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Her 221-stand with fellow centurion Muneeba Ali also broke the Pakistan record for the highest partnership in the format

S Sudarshanan04-Nov-2022Pakistan continued their dominating show at home in the ICC Women’s Championship by notching up their third win in four games of the latest cycle. Centuries from Sidra Ameen and Muneeba Ali and a record opening stand from them saw Pakistan beat Ireland in the first women’s ODI in Lahore. The win follows their 2-1 win over Sri Lanka in June earlier this year.Ameen hit an unbeaten 176 – the highest individual score by a Pakistan batter in ODIs – after Muneeba was dismissed on 107 and the pair added 221 for the opening wicket, the highest for Pakistan. On a day records tumbled, Pakistan also notched up their first total in excess of 300 in a women’s ODI by finishing on 335 for 3. In reply, only captain Laura Delany managed a half-century for Ireland as the tourists fell short by 128 in what is their first-ever match in Pakistan.ESPNcricinfo LtdOpting to bat in sunny conditions at the Gaddafi Stadium, where the pitch was flat, Ameen and Muneeba got off to a breezy start with the latter hogging more of the strike. Seamer Arlene Kelly’s third over, where she hit a couple of fours, got Ameen truly going. She then hit three fours in legspinner Cara Murray’s second over – beating mid-off on either side off successive deliveries before using the sweep to exploit the vacant deep backward square leg region.A 15-run over by offspinner Rachel Delaney saw both openers cross the half-century mark. Soon, left-arm spinner Leah Paul couldn’t find her footing and was carted for 33 off her two overs, with Muneeba hitting a couple of humongous sixes.There were no signs of slowing down and soon, Muneeba would wrist Murray to the on side to bring up her maiden ODI century off 108 balls. A couple of overs later, it was Ameen’s time to celebrate as she brought up her third ton in the format – all in this calendar year. But in the interim, Muneeba had mistimed her heave to mid-on to end what was only Pakistan’s second hundred-plus opening stand – following the 158 the pair had made against Sri Lanka.ESPNcricinfo LtdAliya Riaz, promoted to No. 3, could not have the desired result as she crawled to a 27-ball 29, not getting the measure of the surface. But Ameen made up for it and carried her bat through to what is the highest individual score by a Pakistan batter in the format.Returning from an ankle injury that saw her miss out of the Women’s Asia Cup, fast bowler Fatima Sana then kept Ireland in a leash and had wickets of Paul and Eimear Richardson to show. Left-arm spinner Nashra Sandhu and offspinner Nida Dar then continued to apply the squeeze.The 69-run fourth-wicket partnership between Delany and Orla Prendergast was the only resistance Ireland could put up. Delany played some crisp strokes and also used the delicate dabs during her stay in the middle. However, the 336-run target was always a mountain too far.

Leeds United’s form in the Championship this season has been nothing short of sensational, helping Daniel Farke’s side sit top of the table with just over a third of the campaign remaining.

The German has galvanised the squad after the disappointment of last season’s play-off final defeat, currently sitting in pole position to secure a return to the Premier League.

The Whites haven’t tasted defeat in the league since the end of November, enduring a 14-game unbeaten run which has helped fend off the threat from the likes of Sheffield United and Burnley in recent weeks.

It’s also a testament to the playing squad, sustaining such high levels of performance during the incredible run, with every player contributing to their success.

Numerous players have taken their game to the next level after last season, cementing their place as a first-team regular under the German at Elland Road.

Leeds United’s star performers in 2024/25

Joel Piroe moved to Yorkshire after relegation to the second tier last season, arriving with high hopes after scoring 20 times in his final season at Swansea City.

However, despite notching 14 goals for the Whites in his first campaign at the club, he split options between the fanbase as to whether he was worth the £10m fee paid for his signature.

It’s safe to say the Dutchman has silenced his critics this year, already matching last season’s tally with 14 games left, currently sitting as the club’s top scorer.

Ao Tanaka is a player who arrived in the summer to aid this season’s promotion push, looking to be an absolute bargain for the £3.5m fee spent to prise him away from Fortuna Düsseldorf.

The Japanese international has featured 29 times in the league to date, nailing down his place at the base of the midfield, operating alongside various partners such as Ethan Ampadu and Ilia Gruev.

However, despite the form of the aforementioned pair, another first-team member has exceeded beyond all expectations and resurrected his career in Yorkshire.

The Leeds player who’s been one of the best in the Championship

Left-back Junior Firpo joined the club back in the summer of 2021 from Barcelona, looking to inject further quality into the backline as they tried to build on their impressive first season back in the top flight.

The full-back has since made over 100 appearances for the Whites, often being the go-to choice in that department, but not without criticism – in which he has received his fair share.

After relegation to the Championship, he remained as a regular starter, featuring 29 times in the league throughout 2023/24, registering eight assists in the process.

However, he came under fire for his displays at times, looking almost certain to leave last summer – even being dubbed a “liability” by the Daily Mirror’s David Anderson – but stayed put at Elland Road, a decision that now looks to be a superb one.

Whilst he’s missed a huge portion of the campaign through injury, when he’s featured on the pitch, he’s constantly caught the eye, scoring once and notching seven assists in just 19 games, which includes a hat-trick of assists in the win over Cardiff City.

Games played

19

Goals & assists

8

Pass accuracy

85%

Tackles won

1.2

Duels won

6.3

Chances created

1.7

Touches in opposition box

3.4

His underlying stats also back up how impressive he has been for Farke’s men in their ambitions of securing promotion, undoubtedly up there with some of the very players in the division throughout the year.

However, there may be some cause for concern, with the 28-year-old currently set to leave in the summer with his contract expiring at the end of June.

Regardless of promotion, the club desperately need to tie the former Barça ace down to a new deal at Elland Road, potentially able to make the step back up to the Premier League amid his recent form in the second tier.

Not many people would’ve predicted such a drastic turnaround in his time in Yorkshire, but it’s a credit to Firpo and his commitment to succeed, deserving all the praise that is directed his way at this moment in time.

Leeds flop who left after just 20 games is now similar to a £92m star

Leeds United were fortunate to possess such a talent who’s starred away from Elland Road.

ByEthan Lamb Feb 12, 2025

Emmanuel Petit believes Manchester United and Tottenham "do not deserve" Champions League football after terrible domestic seasons.

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Two English teams vying for UEL gloryBoth have had dismal Premier League campaignsPetit believes neither team deserves UCL spotFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Despite their woeful Premier League form – Spurs languishing in 16th and United only marginally better in 14th – both sides are 90 minutes away from reaching the Europa League final. Tottenham hold a two-goal cushion heading into their second leg against Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt, while United boast a commanding 3-0 lead over Athletic Club after a sensational performance at San Mames.

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Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou has argued that winning the Europa League would transform what has been a miserable campaign into a success story. However, Petit remains unconvinced and was quick to dismiss the notion that either United or Spurs deserves to join Europe’s elite next season through what he views as a shortcut.

WHAT PETIT SAID

While speaking to Petit said: "Tottenham and Manchester United both have the chance to save terrible seasons in the Europa League, but does either side deserve to play in the Champions League next season? Absolutely not. Both teams don't deserve to be among the Champions League teams for the next season. I wish the best of luck for Manchester United against Bilbao, but looking at the game against Lyon, Lyon should’ve finished United off. Spurs could spring a surprise, but I don't expect anything from Spurs or Manchester United this season. To be honest with you, if one of those clubs wins the Europa League, I think that would be unfair."

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AFPWHAT NEXT?

Despite Petit's strong criticism, the possibility of United and Spurs meeting in the final remains very much alive. United, bolstered by their convincing first-leg display, will look to finish the job at Old Trafford against an Athletic side that struggled to recover after conceding three goals. Tottenham, meanwhile, must hold their nerve in the challenging environment of Bodo/Glimt’s home ground. The Norwegians have proven tricky opponents in past European campaigns, but Spurs’ two-goal advantage gives them a safety net.

Should both clubs progress, it sets the stage for a dramatic all-English final where one will secure the Europa League crown and a golden ticket into Europe’s premier club competition next term.

While he was disappointed at the heavy defeat in Adelaide, he felt West Indies had had an encouraging year in Test cricket

Andrew McGlashan11-Dec-2022West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite lamented that his team “didn’t show any fight” in Adelaide but believed that overall they had produced a successful year in Test cricket.They crashed to a 419-run defeat within the opening session of the fourth day, their heaviest runs defeat in Test cricket, having shown heart to take the first Test deep into the penultimate session.Related

Australia complete series sweep with a crushing 419-run win

In both matches West Indies’ bowling attack was put to the sword by a combination of Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith and Travis Head. A couple of late wickets for Alzarri Joseph in Adelaide made him their the leading bowler with five at 53.00 – highlighting their struggles – amid a string of injuries that left them with a patched-up attack.Brathwaite produced their standout knock of the series with 110 in the second innings in Perth, but no one passed fifty in Adelaide as they could only make 214 and 77.”It was very disappointing. The first game, we fought to day five which was a decent effort. Coming here we didn’t show any fight at all,” Brathwaite said. “Obviously Australia bowled well but we didn’t fight. The pink ball is always different, under lights is always tough. Bad days happen and bad games. This was a bad game for sure, but it’s not the end of the world, we have a lot of Test cricket to play next year so we have to look ahead.”West Indies came into the series unbeaten in five Tests for the year – including three wins a row – and, before the Adelaide match, were above England and New Zealand on the World Test Championship table.Brathwaite was adamant that, viewed as a whole, and given the strength of the opposition they faced in this series, that it had been an encouraging year in the format.”This loss is a little disappointing and how we didn’t show the fight,” he said. “But I still think it was a good year for us – a very good year – losing one series against probably the No. 1 team in the world is not a bad effort.”‘You’ve got Mitchell Starc coming in at 90mph and you see a guy fighting like that, says a lot about his character’ – Brathwaite on Tagenarine Chanderpaul•Getty ImagesWest Indies’ next Test cricket will come on tours of Zimbabwe and South Africa in early 2023. They are then due back in Australia in a little over 12 months’ time due a quirk of the next World Test Championship cycle, which has seen them paired together again with no other spot on the calendar to try and space out the series a little more. CA had tried to find another window to avoid back-to-back summers with the same opposition but it wasn’t possible.Brathwaite hopes that those players who return can use what they have learned from watching the Australians go about their work with this Test series having been West Indies’ first here since 2015-16.”For a lot of the guys it was their first time to Australia,” he said. “The experience would help, both as batsmen and bowlers. Seeing how Australia play, how their batsmen started their innings, we can learn from that and then how their bowlers bowled throughout a spell. At times in Perth they bowled for the whole day but then you see the areas they bowled. Australia will always be a strong team at home but the key from experiences is learn from them.”One of the encouraging aspects for West Indies was the debut series of Tagenarine Chanderpaul who made 51, 45, 47 and 17 at the top of the order alongside the captain. Such was his occupation of the crease that Australia got very inventive with their fields when they went at him with a short-pitched attack, although Chanderpaul blotted his copybook by running himself out in the first over of the third day.”It showed that he’s tough,” Brathwaite said. “You’ve got Mitchell Starc coming in at 90mph and you see a guy fighting like that, says a lot about his character. I thought he had a good start to his career and can see him really blossoming to have a superb career for West Indies.”Brathwaite, himself, meanwhile said he retained the hunger and desire to lead West Indies.”I love Test cricket and [am] thankful for the job. We’ll see how it goes. I want to lead this team from the front, especially with the bat, that’s my job. As a group we have the talent, we have the ability. It’s for us to believe in ourselves and you learn from all the challenges you go through.”

Everything you need to know about Quilindschy Hartman's salary details playing for Feyenoord

Dutch fullback Quilindschy Hartman joined Feyenoord's youth academy from Excelsior in 2010. After spending over a decade developing in the youth system, Hartman finally earned his opportunity to play for Feyenoord’s first team in 2022.

Since his promotion to the senior squad, Hartman has impressed at left-back, providing defensive stability and regularly contributing in the attacking third.

In 2023, following a strong debut season, the Dutchman signed a contract extension with the Eredivisie club, keeping him in Rotterdam until 2026.

Under his current contract, Hartman earns a substantial salary for his role in the first team.

But exactly how much does he earn?

GOAL delved into the numbers with Capology and found out!

*

Quilindschy Hartman's wages at Feyenoord in numbers

Under his current contract with Feyenoord, Hartman receives €13,846 weekly, totaling €720,000 annually.

Player

Nationality

Weekly wages in Euros

Annual wages in Euros

Quilindschy Hartman

Dutch

€13,846

€720,000

AdvertisementAFPTop earners at Feyenoord

Justin Bijlow is the top earner at Feyenoord, with Calvin Stengs and David Hancko in second and third positions.

Ramiz Zerrouki and Igor Paixao are fourth and fifth in the earnings list.

Player

Nationality

Weekly wages in Euros

Annual wages in Euros

Justin Bijlow

Dutch

€56,538

€2,940,000

Calvin Stengs

Dutch

€47,115

€2,450,000

David Hancko

Serbian

€45,192

€2,350,000

Ramiz Zerrouki

Algerian

€33,846

€1,760,000

Igor Paixao

Brazilian

€33,846

€1,760,000

Highest-paid players in Eredivisie

Jordan Henderson, previously with Liverpool, earns the highest salary in the Eredivisie. Sergino Dest from PSV follows. Daniele Rugani, an Italian player, ranks third, with Ajax's Brian Brobbey and Steven Berghuis in fourth and fifth.

Player

Club

Weekly wages in Euros

Annual wages in Euros

Jordan Henderson

Ajax

€90,000

€4,680,000

Sergino Dest

PSV

€75,385

€3,920,000

Daniele Rugani

Ajax

€75,385

€3,920,000

Brian Brobbey

Ajax

€57,692

€3,000,000

Steven Berghuis

Ajax

€56,731

€2,950,000

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AFPHighest paid players in the world

Eredivisie player salaries are significant but lower than those of top global footballers, with none in the highest ranks.

The top five earners are in the Saudi Pro League, with Cristiano Ronaldo at Al Nassr having the highest salary.

Karim Benzema, formerly of Real Madrid, is second, followed by Riyad Mahrez, previously with Manchester City and now at Al-Ahli, in third.

Sadio Mane and Kalidou Koulibaly, both from Senegal, are in fourth and fifth places, respectively.

Player

Club

Weekly wages Euros

Annual wages Euros

Cristiano Ronaldo

Al Nassr

€3,846,154

€200,000,000

Karim Benzema

Al Ittihad

€1,923,077

€100,000,000

Riyad Mahrez

Al Ahli

€1,003,846

€52,200,000

Sadio Mane

Al Nassr

€769,231

€40,000,000

Kalidou Koulibaly

Al Hilal

€667,308

€34,700,000

As they look to finally solve their defensive issues, Manchester United are reportedly in pole position to sign a La Liga star who could hand Ruben Amorim an instant improvement.

Man Utd transfer news

Sat in the depths of mid-table, rapidly losing money and continuing to struggle under Amorim, Manchester United desperately need reinforcements when the summer arrives. However, just how feasible those arrivals are remains to be seen, as they simply must sell before they can even consider turning towards further additions.

On that front, the rumours are already coming thick and fast, with names such as Jules Kounde threatening to steal the headlines in recent weeks. That said, the Barcelona man may not be the only La Liga defender on his way.

According to reports in Spain, Manchester United are now leading the race to sign Alejandro Balde ahead of their as-yet-unnamed Premier League rivals. The Barcelona defender has enjoyed an impressive season in and out of Hansi Flick’s strongest side and could now emerge to solve Amorim’s full-back problems.

In place of Luke Shaw, the young Spaniard would offer those at Old Trafford an instant upgrade. Whether the Red Devils can afford his signature is, of course, another question entirely.

Their own Rogers: Teen Man Utd ace can be "pushed closer to the first-team"

Man Utd need to fill the void of Amad Diallo, who is out for the rest of the season.

ByJoe Nuttall Feb 21, 2025

One way or another, the England international must be replaced when the summer arrives. His injury issues have become increasingly disruptive to the point of no return and as Manchester United continue to struggle financially, they should cut their losses.

One of many tasks that INEOS must complete in the coming months is that they must raise key funds.

"Real gem" Balde would be instant upgrade

Despite welcoming Dorgu in the January transfer window, Manchester United would be wise to pursue Balde and take advantage of their recent arrival’s versatility at the start of next season. Killing two birds with one stone as a result, Amorim could finally turn his tenure around at Old Trafford.

The Barcelona man has been at the centre of impressive praise since breaking through in Spain, including from Jacek Kulig. The football talent scout described the full-back as a “real gem” last summer after he reached six assists in La Liga.

Swapping Barcelona for Manchester United would certainly be a bold choice this summer, but if the Red Devils come calling the left-back will have quite the decision to make. A starting role would certainly be waiting for Balde at Old Trafford under Amorim.

Liverpool have been handed a massive injury boost with the news that a key player has returned to full training ahead of a huge week.

Defining week for Liverpool as PSG and Newcastle loom

The Reds have reached a vital point in the season, building a 15-point lead at the top of the Premier League, with Arne Slot and his players starting to dream of title glory. There is still work to be done, but they are clearly now on the verge of a fantastic achievement.

This week, however, league commitments make way for other duties, with a huge clash with Paris Saint-Germain arriving on Tuesday evening. Liverpool lead 1-0 from the first leg of their last 16 Champions League tie, but the Ligue 1 side’s performance at the Parc des Princes was superb, and Slot’s side were bailed out by Alisson and Harvey Elliott.

After the PSG game comes the Carabao Cup final on Sunday, with the Reds taking on a Newcastle United side looking for their first piece of domestic silverware in 70 years while hampered by plenty of injuries.

While Liverpool will be favourites to prevail at Wembley, they know all about the threat that the Magpies pose, following a 3-3 draw at St James’ Park in the Premier League back in December. There have been injury problems for the Merseysiders in recent weeks too, but now a key update has emerged regarding one star attacker.

Liverpool handed massive injury boost as Gakpo returns to training

On Monday afternoon, it was confirmed that Gakpo has returned to full training for Liverpool, ahead of the crucial visit of PSG, with the Dutchman seen alongside his teammates at the AXA Training Centre.

The 25-year-old could start his first game in a month – his last being the Merseyside Derby on February 12 – when PSG come to town on Tuesday evening.

Having Gakpo but is music to the ears of Slot, with the winger a big miss in recent times. Aside from Mohamed Salah, who is romping towards the PFA Player of the Year award, the Netherlands international has been Liverpool’s most consistent attacking player this season, scoring 16 goals in all competitions, including eight in the Premier League.

Appearances

26

Starts

16

Minutes played

1412

Goals

8

Assists

3

Shots per game

1.7

Key passes per game

1.2

Tackles per game

0.9

Whether he is deemed to be fit enough to start against PSG is up for debate, however, with the game likely to be a fast-paced affair where every player needs to be at the top of their game. For that reason, it could make more sense to use Gakpo from the substitutes’ bench, with a start then potentially coming his way against Newcastle this weekend.

Van Dijk 2.0 for FSG: Liverpool gear up to sign £38m Premier League star

Anfield is set to welcome some exciting new talent this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair Mar 10, 2025

Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez have all been hit-and-miss of late, only scoring six times between them in 2025, showing why the return of Gakpo is so important for Liverpool.

The Spaniard powered in a brilliant header to give Enzo Maresca's side an important victory at Stamford Bridge.

Marc Cucurella scored perhaps the most important goal of Chelsea's season on Friday evening as his header gave the Blues a 1-0 win over Manchester United, keeping them in charge of their own Champions League destiny.

The Blues knew that they had to win to make sure qualification was in their own hands and now they know that a win on the final day against fellow European hopefuls Nottingham Forest will secure a top-five finish.

After 15 minutes, United thought they had the lead through Harry Maguire, as the defender met Bruno Fernandes' ball in with a fine finish into the top corner. A VAR review followed, however, and the goal was ruled out for offside.

Reece James came closest for the Blues in the first half around 10 minutes later, as he sent a curling half-volley from range at goal, and was only denied by the post. He set pulses racing again, for the wrong reasons, on the stroke of half-time, as he required treatment after appearing to jar his ankle.

James recovered to press on, and he played a starring role in the opening goal, spinning Alejandro Garnacho and floating a superb cross into Marc Cucurella, who had ghosted in at the back post and headed beyond Andre Onana.

Noni Madueke had a fine chance to double the lead shortly after but his sliced finish ended up in the crowd, before Chelsea successfully ran down the clock through seven minutes of injury time.

GOAL rates Chelsea's players from Stamford Bridge…

AFPGoalkeeper & Defence

Robert Sanchez (6/10):

Well-beaten by Maguire's finish but VAR restored his clean sheet. Had barely anything to do thereafter.

Reece James (8/10):

Fired a curling half-volley against the post from the edge of the box in the first half, and needed treatment for an ankle injury before half-time. Made his assist all the more impressive, as he left Garnacho in his wake to cross brilliantly. A battling display from the Blues' captain.

Tosin Adarabioyo (7/10):

Strong in the air, standing up well to United's physicality, and took care of the ball when he had it.

Levi Colwill (6/10):

Not as composed as Tosin when passing out of defence but he puts his body on the line so well that it is easy to forgive.

Marc Cucurella (8/10):

Scored such an important goal, as he drove into the area and finished brilliantly with his head. Busy defensively too but as diligent as he could be.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportMidfield

Moises Caicedo (7/10):

One of Chelsea's most effective players, mopping up well in midfield and shielding his defence. So consistent.

Enzo Fernandez (5/10):

Buzzed around in midfield but struggled to link things together. His passing radar was just a little awry.

Getty Images SportAttack

Pedro Neto (5/10):

Struggled against Patrick Dorgu. The left-back is a physical presence and Neto couldn't really get beyond him at any point.

Tyrique George (4/10):

Dived in a desperate attempt to win a penalty and VAR caught him out. Really struggled up front but he is just 19 and his time will undoubtedly come.

Cole Palmer (6/10):

Got on the ball when he could but wasn't able to produce any magic. Robbed of an assist after a fine through ball by Madueke's terrible finish.

Noni Madueke (3/10):

Smashed an effort over the bar at the back-post early on, although he was perhaps offside, and later screwed an effort badly wide after Palmer sent him through. Not his night.

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AFPSubs & Manager

Romeo Lavia (N/A):

On for George late on.

Malo Gusto (N/A):

On for Neto in injury time. Fouled by United defender Heaven in an ugly challenge but recovered.

Enzo Maresca (7/10):

Chelsea got there. This was a fixture fraught with danger but the Blues are over the line and are one win away from a return to Europe's top table. As sloppy as they can be in terms of their build-up, the result here is all that Maresca will care about.

Four-wicket haul on second day keeps Robinson’s Test average below 20 and clinches first-innings lead

Vithushan Ehantharajah17-Feb-2023On the day James Anderson and Stuart Broad took their tandem wicket tally to 1,001, level with the great Australia duo of Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne, it was Ollie Robinson who ensured England retained their advantage in the first Test against New Zealand.Robinson is far from off-broadway, already on equal billing with two active legends as he showcased with 4 for 51 on day two at Bay Oval. It was a haul that takes him to 64 dismissals after just 28 innings, keeping his average under 20 (19.60) in his 16th Test. And more importantly, his efforts kept New Zealand behind after their first innings before England were able to extend their lead from 19 to 98 by stumps.It is clear Anderson and Broad see something special in Robinson. Beyond making their jobs a little easier, the speed with which he has become ingrained into their company and conversations speaks of a recognition that he is on their level.As such, Robinson carries the air of the anointed one, assume the roles of Anderson and Broad once they are done combining or adding to their individual tallies which sit at 679 and 567 wickets, respectively. And it speaks of his confidence in his ability that he is not daunted by the idea of inheriting their mantles.”They’ve been very open and honest with me since I’ve come into the environment, which has been amazing for me. Hopefully I can be a worthy bearer of the baton, if you like.”Robinson gets up close and personal with Daryl Mitchell•Phil Walter/Getty ImagesThe 29-year-old made inroads at crucial times: Tom Latham under lights on the first day after England declared on 325 for 9 before following up with Daryl Mitchell and lower-order hitters Scott Kuggeleijn and Tim Southee. Ever since his first cap at the start of the 2021 summer – against New Zealand, no less – he has earned a reputation of dismissing key batters, something which Brendon McCullum has urged him to carry forward.”Baz is always saying to me try and be that partnership-breaker,” he said. “When the game’s drifting along, try and be that guy to break the partnership so it was important for me to do that and kept the game in our favour.”The removal of Mitchell was the icing on the cake for a couple of reasons. Back in 2022, Mitchell averaged 107.60 in England thanks to hundreds in each of the three Tests. Here, he was sent on his way with a 10-ball duck – the first of his Test career – leaving a ball that jagged in and clipped him on the front pad. Mitchell opted against a review and replays showed a predicted impact right into the top of off stump. Since Robinson’s debut, he has dismissed seven batters through misjudged leaves on their part, more than any other bowler in the world.”It’s the one I’m trying to bowl, yeah,” he says of the ball that nips back into the right-hander off the straight. “It doesn’t always move. I learnt it off Jimmy a little bit, tilting the seam slightly differently to how you would hold a conventional outswinger. It’s a bit of luck though, really. I’m just trying to get any seam movement that I can, bowl some more wobbles and go from there really.”I’m trying to present it as an outswinger and get it to wobble back in or hold. I’ve naturally always brought the ball back in, I think I’ve just grown with it a little bit, got more accurate with it and more skilful with it.”Related

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As he says, it is a trick he has had in his armoury for some time, undoing batters in the County Championship while playing for Sussex long before the high profile occurrences, notably castling Pakistan’s Babar Azam in Multan in December.That he was able to translate that from the red to a less willing pink ball is a testament to his talent. There is, however, a new edge to it which he credits to England’s new four-figure double act.”I think a big thing for me is use of the crease that I’ve learnt from Jimmy and Broady, probably more than anything coming to England,” Robinson said. “In county cricket you sort of run up and bowl from mid-crease – it’s quite generic – whereas in international cricket, the batters are that much better you have to be more on it and use the crease and use your skills to get more out of it.”

Mehidy and Ebadot picked up two apiece as Ireland crumbled after Tector’s fifty

Mohammad Isam04-Apr-2023Bangladesh dominated Ireland’s first day back in Test cricket, bowling them out for 214 in the first innings of the one-off Test in Dhaka. Taijul Islam took his eleventh five-wicket haul as the six-man bowling attack kept themselves ahead in most situations. The home side ended the day on 34 for 2, with Tamim Iqbal falling to Andy McBrine off the last ball of the day after looking quite confident for the last half an hour along with Mominul Haque. But McBrine got one to kick at Tamim’s forward press, to take the edge and fly to second slip where Mark Adair took the catch. He had earlier bowled Najmul Hossain Shanto with an in-ducker, the ball taking the inside edge on to the stumps, in the first over. The Ireland players were cock-a-hoop with the late wicket in an otherwise difficult day.Ireland made 214, their highest first innings score in Tests, batting out all but 30 minutes of the first day’s play. In a batting line-up that had six debutants and playing a Test after four years, it wasn’t a bad effort at the Shere Bangla National Stadium’s challenging conditions.Harry Tector’s fifty had some delectable shots, particularly his drives down the ground. He also slammed a straight six, but fell prematurely after adding 74 runs for the fourth wicket with Curtis Campher. It was the highlight of the Ireland innings as the pair played some splendid shots in the first hour of the second session. Ireland were at their most comfortable during this time, but it was roughly an hour before things started to change for the visitors.They got together after Ireland lost three wickets in the first session. Shoriful Islam removed Murray Commins with a delivery that cut back into his bat, given out lbw for five. Shanto caught James McCollum at second slip, at the second attempt, after the batter edged Ebadot Hossain.The Tector-Campher partnership ended when Mehidy Hasan Miraz bowled Tector with a classic offbreak turning through his forward press. Tector struck six fours and a six in his 50 off 92 balls. This was a bad time for Ireland as they also lost PJ Moor, playing his first Test for Ireland after playing eight matches for Zimbabwe, and Campher, in the space of eighteen balls.Ireland could have folded early from 124 for 6, but they added another 90 runs for the last four wickets. Tucker added 35 for the seventh wicket with McBrine, before adding another 40 with Mark Adair, who made 32 off 52 balls. Taijul removed Tucker and Adair to complete his five-for. Mehidy closed out the innings with Ben White’s wicket in the 78th over.