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• Hosein stars as NY Strikers go top of the table after Bulls sink to record low

  Delhi Bulls sank to the lowest total in the Abu Dhabi T10's seven-year history, folding for just 31 despite having Quinton de Kock, Johnson Charles, James Vince, Rilee Rossouw, Rovman Powell, Ravi Bopara and Dwayne Bravo in their ranks, to give New York Strikers their third win and a spot at the top of the table for now.

  If you score 98 for 4 in a ten-overs-a-side tournament where three figures are breached quite often, you expect to have it tough in the second half, but it was certainly not the case on the day for Strikers at the Zayed Cricket Stadium on Monday.

  Two wickets fell in the first over of the chase, to Akeal Hosein (3 for 7), one each in the second and third, and three in the fifth to Chamika Karunaratne (3 for 6). That was the end of the specialist batters bar Bopara, who was the only Bulls batter to get into double-digits with 16.

  The Bulls were bowled out with three balls left in the innings after four batters fell for ducks.

  In the first half, Rahmanullah Gurbaz dominated proceedings with a 24-ball 49 not out, as Strikers reached what was a just-about-par score of 98… it proved more than three times what Bulls could manage on the day.

  Bulls have now lost two on the bounce after starting with three wins in a row, and are still up at No. 3 on the table, while Strikers, after starting with a loss, have now won three in a row.

   

• Rehan Ahmed rejects Sir Alastair Cook’s criticism of Jos Buttler’s captaincy

  Rehan Ahmed defended Jos Buttler’s captaincy following criticism of his tactical acumen by Sir Alastair Cook after England started their tour of the Caribbean on a losing note.

  Several of Buttler’s decisions were scrutinised during a calamitous World Cup defence and England’s new era in ODIs made a false start as they were beaten by a Shai Hope-inspired West Indies on Sunday.

  Having been strangled by spin duo Ahmed and Liam Livingstone, the Windies needed 101 in the last nine overs but they feasted on England’s pace bowlers to win with four wickets and seven balls to spare.

  Cook, the former England captain and their record Test run-scorer, wondered on TNT Sports afterwards whether Buttler could have juggled his resources better during the Windies’ successful chase and deployed Will Jacks’ off-spin in the middle overs to take the pressure off the seamers at the death.

  But 19-year-old leg-spinner Ahmed said: “Jos is an unbelievable captain. It’s just his call.

  “We were in a great position by the end of it. It wasn’t like there was bad decisions throughout the game.

  “I don’t think you can put anything down to Jacksy not bowling. I felt like we were always in the game even right to the end.

  “We just didn’t execute at the end. We were always still in the game.”

  Buttler’s lean patch with the bat also continued at the weekend after being dismissed for three, his fifth single figure score in eight innings while he is averaging 14.1 since the start of the World Cup.

  Ahmed said: “Every time I bowl to him in the nets, he smacks me everywhere. Some people can be short of runs sometimes but he’s still Jos Buttler. He’s probably the best white-ball player I’ve bowled to.”

  Sam Curran felt the full might of the Windies’ power hitting as he leaked 98 from 9.5 overs and the most expensive ODI figures by an England bowler came with the extra indignity of being pummelled for three sixes in four balls as unbeaten centurion Hope got his side over the line.

  Curran’s fortunes have nosedived since being named player of the tournament in England’s triumphant T20 World Cup campaign last year.

  Dropped after three innocuous showings at the 50-over World Cup – averaging 11.66 and 70 with bat and ball respectively – the 25-year-old made an important 38 off 26 balls at the weekend, although that was overshadowed by what followed.

  Ahmed, who was the pick of England’s attack with two for 40, has backed Curran to demonstrate his resilience in the second ODI of the three-match series on Wednesday.

  He said: “After losing a game and if you’ve been hit around then I don’t think you’ll be very happy with it.

  “The thing is, Sam is an unbelievable player – everyone knows he is as well, so I’m sure the next game he’ll probably get a five-for, he’ll be good.”

  It is understood Ahmed’s younger brother Farhan will be selected on Tuesday in England’s squad for the Under-19 World Cup, which is set to be held in South Africa from January 13 to February 4 next year.

  The 15-year-old is an off-spinner by trade and although his elder sibling cracked a couple of jokes at his expense, there is the prospect of two Ahmeds in an England side in the future.

  Ahmed joked: “He bowls a lot of dot balls so he’ll be quite boring and I don’t expect (him to hit) too many sixes. But no, I’m very happy for him, he’s very young and he’s been picked for such a big thing.

  “He’s quite exciting for an off-spinner, which is quite surprising. But I think he’ll go well. I’m very chuffed for him.

  “I play with my older brother and younger brother and dad in club cricket and it’s the best ever feeling.

  “As many of us that can play together it’s always going to be good. Whether it’s for England for county for school for a club, anything.

  “Playing alongside family is always a great feeling.”

• Belichick backed to get the Patriots back to their best

  Bill Belichick is still the right coach for the New England Patriots despite their struggles this season.

  That is the view of Duron Harmon, who played for the Patriots between 2013 and 2019, winning three Super Bowl rings in that time.

  All of those triumphs came under Belichick's guidance, with the 71-year-old having been head coach of the Patriots since 2000.

  His 24th straight season in charge has proved a dismal one, with the Patriots sinking to a 2-10 record.

  New England have lost their last five games including their 6-0 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 13.

  Their displays have cast doubt over the future of veteran coach Belichick, but Harmon – who is on the practice roster at the Cleveland Browns – does not think making a change is the right solution.

  "I just think it's timing," he told Stats Perform. "How many organisations do you know that are this successful for this long? That's life.

  "You look at all the great organisations, the [Chicago] Bulls when they had their run, then eventually, you've got to go through [hard times]. 

  "That's just a part of sports that happens because when you're at the top, everybody's gunning for you. Everybody's trying to figure out how to get better.

  "They're taking from you, they're taking coaches from you. They're taking players from you. That's sports, it's life.

  "We've come where it's time for the Patriots to be on the other side for a little bit. I think if there is one person that can reverse it and turn it the other way, it's the man that's right there, and that's Bill Belichick – he's done it before.

  "If he has the, I don't want to say patience, but if he wants to go through that again, I think he's the man to do it."

  Harmon also believes Belichick would choose to stay on with the Patriots, rather than end his tenure on a low ebb.

  He added: "Besides Tom Brady, he's the most competitive person I know. People don't realise, Bill is a competitor. He loves to win, but he hates to lose even more. And you can kind of just see it in his demeanour.

  "Losing is not a part of his nature and I can't see him just going out like this.

  "I think this would be the motivation. He does everything there. He's the coach, he's the front office. It's all on him."