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Manchester United marched into the Europa League quarter-finals after overcoming a spirited Real Betis side in Seville on Thursday evening, with the Red Devils securing a narrow, 1-0 victory to clinch a 5-1 aggregate scoreline in the tie.

Despite having gone into the second-leg clash with a commanding lead following the meeting at Old Trafford a week ago, United looked far from convincing in the opening exchanges this time around, having been left thankful for some errant finishing from Manuel Pellegrini's men.

With the La Liga side still holding a shred of hope of getting back into the contest heading in at the break, man of the moment Marcus Rashford subsequently extinguished that belief with a stunning finish just before the hour mark, with the Englishman netting his 27th goal of the season in style.

That was to prove the end of the drama, in truth, as the Premier League giants comfortably saw out the closing stages, albeit with Erik ten Hag likely to have been frustrated by the at times nervous and erratic nature of his side's display.

While not an overwhelming night of positives, one shining light was that of Uruguayan starlet, Facundo Pellistri, with the 21-year-old more than taking his chance on what was just his first start for the club.

The eye-catching winger – who was making just his seventh appearance for the club since signing back in 2020 – showed real bravery in his play as he attempted to make things happen for the visitors, notably completing three of his five dribbles, while also winning six duels on the night.

Aside from what was a frankly "ridiculous" early booking for the youngster – in the words of 90min's Scott Saunders – it was an encouraging, rare run out for the former Penarol gem, with the hope being that he can now capitalise on the unfortunate injury blow to fellow forward, Alejandro Garnacho.

Pellistri was, however, not the only asset who took the opportunity to impress on the night, with summer signing Tyrell Malacia – who was one of four changes from the weekend draw with Southampton – producing a composed and dogged display at left-back.

How did Malacia perform against Betis?

After overcoming a 'panicky' opening – as per Manchester Evening News journalist Samuel Luckhurst – the diminutive Dutchman truly grew into the game and became a real, effective presence at both ends of the pitch, having showcased that he will not give usual starter, Luke Shaw an easy ride in the battle for the full-back berth.

The former Feyenoord ace was a real outlet down the left flank as he notably completed three of his four dribbles and enjoyed an 87% pass accuracy rate from his 81 touches, having also won three fouls for his side to help relieve the pressure.

The 5 foot 7 "pitbull" – as previously described by ex-Netherlands boss Louis van Gaal – was a typically tenacious and relentless presence defensively as he won an impressive eight ground duels on the night.

While it was a far from perfect display, as the 23-year-old also lost possession on 11 occasions, Malacia did prove that he is a more than capable understudy for Shaw moving forward, with the left-back role seemingly one area that Ten Hag can comfortably rotate without seeing a drop off in quality.

Such competition is no doubt healthy amid what has been and will continue to be a hectic and breathless season for the resurgent outfit.

How fitting that India’s one-day triumph came exactly two months after the third day of the acrimonious Sydney Test, the eruption from where the series never recovered

Siddhartha Vaidyanathan05-Mar-2008

Just moments after what was arguably his finest hour, Mahendra Singh Dhoni made a poignant and deeply symbolic gesture. “?” (Who’s the youngest?) he asked when the team assembled on the podium to pose with the CB Series trophy. Nothing could have summed up India’s triumph better, underpinning the value of the untried and untested. The sight of little Piyush Chawla, the youngest member, holding the trophy aloft captured the theme of the series.It marked the end of a highly-charged tour littered with controversy. How fitting that the one-day triumph came exactly two months after the third day of the acrimonious Sydney Test, the eruption whose effects were felt through the series. But the Indian team did in splendid manner, swinging in Perth, fighting in Adelaide and shattering expectations through the one-day series. Leaving aside the first Test and one-off Twenty20 – both in Melbourne – they were competitive in every match.The self-belief was evident through the tour. Dhoni grinned when asked about his side doing the unthinkable. “How higher would you take expectations? First tell me that.” Eight of the finalists hadn’t played a one-dayer in Australia before this trip and Manoj Tiwary was yet to debut. Here were a bunch of lambs ready for the slaughter.India rode on experience during the Test series. Batsmen had responded because they had been in similar positions before; bowlers had fought back because, in Anil Kumble’s words, “we’ve played enough cricket to know that a Test match can change very quickly”.The one-day series squad was picked amid controversy. Rohit Sharma and Robin Uthappa were included despite doing very little in the domestic circuit. Sourav Ganguly was jettisoned. Rahul Dravid was ignored. And a couple of selectors let it be known privately that it was a team picked at Dhoni’s behest.India don’t rebuild too well, partly because teams haven’t been granted enough latitude through the demanding phases. Youngsters have often been thrown in the deep, only for poor results to mess up the successions plan.Greg Chappell’s plan to put together a young side backfired when the losses piled up. Ditto in 1999, when a few greenhorns were tried in Australia, only to have their careers derailed. Youngsters fresh from domestic cricket have often found the transition too rough. A string of demoralising defeats – like in South Africa late in 2006 – would have blurred the selectors’ vision.Where would the runs come from? Who had the technique to counter the swinging ball? Who could guide a chase? Didn’t this side have too many chinks? What this side did have, though, was balance. Often they played five bowlers, a luxury that often tilts the way teams play. For the last few years, India’s one-day side has relied on an in-form Irfan Pathan, not so much for what he contributes but the options that open up with him in the side.Agility on the field helped. No way would India have competed in the giant Australian arenas with a sluggish side. Suresh Raina and Dinesh Karthik didn’t get a game but the energy levels perked up when they were on as substitutes. Tiwary made a couple of fine saves in the final and Chawla held his nerve to pouch a smart catch in the dying stages.The fielders backed up what was a sustained bowling effort. An outstanding strike bowler (Ishant Sharma) was complemented by a duo who stuck to the basics (Pathan and Harbhajan Singh). Praveen Kumar and Chawla held their nerve in the final while Sreesanth and Munaf Patel did their bit when called upon. They swung it in daylight and swung it more under floodlights. They were up against a wobbly top order, with Australia’s batsmen not at the peak of their confidence, but the Indian bowlers ensured that they stayed there.

The batsmen didn’t shine as bright – and it needed the mastery of Sachin Tendulkar to carry them through the finals – but the signs were promising. Every one of the batting line-up showed the willingness to change his game. Rohit carved out responsible fifties in the league phase before charging along in the first final; Uthappa blitzed a fifty in Sydney before patiently laying a platform in the final.Gautam Gambhir showed he could rip upper-cuts with the mightiest of biffs and charged spinners ferociously. Importantly he backed himself when under the hammer. Don’t forget Pathan’s cameos, both in the top and lower order.More than anything don’t forget Dhoni. He’s copped the blame for backing players – picking Tiwary on a ‘gut’ feel, sticking to Yuvraj despite the lean patch, throwing newcomers in the deep end – but struck gold. After going down to Australia in Adelaide he insisted that Yuvraj would play every match; a match-winning 76 was to justify his faith two days later.Within six months of being handed captaincy Dhoni has won the World Twenty20, beaten Pakistan and claimed the CB Series. He’s injected a sense of fearlessness and backed youngsters all the way. Eight years ago, from the rubble of the match-fixing scandal, another Indian captain began his tenure similarly. It was hailed as a new dawn. What an irony that Ganguly’s one-day career is all but over with Dhoni’s side beginning a mouth-watering new chapter.

Josh Sargent has explained why he is full of goals again, with the United States international hitting a serious purple patch at Norwich City.

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• American frontman brimming with confidence
• Fully recovered from early-season injury
• Has reached double figures for goals scored

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The USMNT star bagged a brace in the Canaries’ 4-1 victory over Cardiff, and has now netted in four successive games. Sargent, who sat out 20 matches early in the 2023-24 season due to injury, has reached double figures for the campaign – despite only playing the full 90 minutes on two occasions.

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  WHAT SARGENT SAID

  Confidence is flowing through the 23-year-old frontman, with Sargent telling reporters of the simple explanation for his return to form: “It definitely helps when you are playing in your natural position. I've played it my whole life growing up, and I was talking about it with my agents the other day; this is the first season since I became a pro, where I started at the nine and played the whole season there. What do you know – I'm actually doing pretty well. I hope I can continue to score goals and help the team as much as possible. I'm doing the best I can – I have to give a lot of props to the guys. They are helping me out because you can't score goals alone. Hopefully, we continue to play the best possible football and put me in the best possible situations to score goals.”

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Sargent added on finding his shooting boots, with only three more efforts required in order to match his personal-best goal return from 2022-23: “I could have had four if I was sharp but I'm obviously feeling very confident at the moment and very good. I'm very happy with all the goals but even happier that the team is firing on all cylinders. Everyone is getting the best out of each other right now, and you can tell in the performances. Everyone is playing really good football, and I'm not sure you can really criticise anyone at the moment, so we have to keep it up.”

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  WHAT NEXT FOR SARGENT?

  Another win for Norwich has lifted them up to seventh in the Championship table. They are level on points with Coventry City, who occupy the final play-off spot as things stand, with Sargent and Co looking to push themselves into the Premier League promotion picture.

Ghana were effectively knocked out of AFCON 2023 after they squandered a two-goal lead in stoppage time against Mozambique on Monday.

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Ghana on verge of AFCON exitSquandered two-goal leadConceded twice in stoppage timeTELL ME MORE

It took Ghana star Jordan Ayew just 15 minutes to break the deadlock from the penalty spot after Mozambique full-back Infren Nanani brought down Joseph Paintsil inside the box. Despite an early opening goal from the Black Stars the first half was an evenly contested encounter.

The Mambas started the second half in the ascendancy as they looked desperate for an equaliser. They came close to restoring parity in the game within five minutes from kick-off, as Bruno Langa attempted a shot from inside the box. However, Ghana goalkeeper Richard Ofori did well to deny him from scoring.

Disaster struck in the 67th minute when Mohammed Kudus' goal-bound shot hit Reinildo Mandava's outstretched hand inside the box, resulting in a second penalty for the Black Stars. The Crystal Palace attacker once again took the spot-kick and doubled his team's lead.

With mere minutes remaining and with Ghana seemingly having sealed all three points, Andre Ayew accidentally handled the ball inside the box to give Mozambique an opening. From the resulting penalty, Geny Catamo pulled one back in the 91st minute.

Then, three minutes later, Reinildo made amends for his earlier mistake as he headed Shaquille Momad Nangy's corner into the goal to complete a dramatic capitulation for Chris Hughton's side. They effectively exit the tournament with two points from three games and minus one goal difference, but await the fate of other third-placed sides to have that confirmed.

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Crystal Palace star Jordan Ayewshowed great composure when taking the spot-kicks as his brace almost booked a knockout berth for his side – and deserved to do so. Ironically, it was his older brother Andre who helped Mozambique stage a come back after he accidentally handled the ball inside the penalty box in the injury time, giving them a way back into the matchup.

THE BIG LOSER

Ghana goalkeeper Richard Ofori committed the terrible mistake of conceding a late corner which resulted in the equalising goal. Under no pressure and with the ball harmlessly bouncing out for a goal kickfrom Mandava's shot, he tried to parry but instead fumbled the ball on for the fateful corner. Granted, Ghana's defending of the set piece which saw Mozambique equalise was less than satisfactory, but it could have been avoided altogether were it not for Ofori's attempted intervention.

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Getty ImagesWHAT COMES NEXT?

Despite a spirited performance on Monday, Mozambique's AFCON journey effectively came to an end as they bowed out of the competition finishing last in their group. Ghana, on the other hand, finished third in their group and are staring at an early exit from the tournament, barring a minor miracle from other groups.

Glasgow Rangers head coach Michael Beale recently hinted that the club could go back into the market to add another forward to the squad before the end of the summer transfer window.

Who have Rangers signed this summer?

The Gers have already brought nine new faces to Ibrox to bolster the manager's options across the park and have added three players to his attacking arsenal.

Cyriel Dessers, Sam Lammers, and Danilo have arrived to provide a goal threat at the top end of the pitch, whilst Abdallah Sima, Kieran Dowell, Jose Cifuentes, Dujon Sterling, Leon Balogun, and Jack Butland have also come through the door.

Read the latest Rangers transfer news HERE…

However, the Light Blues boss has suggested that he is still short of a replacement for Ryan Kent, who left on a free transfer to join Fenerbahce this summer, and that something may or may not happen in that department before next month's deadline.

Who could replace Ryan Kent at Ibrox?

Beale could finally replace the one-time Liverpool prospect by completing a swoop to sign Jack Clarke from Sunderland, who has been linked with a move to Ibrox in recent months.

The 5 foot 11 sensation, who was once lauded as "effortless" by former Premier League forward Noel Whelan, enjoyed a phenomenal campaign with the Black Cats last term and could be a fantastic addition for the Gers if they are able to secure his signature.

He is a right-footed left winger, like Kent, who has proven himself to be capable of producing goals and assists at an impressive rate, at least within the second tier of English football.

During the 2022/23 season, Clarke racked up nine goals and 11 assists for Sunderland as the exciting speedster showcased his attacking quality on a regular basis from the flank.

Meanwhile, no Rangers played produced more than nine assists in the Scottish Premiership last term and no forward managed more than eight.

This means that the ex-Tottenham Hotspur gem could be an outstanding creator for the Light Blues with his ability to unlock opposition defences if he can translate his form over to football in Scotland.

Kent only found the back of the net three times in 29 league outings and that came after he scored two in 26 matches throughout the 2021/22 campaign. This shows that the 26-year-old wizard rarely provided a significant goal threat for Rangers on the wing.

Whereas, Clarke's nine-goal haul for Sunderland indicates that the talented Englishman has the potential to be a reliable scoring option for Beale, particularly when you consider that no current Gers winger scored more than six league goals last season.

The 22-year-old phenom also has the ability to drive his team up the pitch in the same way that Kent did for Rangers. He completed two dribbles per match for the Black Cats last term, whilst the now-Fenerbahce star managed 1.9 per game for Rangers – the joint-most within the squad.

These statistics suggest that Clarke has the potential to come in as a dream replacement for Kent and a possible upgrade on the former Liverpool man due to his knack for scoring goals as well as creating them.

Manchester City are now considering a move for Bayer Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz to replace Riyad Mahrez, with Pep Guardiola believed to be a huge fan of the winger, according to a recent report from Football Transfers.

What's the latest Man City transfer news?

With Riyad Mahrez recently leaving to join Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli, Guardiola is tasked with bringing in a replacement, and there have now been reports that a move for Michael Olise is a real possibility.

Although Chelsea have made an approach for Olise, a move to the Etihad Stadium is now believed to be "very probable", with the winger seemingly emerging as a key target to fill the void left in the squad after Mahrez's departure.

However, the Sky Blues do have some other players in mind, with transfer expert Fabrizio Romano recently confirming that Rennes winger Jeremy Doku is "on the list" of targets to replace Mahrez.

Wirtz has also been a long-term target for the Citizens, with 90min claiming they had reignited their interest back in March, and according to a report from Football Transfers, they could now step up their pursuit of the Bayer Leverkusen winger.

The German is being eyed as an heir to Mahrez, with Guardiola said to be a huge admirer of his technical ability and potential.

Negotiating a deal for the 20-year-old may prove to be tricky, however, as Bayer Leverkusen have already sold Moussa Diaby during this transfer window, while Edmond Tapsoba is potentially heading to Tottenham.

With the futures of Jonathan Tah and Jeremie Frimpong also uncertain, the price for the youngster may be significantly inflated, but the Bundesliga club are willing to part with him for the right price.

One potential boost for City is that the player himself is open to a move, which could make negotiating personal terms much easier should a suitable fee be agreed with Leverkusen.

How good is Florian Wirtz?

There are indications the Germany international could be capable of going right to the very top, with football talent scout Jacek Kulig hailing him as "one of the world's biggest talents", in light of the impact he made after returning from injury last season.

The Pulheim-born youngster made a significant contribution for Leverkusen after showing the resilience to come back from a long-term lay-off, registering four goals and eight assists for the German side in all competitions.

Given that he has averaged 58.61 passes per 90 in the past year, placing him in the 96th percentile compared to his positional peers, the starlet could be a perfect fit for a Guardiola system, and he is already showing signs he could surpass Mahrez.

The attacker is a far better dribbler of the ball than his potential predecessor, placing in the 99th percentile for successful take-ons, with the Algeria international ranking in the 35th, while he has also averaged more shot-creating actions.

Wirtz has exhibited that he is more than capable of being a fantastic long-term replacement for Mahrez, and it is exciting news that Man City are in the race for his signature.

Liverpool have now received a boost in their pursuit of Nicolo Barella, with it being reported that Inter Milan are now willing to sell him if they receive a bid worth over €80m (£69m), according to reports from Italy.

What's the latest Liverpool transfer news?

Fabinho has recently followed Jordan Henderson out the exit door, putting pen to paper on a three-year deal with Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad, meaning there is now a pressing need for Jurgen Klopp to bring in new reinforcements in central midfield.

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has now confirmed that Southampton's Romeo Lavia is Klopp's "priority" target in midfield, with talks currently ongoing, however the deal is not straightforward, with the Saints looking to hold out for a package worth £50m.

Fluminense midfielder Andre also remains an option for the Reds, with the Brazilian club said to be holding out for a fee of €25m (£21m), while they have made contact over Eintracht Frankfurt star Jesper Lindstrom, who is also being targeted by Arsenal.

According to recent reports from Italy (via Sport Witness), Liverpool have also been handed a boost in their pursuit of Barella, as Inter would now consider selling the midfielder, if they were to receive an offer worth over €80m (£69m).

The Serie A side are now closing in on a deal for Udinese's Lazar Samardzic, which means they may no longer consider the Italian non-transferrable, in what would come as a real boost to his potential suitors.

In the Premier League, the Reds "in particular" are keen to sign the 26-year-old, with their interest mainly being driven by Klopp, who is believed to be a "great admirer", however Manchester City are also in the mix for his signature.

Read the latest Liverpool transfer news HERE…

How good is Nicolo Barella?

It is clear to see why Klopp is such a huge fan of the Italy international, as he is a real threat going forward, averaging 0.22 non-penalty goals per 90 over the course of the past year, which places him in the 92nd percentile compared to his positional peers.

The central midfielder averaged a 6.94 WhoScored match rating in the Serie A last season, the fourth-highest in the Inter squad, amassing a total of six goals and six assists, the joint-third highest number of goal contributions of any Inter player.

With an average of 1.6 key passes per game, the Cagliari-born maestro is clearly a very creative player, however he is also happy to pitch in with the defensive side of the game when needed, as indicated by the fact he averaged 1.4 tackles during that time period.

Lauded as "fantastic" by Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher, the Inter Milan star has proven he could be a quality addition to Klopp's squad, however he is not a like-for-like replacement for Fabinho or Henderson, given that his main qualities are on the front foot.

As such, it is important the Reds get a deal for Lavia over the line first, but they should undoubtedly reignite their interest in Barella, should Inter Milan make it clear they are willing to sell him this summer.

Leeds United target Charlie Taylor is a 'dependable' player that wouldn't be a risky signing for the Whites this summer amid speculation linking him with a move to Elland Road, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

What's the latest transfer news involving Charlie Taylor?

According to journalist Phil Hay of The Athletic, Taylor is a target for Leeds United and could be brought in as a replacement for Junior Firpo this summer.

Hay wrote: "Defensively, Leeds require a left-back having decided to listen to enquiries for Junior Firpo. They have been repeatedly linked with Ryan Manning, who is on a free transfer after parting company with Swansea City, and they are pondering bidding for Burnley’s Charlie Taylor, the defender who came through the academy at Elland Road".

Of course, Taylor was at Leeds United between 2011 and 2017, amassing 104 appearances for the Whites in all competitions and notching three goals and and 13 assists, as per Transfermarkt.

Nevertheless, the £25k-a-week ace left a bitter taste in the mouth of the Leeds United support when he turned down a new contract at the club to head to Burnley in 2017, as per Sky Sports.

The 29-year-old was berated by then-Leeds United boss Garry Monk just before he left to join Burnley and reportedly refused to play in the last match of their 2016/17 campaign against Wigan Athletic, as the former Whites manager revealed: "There's no sugar-coating this – Charlie refused to play the game."

Now he could be set for a dramatic return to his former employers in a deal that would divide the support of the Elland Road side down the middle.

Speaking to Football FanCast, transfer insider Jones believes that Taylor would be a 'dependable' asset for Leeds United should he indeed make a comeback this summer.

Jones told FFC: "Certainly the new manager Farke will be helped by a deal like this and we've seen what Charlie Taylor's capable of, he's a very dependable player. That's the sort of thing that Leeds need next season, they don't want to take any risks and they don't want anyone letting them down. Charlie Taylor wouldn't do that."

Would Charlie Taylor be a good signing for Leeds United?

As always, the Sky Bet Championship is an extremely difficult division to navigate and having players like Taylor around with plenty of previous experience can prove to be pivotal to a side like Leeds United's promotion hopes.

Last term, the York-born left-back was almost ever present for Burnley, featuring 41 times in all competitions and producing two assists as the Clarets strolled to a return to the Premier League, as per Transfermarkt.

Defensively, Taylor stood up to the challenge for Vincent Kompany's side in 2022/23 and completed around 1.8 clearances per match in the English second tier, according to WhoScored.

In the eight league competitions ranked below Europe's top five divisions, Taylor has excelled in terms of passes attempted, getting through around 76.28 per 90 minutes across the last 365 days, putting him in the third percentile for this metric, as shown on FBRef.

Despite the obvious negativity that may emerge from some quarters if he was to rejoin the club, there is no doubt Taylor is an experienced performer that could help make Leeds United a solid outfit in 2023/24.

The summer transfer window is already in full swing, although transfer activity has been rather muted at Everton so far, with the Merseyside outfit yet to bring in any new faces with the new season just over a month away.

With the Toffees having also previously made no new signings in January amid their bid for survival, the need for further depth and quality is seemingly now even greater, with Sean Dyche no doubt in need of the appropiate tools to help avoid another relegation scrap in 2023/24.

Despite the rather quiet nature of the club's window so far, one name that has been mentioned is Sheffield United star, lliman Ndiaye, with Fabrizio Romano naming the Goodison outfit as one of the clubs who are interested in signing the 23-year-old playmaker.

This follows claims made by Sky Sports journalist Rob Dorsett back in January which suggested that Dyche and co had lodged a £25m bid to sign the Senegalese international on deadline day, with the player facing an uncertain future at Bramall Lane having now entered the final year of his contract.

Fresh form having propelled the Blades to promotion – after scoring 14 goals and laying on 11 assists in 46 Championship outings last term – Ndiaye could be the man to help bolster Dyche's attacking ranks this summer, following in the footsteps of the likes of Phil Jagielka and Dominic Calvert-Lewin in arriving on Merseyside from the Yorkshire side.

Due to his likeness to the latter man as a figure who typically operates through the middle – or in a number ten berth – the hope will be that Ndiaye can prove as much of a success as Calvert-Lewin has been in recent years.

How much did Everton pay for Calvert-Lewin?

The England international was snapped up from the Blades on a bargain £1.5m deal back in the summer of 2016, having spent time on loan at Stalybridge Celtic and Northampton Town prior to that in his teenage years.

While injury has dogged the 26-year-old of late – having notably made just 17 league appearances last season – the 6 foot 2 striker has blossomed into the Toffees' main man in attack, having now scored 60 goals in 209 games in all competitions over the past seven years.

That includes a particularly fruitful spell during Carlo Ancelotti's time at the helm, with Calvert-Lewin bagging 13 league goals in the 2019/20 season, before plundering 16 top-flight goals in the following campaign.

Lauded as a "top striker" by Ancelotti, the Sheffield-born machine has proven to be a truly astute capture since joining from his local side, with the hope being that Everton can replicate that masterclass with the addition of another exciting forward in the form of Ndiaye.

The latter man has earned rave reviews as a result of his standout form in the second tier in recent times, with Sheffield United coach Jack Lester stating that the France-born sensation "does things you can't coach" such is his "natural" talent, with the 5 foot 11 gem also seemingly rather "fearless" when taking to the field.

That fearlessness could ensure that the fleet-footed ace is not overawed by the step up to life in the top flight, with the chance there for him to replicate Calvert-Lewin's success if he is to link up with Dyche and co this summer.

Top order a concern for Pakistan as they eye their first-ever Test series win in the Caribbean

The Preview by Danyal Rasool29-Apr-2017Match facts
April 30, 2017
Start time 10:00 local (14:00 GMT)Misbah-ul-Haq could add yet another chapter in his captaincy book in Bridgetown•AFPBig pictureNow that the buzz around Younis Khan’s 10,000th run is over, the focus shifts to the dreary business of the Test series unfolding around it. Weather delays and uninspiringly sedate batting at times from both sides give the first Test a dreary, old-fashioned feel. However, there were absorbing periods that left you wanting more, particularly in the last session of the fourth day, when Yasir Shah beat West Indies into submission just as the Test threatened to meander to a forgettable draw.The build-up to the second Test is not so different to the first, particularly for the West Indies, who must go back to the drawing board. It’s all very well working out the opposition’s weaknesses and setting elaborate plans, but all that is unlikely to bear fruit when you then go on to lose five wickets in the first 30 overs of the game, and drop straightforward catches, like they did in Kingston.From Pakistan’s point of view, it was as efficient a Test as they could have hoped for. They were on top right from the start. Mohammad Amir turned in his best performance since his return to cricket, Yasir did what world class second-innings spinners need to do, and their middle order piled on the runs. Their only concerns might centre around the seemingly intractable puzzle of an endlessly misfiring top order, a concern only appeased by the fact that it was well hidden in Jamaica.Form guideWest Indies LWLLL (last five completed matches, most recent first)
Pakistan WLLLLIn the spotlightIn a depleted side that suffers from a paucity of genuine quality, West Indies appear to have found, in Shannon Gabriel, the man who comes closest to matching that description. He was the man his captained turned to every time it looked like the West Indies were out of ideas, with the 29-year old providing the breakthrough – or at least creating chances – more often than not. His aggression cost him half his match fee in Kingston, but that sort of passion might be appreciated by the West Indies fans. On a Barbados pitch that has traditionally offered more pace and bounce than the Sabina Park surface, Gabriel is perhaps the likeliest to make the sort of telling contribution that eluded his side last game.Ahmed Shehzad, not for the first time, finds his Test career at a precipitous stage. It is a pattern that has regularly repeated itself: inconsistency at the international level, rich form domestically, rinse, repeat. Apart from a pair of fifties, Shehzad has struggled to get going since his return to the highest level during the limited-overs leg of this tour. With Pakistan’s selectors showing impatience at the top order – Kamran Akmal has already been dropped from the Champions Trophy squad – Shehzad must be feeling the pressure of playing for his place again. Whether that stifles him or spurs him on may well have a significant outcome on the second Test.Team newsWest Indies’ squad is unchanged from the one that fell to a seven-wicket defeat in Kingston. Eyebrows were raised when Shimron Hetmyer and Vishaul Singh were both selected to make their debut in a side that already lacks experience, and one of them could make way for Jermaine Blackwood.West Indies (possible): 1 Kieran Powell, 2 Kraigg Brathwaite, 3 Jermaine Blackwood, 4 Shai Hope (wk), 5 Roston Chase, 6 Vishaul Singh/Shimron Hetmyer, 7 Shane Dowrich, 8 Jason Holder (capt), 9 Devendra Bishoo, 10 Alzarri Joseph, 11 Shannon GabrielPakistan could stick to the side that won the first Test, even though Misbah-ul-Haq did say they would consider the possibility of playing two spinners. That would also give them a fifth bowling option, so necessary in an attack that relies on three fast bowlers.Pakistan (possible): 1 Azhar Ali, 2 Ahmed Shehzad, 3 Babar Azam, 4 Younis Khan, 5 Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), 6 Asad Shafiq, 7 Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), 8 Mohammad Abbas, 9 Mohammad Amir, 10 Wahab Riaz, 11 Yasir ShahPitch and conditionsThe forecast for the second Test is better than the it was in Kingston, even though rain is expected on the fourth and fifth days. The surface in Bridgetown is generally hard and fast, and if it is overcast, the toss could assume great importance. Jason Holder, the West Indies captain, felt the pitch looked “unusually” dry on the eve of the Test, so spin could play a fairly significant role as the match goes on.Stats and trivia If Pakistan win this Test, it will mark their first ever Test series win in the Caribbean. The first Test marked the sixth time two Pakistan bowlers took six or more wickets in a Test. The last time this happened was in 2002. Quotes”It’s interesting. I’ve been out there a few times since I’ve been back here, and it looks pretty dry – unusually so. Normally you would expect a little bit more in terms of the surface but it looks quite dry, it’ll be interesting to see if it’ll last all five days or if it deteriorates quickly. Not quite sure, so it’s just a matter for us, especially, to make use of our first innings when we bat.”