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Ronaldo's goal crushes Al Ain as Al Nassr dominates
Sports Desk
06 Nov 2024, 12:44
Photo: Reuters
Al Ain, the reigning AFC Champions League champions, suffered a heavy defeat on Tuesday night, losing 5-1 to Al Nassr. Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo scored the second goal for his team. This victory lifted the Saudi club to third place in the points table for the AFC Champions League Elite West Zone.
Last season, Ronaldo's team had been knocked out in the quarterfinals by this same Al Ain. With this win, Ronaldo and his team avenged that previous defeat.
Al Nassr now has 10 points from three wins in four matches. Al Hilal leads with 12 points, while Al Ahli, also on 10 points, sits in second place due to goal difference.
Al Nassr took the lead in the fifth minute with a goal by Anderson Talisca. Ronaldo scored in the 31st minute. After a long-range shot from Senegalese star Sadio Mané was blocked by Al Ain’s goalkeeper, the ball fell to Ronaldo, who promptly netted it on the rebound.
Al Ain had a chance to pull one back in the 56th minute. Park Young-woo’s shot hit the post and, after bouncing off diving goalkeeper Bento’s back, went into the net as an own goal.
However, Al Ain couldn’t stage a comeback. Al Nassr's 19-year-old Brazilian forward, Wesley, extended the lead with a brilliant finish in the 81st minute. In the fourth minute of added time, Talisca scored another goal, securing Al Nassr's emphatic 5-1 victory.
This defeat has left the Asian champions in a tough spot. With three losses and one draw in four matches, Al Ain now sits at the bottom of the 12-team West group, making it challenging for them to advance to the Round of 16.
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Sri Lanka Crumbles for 42: Historic Low in Test Cricket
Sri Lanka was bowled out for their lowest score in Test history—just 42 runs. Additionally, in terms of balls faced, they registered the second-lowest total in Test history, lasting only 83 balls. Moreover, the team now holds the record for the third-lowest score in Test matches on South African soil.
On Thursday (November 28), during the first Test of the series in Durban, South Africa's innings was wrapped up for 171 runs in the morning, courtesy of Sri Lanka's bowling lineup.
However, when Sri Lanka came to bat, South African pacer Marco Jansen produced a devastating spell that led to this ignominious record. Jansen bowled 6.5 overs, conceding just 13 runs and taking 7 wickets. Gerald Coetzee claimed two wickets, while Kagiso Rabada took one.
Previously, Sri Lanka's lowest Test score was 71 runs, against Pakistan in Kandy in 1994. This new low in Durban surpasses that record.
Ronaldo Shines at Al-Awwal Park, Leads Al-Nassr to 2-0 Win
Cristiano Ronaldo continues to shine with exceptional form, scoring back-to-back braces in consecutive matches to secure wins for his team. The Portuguese star’s brilliance helped Al-Nassr secure a 2-0 victory against Damac in their latest Saudi Pro League encounter. Previously, Ronaldo had scored twice against Al-Gharafa in an AFC Champions League match.
On Friday, November 29, Al-Nassr faced Damac at King Saud University's Al-Awwal Park. Ronaldo opened the scoring in the 17th minute after Abdelkader Bedrane committed a foul inside the box, earning a yellow card. The Portuguese star converted the penalty without mistake, giving the home team a 1-0 lead before halftime.
In the second half, Damac pushed hard for an equalizer but was reduced to 10 men in the 56th minute. Al-Nassr doubled their lead in the 79th minute when Ronaldo scored from close range after receiving a teammate's pass.
Ronaldo was named the man of the match for his brace, making it three consecutive matches where he has earned the honor. The 39-year-old now boasts 915 career goals, with 42 goals in 50 matches this year.
Al-Nassr currently sits third in the Saudi Pro League standings with 25 points from 12 matches. Al-Ittihad leads the table with 30 points, followed by Al-Hilal with 28 points from the same number of games.
FIFA: List of 32 Qualified Teams for Club World Cup
The 21st edition of the Club World Cup will kick off in the United States on June 15 next year. The final will be held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 13. For the first time, this tournament will feature 32 teams. FIFA has finalized 12 venues for it.
With Botafogo's triumph in the final of the Copa Libertadores on Saturday night, the lineup for the Club World Cup is now complete.
Two weeks ago, the world football governing body 'FIFA' unveiled the trophy for the mega event. This year's trophy has been designed inspired by NASA's Voyager Golden Records. The 24-carat gold cup also features many graphics that illustrate the periodic table, astronomy, and the football's magnificence.
The competition, organized by FIFA, is facing increasing criticism from football stakeholders who are frustrated with the congested schedule. "I'm not sure if it will actually take place," recently said Javier Tebas, president of La Liga.
The 32 clubs that qualified for the Club World Cup are:
Chelsea (England)
Real Madrid (Spain)
Manchester City (England)
Bayern Munich (Germany)
PSG (France)
Inter Milan (Italy)
FC Porto (Portugal)
Benfica (Portugal)
Borussia Dortmund (Germany)
Juventus (Italy)
Atlético Madrid (Spain)
Red Bull Salzburg (Austria)
Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia)
Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan)
Al Ain (UAE)
Ulsan Hyundai (South Korea)
Al Ahly (Egypt)
Wydad (Morocco)
Espérance de Tunis (Tunisia)
Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)
Club León (Mexico)
Rayados (Mexico)
Pachuca (Mexico)
Seattle Sounders (USA)
Palmeiras (Brazil)
Fluminense (Brazil)
Flamengo (Brazil)
Botafogo (Brazil)
River Plate (Argentina)
Boca Juniors (Argentina)
Auckland City (New Zealand)
Inter Miami (USA)
Bangladesh Announces ODI Squad For West Indies Series
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has announced the squad for the three ODIs against the West Indies. All the matches will be held in St Kitts. The first ODI is on 8 December.
After completing his maiden captaincy assignment in the Test series, allrounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz will now lead the Bangladesh side in ODIs for the first time in the absence of Najmul Hossain Shanto who is still recovering from a groin injury. Batsman Tawhid Hridoy, a constant feature in the Bangladesh middle-order in white ball cricket, has also been declared unavailable by the BCB's Medical Team as he is struggling with groin issues. BCB Sports Physician Monzur Hossain Chowdhury said: "Hridoy had complained of pain in his right groin region and subsequent investigations have confirmed the presence of a medical condition. He has been advised to rest and we will reassess him in two weeks to determine his readiness to play."
Meanwhile, left-hander Afif Hossain Dhrubo has received a call-up to the ODI squad after a gap of one year. His previous one-day international for Bangladesh was in December 2023. Fellow left-hander Zakir Hasan, who was on the team in last month’s ODI series against Afghanistan in the UAE, has been dropped. After impressing in his ODI debut against Afghanistan, fast bowler Nahid Rana has kept his place.
Squad
Mehidy Hasan Miraz (Captain), Litton Kumer Das (WK), Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Soumya Sarkar, Parvez Hossain Emon, Md Mahmudullah, Jaker Ali Anik, Afif Hossain Dhrubo, Rishad Hossain, Nasum Ahmed, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Nahid Rana
Itinerary
1st ODI: 08 December 24 at Warner Park, Basseterre, St Kitts
2nd ODI: 10 December 24 at Warner Park, Basseterre, St Kitts
3rd ODI: 12 December 24 at Warner Park, Basseterre, St Kitts
Shakib Takes Test to Clear Bowling Action Doubts
Nearly two decades after his debut in international cricket, Shakib Al Hasan played in the English County Championship to prepare for the Test series against India. The world's top all-rounder showcased brilliant performances with the ball during his county stint.
However, shortly afterward, umpires raised concerns about his bowling action, asking him to undergo a test. In response, Shakib took the test to prove his action was flawless.
On Monday, December 2, Shakib underwent a bowling action assessment at the medical department of Loughborough University in Birmingham. Under the supervision of specialists, he bowled a total of four overs. Reports indicate that he bowled the first three overs at a relatively higher pace, reducing his speed in the final over.
The results of the test are expected within seven days. Shakib remains optimistic that no irregularities will be found in his bowling action.
In September, Shakib played a match for Surrey in the County Championship, delivering an impressive performance with the ball. He bowled 63 overs across two innings and claimed nine wickets. However, his bowling action in that match sparked scrutiny.
Notably, since starting his international career in 2006, Shakib has played 447 international matches and taken 712 wickets, without ever facing questions about his bowling action. If he clears this test, Shakib will have no restrictions on playing any level of cricket in England.
Bangladesh Ends 15-Year Drought with Test Win in West Indies
Bangladesh started their two-match Test series against the West Indies with a defeat. However, thanks to Taijul Islam's brilliant spin bowling, they achieved a historic Test win in the Caribbean after 15 years.
On Tuesday (December 3), Bangladesh clinched a commanding 101-run victory in the second Test at Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica. With this win, the Tigers ended the series in a 1-1 draw.
Match Highlights:
After suffering a heavy defeat in the first Test, Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz opted to bat first in the second and final Test. In their first innings, Bangladesh was bowled out for 164 runs, with opener Shadman Islam scoring the highest, 64 runs.
In response, the West Indies were bundled out for 146 runs, thanks to Nahid Rana's five-wicket haul, giving Bangladesh an 18-run lead.
In their second innings, Bangladesh managed 268 runs, largely due to a valiant effort from Zakir Ali, who missed his century by just 9 runs. He scored a remarkable 91 runs, which included five sixes and eight fours. Shadman contributed 46 runs, while Mehidy added 42. This set the West Indies a challenging target of 287 runs.
Defending the target, Taijul Islam and Taskin Ahmed gave Bangladesh an early advantage by taking two quick wickets, leaving the hosts at 57 for 2. Although West Indies skipper Kraigg Brathwaite (43) and Keacy Carty (14) showed some resistance, Taijul dismissed them to bring Bangladesh back into the game. Another notable performance came from Kevam Hodge, who scored 55, but his efforts were in vain.
The rest of the West Indies lineup collapsed under pressure, with Taijul taking a five-wicket haul. The Caribbean team was bowled out for 185 runs in 50 overs. Taskin Ahmed and Hasan Mahmud contributed with two wickets each.
Bangladesh’s Achievements:
This victory surpasses Bangladesh's success in 2009 when they won two Test matches on West Indies soil. It also marks their third Test win of the year, including a historic whitewash of Pakistan in their own backyard. This has been Bangladesh's best performance in any ICC Test Championship cycle so far.
Brief Scores:
Bangladesh 1st Innings: 164
West Indies 1st Innings: 146
Bangladesh 2nd Innings: 268
West Indies 2nd Innings (Target 287): 185 all out (50 overs)
Key Performers:
Bangladesh: Taijul Islam (5/50), Zakir Ali (91), Nahid Rana (5/32).
West Indies: Kevam Hodge (55), Kraigg Brathwaite (43).
This victory symbolizes a significant milestone in Bangladesh’s cricketing journey and highlights their growing stature in Test cricket.
Rangpur Riders in Global Super League Final
Rangpur Riders secured their second consecutive win in the Global Super League, earning a spot in the final with a 23-run victory over Lahore Qalandars in a rain-affected match.
Batting storms from Soumya Sarkar and Saif Hassan, followed by a spin masterclass from Mehedi Hasan, helped propel Rangpur to victory under the DLS method.
After losing the first two matches of the tournament, Rangpur bounced back with two straight wins, climbing to second place in the standings. This earned them a place in the final, where they will face table-toppers Victoria Cricket.
Due to multiple rain delays, the match between Rangpur Riders and Lahore Qalandars was reduced to just 9 overs. Batting first, Rangpur got off to a flying start thanks to their openers. However, the opening partnership was broken when Soumya Sarkar was dismissed for 22 runs from 13 balls, including 3 fours and 1 six.
After Soumya's departure, Saif Hassan took charge, continuing the aggressive batting. At the end of their 9 overs, Rangpur had reached 85/1, with Saif remaining unbeaten on 27 from 14 balls. Steven Taylor supported him well, scoring 32 runs from 27 balls.
Although Rangpur finished with 85 runs in 9 overs, Lahore's target was revised to 111 runs under the DLS method. However, Lahore's chase collapsed in the very first over bowled by Mehedi Hasan. The Pakistani team lost 3 wickets in that over, and Mehedi struck again in his next over, claiming a fourth wicket. Lahore were reduced to 14/4.
Mehedi Hasan, who bowled two overs, finished with impressive figures of 3 wickets for 11 runs, destroying Lahore's middle order. In the end, Lahore Qalandars could only manage 87 runs for the loss of 7 wickets, giving Rangpur a 23-run victory and securing their place in the final.
Source: Cricket97
