All posts by h716a5.icu

Lionel Messi and Argentina have scheduled a Copa America warmup against Guatemala at FedEx Field this June.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Argentina schedule pre-Copa America friendlySet to take on GuatemalaGame to be played at FedEx FieldWHAT HAPPENED?

The match will take place on June 14, six days before the tournament begins. The two countries will travel to the United States capital city for the contest, with it being Argentina's final warmup ahead of Copa America. Guatemala did not qualify.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

FedEx Field is home to NFL side Washington Commanders, and as a result, the playing surface is not particularly the most appropriate for a soccer match. However, the Commanders plan to adjust not only the surface, but the stands as well to allow for a wider playing area. U.S. head coach Gregg Berhalter was informed by organizers that any future USMNT game at the venue would be the same. The measurements of the pitch would be 70-yards wide – four yards short of FIFA's recommendation, but within the parameters.

During the summer of 2023, the Premier League Summer Series in the United States saw matches played at FedEx Field. The expectation is that the pitch and stadium adjustments will align with how the Premier League games were played at the stadium.

WHAT FEDEX FIELD REPRESENTATIVES SAID

“We plan to do that for these games and continue to do that so we can attract these big, competitive soccer games,” said Trista Langdon, the Commanders’ senior vice president for operations and guest experience. “So we’ll be ready.”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR LIONEL MESSI AND ARGENTINA?

The Albiceleste had two friendlies lined up for this March against Nigeria and the Ivory Coast, but they have since been cancelled by Chinese authorities due to a bust-up between Messi and their government. The Argentine was supposed to play in a preseason match with Inter Miami against Hong Kong Team, but the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner was rested, much to the dismay of officials, fans and their government.

Shane Watson has said that he is wary of the threat posed by Pakistan, who he believes are a “dangerous” side during knockout games

Daniel Brettig17-Mar-2015Australian cricketers have always looked upon their Pakistani equivalents with a combination of admiration, fascination and the occasional bout of exasperation. How can a single cricket nation possess so much talent? How can it survive so many dramas both internal and external? And how can it look to be about to dominate one moment before falling apart the very next?The Australians fear Pakistan when they get on a roll, which is not quite the same as saying they fear Pakistan.Ahead of a World Cup quarter-final meeting for which Australia will be heavily favoured, Shane Watson offered up a fairly typical summary of this attitude. Pakistan are dangerous, he asserted, but almost as much to themselves as they are to Australia. Keep calm and carry on, seemed to be the message, awaiting the moment when the subcontinental side will be overcome by demons beyond the understanding of Watson or others.”They can play some incredible cricket, as they have in times I’ve played against them, but they also can self-destruct quite quickly as well,” Watson said. “That’s the reason why the Pakistan team are so dangerous, especially in a knockout game like this quarter-final. They’ve certainly got some match-winners.”Once this Pakistan team gets on a roll they’re certainly able to use that momentum to be able to shut down teams very quickly. We know this is a danger game for us because they can come on and just turn it on like they have throughout the times I’ve played them in the past.”We know we’re going to have to be at our absolute best to not give them a chance to be able to get that momentum. We know if they’re able to get that they can run away with it very quickly.”There are two recent examples of both instances for Australia to mull over. The Test series in the UAE last October was a triumph of Pakistani talent, spirit and experience in the prevailing conditions over an Australian team that was well drilled and well-resourced but lacking the requisite knowledge of the pitches and the humility required to play to a slow-pitch rhythm.Immediately before that, Pakistan had given Australia every reason to be confident, beaten 3-0 in the ODI series that preceded it. Most memorably, they seemed to have the dead third match in their keeping until, with only two runs required from the final over bowled by Glenn Maxwell, conspired to lose their final two wickets without getting either of the runs they needed. The exclamation of “Oh they’ve lost it!” from a commentating Dean Jones captured all Australian cricket’s wonderment at Pakistan in a single phrase.A third example of extremes was the pool match at the 2011 World Cup in Colombo, when the winner took top spot in the group and avoided a quarter-final with India. Australia won what was thought to be an important toss, but were overrun by a collective performance that bubbled up to overwhelm a succession of uneasy batsmen, caught up in the inexorable momentum of Pakistan’s fielding and bowling efforts.”I try to forget that one, because we lost it,” Watson said. “We knew that was a really important game against Pakistan because if we lost against them we were going to have to play India in the quarter-final, which we knew was going to be a big challenge on their home turf – and it worked out that way. I’ve got some good memories but also some bad memories that I try to forget as quick as I can. That was one.”The 2011 World Cup encounter between the two sides doesn’t hold pleasant memories for Watson: “I try to forget that one, because we lost it”•Getty ImagesThe Pakistan of 2015 has departed little from this sort of winding script, looking listless against India and the West Indies before shocking South Africa and then brushing Ireland aside. There is strength and depth in the bowling attack, which should mean Mohammad Irfan’s absence is not felt too keenly. Michael Hussey, who twice pulled off his own escape acts against Pakistan in the 2010 Sydney Test and the World T20 semi-final that same year, reckoned the start would be vital.”A lot of the time with a lot of subcontinental teams, if they’re on top they’re very hard to stop, they really ride that wave of emotion and pressure and play a fantastic game,” Hussey said. “From Australia’s point of view it is very important to get on top early, start early whether with the bat or the ball, try to get Pakistan under pressure and win the game from there. Certainly they’re a very good team and have some tough players that need to be shown a lot of respect.”They’ve got a fantastic bowling attack, and that’s what you need in World Cups, you need to be able to take wickets to put pressure on the batsmen, particularly the Australian batsmen because they are positive players, they like to be scoring all the time and it’s the only way you can stop them really, by trying to get them out. Pakistan have shown that in this World Cup already.”Whatever the result on Friday, the Australian fascination with Pakistan will continue. Unquestionably there is something for each nation to learn from the other.

Geoff Marsh has reached an undisclosed financial settlement with Sri Lanka over his sacking as coach of the national team in 2012

Daniel Brettig10-Dec-2013Geoff Marsh, the former Australia vice-captain, has reached an undisclosed financial settlement with Sri Lanka over his sacking as coach of the national team in January 2012.Marsh was relieved of his duties only four months into his tenure as head coach following the tour of South Africa, where Sri Lanka won one of three Tests – their first victory in the country.His exit coincided with a number of changes happening at SLC’s board level, with the captain Tillakaratne Dilshan as well as the selection panel being replaced around that time. Marsh subsequently initiated legal action against SLC for wrongful termination of his contract, lodging his claim via Sri Lankan legal representatives in Colombo in May last year.Upon his return to Australia, Marsh was appointed development coach for Western Australia, where he coached the state’s Futures League and second XI teams, while also overseeing the growth of cricketing talent in the state. His two sons, Shaun and Mitchell, both represented Australia in recent times.Marsh’s manager and solicitor, Stephen Atkinson, said Marsh was pleased to have put the whole issue behind him.”We were successful in negotaiting a settlement prior to the commencement of the trial,” Atkinson said. “Geoff is delighted that this matter has now been resolved and he can fully concentrate on his various coaching roles in Australia and in particular his coaching duties with the Western Warriors.”The South African Graham Ford was chosen to replace Marsh, seeing out his own two-year contract before taking up the coaching job with Surrey in England.Speaking after the settlement was reached, SLC chief executive Ashley de Silva defended the board’s decision to sack Marsh and said: “The committee took the decision at that time, and it was the right one for Sri Lanka cricket.”

West Indies captain Darren Sammy said that batting till the final over of the innings, despite the clutch of early wickets, made the difference for his team in the fourth ODI in Mirpur

Mohammad Isam in Mirpur07-Dec-2012West Indies captain Darren Sammy said that batting till the final over of the innings, despite the clutch of early wickets, made the difference for his team in the fourth ODI in Mirpur. They fought their way to 211 for 9 after losing half their side by the 24th over, and that total eventually proved to be too big for a Bangladesh line-up that looked all at sea against quality pace bowling.”Looking at the way the game was unfolding, I always told myself that if we bat till the end we stand the chance of scoring 190-plus,” Sammy said. “It is about applying yourself in the middle. My partnership with [Darren] Bravo was crucial. We just said ‘let us try to bat deep’.”We wanted to have a go in the last four overs. We kept losing wickets, so we had to push [launching the final surge] back. But it proved today that 212 runs was a lot [to chase] on that wicket.”Sammy’s all-round performance was, ultimately, the difference between the two sides. He held firm with the bat after West Indies had fallen to 102 for 6 in the 32nd over from the relative comfort of 71 for 1 just an hour before. He took stock of the situation and batted calmly with Darren Bravo, the pair adding 43 runs for the seventh wicket. Bravo was caught and bowled by offspinner Sohag Gazi, one of several poorly-timed dismissals for West Indies, in the 43rd over.Sammy then had the likes of Veerasammy Permaul and Sunil Narine for company but, even now, rather risking hitting out and allowing his team to be bowled out, he kept his head. He only launched in the last three overs of the innings, taking 35 valuable runs. He did have a life, being dropped at deep-square leg on 30 when West Indies were 168 for 8, and he made it count for his team.”Last game it was Marlon [Samuels], today it is me. It is about players putting their hands up and doing what matters for the team,” Sammy said. “As a leader, you always try to lead from the front. It gives you a good feeling inside. It won’t happen all the time because it is a team sport but when you do it, it feels good.”Sammy also made a major contribution with the ball, removing Anamul Haque and Naeem Islam off successive balls in his first over before accounting for Mominul Haque in his third over. He took advantage of the Bangladesh batsmen’s impatience. With Kemar Roach, his opening partner, he had reduced Bangladesh to 13 for 5 by the sixth over, and the series-levelling win was all but confirmed.West Indies thrived by attacking with pace and short pitched bowling up front and, today, the spinners did the other half of the job. The bowling unit’s showing pleased Sammy: “Our pacers have been taking the wickets throughout the Test series. In this game the ball was carrying nicely, maybe because of the dew. We all know Kemar bowls 90-plus miles per hour. Even [Dwayne] Smith did a good job. Sunny [Narine] and [Veerasammy] Permaul got some spin. All the bowlers put their hands up.”Saturday’s game now, for all intents and purposes, is a final, and West Indies are in the ascendancy. The pressure was on them when they returned to Dhaka from Khulna 2-0 down, and they have turned their form around as they would have liked. “It was a must-win game for us, I’m just happy that the team did what they had to do to win,” Sammy said. “We have had good days in the Test series, the last [one-day] match … We did what we had to do today, which is level the series. It sets up a big final tomorrow.”

The ECB has toughened its qualifications rules for England cricketers by extending the maximum residential qualification period from four to seven years with immediate effect for players over 18

David Hopps01-May-2012The ECB has toughened its qualification rules for England cricketers by extending the minimum residential qualification period from four to seven years with immediate effect. The new stipulation, which has been voted in by the ECB board at Lord’s, will apply to players who arrive in England and Wales after their 18th birthday.The tighter regulations aim to put more emphasis on England players being developed through the England system, although overseas players settling in England before their 18th birthday will still only need to complete a residential qualification of four years.The purpose of this two-tier policy is to reduce allegiances of convenience as overseas players win opportunities in county cricket and, as a result, decide to seek England qualification. But it could also conceivably force many young players approaching their 18th birthday into a premature decision about where their future lies – with South Africa bound to be particularly affected.The ECB has long abandoned the notion of birthright, which is increasingly viewed as unsuitable to an age of global mobility, but it aims to prove a sense of belonging by the fact that players have come through the system, whether in schools, universities or cricketing academies.As so often, ECB regulations are not as simple as they first appear. There is a rider in the case of non ICC full-member countries, where qualification can still be reduced to four years at the ECB’s discretion. Cricket Ireland will be particularly disappointed by that, with its players now potentially more vulnerable to approaches than players in full-member countries.The new rules do not apply to women cricketers.The key provisions are as follows:(i) All players who are already qualified for England will remain so – provided they continue to meet the existing regulations.(ii) All players who begin residence in England or Wales before their 18th birthday will need to complete a residence period of four consecutive years.(iii) Players who begin residence in England or Wales after their 18th birthday will need to complete a residence period of seven consecutive years. *Full regulations

Chris Martin believes Phillip Hughes will be under serious pressure when it comes time for Australia to begin their chase at Bellerive Oval

Brydon Coverdale at the Bellerive Oval10-Dec-2011Chris Martin turned 37 on the day two at Bellerive Oval. His birthday present was a second consecutive strong bowling effort against Australia. This time, his team-mates were just as good. And if they back it up in the second innings, victory over Australia will be theirs for the first time in a generation.To skittle Australia for 136 is the kind of performance Martin has dreamt of for a decade. Before this series, he had played ten Tests against Australia and had taken 15 wickets at 86.53. It was hard to say if he was more embarrassed about his bowling record against them or his batting figures.That started to change in Brisbane, where he took four wickets, and in Hobart he collected three, as did Doug Bracewell and the debutant Trent Boult, while Tim Southee picked up perhaps the most important victim, Ricky Ponting. At no point did they let the pressure drop significantly and as a result, Australia recorded their lowest total at home against New Zealand.The ball seamed and swung, and Australia’s batsmen struggled to handle the movement. After New Zealand were rolled for 150 in their first innings, there appeared every chance the match could be over in three days. The weather might not allow that, but all the same Martin said it had been a long while since he had seen a Test surface with so much in it for the bowlers.”In a Test match it has been a long time,” he said. “If you look around the world there’s not too much variety in pitches. A day’s Test cricket like that definitely makes people watch. It’s difficult. I’ve toured places like India and the subcontinent and it’s always a tough, long day with plenty of runs. But if you’re a connoisseur of swing bowling, seam bowling, then today is a really enjoyable day’s cricket.”By closing the second day with a lead of 153 and seven wickets in hand, New Zealand have given themselves their best chance in ten years of beating the Australians. And although the pitch is expected to become less difficult for the batsmen over the next two days, their advantage over Australia was already alarmingly large.”It’s a tough ask for any top-order batsmen out there today to feel comfortable, to feel in,” Martin said. “It’s one for the bowlers today. I suppose 150 on that pitch on the first day has turned out to be a reasonable score. It’s quite a tough picture to paint with the rest of the Test, with how it’s going to go. I know that sitting here at 150 runs in front we’re feeling good. I don’t know how many runs are needed. We’ll just see how we go tomorrow.”Martin believes Phillip Hughes will be under serious pressure when it comes time for Australia to begin their chase. Hughes will walk to the crease in the second innings playing for his Test future. Three times from three innings in this series he has been caught by Martin Guptill, either at gully or slip, off the bowling of Martin, the angle across him proving hard to handle. His best score in the series has been 10.”I feel like I’ve put the ball in a good spot to him,” Martin said. “He’s feeling for it a little bit and he’s nicked a couple. I suppose for a guy who’s struggling, this isn’t the sort of pitch that you want to feel for your next knock and where your runs are coming from. He’s under pressure, I suppose. We just have to keep bowling in the right spots.”I’ll just keep doing what I’m doing. He’ll be feeling under pressure and that’s never a good place. I’ve felt under pressure for my spot in the past, so it’s always a difficult challenge and one if you get on top of you’re a lot stronger for it.”First though, Australia need to find a way through the rest of the New Zealand order. Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson were both well set at stumps, having judiciously left the ball and played wisely. At times, the Australian fast bowlers strayed startlingly down leg or with bouncers that easily sailed over the batsmen’s heads, and Peter Siddle said it was important to stick to what worked in the first innings.”It’s always nice to get a wicket that is a little bit bowler-friendly, but it’s not always that easy [because of that],” Siddle said. “There’s still a lot of work has to be done by us bowlers, we do have to bowl some good lines, good areas and be patient. Sometimes on these wickets you can tend to go searching a little bit and try too hard and end up with figures that you’re not very proud of.”When the sun does come out and you get a bit of heat on that wicket, to dry it out a little bit, it does quicken up a little bit and does seem a little bit easier to score. Hopefully tomorrow morning the clouds are out and it’s a little bit overcast for us in the first session.”

Greg Chappell has criticised Virender Sehwag’s work ethic, calling him one of the great frustrations of his time as India coach

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Sep-2012Greg Chappell has criticised Virender Sehwag’s work ethic, calling him one of the great frustrations of his time as India coach. Sehwag’s lackadaisical attitude threatens to squander his great god-given gift, Chappell wrote in the . Chappell coached India from 2005 to 2007, a controversial stint just after which Sehwag was dropped from the national side.Sehwag made a stirring comeback from that low, but is currently in an extended lean patch. His last Test century came in November 2010, but outside the subcontinent that date extends back to January 2008. His fitness and fielding have been a worry for the team management, and he has played only 13 ODIs since the World Cup, with only two innings of note – the double-century and a 96 against Sri Lanka.Sehwag was “rested” for India’s second league game in World Twenty20, one of India’s more complete T20 performances. That has brought Sehwag’s form into focus once again. “To say that Viru was one of the great frustrations of my time with the team is an understatement,” Chappell wrote. “Sadly, he continues to disappoint and is in danger of squandering his God-given talent. The person who is least likely to be fazed by all of this is Virender himself.”What I soon learned about him was that Viru did not want to dedicate himself to taking his talent to its zenith. He was happy to turn up and play and accept what came his way. No amount of cajoling from me could shift him from his insouciant way.”Only lack of runs, according to Chappell, could make Sehwag work hard, but that wouldn’t last. “This often happens to those with the greatest gift,” Chappell wrote. “Because he had never had to work hard at developing such a skill, Viru did not know how to dedicate himself to disciplined training. It was only during periods of relative poor form that he was prepared to spend time getting things back on track. As soon as he made some runs he slipped back into old habits and appeared content to practise in the same old profligate way; until his form evaporated again.”Chappell also spoke of a lack of responsibility and fitness. “The other area of frustration for me was that he did not keep himself in good shape and would often be troubled by a back ailment that restricted him in the field and made him even less likely to want to put time into expanding his ability. Apart from his batting skills, he is a very talented offspin bowler and he should have been the best slip fielder in the team, but he eschewed the responsibility at every opportunity.”Chappell said not much has changed on that front. “Seven years on, nothing much has changed,” he wrote. “He has worked on his fitness and appears to be in better condition, but on the evidence of his training in Australia early this year, he still practises the way he has always done and the results, unsurprisingly, are similar.Chappell also had a dig at Sehwag’s reported captaincy aspirations. “Strangely, for someone who only wants to play the game on his terms, he harbours a desire to captain his country,” he wrote. “I have no doubt that he could do it for he understands the game well, but what he fails to grasp is that with the honour comes responsibility. In fact, the responsibility to show personal leadership has to come before one can earn the higher honour. He wants the prize, but has been unwilling to pay the price.”More damningly, Chappell suggested that his selfish attitude towards batting cost India matches. “The surprising thing was that when Viru got runs in 50-over cricket, India often lost,” Chappell wrote. “For one thing, he seemed more concerned with his strike rate than the bigger picture. He would play shots from the first ball and not stop until he got out, which was often just when the team needed him to go on to a big score.”Usually, if he got a start, he would get away to such a flier it would get everyone at the ground excited, including his team-mates who would then think that they should score 300 plus. Once Virender got out, the good start was often squandered by the loss of multiple wickets as others tried to maintain the frenetic run-rate and generally the game would slip away.”However, like the rest of the world, Chappell admired Sehwag’s talent, and also said that the opposition will only be relieved if he plays no part in the upcoming matches. “Despite my frustrations with him during my tenure as Indian coach, I could not help but love him,” Chappell wrote. “He is, after all, a loveable rogue. And he can bat better than most. In fact, he is the most gifted ball striker that I have seen…”It is unlikely that Sehwag will ever change. It is probably too late now. But if Dhoni and the selectors have decided that enough is enough and that they have a better chance of winning the World Twenty20 without him, I reckon the Australian bowlers will breathe a little easier on Friday.”

The preview of the fifth ODI between Pakistan and South Africa in Sharjah

The Preview by Firdose Moonda10-Nov-2013Match factsMonday, November 11, 2013
Start time 1500 local (1100GMT)Dav Whatmore will have an eye on fixing Pakistan’s fragile batting before his coaching stint ends in February•AFPBig PictureWith the result of the series already determined, the fifth ODI could fade into obscurity. However, it serves as the precursor to the return series in South Africa, which will begin later this month. If South Africa manage to win, they will take bragging rights into the three-match affair at home, but if Pakistan can pull one back, it could give them some much-needed buoyancy.The conditions, of course, will be completely different to Cape Town, Port Elizabeth or Centurion, but it could still act as some sort of prologue. The Sharjah strip was the most spinner friendly and will be more testing for the batsmen than Abu Dhabi’s pitch was. It should favour Pakistan, but with the slew of problems facing them, they will go into the fixture needing motivation.On the eve of the game, news broke that Pakistan coach Dav Whatmore’s contract will not be renewed. While that may not be unexpected, it has left him with something to prove in the time he has left in charge. If he can fix Pakistan’s weak batting line-up, it will be the best parting gift he can give them.South Africa have made incremental improvements, which is promising for their coach Russell Domingo. He still has work to do with the top order and will want to use this game to start fine tuning as South Africa look to find a settled combination as they build towards the World Cup.Form guide (last five completed games, most recent first)
Pakistan LLWLW
South Africa WWLWL
In the spotlightAB de Villiers said South Africa always felt they were in with a chance against Pakistan’s middle-order batsmen, who will feel obliged to end the series on a positive note. Umar Amin, Umar Akmal, Asad Shafiq and Shahid Afridi have scored a combined total of 168 runs in 12 innings against South Africa, and not a single half-century between them.He could end up being the overall leading wicket-taker in the series, so Imran Tahir will want to put in a strong final effort to cap a period during which he has impressed beyond expectation. He has proved wily with variations, and has done a good job of cleaning up the tail, but he has threatened to go for more runs in every game. He’s still brimming with confidence, but will need to add more control to his bowling to end on a high.Team newsChanges to the XI haven’t helped Pakistan much and they will hope their current crop make quick improvements. They could change the wicketkeeper or bring in Umar Amin in place of the misfiring Asad Shafiq. The bowling unit is likely to stay the same, unless they choose to give Abdur Rehman a game.Pakistan: (likely) 1 Mohammad Hafeez, 2 Ahmed Shehzad, 3 Sohaib Maqsood, 4 Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), 5 Asad Shafiq/Umar Amin, 6 Umar Akmal/Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), 7 Shahid Afridi, 8 Sohail Tanvir, 9 Junaid Khan, 10 Saeed Ajmal, 11 Mohammad IrfanWith the series wrapped up, South Africa may experiment, although they will limit it to the bowling department. Vernon Philander, who was included after much public pressure, is yet to get a game and may come in along with either Wayne Parnell or even Robin Peterson, who has also carried drinks since being dropped after the Abu Dhabi Test. Morne Morkel and Lonwabo Tsotsobe may get a rest.South Africa: (likely)1 Hashim Amla, 2 Quinton de Kock (wk), 3 Faf du Plessis, 4 JP Duminy, 5 AB de Villiers (capt), 6 David Miller, 7 Ryan McLaren, 8, 9 and 10 Wayne Parnell/Vernon Philander/Morne Morkel/Dale Steyn/Lonwabo Tsotsobe/Dale Steyn, 11 Imran TahirStats and triviaPakistan have been bowled out in all four matches in this series, while South Africa have been dismissed just twice. South Africa also have the only centurion of the series – Quinton de Kock. The top three wicket-takers in this series so far have been spinners, with Imran Tahir leading the charts. He has nine scalps, while Saeed Ajmal and Shahid Afridi have eight each. Quotes”At the moment we have tried different players in our order but the problem is that the guys who are good batsmen can’t bowl as a fully-fledged bowling option, and if we pick the bowlers who are really good in bowling then we lack batting. We are really missing a quality allrounder who can deliver in bowling and batting in pressure situations.
“I really felt like we were 11 guys out there, which sometimes you don’t feel, especially when a team is not doing well. It’s very difficult when the guys drift off to the boundary to keep the attention and the focus of the guys directed to the middle. I felt that right throughout the 50 overs tonight and that made a big difference.”

Two successive sixes off Sammy’s bowling, and from Brad Hodge’s bat, launched Rajasthan Royals into the second qualifier, where they will take on Mumbai Indians for a place in the final

The Report by Abhishek Purohit22-May-2013
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsBrad Hodge turned it around from 57 for 5 (file photo)•BCCIThree days ago, two successive sixes from Darren Sammy had launched Sunrisers Hyderabad into the IPL Eliminator. Three days later, two successive sixes off Sammy’s bowling, and from Brad Hodge’s bat, launched Rajasthan Royals into the second qualifier, where they will take on Mumbai Indians for a place in the final. The victory also meant Royals sealed their place in the 2013 Champions League Twenty20.Hodge’s was a blinder of an innings in many contexts. Prior to this, he had not spent a lot of time in the middle, Rahul Dravid preferring to use him as a finisher. He came in at 57 for 5 in a chase of 133 on a slow, uneven pitch, on which almost everyone had struggled for timing. He was up against the best attack of the season in a knockout situation. Royals had been up for a week against a spot-fixing controversy that had shaken their team and messed up their combinations.Hodge’s response was one befitting a man who has made the most Twenty20 runs in the world. When he cracked the second ball of the last over 96 metres into the crowd beyond the long-on boundary, he finished on 54 off 29. He hit five sixes on a pitch where the first one took 14.1 overs to come.This match was Royals’ after a start of 50 for 1 inside seven overs. Shane Watson was another batsman who was making a mockery of the difficulties posed by the pitch, pushing forward and getting boundaries with sheer power. His pull off the legspinner Karan Sharma was headed for six over deep midwicket when Sammy jumped several feet to intercept the ball, and turn the game.Royals lost a wicket each in the next three overs to slip to 57 for 5. Sammy did most of the damage, keeping it straight to hit the stumps, as Dishant Yagnik and Stuart Binny missed. Ajinkya Rahane popped one back to the other Sunrisers legspinner Amit Mishra.Fifty-eight were needed from 40 when Hodge tore into Karan, a bowler most sides had found difficult to get away. Two sixes and a four in the space of four deliveries. He followed it up with a straight six off Mishra in the next over. Sunrisers were visibly stunned, and Mishra, whose first three overs had gone for eight, was irritated.Sunrisers hung in, though, despite a wayward 18th over from Dale Steyn. Hodge tried to hit a six almost every ball off Thisara Perera in the 19th, and managed five runs. It came down to 10 needed off six, but Hodge needed two deliveries.Sunrisers did well to get to 132 from 67 for 3 after 14 overs. Royals went in without a spinner, but their various kinds of medium-pacers tied Sunrisers down with lack of pace and width.Vikramjeet Malik, playing his second match of the season, sent back Parthiv Patel and Hanuma Vihari in the space of four balls. Shikhar Dhawan and Cameron White took their time to push on. White, especially, looked in good touch but both fell in trying to step up the pace of scoring.Sammy and Perera were going to be key at the death but again, both fell just as they were starting to dominate. Sammy came out swinging sixes but was run out by an accurate, powerful throw from the deep by the substitute Rahul Shukla for 29 off 21. Perera zoomed to 11 off 6 before edging behind.It was still not an easy target by any means and Royals’ inexperienced middle order seemed to blow it, but Hodge was lurking at No.7 to deliver the knockout punch.

A powerful lower-order knock from Ben Cutting, backed up by a five-wicket haul from fast bowler Luke Feldman, helped Queensland hand Victoria their first defeat of the tournament

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Oct-2013
ScorecardA powerful lower-order innings from Ben Cutting, backed up by a five-wicket haul from fast bowler Luke Feldman, helped Queensland hand Victoria their first defeat of the tournament. Queensland’s innings had been floundering before Cutting smashed nine sixes in his 98 off 48 balls that helped achieve a match-winning total.The Queensland innings moved in fits and starts after they were put in to bat. Opener Chris Hartley fell for a 19-ball 5 in the seventh over to Peter Siddle, and Joe Burns followed three balls later. Chris Lynn and Usman Khawaja added 59 runs to steady the innings. Once Lynn was out, however, the wickets fell steadily and Victoria were on track to restrict Queensland to a middling total. Cutting, however, put paid to those hopes.Together with Hauritz, Cutting saw off a few quiet overs but cut loose in the 43rd, with a six and a four. He saved the charge for the last four overs, though, targeting John Hastings, Scott Boland and David Hussey and scoring 64 off the 81 runs scored in that period. He took 19 runs off Hastings in the 48th over and then hit 25 off Hussey in the penultimate over, before finishing the innings with two sixes.In reply, Victoria lost Michael Hill in the third over. The top and middle order put together some useful stands – Rob Quiney and Matthew Wade added 40 and Quiney and Cameron White put on 52.White was involved in another 50-run stand with David Hussey but they lacked the big overs needed in such an imposing chase. Cutting then struck another blow for Queensland, when he dismissed Hussey and White in successive overs to leave Victoria at 164 for 4, needing 142 from 106. It wasn’t entirely impossible, and the eighth-wicket pair of Peter Handscomb and Hastings took Victoria to 254 for 6. However, Feldman’s last spell swung the match in favour of Queensland once again. He dismissed Handscomb and Siddle in the 46th over and then had Hastings caught by Burns in the 48th over to hasten victory for Queensland.