Kyle Coetzer smashed a century to set the foundation of a famous Scotland win at The Grange

The Report by Peter Della Penna in Edinburgh15-Jun-2017
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsA goose egg, bagel, doughnut, or a duck in cricket. Whatever you want to call it, Scotland had a big fat zero next to their name in the wins column for ODIs against Full Members: no wins, 23 losses since the 1999 World Cup.That dubious record was laid to rest on Thursday.Scotland didn’t get official ODI credit for laying the smackdown on Sri Lanka in a Champions Trophy warm-up last month, but the hosts came out of that match oozing confidence. It showed against Zimbabwe when Kyle Coetzer responded with a top-class century, like he had done against Sri Lanka, to set up a total of 317 for 6 in an eventual 26-run win on DLS Method.Both sides grappled through the first four overs in which Scotland added just four runs. Off the penultimate ball of the fourth over, Richard Ngarava pinged Kyle Coetzer on the side of the helmet with a bouncer. Much like a “heel” attempting a vicious maneuver on a “face” character in a wrestling match, the blow appeared to stir up Coetzer to bring out the full gamut of moves in retaliation.But it was Ngarava’s new-ball partner Tendai Chatara who was at the receiving end of Coetzer’s initial punishment, with a drive over long-on for six sandwiched by three boundaries in a 19-run seventh over. Matthew Cross was not to be left out of the fun at the other end; he pulled Ngarava and played a series of cover drives as part of five boundaries spread across the sixth and eighth overs. Cross struck seven fours in all for 33 off 35 balls before he played on to end a brisk 56-run opening stand.Coetzer brought up his half-century off 44 deliveries, dropkicking his opposite number Graeme Cremer’s legspin over the rope at long-on for six and then through midwicket for four along the way. At the other end, Zimbabwe connected with a few elbow drops to knock over Calum MacLeod, Richie Berrington and Preston Mommsen cheaply.But Coetzer was unmoved, bringing up his second ton in three days. It was Coetzer’s fourth ODI ton overall; he finished with 13 fours and two sixes in his 109 off 101 balls before he was caught at deep midwicket off Sean Williams to make it 215 for 5 in the 40th over.Making 300 is the bare minimum under good conditions at The Grange. With Coetzer gone, it was left to Craig Wallace and Michael Leask to take the act into overdrive, and they did just that. After bringing up 50 in 49 balls, Wallace pulled out a reverse ramp on Chatara in the 47th over to move to his highest ODI score of 58 before eventually holing out to long-on in the 49th.Leask, playing his first ODI since August 2016, stuck to old-school slogging at the other end, clearing the front leg to heave both medium pacers over the leg side boundary. He too finished with a career-best unbeaten 59 off 38 balls. Ngarava also had a career day, but in the wrong direction, ending up with 1 for 96 in 10 overs, the second-worst ODI figures by a Zimbabwean.Con de Lange finished with career-best ODI figures of 5 for 60•Peter Della Penna

Zimbabwe’s reply kept the 500-odd home fans mostly silent in the early part of their 318 chase as Hamilton Masakadza hit two monstrous sixes over long-on, one of which resulted in a ball change. But for the first of several times in the chase, Zimbabwe climbed up the top rope and readied themselves for the finishing move only to slip and fall off the turnbuckle.Masakadza was run-out for 38 when he responded to Solomon Mire’s tight call for a single off Leask, who ran towards short midwicket on his followthrough and relayed the throw to Cross. Craig Ervine was beaten for pace an over later by Chris Sole as a top-edged pull swirled before coming down to Cross.Con de Lange entered in the 18th over and struck five balls later, the first of what would be a maiden five-for in Scotland colors, when Mire’s top-edged sweep carried to Safyaan Sharif at deep square leg to make it 97 for 3. Another run-out came moments before the umpires took players off for thickening showers as Berrington’s spectacular diving stop at backward point created confusion between Williams and Sikandar Raza, with the latter ultimately short of the relay to Cross.The teams sat for 100 minutes before skies cleared and play resumed with Zimbabwe 107 for 4 in 21.3 overs, though set a new target of 299 in 43 overs. Williams made up for his role in Raza’s run-out by producing a series of reverse sweeps for boundaries off de Lange. He brought up his half-century off 49 balls with a boundary. He would go on to make 70 before Berrington dislodged him thanks to a sharp catch by Cross standing up to Berrington’s medium pace. In the same over, Berrington could have had another if not for a tough drop on a return chance to reprieve Malcolm Waller on 8.While de Lange burrowed through Zimbabwe’s middle and lower order at one end, Waller seized on the early evening cross-breeze to launch five sixes. Scotland’s nerves showed in the 38th over when a four and six off by Waller off Sole was followed by a no-ball, with the ensuing free hit smashed for another four. Fifteen had come off three legal deliveries, with Zimbabwe dragging the equation down to 59 off 33. However, they were eight down and Waller began turning down singles in order to protect the tail.With 38 needed off the last three overs, De Lange was brought back again only to be hit for another six down the ground by Waller. But three balls later another slog sweep held up in the wind for Sole to claim Waller at deep square leg for 92 off 62, though it was not without controversy as Scotland took a dramatic “heel” turn of their own. Video footage of the catch appeared to show that Sole’s right foot was on the rope when he completed the catch before quickly dragging it back inside play.For Zimbabwe fans, it will bring back bad memories of the disputed catch taken by John Mooney on the boundary to dismiss Williams on 96 in the 2015 World Cup, a match Ireland eventually won by five runs.Zimbabwe initially protested and Waller stayed at the wicket for nearly a minute before reluctantly walking off. De Lange had five, Zimbabwe were down on the mat for good. Sharif then came back to claim the final wicket to clinch a famous Scotland win.

Tottenham Hotspur are now eyeing a move for Pedro, with the Flamengo striker attracting the attention of a number of Premier League clubs, according to a recent report from TuttoMercatoWeb.

What's the latest Tottenham transfer news?

Harry Kane's future remains in doubt, with honorary Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness confident the Tottenham striker will complete a move to the Allianz Arena this summer, although no meaningful progress has been made in talks with Daniel Levy.

As such, Ange Postecoglou may have to start thinking about possible replacements for the striker this summer, with Spurs now being linked with a potential move for Lille's Jonathan David, who could cost around €60m (£52m).

Levy's preferred option to replace Kane is Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, but the chairman could face issues persuading the 24-year-old to join, given that the conditions are not quite there for the Lilywhites to compete for trophies at this moment in time.

According to a recent report from TuttoMercatoWeb, Tottenham are also eyeing a move for Flamengo striker Pedro, who is now ready to test himself in the Premier League, after a difficult experience during his first move to Europe, with Fiorentina.

Nottingham Forest are among the main contenders to sign the Brazilian, alongside Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal, who would be able to table a very large salary offer, which could turn his head.

Brentford and Spurs are also waiting in the wings for the forward, who is very popular among Premier League clubs, however, there is yet to be an official offer made by any of the interested parties.

Who is Pedro?

The Rio de Janeiro-born striker has played in his home country of Brazil for the vast majority of his career, across spells with Fluminense and CR Flamengo, scoring 20 goals in 58 goals for the former before making a move to Serie A side Fiorentina.

It did not work out for the 26-year-old in Italy, failing to find the back of the net for the first team before moving back to Brazil, but his performances for Flamengo indicate he could be ready to test himself in Europe once again.

In a total of 190 games for Flamengo, the £24k-per-week forward has weighed in with 93 goals and 23 assists, and he has been in particularly impressive goal-scoring form over the course of the past year.

During that timeframe, the former Fiorentina man has averaged 0.85 non-penalty goals per 90, placing him in the 99th percentile compared to his positional peers playing at a similar level.

The Brazil international's performances earned him a call-up to the World Cup squad, making two appearances out in Qatar, however, he failed to find the back of the net, and he has still only scored one goal for his country.

Brazil legend Ronaldo has even hailed Pedro as a "quality striker", while also claiming he has a "huge future ahead of him", but there are question marks over whether he would be a viable replacement for Kane, given that he is unproven outside of Brazil, however, by the looks of things, he could be a name to keep an eye on ahead of the new season.

The summer transfer window is all about patience. Whether that be when waiting for a club to bring in reinforcements, or then waiting for those reinforcements to find their feet.

Things can't always instantly click, and that's when a sense of calm needs to be projected by those in charge at the club.

Of course, in an ideal world, the player who has just cost a club a likely absurd amount would make an instant impact. And this can sometimes be the case, too. Just look at Virgil van Dijk and Liverpool, who helped bring silverware to Anfield as a direct consequence of his arrival.

In cases such as Kai Havertz and Arsenal, however, patience may be needed. In a new side, which operates contrastingly differently to former club Chelsea, Havertz may need time to settle in but has already faced criticism in the media.

Mikel Arteta has been quick to keep calm about the forward, too, even commenting on his physicality.

What did Mikel Arteta say about Kai Havertz?

Speaking to the press recently, Arteta said (via Goal): "We have to find the right balance but a year ago Granit could never play as an attacking midfielder. It's the first time we played with four players inside and three of them had never played together, ever. So: tranquilo.

"Day by day, keep doing the right things and give people the opportunity to settle in and we will be fine. You use the word 'physical' but if I put Granit and Kai [together] who is more physical? Granit? Yeah? Havertz is 1.91 metres.

"It depends what physical is. Physical is to run, to run in behind, run forward, to tackle, to defend. He will fit in with the qualities we have for sure and the good thing is that we have options in midfield. When we want a game to become more physical we have the options to be very, very physical so we have the right options."

How many goals did Kai Havertz score in his Chelsea career?

To say that Havertz's Chelsea career didn't live up to the hype would be quite the understatement. Of course, the German will forever have his place in Blues history after scoring the winning goal in the 2021 Champions League final to defeat fellow Premier League side Manchester City, but he never really progressed after that.

In total, during his time at Stamford Bridge, Havertz scored just 32 goals in 139 appearances. For a player used as a striker more often than not, that record simply wasn't good enough.

With that said, it came as a slight surprise when Arsenal so willingly splashed out a reported £65m for his signature this summer, but fans of the North London club will trust Arteta's plan – especially as he appears likely to be reimagined as a midfielder and not a striker.

The former Chelsea man has already shown glimpses of what he is capable of, scoring his first goal for the club in a recent 5-0 thrashing of MLS All-Stars.

Havertz will hope to have finally found the place to realise his potential in England's top flight, as Arsenal attempt to compete for the Premier League title, and more, next season.

The Gunners will certainly be an interesting watch.

Brendan Rodgers arrived at Celtic for his second spell at Parkhead last month and has been able to officially complete two signings so far.

The summer transfer window officially opened for business in June but the Hoops still have just under two weeks before their first competitive match of the season rolls around.

Who have Celtic signed this summer?

Rodgers has swooped to sign Norwegian midfielder Odin Thiago Holm from Valerenga and Australian winger Marco Tilio from Melbourne City on permanent deals to bolster his squad.

However, more arrivals do appear to be on the horizon for the Scottish giants. Polish central defender Maik Nawrocki completed his medical on Saturday and is set to join in a deal worth around €5m (£4.3m) from Legia Warsaw.

The Bhoys are also reportedly expected to complete the signings of South Korean duo Hyun-jun Yang and Hyeok-kyu Kwon from Gangwon and Busan IPark respectively.

That may not be the end of their business, though, as journalist Anthony Joseph recently claimed that the club have contacted Future FC over a possible swoop for central midfielder Mohamed Reda.

How good is Mohamed Reda?

The 22-year-old dynamo has showcased his attacking quality from a central midfield position over the last 12 months and could form an unplayable partnership with ex-MK Dons star Matt O'Riley for the Hoops.

Reda racked up four goals and four assists in 20 league starts for Future throughout the 2022/23 campaign, which works out as an average of one goal contribution every 2.5 starts.

His team, who were formerly known as Coca-Cola FC, finished fourth in their league and only scored 34 goals in 34 matches. The Egypt international was, therefore, involved in 23.5% of their strikes, which shows that he was able to thrive as an attacking midfield option in spite of the side's lacklustre output.

O'Riley, meanwhile, produced three goals and set up 12 in 32 Scottish Premiership starts for Celtic. This means that the Denmark international managed a goal or assist every 2.13 starts on average for Ange Postecoglou last term – the best return of any midfielder with ten or more starts within the squad.

The Hoops plundered a staggering 114 goals in 38 league outings throughout the 2022/23 season, which shows that they were far more prolific as a team than Future were in the Egyptian top-flight.

Reda, therefore, could increase his output in the final third as part of a better attacking unit. 23.5% of Celtic's goal tally last season would work out as roughly 27 direct involvements, which is more than any Hoops midfielder managed.

The 5 foot 10 gem, who analyst Ben Griffis described as "raw" with "so much potential", may not be able to replicate those standards in Scotland but the statistics illustrate how impressive his return in front of goal was in comparison to the team's overall record.

Therefore, Rodgers could unearth a supremely talented midfield option in Reda. The Northern Irish boss could offer him the chance to showcase his attacking quality as part of a thriving Hoops side, which could make him unplayable for opposition defences alongside O'Riley next term.

حسم فريق الزمالك القمة رقم 127 لصالحه أمام الأهلي، بالفوز بنتيجة 2-1، في المباراة التي أقيمت بينمها اليوم الإثنين، ضمن منافسات بطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز.

والتقى قطبا الكرة المصرية، الأهلي والزمالك على ملعب استاد القاهرة الدولي، ضمن مؤجلات الجولة العاشرة من عمر مباريات بطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز.

وسجل هدف الزمالك الأول سيف الدين الجزيري في الدقيقة 45 في أخر لحظات الشوط الأول للمباراة، وتعادل للأهلي أحمد عبد القادر في الدقيقة 73 بتسديدة من لمسة واحدة من داخل منطقة الجزاء.

وأحرز سيف الجزيري هدف قاتل للزمالك في الدقيقة 87 من تسديدة قوية من داخل منطقة الجزاء، ليخطف الـ 3 نقاط للفارس الأبيض.

وبهذه النتيجة، يرتفع رصيد الزمالك إلى 21 نقطة ويتواجد في المركز العاشر في جدول ترتيب الدوري المصري الممتاز بعد خوض 13 مباراة، له 4 مباريات مؤجلة.

وعلى الجانب الآخر، يبقى الأهلي في المركز التاسع بجدول ترتيب الدوري المصري، برصيد 21 نقطة من 11 مباراة، وله 6 مباريات مؤجلة. أهداف مباراة الأهلي والزمالك في الدوري المصري

تفاصيل المباراة

كاد فريق الزمالك أن يتقدم مبكراً بالهدف الأول أمام الأهلي، في الدقيقة 5 من عمر الشوط الأول للمباراة، لولا تدخل رامي ربيعة وخطف الكرة من أمام قدم أحمد سيد زيزو المنفرد بالمرمي تماماً.

وغادر زيزو المباراة مصاباً في الدقيقة 18 من عمر الشوط الأول عقب تدخل قوي مع رامي ربيعة في كرة الدقيقة الخامسة، دخل بدلاً منه الأوغندي ترافيس موتيابا.

وفي الدقيقة 45 آخر لحظات الشوط الأول من المباراة، استطاع التونسي سيف الجزيري أن يضع الزمالك في المقدمة ويسجل الهدف الأول بعدما استلم تمريرة بينية من ناصر ماهر وسدد في المرة الأولي وتصدي لها مصطفي شوبير وتعود الكرة له من جديد ليسدد في المرمي.

وينتهي الشوط الأول بتقدم الزمالك على الأهلي بهدف دون رد.

وفي الشوط الثاني أجري السويسري مارسيل كولر المدير الفني للأهلي 3 تغييرات دفعة واحدة بدخول رضا سليم وعمرو السولية والفلسطيني وسام أبو علي بدلاً من موديست وطاهر محمد طاهر وكريم ندفيد.

كما أجري جوزيه جوميز المدير الفني لنادي الزمالك تغييراً بخروج أحمد فتوح للإصابة في بداية الشوط الثاني ودخل مكانه مصطفي الزناري.

وفي الدقيقة 54 احتسب حكم المباراة إبراهيم نور الدين ركلة جزاء لـ الزمالك بعد عرقلة لسيف الجزيري من رامي ربيعة إلا أن تقنية الفار استدعت حكم اللقاء لمراجعة اللقطة ليتراجع بعدها عن ركلة الجزاء لتبين لمسة رامي ربيعة الكرة قبل الجزيري.

طالع | فيديو | الفار يلغي ركلة جزاء لـ الزمالك أمام الأهلي

استطاع أحمد عبد القادر بعد دخوله كبديل تسجيل هدف الأهلي الأول ليعدل النتيجة (1-1) وذلك بعد تمريرة من رضا سليم يضعها بلمسة واحدة في مرمي محمد عواد.

وبعدها سيطر النادي الأهلي على مجريات المباراة كاملاً وتراجع الزمالك بشكل كبير، لكن على عكس سير اللقاء وعاد الفارس الأبيض من جديد في الدقيقة 87 وسجل هدف قاتل عن طريق سيف الدين الجزيري بتسديدة من داخل منطقة الجزاء.

Liverpool's interest in Paris Saint-Germain and Italy maestro Marco Verratti is a worry for Atletico Madrid's efforts to sign him, according to a transfer update from Spain.

How much does Marco Verratti earn?

The Italian has enjoyed a fantastic career for both club and country, winning countless trophies and arguably standing out as one of the best midfielders of his generation.

Verratti has won an incredible nine Ligue 1 titles during his time with PSG, as well as tasting Euro 2020 glory with Italy, and he has always caught the eye with his ability to dictate a game and keep possession in tight areas in the middle of the park.

The 30-year-old, who currently earns £238,000 per week, only signed a new deal with the French giants back in December, keeping him at the club until the summer of 2026 in the process. Despite this, it could be that he leaves before the 2023/24 season gets underway, with his future up in the air.

With Liverpool very much on the lookout for new signings in the middle of the park, following the exits of so many players this summer, they have been linked with interest in Verratti, and it now seems their watchful eye is causing doubts in Spain.

Could Liverpool sign Marco Verratti?

According to Marca, Atletico Madrid are trying to sign the Italy star but could struggle to due to interest from England, namely Liverpool, who are looking to replace both Fabinho and Jordan Henderson.

PSG are looking for as much as £60m for Verratti, despite his age, so it remains to be seen if the Reds would be willing to pay that amount for the 30-year-old, but the report believes their presence is a "stumbling block" for Los Rojiblancos.

There is no question that the midfielder is a fantastic footballer who has undoubted experience and pedigree down the years, with Neymar once saying of his teammate:

"I knew Verratti was an excellent player, but I didn't realise he was so spectacular. He's a genius. He's one of the best midfielders I've played with, along with Xavi Hernandez and Iniesta."

For all of Verratti's brilliance as a player, though, it would make little sense in Liverpool signing him, given his age and the fact that he is so similar in style to Thiago. He is also similarly injury-prone, so it would feel like an expensive risk when the Reds have to be bringing in younger options who can cover ground and provide the dynamism that the likes of Fabinho and Henderson once did in their prime.

Frankly, it would be a big surprise if Liverpool ended up making a move for him – the only way it would make any sense is if Thiago also left this summer – and they should instead be turning their attention to options of youthful exuberance like Romeo Lavia, Cheick Doucoure and Khephren Thuram.

While Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai have already come in as excellent No.8 options, it is vital that the No.6 position is also filled, so that has to be the main area of focus between now and the end of the summer transfer window, as well as bringing in a left-footed centre-back to add more balance to the defence.

Manchester United are currently "speaking" to the highly rated and "very talented" Japanese international, Zion Suzuki, as they look for a new number two, claims transfers expert Fabrizio Romano.

Is Zion Suzuki joining Manchester United?

United have made a solid start to the transfer window this summer, with Chelsea's academy graduate and former fan favourite Mason Mount joining the Red Devils for around £55m.

Erik ten Hag is also overseeing a changing of the guard in the club's goalkeeping situation, with long-term shot-stopper David de Gea finally leaving Old Trafford after the two parties couldn't agree to a new contract for the former Spanish international.

With the number one shirt vacant, the bulk of attention has been diverted to securing the signature of Inter Milan keeper Andre Onana, a deal that Fabrizio Romano declared "really close".

However, the three-time European champions are also looking to sign a new second-choice keeper, and according to reports, they have identified Japanese youngster Suzuki as the perfect man for the job.

Japanese outlet Sponichi Annex reported that United have been watching the young shot-stopper for over six years, first taking notice of him in 2017 when he was just 14 years old.

The publication has also reported that the Red Devils have now made a £5m offer to the J League club, which would represent a record transfer fee for the league.

However, transfers expert Fabrizio Romano has claimed that there have yet to be any official negotiations between the two sides.

He explained the situation on his YouTube channel, saying:

"We also know that Manchester United are looking for a second goalkeeper, and I told you a few days ago that they are speaking to Urawa Reds for a Japanese goalkeeper, Suzuki, a very interesting one.

"A young goalkeeper highly rated because he looks to be a very talented goalkeeper, so I want to give you an update on this one. I am told that there are now conversations ongoing between Manchester United and the player side. So Manchester United confirmed to the representatives of the player their interest in Suzuki. At the moment, it's still not an official negotiation between clubs because Suzuki is a crucial player.

"The idea is to sign a second goalkeeper and let Dean Henderson leave with Nottingham Forest still interested."

Is Zion Suzuki good enough for Manchester United?

It has been a rapid rise to fame for 20-year-old Suzuki. He made his J League debut in 2021 and has only made 29 senior appearances in domestic competitions and just a single appearance for the Japanese national team.

He has barely featured at all this season, starting just six games for the Diamonds, not featuring at all in the league.

However, he is still highly thought of in Japan, with his manager Maciej Skorza saying in February (via Manchester Evening News):

"The Reds have four very interesting goalkeepers. Among them, Shusaku (Nishikawa) and Zion are of a very high level. I think Zion is taller than Shusaku, and I think he's a young player with a lot of future potential."

Current national team manager Hajime Moriyasu also seems to think very highly of the youngster, saying earlier this year:

"Urawa has two national team calibre players and from them I chose to call-up Zion Suzuki."

No doubt signing the "high-potential" Suzuki represents something of a risk for United, but if the fee is really only around £5m and the hype around him is even only partially true, then it could be a gamble well worth taking in the long run.

Sabina Park might possibly provide the best batting pitches in the Caribbean, but it has not been the luckiest ground for India. Can the ninth-ranked West Indies pull off a grand upset?

The Preview by Alagappan Muthu05-Jul-2017Match FactsThursday, July 6, 2017
Start time 0900 local (1400 GMT)1:28

‘I’m a proper allrounder’ – Pandya

Big PictureA month ago, the lowest-seeded team went into a world tournament and came away with the championship. Now, in the era of teams cruising to targets of 300-plus, a total of 189 has been successfully defended and a series between the third and the ninth-ranked teams has come to a decider. Ladies and gentlemen, it has finally happened. Miffed at all of us writing it off, and all the talk of little brother T20 taking over the world, fifty-over cricket has decided the time has come to show off the crazy tricks it has up its sleeve. So, Sabina Park, are you ready?Since 2010, three out of nine totals batting first here have exceeded 300. Additionally, during the past seven years, the average run-rate of 5.00 is the highest across venues in the West Indies (minimum nine matches played). Kingston, and it’s fast-paced pitches, offers the best batting conditions in the Caribbean and that plays into India’s hands. (Or not, considering India have only won two out of their seven completed ODIs at the venue).Virat Kohli and his men like to construct their innings organically. They start slowly, build steadily and then only after a certain threshold of overs – in other words, making sure they will not be bowled out – do they vent their anger on the white ball. The first match in North Sound showed this approach in good light, the second not so much. If West Indies’ bowlers can maintain discipline stiflingly enough, things could come to a proper boil. What’s more, they’ve tasted victory – for only the fifth time in their last 20 completed matches – and it was remarkably sweet. Both the captain and coach – Jason Holder and Stuart Law – have already said they want more. Weather permitting, that is.Form guideWest Indies WLLWL (last five completed matches, most recent first)
India LWWLWIn the spotlightFast bowler Kesrick Williams has found great success with his assortment of slower deliveries. With no great pace, he relies on his accuracy and his ability to surprise batsmen with variations. West Indies must have wholehearted trust in his ability to deliver these variations under stress, as they have tended to deploy him in the slog overs.”Our shot selection wasn’t up to the mark,” said Virat Kohli in trying to explain how a veritable artillery of batsmen failed to take down a target of 190. The Indian captain himself has been guilty of that particular error, especially against the short ball in this series. Barring one innings, he has not given himself the time he usually likes to feel comfortable at the crease. Perhaps, with the trophy on the line, he’ll bring out his best.Team newsWest Indies might keep the same team, but they will want their batting line up to be a bit more conscious of scoring runs. In the last five years, and among Full Members, their average of 27.49 and run-rate of 5.13 are only better than Afghanistan, Ireland and Zimbabwe.West Indies (probable): 1 Evin Lewis, 2 Kyle Hope, 3 Shai Hope (wk), 4 Jason Mohammed, 5 Roston Chase, 6 Jason Holder (capt), 7 Rovman Powell, 8 Ashley Nurse, 9 Kesrick Williams, 10 Devendra Bishoo, 11 Alzarri JosephYuvraj Singh was left out of the last ODI in an effort to manage a hamstring niggle. If he is fit again, he might return to the XI. R Ashwin and Bhuvneshwar Kumar were rested on Sunday, perhaps they might come off the bench for the decider.India (probable): 1 Shikhar Dhawan, 2 Ajinkya Rahane, 3 Virat Kohli (capt), 4 Yuvraj Singh/Dinesh Karthik/Rishabh Pant, 5 MS Dhoni (wk), 6 Kedar Jadhav, 7 Hardik Pandya, 8 Kuldeep Yadav, 9 Ravindra Jadeja/R Ashwin, 10 Bhuvneshwar Kumar/ Mohammed Shami, 11 Umesh YadavPitch and conditionsOverhead news: the Kingston weather forecast suggests some rain both on the eve and on the day of the match. Underfoot news: it’s the best surface in the Caribbean.Stats and trivia MS Dhoni has 119 not outs in international cricket. If he can go unbeaten in one more innings, he’ll take the record, from Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan West Indies have lost the last six bilateral series against India. Their last victory was at home in 2006, a 4-1 demolition West Indies have won 24 of their 32 ODIs at Sabina Park – including the last nine on the trotQuotes”I don’t count myself as a one-dimensional player. I feel that I should see the scoreboard and play accordingly and that’s how I’m going to learn cricket.”

Batsmen Nadia Gruny and Shebani Bhaskar anchor a USA batting unit ready to resume international competition for the first time in more than five years after they were named in a 14-player squad for the ICC Europe T20 Qualifier this August. The squad was picked after the conclusion of a series of trials held in Indianapolis from June 9-11, organized by ICC Americas staff, as they continue to oversee USA’s cricket operations while the USA Cricket Association is under suspension.Gruny was USA’s leading scorer at their last international competition in 2012 when they finished runner-up to Canada by virtue of the net-run-rate tiebreaker at that year’s ICC Americas T20 Championship in the Cayman Islands. Gruny, 33, most recently captained a USA Women’s XI last September in Philadelphia against a touring MCC Women’s side featuring former England players Charlotte Edwards and Claire Taylor.Bhaskar was also part of the USA Women’s XI that played against the MCC in Philadelphia, though this will be her first time playing for USA since the 2011 Women’s World Cup Qualifier in Bangladesh. Only 17-years-old at the time, Bhaskar was USA’s leading scorer at that event with 139 runs in six matches, including a top-score of 72 for USA’s only victory, a one-run win over Zimbabwe in which Bhaskar’s direct hit from cover resulted in the game-ending wicket.

USA Women’s T20 squad

Neha Anand, Candacy Atkins, Claudine Beckford, Shebani Bhaskar (wk), Sugetha Chandhrasekar, Nadia Gruny, Uzma Iftikhar, Triholder Marshall, Samantha Ramautar, Akshatha Rao, Erica Rendler, Sindhuja Salguti, Sindhu Sriharsha (wk), Onika Wallerson

The other big name to return for USA is former West Indies Test player Candacy Atkins. The 33-year-old starred for USA in the buildup to the 2011 Women’s World Cup Qualifier but ultimately boycotted the team’s participation, along with several of her team-mates, for what they claimed was discriminatory treatment from the USA Cricket Association by way of tour stipends that were far less than those provided to men’s touring squads. However, Atkins came back to captain USA less than six months later at the 2012 ICC Americas Women’s tournament.One other player with international pedigree, but still relatively new to the squad is former India A and India U-21 batsman Sindhu Sriharsha. The opener played for a USA team captained by Gruny against Pakistan in a two-match bilateral series in November 2015 held in Florida.Of the five players yet to play a full-fledged international for USA, three of them – Sindhuja Salguti, Sugetha Chandhrasekar and Onika Wallerson – played as part of the USA XI that took on the MCC Women last year. Wallerson formerly represented Guyana in the West Indies domestic women’s competition before migrating to the USA. The other two, Neha Anand and Uzma Iftikhar, have a chance to play for USA for the first time against any competition.USA will face Netherlands and Scotland in the double-round robin Europe T20 Qualifier scheduled to be held in Scotland from August 14-19. The ICC announced last year that USA would be given a wildcard entry to the tournament since there is no Americas qualifier. The top two teams will advance to the global qualifier for a chance to go to the 2018 Women’s World T20 in the West Indies.

1:43

Agarkar: The gulf between both sides stood exposed

R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja took three wickets each as India wrapped up a 304-run win – their biggest runs margin away – halfway through the final session of day four. With finger injuries leaving Rangana Herath and Asela Gunaratne unavailable to bat, India only needed to take eight second-innings wickets. They completed the task in 76.5 overs, with Dimuth Karunaratne and Niroshan Dickwella proving their only real roadblocks.Karunaratne enhanced his reputation as a specialist in the second innings – where he now averages 42.14 as against 27.32 in the first – with 97, while Dickwella contributed a skittish 67 to a fifth-wicket stand of 101.Otherwise, India didn’t have to work too hard for wickets on a firmer-than-usual Galle pitch that offered consistent bounce and only occasionally sharp turn, after setting Sri Lanka the task of surviving the best part of two full days or chasing an improbable 550.The fifth-wicket partnership looked unlikely to last too long when it began, with Dickwella playing a series of risky shots – sweeps off the stumps, inside-out drives, dabs with an open face – while new to the crease. But he survived and eventually settled, and Sri Lanka could breathe a little easier, particularly with Karunaratne looking calm and secure at the other end, taking the singles afforded him by Virat Kohli’s puzzlingly defensive fields and picking up the odd boundary with the square-cut or flick.But danger was never too far away. As tea approached, Hardik Pandya found both batsmen’s outside edges in a seven-over spell of reverse-swing. Karunaratne’s uncertain jab flew through a mostly vacant cordon – one wide slip and no gully – and Dickwella’s was shelled by Ajinkya Rahane, who flew to his left from gully for a difficult one-hander.Eventually, both batsmen were out sweeping Ashwin. Dickwella fell in the fifth over after tea, undone by bounce and sending a thin edge to the keeper, and Karunaratne followed him 11.3 overs later, dragging a bottom-edge onto his stumps when he was in sight of a sixth Test hundred. Nuwan Pradeep then fell for a two-ball duck, stretching out and failing to get to the pitch of an Ashwin offbreak that grabbed inside-edge on its way to a diving catch at leg slip. Lahiru Kumara was last to go, top-edging a slog-sweep off Jadeja and holing out to mid-off.The new-ball bowlers took an early wicket each after India declared early in the morning. Mohammed Shami struck the first blow, going around the wicket, hitting the seam, and getting the ball to bounce disconcertingly at Upul Tharanga. First, the ball seamed away just a touch after angling in, and Tharanga, poking away from his body, edged to second slip, where Kohli shelled a sitter. No worries for Shami. One ball later, he produced another peach, this one coming back in, lifting, and cramping the left-hander for room. All he could do was chop the ball on to his stumps.Then, in the sixth over of Sri Lanka’s innings, Danushka Gunathilaka fell to a loose shot for the second time on Test debut. Umesh Yadav had Cheteshwar Pujara stationed at square leg, just in front of square. It was either a routine field placement or India had sussed out a tendency to flick in the air. In either case, he failed to keep that shot down against a full ball that swung into his pads, and Pujara took a simple, low catch.Karunaratne and Kusal Mendis took Sri Lanka to lunch with a half-century stand for the third wicket. They weren’t especially tight with their defence, every now and then playing and missing when they could have left alone. One loose drive from Mendis, off Umesh, resulted in an edge that didn’t quite carry to second slip. That apart, though, both batsmen looked comfortable, Karunaratne strong off his pads and Mendis fluent while driving and cutting.The spinners, who hadn’t yet settled in their 10 overs before lunch, began finding more turn and bounce after the break. In the seventh over after the break, a tendency to play away from his body at Jadeja consumed Mendis. Having just punched Jadeja to cover off the back foot, he tried the same shot off the next ball. This one, though, was fired in quicker, and bounced higher to take the edge.Three-and-a-half-overs later, Angelo Mathews fell to an ill-advised shot, jumping out and looking to hit over mid-on. To give the bowler credit, though, Jadeja beat the batsman in the air, and found sharp turn. Nowhere near the pitch, Mathews sent a leading edge ballooning to backward point.India declared 6.3 overs into the morning, having clattered 51 in that time, with Virat Kohli, who resumed on 76, bringing up his 17th Test hundred and 10th as captain. Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane hit only two fours and a six in that time, but scored off all but seven balls they faced, against Sri Lanka’s deep-set fields.