An Everton player who “can do anything” is now facing an extended spell on the sidelines through injury, manager David Moyes has confirmed.

Everton prepare for Palace after dramatic derby

The Blues are still in great spirits, following the 2-2 draw at home to Liverpool in the Premier League on Wednesday night, in what was one of Goodison Park’s most dramatic moments in history.

James Tarkowski’s volley in the dying seconds earned Everton a point, denting their rivals’ title hopes and also ensuring that they didn’t lose the final derby at Goodison.

It’s now a case of the Blues kicking on in the league, pulling further clear and eliminating any risk of relegation to the Championship, and a trip to Crystal Palace is up next on Saturday evening.

Life under Moyes is going superbly so far, and victory in south London would be another massive step in the right direction. That said, there are injury concerns ahead of the game, with a key update now emerging on one important player.

Moyes confirms Ndiaye injury blow

Speaking ahead of the trip to Palace this weekend [via injury expert Ben Dinnery on X], Moyes confirmed that Everton star Iliman Ndiaye is facing weeks on the sidelines, having gone off injured in tears against Liverpool.

“Iliman has got a medial [knee] ligament injury. It’s not looking great at the moment. We’re probably not sure on how long it’s going to be. We’ll get a bit more on that, but it’s certainly going to be a few weeks.”

Losing the £45,000-a-week Ndiaye in the final half against Liverpool was a big setback, although thankfully, Jack Harrison did an impressive job coming on for him, providing quality down the left flank.

Still, the Senegalese is Everton’s most creative attacking player, with Chris Basham once heaping praise on him during their time together at Sheffield United: “Every day in training he’s hard to play against. He uses his body so well, his feet are so fast and powerful. He’s going to be elite.

“He’s learning very well, his finishing is good. It can be better at times, but he’s [young]. He’s scoring some outrageous goals in training – the boys just buzz off how good he is. It’s great and a privilege to have him in our side. I said in the Premier League, the hardest person I ever had to play against was Mane. He [Ndiaye] will be up there for sure, from the same country as well.”

Hopefully, Ndiaye’s absence isn’t too lengthy, given his importance to this Everton side, but they must plan for an extended spell on the sidelines.

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Harrison did enough to suggest at home to Liverpool that he can be a strong deputy in the coming weeks, however, winning seven ground duels and three tackles against the Reds.

The transfer window may be closed but that hasn’t stood in the way of more frustrating exit news for Celtic, who are now reportedly set to lose one of their rising stars to the Premier League.

Celtic transfer news

The Bhoys ended the January transfer window in a fairly positive mood despite losing Kyogo Furuhashi to Ligue 1 side Rennes, having welcomed the return of Jota before also signing Jeffrey Schlupp on loan from Crystal Palace.

They’ve also since proved that even without Kyogo, they’re still more than capable of maintaining their dominance in Scotland and even handed Bayern Munich quite the test in the first leg of their Champions League play-off tie. Ultimately falling to a 2-1 defeat, Celtic at least gave themselves a late lifeline courtesy of Daizen Maeda’s effort to halve Bayern’s lead.

Whilst they continue to perform on the pitch though, the Scottish Premiership champions look destined to suffer yet another exit blow away from the action.

According to ExWHUEmployee, West Ham United are now on the verge of signing Daniel Cummings in a pre-contract deal which will, of course, see Celtic fail to make any profit on their talented youngster.

Just 18 years old, the young Scot has been stealing the headlines at youth level this season – scoring 18 goals in 19 games – but has still not done enough to break into Brendan Rodgers’ first team.

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Simply put, there’s not a lot more that Cummings could be doing. The teenager hasn’t just been knocking on the door of first-team football, he’s been threatening to destroy it altogether. With that opportunity not coming at Celtic Park, an exit always seemed on the cards.

Celtic will regret losing "impressive" Cummings

Although every young player must remain patient, the first-team chance that Cummings has been craving has never quite looked on the cards at Celtic. And the Scottish giants will regret that from both a football and business standpoint.

Had Rodgers given Cummings the opportunity that he has earned throughout the current campaign, then a contract agreement would have been far simpler to execute, as would then a profitable exit. After choosing to leave the forward out of contention, however, the Bhoys are set to lose a rising star for free this summer.

Among those described as “impressive” by analyst Ben Mattinson, Celtic could live to regret how they’ve handled their young striker, especially if he translates his goals at youth level into moments to remember in the Premier League.

Alan Thomson, the former Australia and Victoria fast bowler who took the first wicket in ODI history, has died aged 76.Thomson, who bowled with an unusual action where he delivered off the wrong foot, played four Tests in the elongated 1970-71 seven-Test Ashes series. He played in the first two Tests of that series in Brisbane and Perth, but was not selected to play in the New Year’s Test in Melbourne, which was abandoned without a ball bowled due to rain. He would go on to play the fifth and sixth Tests of the series but, before that, he made a bit of history.As a result of all the bad weather cutting into the Melbourne Test, Australia and England played the world’s first ODI on January 5, at the MCG, and Thomson took the first wicket of the match, when he removed Geoff Boycott, who miscued a pull shot to Bill Lawry at square leg. He took 1 for 22 from his eight overs in the 40-over match that Australia won.Thomson rose to prominence in Victoria in the late 1960s with his unusual action confounding batters in the Sheffield Shield as well as when he played touring international sides. In January 1969, he took 11 wickets for Victoria against the West Indies Test side.He was a key figure in Victoria’s 1969-70 Shield triumph and toured New Zealand with an Australia B side at the end of that summer alongside Greg Chappell and Dennis Lillee. Thomson, Chappell and Lillee would all make their Test debuts the following summer against England. Thomson earned his Test cap after taking 9 for 181, including 6 for 80, for Victoria in a win over England in the lead-up to the first Test.Thomson, known as “Froggy”, finished with 184 first-class wickets in 44 matches. He worked as a primary-school teacher during his first-class and brief international career, and was also a field umpire in the Victorian Football League.

Manchester City are already the biggest spenders in world football this January, but are showing no signs of slowing down.

The Sky Blues have already splashed over £125m this month, with Abdukodir Khusanov and Omar Marmoush thrown in from the start of their debuts against Chelsea on Saturday, while we’re yet to see either Vitor Reis or Juma Bah; the latter will spend the rest of the season on loan at Lens.

However, Pep Guardiola is not finished yet, so could the Citizens re-sign a midfielder you may not even know was once at Man City?

Manchester City seeking a new midfielder

According to a report by Dean Jones for GIVEMESPORT, Manchester City are ‘planning to explore the possibility’ of re-signing Douglas Luiz from Juventus.

Earlier in the window, David Ornstein of the Athletic reported that Man City were interested in taking Luiz ‘on loan until the end of this season’, but la Vecchia Signora would only agree to such a deal if an obligation to buy was included.

Luiz only joined Juve last summer however, as described by Adam Digby of Forbes, his time in Turn has gone disastrously, with the front page of Gazzetta dello Sport labelling him ‘a flop’ as quickly as October.

This came after the most high-profile of his missteps, giving away a penalty for handball mere seconds after being introduced as a substitute against RB Leipzig in the Champions League, luckily spared further scrutiny because ten-man I Bianconeri scored not once but twice late on to snatch a memorable victory at Red Bull Arena.

In total, Luiz has made only 18 appearances this season, starting four times, thereby totalling a mere 566 minutes, which accounts for just 20% of Juve’s total minutes to date, hence why Thiago Motta is willing to let him go.

Nevertheless, the reason the Serie A giants spent a reported £42.4m on the Brazilian’s services in the first place is because of how impressive he had been at Aston Villa.

How Douglas Luiz would fit in back at Manchester City

It wasn’t long ago that Luiz was thought of as “one of the best sixes in the Premier League”.

Comparisons were being drawn to a certain former Manchester City target in Declan Rice with the likes of Paul Merson, Owen Hargreaves and Jermaine Pennant all stating that the Brazilian was actually better than Rice. It’s a bold claim considering the Gunners spent an enormous £105m to prise the midfielder away from West Ham in 2023.

So now, almost eight years after first arriving in Manchester, could the Brazilian finally feature in sky blue for the very first time and how does he actually compare to that man Rice?

With neither İlkay Gündoğan nor Mateo Kovačić living up to the high standards set by the sidelined Rodri, it’s easy to understand why Man City are in the market for a midfielder this month.

So, let’s assess the statistics to see if they corroborate the claim that Luiz is better than Rice.

Appearances

116

159

Minutes

8,136

13,214

Goals

0.18

0.12

Assists

0.18

0.13

Touches

55

50

Attempted passes

48

43

Pass completion %

84.4%

86.9%

Tackles

1.6

1.5

Interceptions

0.81

1.16

Blocks

0.81

0.78

% of dribblers tackled

48.4%

56.4%

Ball recoveries

4.5

4.7

% of aerial duals won

56.9%

54.2%

As outlined in the table, since the start of the 2022/23 season, Luiz and Rice’s per 90 minute statistics are remarkably similar, but it is the Brazilian who largely comes out on top.

Luiz has racked up more assists, touches, attempted passes, tackles and blocks per 90 during this timeframe, also winning a higher proportion of aerial duals.

Thus, this suggests Luiz could be Man City’s own version of Rice, exactly what they’re looking for given Rodri’s injury, underlining that, even if he’s endured a rotten time at Juventus, this would be an astute piece of business.

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The former opener said that some tough selections call will need to be made

Andrew McGlashan08-Nov-2022Matthew Hayden has urged Australia’s selectors to be ruthless as they build towards future World Cups following the team’s early exit for the T20 event on home soil.There is expected to be a significant turnover in players for the 2024 T20 World Cup in West Indies and the USA, but before that, there is the ODI World Cup in India next October. The selectors have taken the first step towards that tournament by naming a full-strength squad to face England later this month with Travis Head given the chance to cement a position as Aaron Finch’s replacement at the top of the order.Only one change was made from the squad that won the 2021 T20 World Cup in the UAE with Tim David replacing Mitchell Swepson although Cameron Green later came in for the injured Josh Inglis. Finch has said he won’t make an immediate call on his future but is not expected to feature in the 2024 edition while Matthew Wade is unlikely to feature. Steven Smith’s position will also be up for debate while there may be a restructuring of the bowling attack away from the all-format quicks.Related

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Hayden, speaking in his capacity as Pakistan’s team mentor, drew comparisons from his playing days when the selectors made bold calls to rebuild teams with an eye on future World Cups.”The Australian team has some thinking to do. There has to be some freshness,” Hayden said. “And I think one of the great strengths of Australian cricket has been its ability to be able to recognise when to make that gear change into a different playing roster. I think full credit and respect has to go to the players that played this tournament, [they] certainly deserve to be there.”A little bit like Mark Waugh giving away to someone like myself after World Cup campaigns, it’s always been quite ruthless preparing for the next World Cup and they seemingly come around more often than not.”Just 12 months ago, we were sitting here talking about the T20 champions and that was Australia…so the tournaments are coming around quick and fast. But certainly, from an Australian cricket point of view, there has to be planning heading towards World Cups. They’re the premium events. They’re the events that everyone across the world plans for, and Australia, unfortunately, just didn’t get it right.”Hayden termed the decision to leave out Mitchell Starc for the Afghanistan match as “really significant.” At the same time, national selector George Bailey attempted to further explain the move saying it came about because Cameron Green, who had replaced the injured Finch, gave Australia another middle-overs option and they wanted to strengthen the death bowling.

“That’s where it went wrong, that first game, to be beaten so comprehensively.”Australia selector George Bailey

“Every time an Australian team goes into a major series or tournament … the expectations are very high,” Bailey said. “We’re disappointed we’re not taking part from this point on in the semis. Specifically to Starcy…it was a tactical decision, it was a match-up decision. People can make of that what they will. And they are.”However, Bailey agreed that Australia’s tournament had been left with too much catching up to do after the opening 89-run defeat against New Zealand at the SCG. Daniel Vettori, the assistant coach, has since suggested that it would have been a wiser approach from the batters to minimise the margin of defeat when victory was out of the question.”To get behind the net run rate as far as we did, it meant a lot of things were probably out of our control,” Bailey said. “Every game post that, you provide opportunities to try and chase some of that net run rate back, but you have to give credit to other teams as well. That’s where it went wrong, that first game, to be beaten so comprehensively. You’d like to think that the batting line-up should be able to find its way to 140-150 then you are probably having a different conversation.”

West Brom are now one of four sides reportedly chasing a late move to sign a new forward before the transfer window shuts on Monday night, according to a report.

West Brom transfer latest

So far, Championship play-off hopefuls West Brom have enjoyed a quiet January transfer window for the most part. Tony Mowbray’s side have signed Isaac Price to bolster their midfield, while they also moved to land Will Lankshear on loan from Tottenham in a bid to add more firepower in attack, with only Blackburn Rovers, Burnley and Bristol City having scored fewer goals than the Baggies in the top half of the Championship.

Currently on the cusp of a play-off spot, they will be hoping that Lankshear’s arrival can help rejuvenate their attack and ensure that they have a fighting chance of promotion back to the Premier League, with the highly rated forward having been wanted by clubs across England’s second tier.

“We have felt since the summer that we would need to prioritise the addition of another striker in this window”, West Brom sporting director Andrew Nestor explained.

“We are pleased now to have brought in Will, who we have been watching for some time and has been among our top targets for reinforcement in this area.”

However, there is still scope for further additions for Albion, and now one report has tipped them to attempt another audacious loan move to land a Premier League forward for the remainder of the campaign.

West Brom in race for "unstoppable" forward

That is according to reliable journalist Alan Nixon, related by Football League World, who claim that West Brom are one of four clubs “eyeing up a loan move” for Chelsea forward Marc Guiu in the final stages of the transfer window.

Guiu only arrived from Barcelona in the summer, penning a five-year deal worth £50,000 a week.

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However, he has struggled to nail down a spot in Enzo Maresca’s squad for the Premier League, and has seen his opportunities largely come in second-string competitions.

In those, he has excelled, with the Spaniard having found the net six times in six UEFA Conference League games. He was hailed by one former Barcelona coach for being “unstoppable” and a “classic 9” before his Camp Nou exit after he found the net on his Barcelona debut.

“He is a pure centre forward, a classic ‘9’, a specialist in the area who lives from his physical power. His best virtue is his aerial play. Marc is also very quick and powerful, he is unstoppable with space”, Ivan Carrasco explained.

He has also drawn praise during his time at Stamford Bridge, with Joe Cole likening the 19-year-old to Luis Suarez.

“I liken him to [former Barcelona, Liverpool and Uruguay striker] Luis Suarez”, Cole told listeners on TNT Sports.

“I’m not saying he’s Suarez right now, but he has that instinct and bravery.”

As per the reporter, “Middlesbrough, Burnley, West Brom and Leeds are all jostling for position” in the race to sign the Spaniard on loan should Chelsea greenlight his temporary exit, despite the Baggies having just added Lankshear to their ranks.

Having lost top goalscorer Josh Maja for much of the remainder of the campaign though, Mowbray may well be keen to add another forward to try and guarantee goals should either player struggle to adapt to England’s second-tier.

Ever wondered why Brazilians are so good at football? We've got the answer for you!

Football. The Beautiful Game. A global phenomenon that unites billions in shared passion, weekly.

While numerous nations boast impressive footballing pedigrees, one country consistently seems to produce a seemingly endless stream of exceptional talent: Brazil. From the legendary Pelé to the mesmerizing Ronaldinho, and the modern-day brilliance of Neymar, Brazil's contributions to the sport are undeniable. Their national team holds a record five World Cup titles, a testament to their enduring dominance.

But what is it about Brazil that makes them so consistently good at football? It's a combination of factors, and this article delves into the reasons behind Brazil's footballing supremacy.

From British roots to Brazilian Innovation

Brazil's footballing story began in the late 19th century, introduced by British immigrants.  Initially, the sport was largely confined to upper-class Brazilians of European descent, emulating the structured style of European football. However, the real revolution occurred away from these established clubs, within the poorer, Afro-Brazilian communities. These communities lacked resources, but their creativity and passion for football flourished.  The dense, often cramped conditions in which they lived led to a unique style of play, emphasizing close control, technical skill, and improvisation.

Think back street football in any big city in the UK – that same kind of energy, that same kind of need for quick thinking. They didn't have pristine pitches; they had streets, beaches, and dusty patches of land. This forced players to develop exceptional ball control and agility, often in confined spaces. Music, dance, and art also played a significant role, influencing a fluid, expressive style of football that became synonymous with Brazilian players.  This grassroots movement, far from the manicured pitches of the elite, laid the foundation for Brazil's unique footballing identity.

This street-based culture continues to this day. Sub-genres like (beach volleyball with feet) and (indoor football) remain incredibly popular and serve as fertile grounds for developing technical skills. These informal settings encourage creativity, quick thinking, and the kind of flair that makes Brazilian football so captivating.

AdvertisementAFPThe commercial tide: Europe comes calling

As the 20th century progressed, Brazilian football exploded in popularity.  By 1950, the two distinct footballing cultures, the traditional European-style clubs and the vibrant street-based scene, began to merge, creating a powerful national identity. The Seleção emerged as a force to be reckoned with, fueled by both tactical prowess and individual brilliance. The heartbreak of the 1950 World Cup final loss on home soil spurred them on, ultimately leading to their first World Cup triumph in 1958, spearheaded by a 17-year-old Pelé.

The 1970s and 80s witnessed another pivotal shift.  European football became increasingly commercialized, and clubs gained unprecedented financial power. This led to a mass exodus of Brazilian talent to Europe. Players like Falcão and Zico paved the way, tempted by better wages, improved facilities, and the allure of playing in Europe's top leagues. By the 1990s, the trend accelerated, with a significant portion of the Brazilian national team playing their club football abroad.

This migration had a profound impact.  The promise of a better life in Europe became a major incentive for young Brazilian players.  Clubs in Brazil, recognizing the potential for profit, began to invest heavily in their youth academies, essentially turning them into talent factories.  The age at which players moved to Europe also decreased significantly.  While players like Falcão and Zico moved in their late twenties, by the 90s, talents like Ronaldo were snapped up at just 17 years old. This "talent drain" initially raised concerns, but ultimately it arguably strengthened Brazilian football. Exposure to different tactical approaches and training methods in Europe broadened the horizons of Brazilian players, making them more well-rounded and adaptable.

The enduring legacy: Population size and a thriving culture

While many countries attempted to emulate Brazil's success, several key factors set Brazil apart and enabled them to consistently produce world-class players well into the 21st century. One of the most significant is sheer population size. In 1950, Brazil's population was comparable to that of the UK. Today, it's almost 150 million larger. This vast population provides a much larger talent pool from which to draw. The more people playing the game, the higher the likelihood of discovering exceptional talent.

Beyond sheer numbers, Brazil's deep-rooted footballing culture remains a crucial advantage.  As mentioned earlier, the street football culture continues to thrive, providing a breeding ground for technical skills and creativity.  The passion for football permeates every level of Brazilian society, from the favelas to the most affluent neighbourhoods.  This pervasive passion fuels a constant desire to improve and excel.

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gettyThe modern era: Brazil remains a footballing powerhouse

Even with the globalization of football and the rise of other footballing powerhouses, Brazil continues to produce exceptional players. From Zico and Socrates in the 80s to Vinícius Júnior and Neymar in the modern era, Brazilian players consistently feature among the world's best. It's a testament to the enduring power of their unique blend of factors: a rich history, a vibrant street culture, a massive population, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.

Brazil's footballing supremacy is not simply a matter of luck. It's the result of a complex interplay of social, cultural, and economic factors that have shaped the nation's footballing identity. While the future is always uncertain, one thing remains clear: Brazil's passion for football and their ability to produce exceptional players will ensure they remain a force to be reckoned with for generations to come. Whether it's Vinicius Jr dazzling defenders on the wing or Endrick lighting up a tournament, expect the Samba rhythm to continue to dominate the football world.

كشفت تقارير صحفية عن تطورات جديدة بشأن صفقة انتقال فلوريان فيرتز من باير ليفركوزن إلى ليفربول.

ويسعى ليفربول للتعاقد مع فيرتز، والذي كان محل اهتمام لمانشستر سيتي وبايرن ميونخ، وقد انسحب كلاهما من المفاوضات.

بالإضافة للأندية المذكورة، ارتبط فيرتز باهتمام ريال مدريد الإسباني أيضًا، مع أنباء تفيد أن ليفربول هو من يقود سباق التعاقد مع لاعب باير ليفركوزن.

وبحسب صحيفة “كيكر” الألمانية، رفض باير ليفركوزن عرضين من ليفربول لضم فلوريان فيرتز.

وكان ليفربول تقدم بعرض ثانٍ لباير ليفركوزن قيمته 110 ملايين جنيه إسترليني، ويذكر التقرير أن النادي الألماني يريد 17 مليون جنيه إسترليني إضافية عن العرض الذي قدمه نظيره الإنجليزي.

اقرأ أيضًا | سكاي: برينتفورد يتوصل لاتفاق على ضم لاعب ليفربول

وأفادت الصحيفة، أن باير ليفركوزن يريد الـ 17 مليون جنيه إسترليني الإضافية، أو التعاقد مع أحد لاعبي ليفربول في صفقة تبادلية.

وأبدى باير ليفركوزن إعجابه بلاعب ليفربول، هارفي إليوت، لكن من غير الواضح ما إذا كان اللاعب مستعدًا للرحيل أم لا.

وكان ليفربول حسم التعاقد مع جيريمي فريمبونج، ويأمل في إتمام صفقة فلوريان فيرتز، في ظل حرص النادي على تدعيم الفريق بصفقات جديدة من أجل المنافسة في الموسم المقبل.

A 163-run stand between Rossouw and de Kock set South Africa up for a big first-innings total

Mohammad Isam27-Oct-2022

South Africa 205 for 5 (Rossouw 109, de Kock 63, Shakib 2-33) beat Bangladesh 101 (Litton 34, Nortje 4-10, Shamsi 3-20) by 104 runsRilee Rossouw struck the first century of this T20 World Cup to give South Africa a dominating 104-run win against Bangladesh at the Sydney Cricket Ground. His big-hitting 109 helped his side to the 2022 edition’s highest total, with he and Quinton de Kock adding 163 for the second wicket, the second-highest partnership in the tournament’s history.Bangladesh started the 206-run chase promisingly but after Anrich Nortje’s three-wicket burst, the batters fell apart against the South African spinners. Nortje finished with his best T20I figures of 4-10, while Tabraiz Shamsi took three wickets. Getting bowled out for 101, it is now Bangladesh’s biggest defeat in this format.It was Rossouw who really stung Bangladesh. He struck his second successive T20I century, after his maiden ton against India last month. On this bigger occasion, Rossouw took down Bangladesh’s best bowler during the Powerplay, and never relented as he struck eight sixes and seven fours in his 56-ball bash. de Kock complemented him well with 63 off 38 balls, hitting seven fours and three sixes.Raining sixes in Sydney
Temba Bavuma’s first-over dismissal was a blessing in disguise for South Africa. Rossouw and de Kock tore into the Bangladesh attack, taking 21 off Taskin Ahmed’s second over. It was de Kock who was the aggressor at that stage, but Rossouw quickly took over with three sixes and a four in the next two overs. South Africa had to endure a 22-minute rain-break during the Powerplay, but that was the only respite for Bangladesh.Rossouw struck six of his eight sixes between long-on and wide long-on as he smashed 57 runs off 19 balls when hitting in that zone. He struck his other two sixes through backward square-leg, while his seven fours were spread around a little more freely. de Kock struck most of his fours through point and third-man, using the reverse-sweep and cut shot to great effect. He struck his three sixes through midwicket mostly.Anrich Nortje ran through the Bangladesh top order•AFP/Getty Images

The slowdown
After adding 91 runs in the first ten overs, Rossouw and de Kock smashed 80 runs in the next five overs. Shakib went for 21 in his first over, and later included five penalty runs when wicketkeeper Nurul Hasan was adjudged to have illegally moved behind in the last ball of his over. When Taskin conceded 23 in the 14th over, including Mahmud dropping Rossouw on 89, it seemd South Africa would get some unbelievable total.But Mahmud himself led Bangladesh’s fightback, as South Africa scored just 29 runs in the last five overs. The bowlers gave away just a four and a six in this crucial period, with Mahmud giving away just 12 runs in two of the last three overs. Shakib too recovered from the initial shellacking, as he removed Rossouw in the 19th over, giving away just four runs.Four-star Nortje
Bangladesh got off to a surprisingly quick start when Soumya Sarkar smashed two sixes off Kagiso Rabada in the first over. But that was all of Bangladesh’s aggression in this innings, as Nortje blew them away in his first two overs.All he did was keep it fast and full, enough for Soumya and Najmul Hossain Shanto to swing and miss. Shakib fell lbw in Nortje’s next over, although he was unlucky as the ball had pitched outside leg-stump. Shakib however didn’t take the review. Rabada made it a very good Powerplay for South Africa when he got Afif Hossain to be caught at mid-off in the sixth over.Spin routs Bangladesh
South Africa’s only blemish was when Tristan Stubbs dropped Litton Das on 17, probably the sun directly towards the square-leg boundary playing a part in his drop. But then the South African spinners took over. Shamsi, who was picked for the first time in the tournament, removed Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Nurul Hasan and Litton Das, all caught in the deep on-side boundaries, in three consecutive overs. In between, Keshav Maharaj had Mosaddek Hossain stumped in the 11th over.

England became the first team to hold both men’s World Cups simultaneously, sneaking past Pakistan in a tense run chase to win the 2022 Men’s T20 World Cup final at the MCG by five wickets with an over to spare.Ben Stokes, England’s match-winner in the 50-over final three years ago, anchored another run chase and ground out his first half-century in T20 internationals in the format’s biggest game. He had battled to 24 off 34 balls, but a late flurry of boundaries removed the scoring pressure.The game changed in the 13th over of England’s chase when Shaheen Shah Afridi slid forwards to complete a catch off Shadab Khan, dismissing Harry Brook. Pakistan’s celebrations were cut short when they realised that Shaheen had jarred his right knee, which had once threatened to rule him out of the tournament.He received some treatment and attempted to return for his third over with 41 needed off 30 balls, but pulled out of his run-up once, then sent one down to Moeen Ali at 71mph/114kph. Iftikhar Ahmed completed his over and Stokes targeted him: he miscued him just short of long-off, but then slapped him through cover for four and launched him back over his head for six.When Moeen started the next over with back-to-back boundaries off Mohammad Wasim, the required rate was below a run a ball. Wasim returned to york Moeen, but Stokes crashed him through cover then hauled him through the leg side to secure England’s title.Sam Curran was adjudged player of the match as well as tournament•AFP/Getty Images

Curran strikes early – and late
England primarily used Sam Curran at the death throughout this T20 World Cup but his role shifted slightly in the knockout stages. Chris Jordan’s inclusion, replacing the injured Mark Wood for the last two games, meant Curran bowled a second powerplay over in both the semi-final and final.It proved crucial. Pakistan started slowly after being asked to bat first on a slow pitch, with Mohammad Rizwan’s slog-swept six off Chris Woakes their only boundary in the first four overs, and Curran – in his second over – struck as Rizwan looked to up the tempo, inside-edging a booming cover drive onto the base of his leg stump.Curran returned at the death and had both Shan Masood and Mohammad Nawaz caught by Liam Livingstone at deep midwicket, using the MCG’s vast square boundaries to his advantage. He finished with remarkable figures of 3 for 12 across four boundary-less overs, winning awards as both player of the match and the tournament.Liam Livingstone completes a catch to send Shan Masood back, his first of three in the death overs•Getty Images

Rashid finds his form
It was a World Cup of two halves for Adil Rashid: he took combined figures of 0 for 89 in 12 overs across his first three appearances, but England insisted they were confident that he would come good when it mattered. He delivered in style, taking 1 for 16 and 1 for 20 against Sri Lanka and India, then made two crucial breakthroughs in the final.Mohammad Haris, Pakistan’s dangerous No. 3, ran down the pitch and tried to clear long-on off Rashid’s first ball but holed out to Stokes, and neither Babar Azam or Shan Masood could get him away. Instead, Masood took on Livingstone, crashing him back down the ground for four and then six to take 16 off his only over.But Rashid struck with the very next ball, Babar miscuing his googly back to him, and then delivered a wicket maiden as Iftikhar struggled to read his variations. He conceded his only boundary in his final over when Shadab slapped him back over his head during a stand of 36 with Masood – but regular wickets at the death restricted Pakistan to 137.Chaos in the chase
Heading into the final, one key battle stood out: England’s opening batters against Pakistan’s new-ball bowlers. Jos Buttler and Alex Hales had demolished India in their semi-final but Shaheen, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf stood out as the best pace trio in the tournament.Alex Hales was castled by a Shaheen Shah Afridi inswinger•ICC via Getty Images

Shaheen landed the first punch, ripping Hales’ middle stump out of the ground with a full ball that brushed his back pad on the way through, but Buttler countered: Naseem overpitched, desperate for another early wicket, and was pinged through the covers for consecutive boundaries.Phil Salt, batting for the first time in the tournament after Dawid Malan failed to recover from a groin strain, got two early boundaries away. But he picked out short midwicket off Rauf when looking for a third, who roared in celebration.Naseem’s second over was sublime, but somehow cost 11 runs despite him beating Buttler’s outside edge five times thanks to one wild ball down the leg side and an audacious, trademark scoop shot which flew away for six. Rauf reaped the rewards in the following over as Buttler edged behind, and England finished a chaotic powerplay 49 for 3.The Stokes show
With the required rate in check, Stokes and Brook opted to dig in for the next six overs, looking to minimise dot balls without taking undue risks. Both struggled for timing as the ball got older, and boundaries were hard to come by: Stokes scored a single run off his first nine balls after the drinks break, and was repeatedly beaten by Naseem in another brilliant over.Concerned faces all around as Shaheen Afridi stays down after pulling off a sharp catch•AFP/Getty Images

Stokes looked to have dug himself into a hole with 45 required off 31 balls, but cut the final ball of Rauf’s third over away for four to relieve some of the pressure and when Shaheen gestured to the dug-out that his night was over, he sensed an opportunity. He threw his head back in disbelief when he mistimed his first ball from Iftikhar, the part-time offspinner, towards Babar at long-off but it fell short, and he pummelled his final two balls to the boundary.With scores level after he had brought up his maiden T20I fifty with a slap through the off side, Stokes swung and missed at Wasim and then muscled him away for the winning run. As England’s bench ran onto the pitch in celebration, they did so with their legacy as one of the great limited-overs teams secured.