Tag Futebol

Gold League
Karachi Urban took another step towards toppling Rawalpindi from the top of the Gold League table as they piled up 506 for 5 declared on the second day of their Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Gold League match at the National Stadium . By the close of play, Rawalpindi had reached 122 for 3, still 357 away from averting the follow-on.Hasan Raza, the captain, hit an unbeaten 108 and Mohtashim Ali 67 in a 149-run fifth-wicket stand after overnight centurion Saeed Bin Nasir fell for 107. Raza, 24 and playing in his 139th first-class match, notched up his 27th hundred off 140 deliveries with the help of nine fours and two sixes. Asif Zakir (79) added 193 with Nasir.Rawalpindi progressed to 87 before three wickets fell for seven runs. Babar Naeem, the left-handed batsman, was unbeaten on 73, with14 fours and a six off 87 balls in just under two hours. Captain Mohammad Wasim has still not come out to bat, but Rawalpindi’s task to save the match is a difficult one.Karachi Urban, currently placed at number three in the seven-team Gold League table with 15 points, are in the ideal position to take their tally to 24 with an outright win and move to the top of the table.Playing like true champions, last season’s winners Sialkot transformed their poor situation on day one by taking their overnight 212 for 6 to an impressive 384 on the second day at the Jinnah Stadium . In reply, Lahore Shalimar had slipped to 139 for 6, with 96 required to make Sialkot bat again.Khalid Mahmood, Sialkot’s wicketkeeper was the man mainly responsible for the turnaround. Coming in at No.9, he first saw his partner Ayub Dogar leave the field with an injury. At 258 for 9, Ayub returned and the two proceeded to add an incredible 126 for the last wicket. Khalid remained unbeaten on 93, after being in sight of his first-class career’s third century, that came off a mere 110 balls in a little over two hours with nine fours and three sixes. Ayub, 28 overnight, had earlier helped add 67 for the seventh wicket with Tahir Mughal (31). He was last out, after having made 81 off 259 balls with eight fours and a six. Tahir then bagged 4 for 70 in Lahore’s innings, with only Ahmed Shahzad (52 off 115 balls) and Ashraf Ali (35*) offering resistance.Sialkot, with 12 points from their previous three matches, should now be looking towards an outright win so as to remain in contention for making the Gold League final.The chances for last season’s runners-up Faisalabad lifting themselves from the bottom of the seven-team Gold League brightened, as they gained the crucial first-innings lead against Peshawar at the Iqbal Stadium. Having dismissed second-placed Peshawar for a modest 215 on day one, Faisalabad took their overnight 39 for 0 to 254 for 9 by stumps, a lead of 39.The openers, Imran Ali (51) and Asif Hussain (48) added 94 before Ijaz Ahmed Junior hit an unbeaten 71 off 182 deliveries with ten fours. With a four-man attack, Arshad Khan, Peshawar’s captain, bowled superbly to pick up 4 for 74 in 34 overs. Riaz Afridi, the medium-pacer, sent down 32 overs for a return of 3 for 88.Champions in 2003-04 and runners-up during the two subsequent seasons, Faisalabad are trying desperately to avoid being demoted to the Silver League circuit.Silver League
Shoaib Khan,Quetta’s left-handed opener, hit a century as his team gained a first-innings lead of 97 over Hyderabad on day two at the Niaz Stadium.It was Shoaib’s second first-class hundred and personal best as Quetta, resuming at an overnight 91 for 4, overhauled Hyderabad’s 193 with an impressive total of 290. Shoaib batted for more than six hours, facing 253 balls and hitting six fours and a six. His fifth-wicket stand with Arun Lal (52) was worth 97.Farhan Ayub, Hyderabad’s in-form left-arm fast bowler, returned figures of 6 for 76, while Naseer Khan (42) and captain Faisal Irfan (35) chipped in with useful runs. In their second innings, Hyderabad were 1 for 37, still 60 behind.Following Multan’s poor show in their match against Islamabad yesterday, Abbottabad must have seen a flicker of hope to make the Silver League final as they gained a splendid 152-run first-innings lead over Lahore Ravi at the Lahore City Cricket Association (LCCA) Ground . Having dismissed Lahore for 62 on the first day, Abbottabad resumed at their overnight 89 for 1 and managed 314. At stumps, Lahore Ravi had made 72 for 1, still 80 runs in deficit.Fast bowlers Wahab Riaz (4 for 77) and Imran Ali (4 for 64) acquitted themselves well but Abbottabad prevailed on a fruitful day. Opener Mohammad Naeem, who top-scored with 54, took his second-wicket stand with Wajid Ali (42) to 53. Later, debutant Hammad Ali (45 off 85 balls with five fours) and captain Sajid Shah (30) added a crucial 92 for the seventh wicket, their stand being boosted by several extras. There were eventually as many as 40 of them, with fast bowler Wasim Khan conceding 10 wides and seven no-balls.If Multan are beaten by Islamabad in their ongoing encounter, and Abbottabad win here, either side will have an identical record after five matches and a total of 21 points. Who goes on to meet Islamabad in the Silver League final will then be decided on the basis of net run-rate.Instead of Multan improving their position, it was table leaders Islamabad who were looking for their fifth straight win in as many matches, as they finished with a 324-run lead on day two at the Diamond Club Ground .In reply to Islamabad’s 314, Multan folded for 153 and conceded a 161-run lead. Centurion Azhar Mahmood, the captain, took 3 for 45 for Islamabad and medium-pacer Bilal Asad excelled with figures of 4 for 13 in 11.2 overs. In Islamabad’s second-innings 163 for 3 opener Raheel Majeed hit a 76-ball 71in just short of two hours, with 10 fours and three sixes.With four wins and a full 36 points, Islamabad have already qualified for the Silver League final, scheduled to be played from February 7. Multan, second-placed in the five-team table, have 21 points but now appear to be in danger of losing their position to Abbottabad.

7.5 Rahul DravidProduced two hundreds under pressure, in an unfamiliar role as opener, and helped India to fighting draws in the opening two games. He shuffled around his options in the field and sent out aggressive signals by picking five specialist bowlers for the second Test, but he will always rue his twin failures in the decisive game.7 Mahendra Singh DhoniMet fire with fire when India were on a slippery slope at Faisalabad, racing to a fabulous maiden Test hundred. Barring a couple of missed opportunities, had a fine series behind the stumps.7 Irfan Pathan
Came back strongly after a torrid time on the first two days of the series. But he soaked up the pressure in his crucial 90 and turned in an improved bowling performance in the second innings. Hat-trick will remain a career-high, regardless of the result.6.5 Yuvraj Singh
Spanked a vital 45 and a glorious hundred in a losing cause at Karachi, and fell to an impetuous pull shot in his only other innings in the series. He was outstanding in the field, snaffling a sensational catch at a crucial juncture at Faisalabad.6.5 RP Singh
Snapped up four wickets on an impressive debut at Faisalabad and but fell away a bit in the crucial second innings at Karachi. Overall, it was a promising beginning to his Test career.6.5 Zaheer Khan
Enjoyed a good return to the international fold and ended with 10 wickets, the most by an Indian in the series. Appeared jaded in the second innings at Karachi but was impressive enough to earn a recall into the one-day side.6 Virender Sehwag
Thundered a devastating 254 at Lahore, leading a most stunning riposte when faced with a mammoth total. Failed in all three innings that followed, and was hampered by an illness mid-way through the series.5.5 VVS Laxman
Steadied the ship at Faisalabad with a stylish 90. Was on the receiving end of two Mohammad Asif jaffas at Karachi and was cleaned up for cheap scores.5.5 Sourav Ganguly
Displayed tremendous composure in the first innings at Karachi, before falling for a loose stroke, and played another assured knock in the second innings. Bowled some handy overs and took a blinding catch at Lahore.5 Anil Kumble
Toiled away for 143 overs in the series, on pitches hardly suited to his style. Ended with nine wickets but will probably look back at this as the most forgettable series in recent memory.4 Sachin Tendulkar
Didn’t come to terms with Shoaib’s pace and, despite promising much in his brief stint in the second innings at Karachi, finished with a miserable average of 21.3.5 Harbhajan SinghWent wicketless after struggling throughout. He made no impression on featherbeds used for the opening two Tests and was dropped for the third.3.5 Ajit Agarkar
Had a tough time on a pancake-flat pitch at Lahore, picking up two wickets and being carted for more than five an over. Suffered a hamstring injury at Faisalabad and missed the next two games.

ScorecardGlenn McGrath and Stuart MacGill shared eight wickets to end Victoria’s ambitions for a berth in the final. The 114-run defeat inflicted on them by New South Wales meant they failed to secure the two points for a place in the ING Cup decider. Tasmania, only a point ahead, will now take on Queensland in the final on Sunday.McGrath dismissed the first four batsmen to leave Victoria reeling at 4 for 61. MacGill then claimed one before coming in for severe punishment, particularly at the hands of Cameron White, whose 61 contained four sixes. But MacGill struck back, removing White and Shane Warne within an over to effectively halt Victoria’s tournament. The match ended with Victoria all out for 152.A blazing 96 by Brad Haddin took New South Wales to 4 for 266. NSW’s innings began with a 106-run stand between Simon Katich and Michael Clarke. Katich’s 78 took 100 balls, but Clarke, who scored 35, had a strike-rate of less than 50. Clarke’s dismissal brought Haddin to the crease, and the runs began to flow immediately. Haddin’s innings contained three sixes, five fours and gave the innings an impetus it did not lose even when Katich and Matthew Phelps fell within four balls of each other.

England v South Africa, third Test, Trent Bridge, Day 1

It has been a familiar sight on the first day of all three Tests in this series: a left-hander pinging the ball to all parts. The good news for England was that this time it wasn’t Graeme Smith bashing the boundary-boards, it was Mark Butcher.It was Butcher’s eighth Test century and, with the possible exception of his matchwinning effort against Australia at Headingley in 2001, his best. His hundred included 21 fours, a very high percentage, almost all of them solid and sure. He reached three figures by easing one off his legs to the midwicket boundary, in a carbon copy of so many of Smith’s runs so far in this series.Since that seminal knock against Australia, which came at a time when he was unsure of his place, Butcher has made five Test centuries – more than anyone for England except Michael Vaughan – and inked his name in for as long as that clunking off-drive remains well-oiled. It remains an oddity, both statistical and cricketing, that Butcher has not played a single one-day international to put alongside his 55 Tests.His partner in a saving stand today, Nasser Hussain, rode his luck to collect his 13th Test century. Hussain started scratchily, narrowly avoiding Marcus Trescothick’s fate of getting out to the innocuous-looking induckers of Andrew Hall: one wobbled past dangerously close to the bat on its way through to Mark Boucher.But later Hall felt the rough edge of the bat as Hussain also dealt in bountiful boundaries, smacking 17 in all. Any doubts about his hunger for Test runs were quashed when he celebrated his hundred in typical Nasser style: left-fist pumping up and down accompanied by some barking expletives to no-one in particular, but to anyone who would listen.Ed Smith had a nervy wait, and a longer one than usual for an England No. 5 these days. He followed his first-ball block off Shaun Pollock with a bashful anxious smile reminiscent of a young Prince William facing the media, but then grew impressively into his role as the form-horse in the England pack.There was a defining moment shortly before tea. Just after dropping onto one knee to cream Hall through point for four, Hussain top-edged obligingly between the back-rushing Boucher and the incoming Ntini. It just showed that, after all the heartache of Edgbaston and Lord’s, this really was England’s day.Steven Lynch is editor of Wisden CricInfo.Click here for today’s bulletin

As long as they had taken the precaution of packing sunscreen as well as a coat, and perhaps even an umbrella for the journey home, spectators at the opening of this Pura Cup match between Victoria and Queensland couldn’t have had too many grounds for complaint today. Because, around weather which underscored Melbourne’s capacity to produce a full range of seasons in the course of one day, they saw Matthew Hayden play a glorious innings and watched his Test teammate Shane Warne help to offset its impact by igniting a collapse.As the Pura Cup finalists of the last two seasons were drawn into battle, the first day rapidly looked like becoming a no-contest. Having won the toss and gained a decided advantage by having the first chance to bat on a placid pitch, the Queenslanders were quick to assert the authority that they have consistently hawked over the Victorians in big matches over recent years.Hayden (145*) was at the heart of the Bulls’ progress en route to a scoreline of 7/305 by the time that bad light fatally intervened, joining with Jimmy Maher (96) in an opening stand of 176, and then forging another union of 74 with Martin Love (33) for the second wicket.A near-flawless exhibition of strokeplay from Hayden delivered his second first-class century in the space of five days, albeit that he initially played second fiddle to the even more aggressive Maher. His shotmaking was typically authoritative and, in replicating many of the methods that brought him success against spin bowling on Australia’s recent tour of India, he also looked the most capable batsman against the Bushrangers’ two best bowlers – Warne (3/90) and Colin Miller (1/81).Only one wicket fell – and even that came courtesy of a brilliant running catch from Mathew Inness as he raced in some 20 metres off the fine leg fence to claim a top edged sweep from Maher at full stretch – in the opening four-and-a-half hours, and very few false shots were even played.As the temperature cooled and sunny skies gave way to overcast ones, though, the state of the match altered in kind. It wasn’t only the almost mass donning of jumpers which made the two teams look completely different, but also Victoria’s sudden capacity to gain movement from a previously barren surface and to hold some difficult catches instead of dropping them.Thirty minutes into the final session, medium pacer Ian Harvey (2/36) convinced Umpire Parry of the merits of an lbw decision against Love and the shift was under way. Harvey had endured a frustrating morning, spilling particularly difficult chances at slip from Warne’s bowling when Maher was on 22 and Hayden on 41 respectively, but wasted little time in turning matters around. The second scalp in a procession that saw five crash in total for the addition of just 11 runs came when Clinton Perren (1) drove outside the line of a ball that seamed back marginally at him.The Bushrangers’ recovery was assisted by further controversial lbw decisions against Andrew Symonds (1), struck as he came well forward to defend a ball that pitched only a few inches in front of his lunging front pad, and Stuart Law (3), who seemed to inside edge another Warne delivery into his pads.And great catching also helped: short leg fieldsman Jason Arnberger magnificently intercepting a shot played off the toes by Wade Seccombe (1) and Warne hanging on to the proceeds of a slash to end a mini-revival from Hayden and Andy Bichel (15).Whatever was on the Victorians’ menu at tea now looks likely to be incorporated into their diets on a more regular basis.

Southampton could find themselves in the hat for the FA Cup quarter-final draw tomorrow, should they overcome the challenge that sits before them tonight, in the shape of high-flying Champions League-hopefuls West Ham.

The mood around the St Mary’s Stadium is one of excitement, with Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl guiding the club into the top half of the Premier League table, following a string of impressive performances.

With just three players confirmed as injured and unavailable, the Austrian manager hasn’t given too much away in terms of which players will be given the nod to start the game.

“Everybody [who is fit] is in contention and everyone has the chance to play tomorrow,” said Hasenhuttl at his pre-match press conference. “I have not decided yet 100 per cent what we are doing tomorrow.

“We have another session before where we can try a few things and we will see who gets the chance to play.”

With all of that in mind, here’s how we think the Saints will line up tonight against the Hammers, with four changes expected from the team which started against Norwich last Friday.

After being the highest-rated performer according to SofaScore in Southampton’s 2-1 victory against Coventry in the FA Cup fourth round, we expect 40-year-old Willy Caballero to return between the sticks tonight, in place of £72k-per-week earner Fraser Forster.

Meanwhile, in defence, Tino Livramento – who has just come back from injury, may give way for Frenchman Romain Perraud, with Kyle Walker-Peters returning to right-back.

In midfield, we expect Mohamed Elyounoussi to be replaced by £10m signing Nathan Redmond, who has returned from injury after a month out, while 22-year-old Ibrahima Diallo could give Oriol Romeu a much-deserved rest.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Up top, Adam Armstrong is our pick to come in to replace Che Adams, who has played a lot of football recently.

Meanwhile, Armando Broja retains his place due to his recent form making him virtually undroppable in our opinion.

In other news: Forget Tino: Southampton gem with “super football intelligence” is their breakout star – opinion

Former fast bowler Pramodya Wickramasinghe will head Sri Lanka’s new national selection committee, which picks both men’s and women’s senior squads. Also in the committee are former cricketers Vinothen John, Indika de Saram, Rasanjali de Alwis (nee Silva), and Tharanga Paranavitana.While the committee headed by Upul Tharanga is now defunct, there is some continuity for this fresh committee, with Paranavitana and de Saram also having served under Tharanga. Wickramasinghe has been chief selector before – between 2021 and 2023 – with Sri Lanka men’s poor performance in the 2023 World Cup prompting his removal. He was also part of a selection committee headed by Sanath Jayasuriya – now head coach – between 2013 and 2015.The change in selectors was announced by Sri Lanka’s sports ministry. SLC chief executive Ashley de Silva said the board had been involved in the process. Sri Lanka’s Sports Law dictates that such appointments go through the sports ministry.”Sri Lanka Cricket sends a list of about ten names to the ministry, and they have chosen from that,” de Silva told ESPNcricinfo. “There is no term as such. The appointment is until further notice.”De Silva also said that the Tharanga-led committee had simply come to the end of its term. Internally, there had been no push towards extending their term until the end of the men’s T20 World Cup in February and March. In fact, it had been a little over three weeks ago that Tharanga suggested captain Charith Asalanka may be replaced in the coming weeks. That decision now passes to the new committee, whose first major assignment will be to select the World Cup squad.All five members of this new committee have represented Sri Lanka at the highest level. Both Paranavitana and de Saram played domestic cricket into this decade. John is the oldest selector among them, having played his last match for Sri Lanka in 1987.