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As expected, the group stage of this Asia Cup ends with a high-stakes clash in Group B, and a dead rubber in Group A. India and Oman contest this dead rubber, and their aims are wildly different.For India, this could be about getting some of their bowlers match time, and some of their middle- and lower-order batters crease time, ahead of the Super Four stage. Four members of their squad are yet to play a match, and three members of their top eight have played both their matches so far but are yet to face a ball.For Oman, this is their last match against a Full Member team before they host a tournament of serious consequence next month – the T20 World Cup Asia & East-Asia-Pacific Regional Qualifier. They are one of nine teams taking part in that tournament, of whom three will make it to next year’s T20 World Cup. Oman will want to be one of those three teams, and learnings from this Asia Cup, and this final game against India, could well help them in that quest.Related

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Form guide

India WWWWL (last five T20Is, most recent first)
Oman LLLLL

In the spotlight

India have retained Sanju Samson as their wicketkeeper ahead of Jitesh Sharma, trusting him to play an unfamiliar role in the middle order. He has not had a chance to play that role yet in this tournament, though, with DNBs against both UAE and Pakistan. Will he get a chance to bat against Oman?He’s returned an economy rate of just 4.71 through this Asia Cup, and he’s been even more frugal in the powerplay, going at just 3.50 across four overs. Shakeel Ahmed has had an excellent tournament so far, but now he’s set to face a real pressure test: will Oman continue to use their left-arm spinner with the new ball, with the marauding, left-handed Abhishek Sharma waiting at the top of India’s line-up?

Team news

India have played just the one frontline fast bowler in their two matches so far, but the shift from Dubai to slightly less spin-friendly conditions in Abu Dhabi, and the context of this dead rubber, could cause them to change their strategy. In any case, Jasprit Bumrah could be rested, and either one or both of Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana could get a look-in. With the middle-order batters not having got much of a chance in the middle so far, India might find it a little harder to give Rinku Singh and Jitesh Sharma a game.India (probable): 1 Abhishek Sharma, 2 Shubman Gill, 3 Suryakumar Yadav (capt), 4 Tilak Varma, 5 Sanju Samson (wk), 6 Shivam Dube, 7 Hardik Pandya, 8 Axar Patel, 9 Harshit Rana, 10 Arshdeep Singh, 11 Kuldeep Yadav/Varun Chakravarthy2:27

Bangar: India unlikely to tinker with in-form top order

While India played the same XI in their first two games, Oman have used 14 players across theirs. Given how their tournament has panned out so far, with batting collapses against both Pakistan and UAE, it’s hard to predict who stays in and who goes out of their XI.Oman (probable): 1 Jatinder Singh (capt), 2 Aamir Kaleem, 3 Hammad Mirza, 4 Wasim Ali, 5 Aryan Bisht, 6 Vinayak Shukla (wk), 7 Jiten Ramamnandi, 8 Shah Faisal, 9 Shakeel Ahmed, 10 Hassnain Shah, 11 Samay Shrivastava

Pitch and conditions

Recent history suggests that the pitches in Abu Dhabi don’t have quite as much help for spin as those in Dubai do. Since the start of 2023, spinners have averaged below 20 in Dubai and gone at less than 6.5 per over in T20Is; they’ve averaged over 38 in Abu Dhabi and conceded more than 7.5 per over. The two teams’ selections could well reflect this.

Stats and trivia

• This is the first meeting between India and Oman in any format.
• Abhishek (195.40) currently has the best strike rate of any batter with at least 500 T20I runs.
• Arshdeep is India’s leading wicket-taker in T20Is. He currently has 99 in 63 matches. If he remains on the bench through this tournament, Hardik Pandya (95) and Jasprit Bumrah (92) have a chance of catching up with or going past him.

Quotes

“I feel these wickets are perfect for spinners. Because you get bounce and the zip. If you compare to the Champions Trophy, the wickets [then] were very slow and you had to put a lot of revs on the ball to get the extra bounce and the pace as well. Those tracks, it was difficult for a batter to score runs. For wristspinners, to get bounce and turn on those wickets was tough.”

Celtic interim manager Martin O’Neill talked up Hearts’ title chances hours before agreeing to return to Parkhead, also insisting that Rangers are “no threat whatsoever”.

The 73-year-old will be back in the Celtic Park dugout along with Shaun Maloney for Wednesday’s visit of Falkirk, 20 years after exiting the club, following Brendan Rodgers’ dramatic and acrimonious departure.

O’Neill’s previous arrival kick-started a period of dominance which has seen Celtic win 18 of the past 25 championships, as well as 23 cup competitions.

But the former Republic of Ireland manager returns with Hearts threatening to disrupt the dynamics of Scottish football after going eight points clear with a 3-1 win against Celtic on Sunday.

The result sparked an end to a fractious last few months of Rodgers’ second reign, which saw tension over transfer policy made public before principal shareholder Dermot Desmond accused the former Liverpool manager of being “divisive” and “self-serving”.

Rangers "no threat whatsoever" in title race

When asked by talkSPORT on Monday if this was the season that there could be a “disruptor” in Scottish football, O’Neill said: “Without a doubt, this is it. Celtic are not as physically strong, can actually lose games, whereas before they looked invincible in matches.

“Rangers are no threat whatsoever, although the new manager (Danny Rohl), I think he can maybe do something in time. But they are so far adrift, it’s untrue.”

Rohl had recently commented on his aspirations at Ibrox, revealing he chose Rangers because he “looked for a club to win titles”.

“We are not happy, and it’s the reason why I’m here,” the German said on being appointed in Govan. “I’ve said in the past I was looking for an ambitious club, that’s looking for more.

“I looked for a club to win titles. This club has everything for all these goals and it’s amazing to be coach at this fantastic club. I know what it means and I think I will feel this in the next couple of days and weeks.

“My job is clear and I know what I want to do with this group of players.”

Celtic's most expensive sales of all time

Celtic have let some of their finest talents move for big money in the past.

ByCharlie Smith Oct 3, 2025

The Glasgow stranglehold on the Scottish league has been in place since Aberdeen won a third title in six seasons in 1985, but O’Neill admitted “the time is now” at Tynecastle.

“This is the moment, this is the time now for Hearts. They have gone eight points clear, and that is a decent enough lead, really. And their confidence is growing, and it will grow from that victory as well.

“All things are happening for Hearts, it’s great, whereas just at this minute Celtic are in a wee bit of trouble.

“This is the best time for any side outside the Old Firm to go and win. There is a long way to go but there is momentum gathering at Tynecastle.”

Trey Yesavage made history during the Blue Jays’ win in Game 5 of the World Series against the Dodgers. The rookie, who only made his first MLB start in September and started the year at Single-A, dominated on the road in Los Angeles, striking out 12 batters across a seven-inning outing.

No one was more fired up for the 22-year-old than veteran starting pitcher Max Scherzer. After a big double play got Toronto out of the seventh inning, Scherzer could be seen on the bench going ballistic. The 41-year-old was smacking the railing inside the dugout and proceeded to throw his sunflower seeds in excitement.

Have a look:

Scherzer could then be seen speaking to Yesavage in the dugout, clearly still amped by his impressive performance.

When you have a three-time Cy Young winner and two-time World Series champion acting like that in the dugout, you know you’re putting on a show. And that’s exactly what Yesavage did on the mound Wednesday night.

The rookie had all three of his signature pitches working to perfection. His combination of his fastball, slider and splitter, mixed with his unique release point, was a puzzle the Dodgers’ lineup was simply unable to solve.

Scherzer was loving every minute of it from his viewing point in the dugout, and he couldn’t contain his excitement after the inning-ending double play.

Manchester City issued a sobering reality check to Arne Slot’s Liverpool before the November international break. The Reds were thrashed at the Etihad, and the good work of previous matches unravelled.

Did it? Liverpool might have lost five of their past six outings in the Premier League, but there have been signs of improvement over the past several weeks, and now there is optimism that the club can kick on and rediscover the fluency that has been stripped away since the summer.

So many issues. One of which is that last season’s Premier League champions are struggling in the final third. Here is one of the biggest concerns that Slot needs to get rid of quickly.

Why Liverpools forwards are struggling

Mohamed Salah has not been himself this season. There are many different reasons why this might be. He has turned 33, but the all-powerful Egyptian should still be performing at a higher level than he has languished this term, too often drifting through matches, missing big chances and lacking the requisite defensive work rate.

There has been a lot of upheaval. The sale of Luis Diaz to Bayern Munich having had a more detrimental effect than had been anticipated, but such a loss of electric pace and dynamic attacking play was always going to be hard to compensate for, even with the likes of Florian Wirtz added to the fold.

Wirtz has flattered to deceive, but he is a world-class player and will surely come good. Likewise, Alexander Isak has not clicked into gear after his British-record £125m transfer from Newcastle United on deadline day. The Sweden striker, 26, hasn’t had a pre-season, and injuries have limited him to a bit-part role thus far.

Liverpool’s wider creative problems and the overarching lack of coherence have made it all rather difficult, but Slot has a shrewd tactical mind and will surely unearth a solution sooner rather than later.

As a collective, Liverpool’s frontline need to do better. However, Slot must look to open up different attacking dimensions too, with one of his Red midfielders having emerged as the most accurate finisher in the Premier League this season.

Liverpool's best finisher

Liverpool have got many talented goalscorers in their ranks, but the fact that, statistically, Ryan Gravenberch is the cream of the crop in that regard underscores the need to unleash him in attacking phases with greater regularity.

Signed from Bayern Munich by Jurgen Klopp for £34m in 2023, Gravenberch put the final strokes on a much-anticipated midfield rebuild which has defined the Anfield side’s illustrious success of the past few terms.

However, after languishing on the fringes for his first year, Slot’s advent came to redefine the Netherlands international’s time on Merseyside, dropped deeper into a number six role last season and becoming indispensable en route to the Premier League title. Gravenberch was named the PFA Young Player of the Year.

Matches (starts)

37 (37)

9 (9)

Goals

0

3

Assists

4

1

Touches*

66.5

74.0

Shots (on target)*

1.3 (0.6)

Pass completion

89%

88%

Key passes*

0.7

0.8

Dribbles*

1.0

0.9

Ball recoveries*

5.2

3.6

Tackles + interceptions*

3.5

2.5

Total duels (won)*

5.0 (57%)

4.9 (61%)

However, the 23-year-old didn’t score across any competition last year, and since the summer he has been modified in his deployment, not less regimented in his deep-lying berth, and given the license to strike on goal if and when the opportunity arises.

But Gravenberch has not been shaped into a free-flowing attacking midfielder, with xG (expected goals) metrics showing that the Dutchman is statistically “the best finisher in the league this season”, having struck three strikes past the keeper from just 0.36 xG.

To put that in perspective, Salah has accumulated 3.62 xG this season, and he has four goals to his name. Gravenberch achieved a 1.12 total in last year’s top-flight season, and that yielded not one successful return.

While Liverpool appear to lack physicality and fluency in midfield this season, they have a robust and highly talented crop of players, and as Slot looks to rewrite his side’s tactical coding and escape from the current rut, this is a sign that those in the engine room must be allowed greater offensive freedom at times, thus unburdening the forwards when they are not firing on all cylinders.

Liverpool need to prove that they are worthy champions and ready to return to their former level under Slot’s wing. Too many are looking from outside and criticising Slot’s papier mâché empire, but this is a falsehood, and with an all-embracing midfielder like Gravenberch at the heart of the team, it’s only a matter of time before things click again.

Bad for Wirtz: Liverpool plan serious bid to sign future big-money superstar

Liverpool are looking for ways to add creativity to Arne Slot’s team.

ByAngus Sinclair Nov 18, 2025

Carlo Ancelotti has explained why he ordered Estevao Willian to hand Brazil's second penalty to Lucas Paqueta in the draw against Tunisia, with the West Ham star's subsequent miss proving costly for the Selecao. The five-time world champions squandered a host of chances throughout the 90 minutes as they limped to a 1-1 draw against the African nation in their final international match of 2025.

Wasteful Brazil end 2025 with a draw

Brazil ended 2025 on a disappointing note as they were held to a 1-1 draw by a spirited Tunisia side, as Ancelotti oversaw his second draw as Selecao boss on Tuesday. The five-time world champions missed several chances throughout the game, including Rodrygo's early attempt, which was cleared off the line. Tunisia then took a shock lead in the 23rd minute as Hazem Mastouri broke the deadlock.

Casemiro and Vincius Junior then both came close to equalising before Estevao restored parity from a spot-kick in the 44th minute. Brazil were handed a second penalty in the 78th minute after Ferjani Sassi fouled Vitor Roque. Estevao, who had earlier converted a penalty, was instructed not to hand the kick over to West Ham star Lucas Paqueta, who then blazed over the crossbar.

AdvertisementAFPAncelotti explains why Paqueta took second penalty

Speaking to reporters after the game, Ancelotti explained why he ordered Estevao to stand down despite scoring the first-half penalty, telling reporters: "Paqueta was the penalty taker. For the second penalty, I changed because I wanted to take some of the pressure off Estevao, so I put Paquetá in, who usually takes them very well."

Analysing Brazil's overall performance, Ancelotti added: "Certainly, many, many (players). A few are missing, the list is quite complete. There are two friendlies left, but there are six months left, where anything can happen, the schedule is very demanding, the risk of injury is very high. The team, the atmosphere, are on the right track to reach the maximum level at the World Cup. 

"I have a lot of confidence in this team, in these players, and especially in this environment, which is a good environment. The players are serious, professional, and patriotic. They have a lot of affection for the shirt, and these are very important aspects."

How are Brazil shaping up for 2026 World Cup?

Brazil will have two more friendlies in the March international break before they head to North America for the 2026 World Cup.

Ancelotti went on to reveal his message to the squad ahead of a lengthy international hiatus, saying: "I spoke with them (the players), wished them the best for the games they are going to play, we are observing them, staying in contact with them, talking, keeping the communication open until March and the World Cup. That's the idea we have, there's an observation process that will be very important."

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GettyEstevao backed for Ballon d'Or

Estevao, who has enjoyed a fine start to his career at Chelsea, scored in both the friendly matches that the Selecao played in November and is likely to be a key member of Ancelotti's World Cup squad next summer.

Tunisia boss Samsi Trabelsi hailed the youngster as a 'football genius' before Tuesday's game and backed the 18-year-old to become one of the best players of his generation. "I think he's a new football genius emerging, very young," he said. "I think he's doing very well and he's a player who can be expected to be among the greats, among the best in the world, certainly, in the coming years. If he manages to have good performances or win titles, whether with his club or national team, he will be among the players who, in the coming years, could even compete for the Ballon d'Or. He brings many solutions, a lot of technique, a lot of genius. There aren't many players of that level, of that category of genius, on the world stage."

David Willey and Rehan Ahmed spearheaded a superb display from Trent Rockets as they made short work of Manchester Originals and moved level on points with Oval Invincibles at the top of the table.Willey, the Rockets’ captain, was in inspired form at Trent Bridge, bowling 20 of the first 30 deliveries in the Originals’ innings and returning figures of 3 for 11, his best in the Hundred, as the visitors made just 98 for 8 from their 100 balls.Ben McKinney was Willey’s first victim, trapped lbw for a duck, before dangerman Jos Buttler and Rachin Ravindra nicked behind to consecutive deliveries from the left-armer as the Originals slipped to 26 for 3.Rehan claimed the key wicket of Heinrich Klaasen when the South African holed out to Sam Hain at long-on for 9 and two stunning catches in the space of two deliveries reduced the visitors to 51 for 6: Joe Root taking a screamer off Sam Cook to send Matty Hurst on his way and Rehan picked up his second when George Linde judged a boundary catch to perfection to dismiss captain Phil Salt for 19.David Willey celebrates trapping Ben McKinney lbw•Nathan Stirk/ECB via Getty Images

It took a late-order cameo from Lewis Gregory, who struck two sixes in his unbeaten 33 from 21 against his old side, to give the total some kind of respectability but it never looked like being enough against a Rockets outfit that is firing on all cylinders.Sonny Baker, called up to England’s white-ball squads on Friday, made an early breakthrough when he had Root caught behind, and Ravindra trapped Tom Banton lbw on the reverse-sweep to leave the Rockets 22 for 2 but Rehan showed off his silky strokeplay in making an unbeaten 45 from 35.Max Holden fell to Josh Tongue via a one-handed grab from Salt but Rehan and Tom Moores (22 not out) ensured a comprehensive win, the hosts reaching their target with 26 balls to spare to register a fourth win in five and leave them behind the Invincibles on net run-rate. Those two teams play against one another on Thursday night at The Oval.”We talked about intent a lot at the start of the competition and Rehan epitomises that,” Willey said. “He’s a tricky one to bowl at. You’re not quite sure what he’s going to do. When it comes off like it did tonight he can take the game away from the opposition.”

The Yankees' season ended in the 2025 ALDS against the Blue Jays last week, and the team didn't waste much time making some cuts to the coaching staff in the aftermath of their postseason exit.

On Tuesday, SNY's Andy Martino reported that longtime bullpen coach Mike Harkey and first base/infield coach Travis Chapman are not expected to return to the organization next season. Martino suggested other changes could also be on the horizon for New York in the offseason.

Harkey, 58, is in his second stint as the Yankees' bullpen coach, a role he's been in since 2016. He was previously the bullpen coach for the team from 2008 to '2013, too. As for Chapman, he'd been in his role since '22.

Additionally, Yankees hitting coach James Rowson permission to interview for the Twins' managerial vacancy. Minnesota parted ways with former skipper Rocco Baldelli after the 2025 season, and Rowson is seemingly on their radar.

The Yankees' bullpen struggled in 2025, and the team was not very sound defensively. The group had a 4.37 ERA in the regular season and a 6.15 ERA in the playoffs. Despite Brian Cashman being aggressive at the trade deadline, bringing in David Bednar, Camilo Doval and Jake Bird, late-innings pitching was still a weakness for the team throughout the season.

Sri Lanka were unable to chase down a target of 242

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Sep-2025Bangladesh edged out Sri Lanka by the narrowest of margins – one run – in the Women’s World Cup warm-up match in Colombo on Saturday.Sri Lanka stumbled early in a chase of 243, slipping from 56 for 1 to 86 for 4, but Kavisha Dilhari and Nilakshika Silva steadied the innings, both scoring half-centuries. Dilhari’s 63 came to an unfortunate end when her bat slipped off her hand and hit the stumps after a shot over midwicket. Nilakshika continued the fight, making 75 off 78 before falling in the penultimate over.At 218 for 5 with 46 overs gone, Sri Lanka seemed in control, needing 25 from 24 balls. However, a collapse followed, left-arm spinner Nahida Akter triggering the slide, dismissing Piumi Wathsala and Anushka Sanjeewani in the 47th over before removing Nilakshika in the 49th. In the final over, Marufa Akter defended nine runs as Sri Lanka lost three wickets, including a run out, and fell short.Earlier, Sri Lanka made an early breakthrough with Udeshika Prabodhani dismissing Fargana Haque in the second over. Rubya Haider and Sharmin Akhter rebuilt with a 90-run stand, but Dilhari struck twice to remove both. Dewmi Vihanga, Malki Madara, and Dilhari all took two wickets as Sri Lanka restricted Bangladesh to 242 for 8, with Sharmin’s 71 being the highlight.

There are other T20 batters who have a better rate of success, whose methods translate over a variety of conditions and oppositions, but few get on a roll like Romario Shepherd can

Alagappan Muthu04-May-20253:10

Is is time to start dreaming for RCB fans?

Romario Shepherd said the f-word that was heard around the world.Cricketers these days – along with the hours they spend practicing their chosen craft – also go through rigorous media training. So when we see them on TV, they are still in performance mode. The mic subs in for bat and ball.Out in the field is one of the places where they can be real. Because they really don’t have the energy to be fake. Between trying to do well for themselves, for their team, for their loved ones, for their countries, they are left in a state so raw.Related

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The stump mic caught Shepherd in exactly that state because something happened that wasn’t part of the plan. He swung. And he missed.”I was just thinking ball by ball. And trying to hit each ball for six or four,” Shepherd said after recording the joint-second-fastest half-century in the IPL. “That was the idea.”He’s had 118 chances to shape a T20 match. Ninety-four of those have come with so little time that he was lucky to get 15 balls. This is his life. He wakes up. He brushes his teeth. He clocks into work. And then just gets a lot of practice grinding his teeth.”Well, it was difficult, you know, sitting there, you know, watching players win,” Shepherd said.All that pent-up energy has to go somewhere, though. On Saturday, he faced just 14 deliveries and hit ten of them to the boundary. In the last IPL, he faced ten deliveries and hit seven of them to the boundary. Earlier this year, in the ILT20, he was out there for marginally more – 13 deliveries – and seven of them were sent packing. He specialises in these all-too-brief innings (15 balls or fewer). He has a strike rate of 200-plus in 20 of them.ESPNcricinfo LtdShepherd is the most dangerous kind of finisher. There are others who have a better rate of success, whose methods translate over a variety of conditions and oppositions, but few get on a roll like he does.Khaleel Ahmed made the mistake of starting the 19th over with two balls right in Shepherd’s arc. The first was short but not enough. The second was full but not enough. “When I hit the first two [sixes], I knew I had the bowler under pressure,” Shepherd said. “I saw his body language, so I was like, okay, let me try and put you under some more pressure and continue going, continue going.”Khaleel did the right thing thereafter and took pace off – twice – but the first one took an outside edge and went over short third and the next one, which was a bouncer too, so it had two layers of security to overcome, still went for six. Shepherd, in an extraordinary display of power, carved it over cover. He wasn’t worried about thinking ahead or manipulating the field or pre-empting the bowler or even scoring runs. He was there simply putting bat on ball. Someone who plays just like him made him focus on that because that tends to be enough when you look like you could bench press Sam Curran.”When I walked to the crease, I had an idea of what they were trying to bowl, so I got there prepared for that,” Shepherd said. “And then Timmy [David] told me just to hold my shape a bit because it was gripping in the wicket. So my mindset automatically changed to just base up and, you know, watch the ball as it comes and try and hit in my areas and don’t try and swing before, swing too early.”No one in the 18-year history of the IPL has ever made a fifty coming in as late as Shepherd did against Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Seventeen-point-four overs had already gone. We could rack our brains to try and find the words to make sense of all of this this but Shepherd has already provided the perfect one. It was heard around the world.

SA were cruising on 92 without loss in pursuit of 181, but eventually couldn’t get seven runs in the final over

Firdose Moonda26-Jul-2025

New Zealand won the T20I tri-series undefeated•Zimbabwe Cricket

Matt Henry defended six runs in the last over against South Africa as New Zealand claimed the Harare tri-series trophy, and remained the only side to successfully defend a total at this venue. In a thrilling contest, South Africa were cruising on 92 without loss in the tenth over in pursuit of 181, but lost 4 for 39 after that.That left them needing 50 runs to win off the last 29 balls. A 43-run stand off 25 deliveries between Dewald Brevis and George Linde put South Africa on the doorstep of victory, but both holed out in the final over as the pressure told, and New Zealand held on.Brevis was on 31 off 14 balls as Henry stepped up to bowl the 20th over, and could not get the first ball away. He lashed out at the second one, which was dug in short, and sent it towards Michael Bracewell at deep midwicket. Bracewell caught it just inside the rope, and the catch was deemed clean to send Brevis on his way.Corbin Bosch hit the first ball he faced in the same area, and a misfield from Bracewell allowed two runs before another aerial shot put Linde on strike. Linde sent Henry to long-on, where Daryl Mitchell took a good, low catch, and left it to Senuran Muthusamy to score four off the last ball. Henry took pace off, Muthusamy swung too early and found fresh air, and New Zealand’s 100% record in the series remained intact. Henry finished as the leading wicket-taker with ten in four matches.Lungi Ngidi got two wickets, and was economical•Zimbabwe Cricket

After comprehensive wins in the four games before this, New Zealand were properly tested in the decider, and will know they could have made things trickier for South Africa with a more challenging total. After Tim Seifert and Devon Conway put on 75 for the first wicket and laid a solid foundation for New Zealand, the subsequent partnerships did not kick on as well as they would have liked. South Africa pulled New Zealand back from 68 without loss in eight overs, and conceded only three boundaries in the last three overs. New Zealand’s innings ended with five wickets in hand.While Henry was the standout bowler of the series, Lungi Ngidi was South Africa’s best bowler. His four overs in the final cost just 24 runs, and across South Africa’s attack, there are still some areas to address. South Africa’s seamers sent down eight wides, totalling 13 runs.

South Africa’s spectacular catching

New Zealand were off to a rollicking start courtesy some poor discipline from South Africa’s seamers in particular. They scored 52 runs in the powerplay, 23 in the 2.3 overs that followed, and threw their bats at anything short and wide. Seifert, the series’ leading run-scorer, was on 30 off 27 balls, and there did not seem to be any way of stopping him – especially as he was using his feet well.Seifert advanced on a wide ball from Muthusamy but took his bottom hand off the bat as he tried to slice it over extra cover and did not get the elevation he wanted. Rassie van der Dussen, fielding there, reacted quickly as he dived to his left and pouched the ball between both palms. Seifert had to go.Tim Seifert and Devon Conway had a 75-run opening partnership•Zimbabwe Cricket

Five overs later, New Zealand lost Conway for 47, caught at short fine-leg off a top edge. But they were still progressing steadily at 127 for 2 in the 14th over. Ngidi took pace off to Mark Chapman, who played too early and dragged the ball down to deep midwicket. Rubin Hermann appeared to have over-ran the chance but then stood still and stretched overhead, where he plucked the ball from the sky as he fell backwards. Chapman was out for 3.Then, in the final over, with New Zealand pushing towards 180, Bracewell flogged Kwena Maphaka into the covers but didn’t see Linde. He got down low to his left to snatch the ball from close to the ground to snaffle a third stunning grab.

Ravindra raids the leg side

While Seifert and Conway have been in the headlines for providing the big runs for New Zealand, Rachin Ravindra has more than done his bit – and did so with some flair in the final. He used his wrists to perfection, and punished anything on a leg-stump line. Ravindra scored 47 at a strike rate of 174.07, and threatened to take the game completely away from South Africa. The third ball he faced, from Bosch, was pacy, and was sliding down. But instead of powering it over midwicket, Ravindra guided it fine for four.When Nandre Burger erred with the same line, Ravindra was quicker on the ball, and hit over mid-on. But it was his takedown of Muthusamy which was the most impressive. Ravindra shimmied down the pitch to hit him over long-on, and then swept him strongly over deep-backward square leg to collect two sixes in the over. Two more fours came off Ngidi and Burger. before Ravindra toe-ended Burger to Brevis at deep midwicket.Lhuan-dre Pretorius hit his maiden T20I fifty•Zimbabwe Cricket

Ravindra missed out on what would have been his second successive fifty in the series, and a third in T20Is this year. Against South Africa on Saturday, 38 of his 47 runs came on the leg side.

Pretorius’ promise pays off

After managing only 32 runs from his first four T20I innings, and being shifted from opening the batting to No. 5, all eyes were going to be on Lhuan-dre Pretorius when he was installed back at the top for the final. He started off with a piece of exquisite timing when he hit Henry past mid-on to open South Africa’s scoring with a four, but then faced serious challenges from New Zealand’s attack.Henry found Pretorius’ outside edge, Jacob Duffy hit him on the toe with an inswinging yorker, and Zakary Foulkes shaved the inside edge. Pretorius top-edged Duffy over Seifert with an ugly swing, couldn’t get Adam Milne away, and watched while his opening partner Reeza Hendricks collected 18 of his first 20 runs in sixes. After the powerplay, Pretorius showed his intent when he slog-swept Mitchell Santner for his first six. More convincing boundaries followed off Milne before Pretorius hit Bracewell over long-on to bring up fifty off 33 balls.Pretorius couldn’t get away with trying things for too much longer, and was caught behind as he tried to smash Bracewell out of the ground. But his 92-run opening stand with Hendricks put South Africa in a commanding position to push for the win.Jacob Duffy’s first two overs cost just 13 runs•Zimbabwe Cricket

Duffy shows why he’s No. 1

Jacob Duffy, the recently-anointed leading bowler in the ICC’s T20I rankings, opened with a ball that surprised Pretorius. He only conceded a single in his first over to show why he has summited the rankings. Duffy changed up his pace in the second over and Pretorius could not get him away. He then had Pretorius top-edging, and only really erred when he put the last delivery of that over in Hendricks’ slot and was sent over the sightscreen for six.Duffy’s first two overs cost just 13 runs. He returned for the 16th over, just after Milne had van der Dussen caught at long-on, and dismissed Hermann in exactly the same fashion. Hermann simply did not get enough on it, and South Africa were suddenly in some strife. Duffy thought he had Brevis caught behind later in the over but the ball was called wide. He probably should have bowled the 18th, which cost Foulkes 15 runs and swung momentum South Africa’s way.When Duffy returned for the 19th over, his attempted yorkers went awry, and Brevis hit him for two sixes to put South Africa in a position of advantage. But they could not see it through in what may be put down to inexperience against New Zealand’s more seasoned hands.