شهدت مباراة ريال مدريد وسيلتا فيجو في الدوري الإسباني، مساء الأحد، حالة من الفوضى في الدقائق الأخيرة، أسفرت عن إشهار حكم المباراة بطاقة حمراء ثالثة لأصحاب الأرض.
واستقبل ريال مدريد خصمه سيلتا فيجو على ملعب “سانتياجو برنابيو”، وقد تعرض للهزيمة بهدفين دون مقابل.
وخلال اللقاء، أشهر الحكم بطاقة صفراء لفران جارسيا في الدقيقة 64، ثم أشهر بطاقة حمراء لألفارو كاريراس في الدقيقة الثانية من الوقت المحتسب بدلاً من الضائع، وكلاهما نال البطاقة الحمراء بعد الحصول على بطاقة صفراء ثانية.
وبحسب ما ورد في صحيفة “ماركا” الإسبانية، انفعل لاعبو ريال مدريد بسبب البطاقات الحمراء، وسخر فينيسيوس بالقول: “سيشهر بطاقات حمراء أكثر”، وهو ما حدث بالفعل.
اقرأ أيضًا | موعد مباراة ريال مدريد القادمة بعد الهزيمة أمام سيلتا فيجو في الدوري الإسباني
وعلى مقاعد البدلاء، بدا الغضب واضحًا على أسينسيو، ماستانتونو، إندريك، إبراهيم دياز، والمدرب تشابي ألونسو، ويوضح التقرير أن الجميع حاصر الحكم الرابع.
وأما كاريراس، الذي كان قد طُرد بالفعل، فاضطر زملاؤه للإمساك به لتهدئته، إلى أن عاد الحكم كوينتيرو جونزاليس مجددًا، ليُشهر بطاقة حمراء جديدة، هذه المرة في وجه إندريك، الذي بدا الأكثر انفعالاً، رغم أنه لم يكن أول من واجهه.
ومع صافرة النهاية، كان نصف لاعبي ريال مدريد في طريقهم إلى غرف الملابس، حاول بيلينجهام فهم قرارات الحكم، فيما كان فينيسيوس على غير العادة الأكثر هدوءًا، فأمسك بزميله من خصره وأبعده من أمام الحكم تفاديًا لمزيد من حالات الطرد.
Sem dois de seus principais jogadores entre os titulares, o Flamengo empatou sem gols com o Palmeiras, no Allianz Parque, e perdeu o 100% de aproveitamento nesta edição do Campeonato Brasileiro.
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Questionado a respeito das ausências de Pedro, artilheiro do time na temporada, e De La Cruz, principal reforço da equipe para 2024, Tite revelou que o gramado sintético influênciou na decisão, que foi motivada pelo risco de lesão.
– Eu estava pedindo para chamar o Fábio (preparador físico do clube) porque ele tem detalhes específicos da área que são científicos, que não é da vontade do técnico. A vontade do técnico é competir. Mas tem alguns atletas com seis ou sete jogos seguidos. Aí o departamento médico diz: “A nossa posição é de cuidados”. Hoje especificamente tínhamos Pedro, Nico (De La Cruz), Ayrton, Erick Pulgar e Luiz Araújo, que estavam em sinal amarelo e vermelho porque tinham riscos importantes e você perde jogador para seis ou sete jogos. E o sintético tem uma característica diferente. A exigência articular e muscular no sintético é muito maior também – disse o treinador.
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Na sequência, o comandante elogiou o sistema defensivo de ambas as equipes, responsável por frear os setores de criação, e também aproveitou para criticar os critérios da equipe de arbitragem no confronto.
– Gramado que proporciona velocidade, a arbitragem também (poderia estar) em um nível melhor. Não é porque tomei amarelo, tem que ter um critério. Foi a supremacia das duas equipes do processo de marcação com dois modelos diferentes de contato em cima da criatividade. Nos poucos momentos em que as equipes tiveram criatividade, não houve a conclusão – finalizou.
O duelo entre Palmeiras e Novorizontino pela semifinal do Paulistão reserva um encontro pra lá de inusitado e especial. Já de contrato assinado até 2028 com o Verdão, quis o destino que o meia Rômulo disputasse um dos maiores jogos de sua curta carreira diante do clube que será a sua casa para os próximos anos.
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➡️ Siga o Lance! no WhatsApp e acompanhe em tempo real as principais notícias do esporte
Mas a dúvida do torcedor é: será que o Rômulo vai poder enfrentar o Palmeiras mesmo já de contrato assinado com o Verdão? A resposta é, sim!
No contrato não há nenhuma cláusula que impeça a participação do camisa 10, que inclusive já enfrentou o Palmeiras nesta temporada, no jogo de estreia do Novorizontino no campeonato, quando a partida terminou empatada por 1 a 1.
Rômulo deve ser titular do time de Eduardo Baptista e o ex-técnico do Verdão não pensa em poupá-lo da partida por conta do vínculo que o atleta já criou com o Verdão.
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Um dos destaques da bela campanha do Tigre no Paulistão 2024, Rômulo chegou ao seu terceiro gol na competição ao marcar o importante tento que levou a partida diante do São Paulo para os pênaltis.
Quinta contratação do Palmeiras para esta temporada, Rômulo deve se apresentar ao Verdão assim que a trajetória do Novorizontino neste Paulista acabar, e quis o destino que o Verdão possa ser o responsável por ele chegar mais cedo na Academia de Futebol.
O meio-campista Lucas treinou com o restante do elenco do São Paulo e deve estar à disposição de Thiago Carpini para o duelo diante do Guarani, fora de casa, pelo Campeonato Paulista.
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O jogador, que sofreu uma lesão muscular na posterior da coxa esquerda, evolui no tratamento e participou pela primeira vez de atividades com bola, nesta quinta-feira (22), no CT da Barra Funda.
➡️ Tudo sobre o Tricolor agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso novo canal Lance! São Paulo
➡️ São Paulo toma decisão sobre usar James Rodríguez na fase de grupos do Paulistão
O camisa 7 está fora de combate desde a vitória do Tricolor por 2 a 1 diante do Corinthians, no dia 30 de janeiro, em jogo válido pela quarta rodada do torneio estadual.
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Em contrapartida, Alan Franco sentiu dores na região da coxa direita e realizou atividades físicas na área interna do centro de treinamento. No entanto, existe a expectativa que o zagueiro treine normalmente nos próximos dias e esteja disponível para a partida contra o Guarani.
O capitão Rafinha (lesão no tendão da perna esquerda), Nestor (cirurgia no joelho esquerdo) e Moreira (lesão no músculo reto femoral da perna direita) seguem em tratamento com a equipe de fisioterapia do clube, intercalando momentos no REFFIS e no gramado.
Barring rain-affected matches, the 106 balls in which India beat UAE is their shortest T20I ever
Sampath Bandarupalli10-Sep-20251:55
Why did Suryakumar let Siddique bat despite being out?
57 UAE’s total against India in their Asia Cup game on Wednesday. It is the lowest total by any team against India in men’s T20Is. The previous lowest was New Zealand’s, who were bundled out for 66 while chasing 235 in Ahmedabad in 2023.1 UAE’s 57 all-out is their lowest total in the format, going past the 62 all-out against Scotland in 2024, also in Dubai.
It is also the second-lowest total in the men’s T20 Asia Cup, behind Hong Kong’s 38 all-out against Pakistan in Sharjah in 2022.93 Balls remaining when India reached the target of 58. It is their biggest win by balls to spare in men’s T20Is, bettering the win by 81 balls against Scotland in the 2021 T20 World Cup, chasing a target of 86.It is also the second-biggest margin of victory for a Full Member nation in men’s T20Is, behind England’s against Oman in last year’s T20 World Cup when they chased down 48 with 101 balls to spare. No team, before India, had won a game with ten or more overs to spare in the men’s T20 Asia Cup.Lowest men’s T20I totals against India•ESPNcricinfo Ltd4 for 7 Kuldeep Yadav’s bowling figures against UAE, the second-best in the men’s T20 Asia Cup, behind Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s 5 for 4 against Afghanistan in 2022, also in Dubai.Related
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Suryakumar withdraws appeal against Siddique to spark debate
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Kuldeep bags four as India demolish UAE in 17.4 overs
Kuldeep now has four four-wicket hauls in this format. Among Indians in men’s T20Is, only Bhuvneshwar (5) has more.4 Instances of Kuldeep taking three (or more) wickets in an over in T20Is. Among Indians, only Yuzvendra Chahal (2) has done it more than once in men’s T20Is. Overall, only Rashid Khan (6) has taken three or more wickets in an over in men’s T20Is as often as Kuldeep (where ball-by-ball data is available).10 Runs that were added by the UAE’s last seven partnerships from 47 for 3. Only once before has a Full Member team contained the opposition’s last seven partnerships to as little as 10 runs in a men’s T20I and that was India too, against England in 2017 at Bengaluru, when England were bowled out for 127 from 119 for 3.ESPNcricinfo Ltd17.4 Overs that UAE and India played out, the shortest completed match in the men’s T20 Asia Cup. The previous shortest, non-curtailed game was between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka in Dubai in 2022, which lasted 29.5 overs.It is also the shortest men’s T20I involving India (excluding rain-affected matches). The previous shortest was against Scotland in 2021, which lasted 24.1 overs.15 Consecutive tosses lost by India across formats before the Wednesday’s game against UAE. Their previous toss win was in January this year against England in Rajkot. India’s streak of 15 tosses lost is the longest by any team in men’s internationals.
This week has been a strangely newsy one for the Montreal Expos, a Major League Baseball team that has not taken the field since 2004.
The release of a Netflix documentary examining the team's demise—entitled —was long planned. However, the filmmakers probably didn't count on Canada's younger MLB team—the Blue Jays—reaching the World Series and throwing an even bigger spotlight on baseball in the Great White North.
Like many of baseball's more famous relocations—the Dodgers', the Giants', or (more recently) the Athletics'—the Expos' defection to Washington to become the Nationals marked the culmination of a long and arduous process. It was also unique in that it involved a quasi-ownership "trade" that influenced the fate of a franchise thousands of miles away from Quebec.
Here's a look at how Canada's second-largest city lost its team.
How did Jeffrey Loria buy the Expos?
Liquor magnate Charles Bronfman and five partners founded the Expos in 1969—a time when Montreal was still widely known as Canada's cultural capital (Toronto wouldn't jump it in population until Canada's 2001 census). The Expos found sledding tough in their early years, making just one playoff appearance (1981) despite numerous winning seasons. Bronfman sold the team to Claude Brochu in 1991, and after a tumultuous decade, Brochu sold a controlling stake to art dealer Jeffrey Loria in 2001.
How did Jeffrey Loria get out of his deal with the Expos?
For much of Montreal's existence, the team faced one overarching question: how would the team replace Olympic Stadium? The oft-derided building long overstayed its welcome for the 1976 Summer Olympics, and Loria quickly sought public funding for a new park. As attempts to replace Olympic Stadium dragged, MLB attempted to fold the Twins and Expos—a move only stopped by a successful court challenge. Amid this turmoil in Montreal, Loria sold the team to MLB and used the money to buy the Marlins—taking the Expos' resources with him.
How did the Expos get to Washington?
MLB's purchase of the team was effectively the ballgame for Montreal, but the years leading up to the team's relocation produced a slew of interesting what-ifs. First, in 2003 and 2004, the Expos split their home games between Montreal and San Juan's Hiram Bithorn Stadium—routinely drawing better in Puerto Rico than in Canada. Along with San Juan, several non-Washington cities circled the Expos, with Charlotte and Portland discussed as contenders. Ultimately, the American capital won the Expos sweepstakes, and the team took on the name of several early Washington teams—the Nationals.
What is the legacy of the Expos' final years?
For many years, the legacy of the Expos' messy relocation seemed to be MLB's eagerness to avoid a repeat—but the Athletics' widely reviled, slow-motion departure from Oakland appears to have scuttled that. Montreal retains an appetite for baseball, as the Expos live on as a nostalgia item—"The DNA is still here even though they’re gone," documentary director Jean-François Poisson told 's Matthew Roberson Thursday. If expansion one day brings baseball back to Quebec, the Expos—as ever—will likely need to do something about Olympic Stadium, which somehow still stands on the eve of its 50th anniversary.
Think back to the morning of the Fourth of July. Our nation’s birthday. Quintessential America. Barbecues. Burgers. Fireworks. Everything as you expect, including the Dodgers with the best record in baseball.
Now seems like a long time ago. Since then, the Dodgers have been as sorry as a sack of soggy charcoal briquettes: 12–21. Only the Nationals and the Rays have been worse.
Wait, the Dodgers? The $391 million payroll Dodgers? The same Dodgers who gobbled up so many high-profile free agents last winter we started asking, “Are the Dodgers good for baseball?”
Eight months later, now we’re asking, “Will the Dodgers ever play good baseball?”
They better figure it out quickly. Starting tonight, the Dodgers play six of their next 10 games against the smoking hot, deadline-fortified, first-place San Diego Padres.
What is wrong with the Dodgers? It’s time to dig in.
1. Maybe the Dodgers are just in a slump
All teams go through valleys. At some point in June, the Dodgers, Cubs, Mets, Astros and Yankees all had leads as big as 5 1/2 games. All gone.
But slumps this deep are rare for the Dodgers. In the past 30 years, here are the only seasons in which the Dodgers hit .236 and lost at least 21 games in a 33-game span:
Dodgers Seasons with 33-Game Span With 21+ Losses and Hitting .236 or Worse (Wild Card Era)
Year
Final Record
Postseason Result
2003
85–77
None
2010
80–82
None
2012
82–76
None
2017
104–58
Lost World Series
2025
?
?
I know you optimistic Dodger fans are thinking:
But the problems this year go deeper than 33 games. Let’s continue.
2. Dodgers don’t measure well against good teams
Los Angeles is 28–32 against teams that are .500 or better. Among the 12 teams in playoff position today, only the Tigers are worse against good competition.
To find the last Dodgers team that had a losing record against teams .500 and above, you must go back a decade, to 2015, when Don Mattingly was the manager, Andrew Friedman had just arrived as president of baseball operations—and the Dodgers were booted in the NLDS by the Mets.
That best record on the Fourth of July? Fool’s gold. The Dodgers were 14–1 against the Rockies, Marlins and White Sox. They proceeded to get swept by the Astros and then twice by the Brewers.
3. Dodgers are a poor team in defensive efficiency
This is shocking news.
What is defensive efficiency? It’s the measurement of how often a team turns batted balls into outs. I like this measurement because it does not isolate defense but reflects the unbreakable marriage between pitching and defense. A pitching staff that gets weak contact, for instance, makes the job easier for the defense.
This has been Andrew Friedman’s secret sauce. You can talk all you want about the Dodgers’ money, technology, scouting, international footprint, annoying speaker system at Dodger Stadium, whatever … turning batted balls into outs is what they do best under Friedman.
No more. Their amazing six-year year run of elite pitching combined with elite defense is over.
Dodgers MLB Rank in Defensive Efficiency
Year
Defensive Efficiency MLB Rank
2019
2
2020
2
2021
1
2022
1
2023
2
2024
2
2025
18
The Dodgers have posted their worst defensive efficiency rating in the past seven seasons in 2025. / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images4. Dodgers pitchers and fielders share the blame
Dodgers pitchers allow the same average exit velocity this year as Rockies pitchers.
It continues an erosion of generating soft contact. Check out this decline.
Dodgers Exit Velocity Allowed
Year
Average MPH
MLB Rank
2022
87.4
1
2023
88.7
8
2024
88.9
17
2025
89.8
24 (tied with Rockies)
And of the Dodgers’ seven positions behind the pitcher, five of them rate average or worse, according to Outs Above Average (OAA).
Dodgers Weakest Defensive Positions by Outs Above Average (OAA)
Position
OAA
MLB Rank
Third Base
-7
24
Left Field
-6
22
Right Field
-5
21
First Base
-4
19
Shortstop
0
18
5. Dodgers don’t get enough starting pitching length
The Dodgers in recent years have redefined starter workloads. They pitch their starters with more rest and get them out quicker than any other team. They have taken this philosophy to a new extreme.
Dodgers Starters
Amount
MLB Rank
Starts on Four Days Rest
7
Fewest
Batters Faced Third Time Per Start
3.5
Fewest
Pitches Per Start
76
Fewest
Innings Per Start
4.6
Fewest
The result is that because of injuries and workload management none of their starters are in top form. Maybe they will be, come October.
6. Dodgers don’t have enough shutdown relievers
Manager Dave Roberts does not have a clear path to lock down games. This ranking is damning: the Dodgers and Yankees rank among non-contenders as allowing the highest OPS in high leverage spots.
Highest OPS Allowed in High Leverage, 2025
Team
OPS Allowed in High Leverage Spot
1. Rockies
.848
2. Nationals
.819
3. Angels
.808
4. Diamondbacks
.782
T5. Athletics
.774
T5. Marlins
.774
T7. Dodgers
.764
T7. Yankees
.764
9. White Sox
.754
So, who does Roberts trust? Here are his most used pitchers in high leverage:
Most Batters Faced in High Leverage, Dodgers 2025
Pitcher
Batters Faced
OPS in High Leverage Spot
Notes
1. Tanner Scott
89
.820
Injured List
2. Yoshinobu Yamamoto
78
.695
Starter
3. Alex Vesia
71
.694
.759 OPS by RHB
4. Ben Casparius
65
.784
4.78 ERA
5. Dustin May
59
1.084
Traded
Three years ago, the Dodgers adopted a paradigm shift. That year they went 51–21 in the second half to win 111 games, a franchise record. They were in the business of building superteams and putting the gas pedal to the floor to get the No. 1 seed.
What it got them was a first-round exit. The Padres sent the superteam home quickly. They held them to 12 runs and a .227 batting average in four games.
The Dodgers learned a lesson. No more maxing out. The north star became workload management. Win enough games to get to the postseason but make sure you get there with your pitchers healthy and with gas in the tank.
It worked last year, barely. Gavin Stone, who broke down, led the staff with 140 innings. But when Walker Buehler got the last out of the World Series, Kiké Hernandez, a position player, would have been the next pitcher if the Yankees scored the tying run.
This year feels like even more of a risk of for October, not grinding toward it. The Dodgers are the oldest team in baseball. They don’t turn batted balls into outs like they used to. And they don’t have the bullpen depth to withstand planned, abbreviated starts.
More than any other team, the Dodgers play the long game. It may work again. But two things have changed.
Now the Dodgers are playing from behind.
And the Padres, fortified by the trade deadline, are lighting it up like it’s the Fourth of July.
The New York Yankees haven't made a big splash ahead of Thursday's MLB trade deadline just yet. Though they've made a few minor moves in the past few days, it seems as if the Yankees' front office has been working the phones with little coming to fruition.
According to a report from MLB insider Jon Heyman, New York has been fielding calls from teams interested in acquiring standout outfield prospect Spencer Jones, but they have rebuffed any attempt by declaring they'd only be willing to move Jones, along with other pieces, for Pirates ace Paul Skenes.
Heyman indicated that teams had been dangling good players in front of the Yankees in hopes of working out a deal for Jones, but the team has been consistent in that it won't trade him for anyone other than Skenes, who is not going to be traded by Pittsburgh.
It makes sense why the front office is so hellbent on keeping Jones. Since his promotion to Triple A, Jones has hit 13 home runs in just 21 games, and he has 29 home runs in 70 games in total this year. A former first-round pick, Jones has tremendous upside, and it seems the Yankees are determined to keep him in the organization at virtually any cost.
New York still has some other attractive prospects who could potentially fetch a big name at the trade deadline, including starting pitcher Cam Schlittler, but it appears Brian Cashman & Co. aren't even entertaining the idea of letting Jones go.
Lionel Messi and Argentina have been told that they were “lucky” to savour World Cup glory at Qatar 2022. All-time great Messi completed his medal collection at that event, as he inspired the Albiceleste to a global title. Wesley Sneijder has suggested that the South Americans were fortunate to claim that crown, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal considered to have a better chance of landing the same prize in 2026.
Will Messi & Ronaldo grace the 2026 World Cup?
The countdown is on to another meeting of the best players on the planet. FIFA’s flagship event is preparing to head to the United States, Canada and Mexico next summer – with 48 teams taking part in an expanded format.
The expectation is that Messi and Ronaldo will form part of that gathering. CR7 has stated that he expects his sixth World Cup to be his last, as he will be 41 by the time that the tournament gets underway, but has been showing no sign of slowing down with Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr.
Messi is yet to confirm that he will form part of Argentina’s title defence, with the 38-year-old now plying his club trade in MLS for Inter Miami. Many are tipping him to make Lionel Scaloni’s squad, with a 200th international cap in the process of being chased down.
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Got lucky: Why Sneijder is backing Ronaldo over Messi
Messi has already reached the pinnacle of world football, having got his hands on the trophy that he coveted most in 2022, with the all-time great caring little what the likes of Sneijder think about his glorious achievement.
The ex-Netherlands and Real Madrid playmaker has, however, told when turning the clock backwards and forwards: “Portugal have a very strong team. For me, they are one of the favourites so then I would say Cristiano Ronaldo has the stronger chance of winning the next World Cup compared to Lionel Messi. It was a great World Cup for Argentina in Qatar but they were a bit lucky as well. I think overall Portugal is a better team.”
Should Messi have eight Ballons d'Or? Sneijder thinks not
This is not the first time that Sneijder has questioned Messi’s claims to the most prestigious of honours. The Dutchman helped Jose Mourinho’s legendary Inter side to a Serie A, Coppa Italia and Champions League treble in 2010 and believes those exploits should have earned him a Golden Ball.
Sneijder has previously said: “It was a little unfair that I was not crowned with the 2010 Ballon d'Or and Messi won it. Although I'm not the guy who cries about that: the Ballon d'Or is an individual award, and what I prefer is to win collective trophies. If I had to choose between the Champions League and the Ballon d'Or, I would choose the Champions League that I won. I am very happy with that title.”
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GOAT targets: Messi & Ronaldo tipped to reach 1,000 goals
Sneijder has seen Messi move on to eight Ballons d’Or, while Ronaldo has five in his collection. They are both still going strong, with there individual targets for them to chase down.
Ronaldo has made no secret of the fact that he wants to reach 1,000 career goals, with Messi also being backed to hit four figures in that department before history-making boots are hung up for the final time.
Sneijder has said: “I think that's the next goal for both of them, 100%. Cristiano won’t stop before reaching the thousand goals. Messi has signed another two year deal. He will definitely reach one thousand goals as well.
“It's nice that we are still talking about this rivalry with one in MLS and the other in Saudi. They are two big stars and now they’re chasing a different goal of reaching 1,000 goals. Amazing. Maybe we see about counting their assists to find out who can get to 2,000 first.”
Ronaldo has committed to a contact at Al-Nassr that is set to keep him into the Middle East until the summer of 2027. Messi, meanwhile, has agreed fresh terms with Inter Miami through the 2028 MLS season.
The three quicks shared seven wickets for India A, while KL Rahul was unbeaten at stumps
Shashank Kishore07-Nov-2025A few days after being left out of the Test squad to face South Africa, Prasidh Krishna stung South Africa A in a terrific spell of seam bowling to help India A open up a sizeable lead by stumps on Day 2 of the second four-day fixture at BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.Prasidh picked up three, while Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep picked up two apiece as South Africa A folded for 221, giving the hosts a 34-run lead. They converted this into a 112-run lead by stumps, albeit for the loss of three wickets.KL Rahul was unbeaten on 26, unhurried and composed, after Abhimanyu Easwaran bagged a pair and B Sai Sudharsan was pinned lbw yet again after playing around his front pad to a nip-backer from left-arm seamer Tiaan van Vuuren. Devdutt Padikkal, also part of the Test squad, appeared to have steadied the innings after two early wickets, but fell for 24 at the stroke of stumps as South Africa A ensured the hosts were still within touching distance.Related
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Kuldeep Yadav released from India's T20I squad in Australia
Rishabh Pant returns to India's Test squad for South Africa series
After warming the bench during the two Tests against West Indies, Prasidh reveled in conditions he would love to take with him everywhere. He troubled batters with bounce, had batters awkwardly fend at deliveries and consistently beat the outside edge with seam movement.Siraj, meanwhile, was a bit more blockbuster. Barring one solitary over where he was taken for 24 – courtesy three fours and two sixes by centurion Marques Ackerman – Siraj breathed fire with the new and semi-new ball. He swung it both ways, troubled batters with the late tail, celebrappealed after pinning Zubayr Hamza plumb and shattered Kyle Simmonds’ stumps with a terrific in-swinger.It started with Akash Deep’s pearler to Lesego Senokwane in the very first over – easily the ball of the day – angling in and straightening to beat the outside edge and hit top of off. While he couldn’t quite top that – anyone would’ve found its hard to – there were plenty of moments in that first spell where he could’ve picked a few more wickets. He eventually finished with 2 for 28 in 10 overs.For Akash Deep, this outing was massive from a confidence standpoint after suffering a series of niggles since returning from a breakout Test tour of England. It was also a timely boost ahead of the South Africa Tests, where he could line up to be the third seamer in home conditions at Eden Gardens.India A’s lead could’ve been a lot bigger, but for a superb fourth first-class century by Ackerman, the South Africa A captain, who held a crumbling middle order together and fought through periods of prodigious swing and seam movement early in the session on a green surface that still had plenty in it for the fast bowlers.Marques Ackerman celebrates his century•PTI Ackerman is very Dean Elgar-like in his setup. As the day progressed, he showed it wasn’t just in the aesthetics that was Elgar-like, but in his fight too. He seemed intent on crease occupation, but the only problem was he had to shift gears quickly as the middle order caved in. And once he crossed a half-century, he went into overdrive, with some help from No. 9 Prenelan Subrayen.He stepped out to loft Kuldeep Yadav for six over long-off and rocked back to cut him. He also played a neat, little reverse-sweep off Kuldeep when he drifted the ball away. The real aggression came when Siraj went after him with a few verbal volleys, seemingly frustrated after beating the outside edge a number of times in the middle session.Ackerman drove him imperiously for two boundaries and flicked a leg-stump half-volley for a third when Prasidh misfielded at fine leg. With more steam coming off his ears as he knocked the stumps down at the bowler’s end in frustration, Siraj returned to bang in two short balls that got picked away for sixes. The first – a ramp over the slips, and the second a hook over fine leg.Ackerman brought up his century off 99 balls, and raced away to 134. He took a liking to left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey, who was introduced late and bowled just three overs, before becoming the ninth batter to fall. Ackerman was Dubey’s only wicket. Prasidh, who had picked up two in two in the first session, then cleaned up the last batter to finish with 3 for 35 off 11.3 overs.