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Greaves and Roach stayed put for 68.1 overs to deny New Zealand and eke out a miraculous draw

Abhijato Sensarma06-Dec-20251:01

Chase: Roach is a modern-day legend

Strong winds make impressions on the sweaters worn by New Zealand’s players. Creases on their foreheads make a bigger one. The sun is out, shadows lengthen, and they are being made to sweat.Cricket’s most aesthetic miracles end in victory against the odds – Kolkata 2001, Edgbaston 2005, Gabba 2021 to pick three from this century. High drama and tense finishes. Christchurch 2025 is different.West Indies are 72 for 4, chasing 531, before tea on the fourth day. Defeat appears inevitable. Shai Hope and Justin Greaves survive until stumps. Normal service resumes when Hope and the No. 7 Tevin Imlach fall quickly on the final morning. Kemar Roach joins Greaves. They begin to bat, and bat.Related

• Justin Greaves: 'Test cricket a massive step up from first-class cricket in Caribbean'

• Greaves 202*, Roach 58* anchor West Indies to epic draw

• Greaves' fourth-innings double and WI's marathon

• Greaves: 'Special, special day for me; special day for the team'

For the next session and a half, they survive on a pitch without much jeopardy. The odds of a draw increase ever so gradually; the faintest glimmer of a shot at victory. West Indies need 132 in the final session of the final day, but are one wicket away from it all crashing down. A crowd of a few hundred around the lush banks at Hagley Oval is watching.Across the Tasman, thousands are watching Test cricket in fast-forward at the Gabba. If Bazball is aesthetic for some, Australia are responding with their own brand of break-neck batting. Roach, however, has not scored for 72 balls. At some point during this passage of play, he survives an appeal for caught behind to a Michael Bracewell delivery spinning away from off stump, and is saved because New Zealand have no reviews left. Soon, a ball from Zak Foulkes rises at him. He gets inside the line – almost in a tangle – and somehow pushes it to mid-on.Justin Greaves and Kemar Roach helped West Indies pull off an epic draw•Getty ImagesNew Zealand will not be breaching his defences today.At some point in the final session, as the rest of the cricket world begins to wake up to the possibilities in Christchurch, it becomes evident West Indies are playing for a draw. Like the summit of a mountain, 531 is within sight, but it’s farther and more fraught with risk than it appears to those on the outside. Fatigue is physical and mental, and focus is fragile.Roach deadbats deliveries. The pitch is placid but once in a while a ball rips in from the footmarks outside off to threaten the stumps or the edge, forcing the batter into coming forward to block. At other times, he contorts into positions that keep the bat face tilted down, knocking the ball into the pitch.Defence becomes an all-encompassing routine: eyes on ball, move your feet, keep head still, pat it down, repeat. No matter whether you need one run to win, or a couple hundred, you defend the same. The ball yields no result beyond an annotation for itself: it’s a , an acknowledgment of the inability to – or intent not to – score off it.Turbo-charged batting influenced by white-ball formats has contributed to some memorable Tests in recent years, but this match has entered a meditative space unique to the five-day format – the aesthetic of attrition. Roach is on 53 for the longest time… and suddenly, 54. He keeps meeting the ball with the full face of the bat anyway. His contortions do not matter as much as the fact that he is running down the overs.1:36

Did West Indies think of going for the win on the last day?

At the other end is Greaves, taller, with a higher back-lift, and a more solid defence, inching towards a double-century. New Zealand’s bowlers pull back their lengths. Greaves plays with a long stride, and brings his bat down with flair, almost like a full-frontal chop.He too has pared back his scoring options as the overs go by. New Zealand start bringing fielders in as the danger of defeat recedes. For Roach, there are four close catchers on the corners of the small box around him. Once in a while, ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ are heard: a close chance at short leg, a ball drifting in padded away, the faint hopes of a fainter edge.The final hour begins. West Indies are 96 away with four wickets in hand. Greaves on 185, Roach on 53. No Bazball batting here. Spectators stroll beyond the boundary, a child stretches out on his father’s shoulders, and out in the middle they block.After another incidental run, an announcement is heard that West Indies have achieved the second highest fourth-innings total in Test history – 452. It’s received with a ripple of applause. Greaves and Roach gently bump fists in the middle. They have climbed a summit no one else has this century.Justin Greaves scored his maiden double hundred in Tests•Getty ImagesGreaves gets to his own landmark in the penultimate over of the match – off a rare full delivery, sliced over backward point. For once, the ball means something beyond survival. He takes off his helmet, bumps fists with his partner, and acknowledges his dressing room. He’s only the seventh man to make a double hundred in the fourth innings of a Test.They remain unbeaten for 68.1 overs. Greaves for 388 deliveries, Roach for 233. West Indies finish 74 short of the target, but their victory is in 163.3 overs survived.Let’s stay with them for this one last ball. Rachin Ravindra jogs in. His delivery is short of a length, sliding across off. Greaves moves back, head still, eyes on the ball, offering the full face of the bat for one final time.The shadows are now long in Christchurch. Greaves and Roach take off their helmets and gloves and embrace near the pitch. It’s still a sunny evening. A strong wind makes impressions on their jerseys. And as they begin walking towards their team-mates in the dressing room, the creases on their foreheads are gone.

The offspinner-allrounder talks about his time in the BPL, playing under MS Dhoni, and what he makes of England’s young Test spinners

Interview by Mohammad Isam08-Mar-2024This is your third season with Comilla Victorians. How has playing in the BPL been?
I played the BPL years ago but that experience wasn’t great. Over time, it got better. Comilla approached me a few years ago through Tamim [Iqbal]. He obviously left. [Umpire] Richard Illingworth asked me. He knows [team owner] AHM Mustafa Kamal.Comilla looks after me really well. They are professionally run, and one of the best franchises I have played in. I enjoy coming here. I like to play for the right reasons, that’s why I come to play for Comilla. They want to win. BPL has become a stronger competition this year. I just want to win trophies in my career.You got the second hat-trick of your career in this season’s BPL.
My son always asks me to get a hat-trick. I always tell him that it is a once-in-a-lifetime kind of thing. When he found out that I got a hat-trick here, he was really happy. I never got even one hat-trick in backyard cricket, so I’m really happy to get two in professional cricket!Last year when Ben Stokes sent you a message to return to Test cricket, you came back into something called Bazball.
Test cricket is the best. I love playing Test cricket. It is the best format of the game. When I first retired, I was a bit down. I finished not playing so well. [Brendon] McCullum and Stokes gave me this opportunity, which I couldn’t turn down. It was the Ashes at home. I finished Test cricket with such great memories, such a high. I just absolutely loved it. I batted three, bowled spin.I feel like they are changing the face of cricket. I know they are 2-1 down in India [this interview was conducted on February 24] but they have played unbelievably. They have taken to India on difficult wickets. I love that about Bazball. There’s always a chance. The belief is there. India are also playing really well. They are also taking the game on. Look at the way [Yashasvi] Jaiswal is playing. He is doing unbelievably well.It is the way the game needs to go for people to watch. Like ODI cricket changed, Test cricket also has to change. There’s still time for proper Test match batting, but it needs to get forward. This is what Bazball is doing.Related

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How do you think Ben Stokes has captained spin bowling on the current tour of India?
He did really well. The way he backs his spinners – even when I played in the UK, he had [innovative] field settings against Australia [like] a guy dead-straight behind the [bowler’s] arm. He is always willing to do things like that. I had Joe Root and Alastair Cook as my captains [previously] but Stokesy was just different. Everyone knows that. The way he’s taking the game and team forward, it’s really amazing. In such a short period of time, he took England from not playing great cricket to amazing and entertaining cricket. Everyone is talking about Bazball. [The team themselves] actually don’t believe much in [the term]. They just want to play this brand of cricket. I think he is a special captain and a special player.What do you make of England’s spin trio – Tom Hartley, Rehan Ahmed and Shoaib Bashir – in India?
They have done really well. It’s not easy. India is a very difficult place. I know the wickets have spun nicely, still they have carried their own. I thought Hartley did really well in the first game. No matter what wicket, on debut, under pressure, the way he has battled is really, really good.This is a very inexperienced bowling attack. It is not even experienced in domestic cricket. You have to give them a lot of credit. They have kept England in the games. They bowled well. Hartley bowled really well in the first game. Bashir bowled really well today [day two in Ranchi]. Rehan hasn’t taken wickets but he has learned a lot. I think he has changed the way he bowled in red-ball cricket. They have done an excellent job. People don’t realise how hard it is against such good players of spin.How hard is it to convert from a child prodigy like Rehan was to doing well in Test cricket in India?
It is very difficult. He is a talented young player in England that everyone is talking about. There is big hype around him. They are used to this in India. They have seen become unbelievable players. They have seen people fail completely and go off the rails. Rehan will get the backing from Stokesy. He has, already. We know it will take time. They are prepared to give them as much time [as they deserve]. As long as he is doing well, Rehan will naturally take over from Adil Rashid in the white-ball formats. There’s no doubt that Rehan will come good. There is a bit of pressure. He has a good head on his shoulders. He will be fine.Moeen Ali expects 19-year-old Rehan Ahmed to go on to become an England spearhead in the white-ball sides, taking over from Adil Rashid•Ryan Pierse/Getty ImagesYou are available for the T20 World Cup that’s coming up in June. What are your plans going into the next few months?
Obviously home from here for a bit and then the IPL. After IPL, we have Pakistan [playing T20Is in England] and the World Cup [in the West Indies and USA]. I really want to defend this World Cup. We have a particularly brilliant team in T20s, provided everyone is fit.It is changing a bit now. Before you could prepare for a series or a World Cup properly. Now everyone is all over the place and you get together with the international side. I think we will do well. I think we have a very good chance.How do you regard this cricket calendar, with all the T20 leagues?
It is a great time for me. I am 36. There’s leagues everywhere. I think it is brilliant. When you have too long a break at this age, you have more chances of getting injured. I like to keep playing. As long as you are mentally fresh, two weeks of time off is enough.It is also tough. You retire from international cricket to spend more time at home, [but] you actually end up being away a lot of the time [when playing in leagues]. It is just as tough. The pressure of Test cricket is not there. Playing for a franchise has a different pressure. It is really good, but I can see that it can be a problem at the same time.You mentioned that you want to defend the T20 World Cup. Will you take lessons from the ODI World Cup last year, where England lost six out of nine games?
Definitely, it will be silly not to. I think we have learned a lot. I think we were expecting to do decently and see where it goes. The balance of the team was difficult. We changed a few things. I think we have a great chance in this T20 World Cup. It is too early to say if we are favourites, but we will be fine.Are you happy to have a floating role with bat and ball?
Whatever is good for the team. It is not just with England – in most places, a lot of the time I float. I don’t mind. When the left-handers are in, captains like to bowl me. Batting-wise, as long as I feel like I can adapt, I like to do whatever the team needs. I try to do the best I can.

” I want to look back in my career and think about what trophies I have won. It is not about my averages. It is about winning trophies and being part of a team that leaves a bit of a legacy”

Is it hard for younger players now to play a lot of red-ball cricket?
People might see a lot of players playing white-ball cricket all over the place, but it is not the same. You have to play a lot of red-ball cricket to know your batting and bowling. Your technique has to be different. It is easier to go from red ball to white than sometimes the other way around. Batsmanship has to be there. Knowing and understanding why you are not scoring runs.A lot of the players who go big in T20 cricket, when they are out of form, they are out of form for a long time because they don’t understand their own batting technique. Whereas a guy who has played a lot of red-ball cricket, their bad form in T20s is not massive because they know the techniques. They have played a lot of first-class or Test matches. I think that’s the only thing that’s going out of the game.As a young player coming through now, I would still want to play a lot of red-ball cricket to understand your own game. You just play, play, play. T20 leagues and the money will always be there.You said that Bazball is the way forward. Isn’t that sort of cricket what kids would like to play too?
Bazball is not just slogging. These guys are sweeping and reverse-sweeping more than they ever used to do. For example in India now they have sent bowlers back under pressure in tough situations. They have also soaked it up when they need to. It is about winning games at the end of the day. They won in Pakistan on three unbelievably flat wickets. They did it by scoring 400-500 runs in a day. They understood that they could move the game forward by scoring 500 in a day. It leaves enough time to bowl teams out. That would be what Bazball is, really. It is great for Test cricket.Is it trickling down to county cricket?
I think somebody who is going to bat 300 balls for a hundred nowadays is probably not going to play as much as someone who can score a hundred in 150 balls. I think that has changed in county cricket. Before Bazball, we won one game in 17 Tests. Since Bazball, we have won many games and we’ve got a great winning percentage away from home. I am a massive fan.”I think we have a great chance in this T20 World Cup. It is too early to say if we are favourites, but we will be fine”•Ashley Allen/Getty ImagesSouth-Asian-origin players like Rehan Ahmed and Shoaib Bashir are now in England’s XIs. Do you think diversity and inclusion are better in English cricket now?
Ever since I have played, it has always been good. I don’t know what it felt like before me. If you are good enough, you are going to play wherever you are from. Shoaib Bashir has hardly played any cricket. But they identified him as someone who can bowl well in India. Hartley is the same. They liked his style of bowling. They felt he can do it in India. Stokesy and these guys will go on gut feel.The ECB have been doing a great job in terms of diversity and inclusion over a period of time. Nobody ever gets it right straight away. It takes a bit of time. It is happening. I still believe that if you are good enough, you will play.You mentioned that you love the T20 leagues. Do you see yourself playing into your 40s?
I will play as long as I am playing well, as long as I feel like I can contribute to the team. I watch players like Imran Tahir. He is a massive inspiration at 44. Shoaib Malik has been playing for a long time. Not playing Tests and ODIs will prolong my career in terms of playing domestic cricket all over the world. I know there will be a time physically when I can’t play. I want to play till then.What’s it like to play under MS Dhoni in the IPL? You have been heavily involved in Chennai Super Kings’ title wins recently.
Everyone knows that Dhoni is a special player and a special captain. He is a very good guy. I have played three seasons but I don’t know what he is going to come up with. His strategic persona is really good. It is exciting as a player – what role he has for you. When you are playing for CSK with Dhoni as the captain, whether the team is weak or strong on paper, you always have a chance of winning.

“Before Bazball, we won one game in 17 Tests. Since Bazball, we have won many games and we’ve got a great winning percentage away from home. I am a massive fan”

From a personal point of view, I want to win as many trophies as I can. I want to look back in my career and think about what trophies I have won. It is not about my averages. It is about winning trophies and being part of a team that leaves a bit of a legacy. With Comilla, for example, we won the last two BPL trophies.Given cricket’s changing landscape, what would be your advice to any young cricketer starting off now in Asia, Africa or the UK?
I would tell a young kid to play as much red-ball cricket as you can. It will help your game. The reason why there haven’t been good legspinners in Tests after Shane Warne is because they haven’t played enough red-ball cricket. You have to play red-ball cricket to be a proper cricketer.It looks good from the outside, chasing all the money and playing the leagues, but for your own cricket, red-ball is the way forward. As a young cricketer, I would play overseas first-class cricket instead of T20s. Those leagues will be there [even later].The other thing I would like to say is: don’t chase after things that won’t be good for your game. Do what is right for your own game first, even if it is means staying home for a winter. Do the basics right. Get a good shape on the ball if you are a spinner. Spin the ball, become accurate. You can be an average spinner in T20s and get away with it. You have to bowl well to get wickets in red-ball cricket. I have very rarely seen people taking a lot of wickets bowling badly in red-ball cricket. Understand your game first before you want to do other stuff. That’d be my advice.

A look at what each team needs to do – and need other teams to do – to make the cut

S Rajesh20-Mar-2022England’s nervy one-wicket win against New Zealand means they stay in contention for the semi-finals of Women’s World Cup 2022, while New Zealand are almost out of it. With just nine more games to go in the group stage, only Australia have sealed their semi-final slot, while the rest are still involved in a tense struggle. Here is a look at what each team needs to do – and need other teams to do – to make the cut.New ZealandNew Zealand have lost three matches by extremely close margins: one wicket (against England), two wickets (South Africa) and three runs (West Indies). These three defeats mean the home team is on the brink of elimination. If England win their last two games – against the relatively weaker Bangladesh and Pakistan – then at least three teams will have more than six points, which is the maximum New Zealand can reach.They would then have to hope that West Indies lose their last two matches – against Pakistan and South Africa – and stay on six with a poorer net run rate, and India lose their last two games too – against Bangladesh and South Africa – and stay on four points, as their NRR is currently much better than New Zealand’s. (Even if New Zealand score 300 in their last game and win by 200 runs, their NRR will still only improve to 0.427, which is lower than India’s current rate of 0.456.) In that case New Zealand could qualify as the fourth team, but at the moment they are clutching at straws.EnglandEngland had a disastrous start to the tournament, but with two games to go, they have an excellent chance of making the semi-finals. They have a couple of advantages going into the last week of the group stage: their two remaining opponents are the weaker teams, and their NRR is a relatively healthy 0.327 (which can increase further with convincing wins).England have managed to stay in contention despite a disastrous start•Getty ImagesIf they finish on eight points, they should be in a good position in an NRR battle. (India are currently marginally ahead on 0.456, but one of their remaining games is against South Africa, who haven’t lost a match yet.)For England to lose out even after winning their last two games, West Indies will have to win their last two matches and go up to ten points, and South Africa will have to beat Australia so that they move beyond eight as well. If India win their last two and stay above England on NRR, then England will be eliminated. They will be hoping that the weather stays clear in Christchurch and Wellington, allowing them the opportunity to look for four points and improve their NRR.However, if they lose either of those matches (or if one is rained out), then they could struggle.IndiaIndia are in a similar position as England in terms of points and run rate, but the one major difference is that one of their remaining games is against South Africa. India’s best chance will be if they win their last two, and either South Africa or West Indies don’t progress beyond eight points. That can happen if West Indies lose at least one of their two remaining matches, or if South Africa lose all three. Then, both India and England will qualify with eight points (if England win their last two as well), while West Indies/South Africa will be eliminated because of poorer NRRs.India have a healthy net run rate, thanks to their big win against West Indies•AFP via Getty ImagesConversely, if West Indies win their last two, and if South Africa beat Australia, then three teams will finish on more than eight points. Then, even with wins in their two remaining games, India will be battling for the fourth spot with England (if they finish on eight as well).South AfricaDespite winning all four matches so far, South Africa still have some work to do to confirm a place in the semi-finals. That can happen if they win one more game and lift their points tally to ten.However, their three remaining games are all tough ones. If they lose all three then they could well be eliminated, as West Indies could finish on ten points, and England and India could get eight with better net run rates.West Indies will qualify if they win their two remaining matches•ICC via GettyWest IndiesWest Indies are currently third on the points table, but their NRR of -0.930 is the worst among all teams in contention for the semi-finals. They will qualify if they win their two remaining matches, but if they lose one – and if England beat Pakistan and Bangladesh – then West Indies will have to hope that India lose at least one of their two remaining games and finish on no more than six points. Then West Indies will qualify, along with Australia, South Africa and England.BangladeshBangladesh can theoretically get to eight points, but their remaining matches are against some of the toughest teams in this competition.PakistanPakistan too can qualify theoretically but having lost 18 successive matches in the 50-over World Cup, their immediate aim would be to stop it from extending to 21 by the end of this tournament.

The Blue Jays roared back in the ALCS on Wednesday night with a 13-4 beatdown of the Mariners after dropping the first two games of the series in Toronto. As has been the case all postseason, Vlad Guerrero Jr. was the engine that drove his team's offensive production. The star slugger went 4-for-4 from the plate with three runs and came up a triple shy of a cycle.

It was a near miss, though. In the eighth inning with the game well in hand Guerrero mashed a double into the gap in right field. It was a bit of a slow roller so from the broadcast view it looked like the Blue Jays star have gone for third and become the second player to ever hit for the cycle in the playoffs. But he held up at second and missed his shot at history.

Guerrero didn't seem terribly concerned about that while speaking to the Fox Sports crew afterwards, which makes sense; his team still won by nine runs. Derek Jeter decided to have some fun with it and pressed Guerrero on why he didn't try for the historic achievement. Guerrero explained his third base coach held up the stop sign and he has to listen to his coach, leading to a perfect reaction from Jeter.

"Next time blink and tell him you didn’t see him," Jeter said.

A fun exchange, and one well-earned by Guerrero.

The Blue Jays are still up against the wall, down 2-1 with two more games to play in Seattle before heading back to Toronto if the series gets that far. But they carved out some breathing room with the dominant Game 3 win.

Guerrero will look to do it again on Thursday night. Maybe he'll take Jeter's advice, too.

Mohamed Salah has reportedly been given the chance to link up with the Egypt squad earlier than planned amid the furore around his uncertain Liverpool future. The 33-year-old grabbed the headlines when he accused the Reds of "throwing him under the bus" after being left out of the starting XI. While speculation has mounted about an Anfield exit, it seems a January departure is very unlikely.

• Salah vents his frustration

  Shortly after Liverpool's thrilling 3-3 draw with Leeds on Saturday, a game where Salah was an unused substitute, the former Roma star said that someone at the Reds wanted him to "get all of the blame" and that he no longer had a relationship with manager Arne Slot. The Dutchman later said that he had "no clue" whether the forward had played his last game for the Anfield outfit, while club legend Jamie Carragher branded Salah a "disgrace" and accused him of trying to get the former Feyenoord boss sacked.  

  Salah told reporters after the Leeds game, "I think it is very clear that someone wanted me to get all of the blame. I said many times before that I had a good relationship with the manager, and all of a sudden we don't have any relationship. I don't know why but it seems to me, how I see it, that someone doesn't want me in the club. It seems like the club has thrown me under the bus. That is how I am feeling. I think it is very clear that someone wanted me to get all of the blame. This club, I will always support it. My kids will always support it. I love the club so much and I always will. It [the situation] is not acceptable to me, to be fair. I don't get it. It's like I'm being thrown more under the bus. I don't think I'm the problem. I have done so much for this club. I don't have to go every day fighting for my position because I earned it. I am not bigger than anyone but I earned my position. It's football. It is what it is."

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  Salah wants Liverpool stay

  Despite Salah's outburst and being left out of Liverpool's Champions League clash away to Inter on Tuesday night, claims he has 'no intention' of leaving the club in the January transfer window. The veteran, who has been an unused substitute in two of Liverpool's last three Premier League matches, is said to be 'disappointed' by this turn of events, especially as he hoped to retire at the Merseyside outfit. Salah feels someone at the club is trying to push him out, and he himself is aware he would not be short of suitors should he choose to leave the club next month. Incidentally, his comments came as 'no surprise' to some of his team-mates, who have noticed he has cut an 'unhappy figure' in recent weeks.

• Salah gets Egypt FA's support

  The report adds that Salah has held talks with Egypt's national team coach, Hossam Hassan, who assured him he would be happy to welcome the ex-Chelsea player into the Pharaohs' camp this week. The Egyptian international is available for selection for the Reds' Premier League clash against Brighton this weekend but Hassan has reportedly offered him a chance to get away from this intense situation ahead of their tournament opener against Zimbabwe on December 22.

  Incidentally, Egyptian FA football director Ibrahim Hassan added, "Mohamed Salah is a great player and he will return stronger and better, as we have always known him to be, in the upcoming matches. Salah will continue to make history with Liverpool after becoming one of its legends. Mohamed Salah will also make history with the Egyptian national team in the Africa Cup of Nations, along with the coaching staff and his teammates, by winning the championship."

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  What comes next for Salah?

  adds that Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal are monitoring Salah's situation ahead of the January window but are more hopeful of launching a successful bid next summer. Salah's ambition reportedly remains a 'far stronger' driving force than 'financial incentives', so he could stay at Liverpool for the foreseeable future. 

Ackeem Auguste and Roston Chase hit 50 runs apiece after WI’s brief stutter to guide them home

Mohammad Isam31-Oct-2025Ackeem Auguste and Roston Chase struck fifties to help West Indies to a five-wicket win in the third T20I against Bangladesh in Chattogram.Romario Shepherd’s hat-trick had earlier helped their cause for the 3-0 triumph, after Bangladesh were bowled out for 151 runs. The series sweep comes at the right time for West Indies, who had lost seven bilateral T20I series in a row, coming into this series.Auguste and Chase put on 91 runs for the fourth wicket, after they lost three early wickets. Auguste peppered the leg-side with five sixes against the Bangladesh spinners, while the stand-in captain Chase got his boundaries all around the wicket.Bangladesh had earlier collapsed from 107 for 2 in the 15th over, to be bowled out for 151 in 20 overs. They lost eight wickets for 44 runs in the last 5.3 overs, including Shepherd’s hat-trick spread over two overs. He was unaware of his achievement, until Jason Holder happily informed him from mid-off.Jangoo surprises for WIBangladesh restricted West Indies’ openers in the first three overs of the chase. The returning Mahedi Hasan got Alick Athanaze stumped for 1 and Amir Jangoo was also struggling to get going. But he had luck on his side. A mix-up between Litton Das and Saif Hassan gave him a let-off in the second over, before substitute Towhid Hridoy dropped a skier at mid-off.Jangoo then took on Taskin Ahmed in his first over. He started with a crisp flicked six off the first ball, before driving and pulling for three more fours in the 18-run over.Bangladesh hit back with Nasum Ahmed removing Brandon King in the sixth over. Jangoo struck two more fours before Rishad Hossain had him lbw in the eighth over. Jangoo’s 23-ball 34 provided West Indies the boost their 152-run chase needed after a slow start.Auguste packs a punchAuguste built on Jangoo’s innings. Like Jangoo, his first six was also a beautifully flicked six off Taskin. Chase, who was dropped on 10, struck three boundaries to get going, before Auguste took on Rishad. He used the flick off the first ball of the 13th over, before hitting him for two more on the leg-side. Rishad though was unlucky, as substitute Tanzim Hasan dropped Auguste at the covers, on 27.Auguste hammered Nasum’s first ball next over, before Chase took over in the boundary-hitting. He struck three more in the next two overs, on the way to completing his fourth T20I fifty.Bangladesh had some respite when Rishad removed both Chase and Auguste in the 16th over, but West Indies were already comfortably placed to complete the win.Tanzid shines againBangladesh had earlier got off to a decent start after deciding to bat first. Tanzid Hasan hit three fours in the first three overs, before Holder dropped him at mid-off on 12. Tanzid kept Bangladesh forceful in the powerplay, lofting Akeal Hosein for a six over square-leg.Parvez Hossain and Litton though fell cheaply, before Tanzid and Saif added 63 runs for the third wicket. Saif started with a six over square-leg against Chase, followed by Tanzid hitting his second off Khary Pierre. Tanzid cracked two fours off Shepherd in the 11th over, before he lofted Gudakesh Motie for his third six in the next over.Rovman Powell dropped Tanzid on 57, although it was a tough chance at long-on. This one made it West Indies’ sixth dropped catch in the last two matches.Shepherd’s special hat-trickWest Indies’ luck though would change from the 15th over. Holder had Saif caught in the backward square-leg boundary, a ball after he struck a six over the same region.Bangladesh would then lose wickets off the last ball of the over for five successive overs. Pierre removed Rishad in the next over, lbw for three, before Nurul Hasan was caught in the deep off Shepherd.Powell Nasum in the deep at the end of the 18th over before Holder got out-of-form Jaker Ali lbw for five.Shepherd started the 20th over with Tanzid caught at mid-off, before he yorked Shoriful Islam. He wasn’t aware of the hat-trick until Holder – the only other West Indian to get a T20I hat-trick – told him. Shepherd celebrated with a smile. It was the eighth hat-trick Bangladesh’s batters had suffered.

Chelsea have now submitted a £53m opening bid for an “incredible” Champions League star, with the same agent as Malo Gusto.

Blues make offer for Champions League star

Although the Blues were unable to hold on to all three points, they should take a lot of confidence from the performance against Arsenal on Sunday afternoon, with Enzo Maresca’s side picking up a 1-1 draw despite having just 10 men for the majority of the game.

Maresca had to make do without Cole Palmer, who didn’t make it off the bench after recently recovering from a freak toe injury, while Jamie Gittens also remained unused, with Pedro Neto and Estevao getting the nod on the wings.

As such, the manager clearly has a lot of depth in attacking areas, with the Italian likely to be very impressed by Estevao’s performances in the Champions League this season, having netted three goals in his opening five games.

However, the west Londoners are still keen to get another attacker through the door, according to a report from Spain, which states Chelsea have now submitted a huge bid of €60m (£53m) for Newcastle United winger Harvey Barnes.

Manchester United have also tabled an offer of the same amount, so there could be fierce competition for his signature, with both Premier League clubs of the belief Barnes would be a perfect fit for their respective playing styles, meaning they are making aggressive pushes to get a deal done.

The Blues are looking to sign the Newcastle star in the January transfer window, and he welcomes the interest from two of England’s biggest clubs, despite remaining happy at St. James’ Park.

"Incredible" Barnes on fire in the Champions League

Lauded as “incredible” by Newcastle boss Eddie Howe, the 27-year-old has been particularly impressive in the Champions League this season, having netted four goals in his opening five games, while also picking up one assist.

The former Leicester City man has also caught the eye in the Premier League as of late, bagging a brace to fire the Magpies to a 2-1 victory against Manchester City earlier this month.

However, there are doubts over whether the Englishman, who is represented by the same agent as Gusto, would be a necessary signing, given that Chelsea already have Pedro Neto and Gittens to choose from at left-wing.

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Instead, it may be better to invest the money into other areas of the squad, with bringing in a new centre-forward perhaps more important, given that Liam Delap and Joao Pedro haven’t exactly been prolific so far this season, netting five goals between them in all competitions.

Somerset skittled for second-innings 99, leaving Essex with 95 target

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay26-Sep-2025

Somerset 433 and 99 (Thomas 39, Porter 4-18) lead Essex 438 (Walter 158, Elgar 118, Overton 6-88) by 94 runsJamie Porter ripped through some fragile batting with four wickets to help skittle Somerset for 99 and put Essex on course for only their second home Rothesay County Championship victory of the season.Ably supported by debutant seamer Charlie Bennett, and latterly spinner Simon Harmer, Porter took his season’s tally to 49 wickets with figures of 4 for 18 from a dozen overs. It left Essex requiring 95 to win before bad light ended play on day three 17 overs early.At one stage, when Dean Elgar and Paul Walter were putting on 277 for the first wicket the day before, it had looked as if Essex would gain a sizeable first-innings advantage. In reality, that lead turned out to be just five runs as they lost all 10 wickets for an additional 161 runs inside 45 overs. But that was before Somerset went in for a second time.Much of the damage in Essex’s first-innings 438 was down to some naggingly accurate bowling from Craig Overton, who passed 500 first-class career wickets while posting figures of 6 for 88. What had been a docile, one-paced wicket suddenly turned into a seamer’s dream and Overton capitalised with his second six-wicket haul of the season.Essex’s seamers were also quickly among the wickets in Somerset’s second innings. Porter beat Archie Vaughan for pace and then Bennett had Tom Lammonby lbw to 1 that stayed low.James Rew appeared to be repairing the initial damage, harvesting four boundaries in his run-a-ball 19, until he skied a leading edge to midwicket off Bennett.Then in the next over, Tom Kohler-Cadmore may have lost the ball in the gathering gloom as Doug Bracewell bent back his off-stump. The floodlights came on soon after.Josh Thomas had been immune to the carnage around him, hitting seven fours in his 39 from 65 balls, but he became Porter’s 550th first-class wicket for Essex when one kept low and trapped him lbw. In the same over, Kasey Aldridge tickled one through to substitute wicketkeeper Simon Fernandes.With Somerset disappearing down a rabbit hole at 89 for 6, Essex announced free admission for all spectators on the final day. Overton then made a swift exit, playing all around one from Porter. And it became worse when Jack Leach set off for a run, pushing Porter into the covers, but could not recover his ground before Charlie Allison’s throw enabled Fernandes to whip off the bails.Lewis Goldsworthy dug in for 58 balls, but he was undone by a spectacular delivery from Harmer that pitched well outside off-stump and turned square to bowl him. And Jake Ball followed to one from the spinner that went straight on and disturbed his stumps, Somerset all out inside 34 overs.Under dirty grey clouds in the morning, things had looked brighter for Somerset when Overton claimed a second wicket in 10 balls, separated by overnight rest and recuperation. He dug in a short delivery and Tom Westley hooked obligingly to deep square leg.Elgar lasted just another half-an-hour. He added just seven runs to his day-two total before he was lbw for 118 playing all around the second ball of an Aldridge spell.Overton, returning for another spell with the second new-ball already four overs old, struck with his 13th delivery, slanting one in at pace and flattening Allison’s middle stump.Lewis Gregory had looked the most lively of the Somerset attack, beating the bat on a number of occasions, and finally received some reward, Matt Critchley lbw playing down the wrong line.On the stroke of lunch, Michael Pepper became Overton’s fifth victim when he was lbw trying to force the ball through midwicket.Gregory lasted eight deliveries in the afternoon session before pulling up injured and briefly leaving the pitch. He, therefore, missed Overton’s sixth wicket when Bracewell looked to swing lustily to leg but ended up dollying a catch to wide mid-off.Bennett produced some aggressive hitting with five fours in a 26-ball 22 before he gave a tame return catch to Leach. Porter smashed his first ball straight for six to take Essex into the lead but perished when he skied Leach into the covers.

Crystal Palace star Daniel Munoz admitted he would love to make a switch to Manchester United despite playing for their Premier League rivals. The 29-year-old has been nothing short of transformative since arriving at Selhurst Park from Genk in January 2024. His first full season in England saw him score six goals and provide eight assists in all competitions. It was a level of productivity that caught the attention of Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and several elite clubs across the continent.

• The rise of Palace's defensive star

  Munoz’s journey to the top of European football has been anything but conventional. Growing up in Medellín, a city once synonymous with cartel violence and some of Colombia’s most dangerous neighbourhoods, he had little margin for error. 

  "I come from a difficult neighbourhood," he told Belgian newspaper . "One of the toughest in Colombia. There are few options. I don’t think you know that in Belgium. Young people don’t have the chance to just become what they want to become.

  “It was difficult for me and my family. There have been certain moments that have shaped me, such as the death of several friends. You see a lot of things: death, hooliganism, robbery… it is a different world, one where everything does not always end well. At one point, I had to make a choice. Which way do I want to go? Do I choose the path that ends as it ended with one of my friends? Or do I walk a different path and make the best of it? I chose the latter."

  Those experiences hardened him and shaped him into a player and person who understands adversity far better than most. Before he ever stepped onto a professional pitch, Munoz was part of the ultras at Atletico Nacional, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Los del Sur, as he sang and chanted for the club he adored. And at 16, he walked away from the terraces to pursue the game full-time.

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  From South America to the Premier League

  Munoz’s early professional years with Aguilas Doradas saw him play nearly 100 matches in Colombia’s top flight before he fulfilled his childhood dream of joining Atletico Nacional in 2019. In less than two seasons, he became the captain of his team.

  His performances drew the eye of European scouts, and Genk paid €4.5 million to bring him to Belgium. There, he blossomed into the Jupiler League’s standout right-back, and Palace did not hesitate when the opportunity arrived, signing him on a four-year deal. Since then, Munoz has become an indispensable piece of Glasner’s high-intensity system. He assisted the goal that helped the Eagles clinch the FA Cup last season and his consistent performances reportedly drew interest from Barcelona and Champions League winners PSG.

• A dream to represent the continent's best

  Munoz spoke candidly to Colombian outlet about the long-standing rumours linking him to major European powers.

  "First of all, I think there’s a lot of talk about one club or another," Munoz said. "If you ask me, it would be a dream come true to play for one of these clubs, whether it’s Barcelona, PSG, Real Madrid, or Manchester United."

  Munoz did not disguise the ambition that has fuelled his rise: "I think I’m working towards that; I strive every day to one day attract the attention of one of these clubs, because it’s a dream of mine to get there."

  However, the defender quickly brushed aside those rumours and insisted that he remains focussed on his job at Palace. 

  "Right now I’m focused on my club, on doing things well at Crystal Palace," he said. "If you ask me, I don’t have any concrete information that any of these clubs are interested in me. My focus is on Crystal Palace; we’ll see when the winter transfer window gets closer. Right now, I’m fully focused on these two matches with the national team."

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  What comes next?

  For Palace supporters, his words might provoke mixed emotions. On the one hand, his desire to reach the highest level and play for the European heavyweights is very natural. On the other hand, his presence has been vital to their transformation under Glasner. However, he has a contract with the Eagles until 2028, and any suitor will have to fork out a significant transfer fee to whisk him away from the English capital. In the short term, Munoz will complete Colombia’s upcoming internationals against New Zealand and Australia during the November break. After returning to London, he will shift focus to Palace’s next Premier League fixture against Wolves on November 22.

At long last, Rangers have got their next manager after officially announcing the appointment of Danny Rohl. The former Sheffield Wednesday manager was not their first choice, that’s no secret, but one former Ibrox star has already pointed out one similarity with club legend Walter Smith.

Danny Rohl: "No time to waste" at Rangers

It’s not Steven Gerrard, it’s not Kevin Muscat, but it is Rohl. Rangers have finally filled their managerial vacancy and must now put full faith in their 36-year-old coach to turn things around after a disastrous start.

For all his inexperience, it’s worth noting that the former Sheffield Wednesday boss has worked with the likes of Hansi Flick and was Ralph Hasenhuttl’s assistant when his Southampton side were at their very best. He is one of the best young managers around and has been handed the biggest job of his career to date.

In an ideal world, Rohl would have all the patience needed to make his mark in Scotland. However, the reality is that he must get off to a solid start following the disaster of Russell Martin’s tenure.

The German is well aware of how urgent things are at Ibrox, though, having told the club’s official website: “We have no time to waste, we start straight away.

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“I respect that trust is earned and understand we have to give the supporters confidence in what we are doing by showing it on the pitch from the start. The expectations are huge and I love this challenge because I set high standards for myself and the team too.”

Some have already hit out at his inexperience, but one former Rangers star has highlighted a key similarity with Walter Smith which may just buy Rohl some time.

Andy Halliday reveals similarity between Rohl and Walter Smith

Speaking on Clyde1 Superscoreboard, former Rangers midfielder Andy Halliday revealed a similarity between Rohl and the legendary Smith.

Indeed, Rohl has no experience as the main man in the pressure environment of a top level club with huge support, but cut his teeth behind the scenes at Bayern Munich as Hansi Flick’s assistant. Similarly, Smith arrived at Ibrox with no senior managerial experience, but had coached Scotland’s youth sides.

Of course, Smith is a once in a generation manager, but Halliday’s point stands. The jury should not deliver their verdict until Rohl has had a chance to impress at Rangers.

There will be many who have been left scared by Martin’s time in charge, but Rohl’s reputation suggests that he is a different calibre to the former Southampton boss.

Thursday’s game against Brann in the Europa League hands the young manager the perfect opportunity to prove Halliday right and get his era off to the best possible start.