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Aston Villa were brought back down to earth by Nottingham Forest last weekend as they slipped to a 2-0 defeat that ended a six-game unbeaten run across all competitions.

Unai Emery has built a side which can realistically challenge for the top six spot in the Premier League table this season and winning a trophy of some sort this term can’t be ruled out.

With progress in the Europa Conference League going smoothly so far, this Villa side can certainly go far and Emery has them well-drilled.

The Spaniard will still be looking to strengthen his team though and the January transfer window is fast approaching.

Having enjoyed success during the summer window, bringing in players such as Moussa Diaby, Nicolo Zaniolo and Pau Torres, the former Arsenal coach appears to favour a quality-over-quantity approach and this is working well so far.

With this in mind, he could delve back into the market to bolster his squad in the coming months, especially as he seems to be light in a few areas, most notably at centre-forward.

Aston Villa transfer news

According to a recent report by Italian outlet Calciomercatoweb, Villa are reportedly keen on signing AS Roma striker Tammy Abraham next year.

The Englishman spent a season on loan at the Villa Park side during the 2018/19 season and he scored 26 goals and registered three assists across 40 matches as he helped the club secure promotion back to the Premier League following a three-year absence.

The former Chelsea frontman has a contract that doesn’t expire until 2026 and this could mean Jose Mourinho will place a big price tag on his head regarding any potential transfer.

According to Football Transfers, Abraham is currently valued at €39m (£34m) and with a few years left on his contract, Emery may need to make a bid nearer the £50m mark in order to secure his signature.

The club could face stiff competition for the 26-year-old however, as West Ham United and Fulham are also interested in luring him back to the Premier League according to the report and with Roma signing Romelu Lukaku on loan for the current season, it looks like Abraham could soon be on the move.

The question is, who will be best placed to sign him either in January or next summer? Emery will be hoping their current form and progress in Europe will tempt him back to the Midlands.

Tammy Abraham’s statistics for Roma

Having won the Champions League with Chelsea, the striker decided to move abroad and joined Roma in 2021, becoming an instant hit under Mourinho.

He netted 27 goals across all competitions during his maiden season in Italy and won another European trophy, this time the Europa Conference League.

The goals dried up slightly last term as he managed to score just nine times, yet he displayed his selfless side by grabbing seven assists as the Serie A side finished runners-up to Sevilla in the Europa League final.

A cruciate ligament injury has ruled him out until January at the earliest and this could mean Emery may have to wait until the summer in order to complete a potential swoop for the player.

The Spaniard has been too over-reliant on Ollie Watkins this season however, as the former Brentford forward has featured in every single match so far this term, scoring nine goals in the process and signing someone like Abraham would not only give him some competition, but he would also be an upgrade on Jhon Duran.

Jhon Duran's stats for Aston Villa

The 19-year-old has only been at the club for ten months, joining back in January from Chicago Fire, and it was clear he had bags of potential, having scored eight MLS goals.

Across 12 matches for Villa, however, he failed to get on the scoresheet, proving that the jump from American to England was perhaps tougher than anticipated.

Goals

0

2

Assists

0

0

Shots on target per game

0.2

0.5

Big chances created

0

0

Successful dribbles per game

0.1

0.2

Stats via Sofascore

The Englishman could be an instant upgrade on the Colombian youngster, however. According to FBref, Abraham registered a higher percentage of shots on target (45.2% vs 28.6%) while also registering more goal-creating actions per 90 (0.37 vs 0) and winning a higher percentage of aerial duels per 90 (51.9% vs 41.2%), indicating that he could be a more effective option to lead the line.

Abraham also created more big chances (nine vs two) than Duran during his more productive stint at Chicago Fire, while also averaging more key passes per game (0.9 vs 0.3) and succeeding with more successful dribbles per match (0.6 vs 0.4), further evidence of how impressive Abraham was when compared to the youngster.

The former Chelsea gem could add further firepower to the Villa squad and would allow Emery to give Watkins a much-needed rest when required.

Former professional Stephen Elliot hailed Abraham as a “goal machine” back during his spell with the London side and his spell abroad has certainly improved his game.

His ability to create chances for others, evidenced by the fact he ranks in the top 5% when compared to his positional peers for assists per 90 (0.29), could be a big advantage for Emery, as he will be able to link up well with others and form a partnership alongside Watkins if required.

The striker also ranks in the top 15% when compared to peers for aerials won per 90 (4.3) and his physical presence and aerial ability would also allow him to thrive in the Premier League once again.

Duran is still young and has lots of raw potential, but Emery will be looking for a more experienced player if he is looking for someone who can come in and settle into life at Villa Park easily.

Abraham has spent a season in the Midlands before and this could be what makes the club stand out from the others who are keen on him with regard to a potential move away from the hustle and bustle of Rome.

Former Rangers star and BBC pundit Alan Hutton believes that a "tremendous" figure could form part of their next manager's new coaching staff at Ibrox

Michael Beale sacked

The Gers have endured a poor start to this new season and currently sit a pretty big seven points behind Old Firm rivals and Scottish Premiership frontrunners Celtic. Ange Postecoglou dominated the division for two years before departing for Tottenham, and Rangers now threaten letting new Hoops boss Brendan Rodgers replicating the Australian. Losing three league games already, while being subject to boos from their own supporters on multiple occasions, Rangers made the big decision to sack Michael Beale as manager nearly two weeks ago.

Former Teddy Bears midfielder Kevin Thomson, speaking to Sky Sports news after Beale's dismissal, said that the job is an attractive one but the expectation surrounding Ibrox is the greatest he's ever seen. Thomson said:

"When you look at the club and how big it is, I'm pretty sure that all the big-hitters and all the big names will be getting their agents to get on the phone to the Rangers board to make sure they try and stake a claim to get in front of the board to try and prove to them that they could be the next person.

"I'd hate to throw individual names in there because I just think you're almost second-guessing really. But what I would say is it is a prestigious job, it is as good as it gets, a massive club, an opportunity to win silverware. The expectation and demand is bigger than I have ever seen. I think the club are in a good position. There are selling points, they have got a cup semi-final coming up, there is still the Scottish Cup to play for, they are still in Europe."

Reports in the last few weeks have suggested that the likes of Philippe Clement and Kevin Muscat are currently leading contenders to replace Beale, while Nenad Bjelica has apparently thrown his hat into the ring late on.

Rangers news – Steven Davis

Currently taking interim charge, Steven Davis has guided the Gers to a Europa League defeat and 3-0 league win over St. Mirren. The Northern Ireland legend knows Rangers as a club very well, and David Graham, a former employee, has tipped the 38-year-old for great things.

"A professional for over 20 years, he has been a tremendous servant to Rangers over two occasions – including as captain," said Graham to the News Letter.

"I consider Steven a very good friend, a very good family friend," he told the News Letter. His reputation goes before him – he is a Northern Ireland legend. I have joked with him many times he's the greatest ever Ulsterman, but that will be for others to decide."

Now, Hutton has suggested to Football Insider that Davis may well be considered as part of the next Rangers manager's coaching staff. When asked if the midfielder could be back playing, he said:

“You have to factor in his age but he has got a lot of experience, a lot of knowledge to pass on so could he be part of the next coaching staff? I would presume that is the direction he wants to go in when he is finished. It is ultimately down to him and whether he still sees himself playing but if he does I do not think that will be at Rangers.“

MatériaMais Notícias

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Former France and Tottenham captain Hugo Lloris claimed he felt he already knew Los Angeles after playing Grand Theft Auto.

Article continues below

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• Lloris regularly plays Grand Theft Auto
• Knew all about LA from the game
• Moved to LAFC from Spurs in December

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Lloris, who signed for Major League Soccer Club LAFC in December 2023, came up with a bizarre claim that he knew everything about Los Angeles even before he moved to the metropolitan through Grand Theft Auto, a video game that he regularly plays.

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• WHAT HUGO LLORIS SAID

  Speaking to , the former World Cup-winning French captain said, "As for the population, it seems to be growing with every move, but I think we’ll stop here. The film industry, Dr. Dre, GTA… I’ve played this game so much on PlayStation that I felt like I knew all the landmarks, streets, and corners of the city, even though I’ve never been here."

• USA Today Sports
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The veteran goalkeeper has featured in his team's starting lineup in their first two matches of the current MLS 2024 season. LAFC were off to a flying start as they beat Seattle Sounders 2-1 but they suffered a 3-0 defeat in their second game against Real Salt Lake where they had to play in extreme weather conditions.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR HUGO LLORIS?

  The 37-year-old will be next seen in action for the Los Angeles-based side on Sunday as they take on Sporting KC in a MLS clash.

Newcastle United could make further signings in the January transfer window and one player has emerged as a primary target, according to a fresh update.

Will Newcastle make signings in January?

The Magpies have steadied the ship after a difficult start to the season, enjoying a positive couple of results that will hopefully signal the start of a big turnaround in fortunes.

Eddie Howe's side battled their way to a 1-0 win at home to Brentford in the Premier League last Saturday, before drawing 0-0 away to AC Milan in their Champions League opener – a result that could look so important come the end of the group stages later this year. They may not have been vintage performances, but it has clearly still been an improvement.

Newcastle enjoyed a good summer in the transfer market, most notably bringing in Sandro Tonali and Harvey Barnes from Milan and Leicester City respectively, but more signings are required moving forward, in order for them to keep in touch with their rivals at the top of the Premier League and not go backwards.

Added depth in the midfield is something that Howe could look to do in January, allowing rotation to be aided across four different competitions in the second half of the season, and it looks as though they have lined up one key target already.

Will Newcastle sign Carlos Alcaraz?

According to an update from talkSPORT, Newcastle are eyeing a move for Southampton midfielder Carlos Alcaraz in January, with Howe personally seeing the 20-year-old as a strong option to bring in.

"Newcastle are among a number of clubs keeping tabs on Southampton midfielder Carlos ‘Charlie’ Alcaraz. The Magpies made an enquiry for Alcaraz during the summer transfer window and manager Eddie Howe is an admirer of the 20-year-old Argentine.

"It will not have gone unnoticed at St James’s Park that Alcaraz is struggling to command a place in Saints’ starting line-up despite the fact the recently relegated side have lost their last three games. Alcaraz scored four goals in 18 Premier League games last season following a £12m move from Racing Club."

Alcaraz may not necessarily be an established footballer who is playing at the top level every week, but he could be an exiting young signing who comes in as a squad player, developing over time and becoming a key man eventually.

The 20-year-old has scored five goals in 28 appearances for Southampton, as well as chipping in with two assists, and he did play 18 times in the Premier League last season, showing that he can perform in England's top flight.

Former Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has praised Alcaraz in the past, saying he "has a bit of everything in his game", while football talent scout Jacek Kulig has lauded him as "one of the biggest talents in Argentina".

It is encouraging to see Newcastle continuing to look at bringing in top young talent, rather than simply news signings for the here and now, and it will enable the club to keep progressing for many years to come, rather than resting on their laurels and not reaching their potential.

The opener smashed his sixth IPL hundred and 21st overall in T20s to lead Kings XI Punjab to 193 for 3, a score that proved too much for Sunrisers Hyderabad

The Report by Deivarayan Muthu19-Apr-2018
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details5:26

Agarkar: Sunrisers lacked firepower in the chase

Prior to the start of IPL 2018, Kings XI Punjab’s director Virender Sehwag said Chris Gayle would be worth the money spent on him if he were to win his team two or three games. Gayle has now played two match-winning innings in two matches. Four days after his 33-ball 63 against Chennai Super Kings, Gayle shellacked his sixth IPL hundred and 21st overall in T20s to consign Sunrisers Hyderabad to their first defeat of the season.On Sunday, Gayle lined up CSK’s medium-pacers, but adopted a different approach against a formidable Sunrisers attack. He saw off Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s first spell and later unleashed a brutal assault on Rashid Khan’s legspin. All told, Gayle smashed 42 off 16 balls from Rashid at a strike-rate of 262.50.Gayle batted through the innings for his 104 not out off 63 balls, which also included four twos. In pursuit of 194, Sunrisers lost early wickets as well as Shikhar Dhawan to an elbow injury, and there was no way back for them, despite fifties from their captain Kane Williamson and Manish Pandey.Tye’s knuckle balls do the job

Andrew Tye, the Kings XI Punjab seamer, finished with figures of 4-0-23-2. Those two wickets included those of Kane Williamson and Deepak Hooda, both deceived by knuckle balls. Here’s Tye at the post-match press conference:
On choosing the knuckle ball: “It all depends on how I’m feeling at that time – whether the knuckle ball or the offcutter or the legcutter, back of the hand or anything – all depends on what I feel is working for me on the day. Today it was the knuckle ball, so I stuck with it and bowled a lot of them. Sometimes it works, sometimes I get hit into the crowd and look like a bit of an idiot.”
On the advantage of bowling second: “As a bowler [we] look what the opposition has done, what bowlers have worked for them. [Today] we summed it up to this: it was skidding on a bit, so a good hard length when the ball was new was sort of not bouncing. So you could pull it back a little bit, and [use] the slower balls to hit hard on that wicket to give the batsman no freedom to hit in the arc.”

Kings XI’s Jekyll-and-Hyde start
After becoming the first captain to opt to bat this season, R Ashwin reckoned Kings XI would be better off setting a target as opposed to chasing one against the best attack in the tournament at one of India’s larger grounds. Gayle and KL Rahul began cautiously against the swing and change-ups of Bhuvneshwar and Chris Jordan, and played out 12 dots in the first three overs. Gayle then launched Kings XI’s innings when he hit four boundaries in seven balls, including three leg-side sixes off Jordan and Rashid. In between, he was dropped on 14 by wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha off Rashid’s first ball – a difficult chance off the toe end when he looked to cut.Rahul, at the other end, had an early scare when he was given out lbw on 5, but he survived after a review thanks to a thin inside edge. Rahul moved to 18 off 20 before being pinned in front by a Rashid skidder. Rahul’s Karnataka team-mate Mayank Agarwal flickered briefly before slicing Siddarth Kaul to backward point for 18 off 9; by then Kings XI were 83 for 2 in the 11th over.Chris Gayle raises his bat upon reaching his 21st T20 century•BCCI

Gayle v Rashid: round-II
With two wickets falling in quick succession, Gayle slowed down and brought up his fifty off 39 balls. He then kicked into top gear and became only the second batsman, after AB de Villiers, to take Rashid for four sixes in an over. Gayle did so off successive balls, in the 14th over, which cost 27 runs.When Rashid erred too full, Gayle simply opened up hips and put the sightscreen in danger, and when Rashid dragged his length back he mowed the ball over the leg side. The visual moment of the over, though, came when he hared back for a second run off the last ball and wore a wry smile.With their premier spinner leaking runs, Sunrisers were forced to look beyond their frontline options. Deepak Hooda, however, could not do much with his part-time offspin.Gayle’s party continues
After getting to his first fifty off 39 balls, Gayle surged to his second off only 19 balls. He moved to 99 with his 11th six – the most by a batsman this season – and raised the landmark by guiding one past backward point in the 19th over. He brought out the ‘cradle’ celebration and later dedicated the knock to his daughter, who will turn two on Friday.Gayle found supporting hands from Karun Nair (31) and Aaron Finch (14*) as Kings XI finished strongly at 193 for 3. Rashid, the best T20 bowler right now, was left nursing his worst figures of 4-0-55-1.Sunrisers sink in chase
Sunrisers suffered a major setback in the first over when Dhawan retired hurt after taking a blow to the elbow, and he did not return to bat. Mohit Sharma varied his pace excellently and bowled both Wriddhiman Saha and Yusuf Pathan to leave Sunrisers at 37 for 2 in five overs.Williamson and Pandey worked past the early strikes with a 76-run stand for the third wicket, but they struggled to keep in touch with the soaring asking rate. Mujeeb Zadran’s mystery spin, Andrew Tye’s knuckle balls, and the bigger boundaries in Mohali did not help Sunrisers’ cause either. When Williamson holed out for 54 off 41 balls in the 15th over, Sunrisers were left needing 81 off 34 balls. It was just too much for a middle order lacking muscle.

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers is looking to continue his trend of tying down his key players to new deals at Parkhead, according to the latest reports.

What's the latest news involving Celtic?

Last week, the Hoops took a major step forward since Rodgers returned to the helm at Parkhead in the summer after four years away from life in Glasgow, as they defeated arch-rivals Rangers 1-0 at Ibrox courtesy of a goal from Kyogo Furuhashi.

Speaking to Celtic TV cited by BBC Sport, Rodgers took immense pride in Celtic's victory, stating: "So I'm so happy for the players. I think they have been on death watch by the media for the last week or so, coming into this game. But for me, as a coach, it was about staying calm, working the players and knowing that they're going to grow and develop and this is a big part of the development – to come and win away at Ibrox."

Journalist Dean Jones has told GIVEMESPORT that contact has been established between Celtic and Liverpool regarding Republic of Ireland international goalkeeper Caomhin Kelleher, who has been earmarked as a potential replacement for veteran stopper Joe Hart.

Transfer insider Fabrizio Romano has confirmed some promising news regarding one of Celtic's brightest young talents, stating on X: "EXCL: Celtic agree new deal terms with top talent Mitchel Frame, 2006 born fullback. Frame already had deal to summer 2025 but now agreed new contract to summer 2026. Several clubs in England were targeting Frame, set to put pen on paper soon with Celtic."

The Hoops are now in the midst of the international break and they will return to action on September 16th against Scottish Premiership newcomers Dundee before jetting off to Rotterdam to play Feyenoord the following week in their Champions League opener.

Is Matt O'Riley staying at Celtic?

Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph has issued an update regarding the state of play revolving around Denmark Under-21 international Matt O'Riley's future at Celtic, stating: "Celtic are expected to offer midfielder Matt O’Riley improved terms & an extension on his contract. The 22yo was the subject of a £10m bid from Leeds United. Celtic rejected it & now hope to tie him up on a new deal during this international break."

Sky Bet Championship outfit Southampton and Serie A side Bologna also showed interest in Matt O'Riley during the summer transfer window; however, it looks like he will be offered the chance to prolong his stay at Parkhead after becoming a key player north of the border, first under Ange Postecoglou and now with Rodgers at the helm.

In his time at Celtic, O'Riley has been a regular contributor on both goal and assist fronts, registering ten goals and 18 assists in 77 appearances for the Hoops across all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.

Labelled a "wonderful footballer" by Rodgers, O'Riley turned in a fantastic performance in Celtic's Glasgow Derby victory over Rangers last weekend, earning an average match rating of 7.8/10 on Sofascore.

Keeping him at Celtic will be a top priority in the coming weeks for Celtic as they look to maximise his talent and prospective sell-on value down the line.

Young, aided by significant contributions from Bhaskar Yadram, Emmanuel Stewert and Kirstan Kallicharan, helped West Indies beat Ireland by four wickets in Lincoln

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Jan-2018

Nyeem Young sets off for a run•Getty Images

Nyeem Young’s 33-ball 55, aided by significant contributions from Bhaskar Yadram, Emmanuel Stewert and Kirstan Kallicharan, helped West Indies chase 279 as they beat Ireland by four wickets with 10 balls remaining in Lincoln.Batting first, Ireland’s Mark Donegan and captain Harry Tector held the top-order together, making scores of 38 and 69 respectively, but it was Neil Rock at No. 6, who steered Ireland towards a 270-plus score with 91 off 101 balls.West Indies started their chase with a substantial opening partnership of 75 between Yadram (52 off 48 balls) and Kimani Melius, before Morgan Topping removed the former in the 13th over. West Indies then slipped to 103 for 9 before Stewart and Kallicharan added 62 runs for the fourth wicket, the partnership broken by a run-out.When Kallicharan fell to Tector for 46 in the 39th over, West Indies still needed 85 to win. But Young made his way to the crease and finished the chase within the next 10 overs, slamming eight fours and a six during to his half-century.

Everton are once again struggling to pick up points in the Premier League, with zero goals and zero points tallied up in their first three fixtures so far.

Now, with just a few days left of the summer transfer window, it will be crucial to bring in reinforcements that could significantly improve the current situation at Goodison Park, with a fresh update emerging on a potential transfer target.

Will Everton sign anyone before the window shuts?

According to journalist Alan Nixon, Everton are one of many clubs interested in signing Blackburn Rovers midfielder Adam Wharton.

Writing on his Patreon platform, Nixon claims that Brighton and Hove Albion, Newcastle United, Liverpool and Manchester United have all been monitoring the youngster.

However, Everton are eager to secure his signature, despite strong competition from Crystal Palace who are also pushing forward with a move for Wharton before the transfer window closes on Friday.

Who is Adam Wharton?

Whilst the focus has been on building an improved attacking threat at Goodison Park this summer, there is no doubt that Sean Dyche will be looking for opportunities to strengthen every area of his squad to ensure quality is consistent throughout.

Read the latest Everton transfer news HERE…

The Toffees have started their new campaign in the same concerning state they left off in last season and are currently rock bottom in the top-flight table following three consecutive defeats, so the remaining days of the summer window will be crucial.

As a result, the signing of Wharton could not only be a great opportunity to bring in the dream heir to succeed Abdoulaye Doucoure, but would provide Dyche with some quality depth in the centre of the pitch throughout the season ahead.

The 19-year-old is a product of the Blackburn Rovers academy and has risen through the ranks to become a key player for the Championship club, making his debut in the second tier in August 2022.

Over 18 Championship appearances last season, the midfield dynamo impressed a great deal, scoring two goals, registering one assist and tallying up an 84% pass completion rate, as well as winning 52% of his aerial and ground duels combined, as per SofaScore.

Not only that, Wharton is one of the hottest English youth prospects. Indeed, across the eight leagues most comparable to the Championship, he ranks in the top 25% of his positional peers per 90 minutes played for non-penalty goals, blocks, tackles, interceptions, assists and progressive passes, demonstrating his wide and versatile skill set both in his attacking and defensive presence in midfield.

Such metrics match up well when comparing him to the aforementioned Doucoure. He isn't quite the same level of tackler as Wharton but throughout Europe's top five leagues, he sits in the top 3% with regards to positionally similar players for non-penalty goals, the top 39% for assists, and the best 16% for blocks, to highlight a similar all-round package in the middle of the park.

Wharton also offers an invaluable asset to Everton due to his versatility to adapt to most midfield roles when needed, with experience in the attacking, central and defensive roles over his short career so far. Again, that stacks up well when compared to Doucoure.

The youngster has deservedly earned high praise for his development and breakthrough at Ewood Park, with his manager Jon Dahl Tomasson waxing lyrical about Wharton last season:

"He’s a big talent for the club and that was a big reason why I gave him a chance at a very young age, a player who had never been involved before."

With that being said, if Everton could seal a deal for Wharton over the dying days of the transfer window it would be a major addition for Dyche and a signing that will not only offer huge quality and potential to the squad, but provide a promising future for the midfield presence at Goodison Park.

Musadiq Ahmed blitzed a 27-ball 51 to lift Peshawar to 164, but FATA coasted to the target with six wickets in hand and seven balls to spare

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Nov-2017

PCB/PSL

A 32-ball 50 from Awais Zia led FATA to a six-wicket win against Peshawar in their tournament opener in Rawalpindi. Chasing 165, Zia’s blitz helped FATA plunder 93 in the first 10 overs, but they still required captain Hammad Azam’s 27-ball 38 to carry them over the line in a tense finish.Openers Zia and Mukhtar Ahmed (22 off 12 balls) put FATA on course with a 56-run stand off just 24 balls. After Zia’s dismissal though, in the 11th over, Peshawar pulled the game back through left-arm spinners Zohaib Khan and Kashif Bhatti, who returned combined figures of 7-0-32-2.Khushdil Shah struggled with a 29-ball 24, and his dismissal left FATA with 19 runs to win off 15 balls. Azam and Sohail Akhtar needed just eight of them to finish the game.Musadiq Ahmed had earlier lifted Peshawar to 164 for 6 with his 27-ball 51, an innings that featured five fours and three sixes. Peshawar’s top order managed to hit at least a boundary in each over of the Powerplay, but they were reduced to 64 for 3 in the ninth over. Brisk middle-order contributions from Naved Yasin (30) and Mohammed Imran (18) along with Musadiq’s firepower helped them hit 100 runs in the final 11 overs of the innings.AFP

In a game that saw 348 runs being scored, fast bowler Mohammad Irfan claimed 2 for 29 to help Islamabad edge hosts Rawalpindi by two runs. Irfan first had opener Ahsan Ali caught and bowled for 4 in the first over and then claimed the key wicket of Fawad Alam in the 16th over. Rawalpindi came close when they needed 18 from the last over but they could score not more than 15 off Rahat Ali.Earlier, Ralwalpindi required 56 off the last four overs, and though Mohammad Nawaz belted 43 not out off 23 balls, and debutant Nasir Nawaz hit an unbeaten 20 off 12 balls, Rawalpindi came up short.It was captain and opener Umar Amin who had set up the chase with 56 off 36 balls. He put on 81 with No. 3 Zain Abbas, who wasn’t as quick, making 33 off 32 balls. Umar Gul and Raza Hasan picked up a wicket apiece while offspinner Adil Amin conceded only 24 from his four overs.After being sent in, Islamabad sprinted to 61 for 0 at the end of the Powerplay. Mohammad Asghar then struck with the next ball to get rid of Nauman Anwar for 33 off 17 balls. Faizan Riaz fell for 9 and Saad Ali for 22, but opener Shan Masood brought up a fifty off 35 balls between those two wickets. He marched to 83 off 52 balls with 12 fours and a six overall, before being dismissed in the 18th over, by when Islamabad had reached 160. They managed only 13 off the last two overs of the innings, but it proved just enough in the end.