The summer signing from Ipswich has seized his opportunity in the U.S. with his rival striker suspended for another brainless red card

As Chelsea's Club World Cup quarter-final against Portuguese giants Benfica looms, head coach Enzo Maresca has already had one selection dilemma decided for him. New £30 million ($41m) signing Liam Delap will almost certainly lead the line in North Carolina, after Nicolas Jackson effectively handed him the starting berth.

The Senegal international collected a needless red card just four minutes after coming off the substitutes' bench against Flamengo, costing his side as they went on to suffer a damning 3-1 defeat. In his absence, Delap would go on to coolly open his Blues account in their very next game.

This latest indiscretion has raised serious questions over Jackson's future at the club, and the new arrival's fast start to life at Chelsea is only intensifying that scrutiny. Could this be the final straw?

Getty Images SportRecurring problem

Jackson's discipline – or lack thereof – has been a recurrent issue since the striker arrived from Villarreal two years ago. While it seemed for a time like he had learned his lesson, he has taken two significant steps backwards of late.

It took the Senegalese just six games of the 2023-24 Premier League season to accumulate five yellow cards and a subsequent ban, as he struggled to keep a lid on his temper, regularly picking up needless cautions for dissent and cynical fouls.

Jackson collected just five more yellows in the remainder of the campaign, and was able to maintain that somewhat improved temperament in 2024-25, with his seven domestic yellows a bit more spaced out (although 18 in just two seasons still isn't great).

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However, the fiery centre-forward finished the season in the worst possible way, earning a straight red card in the first half of the crucial clash at Newcastle in the run-in after leading with his elbow in a challenge with Sven Botman.

Chelsea battled admirably without him but fell to a 2-0 defeat that put their Champions League hopes in serious jeopardy, while Jackson was suspended for the remainder of the league season to dent their chances even further.

Though the Blues ultimately got the job done without him, any hope that the striker would redeem himself at the Club World Cup was swiftly extinguished as he crashed into an ugly, studs-up challenge just four minutes after emerging from the bench against Flamengo in the west Londoners' second group game, and the referee brandished the red. Chelsea would go on to lose 3-1.

AFP'A bad moment'

To make matters worse, Jackson's ban was upgraded from one game to two – meaning he could well miss the remainder of Chelsea's tournament unless they reach the semi-finals.

"It happened against Newcastle and today…It's a little bit of a bad moment for Nico," his manager Enzo Maresca said in the aftermath. "The red card has nothing to do with Nico's future… Nico knows in both games it was not good for the team.

"Nico apologised. At Newcastle, we were just 1-0 down and it was in the first half. Today, we were 2-1 down but with half-an-hour left. There was time to play, but with one man down it became all the more difficult."

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Getty/GOAL'Stupid, stupid, stupid'

Jackson felt compelled to apologise publicly and at length after his latest misstep, writing on Instagram that he was 'so angry at himself'. He wrote: "No excuses. I take full responsibility. I'll reflect, I'll grow, and I'll come back stronger for the badge and for everyone who believes in me. Sorry."

However, one of the striker's most vocal critics, Chelsea legend John Obi Mikel, was having absolutely none of it. "[It's an] unbelievable, stupid, stupid, stupid mistake, I don't know what is going through his head," he said. "You come into the game at 2-1 down and your team needs you and he does that.

"You can't keep making mistakes. I don't care what his frustration is, it is massive club, Chelsea Football Club. If you are annoyed that Delap is going to be the competition with you, if you are a big player you have to embrace it. We can become successful together as a team.

"Maresca must ask do I still trust this guy or do I stick with the player I brought into the football club, Delap? If he doesn't trust him then it is time for Delap to start the game."

كشف الإعلامي أحمد شوبير، كواليس جديدة بشأن مفاوضات نادي بيراميدز مع حمدي فتحي لاعب وسط فريق الوكرة القطري، تمهيدًا لضمه خلال فترة الانتقالات الصيفية الجارية.

وكانت الأيام الماضية قد شهدت تحركات رسمية من نادي بيراميدز للحصول على خدمات حمدي فتحي، بعد موسمين في الدوري القطري عقب الرحيل إليه من الأهلي.

وأوضح شوبير، خلال برنامجه الإذاعي صباح اليوم الأربعاء، أنه تواصل مع مسؤولي بيراميدز لمعرفة مصير الصفقة، وتبين أن المفاوضات كانت قريبة من الحسم، لكن بعض الظروف حالت دون إتمام التعاقد في الوقت الحالي.

طالع أيضًا | خاص | الوكرة يبلغ بيراميدز برده النهائي على عرض ضم حمدي فتحي

وأضاف: “مسؤولو بيراميدز أكدوا لي أن الصفقة لم تُغلق بشكل نهائي، لكنها توقفت مؤقتًا، وما زال هناك اهتمام كبير بالتعاقد مع حمدي فتحي، وسيتم فتح باب المفاوضات من جديد في وقت لاحق”.

وأكد شوبير أن بيراميدز يضع اللاعب ضمن أولوياته، وأنه لا يزال على رادار النادي، رغم التعثر المؤقت الذي واجه المفاوضات.

Kylian Mbappe, Antonio Rudiger and Dani Ceballos have been fined following their actions after the Champions League clash with Atletico Madrid.

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• UEFA fines three Real Madrid stars after Madrid derby
• Mbappe fined €30k, Rudiger €40k, Ceballos €20k
• Vinicius avoids ban despite controversial gestures

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to , UEFA has issued financial penalties and suspended one-match bans to Mbappe (€30,000), Rudiger (€40,000), and Ceballos (€20,000) for their actions following Madrid’s round of 16 Champions League win over Atletico. The punishments stem from celebrations and gestures made by the trio after Madrid's dramatic penalty shootout victory.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The incident unfolded after Rudiger’s winning penalty, which sealed Los Blancos' spot in the quarter-finals. Madrid players ran toward their fans to celebrate, prompting objects to be thrown from Atletico supporters. Los Rojiblancos accused the players of provoking the crowd, while Madrid defended their stars, claiming they were reacting to hostility and missiles from the stands.

  Interestingly, Vinicius Jr., who also made gestures referencing Madrid’s 15 Champions League titles and Atletico’s zero, was not punished. UEFA ruled his actions weren’t severe enough to warrant a ban.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Rudiger, Mbappe, and Ceballos received suspended one-match UEFA bans, which will only be enforced if they commit a similar offense again. Additionally, UEFA fined Los Blancos €15,000 and issued a warning over a fan’s Nazi salute. If such behavior is repeated, the club could face a ban on selling away tickets in UEFA competitions.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MADRID?

  Unless any of the three players repeat the behaviour, they won’t serve their bans. However, the club have been warned, and future incidents will trigger automatic suspensions and possibly tighter sanctions. Madrid must now ensure player conduct remains in check especially in high-pressure knockout ties to avoid further run-ins with UEFA’s disciplinary committee.

MatériaMais Notícias

De fora dos gramados desde o fim de junho, o zagueiro Arboleda está próximo de voltar a defender o São Paulo. O equatoriano, esperança de sua seleção para a disputa da próxima Copa do Mundo, iniciou nesta terça-feira (11) a transição física para o campo após a cirurgia realizada no tornozelo que o deixou fora dos últimos 29 jogos.

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+ Confira quem pode deixar o São Paulo no final da temporada

Não foi a única boa notícia do Tricolor no retorno aos trabalhos do elenco no CT da Barra Funda após a derrota por 1 a 0 para o Botafogo, no domingo (9), em pleno Morumbi.

Foram liberados para voltarem a treinar com o restante do grupo o meia-atacante Nikão e o lateral Moreira.

Com uma avulsão na coxa sofrida no início de setembro, Nikão perdeu os últimos dez jogos do Tricolor. Naquela mesma semana, Moreira passou por uma artroscopia no joelho e volta a ficar à disposição após sete partidas.

Gabriel Neves, Caio e Diego Costa permaneceram no departamento médico. São agora os únicos desfalques são-paulinos por contusão nesta reta final de temporada.

Nesta tarde, Rogério Ceni comandou uma atividade técnica em espaço reduzido que visava à troca de passes, à movimentação, à quebra de linhas e à conclusão de jogadas.

A equipe dá sequência à preparação para o clássico contra o Palmeiras com uma nova atividade nesta quarta-feira (12). O Tricolor disputará o Choque-Rei no próximo domingo (16), às 16h (de Brasília), no Allianz Parque, pela 32ª rodada do Brasileirão.

> Confira classificação, jogos e simule resultados do Brasileirão-22
> Conheça o novo aplicativo de resultados do LANCE!

Cristian Romero is considering rejecting Tottenham’s new deal to join Atletico Madrid, with Diego Simeone pushing to land the Argentine defender.

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Atletico prioritise Romero as defensive leaderTottenham push new deal, captaincy offerSimeone plotting major summer squad revampFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Romero has emerged as Atletico Madrid’s top defensive priority this summer, with the Argentine defender reportedly prepared to reject a lucrative contract extension from Tottenham. Despite Spurs' offer to make Romero their highest-paid player and the promise of a key role, the 27-year-old is pushing to join Diego Simeone’s project at the Wanda Metropolitano. According to Atletico have submitted a bid worth €55 million (£47m/$61m) plus €15m (£12m/$17m) in add-ons, but Tottenham remain firm in their €70m (£60m/$81m) valuation.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Rojiblancos are undergoing a major rebuild following their early exit from the Club World Cup and a squad reliant on players over the age of 30. Meanwhile, Simeone is determined to rejuvenate the team with high-calibre, battle-ready talent, not backups or stopgap solutions, and Romero is viewed as a perfect fit for his aggressive and intense system. The club have already signed creative midfielder Alex Baena and want Romero to be the defensive leader of a new cycle aimed at overtaking Barcelona and Real Madrid in the league.

WHAT JULIAN ALVAREZ SAID

Julian Alvarez, who joined Atletico from Manchester City last year, has openly endorsed the move, expressing hope that Romero will follow him to the Spanish capital. He said recently: “I hope it happens. He's a great player, one of the best centre-backs in the world, for me. A national teammate and a great person. This great addition would help the team a lot.”

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AFPWHAT NEXT FOR ATLETICO MADRID?

Negotiations between Atletico and Tottenham are expected to continue in the coming days, as the Spanish side attempt to structure a deal closer to Spurs’ demands through performance-related add-ons. If successful, Romero would become the most expensive defender in Atletico’s history.

Against all odds, Pakistan somehow remain alive in this World Cup. In a game where they turned in one of their most ordinary bowling displays in World Cup history, a century from Rachin Ravindra and 95 from the returning Kane Williamson saw New Zealand amass 401 – their highest World Cup total – to leave Pakistan on the ropes. But an astonishing counterattack from Fakhar Zaman saw him smash an unbeaten 126 in 81 balls to keep Pakistan up with the DLS asking rate with the threat of rain looming for much of the second innings. And when the rain did arrive, Pakistan were comfortably ahead of the rate they needed to be, pulling off a win that levels them on points with New Zealand and puts a semi-final berth within realistic grasp.Pakistan’s decision to field first after winning the toss raised eyebrows on a flat wicket, suggesting they had as much of an eye on improving their net run rate as they did putting points on the board. But as soon as New Zealand’s innings started, both prospects began to look like distant improbabilities. Devon Conway and Ravindra had started brightly, and Pakistan, who had somewhat curiously gone without either of their two legspinners or Mohammad Nawaz, found themselves turning to Iftikhar Ahmed’s spin in the sixth over.

Pakistan fined for slow over rate

Pakistan were fined 10% of their match fees for maintaining a slow over rate in their win over New Zealand in Bengaluru. The Babar Azam-led side was found to be two overs short of their target after time allowances were taken into consideration.

On the field, Pakistan were found to be three overs short at the cut-off time and, as a result, they had to have one less fielder outside the inner ring for the last three overs of the innings that went for 35.

Match referee Richie Richardson imposed the sanction and Babar pleaded guilty to the offence, so there was no formal hearing.

New Zealand went after him too, and it was Haris Rauf who drew first blood with a short delivery that kissed Conway’s bat on the way through to Mohammad Rizwan. It brought Williamson out for just his second game this tournament, but he started like he’d never been away. The duo, on opposite ends of the spectrum in experience, were united in the comfort with which they negotiated a Pakistan attack that looked desperately toothless, with Babar Azam ringing the changes and struggling for respite from any corner.They had long brought up their half-centuries, and were speeding towards three figures, turbocharged by a Hasan Ali over that saw 18 come off it as both approached the 90s. But there was to be no slowdown from either; with New Zealand hovering around 240 for 1, there was little need to stall momentum in pursuit of a milestone. If anything Williamson’s risk-taking increased to reckless levels; he nearly ran himself out three times while within touch of his century. Ravindra, meanwhile, smeared Wasim through the onside to get to 99, before a single brought up his third World Cup hundred in the city of his parents’ birth.Williamson fell looking to bring his own hundred up with a straight six as he holed out to long-off, while Ravindra scooped one up to the midwicket boundary shortly after. But if Pakistan thought two new batters would stem the bleeding, Daryl Mitchell and Mark Chapman soon disabused them of that notion. The pair, along with Glenn Phillips and Mitchell Santner, put on cameos to see to it that New Zealand put on 140 runs in the 14.1 overs since Ravindra fell, breaching the 400 barrier against a battered, broken Pakistan fielding unit.Rachin Ravindra brought up his third century of the World Cup but it was in vain•Associated Press

Pakistan needed everything to go their way to have a snowball’s chance in hell, and that’s certainly not how it started. It was the irrepressible Williamson who drew first blood with one of the catches of the tournament, a sensational diving grab running backwards that put paid to Abdullah Shafique.But it was Fakhar who Pakistan needed in a situation like this, and his onslaught against Trent Boult made his intentions clear. Two fours and a six in his third over set the tone, with the 17 he conceded was Boult’s most expensive World Cup over. It was followed up by another 16 in his next as Babar also joined the party.However, it was the Fakhar show. Soon, Tim Southee was also taken on, as was Santner as Pakistan posted 75 by the time the first powerplay ended. Fakhar soon brought up his half-century with a late cut off Ish Sodhi off 39 balls, but he was only getting warmed up.A pair of sixes off Glenn Phillips meant Williamson, too, was struggling to get a handle on Fakhar, who was in that zone where he looked like every ball would disappear for six. Before you looked up, you saw he’d smacked Santner for his ninth six of the innings and was suddenly one ball away from three figures, bringing up a phenomenal 62-ball hundred soon after.When the rains arrived, Pakistan were ten runs ahead on the DLS, but it was to be a relatively brief interruption. When they got back on, though, they rubberstamped their dominance as the chase dwindled to 342 off 41 overs; they had effectively reduced it to a T20 game. Williamson fatefully turned to Sodhi, who conceded 32 in the two overs he sent down, including two gigantic sixes off Fakhar that indicated the break had not sapped any of his momentum.When steady rains began once more, Pakistan were much further ahead, 21 clear of where they needed to be. And on a wet evening, they would never get back on, Pakistan dashing away with the two points in a smash-and-grab for the ages. One whose lore may continue to be told and reinvented if a few results go a certain way in the coming week.

Wicketkeeper-batter Nielsen battles for SA with only four wickets now in hand

Tristan Lavalette16-Nov-2023

Western Australia’s formidable pace attack again dominated South Australia on a grassy WACA surface to regain a stranglehold of a frenetic Sheffield Shield contest.Leading by just 12 runs after being bowled out for 204, WA grabbed the initiative in the final session as the Redbacks crashed to 119 for 6 at stumps on day two.Left-arm quick Joel Paris continued his strong form after dismissing opener Jake Carder for a duck in the first over. Sharing the new ball after taking 3 for 11 in South Australia’s first innings, seamer Aaron Hardie trapped Daniel Drew lbw with the Redbacks still trailing by seven runs.Opener Henry Hunt’s disappointing match was capped when he was caught behind on 16 off quick Charlie Stobo. Jake Fraser-McGurk, who recently smashed the fastest List A century, sought a cavalier approach only to hit Stobo straight to cover in a sloppy dismissal.Related

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Lance Morris bowled with trademark hostility and was rewarded with the wickets of skipper Jake Lehmann and Nathan McSweeney.Paris was unable to complete his eighth over as he hobbled off after feeling tightness in his left groin. Given his lengthy injury history, he might not be risked on day three.An attractive innings late in the day from wicketkeeper Harry Nielsen has given the Redbacks hopes of setting a tricky target on a bowler-friendly surface.A result is almost certain on day three in a notable contrast to the high-scoring draw between WA and Tasmania in the last Shield match played at the WACA.After a grim opening day, South Australia were desperate for early wickets in a bid to claw back into the contest. The Redbacks being hustled on a spicy deck after batting first had mirrored the corresponding fixture from last season.In the back of their minds would have been Cameron Bancroft and Sam Whiteman’s triple-century partnership en route to a big WA victory.But the Redbacks are proving to be a more resolute team this season led by their dangerous attack, who hauled them back into the contest. Hardworking seamer Nathan McAndrew struck early when he had Whiteman caught at second slip by Ben Manenti.It was a relief for Manenti who dropped Bancroft late on day one. His mood lifted further when Bancroft fell for 20 after he slashed a short and wide Jordan Buckingham delivery straight to point.It was an uncharacteristically rash dismissal for the disciplined Bancroft, who has again been the standout batter in the Shield as he eyes a return to Test cricket.WA’s hopes of batting just once in the match nosedived when Teague Wyllie was bowled off the inside edge from an inswinger from Buckingham, who continued his eye-catching start to the season.Buckingham, 23, has been identified by the national selectors as a pace prospect underlined by playing for Australia A recently. He utilised the conditions superbly and conjured menacing swing to bowl effectively with quick Brendan Doggett, who bowled consistently around 140kph.With WA bogged down, Hardie decided to counterattack and pounced on shorter deliveries from Buckingham to rally the innings alongside Hilton Cartwright.But Hardie fell on the stroke of lunch after being bowled by Manenti, who conjured turn from the surface much like offspinning counterpart Corey Rocchiccioli a day earlier.Cartwright then fell to Buckingham after the break as the momentum turned towards an increasingly confident Redbacks, who sniffed a lead when Jayden Goodwin was run out after a horrendous mix up with Josh Philippe.It was a bitter disappointment for 21-year Goodwin, the son of former Zimbabwe Test batter Murray Goodwin, who found a position in WA’s powerful batting order after veteran Ashton Turner was ruled out with injury.WA looked set for a deficit at 146 for 8 before Rocchiccioli and Stobo, who bats in the top four for his local grade team in Perth, effectively threw the bat in a freewheeling 58-run partnership.The momentum shifted back to WA and their bowlers didn’t relinquish it.

كشف محمد عبد الله، لاعب النادي الأهلي، عن طموحاته مع الفريق الأول بالقلعة الحمراء، ذلك بعد تواجده خلال معسكر الإعداد الخارجي بتونس.

وأقام النادي الأهلي معسكر تحضيري للموسم الجديد في تونس، انتهى يوم 26 يوليو الجاري، وخاض خلاله مباراتين وديتين أمام الملعب والبنزرتي التونسيين.

وقال عبد الله خلال تصريحات عبر الموقع الرسمي للأهلي: “حققت استفادة كبيرة من المعسكر الخارجي، قبل انطلاق منافسات الموسم الجديد”.

وأضاف: “الحمد لله على ثقة الجهاز الفني بضمي للمعسكر، والحمد لله كنت موفقًا، وتمكنت من تسجيل أول أهدافي مع الفريق الأول في مباراة الملعب التونسي الودية، وأود أن أشكر اللاعبين الكبار على دعمهم ومساندتهم باستمرار داخل الملعب وفي التدريبات والجهاز الفني منحنا الثقة والدعم اللازم”.

فيديو | محمد عبد الله يسجل هدف الأهلي الرابع أمام الملعب التونسي

وتابع: “كل اللاعبين يعملون بجدية وتركيز شديد، والجميع ظهر بمستوى مميز في المباراتين الوديتين، وهذا الأمر منحنا دفعة كبيرة للاستعداد لخوض منافسات الموسم المقبل بشكل قوي، وللفوز بكل الألقاب”.

وأكمل: “ما زلت في بداية مشواري وأتعلم كل يوم من اللاعبين الكبار، وأستمع لكل نصائحهم وأحاول تطبيقها داخل الملعب، كما أحرص دائمًا على الالتزام الشديد بتعليمات الجهاز الفني”.

وعن طموحه مع الأهلي قال: “أتمنى أن أصبح من الهدافين التاريخيين للنادي، قيادة الفريق في المستقبل، هذا طموحي، وأسعى لتحقيقه بالعمل والجهد والاجتهاد”.

وأتم: “أشكر جماهير الأهلي على دعمهم الدائم لنا، هم السند الحقيقي للفريق، ونعدهم بأننا سنبذل كل ما لدينا خلال الموسم لتحقيق البطولات، وأن أسعى بكل قوة لأكون دائمًا عند حسن ظن الجميع”.

“Obviously proud, I suppose, of the group, and putting in that performance, as a whole and being able to play my part”

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Oct-20231:17

McClenaghan: A classic captain’s knock from Edwards

Scott Edwards led from the front to take Netherlands to their most famous ODI World Cup win – their first over a Test-playing nation in five appearances at the tournament – when they beat South Africa in Dharamsala on Tuesday. He was “extremely proud” of his team, and “very excited to get our first win out of the way” in this edition, Edwards said at the presentation ceremony after the game.”We came into this tournament with high expectations, we feel like we’re playing good cricket, we’ve got a lot of good players… but in saying that, we know that there are nine other very good sides here,” he said. “So, yeah, very excited to get our first win out of the way after three games and hopefully a few more to come.”That’s a massive boost for us. In both the first two games, we were in decent positions, but we sort of fell away through the middle. Nice that we could put a few partnerships together at the end [against South Africa] and get ourselves to a total which we thought could be competitive.”Related

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Edwards walked out when Netherlands, after being put into bat, were 82 for 5 with not many batters left. That soon became 112 for 6 and then 140 for 7, but Edwards partnered with Roelof van der Merwe for 64 runs for the eighth wicket and then had a 41-run stand for the ninth with Aryan Dutt in next to no time – Dutt smashed 23 not out in nine balls – to take Netherlands to 245 for 8.It didn’t appear a match-winning total at the time, but it was certainly competitive, as Edwards put it, and possibly more than what South Africa thought they would have to chase.Edwards finished with 78 not out in 69 balls, which later earned him the Player of the Match award.”I think over the last couple of games, our issue’s been too many of our middle-order batters getting out before the end of the game,” he said. “So I was just sort trying to take it deep and hope that a couple of guys around me chip in and… yeah, we were lucky enough to get I don’t know how many towards the end there, but it was nice.”

“We came into the tournament and, we wanted to have a chance of making the semi-finals, and if you want to do that, you’ve got to beat teams obviously. South Africa is probably one of the favourites, the way they have been playing. It’s a big win for us”Scott Edwards

First, there was van der Merwe, the one-time South Africa international, who scored 29 in 19. “He’s good fun to bat with,” Edwards said. “He runs hard, which I like, and he hits it to quite strange areas. Good to watch and I am sure it’s good from the outside as well.”And then Dutt. “I think it was pretty easy on my behalf [batting with Dutt],” Edwards said. “I just sort of got him on strike and he was just clearing the ropes. That’s some of the best hitting I have seen in a long time, especially from a No. 10 bat. So, yeah, he’s got the talent and it was awesome to see today.”For the record, Dutt hit three sixes in his cameo, one each off Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi and Gerald Coetzee in the last three overs.And then the bowling group came together. South Africa were 44 for 4, then 109 for 6, and much like the Netherlands innings, there was a bit of late-order resistance, but it was way too much for them to pull off.Scott Edwards hit an unbeaten 78 off 69 balls•AFP/Getty Images”Obviously, yeah, proud, I suppose, of the group, and putting in that performance, as a whole and being able to play my part,” Edwards said. “We came into the tournament and, we wanted to have a chance of making the semi-finals, and if you want to do that, you’ve got to beat teams obviously. South Africa is probably one of the favourites, the way they have been playing. It’s a big win for us.”With Netherlands playing South Africa, there is always the talk of how much some of the Netherlands players have benefitted from their time playing in South Africa. There is a sense of familiarity and, not to forget, Netherlands did beat South Africa at the T20 World Cup last year too.”We obviously have guys who have played with these guys before so, yeah, we come up with a few match-ups, and some days it works and some days it doesn’t,” Edwards said. “So yeah, it’s nice that a few things came off today.”And, of course, it’s a time for Netherlands cricket fans, some of who were at the ground, to celebrate.”I’m sure there’s plenty of fans staying up [back home] from watching the game,” Edwards said. “There’s always a lot of supporters around. So, yeah, extremely grateful for all the support we’ve had and hopefully a few messages from them and that sort of thing.”

Fifties from Latham and Phillips lifted New Zealand to a competitive score and Afghanistan never really got going in their chase

Ashish Pant18-Oct-20231:07

Bond: Pleased with how Phillips batted today

After causing a major stir in the 2023 World Cup by beating defending champions England on Sunday, Afghanistan briefly harboured hopes of upsetting the 2019 runners-up too. But the New Zealand brand of professionalism and experience came to the fore once more as they managed to keep their unbeaten record intact to make it four out of four in the competition.Sent in to bat, New Zealand slipped from a comfortable 109 for 1 in the 21st over to a not-so-comfortable 110 for 4 in the space of nine balls. However, captain Tom Latham and the do-it-all man Glenn Phillips revived the innings with a 144-run stand for the fifth wicket. They were also helped by Afghanistan’s sloppiness in the field with as many as six chances – five catches and a run out – going a begging as New Zealand racked up 288 for 6.Mitchell Santner and Lockie Ferguson then continued their excellent run of form with three wickets each as Afghanistan collapsed in a heap in the chase. Only Rahmat Shah and Azmatullah Omarzai put up a semblance of fight before Afghanistan lost their last five wickets for just 14 runs in 24 balls to be bowled out for 139 and go down by 149 runs in Chennai. The win not only gave New Zealand’s NRR a huge boost but also solidified their position at the top of the points table.Related

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On a humid Wednesday afternoon, Afghanistan’s decision to bowl first raised eyebrows, but it was their efforts on the field that hurt them more. Fazalhaq Farooqi found Will Young’s outside edge on just his fourth ball of the day but Rahmat at wide slip failed to hang on to what was a regulation catch to his left. Young, on 1 at the time went on to score 54.With Young struggling initially, it was Devon Conway who set the ball rolling with a few eye-catching fours. Young soon found his mojo as he lofted Mujeeb-Ur-Rahman over long-on. But the bowler soon exacted revenge, albeit on Conway, trapping the batter in front of the stumps. The decision referred upstairs after the on-field umpire gave it not out, went Afghanistan’s way.Rachin Ravindra, who took 13 balls to get off the mark, got a life on 0 when Hashmatullah Shahidi dropped a straightforward catch at midwicket. He made sure to make Afghanistan pay as he added a brisk 79-run stand for the second wicket with Young.Afghanistan looked bereft of options before Shahidi turned to Omarzai and the medium-fast bowler delivered right away. Ravindra missed a cross-batted swat to find his middle stump flattened while four balls later Young fell courtesy a stunning one-handed take by wicketkeeper Ikram Alikhil. Young pushed at a wide length ball outside off, but could only manage a thin inside edge. Alikhil’s anticipation was on point as he moved to his left and plucked out a one-handed stunner inches from the turf. Daryl Mitchell was then sent packing by Rashid as New Zealand’s innings turned upside down in nine balls.Tom Latham and Glenn Phillips put on 144 off 153 balls•ICC/Getty ImagesThe ball started turning that bit more, and the pacers also found movement. Afghanistan conceded only 29 runs in the ten overs between 21 and 30, which had just two fours and three wickets.But, while all this was happening, Latham and Phillips held their own. There were a few nervy moments but the duo stuck to the basics well. It was the over after drinks when the two decided to take the more attacking route. Latham paddled Mujeeb fine past the stumps before Phillips took Nabi over deep midwicket. Even then, New Zealand could only reach 185 for 4 after 40 overs but two dropped catches turned the game their way.Latham was put down by first by Mujeeb in the 41st over at short fine leg, before Shahidi put down a sitter at short cover in the 43rd, both off Rashid. And New Zealand took their chances. They wallopped 103 runs off the last ten overs to breach the 280-mark. Mark Chapman with an unbeaten 12-ball 25 did his bit as well.Chasing 289, Afghanistan’s chase never really took flight. Trent Boult got the swing working for him from the get-go. He had both Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran in early strike but it was Matt Henry who drew first blood. Having just been pumped by Gurbaz straight over his head, the quick came back with a length back that seamed sharply back in breaching the batter’s defences and crashing into his stumps.Rahmanullah Gurbaz didn’t account for inward seam movement and got knocked over•Associated PressTwo balls later it was Ibrahim’s turn to depart when he closed the face of the bat too early to a Boult scrambled-seam delivery and lobbed a simple catch to Santner at cover. Shahidi and Rahmat Shah took 47 balls for the 16-run stand which was ended by Santner’s worldie. Lockie Ferguson’s sharp bumper was fended awkwardly by Shahidi, but he seemed to have got enough bat on it to clear the fielder at square leg. Santner, though sprinted back, kept his eye on the ball before leaping with his outstretched left hand to complete a blinder.Afghanistan were reduced to 43 for 3 after 14 with their chances getting slim. Rahmat and Omarzai did add a 54-run stand for the fourth wicket but at no point did New Zealand let the game drift.The boundaries were hard to come by and even strike-rotation wasn’t always on point. Azmatullah somewhat broke the shackles in the 25th over with two fours but was accounted for by Boult in the very next ball and when Rahmat fell in the 29th over, the Afghanistan innings slid quickly.Santner reached 100 ODI wickets by sending back Nabi with an absolute ripper before Ferguson removed Rashid and Mujeeb in the 34th over. Santner then closed the game in the 35th as New Zealand won comfortably.