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RAWALPINDI: Opening batter Saim Ayub became the ninth Pakistan player to score 1000 runs in T20Is during the T20I tri-series clash against Sri Lanka here at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

Saim came to the crease with 983 runs to his name in 50 innings and achieved the feat during the fifth over of Pakistan’s innings with a drive against Sri Lanka skipper Dasun Shanaka.

With this, he joined the likes of Babar Azam, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, and Shahid Afridi, hence becoming the ninth Pakistan batter to score 1000 runs in T20Is.

The 23-year-old, however, was stumped in Shanaka’s over after scoring 20 off 18 with the help of four boundaries.

Catch Pakistan Tri-Series news updates here

Nonetheless, Pakistan eased past Sri Lanka by seven wickets, courtesy of a complete all-round performance with the bat and ball.

Set only 129, Pakistan sealed victory on the third ball of the 15th over, losing just three wickets in the process.

Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub were off to a flyer, adding 47 in only five overs. Farhan remained the core aggressor while Saim milked the scoring with singles.

The partnership was broken with Saim’s wicket, who made 20 off 18 with the aid of four boundaries.

Meanwhile, Farhan continued to charge and stitched another 69-run partnership with Babar Azam, who played second fiddle in the stand.

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Eventually, Green Shirts reached the target without major hiccups, with Sri Lanka taking two more wickets in the shape of Babar Azam (16) and Salman Ali Agha for a golden duck.

Farhan top-scored with 80 off just 45 deliveries, studded with five sixes and half a dozen fours.

For Sri Lanka, Dushmantha Chameera picked up two wickets.

The fourth match of the T20I tri-series will be played tomorrow at the same venue between Pakistan and Zimbabwe.

READ: Agha hails Pakistan’s ‘complete performance’ after Sri Lanka win

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan T20I skipper praised his side’s all-round performance as they defeated Sri Lanka in the third fixture of the T20I Tri-Series.

The Green Shirts outplayed the Islanders by seven wickets, courtesy of clinical batting and bowling performances.

Mohammad Nawaz starred with the ball, picking up a three-wicket haul, which was backed by an explosive knock from Sahibzada Farhan.

The right-hander hit 80* off just 45 with the help of five sixes and six fours, which powered Green Shirts to a victory inside 15 overs while chasing 129.

Speaking after the match, Salman Ali Agha lauded clinical performance from his side, noting that he has the luxury of all-rounder like Mohammad Nawaz and Faheem Ashraf.

Catch Pakistan Tri-Series news updates here

“It was a complete game, we were very good with both bat and ball. We started really well in all three departments and that’s what we look for. We had the luxury of Nawaz and Faheem as allrounders, who can bat and take wickets as well,” he said in post-match presentation.

The skipper emphasized bench strength while mentioning Mohammad Wasim Jr. for demonstrating excellent performance.

Salman also mentioned that Pakistan is close to ‘Perfect XI’ and credited Salman Mirza for becoming a front-line bowler.

“We always look for bench strength, and now we have bowlers sitting on the bench, like Wasim Jr., who can put up these kinds of performances.

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“That’s what we always wanted, having a perfect bench. Salman was a bench kind of a bowler a few series back and now he’s becoming a front line bowler as well, it is something I wanted to have but now it’s tough making a playing XI,” he maintained.

Regarding Sahibzada Farhan, he said that his batting can change the game on its head and stressed the strong bench strength.

“We always wanted to start well, and he’s someone who if he bats for three, four overs, he can bat like that. He can take the game away from any opposition. We’re very close to having a perfect playing XI, and giving chances to fringe players, who are coming in and chipping in,” he concluded.

READ: Abu Dhabi T10: Mohammad Amir stars in Quetta Qavalry’s win over UAE Bulls

ABU DHABI: Skipper Mohammad Amir returned to the Quetta Qavalary side in style with a four-wicket haul, powering his team to a nine-wicket over UAE Bulls in the 14th fixture of the Abu Dhabi T10  League here on Saturday.

Quetta Qavalry chased down the 110-run target in 8.2 overs, losing just one wicket in the process.

After losing Andries Gous in the second over for eight, Evin Lewis and Muhammad Waseem steadied the chase with brisk knocks.

Both batters demonstrated their range of hitting with eye-catching sixes. Lewis hit three sixes and three fours on his way to 48* from 24 balls. Waseem, on the other hand, hit 50* off 19, laced with six fours and three maximums.

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For Bulls, impact player Salman Irshad picked up the solitary wicket.

Earlier, Mohammad Amir wreaked havoc with the ball to bundle out UAE Bulls for 109 in 10 overs.

Tim David played a gutsy knock off 31* off 11 deliveries, studded with four boundaries and two sixes. Phil Salt made 31 from 15 with the aid of two sixes and two fours.

After losing Tom Moores for a duck, Phil Salt and Rovman Powell stitched a 47-run stand before the wickets were bundled out in their innings.

For Quetta Qavalary, Mohammad Amir picked up four wickets while Khuzaima Tanveer scalped two apiece.

Earlier, Northern Warriors registered a six-wicket win against Deccan Gladiators in the 13th fixture of the tournament. Meanwhile, Vista Riders also sealed a six-run victory over Aspin Stallions in the 12th match.

READ: Farhan’s blazing knock seals comprehensive win for Pakistan

Chelsea stepped up their Premier League title challenge with a gritty 2-0 win against struggling Burnley on Saturday.

Pedro Neto put the Blues ahead just before the interval at Turf Moor, and Enzo Fernandez netted in the closing stages.

Enzo Maresca’s side climb to second place and sit three points behind leaders Arsenal, who host Tottenham on Sunday.

The Blues have won eight of their last 10 matches in all competitions, making it a memorable 50th Premier League game in charge for Maresca.

It was the ideal warm-up for Chelsea ahead of a crucial week featuring home games against Barcelona in the Champions League on Tuesday and Arsenal in the Premier League on November 30.

The west Londoners would drop back down to third place if Manchester City avoids defeat against Newcastle later on Saturday, but regardless of that result, their hard-fought victory in freezing Lancashire added to their title momentum.

Fourth-bottom Burnley have now lost five of their last seven league matches.

Chelsea were without Cole Palmer after the England forward extended his prolonged injury absence by fracturing his toe after stubbing it on a door.

Palmer had been set to resume training this week after two months out with a groin problem.

Adding to Maresca’s issues, fatigued Ecuador midfielder Moises Caicedo was left on the bench after arriving back from international duty on Thursday.

Maresca had complained about Chelsea being given the early Saturday kick-off again.

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His mood wasn’t improved in the fifth minute when Blues goalkeeper Robert Sanchez accidentally booted the ball into Fernandez’s head, a miscue that left the Argentine midfielder needing a brief concussion check.

Fernandez was able to play on, and despite that painful interlude, Chelsea eventually took control.

Neto’s effort from the edge of the area deflected wide before Jamie Gittens lashed over from a tight angle.

Kyle Walker bailed out Burnley on his 400th Premier League appearance with a last-ditch block to stop Gittens tapping in Neto’s cross.

Chelsea’s Trevoh Chalobah was fortunate not to concede a farcical penalty when the defender used his hand to stop Sanchez’s pass inside his own area before returning the ball to the ‘keeper.

Sanchez appeared not to have restarted play, instead letting Chalobah take the goal-kick so Burnley’s hopes of a penalty were dashed.

Maresca’s men made the most of that let-off to take the lead with a well-crafted goal in the 37th minute.

Marc Cucurella showed a deft touch to control a high ball into the Burnley area before passing back to Gittens.

Lofting a pin-point cross to the far post, Gittens picked out Neto and he delivered with a superb diving header into the far corner.

Neto’s fourth goal this season was almost followed by another for Chelsea as Liam Delap’s drive forced a save from Martin Dubravka.

Gittens’ deflected strike flashed just wide early in the second half.

Neto, picked out by Fernandez’s pass, was inches away from doubling Chelsea’s lead as his fierce blast cannoned into the near post.

Unmarked inside the Chelsea area, Zian Flemming wasted Burnley’s best opportunity to snatch an equaliser with a wild shot that cleared the bar.

But Fernandez put the result beyond doubt in the 88th minute, capping a flowing move with a clinical close-range finish from Marc Guiu’s pass.

READ: Taijul Islam breaks Shakib Al Hasan’s record during Ireland Test

RAWALPINDI: Sahibzada Farhan’s whirlwind knock and Mohammad Nawaz’s three-wicket haul powered Pakistan to a resounding win over Sri Lanka in the third fixture of the T20I Tri-Series here at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Saturday. 

Set only 129, Pakistan sealed victory on the third ball of the 15th over, losing just three wickets in the process.

Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub were off to a flyer, adding 47 in only five overs. Farhan remained the core aggressor while Saim milked the scoring with singles.

The partnership was broken with Saim’s wicket, who made 20 off 18 with the aid of four boundaries.

Meanwhile, Farhan continued to charge and stitched another 69-run partnership with Babar Azam, who played second fiddle in the stand.

Eventually, Green Shirts reached the target without major hiccups, with Sri Lanka taking two more wickets in the shape of Babar Azam (16) and Salman Ali Agha for a golden duck.

Catch Pakistan Tri-Series news updates here

Farhan top-scored with 80 off just 45 deliveries, studded with five sixes and half a dozen fours.

For Sri Lanka, Dushmantha Chameera picked up two wickets.

Earlier, Pakistan left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz bowled a clinical spell, picking up a three-wicket haul to limit Sri Lanka for a modest total.

Sri Lanka could not capitalize on the decision to bat first as they huffed and puffed to 128-7 in their 20  overs, thanks to Janith Liyanage’s valiant 41 from 38 balls.

Kamil Mishara and Pathum Nissanka provided a decent start with a 31-run stand in 3.1 overs. Mishara looked promising before getting caught on 22 from 12 with the help of two sixes and two fours.

Kusal Mendis was run out soon after for just three with the Islanders 38-2 in 5.4 overs. Meanwhile, Nissanka, trying to regain form, played 22 and was caught after scoring 17 from 23 deliveries with the help of only a single boundary.

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As a result, the visitors were 60-3 in 8.1 overs before a middle-order collapse saw them reeling 86-6 in 13.3 overs.

Nawaz remained the architect of the collapse, including two in an over which left Sri Lanka searching for answers. However, it was Janith Liyanage’s knock lower down the order that provided his side some respite. He hit three fours and a six in his knock.

For Pakistan, Mohammad Nawaz topped the wickets chart with three wickets in his quota of four overs. Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, and Salman Mirza also chipped in with one wicket apiece.

READ: Taijul Islam breaks Shakib Al Hasan’s record during Ireland Test

DHAKA: Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam etchede his name into record books as he surpassed Shakib Al Hasan to become Bangladesh leading wicket-taker in Test cricket.

Taijul, 33, increased his tally to 248 wickets, surpassing Shakib’s record of 246 wickets in the longest format of the game.

He achieved the milestone during the second Test against Ireland in the sixth over of their second innings at the Shere Bangla National Stadium here on Saturday.

Most Wickes for Bangladesh in Test Cricket

Taijul Islam 249* wickets in 58 matches
Shakib Al Hasan 246 wickets in 71 matches
Mehidy Hasan Miraz 209* wickets in 56 matches

The 33-year-old stood at 246 wickets before heading into the second Test of the series. With Ireland requiring a daunting 509 to chase, Taijul chipped in the ball and trapped opener Andy Balbirnie to record a historic feat.

Notably, right-arm off-spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz is third on the list with 209 wickets to his name in 56 matches.

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At stumps on day four, Taijul Islam put Bangladesh into a commanding position to win the series 2-0. The visitors are 176-6 with 333 runs more required to win the game.

The spinner had so far picked three wickets in his 20 overs.

Bangladesh remained dominant throughout the match after opting to bat first and racked up 476 runs in their first innings, courtesy of fine centuries from Mushfiqur Rahim and Litton Das.

In reply, Ireland were bowled out for only 265 in their first innings, followed by another abysmal show with the bat in their second innings.

For the unversed, Taijul has spearheaded Bangladesh’s spin attack in Test matches in the past couple of years and has scalped 17 five-wicket hauls alongside two ten-fers in 58 games.

READ: Stokes urges ‘shell-shocked’ England to move on from crushing loss

Captain Ben Stokes admitted Saturday he was “shell-shocked” at a crushing loss to Australia in the first Ashes Test but told his England team they must move on fast for the next clash in Brisbane.

The tourists had a golden opportunity to win a Test in Australia for the first time in 15 years, but they blew it inside two days at Perth Stadium.

After crumbling under a bowling onslaught from Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland, their hyped pace attack had no answer to a rampant Travis Head, who thrashed an incredible 123 to seal victory by eight wickets.

“Little bit shell-shocked, it was pretty phenomenal from Head,” Stokes said. “It’s pretty raw, pretty emotional, but that was some knock.

“We tried three or four different plans to get him, but when he’s going like a train he’s very hard to stop.”

Despite the demoralising loss Stokes saw some positives, particularly their first-innings bowling effort which saw Australia dismissed for 132.

“The way in which we bowled yesterday was phenomenal. A lot happened on day one, a good day for the bowlers,” he said.

“It’s a tough one as we felt we were in control. We’ll let this sink in, but we’ve got four more games.

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“It’s a long time before Brisbane, we’ll go away and put in the graft.”

The day-night Brisbane Test starts on December 4.

With so many players in the squad experiencing their first Ashes, Stokes admitted he had his hands full trying to lift them.

“Yeah, I think we’ve got to let that whole two hours sort of sink in first and reflect on it properly, without the emotion that’s attached to what’s just gone on there,” he said, referring to Head’s knock.

“Obviously there’s disappointment when you come off the field being on the losing side.

“So that’s up to myself. It’s up to some of the other senior guys who have a lot of experience in big series like these, because you’ve got to let emotions like this sink in, and it has got to hurt.

“But also, you’ve then got to get rid of them as quickly as you possibly can, while also learning from it.

“Because when we get to Brisban,e we need to be back up to that mindset of how we came into this game, still very confident of our abilities and achieving the goal.

“It’s crucial about not taking any baggage from this result into Brisbane.”

READ: Travis Head smashes second-fastest century in Ashes history

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan were dealt a worrying blow on Thursday after star pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi picked up a minor foot fascial injury ahead of their T20I tri-series fixture against Sri Lanka at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

In a brief statement, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed that Shaheen is under the supervision of the medical team following the injury, with his participation in today’s match hanging in the balance.

“Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi is currently under observation with the medical team after sustaining a minor foot fascial injury,” the PCB said.

“His condition is being closely monitored, and any decision regarding his availability will depend on his improvement and subsequent clearance from the medical team.”

With Shaheen unlikely to feature, Pakistan face a significant setback heading into a crucial contest, especially with the left-armer being a central figure in their T20I setup.

The squad, however, still carries pace options in Mohammad Wasim Jr., Naseem Shah and Salman Mirza, while Usman Tariq and Abrar Ahmed provide spin cover.

Pakistan opened their tri-series campaign on a positive note, defeating Zimbabwe by five wickets earlier this week after successfully chasing a 148-run target in 19.2 overs.

Zimbabwe, meanwhile, stunned Sri Lanka in the following match, adding further intrigue to the points table.

Pakistan Squad for T20I Tri-Series

Salman Ali Agha (c), Hassan Nawaz, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jr., Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan (wk), Usman Tariq.

READ: South Africa 247-6 after Kuldeep takes three in second India Test

GUWAHATI: Spinner Kuldeep Yadav took three wickets as India rattled South Africa with late strikes to leave the tourists 247-6 at stumps on the first day of the second Test on Saturday.

Tristan Stubbs, who made 49, and skipper Temba Bavuma (41) put on 84 runs for the third wicket after South Africa elected to bat in their bid for a first Test series win in India in 25 years.

The World Test champions won the first Test of the two-match series by 30 runs at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens.

Ravindra Jadeja sent back Bavuma with his left-arm spin in the final session before Kuldeep denied Stubbs his fifty to raise the noise of a large weekend crowd in Guwahati.

Left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep (3-48) dismissed Wiaan Mulder for 13, and pace bowler Mohammed Siraj ended Tony de Zorzi’s defiance on 28 with the second new ball to further dent South Africa.

Left-hander Senuran Muthusamy, on 25, and wicketkeeper-batter Kyle Verreynne, on one, were batting when bad light forced stumps with only 81.5 overs possible, fewer than the usual 90 overs in a day.

Aiden Markram, who scored 38, and Ryan Rickelton (35) fell either side of the first break to Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep after an opening partnership of 82.

Bavuma and Stubbs, promoted to number three in the batting order, then got to the grind and slowly took the attack to the hosts with regular boundaries as the pair used their feet against the Indian spinners.

Jadeja broke through with his left-arm spin to dismiss in-form Bavuma, who scored the only fifty in the opener in Kolkata, after the batter chipped to mid-off.

Stubbs attempted to keep up the tempo as he hit Jadeja for a six, but soon Kuldeep had him caught at slip.

Play started 30 minutes earlier than usual, with the order of the session breaks reversed, meaning tea came before lunch at India’s newest Test venue, which attracted an opening-day crowd of over 15,000 fans.

Bumrah had Markram bowled at the stroke of tea when the batsman inside-edged a delivery on to his stumps.

Kuldeep struck on the third ball after the break to cut short Rickelton’s 82-ball stay.

The openers had started cautiously, and Markram got off the mark on his 17th ball with a crunching cover drive for four off Bumrah.

Bumrah nearly had his revenge next ball, only for KL Rahul to drop a regulation chance at second slip. The bowler covered his face in dismay.

South Africa, who recently drew 1-1 in Pakistan, are chasing a first series win in India since Hansie Cronje’s team triumphed there in 2000.

READ: Head’s 69-ball ton powers Australia to victory in Ashes opener