Nicholas Pooran on his 100th T20I: 'I feel like I can play a hundred more'

The West Indies batter has had an extraordinary year in the format, and looks set to go further, faster

Philip Spooner14-Nov-2024Nicholas Pooran arrived at Kensington Oval on Sunday afternoon fully prepped for the second T20I against England, his 100th international in the format. He gave thanks for another day to showcase his flamboyant batting, knowing there was a time when it seemed like he might never play again.”It’s what I love to do. I just love playing cricket, it’s what I wanted to do from a child and I get to live my dream,” he said.”Everyone knows my story: when I had the accident [in 2015], when many people felt I would never play cricket again. At the time I felt playing cricket again was impossible. When I recovered in the hospital the first thing I asked was if I would be able to play cricket again.”Now I’m on both feet and I enjoy everything I do for West Indies cricket and for the fans who come to see me play. I play for them. When the fans are around that is when the magic happens. There was a time during the pandemic when we had no fans [in the stands]… that felt strange. I always give thanks for my blessings. Having represented West Indies in my 100th T20I is a special feeling… I feel like I can play a hundred more.”Hearing the West Indies anthem and seeing the fans celebrating West Indies cricket is what makes me happy. As a little boy growing up, I used to love to see Brian Lara and hearing Ian Bishop’s voice on TV, that’s what I enjoyed as a young fan… so that inspired me.”Related

  • Pooran: 'One bad season is not going to change the player I am' (2022)

  • Pooran: 'The complete T20 batsman can bat at 135, 140 and 200 SR'

  • How Nicholas Pooran came back from the brink (2017)

Off the cricket field, Pooran is soft-spoken, mild-mannered and engaging. On it, he is vocal and demonstrative behind the stumps with the gloves on and sensational in front of the stumps with bat in hand.Ahead of the England series, he had scored 2251 T20 runs at an average of 45 and a strike rate of 161 in 67 innings in 2024 – a record for most T20 runs in a calendar year. His 165 sixes is also 65 more than the next highest batter on the 2024 list.”In the last 14 months I have been playing really well and winning games. Everything is happening nicely. I’m still pretty young and I believe I still have a lot of cricket left in me.”There is a still a lot I want to accomplish, there is still a lot to win. I believe this is the start for me… I will remain humble, and I will remain grounded and be the best version of myself. I want to continue to put smiles on the faces of my fans.”Sunday was a bit of a blip on this otherwise stellar year of performances. As far as landmarks go, this one was not marked by anything memorable or marvellous. There was no signature special edition “Pooran” jersey with “100” emblazoned on his back, and he did not send the colourful crowd into a frenzy with his 14 off 23 balls in an seven-wicket defeat to England, which put West Indies on the back foot, trailing 0-2 in the five-match series.Eight years ago in the UAE, Pooran made a slow start to his career and recorded scores of 5, 4 and 16 against a potent Pakistan attack. He was the rookie in the camp, but he was surrounded by a wealth of experience, including Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Bravo, Samuel Badree and Sunil Narine — and he learned the ropes quickly.”It was my first match, and I was delighted to get my first cap from the team manager, Joel Garner. Everyone made me feel at home in the West Indies dressing room, and I felt that my journey started.”I wanted to be a household name. I wanted people to want to watch me bat. Whether it’s 7 o’clock in the night or 4 o’clock in the morning. I wanted to put smiles on people’s faces. I want to continue to share the talent I have been blessed with from my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”

Bangladesh kingpin Shakib once again proves he's the man for big moments

Mehidy Hasan Miraz was the hero of the chase, but it was Shakib Al Hasan who set up Bangladesh’s win with an outstanding spell

Mohammad Isam05-Dec-20222:11

Jaffer suggests Shakib deserves more recognition

Shakib Al Hasan should have stolen the headlines for his five-wicket haul in the first ODI against India, but it was Mehidy Hasan Miraz who got most of the attention in the end. Either way, the home side’s dramatic one-wicket win has replaced the FIFA World Cup for prominence in the local media.Brazil and Argentina flags had adorned hundreds of buildings around the Shere Bangla National Stadium. Many spectators came wearing football jerseys. There was the odd Argentina flag in the stands too, with a full house for most of the first ODI – up until when the win looked comfortable for Bangladesh. Then their team slipped and several fans didn’t stay till the end. Those who did, witnessed a miracle. By the end of the evening, Shakib and Co. had made sure they had firmly turned the fans’ attention back to cricket.Related

'I kept telling myself I can do this' – Mehidy

Mehidy the hero as Bangladesh script thrilling win

Rahul ready to don keeper role 'whenever the team wants'

It was Shakib who did the star turn in the first half of the game. It was his blockbuster first over, an economical spell and a fine finish that combined to give him his first five-for against India. His 5 for 36 is his third-best figures in ODIs, and also the best by a left-arm spinner against India. The visitors couldn’t recover from his regular blows, and coupled with Ebadot Hossain’s maiden four-wicket haul, India were kept to 186, the second-lowest total for which they have been bowled out by Bangladesh in ODIs.Shakib swung the game with his first four deliveries. Second ball, he bowled an arm ball that zipped past Rohit Sharma, who was waiting for it to spin. Then he had Virat Kohli caught at cover by a sprawling Litton Das.When Washington Sundar and KL Rahul began to put up a bit of resistance, it was time to reintroduce Shakib again. Third ball into his third spell, he had Sundar caught by Ebadot at point. He then produced another wicket-taking delivery to remove Shardul Thakur with a ball that turned to beat his outside edge before hitting the off stump. Two balls later, Shakib completed his five-for with a regulation lbw against Deepak Chahar.Coming into the series, Bangladesh – and Shakib – did not have much to celebrate. Shakib had underperformed in the recent T20 World Cup where Bangladesh were knocked out in the group stage, scoring just 44 runs across five matches and taking six wickets. In the tri-series against New Zealand and Pakistan before the World Cup, in which Bangladesh remained winless and Shakib experimented with a curved run-up, he shone with the bat but he went wicketless in the three matches. And just last week he was hit for five sixes in an over by Nicholas Pooran in the Abu Dhabi T10. Since the end of May this year, he has only 10 wickets in 15 international matches across formats, with an average of 44.70 and a strike rate of 50.40.Shakib Al Hasan had many reasons to celebrate against India•WaltonShakib has had his share of lows over the past few years – from disciplinary issues to concerns around his form – but, at the same time, he’s always played a role in Bangladesh’s big moments. Think back to his 114* against New Zealand in the 2017 Champions Trophy (which came amid murmurs that there were some who wanted him dropped from the XI), or his ten-for in Bangladesh’s maiden Test win against Australia.In T20 franchise teams, Shakib is often picked as a bowling allrounder, and is sometimes called upon in powerplay. In the Bangladesh side, though, the emergence of several fast bowlers in the last few years has given him a breather from always bowling at crucial stages; he often comes on in the middle overs and finishes his spell before the death.His ODI role, though, has remained the same for several years dating back to 2006-07. Shakib almost always bowls in the same periods in this format – late in the powerplay and through most of the middle overs. And since Abdur Razzak’s wane in the mid-2010s, Shakib has assumed a more wicket-taking role. Now he is closing in on 300 ODI wickets, underlining the importance of his bowling for Bangladesh.Shakib’s importance to Bangladesh cannot be overstated: he’s an experienced bowler, one of their leading batters, and a gun fielder. He rarely goes without making an impact with bat or ball for a long period. His confidence never seems to dip. And he also makes sure to turn up against big teams – just like he did against India on Sunday. Mehidy deserved the credit for the heroic finish but Shakib’s five-for confirmed that he remains the primary match-winner in this Bangladesh side.

Babar Azam's maiden T20I ton, a record chase for Pakistan

All the statistical highlights from the third T20I of the four-match series

Sampath Bandarupalli14-Apr-2021122 – Runs scored by Babar Azam in the third T20I in Centurion. It is now the highest individual score for Pakistan in T20Is, overhauling 111* by Ahmed Shehzad against Bangladesh in the 2014 T20 World Cup. Azam’s 122 is also the highest T20I score against South Africa, beating 117 by Chris Gayle in 2007.1 – Individual scores higher than Azam’s 122 while chasing in T20Is. Evin Lewis scored an unbeaten 125 while chasing against India in 2017. Azam also holds the record for the highest score in a T20I chase by a captain.197 – Partnership runs between Azam and Mohammad Rizwan for the opening stand. It is now the highest partnership for any wicket in a T20I chase surpassing the unbeaten 171-run opening stand between Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson against Pakistan in 2016. The 197-run partnership is also the highest in T20s while chasing, going past 194 between Aaron Finch and Jason Roy for Surrey against Middlesex in 2018.204 – Target chased by Pakistan in the third T20I against South Africa. This is now the highest target successfully chased by Pakistan in T20Is, surpassing the 189 chase in the first match.ESPNcricinfo Ltd0 – T20I partnerships for Pakistan higher than the 197-run stand between Azam and Rizwan. It is, in fact, the first ever 150-plus partnership for Pakistan in T20Is, also the fourth-highest for any wicket in this format. The 197-run stand is also the highest against South Africa in T20Is, surpassing 167* between Jos Buttler and Dawid Malan for the second wicket last year.3 – Fifties for Aiden Markram in the T20I series against Pakistan. He is now only the second player with a hat-trick of 50-plus scores for South Africa in men’s T20Is. Hashim Amla was the first player with this feat, in 2016. Markram was involved in a 108-run partnership with Janneman Malan, the first century opening stand for South Africa in T20Is since February 2016.2 – 200-plus totals conceded by Pakistan in T20Is including the 203 for 5 by South Africa on Wednesday. The highest T20I total for any team versus Pakistan is 211 for 3 by Sri Lanka in 2013.

Farke must now bench Leeds star who’s so “close to exploding”

Leeds United are on a roll at the moment. Daniel Farke’s side have gone unbeaten in their last two games, beating Chelsea and drawing against Liverpool, with both games coming at Elland Road.

The game prior to playing the Blues, Manchester City only beat them due to a stoppage-time winner.

At the start of the gameweek, the Whites were out of the relegation zone. Now, a clash away to Brentford in the prime time slot on Sunday afternoon represents a chance for the West Yorkshire side to put even more distance between themselves and the drop zone.

Leeds will not have a full squad for their trip to West London to face the Bees, however.

Leeds’ team news vs. Brentford

Unfortunately for Farke, he has a few players missing for the game against Keith Andrews’ side. Someone who remains sidelined after picking up an injury in November is midfielder Sean Longstaff.

He is yet to recover from the calf injury he suffered against Aston Villa.

The Whites will also be without winger Daniel James. He suffered a long-term injury against Man City, with the hamstring tendon issue keeping him out for at least two months.

Leeds will be hoping to have him back sooner rather than later, but that layoff could be longer depending on whether he needs surgery.

The player who might have made it back for this game was Lukas Nmecha. However, Farke confirmed that the striker’s injury has “still not completely healed,” before going on to confirm that the German is “definitely out” against Brentford.

That is a huge blow for Leeds. Although he missed the game against Liverpool, Nmecha has been one of their most in-form players.

He’s bagged four goals in 14 Premier League games this season, a tally surpassed by no other Leeds player.

Despite these injuries in attack, there is a Leeds forward who Farke might well need to drop after a poor performance against Liverpool.

The Leeds star who Farke must axe

Despite managing such a brilliant result against Arne Slot’s side last weekend, there was one Leeds player in particular who struggled to make an impact.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

That was a rarity across the board, with Farke’s side generally impressing.

It was a really poor performance from Noah Okafor. The Swiss star was one of Leeds’ summer additions from AC Milan, but he has struggled to hit the ground running since moving to West Yorkshire.

25-year-old Okafor, who earns £72.5k per week at Elland Road and is one of the top earners, has only managed two goals for the club so far.

Those have come in 12 Premier League appearances, including the club’s 800th in the competition against Tottenham Hotspur.

Against Liverpool, Okafor put in a 5/10 performance and ‘didn’t add a huge amount’, according to Graham Smyth of The Yorkshire Evening Post.

He did struggle to get into the game, having just 14 touches, completing five out of six passes and losing the ball five times.

Touches

14

Passes completed

5/6

Number of times ball lost

5

Duels won

2/6

Shots

2

Expected goals

0.13xG

It was certainly a disappointing performance from the Swiss attacker, who showed great promise in the first few days of his Leeds career, with content creator Alex Moneypenny even suggesting that he is “so close to exploding”.

Perhaps playing as a number nine alongside Dominic Calvert-Lewin is not how to get the best out of him.

If Farke is to drop Okafor this weekend against Brentford, there are options to replace him despite the injury issues.

Wilfried Gnonto is the most likely one, with the Italian getting back to full fitness after a fitness issue himself. Jack Harrison could also slot into the team, although he might not thrive as a number nine, or Farke could even bring teenager Harry Gray into the fold.

Regardless, Leeds will want to keep this impressive, and crucial, run of form going.

Thus, Okafor may be rotated out of the side after a poor showing last weekend, with Farke choosing someone who can have more of an overall impact.

Next Ampadu: Leeds in the race for "explosive" PL star who wants a move

Daniel Farke could sign his next Ethan Ampadu at Leeds United by landing this explosive Premier League star.

ByKelan Sarson 3 days ago

Joao Gomes upgrade: INEOS ready Man Utd talks for "out of this world" star

Manchester United’s midfield department has so often been littered with quality, but it’s clear that Ruben Amorim is yet to stumble across his best partnership at the heart of the side.

The 40-year-old has been constantly shuffling his pack, often utilising various different players together, with Bruno Fernandes now seemingly his starting number eight.

He’s started every Premier League game in 2025/26 to date, but has often had to adapt to different combinations with other first-team members in recent times.

Casemiro has been the most consistent player to partner the Portuguese international, with the pair helping the club maintain a five-game unbeaten run for the first time in Amorim’s tenure.

However, with the Brazilian now aged 33 and set to leave in the summer, it’s crucial the hierarchy line up numerous targets to strengthen such an area in January and beyond.

The latest on United’s hunt for a new midfielder

Ahead of the upcoming January window, a whole host of young and talented midfielders have been linked with a big-money move to join Amorim’s United side.

Adam Wharton has been a star who has constantly been on the Red Devils’ radar over the last couple of months, with the Crystal Palace star just one option being considered.

It’s unclear how much a deal for his services would cost this winter, but it’s safe to say it wouldn’t be a surprise if the hierarchy made a beeline for his signature in the coming months.

However, he’s not the only player they’re targeting, with INEOS reportedly now said to be eyeing up a move for the signature of Atalanta midfielder Ederson.

A report from one source claims that the Red Devils is the most likely destination for the Brazilian star, with the hierarchy at the club expected to commence talks with the player and the two clubs.

It also states that such a deal could reach around €50m (£43.7m) this winter, with personal terms not expected to be an issue given his previous agreement with Amorim’s side.

Why United’s latest target would be a huge upgrade on Gomes

As part of the club’s hunt for a new central midfielder this winter, numerous players have appeared on their radar – with Wolverhampton Wanderers star Joao Gomes just one option being considered.

Over the last couple of days, it’s been reported that the 24-year-old would be extremely keen on a move to Old Trafford in the coming months, with his current side sitting bottom of the Premier League.

As a result, a £44m price tag has been mooted for the midfielder’s signature in recent times, which could be a potential bargain for a proven English top-flight talent.

However, given the nature of the hunt for a new deep-lying option, the supporters will no doubt be hoping for a more high-profile and top-level addition to bolster the ranks.

Whilst many fans may crave a deal for a player of Wharton’s calibre, a winter deal may be somewhat unrealistic, with the Eagles potentially demanding up to £100m for his signature.

As a result, a deal for Ederson certainly could be on the cards for Amorim’s men, with the Brazilian certainly a better option than Gomes in the upcoming window.

When comparing their stats from the ongoing campaign, the Atalanta star has dominated in numerous key areas, showcasing why he would be the better addition at present.

Ederson, who’s been dubbed “out of this world” by former England boss Fabio Capello, has completed more of the passes he’s attempted, with more of his efforts per 90 going into the final third.

Such numbers highlight the Brazilian’s ball-playing ability, which could allow him to dictate the play for United for a deep-lying position – allowing Bruno to take up a more advanced role as a result.

Games played

8

12

Minutes played

588

925

Progressive carries

1.4

1.2

Progressive passes

7.5

5.6

Pass accuracy

90%

84%

Passes into final third

6.6

4.1

% of tackles won

53%

51%

Interceptions made

1.6

1.1

Take-on success

50%

47%

Out of possession, the Atalanta star has been just as dominant over Gomes, as seen by his higher tackle success rate and more interceptions completed per 90.

The aforementioned tallies could certainly provide Amorim with the ball-winning option he’s been craving, at a bargain, too given his current asking price.

All-round, Ederson is a more complete option for the Red Devils, with his higher take-on success and progressive carries per 90 tally reaffirming his incredible ability to transition the play.

£43.7m for a player of the 26-year-old’s quality in the current market is an excellent price, with the hierarchy needing to work tirelessly to complete a deal for his signature.

There’s no denying Gomes would be an impressive addition too, but when a player of Ederson’s quality is currently available, it’s a no-brainer as to who the club should pursue in the coming weeks.

Shades of McTominay: Man Utd star is now their "most underrated player"

Manchester United now have a player who has certainly gone under the radar over the last couple of months.

ByEthan Lamb Nov 28, 2025

Spurs ace who's "like Son Heung-min" could end Richarlison's Tottenham stay

There have been some emotional farewells from Tottenham Hotspur over the last couple of years.

While Ange Postecoglou’s exit was not met with tears, the departures of Harry Kane back in 2023 and Son Heung-min in 2025 were sad indeed.

Kane left for Bayern Munich as the greatest goalscorer in Spurs history while Son will certainly go down as one of the most electrifying and most-liked players the supporters have ever seen.

While the South Korean saw his powers wane last season, he did still score 11 goals and register 12 assists in his 46 appearances.

Trying to replace that output has been a challenge. While Son reminds everyone of just how good he still is at LA FC, bagging ten goals in his first 12 outings in MLS, the likes of Wilson Odobert, Richarlison and Brennan Johnson continue to divide opinion with their displays in the Spurs forward line.

Richarlison, in particular, is a polarising figure and despite his goal against Manchester United on Saturday, is not likely to last too much longer as a Lilywhite.

Why Richarlison's Spurs career is under threat

Has there been a more perplexing player in Tottenham’s recent history than Richarlison?

Signed for a mega £60m back in 2022 after an 11-goal and five-assist season for Everton, hopes were great for a player who had been a real nuisance in the Premier League.

That said, whatever possessed Daniel Levy and Co to pay such a massive sum was questionable even then. It’s a question we’re still trying to answer to this day.

It’s been a troubled few years for the Brazilian in north London. Back in 2022/23, he scored just one goal in 27 Premier League outings. He did net 11 in 2023/24 but followed that up with another terrible return last season, bagging five goals in 24 outings across all competitions.

On paper, the forward’s numbers from the ongoing campaign don’t look bad. The 28-year-old has scored four goals in 11 top-flight outings but his inconsistency is what frustrates supporters so much.

Having missed a big chance in the first half in classic Richarlison fashion, he flicked home a deft header on Saturday, a moment that looked as though it had won Thomas Frank’s side the game. We all know how that ended.

That rather summed up the attacker’s time at Spurs. A rash finish followed by a goal, but it simply hasn’t been acceptable for a number of years now.

BBC Sport’s Nat Haywood perhaps described Richarlison best this season, simply beginning an article by describing him as an “enigma.”

While he has found himself in decent form during 2025/26, the former Everton and Watford man has had his chance. He’s often found wanting in front of goal and his injury record is not the best either. As per Transfermarkt, he has missed 377 days of action since moving.

So, what’s the solution? Well, fortunately enough for Frank, Spurs have a number of top-drawer youngsters in their ranks.

How Spurs can solve their Richarlison problem

Truth be told, not many clubs in the country possess the calibre of young talent that Spurs currently have in their ranks.

From Lucas Bergvall, once wanted by Barcelona, to Archie Gray and Wilson Odobert, there are plenty of fresh faces in the first-team squad.

Beyond that, teenager Mikey Moore, who was previously compared to Neymar by James Maddison, has just scored his first goal on loan at Rangers while Spurs are also due to welcome the “Irish Alexander Isak” to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the form of young Mason Melia.

Lest we forget Luca Williams-Barnett too, a 17-year-old who made his senior debut just a matter of weeks ago.

For now, however, we’d like to focus on a young South Korean by the name of Yang Min-hyeok.

Spurs officially announced the signing of Yang back in the summer of 2024 and he joined the club once he had turned 18 in January of this year.

A winger by trade, before he’d even moved to Spurs, journalist and South Korean football expert, Jason Lee, suggested that the teenager “is expected to be Korea’s next superstar like Son Heung-min.”

While the forward is yet to hit those dizzy heights just yet, it’s been an impressive start in senior football.

Before he’d even become an adult, Yang was making a mighty fine impact for Gangwon FC in the K-League, playing 38 times for the South Korean side, scoring 12 times and supplying six assists. It’s easy to see why he’d captured the eye of Spurs scouts.

Gangwon FC

38

12

6

QPR

14

2

1

Portsmouth

10

2

1

Spurs

0

0

0

The young attacker is yet to play a senior competitive game for the Lilywhites but has enjoyed two separate loan spells in the EFL, firstly with QPR last season and secondly with Portsmouth in 2025/26.

Yang’s numbers don’t capture the imagination too much just yet but one can excuse a period of adaptation for someone who has only been in Europe for 11 months now.

It took him a few months to get up to speed at Portsmouth but he is now earning some impressive reviews. Scout Jacek Kulig wrote how he is “on fire” at Pompey, having scored against Watford and also fired in a winner against high-flying Middlesbrough in October.

Further described as the “Korean Marco Reus” by football writer Albert Kim, he wrote that “if you give him too much time and space, he’s going to hurt you.” That certainly sounds a lot like Son.

Yang has a long way to go before he can be considered a player ready to make an impact in the Spurs first team but capable of playing on either flank, as well as a striker, he has the positional versatility and attributes to take Richarlison’s place in the squad in the future.

Dodgers Auctioning Off Ball Aaron Judge Dropped in Game 5 of the 2024 World Series

If you reference "the fifth inning" to a New York Yankees fan in your life, you likely won't have to specify which fifth inning you're talking about.

That would be the fifth inning of Game 5 of the World Series on Oct. 30—instantly one of the most catastrophic innings for any team in the history of baseball. In that inning, the Yankees let a 5–0 lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers slip away and blew their best chance to send the series back to California.

An early catalyst for the inning was a flyball from Dodgers shortstop Tommy Edman that New York center fielder Aaron Judge misplayed, giving Los Angeles two baserunners with nobody out. Now, you can own the ball from that play—which the Dodgers are auctioning off.

As of Thursday afternoon, Los Angeles has listed the ball on its auctions website with a current price of $18,510. Eighty-one bids have been made for the ball since it went live on Dec. 2.

For Yankees fans, the ball is a token of a series to forget. For the Dodgers, however, it is just another piece of their second World Series title in five years.

Kusal, Nissanka easily dispatch Bangladesh in T20I series opener

But it was the SL bowling that laid the groundwork with Shanaka and Vandersay applying the squeeze

Andrew Fidel Fernando10-Jul-2025

Kusal Mendis brought up his fifty off 31 balls•AFP/Getty Images

Sri Lanka 159 for 3 (Kusal 73, Nissanka 42) beat Bangladesh 154 for 5 (Emon 38, Theekshana 2-37) by seven wicketsKusal Mendis smote another half century, Pathum Nissanka crashed a 16-ball 42, and Sri Lanka made light work of a target of 155, strolling home at the end of the 19th over.It was the Sri Lanka bowling that laid the groundwork though, with Dasun Shanaka plying shorter lengths to concede only 22 from his four overs, while Jeffrey Vandersay also kept a lid on the scoring. Bangladesh might wonder if they were not ambitious enough, having lost only five wickets in their innings.Their total always seemed light, but when Sri Lanka thumped 78 runs in the first five overs, losing only a wicket in that period, it felt even more meagre. With Kusal and Nissanka having provided that early explosion, the other batters did not have to strain themselves to prod Sri Lnaka home.Six boundaries in a rowThat entire Kusal-Nissanka opening stand was box office, as they ransacked 78 runs off 28 balls together. But there was one sequence that was utterly unmissable, as they racked up 30 off six balls, between overs 2.4 and 3.3.The first three balls were Tanzim Hasan bowling to Nissanka, who smoked the bowler over cow corner, spanked him over cover, and got a lucky inside edge past the stumps in between. The next three balls were Taskin Ahmed to Mendis, who launched him over the cover boundary, slapped a four behind square on the offside, then in perhaps the shot of the tour, slog-swept Taskin over deep square leg for six.There were other spectacular bursts of hitting in that partnership too – Nissanka starting the chase off with three consecutive fours was especially memorable. At the end of this stand, Nissanka had struck at 263, and Mendis at 233.Bangladesh slow through the middle oversAt the end of the seventh over Bangladesh were 57 for 1. At the end of the 17th, they were 122 for 4. Which means that in 60-ball stretch they scored only 65 runs, despite their batters being at the crease throughout. This is perhaps where that innings lost its way, with captain Litton Das making six from 11, and Towhid Hridoy hitting 10 off 13.No. 5 batter Mohammad Naim also struggled, despite being at the crease for more than 11 overs and finishing not out. He made 32 off 29.Emon, Shamim try to shock Bangladesh to lifeThe only batters who brought serious urgency to the innings were Parvez Hossain Emon and Shamim Hossain. Emon crashed five fours and a six over midwicket in his 38 off 22 balls, even as opening partner Tanzid Hasan was struggling at the other end.Later, Shamim hit two sixes in his five-ball stay, the reverse-swept six off Theekshana in the 19th over a particular highlight. He also took an outstanding overhead catch running back from short cover, to end Kusal’s innings.

فيديو | مروان عثمان يسجل هدف تعادل سيراميكا كليوباترا أمام الأهلي

تمكن فريق سيراميكا كليوباترا من التعادل أمام نظيره الأهلي بالهدف في المباراة التي تجمع بينهما ضمن منافسات بطولة كأس السوبر المصري.

وتقام المباراة بين الأهلي ومنافسه سيراميكا كليوباترا، على أرضية استاد هزاع بن زايد، ضمن لقاءات نصف نهائي السوبر المصري.

طالع.. فيديو | أسيست زيزو.. تريزيجيه يسجل هدف الأهلي الأول أمام سيراميكا كليوباترا

وسجل مروان عثمان، هدف سيراميكا كليوباترا في الدقيقة 41 بعد تمريرة من أحمد بلحاج ليسجلها من أعلى محمد الشناوي.

وتقام بطولة السوبر المصري خلال الفترة من 6 إلى 9 نوفمبر المقبل، بمشاركة أربعة فرق هي: الأهلي (بطل الدوري)، الزمالك (بطل كأس مصر)، سيراميكا كليوباترا (بطل كأس الرابطة)، وبيراميدز الذي يشارك بدعوة من اللجنة المنظمة.

الأهلي هو حامل لقب النسخة الماضية من كأس السوبر المصري، بعد فوزه على الزمالك بركلات الترجيح في أبو ظبي. هدف سيراميكا كليوباترا الأول أمام الأهلي

Kohli: 'Boucher had the biggest impact on me as a young kid'

When a young Virat Kohli first came to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in 2008, in a dressing room filled with the Indian greats like Rahul Dravid and Anil Kumble, it was South Africa’s Mark Boucher who had the biggest impact on him.Speaking on RCB’s podcast , Kohli said Boucher “stunned him” with the conversations he had with him. Unprompted, Boucher told Kohli what his weaknesses were and worked with him on them.”Out of all the players that I played with initially, Mark Boucher had the biggest impact on me as a young kid,” Kohli said. “He was the only guy I saw who came with the mindset that ‘Okay, I’m going to come in and help some of the young Indian players’.Related

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“He saw me play and saw a bit of potential. He figured out what my weaknesses could be, like if I wanted to go to the next level, this is what I need to do, without me asking him anything. He said, ‘Okay, I’ve seen you play this and we need to work on this, that, and a couple more things.’ So he took me to the nets, he said, ‘You need to work on the short ball. No one’s going to give you a chance in international cricket if you can’t pull the ball.'”He was hitting these tennis balls at me at a pace where I was like, if this is what it’s going to take, I don’t think I’ll be able to make it to the next level. But he really kept at it. I started becoming better. I remember a game we were playing in Chennai or Kolkata, and he told me, ‘When I come to commentate in India in four years from now, if I don’t see you playing for India, you would do a disservice to yourself.'”He really stunned me with the conversations that he had with me. And that really pushed me in the direction where I said I needed to start looking at how I could keep becoming better.”Later that year, Kohli made his ODI debut in Sri Lanka. He came into the side in place of Sachin Tendulkar, who was out with a niggle. But once Tendulkar returned, there was no place for Kohli.Kohli knew he was not the “most technically sound” batter but his willingness to improve and to fight it out in the middle helped him raise his game. His next big opportunity came when Yuvraj Singh got injured ahead of the 2009 Champions Trophy, and he was called up just before India’s opening game, against Pakistan in Centurion.”That was my first India-Pakistan game. I scored about 16. I tried to hit Shahid Afridi for a six straight down the ground and got caught at long-on [long-off], and we lost that game. It was an important moment in the game. And my heart was beating so fast through the whole innings. I could not process everything that happened within those four days.Virat Kohli was full of self-doubt after falling to Shahid Afridi at the 2009 Champions Trophy•Getty Images

“It was a big loss, and I just could not sleep. I was awake till five in the morning, staring at the ceiling. I was like, ‘This is it. I’ve been called after a year and I’ve just messed it all up. I don’t know how this is going to shape up.’ I had a lot of moments like that where I really, really doubted myself and I had to again kind of recalibrate and find a way to slowly build up again.”

On 2024 T20 World Cup: ‘I was walking in with no confidence’

From looking to hit the ball instinctively to being the best anchor in the world, the journey for Kohli came full circle a couple of years ago, when he decided to shed inhibitions to keep pace with T20 cricket.”In the last couple of seasons, I have consciously made an effort to evolve my game,” he said. “And I’ve seen the results of it. Again, to the point where I had to let go of people wanting to see me, this is who I am, and just go and hit the ball.”You start from wanting to hit the ball and then you go through this whole journey of becoming someone. Expectations, this and that, to a point where you feel like this is actually pulling me back. And you have to push through and again get to the point where you say, just hit the ball. That’s the only constant that remains for a cricketer.Kohli hit three boundaries in the first over of the 2024 T20 World Cup final•ICC/Getty Images

“I looked to make a few changes, which I’m very happy about, because I had to kind of go out of my comfort zone and try different things. Again, the fear of failure cannot enter that space. So I knew that I was going to get out a few times [cheaply] and that’s okay. I’m not going to expect myself to get 70, 80, 90 every game. Even an impactful 35-40 that helps the team is good enough for me.”Kohli went into the 2024 T20 World Cup with this mindset. However, he had just 75 runs in nine innings before the final. In the final against South Africa, with India 34 for 3 in the fifth over, Kohli switched back to his natural game. He scored 76 off 59 balls as India posted, and just about defended, 176.”I was not able to get runs through the tournament and I am grateful that I was put in that pressure situation again. I was walking in with no confidence, and then when things are supposed to unfold for you, I get three balls, I get three boundaries and I’m like, what is this game? One day you feel like you can’t get a run and suddenly you walk into one of the biggest days of your career and things just start happening.”And then you are put in this situation where the team needs you, and this performance happens through you. And you’re like, how? And that’s when you kind of understand, okay, this is the amount of hard work, and then you arrive at the ground. And then whatever has to take place will take place. The preparation is in my hands. The results are not in my hands. I just have to stay true to my instinct. If I have to hit the ball, I have to hit the ball. That is my only responsibility. Where that ball goes, how the execution will happen – that all depends on [other factors] because there are other people playing as well. We tend to forget this.”