Asghar Afghan’s side won the 1st T20I – a rain-affected game – by 11 runs via the DLs method and beat Ireland by 21 runs in the 2nd T20I match to seal the three-match Twenty20 international series and would be chasing a clean sweep in the 3rd match at Noida. Ireland’s top order of Paul Stirling, Kevin O’Brien and captain Andrew Balbrinie have been in good form.
Peshawar Zalmi prevailed in a rain-affected match and won by 16 runs when both these teams met earlier in PSL 2019-20. Asked to bat first, Peshawar Zalmi posted 132/7 in 12 overs with Tom Banton and Haider Ali scoring 34 each in 15 and 12 deliveries respectively before the bowlers riding on a four-wicket haul from Lewis Gregory restricted the Qalandars to 116/6.
Mohammad Abbas was born in a small village Jathekey near Sambrial in Sialkot, Punjab (Pakistan). As a teenager, Abbas earned his livelihood by working as a welder in a leather factory and also by working as a helper in a law firm in Sialkot. It was during one such a day at the law firm when he got a call for the selection into the district U19 cricket team of Sialkot.
Zimbabwe can take heart from the fact that they beat Bangladesh twice in their last four meetings prior to this two-match T20I series. Sean Williams will hope those wins will inspire his side as they chase their first win in the tour after four defeats. Zimbabwe were thrashed by an innings and 106 runs in the Test match and lost the ODIs by 169, 123 and four runs respectively.
The home team have been in terrific form in this tour against Zimbabwe. They won the one-off Test match by an innings and 106 runs before also clean-sweeping the ODI series. Bangladesh’s Openers Liton Das and Tamim Iqbal scored two centuries each in the three-match ODI series while spinner Taijul Islam have been the home team’s pick of wicket-takers.
As the older generation departs having stamped their mark in the sporting industry, the new generation starts taking over rebuilding a legacy and achieving stardom. From Serena Williams to Mithali Raj and Carli Lloyd, women have always been terrific ambassadors of the game. As the global icons near the twilight of their career, a new generation awaits them.
The defending league champions, who lost 0-2 in the El Clasico last week, are behind Real Madrid in the La Liga points table and must win to keep themselves in the race for the league title. Lionel Messi apparently played through the El Clasico with an injury and it will be interesting to see if he is available for the Real Sociedad match.
Mohamed Salah scored the final goal in a 3-0 rout of Bournemouth when both these teams last met in the league this season. Salah has also scored in each of his five meetings against Bournemouth and will be eager to add to his tally if Liverpool are to seal all three points. The Reds will, however, be without goalkeeper Alisson Becker.
Chennaiyin FC, who made a sensational run into the playoffs after starting with three defeats and a draw in their opening four games, have now gone unbeaten in their last nine games only two of which have been drawn. Own Coyle, who has overseen this remarkable turnaround, will hope his side remembers 2015 final.
Sheffield United have not beaten Manchester City since the 3-1 win at home in 1993 Premier League. In 11 matches between both these teams since then, City have won six and four have ended in draws. Garry Monk’s side have also won only two of their last 13 matches in the Championships and were knocked out in the fourth round last year.
With their 2019-20 Champions League hopes dwindling and the Premier League title out of their dreams, FA Cup is the only competition that can give Chelsea a taste of title glory this season. The 0-3 home defeat to Bayern Munich have put Frank Lampard’s side on the brink of early Champions League exit and that's why FA Cup competition becomes an important tournament for them.
Virat Kohli continued his run of poor-string of scores managing only 3 & 14 in two innings of this Test match. Kohli has now gone 22 international innings with a hundred his third worse run in 11 years at the top level. The run-machine was dismissed by Tim Southee in the 1st innings which made the veteran New Zealand pacer the most successful bowler against Kohli.
Mary Kom is the first women boxer to win a record six AIBA World boxing championship titles and also has eight medals (six gold, two silver and a bronze) from the tournament, which includes medals in each of her first seven appearances at the international event. Everywhere she has been, Mary has always brought laurels for her country.
Such intense, competitive and edgy has been the ODI encounters between both these sides that in ODI matches between then in South Africa, Australia have won 20 times and the home side 22 times in 43 matches. Both have won 19 times each in ODI matches between each other in Australia. In matches elsewhere, Australia lead South Africa 9-7.
South Africa, in the absence former captain Faf du Plessis and batting main-stay Rassie van der Dussen, will give opportunities to youngsters as they look to rebuild the team and end a disastrous run. Both the batsmen have been rested for the three-match ODI series against Australia. The visitors, on the other, are without hard-hitting all-rounder Glenn Maxwell.
Kohli-led side faced their first defeat in the ICC World Test Championship at Wellington and will hope to avoid a series defeat with a win in the 2nd and final Test match of the series. India failed to put up any competition in the 1st Test in both the departments and will have to find ways to at least look competitive.
Arteta, who took over Arsenal in December last year, has lost only once in the 12 matches that he has overseen that include wins over Manchester United and Everton. Arsenal beast Everton 3-2 last week with Aubameyang scoring twice and Bukayo Saka continuing to impress. Young striker Eddie Nketiah also found the net in the win against Everton and will hope for another start.
Anthony Martial’s strike helped Man United return home with not only a draw but also the lucky advantage of an away goal. They were indeed lucky that Club Brugge – after going ahead as early as the 15th minute – failed to make most of their chances. The return of Mason Greenwood, who missed the 1st leg due to illness will give the home some attacking boost.
Cristiano Ronaldo, the highest-scoring player ever in the history of Champions League, scored in Juventus’ 2-1 win over SPAL in their previous Serie A match and will be eager to maintain his scoring form, which saw the Portuguese superstar become the first player to score in 10 successive league matches for two different clubs.
Peshawar Zalmi will be bubbling with confidence after beating Quetta Gladiators by six wickets to record their first win of the PSL 2019-20 season. Kamran Akmal smashed a 55-ball century in that game to help Peshawar Zalmi chase down 149 runs with nine deliveries to spare. Akmal also hit 43 in his side’s opening game but failed to carry the team home.
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