 15 من عمر الشوط الأول، معلناً تقدم فريقه وحصد الثلاث نقاط.

طالع | تشكيل الأهلي أمام الهلال السوداني.. رامي ربيعة أساسيًا وكهربا يقود الهجوم

بهذا الفوز، رفع بترو أتلتيكو رصيده إلى النقطة السابعة محتلاً المركز الثالث، بينما يأتي فيتا كلوب في المركز الرابع والأخير ولديه 4 نقاط.

ويقع فريقا بترو أتلتيكو وفيتا كلوب في المجموعة الأولى رفقة كل من شبية القبائل والوداد المغربي.

MatériaMais Notícias

É óbvio que o gol sofrido com dez minutos condicionou o andamento da partida e o gramado, ruim para os dois times, dificultaria àquele que estivesse atrás no placar. Mas a atuação do Botafogo diante do Fluminense, neste domingo, gera um nível preocupante de pressão e dilema para uma equipe que, em má fase, sente a zona de rebaixamento cada vez mais próxima.

A pressão se dá pelo somatório de maus resultados e pela enorme dificuldade em fazer gol. Desta vez, até pênalti não entrou. E o rebote também foi desperdiçado de maneira incrível.

E uma lição tática foi escancarada para um treinador que mudou o sistema tático e viu dar certo contra o Cruzeiro. Contudo, diante do Tricolor, os três volantes, da forma como foram dispostos em campo, não funcionaram: um jogador mais recuado, outros dois mais à frente, além dos pontas e do centroavante. Zé Ricardo precisa fazer escolhas urgentes, e sem tempo.

– A busca da melhor formação é constante. Estamos sempre buscando os melhores atletas nos melhores momentos – analisa.

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E os atletas também são, humanamente, afetados pelo mau momento. Ainda há os desfalques do gol ao meio-campo, e Marcinho errou quase tudo que tentou, Bochecha esteve longe do melhor potencial e Saulo deixou a desejar. Se os jovens precisam ser solução, que sejam, como o próprio treinador já disse.

– Cada jogo é um jogo. Tem um adversário também. O campo (esburacado) dificultou um pouquinho. Fatalmente, se tivéssemos criado o placar na frente, o Fluminense teria dificuldades – entende Zé Ricardo.

Mas nem sempre será possível.

Mohammad Asif, the Pakistan fast bowler, has been released from jail after completing half of his one-year sentence for spot-fixing

ESPNcricinfo staff03-May-2012Mohammad Asif, the Pakistan fast bowler, has been released from jail after completing half of his one-year sentence for spot-fixing, his lawyers said. He was freed from Canterbury Prison in southeast England on Thursday morning.Asif, 29, was found guilty at Southwark Crown Court in November 2011 of conspiracy to cheat and conspiracy to accept corrupt payments over deliberate no-balls bowled during the Lord’s Test between Pakistan and England in August 2010. He is still under a seven-year ban (the last two years of which are suspended) imposed by an ICC tribunal in February last year.His team-mates Salman Butt and Mohammad Amir were also found guilty. While Asif and Butt denied the charges against them in court Amir, who was released in February after serving half of a six-month sentence, pleaded guilty. Butt, who is currently serving a 30-month jail sentence, was banned for ten years (with five suspended), while Amir got five years.Mazhar Majeed, the agent who was accused of setting up the deal that was uncovered by a newspaper sting operation, was imprisoned for 32 months.

Netherlands and Sussex will feature in the 2011-12 Caribbean T20, while Canada will play in the tournament for the third consecutive year

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Oct-2011Netherlands and Sussex will feature in the 2011-12 Caribbean T20, while Canada will play in the tournament for a third consecutive year. Hampshire and Somerset, who played in the last edition, will not take part this time, with Netherlands and Sussex replacing them to make up three foreign teams that will compete with the seven Caribbean teams.The tournament will be played from January 9-22, 2012, and Trinidad will replace Antigua as the second venue for matches, while Barbados retains its status as a host for games.Netherlands will take part in the 2012 World Twenty20 qualifying tournament in March next year, and their CEO Richard Cox said the Caribbean T20 would be a good way to prepare for international cricket. “Undoubtedly this is another significant move in our preparation for the international playing programme,” he said. “I know the players will love the opportunity of playing against the likes of Trinidad & Tobago who have featured so well in the Champions League Twenty20 in India.”Sussex were quarter-finalists in the 2011 Friends Life t20, and their chief executive Dave Brooks said the Caribbean T20 would be a chance for their players to perform in different conditions and would also be a chance to test young players.In last year’s edition, Hampshire reached the semi-final, while the other two foreign teams, Somerset and Canada, finished third and fourth in their respective groups.

Michael Hussey believes Australia’s 273 places them in a stronger position than would appear, on what he declared the “driest” first day pitch he had encountered

Daniel Brettig in Galle31-Aug-2011Michael Hussey, the Australia batsman, believes the tourists’ 273 places them in a stronger position than would appear in the first Test against Sri Lanka on what he declared the “driest” first-day pitch he had encountered.Without Hussey’s steely 95, Australia would have been in a far poorer state, and as it is, are in a difficult position on a turning pitch when their spin resources consist of the debutant Nathan Lyon and the part-time fare of the captain Michael Clarke.As he sought a positive spin on a day that resembled numerous others during last summer’s Ashes series in terms of results if not conditions and opposition, Hussey said the success of Sri Lanka’s seamers gave the visitors hope of a strong second day.”It is certainly the driest first day pitch I’ve played on in Test match cricket,” Hussey said. “Their quicks got wickets as well. They obviously got four of the wickets, got a bit of reverse swing, so we’ve got to use that to our advantage tomorrow hopefully. It certainly took a lot of turn on the first day but I thought in general, the guys played the spin pretty well.”It was quite a difficult pitch to start on really. It was really slow so it was hard to find your timing initially. I guess my message was just to try and play as straight as possible and just try to hang in there for as long as you can because it does get easier the longer you go.”Having said that, it’s sort of an apprehensive feeling as well because there might be one ball that explodes and takes the glove or takes your edge and you’re gone anyway. I think the message [to the other batsmen] is to try to play their game, be positive and just try to take time to get used to the pace of the pitch because it was a little difficult to time the ball early.”While he complimented the bowling of Rangana Herath and Suraj Randiv, Hussey admitted he was surprised that Ajantha Mendis had not been chosen to test the Australians with his unusual variations.”I wasn’t sure at all what the make-up of their team would be. Maybe a little surprised that Mendis didn’t play,” Hussey said. “But having said that I thought their two spinners bowled really well. [They] obviously had a fair bit in their favour.”I think that’s one of the strengths of our batting order really. All of them play spin in their own way so that makes it hard for their spinners as well. I know all the guys have good experience and they will stick to their plan against their spinners no matter what the conditions.”Hussey was the last man out, lbw as he sought to farm the strike, and might have been able to reach his century if not for a misguided decision not to refer the lbw verdict against Ryan Harris. Both Hussey and Harris felt the umpire’s initial call was right, but replays showed that while Harris had not offered a shot, the ball would have missed off stump.”Yeah I think we mucked up there. We should have used the referral, we both probably thought it was out,” Hussey said. “I asked Ryan and said ‘what did you think’ and he said he felt pretty much out, from my angle – which wasn’t the best angle – it looked out but in hindsight we definitely made a mistake there. We should have referred it, especially with only a couple of wickets to go. We made a blue.”Much will rest on Lyon’s ability to hold his own against Sri Lanka’s batsmen on day two, and Hussey also said Clarke would have a part to play in setting the right fields for his inexperienced offspinner.”It’s just important for him to take away all the euphoria of his first Test,” Hussey said. “That’s going to be hard to do, with the excitement of it all, and just really focus on his job of bowling well. In the first-class match in Colombo, ‘Pup’ set some really good fields for him and I think that’s going to be important tomorrow. A lot of in-out fields.”The way they play, they will look to maybe try and dominate him and try to put some pressure on him. If we can have some protection in certain areas and keep our catchers around the bat then I think he’s got a great chance. There’s a lot in his favour but he’s going to have to be patient, he’s going to have to be disciplined and he’s going to have to bowl a lot of overs. Big job for him tomorrow.”Herath, who was the pick of Sri Lanka’s spinners, said Hussey had batted with great care for the scenario in front of him on a pitch he reckoned was not too far from the norm in Galle. Herath dismissed Shane Watson, Clarke and Ricky Ponting, but could not find a way past Hussey.”I think he batted according to the situation, against myself and Suraj [Randiv],” Herath said. “The other three guys batted well too, but that time I have bowled well. That is a difference, the whole innings Michael Hussey batted really well.”As for Sri Lanka’s goals on day two, Herath suggested a tally of 300 for 5 would be satisfactory as the hosts seek to bat Australia out of the match.”I think, if we can bat through the first session without giving them a wicket, that’s the best we can do against Australia,” he said. “Definitely [we are happy], but if we can end up tomorrow at 300 for 5 [we will be in a good position] and I’m sure the guys can do that.”

Stumps
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
The new Logan Cup champions will be crowned at Mutare Sports Club on Saturday, and though this game could still go either way, the dazzling strokeplay of Bernard Mlambo in the final session gave Mountaineers the edge at the close of the third day. With Hamilton Masakadza still at the crease, their last eight wickets need another 148 runs.Matabeleland Tuskers resumed on their overnight score of 116 for 2, a lead of 72 runs. First blood went to the home side, as both overnight batsmen fell before either had scored another run: Steve Trenchard (23) clipped the third ball of the day to square leg off Tendai Chatara, while Charles Coventry (24) was trapped lbw by a good ball from Shingi Masakadza. Within minutes it was 119 for 4 and Mountaineers surged into the ascendancy.Keith Dabengwa, the team’s acting captain, and their wicketkeeper Tafadzwa Ngulube fought back with equal determination, and Dabengwa later off-drove a ball from Timycen Maruma for six, a fine stroke with surprising power from a man of slender build. While Ngulube defended, Dabengwa kept the score moving, but was out to Prosper Utseya just before lunch for 39. The pair had added 57.Ngulube played a slow but valuable innings, and was out to the first legal delivery – after a wide – with the second new ball, Chatara having him caught at the wicket for 34 off 125 balls. Keegan Meth was in good touch with the bat, looking every bit an allrounder as he played some fluent strokes, rarely looking in trouble. But there continued a slow but steady fall of wickets, each middle-order partnership adding useful runs but none building the major stand that would have taken the match from Mountaineers’ hands.Maruma took two wickets with successive deliveries, when he deceived and bowled Tawanda Mupariwa for 10, and then trapped Chris Mpofu lbw unwisely sweeping at a straight ball. Meth made 65, the top score of the innings, before he drove a low catch into the covers off Donald Tiripano, and after a bright last-wicket partnership the innings closed for 290. Four bowlers took two wickets each, with the restrictive Utseya returning the most impressive figures of them, bowling 24 overs for only 37 runs.This left Mountaineers 247 to win, and it was really anybody’s match. Most of all, though, it was a test of nerve for Mountaineers, who completed their Logan Cup league programme undefeated; the pressure is always greater on the batting side in such circumstances, and particularly so after the collapse to Meth in the first innings. Tino Mawoyo and Bernard Mlambo made an enterprising start, although there were a couple of nervy strokes, and had made 29 before Mawoyo, in the tenth over, edged a ball from Meth to the keeper, gone for 12.This brought about an exciting individual duel between Hamilton Masakadza and Meth – a duel that in the end may well decide the match. At first Mlambo took the lead, cutting, driving and pulling powerful boundaries off Mpofu. Reaching the other end, he drove balls from Meth through mid-off and mid-on for fours, and the score raced to 50 in the 12th over before Masakadza had even got off the mark. After a slight breather, Mlambo resumed his assault and reached his own fifty with a superb pull off Brad Staddon, having faced 61 balls. He continued his assault with sixes over long-on off John Nyumbu and a pull over midwicket off Ncube.With such brilliance at the other end, Masakadza wisely sat back and handed over as much of the strike as possible, but eventually Mlambo played one stroke too many when he holed out on the midwicket boundary to Dabengwa’s first ball of the match for 68, scored off 77 balls with 12 fours and 2 sixes. Masakadza finished the day on 13 not out, and he and Meth will be the key figures in the grand finale. The last day of the Zimbabwe season 2010/11 could see a wonderful climax.

نجح الأهلي في إحراز الهداف الثاني فى مرمى فاركو، ضمن منافسات الجولة الثامنة من عمر الدوري المصري الممتاز.

ويتواجه الأهلي مع فاركو على أرضية ملعب استاد الجيش ببرج العرب، في إطار منافسات الجولة الثامنة من عمر المسابقة المحلية.

طالع..مباشر بالفيديو | مباراة الأهلي وفاركو في الدوري المصري

وسجل محمد شريف الهدف الثاني للأهلي في الدقيقة السابعة من الوقت بدل من الضائع، بتسديدة رأسية من داخل منطقة الجزاء.

ويتصدر الأهلي ترتيب الدوري برصيد 19 نقطة، جمعها من 6 انتصارات وتعادل وحيد، دون أي هزيمة.

ويحل فاركو في المركز التاسع برصيد 7 نقاط، حصدها من الفوز في مباراة والتعادل في 4 وخسارة وحيدة. هدف محمد شريف في مرمى فاركو اليوم بالدوري المصري