Liverpool new boy Florian Wirtz insists his record-breaking £116 million ($154m) price tag “doesn’t matter” as he just wants to “play football”.
| Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱 |
MatériaMais Notícias
O Palmeiras volta a campo nesta segunda-feira (9) para enfrentar o Rio Preto-SP, às 19h30, no Estádio Anísio Haddad, em São José do Rio Preto-SP, pela terceira e última rodada da fase de grupos da Copa São Paulo de Futebol Júnior. O duelo terá transmissão do SporTV.
Até aqui, o time tem 100% de aproveitamento na competição, já que venceu a Juazeirense-BA, por 2 a 0, e o América-SP, por 3 a 1. Com os resultados, a equipe é líder do Grupo 3, com seis pontos.
> Veja a tabela do Campeonato Paulista 2023
continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasPalmeirasPalmeiras recebe proposta por Danilo, mas deve fazer jogo duroPalmeiras07/01/2023PalmeirasProtagonista do Palmeiras, Dudu avalia pré-temporada: ‘Foco total’Palmeiras07/01/2023PalmeirasPalmeiras faz treino regenerativo na academia e na piscinaPalmeiras07/01/2023
>Confira até quando vai o contrato dos jogadores do elenco do Palmeiras
Agora, basta um empate para equipe comandada por Paulo Victor Gomes garantir a classificação à segunda fase do torneio e assegurar a primeira colocação de sua chave.
Atual campeão da Copinha, o Palmeiras chegou a oito triunfos consecutivos na competição, sendo seis em 2022 e dois neste ano, registrando um recorde do clube na história da competição.
O torcedor palmeirense pode assistir ao jogo desta segunda gratuitamente no Anísio Haddad. O acesso ao estádio será feito pelo portão 02. Mais de 17 mil pessoas já acompanharam as partidas do Verdão na primeira fase do torneio.
علق حازم فتوح، وكيل أعمال التونسي سيف الجزيري مهاجم الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي الزمالك، على تصريحات مدربه يانيك فيريرا، والتي أكد خلالها أنه لن يعتمد على اللاعب في الفترة القادمة.
جاءت تصريحات فيريرا خلال المؤتمر الصحفي عقب مباراة الزمالك وفاركو، والتي فاز بها الأبيض بهدف دون رد، سجله الوافد الجديد شيكو بانزا.
وقال حازم فتوح في تصريحات عبر برنامج “اللعيب” على قناة “mbc masr”: “في البداية لا بد أن نشيد بتجربة نادي الزمالك الحالية والنظام المتبع وحالة الانغلاق والتي لا تجعل أحدًا يعرف ماذا يدور في التدريبات”.
وواصل: “أنا علمت أزمة الجزيري متأخرًا، وسأعقد جلسة مع اللاعب لمعرفة التفاصيل، لكن أنا عندي تحفظ على تصريحات يانيك فيريرا ضد اللاعب بهذا الشكل”.
طالع أيضًا | شوبير: فيريرا من مدرسة “البوم بوم”.. ويكشف تفاصيل مشادته مع سيف الجزيري
وأشار: “سيف الجزيري لاعب مؤدب وخلوق ويُمكنك أن تحصل منه على أفضل شيء من خلال التعامل النفسي الجيد معه، سأجتمع مع اللاعب ونرى، لأن الفرق الكبيرة لا بد أن تتمتع بانغلاق ويجب على المدير الفني أن يُقدر ذلك وأن تكون كل كلمة منه بحساب، وأنا أرى أن حديثه سيؤثر على حالة الاستقرار للفريق”.
وتابع: “نحن جلسنا مع كل مسؤولي الزمالك في وقت سابق، والمدير الفني والمدير الرياضي، والجميع أكد على تمسكهم بـ سيف الجزيري واحتياج الفريق له وأنهم مؤمنين بإمكاناته”.
وأضاف: “مسألة احتياج المدير الفني لأي لاعب المفترض تُحسم من بداية الموسم، لكي يُعطي فرصة للاعب أن يُحدد مصيره، التعامل مع فريق كبير مليء بالنجوم يتطلب مديرًا فنيًا يمتلك خبرة لكيفية التعامل مع هؤلاء النجوم، لكن تصريحاته عن الجزيري تُثير البلبلة”.
واختتم: “هل سيتم تجميد سيف الجزيري في الفترة القادمة؟ لا أستطيع أن أرد على هذا السؤال إلا بعد أن أجتمع مع الإدارة، يجب أن نجلس ونعرف الأزمة وتفاصيلها وبعد ذلك نُحدد، سيف لاعب كبير وكان يمتلك عروضًا في وقت سابق والنادي هو من تمسك به”.
Juventus are monitoring Brighton's Matt O'Riley as a possible alternative to Morten Hjulmand amid Sporting CP's high asking price for the midfielder.
| Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱 |
Visitors prosper after being inserted as John Simpson returns to haunt his former club
ECB Reporters Network24-May-2024Cheteshwar Pujara plundered runs against Middlesex’s bowling attack yet again as Sussex posted 295 for 4 after being inserted in the battle between the top two sides in Vitality County Championship Division Two.The India Test veteran, who scored 231 on Sussex’s last visit to Lord’s in 2022 – along with a century against Middlesex at Hove earlier that year – ended the opening day unbeaten on 91. Pujara’s patient knock formed part of an unbroken stand of 131 with his captain and ex-Middlesex wicketkeeper John Simpson, who struck 71 not out on his return to the county where he spent 15 seasons.Ethan Bamber claimed two wickets for the home side, with Ryan Higgins and Henry Brookes taking one apiece.Middlesex’s decision to bowl after winning the toss initially looked questionable as Tom Clark and Tom Haines bustled along at around five an over, with the latter dispatching five consecutive Bamber deliveries to the rope. Bamber was hastily switched to his preferred Nursery End and, despite Haines immediately drilling him to the cover fence once more, he had the final say by bowling the Sussex man through the gate for 40.That broke the opening partnership of 66 and slowed the scoring rate significantly as the home side claimed two more wickets before lunch, with Higgins having Clark caught behind off a bottom edge. Having also seen Tom Alsop put down off his bowling in the cordon, Higgins then pulled off a blinding catch when the left-hander edged Brookes to third slip, twisting to his left to clasp a sharp chance just above the turf.Higgins, whose first delivery to Pujara beat the bat, also tested the 36-year-old with the occasional bouncer before he settled down to make steady progress with James Coles in a partnership of 72 after lunch.Coles was eventually undone by static footwork when Bamber had him caught behind for 33 and the bowler found a consistent line against former team-mate Simpson, back at Lord’s for the first time since his switch to Hove.Despite some early playing and missing, Simpson settled down with a classy cover-driven boundary off Brookes, keeping Pujara company while he advanced beyond his half-century for the third time this season.Middlesex rotated their seam quartet, all of whom bowled from each end at some stage and it took them until three overs before tea to introduce spinners Nathan Fernandes and Luke Hollman into the attack. It looked as though that move had paid off early in the final session when Simpson, on 25, slapped a full toss from Hollman straight to Max Holden in the deep – only for the umpire to signal a no-ball.The Sussex skipper capitalised on that escape, dancing down the track to slam Hollman to the boundary and chopping him through gully for two to secure the visitors’ first batting bonus point.There was another let-off for Simpson soon after passing 50, fencing a rising delivery from Tom Helm to gully, where Hollman was unable to cling on – and the visitors continued to build a strong platform until bad light ended play with six overs unbowled.
“We now have a realistic chance of lifting that trophy and I’m really, really looking forward to it”
ESPNcricinfo staff21-May-20241:37
McClenaghan: Shreyas’ role is to go after spin, and he’s doing that
After ten days of no cricket, Kolkata Knight Riders were “raring to go” in the in the first qualifier of IPL 2024 against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Venkatesh Iyer said after their thumping eight-wicket win.”The last game KKR played was on the 11th. So we were all desperate to go out there and showcase our talent,” Venkatesh told the host broadcaster after the game.KKR’s previous on-field action came in a win at home against Mumbai Indians on May 11, after which they had two washouts against Gujarat Titans and Rajasthan Royals but still finished No. 1 on the table. Venkatesh had been worried that the break might hamper their performance in the playoffs.Related
'I might keep that one in the back pocket' – Starc wins bragging rights vs Head
Starc shows the way as KKR blow away Sunrisers to march into IPL final
Cummins: SRH have earned the right to have such days and still win tournaments
“To be honest, in a tournament like this, momentum is extremely important. We’ve seen that with RCB. They’ve won games continuously and it’s the momentum that has taken them forward,” Venkatesh said. “Similarly even we wanted that momentum. Because we were playing really good cricket. So [we wanted] to be able to go out there and just wait for the rain to stop [in the last two games], and we didn’t get enough practice as well.”But the best thing was we were table-toppers, and being table-toppers gives you a lot of confidence heading into the playoffs. Credit to the coaching staff, the entire management and the owners. [Co-owners] SRK [Shah Rukh Khan] sir and Jay [Mehta] sir also came today. They gave us a little pep talk. So the spirits were really, really high and the boys were motivated to go out there and put up a show.”KKR were on top of proceedings right from the word go, despite losing the toss. Mitchell Starc bowled Travis Head in the first over and Abhishek Sharma was caught at cover in the next. SRH lost two more wickets to Starc in the powerplay and could eventually just make 159, a target KKR chased down inside 14 overs. Venkatesh, who made an unbeaten 51 off 28 balls in the chase, credited the bowlers for setting up the victory.”Touch wood, all the bowlers have picked up wickets,” he said. “They want to go out there and pick up wickets. We want to contribute in the field. You saw Rinku [Singh] fielding in the hotspots, taking those amazing catches [to send back Heinrich Klaasen]…”The credit has to go to our bowlers. It was a really, really nice wicket to bat on. To get them all out for 160-odd [159] is something that I never imagined, so credit to the bowlers for giving us the confidence to just go out there and do the formalities.”The result meant KKR are in their fourth IPL final, and Venkatesh described the feeling as “dreamy”. “It’s always special. For players like us, it’s the opportunity to play the IPL final, it’s a dreamy moment for us. That too, coming here first in front of such an amazing crowd [in Ahmedabad] and now going to the Chepauk stadium…”We now have a realistic chance of lifting that trophy and I’m really, really looking forward to it.”Venkatesh Iyer and Shreyas Iyer added 97 off 44 to seal victory for KKR•Associated Press
Shreyas: ‘KKR bowlers have been mesmerising’KKR captain Shreyas Iyer highlighted his side’s bowling performance too, praising the bowlers for continuing to take wickets in the middle overs when SRH were threatening to recover from the early blows they suffered.From 39 for 4, Rahul Tripathi and Heinrich Klaasen put on a 62-run stand and both batters were looking dangerous, but KKR prised out three wickets for the next 20 runs.”Brilliant, I think, the way each and every bowler, they stood up on the occasion. When we were going for runs, at one point of time it was almost nine an over, and the way we came in and took wickets, I think those wickets were imperative at that point of time,” Shreyas said. “The attitude and approach of every bowler was to come and see to it that they get the wicket and that’s what they did.”When you have variety in the bowling lineup, and the way they have been bowling throughout, it is just mesmerising. And to be honest, they have been true in terms of their work ethics.”No one is taking their position lightly and the way they have been capitalising on the opportunities provided by the support staff and the management, I think it’s simply amazing. Hopefully we keep continuing with the momentum in the final.”Shreyas was also happy with the batting effort. KKR were without Phil Salt, who’d made himself an indispensable member of the XI this season but had to leave on England duty. Rahmanullah Gurbaz came in in his place for his first game of the season and went on to make a 14-ball 23 to give KKR early momentum in their chase.”The way Gurbaz came in, it was his first game. He gave an impactful start for us. Sunny [Narine] as usual taking the momentum from thereon, I think it’s pretty important in the powerplay,” Shreyas said. “And from there on, the middle-order batters, we have to just come in and see to it that we carry forward the same run rate.”After Gurbaz and Sunil Narine did their bit in the powerplay, Shreyas and Venkatesh put on an unbroken 97-run stand to fire KKR into the final.”Right now, it’s important that we go back and enjoy the moment. We have won an important game,” Shreyas said. “Come the match day, the final, we’ll be in our zone and see to it that we deliver our best.”
Greater challenges lie in store, ideally in the Caribbean next month, but Jofra Archer gave the impression that he’ll be ready to make his England comeback against Pakistan next week with a lively six-over display for Sussex’s second XI against Kent in Beckenham.It was a low-key outing, overseen by a handful of spectators and media on a sunny morning in South London, but when he walked off the field on the stroke of 12pm – exactly one hour after he had been parachuted into the final day of this four-day fixture – he took with him figures of 6-1-11-1, and a heightened belief that another injury-plagued year could finally be behind him.Archer has not played for England since the tours of South Africa and Bangladesh in early 2023, and even that short-lived comeback came after nearly two further years on the sidelines, as he struggled initially with a long-term elbow injury, and then a stress fracture of the back.And while he admitted in a recent interview that “another stop-start year” could force him to consider his options at the age of 29, Archer showed few signs of reticence in a feisty display that featured one wicket, one further appeal for a leg-side catch, and a fierce blow to the helmet that required some running repairs for the batter, Ekansh Singh.Amid the anticipation, Archer’s first delivery was a short and wide loosener that the Kent opener, Ben Dawkins, slapped up and over backward point for four. He didn’t receive many more in his half after that, with Archer’s very next ball significantly shorter and sharper, and causing the keeper to leap high to his left to gather.Ekansh then wore another sharp bouncer on his visor, and was soon undone by Archer’s pace and lift in the channel outside off, as he fenced loosely off the back foot for Henry Rogers, at third slip, to dive across second and cling onto a sharp chance. Archer responded with a pump of his fist as he jogged over to celebrate with his team-mates, his broad grin confirming the personal importance of the moment on this long road to recovery.Jofra Archer claimed a wicket early in his spell at Beckenham•PA Photos/Getty Images
He was less impressed half-an-hour later, however, throwing his arms out in frustration when he thought he’d landed his second. Gareth Severin, en route to a hard-earned half-century, jabbed a lifter on his hips through to the keeper, only for the umpire to shake his head – rightly noting that the ball had flicked Severin’s shirt.Archer’s final over of the morning was a maiden, whereupon he walked straight off the field and back into the pavilion, ready to link up with England’s T20I squad in Headingley over the weekend, ahead of their first practice session on Monday afternoon.Jos Buttler, England’s white-ball captain, told the PA news agency that Archer’s comeback was a “huge encouragement”, but guarded against expecting too much too soon, as his team sets about fine-tuning their plans ahead of their defence of the T20 World Cup title that they won in Australia in November 2022.”Everyone knows what he is capable of and the attitude he possesses,” Buttler said. “As a captain he is someone you can always turn to in a game because he always has a trick up his sleeve.”It’s great to be able to call on him but it’s important to manage expectations. He has been out of it for a while now so we will need to look after him and realise that it might just take him a little while to be the Jofra of 2019.”He is a proper superstar but we do have to be smart with him. It’s a jump in intensity from what he’s doing now to international cricket and you can’t really replicate it.”
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has named the "priority" position that his side must strengthen ahead of the summer transfer window shutting.
Chelsea lose player to injuryMaresca wants more coverBeat Leverkusen in friendly winFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Chelsea are facing a defensive headache as Benoit Badiashile and Wesley Fofana are sidelined and fellow centre-back Levi Colwill will be out for a long time with an anterior cruciate ligament injury. Despite reports suggesting the Blues won't try and sign a replacement, Maresca has said otherwise.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportWHAT MARESCA SAID
After Chelsea's 2-0 pre-season win over Bayer Leverkusen on Friday, he told Channel 5: "It is a priority [signing a new defender] for me. Levi is a fantastic player. What we achieved last season is because of him. He played a lot of games with me, I love him. We are going to miss him. We are also trying to find different solutions."
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Colwill is arguably Chelsea's best centre-back, and even when he was in the team, the Blues looked a bit shaky at the back at times last season. If Maresca's side want to push on this season, they need to sign a quality defender, particularly if they have desires about winning the Premier League.
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT?
As Chelsea try and find a new defender before the transfer window shuts in just over three weeks, the west London outfit take on AC Milan on Sunday in their final pre-season game before kickstarting the new Premier League season at home to Crystal Palace on August 17.
Chelsea's new strike partnership both scored at Stamford Bridge as the Blues saw out pre-season with a well-deserved 4-1 victory over AC Milan.
Chelsea beat AC Milan 4-1Pedro and Delap both on targetMilan's Coubis with own goal and red card in first halfFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱TELL ME MORE
A great summer for Enzo Maresca's Chelsea continued as AC Milan were soundly beaten 4-1 at Stamford Bridge in both sides' final match of pre-season. New striker Liam Delap scored twice off the bench while Joao Pedro was also on the scoresheet for the Blues in a confident display by the whole team. Young Milan defender Andrei Coubis scored a fifth-minute own goal and was sent off for a last-man foul on Pedro which left his side with a mountain to climb.
Chelsea began rapidly and took the lead after mere minutes, as 21-year-old Coubis scored an unfortunate own goal from a dangerous Reece James free-kick. After the delivery floated over several Milan heads, Coubis could not sort his feet out in time to avoid diverting the ball past Mike Maignan.
After just eight minutes it was two, Pedro continuing a rapid start to his Blues career with a smart header from Pedro Neto's cross from the right. Milan had come into the game on the back of a positive pre-season which included victory over Liverpool, but they did not know what had hit them. Things went from bad to worse before the 20-minute mark as Coubis completed a day to forget with his dismissal for dragging down Pedro after a ball over the top left him with just the goalkeeper to beat.
Cole Palmer began to put his stamp on proceedings against the 10 men, a clever nutmeg on Youssouf Fofana sandwiched between two free-kick attempts, one of which struck the post while the other went inches wide. The 23-year-old then saw an audacious scissor-kick volleyed attempt flash just over the top corner of the Milan net with Maignan well-beaten. Rafael Leao had a goal disallowed for offside as the visitors rarely threatened in the first period.
Luka Modric came on for his Milan debut at half-time as the Italians looked to get back into the game. They should have got a goal back when Fofana rounded Robert Sanchez, but the French midfielder combined with Alexis Saelemaekers to pass up the golden opportunity. The game was soon taken away from the away side when substitute Estevao was dragged down in the box and Delap stepped up to confidently fire home from the spot.
Milan did get on the scoresheet when Fofana found the net at the near post following a slipped through-ball by Saelemaekers. Chelsea gave an opportunity to several new boys late on, Estevao particularly impressing in his cameo off the bench, before Delap scored his second with the last kick of the game to ensure the Blues ended their pre-season campaign in good spirits.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE MVP
Chelsea were strong across the pitch with a standout first-half performance by Palmer amongst others, but the man who has won the day is no doubt Delap. To score in front of your new supporters for the first time is a big moment for any striker, to do it twice within half an hour is the perfect way to set up a strong season in front of goal. His celebration after finding the net from the spot showed how much it meant to the 22-year-old to get off the mark at Stamford Bridge. Pedro also scored once again and the Blues look to have a devastating new strike-force on their hands.
NEW FACES
Jamie Gittens made his first start for Chelsea and showed glimpses of threat, though his end product was not quite there when given three good opportunities in front of goal. Delap and Pedro continued impressive starts to life in Blue, while 18-year-old Estevao shone with several moments of quality after he came off the bench on the hour mark. Jorrel Hato and Dario Essugo also made cameo appearances late on.
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
AFPONES TO WATCH
While there were no young academy prospects on show from the start, the likes of 19-year-old Josh Acheampong, 16-year-old Reggie Walsh and 19-year-old Tyrique George appeared off the bench in the second half as the Blues continued to show the strength of their academy. The number of young players on the pitch by the end really epitomised what Maresca is trying to do at the club – and so far it is working.
It was far from the confident start to the tournament that West Indies, co-hosts of the T20 World Cup 2024, would have hoped to make, but in the end they avoided adding to an ignominious list of upsets in a format they once dominated. Papua New Guinea almost took the game to the final over, only for Roston Chase’s unbeaten 42 off 27 to prove decisive in salvaging a nervy five-wicket win in Providence, Guyana.When PNG captain Assad Vala dismissed Sherfane Rutherford at the end of the 16th over, West Indies were five down and needing 40 from the last 24 deliveries. The sight of Andre Russell walking out at No. 7 was a reminder of what the Associate nation, playing in only their second T20 World Cup, were up against, however. Russell, an IPL winner with Kolkata Knight Riders a week ago, duly launched his fourth ball into the crowd to make the requirement 31 from 18.Chase then kicked up through the gears, having anchored the innings while wickets fell around him. West Indies’ No. 4, preferred in the side to Shimron Hetmyer, took a six and two fours off Vala in the 18th, before picking off Kabua Morea for back-to-back boundaries to bring the victory in sight.It meant that PNG, with former West Indies World Cup-winning coach Phil Simmons looking on from their bench in his role of consultant, narrowly missed out on a first scalp at this level. Their best prospect had seemingly been to avoid embarrassment, after they reached the halfway point of their innings on 57 for 4; but Sese Bau’s half-century and a fighting lower-order knock from Kiplin Doriga gave them something to bowl at. Had they chosen to review an appeal against Nicholas Pooran, who contributed 27 to the chase, before he had scored, West Indies’ fragility might well have been exposed again.
Anyone who has followed West Indies’ travails in ICC competitions recently – a dismal T20 World Cup defence in 2021, crashing out of a group featuring Ireland, Scotland and Zimbabwe in 2022, failure to even qualify for last year’s 50-over World Cup – would have felt a familiar sense of trepidation creeping over them at the start of this run chase. Alei Nao struck with his first ball on World Cup debut, pinning Johnson Charles for a golden duck; then, as the rain started to fall, he nipped one fatefully back into the pads of Pooran…PNG opted not to review umpire Rashid Riaz’s not-out decision and were immediately made fully aware of their mistake as the players left the field for a 20-minute interruption, ball-tracking showing that it would have hit the top of middle stump with enough certainty to be overturned. On the resumption, Nao completed a wicket maiden, and with Pooran struggling for rhythm it was only thanks to Brandon King finding regular boundaries – his first 28 runs came via seven fours – that West Indies were able to make headway.Pooran, on 5 from 15 balls, then launched Bau’s offspin for 6-4-6 at the start of the sixth over, as West Indies surged to reach the end of the powerplay on 52 for 1, seemingly well placed.1:11
Bishop sees similarities between WI and Sunrisers Hyderabad
Despite that burst of aggression, Pooran never fully settled and did eventually become the second wicket to fall when he chipped John Kariko to long-on at the start of the ninth. Vala then brought himself on to make it spin from both ends, with King’s attempt to break the shackles ending in the hands of deep midwicket. Vala delivered the second wicket-maiden of the innings, and West Indian nerves began to jangle again as they edged along to 77 for 3 at the end of the 13th, having scored 25 runs from 42 balls outside of the powerplay.West Indies captain, Rovman Powell, struck a much-needed boundary off Chad Soper but was dismissed in the same over, despite confidently reviewing after being given out caught behind. Chase popped above the parapet to slog-sweep Charles Amini for six – his first boundary coming from his 15th ball – but Vala then had Rutherford caught behind in the following over, Doriga clutching the ball between a combination of legs, gloves and body, to leave West Indies 97 for 5 and fighting to stave off a major upset.
Everything went right initially for the co-hosts, who were starting their campaign to win a third T20 title. Powell won the toss and chose to insert PNG for the morning start in Providence, noting the “inclement weather around and also a fresh wicket”. Akeal Hosein opened the bowling and proceeded to concede just a single off the opening over, during which Tony Ura and Vala struggled to lay bat on ball. The scale of the challenge for PNG was clear.West Indies duly made inroads, Ura edging behind off Romario Shepherd in the second over before Lega Siaka was undone by his second legitimate delivery, Hosein swinging one back through the gate to hit middle and off. Although Vala found his feet after inching along to 5 off 10, stepping out to loft Chase for an imperious six, then smacking Alzarri Joseph for two fours in three balls, he fell to the last ball of the powerplay – Joseph exacting revenge thanks to Chase’s brilliant diving catch – to leave PNG up against it at 34 for 3.Sese Bau scored 50 off 43 balls•Associated Press
Bau had struck the first boundary of day, driving Russell back down the ground in the fourth over, and he played assertively to steer his side away from disaster and towards a competitive total. A reverse-sweep off Hosein also found the rope, before he skipped down to loft Chase through long-off. Although Bau lost another partner when Hiri Hiri fell to Gudakesh Motie’s fourth ball, caught at slip reverse-sweeping, the subsequent fifth-wicket stand of 44 with Amini was comfortably the biggest of the PNG innings.After a few overs of consolidation, Bau cut lose against Motie, hitting the spinner down the ground and over wide long-on for four and six from consecutive deliveries, then adding another boundary through the covers to get PNG’s run rate above a run a ball. A top-edged four off Joseph took him to the brink of a half-century, although he lost his partner before he could get there as Amini nicked behind cutting at Russell.Bau duly reached a 42-ball fifty at the start of the following over – the second by a PNG batter in T20 World Cups, and the second against a Full Member nation in T20Is – before being defeated by a Joseph slower ball to leave his side 98 for 6 in the 17th over.
That PNG managed to add 38 from the last 21 balls of the innings was largely down to Doriga, as well as a sloppy finish from the West Indies attack. Doriga might have been dismissed for 1 off 6 balls, when a Joseph delivery clipped off stump without disturbing the bails, but the PNG wicketkeeper proceeded to combine hard running with the occasionally hearty thwack to finish unbeaten on 27 from 18. Shepherd, Russell and Joseph all leaked runs at the death, with the latter carved for back-to-back fours at the start of the 20th before overstepping with what should have been the final ball.