Porterfield leads manic chase

ScorecardIreland comfortably beat United Arab Emirates by six wickets, in the one-off T20 match held at Sharjah. Ireland elected to field first, putting UAE under pressure straight away when Bakthiyar Palekar was dismissed by Paul Stirling in the first over. Tim Murtagh would inflict damage as he accounted for Amjad Ali and Salman Faris, leaving UAE to be reduced to 24 for 4 in the sixth over.A 49-run stand between Swapnil Patil and Rohan Mustafa attempted to steady the ship, but UAE continued to lose wickets in regular intervals. UAE stuttered to 122 for 9 at the completion of their quota of overs. Murtagh was impressive with his 3 for 11, and was ably supported by the efforts of both George Dockrell and Stirling, who picked up two wickets each.William Porterfield and Stirling led an eventual run chase early on as they were going at above ten an over in the first couple of overs. The two batsmen put up 54 for the first wicket, before Stirling was dismissed off Mustafa. Porterfield stayed on to anchor the innings, striking seven boundaries, including three sixes, as he finished with 58. Gary Wilson and Kevin O’Brien played the finishing role as Ireland chased down UAE’s total in the 19th over.

PSL 2025 likely to resume later this week in Pakistan

Overseas player availability a key concern after league had to be suspended due to cross-border tensions between Pakistan and India

Danyal Rasool12-May-2025The PSL is likely to resume later this week with the PCB aiming to hold the remaining games in Pakistan. The league, which was postponed due to increasing cross-border tensions with India, has eight games left and the PCB, as well as several franchises, is eager to conclude the season as early as possible.The PSL held meetings with the franchises on Monday to discuss specific dates and venues. The most pressing issue is the availability of overseas players, with ESPNcricinfo understanding a significant number are unlikely to return. The asymmetry of player availability may also impact squads, with some franchises more confident about overseas players rejoining than others.To mitigate that, the PCB is also believed to be considering a replacement draft to make up the numbers. While the quality of players available for such a draft is a concern – the most in-demand players were already with the PSL or the IPL – it is likely to be a necessary step to fill the gaps. The logistics around production will also need to be sorted, with the contracts for broadcasting teams ending on 18 May, the date for the final before the league had to be suspended.Several stakeholders at the franchises ESPNcricinfo spoke to said that bringing foreign players back for the remainder of the season had been made difficult by the decisions compelled upon the PCB from the sheer volatility of the period leading to the league’s suspension. As tensions between India and Pakistan escalated, the PSL at one point went through three different options within 24 hours.The PCB initially considered moving the tournament to Karachi after the security situation around the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium became untenable, before announcing early on Friday morning that it would be held in the UAE. Later that day, though, with the IPL also suspended by this point, it was announced the PSL was being suspended indefinitely – a decision ultimately made on the advice of the Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif.During this time, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi held a meeting with the overseas players. One franchise member told ESPNcricinfo the players were “in no frame of mind” to play at this point, with emotions running high. It was decided that evening to airlift the players to the UAE that night from an airbase.The conclusion of PSL 2025 will mark the end of the ten-year leases for the six franchises, with the contracts up for renewal and renegotiation. The current owners have right of first refusal, with several indicating a preference to purchase teams in perpetuity rather than operate on rolling long-term contracts.The PSL spilling into the last ten days of May is also expected to impact Bangladesh’s tour of Pakistan. Bangladesh were due to arrive on May 21 and play five T20Is starting on May 25, with the first two in Faisalabad and the remaining three in Lahore. The BCB said it was in “active and ongoing discussions” about the tour.

Eve Jones: 'Professionalism has taken my game to another level'

Opener targets England chance after starring for Phoenix and Sparks

Valkerie Baynes28-Sep-2021If any more evidence was needed – and it’s become abundantly clear this summer – of the positive knock-on effects from professionalising domestic women’s cricket in England, look no further than Eve Jones.The first uncapped cricketer to win a player-voted PCA award, cinch PCA Women’s Player of the Year Jones has gone from having to shoehorn her own training around a day job coaching in schools and clubs to fitting her sessions as a coach around the times she trains as a professional athlete.The difference has, in her words, been “massive”. After racking up 808 runs across the Hundred, Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy and Charlotte Edwards Cup, opening batter Jones secured her first WBBL contract, joining Melbourne Renegades for this year’s edition starting on October 14.”We’ve had a lot more time to dedicate to training,” said Jones, one of 41 women awarded domestic contracts for 2021. “We had a whole winter training with Sparks three, four times a week so I think that’s definitely had a massive impact on my game.”I’ve come into the season with a lot of confidence and I’ve had a lot of support and belief given to me by my team so that also helps. Being a professional cricketer has definitely taken my game to another level.”Jones, 29, was speaking following the 52nd cinch PCA Awards, the biggest awards ceremony in English cricket. She is also the PCA Women’s Overall Domestic MVP and the Charlotte Edwards Cup Player of the Year.Playing for Central Sparks, Jones was the leading run-scorer in the Charlotte Edwards Cup with 276 runs at an average of 55.20 and third-highest on the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy charts with 299 runs at 42.71.Jones also scored 233 runs for Birmingham Phoenix in the Hundred at an average of 29.12 and with a strike rate of 118.27, making her the tournament’s fourth-highest run-scorer. Ahead of her were international stars Dane van Niekerk and Jemimah Rodrigues and rising England batter Sophia Dunkley, who has enjoyed a breakthrough season and who was shortlisted for the Women’s Player of the Year award alongside Jones, England vice-captain Nat Sciver and Danielle Gibson of Western Storm.Eve Jones slashes over backward point•Getty Images

Jones, who boarded a plane to Australia on Monday, hoped the WBBL would provide another shop window for her to press a long-held ambition to one day play for England.”I’ve always had aspirations of playing for England and if I can keep performing and winning games for my teams, then hopefully that’ll give me an edge to try and break into that England squad,” Jones said.”It’s very difficult to break into because there’s some fantastic players in there. That’s all I could do at the end of the day, keep on improving and keep putting in performances.”Hopefully the Big Bash will give me more assistance, if I can keep performing in that and on the big stage.”Jones admits frustration at not yet earning an international call-up.”I’d say there is a little bit of frustration there,” Jones said. “I can only keep doing what I’m trying to do and perform and score runs and help my team win.”It’s a really difficult team to break into so I’m just trying to make sure that I’m ready if and when I get picked. The competitions that are available for us to play in and putting it on the big stage in front of thousands of people should hold me in good stead if I do get that England call.”As if to exacerbate her frustrations, England experimented with a long batting line-up in the recently completed tour by New Zealand, where the hosts struggled with a misfiring middle order.Related

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Tammy Beaumont is a lock as opener as England prepare for the Ashes, starting in late January, and their World Cup defence in March, having come through a lean ODI series against New Zealand to post a dominant century in the fifth and final match.Lauren Winfield-Hill struggled to convert starts opening alongside Beaumont in eight ODIs against India and New Zealand over the summer, with T20 opener Danni Wyatt enjoying success after moving into the ODI middle order.Even if she does not earn selection for the Ashes, Jones can aim for a place on the accompanying England A tour of Australia.”I feel like I’m just coming into the peak of my career,” Jones said. “If I get selected on that tour and if I can perform in that then you’re always in a good position then to get called up to the squad.”

SA not intimidated by spin factor

If cricket was science fiction, contests between Sri Lanka and South Africa might be characterised as tussles between Ewoks and Vulcans.

Andrew Fernando in Hambantota21-Sep-2012If cricket was science fiction, contests between Sri Lanka and South Africa might be characterised as tussles between Ewoks and Vulcans.One side is almost cute. Their emphasis on the “Sri Lankan brand of cricket” is fuzzy, and their insistence on allowing bowlers to be themselves no matter how strange, is charmingly different. South Africa meanwhile are efficiency personified. There is little room for sentiment in their outfit and it is all the more formidable because of it. They have developed some of the best players in the world, and know the science of getting everything out of them.This difference in philosophies is made all the more stark by the teams’ varying strengths. Sri Lanka’s attack is dripping with x-factor, but there is also brittleness about it. South Africa’s bowlers however, are precise and consistent. Sri Lanka revel in spin, whether producing it or playing it, but South Africa are masters of pace, seam and bounce; a brutal art for a dauntless team.Saturday’s encounter between two of the tournament favourites might be a case of who can exploit the other’s weakness better. Ajantha Mendis and Jeevan Mendis shared nine Zimbabwe wickets between them, in Sri Lanka’s 84-run drubbing of Zimbabwe, then South Africa’s pace quartet reaped eight scalps from the same team two nights later. Mahela Jayawardene alluded to South Africa’s perceived weakness against spin when he cited their “inexperienced middle order” ahead of the match, and Sri Lanka’s troubles against quality pace bowling are well known – even if they have improved in that regard lately.South Africa are aware they will have to play Ajantha Mendis on the same surface he took a world record 6 for 8 only four days ago, but captain AB de Villiers said his side know plenty about him and are far from intimidated.”A guy like Mendis is a world class bowler and when he’s going well he will always pick up wickets,” he said. “But we’ve seen him perform under pressure and seen him break down under pressure as well. So hopefully, we can get the upper hand against him and not let him bowl to us.”The pitch will play a significant role. The surface on which South Africa demolished Zimbabwe was perhaps the liveliest of the tournament so far, but the strip that will be used on Saturday also had plenty in it for the seamers.”I was expecting the pitch to bounce a bit, but not as much as it did against Zimbabwe. I was surprised that pitch didn’t really take turn. I’m certainly expecting it to turn a bit more when we play Sri Lanka.”Both teams are through to Super Eights, which means the result of this game only becomes relevant in the event of a tie at the end of the next phase. Each captain conceded they will be tempted to test out their bench strength for the effective dead rubber, but de Villiers stressed that it was more than just a warm up for the matches to come.”I don’t think there will be any drop in intensity for the Sri Lanka game,” de Villiers said. “We’re in the beginning stages of a very, very big event, a tournament that we really want to win. You have to play well in every game and improve in every game. Sri Lanka are the home team and we’re probably underdogs. We’ll try and gain some momentum out of the game.”Sri Lanka may also like to give Akila Dananjaya a chance to prove his talent at international level. If he plays alongside Ajantha Mendis and Lasith Malinga, Sri Lanka’s attack will be a showcase of the weird. The Ewoks will hope to hoodwink their opponents into crashing their hovercraft into trees, but if the Vulcans have their way, the script will be clean and predictable but no less impressive.

Atacante do São Bento deseja vitória contra o Boa para respirar na Série B

MatériaMais Notícias

O São Bento volta a campo nesta sexta-feira para encarar o Boa Esporte, em casa, visando mais uma triunfo na Série B do Campeonato Brasileiro. Com cinco jogos e cinco gols na segundona, o atacante do time de Sorocaba, Francis, falou sobre a importância deste compromisso.

– Vamos enfrentar uma equipe forte, que vem em busca de pontos em nossa casa. Temos que ter atenção e fazer o que estamos fazendo nas últimas rodadas. Só a vitória nos interessa para permanecermos crescendo na tabela de classificação da Série B. É vencer ou vencer – disse.

Sem perder há quatro rodadas na disputa – três vitórias e um empate -, a equipe paulista tentará manter essa sequência, segundo destacou o atacante Francis.

– Estamos vivendo um ótimo momento na Série B, nos afastando do Z4 e subindo na tabela. Essa evolução tem sido importante, tem dado confiança ao elenco. Vamos continuar trabalhando firme para terminarmos a competição com ótimos resultados – afirmou.

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São Paulo anuncia parceria com a Konami pelos próximos dois anos

MatériaMais Notícias

O São Paulo tem um novo parceiro para duas as próximas temporadas. Trata-se do Pro Evolution Soccer, o PES 2019, jogo de videogame produzido pela japonesa Konami. O anúncio do novo patrocinador foi feito pelo técnico Diego Aguirre, logo após entrevista coletiva na sala de imprensa do CT da Barra Funda. O técnico do Tricolor, inclusive, será um Legend do jogo.

Os valores do acordo não foram revelados pelas partes envolvidas no contrato. Na camisa de jogo número 1 do São Paulo, o logo do PES ficará um pouco abaixo do ombro esquerdo, nas cores vermelha e preta. Na camisa 2, ao lado do símbolo do clube e do logo da Adidas. Já nos uniformes de treino, o logo do patrocinador ficará nas mangas da camisa, na cor branca.

– Quero dar boas-vindas ao novo patrocinador do São Paulo, o PES. Será nosso patrocinador pelos próximos dois anos – anunciou o técnico Diego Aguirre, que terá seu próprio personagem no jogo. Segundo ele próprio, um centroavante.

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Após o anúncio, o meio-campista Nenê e o auxiliar técnico André Jardine disputaram uma partida amistosa no videogame. No duelo entre São Paulo Contra São Paulo, melhor para o membro da comissão técnica permanente do clube do Morumbi, que venceu por 1 a 0.

O lançamento da nova versão do jogo da Konami será no dia 28 de agosto. Por enquanto, os interessados em adquirir a nova versão, com o time do São Paulo incluso, poderão adquiri-la na pré-venda. Os valores estão na casa dos R$ 200.

Scotland stay on top with hard-fought win

Scotland Under-19s beat Kenya Under-19s by 15 runs in a low scoring match at Woodvale Road, Eglinton, to stay at the top of the points table. After choosing to bat, Scotland were in trouble at 77 for 6 before a 65-run partnership between Anjan Luthra and Sam Page revived the innings. Page, who top scored with 48 built another handy stand with Kyle Smith as Scotland reached a respectable 188. The only substantial contributions in Kenya’s chase came from opener Rushabh Patel – who scored 50 – and No. 3 batsman Duncan Allan, with 43. The pair added 83 for the second wicket, but once they were dismissed in consecutive overs, the chase faltered, with Kenya managing only 173 for 8 in their 50.Wicketkeeper Mathew Cross, who had been the lone performer among Scotland’s top order and was part of five dismissals in the fiels – including those of Patel and Allan – was named Man of the Match. “We would have been happy with a score of 210-220, but still, to reach 188 after being six down early on was a big effort,” Cross said. “When Kenya batted, we felt that one wicket could change the match. Allan fell at the right time for us to fight back. We dried up the runs [after that] and the asking-rate increased.”At Lodge Road, Coleraine, Nepal Under-19s beat Papua New Guinea Under-19s by 29 runs and moved into the second spot on the points table. Batting first, Nepal scored 277 for 7, driven by a fluent 91 from Rajesh Pulami Magar. Magar’s knock, which included eight fours and a six, was cut short when he was run out by PNG keeper Dogodo Bau. Opener Sagar Pun and Pradeep Airee also scored half-centuries as Nepal finished with 277 for 7. Vagi Oala and Christopher Kent were the main contributors in the chase, scoring 64 and 80 respectively. However, a penetrative spell from left-arm fast bowler Avinash Karn – he picked up a five-for in 6.3 overs – made sure PNG were always behind, eventually folding for 248 with three balls to spare.Magar, who was named Man of the Match, said his team was wary of PNG replicating their successful chase against Canada in the previous round of matches. “We lost a few wickets early on, so I had to stay at the wicket and build a partnership,” he said. “PNG chased down Canada’s score of 266 yesterday and we were a bit wary of their ability to chase the score. But our bowlers bowled brilliantly and restricted them very well.”Canada Under-19s eased to a five-wicket win against USA Under-19s at the Bready Cricket Club No2 Ground, Magheramason. Asked to bowl, Canada shot out USA for 101 in 40.3 overs, courtesy a six-wicket haul from opening bowler Manny Aulakh. The chase was steered by a rapid 42 from Rayyan Pathan, who struck five sixes in his 42 off 29 balls. Though USA managed to pick up five wickets, Canada were never stretched, getting home with 16.4 overs to spare.Aulakh, the Man of the Match, said the pitch assisted the quicks. “There was something in the pitch for the fast bowlers. We stuck to the basics and they [USA] made a few mistakes. This was one of my best spells.”At the Bready Cricket Club Afghanistan Under-19s registered a comprehensive nine-wicket win against Vanuatu Under-19s. Afghanistan justified their decision to bowl, running through Vanuatu in 26.2 overs. The attack was led by left-armer Sayed Shirzad, who claimed 5 for 38 in nine overs. He was well supported by Yamin Ahmadzai and Abdul Naseri, who picked up two apiece. Chasing 112, Afghanistan lost an early wicket, but were solid thereafter with Javed Ahmadi and Hashmatullah Shaidi knocking off the target at over seven runs an over.Man-of-the-Match Shirzad said Afghanistan were pumped up as it was a must-win match for them. “It was do or die for us, we had to win to stay in the hunt,” he said. “I bowled wicket to wicket and that paid rich dividends.”Ireland Under-19s‘s match against Namibia Under-19s at New Strabane Park was washed-out after only eight overs. The match will be replayed on Monday. Ireland need a win to regain the second spot on the points table.

Somerset's season gets back on track

ScorecardIn the wake of two defeats, two notable triumphs. Such is Somerset’s start to the season as they seek – with renewed conviction – to justify their billing as favourites to win the Championship for the first time. Worcestershire needed 257 on this, the third day, which in the past would have been quite feasible at Taunton. The pitch, though, was still giving assistance to the medium pacers and there was some swing under the cloud cover. Ultimately it was no contest, Gemaal Hussain finishing with career best figures of 6 for 33.Poor Worcestershire have now played four, lost four. Talking of conviction, there is precious little about their batting. Their bowlers, particularly Damien Wright, who took 6 for 56, had done notably well in dismissing Somerset for 185, but a first innings lead of 71, coupled with the accuracy of Somerset’s attack and some fine slip catching resulted ultimately in a straightforward triumph.”It was a different type of game to what is customary at Taunton,” said Hussain, who left Gloucestershire in the winter in the hope his England ambitions would come to pass. “There was some assistance in the pitch but we still had to bowl in the right areas. Length was the key. Which is my favourite end? That is a challenge for me. I enjoyed the pitch – and the whole match.”Somerset had begun the day with a lead of 154, seven wickets intact, which was sufficiently ominous for their opponents. The fact that James Hildreth, nightwatchman Steve Kirby, Craig Kieswetter and Peter Trego went in quick succession, three of them to slip catches, told of the continuing dominance of ball over bat. Or, it might be added, the lack of sufficiently resolute technique.Lewis Gregory also went cheaply, likewise caught in the slips, which left Somerset greatly dependent on Jos Buttler to ensure they would reach a lead of getting on for 300, which was what Kirby had emphasised would be needed. Wright utilised the conditions extremely well, maintaining an accurate line from the Old Pavilion End, but he could not make this all-important breakthrough.Buttler may be short of runs this season, but evidently not of self-belief. On several occasions he moved down the pitch to Alan Richardson’s quickish medium, flat-batting him for four and then swinging him over the square leg boundary. This was altogether too much for the old stager, who on his 36th birthday was spoken to by umpire John Steele for too much ‘lip’ towards the precocious batsman.At lunch, Buttler was four short of a half century, having struck nine fours and that six. Charl Willoughby was his one surviving partner, but batting is not his strong suit. He was held at third man in the first over upon resumption, leaving Worcestershire the best part of five sessions to gain a rare victory. It was swiftly apparent that there was scant chance of that.Daryl Mitchell went to an in-ducker from Willoughby and James Cameron edged Hussain to second slip off the bottom of the bat. Then, the former Gloucestershire seamer effectively won the match with two wickets in an over: Moeen Ali, who had just survived a strong appeal, edged him to second slip, where Marcus Trescothick held a sharp catch. Three balls later, Alexei Kervezee was taken at the wicket off one that Hussain cut the other way.Matt Pardoe followed, bowled by Trego and, when Vikram Solanki drove Hussain too ppishly to extra cover, Worcestershire’s fleeting chances had gone. Gareth Andrew went to the first ball after tea, leg before to Kirby, Wright was very well taken at first slip by Hildreth off Willoughby, and, when Hussain changed ends, he had Jack Shantry leg before. And that was just about that.

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