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Fulham’s director of football Tony Khan has revealed that winger Fabio Carvalho has agreed a deal to join Liverpool during the upcoming transfer window, despite the final game of the season against Sheffield United still being left to play.

The Lowdown: Strong links to Merseyside

The 19-year-old’s current contract with the Cottagers is set to expire at the end of the season, making him a free agent to any potential suitors interested in securing his services.

The Portugal U21 ace has been heavily linked with a move to Anfield this summer, after a deal that was initially in place for the Reds to sign Carvalho in January fell through on deadline day.

Even though the forward has suggested that he is yet to make up his mind on where he will be playing his football next campaign, the Fulham chief appears to have confirmed that his star man will be departing ahead of this weekend’s clash at Sheffield United.

The Latest: Khan confirms departure

When asked for an update on the youngster’s future during an interview with The Athletic (via The Mirror), Khan said:

“I really like Fabio. He’s a player we have always rated, coming out of the academy, and we would have loved to have kept him. But we have made a deal that is best for the club and, since that agreement, it’s worked out wonderfully because he has been such a valuable part of the promotion.

“Marco has done a great job with him. They have a great relationship and Fabio has been tremendous for us. He’s a huge part of the squad and it’s a massive loss but, because we have done good business, we can do good business to make sure we are strong in that position.”

The Verdict: A huge loss

Carvalho has had an outstanding term with the west London outfit, where he has scored 11 goals and provided eight assists in just 37 outings across all competitions, as per Transfermarkt, so it’s no shock that his impressive performances have caught the eye of Jurgen Klopp’s side.

Liverpool will be getting an absolute bargain, but it will obviously come as a huge loss to Fulham, who were surely keen to retain him based on Khan’s comments, having just recently gained promotion back to the top-flight themselves.

Described as being an “exciting talent” by Sky Sports pundit Kevin Phillips, Marco Silva and co. will no doubt be gutted not to have his end product when battling against elite competition week in week out next season, and perhaps he can sign off in style with a goal against the Blades this weekend.

The 2010 Friends Provident t20 finalists, winners Hampshire and runners-up Somerset, have accepted invitations to play in the Caribbean T20 which will be staged during January

Andrew McGlashan16-Nov-2010

The 2010 Friends Provident t20 finalists, winners Hampshire and runners-up Somerset, have accepted invitations to play in the Caribbean T20 which will be staged during January.It will provide an element of compensation for missing out on the Champions League Twenty20 due to the tournament, which was held in South Africa in September, clashing with the end of the county season. Both counties will earn a participation fee and the WICB will cover their costs although the possible earnings won’t match the CLT20 which Somerset were part of in 2009.”It is beneficial to us, not on the scale of the Champions League unfortunately but it’s a meaningful competition,” Richard Gould, the Somerset chief executive, told ESPNcricinfo. “We’ll be rolling out as many of our big guns as possible. That means flying Peter Trego back from Australia where he’s playing club cricket and Nick Compton from Zimbabwe. I think we’ll have all our England players unless they are actually playing for the senior team.”If Craig Kieswetter misses out on England’s one-day squad for the series in Australia, which appears likely after he was dropped in favour of Steven Davies for the Pakistan contests, then he could be available while it can be another stage for Jos Buttler and James Hildreth. But, in order to avoid the debate that surrounds any Somerset overseas trip, Gould confirmed Marcus Trescothick won’t be travelling. “He’s not going, that’s decided,” he said.”It will be the second international tournament we have played in two years after the Champions League and we’ll be going out to do extremely well,” Gould added. “We knew something was in the air about seven or eight weeks ago and are delighted to be invited. We will take the competition very seriously.”We think it comes at a really good time for us. It is midway through the winter, our players are already back in pre-season training and this will give them something really meaningful to get their teeth into.”Rod Bransgrove, the Hampshire chairman, added: “The Caribbean T20 tournament is a great opportunity for the Hampshire squad to reconvene and play some high-quality cricket over the winter months. I’m sure it will be a very enjoyable fortnight for everyone involved.”The Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua, where English cricket’s most recent association was with the abandoned Test match in 2009, will host the qualifying round while the competition will then conclude in Barbados. The tournament runs from January 10 to 23.”The WICB is delighted to have again partnered with the ECB on this progressive initiative,” Ernest Hilare, the WICB chief executive, said. “The participation of the two top Friends Provident t20 teams in CT20 will certainly enhance the tournament and heighten the excitement. We look forward to keen contests between our Caribbean teams and Hampshire and Somerset and look forward to welcoming English fans to the fun and excitement of Caribbean style T20 cricket.”

Kevin Pietersen struck a timely half-century but the rest of England’s top order struggled against Western Australia in Perth

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Nov-2010
ScorecardKevin Pietersen spent valuable time in the middle but that wasn’t the case for many of his team-mates•Getty Images

Kevin Pietersen struck a timely half-century but the rest of England’s top order struggled against Western Australia in Perth and it needed Stuart Broad, following on from his three wickets, to form a counter-attacking stand with Graeme Swann to ensure they reached parity with the hosts. England’s attack then struggled to make breakthroughs as the Warriors closed on 1 for 109, a lead of 128, with Wes Robinson unbeaten on 46.England were in early trouble during the morning session as they slipped to 3 for 27 then, after Pietersen and Jonathan Trott added 61, they slumped to 7 for 117. The damage was done by the left-arm spinner Michael Beer, in just his third first-class match, and quick bowler Michael Hogan, but England’s lower order ensured against embarrassment as Broad and Swann clubbed a stand of 64 in six overs before Andrew Strauss declared 19 behind.The strength of England’s lower order could be a vital component to the Ashes series – as it was during the 2009 contest – but they won’t want to be bailing out the senior batsmen on a regular basis. Only Pietersen will be at all satisfied with his day’s work after striking nine boundaries in 58 to suggest that his form is returning after his struggles over the last 18 months.However, he was given a life on 25 when Luke Pomersbach couldn’t hold a tough chance at second slip and then chipped Beer just over mid-off as he attacked the spinner. His dismissal, caught in the gully as he drove at Hogan, was part of England’s middle-order wobble with Matt Prior (0) falling in the next over when he tamely drove Beer to short cover.The day had started poorly for England when Strauss edged a back-foot shot to the keeper and James Anderson, the nightwatchman, was brilliantly held at second slip by Pomersbach after a painful 40-ball stay. Trott (24) had settled in at his own pace but, having worked hard to form a platform, he edged Beer to the keeper trying to force through the off side.Paul Collingwood (4) was sharply snapped up by Marcus North in the gully, but Ian Bell started in positive fashion by launching Beer down the ground for six only to limply prod to slip for 21, which left England 8 for 159. After all the problems suffered by Australia in recent weeks, a batting collapse by the visitors won’t go unnoticed, especially against a weakened attack which lost Steve Magoffin, who limped off with a knee injury in his sixth over.Broad, whose first scoring shot went through the hands of first slip, and Swann responded with a flurry of boundaries – reminiscent of their merry slog at Headingley during the 2009 Ashes – with Broad reaching his fifty with a swept six off Beer. That shot led to the declaration and another chance for England’s bowlers.Second time around, though, there were no early scalps as Robinson and Liam Davis (43) added 77 for the first wicket. Steven Finn, who struggled in the first innings, eventually broke through when Davis was trapped lbw. That was England’s only success as Robinson followed his opening-day 62 with another stubborn display and it’s in Western Australia’s hands as to how much of a second innings they want to give the visitors.

Leeds United assistant manager Franz Schiemer could depart Elland Road and join the Austria national team, with a decision expected on Friday afternoon.

The Lowdown: Schiemer a key backroom member

Jesse Marsch has enjoyed an impressive coaching career to date, excelling at RB Salzburg, in particular, before taking the Leeds job earlier this year.

While the American was clearly the main influence at former clubs, Schiemer was a trusty deputy, implementing his own methods and playing his part in the team’s success.

The 36-year-old has now continued working alongside Marsch at Leeds, joining the Whites in March, but it appears as though his departure from the Premier League could now be close.

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The Latest: Austrian job beckoning?

According to Die Presse [via Sport Witness], Schiemer has held talks over becoming Austria’s new assistant manager, with as many as 20 candidates spoken to.

Austrian FA sporting director Peter Schottel is believed to have travelled to England to speak to the Leeds man personally, with the report stating a decision will be made before the weekend:

“The course for the Austrian national team will be set this afternoon at the Courtyard by Marriott Vienna Prater. The OFB holds its executive committee meeting there. The question to be clarified is: Who should head the national team as team boss in the future?”

Ralf Rangnick has since been confirmed as the manager, so we will surely find out in the coming hours who his coaching staff are, once this meeting concludes.

That means, if Schiemer is indeed their man, he could be signed on the dotted line before Leeds take on Manchester City on Saturday evening, a distraction the squad definitely don’t need.

[freshpress-quiz id=“383507″]

The Verdict: Potential big loss for Marsch

Schiemer has been a hugely effective member of Marsch’s backroom team for several years now, as mentioned, so this could be a big blow to the Leeds boss.

A manager is often only as good as those around him, as even the world’s best coaches such as Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola attest to, so it is vital that Marsch’s assistant is sufficiently replaced if he leaves – Klopp even claimed this week his decision to stay at Liverpool was only possible because his right-hand man, Pepijn Lijnders, agreed to stay also.

If this move does happen in the coming days, it would be a huge shame not to have seen Schiemer have longer to make an impact, having been hailed as ‘very, very important’ by Marsch himself.

In other news, Fabrizio Romano has dropped a Leeds transfer claim. Read more here.

Sunderland have now been dealt a fresh blow before they play Cambridge United at home in League One on Saturday afternoon.

The Lowdown: Big game

The Stadium of Light faithful currently find themselves out of the play-off places, and so need a result against Cambridge to get themselves back in contention.

With title-chasing Rotherham United to come on Tuesday night, this is a big game that they really need to get all three points from.

The Latest: Dajaku illness

Speaking in his pre-game press conference ahead of the match, Alex Neil has revealed (via The Chronicle) that Dajaku is still suffering with illness, and so will not be available for his team:

“Leon is still ill, so he won’t be available.”

The Verdict: Blow

It is certainly a blow for the Wearside club that they will be without Dajaku once more.

The Union Berlin loanee has played more often than not this season, and has contributed four goals and four assists in League One so far (Transfermarkt).

Dajaku has also picked up one man-of-the-match award, and ranks highly among his teammates in terms of average shots, dribbles and crosses per game (WhoScored).

Nonetheless, his creativity and directness would have been useful in helping unlock the door against what could be a stubborn Cambridge side away at the Stadium of Light.

In other news, find out who SAFC’s three worst performers were against Shrewsbury Town here!

MatériaMais Notícias

A Operação Cartão Vermelho, ação da Polícia Federal que investiga irregularidades relativas a gestão da Arena Fonte Nova, fez mais uma vítima nesta segunda-feira. Jaques Wagner, secretário de Desenvolvimento Econômico do Estado da Bahia e ex-governador do estado, teve seu apartamento, localizado no Corredor da Vitória, bairro nobre de Salvador, investigado.

A Polícia Federal fez uma busca em seu apartamento nesta manhã, por volta das 08h25 e deixaram o condomínio Victória Tower com uma mochila e um malote. Pablo Domingues, advogado de Wagner, estava no local e disse, à reportagem da TV Bahia, que ficou surpreendido com a operação e que está apurando a situação. A PF já cumpriu sete mandados de busca e apreensão.

A obra do estádio, de acordo com laudo da Polícia Federal, teve mais de R$ 450 milhões superfaturados. A maior parte desse dinheiro foi desviado para pagamento de propinas e financiamento de campanhas eleitorais. Em 2016, o Pleno de Tribunal de Contas do Estado da Bahia (TCE/BA) já havia considerado ilegal o contrato estabelecido para a reconstrução do estádio, alegando gastos excedentes nos custos das obras.

A Operação Cartão Vermelho investiga irregularidades na contratação dos serviços de demolição, administração e reconstrução da Arena Fonte Nova. A investigação aponta fraude em licitação, superfaturamento, desvio de verbas públicas, corrupção e lavagem de dinheiro. Além de parcerias feitas para beneficiar o consórcio Fonte Nova Participações (FNP), que tem em seu núcleo formador as empresas Odebrecht e OAS. Ambas envolvidas em escândalos de corrupção.

O Tribunal Regional Federal da 1ª Região tem expedidos mandados que tem como objetivo viabilizar a localização e apreensão de provas relativas a pagamento de propina, desvio nas contratações públicas e lavagem de dinheiro. Os mandados são destinados a empresas, órgãos públicos e endereços residenciais, como no caso de Jaques Wagner.

A Arena Fonte Nova foi reinaugurada no dia 7 de abril de 2013, após reconstrução para a Copa do Mundo. Em 2010, foi implodida depois de ficar interditada por três anos, após a tragédia, em 2007, que matou sete torcedores, quando parte da arquibancada desabou durante jogo entre Bahia e Vila Nova, pela série C do Campeonato Brasileiro.

A round-up of the action from the third day of the ICC Women’s Cricket Challenge where West Indies, South Africa and Pakistan all recorded victories

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Oct-2010
ScorecardStafanie Taylor scored her third straight half-century•International Cricket Council

Anisa Mohammed took four wickets and Stafanie Taylor starred with the bat yet again, as West Indies turned in their third straight dominating performance in the ICC Women’s Cricket Challenge, cruising to a nine-wicket win over Sri Lanka at the North-West University No.1 ground in Potchefstroom.Sri Lanka chose to bat and were immediately in trouble when Hiruka Fernando was run out without scoring off the second ball of the innings. Wickets fell at frequent intervals after that, with Mohammed taking three of the next four to leave Sri Lanka reeling at 89 for 5. It was soon 99 for 8, but Dilani Surangika and Sripali Weerakkody added 65 to push Sri Lanka’s total past 150. Surangika’s unbeaten 29 took 69 deliveries, illustrating the problems the West Indies bowlers posed to Sri Lanka.It was a different story when the West Indies batted. Taylor and Juliana Nero got off to a quick start, putting on 91 in 12 overs before Shashikala Siriwardene had Nero stumped for 52. Taylor was joined by West Indies captain Merissa Aguillera, and two shared a 75-run partnership to see West Indies home with 21.2 overs to spare. Taylor remained unbeaten on 68, her third fifty-plus score in a row. The win takes West Indies to the top of the points table, ahead of South Africa on net run-rate.
ScorecardSouth Africa made it three wins a row with a crushing eight-wicket defeat of Ireland at the Wiltrand Cricket Field in Potchefstroom. Ireland elected to bat but struggled to score quickly from the off. Opener Cecelia Joyce crawled to 19 off 64 balls, while fellow opener Clare made 22 from 40. Laura Delany topscored with 40 not out, but also struggled to up the tempo, finishing with a strike-rate of 48.19.Medium pacer Marcia Letsoalo was the strangler-in-chief, giving away just 12 runs off her 10, overs while picking up a wicket.South Africa made quick work of the small target, despite losing both openers early. Cri-zelda Brits and Mignon du Preez came together with the score at 37 for 2, and both of them went on to make half-centuries in a 126-run unbroken partnership as South Africa reached their target in the 35th over. Brits’ 60 came off 64 balls, and contained four fours, while du Preez made 66 off 86 balls, with seven fours.
ScorecardLegspinner Sana Mir led Pakistan to a comfortable 45-run win over Netherlands at the North-West University No.2 ground in Potchefstroom. Mir took five wickets as the Netherlands were bowled out for 213 in 45 overs chasing 259.Pakistan got off to a decent start after choosing to bat, with Javeria Khan and Marina Iqbal putting on 54 for the first-wicket, before Iqbal was bowled by allrounder Esther Lanser. Nain Abidi fell to Lanser as well soon afterwards, but Bismar Mahroof anchored the innings with a patient 52 and the last-wicket pair of Kanwal Naz and debutant Shurmaila Qureshi threw their bats around at the end, plundering 22 off the last two overs, to take Pakistan past 250. Lanser was the pick of the bowlers, with 2 for 22 from her 10 overs.Netherlands lost Violet Wattenburg early, but Lanser and captain Helmien Rambaldo added 118 for the second-wicket to put Netherlands in a strong position. Rambaldo was trapped lbw by Nidi Dar, before Mir got into the act by having Lanser stumped for a career-high 75 from 116 balls, with nine fours. Lanser’s wicket sparked a collapse as the Netherlands slipped from 146 for 2 to 167 for 6, with Mir taking three of the wickets, including two in two balls.Mir added the wicket of Merijn Nijman to finish with 5 for 32 from her 10 overs, and Iqbal Asimavia chipped in with 2 for 53 from eight overs. The win moved Pakistan to third in the points table, behind West Indies and South Africa.

شهدت تدريبات الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي الزمالك التي أقيمت اليوم الأربعاء على ملعب عبد اللطيف أبورجيلة، مشاركة حسام عبد المجيد مدافع الأبيض.

ويستعد الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي الزمالك لمواجهة المصري البورسعيدي يوم ٢٦ نوفمبر الجاري، على ملعب استاد الجيش بمدينة برج العرب، في إطار مباريات دور الثمانية لبطولة كأس مصر.‏

ويأتي ذلك عقب عودة حسام عبد المجيد من المشاركة مع منتخب مصر الأولمبي في معسكر نوفمبر الجاري وخوض مواجهتين وديتين أمام منتخب المغرب.

وشارك حسام عبد المجيد مدافع الفريق في التدريبات الجماعية بصحبة زملائه بالإضافة إلى الفقرة الفنية استعدادا لمواجهة المصري.

كما انتظم حسام أشرف ومحمد طارق ثنائي الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي الزمالك، في التدريبات الجماعية التي أقيمت اليوم.

طالع | سامسون أكينيولا يصل القاهرة وينتظم في تدريبات الزمالك

يأتي ذلك عقب عودتهما من معسكر منتخب مصر الأولمبي الأخير خلال شهر نوفمبر الجاري، وبعد المشاركة مع فريق 2001 ببطولة الجمهورية للناشئين.

وأدى الثنائي حسام أشرف ومحمد طارق التدريبات الجماعية بشكل طبيعي بصحبة زملائهما بالفريق استعدادا لمواجهة المصري البورسعيدي المقبلة.

ووضع الجهاز الفني للفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي الزمالك، برنامجا تأهيليا خاصا للاعبين خلال مران اليوم.

وقام الجهاز الفني للفريق بتخفيف الحمل البدني للاعبين خلال مران اليوم في ظل اقتراب المواجهة المقبلة أمام المصري البورسعيدي في كأس مصر.

وخاض لاعبو الفريق تدريبات تأهيل متنوعة باستخدام بعض الأدوات التأهيلية المخصصة في فترة زمنية قصيرة.

وقاد هذه الفقرة أندريه فيليب سوزا مخطط الأحمال، وذلك تحت إشراف أسامة نبيه المدرب العام وأحمد عبد المقصود وروي أجواش المدربين المساعدين.

كما خاض لاعبو الفريق فقرة خاصة للتدريب على تسديد ركلات الجزاء، في نهاية مران اليوم، وشارك بها جميع لاعبي الفريق من خلال التسديد على حراس المرمى بالتبادل.

وحرص أسامة نبيه المدرب العام وأحمد عبد المقصود وروي أجواش المدربين المساعدين على الإشراف على هذه الفقرة ومتابعتها بكل دقه.

ومنح سوزا مخطط الأحمال تعليمات خاصة لنبيل عماد دونجا لاعب الوسط على هامش التدريبات.

وقام بالحديث مع دونجا ومنحه بعض التعليمات، عقب انتهاء اللاعب من أداء الحصة التأهيلية الموضوعة له لتجهيزه للمشاركة في التدريبات.

وخاض نبيل عماد دونجا حصة تأهيلية بالكرة على هامش مران اليوم ضمن المرحلة الأخيرة من البرنامج التأهيلي الموضوع له استعدادا للمشاركة في التدريبات الجماعية خلال الفترة المقبلة.

Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg has revealed Aston Villa have made contact over a deal for Borussia Monchengladbach defender Matthias Ginter.

The Lowdown: Ginter profiled

Ginter has been with Monchengladbach since 2017, making 177 appearances for his current employers.

The 28-year-old, who shares the same agent as Villa midfielder Jacob Ramsey, is out of contract at the end of June.

The World Cup winner can also turn out as a right-back or in a holding midfield role, and it looks as if Steven Gerrard is keen on Ginter’s services.

The Latest: Plettenberg’s post

Plettenberg took to Twitter on Monday evening to provide an update on Ginter’s future. He revealed that Gerrard wants the centre-back, with Villa officials contacting the player’s representatives.

“News Ginter: Gerrard wants him! Aston Villa officials have spoken to his management. But Ginter has not made a decision yet. He waits for other options.”

The Verdict: Shrewd move?

It looks as if Gerrard is going to be in need of multiple defensive reinforcements over the summer, with recent reports suggesting that both Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa could be made available for transfer. Should both depart, Villa would be left with just Calum Chambers and Kortney Hause as senior centre-back options.

A move for Ginter could be a shrewd one due to his international and Champions League experience, something that could help Gerrard as he looks to take Villa to the next level in his first full season in charge.

Who knows, a deal may also be fairly straightforward, should the player want to move to England, as his agency was in positive talks with Villa last year when Ramsey penned a new long-term deal at Villa Park.

In other news: Gerrard and Lange ready to accept PL giants’ bid for Villa star who’s ‘a joy to watch’. 

It was, unarguably, by any measure reasonable or unreasonable, the biggest win in the hitherto limping Lions franchise’s history, and Alviro Petersen knew it

Telford Vice10-Sep-2010There is plenty to ponder when a David like Alviro Petersen breathes the same rarefied air as the Goliath who is Sachin Tendulkar. And the Highveld air was indeed rare at the Wanderers in Johannesburg, where Petersen’s Lions played Tendulkar’s Mumbai in the Champions League Twenty 20 opener.Lo and behold, David’s dapper dazzlers stuck to the Biblical script by slaying Goliath’s giants by nine runs. Let the atheists among us quiver in disbelief: look in the Book. It was, unarguably, by any measure reasonable or unreasonable, the biggest win in the hitherto limping Lions franchise’s history, and Petersen knew it.”It’s a great start,” he said after the game. “It’s all we could ask for. We were underdogs, but we were a family out there. On paper, the Mumbai Indians are probably the better team. But we focused on what we had to do and our bowlers came through beautifully in the end.”Tendulkar did his bit with a sparkling 69, but it wasn’t enough on the night. Not that Petersen was about to admit that the Mumbai skipper was an unusually large thorn in the Lions’ paws. “Whether we play against Sachin Tendulkar or just an ordinary guy, we play with the same intensity.”For all that, Petersen has first-hand knowledge that Tendulkar is anything but ordinary. They first met on the field in Kolkata, in February this year, when the South African marked his Test debut with an innings of 100. Tendulkar made 106, the 47th of his 48 centuries in the 166th of his 169 Tests.Neither had a memorable first one-day international in Jaipur, but the second match of that series, in Gwalior, will forever be remembered as the game in which Tendulkar took one-day batting into a galaxy far, far away with his monumental 200 not out. Petersen scored nine.The trend looked set to continue at the Wanderers on Friday. In the fourth over of the Lions’ innings, Petersen and Jonathan Vandiar scooted for the same end of the pitch. Petersen was declared dead on arrival for 12 when the bails were removed leisurely at the other end.Tendulkar looked dead in the water for six when Ethan O’Reilly struck him plumb in front in the second over of the Indians’ reply. Asoka de Silva was among the few in the ground who reckoned otherwise. A blink of an eye later, Tendulkar was bumbling about mid-pitch when a frozen rope of a throw whizzed past the stumps. “I just put it behind me and thought about the next ball,” Petersen said about the near miss. “The next ball is the important thing.” Three overs of next balls after that, a shy that might have run Tendulkar out for 18 hit him instead.By the time Shane “Cheese” Burger knocked out two of Tendulkar’s stumps, in the 15th over, the momentum was firmly with Mumbai. Only for Burger to snatch the advantage back for the Lions by yorking Kieron Pollard, a ball after the West Indian had launched him over long-on for six. JP Duminy and R Sathish also became casualties as the Lions surged to their famous victory.”Hats off to the Lions bowlers. They were exceptional in the last four overs. Until then, we were very much in the game,” said Duminy, who had been sent to the post-match press conference instead of his captain. “He [Tendulkar] played extremely well, but it’s a team sport and we all have to chip in. Unfortunately, we ended up a few runs short.”Vandiar, who rose from the ashes of his moment of madness with Petersen to score a 71 that bristled with pugnacity and verve, showed he has a few things to learn about diplomacy off the field as well as on it. Asked what he thought about batting as well as he had against an attack studded with bowlers of the stature of Zaheer Khan, Lasith Malinga and Harbhajan Singh, Vandiar said, “They’re world class, but they’re just guys.”Petersen, who went to some trouble to explain that his team remained the tournament underdogs, despite their fine win, might want to have a word with the youngster about that. After all, the Lions captain has up close and personal knowledge of what world class players can do.