Showing posts with label Sports. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sports. Show all posts

To start with innings crumple cost England - Cook

India v England, 2nd Test

His words were confused in setting with the scorecard, yet you realized what Alastair Cook implied when he said his England group will leave Visakhapatnam with their "heads held high".

While there ought to never come a day when an annihilation this devastating - as far as runs, India have just beaten England once by a bigger edge than the 246 here - is acknowledged without torment, you comprehended what Cook implied when he said his side had "a great deal of motivations to be supported".

The end came rapidly. After outstanding resistance on day four, England died down so rapidly that, wicket to wicket, they lost each of the 10 in their second innings for just 83 runs.

Unmistakably that isn't adequate. Yet, there were a few unplayable conveyances (it is an abused word, however adept for the balls that rejected Haseeb Hameed and Zafar Ansari) and a few that were gigantically requesting. Ben Stokes additionally got an excellent conveyance; it was no disrespect to be expelled by it.

Maybe the edge was a bit of deluding, as well. Britain had chosen to focus on wrinkle occupation, propelled by South Africa enduring 143 overs in Delhi a year prior, and contemplated that, in the event that they could survive 150, they would be near wellbeing; Cook let it be known may have been a misstep. They endeavored to pursue their far-fetched target. Genuine, it didn't work out and genuine, had they played all the more forcefully, the edge may have been littler. Be that as it may, they may have lost on day four, as well.

In truth, when England started their second innings, this diversion was gone and there is no strategy that could have brought it back.

This was an amusement lost on the initial two days. By dropping Virat Kohli on 56 (he scored 248 keeps running in the diversion and the edge of triumph was 246; you don't need to be a virtuoso to comprehend his impact) and losing five wickets before stumps on day two, England supported wounds from which they couldn't recuperate. And also Stokes and Jonny Bairstow batted on day three, and in addition Cook and Hameed batted on day four and in addition England's bowlers - their seamers, specifically - performed on both, the injury was too profound.

"When you yield 455 and you're 80 for five, it's far back," Cook said. "That cost us the diversion. Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes indicated character and on the off chance that you remove Kohli's keeps running from their second innings - clearly you can't do that - they just made 120. Be that as it may, when you're behind it's difficult to recoup in these conditions. It's about first innings runs. We demonstrated some great aptitude and battle, however.

"We attempted to play the way we did in the fourth innings. Obviously, when it doesn't work you feel you could have been more positive. Be that as it may, you settle on a choice as a chief. We came up somewhat short. We contended so energetically. I have myself to fault."

Unmistakably the hurl was critical, as well. Be that as it may, Cook was mindful so as to genuinely recognize its impact without holing up behind it as the purpose behind annihilation. He realizes that once sides begin searching for reasons, they are as of now beaten.

"We can all concur it was a decent hurl to win," he said. "The primary day was the greatest day to bat. It got to be harder to score.

"On these two wickets, it has been extremely beneficial to bat first. Be that as it may, it doesn't ensure any outcome. India contended energetically and turned out with a draw and we weren't adequate to do it. Those five wickets on day two implied that we weren't equipped for drawing near to their first innings score.

"They rocked the bowling alley well. They are great bowlers in these conditions. Be that as it may, in Rajkot we got more than 700 runs and here we made them work truly hard in the last innings. They are great bowlers, however they are not supermen by any extend of creative ability."

Chris Woakes looks practically sure to return in Mohali for the harmed Stuart Broad. While there can be no dissensions about the execution of England's seamers in Visakhapatnam, England did - without precedent for a while - seem to have something of a tail. The last three batsmen scored 17 between them in the primary innings and the last four nine between them in the second. James Anderson recorded England's first lord combine since 1906. It's not one of the records he will esteem.

There will be more worry about the No. 4 position, however. Ben Duckett never looked prone to score keeps running here with a first-innings expulsion proposing at specialized insufficiencies and a moment innings rejection recommending a mixed personality. Apparently deficient with regards to trust with all due respect - not minimum on account of the rehashed way of his rejections against offspin - he grabbed at a range like a suffocating man grabbing at driftwood. A short time later Cook alluded to a "specialized imperfection" and appeared to set up the ground for a change. It would be an astound if Duckett played in Mohali.

"The distinction from playing in Northampton to playing here is very stark," Cook said. "All of a sudden each innings is examined. All of a sudden this specialized defect - whether it's a specialized imperfection or not - individuals know about it and there's most likely it influences folks. Ben is a truly gifted cricketer and I think we'll see significantly a greater amount of him in an England shirt. Whether he plays in Mohali or not, the selectors should accept an approach that."

The issue England have is the type of their options. Gary Ballance was dropped after the Dhaka catastrophe having arrived at the midpoint of just 19.90 in the six Tests since he was reviewed in July and neglected to achieve 30 in his last seven innings. He has really begun to bat pleasantly in the nets and that top of the line record (he has a normal of 47.38 with 29 centuries) reminds us he is a player of some family. Be that as it may, it would be an amaze if England returned to him just yet.

That leaves just Jos Buttler from a squad that looks a batsman short. Buttler has just had one top notch diversion in the 12 months since he was dropped. While few would debate his ability, there is a reason he was dropped and it was, to some extent, because of his battles fabricating an innings. He has scored just four top notch hundreds of years - both Woakes and Adil Rashid have twofold that number - and a top of the line batting normal of 32.07. He looks well on the way to play, however.

Ansari's place will go under examination, as well. He persevered through a peaceful diversion in Visakhapatnam, taking no wickets and scoring just four runs, however he was obviously not well (he heaved on the outfield at one phase) and endured a back fit, as well. It stays to be checked whether he is England's best left-arm alternative (Samit Patel would have offered better batting against turn; Jack Leach better knocking down some pins), however it is brutal to judge him on this appearing.

"He's had an intense three days physically," Cook said. "We do believe he has a part to play, yet clearly physically we need to ensure he's okay. It's sufficiently intense conditions when you're working at 100%, so in case you're not, it's not perfect."

Expansive, however, increased incredible acclaim from his skipper for his entire hearted, skilful execution in requesting conditions. There was no five-wicket pull be that as it may, when Broad thinks back on this Test, he may ponder it as one of the showcases of which he could be generally glad. The ligament damage he supported on the main day renders it most far-fetched he will be fit to play in Mohali.

"To get past as he did was a remarkable exertion," Cook said. "I think he was in significantly more torment than individuals know and he demonstrated one serious part of character. It's likely one of the fundamental reasons why he's been one of England's most prominent bowlers. When it got truly extreme, he stood up, he knocked down some pins his overs and got on with it.

"We don't know enough about the harm yet in light of the fact that it's a significant unordinary one, yet yes, in the event that he plays in Mohali, he'll be a major hazard."

In spite of the extent of thrashing, Cook remained generally playful. Mostly due to England's accomplishment in digging out from a deficit in 2012 - they lost the primary Test in Ahmedabad on that event - and incompletely in light of the fact that his side have, for extensive periods, contended well, he could conceive a route in which achievement could be accomplished. They "simply" need to take each risk and cut out the awful sessions.

"What's giving me conviction is that, more than 10 days of cricket, we have contended exceptionally well in India in their conditions," he said. "Yes, we have lost by a major edge. However, it was a monstrous hurl to lose and in specific times of diversion we played some great cricket.

"We have put their hitters under a great deal of weight. Adil Rashid has been astounding in these two recreations, a genuine stride up for him. Moeen Ali knocked down some pins truly well and Jimmy Anderson was great on his rebound. So there have been a considerable measure of good things. Be that as it may, we must assemble the entire diversion to beat India. In the event that we can advance beyond them in Mohali, then we can put weight on them.

"Yes, we've lost this diversion, however we'll hold our heads up high. There are a ton of motivations to be supported."

Tottenham's UCL trusts to be determined, Arsenal try to top Group An over PSG


We've achieved a basic point in the Champions League gather organize. This is what to pay special mind to in front of the matches this week:

Time running out for Tottenham

In the last round of Champions League apparatuses, Mauricio Pochettino endured a 1-0 misfortune that maybe denoted his most minimal point as Tottenham chief.

Bayer Leverkusen subjected Spurs to their second progressive thrashing at their brief European home of Wembley to drag out a keep running of six diversions without a win with an annihilation that has pushed them toward an untimely Champions League exit.

The anguish could be seen that night. It was a "terrible minute," as Pochettino put it. That run then extended to seven recreations, but since the following match was a 1-1 attract away to Arsenal in which they dug out from a deficit, there was a feeling of the tide turning.

At that point, all the feeling was turned in the space of two minutes on Saturday. That was the time it took for Spurs to return from 2-1 down to West Ham United to win 3-2. That was the time it took for everything at the club to feel diverse once more. They severely need to take that through to this must-win coordinate against a Monaco side who have officially beaten them at Wembley and lead Group E.

It would reinvigorate Spurs' Champions League battle as much as the group. Assist layering this match is the way that Leverkusen, who sit in second, two focuses behind Monaco and two in front of Spurs, face an unbalanced excursion to CSKA Moscow.

This is the round of the week, with the most riding on it. Monaco know a draw puts them through. Goads require a win to remain in it.

Gather An authority in question in Arsenal versus Paris Saint-Germain

Both Arsenal and PSG have officially fit the bill for the round of 16, but since they were put together in a generous gathering, that was never truly in uncertainty. Or maybe, Group A has all been working to this: A confrontation with top spot on offer.

It would mean significantly more to Arsenal since they haven't topped a Champions League assemble since 2012 and have so frequently paid the value, drawing a progression of world class sides in the knockout stage and in this manner losing. They are most likely a superior side than PSG at this moment, however, regardless of the possibility that they have dunked a little in the previous couple of weeks with draws against Tottenham and Manchester United and in addition enduring wounds to Hector Bellerin and Santi Cazorla.

In the mean time, PSG are as yet attempting to adjust to new director Unai Emery's techniques and sit at third in Ligue 1, three focuses off pioneers Nice. What's more, Emery's men are in risk of completing second in Europe, particularly if Arsenal can reestablish the enthusiastic assaulting football of the Champions League so far or expand on Olivier Giroud's fine late equalizer at the end of the week. It would simply be director Arsene Wenger's good fortune, be that as it may, if securing top spot implied confronting one of the first class sides that could complete second in their separate gatherings this season.

Qualifying positions set to be settled

It's lone the penultimate round of gathering amusements, however there could be a feeling of irrevocability for a couple groups. With five officially through, the rest of the 11 could be settled throughout the following two days. On the off chance that Manchester City attract away to Borussia Monchengladbach, for instance, both they and Barcelona will experience.

In the event that Spurs lose to Monaco and Leverkusen draw with CSKA Moscow, both the German and French side will experience.

Somewhere else, If Cristiano Ronaldo's arrival to Sporting Lisbon implies Real Madrid evade crush, they proceed with officially qualified Borussia Dortmund. On the off chance that Porto beat Copenhagen, both they and Leicester experience, however the last need just an attract at home to Club Brugge.

Lyon, in the mean time, must win away to Dinamo Zagreb, or Sevilla and Juventus will experience paying little heed to what happens between them.

At that point there is Group B, and that could yet be the most electric of all ...

Can Besiktas proceed with their rebound?

Besiktas offered a standout amongst the most epic exhibitions of the Champions League season so far by winning 3-2 away to Napoli in sensational conditions on Oct. 19, and on the off chance that they can expand on that and accomplish something comparable at home to Benfica, it would speak to a noteworthy surge.

It would likewise set up an exciting last day in Group B, as Besiktas - third with six focuses - would jump in front of a Benfica side in second with eight. On the off chance that Napoli assert a normal win at home to Dynamo Kyiv, they would be beat with 10 focuses, however that additionally ups the ante for resurgent Besiktas.

On the off chance that they lose to Benfica, and Napoli win, the Turkish side are out. This is one to watch.

Showy Mohammad Nabi whacks down focus of 184 run


Chittagong Vikings, helped along by thumps from Mohammad Nabi and Shoaib Malik, executed a splendid pursue of 184 to overturn Comilla Victorians before a stuffed home group. The win put the group in the main four, while Comilla were left at the base of the focuses table after their 6th annihilation of the competition.

Two vital organizations - first between Tamim Iqbal and Anamul Haque, and afterward amongst Malik and Nabi - got them near the objective before Nabi coolly impacted sixes off Sohail Tanvir and Mohammad Saifuddin to complete the pursuit with four balls to save.

With 17 required off two overs, Tanvir evacuated Shoaib Malik for a 25-ball 38 and finished the 64-run fourth-wicket remain, off the main bundle of the penultimate over.

Weight ascended through spot balls however Nabi's high six over square-leg and single off the last ball kept Chittagong ahead with eight required off the last over. Mashrafe Mortaza gave the ball to Saifuddin, who had surrendered 30 keeps running in his past three overs, and Nabi edged him for a four off the principal ball. The following ball was pummeled for a six over long-on, Nabi's second in an innings of 46 off 24 balls which additionally included five fours.

Dwayne Smith had given Chittagong a quick begin by hitting five limits inside the initial eleven conveyances of the pursuit. Mashrafe Mortaza caught him leg-before in the third over however Comilla missed an opportunity to take more control in the amusement when Imrul Kayes neglected to hang on a catch at profound square-leg, offered by Tamim on 5.

Tamim went ahead to include 62 keeps running for the second wicket with Anamul Haque, and both batsmen kept pace with the required run rate. Tamim, who made 30 off 27 balls, tumbled to Ryan ten Doeschate in the tenth over, and in the bowler's next over, Anamul was expelled for 40 off 30 balls, leaving Chittagong with an objective of 81 keeps running in 8.2 overs.

Malik and Nabi set aside opportunity to settle before taking 25 keeps running off the fifteenth and sixteenth overs. Comilla likewise handled inadequately, releasing straight balls through for fours on the off side on two events.

Prior, Comilla set up their most elevated score in the competition, 183 for 3, on account of two 50 or more associations. Khalid Latif was the regular variable: he shared a 68-run second-wicket remain with Imrul Kayes, who made 36 off 26 balls, before including 70 for the third wicket with Ahmed Shehzad.

Latif discovered his depression in the remain with Imrul, hitting his initial six over midwicket, while Imrul struck three fours and a six preceding being run out by Tamim off an immediate hit from mid-off. Latif then clacked Nabi for three sixes over square-leg and long-on in the fourteenth over. Shehzad, in the mean time, helped Comilla's last thrive with five limits in his unbeaten 40. Latif was run-out in the last over for 76 off 53 balls, which included six fours and five sixes.

John O'Shea sets story straight on part in Cristiano Ronaldo's Man United arrangement


A wide smile extends crosswise over John O'Shea's face when he is helped to remember the part he played in securing Cristiano Ronaldo's £12.2 million exchange to Manchester United in August 2003.

The grin is trailed by a shake of the head and a request that, in spite of the resulting request of Sir Alex Ferguson and colleagues, for example, Rio Ferdinand, Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville, Ronaldo did not turn into a United player just in light of the fact that he had run the powerless Republic of Ireland shield teased a muggy night in Lisbon.

Thirteen years on, Ronaldo comes back to childhood club Sporting Lisbon in a Real Madrid shirt surprisingly on Tuesday having formed into a worldwide genius since leaving the Portuguese mammoths for United as an intelligent 17-year-old.

The Portugal commander's life has changed to the point of being unrecognizable since United administrator Ferguson declined to leave Estadio Jose Alvalade taking after the winger's remarkable execution against the heartbreaking O'Shea on the night Sporting formally opened their new stadium.

In any case, what truly happened that night in Lisbon, when a United squad, fly slacked after a depleting four-diversion preseason voyage through the United States, touched down in the Portuguese money to confront Sporting? Also, was O'Shea the way to United doing the arrangement that would set Ronaldo making progress toward fame?

Ferguson, in his 2013 collection of memoirs, sets the scene as he depicts seeing Ronaldo at close hand interestingly.

"The primary pass Ronaldo took incited me to yell: 'For Christ's purpose, John, get tight to him!' Ferguson composed.

"John shrugged his shoulders. A look of plain bewilderment was crawling over his face. Alternate players in the burrow were stating; 'Ridiculous damnation, supervisor, he's some player him.'

"I said, 'It's okay. I have him sorted,' as though the arrangement had been done ten years prior. I told Albert, our pack man: 'Get up to that chiefs' container and get (Peter) Kenyon (the United CEO) down at half-time.'

"I told Peter, 'We're not leaving this ground until we have that kid marked.'

'Is he that great?' Kenyon inquired.

"John O'Shea's wound up with a headache!" I said. "Get him marked."

Joined shield Ferdinand, who had landed at Old Trafford 12 months prior in a £29.1m move from Leeds United, reviews the squad sitting on a transport outside the stadium for 60 minutes after the amusement as the particular chains of importance of the two clubs exploded an arrangement to sign Ronaldo. By that stage, O'Shea was being subjected to the pitiless insults of his partners for permitting a 17-year-old to embarrass him more than once.

In any case, O'Shea, now commander of Sunderland, trusts the time has come to set the record straight on his commitment to the Ronaldo story.

"We flew over from a voyage through America and straight to Lisbon with extreme fly slack," he told ESPN FC.

"Regularly everybody needs to play amusements, yet on this event everyone had a horrible evenings' rest before the diversion, awakening at two, three, four in the morning wide wakeful and not ready to return to rest.

"So everybody was not, should we say, in "pinnacle" condition for the diversion. Some young men were enchanted when the manager reported the group and they weren't beginning!"

In any case, if planning for a diversion with stream slack was sufficiently awful, confronting Ronaldo with his body-clock still some place between New York and Los Angeles was something else.

"On to the amusement and I'm beginning ideal back," O'Shea said. "Just before the diversion commences, I gaze upward and a youthful Ronaldo is gazing directly at me.

"He's there and brimming with focus, prepared to go.

"Presently in a few books composed by previous associates, there have been some very overstated stories, and trust it or not, about the amount "Ronnie" went past personal consistently, and tore me separated!

"My variant would be distinctive, yet he had an astounding amusement.

"At one phase, I took a gander at the hole when the ball had gone out for a toss in and a portion of the chaps on the seat were having a decent chuckle, believing that is the exact opposite thing you require when stream slacked - a youthful fellow needing to keep running at you over and over, going left, going right, curving turning, shooting each time he got inside separation of the objective.

"In any case, roundaboutly, I take it as a compliment that the supervisor needed to sign Ronaldo so rapidly after the diversion, in view of how he had performed against me that night.

"He needed him to join straight away instead of remaining on advance at Sporting Lisbon for one more year to create.

"I trust the arrangement was set up for Ronaldo to remain in Lisbon and afterward come to Manchester the accompanying season, however after his show of aptitude and development on the night, the manager ensured we didn't leave Lisbon without him, he was prepared."

Ronaldo, who scored the triumphant objective for United on his exclusive past come back to Sporting in a Champions League installation in September 2007, has since commanded the football organize with United and Real. This current summer's Euro 2016 triumph with Portugal including surprising global achievement that has so far evaded his fundamental adversary for top individual respects, Barcelona and Argentina forward Lionel Messi.

What's more, O'Shea concedes his old tormentor has surely benefited as much as possible from his profession since that night in Lisbon.

"He didn't turn out an awful player did he?" O'Shea said. "He has scored a couple of objectives and won a few trophies!

"He is the best player on the planet now, alongside another fella from Argentina."

Rajshahi's way Mominul, Patel tip thriller

BPL-2016
Rajshahi Kings edged Dhaka Dynamites by three keeps running in a strained last-over complete to secure their second win in this current season's BPL. Opener Mominul Haque and England allrounder Samit Patel formed the 183 pursue with quick half-hundreds of years, before the collected minds of Mehedi Hasan and Farhad Reza did what needs to be done with one ball to save in Chittagong.

After Patel brought Rajshahi inside 29 keeps running of triumph, Dhaka hit back with Dwayne Bravo's twofold strike. Bravo first had Umar Akmal gotten and knocked down some pins before rocking the bowling alley Darren Sammy in his next over, the penultimate over of the match, which went just for three runs.

This left Kent seamer Matt Coles, who had surrendered 25 keeps running in his initial two overs, with eight to guard off the last over. He started emphatically by having Abul Hasan holing out to long-on, and tailing it with a low full-hurl, which went just for a solitary. Farhad Reza, however, hoicked a four off the third ball to contract the condition to four off three balls. The following ball - additionally a full-hurl - was hit to long-off for a solitary, and Mehedi then completed it off with a four over in reverse point.

It was Patel who had set it up for Rajshahi. He included 100 keeps running for the third wicket with Mominul after Rajshahi had lost their initial two wickets in four overs. Mominul, who was prior marked as Test master, demonstrated that he has rolled out improvements to his approach. He went onto raise his second progressive half-century off 38 balls.

In any case, it was Patel who constrained the pace in the twelfth over. He pounded Coles for three fours and a six, and raised his fifty off 26 balls. The stand finished in the fifteenth over when Mominul was played by Mohammad Shahid.

Patel, however, did not back off. He lifted Shakib for a support of straight sixes, preceding getting rocked the bowling alley while endeavoring a third six.

Prior, Kumar Sangakkara drove the path for Dhaka, after they picked to bat. He included 71 keeps running for the primary wicket with Mehedi Maruf, before the last tumbled to a fine catch Sabbir Rahman at long-off.

Sangakkara, however, went ahead to raise his initial fifty of the competition. He depended on quick hands to hit sixes over wide long-on and profound midwicket amid his 46-ball 66. Sangakkara likewise profit by two respites: Patel dropped him on 31 and after that Mominul dropped him on 43.

Seekkuge Prasanna, elevated to No. 4, subsequent to bashing a 22-ball 53 at No. 9 on Saturday, upgraded his ball-hitting notoriety with 34 not out off 16 balls. He included 60 runs, including 22 off the last over from Abul Hasan, in the last five overs. Rajshahi, nonetheless, finished the most noteworthy fruitful pursue in this current season's BPL.

Mosaddek, Shakib star in Dhaka win

BPL : 2016

Dhaka Dynamites couldn't quite make use of Mosaddek Hossain's late-order hitting against Rajshahi Kings, but his unbeaten 28-ball 48 came in handy on Saturday as Dhaka Dynamites beat Rangpur Riders by 78 runs in Mirpur.

Rangpur, unbeaten in their first two matches, conceded 64 runs in the last five overs. Then, their big-hitters failed to turn up in a chase of 171. They stumbled to 92 for 9, with last man Richard Gleeson absent hurt. Both sides now have two wins in three matches.

Mosaddek walked out to bat amidst a collapse - Dhaka slipped from 79 for 1 when Nasir fell for 38, to 80 for 4 when Kumar Sangakkara was out for 29. But he quickly found his grove by cutting Shahid Afridi, going inside-out over cover off Arafat Sunny and then hitting Rubel Hossain for six over point.

He added 40 for the fifth-wicket with Shakib and then added 33 with Dwayne Bravo. Such was the confidence as the innings progressed that he even successfully reverse-swept Afridi. Seekkuge Prasanna struck Muktar Ali for two sixes in the last over that went for 16 runs to give Dhaka a flourish at the end.

Rangpur's reply began ominously when Mohammad Shahzad, reprieved at slip off the first ball, whipped Dwayne Bravo for six over midwicket. But Soumya Sarkar and Mohammad Mithun's dwickets set them back. Nasir then took a tumbling catch running back from mid-off to get rid of Shahzad for 11.

Umpire Khalid Mahmud then adjudged Liam Dawson leg-before though replays confirmed that he had inside edged the ball on to his front pad. When Afridi holed out at cover in the 14th over, off Shakib, Rangpur's chase was all but over at 65 for 5. It continued to go downhill as Naeem Islam fell for a labored 26. Such was the collapse that the game was reduced to a mere formality halfway through the chase.

News By ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

Tamim Iqbal livid after final-over choke

BPL : 2016

Mahmudullah was celebrating his side's four-run win over Chittagong Vikings, but the tension that was palpable when he was asked to defend six off the final over didn't wear off even after the post-match presentation. The Khulna Titans captain said that his primary target was to keep Mohammad Nabi off strike but ended up taking his wicket off the last ball.

This was the second time Mahmudullah sealed a tense win off the last over. In their first game against Rajshahi Kings, Mahmudullah took three wickets. Here too, he had three scalps and conceded just one run to take his side to No. 2 in the points table.

"I don't know, it just happened," Mahmudullah said when asked about he managed to defend six runs all over again. "My hands are still sweating. I just tried to keep [Mohammad] Nabi off strike, but the Chaturanga [de Silva] wicket was also important. I got a lot of confidence after giving away a single off the first ball and then getting that wicket with the next ball.

"I don't want to bowl in the death overs but had to do so because my main bowlers had their spells finished. I have been successful on two occasions now, but it can be different in the next game. But I am ready to take the chance again."

But the emotion was contrasting in the Chittagong camp where captain Tamim Iqbal was livid. He didn't single out anyone but he questioned the batsmen's mindset after they wilted in the final over.

"We will keep losing if we play this sort of cricket," he said. "Maybe the batsmen doesn't have problem with skill but there's definitely something wrong in his head if he doesn't understand something after sending 20 messages. We don't deserve to play here if we have to do spoon feeding at this level. I don't want to say the name, but I am talking about the batsmen."

He praised Mahmudullah's nerve for bowling a tight final over of a chase, but said that it was for Chittagong's to lose, and they did. "The match Riyad bhai won them, can only happen once every ten games. But he must be doing something right, now that he has done it twice," he said. "Credit goes to him because he bowled well but I think we are more to blame for losing this game. We had two set batsmen in the middle with just six runs to win."

News By ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

Another Mahmudullah special helps Khulna defend 127

BPL : 2016

For the second time in three matches, Mahmudullah defended six runs in the final over to bowl Khulna Titans to a sensational four-run win against Chittagong Vikings at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur. Chittagong, in pursuit of Khulna's 127 for 7, began the final over of the chase on 122 for 6, but Mahmudullah took three wickets and conceded just one run to leave Chittagong stranded on 123 for 9. With the win, Khulna rose to second on the table.

That one run came off the first ball of the over courtesy Mohammad Nabi. Mahmudullah fired a wide one next ball, and Chaturanga de Silva nicked an attempted cut to the wicketkeeper. Abdur Razzak survived an lbw shout next ball, but fell immediately after when he heaved one to long off. All wasn't lost for Chittagong, however, as the batsmen had crossed, bringing the set Nabi, on 39 off 21 balls, back on strike. But he failed to connect a cut off the fifth ball to leave them needing five off the final delivery, which he holed out to midwicket. Mahmudullah ended with figures of 3 for 24 in three overs.

Before Mahmudullah, Shafiul Islam wrecked Chittagong. After Kevon Cooper sent back the Chittagong openers Tamim Iqbal and Dwayne Smith, Shafiul dismissed Shoaib Malik, Anamul Haque and Zakir Hasan in successive overs. That brought out Nabi, and he kept Chittagong's fight alive through partnerships of 24 with Jahurul Islam (25) for the sixth wicket and 45 with Chaturanga for the seventh. Cooper was also impressive, finishing with 2 for 17 in his quota of overs.

When Khulna batted, they were similarly in the middle of a wobble before being lifted by late contributions. When opener Riki Wessels fell, bowled by Razzak, he had made 28 out of the team's 42 for 3. That would soon become 77 for 5, before Nicholas Pooran (29) and Ariful Haque (25 not out) shared 48-run stand for the sixth wicket that took them past the 120-mark. Nabi was brilliant with the ball too, taking 3 for 22 in four overs. Taskin Ahmed took 2 for 17 in three overs and Razzak finished with 1 for 23 in four.

News By ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

Rajshahi ride to triumph on Samit Patel's inside and out endeavors

BPL : 2016

A hearty all-round show from Samit Patel gave Rajshahi Kings their first win of BPL 2016-17, as they trounced Dhaka Dynamites by six wickets. The England allrounder took two wickets to keep Dhaka to an unassuming 138 preceding his whirlwind of limits facilitated the pursuit.

Patel was unbeaten on 44 off 25 balls, having shared a 73-run association for the fourth wicket with Sabbir Rahman, who was rejected for 31 after the scores were level. Mohammad Shahid rocked the bowling alley a wide to give Rajshahi the win with eleven balls to extra, typical of Dhaka's indiscipline with the ball - they surrendered 15 additional items in the match.

Rajshahi's pursuit started with Rony Talukdar winning the all-Narayanganj fight when he pounded Shahid for a straight six and fours through mid-off and fine-leg. In any case, Talukdar harmed his back while hitting the second limit and that cost Rajshahi two wickets - Mominul Haque was run out in the third over when he attempted to get Talukdar off strike, and after that Talukdar was puzzled for 14 in the wake of charging at Shakib Al Hasan. Talukdar's wicket was Shakib's 50th in the BPL.

Sabbir and Umar Akmal included 38 keeps running for the third wicket to quiet the nerves in the changing area and both grabbed general limits. Akmal fell in the tenth over for 27, yet Patel assumed control over the rod promptly.

He struck his six fours through and over cover and additional cover, past point and through fine-leg. Patel's exclusive six was an impact over long-on, which got Rajshahi inside 10 keeps running of the objective.

In Dhaka's innings, after they were placed into bat, Mehedi Maruf at the end of the day gave them a splendid begin in spite of the loss of Kumar Sangakkara in the second over. Maruf pummeled four limits and a cleared six off Mohammad Sami in his 22-ball 25 however fell into the seven-ball opening that brought about three Dhaka wickets. Samit Patel expelled Mahela Jayawardene, on his BPL make a big appearance, before evacuating Maruf two balls later. In the main chunk of the following over, Shakib was baffled off Mehedi Hasan and all of a sudden Dhaka were 43 for 4 in the eighth over.

With three of their most senior batsmen back in the hole, it was simple for Dhaka to back off yet Mosaddek Hossain's certainty implied that they recuperated rapidly.

Amid his 54-run fifth-wicket remain with Ravi Bopara, Mosaddek coordinated the ball well through the off side and discovered fours with pushes through point and cover. After Bopara succumbed to 20, Mosaddek cut Sami over point for his exclusive six and soon raised his first half-century in BPL, partaking in a 41-run unbroken remain for the 6th wicket with Darren Bravo.

Mehedi and Patel took two wickets each while Hasan, who blended his pace all around, grabbed one wicket. Sami was unfortunate as he had Bravo and Mosaddek dropped in his last over by the sweeper defender on either side of the wicket.

All-round Perera studs Barisal win by six wickets

BPL : 2016

Barisal Bulls opened their record in this current season's BPL with a six-wicket win over Comilla Victorians, whose battle failed out amid a fourth-wicket remain of 49 between Mushfiqur Rahim amd Thisara Perera, which fixed the challenge. Comilla, the safeguarding champions, stay winless and would be concerned by a weak batting line-up, however knocking down some pins is by all accounts their quality.

Set 130 to win, Barisal opener Dilshan Munaweera struck two satisfying fours before getting got at mid-off in the fifth over yet Dawid Malan immediately reestablished the weight with two limits in the same over. Mashrafe Mortaza and Nabil Samad then knocked down some pins six overs to give away only 26 runs, expanding the required run rate from 6.87 to 8.55. It brought about Shamsur's worked 26-ball 16 winding up in the hands of long-on in the eleventh over.

Mushfiqur broke the limit dry spell with a trudge cleared six in the twelfth over, before Malan edged his third limit in the accompanying over from Sharif, however he was quickly gotten off the following ball at cover for 26. With Mashrafe completing his spell (0/21) with Barisal requiring 52 off the last six overs, Mushfiqur and Thisara Perera struck limits off Sharif and Tanvir. They wrested back control of the amusement when they struck one six each off Imad, who surrendered 17 keeps running in the seventeenth over.

Their fourth-wicket stand finished when Mushfiqur faintly edged Tanvir to the attendant, yet he got them nearer to the win with his 23-ball 33. Perera facilitated Barisal's nerves with two limits in the penultimate over, finishing the win with nine balls to save.

Comilla could have slipped advance from 73 for 6 in the fourteenth over, if not for the 38-run seventh-wicket association between Marlon Samuels and Sohail Tanvir.

Samuels - who came to bat after both openers fell inside 3.5 overs - was included in the run-outs of Nazmul Hossain Shanto and Imad Wasim, and saw Liton Das and Nahidul Islam fall quietly. So he needed to get Comilla out of inconvenience. He began off the seventh-wicket remain with two fours off Al-Amin Hossain and about overwhelmed Thisara Perera with a straight hit.

Tanvir got into the demonstration with a whack over midwicket for his initial six. Mahedi Hasan dropped him on 13 in the eighteenth more than, a sitter that wound up hitting him on the face, before hitting the floor. After Samuels withdrew for a run-a-ball 48, Tanvir struck two sixes over long-on in the last over, his unbeaten 30 off 19 balls giving Comilla the late runs that regularly have the effect yet this time finished in pointlessness.

BPL T20 (2016): Match Fixture "Bangladesh Premier League 2016"

BPL : 2016

Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) T20 is the biggest domestic competitive cricket league in all over the Country. Here's the 7 franchisee teams will be participated such as Dhaka Dynamites, Chittagong Vikings, Barisal Bulls, Rangpur Riders, Khulna Titans, Rajshahi Kings and Comilla Victorians. All team has included local and foreign player. Comilla Victorians is a new team in BRB-BPL T20 2016. BRB BPL T20, First match will be started on 04th November 2016 between Rajshahi Kings Vs Comilla Victorians at Shere Bangla National Cricket Stadium and BPL T20 2016, Final match will be held on 10th December 2016 at the same place on 6.30 PM.


Date Local         Time                              Match between                             Venue

04-11-2016 2:30 PM            Rajshahi Kings Vs Comilla Victorians       Dhaka

04-11-2016 7:00 PM            Khulna Titans Vs Rangpur Riders               Dhaka

05-11-2016 2:30 PM            Barisal Bulls Vs Chittagong Vikings               Dhaka

05-11-2016 7:00 PM            Dhaka Dynamites Vs Comilla Victorians       Dhaka

06-11-2016 2:30 PM            Rajshahi Kings Vs Rangpur Riders               Dhaka

06-11-2016 7:00 PM            Khulna Titans Vs Barisal Bulls                       Dhaka

08-11-2016 2:30 PM            Barisal Bulls Vs Dhaka Dynamites               Dhaka

08-11-2016 7:00 PM            Comilla Victorians Vs Chittagong Vikings       Dhaka

09-11-2016 2:30 PM            Rajshahi Kings Vs Khulna Titans               Dhaka

09-11-2016 7:00 PM            Chittagong Vikings Vs Rangpur Riders       Dhaka

11-11-2016 2:30 PM            Barisal Bulls Vs Comilla Victorians               Dhaka

11-11-2016 7:00 PM            Rajshahi Kings Vs Dhaka Dynamites               Dhaka

12-11-2016 2:30 PM           Chittagong Vikings Vs Khulna Titans               Dhaka

12-11-2016 7:00 PM           Dhaka Dynamites Vs Rangpur Riders              Dhaka

13-11-2016 2:30 PM           Rajshahi Kings Vs Barisal Bulls                       Dhaka

13-11-2016 7:00 PM           Khulna Titans Vs Comilla Victorians               Dhaka

17-11-2016 2:30 PM           Dhaka Dynamites Vs Chittagong Vikings       Chittagong

17-11-2016 7:00 PM           Rangpur Riders Vs Barisal Bulls                       Chittagong

18-11-2016 2:30 PM           Rajshahi Kings Vs Chittagong Vikings       Chittagong

18-11-2016 7:00 PM           Rangpur Riders Vs Comilla Victorians               Chittagong

19-11-2016 2:30 PM           Khulna Titans Vs Dhaka Dynamites               Chittagong

19-11-2016 2:00 PM           Barisal Bulls Vs Chittagong Vikings               Chittagong

21-11-2016 2:30 PM           Rajshahi Kings Vs Dhaka Dynamites               Chittagong

21-11-2016 7:00 PM           Chittagong Vikings Vs Comilla Victorians       Chittagong

22-11-2016 2:30 PM           Rangpur Riders Vs Khulna Titans               Chittagong

22-11-2016 7:00 PM           Rajshahi Kings Vs Comilla Victorians               Chittagong

25-11-2016 2:30 PM           Rajshahi Kings Vs Rangpur Riders                Dhaka

25-11-2016 7:00 PM           Khulna Titans Vs Barisal Bulls                        Dhaka

26-11-2016 2:30 PM           Dhaka Dynamites Vs Comilla Victorians        Dhaka

26-11-2016 7:00 PM           Rajshahi Kings Vs Khulna Titans                        Dhaka

27-11-2016 2:30 PM           Dhaka Dynamites Vs Barisal Bulls                Dhaka

27-11-2016 7:00 PM           Chittagong Vikings Vs Rangpur Riders        Dhaka

29-11-2016 2:30 PM           Barisal Bulls Vs Comilla Victorians                Dhaka

29-11-2016 7:00 PM           Chittagong Vikings Vs Khulna Titans                Dhaka

30-11-2016 2:30 PM           Dhaka Dynamites Vs Rangpur Riders                Dhaka

30-11-2016 7:00 PM           Rajshahi Kings Vs Barisal Bulls                        Dhaka

02-12-2016 2:30 PM           Barisal Bulls Vs Rangpur Riders                        Dhaka

02-12-2016 7:00 PM           Chittagong Vikings Vs Dhaka Dynamites        Dhaka

03-12-2016 2:30 PM           Khulna Titans Vs Comilla Victorians                Dhaka

03-12-2016 7:00 PM           Chittagong Vikings Vs Rajshahi Kings        Dhaka

04-12-2016 2:30 PM           Rangpur Riders Vs Comilla Victorians                Dhaka

04-12-2016 7:00 PM          Khulna Titans Vs Dhaka Dynamites                Dhaka

06-12-2016 2:30 PM          Eliminator (3rd vs 4th)                                        Dhaka

06-12-2016 7:00 PM          1st Qualifier (1st vs 2nd)                                Dhaka

08-12-2016 7:00 PM          Semi Final                                                        Dhaka

10-12-2016 6:30 PM          Final                                                                Dhaka

Shahid Afridi and Arafat Sunny disassemble Khulna

BPL : 2016
Shahid Afridi and Arafat Sunny took 7 for 12 between them as Rangpur Riders destroyed Khulna Titians for 44, preceding breezing to the objective in eight overs, with nine wickets close by. In their second commanding execution in the same number of days, Rangpur cleared to the greatest win in BPL regarding balls remaining.

Khulna's score of 44 outperformed Barisal Bulls' 58 as the least group add up to in BPL history. They likewise turned into the ninth group in T20 history to be rocked the bowling alley out for underneath 50. Afridi took his fifth four-wicket pull while Sunny, playing his left-arm turn with a redid activity, had dream knocking down some pins figures of 3 for 0 in 2.4 overs.

Rangpur took only two balls to grab the activity. Nicholas Pooran was rocked the bowling alley behind his legs for the second diversion in succession, this opportunity to Sohag Gazi. Gazi then tossed down the stumps at the non-striker's end, where Abdul Mazid was apathetically shy of his ground, to make it 10 for 2..

Mahmudullah fell leg before to Richard Gleeson in the following over before Afridi and Sunny swam into the Khulna innings.

With his first ball, Afridi knocked down some pins Rikki Wessels with one that kept low before catching Alok Kapali leg before with the second ball. Shuvagata Hom struck two fours at the flip side be that as it may, in Afridi's next over, committed the error of doing a reversal to his full ball, to be played for 12, the main Khulna batsman with a twofold figure score.

There were two more fours in the Khulna innings before Arafat Sunny tore up the tail with three wickets in his 2.4 overs. Ariful Haque was caught leg before Junaid Khan was gotten at midwicket in the same over. Afridi then took his fourth wicket - Nur Alam - and Sunny included his third, knocking down some pins out Khulna in only 10.4 overs.

As though to demonstrate that the pitch had no evil presences, Mohammad Shahzad turned out to hammer three fours off Junaid Khan. Be that as it may, he chipped one back at a similar bowler in the third over to leave for 13. Soumya Sarkar and Mohammad Mithun finished off the pursuit to finish a whipping that took under 19 overs, everything considered.

Maria Sharapova to continue as United Nations goodwill diplomat in April

Maria Sharapova was initially expelled from the game for a long time, a suspension that was later sliced to 15 months.

Maria Sharapova will be permitted to resume her part as a United Nations (UN) goodwill diplomat when her medication suspension closes in April, the body said on Thursday. Five-times terrific hammer champion Sharapova turned into a minister for the UN Development Program (UNDP) in 2007, however was dropped in March subsequent to conceding she had utilized the banned substance meldonium.

The United States-based Russian was initially expelled from the game for a long time, a suspension that was later sliced to 15 months.

She will come back to activity so as to challenge three of the four thousand pummels one year from now, missing just the Australian Open.

"The UNDP is happy to discover that Maria Sharapova can come back to the game she adores sooner than anticipated and we will lift the suspension of her part as our goodwill represetative once the diminished boycott terminates," the UN said in an announcement.

The UNDP attempts to handle imbalance and destitution.

Rain may ruin Australia's fightback against South Africa in second Test

Steve Smith's underfire side are restless not to commit choice errors in front of the significant Hobart amusement.

Captain Steve Smith said today he may play with only four bowlers as rain debilitates Australia's odds of bouncing back from their battering against South Africa in the second Test from Saturday. Overwhelming deluges are estimate through to Monday's third day in Hobart, which doesn't look good for Australia as they offer to recoup from their 177-run whipping in Perth — their fourth straight Test overcome.

Smith's underfire side are on edge not to commit choice errors in front of the urgent Hobart diversion, the second of three Tests, and the 27-year-old skipper has a few choices at the top of the priority list.

He affirmed that number five batsman Adam Voges was fit to play in the wake of hamstring inconvenience and demonstrated Australia may agree with six perceived batsmen, tossing into uncertainty the spots of all-rounder Mitchell Marsh and spinner Nathan Lyon.

"No choice yet (on the group), holding up until the morning, observing the wicket again and the gauge also," Smith told columnists at Bellerive.

"The estimate isn't extraordinary for the following couple of days so we'll hold up until the hurl."

Gotten some information about running in with only four bowlers, as rain deferrals ought to mean they will get a lot of rest, Smith said: "Not certain, that is up to the selectors and they'll choose tomorrow.

"We'll keep a watch out. Anything's conceivable, it'll hold up till the morning."

While that won't not look good for the odds of Marsh keeping his number six spot, after only one half-century in his last 28 Test innings, Smith stayed demure.

Lyon's share

"You should not have to have that additional knocking down some pins choice if there will be bunches of rain around and the bowlers will get some sufficient rest with that," he said.

"Possibilities we could run in with six honest to goodness batsmen yet we'll sit back and watch in the morning."

Australia were constrained into two changes from the Perth Test line-up with opener Shaun Marsh breaking a finger and paceman Peter Siddle enduring a back strain.

Joe Burns is relied upon to open the innings with David Warner, while Joe Mennie is probably going to make his Test make a big appearance. Tasmanian paceman Jackson Bird has been added to the squad.

Selectors likewise at first included Callum Ferguson as cover for Voges, so he could likewise be an alternative if Australia settle on an additional batsman.

Smith's captaincy has gone under overwhelming feedback amid Australia's losing keep running, with Test legend Shane Warne guaranteeing that off-spinner Lyon was under-played in Perth.

However, Smith protected his initiative.

"Warney's qualified for his assessment, yet I remain by the way I got things done," he said.

"We found in that (Perth) amusement that the invert swing was the greatest player in the diversion and it was the choice to be made whether the quicks would carry out the employment and take care of business the ball switching.

"I ran with that choice to bowl the quicks likely for a more drawn out period than I would have done conceivably at some other stage."

In any case, despite the fact that Lyon is Australia's wicket-bringing spinner with 213 casualties in 58 Tests since 2011, he could even now pass up a great opportunity in Hobart.

"I've never done it I figure in my spell as chief (not had a master spinner)," Smith said. "I'm not so much beyond any doubt that is the way we're considering."

Australia (from): David Warner, Joe Burns, Usman Khawaja, Steven Smith (capt), Adam Voges, Callum Ferguson, Mitchell Marsh, Peter Nevill, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Joe Mennie, Nathan Lyon, Jackson Bird.

Brazil beat Argentina 3-0, lift state of mind at Mineirao

Brazil now head the 10-group round-robin rivalry with 24 focuses from 11 amusements.

Neymar scored his 50th universal objective as Brazil whipped main opponents Argentina 3-0 in their 2018 World Cup qualifying duel here. Barcelona genius Neymar took his count to 50 objectives in 74 diversions as Brazil recorded their fifth successive triumph under new mentor Tite to stay on top of South America's capability table.

Philippe Coutinho and Paulinho additionally scored as the Brazilians made a triumphant come back to the Estadio Mineiro, scene of their 7-1 2014 World Cup semi-last mortification against Germany.

Brazil now head the 10-group round-robin rivalry with 24 focuses from 11 diversions.

In any case, the annihilation extends the feeling of emergency concealing Argentina, who have taken only two focuses from their last four diversions and now mope in 6th place generally, one spot outside the qualifying positions for the finals in Russia.

Brazil fueled into a 2-0 lead in the main half after two brilliantly worked objectives from Coutinho and Neymar.

Argentina had begun brilliantly, with Lionel Messi drawing a foul from Fernandinho in the opening minutes which earned the Manchester City midfielder a yellow card from Chilean ref Julio Bascunan.

The Argentines made the primary possibility of the night when Lucas Biglia's venomous shot from outside the region was very much spared by Brazil goalkeeper Alisson on 23 minutes.

Be that as it may, subsequent to weathering the early weight Brazil started to test all the more successfully and on 25 minutes led the pack through Coutinho.

The Liverpool playmaker assembled the ball wide out on the left flank and quickened intentionally towards the Argentina territory.

The assaulting midfielder's pace took him past Nicolas Otamendi effortlessly before he unleashed a loud strike that collided with the top corner.

It showed signs of improvement on the stroke of half-time when Neymar finished his half-century of global objectives.

Another clinical Brazil assault finished with young star Gabriel Jesus part the Argentine safeguard with a lovely pass that sent Neymar through on objective.

The Barcelona striker coolly moved his complete past the progressing Sergio Romero and Brazil were in total control.

Neymar — still just 24 — is currently surrounding Romario's sign of 55 objectives and is solidly on track to outperform Pele's record pull of 77 objectives in 91 diversions.

Brazil rushed to get into their walk in the second half, and Paulinho about made it 3-0 just to be denied by a Pablo Zabaleta objective line freedom on 55 minutes.

Paulinho committed no error four minutes after the fact however, concealing a short proximity complete after a low cross from Renato Augusto.

Italy Late Eder goal sends through to last 16

Euro 2016
Eder ended a great run by firing home in the 88th minute to move Italy clear at the top of Group E with six points from two matches.

Italy moved into the knockout stages of Euro 2016 after Eder scored two minutes from fulltime to secure a 1-0 win over Sweden in Toulouse on Friday.

Eder ended a great run by firing home in the 88th minute to move Italy clear at the top of Group E on six points after two matches following their 2-0 victory over Belgium in their opening encounter.

The result left Sweden in an uncomfortable position with one point after two games ahead of their final group clash against Belgium next week.

Sweden were well organised at the back but toothless in attack, with their danger man Zlatan Ibrahimovic looking a shadow of his brilliant best and hardly creating a chance.

Italy, who surprised many with their superb performance against a highly-fancied Belgium side, relied on their trademark, tight defence but rarely threatened up front until Marco Parolo hit the crossbar with a header shortly before Eder netted the winner.

Belgium await friendly invasion by Ireland

Euro 2016
Having, in the words of their coach Marc Wilmots, “lost a battle but not the war” Belgium present arms again for Saturday’s encounter with Ireland on what they consider to be home territory of Bordeaux.

The Red Devils have set up camp for the Euro 2016 campaign just outside the city, using the training headquarters of Girondins Bordeaux, the club for whom Wilmots once played.

He has come under unfriendly fire there following the 2-0 defeat by Italy in the opening group match but insisted this week there would be no change of an attacking philosophy based around the talents of players such as Eden Hazard, Kevin de Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku.

Unfortunately, the latter pair were badly out of sorts against the Italians, while defensive fallibility was evident, too, in the absence from the tournament of the injured Vincent Kompany and Nic Lombaerts.

De Bruyne and Hazard were both given extra time off this week after suffering minor knocks but are expected to be fit. Some Belgian critics would prefer to see their roles reversed, however, with Hazard playing as the number 10 behind the main striker and De Bruyne out wide.

For however much or little it counts, Belgium have history on their side in not having lost to the Irish for 50 years, which includes beating them by a single goal in the playoffs to win a place at the 1998 World Cup in France.

That gave them a game against Mexico in Bordeaux in which they wilted to a draw in heat that has hardly been a problem at this tournament.

If the Belgians are regarding this as a home fixture, however, they will be shaken by the strength in numbers of the Irish.

Green “army” or not, Ireland’s traditionally friendly followers are more likely to take on the opposition in a sing-song than a fight.

They have already been named the best supporters by one French social media site and tear gas should not be required.

After their team lost every game at Euro 2012 and failed to qualify for the last World Cup, the mood ahead of a difficult Group E programme was guarded, but in Paris on Monday only an own goal prevented victory in a 1-1 draw with Sweden. Manager Martin O’Neill said he was delighted with the performance.

Wideman Jon Walters, with an Achilles problem, is his main injury concern as the Irish seek a first victory at a major tournament since 2002.

Queen’s 2016: Andy Murray steers into quarters on the whole Briton conflict

Andy Murray beat kindred Briton Aljaz Bedene in straight sets and faces another comrade Kyle Edmund next.

Andy Murray continued track to assert a record fifth title at Queen's Club by beating kindred Briton Aljaz Bedene 6-3, 6-4 to achieve the quarterfinals on Thursday.

American John Isner let go 43 pros and held 10 match indicates yet fizzled overcome Gilles Muller of Luxembourg as he drooped to a 3-6, 7-6 (16), 7-6 (7) rout.

Murray confronted a break point in the opening amusement however then broke to lead 5-3 and served out the set. Murray kept up the weight in the second set, and regardless of neglecting to change over four break focuses to lead 1-0 and dropping his own particular serve subsequent to breaking for 2-1, a further break for 4-3 demonstrated definitive.

"I thought it was alright," said Murray of the match. "It was significantly more mobilizes than the principal match, so no doubt, it was entirely diverse. I have never played against him. I have not seen him play loads on grass, either. That is never simple."

Murray's next adversary will be another kinsman, Kyle Edmund, who got a walkover when Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu pulled back with a wrist harm.

Isner appeared to be set for triumph against Muller, holding six match focuses in the second set sudden death round before Muller leveled the match on his fifth set point. In the last set, the American held off five break focuses as the set moved to another sudden death round, however then neglected to gain by a further four match focuses.

The second-set sudden death round highlighted the longest singles primary draw sudden death round at Queen's Club subsequent to Goran Ivanisevic beat Greg Rusedski 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (18) in the 1997 elimination rounds, and Muller is the principal player to win an ATP Tour match in the wake of sparing 10 match focuses following Rainer Schuettler beat Andreas Seppi in Kitzbuehel in 2004.

Third seeded Canadian Milos Raonic additionally progressed by vanquishing Czech Jiri Vesely 7-5, 7 (6), and Australian Bernard Tomic overcame Fernado Verdasco of Spain 6-7 (2), 6-4, 6-4. The match between 6th seeded Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut and American Donald Young was suspended overnight because of downpour with Bautista Agut driving 6-4.

Caroline Wozniacki slip and slide out of Birmingham, Petra Kvitova

Petra Kvitova and Caroline Wozniacki both lost their second round games in the WTA tournament.

Petra Kvitova, the two-time Wimbledon champion who has been hoping to build her grass court momentum for a third tilt at the oldest Grand Slam title, instead became the latest big name to lose at the rain-hit Birmingham WTA tournament on Thursday.

Moving gingerly on the lush surface, Kvitova subsided to a 6-4 4-6 6-3 second round loss to Jelena Ostapenko, the world number 38. Erasing a 0-2 deficit in the decider visibly encouraged the 19-year-old Latvian, who pressed harder, hit flatter, and often played the big points better.

“It was difficult to put the pressure on her,” said Kvitova, who played with her right thigh strapped.

“When she dropped serve she became more dangerous. And I wasn’t moving very well today. At the beginning (of the grass court season) it is really difficult for the body. I don’t know that I did anything wrong. But at least I played two matches here, and I hope to get more at Eastbourne (next week).”

Neither player was helped by a slightly late start and a 40-minute interruption in the middle of the match, both caused by incessant showers which have blighted the tournament for four days.

Perhaps unsurprisingly it was the younger player who proved more resilient in dealing with it all.
The most crucial moments came immediately after Kvitova had broken serve to level at a set all, and then surged into a 2-0 lead in the decider.

She followed it with a poor game, failing to land her first serve frequently enough and then playing an even more disappointingly in the seventh game, delivering a double fault and dropping her serve to love.

She earned a break back point in the following game but was denied by a brilliant forehand from Ostapenko and after that the match ended swiftly.

“I’d beaten her before,” said Ostapenko, referring to a victory on hard courts in Doha in the first week of the year.

“So I thought I could do it again.”

She next plays Madison Keys, the top 20 American for a place in the semi-finals. Kvitova was followed to the exit door by Caroline Wozniacki, the former world number one, was who beaten 6-4 6-7 (5/7) 6-2 by Yanina Wickmayer, ranked down at 49 but a former finalist in Birmingham.

Wozniacki has also been struggling with injuries in recent weeks, and had moments when she appeared concerned not to aggravate them in a match that was interrupted three times by the weather.
Two other seeds, Angelique Kerber, the Australian Open champion, and Carla Suarez Navarro were also struggling when rain ended play early for the fourth day in a row.

Kvitova’s and Wozniacki’s exits followed those on earlier days of Agnieszka Radwanska, the top seed, of Belinda Bencic, the youngest world top 10 player, and Karolina Pliskova, the eighth-seeded Czech who won the title on the Nottingham grass last week.

Pakistan Cricket Board hits back at Danish Kaneria over claims he was discriminated because he is a Hindu


The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has hit back at spinner Danish Kaneria over his claim that he was not helped by the board to get a ban on his playing lifted because he is a Hindu. Kaneria, who is one of the most successful spinners in Pakistan history, was banned for life in 2012 by the England and Wales Cricket Board over his alleged role in spot-fixing in county cricket. The leg-spinner is yet to admit his guilt and has constantly proclaimed his innocence to the media and fans.

"We are very disappointed at Kaneria's statement. Because we didn't ban him he was banned by the England and Wales Cricket Board in the UK. And he was given all opportunity to appeal against the life ban. Being a member of the ICC the PCB is obliged to implement the decision of the ECB as well," said PCB'S media director Amjad Hussain Bhatti, as quoted by India today.

"We strongly condemn the anti-PCB statement. If he was discriminated against at any time because of his religion he would not have even played one match for Pakistan. Kaneria must not forget that he played 61 tests and 18 One Day Internationals for the country as a Hindu and things changed only after he was banned."

The 35-year-old was a regular in the Pakistan side for almost 10 years during which he took 261 wickets in 61 test matches and 15 wickets in 18 ODIs. Kaneria is only the second Hindu to represent Pakistan with his last appearance for the national team coming in 2010 when Pakistan toured England.