خاض الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي ريال مدريد مباراة قوية أمام نظيره مانشسر سيتي ضمن منافسات دوري أبطال أوروبا.
وواجه ريال مدريد نظيره مانشستر سيتي مساء الأربعاء في إطار منافسات الجولة السادسة من مرحلة الدوري لبطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.
واستضاف ملعب “سانتياجو برنابيو” مباراة ريال مدريد ومانشستر سيتي في مباراة كانت مثيرة وممتعة لجمهور كلا الناديين.
وفاز مانشستر سيتي بقيادة بيب جوارديولا على ريال مدريد بقيادة تشابي ألونسو بهدفين مقابل هدف.
وجاء الهدف الأول عن طريق رودريجو لاعب ريال مدريد في الدقيقة 28، بعدما استلم تمريرة رائعة على الجهة اليُمنى ليخترق منطقة الجزاء وسدد الكرة على يمين الحارس الإيطالي دوناروما.
وتعادل مانشستر سيتي سريعًا من ركلة ركنية عن طريق نيكو أوريلي بعد متابعة رأسية جوسكو جفارديول، حيث سقطت الكرة من يد كورتوا ليتابعها في شباك ريال مدريد في الدقيقة 35.
اقرأ أيضًا | خبير تحكيمي يوضح مدى صحة ركلة جزاء مانشستر سيتي أمام ريال مدريد
وتقدم إيرلينج هالاند بالهدف الثاني لصالح مانشستر سيتي من ركلة جزاء في الدقيقة 43 بعدما عرقله روديجر برعونة شديدة.
وشهدت المباراة نزول عمر مرموش بديلًا في الدقيقة 70 بدلًا من فيل فودين وشارك بأداء جيد على ملعب سانتياجو برنابيو.
ريال مدريد بدأ اللقاء بسيطرة تامة في كافة أرجاء الملعب حتى سجل مانشستر سيتي هدفه الأول من ركلة ركنية وسط ارتباك دفاعي كبير.
وسدد رجال ألونسو 15 تسديدة على المرمى منها تسديدتين على المرمى، فيما سدد مانشستر سيتي 8 تسديدات منها 7 على المرمى.
وكالعادة بيب جوارديولا لم يخسر نسبة الاستحواذ، حيث استحوذ فريقه على الكرة بنسبة 54% فيما استحوذ ريال مدريد على الكرة بنسبة 46%. أهداف مباراة ريال مدريد ومانشستر سيتي اليوم في دوري أبطال أوروبا
The USWNT opened its final camp of 2025 with a strong start, fueled by another Moultrie goal and two second-half strikes from Macario.
It took the U.S. women’s national team only 90 seconds to put its stamp on Italy in a 3-0 win, powered by Olivia Moultrie and Cat Macario.
In the first of two friendlies between the USWNT and Italy, manager Emma Hayes went with a starting lineup that leaned heavily on experience, with only three players entering the match with fewer than 10 caps. Her side appeared to capitalize early, with Rose Lavelle sparking a sharp sequence of one-two passes that freed Moultrie on a delayed run into the box. The 20-year-old finished to make it 1-0 within just 90 seconds, her fifth international goal.
Moultrie mentioned Hayes had her group focused on seizing the moment early in the contest, which ultimately played a role in the quick start.
"Honestly, we just talked about starting fast and starting strong, and I think, like, the energy momentum, just carry that, and we had a really good week of training, so I feel like we just kind of flowed into the first minutes of the game," she said at halftime to Turner Sports.
After the opener, the U.S. settled into the match with stretches of control and a few hiccups in transition, moments that required returning center back Naomi Girma to step up – and she showed why she's largely considered to be the best center back in the world. It had been over 150 days since the defender's last appearance and the Chelsea star acknowledged the challenges to get back to her best.
"I think there's been a lot of ups and downs this year, but I just feel grateful to be back here with this team closing out in the final camp of the year, and it's always to be called in, so I'm excited for this game and I'm excited to see how the team does," Girma said to Turner Sports prior to the match.
The second half belonged to Macario, who scored in the 64th and 76th minutes to remind everyone of her scoring pedigree and effectively seal the win for the Americans. The forward now has six goals in 2025.
"It's always a pleasure being with this team. I feel so happy to be in this environment. I feel like it really allows you to be the best version of yourself, and I'm lucky enough that Emma knows me very well and she knows what I can bring to the team," Macario said to Turner Sports. "It was a good year in which I personally have just been trying to find some consistency. I'm just trying to be available for every practice, every game."
Hayes also introduced new faces, handing first caps to Jameese Joseph and Kate Wiesner. From Macario’s clinical edge to the team’s ninth clean sheet in 14 matches, Hayes’ squad looks strong heading into the new year.
GOAL rates the USWNT's players from Inter&Co Stadium…
Imagn
Goalkeeper & Defense
Claudia Dickey (7/10):
Dickey didn't have too much action, but she made the necessary saves and was composed when the ball was at her feet, playing out pressure and making her passes.
Naomi Girma (9/10):
It didn't take Girma long to remind everyone that she's one of the best defenders in the world. In the first half, Girma, who started at center back alongside Emily Sonnet, made a series of smart tackles and consistent combination play in the back. Her key moment of the match came in the first 45 minutes when she hunted down the ball, making a long sprint to stop a clear-cut goal-scoring opportunity.
Emily Sonnett (7/10):
Sonnett looked right back at home next to Girma, working flawlessly with her to keep the backline condensed when defending and up and wide on the attack.
Lilly Reale (7/10):
Reale and Sonnett both started in the backline after winning the NWSL Championship last Saturday with Gotham. Reale looked fresh and solid.
Emily Fox (8/10): A class defender whose speed, accuracy, and ability to go forward were instrumental in the USWNT's win. When she took players on, she often got past them and looked in lock step with the other three defenders.
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Imagn
Midfield
Olivia Moultrie (9/10):
Moultrie didn't just score, but she also took several chances and was one of the most dangerous attacking players on the field on the night. Moultrie took risks in front of the box and was constantly active in her runs, finding a way to be involved even when not on the ball.
Claire Hutton (7/10):
It was a quiet game for Hutton, who got on the ball a fair amount but wasn't able to find as many holes in the attack like she usually does.
Sam Coffey (6/10):
This wasn't Coffey's best performance, and not because she didn't score. While she's usually the pace maker in the midfield, Friday night, her passing wasn't as crisp as usual. It took her most of the match to get into her rhythm with the other three midfielders.
Alyssa Thompson (8/10):
Thompson didn't score, but she was involved in almost every play out wide. Her runs were strong and created all kinds of space for players like Moultrie and Lavelle to fill in gaps. In the moments when she could run at the Italy backline, she did.
Imagn
Attack
Rose Lavelle (9/10):
Lavelle was all over the pitch on Friday night, not looking fatigued at all from her MVP performance less than a week ago. Lavelle was pivotal in the first goal of the game with her cheeky combination play.
Cat Macario (9/10):
Goals don't lie, and Macario chipped in a brace against Italy to make her mark known. This is Macario's sixth goal on the year.
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Subs & Manager
Emily Sams (7/10):
The applause may have been the loudest for Sams, who got called into the match in the second half and was able to represent the local Orlando Pride on her home turf.
Lily Yohannes (7/10):
Yohannes was a solid addition in the midfield, taking care of the ball and doing what she does best: creating chances that look well beyond her years.
Jaedyn Shaw (6/10):
Shaw was quiet when she eventually entered the game, but had some strong moments holding the ball up and making runs off the ball when it counted.
Jameese Joseph (6/10):
What a moment for the Chicago Stars player who earned her first cap.
Kate Wiesner (6/10):
In a similar vein to Joseph, a special moment for Wiesner, who entered the match in the second half and earned her first cap.
Emma Hayes (8/10):
Hayes kicked off her Florida trip in good spirits, and her team didn't look like they had too much Turkey on Thursday, putting on a solid performance against a good Italy team.
After finishing 17th in the Premier League last season, it was vital that Tottenham Hotspur bounced back and rose up the table in the ongoing campaign.
Thomas Frank was handed the responsibility of leading the charge, after Ange Postecoglou was handed his marching orders despite winning the Europa League.
The Dane was appointed on a three-year deal in North London, but it was crucial that the supporters gave him time to make the changes he desired to the first-team squad.
He’s now 11 games into the 2025/26 campaign, with the Lilywhites currently occupying fifth place going into the third international break of the current season.
However, there are still improvements to be made across the squad, that’s despite Frank massively changing the fortunes of the squad in one area during his opening months at the helm.
Spurs’ biggest improvement since the 2024/25 campaign
During the 2024/25 Premier League campaign under Postecoglou, Spurs certainly had a year to forget, as they finished just one place above the relegation zone.
The Lilywhites conceded a staggering 65 goals in their 38 league outings, an average of 1.7 per 90, subsequently resulting in a total of 22 league defeats.
TottenhamHotspur managerAngePostecoglu applauds fans after the match
Such a tally was the highest of any side who have survived in England’s top-flight, with the club lucky not to have dropped into the Championship under Postecoglou.
However, Frank’s arrival has stemmed the flow of goals at the back, with his men only conceding 10 goals in the first 11 outings – the fourth best record of any side in the division.
They have also kept a total of four clean sheets in the process, with the likes of Micky van de Ven certainly deserving credit for his part in the defensive solidity.
The Dutch international has started every league game to date, registering a total of 1.2 tackles won per 90, along with 1.1 interceptions per 90 – with the latter ranking him in the top 20% of all players in the league.
He’s also thrived in playing out from the back, as seen by his tally of 92% passes completed, arguably being one of the best centre-backs in the division at present.
Van de Ven has been joined at the heart of the backline by Cristian Romero, with the Argentine international striking up an excellent partnership with the Dutchman.
The pair have operated together in eight of the 11 outings – but have only suffered defeat once in that time, with the loss coming against Bournemouth back in August.
The 27-year-old has ranked in the top 4% of all players in England’s top-flight for tackles won, whilst also placing in the top 15% for duels won per 90.
TottenhamHotspur's CristianRomeroreacts
Given their partnership together, they are undoubtedly one of the best duos in Europe’s top-five leagues, with the defensive improvement under Frank certainly down to their performances.
The Spurs player who’s now becoming one of the best in the world
Alongside Van de Ven and Romero, Spurs have had numerous players who have managed to catch the eye and contribute to their impressive start to 2025/26.
Central midfielder Lucas Bergvall has shown qualities way beyond his tender teenage years, even cementing his place at the heart of Frank’s side in recent months.
The Swedish international has featured in nine league outings this season, even registering his first Premier League goal in the 3-0 victory over West Ham United.
He’s ranked in the 97th percentile for successful dribbles to date, whilst also winning 2.8 tackles per 90 – showcasing his ability to operate in a box-to-box role in North London.
However, he’s not the only player to have cemented his place within the starting eleven, with full-back Djed Spence resurrecting his career with the Lilywhites.
He joined the club in a £20m deal from Middlesbrough back in the summer of 2022, but had to massively bide his time in making an impact in the first team.
The 25-year-old endured three unsuccessful loan spells at Leeds United, Rennes and Genoa, with many supporters undoubtedly expecting a cut-price transfer away from North London last summer.
However, the injury crisis within the squad last campaign handed the Englishman a rare opportunity to stake his claim for a regular spot in the first-team ranks.
He racked up a total of 35 appearances across all competitions in 2024/25, even scoring his first Premier League goal against Ipswich Town – ending the year on a total of five goal contributions.
A little over a year on, it’s evident that Spence has taken full advantage of the chance pushed in his direction, with the full-back now one of Frank’s most important players.
He’s featured in all but one league outing in 2025/26, with his underlying stats highlighting how pivotal he’s been to the Lilywhites’ impressive defensive numbers.
Games played
10
Minutes played
761
Pass accuracy
82%
Tackles made
1.5
Duels won
3.8
Aerials won
47%
Recoveries made
3.4
Dribbles completed
1.8
Spence has made an average of 1.5 tackles per 90 this season, whilst also coming out on top of 3.8 duels per 90 – often posing as a real solid defensive full-back.
The 25-year-old has also come out on top in 47% of the aerial battles he’s entered, whilst also making 3.4 recoveries per 90 – with his pace allowing him to get back and prevent the opposition from creating clear-cut opportunities.
In possession, the defender has been just as impressive, subsequently ranking in the top 20% of all defenders for dribbles completed – with one analyst labelling him as one of the “best in the world”.
As a result, he’s now a full England international, with Thomas Tuchel trusting him to be a key member of the squad ahead of the World Cup in the USA next summer.
His rise in North London over the last 12 months has been nothing short of remarkable, with the player deserving huge credit for his ability to get himself off the canvas.
Alongside Van de Ven and Romero, he certainly is part of one of the division’s best back fours, with the fans needing to enjoy every moment the trio spend together in North London.
Forget Simons: Spurs have an academy sensation who could be Dele 2.0
Tottenham Hotspur already have a sensation who could replace Xavi Simons in North London.
علق أسامة نبيه لاعب الزمالك السابق، على أداء وفوز الفريق على زيسكو الزامبي، في المباراة التي جمعت الفريقين، مساء أمس الأحد، ضمن منافسات كأس الكونفدرالية الإفريقية.
وفاز الزمالك على زيسكو، بهدف دون رد، في إطار الجولة الأولى من مواجهات المجموعة الرابعة لمنافسات كأس الكونفدرالية، في المباراة التي أقيمت في القاهرة.
وقال نبيه خلال تصريحات عبر قناة “أون سبورت”: “الفوز على زيسكو مهم، بداية المشوار في الكونفدرالية، الفريق يمر بظروف صعبة ولكن المكسب يدفعك للتقدم ويضعك في موقع أفضل، بغض النظر عن الأداء والشكل”.
طالع | ترتيب مجموعة الزمالك في الكونفدرالية بعد الفوز على زيسكو الزامبي
وأضاف: “ثلاثة نقاط، وفريق المصري أيضًا ثلاثة نقاط، نتمنى إن شاء الله إن هذه المجموعة يتأهل منها الزمالك والمصري، ويصلان إلي المباراة النهائية من كأس الكونفدرالية”.
وتابع: “الزمالك يعاني مشاكل فنية، بجانب المشاكل الإدارية والمالية، نتمنى إن شاء الله أن نصل لحل في النواحي الإدارية ونتداركها، وعلى النواحي الفنية نتداركها، وعلى النواحي المالية نتداركها”.
وأتم: “كل هذا يحتاج إلي تكاتف وعمل كبير وقوي من كل أفراد المنظومة، وأنا آسف، نرغب في تدخل من الدولة، إن شاء الله تساعد نادي الزمالك في أزماته التي يمر بها”.
Joshua Kimmich was not too impressed by the style of play imprinted by Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta into his team after Bayern Munich slumped to a 3-1 defeat against the Gunners in the Champions League on Wednesday. The German international explained that Bayern simply couldn't deal with the "sheer number of corners" they conceded, playing right into Arsenal's set-piece supremacy.
Arsenal outclass Bayern in the Champions League
Arsenal proved they mean serious business this season after defeating Bayern 3-1 in the Champions League at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday, with the defeat bringing an end to the German heavyweights' 18-game unbeaten run across all competitions in the ongoing campaign.
Jurrien Timber broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute, but wonderkid Lennart Karl made it all square 10 minutes later. The two teams matched each other in intensity in the first 45 minutes, although the hosts seemed to be in better control of the proceedings.
However, Bayern were all over the place in the second half. Hampered by an attack that failed to impose their influence on the game, Bayern could only muster six shots in the 90 minutes, only two of those on target. Harry Kane's return to north London didn't go as planned, as he cut a frustrating figure against his former rivals.
Arteta's men tightened the screws in the second half, thanks to their dominance in midfield and immaculate pressing structure. Bayern finally succumbed to the pressure after keeping the hosts at bay for the first 23 minutes of the second half, with substitute Noni Madueke converting Riccardo Calafiori's brilliant delivery in the 69th minute. Gabriel Martinelli put the tie to bed eight minutes later and will be thankful to Manuel Neuer for making a mess just outside the Bayern box.
The result not only cemented the Gunners’ status as the only team in this season’s Champions League with a perfect record, but also strengthened their reputation as arguably the favourites to go all the way.
Speaking to reporters after the game, Kimmich admitted that Bayern deserved to lose, but also claimed that Arsenal weren't their toughest opponents yet.
“It was definitely a deserved defeat. I thought we didn't do well at all with the ball. We weren't brave enough, we weren't active enough, we didn't give ourselves enough options," said Kimmich.
"We weren't physically up to par against the ball, although it was clear what kind of game it would be. It was clear that it wouldn't be a game like the one against Chelsea, where it's mostly about playing football. It was clear that it would be a lot about fighting, lots of long balls. Arsenal then naturally made every ball dangerous.
"I think the main problem today was the sheer number of corners we conceded. At some point, it simply becomes difficult to defend against that over and over again.
"This is an extremely important game for us. I'm convinced that we'll take a lot away from it, that we'll learn a lot from it. There were many aspects that we need to improve. Last season we had a few games, like the Barca game [from last season], which also weren't good, but we learned a lot from those as well."
Having beaten Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain already in the competition, Kimmich was asked if the London club have been the toughest opponents so far.
"No, I don't think so! PSG was our most difficult opponent… Arsenal is completely different. They rely a lot on set pieces. Against Paris, it was more of a football match," he said.
Arteta 'extremely proud' of Arsenal's display
Arteta was thoroughly delighted with what he saw from his players on Wednesday. The win stretched their unbeaten streak to 16 games across competitions.
"Well, I'm extremely proud to what I've seen tonight. I think, we've seen a team that, in my opinion, playing against the best team in Europe has behaved with a real presence, authority, determination, and belief, and that's what I wanted," Arteta explained. "You need some huge performance individually. We certainly had that. We took our moments, and I think overall, we just have to win the game.” His summary highlighted not only the collective strength on display but the individual excellence that fueled the win.
Arteta also spoke about the impact of his substitutes, who played an important role in the win. He added: “Yes. I mean, everybody's ready. Whether it's a starter and a finisher, the impact that the boys are having is tremendous because we have dealt with a lot of injuries, this season already. But, the fact that everybody's raising the level is hiding a lot of those issues, and I'm very pleased because, everybody's important. We're gonna need them, and I'm happy that the ones that even given the chance, they're constantly taking it."
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Getty Images SportBayern's next opponents – St. Pauli
While the defeat to Arsenal is sure to raise several questions, Bayern can nullify the external noise by returning to winning ways this weekend. The Bundesliga table-toppers will welcome St. Pauli at the Allianz Arena on Saturday.
The Polar Bear is reportedly headed to a warmer climate.
Longtime Mets first baseman Pete Alonso is joining the Orioles on a five-year contract worth $155 million, according to a Wednesday afternoon report from Jeff Passan of ESPN. Alonso, 31, has spent his entire seven-year career with New York.
Debuting in 2019, the first baseman immediately established himself as a superstar with a MLB-best 53 home runs. In a career that has seen him make five All-Star teams (and memorably win two Home Run Derbies), he has also led the National League in RBIs (131 in 2022) and doubles (41 in 2025).
Per Passan, Alonso's deal is the most lucrative ever for a first baseman on an average annual value basis.
Baltimore—which won 101 games as recently as 2023—is looking to put a disappointing '25 behind it. Much of the Orioles' lineup underachieved a year ago, and the team dismissed manager Brandon Hyde after 43 games.
Barring unforeseen circumstances, Alonso will debut for Baltimore on March 26 against the Twins.
How those in charge of the global Test game made a crucial mistake in their planning
Alan Gardner15-Jun-2025After the excitement of the IPL final (you’re welcome for the reverse jinx, Virat), the cricket world was due a change of pace. Cue a jump cut to dear old England – birds tweeting in hedgerows, football louts desecrating village greens – and the return of red balls, white flannels and traditional manly virtues like leaving in the channel outside off.And this week was all about a proper heavyweight battle. Two teams familiarising themselves with alien conditions. Two touring parties trying to get to grips with the London transport system (tricky even when no one is particularly interested – just ask West Indies). The hype, the intrigue, the social media buzz. The weight of history bearing down.We are, of course, referring to India’s intra-squad warm-up match ahead of the first Test against England. What did you think we meant?Related
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Oh sure, the World Test Championship final was going on, too. That looked like fun and all. But it was missing a certain ingredient, dontchathink? A reason for a billion pairs of eyeballs to swivel devotionally on Lord’s. An incentive for the news crews, influencers and celebrity spotters to give cricket their patronage. Heck, only one of the Big Three was involved, and certainly not the one whose milkshake brings all the marketing boys to the yard.Cricket, as we all know, is a numbers game – and the numbers here just didn’t add up. If we’re really invested in saving the Test format, the ICC needs to avoid making such elementary mistakes.
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Don’t worry, though, Test cricket does still have some big hitters in its corner. No sooner had Virat Kohli ended 18 years of hurt by lifting his first IPL title, than he was declaring it ranked “five levels under Test cricket”. And this after Royal Challengers Bengaluru fans turned up to an earlier game at the Chinnaswammy wearing white to mark news of his Test retirement. Ouch. “If you want to earn respect in world cricket all over, take up Test cricket, give your heart and soul to it and earn the respect from legends,” Kohli added. Hopefully those wastrels plying their trade in piddly T20 leagues around the world were paying attention. And the administrators scheduling two-Test series left, right and centre, too. Respect from legends, guys. It’s right there on the table. What do you mean “Will it pay the bills?”
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The second World Cricket Connects conference brought together the game’s powerbrokers for a weekend of behind-closed-doors schmoozing – but singularly failed to get the most-powerful broker of them all in the room (despite said broker, Jay Shah, being appointed to the World Cricket Connects advisory board at the start of the year). Still, everyone had a nice time. Sourav Ganguly was quoted describing it as “a lovely event” in a typically flowery MCC press release. Kumar Sangakkara said it was “wonderful”. Mark Nicholas hailed the “massive growth and innovation” experienced by cricket in recent times, adding that there was “an overwhelming desire for this to continue”. Actual recommendations seem to have been less abundant than pats on the back, but still. The game is clearly in good hands!
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Ben Stokes has shown little appetite for obeying convention in his time as England’s Test captain, and so it should perhaps come as no surprise that he takes a similarly maverick approach to other disciplines. Take the field of mathematics, which has been wedded to the same fusty old principles since Pythagoras started noodling around with numbers 2500 years ago. Stokes won’t be hidebound by such traditions – thus, when asked about Jacob Bethell potentially coming straight back from the IPL and into the Test side at No. 3, he said: “If you’re smart enough, the series that Beth had out in New Zealand, obviously he’s going to be back in the UK for that India series. So, I think you put two and two together, you probably know what’s going to happen.” Or not, apparently, as everyone in attendance came up with 2 + 2 = 4, leading Stokes to rail at the media for having an “agenda” against the incumbent, Ollie Pope. They don’t teach Bazball in school textbooks, people.
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Angelo Mathews has called time on his Test career. The clock is now ticking towards his final appearance, against Bangladesh in Galle next week. Much has happened on his watch, and history will always remember his contribution to the game. They say the best cricketers have more time than the rest – but those minutes and seconds catch up with us all in the end. Hopefully someone at the BCB has the foresight to bring over a commemorative timepiece to mark the occasion. Did we mention he had brilliant timing? ()
They registered their second straight win to seal their place in Qualifier 1, against St Lucia Kings
ESPNcricinfo staff15-Sep-2025
Shimron Hetmyer hit 68 off 39 balls•CPL T20 via Getty Images
Guyana Amazon Warriors 189 for 6 (Hetmyer 68, Sampson 50, Rutherford 2-35) beat Barbados Royals 125 (Rutherford 27, Motie 5-21, Joseph 2-18) by 64 runsGuyana Amazon Warriors shot up to second place to end the league stage of CPL 2025 with their second win on the bounce, this one by brushing aside bottom-placed Barbados Royals. Shimron Hetmyer turned his form around with 68 off 39 balls, Quentin Sampson continued his fine form with 50 from 36 deliveries, and Gudakesh Motie bagged his maiden five-for in T20s to script Amazon Warriors’ commanding 64-run win.By finishing second, Amazon Warriors will now face table-toppers St Lucia Kings in Qualifier 1 on September 18, a day after the Eliminator between Antigua and Barbados Falcons and Trinbago Knight Riders.Against Royals, Amazon Warriors started steadily after being put in to bat, moving to 41 for 1 in the powerplay. It was then that Sampson started hitting sixes regularly even as Amazon Warriors lost Ben McDermott and Shai Hope. Hetmyer, coming into this match after two consecutive ducks, also took the aerial route, not demotivated by Sampson’s dismissal for 50.Hetmyer also benefitted from a life, dropped by Kadeem Alleyne on 47 before reaching his fifty off 32 balls. Romario Shepherd and Dwaine Pretorius fell in consecutive overs but Hetmyer helped Mazon Warriors collect 30 runs off the last two overs to power them to 189.Royals’ chase never got going as their top four batters failed to score more than 15 each. Pretorius removed the openers, and Shamar Joseph uprooted Rassie van der Dussen’s leg stump with his first ball fired in at 143.3kph. That left them 28 for 3, and they were going at under run a ball.Shaqkere Parris and Sherfane Rutherford staged a comeback with a partnership of 55 off 46 balls, but Joseph struck again when he trapped Rutherford lbw. Once Imran Tahir had Rovman Powell caught for 1, it was all about Motie. He struck twice in the 15th over and twice in the 19th, when the wickets of Kofi James and Zishan Motara finished the game.
Fast bowler deserves happy ending to mighty 16-year career, but form is a concern for NZ
Vithushan Ehantharajah07-Dec-2024The cheers were loud. Too loud considering the on-field celebrations were muted.Tim Southee’s four-over spell before tea had seen off Jacob Bethell and Ben Duckett as both rounded on centuries. Steady into the nineties, they found themselves on the wrong end of a veteran seamer who has made a healthy career out of ending dreams on a fourth-stump line. Shifty positions on the crease from around the wicket felt like a throwback. The only thing missing was joy from the man responsible.In the stands and on the grassbanks they hooted and hollered rather than roared: more for Southee, in his final appearance at the Basin Reserve, than the situation. England had taken care of New Zealand’s first innings quick enough to begin their second innings at 11:54am with a lead of 155. They were 366 in front when Duckett, on 92, lazily guided Southee onto his stumps when aiming down to third. Bethell’s earlier push-drive looked borne out of nerves on 96 – a new personal best – one shot away from his first century in professional cricket.Southee’s disposition throughout was distinctly Danny Glover. One match away from retirement, tired and, aged 35 with the creak of over 23,000 deliveries in his joints, finally too old for this for this s***.The ignominy of being the final skittle of Gus Atkinson’s hat-trick felt unbecoming, especially in only the second of 153 innings as a No.11. His own imperfect hat-trick duly followed; opening up England’s second innings and seeing the first two deliveries blazed through cover for successive boundaries by Zak Crawley. Crawley, a man averaging 9.44 in New Zealand, who just over 24 hours earlier had hit a six in the first over of the Test when he sent Southee back over his head.When Southee announced this series was to be his last, there was a romanticism about calling time against the same side he faced on debut back in March 2008. The reality has been far from idyllic. An awkward nightmarish mix of politeness and brutality.England have targeted Southee – as well as every other Kiwi bowler, to be fair – after he troubled them on day two of the first Test, in seam-friendly conditions. Since taking 2 for 85 in the first innings at Hagley Oval, Southee had gone 0 for 136 runs in the 22.5 overs up to Bethell’s dismissal. Should he not add to the two wickets he currently has – for 72 runs so far in 14 overs – it will be 24 innings since he last took three or more wickets (against Sri Lanka in February 2023).His bowling average has now crept the wrong side of 30. His pace, naturally, is down to 128kph in this Test. The conclusion of the farewell tour in Hamilton next week will be Southee’s 11th Test of 2024. It has been the busiest year of his Test career, one in which he also relinquished the Test captaincy. With just 15 wickets at 61.66, it is also comfortably his worst.There is no denying this has been a grizzly final stanza to a genuinely great career. But great things do not always have great endings.Related
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France’s legendary footballer Zinedine Zidane bowed out too literally, sent off after burying his head into the chest of Marco Materazzi in the 2006 World Cup Final, which Italy went on to win. See also: Don Bradman’s duck in his final knock. And the last season of Test careers, in particular, are tricky to end. It was only five months ago that James Anderson, now sitting on the England balcony as a bowling consultant, was bumped off, forced to call it a day after a one-Test finale at the start of the summer. The game’s most productive seamer, an artist, discarded then repurposed like scrap metal.At the end other end of the spectrum was Stuart Broad’s note-perfect walk into the sunset at the end of the 2023 summer. A rare combination of pageantry and high drama, Broad was celebrated for the last two days of the Oval Test, before finishing it off with the last Australian wicket with his final delivery, earning his side a 2-2 draw in the Ashes.Whisper it, but Southee’s retirement parade is feeling a lot like more like Anderson’s when the desire would have been Broad’s. Inevitable yet no less emotional, but with a nagging sense the time to move on might have already passed.Anderson has spoken since about wanting to cling on, largely because the decision came against his will. Southee at least has the comfort of personal closure. “I’ve really loved working with these exciting young bowlers and watching them perform at the highest level,” he said last month. “Now it’s their turn to take this team forward and they know I’ll always be there to support, from near or far.”Truth be told, it should have been “their turn” here in Wellington. The sentimentality of this series is weighted heavily on that final Test at Seddon Park, Southee’s home ground. Resting for this second Test would have been the smart play on a number of fronts, though Black Caps skipper Tom Latham said pre-match that the thought of parking Southee was never entertained.With three matches back-to-back, it was always going to be a stretch, physically, to make it through intact. Now the issue is seemingly on merit.Not that New Zealand will make that decision. That would be wildly out of sync with how the current set-up operates and the deserved last rites of a legend.But it is hard to shake the fact that Southee’s situation represents a wider stasis with the team. A chastening Saturday highlighted that, with New Zealand already out of this second Test with three days still to play. Likewise the continued absence of Will Young, player of the series in a 3-0 victory over India that looks more and more like an outlier each day.On the flip side, no amount of revisionism can dull what Southee has achieved, regardless of how the next three days here play out. But he would certainly wish his final weeks as a Test cricketer were more enjoyable than this.
An opening day that was theirs to claim came crashing down as they slipped from 78 for 1 to 84 for 4
Alagappan Muthu01-Nov-2024India might somewhat justifiably believe that their struggles during this series against New Zealand were the result of circumstances coming together. The rain in Bengaluru. The toss in Pune. But the chaos in Mumbai is less easy to wish away.They were on top, picking up seven wickets for 76 runs to limit the opposition to 235, and responding to that with 78 for 1 in 17 overs on a pitch where first-innings runs will be incredibly important. Until 4.47pm on Friday, everything was going according to plan. And then, in the next five minutes, it all fell apart. Three wickets in eight legal balls, and a day that was theirs to claim was back in the balance.Related
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The Indian players in the dressing room could only look on in horror. A set batter falling to a reverse sweep with stumps approaching. A nightwatcher dismissed first ball and using up a review. A world-beater run-out going for a quick single. Morne Morkel had his head in his hands. Ravindra Jadeja didn’t have the time to react even that much.”Everything happened in ten minutes,” Jadeja said at the end of the first day’s play in Mumbai. “But it happens. It’s a team game. You cannot blame one person. Everyone makes mistakes. The next batters will have to stitch some partnership and try to get [the score] beyond 230. Only then the second innings will come into play. So it will be better if the incoming batters contribute.”New Zealand have done what few others have been able to, and hang on until the moment where the balance can shift. They showed it in Bengaluru in their first innings when Tim Southee and Rachin Ravindra added vital lower-order runs. They showed it in Pune when they toppled India from 50 for 1 to 156 all out. And they’ve shown it again, here, breaking a 53-run stand between Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal with 13 minutes to go to stumps and then topping that with the direct-hit run-out of Virat Kohli.Ajaz Patel struck twice in two balls•BCCI”You want to keep taking wickets,” Daryl Mitchell, who top-scored for New Zealand with 82, said. “It’s always nice. Look, it’s the nature of the surface and playing Test cricket over here, the ebbs and flows happen throughout the day and happy with how we hung in there while they were building a partnership, and when you get one you hopefully can get two and three.”And thats our motto, its just keep giving to the team, the way Rachin and some of the other guys chased the ball right to the boundary, that’s the stuff we always pride ourselves on. It means everyone is engaged, everyone is giving to the team, so that if we get one, hopefully we get another and its nice that it paid off tonight.”Kohli was fully kitted up when the second wicket fell, but Mohammed Siraj came out to bat instead. The nightwatcher fell first ball and burned a review trying to survive. Kohli then came in but he took on Matt Henry’s arm at mid-on and lost. Rishabh Pant came out. It was a good thing no more wickets fell because the next man in, Sarfaraz Khan, wasn’t in his whites.India have already lost this series, and are looking to avoid their first-ever home whitewash in a series of three or more Tests. They’ve been reminded of these things everywhere they’ve turned. Was their plunge into this possibly avoidable situation a sign of a team buckling under pressure? Jadeja didn’t think so.”Only the individual can tell what’s going through in his mind,” he said. “But if you are behind in the series, and such a situation comes, it feels you panicked because you are 2-0 down and committed an error. But if you are 2-0 up and the same thing happens, everyone says it happens. But if you are behind in the series, even the small things look big. Our top order has made mistakes, so the next six batters need to go close to or beyond 230. If we bat well in the first innings, things will be easier in the second.”