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Everton boast one of the most prolific academies in the entire Premier League, having produced a steady stream of young stars for decades now.

However, few excited in recent memory like Ross Barkley, who seemingly was destined to go to the very top.

How good was Ross Barkley?

Having slowly worked his way into the first team under initially David Moyes and later Roberto Martinez, his true breakthrough year came during the 2013/14 campaign, where he featured 34 times in the number ten spot, scoring six goals.

It marked a fine return for the powerful youngster, who knew exactly how to utilise his tall, gangly frame to retain possession whilst dancing past defenders.

The 29-year-old would swiftly grow into one of the division's brightest prospects, with the 2015/16 term arguably marking his peak, notching 16 league goal contributions, and seemingly living up to the hype that Martinez had built for the former Preston North End loanee: "The power and pace he has combined with that technical ability and ball control makes him special.

"Sometimes you get a really talented footballer that is skilful on the ball, or the powerful and strong (player) that can show that physicality on the pitch. He’s got both."

A towering but tricky midfielder with an eye for a goal and an assist, fans have seemingly never forgiven him for the manner of his £15m Chelsea switch, especially given they could have arguably earned around £50m the summer earlier. However, when he played for the Toffees he was adored.

So, with another similar star emerging in Sean McAllister, perhaps fans could be set to enjoy their next creative star set to dominate the Premier League.

Who is Sean McAllister?

Although he is yet to claim his first senior appearance, the 21-year-old maestro has been posting consistently impressive numbers for the U21s, and could soon be in line for a debut should he maintain his form.

After all, the former U19 Northern Ireland international has just enjoyed a stellar season for the youth sides, where his versatility saw him feature in no less than seven different roles. And yet, despite that uncertainty, he would still post ten goal contributions across just 19 games in all competitions.

Whilst he does not boast the natural physique of Barkley, many have rushed to laud the mindset of the midfield wizard, which has helped him rise to any challenges in his path. In fact, upon signing a new contract last year, Director of Football Kevin Thelwell was keen to praise him: "We are very pleased Sean has signed a new contract.

"Sean has a lot of the key elements you require as a midfielder – technical ability, energy, composure and a strong work-ethic – and we are looking forward to helping him continue to progress.."

It is worth noting that, in the year before his loan spell with the Lilywhites, the current Luton Town man would only record six goal contributions 14 youth clashes. Already McAllister seems ready for that show of faith, to potentially become the answer to their goalscoring prayers and finally start adding some much-needed goals to Sean Dyche's engine room.

MatériaMais Notícias

Ramón Díaz foi apresentado como treinador do Botafogo nesta terça-feira, mas ainda não vai comandar o Alvinegro diante do RB Bragantino, na próxima segunda-feira, pelo Brasileirão. O argentino passará por um procedimento cirúrgico e ficará afastado por dez dias, como informou em entrevista coletiva realizada no Estádio Nilton Santos.

– Eu estou muito bem, mas tenho que fazer uma pequena cirurgia que apareceu nesse momento. Mas vou voltar muito rápido. Foi tudo muito rápido. Fiz uma análise na semana passada e me falaram em pouco tempo que preciso fazer uma cirurgia. Espero que semana que vem esteja de volta. Podem ficar tranquilos que estou bem – afirmou.

Marco Agostini, VP de Futebol do Alvinegro, elogiou a postura do novo técnico. O dirigente afirmou que Ramón Díaz avisou sobre a situação de saúde desde os primeiros contatos. Mesmo assim, a diretoria do Botafogo deu prosseguimento às negociações por entender que há um projeto maior envolvido.

RelacionadasBotafogoRamón Díaz promete mudança de mentalidade no Botafogo: ‘A equipe não pode entrar para empatar’Botafogo10/11/2020BotafogoBotafogo não mostra evolução e Ramón Díaz terá trabalhoBotafogo09/11/2020BotafogoBotafogo tem interesse na contratação de Esteban Pavez, ex-Athletico, mas esbarra em tempoBotafogo09/11/2020

– Desejamos todo o sucesso e a saúde do Ramón em primeiro lugar. A postura dele foi muito correta. Ele passou para a gente e entendemos que ele teria que fazer esse processo o mais rápido possível. Esses 10 dias de afastamento serão poucos dias porque, na verdade, nosso projeto é muito maior que isso. Nossa ideia não é apenas para esse Campeonato Brasileiro, mas que isso seja uma transformação do futebol profissional do Botafogo. O Botafogo do amanhã depende de todos os botafoguenses. Tenho certeza com a chegada do Ramón vamos virar essa página – analisou.

Túlio Lustosa, gerente de futebol, também enxergou a maneira de Ramón Díaz em lidar com o caso de saúde de maneira positiva. O dirigente afirmou que a nova comissão já iniciou os trabalhos.

– Ramón teria feito os exames lá no Paraguai e ficou sabendo no dia da assinatura do contrato que precisaria fazer de imediato o procedimento cirúrgico. Nós decidimos continuar com esse projeto por acreditar em toda a equipe de trabalho, passamos três dias conversando muito. A equipe já inicia hoje (terça-feira) e nós confiamos plenamente nele. Em breve, recuperado, estará aqui conosco – garantiu.

Enquanto Ramón estiver fora, Emiliano Díaz, filho e auxiliar-técnico do argentino, comandará o Botafogo. Provavelmente ele será o treinador diante do Red Bull Bragantino, na próxima segunda-feira, em partida válida pela 21ª rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro.

It was the first game in T20I cricket history that was left as a tie in the record books

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Jun-2018Safyaan Sharif after claiming the final wicket•Getty Images

Paul Stirling made the most of a let-off on the second ball of the Ireland chase to break his own Ireland record for his side’s highest score in T20 internationals in a dramatic tie with Scotland at Deventer. It’s just the 10th tied result ever in the format, including tournament-matches decided later by a super over, and first since England tied Pakistan at Sharjah in November 2015. Interestingly, it was also the first game in T20I cricket that was left as a tie, and not decided by a super over or bowl out.Ireland needed seven off the final over with five wickets in hand and Kevin O’Brien well-set on 28, but Safyaan Sharif denied an Irish win against the odds by dismissing O’Brien off the first ball. Just four runs came off the next four balls to leave Ireland three to win off the final ball, but Stuart Thompson was able to scamper a two to long-on to level the scores.Stirling had yet to score in Ireland’s pursuit of Scotland’s 185 when he was spilled over the rope at deep square leg for six off the bowling of Sharif but went on to make a 27-ball half-century, his eighth in T20Is. The second life was reminiscent of his bruising half-century against Scotland in last year’s semi-final at the Desert T20 Challenge when Stirling was dropped in the first over of the match off Mark Watt.Just like in Dubai, Stirling punished Scotland for the error, bashing 81 off 41 balls. In the process, Stirling eclipsed the previous best for Ireland made by himself in the final of the 2012 World T20 Qualifier when he cracked 79 off 38 balls in a championship winning performance over Afghanistan. His innings ended 19 short of what would have been Ireland’s first T20I ton when he slashed left-arm spinner Hamza Tahir to short third man for Tahir’s maiden T20I wicket.By that stage, Ireland needed 60 off the final 6.2 overs with six wickets in hand. O’Brien replaced Stirling and kept the required run rate in check with three sixes in his knock to steer Ireland into the final over before falling with victory in sight.Scotland had raced to an impressive start behind captain Kyle Coetzer and George Munsey, who added 93 in eight overs. However, Ireland’s bowling unit did a spectacular job reeling them in over the final 12 overs during which Scotland scored at less than eight per over.Coetzer eventually fell at the end of the 14th over for a top-score of 54, but Scotland struggled to press on despite plenty of wickets in hand. Thompson produced a superb containing spell of 0 for 16 in three overs while Stirling also kept Scotland’s middle order from breaking away with 0 for 22 in three as Scotland failed to score a boundary in a six-over stretch from the 11th through the 16th.Scotland had a brief surge in the 19th when Barry McCarthy conceded 21 in a nine-ball over that began with a no-ball. Both the overstep and the ensuing free hit went for four as Scotland pressed on toward their second highest T20I total. But they stuttered once more at the finish as medium pacer Peter Chase conceded just six singles in the 20th over to a well-set Calum MacLeod (46 not out off 39 balls) and Richie Berrington. Chase’s death spell proved vital in the final result.Despite ICC playing conditions implemented in September 2017 calling for a super over to decide all ties in T20Is, no super over was played.

نجح فريق الكرة الأول بالنادي الأهلي في تسجيل الهدف الثاني بشباك نظيره الداخلية، في المباراة الجارية بينهما حاليًا ضمن منافسات الدوري المصري “النيل”.

المباراة تقام على ملعب استاد القاهرة الدولي ضمن منافسات الجولة التاسعة والعشرين من عمر الدوري.

تشكيل الأهلي أمام الداخلية في الدوري المصري.. وسام وعبد القادر يقودان الهجوم

واستطاع وسام أبو علي تسجيل الهدف الثاني في الدقيقة 41 عن طريق ركلة جزاء نجح في تنفيذها، بعد أن احتسبت جراء لمسة يد على معاذ الحناوي.

وكان الأهلي قد أحرز الهدف الأول عن طريق وسام أبو علي في الدقيقة 35 من عمر اللقاء مستغلًا عرضية قوية من حسين الشحات.

ويتواجد الأهلي في المركز الثاني بجدول ترتيب بطولة الدوري برصيد 51 نقطة، حصدها من 21 مباراة، فيما تتبقى له 7 مؤجلات.

وحقق الأهلي 16 فوزًا و3 تعادلات فيما تلقى هزيمة واحدة، وسجل لاعبوه 45 هدفًا واستقبلت شباكه 17 هدفًا. ويرغب لاعبو الأهلي في مواصلة مطاردة فريق بيراميدز صاحب صدارة ترتيب الدوري المصري لحين انتهاء فرق المواجهات، والتي تصل لـ5 مباريات.

بينما فريق الداخلية يحتل المركز الثامن عشر في سلم ترتيب الدوري المصري برصيد 19 نقطة حصدها من 28 مباراة، فاز في 3 لقاءات والتعادل بـ10 مواجهات وتلقى 15 هزيمة. هدف الأهلي الثاني أمام الداخلية

تمكن منتخب ألمانيا من تسجيل هدف التعادل أمام منافسه الإسباني، خلال المباراة الجارية بينهما الآن، ضمن منافسات بطولة كأس أمم أوروبا.

ويتواجه منتخبا ألمانيا وإسبانيا على أرضية استاد “شتوتجارت آرينا”، في دور ربع النهائي من يورو 2024. وجاء هدف تعادل ألمانيا في الدقيقة 89 بعد كرة عرضية مهدها نيكلاس فولكورج برأسية وقابلها فلوريان فيرتز بتسديدة قوية ارتطمت بالقائم ثم سكنت الشباك.

طالع أيضاً.. فيديو | إصابة قوية لـ بيدري في مباراة إسبانيا وألمانيا.. واستبداله

وكان داني أولمو قد تقدم بالهدف الأول لـ إسبانيا في الدقيقة 52، بعد تمريرة من لامين يامال استقبلها أولمو المتقدم من الخلف وسددها ببراعة.

وتمكن منتخب ألمانيا من حسم التأهل للدور ربع النهائي، بعد تحقيق الفوز على الدنمارك بهدفين دون مقابل، بينما إسبانيا قلبت الطاولة على جورجيا، وحققت الفوز بأربعة أهداف مقابل هدف. هدف تعادل ألمانيا أمام إسبانيا في يورو 2024

New blow ends realistic hopes of World Cup recall, and raises questions about fast bowler’s future

George Dobell06-Jul-2018

Reece Topley has been ruled out of the rest of the season after being diagnosed with a recurrence of a stress fracture in the lower back.Only days after it emerged he had come close to a recall to the England limited-overs squad – the selectors considered him (and Yorkshire’s Matt Fisher) as a replacement for the injured Tom Curran in the T20I squad facing India – the 24-year-old Topley experienced pain in his back while bowling for England Lions on Monday and was sent for a scan. The results show the fracture that he suffered last year has returned.He will see surgeons next week and is expected to undergo an operation shortly afterwards where a titanium pin will be inserted to strengthen the spine.From a personal perspective, the news is catastrophic for Topley. Aged 24, his highly promising career has been plagued by back injuries. Having worked long and hard to come back from the last setback, this new blow not only ends any realistic hopes of earning a recall to the England squad ahead of the World Cup campaign, but raises questions about his future in the game.It is his fifth stress fracture – all in L3 and L4 lumbar vertebra – in six seasons as a professional cricketer. Out of contract at Hampshire at the end of the season, clubs are likely to prove highly cautious over future contract offers.Topley is the third bowler on the fringes of the England squads – Toby Roland-Jones and Mason Crane are the others – to have suffered a recurrence of a stress fracture this season. That’s a situation which is bound to prompt some reflection on the treatment of such injuries at the ECB. Both Roland-Jones and Topley also spent time on the ECB’s recently discontinued pace programme.The news realistically ends a relationship between Hampshire and Topley that never really took off as expected. Signed amid great hope and competition, he managed only three Championship matches in three years and was disappointed to be left out of the side playing in the Royal London Final at Lord’s on Saturday.He impressed the England management as recently as last week, however, in bowling with pace and skill in a Lions match at Northampton – he claimed 4 for 16 – and revived hopes he could add to his tally of 10 ODI and six T20I caps.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Botafogo tem um novo nome à frente da casamata. Ramón Díaz foi apresentado oficialmente nesta terça-feira no Estádio Nilton Santos e iniciou os trabalhos como comandante do Alvinegro. Em entrevista coletiva, o argentino afirmou que o objetivo a curto prazo é tirar a equipe da parte inferior da tabela do Campeonato Brasileiro.

– Agradecer ao clube por me dar a oportunidade. É o clube mais tradicional do Brasil, com muita história. Foi isso que fez o meu corpo técnico trabalhar aqui. Posso prometer muita dedicação, disciplina e trabalho, tudo que eu fiz durante a minha carreira. Sabemos que o clube passa por uma situação de zona de rebaixamento, mas tem bons jogadores, tem tudo para sair disso – afirmou.

RelacionadasBotafogoBotafogo não mostra evolução e Ramón Díaz terá trabalhoBotafogo09/11/2020BotafogoApós falha, Saulo ganha voto de confiança para sequência no BotafogoBotafogo08/11/2020

O Botafogo é o rei dos empates no Brasileirão, mas esta situação incomoda o argentino. ‘Don Ramón’ prometeu que promoverá mudanças de atitude na equipe desde o primeiro dia no comando do elenco e que tudo será possível já na próxima partida, diante do Red Bull Bragantino, na próxima segunda-feira, pela 21ª rodada.

– Isso se trabalha. A equipe precisa mentalizar que cada ponto em jogo é muito importante. A equipe não pode entrar para empatar, apenas para vencer. Vamos colocar uma nova mentalidade. Já começamos a falar com os jogadores e vamos trabalhar para que isso não volte a ocorrer – analisou.

– Já na segunda você vai ver algo diferente. Eu espero que os jogadores entendam os conceitos táticos. O resultado é fundamental, temos confiança na equipe e nos jogadores – completou.

Ramón não foge da necessidade de resultados a curto prazo, mas também toca na necessidade da mudança de mentalidade tática. O argentino mostrou confiança em resultados positivos.

– Sempre que um treinador chega a um novo clube quer imediatamente resultados. O Botafogo está em uma situação que demanda dedicação. Precisamos de mudança total, que a torcida nos apoie. Sei que vamos sair dessa situação, temos uma equipe com muito espírito. Isso me deu muita tranquilidade para vir – bradou.

CONFIRA MAIS DECLARAÇÕES DE RAMÓN DÍAZ:

Projeto
– Sei para que os treinadores os resultados são muito importantes. Quando trocam é porque algo não funciona. Viemos para um projeto e com certeza vamos ficar por muito tempo. Queremos formar um projeto de bom jogo e conseguir resultados rapidamente.

Derrota para o Bahia
– O último jogo, contra o Bahia, vi que tinha a possibilidade de ganhar ou perder, como aconteceu. Algumas coisas vamos mudar. Seja no aspecto tático e físico. Trataremos de que o grupo se acostume rápido com nosso estilo de treinamento.

Time do Botafogo
– Botafogo tem na parte defensiva jogadores jovens, zagueiros rápidos, os laterais atacam muito. Aí vamos mudar algumas táticas, mas o que eu gosto é que temos juventude. Conseguiremos trazer ritmo. Quero que cada jogador se sinta à vontade.

Trabalhar no Brasil
– Sempre tive grande ligação com o futebol brasileiro. Já passei aqui muitas vezes aqui e eu gosto das características do jogo. É claro que vamos colocar nosso estilo, nossa forma, mas eu queria há muito tempo vir para o futebol brasileiro.

Objetivos
– A meta é sair rapidamente dessa situação. Temos dois partidas em casa e quero ganhar esses jogos. Para isso temos que mudar a atitude, a agressividade, o ritmo. Isso vamos trabalhar nesse pouco ritmo que teremos.

– Estou muito feliz de estar nesse clube. Todos os torcedores têm expectativa e nós também. É um clube grande e seguramente queremos que a equipe seja protagonista. É uma equipe grande.

Superar o momento difícil
– Primeiro que eu gosto de desafios, por isso vim para esse clube. Toda a minha comissão tem uma responsabilidade de sair rápido dessa situação. O Botafogo vai mudar e muito. Tático, atitude e em termos de mudar o resultado.

– Quero sair dessa situação. Estou muito feliz nesse clube porque me deu a oportunidade de vir ao Brasil. Esse clube precisa voltar ao primeiro nível.

– Eu gosto de desafios. Acredito que já passei por situações difíceis, até mais complicadas que essa. Sei que a única maneira de sair disso é com muito trabalho e dedicação. Que os jogadores se dediquem a defender os clubes onde estão.

Estrutura
– Eu acredito que o clube é grande, tem um estádio divino e quando passar essa pandemia a torcida possa vir, que aí já é outro jogo. O que vi aqui desde que cheguei foi muito carinho e que o clube tem tudo que um treinador precisa para trabalhar.

Tottenham Hotspur have approached one club over signing their "little superstar", and there is a real belief that he's a "special" player.

Spurs form under Postecoglou

Ange Postecoglou's high-flying Lilywhites are taking everybody off guard with their sumptuous displays so far this season, and few could've envisaged their best start to a campaign since 1960/1961. Spurs are currently top of the Premier League pile after an unbeaten run of six wins from a possible eight, sealing all-important wins against the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool in that time.

This has all been achieved without star striker and all-time top goalscorer Harry Kane, who departed Tottenham for Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich in the summer transfer window. The England international's exit was seen as a potentially major blow to Spurs, but they've since thrived in his absence. Kane himself is overjoyed with the start Postecoglou has made in north London.

"I have made it clear my whole career I am a Tottenham fan and I would love to see Tottenham do well," Kane said at a press conference with England.

"It's great to see. I think I've said before, the manager is doing great for them with the way they're playing. The fans are right behind the team and it's definitely what they needed after the last few years. I'll always keep an eye on Spurs and the Premier League.

"There is no other team in the Premier League I would want to win than Tottenham. I have to be respectful to Bayern Munich and of course, the fans know I will always have a soft spot for Spurs – there is no question about that. Of course, I hope [Tottenham] do as well as possible but my main attention is where I am now and trying to perform for Bayern."

Will Tottenham sign anyone in January?

While their imperious form has been just that, there are still suggestions that Tottenham could make some signings in the January transfer window. The likes of Bayer Leverkusen defender Edmond Tapsoba and Bournemouth's Lloyd Kelly are reported targets to bolster Postecoglou's backline, while it is believed Royal Antwerp midfielder Arthur Vermereen is of interest as well.

The 18-year-old, who has been likened to Barcelona legends Xavi and Andres Iniesta, has also been praised by former Tottenham defender Toby Alderweireld.

"Do I sometimes watch with my mouth open? Certainly," said Alderweireld.

"Everyone knows perfectly what to do when in possession of the ball and when losing the ball. Then the qualities of such a boy come to the fore. What he shows at his age is fantastic. I have rarely seen that."

Now, journalist Graeme Bailey has joined in on the praise, calling him a "little superstar" and "special" player as Spurs make contact for him. Speaking on the Talking Transfers podcast, sharing the latest Vermeeren transfer update, he said:

“This guy is special. Antwerp have a little superstar on their hands here in Arthur Vermeeren. He really is, from what I’m being told speaking to scouts, they think he’s special. Our understanding is that Man City, Arsenal and Tottenham have all enquired about him, so have Bayern Munich, Dortmund and Juventus, Barcelona as well who looked in the summer at him."

Liverpool are believed to be in direct contact over a high-profile transfer for 2024, according to a fresh transfer update.

Liverpool transfer news

The Reds have really clicked of late, enjoying a promising start to the season and looking like a very different team to the one that struggled so much last time around. A huge reason for that has been Liverpool's revamped midfield, with Jurgen Klopp clearly aware that he needed younger, more energetic options there after the likes of Fabinho and Jordan Henderson struggled so badly when it came to covering ground in 2022/23.

Bringing in the likes of Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch has transformed the Reds as a team, making them look like Premier League title contenders, but that's not to say that further signings in other positions aren't needed moving forward.

Liverpool have surprisingly been linked with several attacking players despite their depth up front, from Bayern Munich star Jamal Musiala to Athletic Bilbao youngster Nico Williams, and it would be a surprise if they didn't at least consider delving into the transfer market once the January window opens in the New Year.

It looks as though progress could be being made regarding another Reds target, with an exciting update emerging.

Liverpool in talks with Osimhen

The Reds have been strongly linked with Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, and while Fabrizio Romano recently confirmed rumours of a pre-agreement were false, a new report from Calciomercato says Liverpool are in "direct" talks with the Osimhen's representatives.

His contract situation at the Serie A champions is up in the air at the moment, but should he decide he wants a fresh challenge, it looks as though the Reds are the most advanced in their efforts to convince the player.

The idea of Osimhen in a Liverpool shirt is mouthwatering, considered he has been one of the standout attacking players in world football over the past 12 months or so, even being compared to Didier Drogba by Jose Mourinho.

The 24-year-old was arguably the key reason for Napoli winning their first Serie A title in 1990, with Osimhen's statistics standing out with 26 league goals en route to glory, not to mention netting five times in the Champions League. He has been hailed as a "world-class" player by Folarin Balogun, too.

Victor Osimhen's 2022/23 season for Napoli

Total

Appearances

39

Goals

31

Assists

4

While the Napoli hero would be a sensational signing for Liverpool, given the pace, power and prolific goal threat he possesses, it is arguably difficult to see them making a move for him, considering the wealth of attacking options Klopp already has to choose from.

The Reds spent a lot of money on Darwin Nunez and surely see him as a player who will only get better and lead the line regularly eventually, while Cody Gakpo and Diogo Jota also represent great options, not to mention Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz out wide.

Given how much Osimhen would likely cost, it would make more sense for Liverpool to use those funds on improving their defensive options or bringing in an out-and-out defensive midfielder, or even eye up a big-name long-term replacement for Salah.

Zimbabwe never really looked to be in pursuit of Pakistan’s 364; they eventually batted out the 50 overs for the loss of four wickets

The Report by Danyal Rasool22-Jul-2018
AFP

This was, by far, the most competitive match of the series. Pakistan won it by 131 runs.That these two statements stand together without contradiction is the best indicator of the manner in which it has gone. Utterly bereft of competitive edge or even the prospect of it, Pakistan have reigned supreme all series. Nothing that happened today changed that, except Zimbabwe seemed to accept the fact, and, having set a target of 365 on the back of tons from Babar Azam and Imam-ul-Haq, didn’t even bother chasing it. Instead, they used it as an opportunity to give themselves batting practice against one of the fiercest bowling line-ups in world cricket, and as they trudged to 233 for four by the end of their 50 overs, they could at least claim success on that front.Hamilton Masakdza and Tinashe Kamunhukamwe began solidly, trying to play themselves into touch. While they got regular boundaries, they were never able to rotate the strike effectively, and the innings took on a pattern of block-or-bash. Indeed, throughout their innings, Zimbabwe struck more sixes than Pakistan (nine compared to six), which illustrated the point that there’s more to a huge chase than looking for release shots every other over.The pair put on 66 for the opening wicket; two thirds of the runs came in boundaries. One wicket spawned another, though, and when Kamunhukamwe failed to get underneath a short ball from Mohammad Nawaz, short midwicket took a sharp catch. Two balls later, Hasan Ali castled Masakadza, sending middle and off stump gloriously cartwheeling away, and Zimbabwe had two new batsmen at the crease again.Ryan Murray, perhaps the brightest spot for Zimbabwe this series, built another solid partnership with Prince Masvaure. By then, the match was completely a training session, and even Sarfraz, ever audible behind the stumps, remarked he thought the pair wanted to bat the full 50 overs. Pakistan weren’t the best in the field today, no less than four catches were put down – three of them tough chances – which meant the game ended up being much longer than it might have.The game, as ever, was won in the first innings. Centuries from Imam – his third of the series – and Babar guided Pakistan towards a mammoth 364 without ever looking like they were trying too hard to force the issue. That was partially because they didn’t feel the need to, as they thumped a Zimbabwe attack that must be sick of the sight of Fakhar Zaman and Imam occupying the Bulawayo crease by now.After Pakistan won the toss and opted to bat first (if you followed the previous game, why wouldn’t they?) the left-handed opening pair continued the ritual of grinding Zimbabwe into submission, racking up their fourth-century partnership in five innings. The tone of the game was set once more, and Pakistan were on their way to a colossal total.Imam played the starring role today, waltzing to his fourth century in just nine ODIs in a fledgeling but hugely promising career. He was the man chiefly in charge during the first half of the innings as Fakhar took the back seat and watched the 21-year-old make the most of a flat pitch and flatter bowlers. One can only play who they’re up against, though, and Imam has done that most crucial thing every young batsman is taught: when in form, cash in.From Zimbabwe’s perspective, it was an improved bowling performance from Masakadza’s men, particularly since ace fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani missed out through injury. While the openers’ wickets were never threatened in the first hour, Chris Mpofu and Tendai Chatara didn’t let them cut loose in the way they had in earlier games. Indeed, Fakhar by his own standards was much subdued throughout, taking 62 balls to reach his half-century.Liam Roche, back in the side after sitting the previous two games out, was the man who finally did make the breakthrough, dismissing Fakhar for the second time this series. It was a flat, quicker delivery too close to cut, but Fakhar, in the form he was in, decided to attempt one anyway. A faint top edge carried through to the keeper at exactly the halfway mark of the innings, and Fakhar, who looked for all his life to be coasting towards his third hundred in four games, had to depart 15 runs shy.The good news for Pakistan was it gave Babar a decent chunk of time out in the middle to try and rediscover his rhythm following his comeback from injury. Fakhar joked after the last game that he would continue to try and deny his teammates more time out in the middle, and because he and Imam have done that so successfully, Babar has never really been able to get the match practice head coach Mickey Arthur would have been hoping for in Pakistan’s last international series before the Asia Cup.So it would have been a relief to see Babar looking perfectly comfortable at the crease in all aspects of his batting. He was solid early on, efficient at rotating the strike in the middle overs, and as aggressive at the end as a classical batsman like him can be. Even when he was smashing boundaries and sixes in the last three overs, there was a certain sophistication about it, and by the end Sarfraz Ahmed was taking a back seat while Babar played the role of finisher, ending up with 106 off 76, having been 53 off 57 at one stage. It appears there’s nothing he can’t do.Zimbabwe did manage to take more wickets than they had in the last three games put together. Mpofu, playing his first ODI for over a year, was arguably the pick of the lot, getting his reward in the ninth over. He set Asif Ali up with a couple of wide yorkers, frustrating him by taking the ball out of his hitting arc and forcing him to go for a heave that wasn’t really on. All he did was top edge to third man, removing a key threat for Zimbabwe before he could really begin to wreck havoc. In a side so woefully inexperienced, it showed the sort of difference a wise head on older shoulders could make.All that good work was undone in the final three overs as the hosts experienced the full force of Babar hitting top gear. Those 18 balls produced 44 runs, with Zimbabwe reduced to fleeting moments of success.But perhaps the best bit of the series came about in the last three overs of the series, when Sarfraz took off his gloves, put on a cap, and walked towards the bowling crease to send down a couple of overs. He’d been wanting to do that since last game, and with Pakistan needing 150 off the last three, he felt safe enough. The verdict? Good thing he can bat and keep.