Tag Futebol

An important win at the toss, an impressive all-round performance with bat and ball, and poor batting from its opponents, has helped Tasmania into a commanding position after just one day’s play of the Pura Cup clash against Victoria here in Hobart today.By stumps, the Tigers were within a single run of claiming first innings points, having reached 3/139 on the back of a fine unbeaten half century from Michael Dighton (63*), in response to the visitors’ paltry total of 139 all out.The Tasmanians claimed their first win at the toss of their entire first-class season, and used it to maximum effect on a Bellerive Oval pitch that supplied its traditional early assistance to the seamers. Though it wasn’t a wholly auspicious start, with many deliveries bowled too wide on either side of the wicket, the locals made up for lost ground in the middle session, sealing a collapse which saw nine of their opponents’ wickets tumble for the addition of just 79 runs.The Victorians had been 1/60 only 14 minutes before lunch but completely lost their way with a mixture of poor strokes and lapses in judgement. Pacemen Damien Wright (3/53) and David Saker (2/30) were the destroyers-in-chief, though debutant left arm spinner Xavier Doherty (2/23) was also impressive in his first outing, perhaps never more so than when his very first touch at the elite level brought the run out of Jason Arnberger (1) with a brilliant one handed pick-up at mid wicket and direct hit at the bowler’s end.Doherty went from hero at that moment to villain within 40 minutes when he grassed a regulation catch as Matthew Elliott (29) drove to him at mid off with his score at 22. And then back to a starring status again when he took the last two wickets to fall with flighted deliveries that deceived a pair of Victorian tailenders.Only Elliott and Matthew Mott (30) genuinely stood firm for Victoria.A disciplined Victorian attack hit back quickly when it dismissed Jamie Cox (2) padding up and followed it with the wickets of an aggressive Scott Mason (30), also ostensibly trapped in front without playing an authentic stroke, and Shane Watson (4) to a feathered hook down the leg side.But Dighton, together with a patient Daniel Marsh (28*), defied the visitors in an unbroken 54-run liaison. His play was near-flawless on a pitch still offering significant seam movement.The news simply went from bad to worse for the visitors. Key bowler Damien Fleming (1/15) tore his hamstring in just his sixth over and looks like doing no more bowling in the match. Colin Miller, forced to substitute for him, didn’t look best pleased by events either after being made twelfth man at the outset of what proved a dismal day for the Bushrangers.

With the flick of a coin, Hyderabad ruined Mumbai’s best laidplans. Mohammed Azharuddin began well, winning the toss and puttingMumbai in to bat. The preparation of the wicket and indeed their teamcomposition banked on the fact that Mumbai would get the first go withthe ball. Denying them this advantage, Hyderabad did well to restrictMumbai to 303/6 on the opening day of the Ranji Trophy final at theWankhede stadium on Wednesday, despite a fighting century from VinodKambli.Nevertheless, Mumbai had the batting to set up a good platform.Sameer Dighe and Wasim Jaffer took on Narendrapal Singh and Fiaz Ahmedin an interesting first few overs. Though the two Hyderabad mediumpacers generated good nip off the wicket, it took them six overs tobreak through.Dighe left his bat hanging limply in the air outside the off stump andedged a Fiaz Ahmed delivery straight to Azharuddin at slip. Azhar hastaken too many catches at that position to miss out.Jatin Paranjpe joined an increasingly confident Jaffer out in themiddle and pushed the scoring on. At the end of the 10th over, spin inthe form of Venkatapathy Raju was introduced into the attack. Rajubowled a tidy little spell but was taken off after he had completedthree overs conceding just four runs.Narendrapal had his first wicket when Jaffer slashed a ball from wideoutside off stump straight to Raju at point. Jafffer looked good formore but succumbed on 32.That short man with the stout heart and broad blade walked out to themiddle amidst rapturous applause from an adoring Mumbai crowd. SachinTendulkar was once again in command of the proceedings. Every looseball on offer was treated with generous servings of contempt. Drivingthrough the line with supreme power and ease, Tendulkar raced to 14including three boundaries.Having played solidly for 10 runs, Paranjpe found himself at the wrongend of an LBW appeal. Struck just outside the off stump, Paranjpelooked at the umpire in disbelief as the dreaded finger sent thesouthpaw on his way.School mate and long time friend Vinod Kambli joined Tendulkar out inthe middle and the two took the attack to Venkatpathy Raju. Smashinghim back over his head with regularity, the pair toyed with thebowling and dictated the field placement. Raju’s fifth over costHyderabad 15 runs. Medium pacer Vanka Pratap peppered Kambli withshort pitched stuff and was viciously pulled away to the mid wicketboundary on each occasion.The Mumbai hundred came up just before lunch. After the run feast inthe semifinal against Tamil Nadu, this was a rather sedate start.When Tendulkar slashed hard at an off spinner from Raju and was caughtbehind, the match seemed to lose all its fizz. The crowd quieteneddown, the pace of the game slowed down and that was that.Kambli assumed the mantle of senior batsman. The usually stylish AmolMuzumdar came down the wicket prematurely and was beaten in the air byRaju. He chipped the ball straight to Satwalkar at cover and it wasall upto Kambli and the Mumbai tail.Paras Mhambrey who has done a fair bit with the bat in this seasonalone kept Kambli good company. He played with a straight bat and waspredominantly defensive in his approach. At tea Mumbai were 238/5.Kambli, 83 at the interval, got to his hundred, a well deserved onegiven the circumstances. “I think it was a mature knock” he told thepress at the end of the day. An emotional Kambli was also quick to add”I looked up to the sky because I knew my mother would be watchingme. In the last match I could not make a hundred and wasdisappointed. This century I would like to dedicate to the memory ofmy mother.”The day ended with quasi all rounders Ajit Agarkar (14) and Mhambrey(38) at the crease. At this stage the match could go either way.

According to the Independent, Champions League winners Liverpool have no intention of pursuing Lyon star Nabil Fekir.

It was only a year ago that Liverpool, fresh from their fourth-place finish, were on the cusp of completing a transfer coup which would have seen them acquire the Frenchman for £53 million – a move so close to being wrapped up that the player had undergone the formalities, been interviewed and photographed in a shirt, when they pulled out at the last over worries about a reoccurring knee problem.

They claim rumours from France would have you believe that Klopp is still interested in the 25-year-old, who scored 12 goals and created nine more this season, but despite only having 12 months remaining on his current contract, it is understood that the club’s stance has not changed since the player failed his medical.

It really is telling that Liverpool, despite losing out on the Premier League title by a single point, are willing to let this deal pass. The fact that they don’t need a player we consider to be one of the brightest in Europe, having bagged 69 goals and 46 assists in all competitions for Les Gones, while other teams may jump at the opportunity if given the chance, truly speaks volumes about the faith Klopp has in his current players. Individuals like Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Jordan Henderson, who aren’t necessarily world beaters but are “Liverpool” players through and through; hardworking, dedicated, selfless and passionate.

Attacking midfield might be a slight problem, yes, and someone like Fekir would naturally fit in a role like that, but there are options in the squad and it does appear as if the Reds value what they currently have – or who they can potentially get – more. After all, it’d be hard to argue against the club’s transfer policy in recent years.

Indeed, the Reds need to avoid nit-picking luxury stars like Fekir – who is a World Cup winner keep in mind – to ensure they don’t spoil the balance and chemistry permeating through their current squad.

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.

---

Subscribe

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

Their philosophy and faith in their current players take precedence over any individual talent, no matter how good, and that’s what has allowed the group to form such an evidently special relationship together – a real “team” bond, one Andy Robertson talked up to the Daily Mail last month.

Liverpool fans, do you think there’s still a place for Fakir in your squad? Where do you think you need to strengthen this season? Let us know in the comments below…

First Division

	Dimitri Mascarenhas falls to the sweep as Hampshire get close to victory but end up holding on for a draw against Surrey © Getty Images

Hampshire were left clinging on for a draw at The Rose Bowl with Saqlain Mushtaq’s 5 for 74 giving Surrey a chance of forcing a win in the final session, although the home side also finished close to their target. Set 281 in 75 overs after Matt Nicholson (73) and Jimmy Ormond (64 not out) took their stand to 140, Hampshire lost Michael Carberry early but appeared comfortable at 110 for 1. Saqlain then trapped Jimmy Adams and Michael Lumb lbw in quick succession as he started to pick off steady wickets. Brown was also lbw, six short of his century, leaving Sean Ervine (51) to hold the fort until he thumped a full toss to extra cover off Ormond, who was by now bowling offspin due to the fading light. Then Saqlain removed Dimitri Mascarenhas, caught at deep backward square, and Greg Lamb was out playing a reverse sweep as Hampshire kept going for the target. In the end it needed the injured Chris Tremlett to block 14 balls and young wicketkeeper Tim Burrows 18 to save the game, with Hampshire 34 runs short of a victory themselves.Murray Goodwin’s century helped Sussex avoid defeat against Somerset at Taunton, where the match finished in a subdued draw. The visitors began the day with nine wickets in hand and needed another 318, or to bat all day, to avoid an innings defeat. The flat final-day pitch helped their cause considerably as Goodwin and Michael Yardy (78) were hardly troubled by the Somerset attack. Eventually Yardy was caught at second slip trying to drive Steffan Jones, but Goodwin found another ally in Chris Adams and the pair’s unbeaten 117-run stand continued to frustrate Somerset. The hosts took the new ball with 26 overs remaining but they found no further success, although Goodwin had a life on 84 when he edged between the wicketkeeper and first slip off Zander de Bruyn. When bad light stopped play at 4.45pm with Sussex on 272 for 3, Goodwin was unbeaten on 106 and Adams had 39. It was a disappointing end for Somerset, who had to settle for 12 points despite dominating the match with a huge first innings total of 557.

Team	Mat	Won	Lost	Tied	Draw	Aban	Pts
Nottinghamshire	4	2	1	0	1	0	56
Surrey	4	0	0	0	4	0	38
Sussex	4	0	0	0	4	0	36
Lancashire	4	1	1	0	2	0	34
Durham	3	1	1	0	1	0	33
Yorkshire	3	1	1	0	1	0	33
Hampshire	4	0	1	0	3	0	32
Kent	3	1	1	0	1	0	29
Somerset	3	0	0	0	3	0	27

Second Division

Stephen Moore became the first batsman to pass 500 Championship runs as Worcestershire battled to a draw against Gloucestershire after following on at New Road. Moore made 84 before edging to gully in a far-improved batting display, while useful efforts from Vikram Solanki and Graeme Hick saved the game on another rain-hit day. Worcestershire’s first innings ended on 214 when Simon Jones became legspinner Matthew Gitsham’s maiden first-class wicket.Derbyshire had to fight to secure a draw against Glamorgan as Alex Wharf and Jamie Dalrymple shared five wickets to keep the home side in with a chance of victory at Sophia Gardens. When Dominic Telo was caught by Jason Gillespie at mid-off, Derbyshire were still six behind. Dan Birch set his stall out for a rearguard effort, facing 136 balls for 43 until he was trapped lbw Dalrymple, who also removed Jonathan Clare to create some late alarms. But Graham Wagg and Jake Needham negotiated half an hour and fading light prevented David Hemp recalling his quick bowlers. Robert Croft was miserly all day, conceding 27 runs from 29 overs.

Team	Mat	Won	Lost	Tied	Draw	Aban	Pts
Leicestershire	4	1	0	0	3	0	48
Warwickshire	4	1	0	0	3	0	48
Essex	3	2	1	0	0	0	45
Derbyshire	4	1	0	0	3	0	39
Glamorgan	3	1	0	0	2	0	38
Worcestershire	4	0	0	0	4	0	38
Gloucestershire	3	0	1	0	2	0	25
Northamptonshire	4	0	2	0	2	0	25
Middlesex	3	0	2	0	1	0	22

Danesh Kaneria offers a quick prayer after picking up his 200th wicket in Tests © Getty Images

Good morning, Pakistan
Jacques Kallis played with intent yesterday, scoring his 25th Test century, and taking the game away from the home side. Although he slowed down after reaching his hundred, he started in fifth gear this morning. In one over early on, Mohammad Asif was first guided down past point for a four, then driven, straight-backed to extra cover for another, and finally flicked to square leg for the third boundary of the over. The tone was already set.Unlucky mate
Kamran Akmal has dropped too many catches recently, especially off Danish Kaneria. He gave Kallis a life yesterday on 36, but when the spinner came round the wicket today, Kallis having added 119, a faint edge was gratefully accepted. Someone quipped, ‘caught Akmal’ is the unluckiest dismissal in cricket today. The joy was obvious on Kaneria’s face; the relief, on Akmal’s.Another catch, more joy
Having dismissed Kallis, Kaneria persisted in exploiting the rough outside the right-hander’s leg-stump. However, as he pitched one on the middle to the left-handed Ashwell Prince, it was the lack of spin, and bounce, that resulted in a return catch, held with both hands and a beaming smile. The reason? It was wicket number 200, duly celebrated with fist-pumping and a turf kiss.Catch of the day
Kallis might have thought his work was done when he was placed at first slip, perhaps aware of Mohammad Hafeez’s frailties outside off. Paul Harris was getting sharp turn and bounce and Hafeez, bogged down by an immaculate line and some sharp fielding, tried guiding one such ball past slip. Out shot a diving right hand, however, and duly followed a walk to the pavilion, Kallis taking a startling catch inches off the ground. He went on to take a wicket as well; not bad for a 31-year old not deemed right for his country’s Twenty20 squad.The way the pitch crumbles
Hashim Amla made it clear on the first day that this was a crumbling pitch and will only deteriorate more as time goes on. Younis Khan knows exactly what he means after he was dismissed by Andre Nel. Pitched at a three-quarter length, the ball should have easily gone over the stumps. Instead, it crashed into the lower half of the middle stump, Younis almost doubled over. With one Paul Harris ball crashing into Mark Boucher’s mouth, it isn’t going to get any easier.Are we in South Africa still?
Akmal and Hafeez were blazing away as Pakistan reached 52 for no loss after 10. It was, by far, their best start at the ICC World Twenty20 … except of course, this wasn’t Twenty20. With Akmal racing to 42 off 34 balls, it was easy to forget this was a Test match. When Misbah-ul-Haq later chased and edged a ball so wide, he did forget. Of course, paddling it over fine leg was an option, but clearly no one heard Shoaib Malik’s reminder that this was a Test match not a Twenty20.

Judah Reuben, who umpired ten Tests in India between 1969-70 and 1976-77, has died at his Mumbai home after a fall. He was 84.Reuben’s international career started and ended amid controversy. His debut, in the India-Australia Test at Eden Gardens, came in a match marred by rioting, and his last match at Madras is best remembered for being the one where England’s John Lever was accused of cheating after using a gauze strip soaked in Vaseline to counteract sweating.Reuben worked as a finger print expert in the Mumbai police.

Scorecard
Nerves were on edge as Barbados defeated the Windward Islands by one run in a dramatic third round match of the KFC Cup yesterday.All and sundry at the Cable & Wireless ground, Wildey, kept their eyes fixed on the middle in fading light when fast bowler Corey Collymore ran in from the south to bowl the third-to-last over with seven runs required and two wickets standing.Needing 221 for victory off 50 overs, the Windwards recovered significantly from 129 for six in the 34th through an 81-run partnership off 14.1 overs between captain Rawl Lewis with 38 from 56 balls, and Liam Sebastien, the fellow all-rounder, who was left high and dry on 43 without facing a ball in the final over.The pair kept Barbados under pressure with excellent running between the wicket apart from a few telling boundaries and seemingly had victory secured when Collymore plucked out Lewis’ leg stump with a yorker off the last ball of the 48th over, leaving the score 210 for seven. Ronald Etienne was then leg before wicket by Sulieman Benn, the left-arm spinner, without scoring as he played across a full-length ball in the next over which yielded four runs.Mervyn Matthew was bowled off the first delivery of the final over and last man Alvin LaFuille could only find short midwicket three times as a helpless Sebastien looked on. With six runs required off the last delivery, LaFuille managed an edge to the fine-leg boundary – the total ending on 219 for nine – as Barbados celebrated their second win to join their victims on eight points.Sebastien’s only consolation was the man-of-the-match award. Apart from his knock, which took 39 balls and included five fours, he picked up two for 42 with his off-breaks. Earlier, Barbados, powered by opener Dale Richards’ 71, scored 220 in 48.4 overs.

The key wicket: Stephen Fleming bowled by Glenn McGrath© Getty Images

Bangladesh 97 and 178 (Bashar 54, Al Sahariar 36; MacGill 5-65) lost to Australia 407 for 7 dec
Scorecard
Day 2 Bulletin

Man of the Match Steve Waugh applauds the crowd

Australia just upped the pressure and Bangladesh folded 7.1 overs afterlunch on the third day of their first Test in Darwin today, the home side completing a comprehensive win by an innings and 132 runs.The end came quickly for Bangladesh, who lost their last nine wickets for 89 runs. It was their ninth loss in 20 Tests in under three days, and their 11th innings defeat in the last 13 Tests. Stuart MacGill had a good day on the field and finished with 5 for 65, his seventh five-wicket haul in Tests.Bangladesh paid the price for the loss of three topand middle-order batsmen in the space of eight balls near the end of the morning session. They proved unable to read, or negotiate, MacGill’s wrong ‘un and while some lusty hitting – more desperation than calculated counter-attack – reduced the final margin of defeat, it was still another debilitating loss for the tourists against an Australian side that was still not firing on a full head of steam.The Test was played on a slow wicket, and Australia, at this time of the year, would generally have expected to be relaxing at home, following their favourite football teams during the winter. The early finish today will probably allow them to catch the action on television from the comfort of their hotel suites.Steve Waugh was named man of the match and gained exclusive ownership of the title of the most successful captain in Test cricket history to go alongside the various other records this team has secured under hisleadership. His 37 Test victories were one more than Clive Lloyd enjoyed during his time in charge of West Indies. And there was thesatisfaction, for one who is imbued with the tradition of the game, ofcompleting a century against each of the opposing nine nations – something he shares with South Africa’s Gary Kirsten.For Bangladesh, Habibul Bashar showed why he has to be regarded as their best batsman, and it was significant that after his dismissal for 54, his 12th half-century, the rot set into the innings. Going tolunch at 142 for 6, it was only a matter of time before the end came, aprocess Jason Gillespie sped up when he bowled Khaled Mahmud for five off the last ball of the first over after the break.Moshrafe Mortaza, in typical fast bowler’s style, relished the chance to swing the willow like an axe. He hammered 14 runs from a MacGill over, including a six and two fours, but his six-ball innings was ended when Darren Lehmann ran him out with a direct hit from backward square leg.Al Sahariar dominated the latter part of the innings with some attacking strokeplay, and it was his dismissal for 36, caught and bowled by MacGill running toward the cover region, that ended the match.The off-season cricket roadshow heads across to the east coast for thesecond Test starting in Cairns on Friday but given the continuing incapacity of Bangladesh’s batsmen to build an innings by graft and application it is difficult to see the result being any different.

And so it has come to pass.Lou Vincent will be required to overcome the sadly predictable ineffectiveness of New Zealand’s opening partnership on the tour of Australia.New Zealand was always going to be fighting history on this point, and it has succumbed to that history.This situation is of no particular joy to anyone.Last summer when it seemed Mark Richardson and Matthew Bell had provided an answer to New Zealand cricket’s open and weeping sore, the opening positions, there was genuine hope that this was going to be a partnership that would genuinely flourish.It wasn’t an instant fix however, and was something that needed to be worked on.There was no reason why, when the New Zealand team was named to tour Australia, that the pressure the selectors were keen to place on the middle-order by selecting Vincent, could not be extended to the vulnerable opening position.The selectors decided not to include Matthew Horne and they said at that time that if there were problems at the top of the order, Vincent would be the player asked to do the job.As stated earlier the situation is of no joy.It is difficult for the replaced Bell who demanded inclusion in the New Zealand team by virtue of the sheer weight of runs he scored in domestic cricket last year. But with his change of batting stance in the earlier stages of this year’s tour and his reversion to the style he used last year for the second Test, he is clearly a player down on his confidence.His replacement Vincent may have opened the batting at earlier stages in his career, but the point remains that the niche he has carved for himself has been in the middle-order and that is what attracted the national selectors to consider his case.His selection achieved its aim of putting the pressure on the middle-order, who have generally had a much more consistent series, but it is sad that his Test debut will not be in that comfort zone.Napoleon’s claim that those who forget the lessons of the past are doomed to repeat them are borne out here as yet another tour of Australia throws up the problems experienced by opening batsmen.While Vincent’s competitive nature is such that he could well make a good fist of the job required, and he has had some experience opening, it has not been on a consistent level by comparison with his middle-order batting.Had Horne been on the tour, perhaps in place of one of the bowlers, the openers might well have felt the pressure of competition for their places with the resultant application competition usually provides.Now the situation facing the selectors when they return to New Zealand for the National Bank Series against Bangladesh is whether they recall Bell, or give Horne the chance against the lesser Bangladesh attack with a view to ensuring this problem is not a factor in New Zealand’s series against England.