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Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Lahore Qalandars came close to overturning their poor start in the tournament, only to falter in a chase of 160 that had been set up by a Powerplay where they blitzed 68 runs. Captain and opening batsman Brendon McCullum made his first score of greater than 40 in the PSL, but a slide engineered by Shahid Afridi, with support from Imad Wasim, ensured that Qalandars’ slim middle order were put under enough pressure to fall short by 27 runs. Left-arm seamer Usman Khan cleaned up the lower order to hand Karachi Kings their third win in as many games.Having elected to bat, Karachi had three successful phases in their innings. However, the phases were separated by two collapses. Opener Joe Denly led a brutal start to the innings. After surviving an lbw decision – on field and then on review – he carted fast bowler Shaheen Afridi for a six over long-on that measured 104 metres.The introduction of Yasir in the Powerplay did pay off for Lahore though when he got Denly to top-edge a pull. Mustafizur Rahman trapped Babar Azam lbw off the next ball, extended that start into a wicket-maiden, and by the time Sunil Narine was halfway through his first over, Karachi Kings had fallen to 36 for 3. A fifty-run stand followed, but another collapse ensued and they fell from 86 for 3 to 117 for 7. However, Ravi Bopara, in the company of Mohammad Irfan Jr. sparked a late surge that lifted them to 159.Lahore lost Narine for a first-ball duck, which offset their decision to push Fakhar Zaman to No. 3 in order to bolster the middle order. The left-hander did make a contribution in the Powerplay as he is wont to do, but when both him and McCullum were dismissed playing reverse sweeps, Karachi Kings latched onto the opening and completed the job. They’ve now taken 28 wickets in three matches.Joe Denly hits down the ground•Pakistan Super League

Where it was wonKarachi had two distinct moments that gave them the victory in a match where they were constantly battling to stay ahead. After collapsing a second time, they were seven down in 18 overs, but Bopara and Irfan Jr. didn’t let that change in momentum cost their team. With three sixes and a four in the last two overs, they stretched the score from 128 to 159. Ten runs fewer could have made a difference to Lahore, whose strategy was to play the spinners out and make up against pace.The strategy might have worked too, had it not been for the second moment. Denesh Ramdin, brought into the side to give the spinners more confidence through his keeping abilities, was also meant to play the finisher’s role in the middle order. Just when he decided to take on Irfan Jr., he ended up slapping a cut forcefully, only for Denly to leap to his right and take the catch of the tournament at backward point. That was the end for Lahore.The men that won itAfridi hit his first ball for six today, but was dismissed next ball with more than three overs to go. With the ball, however, he sychted through Lahore’s middle order. After getting 68 in the Powerplay, they only managed 38 runs in the next six overs, losing four wickets in the process. Three of these were to Afridi, who conceded only 19.Moment of the matchShaheen Afridi was among the most expensive bowlers in the game, but he has reason to remember it. Colin Ingram had been the more adventurous batsman during his partnership with Bopara. Once the pair had stabilised the innings with their fifty-run stand, Ingram looked to lift the scoring rate with a slog sweep. He ended up getting too far under it and lifted it high towards deep midwicket where Shaheen had it covered. In the end though, it seemed like he wasn’t sure of keeping his balance and completing this catch. Instead, he used his height to dab the ball back into play while lifting off the ground like a volleyball player, and found Umar Akmal had come to his aid from long-on. With an exaggerated tumble, Akmal grabbed hold of the lob and completed the catch.Where they standThe result didn’t affect the standings. It was Karachi’s third win in a row and they continue to lead the table. On the flip side, Lahore’s third loss in a row makes their situation even more dire at the bottom of the table.

Everton “need to get in a new number nine” and have now made a “bid” for a £12m man described as a “breath of fresh air” and a “clever player”, per journalist Alex Crook.

Everton news – What’s the latest?

There’s no escaping from the fact that last year was yet another terrible season for the blue half of Merseyside, one that needed a final-day win to avoid ending in relegation for the historic club.

That said, the transfer business this summer has been really quite good, with the Toffees adding both quantity and quality to Sean Dyche’s squad as they hope for a slightly less eventful campaign this year.

The loan signing of Jack Harrison from Leeds United and the permanent £15m signing of 19-year-old striker Youssef Chermiti from Sporting Lisbon are probably the two stand-out arrivals at Goodison Park so far.

Read the latest Everton transfer news HERE…

However, getting in Ashley Young on a free and finally securing Arnaut Danjuma on loan after their failed attempt in January also represents some great business.

And the club aren’t stopping there as they have now made an offer for Southampton and Scotland striker Che Adams worth in the region of £12m, per journalist Alex Crook.

He explained the situation live on TalkSport, with the clip then being posted to their YouTube channel:

“Che Adams, we understand that a bid is in from Everton for around about £12m. He’s in the last year of his contract, so a decision for Southampton to make. He’s actually started the season quite well, scoring a couple of goals in the championship.

“But I think Everton, they need to get in a new number nine don’t they because they just can’t rely on Dominic Calvert-Lewin to stay fit.”

How much does Che Adams earn?

The Saints man is currently on a pay packet of £30,000-a-week, or £1,560,000-a-year, which is the ninth-highest wage at Southampton now that James Ward-Prowse has left.

Should he get his move to Merseyside this summer, he can probably expect a nice raise as well, as he currently earns less than half of the team’s average weekly salary, which is around £62,000-a-week, per Capology.

He had a good enough last season and showed in glimpses that he has the required talent and attributes to make it in the Premier League and that for a team battling relegation like the Toffees, he would probably be a great fit.

In just 23 league starts last year, the Scotland international scored five goals, provided three assists, took 1.7 shots per game, won 2.2 aerial duals, won one Man-of-the-Match award and averaged a match rating of 6.59, per WhoScored.

One man who is undoubtedly a fan is Rangers and Scotland legend Ally McCoist who heaped praise on the 27-year-old, saying:

“But Adams is one I like a lot. He’s such a clever player. He’s got a bit of pace and can go in behind, and he can finish.

“He has been a breath of fresh air for us.”

Ultimately Everton could do a lot worse than Adams, and whilst he maybe isn’t the most exciting of signings, he would make a brilliant addition to Dyche’s squad this year.

Avon and Somerset police have confirmed they have completed their investigation into the incident involving Ben Stokes outside a Bristol nightclub in September and have passed a file onto the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for charging advice

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Nov-2017Avon and Somerset police have completed their investigation into the incident involving Ben Stokes outside a Bristol nightclub in September and have passed a file onto the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for advice on whether he should be charged.The police also confirmed that a 27-year-old man suffered a fractured eye socket in the incident which occurred outside the Mbargo nightclub in the Clifton area of the city on the evening of England’s one-day international against West Indies on September 25.Stokes, who arrived in New Zealand on Wednesday, and is awaiting a decision on whether he could play for Canterbury this weekend, was arrested on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm then released on bail and has since been made unavailable for international duty.The CPS decision would normally be expected to take several weeks – perhaps longer – so the latest developments do not add any clarity to Stokes immediate international future and would appear to drastically reduce the chance of him playing a part in the Ashes.A statement from Avon and Somerset Police read: “We’re now in a position to provide an update on our investigation into a disorder in Bristol which happened during the early hours of Monday, 25 September.”A 27-year-old man suffered a fractured eye socket in the incident on Queens Road, Clifton. A 26-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm and was later released under investigation.”Three other men, aged 26, 27 and 28 have all voluntarily attended police stations for an interview.”Today (29/11), we have passed a file to the Crown Prosecution Service and are now seeking charging advice.”To bring charges, the CPS must decide whether it feels sufficient evidence exists for a realistic prospect of conviction and whether a trial was in the public interest.If the CPS were to decide not to press charges there is still an ECB disciplinary process Stokes would have to go through. In that situation, the full ECB Board would meet within 48 hours to consider how to respond and there have also been suggestions the Cricket Discipline Commission could backdate any suspension to matches he has already missed.Stokes landed in Christchurch on Wednesday morning and conversations have been had between his representatives and Canterbury about playing domestic cricket in the Ford Trophy and Super Smash T20 competition. Stokes was granted a No Objection Certificate by the ECB last week although that was not made public until he was spotted at Heathrow airport on Monday evening which sparked frenzied speculation that he could be joining the Ashes squad.He was met by his parents on arriving and did not comment on his potential link-up with Canterbury.

Everton midfielder Dele Alli has taken to his personal social media accounts to issue an update on his fitness, confirming a fresh injury blow.

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• Dele Alli had been nearing a return
• Suffers fresh setback
• Offers update on his injury status on Instagram

• Getty
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The 27-year-old revealed he has suffered another injury setback on his road to recovery, having been sidelined with a long-term groin injury since February.

  Dele had previously been on course to return to full training after recently getting back on the grass, but will now be spending some more time on the physio bed following the fresh concern.

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• WHAT DELE SAID

  Speaking on his personal Instagram account, Dele wrote: "As the year comes to an end, I just wanted to say thank you for the incredible support I’ve received over the last 12 months. This year has a been a little different for me. I’ve learned and experienced a lot, had ups and downs, but throughout it all you’ve always shown me so much love. Unfortunately the year isn’t ending as I would have hoped, I had been close to returning to full training but frustratingly I’ve had another set back with my injury.

  "I’ll be out again for short while but my outlook and mentality is nothing but positive. I’ll be attacking my physiotherapy and giving it everything to be back on the pitch as soon as possible. I hope you’ve had the year you wanted, and wishing you all nothing but the best for 2024. Happy New Year, see you guys soon. Dele."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Everton boss Sean Dyche had offered a positive update on the fitness of Dele earlier in December, as the former Tottenham star remains eager to reignite his professional career at Goodison Park. Dyche added: "He still has a bit to go because he has been out for a long time, he needs a game programme, but to get him back on with us would be really pleasing for him because he has been so unlucky."

  Dele's bad luck continues with his latest fitness update, but supporters will be encouraged to hear that he is staying positive after a year that saw him make headlines for a brave interview with Gary Neville on . The England international opened up on being abused as a child and his struggles with addiction while also offering an explanation for his rapid decline in recent years, and was widely praised for his honesty.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR DELE?

  Dele will now continue his rehabilitation from injury with the aim of returning to match fitness at some point in the new year. Everton will be hoping to get him up to speed as fast as possible with a view to joining their push for a top-half Premier League finish. Dyche's men have crucial games against Spurs, Manchester City and Crystal Palace to come in January, having been beaten last time out at Wolves.

When Lionel Messi stood over a free-kick in the final stages of his first game in an Inter Miami shirt, there was only ever going to be one outcome. The Barcelona legend stuck to the script to secure the winner in style on his debut, and has since continued his solid start to life in America.Now making his first start for the club, Messi made things look easy once more, as has been the case throughout the entirety of his career, netting a brace in his full debut while also picking up an assist.From six games without a win before Messi’s arrival, Inter Miami have now won two consecutive games in what is clear evidence of the impact that one of the best players of all time can have on a side.David Beckham will be hoping to see his club reach new heights in MLS following a whole host of new arrivals but for now, he’ll be delighted to see them impressing during the Leagues Cup.

Lionel Messi scores full debut brace

Inter Miami defeated Atlanta United 4-0 in the tournament, and Messi was the star of the show – as you can see in the highlights below. The former Paris Saint-Germain star opened the scoring as early as the eighth minute before finding the second and his brace in the 22nd minute.

Two goals from Robert Taylor then followed in an impressive display from a side who looked down and out prior to Messi’s arrival.

The Argentine’s first goal was one for Barcelona fans, with Sergio Busquets’ ball over the top of Atlanta’s defence allowing Messi the chance to eventually slot home at the second time of asking after his first effort slammed against the right-hand post.

Orchestrating things the second time around, Messi found Taylor out wide, before being handed the opportunity to simply tap home inside the area for his second of the afternoon.

Not done there, the forward returned the favour to Taylor, allowing the winger to find the back of the net with ease.

Though Taylor played a starring role in the Messi show, the fans made it clear who they came to see, leaving in their numbers when the World Cup winner was substituted off in the 78th minute. If ever there was a moment which represented the icon’s popularity, it is that.

What is Lionel Messi’s salary at Inter Miami?

Fighting off interest from elsewhere, it wasn’t just the project that convinced Messi to make the move to Miami this summer, with Beckham paying his new star man a hefty salary.

According to Marca, Messi will earn up to $54m (£41.85m) in his first season at Inter Miami, in what is an eye-watering amount.

Given the eyes that he’ll bring to both the cub and MLS, it could well prove to be a worthwhile number, however.

So far, we’ve seen the likes of Kim Kardashian and Lebron James make appearances in the stands, watching on in awe as Messi does what only Messi does best.

As the spectacle continues, too, things will only get even better for Inter Miami, who have also welcomed Jordi Alba this summer, as they look to take things up to another level in America.

From the foot of the table, Beckham’s club could soon find themselves competing with the best sides that America has to offer.

Erling Haaland has enjoyed a social media meme a day after his furious referee rant during Manchester City's clash with Tottenham.

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Haaland reacts to hilarious memeWas left fuming against TottenhamMissed several chances as Man City were held WHAT HAPPENED?

The Norwegian was left fuming during Sunday's Premier League clash between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur as he felt that Jack Grealish had been denied the chance to score a fourth goal for the club and seal victory in a dramatic game.

A thrilling encounter went down to the wire, with Grealish played through on goal in stoppage time, only for referee Simon Hooper to stop the game for a foul on Haaland. Hooper had appeared to wave play on initially, leaving the goal machine to angrily approach the referee on the pitch. At full-time Haaland also told Spurs' Giovanni Lo Celso to “f*ck off” as he stormed down the tunnel.

AdvertisementWHAT ERLING HAALAND SAID

The 23-year-old seemed to have cooled down after his outburst on the pitch as he shared a meme of himself on X with the caption, "Wtf that made me smile for the first time today."

Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

While the Cityzens might feel that they were robbed of a chance to score a late winner, they did not have the best of outings against Ange Postecoglou's side. The champions came back from behind to go 2-1 up in the first half but then conceded their lead twice in the second and were extremely wasteful in front of goal.

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(C)GettyImagesWHAT NEXT FOR MAN CITY?

Pep Guardiola's side, who are now three points behind league leaders Arsenal, will aim to get back to winning ways on Wednesday when they take on Aston Villa at Villa Park.

Leeds United have endured a slow start to their summer, having yet to welcome a new manager into their dugout, and therefore made no signings either.

If they are truly keen on an instant return to the Premier League, they must rectify this soon.

Fortunately for fans of the club, many are aware that a deal for Daniel Farke seems all but complete, with the completion of the 49ers' takeover the only thing standing in the way of its announcement and the true start of their transfer window.

That is not to suggest that targets have not already been identified though, with one report emerging late last month linking the Whites with a move for Emmanuel Dennis.

Given the Nigeria forward struggled for game time within Nottingham Forest's bloated squad, the Yorkshire outfit could offer him an escape, to replace their own struggling striker and add some much-needed firepower to propel them out of the Championship.

Would Emmanuel Dennis improve Leeds United?

Despite having only spent two years in English football now, it feels like the 25-year-old has been around for far longer.

Having joined Watford in 2021, the marksman quickly established himself as one of the hottest prospects in the top flight with his blistering start.

Journalist Josh Bunting even noted during that time that he was an "absolutely stunning player2."

This culminated in his tally of ten goals alongside six assists for the year, which still could not prevent the Hornets from the drop.

However, it alerted many to his ability to thrive at the top level.

Whilst the Tricky Trees were unwilling to hand the £40k-per-week dynamo the necessary play time to prove this further, a move to Elland Road could help him become a hero by firing them to promotion and then helping spearhead the retention of their top-flight status.

Just 39 minutes per game last campaign fed into his underwhelming record of two goals and two assists all season, via Sofascore.

His presence would at the very least provide an upgrade on Patrick Bamford, who Farke could seek to immediately bin given his performances last term.

Having made 28 league appearances, the Englishman would record just four goals, missing a whopping 13 big chances with a conversion rate of just 8%. If their new boss has serious ambitions of competing at the top of their new division, they will need a far more reliable frontman than the 29-year-old who made missing sitters in huge moments an unfortunate habit.

For comparison, Dennis would miss just five big chances in that aforementioned breakout year, with a goal conversion rate of 17%, via Sofascore.

With pace, physicality, finishing prowess and youth all on his side, Farke could do much worse than immediately ditching Bamford for Dennis as his first big call as the new manager.

The Premier League fixtures have been released, and we'll see Vincent Kompany's newly promoted Burnley take on league champions Manchester City to kick off the campaign.

The fixture will see the former City captain return to his former club for the second time as the Clarets' manager, offering what will likely be the club's toughest test right off the bat.

To get you ready for the start of the new Premier League season, here is Football FanCast's official preview for the game, answering several key questions below.

When is the match and is it on UK TV?

The match between the two sides will kick off the 2023/24 Premier League campaign, taking place on Friday, 11 August at 8pm BST.

The meeting will be televised in the UK, airing on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Ultra HDR, giving fans plenty of options to choose from.

Premier League: Every Opening Day Fixture

Who is Burnley's key player?

If Kompany's side are to avoid relegation this season, it's likely that Josh Brownhill plays a crucial role in the campaign.

In the middle of the park, the Englishman had an impressive season at Turf Moor as Burnley dominated the Championship last year, with his WhoScored rating of 7.27 outshining everyone else in the side.

Brownhill also managed 15 goal contributions from midfield and an average of 2.2 tackles a game in the league, so the 27-year-old demonstrated his ability to impact the game on both sides of the pitch.

Who is Manchester City's key player?

While Erling Haaland's ridiculous goal-scoring output is what makes the headlines, Kevin De Bruyne's contributions all over the park make him the most integral member of Man City's team.

With an average match rating of 7.58 on WhoScored, not only was the Belgian the highest-rated player at City, but he was also the highest-rated player in the entire Premier League as Pep Guardiola's side completed a historic treble.

With 34 goal contributions in all competitions last season, the 31-year-old continues to be the best midfielder in the world and will be key to City's success once again next season.

How will Burnley line up?

Having regularly lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, expect to see Burnley continue to deploy the tactic in the Premier League, with Kompany keen to keep hold of the club's new, more progressive style of play.

With long-term servant Ashley Barnes departing the club in the summer, Burnley have a fairly sizeable hole to fill, with the striker featuring in 39 league games last season, and it's being reported that the Lancashire side are interested in Metz striker Georges Mikautadze, so the side could lineup next season with the forward leading the lines.

With Michael Obafemi and Louis Beyer joining the club on permanent deals following successful loan spells in the Championship, Burnley have yet to sign anyone else, so as things stand the side's starting lineup will look very similar to the one that gained promotion to the Premier League.

Predicted lineup (4-2-3-1): Muric; Vitinho, Harwood-Bellis, Beyer, Maatsen; Cullen, Cork; Tella, Brownhill, Zaroury; Mikautadze

How will Man City line up?

Having won the treble last season, City have wasted no time exploring options to continue improving. Several key players are rumoured to be departing the Etihad, and with captain Ilkay Gundogan and defender Kyle Walker both linked with moves away, the club has several roles to fill.

Guardiola's side regularly mixed things up tactically, but their most reliable formation was a 3-2-4-1, so expect them to return to that as they look to retain the Premier League for the fourth straight season. As reports suggest the club are preparing to make a move for Chelsea midfielder Matteo Kovacic, don't be surprised if he lines up for City on the starting day.

Predicted lineup (3-2-4-1): Ederson; Dias, Ake, Akanji; Stones, Rodri; Bernardo Silva, De Bruyne, Kovacic, Grealish; Haaland

What were the last five league meetings between the two teams?

Burnley haven't fared too well against City recently, with the Citizens dominating the Lancashire side over the last five league meetings.

Kompany's side will have their work cut out for them if they're to get a decent result, with Burnley failing to score against City in any of their previous five league meetings. While Burnley are a completely different side to the one that last played in the Premier League, they still face an uphill battle if these past meetings are anything to go by.

April 2022: Burnley 0-2 Man City October 2021: Man City 2-0 Burnley February 2021: Burnley 0-2 Man City November 2020: Man City 5-0 Burnley June 2020: Man City 5-0 Burnley Who is going to win?

While Burnley looked fantastic in the Championship last season, facing City in their first game back in the Premier League will prove too tough a task for Kompany's side.

The treble-winning City have looked unbeatable recently, and don't expect that to change against the newly-promoted Burnley. Having had a year of English football already in the books, expect Haaland to once again be in scintillating form as he builds on what was an incredible debut season at the Etihad.

Having deployed a progressive, attractive style of football in the Championship last season, Kompany's side will likely want to continue to play their brand of football, and it will play right into City's advantage, with Burnley suffering a rude awakening as they return to England's top flight.

FFC predicts: Manchester City win

Glasgow Rangers have been beaten in the race to bring Liverpool starlet Leighton Clarkson back to the Scottish Premiership after it was confirmed that he has returned to Aberdeen.

Who is Leighton Clarkson?

Clarkson is a midfielder and academy product at Anfield having worked his way up through the various youth ranks over the years, but in order to gain regular game time, he’s carried out two loans during his career, the first at Blackburn Rovers and last season at Aberdeen.

The Merseyside outfit’s gem has only ever made three senior appearances under Jurgen Klopp so he was clearly never going to make a significant breakthrough into the first-team any time soon, and with his contract also set to expire at the end of next term, his future lies away from his boyhood club.

Back in May, Football Insider credited the Light Blues with an interest in the 21-year-old and claimed that Michael Beale was a big admirer of the up-and-coming talent having worked with him previously, but a significant development has now been publicly announced, and he won’t be completing a summer switch to Ibrox.

Are Rangers signing Clarkson?

Taking to Twitter, Aberdeen confirmed through their social media channel that Clarkson had re-joined them on a permanent basis from Liverpool following his successful loan in 2022/23. They wrote:

"Leighton Clarkson has signed a four year-deal with the Dons, joining from Liverpool for an undisclosed fee. Welcome back Leighton."

Is Clarkson not joining a blow for Beale?

Rangers will know how much of a “technical” player (Josh Bunting) Clarkson is having faced him whilst on loan at Aberdeen, not to mention the existing connection he already has to Beale, so the defensive midfielder not joining is definitely a huge blow.

The Unique Sports Group client, who pockets £3k-per-week, averaged 2.2 tackles per league game last season and established himself as Barry Robson’s second top-performing defensive player, but he was arguably even more of a positive influence at the opposite end of the pitch in the final third.

The Adidas-sponsored ace clocked up 11 goal contributions (seven assists and four goals) in 29 Scottish Premiership outings which are impressive numbers for someone whose natural role is to sit in front of the backline, but the Gers boss will now have to turn his attention elsewhere and start focusing on who else he can target after falling short on this occasion.

For anyone not named Sachin Tendulkar, being given an opportunity to play a so-called farewell match is rare at the Test level. At least in a bilateral series among Full Members, there is some flexibility, because, with the exception of ranking points, there are few administrative consequences for a farewell flop. Things like losing ODI status or $500,000 in ICC funding, which accounts for 25% of your operating budget.So in the world of Associate cricket, where virtually all matches have context, in terms of promotion or relegation, securing or maintaining ODI or T20I status, and the ICC funding package attached to it, the farewell match is virtually a non-existent concept. However, the Desert T20 tournament is a rare shift from that on both fronts. Associate teams are always desperate for more cricket, but this tournament comes without the desperate measures attached to it.For former Afghanistan captain Nawroz Mangal, who announced his retirement at the start of the month, it means he has been afforded the opportunity by the Afghanistan selection – of which he is set to take over the head role – to have a “farewell series” in the words of Afghanistan’s team management. Mangal has been warming up daily with the Afghanistan squad in the UAE and was listed as the 14th man on the team sheets for their wins over Ireland and United Arab Emirates.But, with a semi-final place assured heading into the day, Afghanistan made three changes to their XI to play Namibia including Mangal. It also helped that Namibia were already eliminated from a chance at making the semis, thus taking the edge off the intensity level for both sides.Still, nobody wants to pull a Bradman and go for a duck in what could be their final innings, so the personal pressure remains high. Mangal, though, handled what could be his final moments in an Afghanistan uniform with a calmness befitting a figure who shepherded the national side through their many magical, mercurial and, at times, maddening moments in their ascent up Associate cricket.Nawroz Mangal acknowledges the 3,000 fans who turned out to support Afghanistan•Peter Della Penna

“He played for Afghanistan for a long time and he was the captain,” legspinner Rashid Khan said when reflecting on Mangal’s place in Afghanistan cricket lore after the win over Namibia. “He did lots of good jobs for Afghanistan. He took the team to this level and he has passed all the hard work [on to us]. Now it’s just really for the youngsters to come and play good.”When he first walked out to bat, there were only about 500 fans in the ground. But, in the fourth over, their enthusiasm matched that of a crowd five times as large, as Mangal swept, drove and cut Gerrie Snyman’s offspin for three boundaries in the over. He may be about to leave after 14 years in international cricket, but Mangal showed he still has a little bit of fuel left in the tank. An even bigger cheer came in the next over when he smacked Jan Frylinck down the ground for six.When he fell for 32, after being defeated in flight while charging Bernard Scholtz, he walked off to an ovation. He had set an excellent platform for Afghanistan in tandem with Mohammad Shahzad, adding 56 for the first wicket in an imposing total of 167 for 6. Three overs into the chase, Namibia were 7 for 4 and Rashid says the side’s main source of motivation on this day – and the tournament as a whole – was to send Mangal out a winner.”It’s his last series,” Rashid said. “He already did his retirement and this is his last series and after that he will be our chief selector. We guys all have to perform well to give him a good gift to retire well.”Even though eyes were on Mangal on this day mainly to see him bat, there was still time left for more cheers for the former captain. With the score at 80 for 6 after 16 overs, and the game well out of Namibia’s hands, captain Asghar Stanikzai gave the crowd – which had swelled to 3000 people at this point – a reason to get up out of their seats when he called over Mangal to have a largely ceremonial bowl.He gave up 11 runs in the 17th over, including a six that caused a delay to find the ball in an empty section of the stadium, but still received respectful applause at the end of the over. When the match ended, he showed his respect and appreciation for the fans, calling for his teammates to walk over and wave thank-yous for supporting what could be his last time as a player. The measure of respect for Mangal is still present in the change room and Rashid says the next generation is indebted to him.”When I came to the national side, he has supported me a lot,” Rashid said. “He has shared with me all the experience that he had from the last 14 years. So it was a good experience playing with him and we will miss him because he was supporting us in the ground, in the dressing room, out on the field. He was giving us all those suggestions and ideas which will better us in the future. We will miss him.”