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 T20 World Cup final - The blistering pace of Pakistan's new-ball bowling attack take on England's blazing opening pair in a head-to-head battle that could well decide the T20 World Cup final. England's openers stormed to a ten-wicket win in Adelaide over India, with Alex Hales and Jos Buttler breaking records in their blitz.

Buttler and Hales have set the tone with the bat, and boast the best average Powerplay in the tournament, an impressive 52 runs for the loss of one wicket.

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The pairs' 170* is not only the highest opening partnership in the Men's tournament history, but it's also the highest partnership for any wicket.

Though they come across their stiffest opposition with the ball: Pakistan.

Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah are the most impactful side with the ball in the first six overs, on average taking two wickets for just 37 runs.

Pakistan captain Babar Azam did downplay the significance when asked how important the first six overs will be with the ball for Pakistan.

"Utilising the Powerplay to grab as many wickets will be essential for the match."

"Even when you bat, you want to set a great pace for the upcoming batsmen. We will try to maintain and continuously build our momentum hence ensuring better performance."

Neither Shaheen nor Buttler played in the recent seven-match series between the two finalists. But with the bowler looking in prime form and Buttler showing intent from the off against the swinging new ball, this has all the hallmarks of a blockbuster clash.

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The Kaduna State Government said troops of Operation Thunder Strike (OPTS) have killed four bandits and recovered three rifles in Chikun Local Government Area of the state.

The Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr Samuel Aruwan confirmed this in a statement issued on Sunday in Kaduna.

Aruwan said: “Four bandits have been killed and several others injured in an ambush operation conducted by troops around Gwagwada, Chikun local government area.

“According to operational feedback from troops of Operation Thunder Strike (OPTS), intelligence was received on bandits movement from Katika village towards Antenna in Chikun LGA and in response to this, the troops laid an opportunity ambush at Antenna village.

“The bandits approached the location and eventually sprang the ambush. The troops opened fire as they entered the killing range.

“After the engagement, four of the bandits were confirmed dead, while several others escaped with gunshot wounds.

“Three rifles and one axe were recovered from the scene,” he added.

The commissioner said Gov. Nasir El-Rufai commended the troops for swift action which led to the successful exercise and the elimination of the four bandits.

“Residents in the area are urged to report individuals seeking treatment for suspicious injuries by calling the Kaduna State Security Operations Room on 09034000060 or 08170189999,” Aruwan said. Theguardianng

Around midnight on Sunday, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum showed up at Mohammed Goni College of Islamic Legal Studies (MOGOCOLIS), in Maiduguri, where some Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from Abadam Local Government Area of Borno were being camped.

Upon arrival, Zulum immediately sealed the entrance and supervised a headcount to identify actual IDPs, in order to put a stop to rampant cases of dubious residents pretending to be displaced.

These shady individuals spend their day time at IDP camps to share food meant for IDPs, and towards the night, they return to their homes to sleep, with some of them benefiting from other means through which the state distributes food to vulnerable non IDPs in communities.

Governor Zulum’s mission at the camp which ended at about past 1am, led to the discovery that out of 1,000 households in the records of humanitarian officials, 650 households were ghosts (non-existent).

About 450 households were found to be real IDPs after Zulum’s midnight headcount which was conducted by the governor alongside an official of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Air Commodore M. T. Abdullahi, and two commissioners (Agriculture, and Local Government and Emirate Affairs).

In the humanitarian system, a household normally consists of at least six persons who are either related through families or chosen to stay together for the purpose of receiving household aids.

Officials who were part of the midnight headcount said Governor Zulum was not aversed to approving support for any citizen who may be vulnerably in need of food since there is a committee doing that, however, the governor is vehemently opposed to some residents making dubious claims in other to take what is meant for IDPs while also benefiting from other existing welfare activities that target non IDPs. ChannelsTv

The Oluwo of Iwo town in Osun State, Oba AbdulRasheed Akanbi, has advised Fulani people not to live inside bushes but rather stay in the town, so that all of them could be known.

Akanbi urged Fulani settlers to fish out the criminals among them in the interest of peaceful co-existence.

The monarch, in a statement he posted on his Facebook page, on Sunday, alleged that all the hues and cries on the security challenge in the South-West region was about the 2023 presidential election.

He said, “This thing is not about Fulani or Yoruba. It is political. Some people are sponsoring crimes to destroy Nigeria. Crime doesn’t have a tribe. Prosecute criminals and try them in court, not a tribe.

“We want the Fulani also to fish out the criminals among them. You Fulani people should also come and live in the town, don’t live in the bush again. Let us know all of you.

“The Fulani community should talk more to the government to teach you modern ways of ranching. Open grazing is no longer fashionable in the 21st century. We know you are used to it but you have to change to the modern ways.

“There must be an intervention programme from the government to educate Fulani on modern way of ranching. Some of you should engage in pastoral business for herders to buy feeds from you. This is how you will not be having problems with farmers.”

Oluwo said the Yoruba leaders sponsoring crisis in the region will not end well.

According to him, “Those who are singing discordant tunes are doing so because of personal aggrandisement. We know some Yoruba leaders who are calling for war for political reason. It is all about 2023 presidency. Because they feel someone wants to become (the) President and they don’t want him.

“It is because they know that the next president of this country will be Yoruba and they don’t want that to happen. The person they are accusing has not even come out to say that he wants to be President so why all hatred?”

The monarch warned the Yoruba leaders fanning the embers of discord to desist in the interest of national unity. (saharareporters)

The Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM) has shut down its campus after some students and officials tested positive for COVID-19.

In a statement, the institution’s student union said the provost mandated every student to evacuate the hostel and isolate themselves at home for two weeks effective from Friday.

The union said courses and examinations have been put on hold, adding that a communique containing modalities for school resumption will be circulated after the two-week isolation period.

“Owing to the present reality of the Covid19 we are faced with and after an evidence based investigation that some students and College staff have been confirmed positive of the coronavirus, The Provost has mandated that EVERY student should evacuate the hostel and isolate themselves at home for the next 2weeks effective from Friday 15th January. This was a decision made at an emergency academic board meeting,” the statement read.

“The Provost advised that any student with likely/ classical symptoms of the virus should fill a form which shall be sent across board in the shortest time possible and the concerned individuals shall be called upon for testing tomorrow whilst they await the results of their test at home.

“The Provost also reiterated that the college isolation bay shall be set up within this 2 weeks of isolation and complete evacuation of students from the college arena.

“We strongly encourage everyone to STRICTLY adhere to the Covid19 guidelines as stated by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control in a bid to help mitigate the spread and impact of the deadly virus within and beyond the college arena.”

Lagos, which is the epicentre of COVID-19 infections in Nigeria, has confirmed 37, 852 cases and recorded 260 deaths.

More than 29,000 patients in the state have also recovered from the disease. TheCableng