BRISBANE: Shamar Joseph braved a toe injury and grabbed 7-68 as the young fast bowler inspired the West Indies to its first win in Australia in 27 years in a gripping conclusion to the day-night test at the Gabba on Sunday.
Joseph, who hobbled off the field late Saturday evening when he was struck by a searing Mitchell Starc yorker from the final ball of West Indies’ second innings, flattened Australia for 207 to give the West Indies a memorable win by eight runs.
Opening batter Steve Smith was left stranded with an unbeaten 91 off 146 balls as Joseph kept coming hard at the Australian batters with his pace.
“Shout out for my teammates for their support,” Joseph told broadcasters soon after masterminding West Indies’ memorable win. “I wasn’t even going to come to the ground today, but the doctor did something to my toe. I don’t know what he did, but it worked.”
The 24-year-old Joseph, who made his test debut at Adelaide where the West Indies lost by 10 wickets inside three days, sprinted toward boundary in joy as he clean bowled No. 11 Josh Hazlewood and leveled the two-match series 1-1.
“I just stuck to the basics,” Joseph said. “I feel like we win the entire series by winning this test ... I cried for my five-wicket haul but I’m so happy now. I’m not even tired. I would have kept bowling.”
West Indies had not beaten Australia in a test match since it won by 10 wickets at WACA in 1997, and Cameron Green and Smith well negotiated the first hour after they resumed the 216-run chase at 60-2 and raised Australia hopes of finishing the home test summer 5-0 after it routed Pakistan 3-0 and also won the first test against the West Indies in dominant style.
But Joseph returned with a stunning spell of fast bowling to breathe life when he grabbed 6-60 off an unchanged ten overs spell before the first session ended that left Australia still needing 29.
Joseph reached speeds of close to 150 kph (93 mph) and tore through the Australian middle order in a breathtaking spell. He bowled Green (42) to break a 71-run stand before blasting through Head’s defense with a superb yorker with his next ball while bowling the lefthander from around the wicket.
It was the second time in the match that Head was dismissed first ball.
Mitch Marsh (10) and Alex Carey (two) both came and went quickly as Australia wobbled and belief grew for West Indies of achieving a stunning upset.
Starc made a quickfire 21 before he became Joseph’s fifth wicket when he was caught by Kevin Sinclair at cover. Cummins, who scored a career-high 64 not out in the first innings, could only manage two before he edged a ball through to Joshua da Silva with Australia still requiring 41 runs to win.
Smith and Lyon brought down the target to 29, but Alzarri Joseph had Lyon caught behind soon after the break, one ball after he couldn’t grab a tough return catch.
Smith then played a superb lapshot for a six off Alzarri Joseph over fine leg and brought the target down to single digits.
But Shamar Joseph would have the final say as he uprooted Hazlewood’s off stump with another pacey delivery to seal West Indies’ famous win amid wild celebrations by the tourists.
“Obvious disappointment after a loss but that was a fantastic test match and a fantastic series,” Cummins said. “I thought in particular, Shamar, the way he bowled today, he was right up for it and unfortunately we weren’t good enough.
“I thought West Indies were fantastic. They outplayed us this week. Sometimes you always learn the lessons the hard way.”
West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite said his team-mates got pumped up by former Australian cricketer Rodney Hogg’s criticism, heading into the Gabba test.
“I must say we had two words that inspired us in this test match,” Brathwaite said. “Mr. Rodney Hogg said that we were ‘pathetic and hopeless’. That that was our inspiration. We wanted to show the world we’re not pathetic. And I must ask him, are these muscles big enough for him?“
Brathwaite praised Joseph’s brilliant fast bowling and said he came to know about Joseph’s availability only an hour before fourth day’s play.
“The doctor said he got an injection and he’s quite good and then he told me he’s going to do it,” Brathwaite said. “I had to back him. He’s a superstar and I know he’ll do great things for West Indies in the future.
“We have to continue and play with heart and keep fighting for West Indies. I would love more test cricket for sure.”
Joseph’s 7-68 guides West Indies to stunning win, dashes Australia hopes after Pakistan rout
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Joseph’s 7-68 guides West Indies to stunning win, dashes Australia hopes after Pakistan rout
- Cameron Green, Steve Smith raised Australia hopes of finishing home test summer 5-0 after it routed Pakistan 3-0
- But Shamar Joseph flattened the Australian side for 207 runs to give the West Indies a memorable win by eight runs
Ronaldo, Duran take Al-Nassr into last 8
- Ronaldo, who missed the first leg in Iran, kept his cool and produced a perfect Panenka penalty into the center of the goal to bag his seventh goal of the tournament so far
- Duran got his second five minutes from the end — found in space on the right side of the penalty area — he fired a low shot into the far corner in emphatic fashion
Al-Nassr booked their AFC Champions League Elite quarter-final place on Monday with a comfortable 3-0 win over Esteghlal of Iran.
After a frustrating first leg ended 0-0 in Tehran a week earlier, Jhon Duran and Cristiano Ronaldo did the damage in Riyadh to dump the visitors out of the tournament.
Duran opened the scoring after just nine minutes in spectacular fashion. The Colombian, signed from Aston Villa in January, found space on the right corner of the penalty area and produced an exquisite lob that the goalkeeper got a hand to but could not prevent crossing the line.
After Sadio Mane was fouled in the area, Ronaldo, who missed the first leg in Iran, kept his cool and produced a perfect Panenka penalty into the center of the goal to bag his seventh goal of the tournament so far.
What was already a tough task became mission impossible for the Tehran club after they were reduced to 10 men on the stroke of half time. Mehran Ahmadi was shown a second yellow and as he exited the pitch, with a consoling arm of Ronaldo around his shoulders, he took the slim hopes of Esteghlal with him.
It was then a case of damage limitation and Al-Nassr remained in total control of the tie. Five minutes after the restart, Duran fired a fierce shot against the bar from just outside the area.
The Colombian got his second five minutes from the end. He was found in space on the right side of the penalty area and fired a low shot into the far corner in emphatic fashion.
It ended a perfect evening for the Yellows — seeking a first Asian championship — who are the first Saudi Arabian club to make the last eight.
Al-Ahli are expected to join them on Tuesday after winning their first leg 3-1 against Al-Rayyan of Qatar last week. Al-Hilal, however, have much more work to do after losing 1-0 at the Uzbekistan home of Pakhtakor.
Elsewhere, Al-Sadd of Qatar defeated Dubai’s Al-Wasl 3-1 to take the tie 4-2 on aggregate.
KL Rahul: India’s unsung hero and chase-finishing maestro
- Rohit was full of praise for Rahul’s composure at the sharp end of the nerve-shredding chases
DUBAI: KL Rahul was hailed Monday as India’s Champions Trophy unsung hero, having twice kept a cool head under pressure to see his team to victory in tense semifinal and finals.
Captain Rohit Sharma top-scored with 76 to lead India to a four-wicket final win over New Zealand in Dubai on Sunday, following Virat Kohli’s 84 to anchor India’s semifinal chase against Australia.
Both won Player of the Match awards for their respective knocks, but after they had departed it had been No. 6 Rahul, almost under the radar, who had kept calm to guide India across the finish line.
He was unbeaten on 34 in the final as India chased down 252, just a few days after his 42 not out took India past Australia’s 264 in the last four of the 50-over competition.
Rohit was full of praise for Rahul’s composure at the sharp end of the nerve-shredding chases.
“Look, when we discussed KL’s batting position, that is one thing we discussed quite deeply about how calm he is when he is batting,” Rohit said after guiding India to a third Champions Trophy crown.
“I’m very, very happy with how he ... batted in the pressure situation, both in the semifinals and this game.
“With KL being there, we know that he’s got that mind where he keeps himself calm and keeps the dressing room also very calm.”
While Rohit and Kohli grabbed the headlines, a softly spoken and smiling Rahul, 32, was quietly enjoying his first win in an ICC championship.
“ICC victories are not so easy to get and it’s my first one, so I’m over the moon,” Rahul said.
“It’s been a complete team effort, all 11-12 players have stood up and their chance and opportunity has come and it’s one of the biggest reasons why we have ended up winning the tournament.”
An elegant batsman, Rahul started off as an opener for India in white-ball cricket.
But a loss of form and intense media scrutiny forced him to reinvent his batting.
He dropped down to No. 6 recently as he edged out Rishabh Pant behind the stumps.
“What I have been taught by my coaches from an early age is that cricket’s a team game and whatever the team requires of you, you need to be able to do that,” said Rahul, who sports a trademark beard and a man bun on his tattooed, athletic frame.
“It requires a lot of preparation, lot of work outside the field. I just watch and learn from the batsmen I like at four, five, six.”
Rahul started his cricketing journey as a wicketkeeper-batsman but had given up the gloves in domestic cricket.
It was not until an injury to Pant against Australia in 2020 that he again stood behind the stumps.
“I kept wickets in the series, played at No. 5 and performed well,” said Rahul.
“From then on the captain and team management thought I could do that role.”
Liverpool, Madrid and Barcelona looking to complete job as they protect slim leads
MILAN: Defending champions Real Madrid, Liverpool and Barcelona all have one-goal leads to protect going into the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 this week.
For Madrid there is also city bragging rights at stake as they visit Atletico Madrid on Wednesday with a 2-1 advantage from the first leg, while Liverpool host Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday knowing they were fortunate to snatch a 1-0 win in France. Barcelona also only have a 1-0 advantage over Benfica, while some other teams are feeling a lot more comfortable — with Bayern Munich having beaten Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 and Arsenal crushing PSV Eindhoven 7-1.
Smash and grab
Liverpool’s players don’t really care how they’re winning — as long as they continue to do so.
Arne Slot’s team had to withstand a barrage of attacks at Parc des Princes before a late goal from Harvey Elliott, who had only just come off the bench, saw it stun PSG.
That was only Liverpool’s second attempt on target compared to a whopping 28 for PSG.
The runaway Premier League leaders had another poor performance on Saturday but still managed to come away with a victory over Southampton.
“It’s just about winning, not how we win. Sometimes you have to win dirty and today was one of them days,” Elliott said after that match. “I think we know that’s what winners do really: When times are hard, what do you do? How can you come up with something to win the game? Luckily this squad is full of them players.”
This week will be decisive for Liverpool’s treble bid as they play Newcastle in the English League Cup final on Sunday.
“I think the best possible way to describe it is four finals, really,” Elliott said. “PSG away, really, really tough game, today was a really tough game, then again on Tuesday another tough game and then the final on the weekend. “So, we just need to make sure that energy-wise we’re still there. We’re still fighting, we’re still hungry to achieve things this season, although it’s a very tough period.”
The loss to Liverpool was PSG’s first defeat since November and halted a run of 10 straight wins for the French team.
Madrid derby
This was supposed to be the year Atletico finally got the best of Real Madrid in the Champions League after losing two finals to their city rivals and being eliminated the other two times they faced off in the knockout rounds.
Going into the first leg, Atletico were ahead of Madrid in the Spanish league and were also undefeated in the past four Madrid derbies.
But they are now on the verge of going out yet again to their neighbors.
Atletico have also slipped behind in La Liga after two late goals saw them lose 2-1 at Getafe at the weekend, while Madrid managed to grind out a 2-1 victory over Rayo Vallecano.
Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti was also able to rotate his squad that was further boosted by the return of Jude Bellingham.
The England midfielder had missed three of his team’s last four games through suspension — including the first leg against Atletico.
Treble chances
It’s not just Liverpool who have their eyes on lifting a trio of trophies this season.
Atletico, Real and Barcelona are also in the semifinals of the Spanish Cup and fighting it out at the top of the league table.
Leverkusen are also still involved in two trophies domestically. Although it would need something of a miracle to make up the eight-point deficit they have to Bayern in the Bundesliga as well as overturn a three-goal disadvantage in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Inter Milan, who won the treble in 2010 under Jose Mourinho, are in better shape. They lead Serie A, will face AC Milan in the Italian Cup semifinals and have a 2-0 advantage over Feyenoord going into Tuesday’s second leg.
Barcelona’s matchup against Benfica also takes place on Tuesday.
Arsenal are not the only English club that should feel confident going into Wednesday. Fellow Premier League side Aston Villa are also at home then and have a 3-1 advantage over Club Brugge.
The matchup between Lille and Borussia Dortmund in France is the only one that is level after they drew 1-1 in the first leg.
‘Not good enough’ and ‘overpaid’: Ratcliffe slams Man Utd flops
- British billionaire names Rasmus Hojlund, Andre Onana and Casemiro, Jadon Sancho and Antony as the chief causes of his frustration
- Jim Ratcliffe: ‘If I actually look at the squad which is available to Ruben (Amorim), I think he is doing a really good job to be honest’
LONDON: Manchester United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe has blasted some of his troubled club’s stars as “not good enough” and “probably overpaid.”
Ratcliffe has endured a dismal start to his reign at Old Trafford since taking charge of footballing operations in February last year.
The British billionaire named Rasmus Hojlund, Andre Onana and Casemiro, Jadon Sancho and Antony as the chief causes of his frustration.
Sancho and Antony are currently on loan at Chelsea and Real Betis respectively after underachieving with United.
In reference to United still paying instalments of transfer fees on several out-of-form players, Ratcliffe, who shares ownership of United with the US-based Glazer family, told the BBC: “If you look at the players we are buying this summer, that we didn’t buy, we’re buying Antony, we’re buying Casemiro, we’re buying Onana, we’re buying Hojlund, we’re buying Sancho.
“These are all things from the past, whether we like it or not, we’ve inherited those things and have to sort that out.
“For Sancho, who now plays for Chelsea and we pay half his wages, we’re paying £17 million to buy him in the summer.”
Asked if he was suggesting those players were not good enough for United, Ratcliffe said: “Some are not good enough and some probably are overpaid, but for us to mold the squad that we are fully responsible for, and accountable for, will take time.”
After United finished eighth in the Premier League last season and won the FA Cup, Ratcliffe and his United advisers opted to stick with boss Erik ten Hag despite their poor form for much of the campaign.
The Dutchman was subsequently sacked in October and replaced by Ruben Amorim after United endured another wretched run.
INEOS chairman Ratcliffe has accepted the decision to keep Ten Hag was a mistake.
He applied the same verdict to his decision to hire Dan Ashworth as sporting director, a role he left in December after just five months.
“I agree the Erik ten Tag and Dan Ashworth decisions were errors,” the 72-year-old said.
“I think there were some mitigating circumstances, but ultimately they were errors. I accept that and I apologize for that.”
Despite United’s struggles since Amorim took charge, leaving them 14th in the Premier League, Ratcliffe insisted he would keep faith with the former Sporting Lisbon boss.
“If I actually look at the squad which is available to Ruben, I think he is doing a really good job to be honest,” he said.
“I think Ruben is an outstanding young manager. I really do. He’s an excellent manager and I think he will be there for a long time.”
Al-Qahtani and Al-Saif ready to battle in PFL MENA’s second season
- With training for the season coinciding with Ramadan, fighters are adjusting their regimens
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s mixed martial arts scene is gearing up for an electrifying second season of the Professional Fighters League MENA with top regional fighters intensifying their training ahead of the highly anticipated competition in April.
Defending champion Abdullah Al-Qahtani and record-breaking fighter Hattan Al-Saif are among those preparing to showcase their skills on the premier stage, fine-tuning their conditioning, strategy and discipline as they aim for championship success.
With training for the season coinciding with Ramadan, fighters are adjusting their regimens to maintain peak performance levels while fasting.
Al-Saif highlighted the importance of structure and discipline during this period, emphasizing the need for mental clarity and a strict diet. She personally prepares her own meals during the holy month to ensure she meets the demands of a high-performance athlete.
Al-Qahtani, who captured the title in the league’s inaugural season, remains unfazed by the challenge of training while fasting. His routine remains largely unchanged, with iftar serving as his primary meal before he shifts focus to training. The Saudi fighter is confident in his ability to retain his title.
“All the fighters are watching me, but I’m prepared for every opponent and ready to compete with full strength inside the cage,” he said.
The reigning champion is also looking forward to tough matchups in the upcoming season, expressing a desire to test himself against elite fighters such as Abdulrahman Al-Hayassat, Islam Reda and Taha Bendaoud.
His determination to remain at the top of the division signals another thrilling season of MMA action for PFL MENA fans.
