أشاد البرازيلي روجيرو ميكالي المدير الفني لمنتخب مصر تحت 23 عاماً، بأداء اللاعبين في دورة الألعاب الأولمبية باريس 2024، وذلك بعد التأهل إلى دور نصف النهائي، موضحاً آخر تطورات إصابة اللاعب أحمد سيد زيزو.
ونجح منتخب مصر في الوصول إلى نصف النهائي للمرة الأولى منذ 60 عامًا، عقب الانتصار على باراجواي 5-4 بركلات الترجيح في ربع النهائي، بعد التعادل بهدف لكل منهما في الوقتين الأصلي والإضافي.
وقال ميكالي في تصريحات عبر قناة “أون تايم سبورتس”: “نقطة هامة جدًا إن المنظومة الدفاعية متكاملة من خط الدفاع والوسط والمهاجمين، وأول من يُدافع هم المهاجمين، ثم الوسط ثم الخط الأساسي، هناك ترتيب في العملية الدفاعية”.
طالع أيضاً.. ناصر النني: الأهلي فوق “دماغنا”.. ويجب أن تجرى دراسات على نجلي
وأضاف: “حتى الشكل الهجومي يبدأ من حارس المرمى، والشكل الدفاعي يبدأ من المهاجم”.
وأوضح: “عندما يكون أمامك 11 لاعبا بجانب بعض ككتلة واحدة سواء في الهجوم أو الدفاع، هذا يُصعب الأمور على الخصم”.
وأفاد: “حارس المرمى لا بد أن يقرأ المباراة وطريقة اللعب مُسبقًا، ثم ينفذ سواء باليد أو بالقدم، ونحن نُعرف اللاعبين كيف يقرأون المباراة ويمررون الكرة في المساحات، دائمًا يتم البحث عن اللاعب في المساحة أحيانًا صابر أو أسامة أو زيزو أو شحاتة، وحمزة علاء عنده قدرة على قراءة اللعب بشكل جيد”.
وأتم: “حتى الآن ليس لدينا معلومة بشأن قوة إصابة زيزو، الطبيب سيقوم بدوره مع اللاعب، ثم سيخطرنا بحالته، وزيزو مهم جدًا لنا في المرحلة القادمة والسابقة”.
Derby County are believed to be plotting a move to sign a "phenomenal" player for Paul Warne, according to a fresh transfer update.
Derby eyeing January signings
The Rams have made a promising start to the 2023/24 season, currently sitting seventh in the League One table ahead of the festive action in the coming weeks. Granted, Derby could be in a better position towards the automatic promotion positions where Portsmouth and Oxford United currently are, but they are nicely poised to finish in the playoff places, hopefully making their way back into the Championship next year.
The January transfer window will allow Warne the chance to add to his squad, should the money and right targets be available, and the Rams have been linked with a number of players in recent weeks. Young Irish midfielder Adam Murphy is one player who has been backed to move to Derby, being seen as a long-term acquisition, while AFC Wimbledon's Ali Al-Hamadi is also seen as an option for the Rams. It looks as though another player has now joined the list of potential additions at Pride Park in January, with a fellow League One ace tipped to head there.
Derby want to sign CJ Hamilton
According to Football Insider, Derby are one of the clubs interested in signing Blackpool winger CJ Hamilton, with the Rams "plotting a move" for him.
Derby County manager Paul Warne.
Huddersfield Town and Queens Park Rangers are also seen as potential suitors for the 28-year-old wide man, who is out of contract at his current club at the end of this season. That means Blackpool could jump at the chance to earn a fee for him in January, rather than lose him on a free transfer next summer.
It is claimed that "Derby are keen to strengthen in the new year to boost their promotion bid", with numerous clubs "ready to test Blackpool's resolve". Derby may not find it easy to bring in Hamilton in January, considering there is interest from clubs higher up in the Football League currently, but he could be such a shrewd addition if they get a deal over the line.
This season, the Rams transfer target has four assists in League One so far this season, highlighting the creativity he can provide from out wide and at 28 years of age, he is someone with lots of experience, not to mention being a left-footed player who can play on either flank, which could appeal to Warne.
Hamilton has even earned huge praise from former Mansfield Town manager David Flitcroft in the past during their time at the club together, saying of him:
"I can play him anywhere and he is phenomenal. He's had another match-winning day today. Winning goals are the ones you remember."
Derby may need an extra injection of attacking quality in their squad to further enhance their hopes of going up to the Championship this season, and in Hamilton, they could have a perfect option to bring in. An overall tally of 24 goals and 34 assists combined in the Championship, League One and League Two combined further outlines why he could be a smart signing.
Fast bowler believes he is one of five bowlers vying for a single spot in squad, as countdown continues to showpiece tournament
George Dobell in Colombo22-Oct-2018
Mark Wood in training during England’s tour of Sri Lanka•Getty Images
Mark Wood admits he is battling “against the clock” if he is to win a spot in England’s World Cup side.Wood returns to the England side for the final ODI against Sri Lanka in Colombo on Tuesday but, having not played a game in the series to date, fears he may have fallen behind several others in the race for selection.Now, with only one more ODI series to come (the five-match series in the Caribbean in February and March) before England pick their World Cup squad, he feels he is one of five men competing to complete the 15-man party.”In my mind, there’s one spot in the squad for five of us,” Wood said. “Liam Plunkett is going to play: he’s been our best bowler for a while. Chris Woakes has been so consistent. He is a great bowler and he is going to take the new ball. And Ben Stokes balances the team.”So you’ve got one spot between me, Tom Curran, who feels he has got his slower ball back, Olly Stone, who bowls rockets and is ahead of me at the moment, Sam Curran, who can bat, and David Willey, who had a good summer. We’re all probably vying for that one spot.”It’s hard to disagree with Wood’s assessment. With England’s tactic of playing two spinners in most circumstances working well for them, and the management understandably keen to have some left-arm variation – provided by either Sam Curran or Willey – in their attack, it may well prove that Wood is now an outside bet for that final place.With the World Cup having been a focal point of England’s cricket for the last four years – and Wood having been a regular part of the ODI side in that period – it would heart-breaking to miss out at this stage. As a result he is hoping to improve his game in the final months before the tournament, both by lengthening his run-up in order to avoid some of the stress he puts on his body and by developing a new slower ball.”It can be frustrating when you are just on the outside with a World Cup around the corner,” he said. “I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have one eye on that. I know that, if I don’t do well here, I am one tour away from not making that World Cup squad. And that’s something we’ve been building up to for over four years. Ever since the last one. So I’ve got to do the business.””I’ve managed to swing the new ball out here so that has been a plus. And I have been trying to work on a few new slower balls. I feel I can get better with a few slower balls.”But I’m against the clock a little bit. Everyone is fighting for that one spot so it is not like I can keep working on a slower ball for the next three years.”While such competition for place could disturb the equilibrium in the squad, Wood insists it will not be allowed to do so in this England camp. With Eoin Morgan having confirmed he would drop himself from the team if his form was not up to scratch – he may rest himself on Tuesday to provide opportunity elsewhere – the mood in the camp is, Wood says, selfless and positive.”We’re one team,” he said. “We’re all together. I want my friends to do well. I’m an England fan and I want England to win.”You don’t win nine series on the bounce [a statistic that excludes the one-off defeat against Scotland]. It’s good to have healthy competition without being all bitter or sour. That doesn’t help anyone. And I don’t think Eoin Morgan would have you around if you weren’t behind the team.”Some of the net sessions have been pretty hairy as all the bowlers have been charging in trying to get a spot in the side. I’ve just got to prove myself and get better. And if I can do that, hopefully I should get my spot back.”Meanwhile Chris Jordan, who has recently arrived in Sri Lanka, trained with the squad on Tuesday. Jordan has been added to the squad with a view to playing in the one-off T20I match that follows the ODI series.But while Jordan took part in the warm-up football, there was no sign at training of Jonny Bairstow. Bairstow’s ankle injury remains a concern and it is doubtful that he will be fit to play in the first Test.England may well call up Ben Foakes, the uncapped Surrey keeper, within the next day or two. Olly Stone and Joe Denly, who could make his first ODI appearance this decade on Tuesday, also sat out the football section of training.
Sam Whiteman, the Western Australia wicketkeeper-batsman, will lead the Cricket Australia XI that will take on India in a four-day tour match at the Sydney Cricket Ground.The match, scheduled from November 28 to December 1, will serve as a warm-up for the Indian team before the first Test in Adelaide that starts from December 6.D’Arcy Short is the only player with international experience in the twelve named, with the squad comprised mostly of younger players, including four members of the Under-19 team that finished runners up in the World Cup earlier this year. Only eight of the players selected have played first-class cricket previously.The team selected could also change, with Cricket Australia adding a rider that “The team is subject to players earning state selection for Round 5 of the JLT Sheffield Shield competition, commencing on 27 November.”Graeme Hick, the batting coach of the senior team, will be the head coach of this side with Sridharan Sriram, the national team’s spin consultant, appointed the assistant coach.Greg Chappell, the chairman of the Youth Selection Panel and the national talent manager, said the squad was one that offered plenty of options.”This is an excellent opportunity for these talented players to test themselves against India, the number one Test team in the world,” Chappell said. “It’s a versatile squad, with a number of players capable of contributing with bat and ball. D’Arcy Short and Param Uppal both offer valuable spin bowling, alongside their batting, with Aaron Hardie and Jonathan Merlo both capable middle-order batsmen who offer a seam-bowling option.”Many of the players in this squad have previously played in a Cricket Australia XI during their career, and eight have played Sheffield Shield cricket. We know this is a chance for our emerging players to display their skills against a world-class opponent, and we look forward to seeing what they can do against India.”Cricket Australia XI squad: Sam Whiteman (capt), Max Bryant, Jake Carder, Jackson Coleman, Harry Conway, Daniel Fallins, David Grant, Aaron Hardie, Jonathan Merlo, Harry Nielsen (wk), D’Arcy Short, Param Uppal
Eric Dier admits to "a lot of regrets" over his relationship with former Spurs star Dele Alli, having acted like "the annoying older person" at times.
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Struck up close bond at Spurs
Dele struggled with issues off the field
Friends were left in the dark
WHAT HAPPENED?
Dier worked alongside fellow England international Dele in north London, with a close bond struck up between the pair. They shared plenty of jokes and were often seen to be in high spirits, but Dele revealed during an emotional interview with Gary Neville in 2023 that he was dealing with a number of issues off the field that made it difficult for him to produce his best and keep a smile on his face.
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WHAT DIER SAID ABOUT DELE
Dier wishes he had done more during that time of mental struggle – with the current Bayern Munich star telling , brought to you by Sky Bet: “It’s difficult for me to talk about Dele. I speak to him all the time, every week, obviously it was just very difficult to watch [the interview with Neville]. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen the whole video, I’ve seen bits of it but it’s difficult for me to watch, he said some nice things about me, but it works both ways – he’s also been a great friend to me. It annoys me a little because people after that interview would talk to me, but he’s been a great friend to me as well – Dele is a special person. I remember, I was getting married and knew that he was in America, in rehab, and I spoke to him a few times and said that there would be no problem if he couldn’t come and he was almost insulted, he came and was there for me – that’s the type of friend he’s been to me.”
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Dier added on being unable to help Dele as he had no idea quite how serious things had become: “I’m disappointed that I didn’t do more, in many situations that I look back on I wasn’t aware of the full picture and there’s a lot of things – I was that annoying older person, I would always be on his case so he would hide things from me, or tell me something but give just 20% of it – I have a lot of regrets and there were certain times that I wish I did more.”
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WHAT NEXT FOR DELE?
Dele’s career has stalled on the back of his troubles at Tottenham, with a 2022 transfer to Everton not playing out as planned. The 27-year-old is seeing his contract at Goodison Park run down, with a new challenge set to be taken on when hitting free agency this summer.
Leicester City were in cruise control at the top of the Championship, sweeping past teams with relative ease and making a mockery of the division.
When the Foxes made it 11 wins from 12 with a 3-1 victory over Swansea City in October, they broke the record for the best start to a Championship season since the league rebranded in 2004.
Because of this, talk of Enzo Maresca's side totalling the most points ever in a single second-tier campaign began to surface, however, consecutive 1-0 defeats against Leeds United and Middlesbrough have quelled those talks, at least for the time being.
In an all-star Leicester team, only one thing has remained a constant since his arrival in 2012, and that has been Jamie Vardy spearheading their charge towards success.
Jamie Vardy's 23/24 statistics
At the age of 36, Vardy is no spring chicken anymore and of course, those once magical goal-scoring powers were going to suffer an alarming drop off one day.
In the past few seasons, the Englishman has lost a yard of pace and doesn't get into scoring positions as often as he used to, but you never lose the knack of scoring goals, and the former Fleetwood Town striker has demonstrated that this term.
Although a return of four goals in 16 matches is underwhelming for someone who used to regularly break the 20-goal mark in one season – winning the Premier League Golden Boot in 2019/20 – Vardy still plays a crucial role in stretching opposition defences with his pace in behind.
A menace to play against physically and difficult to stop with his sharp movements, the veteran striker has made a career out of lurking on the last defender and pouncing at the chance to be sent through on goal.
Much like Wayne Rooney, Vardy possesses a street striker element to his game – never giving a defender a moment of peace – and wreaking havoc in the attacking third with his devastating finishing.
He's accumulated a staggering 175 goals in 444 appearances for Leicester but given he's soon to retire, the Foxes will forever rue their decision to sell Andrej Kramaric in 2016, who has since become a world-class finisher in the Bundesliga.
Andrej Kramaric's goal record
Leicester broke their transfer record in 2015 when they shelled out £9m on a 23-year-old Kramaric from FC Rijeka.
Despite rigorously scouting the young Croatian, he immediately struggled to adapt to the intensity and demands of the Premier League – like many foreign exports – and only found the net four times in 20 appearances.
In truth, he just did not fit into City's shape, or with their intense, pressing, relentless style and was never going to get in ahead of Vardy, for whom Leicester's entire game was based around getting him in behind defences.
Bayern Munich'sJoaoCanceloin action with TSG 1899 Hoffenheim's Andrej Kramaric
Indeed, Nigel Pearson, the man who brought him to the club, couldn't fit Kramaric into the team and shipped him out on loan to Hoffenheim in the 2015/16 campaign.
Whilst the Foxes were celebrating their famous Premier League title triumph, the striker posted nine goal contributions in 15 matches for the Bundesliga outfit, so few were shocked to see Hoffenheim snap him up in the summer of 2016.
Now aged 32 and in his eighth season with the German side, Kramaric – much like Vardy – has become a goal-machine since departing the King Power, amassing a staggering 121 goals and 51 assists in 262 appearances for the club.
Stat
Club appearances
Goals / Assists
Jamie Vardy
300
125 goals / 34 assists (159 G/A)
Andrej Kramaric
262
121 goals / 51 assists (172 G/A)
Stats via Transfermarkt
On the international stage, the 88-cap Croatia "genius" – as hailed by commentator Derek Rae – has had huge success too, reaching the World Cup final and semi-final in 2018 and 2022, respectively, including scoring the winner which knocked England out at the last four stage in Russia.
Leicester ultimately missed the chance to enjoy an elite European striker as his spell at the club overlapped with the time in which Vardy was at the peak of his powers, and not one supporter would change that for the world given the legendary status that the Englishman has achieved.
But considering that Kramaric has plundered six goals in nine matches this term and outscored Vardy, perhaps they would now take him back in a heartbeat.
Starc will be part of a star-studded New South Wales attack as Australia frontline quicks tune up for the India Tests
Daniel Brettig14-Nov-2018Mitchell Starc has been released from his AUD1.8 million IPL contract with Kolkata Knight Riders ahead of a 2019 that features the World Cup and an Ashes tour, as Cricket Australia haggles with player managers over the balance between international commitments and T20 riches.While players complained to the Simon Longstaff/Rick McCosker cultural review of CA that they were too often treated as commodities, the market value of Australia’s best fast bowlers is a source of increasing debate. Starc, who will join Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon in New South Wales’ Sheffield Shield match against Queensland in Canberra from Saturday, said he was happy to prioritise internationals over the IPL, but admitted the security of a longer-term CA deal would be attractive.India’s captain Virat Kohli has sought assurances that his best fast men would not have to push through a full IPL schedule ahead of next year’s World Cup in England, and it has been revealed that the agent – and players’ union executive member and Cricket NSW Board director – Neil Maxwell was seeking a longer-term contract for his client Cummins from the departing team performance manager Pat Howard. That discussion will now sit with the interim performance chief Belinda Clark.”I got a text message two days ago from the owners of Kolkata saying I’ve been released from my contract, so at the moment I’ll be home in April,” Starc said in Sydney. “It’s an interesting one. As far as I’m aware everyone’s on one year at the moment [with CA]. It’s a bit of a changing time with people at CA and that’s a better question for those behind the scenes with CA with what they want to do with contracting. For us we’re not so worried about contracts at the moment, it’s about performing on the field and that will take care of the rest of it come contract time whenever that is.”I’m sure it would [provide security] for a lot of people, it’s probably no different to working life outside of the sporting field. When you look at some of the dollars involved in the IPL and some for the T20 leagues around the world, for guys who might be on the fringe or what to concentrate on T20 cricket, it’s very beneficial to play. At the moment for me I just want to play as much Test and one-day cricket as I can, and the IPL is a lovely bonus on the pay packet, but if I miss that to play more Test matches, I’m taking that option.”The jumbled international schedule will see Starc, Hazlewood, Cummins and Lyon playing Shield cricket opposite Australia playing T20s against South Africa and India, as they prioritise the Test matches to follow. “That was essentially the reason we weren’t considered for the T20s at all, to try and get some red ball cricket ahead of the Test matches coming up,” Starc said. “Whether we play one or two Shield games it’s important we get some good game time with bat and ball against the red one and try to perform coming into that first Test.”As bowlers we’re under no illusion that you can’t play every game and it is very important for us to find that red ball form heading into a massive Test series as well. I think I’ve played two T20 games in the last four years. Although it’d be nice to play every game that you can for Australia when available, you’ve got to look at the bigger picture sometimes and for us it’s performing the best we can in Test cricket for Australia.”Test cricket is definitely the No. 1 for me, but I’m playing one-day cricket as well and that’s another format that I love and we’ve got a World Cup coming up next year as well. I love playing Shield cricket, love playing Test match cricket, you can’t play every game on the schedule, it’s keeping one eye on what’s coming up and that’s a massive Test series, so for us its preparing through Shield cricket and heading into the back end of the summer come February and March, it’s a lot of one-day cricket heading into that World Cup. So you do have to change with different times of the year.”Speaking on Howard’s final official day at CA, after seven years of increasing micromanagement for fast bowlers, Starc said that the imperfect science behind decisions on when he and his pace compatriots would continue to divide opinion. “I don’t think there’s a perfect way to do it,” he said. “With the schedule the way it is, how much cricket we’ve got on when guys are injured and you’ve got a lot of people out, there’s no perfect answer.”No matter which way you go, someone’s always going to be on their back about it and there’s plenty of people writing or talking about it. They’re not trying to stop us play cricket, they’re trying to look after bowlers. It’s not about stopping them bowling, it’s about being smarter around training and preparation. There’s a lot of sports science these days, they’re in the job to help bowlers bowl for longer, and faster and stay on the park.”Starc was shifted from taking the new ball to first change in the opening ODI against South Africa, a gamble that was quickly backtracked upon by the captain Aaron Finch, but said he was quite prepared to alter his role in the national side if it meant better results over the next nine months up to and including the World Cup, which was won by Australia at home in 2015.”It was a different role for me the other day, and it changed pretty quickly from the plan that it was going to be, a small target to defend and I had to come on earlier than what Finchy may have wanted,” Starc said. “Coults [Nathan Coulter-Nile] had been swinging the ball and bowling fast and had opened the bowling for Australia when a few of us weren’t around.”We’ve got a group of bowlers who can perform different roles at different stages. Whether that means my role changes or whether I go back to the new ball role, you’ve just got to be flexible. It’s period where we need to find our way to win cricket games. If that means going away from what we’ve done in the past and my role changes, then so be it.”
Paul Mullin recently netted his 100th Wrexham goal in the team's win over Colchester United in League Two.
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Mullin scored 100th Wrexham goal against ColchesterRed Dragons legend congratulates MullinWelsh side four points behind StockportWHAT HAPPENED?
Mullin's 100th goal for the club brought the Red Dragons back into the game after John Akinde had handed Colchester the lead. Max Cleworth then netted the winning goal in the 85th minute to seal an important three points for his side who are seeking automatic promotion to League One next season.
The Welsh forward managed to achieve the milestone for Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney's side in just three years and 136 appearances across all competitions.
AdvertisementWHAT HAS BEEN SAID
After the Colchester clash, the striker took to X to share his happiness with his fans as he wrote, "100 up! Buzzing to have reached 100 goals for Wrexham yesterday, what a journey it’s been! Thank you for all the support so far."
Wrexham legend Mickey Thomas in response to the post, wrote, "Cant wait for the next 100 #goalmachine".
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The 29-year-old striker has once again enjoyed a rich vein of form this season after helping his club achieve promotion to the English Football League in the last campaign. He has already scored 19 goals in League Two this season as Wrexham currently trail league leaders Stockport by just four points.
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The striker will be next seen in action for Phil Parkinson's side on Tuesday as they take on Crawley Town in an important League Two fixture.
Zinedine Zidane would prefer to join Manchester United as opposed to Bayern Munich this summer, according to a new report.
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Zidane out of work and availableBayern to part ways with Thomas Tuchel this summerErik ten Hag under pressure at Manchester UnitedWHAT HAPPENED?
Per L'Equipe, any potential deal to take Zidane to Germany faces significant hurdles, despite the former Real Madrid boss being heavily linked with the soon-to-be vacant post at the Allianz Arena. Bayern are said to be closing in on a deal to hire Zidane but he holds significant reservations; namely, he would like to join United.
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Erik ten Hag is under significant pressure at Old Trafford and European football is not guaranteed for the club; they are currently seventh in the Premier League, but mathematically could still finish as low as 13th. As such, Zidane is said to be monitoring the situation at Old Trafford very closely.
DID YOU KNOW?
Zidane is one of the most successful managers of the modern era, winning the Champions League three seasons in a row for Real, as well as lifting La Liga twice and the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup twice. However, he has only ever managed Real.
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It remains to be seen if Zidane will be willing to enter into a deal with Bayern before the end of the season if he is monitoring developments at United. Waiting until the summer for the Frenchman may well be a better move.
Shahid Afridi starred with figures of 3 for 10 while Anamul Haque’s 40 helped Comilla Victorians beat Rajshahi Kings by five wickets
The Report by Shashank Kishore11-Jan-2019How the game played outFirst, he takes wickets with ripping legbreaks, not always associated with Shahid Afridi’s style of bowling. Then he comes, sees out a few deliveries – surprise, surprise – and with victory all but certain, seals it with a six. While the Test team continues to struggle in South Africa, at least one Pakistani cricketer is giving his country something to rejoice at.Comilla Victorians hardly felt Steven Smith’s absence, both as a leader and batsman. His replacement – the experienced Imrul Kayes – tactfully used his spinners to reduce Rajshahi Kings to 63 for 7, but relaxed a little to see Isusu Udana top score with 32 hard-fought runs to set up a 125 chase. The damage had been done in dewy conditions, though. Anamul Haque, Ewin Lewis and Tamim Iqbal set up the chase which Comilla finished off with eight balls to spare, their second in three games. Afridi’s 4-0-10-3 earned him the Player-of-the-Match Award.Turning pointsMohammad Saifuddin, the medium pacer, wasn’t originally given the ball to bowl the third over of the innings. Liam Dawson had marked his run-up and given his cap to the umpire when Imrul made a late change. It worked immediately as the skiddy bowler picked up two wickets in two deliveries. First he had Mominul Haque playing all around a full delivery to be trapped plumb in front of middle. Then, he bowled the perfect inswinging yorker that sneaked past Soumya Sarkar’s bat and pad to flatten his stumps. Hafeez then averted the hat-trick, but the early damage had been done.Afridi’s crucial wicket of Mehidy Hasan, the Rajshahi Kings captain, who made a 17-ball 30 where most other top-order batsmen struggled, completed a top-order meltdown of sorts. Rajshahi went on to lose three wickets in four deliveries, losing the cream of their middle order.Shoaib Malik’s run-out and Mustafizur Rahman’s set-up to get Imrul – reminiscent of Jasprit Bumrah’s dipping, slow yorker that removed Shaun Marsh during the MCG Test – breathed life into the game. Comilla had slipped to 109 for 5. Soon after, Afridi got a thick edge which Mehidy failed to latch on to at a wide slip. Six down with a handful against a skilled bowler may have panned out differently.Star of the DayOne month can be a long break for a retired 38-year-old cricketer, but looking at Afridi running around, it seemed like he had the boisterous energy of his 18-year-old avatar. He was coolly pedaling away on the cycle with his pads on as his team-mates set up the chase for him to come and finish off. An hour earlier, he was turning them big on a sluggish deck that has seen plenty of cricket already. With Smith away in Australia to nurse an injured elbow, he was also constantly by Imrul’s side, being a driving force from a leadership point of view, too.The big missBetween them, Udana and Mustafizur Rahman took 5 for 33 off eight overs in the previous game. Udana’s back-of-the-hand variations and Mustafizur’s cutters could have been a handy proposition early in Rajshahi’s defence of a modest target. Mehidy waited for five overs to bring them into the attack, by which time Comilla had raced to 42 for no loss. This made a big difference.Where they standComilla jumped to third and are within two points of Dhaka Dynamites, the table toppers. Rajshahi, meanwhile, are placed sixth, with one win in three matches.