Borussia Dortmund's Diant Ramaj has declared he will not return to the German club just to be second choice goalkeeper next season.
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Ramaj makes bold statement after impressive spell with CopenhagenGerman goalkeeper not interested in a backup role at DortmundCalls himself the 'best goalkeeper of the young generation'Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! đ˘đąWHAT HAPPENED?
Riding high in confidence after a stupendous spell with Copenhagen, Ramaj made some bold claims in an interview with . The German goalkeeper is demanding a regular role at the club next season, claiming he's the best young goalkeeper available.
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After completing a move to Bundesliga in the 2024-25 winter transfer window from Ajax, Ramaj was loaned out immediately to Danish club Copenhagen. The German's loan spell worked wonders for both the player and club as they went on to complete the double, winning the league title and Danish Cup. Now, with his loan spell ending, he has voiced his opinion on his future making it clear that he wants regular football.
WHAT DIANT RAMAJ SAID
The shot stopper said: "I really enjoyed the season in Copenhagen; what we've achieved is fantastic. And one thing's clear to me: I have to keep playing, get minutes, and match practice. Therefore, one thing's clear to me: I'm not sitting on the bench in Dortmund! It's clear to me that I won't be coming to Dortmund to line up at the back, that I have no chance of playing behind Gregor Kobel. I have to play."
He added: "I said I'm the best goalkeeper of the young generation. And I think I've proven that in the past few months!"
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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR DORTMUND?
First choice goalkeeper Kobel has reportedly been a transfer target for Chelsea, but after Dortmund's Champions League qualification under Niko Kovac, the German saw a resurgence and is expected to stay. That could see Ramaj push for a summer transfer.
Arsenal have held talks with a former Chelsea and Liverpool man to come in as Sporting Director, according to a new report.
Arsenal linked with Andrea Berta to become Sporting Director
The Gunnersâ hopes of winning the Premier League have taken a blow in recent weeks, with Mikel Artetaâs side drawing blanks in front of goal against both West Ham United and Nottingham Forest.
However, in the Champions League, Arsenal put seven past PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday evening to all but book their spot in the quarter-finals, where they could face holders Real Madrid.
Away from the pitch, those at the Emirates Stadium are still looking to replace Edu Gaspar, who left his role as sporting director back in November.
Jason Ayto was placed in interim charge as sporting director, however, he failed to make his mark in the January transfer market. Arsenal didn’t bolster Artetaâs squad, a decision which has come back to haunt them with injuries in the final third.
Man Utd (away)
March 9th
Chelsea (home)
March 16th
Fulham (home)
April 1st
Everton (away)
April 5th
Brentford (home)
April 12th
A number of candidates have been linked with arriving in north London, and in recent weeks, Andrea Berta, who left his position at Atletico Madrid at the beginning of the year, has been heavily mooted to make the move to Arsenal to replace Edu.
Talks were thought to be at an advanced stage with an agreement potentially being finalised in March, however, Arsenal have spoken to a new candidate as an alternative to Berta.
Arsenal hold talks with Yossi Benayoun for sporting director role
According to Football Insider, Arsenal have held talks with former midfielder Yossi Benayoun to become the clubâs new Sporting Director.
The 44-year-old, who made 25 appearances for the Gunners in 2011/12 but is best known for his spells with Liverpool and West Ham, retired from football in 2019 and has gained boardroom experience with Beitar Jerusalem and national side Israel.
Talking to Football Insider, Benayoun said: âOf course I would be interested in a sporting director role in England, but I am also a pro licensed coach. Letâs see what comes up.â
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The report adds that Arsenal have not made an offer to Benayoun after talks, so at this stage it appears as if Berta could still be the front-runner to arrive, but a move for their former midfielder is still one to watch following news of talks.
South Australia raced to their first Sheffield Shield win of the season after their pacemen ripped through Tasmania’s top order for the second time to secure a 208-run win.Tasmania were dismissed for 208 just before stumps on day three while chasing 417 for victory at Hobart’s Blundstone Arena. Pace trio of Brendan Doggett, Wes Agar and Nathan McAndrew repeated their best form after also taking nine wickets between them in the first innings.SA were earlier dismissed in their second innings for 236 shortly after lunch, with No. 3 Daniel Drew the top scorer.Related
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Drew said it was “awesome” to secure such a comprehensive win.”It is really great to get the (first) win for the season,” he said. “It has been a long time coming so it is really good to tick that one over inside three days. It was a great effort from all the boys, and the bowling group this afternoon to take 10 wickets.”Tasmania had gone to tea at 1 for 69 in pursuit of an unlikely 417 but lost 3 for 2 straight after the break. Matthew Wade and Tim Ward had both been dropped in the slips when on 6, but were dismissed in consecutive overs by Doggett and Agar.SA’s bowlers kept the pressure on and had the hosts 6 for 106 before Jake Doran and aggressive allrounder Jarrod Freeman held them up.Agar came back on to clean up the tail and take his wicket tally for the Sheffield Shield season so far to 23 at an average of 27.08.The victory will be a relief for South Australia who were fifth before the match. They have claimed four wooden spoons in the past five seasons but have now moved to mid-table. It was a deserved win by the visitors, whose batsmen and bowlers dominated.
Chelsea have scored 45 goals so far this season, averaging 16.1 shots per game and averaging 57.7% possession – thus ranking fourth in the division in all of those metrics. However, the Blues have only scored eight goals in their last seven Premier League games, with Nicolas Jackson not scoring a single goal in that time.
Jackson has made 23 appearances under Enzo Maresca so far this season, scoring nine goals, providing five assists and totalling 1,726 minutes played.
However, with all nine of those goals coming in the first 16 games of the Premier League, Chelsea have struggled in recent weeks to stick the ball in the back of the net, not being able to turn to a natural second striker option.
Christopher Nkunku has been used as the backup striker to Jackson this season, but this clearly isn’t his natural position, which has seen the Blues’ performance levels drop whenever the Frenchman joins the action as the centre-forward. Therefore, could Chelsea look to address these issues in the final few days of the January transfer window?
Chelsea's search for a striker
According to reports from The Guardian, Chelsea have joined the race for Brighton striker, Evan Ferguson, who could leave the club on loan or on a permanent deal this month.
Transfer Focus
The 20-year-old has also been subject to interest from West Ham, Arsenal, Bayer Leverkusen, Bournemouth, Everton and Tottenham.
The reports state a fee of around ÂŁ40m could be enough to secure the young striker, but it is unclear whether Chelsea are interested in a loan or permanent deal. Paul Winstanley, who was previously working at Brighton and is now Chelsea’s co-sporting director, could play a big part in this deal in the final days of the window.
Brighton & Hove Albion'sEvanFergusonscores their second goal
Ferguson has made 14 appearances for Brighton this season, scoring one goal and totalling 373 minutes played, struggling for consistent minutes under Fabian Hurzeler so far this season.
How Ferguson compares to Liam Delap
Another striker who has been heavily linked with a move to Chelsea – and is also playing in the Premier League already – is Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap. The 21-year-old has made 23 appearances so far this season, scoring eight goals, providing two assists and totalling 1,705 minutes played.
Ferguson (22/23) vs Delap vs Jackson comparison
Stats (per 90 mins)
Ferguson
Delap
Jackson
Goals
0.67
0.43
0.48
Assists
0.20
0.11
0.27
xG
0.50
0.34
0.60
Progressive Carries
1.04
1.88
2.14
Progressive Passes
1.32
0.97
1.34
Shots Total
3.09
1.87
3.26
Goals/Shot
0.22
0.17
0.15
Key Passes
1.04
0.91
1.23
Shot-Creating Actions
2.08
2.20
3.10
Aerial Duels Won
0.85
1.77
0.64
Stats taken from FBref
When comparing Ferguson’s break-through season metrics with those of Delap and Jackson, you can see the Republic of Ireland international has a high level of clinical finishing, scoring 0.67 goals per 90, overperforming his xG (0.50 per 90) and averaging a 0.22 goals/shot ratio per 90.
Ferguson has been compared to Chelsea legend, Didier Drogba in certain aspects of his game, with journalist Pete O’Rourke stating he has “similarities” to the Ivorian, in terms of a player who can lead the front line on his own, and be a good finisher.
With Drogba having netted 164 goals in 381 games across two spells for the club, that comparison certainly bodes well.
Whilst many links have placed Delap as Chelsea’s number one target, the fact he is likely unavailable until the summer could force their hands to make a move for Ferguson this month, in order to strengthen the squad for the second half of the upcoming campaign.
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The race is on for Wolverhampton Wanderers to avoid relegation. The Premier League season is now over halfway complete, and the Old Gold are still languishing in the drop zone, despite new manager Vitor Pereira picking up some crucial points.
With just 16 points to their name, Wolves are slightly in danger of being cut adrift. They sit one point behind Leicester City, who are in 17th place, and level on points with Ipswich Town below them. Everton, in 16th in the table, have 23 points and seem in a comfortable position.
There is no doubt that the Old Gold have an uphill battle to stay in the top flight, but some transfers would certainly go a long way to helping their fight for survival. They have recently been linked with one defender.
Wolves target new defender
The player in question here is Austria and RC Lens centre-back Kevin Danso. The 26-year-old has impressed during his time with the French outfit, and could now depart the club before the end of the January transfer window.
Transfer Focus
According to a report from The Telegraph, Wolves are believed to be the main side leading the race to sign Danso. It is believed that he has been a transfer target for the club âfor more than 12 monthsâ, and they could finally get their man.
They have already placed a bid, worth ÂŁ16m, and are thought to be confident that a deal will be completed in the coming days. That said, the Express and Star revealed that the offer has been rejected, while a second offer of around ÂŁ18.5m has also reportedly been rebuffed.
That report suggested that Wolves remain in talks with Lens over the deal regardless, and are likely to return with an improved bid. He would be their second signing at centre-back this month, with the first being Emmanuel Agbadou from Reims, who cost ÂŁ16m.
Why Danso would be a good signing
Danso has been a key player for Lens across all competitions so far in the 2024/25 campaign. He has played 14 times, including 12 appearances in Ligue 1, playing 90 minutes in each of the games he has featured in.
Lens central defender Kevin Danso.
The Austria international has already had a taste of Premier League football, after his loan spell with relegation-bound Southampton back in the 2019/20 season. He played just ten games for the club, including 45 minutes in the 9-0 thumping by Leicester City.
However, being involved in a game like that does not sum up Danso as a player. He is actually a âcolossalâ defender, as Tottenham Hotspur winger Timo Werner once described him, back when the pair played against each other in the Bundesliga.
In fact, Dansoâs impressive defensive ability is showcased in his stats on FBref. The Austrian is fantastic in the air, winning 3.42 aerial duels on average this term, which ranks him in the top 5% of defenders in Ligue 1. He also averages 1.67 interceptions each game, placing him in the 84th percentile.
Stat (per 90)
Number
Percentile
% of dribbles tackled
75%
80th
Aerial duels won
3.42
95th
Interceptions
1.67
84th
Blocks
2.08
96th
Ball recoveries
4.92
75th
Should the Old Gold sign Danso, who earns ÂŁ23k-per-week, as per Caplogy, he could be a perfect foil for left wing-back Rayan Ait-Nouri. The Algerian seems set to stay at Molineux this season despite links away, with Manchester United showing interest in the Algerian defender.
Ait-Nouri
The 23-year-old has been crucial for Wolves this season and has three goals and five assists in 22 games in the top flight. That includes two assists in a 2-2 draw away from home against Tottenham.
Even though he is right-footed, the Austrian could still line up on the left side of Wolvesâ back three, which might free up the Wolves number three even more.
With Dansoâs impressive defensive awareness and speed, which can reach as high as 33.3km/h, it means he can cover the spaces Ait-Norui might vacate if he is essentially playing as a winger, perhaps meaning Wolves can create more goalscoring opportunities.
Premier League, Liverpool news, Liverpool latest news, Liverpool update, Liverpool transfers, Liverpool transfer news, Kevin Danso
While more than ÂŁ18.5m will seemingly be required, this seems like a brilliant deal for Wolves. Not only would they be bringing in a high-quality defender, but he is someone who could also get the best out of Ait-Nouri, one of the most dangerous players at the club.
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PLAIER, an AI system used by several European clubs for player scouting, has predicted which players Real Madrid must target to reach the next level.
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Spanish newspaper MARCA used AI model for predictions
A number of Premier League players were put forward
Could be a busy summer of change at the Bernabeu
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WHAT HAPPENED?
Defending champions Real Madrid were eliminated by Arsenal 5-1 on aggregate in the Champions League quarter-finals, exposing their severely flawed squad setup and team balance. In an exclusive report with MARCA, PLAIER, an AI system that helps clubs target the most ideal players for their teams in order to elevate performance levels, has predicted that Real Madrid should target the likes of Reece James, Lewis Hall, James Maddison, and Noni Madueke, among several others, this summer to improve their team.
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THE FULL-BACK AREAS
For the right-back position, AI analysis identified Chelsea's James, Bayern Munich's Josip Stanisic, and Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold to be the most suitable additions to the Real Madrid squad. While it's all but confirmed that Alexander-Arnold will be joining Los Blancos for free this summer, PLAIER CEO Jan Wendt argued that James would have been a better alternative.
"Alexander-Arnold is excellent in many of the right-back situations, but he has certain weaknesses in areas such as interceptions, aerial duels, and one-on-ones," Wendt told MARCA. "Although signing him at zero cost would make financial sense, if Madrid is willing to invest, Reece James is a better option: he has fewer weaknesses and also excels in the same metrics where TAA excels."
The left-back position is also one that Madrid have tried to reinforce, as evidenced by their interest in signing Alphonso Davies, who signed a new long-term contract in February. Per PLAIER, Arsenal's Oleksandr Zinchenko, Stuttgart's Maximilian Mittelstadt, as well as promising Newcastle youngster Lewis Hall were chosen as the most effective options for Madrid.
MIDFIELD & ATTACK
When it comes to the midfield, the absence of the now-retired Toni Kroos has been glaring, with no Madrid midfielder showing a profound ability to pull the strings from the middle of the park in the loss to Arsenal. Reports mention that Madrid will try to sign a player of a similar profile this summer, with PLAIER suggesting that Bruno Fernandes, Maddison, or PSV's Joey Veerman could plug the Kroos-shaped hole.
Lastly, the analysis concludes that Real Madrid could sign the likes of Jeremy Doku, Alejandro Garnacho, or Luis Sinisterra for the left-wing position, should Vinicius Jr. depart amid Saudi links. For the opposite flank, PLAIER suggested that Noni Madueke, Bukayo Saka, and Brazilian wonderkid Estevao could provide the balance they need.
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WHAT NEXT FOR REAL MADRID?
Despite being knocked out of the Champions League, Real could yet end the season with major silverware, as they face Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final on April 26. Before that, though, they will take on Athletic Club on Sunday as they look to bridge the gap between them and Hansi Flick's troops in the Liga title race.
Just as Ruben Amorim had thought his Manchester United team had finally turned a corner, their Jekyll-and-Hyde tendencies were there for all to see again in a crushing 3-1 Premier League defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion on Sunday.
Indeed, as much as Red Devils supporters would have been overjoyed with their win at Arsenal in the FA Cup and with their 2-2 draw versus Liverpool in January, Amorim’s topsy-turvy side were way off the pace throughout against Fabian Hurzeler’s ruthless Seagulls to remind the Portuguese manager there’s plenty to still fix.
The former Sporting boss will surely regret keeping his faith in shot-stopper Andre Onana for this one, with the shaky 28-year-old struggling once more after conceding to basement club Southampton the match prior.
Andre Onana's performance against Brighton
There were at least some redeeming qualities to his showing against the Saints, with five strong saves tallied up in the 3-1 win, with this performance lacking any obvious positives on the contrary.
The Cameroonian didn’t make a single save during this nightmare showing, as Yankuba Minteh’s early effort beat him despite the United goalkeeper initially getting a glove on the shot, whilst the other two strikes from the Seagulls saw Onana rooted to his goalline and then fumble into the path of Georginio Rutter who made it 3-1.
With Altay BayÄąndÄąr standing out in the Cup when Amorim’s side surprised Arsenal, as the reserve shot-stopper tallied up an impressive six saves across the 120-minute affair, it could be worth reinstating the Turkish goalkeeper for United’s next Premier League test over the ex-Ajax star.
He is unlikely to be the only casualty, with Noussair Mazraoui’s head also potentially on the chopping block after a fatigued showing against a full-throttle Brighton team.
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Mazraoui's performance in numbers vs Brighton
Mazraoui did have a daunting task on his hands trying to keep a slick Kaoru Mitoma quiet all afternoon, but it was still a below-par showing from the Moroccan that would have worried Amorim a lot.
Indeed, the early opener saw the Brighton number 22 completely beat his marker for pace after a long ball over the top, with Minteh then left with a simple tap-in after Mazaroui let Mitoma lay it off to his eager teammate.
Minutes played
84
Touches
45
Accurate passes
25/30 (83%)
Key pass
1
Interceptions
2
Tackles
1
Dribbled past
2
Total duels won
1/7
All-in-all, it was a dreadful day at the office for the former Bayern Munich man, who was dribbled past two times as an easy target for the Brighton attackers to exploit, alongside only winning one of his seven duels as the far brighter and switched-on visitors showed no mercy.
His creative game was also way off with just one key pass managed – after becoming known at Ajax and at the Allianz Arena for being an expansive option out from the back.
Manchester Evening News journalist Samuel Luckhurst voice his dissatisfaction at Mazraoui’s performance at the full-time whistle, with a 3/10 rating handed to the 27-year-old who was singled out for how much he struggled up against Mitoma.
It will now be up to Amorim to attempt to get a tune out of his worst underperformers, but in the case of both Onana and Mazraoui, their first team spots could be up for grabs now as Rangers travel to Old Trafford next in the Europa League, before a tricky away day at Craven Cottage comes into view back in the unforgiving league.
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In a star-studded Adidas event at the BMO Stadium, the Inter Miami superstar crossed paths with other celebrities including the NFL star
Messi relives World Cup glory at Adidas-sponsored event
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WHAT HAPPENED
Lionel Messi, currently playing for Inter Miami, was reunited with the FIFA World Cup trophy during an Adidas-sponsored event at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles. The gathering, which coincided with the unveiling of the 2026 World Cup in the United States, saw Messi joined by Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, creating a unique crossover of football and American football icons. The event also featured other stars, including former football legends Alessandro Del Piero and JĂźrgen Klinsmann, two men who have won the World Cup in the past, as well as FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
The reunion with the World Cup trophy comes as part of a global tour, attracting football enthusiasts eager to see the coveted prize. For Messi, it was a chance to relive the emotions of his triumph in Qatar, where he led Argentina to victory in one of the most thrilling finals in World Cup history. The event also served as a precursor to the upcoming 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. It also is the second publically-known time he's met Mahomes, with the first being a hilarious encounter.
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WHATâS NEXT?
As the 2026 World Cup approaches, events like these will likely become more frequent, building excitement and anticipation for the tournament. For Messi, the focus returns to his season with Inter Miami, as face LAFC on April 3 in the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinals.
Akeal Hosein hit a rapid 60, while Nicholas Pooran surprisingly got four wickets, but visitors fell short in the end
Danyal Rasool12-Jun-202248 overs Pakistan 269 for 9 (Shadab 86, Imam 62, Pooran 4-48) beat West Indies 216 (Hosein 60, Shadab 4-62, Hasan 2-29) by 53 runsA sensational all-round performance from Shadab Khan sealed a commanding 53-run win for Pakistan, and a 3-0 series win to give their World Cup qualification hopes a major fillip. The 23-year old came in with the hosts in a spot of bother at 117 for 5, serving as both anchor and slogger through various stages of the second half of the innings, before a four-wicket haul with the ball brought the visitors down.The 269 that Pakistan put up in the first innings might briefly have seemed like a few runs short when West Indies began brightly, but in the absence of in-form middle-order batters to shepherd the innings through, they found the Pakistan bowlers a touch too good to handle.For once, Pakistan lost the top order early despite an 85-run opening stand between Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq. It thrust significant responsibility on the middle order, with Shadab Khan stepping up to the mark, as his 78-ball 86 helped Pakistan to a defensible 269.West Indies captain Nicholas Pooran was the surprise architect of the hosts’ middle-order collapse, getting significant spin and bounce as his first four ODI wickets left Pakistan tottering at 117 for 5. The game was also suspended by an unexpected dust storm on a hot day in Multan, leading two overs being sliced off the contest.Pakistan chose to bat first, with a more cautious Zaman prioritising time at the crease over his trademark truculence. The first third of the innings was spent with the two turning the strike over and minimising risk, and aside from an early drop from Shai Hope that reprieved Imam, the openers looked fairly comfortable.Pooran, who had before today bowled just three balls in ODI cricket, brought himself on, and in his third over, yorked Fakhar to provide his side the breakthrough. Following that, Hayden Walsh Jnr stunned Multan next over by trapping Babar Azam in front, with a successful West Indian review sending him back for 1.Three further quickfire strikes from Pooran – including two in three balls – dismissed Imam, Haris and Mohammad Rizwan, as Pakistan suddenly looked vulnerable to being bowled out early.But Shadab and Khushdil Shah strung together an 84-run partnership, coming either side of a dust storm that briefly reduced visibility at the ground to almost none. When the players returned, the sixth-wicket pair upped the tempo, and though Khushdil never quite moved into top gear as he is so lethally capable of, it was Shadab who was having the more telling impact on the innings.Akeal Hosein tried to keep West Indies alive, before Shadab had him stumpedâ˘PCBAnd when Akeal Hosein breached Khushdil’s defences, the responsibility on Shadab only rose; and so did he to the occasion.He brought up his half-century the following over, shepherding the strike with the responsibility of a frontline batter and the artistry of a modern death-overs game management specialist. Shadab found regular boundaries, and for a brief time, might have entertained thoughts of a maiden international hundred before a perfect yorker breached his defence as he tried to lap it over fine leg.However, by then he had 86, and against a West Indies batting line-up reeling from the second game, Pakistan took momentum with them at the halfway mark.In the absence of Shaheen Afridi, Pakistan’s new-ball attack carried an intrigue in itself, and debutant Shahnawaz Dahani swiftly delivered. After a breezy start from West Indies, Dahani drew Kyle Mayers into a slash that found Imam at point. Soon after, Shamarh Brooks was coaxed into chopping one on to his stumps.At the other end, the luckless Hasan Ali took a wicket, only for the third umpire to find he had overstepped. But he wouldn’t be denied for long. A hook from Shai Hope found Khushdil sprinting across the boundary to pluck one out of thin air, giving Hasan a wicket his confidence sorely needed.West Indies had a few partnerships midway, but Pakistan kept stubbing them out before they became any kind of menace. Shadab was the chief architect of this kind of preemptive strike. Keacy Carty was undone by a gem of a legspinner that Mohammad Haris behind the stumps was quick to react to, catching the batter out of his crease, while a loose shot from Rovman Powell found Zaman at long-off.The only reason Pakistan might have had to put their victory celebrations on hold was a feisty counterattack from Hosein, who breathed some hope into the West Indies camp when he smashed Mohammad Nawaz for two sixes in an over.Shadab was smashed for one too off the first ball of the next, but he wouldn’t be kept quiet for long, coming back to deceive him with a wrong’un, with Haris reacting sharply behind the stumps once more to whip the bails off.That knocked the stuffing out of the West Indies side, who, despite enjoying plenty of success in phases of play this series, never really did enough to merit an outright win on the tour. Pakistan managed to cash out in the heat, while with World Cup qualification becoming an uphill task, West Indies found themselves left out in the cold in Multan.
Western Storm 164 for 9 (Scrivens 4-33) beat Sunrisers 160 for 5 (Scrivens 56) by one wicketTeenager Grace Scrivens’ heroics with bat and ball proved fruitless as a last-gasp overthrow handed Western Storm a dramatic victory in their Charlotte Edwards Cup tie at Chelmsford.The 18-year-old struck her maiden Sunrisers half-century with 56 from 42 balls, anchoring her side’s total of 160 for five – their highest since the tournament launched last year.Scrivens’ off-spin then appeared to have wrecked the Storm reply as she dismissed Danielle Gibson and England captain Heather Knight within the space of three deliveries, finishing with figures of four for 33.Yet Storm’s last-wicket pair of Alex Griffiths and debutant Sophia Smale – needing three off the final ball – snatched an incredible victory as the throw from long-on sailed over the head of despairing wicketkeeper Scarlett Hughes and away to the fence.Sunrisers, who had looked sluggish in their previous powerplay against South East Stars, quickly set about the Storm attack after being put in as Scrivens and Cordelia Griffith cruised to a 50 partnership from just 26 balls.Scrivens struck Lauren Filer for four consecutive boundaries, while Griffith’s crisp off-side drives took her to 26 before she fell victim to a shambolic run-out for the second time in as many games.This time, Griffith stumbled at the non-striker’s end while her partner drove towards mid-off and called for a single, leaving her stranded as the throw reached wicketkeeper Natasha Wraith.A wily spell of one for 22 by Knight, including the wicket of Mady Villiers for 11, helped to check the flow of runs, but Scrivens advanced to her half-century from 35 balls and found a capable ally in Jo Gardner (28 not out).Having survived a stumping chance off Griffiths (one for 25), Scrivens eventually fell after giving the same bowler the charge, but Kelly Castle (14) helped to ensure Sunrisers posted a competitive total.Storm sent Knight in at the top of the order, but she lost two partners almost immediately as Georgia Hennessy was caught down the leg side off Naomi Dattani and skipper Sophie Luff hoisted Scrivens straight to mid-off.Abtaha Maqsood’s first ball brought Sunrisers a third wicket, with Fran Wilson stumped after missing the leg-spinner’s flighted delivery, but Danielle Gibson’s powerful hitting, with 27 from 20, kept the visitors in contention.She and Knight added 41 in five overs – only for Scrivens to deal Storm a double blow as Gibson holed out to deep midwicket before Knight, trying to work the ball on the leg side, was bowled for 27.Natasha Wraith’s belligerent 27 from 16 threatened to tilt the contest back in Storm’s favour – but, when she was stumped dancing down the track to Scrivens, it looked as if Sunrisers were home and dry.However, Katie George’s 34 kept the contest alive and Griffiths, with an unbeaten 25 from 13, won it from Scrivens’ final delivery.