فقد منتخب البرتغال نقطتين في مشواره خلال تصفيات أوروبا المؤهلة لكأس العالم 2026، بتعادله الدرامي مع منتخب المجر في مباراة مثيرة مساء أمس.

وأحرز كريستيانو رونالدو هدفين لمنتخب البرتغال في الدقيقتين 22 و48، وسجل لمنتخب المجر سزالاي في الدقيقة 8 ودومينيك سوبوسلاي هدف التعادل القاتل في الدقيقة 91.

وحقق كريستيانو رونالدو رقمًا قياسيًا مع البرتغال، كأفضل هداف في تصفيات كأس العالم على مر العصور بـ41 هدفًا.

ووصل كريستيانو رونالدو مهاجم النصر السعودي للهدف رقم 948 أيضاً في مسيرته الكروية، وعلى بعد خطوات من الوصول للهدف رقم 1000.

اقرأ أيضاً.. لاعب ريال مدريد السابق مشيدًا برونالدو: استثنائي وقدم لي الكثير من النصائح

وعلق روي كين المحلل التلفزيوني على إنجاز كريستيانو رونالدو خلال تصريحات لـ”TRIBUNA.COM”: “رونالدو سجل 948 هدفًا؟ لكن هل يضغط بقوة”.

وأضاف :”دعونا نرى إحصائيات ضغط رونالدو، يبدو أنها أهم من الأهداف”.

ويطمح كريستيانو رونالدو لقيادة منتخب بلده للتأهل لكأس العالم 2026 في الولايات المتحدة وكندا والمكسيك، ويرغب في تحقيق البطولة التي قد تكون الأخيرة له في مسيرته الدولية.

Jamieson and Duffy pick up seven wickets between them to seal victory for New Zealand

Abhimanyu Bose16-Mar-2025

In the fifth T20I in Pakistan’s tour of New Zealand last year, the hosts had been dismissed for 92 chasing 135 in Christchurch. In the first T20I of this five-match series, that was a winning total for New Zealand after Kyle Jamieson and Jacob Duffy took apart a new-look Pakistan side.The dropping of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan signalled that Pakistan were trying to step out of their comfort zone in T20 cricket, which is broadly very good. But on Sunday, they saw the risks that also come with it as they were bundled out for 91, their lowest total in New Zealand and their fifth-lowest in the format.The Black Caps followed the White Ferns in bringing up comprehensive victories on a double-header day in Christchurch as Jamieson and Duffy shared seven wickets between them, the bounce they were able to generate too much for the Pakistan batters.Jamieson gives New Zealand the perfect startJamieson, back in the T20I set up for the first time in nearly two years, set the tone for New Zealand with a wicket maiden, Mohammad Haris only able to help a short ball behind to wicketkeeper Mitch Hay.Debutant Hasan Nawaz then got a leading edge off Duffy to Jamieson at deep third as Pakistan lost both openers without a run on the board. This was only the second time both Pakistan openers were dismissed for ducks.Jamieson then had Irfan Khan edging behind in the third over as Pakistan slumped to 1 for 3 – their lowest score at the fall of the third wicket.Tim Robinson then evoked rather fresh memories of Glenn Phillips from the Champions Trophy as he took a blinder at backward point to give Jamieson his third, with the scoreboard reading 11 for 4.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Agha, Khushdil ride their luckPakistan were restricted to 14 for 4 in the powerplay, and it could have gotten worse immediately afterwards, but Tim Seifert dropped Khushdil Shah at point off the captain Michael Bracewell.Agha then looked to drive a full ball from Zakary Foulkes the next over, only to get an edge but Daryl Mitchell shelled the chance in the slip cordon.Agha and Khushdil used their second lives to arrest Pakistan’s free-fall. They finally looked to up the tempo in the tenth over, when Agha reverse-swept Ish Sodhi for four behind point and Khushdil smacked him over midwicket for Pakistan’s first six.In the next over, Khushdil took Bracewell on for back-to-back sixes to try and put some pressure back on the bowlers. But it was a very short-lived phase of ascendancy for Pakistan.Duffy, Sodhi wrap things upAgha tried another reverse-sweep off Sodhi’s next ball, but he could only pick out deep backward point. Duffy was brought back into the attack for an over, and the move paid dividends as Khushdil slapped a short ball to backward point. Pakistan were 64 for 6 after 13.Debutant Abdul Samad and Jahandad Khan then fell trying to play big shots before Duffy returned in the penultimate over to take the last two wickets, picking up from where he left off in the T20I series against Sri Lanka where he finished as the highest wicket-takerPakistan’s 91 is the fourth-lowest T20I score by any team in New Zealand.Jacob Duffy took 4 for 14 in 3.4 overs•AFP/Getty Images

Seifert takes off in chaseAfter playing out the first over, Seifert got New Zealand going with a pull through midwicket off debutant Mohammad Ali. He then picked up three boundaries off Shaheen Afridi’s next over, including another pull in front of square.Seifert gave the charge to Ali to pick up another boundary, before getting two off Jahandad’s first over, and the fifth of the innings. Finn Allen, largely a spectator until then, also joined the party as he lofted Jahandad down the ground for the first six of the chase.Pakistan switched to spin and Seifert welcomed Abrar Ahmed with a massive hit over long-off. Abrar got the better of him with a carrom ball that Haris did well to hold on to behind the stumps off the bottom edge, but New Zealand by then had effectively won the match in the two powerplays.Allen hit another six and two fours, while Robinson also got a six to his name as New Zealand completed the chase just one ball after the halfway mark of the innings.

Nicolas Jackson opened his Bayern Munich account in style, scoring and assisting in a 5-1 Champions League win over Pafos. The Chelsea loanee called it a “new start” after a difficult spell on the sidelines and says he’s “slowly” getting back to his best. With Harry Kane continuing his prolific run, Bayern look unstoppable ahead of their Bundesliga clash with Eintracht Frankfurt.

Jackson finds first Bayern goal

The Senegalese international made a telling contribution as Bayern brushed aside Pafos with a 5-1 win in Cyprus, registering both a goal and an assist. It was the 24-year-old’s first strike since joining on loan from Chelsea, and he described the moment as the beginning of a “new start” in Germany. His performance capped off a dominant evening in which the English hero Harry Kane netted twice to take his season tally to 17 goals in nine games.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportStriker reflects on ‘new start’

After the match, Jackson admitted he had been waiting for this moment since his move. “We played a very good game, pressed high, and ultimately won the match. It wasn’t easy at all. We worked hard, but we simply had to win. I’m very, very happy with my first goal. It’s a new start for me,” said the forward, who also emphasised the challenges of regaining fitness after two months out.

Finding fitness in Munich

Jackson was honest about the road ahead. “I haven’t played in a long time, but now I’m slowly getting back into fitness and want to reach my best level as quickly as possible. It’s hard to say how far I am from my best level. I haven’t played for almost two months, and I’ve also trained on my own. It’s a process; I’m trying to learn and improve every day,” he explained, adding that Bayern’s warm welcome has made him feel “at home.”

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imago images/Beautiful SportsKane leads Bayern charge

While Jackson enjoyed his breakthrough, Kane once again underlined his importance to Bayern with two goals. The England captain has now scored 102 goals in 105 games since his arrival from Tottenham, including 11 in his last five appearances. His lethal finishing, supported by new signings Michael Olise and Raphael Guerreiro, continues to push the Bundesliga champions to new levels of dominance, and the fact that he attempted a back volley which was nearly converted before it touched the pole, shows the form in which the English striker is.

Bayern’s ninth win in as many games has them two points clear at the top of the Bundesliga and firmly on track in the Champions League. Their next test is a high-powered meeting with Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday, one of the league’s top scorers. For Jackson, the focus will be on building fitness and confidence as he looks to establish himself as a reliable option behind Kane in a squad brimming with attacking talent.

Everton are interested in sealing the signing of a “sensational” Premier League champion before the January transfer window even opens.

Moyes positive ahead of Everton's return to action

The Blues are back in league action this weekend, hosting Aston Villa at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday afternoon, as they look to build on an impressive start to the season.

Everton manager David Moyes is certainly in positive spirits, assessing the current situation during the international break, in terms of getting certain players back fit and kicking on further.

“We’ll get a few players who probably need a bit more pre-season training. We’ve got a few players who need a bit more recovery, we’ve got a few who have got some injuries, but it gives us a chance to sort of regroup but it’s great to go away knowing we’ve picked up six points in the three games we’ve played.

“It’s a decent start for us in the league and we want to keep challenging, we want to be in a high place if we can be but we’ll certainly not get carried away, that’s for sure. We’ve got a lot to do but I’m pleased that I think we’ve played well enough today.”

Moyes will be happy with his summer recruitment at Everton, with the likes of Jack Grealish and Tyler Dibling among the exciting signings they have made, but another reinforcement in the attacking midfield areas wouldn’t go amiss after losing Abdoulaye Doucouré in the summer.

Everton keen on signing "sensational" free agent

According to The Boot Room‘s Graeme Bailey, Everton are among the clubs interested in signing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on a free transfer. The former Liverpool man is without a club after departing Besiktas earlier this summer, with the Blues joined by the likes of Leeds United and Burnley also believed to be eyeing him up.

Oxlade-Chamberlain would be something of a risk, considering he is now 32 years of age and arguably past his best, but the free aspect of the move would make it less of a gamble for Everton.

If Moyes believes the 2019/20 Premier League champion still has plenty to offer, he should be trusted, with Jurgen Klopp describing him as “sensational” and Thierry Henry also once hailing the progress he made after joining Liverpool from Arsenal, after not knowing his best position for years.

Everton are brewing a homegrown Barry in "prolific" 19-year-old star

Everton could possess their own homegrown version of Thierno Barry in this 19-year-old attacker.

ByKelan Sarson Sep 8, 2025

Oxlade-Chamberlain would surely jump at the chance to return to England and play for an Everton team heading in the right direction, even though a move there for an ex-Liverpool player could be controversial.

Liverpool’s search for a top-tier striker has intensified as the transfer window enters its final stages.

The club’s pursuit of Alexander Isak has dominated headlines this summer.

However, with Newcastle holding firm over a potential British-record transfer fee, Liverpool have started exploring alternative options.

The Reds have already been active in the market.

They have brought in Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen, Hugo Ekitiké from Frankfurt, Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth, and Giovanni Leoni from Parma.

These signings signal the club’s intent to strengthen the squad ahead of another Premier League title challenge and a fresh Champions League campaign.

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Liverpool target Isak alternative

Isak’s protracted saga has created uncertainty, forcing the club to explore options capable of delivering an immediate impact while providing long-term potential.

One such player has emerged as a potential alternative.

A striker described by journalist Pablo González as a “monster,” whose skill set and goal-scoring instincts make him an intriguing proposition for a team with high expectations in both domestic and European competition.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Enter Julian Álvarez, the 25-year-old Argentine international. The Liverpool Echo’s Ian Doyle has suggested that the former Manchester City star is ‘another name’ on their radar, while his colleague, Paul Gorst, has questioned how much ‘appetite’ there might be on Liverpool’s end to test Atletico Madrid’s resolve.

With a market value soaring to £142m, Álvarez has made 46 appearances for Argentina, scoring 13 goals, and netting 29 goals alongside seven assists across all competitions last season for Atletico.

His statistical profile positions him as a modern forward capable of both finishing chances and contributing to build-up play, drawing comparisons to players such as Vinícius Jr. of Real Madrid and Omar Marmoush of Manchester City.

Liverpool’s interest reflects a desire to secure a striker who combines goal threat with versatility.

Álvarez is capable of playing across the front line, linking effectively with wingers, and providing an option in wide channels if needed.

While the price tag and competitive market will complicate negotiations, his proven ability to perform in high-level competitions makes him an appealing alternative should the Isak deal fall through.

How Álvarez compares to Isak

From a tactical standpoint, Álvarez offers several advantages that could make him a suitable replacement for Isak while also complementing Liverpool’s existing attacking options.

His profile blends technical skill, mobility, and a high work rate, which would enable him to integrate into Arne Slot’s pressing and positional systems.

Whereas Isak excels as a central finisher with excellent movement and finishing in tight spaces, Álvarez provides additional dimensions through progressive passing and creative contributions, offering versatility in multiple attacking scenarios.

Statistically, the comparison underscores this difference.

In terms of ball progression, Álvarez averages 2.83 progressive carries per 90 versus Isak’s 2.71, and 3.30 progressive passes per 90 compared with Isak’s 2.88, highlighting his involvement in moving the ball forward and initiating attacking sequences.

Shooting metrics reflect a similar pattern.

Álvarez takes 2.51 shots per 90 with 1.29 on target, slightly below Isak’s 3.10 shots and 1.34 on-target rate, but his shot accuracy (51.4%) surpasses Isak’s 43.2%, indicating a higher efficiency when attempting to score.

Passing also remains an area where the Atleti forward differentiates himself, completing 25.7 passes per 90 at a 74.2% pass completion rate, compared with Isak’s 17.0 passes and 75.3% accuracy.

Notably, Álvarez’s progressive passing distance of 95.1 metres per 90 dwarfs Isak’s 53.7 metres, showing his capacity to advance the ball into threatening positions consistently.

In terms of creativity, Álvarez recorded 3.87 shot-creating actions per 90, significantly above Isak’s 3.01, suggesting he can make an impact beyond pure goal scoring.

This combination of attributes makes Álvarez a multi-dimensional forward capable of linking play, finishing opportunities, and contributing to Liverpool’s wide and central attacking structures.

He offers a slightly different skill set from Isak, providing Slot with the flexibility to adjust the team’s tactical approach depending on opposition and match context.

His ability to carry the ball into attacking zones, create chances for others, and finish efficiently mirrors Liverpool’s style of blending pressing intensity with dynamic attacking movement.

Moreover, the 25-year-old’s versatility could help Liverpool mitigate risk.

Should Isak’s transfer fail, having a player capable of playing across the front line or drifting into wide channels ensures Liverpool are not left with a single type of striker.

His profile complements the creativity of Mohammed Salah, allowing for multiple combinations in attack.

While Isak may bring superior finishing instincts, Álvarez provides a more rounded offensive package, combining goal-scoring ability with creative distribution and positional fluidity.

He represents a high-potential alternative for Liverpool, embodying the traits necessary to thrive in the Premier League while adding layers of creativity and adaptability.

The Argentine offers a balance of efficiency, technical ability, and tactical intelligence that aligns with Liverpool’s attacking philosophy.

If Liverpool act decisively, he could emerge as a central figure in their forward line, bridging the gap left by an unsettled Isak while complementing the club’s existing offensive talents.

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Kerkez will love him: £76m star talking to Alisson about joining Liverpool

Liverpool are drawing up contingency plans in the event they can’t sign Newcastle’s Isak.

By
Angus Sinclair

Aug 24, 2025

Leeds United have made a strong start to their Premier League campaign with four points from the first nine available to them.

The 49ers Enterprises oversaw a busy transfer window at Elland Road, and their new defensive midfielder and most expensive summer arrival, Anton Stach, is already proving himself to be a smart signing. Across Leeds’ opening games, Stach has been in the top 6% of players for successful defensive actions.

One signing that hasn’t hit the ground running is Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who joined on a free following the expiry of his Everton contract. The former England striker has made two appearances off the bench, with one of them coming in Leeds’ shocking exit from the League Cup on penalties to Sheffield Wednesday. During that game, Calvert-Lewin missed four big chances and, crucially, his penalty in the shootout.

Leeds have already started looking at bringing in a new striker in January, and after going with the budget-friendly route of Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha, they’re now considering spending big on a Premier League-proven striker.

Leeds plotting January move for Mateta

As per reports, Leeds are looking at signing Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta in the January transfer window and have made him a priority target. Upgrading from Calvert-Lewin to a striker who journalist Rory Smith said was “like original Ronaldo” could be a shrewd move by Leeds.

Caught Offside have claimed that Crystal Palace would want £40 million for Mateta, the same price they wanted for Marc Guehi, and that Leeds sees him as a long-term player who can help cement their place back in the Premier League, with the 49ers looking to test Palace’s resolve with a formal offer.

The report adds that Leeds will face competition from other Premier League clubs, including Aston Villa and Newcastle United. Newcastle may decide to back off the move if their two new strikers hit the ground running, but Aston Villa have yet to score a Premier League goal this season, so they will likely be on the hunt for more firepower in January.

What adds to the speculation about a potential Mateta departure is that the club are currently unable to get him to sign on to a new long-term contract. Mateta is signed on until 2027, but the report goes on to state that “negotiations over a potential extension have stalled, with talks described as ‘unproductive’ amid internal uncertainty at the club.”

One contributing factor may be the recent high-profile exits from Crystal Palace, including Michael Olise to Bayern Munich, Eberechi Eze to Arsenal and the likely exit of club captain Guehi, either to Liverpool in January when his contract expires.

Mateta could be key to Leeds's Premier League future

Since joining Crystal Palace, Mateta has scored 46 goals in 142 appearances, but most of those have come since the start of the 2023/24 season, when Mateta erupted.

Mateta since joining Crystal Palace

Season

Appearances

G+A

25/26

6

3

24/25

46

21

23/24

39

24

22/23

32

2

21/22

28

8

20/21

7

1

Mateta seems to have found consistency at a high level, which is why he’s become such an in-demand player and was linked in the summer with big moves to Arsenal and Manchester United. 65 goal involvements across the last two seasons make him look like a safe bet despite Leeds needing to splash out £40 million for him.

The Frenchman seems to be a favourite among strikers, with former Premier League and England striker Darren Bent having previously praised Mateta:

“He looks trimmed down… You look good, you feel good, you play good… Sometimes, it can be something as simple as that which triggers everything off.”

With numerous big exits making things look uncertain at Palace, Leeds may be able to tempt Mateta away from them, and if they do that, they could break the cycle of newly promoted teams getting relegated and cement themselves back in the Premier League.

Arsenal welcomed regelation-battlers West Ham United to the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, with the aim of getting three more points to temporarily rise to the top of the Premier League table. However, they were dealt a hammer blow in the opening half hour after Martin Odegaard was forced to withdraw once again this season after he seemed to be struggling with his knee.

• Odegaard comes off within half an hour against West Ham

  Arsenal were dealt a huge blow on Saturday as Odegaard has suffered another injury. The Gunners' captain had to be taken off in the 29th minute in their Premier League encounter against West Ham at the Emirates Stadium, compounding Mikel Arteta's problems in the early phase of the season. 

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• (C)Getty images
  

  Odegaard unable to rid himself of injuries

  It's the third time the 26-year-old was forced off the pitch due to an injury. Back in August, in a fixture against Leeds United, Odegaard fell awkwardly on his shoulder, which led him to miss training in the following days. He was named on the bench for the blockbuster clash against Liverpool at the end of August. Then, after the September international break, his shoulder problem worsened against Nottingham Forest, with Arsenal forced to take him off in the 17th minute. He missed three games: the Champions League opener against Athletic Club, the league encounter against Manchester City, and the EFL Cup fixture against minnows Port Vale. 

• Unwanted history created by Odegaard

  After his substitution against the Hammers on Saturday, the Norway international became the first player in Premier League history to be withdrawn in the first half of three consecutive league matches. Against Leeds and Forest, he was taken off after 38 and 18 minutes, respectively. He lasted just 29 minutes against West Ham.

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• AFP
  

  How long will Arsenal remain without Odegaard's services?

  The latest setback suffered looked like a new one for the former Real Madrid playmaker. Around the 20-minute mark, Odegaard seemed to be limping, but tried to shrug off the knock without getting medical attention. Just minutes later, though, he fell to the ground once more and this time, the medical team ran to the pitch to attend to Odegaard's issues. 

  It remains to be seen how long the 26-year-old will spend on the treatment table, just when it seemed like he was getting back to his best, both fitness-wise and performance-wise. Arteta has fielded the Spanish double pivot of Mikel Merino and Martin Zubimendi in Odegaard's absence, with Eberechi Eze taking over the reins in the No.10 role. 

He says he has been able to execute shots he didn’t think he had thanks to the team’s backing

Shashank Kishore09-Apr-20251:30

Bangar: ‘JItesh has shown great improvement from previous years’

Jitesh Sharma credits his T20 resurgence to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) mentor Dinesh Karthik, who believes the wicketkeeper-batter can evolve into a true “360-degree” player.”It’s been a great journey till now because in the off-season, I really worked hard with him [Karthik],” Jitesh said ahead of RCB’s IPL 2025 game at home against Delhi Capitals (DC). “I think whichever shot which I am playing right now is the replica of what he used to play. He is trying to create a new player in me, because he believes that I can play 360 degrees. I am really enjoying myself in this new role.”Among the things Jitesh has been most excited about was being able to execute shots he didn’t think he had. And this, he said, had only been possible because of the team’s backing. On Monday, he hit a high-value unbeaten 19-ball 40 to kick RCB’s innings into top gear in the death overs against Mumbai Indians (MI). It made a massive difference to the end result, with RCB winning by 12 runs.Related

RCB's winning formula comes with a distinct Indian flavour

RCB return to Chinnaswamy to take on unbeaten DC with renewed optimism

“While I am playing those shots, I am very happy [with the execution] because I have never tried those shots,” he said “And I am going to execute thanks to all the backing they give me. It’s been a wonderful journey which I am still excited about.”The off-season Jitesh referred to were the two high-performance camps Karthik and RCB’s coaching staff, led by Andy Flower, conducted for their Indian players in January and February. Among the things Jitesh worked on was his tough game, an added dimension to what is typically a robust power game.”My confidence doesn’t rely on the score. It always depends on my process and how I train in my practice,” he said. “Because if I have confidence in the end result, then the variables can go up and down. So I mostly keep my confidence high in the practice only.”Jitesh’s run of form with RCB has been a shot in the arm for his young career. Last season, Jitesh scored just 187 runs in 14 innings at a strike rate of 131. The lacklustre season also set his India aspirations back a fair bit.”I think last year’s performance was my mental thing,” he said about his slump. “I was not mentally in the game at that moment. I was thinking about future things. But right now, when I met Dinesh , he told me that it’s a human error. It’s not rocket science. It does happen to everyone so it’s fine.Jitesh Sharma has been executing shots he didn’t think he had•BCCI”When he saw my batting, the way I bat, how I try to dominate, how I look to take the game forward… I am someone who always looks for the win. I don’t have the craze to take out runs. I have the craze to win matches. He saw and found out there are some shots that are still lacking, and we’ve started working on that. We are still in the process.”Jitesh has been a massive point of difference as a finisher for RCB, lending muscle to their lower-middle order. Jitesh is among seven batters – colleagues Rajat Patidar and Tim David are also in the list – to average over 40 while striking at more than 150 this season. Asked about this surge, Jitesh underlined how all of it was down to a process they had worked on behind the scenes.”I think we are playing very smart cricket,” he said. “It’s not like we are just going and bashing every bowler [recklessly]. We know everyone’s strengths in the batting line-up and the team management has given a proper role. Like Jitesh Sharma will go after certain bowlers, Phil Salt will go after some. That’s the kind of strategy we have. So we are going very smartly. We are not trying to dominate blindly.”

In his first match back as Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain, MS Dhoni was given out lbw to Sunil Narine in the game against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), and that’s led to a debate.Dhoni was given out on the field by umpire Chris Gaffaney when the delivery from Narine turned into the batter after pitching outside off and hit him on the front pad in front of the stumps. Dhoni reviewed it immediately and the third umpire, Vinod Seshan, took some time before reaching his decision.In the replays that were shown on the broadcast, there was a murmur on UltraEdge when the ball passed the inside edge, but it wasn’t a sharp spike, which usually confirms the edge. Seshan went through multiple split-screen replays, with the front-on angle next to a square-leg angle. Seshan was checking if there was a gap between bat and pad, and finally said, “Yes, satisfied. It’s not bat. No bat involved.” Next came the ball-tracking projection, which showed the ball going on to hit leg stump, which meant the on-field decision was upheld.