Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Abbas rose to number three in the Test bowling rankings on Sunday following his 17 wickets in the series against Australia in the United Arab Emirates.

The 28-year-old took 10 for 95 to help Pakistan to their biggest Test win — a 373-run hammering of Australia — in the second Test in Abu Dhabi on Friday, giving them a 1-0 series win. He took seven wickets in the drawn first Test in Dubai.

The new International Cricket Council (ICC) rankings see Abbas shoot to third from 14th and he is now behind only England's James Anderson and South Africa's Kagiso Rabada.

Abbas has taken 59 wickets in his 10 matches and became the joint second-fastest Pakistani to take 50 wickets during the second Test — a mark he shares with legendary paceman Waqar Younis and Shabbir Ahmed.

Pakistan's leg-spinner Yasir Shah was the fastest to reach 50 wickets, taking just nine Tests.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1440425/australia-destroyer-abbas-shoots-to-third-in-test-rankings

KARACHI: The Lyari Super League kicked off at the KPT Football Stadium on Saturday amid fanfare and smiles across the faces of young footballers who could not wait to get on the field and display their skills.

While teams from Baghdadi and Gul Muhammad Lane played the opening fixture of the tournament, players from other teams and notable sports persons from Lyari watched intently after participating in a march past during the opening ceremony.

“This is the very first time I’m witnessing such a ‘hi-fi’ tournament in Lyari,” Furqan Ahmed of Kallari told Dawn. “This is a great chance for us to show off our talent.”

The tournament is organised by the Wish Foundation, a recently founded NGO lead by Suhail Baloch — an educationist, a human rights activist, and a recently-retired pilot for Pakistan International Airlines.

As many as 300 players will represent 16 teams from different neighbourhoods of Lyari Town during the tournament.

There are many tournaments held across Lyari throughout the year but the Lyari Super League seems to be a different brand. The organisers have tried to reach the relevant audience through sophisticated work on social media.

The tournament’s Facebook page features pictures of participating players posing over a backdrop of vibrant graphics mentioning there playing positions and the teams which they are representing.

To add up to it, some popular names from the corporate sector are sponsoring the event.

“We’ve been planning to organise this tournament since the last seven to eight months,” Iqbal Baloch, the chief coordinator of the Wish Foundation, told Dawn.

“To select the teams, trials were held and 300 players were selected before we divided them into 16 teams,” he added.

Baloch said organising more tournaments like such in other areas of the city is also a part of their future plans.

“We’ll also go to Malir,” he said.

According to Baloch, Lyari Super League has got full support from the District Football Association South and the Sindh Football Association, who’s respective heads Nasir Karim and Rahim Bux Baloch were present at the venue.

The tournament ends on November 4.

Published in Dawn, October 21st , 2018

https://www.dawn.com/news/1440392/lyari-super-league-kicks-off-amid-fanfare

DHAKA: Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza warned his players against complacency ahead of the start of a One-Day International series against outsiders Zimbabwe on Sunday.

Zimbabwe go into Sunday’s game in Dhaka as whipping boys of international cricket after losing every match during a recent tour of South Africa.

The visitors have not won an ODI in Bangladesh since 2010.

“If we win everyone will say this is what should have happened. But if we lose they will take it differently,” said Mortaza, whose team are seventh in the world rankings against Zimbabwe’s 11th.

“It can create pressure at the back of the mind. It’s not as though we have never lost to Zimbabwe.” Mortaza said the three match series — with two more 50-over games in Chittagong on Wednesday and Friday — would be doubly important as Bangladesh have only four more series to prepare for next year’s World Cup in England.

“They have almost all their senior players back and outside Zimbabwe they have the best record in Bangladesh. So we have to give 100 per cent,” he said.

An eight-wicket loss in Friday’s warm-up against a Bangladesh Cricket Board XI did not help the visitors’ morale, but Zimbabwe captain Hamilton Masakadza insisted his side was not despondent.

“We didn’t have a great time in South Africa or in the match yesterday. But the main thing is to focus on tomorrow and to focus on the tour and what we have come to achieve,” he said. “We can only go up from where we are and we are really looking forward to this. The guys are upbeat.”

Published in Dawn, October 21st , 2018

https://www.dawn.com/news/1440380/bangladesh-nervous-of-zimbabwe-upset-in-odi-series

MADRID: Real Madrid coach Julen Lopetegui’s woes deepened as the European champions fell to a 2-1 defeat at home to Levante on Saturday, setting an unwanted record of 482 minutes without scoring a goal in the process.

Jose Luis Morales put Levante ahead in the seventh minute after a defensive slip from Raphael Varane while Roger Marti doubled the lead in the 13th from the penalty spot after a handball by Varane, with the spot-kick awarded after consultation with the video assistant referee (VAR).

Real created a number of chances down the other end but hit the woodwork three times and had a strike by Marco Asensio ruled out by VAR for offside and early in the second half they broke an unwanted club record of 464 minutes without scoring.

Marcelo finally snapped their long spell without a goal by smashing into the net midway through the second half, scoring the club’s first goal in 482 minutes.

But despite creating a glut of further chances Real slumped to a third straight loss in all competitions to pile the pressure on under-fire Lopetegui.

Real, who were booed by their fans, are fifth in the La Liga standings, three points behind provisonal league leaders Alaves, who beat Celta Vigo 1-0 on Friday.

Real were in dire need of a win after losing to CSKA Moscow and Alaves in their last two games and they were boosted by the return of influential figures Isco and Marcelo although Gareth Bale could only start on the bench after recovering from injury.

Real conceded the first goal for the seventh time in 11 games in all competitions when Varane failed to clear the most routine of through passes and forward Morales stole the loose ball and rounded goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois to score.

Levante stunned the home fans into silence when they were awarded a penalty in bizarre circumstances for a handball by the hapless Varane on the line of the penalty area, which was finally given after consulting the video assistant referee (VAR) just as the visitors were about to take a free kick.

Courtois guessed the right way but Marti’s penalty was too powerful for him.

VAR was called into action five minutes later to cancel out a goal for Real from Marco Asensio for offside, the first of a flurry of chances for the home side which saw Mariano hit the crossbar and Levante’s former Barcelona goalkeeper Oier Olazabal make a string of impressive saves.

Olazabal made another superb save after the interval to thwart substitute Bale while fellow sub Benzema hit the post after Marcelo had reduced the deficit to a single goal.

Mariano thought he had found a leveller late on when he converted from close range but the goal was ruled offside.

Published in Dawn, October 21st , 2018

https://www.dawn.com/news/1440378/real-slump-to-third-straight-loss-despite-ending-record-goal-drought

ABU DHABI: Pakistan’s newest wicket hunter Mohammad Abbas was showered with praise on Saturday after rocking Australia with 17 wickets in the two Tests in Abu Dhabi.

The 28-year-old right-arm pacer took his maiden ten-wicket haul, with 10-95 (5-33 and 5-62) in the second match for Pakistan’s biggest win of 373 runs in all Test cricket on Friday.

The unassuming pacer had taken seven wickets in the drawn first Test in Dubai, finishing with 17 to earn the man-of-the-series award.

Since his international arrival Abbas has been the toast of Pakistan’s Test attack. He became the first Pakistani fast bowler to take ten wickets in a Test since Mohammad Asif did so against Sri Lanka at Kandy in 2006.

Dale Steyn tweeted Abbas can rise to number one, a rank South African paceman held for many years.

“I see a new number 1 Test bowler coming... Abbas,” Steyn, who could be on the opposing side when Pakistan start a Test series in South Africa in December.

Former England batsman Michael Vaughan tweeted: “Having watched Abbas now for over a year ... I have decided he would get me out every time within about 6 balls ... The type of bowler i would poop my pants about ... Thought I would let you all know ...,” he tweeted.

Abbas took nine wickets in Ireland’s inaugural Test at Malahide before taking ten in two Tests against England on Pakistan’s tour in May-June this year.

Abbas’s countrymen and legendary pace duo of Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis were also impressed.

“Awesome, Accurate and Advancing ... Abbas .. he bowled brilliant lengths to take ten wickets in the match.. congrats young man... you have miles to go and I am convinced you will continue rising to become one of the best.. all the best,” tweeted Wasim.

While Waqar, also a former Pakistan coach, tweeted: “Most admirable thing about Abbas’s bowling is his simple plans ,, He’s always ready for all kinds of challenges... Great spell of bowling on a dead pitch.”

Australia’s bowling coach David Saker admitted Abbas surprised his team.

“Abbas is so accurate with the ball, and obviously our preparation was more spin-oriented so we’ve been taken by surprise by the pacer,” tweeted Saker.

Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur said that Abbas “is a sensational bowler”.

“He has the ability to control the run rate and to build pressure, he doesn’t bowl bad balls.

“Abbas has his feet on the ground, has an outstanding work ethic and will go from strength to strength to become one of the world’s best.” Abbas revealed his goal is to reach the top.

“I want to be world number one bowler,” Abbas said on Saturday. “It is good to hear encouraging words from the greats of the game like Steyn, Vaughan and the two Ws. It gives you happiness but also adds a bit of pressure.”

Published in Dawn, October 21st , 2018

https://www.dawn.com/news/1440371/cricket-world-lauds-high-flying-abbas

LONDON: Manchester City brushed aside Burnley 5-0 to pull clear at the top of the Premier League on Saturday after Chelsea snatched a point in a dramatic late finish against Manchester United.

City’s win gives them a two-point cushion over Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur — 1-0 winners at West Ham — but Liverpool will join them on 23 points if they beat Huddersfield in the late kick-off.

Pep Guardiola’s side, who missed a late penalty to beat Liverpool at Anfield earlier this month, made it seven wins from nine league games as Burnley goalkeeper Joe Hart endured a miserable return to his former club at the Etihad Stadium.

Sergio Aguero opened the scoring in the 17th minute before second-half goals rained in from Bernardo Silva, Fernandinho, Riyad Mahrez and Leroy Sane.

With the defending champions slipping ominously into gear, midfielder Kevin De Bruyne came on for just his second appearance of the season following a knee injury he suffered in August.

Earlier, Ross Barkley scored in the sixth minute of injury time at Stamford Bridge to level the match at 2-2 after Anthony Martial had scored twice in the second half to cancel out Antonio Rudiger’s opener.

It was a bitter blow for the under-pressure Mourinho, returning to his former club after a poor start to the season and he lost his cool in emotional scenes in the final seconds.

Mourinho took exception to the celebrations of one of Chelsea’s backroom staff, Marco Ianni, who ran in front of the Portuguese on the touchline, as he seemed set for a desperately needed win.

But after the final whistle the United boss played down the incident, saying Ianni had apologised to him.

“[It was] not celebrations, but bad education. But I also made mistakes in football matches and I will make more so after the game when he came to offer his apologies, I accept,” added Mourinho.

The United boss described the 2-2 draw as an ‘awful’ result for his team, who roared back from 2-0 to beat Newcastle United in their last match.

Sarri said his side lost out to United in the physical battle as the game wore on. “I am happy with the performance of the team for 60 minutes because for 60 minutes we played our football. Then after the goal of 1-1 we haven’t pla­yed well. We only played the long ball and we are not organised to go on the second ball.”

Erik Lamela scored the only goal of the game as Spurs beat West Ham United at the London Stadium to maintain their impressive start to the season.

Liverpool travel to Huddersfield Town later on Saturday while looking to end a four-game winless run in all competitions following an electric start to the season.

Elsewhere, Cardiff City beat Fulham 4-2 while there were also wins for Brighton & Hove Albion and Watford.

AFC Bournemouth drew 0-0 with South­ampton.

Published in Dawn, October 21st , 2018

https://www.dawn.com/news/1440372/manchester-city-in-big-win-chelsea-deny-united

SYDNEY: Usman Khawaja is facing surgery on his knee, dealing rattled Australia a heavy blow as they face the prospect of missing their three top batsmen for the first Test against India in December.

The opener, who hit a fighting hundred to help Australia scramble to a draw in the first Test against Pakistan, didn’t bat in the second innings of the second Test in Abu Dhabi.

In his absence, Australia were skittled for 164 as they slumped to a humbling 373-run defeat on Friday — their heaviest loss to Pakistan.

Skipper Tim Paine told Fox Sports the 31-year-old had ruptured an anterior cruciate ligament and could be out for six weeks, but it was not as bad as a similar injury he suffered in 2014 that kept him out for 12 months.

“Uz [Khawaja] has sustained a meniscus tear. So it’s not great news for him,” he said. “But at the same time it’s the same knee he’s had serious issues with before so it’s a positive in that it’s not that bad but it is likely to require surgery at some stage.”

It puts him in a desperate race to be fit for the opening Test against India in Adelaide on Dec 6, where Australia will also be missing Steve Smith and David Warner who remain banned over a ball-tampering scandal.

In their absence, Khawaja was his side’s most important player and the team’s batting collapses against Pakistan highlighted just how vulnerable they are without them.

While Test debutants Aaron Finch, Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne showed glimpses of their potential in the UAE, Shaun Marsh failed to fire and Paine admitted batting spots are up for grabs ahead of the four-Test India series.

“There’s no shying away from the fact we have a hell of a lot to do on our batting and it’s this team and it’s through the whole country,” he said.

“Clearly it would be a pretty exciting time to be a batsman around [Sheffield] Shield cricket at the moment if you’re scoring hundreds, there’s no doubt about that.

“There’s opportunity for everyone.”

Sydney’s Daily Telegraph gave five players a fail mark for the two-Test Pakistan series — Marsh and his all-rounder brother Mitchell, and bowlers Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc and Jon Holland.

“There are headaches aplenty for [Justin] Langer,” it said, referring to the coach.

The Australian newspaper said in a headline “Surgery needed for Saggy Greens”, suggesting Australia’s rebuilding mission since the ball-tampering scandal had been sent back to square one.

Fairfax Media lamented the “grim picture” with the “gaping void in Australia’s batting stocks again laid bare”.

Published in Dawn, October 21st , 2018

https://www.dawn.com/news/1440364/khawaja-surgery-fear-as-brittle-aussies-take-stock

PALLEKELE: England beat Sri Lanka by 18 runs via the Duckworth Lewis method in the rain-marred fourth One-day International to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series here on Saturday.

Chasing a target of 274 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, England were comfortably placed at 132-2 after 27 overs when rain forced the players off.

No further play was possible in the penultimate match of the series and England were 18 runs ahead at that stage under the scoring method governing such rain-shortened fixtures.

England’s Test captain Joe Root was unbeaten on 32 at the crease with his ODI counterpart Eoin Morgan 31 not out, the duo adding a crucial 56 for the unbroken third-wicket partnership to keep their team ahead of the run-rate.

Sri Lanka had a chance to break the stand when Root was caught at short fine leg off-spinner Dhananjaya de Silva but the delivery was called illegal by the umpire as the hosts had more fielders outside the 30-yard circle than permitted.

Sri Lanka spinner Akila Dananjaya dismissed opener Jason Roy for an attacking 45 off 49 deliveries and Alex Hales for 12 but the hosts made no further inroads.

Earlier, half-centuries from opener Niroshan Dickwella and middle-order batsman Dasun Shanaka and some useful contributions from the lower order helped Sri Lanka to 273-7 after being put in to bat.

Dickwella hit a 70-ball 52 and with captain Dinesh Chandimal laid the foundation for Sri Lanka’s innings with a second-wicket partnership of 70 runs.

But the hosts slipped against the off-spin of Moeen Ali and leg-spinner Adil Rashid, losing three wickets for 13 runs to be reduced to 102-4.

Shanaka then launched Sri Lanka’s counter-attack, taking the aerial route to hit the spinners for sixes and fours. He added 52 for the fifth wicket with Dhananjaya de Silva to start Sri Lanka’s recovery.

The 27-year-old hit five sixes and four boundaries in his run-a-ball innings before getting run out.

All-rounder Thisara Perera made 44 off 41 balls as he and Shanaka added 58 for the sixth wicket. He then shared 56 runs with Akila Dananjaya who made 32 not out off 26 balls.

The fifth and final one-dayer will be played in Colombo on Tuesday.

Scoreboard

SRI LANKA:

N. Dickwella lbw b Moeen 52

S. Samarawickrama c Buttler b Woakes 1

L.D. Chandimal b Moeen 33

B.K.G. Mendis lbw b Rashid 5

D.M. de Silva c Buttler b Curran 17

M.D. Shanaka run out 66

N.L.T.C. Perera run out 44

A. Dananjaya not out 32

S.L. Malinga not out 4

EXTRAS (LB-10, W-9) 19

TOTAL (for seven wkts, 50 overs) 273

FALL OF WKTS: 1-19, 2-89, 3-102, 4-102, 5-154, 6-212, 7-268.

DID NOT BAT: M.A. Aponso, C.A.K. Rajitha.

BOWLING: Woakes 10 0 45 1 (1w); Stone 7 0 50 0 (4w); Curran 9 1 50 1; Moeen Ali 10 0 55 2 (3w); Rashid 10 0 36 1; Stokes 4 0 27 0 (1w).

ENGLAND:

J.J. Roy lbw b Dananjaya 45

A.D. Hales st Dickwella b Dananjaya 12

J.E. Root not out 32

E.J.G. Morgan not out 31

EXTRAS (B-8, W-3, NB-1) 12

TOTAL (for two wkts, 27 overs) 132

FALL OF WKTS: 1-52, 2-76.

DID NOT BAT: B.A. Stokes, J.C. Buttler, Moeen Ali, C.R. Woakes, T.K. Curran, A.U. Rashid, O.P. Stone.

BOWLING: Malinga 5 0 15 0 (1w); Aponso 6 0 37 0; Rajitha 5 0 27 0 (1w); Dananjaya 7 0 27 2 (1w); de Silva 4 0 18 0.

RESULT: England won by 18 runs (DLS run rate rule) to lead five match series 3-0.

UMPIRES: L.E. Hannibal (Sri Lanka) and P.R. Reiffel (Australia).

TV UMPIRE: Aleem Dar (Pakistan).

MATCH REFEREE: R.B. Richardson (West Indies).

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Eoin Morgan.

FIFTH MATCH: Colombo (RPS, D/N), Tuesday.

Published in Dawn, October 21st , 2018

https://www.dawn.com/news/1440360/england-win-rain-marred-fourth-odi-to-claim-series

PALLEKELE, Sri Lanka: England beat Sri Lanka by 18 runs via the Duckworth Lewis method in the rain-marred fourth One-day International on Saturday to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.Chasing a target of 274 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, England were comfortably placed at 132 for two after 27 overs when rain forced the players off.No further play was possible in the penultimate match of the series and England were 18 runs ahead at that stage under the scoring method governing such rain-shortened fixtures.England’s Test captain Joe Root was unbeaten on 32 at the crease with his ODI counterpart Eoin Morgan 31 not out, the duo adding a crucial 56 for the unbroken third-wicket partnership to keep their team ahead of the run rate.Sri Lanka had a chance to break the stand when Root was caught at short fine leg off spinner Dhananjaya de Silva but the delivery was called illegal by the umpire as the hosts had more fielders outside the 30-yard circle than permitted.Sri Lanka spinner Akila Dananjaya dismissed opener Jason Roy for an attacking 45 off 49 deliveries and Alex Hales for 12 but the hosts made no further inroads.Earlier, half-centuries from opener Niroshan Dickwella and middle-order batsman Dasun Shanaka and some useful contributions from the lower order helped Sri Lanka to 273-7 after being put in to bat.Dickwella hit a 70-ball 52 and with captain Dinesh Chandimal laid the foundation for Sri Lanka’s innings with a second-wicket partnership of 70 runs.But the hosts slipped against the off-spin of Moeen Ali and leg spinner Adil Rashid, losing three wickets for 13 runs to be reduced to 102-4.Shanaka then launched Sri Lanka’s counter-attack, taking the aerial route to hit the spinners for sixes and fours.He added 52 for the fifth wicket with Dhananjaya de Silva to start Sri Lanka’s recovery.The 27-year-old hit five sixes and four boundaries in his run-a-ball innings before getting run out.All-rounder Thisara Perera made 44 off 41 balls as he and Shanaka added 58 for the sixth wicket.He then shared 56 runs with Akila Dananjaya who made 32 not out off 26 balls.The fifth and final one-dayer will be played in Colombo on Tuesday.Score BoardEngland won tossSri Lanka†N Dickwella lbw b Ali 52S Samarawickrama c Buttler b Woakes 1*D Chandimal b Ali 33K Mendis lbw b Rashid 5D de Silva c Buttler b Curran 17D Shanaka run out 66N Perera run out 44A Dananjaya not out 32S Malinga not out 4Extras (lb 10, w 9) 19Total (7 wickets, 50 overs) 273Did not bat: M Aponso, C RajithaFall: 1-19, 2-89, 3-102, 4-102, 5-154, 6-212, 7-268Bowling: Woakes 10-0-45-1; Stone 7-0-50-0; Curran 9-1-50-1; Ali 10-0-55-2; Rashid 10-0-36-1; Stokes 4-0-27-0EnglandJ Roy lbw b Dananjaya 45A Hales st Dickwella b Dananjaya 12J Root not out 32*E Morgan not out 31Extras (b 8, nb 1, w 3) 12Total (2 wickets, 27 overs) 132Did not bat: B Stokes, †J Buttler, M Ali, C Woakes, T Curran, A Rashid, O StoneFall: 1-52, 2-76Bowling: Malinga 5-0-15-0; Aponso 6-0-37-0; Rajitha 5-0-27-0; Dananjaya 7-0-27-2; de Silva 4-0-18-0Result: England won by 18 runs (D/L method)Man of the Match: Eoin Morgan (England)Umpires: L Hannibal (Sri Lanka) and P Reiffel (Australia). TV umpire: Aleem Dar (Pakistan). Match referee: Richie Richardson (West Indies)

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/383396-england-winrain-marred-fourth-odi-to-bag-series