All posts by h79snht.top

A chaotic few days at Paris Saint-Germain has seen Lionel Messi suspended, and fans are now showing their anger towards the club’s biggest superstars.Supporters gathered outside the Parc Des Princes to chant against Messi, but in an even more bizarre turn of events, some gathered outside Neymar’s house and called for him to leave.The former Barcelona pair both arrived in the French capital as world-class talents, but having been unable to help PSG progress further in the Champions League, patience has run out towards them, and now Neymar has fallen victim to abuse from fans who once adored him.

The club have condemned the behaviour of their fans, and Neymar has already dropped hints on social media about his feeling towards PSG, with it clear that both he and Messi were far happier during their spell together at Barcelona.

Twitter has already exploded in reaction, with some quick to condemn the actions of the PSG supporters. The best can be seen below…

Some called out the Parisian club’s fanbase…

Whilst others questioned why superstars would want to join in the future…

Newcastle United's return to the Champions League is so tantalisingly close.

With just five matches left of the club's 2022/23 Premier League campaign, Eddie Howe's men know that seven points from a possible 15 would be enough to secure a spot in the coveted continental competition, even if in-form Liverpool win their remaining four fixtures.

While this might seem more than attainable, tests against title-challenging Arsenal, high-flying Brighton & Hove Albion and Chelsea await, while an away encounter against relegation-threatened Leeds United could be a hectic and cacophonous occasion.

The overriding emphasis will be crossing the finish line in apt time and treading water above Jurgen Klopp's Reds and the Seagulls, who are both snapping at the heels of Howe's unit in third and Manchester United in fourth.

To ensure opponents are left with minimal opportunity to flourish and assert control into the remaining fixtures, wily winger Allan Saint-Maximin must be unleashed to add a fresh dimension to Howe's well-oiled outfit.

Should Howe unleash ASM?

When Saint-Maximin signed for Newcastle from Ligue 1 outfit Nice for a fee potentially rising to £20m in 2019, there was optimism surrounding a deal for an exciting and fleet-footed wide player, capable of blitzing even the most resilient of defences.

The enigmatic "wizard", as described by journalist Graeme Bailey, scored five goals and assists apiece in the previous campaign from 31 starts, and played an instrumental role in the transformative fortunes following the lucrative PIF takeover and Howe's appointment.

This season, with Newcastle on the rise, the Frenchman has been more of a utility figure at St. James's Park, starting only 11 times in the Premier League.

Despite this, Saint-Maximin has supplied five assists and scored one goal, but has definitely failed to live up to the "breathtaking" – in the words of Gary Neville – heights that left supporters awestruck across the past several seasons.

The £70k-per-week gem has been injured for the past five games after spending the early phases of the term hindered by muscular setbacks, but with an ostensible return in the coming days, he could return with an emphatic bang.

As per FBref, the maverick ranks among the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers for successful take-ons and the top 2% for progressive carries per 90, as well as in the top 4% for rate of assists. Meanwhile, £63m talisman Alexander Isak is in such free-flowing form, scoring seven goals across his past seven league starts and ranking among the top 7% of forwards for rate of goals himself.

While Newcastle are in fine fettle and on track for a return to the Champions League after a 20-year absence – boasting eight wins from the past nine matches in the top flight in the process – with a testing run forthcoming, spicing up the starting ranks with Saint-Maximin's high-octane approach could add the desired dimension to cement this formidable new stature.

حلل المدير الفني الأسطوري في القارة السمراء، كلود لوروا، ما حدث في مباريات الجولة الأولى من مجموعات بطولة كأس أمم إفريقيا 2023.

ودرب لو روا العديد من المنتخبات الإفريقية منذ عام 1985، بدأت مع الكاميرون وحصل مع الأسود على اللقب في عام 1988.

وأشرف الفرنسي على تدريب السنغال، الكونغو الديمقراطية، غانا، الكونغو برازفيل وأخيرًا توجو في عام 2021.

وخلال الجولة الأولى، حدثت الكثير من المفاجآت للمنتخبات الكبيرة التي تعادلت أو خسرت أمام فرق كانت صغيرة في السنوات الماضية ولكن أثبتت جدارتها.

اقرأ أيضًا.. مصدر يكشف لـ بطولات رسالة فيتوريا الأخيرة للاعبي منتخب مصر قبل مواجهة غانا

وتواصل “btolat.com” مع لوروا، وقال: “لقد كانت الجولة الأولى مليئة بالكثير من المفاجآت بالنسبة لي، خاصة تعادل مصر مع موزمبيق”.

وتابع: “كذلك لم أتوقع تعادل الجزائر مع أنجولا ونيجيريا مع غينيا الاستوائية مع خسارة غانا من الرأس الأخضر بالتأكيد”.

وأضاف: “هناك تغيير كبير في قوى المنتخبات الإفريقية، لم تعد هناك أي فرق صغيرة أو ضعيفة بعد الآن، الجميع يثبت قوته بالفعل”.

وعن أداء فرقه السابقة في النسخة الحالية: “السنغال أدت بشكل جيد للغاية في الجولة الأولى ولكن هناك علامات استفهام كبيرة على أداء ساديو ماني الذي انخفض بشكل كبير بعد انتقاله إلى السعودية”.

وواصل: “اعتقد أن انتقال هؤلاء اللاعبين إلى السعودية أدى إلى انخفاض حالتهم البدنية والفنية، أتوقع أن يبتعد ماني عن السنغال بعد عامين على الأكثر”.

وغانا: “يمتلكون بعض اللاعبين أصحاب الخبرات ولكن لم يعدوا بنفس المستوى مثل أندريه أيو وشقيقه جوردان والبقية ما زالوا شبان”.

الكاميرون: “كما وضحت من قبل هناك بعض اللاعبين الذين تركوا أوروبا وذهبوا إلى السعودية ومن ثم انخفض مستواهم البدني بسبب أسلوب التدريب من بلد إلى بلد”.

وعن توقعاته لمباراة مصر وغانا وهل هي حاسمة: “سأتواجد اليوم في المدرجات، أعتقد أنها ستكون حاسمة فقط للنجوم السوداء وليست للفراعنة، وفي رأيي هناك أفضلية لمصر لقوة فريقها”.

وتطرق لوروا لأداء محمد صلاح مع مصر، وقال: “لا أعرف لماذا يظهر بهذا المستوى مع الفراعنة، مختلف كثيرًا عن ليفربول، يجب أن يتحمل المسئولية أكثر من ذلك مثلما يحمل شارة القيادة”.

واستمر: “لا أعرف ما هي الأجواء داخل منتخب مصر وما قد يؤثر عليه، لكن هناك اختلاف بالفعل في المستوى عن ناديه ولم يظهر بشكل جيد أمام موزمبيق، رغم ركلة الجزاء الأخيرة، فالفراعنة كانوا محظوظين في الخروج بتلك النتيجة”.

وعن إمكانية خروج فريق كبير مبكرًا من الدور الأول: “نعم، ربما نرى غانا خارج البطولة مرة أخرى، أتوقع الكثير من المفاجآت في الجولتين الثانية والثالثة”.

وعن المرشحين للفوز باللقب: “أعتقد أن هناك 5 مرشحين للبطولة، كوت ديفوار وكذلك السنغال، الكاميرون والمغرب ومصر”.

وإمكانية رؤيته مرة أخرى مدربًا لمنتخب إفريقي: “أتمنى ذلك ربما تكون هناك أخبار جيدة في الأسابيع القليلة المقبلة”.

After a performance as perfect as this – in which John Simpson became their third batsman to score a brilliant ton, and Tim Murtagh and Toby Roland-Jones shared nine Hampshire wickets – it is only rain that can deny Middlesex now

Will Macpherson at Merchant Taylors' School30-May-2016
ScorecardAdam Voges finished unbeaten on 160 before Middlesex’s bowlers got to work•Getty Images

As Brendon McCullum watched on from the balcony atop this beautiful, expansive ground’s quaint, wisteria-covered pavilion, he would have been forgiven for wondering quite how his new Middlesex team-mates have failed to win in the Championship this season. Six games, six draws. There is mitigation: half of those games have taken place on the deadest of Lord’s tracks, while they have lost a staggering 618 overs – 103 out of each game – to rain. The top order has been making runs, the bowlers have been taking wickets, yet not a result in sight.After a performance as perfect as this – in which John Simpson became their third batsman to score a brilliant ton, and Tim Murtagh and Toby Roland-Jones shared nine Hampshire wickets – it is only rain that can deny them now. A downpour is forecast for Tuesday, but the heavy lifting is done; surely, across the final two days, the clouds will lift to allow them time to take the seven remaining Hampshire wickets, after they were made to follow on. On the basis of the second day’s play, that should not take long.Angus Fraser talks about the “Middlesex DNA”, the personality traits he wants to define his team, which is a rather hazy concept for those on the outside, but crystal clear to all in a united, friendly, laugh-a-minute dressing room. It was there last week, when Nick Gubbins, the baby of the side – and thus victim of a few pranks – was so touched to be taken out for drinks by his team-mates upon finally reaching a Championship ton, having three times fallen in the 90s. It was visible here, when James Fuller took his first – then second and third – Championship wickets for the club, and the back-slapping seemed to last for hours. It is audible every time Ollie Rayner or Murtagh let out their big barks, their umms and ahhs in the field; each gag is raucously laughed at, each achievement raucously celebrated.It was perhaps most obvious, however, as Adam Voges and Simpson came out and flayed to all parts in the morning session – with clouds low and fielders’ fingers freezing – to add a quickfire 125 in just 19.2 overs and set up a perfect declaration, allowing the bowlers 30 minutes before lunch, upon the completion of Simpson’s rocking, rollicking century. Roland-Jones described their efforts, to which Simpson contributed 72 off 61 this morning as Voges, who finished 160 not out turned the strike over, as “selfless, but highly skilful too”.”It’s never easy to go out and force the issue that clearly,” Roland-Jones said. “They set the tone, playing so positively to get ahead so quickly and we exploited the conditions that were out there.”Simpson, such a pugnacious, powerful batsman, played a dazzling hand. There was a front-foot pull for six off James Tomlinson, then another six to cow, and reverse-swept and straight-driven fours, all of Liam Dawson, as 22 were pilfered from five balls. Each came with crack cleaner than the last. Hampshire, on a pitch described by Roland-Jones as “pretty consistent, but always offering enough to the bowlers with enough lateral movement,” had been thoroughly beaten up by brilliant batting. They looked utterly demoralised.Either side of lunch, the nippy, nagging excellence of Murtagh and the Fraser-ish, bouncy Roland-Jones, a veritable nightmare bowling down the hill, bowled 11- and 10-over spells respectively. As Roland-Jones’s lift continually beat the outside edge, Murtagh’s off-stump line accounted for the top three. Sean Ervine and Dawson – who drove beautifully straight – dug in to share 34, Hampshire’s largest partnership of the day, but a screaming Sam Robson catch at gully saw off Dawson, and before long Rayner’s bounce gave his first over the wicket of Joe Weatherley. Murtagh returned to find Ervine’s edge, and Roland-Jones docked a limp tail.Hampshire’s horrid day was summed up by Tino Best, so hot against Nottinghamshire last week, so very cold today. There he was, at the end of the day’s first over, calling the 12th man on for a second jumper – to be fair, it was chilly enough to force umpire Neil Mallender to don gloves – but soon he was officially warned for beaming Voges and, later, a leading edge off Roland-Jones flew straight to mid-on. His funereal walk to and from the middle meant a one-ball innings lasted four minutes.The follow-on was enforced without the batting of an eyelid – and may mean Hampshire, who are three behind on the over rate, end up taking -2 points from the match. Middlesex continued on their merry way, Murtagh’s second ball taking the edge of Will Smith – promoted to open, before Fuller’s aggressive late burst did for Michael Carberry, caught low at second slip, and Ervine – stump cartwheeling – just as the new-ball pair’s exertions began to show. Off they went, revelling in their six perfect sessions and ready to meet their newest team-mate, knowing that first win is not far away.

أعلن المدير الفني لفريق توتنهام، أنجي بوستيكوجلو، التشكيل الأساسي لمواجهة مانشستر سيتي مساء اليوم في بطولة كأس الاتحاد الإنجليزي.

اقرأ أيضًا.. تشكيل مانشستر سيتي أمام توتنهام في كأس الاتحاد الإنجليزي

ويلتقي الفريقان في إطار منافسات دور الـ32 من بطولة كأس الاتحاد الإنجليزي، موسم 2023/24 على ملعب “توتنهام هوتسبير”. تشكيل توتنهام اليوم أمام مانشستر سيتي في كأس الاتحاد الإنجليزي

حراسة المرمى: فيكاريو.

خط الدفاع: أودوجي، ميكي فان دي فان، روميرو، بيدرو بورو.

خط الوسط: رودريجو بيتانكور، بيير هويبيرج.

خط الوسط الهجومي: تيمو فيرنر، جونسون، كولوسيفسكي.

خط الهجوم: ريتشارليسون.

Michael Beale could be getting close to signing defender Dujon Sterling for Glasgow Rangers ahead of the summer transfer window.

What’s the latest on Dujon Sterling to Glasgow Rangers?

According to the Evening Standard (via the Daily Record), Sterling is close to a move to the Ibrox side as Chelsea have given him the green light for the deal.

His current Chelsea deal expires at the end of the season and the Gers could be set to secure the player on a free transfer, and it appears that the potential of Champions League football and the chance to win silverware has sealed the deal, with a few other clubs interested.

Could Dujon Sterling replace James Tavernier at Rangers?

In the short term, the answer is probably no. However, there could be potential over the coming seasons for the Englishman to replace the captain at right-back.

Tavernier has been an excellent club stalwart, recently earning his place in the Hall of Fame following a Rangers career which has seen the defender make 398 appearances and score a staggering 100 goals – an outstanding tally for a full-back.

He will turn 32 in the first few months of 2023/24 and the supporters may not have long left to appreciate his talents, while Sterling could certainly be a solid alternative.

The 23-year-old has spent this season on loan at Stoke City and demonstrated his talents during a solid campaign. Sterling has made 28 appearances in all competitions for the club so far, and although he doesn’t quite have the same attacking qualities as Tavernier, registering zero goals or assists, there surely has to be an acceptance that the current Gers defender is one of a kind.

Sterling, meanwhile, is at the opposite end of his career, and Rangers have unearthed defensive gems from south of the border in recent years, with the likes of Calvin Bassey and Connor Goldson just a couple of their recent successes in this regard.

Another reason why Sterling could be keen on a move to Rangers is due to the fact he has already worked with Beale before, when the current Rangers' manager was a youth coach at Chelsea, and he will be well aware of his potential.

Indeed, he was dubbed a “fantastic talent” by his U23 Adi Viveash coach previously and if he can find his feet at the Ibrox side, Beale could seal a bargain deal for one of his former proteges.

Both Alastair Cook and Steven Smith have said the Ashes does not need to include a day-night Test but Cook believes boards should continue exploring the format

Andrew McGlashan08-Jun-20162:31

Ultimately day-night Tests means more viewers – Sutherland

Alastair Cook believes that boards should continue to explore the notion of day-night Test cricket but has echoed the views of his Australia counterpart, Steven Smith, in saying that the Ashes does not need such a concept.South Africa have now agreed to play a floodlit Test against Australia in Adelaide later this year, having initially been reluctant about the idea. This means there will be two day-night Tests in the Australian season, with Pakistan also playing under lights at the Gabba.England look set to play their first floodlit Test next year, against West Indies at Lord’s or Edgbaston, although the ECB did approach the Bangladesh Cricket Board about the possibility of playing one on the tour to Bangladesh in October.ACA chief wants day-night conditions worked on

The Australian Cricketers’ Association chief executive Alistair Nicholson has called for Cricket Australia find ways to optimise the conditions and tools required for day-night Test cricket, so that the quality of the cricket is not compromised.
“Over the next five months Cricket Australia needs to invest time and money to develop the best quality ball and the best wicket so we get the highest quality of Test cricket,” Nicholson said. “That’s what the players want and the fans deserve.”
He stressed that the players’ views have to be taken seriously. “The concerns of the players run deep, and with Alastair Cook’s comments we see they also run internationally. When the best players in the world are all expressing concerns they must be listened to and their concerns must be addressed.
“The message from players all over the world is clear: ‘We want the best quality Test cricket. To achieve this there is a lot of work to be done on the pink-ball format.'”

The key aim of the day-night Tests is to attract more spectators, when they are able to attend after work, but both Cook and Smith think current crowds for the Ashes are strong enough to stay with tradition.”A lot of the games have really good attendances and it’s probably not a series where you need to do it exactly at this time,” Cook said.Smith agreed. “I think it works pretty well with the red ball. Playing against England, we always get the viewers and the crowds out, so I don’t think there is any issue there.”Cook said the key to the format’s success in the longer term remains the quality of the pink ball. For the inaugural day-night Test in Adelaide last year, when Australia faced New Zealand, extra grass was left on the pitch in a bid to ensure the ball retained its colour.Cook has experience of facing the pink ball when he played for MCC in Abu Dhabi in 2015 and does not feel it has the same qualities as the red ball.”No disrespect to the guys who make it, but on the two occasions I’ve played it doesn’t seem to behave the same way as the red ball,” he said. “I’ve got no idea why. But it’s one of the great things about Test cricket, sometimes the ball swings conventionally, sometimes it doesn’t, sometimes it reverses, but my occasions with the pink ball it didn’t do any of that, then it nipped all over under twilight. The quality of the ball is vital.”My general view of day-night Tests is that it’s definitely something cricket authorities need to keep looking at because it’s the way to keep the game moving forward with the times, making it more possible for spectators to come and watch.”Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland however said having day-night Tests in the Ashes would be a “natural progression” and would also attract more audience in the UK because of more suitable timings.”I respect the views of Steven and Alastair… the Ashes is a great contest and will no doubt attract a huge audience both at the grounds and on television, but the facts of the matter are by playing day-night Tests, we’re going to get even bigger audiences at the game and on television,” Sutherland said.”We’ve played one day-night Test match and this summer we have two in the schedule, so I think there’s a natural progression for us to get to a point where Ashes Test matches are played as day-night games. The Ashes series is still a long way off and we want to get through this summer first, but we will play somewhere between zero and two day-night Tests during the Ashes in 18 months’ time.”The time [of day-night Tests] shifts games into a more appealing time of day in the UK. We all need to stay very open-minded to this [and] continue to progress and build everyone’s confidence.”Sutherland also said there will not be any changes to the format of matches in Sydney (traditionally the venue of the New Year’s Test), Melbourne (traditionally the venue of the Boxing Day Test) and Perth. “There’s no doubt from our point of view Sydney and Melbourne are landmarks in the calendar and they work very well as day games at that time of year when everyone is on holiday. Perth is already time-shifted into the eastern states with the three-hour time difference.”

اعترف صانع ألعاب نادي ريال بيتيس، إيسكو، أن رحيله عن ريال مدريد كان له أثر نفسي سيئ للغاية بعد سنوات في قلعة “سانتياجو برنابيو” وحصد العديد من الألقاب.

ولعب إيسكو مع ريال مدريد لمدة 9 سنوات، لكنه رحل في صيف عام 2022 بعد نهاية عقده وانتقل إلى إشبيلية ورغم ذلك لم ينجح مع النادي الأندلسي وفسخ عقده سريعًا.

وقبل بداية الموسم الحالي، انتقل إيسكو إلى الغريم ريال بيتيس وبدأ اللاعب في التألق مرة أخرى حيث يحصل دائمًا على جائزة أفضل لاعب في المباراة.

اقرأ أيضًا.. الاتحاد الإسباني يتقدم بشكوى بسبب تسريب مقطع صوتي من مباراة ريال مدريد وألميريا

وأجرى إيسكو حوارًا مع خورخي فالدانو أسطورة ريال مدريد عبر شبكة “موفيستار” الإسبانية، وقال: “لم يكن أحد واضحًا معي، كنت أشعر بالإحباط بعد الرحيل عن ريال مدريد”.

وأضاف: “أعاتب نفسي كثيرًا، في النهاية الزمن كفيل بذلك، كنت غاضبًا في فترة ما عندما كان يتم استبعادي من المباريات (أثناء فترة سانتياجو سولاري)، لم يكن أي شيء على ما يرام”.

وتم استبعاد إيسكو لفترة من مباريات ريال مدريد بسبب زيادة وزنه وهو كان حديث الصحافة الإسبانية في ذلك الوقت”.

وتابع: “كنت ألوم نفسي بعد الرحيل، لماذا لم أتدرب بشكل أفضل، عكس ما كان الحال قبل الرحيل لم أكن أشعر أنني على خطأ، لم أعمل بشكل جيد للتغلب على الوضع الصعب”.

واختتم: “أشعر بالندم الكثير، أنا من تسبب في ذلك، لكنني في الوقت الحالي أستمتع بكرة القدم مرة أخرى، عندما رحلت عن ريال مدريد شعرت كأنني ضحية ولكني لم أكن كذلك”.

Liverpool are interested in signing Southampton centre-back Duje Caleta-Car this summer, with manager Jurgen Klopp personally driving the move, according to reports from Spain.

What's the latest Liverpool transfer news?

Former Liverpool man Jamie Carragher has claimed that Klopp will need to bring in three midfielders this summer, however that is not the only area the manager will need to strengthen, with new centre-backs also being looked at.

The Reds have been linked with a number of options, including Josko Gvardiol, with the RB Leipzig defender frequently being touted for a switch to Anfield ever since impressing for Croatia at the Qatar World Cup.

Another defender Klopp could look at signing is Lens' Kevin Danso, having recently sent scouts to run the rule over the 24-year-old, while they are also interested in a move for OGC Nice centre-back Jean-Clair Todibo, as per Fabrizio Romano.

However, Liverpool could also look at signing a new defender from closer to home, with reports from Spain claiming Caleta-Car could be targeted, as the 26-year-old is likely to leave Southampton following from their relegation from the Premier League (via Caught Offside).

The Croatian has caught Klopp's eye over the years, and the manager's desire to sign him, coupled with the Saints' financial needs, could pave the way for a summer move.

The estimated asking price for the £52k-per-week defender will be €10m (£8.7m), which has attracted the attention of a whole host of other potential suitors.

Should Liverpool sign Duje Caleta-Car?

As expected for a club that have been relegated with time to spare, the Saints have been poor defensively this season, conceding a total of 66 goals, and they have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last ten matches.

That said, Southampton's defence has not been their main problem this season, given that four of their five best-performing Premier League players have been centre-backs, with Caleta-Car ranking fifth, averaging a Sofascore match rating of 6.90.

Despite being hailed as having "major quality" by journalist Dean Jones, the 6 foot 4 colossus has not been particularly impressive across a number of key defensive metrics over the past year, ranking faring poorly in the air, while he also stands in just the 28th percentile for tackles completed per 90.

Even though the former Marseille man is available for a cut-price fee, Liverpool will undoubtedly be able to attract better centre-backs in the summer, and they should continue to pursue the likes of Gvardiol, Danso and Todibo instead.

Mohammad Shahzad produced his fifth ODI fifty for Afghanistan, a typically belligerent knock, to set up a 78-run win via the Duckworth-Lewis method over Scotland at The Grange on Wednesday afternoon

The Report by Peter Della Penna in Edinburgh06-Jul-2016
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details1:33

Rajput teaching us to handle pressure – Shahzad

Mohammad Shahzad produced his fifth ODI fifty for Afghanistan, a typically belligerent knock, to set up a 78-run win via the Duckworth-Lewis method over Scotland at The Grange on Wednesday afternoon. In another stop-start day of cricket, Afghanistan made the most of Shahzad’s excellent foundation and eventually sauntered home despite an audacious early reply from the hosts in pursuit of an adjusted DLS target of 211 in 36 overs.Shahzad reached his half-century off 55 balls and eventually finished with 84 off 91 balls, including eight fours and two sixes, to set up a total of 178 for 6 in 37.2 overs prior to a three-hour, ten-minute rain delay. Shahzad went after all the Scotland bowlers including Safyaan Sharif – who bowled a mostly tidy opening spell of 0 for 24 in eight overs, with two maidens – thrice striking him over midwicket for boundaries. In the 15th over, he launched Ruaidhri Smith’s full length over mid-on for both of his sixes.The opener offered one chance to Con de Lange, whose left-arm spin kept Afghanistan’s lineup harnessed throughout the middle overs after the loss of Noor Ali Zadran and Javed Ahmadi. Shahzad tried to break free of the pressure on 60 and skipped down the pitch to loft de Lange but Brad Wheal spilled a simple chance at long-on, denying de Lange a deserved wicket on a day he finished with 0 for 16 in six. Shahzad fell to Smith in the end, a slower ball fooling the batsman. Shahzad couldn’t keep his hands back long enough on the shot and a toe-edge was snapped up by Cross for the first of Wheal’s two wickets.Shahzad’s dismissal swelled Scotland’s momentum in the field, which had begun to build with the wicket of Monday’s centurion Rahmat Shah for 26, taken at mid-off by Craig Wallace off Sharif one over prior to the fall of Shahzad. Alasdair Evans, who had earlier claimed the wicket of Noor Ali, removed captain Asghar Stanikzai with a bouncer fended awkwardly to Richie Berrington at backward point. Najibullah Zadran then miscued a drive to mid-off for Wheal’s second wicket and Afghanistan had stumbled from 131 for 2 in the 29th over to 171 for 6 in the 37th. The rains came six balls later and the players sat for 190 minutes before play resumed with Scotland pursuing the adjusted target score.The first seven overs of the Scotland chase were a thrill a minute as Craig Wallace, batting for the first time in ODIs in his third match, fearlessly charged the Afghanistan attack. Undeterred by the second-ball dismissal of Kyle Coetzer, caught at slip, Wallace declared his intentions in the first over, going down on one knee to slog-sweep the 140kph pace of Dawlat Zadran over deep square leg for six. In Dawlat’s next over, he missed attempting the same shot and absorbed a nasty blow on the right shoulder but continued his crusade. In the fourth, Wallace hooked Shapoor Zadran for six and drove him to the cover rope to knock him out of the attack.Cross then set about doing the same to Dawlat, cracking him over backward point before a pulled six over midwicket took the score to 46 for 1 in five overs. Mohammad Nabi was brought on in the sixth and should have had Wallace first ball after a charge down the pitch went awry but Shahzad fluffed a simple stumping on 21. The next two balls were struck for four and six by Wallace before Nabi ended the furious stand at 58 runs, getting Cross caught on the midwicket boundary by Najibullah Zadran for 24.Legspinner Rashid Khan was then brought on from the Pavilion End and Wallace’s stay ended for 33 courtesy an athletic return catch to swing momentum Afghanistan’s way. Shapoor eventually returned in the 13th to claim captain Preston Mommsen, who hooked a bouncer straight to Rashid at long leg for 13. Mommsen’s wicket crucially put Afghanistan ahead on D/L calculations for the first time and with rain threatening to come back at any moment, that advantage was further cemented three balls after drinks when Richie Berrington was given leg before to Nabi for 19 after missing a sweep.Michael Leask was stumped for Nabi’s third wicket before Shapoor bowled Sharif with a full delivery to take his second. Ruaidhri Smith drove Dawlat to Rashid in the covers to make it 122 for 8 as the serious challenge Scotland gave Afghanistan through most of the day became obscured by the flurry of wickets. A trio of lbw shouts from Rashid in the 27th over finally bore fruit with Evans trapped on the back leg before de Lange holed out to mid-on off Mirwais Ashraf to end the match, Scotland all out for 132 in 27.1 overs.Afghanistan now head to Belfast to take on Ireland in the first of five ODIs starting July 10. Scotland’s next action comes against UAE in August with a four-day Intercontinental Cup match followed by two ODIs in Aberdeen.