Sports
Afghanistan defeat UAE by 4 runs in T20I tri-series clash
Afghanistan grabbed a narrow four-run victory over hosts United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the sixth match of the T20I tri-series here at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Friday.
Chasing a daunting 171-run target, the home side could only manage 166/5 despite middle-order batter Asif Khan’s valiant 40-run knock.
The right-handed batter smashed Fareed Ahmad for a four and a six on the first two deliveries of the final over, in which they needed 17 to clinch a sensational victory.
The equation had come down to five needed off three, but Asif could not score on the next two deliveries before the left-arm pacer got him caught at long off.
The hosts got off to a steady start to the pursuit as their opening pair of skipper Muhammad Waseem and in-form Alishan Sharafu registered a 65-run partnership, which culminated with the latter’s dismissal in the seventh over.
Sharafu, who scored a valiant half-century against Pakistan in their previous match, could score a 23-ball 27 against Afghanistan.
Waseem was then involved in a brief 20-run partnership for the second wicket with Muhammad Zohaib until eventually falling victim to Abdollah Ahmadzai in the 11th over after top-scoring with 44 off 29 deliveries, featuring two fours and three sixes.
The hosts then lost two more wickets – Zohaib (23) and Rahul Chopra (seven) – in quick succession and were consequently reduced to 113/4 in 14.3 overs.
Asif and all-rounder Harshit Kaushik (15 not out) then kept UAE in the hunt with a gutsy 53-run stand, but their efforts eventually went in vain.
For Afghanistan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Abdollah Ahmadzai and Fareed picked up one wicket apiece.
Opting to bat first, Afghanistan accumulated 170/4 in their allotted 20 overs despite Haider Ali’s economical bowling performance.
Afghanistan got off to a solid start to their innings as Zadran and Gurbaz dominated the UAE bowlers and put together 98 runs during their opening partnership before both perished in successive deliveries.
Gurbaz was dismissed by Muhammad Farooq on the final delivery of the 12th over, while Haider Ali cleaned up Zadran at the start of the next over.
Zadran remained the top scorer for Afghanistan with 48 off just 35 deliveries, studded with three sixes and as many fours, while Gurbaz made a 38-ball 40 with the help of three fours and a six.
Following their back-to-back dismissals, Afghanistan suffered another setback as Mohammad Ishaq was stumped off Simranjeet Singh in the 15th over after scoring a scratchy five off 10 deliveries.
With the scoreboard reading 114/3 in 15 overs, all-rounders Karim Janat and Gulbadin Naib raised a crucial partnership, during which they added 24 runs in just 12 deliveries before the former fell victim to Haider.
Janat remained a notable contributor with a 14-ball 28, featuring three sixes and a four.
Naib, alongside fellow all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai, ensured a strong finish for Afghanistan as they registered an unbeaten 40-run partnership in just 18 deliveries.
Naib remained unbeaten with a 14-ball 20, while Omarzai made 14 not out from nine deliveries.
For UAE, Haider led the bowling charge with two wickets, while Simranjeet and Farooq chipped in with one scalp apiece.
Sports
Pakistan Shaheens announce squad for T20’s, ODI’s – SUCH TV
Pakistan Shaheens have announced their squad for the upcoming T20 and ODI series against England Lions to be played in the United Arab Emirates, with Shamil Hussain named captain for both formats.
All matches of the series will be held at the Oval Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
The three-match T20 series will begin on February 20, followed by a five-match ODI series from February 27 to March 9.
Abdul Samad, Hassan Nawaz, Moaz Sadaqat and Saad Khan have been included in the squad, along with Sameer Minhas and Arafat Minhas.
Rohail Nazir and Saad Baig will share wicketkeeping duties.
Spin bowlers Saad Masood and Sufyan Muqim are also part of the team, while the fast bowling unit includes Ali Raza, Ahmed Daniyal, Akif Javed, Muhammad Salman and Shahid Aziz.
Pakistan Shaheens will hold a seven-day training camp in Karachi from February 11 to February 17.
Former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed has been appointed mentor and manager of the Shaheens.
Ijaz Ahmed will serve as head coach, with Mansoor Amjad named fielding coach and Aizaz Cheema as bowling coach.
Sports
NHL outdoor game sees its 1st goalie fight between Vasilevskiy, Swayman
TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Lightning credited the first goalie fight in an NHL outdoor game for helping to spark their historic Stadium Series comeback win over the Boston Bruins on Sunday.
With 8:59 left in the second period and the Bruins leading 5-2, Lightning forward Brandon Hagel tried to poke the puck from under Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman after a save. Swayman then jumped on top of Hagel next to his crease, leading to a melee between the teams while the Lightning were on a power play. Tampa Bay goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy skated from his crease to the opposite blue line during the chaos.
“I just saw Sway was swinging the blocker on [Hagel] a bit, so it was just a reflex to go to the red line and challenge him. He accepted,” Vasilevskiy said.
Swayman spotted the Tampa Bay goalie, dropped his stick and skated out to meet Vasilevskiy as the two engaged near center ice. Swayman took off his gloves and mask and signaled to Vasilevskiy to remember to remove his mask before the fists flew.
“I don’t want to hit his helmet, so I’m glad we didn’t do that,” Swayman said.
The Lightning goalie nicknamed “The Big Cat” grabbed Swayman’s collar and started throwing left hands. The Boston goalie wasn’t able to get much offense in before Vasilevskiy wrestled him to the ice.
Did Swayman know that Vasilevskiy was a lefty before their fight?
“No,” the Bruins goalie said curtly, with a laugh. “Glad we both had our first gig against each other. Really worthy opponent.”
Vasilevskiy gave him a tap on the back and then tapped the back of Swayman’s head in appreciation of the moment, grinning widely as the fans roared inside Raymond James Stadium.
“When we both fell, we just kind of said to each other nice words. It was super nice. It’s one of the biggest moments for me, because I never fought in the NHL,” Vasilevskiy said. “Big thanks to him. He was great in the net all game and great in the fight as well.”
Swayman was also appreciative.
“He wanted to win, which is good. So did I. So that’s game respecting game,” he said. “I’m fighting the biggest, toughest goalie in the league. It wouldn’t be my first choice, but glad we got the first one out of the way. Probably retire after that.”
The crowd of nearly 65,000 fans stood and cheered during the confrontation, and then again when the referee announced the goalies had both received five-minute majors for fighting. Players on both benches were on their feet, too, slapping their sticks against the boards in appreciation and respect for their netminders.
“He was throwing lefts. I was like, ‘Oh my God.’ I didn’t want to be the other guy,” Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov said. “I was so happy. I was so fired up. I think the bench felt it. Everyone in the building felt it. Ever since that fight, the game was turned. Vasy had to do it, I guess. He had to wake us up.”
The Lightning would score twice on 5-on-3 power plays over the next 5:12, cutting the Bruins’ lead to 5-4 heading into the third period. Kucherov tied the score in the third period, and the Lightning eventually won 6-5 in a shootout.
Tampa Bay’s rally from a four-goal deficit to win marked the largest comeback victory in franchise history and the largest in an NHL outdoor game.
Lightning coach Jon Cooper said he could feel the momentum starting to swing before the fight, but the goalie throwdown was an emotional high the Lightning needed at that moment.
“I was like, ‘Thank goodness something positive was going to happen to our game,'” he said. “I give Boston a lot of credit. They took it to us and we weren’t prepared for it. Vasy was pissed.”
Hagel said he felt the fight was “a big turning point in the game.”
So did Kucherov, who was also convinced that his goalie would win the fight.
“I knew he was going to beat the wheels off of Swayman right away,” Kucherov said. “We call him ‘White Tyson’ now.”
Sports
Inter Milan extend Serie A lead | The Express Tribune
MILAN:
Inter Milan moved eight points clear at the top of Serie A after a comfortable 2-0 victory over hosts Cremonese on Sunday, but the victory was marred by a flare thrown on to the pitch from the away end that narrowly missed home goalkeeper Emil Audero.
The win takes Inter to 55 points from 23 games, eight ahead of city rivals AC Milan, who have a game in hand. Cremonese lie in 16th with 23 points from the same number of games.
Lautaro Martinez and Piotr Zielinski scored first-half goals as the visitors took control of the contest and despite not finding the back of the net again, they never looked unduly troubled by their hosts.
“There’s a long way to go,” Martinez told DAZN. “We made mistakes, especially in the first half, but there’s also a lot to enjoy because the championship is very balanced.”
Early in the second half a flare was thrown from the stands and landed near Audero, who dropped to the floor but did not appear to be injured. The match continued following a short delay.
“These things must not happen, there’s a risk to a person,” Martinez said. “We’re putting on a show that can be seen all over the world. I apologise to Audero and all the Cremonese fans.”
Inter have won 10 of their last 11 Serie A games since losing to AC Milan in November, their only blemish in that run a 2-2 home draw with Napoli.
By contrast, Cremonese are winless in eight, with five defeats in that sequence, which leaves them six points above the relegation zone.
The visitors might have won by a greater margin given their dominance of possession and chances, but did more than enough to secure another three points.
Inter hit the front on 16 minutes thanks to a header from Martinez, who steered Federico Dimarco’s corner into the net. It was just reward for a bright start.
Cremonese had an excellent chance to equalise when Jamie Vardy was sent through on goal. However, a heavy touch allowed Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer to get to the ball ahead of him.
The ball swerved past Audero, who will feel he should have made the save, but the power and the movement through the air left him floundering.
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