أعلن السويسري مارسيل كولر، المدير الفني للفريق الأول لكرة القدم بالنادي الأهلي، التشكيل الأساسي لمواجهة إنبي، بعد قليل، ضمن منافسات مسابقة الدوري المصري.

ويلتقي الأهلي مع إنبي، على أرضية استاد المقاولون العرب، في إطار مواجهات الجولة السابعة من عمر مسابقة الدوري المصري.

طالع أيضاً.. حكم مباراة الأهلي وإنبي في الدوري المصري

ويدخل الأهلي المباراة أمام إنبي، محتلاً المركز الثاني في جدول مسابقة الدوري، برصيد 11 نقطة من 6 مباريات، حقق الفوز في 3، وتعادل في 2، ولم يتلق أي هزيمة.

بينما يتواجد فريق إنبي في المركز السادس عشر بجدول ترتيب الدوري المصري برصيد 5 نقاط، حصدها من فوز وحيد وتعادلين، وتلقى 3 هزائم. تشكيل الأهلي أمام إنبي في الدوري

حراسة المرمى: مصطفى شوبير.

خط الدفاع: أكرم توفيق، ياسر إبراهيم، رامي ربيعة، يحيى عطية الله.

خط الوسط: مروان عطية، أحمد نبيل كوكا، محمد مجدي أفشة، إمام عاشور، بيرسي تاو.

خط الهجوم: وسام أبو علي.

كشفت تقارير صحفية، عن الجوائز المالية لبطولة كأس السوبر الإسباني، والتي تنطلق في المملكة العربية السعودية، غدًا الأربعاء.

ويواجه برشلونة نظيره أتلتيك بلباو غدًا الأربعاء في نصف النهائي الأول، بينما الخميس ستجمع مواجهة بين ريال مدريد وريال مايوركا، على أن يكون النهائي يوم الأحد.

طالع أيضًا | قائمة ريال مدريد في كأس السوبر الإسباني.. عودة نجم الفريق

صحيفة “ماركا” الإسبانية، كشفت عن الجوائز والعوائد المالية لكل فريق يشارك في بطولة كأس السوبر، التي ستقام في المملكة العربية السعودية للمرة الخامسة.

وأشارت التقارير إلى أن هناك 40 مليوناً إجمالي الأموال التي ستنفق على البطولة خلال الـ 3 مباريات، من بينهم 20 مليونا ستذهب إلى الاتحاد الإسباني لكرة القدم.

بينما الـ20 مليون الأخرى، سيتم توزيعها على الفرق الأربعة المشاركة بواقع 6 ملايين لكلً من ريال مدريد وبرشلونة.

وسيحصل أتلتيك بلباو على 3 ملايي يورو، وريال مايوركا 2 مليون يورو.

وسيتم إضافة مليون يورو للفريق الفائز في نصف النهائي، أما في حالة الفوز بالنهائي، سيتم إضافة 2 مليون.

في النسخة الماضية، حصل كل من ريال مدريد وبرشلونة على 6 ملايين لكلًا منهما، وأتلتيكو مدريد ما يقرب من 3 مليون، و أوساسونا مليون ونصف بمجرد المشاركة.

يستأنف فريق ليفربول مبارياته تحت قيادة مدربه آرني سلوت، بمواجهة في كأس الاتحاد الإنجليزي، اليوم السبت، أمام أكرينجتون ستانلي.

وتعرض ليفربول للهزيمة في مباراته الماضية أمام توتنهام بهدف نظيف في كأس كارباو، وتعادل قبل ذلك أمام مانشستر يونايتد في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز بهدفين لمثلهما.

ومن المرجح أن يُجري سلوت تغييرات على تشكيل ليفربول وإراحة بعض العناصر الأساسية، حيث يستعد الفريق عقب ذلك لمواجهة نوتينجهام ثم برينتفورد خارج أرضه.

وقد يلجأ سلوت لإراحة نجم ليفربول محمد صلاح، وعدم الدفع به أساسيًا في المواجهة أمام أكرينجتون.

طالع.. تشكيل ليفربول الرسمي أمام أكرينجتون ستانلي في كأس الاتحاد الإنجليزي.. موقف محمد صلاح تشكيل ليفربول المتوقع أمام أكرينجتون ستانلي

حراسة المرمى: كيليهر.

خط الدفاع: كونور برادلي، جاريل كوانساه، أمارا نالو، كوستاس تسيميكاس.

خط الوسط: واتارو إندو، تري نيوني، هارفي إليوت.

خط الهجوم: فيديريكو كييزا، جايدن دانس، داروين نونيز.

ويُمكنكم متابعة أحداث مباريات اليوم لحظة بلحظة من مركز المباريات من هنــــا.

حسم التعادل الإيجابي مواجهة يوفنتوس وتورينو بهدف لكل منهما، في إطار منافسات الدوري الإيطالي لكرة القدم “سيريا أي”.

وواجه يوفنتوس نظيره تورينو، ضمن منافسات الجولة العشرين من الدوري الإيطالي، على ملعب “تورينو الأولمبي الكبير”.

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في الشوط الأول وعند الدقيقة الثامنة، أحرز كنان يلدز هدف يوفنتوس الأول، وذلك بمجهود فردي رائع بعد أن راوغ مدافعين من خارج منطقة الجزاء ومن ثم التسديد بقوة على مرمى الخصم.

وعند الدقيقة الأولى من الوقت المحتسب بدلًا من الضائع عن نهاية الشوط الأول، تمكن نيكولا فلاسيتش من تسجيل هدف التعادل لصالح تورينو من تسديدة يسارية قوية اصطدمت بالعارضة ثم هزت الشباك.

في الشوط الثاني ومع الدقيقة 56، أشهر حكم المباراة البطاقة الحمراء في وجه مدربي الفريقين، تياجو موتا وباولو فانولي، بعد حدوث اشتباك بين الطرفين حول الاعتراضات المتكررة على قرارت حكم المباراة.

وكاد نيكولاس جونزاليس أن يحرز هدفاً لـ يوفنتوس بحلول الدقيقة 75، لولا تألق سافيتش حارس مرمى تورينو.

وبهذه النتيجة، ارتفع رصيد يوفنتوس إلى النقطة 33 في المركز الخامس بترتيب الدوري الإيطالي، بينما ارتقى رصيد تورينو إلى النقطة 22 في المركز الحادي عشر. اهداف مباراة يوفنتوس وتورينو 1 1 الدوري الايطالي

حقق فريق سيمبا التنزاني انتصارًا ثمينًا على ملعبه وبين جماهيره، بفوزه على ضيفه شباب قسنطينة الجزائري بهدفين دون رد، في المباراة التي جمعتهما اليوم الأحد، ضمن منافسات بطولة كأس الكونفدرالية الإفريقية.

هذه المباراة تأتي ضمن منافسات الجولة الأخيرة من دور المجموعات، وتحديدًا في المجموعة الأولى التي تضم أيضًا الصفاقسي التونسي وأونزي برافوش الأنجولي.

شهد الشوط الأول من المباراة تنافسًا قويًا وندية واضحة بين الفريقين، حيث تبادلا الهجمات والسيطرة على منطقة وسط الملعب، إلا أن الشوط الثاني شهد تحولًا في مجريات اللعب، حيث تمكن سيمبا من فرض سيطرته بشكل أكبر على اللقاء، واستطاع ترجمة هذه السيطرة إلى هدفين حاسمين.

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افتتح اللاعب كيبو دينيس التسجيل لصالح سيمبا في الدقيقة 61 من زمن المباراة، مانحًا فريقه التقدم ومُشعلًا حماس الجماهير الحاضرة في المدرجات.

ولم يكتفِ الفريق التنزاني بهذا الهدف، بل عزز تقدمه بهدف ثانٍ في الدقيقة 79 عن طريق اللاعب كريستيان ليونيل اتيبا مبيدا، ليؤكد فوز فريقه ويحسم النقاط الثلاث لصالحه.

بهذا الفوز، رفع فريق سيمبا التنزاني رصيده إلى 13 نقطة، مُحكمًا قبضته على صدارة المجموعة الأولى، ومؤكدًا تأهله للدور التالي من البطولة كمتصدر، أما فريق شباب قسنطينة وعلى الرغم من هذه الخسارة، إلا أنه يضمن التأهل إلى الدور التالي كوصيف للمجموعة، حيث كان قد حسم تأهله بالفعل في الجولة الماضية بوصوله إلى النقطة 12.

وفي مباراة أخرى ضمن المجموعة نفسها، تلقى فريق أونزي برافوش الأنجولي هزيمة قاسية بثلاثة أهداف دون رد أمام الصفاقسي التونسي.

هذه الخسارة جمدت رصيد أونزي برافوش عند سبع نقاط، بينما رفع الصفاقسي رصيده إلى ثلاث نقاط، ليحتل المركز الأخير في ترتيب المجموعة، على الرغم من فوزه في مباراة اليوم. أهداف مباراة سيمبا التنزاني وشباب قسنطينة اليوم في الكونفدرالية

All of a sudden the favourites going in to the tournament find themselves one defeat short of being ousted from the event.

Sidharth Monga in Karachi02-Jul-2008The possible scenariosIf India win against Sri Lanka, they go through to the final, and the Pakistan-Bangladesh match becomes inconsequential.If India lose, and Pakistan beat Bangladesh, Pakistan go through. This scenario will have both India and Pakistan tied at four points, but Pakistan would head into the final by virtue of more wins in the Super Four stage.If India lose, and Pakistan lose to Bangladesh, India’s higher points tally will see them through.If either of the India-Sri Lanka or Pakistan-Bangladesh games is tied or has a no-result, then Pakistan won’t be able to catch up with India on points, and will be out of the final.Another flat subcontinent pitch, another ineffective performance by the Indian bowlers. And all of a sudden the favourites going in to the tournament find themselves one defeat short of being ousted from the event. If India lose to Sri Lanka on Thursday, and if Pakistan, as expected, beat Bangladesh the day after, both teams will be tied on four points. In that scenario, by the virtue of having won more matches in the Super Four stage, Pakistan will go through.However, India still haven’t reached a stage where they rely on some other match. All they need to do is beat Sri Lanka, something they did twice in three matches during the CB Series in Australia. Therein lies the story: the CB Series was played in Australia, the Asia Cup is being played in Pakistan. And the Indian bowlers react differently to the two types of conditions.When they lost to Pakistan today, it was the tenth time in the last one year that they conceded a total of 300 runs, seven of those in the subcontinent. While most of the Indian bowlers boast of a better record overseas, Chaminda Vaas’ statistics are slightly better in the subcontinent than outside. Muttiah Muralitharan’s effectiveness on subcontinent pitches can hardly be overstated.Even today, it was the Indian fast bowlers who perhaps made the target look about 20 less than it was. Praveen Kumar, who has almost always got the new ball to do something so far in his career, was out of sorts bowling to two left-hand openers. Ishant Sharma, who came in to replace Praveen, gave away 16 in his first over. Irfan Pathan, with his reduced pace, was always going to struggle on pitches that give him zero assistance. Dhoni thought the bowlers gave it their all, but the pitch was just too unresponsive. “They tried everything, whatever they had in the armoury they tried,” Dhoni said. “On a wicket like this, the only way you can stop batsmen from scoring runs is taking wickets. While we were batting we lost three quick wickets when we were batting, and all of a sudden Rohit and I were under pressure.”Apart from the continued ineffectiveness of the fast bowlers, Piyush Chawla looked quite innocuous too. But to ask someone so inexperienced to deliver on a pitch so doped might be a bit harsh, Dhoni reckoned. “There is no assistance, especially for spinners, on this wicket. You have to be an experienced spinner with a lot of variations. You have to exploit [whatever little the pitch has], and bowl according to wicket. If you have someone like that you can put pressure on batsmen, otherwise even 330 can be difficult to defend.”To set all this right India have about 13 hours after having played a gruelling match in tough conditions. Dhoni, who has been critical of the schedule, which has Pakistan playing the last match against Bangladesh, chose to look only at what was in his side’s control. “It’s definitely tough, especially if you are playing Sri Lanka,” Dhoni said. “But it’s very rare that you get to play back-to-back matches. And as a professional cricketer you have to be ready.”The playing conditions also, in a way, render the points carried forward from the first round ineffective by making Super Four wins the tie-breaking criterion. In last year’s World Cup, by contrast, teams carried forward points but didn’t face their first-round opponents in the next stage. Dhoni and his team, though, would not want to think about these things for the next 13 hours, and during the match.

Lawsuits, resignations, sackings and more, in our look back at the third quarter of the year

Judhajit Basu and Kanishkaa Balachandran29-Dec-2008July
Ajantha Mendis picked up 6 for 13 in the final of the Asia Cup, which Sri Lanka won by 100 runs © AFP
1 New Zealand totally outclass a threadbare Ireland by a record ODI margin of 290 runs.3 The ICC changes the result of the controversial Oval Test between England and Pakistan in 2006 from an England win to a draw, following pressure from the PCB. Two days later, Michael Holding resigns from the ICC cricket committee, citing the change of the result as the reason.Clive Lloyd, the former West Indies captain, is appointed the new chairman of the ICC cricket committee, following Sunil Gavaskar’s resignation. Samir Inamdar, the chairman of Cricket Kenya, is elected chairman of the Associate and Affiliate members of the ICC, and Marlon Samuels’ two-year ban is upheld among other decisions.6 Ajantha Mendis bamboozles India to finish with astonishing figures of 6 for 13 and help Sri Lanka win the Asia Cup final in Karachi by 100 runs.Australia complete a 5-0 whitewash in the ODI series against West Indies, winning the fifth ODI in St Kitts by 169 runs.7 Nasim Ashraf, the PCB chairman, is appointed president of the Asian Cricket Council.8 Mahendra Singh Dhoni pulls out of the Test leg of India’s tour of Sri Lanka, citing exhaustion after a non-stop season.The ICC announces an investment of US$300 million over the next seven years for the development of the game outside the 10 Full Member countries.10 Sri Lanka Cricket decides to allow its cricketers to play in the second season of the IPL, though the league clashes with Sri Lanka’s tour of England. The board also agrees to back-date the players’ contract payments from March 1, 2008.The ICC takes the first significant step towards resolving the contentious issue of unauthorised cricket by setting up a high-powered committee.13 A sample taken during random testing at the inaugural IPL tests positive. The player in question later turns out to be Mohammad Asif, whom the PCB subsequently suspends.16 The ECB unveils its plans for an English Premier League starting 2010.Future Test series between South Africa and England are granted “icon” status by Cricket South Africa and the ECB with the support of the ICC.17 The BCCI cranks up the pressure on English counties that have employed players linked with the Indian Cricket League, “advising” its own players to not sign up with such teams. Consequently Piyush Chawla doesn’t sign for Hampshire, or VVS Laxman for Nottinghamshire.23 Joubert Strydom ends his term as the South African chairman of selectors to pursue business interests.26 The New Zealand Emerging Players, aided by Neil Broom’s 62, clinch the Emerging Players Tournament by defeating the Australian Institute of Sports by three wickets at the Allan Border Field in Brisbane.29 Jagmohan Dalmiya is elected president of the Cricket Association of Bengal, a position from which he was unseated in December 2006.The BCCI rejects an offer from the ECB to join England’s version of the Champions League.August
Michael Vaughan struggles to hold his emotions in check after resigning as England captain © Getty Images
1 Ashok Mankad, the former India batsman, passes away in Mumbai.2 Hong Kong beat defending champions UAE by three wickets to win the ACC Elite Trophy in a rain-shortened final in Kuala Lumpur.David “Butch” White, the former England and Hampshire quick bowler, dies aged 73.Diteko Modise, the former financial manager of the South African board, is sentenced to 76 years in jail for fraud.Graeme Smith’s unbeaten 154 guides South Africa to a five-wicket win against England at Edgbaston in the third Test, ensuring a series victory for South Africa, their first in England since 1965.Michael Vaughan resigns as England captain. Paul Collingwood also calls it quits as England’s one-day captain.4 Kevin Pietersen is appointed England’s Test and one-day captain.Ireland and Netherlands share the World Twenty20 Qualifiers trophy after the final of the tournament is washed out in Belfast.5 The chief executive of the West Indies Cricket Board, Donald Peters returns to work after being sent on leave in July following a dispute with Julian Hunte, the board president.7 Robin Brown is fired from his position as national coach by Zimbabwe Cricket. Andy Pycroft, the Zimbabwe A team coach, is also shown the door.9 Bob Cunis, the former New Zealand medium-pacer, passes away, aged 67.11 Sri Lanka make their way to a comprehensive 2-1 Test series win, their first over India since 2001, winning the third Test by eight wickets.Chris Gayle withdraws his letter of resignation as West Indies captain, written at the end of July, and says he is set to continue leading the side.16 Walter Chawaguta, the former Zimbabwe Under-19 coach, takes charge of the national team.18 Nasim Ashraf, the chairman of the PCB, resigns from his post on the same day that the patron of the board, Pervez Musharraf, resigns as president of Pakistan.Rain washes out the fifth and final women’s ODI between England and South Africa at Chesterfield, handing the hosts a 4-0 series win.19 Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Asif’s B sample from the IPL tests positive for nandrolone.20 Zimbabwe confirms they will not take part in the ICC World Twenty20 in England in 2009, following meetings with the ICC in Dubai.Steve Harmison comes out of ODI retirement to strengthen England’s bowling against South Africa in the five-match series.22Darrell Hair, the Australian umpire, tenders his resignation with the ICC in order to take up a coaching role.Xavier Marshall hits the most sixes in a one-day international innings, 12, as he demolishes Canada’s bowlers in a tri-series match in King City.23 The BCCI working committee proposes to pay an annual sum of Rs 25 lakh to each national selector, making the job a fully paid one instead of the existing honorary system.24 The ICC postpones the Champions Trophy, due to begin in Pakistan from September 12. The decision to defer it to October 2009 is taken at a teleconference among board members the next day.25 Marcus Trescothick admits in his autobiography to using mints to help shine the ball during England’s 2-1 Ashes victory in 2005.26 The Stanford 20/20 for 20 match between the Stanford Super Stars and England comes under threat when West Indies team sponsor Digicel brings an injunction against the WICB in the High Court in London.27 India seal their maiden bilateral ODI series triumph in Sri Lanka with a 46-run win in the replayed fourth ODI at the Premadasa Stadium; they take an unbeatable 3-1 lead.Mushtaq Ahmed, the former Pakistan legspinner, announces his retirement from county cricket due to persistent knee trouble.29 Samit Patel’s all-round performance at The Oval helps England win the ODI series against South Africa, taking an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.30 The BCCI technical committee says state associations will now be permitted to include four “guest players” (from areas outside their jurisdiction) in their squads from the 2008-09 season onwards, up from three previously.Andrew Symonds is banished from the Australia squad to take on Bangladesh in the first ODI in Darwin after he goes fishing and misses a team meeting.
Darren Gough bids farewell in his final first-class game © PA Photos
1 On the 40th anniversary of Garry Sobers hitting six sixes in an over, Floyd Reifer , the former West Indies batsman, emulates the feat in a match in the Barbados Cricket Association’s Twenty20 league.2 Graeme Hick, the former England captain, announces his retirement from first-class cricket at the age of 42.3 England thrash South Africa 4-0 in the one-day series at home. The fifth and final ODI in Cardiff is washed out.4 The ICC announces ODI Player rankings for women, set for an October launch.5 The three founding members of the Champions League announce that the second edition of the tournament will be held between September 25 and October 10, 2009, and will feature 12 teams.Col Egar, the former Test umpire and Australian cricket administrator, dies in Adelaide at the age of 80.6 Australia sweep the one-day series against Bangladesh 3-0 in Darwin. Bangladesh collapsed to 125 all out, chasing 199.7 South Africa reject a proposal to host a tri-series featuring South Africa and Sri Lanka after their leading players say they aren’t interested in playing after a hectic tour of England.9 England Women beat India Women 4-0 in the home one-dayers. The fifth and final ODI in Hove was washed out.10 Shivnarine Chanderpaul is named the 2008 ICC Cricketer of the Year at the annual ICC Awards in Dubai. For the full list of awards click here.11 The 10-year commercial rights to the Champions League are sold to ESPN-Star Sports for US$900 million.13 West Indies pull out of the four-nation Twenty20 tournament in Canada in October after their request to postpone it by two weeks is turned down.14 Murray Goodwin secures the Pro40 title for Sussex by hitting the final ball of a gripping winner-takes-all clash against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge for six.Chris Adams, the Sussex captain, announces he will be standing down at the end of the season following 11 years in charge. The allrounder Michael Yardy takes over in his place.Six Bangladesh players inform the BCB that they intend to retire from international and domestic cricket. There’s speculation all are set to join the ICL, which is confirmed the next day when the ICL unveils the Dhaka Warriors team. Habibul Bashar is named captain.Cricket Australia confirm Australia’s tour of India will go ahead, despite increased fears over security following a series of bomb blasts in New Delhi.17 Norman Arendse quits his post as Cricket South Africa’s president, saying he never enjoyed the full trust and confidence of Gerald Majola, the CEO, and all 11 affiliates.The Bangladesh Cricket Board announces a ten-year ban for all 13 of its players who joined the ICL.18 Xavier Marshall and Tonito Willett, from Leewards Islands, test positive in drug tests conducted during a two-week camp in Antigua in August.SNGPL become the first Pakistan team to win the Mohammad Nissar Trophy after the game against Delhi at the Feroz Shah Kotla ends in a draw. SNGPL take the title based on their first-innings lead.19 Sri Lanka Cricket lifts the ban on five cricketers and an umpire who in 2007 signed up for the ICL; all are allowed to participate in domestic cricket.20 Stanford organisers reject Digicel’s compromise offer to the WICB regarding branding for the Stanford 20/20 for 20.22 Darren Gough bows out of first-class cricket after being omitted from Yorkshire’s squad for their match against Sussex at Hove. Gough played in 58 Tests and 159 ODIs, taking 229 and 234 wickets respectively.24 Sri Lanka Cricket revises its stance on ICL cricketers playing domestic cricket after a meeting with the sports minister Gamini Lokuge, saying the players were only allowed to play the upcoming Premier League Cricket Tournament 2008.25 The ICC gives the ICL the opportunity to present its case for official sanction, and Subhash Chandra, the owner of the league, agrees to meet ICC president David Morgan in London in the October.Warwickshire secure the Division Two title in the County Championship by claiming bonus points against Glamorgan at Edgbaston .26 Kris Srikkanth heads India’s first-ever paid national selection committee. The committee also comprises Yashpal Sharma (North), Narendra Hirwani (Central), Surendra Bhave (West) and Raja Venkat (East).Moin Khan sues the Pakistan board over its claims that he was involved in recruiting Mohammad Yousuf for the ICL. He demands 100 million Pakistan rupees (approximately US$1.3 million) as compensation for damage to his reputation.27 Durham claim their first-ever County Championship title after beating Kent by an innings and 71 runs at Canterbury.The PCB replies strongly to Moin Khan’s legal notice and asks him to pay Rs 250 million rupees (approx US$3,210,891) in damages.28 Khaled Mashud, the former Bangladesh captain and wicketkeeper, announces his retirement from all forms of international cricket.30 Derek Underwood, the former England spinner, begins his one-year tenure as president of the MCC, taking over from Mike Brearley.Martin van Jaarsveld, the former South Africa batsman, is named the Professional Cricketers’ Association Player of the Year.The ICC amends the Powerplay rule, allowing the batting team to decide when to use the third Powerplay. The rule is to come into effect from October 1.

A look at how the stats stack up for Pakistan and South Africa ahead of their ICC World Twenty20 semi-final

S Rajesh17-Jun-2009The overall numbersAs you’d expect with a team which has won five games on the trot in the tournament, South Africa have excellent numbers with both bat and ball – they are marginally ahead of Pakistan in both aspects. Neither of the two teams are at the top of the tree in terms of batting stats – West Indies takes that honour – but with the ball South Africa and Pakistan are easily the two best sides in the competition. They have taken the most number of wickets in the tournament so far with 42 and 41, and are the only sides who have conceded less than seven runs per over.

The Powerplay oversBoth South Africa and Pakistan have been among the more conservative teams with the bat during the first six overs, scoring at less than eight runs per over. South Africa, though, have been excellent at keeping wickets in hand, losing just three during the Powerplay overs all tournament, and averaging 77 per wicket. Their opening partnership of Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis has been among the best in the competition. Pakistan, on the other hand, have lost nine wickets during the first six overs.

As bowling teams, South Africa have been far superior in the first six, taking 11 wickets – the second-highest, after England’s 13 – at an excellent average and economy rate.

Wayne Parnell and Dale Steyn have been exceptional in the first six. Mohammad Aamer is the most successful for Pakistan, but he has been relatively expensive, going at seven-and-a-half per over.

The middle overs – 7 to 14Pakistan have been the slightly stronger team overall in the middle overs, scoring at a better rate and taking four more wickets than the South African bowlers.

The star bowler in the middle overs has been Shahid Afridi who has done a remarkable job of taking wickets and keeping the runs in check. In 114 deliveries he has taking eight wickets, an average of less than 15 balls per wicket, at an economy rate of only slightly more than five per over.

The last six oversSouth Africa have been the slightly better batting team in the last six overs, but both have been outstanding with the ball, conceding less than ten runs per wicket, and less than seven per over. That’s ensured that the batting teams have had little momentum towards the end of their innings.

Umar Gul has taken the most number of wickets in the last six overs, but there have been several other star performers from both teams. Saeed Ajmal has been outstanding, both in terms of taking wickets and keeping runs in check, and the same applies to Steyn, Parnell and van der Merwe as well.

How the runs have been scoredThere’s little to choose in the manner in which the two teams have scored the runs in this tournament: the dot-ball percentages are almost equal, but Pakistan have, surprisingly, scored a higher percentage of their runs in singles, twos and threes.

The extras factorSouth Africa are clearly ahead in his area: they’ve bowled one no-ball and 17 wides, to Pakistan’s eight no-balls and 23 wides.

Wasim Akram is in Australia to commentate on the Women’s World Cup and now he knows all about the top women and their rankings

Jenny Roesler24-Mar-2009For the last fortnight, the king of Pakistan cricket has been striding around North Sydney Oval, looking predictably suave in well-fitting shirts and purple-tinted sunglasses. Wasim Akram is in Australia to commentate on the Women’s World Cup for ESPN Star Sports and, ever too cool for school, he refused to do his homework.He arrived here not knowing the names of any players, realising that his co-commentators would give excellent assistance. He notes that he never even studied his opposition when a player, then again when forming a powerful alliance with Waqar Younis, he didn’t have to.Now he knows all the top women and their world rankings. “I’ve been impressed by the standard of the cricket ability, the standard of the fielding, the standard of the talent – they’ve got every shot,” he enthuses. “The fielding was phenomenal. For England, New Zealand and Australia, the fielding was mind-blowing, I was amazed.”It didn’t even take a fortnight for Wasim, who had never seen women’s cricket before – unless you count a brief hour at the World Cup final at Lord’s in 1993 – to become a big fan and an important, if unofficial, ambassador.From the moment he began commentating on the opening Australia-New Zealand match, it was obvious he was impressed, and perhaps even surprised. As Karen Rolton smoked a bullet through point, Wasim asked his co-commentator: “Is Karen mainly an off-side player?”That instant she cracked a sweet pull to square. Within overs, Wasim was confidently announcing, as if he had always known, “Karen, of course, can play shots all round the wicket.” He was smitten.His favourite players are Rolton, Mithali Raj, Suzie Bates, Claire Taylor, Laura Marsh and Holly Colvin – notably all batsmen or spinners. One thing he would like to see is batsmen going after the slow bowlers. “I haven’t seen anyone attacking the spinners, playing with the spin, using their feet, apart from a few of the seniors.”The absence of pace bowlers in Wasim’s list of notables is attributable to the fact that they could be even stronger, and so have more speed. “They’re not genuinely sharp, but they can become sharp if they play a longer version of the game – at least two-day cricketwhere they can bowl a lot more overs and, by doing that, their bowling muscles will get strengthened and their pace will increase.”That’s what happens with fast bowlers. If you’ve got to play one tournament in two years or five one-day internationals, you’re not going to improve your pace.”But his dream is likely to remain such. If anything, more one-day and Twenty20 cricket is being played than ever before – with no winds of change on the horizon. For years the only country to play two-day domestic cricket, Australia finally wound up playing such long matches a few years ago, while Tests have been waning.I turned briefly to Wasim’s fellow commentator Belinda Clark, the manager of Australia’s Centre of Excellence, for her comments. “As a player, I think that developing that opportunity to play in all forms of the game is really important,” she agreed. “I think, really, in terms of international exposure, it’s going to come through one-day and Twenty20 cricket for the girls.”I agree with him that [longer cricket] plays a very important role in developing not only bowling skills but the ability to bat for long periods and actually learn the game is done in the longer form of the game. The harsh commercial realities are that that’s going to bedifficult to do going forward.”Wasim Akram, the unofficial ambassador of women’s cricket•AFPFinances have played a pointed part in this World Cup. The best-funded team, England, won the US$45,000 prize fairly comfortably – sending a clear message to other boards.But as well as monetary assistance, the game needs prominent advocates such as Wasim. Australia has an official ambassador in Ian Healy, a perfect fit, as his niece Alyssa is a junior Australia player, and he even flew himself in for the final. More big names actually discovering the game is a big aim, however, which is where Wasim’s opinion really counts.So impressed has he been that he is keen to spread the women’s word among the male bastions. “Of course I will be saying the standard is really good and we should support it – and I will support it all the way.”They just need to play a bit more cricket to get more exposure and then they’ll improve as players as well,” he says. “I think that women’s cricket has a future for sure.”

Gayle’s innings at The Oval featured raw, unadulterated power. It was Twenty20 batting at its most violent

Alex Brown06-Jun-2009The Oval has witnessed many an astonishing innings since its first international match in 1880, but perhaps none featuring the raw, unadulterated power produced by
Chris Gayle on Saturday. Those residing within a half mile radius of World Twenty20 venues this month should be advised to board windows and shore-up roof tiling on the evidence of Gayle’s destructive innings, during which he deposited Brett Lee onto Harleyford Road and the top of the Bedser Stand in the space of three deliveries.This was Twenty20 batting at its most violent. Set a reasonable victory target of 170 by a scuffling Australian batting line-up, Gayle and opening partner Andre Fletcher afforded the opposition bowling all the respect of a park attack. By the end of the six-over Powerplay period, the West Indian duo had taken their team’s total to a rollicking 83 for 0. Australia, at the corresponding juncture of their innings, were 35 for 3. There ended the lesson.Rare is the time that a 31-ball half century is completely overshadowed, but such was Andre Fletcher’s lot on Saturday. For Gayle was simply awesome, whether slashing square or driving straight, prompting his opposing captain, Ricky Ponting, to wonder aloud whether he had ever witnessed an innings of such brute force in his 14-year international career.”Probably not many – in any form of the game,” Ponting said. “We obviously know what he’s capable of on his day. We tried a lot of different things to Chris. He got off to a great start and hit a couple of boundaries. We tried going around the wicket and taking his angles away and we tried bowling wide yorkers to him. Those things we did today probably weren’t executed perfectly, but he still came up with an answer and put the balls away.”SKY technicians measured Gayle’s square six off Lee, last seen headed towards Vauxhall, at 95 metres, and his ensuing blast over long-on at a monstrous 105 metres. After the initial six, Stephen Fay, the esteemed English cricket writer and former editor, remarked that not since Clyde Walcott could he recall a blast of such magnitude at The Oval. And Walcott, presumably, did not put one on the roof of the Bedser Stand roof two balls later. Or took the bowler for 27 runs off the over.By the time of Fletcher’s dismissal for a dashing 53, the West Indians were assured of victory with 133 runs from 11.3 overs. Gayle fell with the finish line in sight for an imperious 88 from 50 deliveries, and when Ramnaresh Sarwan sliced Mitchell Johnson to the fence for the match-winning runs with 4.1 overs remaining, West Indies had all but secured their safe passage through to the next phase of the tournament with a net-run rate of +2.413.When asked whether he could recall unleashing bigger sixes than those off Lee’s bowling on Saturday, Gayle paused momentarily in contemplation.”It’s the first time I’ve hit it so far,” he said. “Maybe I did [before], but I can’t remember. That was a good hit against a top-class bowler. It felt like the ball was in the slot and in Twenty20 these things will happen. There are other guys who can hit it further than me. I just stick to my strengths and once I’ve cleared the boundary I’m satisfied with that. It doesn’t matter how far it goes.”Lee’s figures of 1for 60 were the most expensive by an Australian in the short history of the World Twenty20 competition, and the sixth highest of any bowler in the tournament. But perhaps the more revealing statistic of the West Indians’ dominance was that of the net run-rate, which could force Australia into an embarrassing first round exit. Only an emphatic victory against Sri Lanka on Monday will keep them afloat in the tournament.”We wanted to lose as few wickets as possible because there might by a situation where it goes down to run rates,” Gayle said. “Australia might beat Sri Lanka and Sri Lanka might beat us. It’s a situation we have to be aware of and make sure our run-rate is good.”We are very satisfied. After a tough series against England we put back some smiles on the West Indies’ fans faces. But it’s not over. This is the first game. There’s still a long way to go.”