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Duo put on 77 to take Spirit up to second in the table

ECB Media13-Aug-2024Heather Knight and Deepti Sharma guided London Spirit to a vital seven-wicket win at Headingley in the Hundred to keep their team in the hunt for the play-off stages and knock out their opponents, Northern Superchargers.The pair put on 77 to take Spirit up to second in the table, on nine points, and they will now keep an eye on events at Trent Bridge on Thursday with the Trent Rockets and Oval Invincibles fixture deciding the final make-up of the top three.For Superchargers, a win today would have guaranteed their place in the last three for the second successive season but their campaign is now over.The damage was done by Spirit’s bowlers up top. After just 14 balls, Superchargers were three down – Tara Norris, Eva Gray and Dani Gibson each claiming a wicket to see the back of Superchargers’ top three – including the dangerous Phoebe Litchfield.Litchfield’s fellow Aussie, Annabel Sutherland – so often a stand-out player for Hollie Armitage’s side – attempted a rebuild for her side but when she picked out long-on off Deepti, hopes of a formidable total for the hosts fell away. Alice Davidson-Richards’ 33 ensured they had something on the board, but their 99 felt 7 felt below par.Superchargers were going to need early wickets and scoreboard pressure to make a game of it but Meg Lanning dispatched a couple of sixes in an 11-ball 20 to get Spirit ahead of the chase.Linsey Smith came on to dismiss Lanning, and briefly lifted Superchargers hopes with two more wickets, but that brought Knight and Deepti together and they weren’t to be separated.Initially patient, they accelerated towards the end and were relatively untroubled in what could have been a pressure chase – the experienced international duo showing their class to keep Spirit hopes alive and spell the end for Superchargers.Meerkat Match Hero Deepti said: “I think all credit goes to our bowlers. We had a meeting and we executed really well.”I think personally I’m used to these kind of conditions. The wicket is slightly on the slower side, sometimes skiddy, but we managed it really well in the first innings and the second as well.”I like challenges and really like to bowl and bat in those kind of situations. We only focus on our games and yeah we will sit there and [watch] the other games.”

Adelaide Strikers

MenFabian Allen, James Bazley, Jordan Buckingham, Cameron Boyce, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Chris Lynn, Jamie Overton, Lloyd Pope, Ollie Pope, Alex Ross, D’Arcy Short, Matt Short, Henry Thornton, Jake WeatheraldIn Fabian Allen, Jordan Buckingham, Ollie Pope, Alex Ross (Thunder)
Out Wes Agar (Thunder)Women Jemma Barsby, Darcie Brown, Maggie Clark, Ellie Johnston, Katie Mack, Eleanor Larosa, Smriti Mandhana, Anesu Mushangwe, Tahlia McGrath, Bridget Patterson, Madeline Penna, Orla Prendergast, Megan Schutt, Amanda-Jade Wellington, Laura Wolvaardt,In Maggie Clark, Ellie Johnston (Heat), Eleanor Larosa, Smriti Mandhana, Orla Prendergast
Out Dani Gibson, Georgia Adams (Thunder), Courtney Neale, Annie O’Neil, Ella Wilson

Brisbane Heat

MenTom Alsop, Xavier Bartlett, Max Bryant, Spencer Johnson, Usman Khawaja, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan McSweeney, Colin Munro, Michael Neser, Jimmy Peirson, Will Prestwidge, Matt Renshaw, Mitchell Swepson, Callum Vidler, Paul WalterIn Tom Alsop, Callum Vidler
Out Josh Brown (Renegades), Sam Billings (Thunder)WomenBonnie Berry, Nadine de Klerk, Sianna Ginger, Lucy Hamilton, Nicola Hancock, Grace Harris, Laura Harris, Jess Jonassen, Charli Knott, Shikha Pandey, Grace Parsons, Georgia Redmayne, Jemimah Rodrigues, Mikayla WrigleyIn Bonnie Berry, Sianna Ginger, Shikha Pandey, Jemimah Rodrigues, Mikayla Wrigley
Out Amelia Kerr (Sixers), Georgia Voll (Thunder), Courtney Sippel (Sixers), Ellie Johnston (Strikers)

Hobart Hurricanes

MenIain Carlisle, Nikhil Chaudhary, Tim David, Paddy Dooley, Nathan Ellis, Peter Hatzoglou, Shai Hope, Rishad Hossain, Caleb Jewell, Chris Jordan, Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, Mitch Owen, Matthew Wade, Charlie Wakim, Mac WrightIn Shai Hope, Rishad Hosein, Charlie Wakim
Out Corey Anderson, Sam HainWomenSuzie Bates, Nicola Carey, Zoe Cooke, Heather Graham, Ruth Johnston, Lizelle Lee, Hayley Silver-Holmes, Tabatha Saville, Amy Smith, Lauren Smith, Molly Strano, Rachel Trenaman, Chloe Tryon, Elyse Villani, Callie Wilson, Danni WyattIn Lauren Smith (Thunder), Chloe Tryon, Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Suzie Bates
Out Maisy Gibson (Stars), Shabnim Ismail, Bryony Smith, Naomi Stalenberg (Renegades)

Melbourne Renegades

MenJacob Bethell, Josh Brown, Harry Dixon, Laurie Evans, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Mackenzie Harvey, Nathan Lyon, Fergus O’Neill, Kane Richardson, Tom Rogers, Gurinder Sandhu, Tim Seifert, Will Sutherland, Jon Wells, Adam ZampaIn Jacob Bethell, Josh Brown (Heat), Laurie Evans, Gurinder Sandhu (Thunder)
Out Aaron Finch, Nic Maddinson (Thunder) Shaun MarshWomenAlice Capsey, Sarah Coyte, Emma de Broughe, Josie Dooley, Deandra Dottin, Nicole Faltum, Ella Hayward, Milly Illingworth, Hayley Matthews, Sophie Molineux, Georgia Prestwidge, Naomi Stalenberg, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham, Courtney WebbIn Alice Capsey, Deandra Dottin, Nicole Faltum (Stars), Milly Illingworth (Stars), Naomi Stalenberg (Hurricanes)
Out Tammy Beaumont, Jess Duffin, Harmanpreet Kaur, Ellen Falconer, Erica Kershaw, Rhiann O’DonnellAmelia Kerr has been a big-name signing for Sydney Sixers•ICC/Getty Images

Melbourne Stars

MenScott Boland, Hilton Cartwright, Brody Couch, Tom Curran, Ben Duckett, Sam Harper, Campbell Kellaway, Glenn Maxwell, Hamish McKenzie, Usama Mir, Joel Paris, Tom Rogers, Mark Steketee, Marcus Stoinis, Beau WebsterIn Tom Curran (Sixers), Ben Duckett, Hamish McKenzie (Stars)
Out Nick LarkinWomenYastika Bhatia, Sophie Day, Tess Flintoff, Kim Garth, Maisy Gibson, Hasrat Gill, Liv Henry, Marizanne Kapp, Meg Lanning, Rhys McKenna, Sasha Moloney, Sophie Reid, Deepti Sharma, Annabel SutherlandIn Yastika Bhatia, Maisy Gibson (Hurricanes), Marizanne Kapp (Thunder), Deepti Sharma, Hasrat Gill
Out Maia Bouchier, Alice Capsey, Sophia Dunkley, Nicole Faltum (Renegades), Milly Illingworth (Renegades)

Perth Scorchers

MenAshton Agar, Finn Allen, Mahli Beardman, Jason Behrendorff, Cooper Connolly, Sam Fanning, Aaron Hardie, Nick Hobson, Matthew Hurst, Josh Inglis, Keaton Jennings, Matt Kelly, Mitchell Marsh, Lance Morris, Jhye Richardson, Matthew Spoors Ashton Turner, Andrew TyeIn Finn Allen, Mahli Beardman, Sam Fanning, Matthew Hurst, Keaton Jennings, Matthew Spoors
Out Hamish McKenzie (Stars)WomenChloe Ainsworth, Stella Campbell, Piepa Cleary, Maddy Darke, Sophie Devine, D Hemalatha, Amy Edgar, Mikayla Hinkley, Amy Jones, Alana King, Lilly Mills, Beth Mooney, Chloe PiparoIn D Hemalatha, Mikayla Hinkley (Heat)
Out Taneale Peschel (Thunder), Nat Sciver-Brunt, Lauren Winfield-Hill

Sydney Sixers

MenSean Abbott, Jackson Bird, Jafer Chohan, Joel Davies, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Moises Henriques, Akeal Hosein, Daniel Hughes, Hayden Kerr, Todd Murphy, Kurtis Patterson, Mitch Perry, Josh Philippe, Jordan Silk, Steven Smith, James VinceIn Jafer Chohan, Akeal Hosein
Out Steve O’Keefe, Tom Curran (Stars)WomenHolly Armitage, Maitlan Brown, Erin Burns, Mathilda Carmichael, Lauren Cheatle, Sophie Ecclestone, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Amelia Kerr, Isabella Malgioglio, Kate Pelle, Ellyse Perry, Kate Peterson, Courtney SippelIn Holly Armitage, Sophie Ecclestone, Amelia Kerr (Heat), Isabella Malgioglio, Courtney Sippel (Heat)
Out Chloe Tryon, Suzie Bates, Jess Kerr, Lindsey Smith

Sydney Thunder

MenWes Agar, Cameron Bancroft, Sam Billings, Ollie Davies, Lockie Ferguson, Matthew Gilkes, Chris Green, Liam Hatcher, Sam Konstas, Nic Maddinson, Nathan McAndrew, Sherfane Rutherford, Will Salzmann, Daniel Sams, Jason Sangha, Tanveer Sangha, David WarnerIn Wes Agar, Sam Billings, Lockie Ferguson, Nic Maddinson (Renegades), Sherfane Rutherford
Out Alex Ross (Strikers), Gurinder Sandhu (Renegades)WomenGeorgia Adams, Chamari Athapaththu, Samantha Bates, Hannah Darlington, Sienna Eve, Saskia Horley, Shabnim Ismail, Sammy Jo-Johnson, Heather Knight, Anika Learoyd, Phoebe Litchfield, Claire Moore, Taneale Peschel, Georgia Voll, Tahlia WilsonIn
Georgia Adams, Sienna Eve, Shabnim Ismail, Taneale Peschel (Scorchers), Georgia Voll (Heat)Out Lauren Bell, Marizanne Kapp (Stars), Lauren Smith (Hurricanes)

Arsenal are on the lookout for promising talent this summer and could now beat Liverpool and Chelsea to one of Europe’s top young talents, according to a report.

Arsenal look to kickstart a summer of note

The Gunners have aspirations of claiming Premier League glory after coming close in years gone by and a big few months is expected by all involved at the Emirates to shift the balance of power that Liverpool currently hold.

Mikel Arteta previously promised a high turnover of players at Arsenal, stating earlier this year: “It’s going to be a big one and we are very excited about it. The way we planned the first five summers, they were going to be very big, and they were going to have different objectives.

“There were a lot of players with three, four or five-year contracts. So the turnaround of the squad and how you visualise the next five years was very dependent on that.”

Jakub Kiwior and Aleksandr Zinchencko could leave Arsenal to help create room for new blood in North London. A few others may join them, but who has been lined up to sign on the dotted line at the Emirates Stadium?

Understandably, Sporting’s Viktor Gyokeres is the Gunners’ main target to strengthen their forward line following his return of 54 goals in 52 matches across all competitions, though he isn’t the only high-profile name linked with a move elsewhere this summer.

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Borussia Dortmund star Jamie Gittens could also be on his way to Arsenal if they can see off competition from Chelsea for his signature.

In a crowded market where deals are there to be done, Arteta may have designs on showing their London rivals who the boss is on more than one occasion.

Arsenal readying bid to sign Ajax defender Jorrel Hato

According to TBR, Arsenal are now readying a bid to sign Ajax defender Jorrel Hato after holding talks with the Eredivisie giants over a move for the Netherlands international.

Valued at around £40 million, the Rotterdam-born man is also the subject of interest from Chelsea and Liverpool, with the former also taking part in discussions to bring him to West London.

Jorrel Hato’s strong campaign for Ajax in 2024/25 – Eerdivisie (Fotmob)

Tackles won

36

Chances created

18

Long ball accuracy

60%

Duels won

128

Aerial duels won

51

However, he sees the Emirates as an ideal destination to continue his development and is viewed as someone who would fit Arteta’s philosophy ‘perfectly’ over the coming years.

Labelled “fantastic” by Jordan Henderson,, the 19-year-old has been followed by the Gunners over the last four years and the fact that Kieran Tierney has went back to Celtic alongside potential exits for Zinchenko and Kiwior has made the pursuit come to life.

Riccardo Calafiori and Myles Lewis-Skelly remain as potential left-back options, but Hato would definitely take Arsenal closer to where they need to be if all parties can come to an agreement.

It may have come all too late with regard to Manchester United’s Premier League fortunes, although Ruben Amorim’s first-team squad is beginning to look far stronger, ahead of a pivotal last few weeks of the campaign.

Against Athletic Bilbao on Thursday night, the dominant visitors showcased the growing depth to their ranks, with the former Sporting CP boss able to call upon the likes of Luke Shaw, Kobbie Mainoo, Mason Mount, Matthijs de Ligt and, of course, Amad Diallo from the bench.

At one stage looking set to miss the remainder of the season, after being struck down with an ankle injury back in mid-February, the diminutive Ivorian has beaten the odds to seal a swift return to action.

Previously the shining light of 2024/25, prior to being overtaken by Bruno Fernandes in his absence, the 22-year-old has chalked up 12 goals and assists in just 21 games under Amorim’s watch, having even looked lively during his brief cameo in midweek.

The former Atalanta starlet notably evaded his man down the right flank with a breathtaking piece of skill and trickery late on, with that moment alone signifying just what United have been missing in recent months.

Capable of operating at wing-back or in a number ten berth, the £120k-per-week wizard – who recently signed a new long-term deal – looks set to be a mainstay at Old Trafford for years to come. Now it’s time to start building a team around him…

Latest on Man Utd's transfer search

If Amad’s future is to lie as a number ten, then the role on the opposite side – should Fernandes slot into a deep-lying berth – could be taken up by Matheus Cunha, with the Wolverhampton Wanderers star seemingly edging closer to a £62.5m move to Old Trafford.

That new-look frontline could then be strengthened even further with the presence of a new centre-forward, with recent reports indicating that the Red Devils remain “in the race” for Sporting’s Viktor Gyokeres.

As per Sky Sports Germany reporter, Florian Plettenberg, while it is Arsenal who are “pushing” to sign the prolific Swede, United are among the clubs also battling for his signature, alongside Chelsea and Real Madrid.

Transfer Focus

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

According to Plettenberg, the 26-year-old is able to leave Portugal this summer for a fee between €60-€70m (£51m – £63m), having struck a “verbal agreement” with the Lisbon-based side already.

Previously signed by Amorim from Coventry City on a £17m deal back in 2023, Gyokeres could represent the key to truly kickstarting the new regime in Manchester.

Why Man Utd need to sign the "hottest striker in Europe"

It remains remarkable that the Sweden international was once on the books at Brighton and Hove Albion, yet never actually managed to make a league appearance for the Seagulls, having been sent out on a handful of loan moves during his time at the Amex.

As noted by ESPN’s Mark Ogden, it was actually one-time United director, Dan Ashworth, who oversaw the measly £1m sale of Gyokeres to Coventry in 2021, with the player having since gone on to become the “hottest striker in Europe”.

The in-demand marksman had actually only scored four goals during his initial loan move with the Sky Blues, although as his former teammate Jake Bidwell revealed, he seemingly returned a “different animal” following the completion of his permanent switch.

38 Championship strikes followed over the next two seasons, while Gyokeres has since chalked up a breathtaking total of 95 goals in just 98 games in his current home, including seven across his last two Liga Portugal outings.

A monster. A machine. Whatever you want to call him, the rampaging number nine – who also boasts 15 goals in 26 senior games for his country – is simply devastating right now in front of goal, with it no surprise that Amorim might well be keen on a reunion.

Manager

Games

Goals

Assists

Erik ten Hag

24

3

3

Ruben Amorim

21

6

6

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

8

1

1

Ruud van Nistelrooy

4

2

1

Ralf Rangnick

1

0

0

Michael Carrick

0

0

0

Total

58

12

9

What Gyokeres will need is quality service if he is potentially flourish at the Theatre of Dreams, with Amad – as well as Fernandes – potentially set to prove key in that regard, considering he has averaged 1.8 key passes per game in the league this season, while chalking up six assists, as per Sofascore.

Equally, the one-time Sunderland loanee also has that knack of driving at a defence in order to create space for his teammates, something which could certainly benefit Gyokeres, as he ranks in the top 9% among his European peers for progressive carries per 90.

That desire to make things happen in the final third also ensures that Amad ranks in the top 18% for touches in the opposition penalty box, again ensuring opportunities should arise for those alongside him.

A player who can press from the front with lightning speed, as indicated with his goal against Spurs after charging down Fraser Forster, Amad is simply a player who causes havoc. Someone who sucks defenders toward him.

In truth, having scored just 39 league goals in 2024/25, the Red Devils are crying out for similar talents who can win games on their own. Judging by Gyokeres’ heroics in Lisbon, he certainly fits the bill…

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Manchester United could be about to land a star who would be perfect alongside Bruno Fernandes.

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Stepping up their summer plans, Manchester United are now reportedly expected to submit an opening offer to sign a Serie A midfielder who dominated former Old Trafford star Scott McTominay this season.

INEOS preparing for big summer

Ahead of Ruben Amorim’s first full season in charge, in which he will be forced to operate underneath an even greater spotlight, it’s fair to say that INEOS must get things right on the transfer front.

The Red Devils desperately need to show the door to several stars and are even more desperate for fresh faces to arrive and make their mark at Old Trafford.

Amorim is keen to ensure that his side waste no time before finally turning things around at the club, despite questions around a long-term task.

The former Sporting CP boss told reporters earlier this month: “I understand, but I’m not naïve. I don’t want to think we need a lot of years to be competitive. I can’t think like that, I cannot manage that, it’s not in me. That’s why I’m putting pressure on myself.

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“I know we won’t be the biggest challengers in the next year or two years. We are changing a lot of things inside the club and we know it will take a lot of time, but I will not say I need a lot of years. Next year is our goal. I’m not saying we’re going to win the title in the next year, I’m not crazy.”

What would certainly help accelerate Manchester United’s turnaround is an impressive transfer window – something that INEOS are seemingly planning for.

Already, names such as Liam Delap and James Trafford have been mentioned among those who could yet be on their way to Amorim’s side, but it’s a Serie A midfielder who may well be most likely.

Man Utd expected to submit offer for Ederson

According to TuttomercatoWeb, Manchester United are now expected to submit an official offer to sign Ederson from Atalanta in the coming weeks. The Serie A side reportedly value their midfielder at around €60m (£52m), but it remains to be seen whether United’s pending offer will reach that mark and satisfy the Italians’ requirements.

It should come as no surprise that Atalanta are demanding such a high price, however. If Manchester United kept an eye on academy graduate, turned Napoli star, Scott McTominay, they would have seen Ederson’s quality for themselves earlier this season. The Brazilian dominated the Napoli midfielder in a resounding 3-0 victory.

By the end of the 3-0 thrashing, the Atalanta star had made eight passes into the final third, won 100% of his tackles and completed as many as 10 recoveries. McTominay, meanwhile, was limited to the least amount of touches of any outfield player on the day and won just 50% of his tackles, according to FotMob.

Described as “strong” by South American football expert Tim Vickery, Ederson is exactly the type of combative midfielder that Amorim needs alongside Manuel Ugarte if he is to turn Manchester United around once and for all.

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At the same MCG where, two years ago, 90,293 people had cheered for Kohli, this Boxing Day Test has panned out very differently

Alagappan Muthu27-Dec-2024Virat Kohli got booed at the MCG.Sound at this ground seems to bubble up, like in the old cartoons where witches prepare their potions, the pot frothing away with each new ingredient until one of them makes the whole thing explode.The shoulder barge with Sam Konstas happened between overs. It wasn’t caught live, like Mohammed Siraj’s send-off to Travis Head. That noise was full throated and organic and it was dwarfed on Friday when Kohli nicked off for 36 off 86. The crowd knew what had happened. They didn’t need help from replays on the big screen or nudges on social media. The displeasure was instant and it rolled down like thunder.”BOOOOOOOOOO!”India had gone from 153 for 2 to 154 for 4.Related

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Seven balls earlier, Kohli had been involved in a mix-up and India lost their top-scorer of both the innings and the series. Yashasvi Jaiswal looks up to Kohli. At training, he steps off from facing the bowler to gather his inputs. Here he barely looked at him. They were three feet apart, both stuck at the bowler’s end, and he barely looked at him. To be fair, though, the single wasn’t on. Pat Cummins was too close at mid-on. There was incredulity in Australia’s celebrations, and ferocity in everything they did afterwards. Those last five overs to stumps were pure theatre.Mitchell Starc came back into the attack. The slip cordon sprouted extra people. The idea that a ball could ever be left alone seemed increasingly obtuse. And half-an-hour’s play began to stretch to eternity. Eighty-five thousand people added to the occasion as they synced their hands coming together to the bowler’s feet pounding the turf.Kohli had been able to stay in his bubble for the entire time he was in the middle until right this very moment.Right this very moment, it popped.”He was really disciplined today,” Steven Smith said at the press conference. “He was leaving nicely, making the bowlers come to him a bit more, and scoring well through the leg side and when we went short. So yeah, I thought we were in for a bit of a masterclass there. But fortunately, Barrel [Boland] got one to sort of straighten, probably off the line on that fifth, sixth stump. And it probably was one of the only ones he played at.”Two years ago, Kohli had made 90,293 people sing his name here. A sizeable portion of the 172,389 that have come through the gates on days one and two of the Boxing Day Test have felt very differently. The put a big red ball on his nose and bumped subtlety off a cliff. “Clown Kohli” said the headline. Cutting Stuart Broad out feels less petty now.Australia’s tabloids haven’t shied away from saying what they think about Virat Kohli•The West AustralianKohli was name-checked by the head of the local organising committee for LA 2028 to explain how cricket got into the Olympics. He is the third-most followed sportsperson on Instagram after Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. More to the point, Australia have seen him as their kind of player. Gifted. Positive. Never-give-up. The respect he used to get here wasn’t grudging. It was genuine and it’s eroded because he hasn’t been making runs; far too busy making errors of judgment. There was one at Melbourne airport when he rounded on Australian media for disrespecting his privacy. Another at the ‘G when he disrespected an Australian cricketer’s privacy by making a beeline straight for him.Kohli was in the middle of turning all of that around. For 35 off 83 balls he was pristine. For the last 1 off 3 he was something else. Shaken. Resigned. Done. He didn’t even look back once he edged the ball. His hands just dropped. He just knew.India needed him in the middle when their best batter of the tour, KL Rahul, was dismissed last ball before tea. There were still seven minutes on the clock for the resumption when he and Jaiswal walked out to the dugout. There has always been an eagerness about this batting. It is supposed to translate as wanting to be out there. But it was coming off wanting it too much. The run-out in the dying stages of the second day’s play against New Zealand in Mumbai. Taking guard way in front of his crease in Perth. Chasing after that one cover drive that was supposed to get him into rhythm.On a Melbourne pitch that wanted to patch things up with the batters after putting them through the wringer for the last two or three years, all Kohli had to do was trust himself; trust his training to come through. And it did. The first thing he did once he made it to the crease was practice this leave. People sometimes do the front-foot push just to get a feel of the hands going through to the line of the ball. He’d done enough of that.He’s still popular in Melbourne, mind you, but the local fans’ patience is running thin•Getty ImagesWhen Kohli got off the mark, Cummins looked down at his hands curiously, as if to figure out just how he could bowl on the pads of one of history’s greatest flickers of the ball. He was responding to length a lot better in this innings, actually shifting his weight back when he had to instead of always lunging forward. Even with his leaves.There were a couple that were wide of off stump but he still shifted his weight back, in response to the shorter length, and pulled his bat up. Then there was another against Cummins that was pitched up and on that fifth stump line. He covered his stumps, pressed forward, and then left. The impact point with the ball on the cover drive that brought him his first boundary was right under his eyes. Reaching for the ball has been his forever problem. He wasn’t doing that here. He could only stomach shouldering arms to 34 deliveries across his five previous innings in this Test series. He did it 21 times here, in just two hours at the crease, and it looked so easy. He looked so good.Then came the run-out. Kohli looks for those rapid singles too. He managed one early in his innings, but that time he’d cushioned his shot and the man at short cover meant to prevent the rotation of strike became redundant. Later in his innings, he nudged one off his toes to the left of midwicket, who try as he might, couldn’t get there, and the right of mid-on.”Been stealing doubles since 2012,” he had said during one of his more dour centuries in the West Indies last year, pointing to the act of how he gets going simply by running between the wickets. The glamour shots look good on the reels but singles and twos are the essence of his batting. The fact that it led to his wicket two months ago and his partner’s wicket now – both resulting in the team’s implosion mere minutes before stumps – must be difficult to digest.Kohli got booed out of the MCG. But it almost seemed like he couldn’t hear them.He had looked so good.

Stats highlights from RCB’s thumping 112-run victory against Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur

Sampath Bandarupalli14-May-202359 Rajasthan Royals’ total against Royal Challengers Bangalore is the third lowest in the history of IPL.ESPNcricinfo Ltd10.3 The length of Royals’ innings against RCB, the second shortest all-out innings in the IPL. RCB had lasted only 9.4 overs when they were dismissed for 49 in 2017.112 Royals’ margin of defeat, their first by more than 100 runs. Their previous biggest defeat was against KKR in 2021, when they lost by 86 runs.ESPNcricinfo Ltd4 RCB’s wins by a margin of 100-plus runs in the IPL, the most for any team. Only one other IPL team has won by 100-plus margins more than once – Mumbai Indians (2). All of RCB’s previous wins by 100-plus runs were in Bengaluru.30 Number of wickets RCB have taken in the powerplay so far this season. It is already their best performance in this phase, surpassing 25 powerplay wickets in 2013 and 2018. Gujarat Titans are a distant second with 20 powerplay wickets so far in IPL 2023.4 RCB’s wins in afternoon games this season, a 100% record while batting first. They successfully defended totals of 189 and 171 against Royals, and 174 against Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings.ESPNcricinfo Ltd121 Number of innings Faf du Plessis has taken to score 4000 runs in the IPL. He is the fourth quickest to reach the milestone in terms of innings, behind KL Rahul (105), Chris Gayle (112) and David Warner (114). Du Plessis is also the fourth overseas player to complete 4000 runs after Warner (6255), AB de Villiers (5162) and Gayle (4965).

Soumya Sarkar again pushed up the order in latest of his many roles in the team

Mohammad Isam20-Mar-2021There have been two contrasting views about Soumya Sarkar. Among Bangladesh cricket’s decision-makers, he is believed to be the solution to many of the team’s batting problems. In the first ODI against New Zealand in Dunedin, Sarkar was sent in to bat at No. 3 in place of Najmul Hossain Shanto, who has been recently talked up as the batsman to be given a fair run at this position. Shanto made only 38 runs in Bangladesh’s last ODI series, but today Sarkar lasted just three balls before playing a strange dinky shot to be caught at cover. The other view about Sarkar is that he gets far too many opportunities as he is fitted into every gap that appears in the Bangladesh side. For much of the last 18 months, this group has been mostly correct.After he lost his regular place as an opener around 2018, the team management insisted on having Sarkar as a back-up option. He was flown into the middle of the 2018 Asia Cup campaign as a middle-order batsman. Against Afghanistan during the 2019 Test in Dhaka, Sarkar first opened the innings and then batted at No. 8.A few months later, the Bangladesh team management declared that he was their finisher in T20Is. However, he is yet to play a convincing innings in that position. More recently, his sudden inclusion in the second Test against West Indies sparked a major debate.In Bangladesh’s last international game, the second Test against West Indies last month, Sarkar was suddenly included in the side in place of Shakib Al Hasan even though the regular opener Saif Hassan was in the squad already. He ended up making only 0 and 13.The big – and generic – argument in favour of Sarkar is that he can play pace but it has become a bit hit-or-miss lately. Often the team management has failed to address that Sarkar hasn’t worked out his battles against deliveries outside the off stump.If the plan was to surprise the New Zealand attack, it was with a batsman who hasn’t dominated a pace attack in two years.In this game, Sarkar was walking into a cauldron of swing in the fifth over. Trent Boult had given Tamim Iqbal a memorable working over with unplayable, late-moving outswingers. Iqbal countered with a slashed six and started to look comfortable against Matt Henry at the other end, but Boult lulled him into missing an unsuspecting inswinger. Sarkar lasted all of three balls when he jabbed at one – rather softly – only to be caught at cover.

” Soumya was our sixth bowling option and he was well suited to bat at No. 3 in today’s team. He had played at No. 3 in New Zealand before.”Tamim Iqbal after the first ODI against New Zealand

It was a dismissal reminiscent of how he had missed a Tim Southee inswinger in the third ODI in Dunedin in 2019. On that occasion, Sarkar’s feet were stuck as he tried to waft at the ball that hit the top of off stump. In that game, Bangladesh were reduced to 2 for 3 in the third over, and despite a middle-order revival, went down by 88 runs. This time, they were bowled out for 131 to lose by eight wickets.After the match, Iqbal said that they had to pick Sarkar to be their sixth bowler, and from the XI they chose, only he had the capability to bat at No. 3 as he had done that before in New Zealand.”I know I had said that we are seeing Soumya at No. 7 but if you look at our combination, we didn’t have a sixth bowler,” Iqbal said. “[Mahmudullah] Riyad isn’t bowling because of his back injury. Soumya was our sixth bowling option and he was well suited to bat at No. 3 in today’s team. He had played at No. 3 in New Zealand before.”Soumya Sarkar has failed to make the most of an opportunity at the top of the order•BCBBangladesh’s top three had scored only 65 runs at an average of 7.22 in the ODI series two years ago. Their top order has struggled in New Zealand, averaging between 19 and 32.22 in the three ODI series since 2007. Iqbal has made three fifties in 13 innings while only Imrul Kayes has scored a century. There have also been only four 50-plus stands for the first two wickets.But it is in New Zealand that Bangladesh’s top three should have batted with more discipline. As batsmen used to pitches that offer almost nothing to new-ball bowlers, their real test is on pitches that are often lively – at least in the first hour. New Zealand have also consistently had one of the best bowling attacks in the world in the last two decades, and with Bangladesh’s only foray to that part of the world limited to New Zealand – having hardly ever played in Australia – doing well here should have always been on the top of their agenda.Instead, they have often promoted big-hitters like Aftab Ahmed, Mohammad Ashraful, Sabbir Rahman and Sarkar at No 3. The plan is to blast through the new-ball, but it has almost always failed to give them a good platform.Since early last year, Sarkar has been considered as a big-hitter down the order. He has made a name for himself – even if inconsistently – for his attacking play against fast bowling. One of his most memorable knocks was a 149 against New Zealand in the Hamilton Test during the 2019 tour. But since then, he has had several roles in all three formats, enough to confuse him about his actual job.Ahead of their previous ODI series against West Indies in January, the Bangladesh team management were at pains to explain why they were giving Shakib’s batting spot to Shanto, a left-hander who was yet to transform his great domestic record to the highest level.Shanto, however, has made only 73 runs in five ODIs at No. 3 in the last 12 months. His most recent failures against West Indies – 38 runs in the three ODIs and 40 runs in two Tests – got him dropped for the first game in Dunedin.But Bangladesh have been quite impatient with their No. 3s over the last ten years, with not a single batsman having played more than 23 innings from that position. The biggest example of this impatience was how they ignored Shakib’s tremendous run of form at No. 3 during the 2019 World Cup.Certainly, Shakib’s 606 runs while averaging 86.57 played a major role in Bangladesh winning the three games in the World Cup. It gave their top order not just a settled look, but also consistent aggression with Iqbal and Sarkar often firing alongside Shakib. And in the past decade, overseas ODI series have often hinged a lot on how the top three have batted. When they have done well, it has had a positive effect on the team’s overall performance.The visitors may have to do a rethink about their top three, but how would even going back to Shanto, a young batsman who is yet to play a breakthrough knock, help a team that has already been battered in the first game?

The Guardians, despite their perennially small payroll, are a team that deals in outsized superlatives—the longest World Series drought, the longest no-hitter drought, and the largest in-season comeback in baseball history.

Despite accomplishing the last of those feats this season, Cleveland's 6–3 loss in Game 3 of its wild-card series against the Tigers Thursday ensured the first will continue. The Guardians had a runner on third in the ninth inning of Game 1 trailing by one run and won Game 2—only for the wheels to come off in a Game 3 that laid out the team's litany of flaws.

When the dust settles, Cleveland—rudderless and sub-.500 in early July—can reminisce fondly on essentially stealing a quality year as it phases in a new generation of talent. Here's a look at the problems that cost the Guardians against Detroit and the lessons the losing team can draw from them.

1. An already threadbare offense disappeared

The number ".226" followed Cleveland around like a specter during its short playoff stint—that was the team's batting average this year, the worst in the franchise's long history. The Guardians' .296 on-base percentage was a 53-year low; their .373 slugging percentage was a low for any full season this century. Even in September and October, the team hit just .242.

Lazy an observation as it may be, it is almost impossible to hit as poorly as Cleveland did all year and do protracted damage in the playoffs—even with a pitching staff as effective as the Guardians'. Thus, a one-run lead for the Tigers in Game 1 became insurmountable, and only a big eighth inning could save Cleveland in Game 2.

The Guardians, zealous platoon advocates, gave a glut of at-bats early on to some of their worst hitters: right fielder Johnathan Rodriguez (.197), first baseman Jhonkensy Noel (.162), and catcher Austin Hedges (.161) took seven at-bats combined (Hedges drew two walks in Game 1). When they rolled the dice on young talents such as right fielder George Valera and center fielder Chase DeLauter from Game 2 onward, the offense seemed to receive a modest jolt—perhaps a preview of coming attractions for 2026.

2. Small mistakes proved costly

Cleveland's defense-and-fundamentals-first approach—while undeniably entertaining to watch—had the adverse effect of shrinking the Guardians' margin of error to near zero. The trouble began for Cleveland in the first inning of Game 1, when Rodriguez misplayed a fly ball that opened the door for Detroit to score the first run of the series. Noel, too, made a costly error while playing out of his natural position (though manager Stephen Vogt correctly gave him credit for ensuring the play didn't go even more haywire).

Even third baseman José Ramírez—the Guardians' nerve center for over a decade now and a future first-ballot Hall of Famer—wasn't immune to the blunders Cleveland so carefully avoided late in the season. He ran into a crucial out in the ninth inning of Game 1, and in Game 3 appeared to slow up running to second base after a Tigers error—only for pitcher Will Vest to throw him out and extinguish the Guardians' last significant threat.

3. The Tigers beat them at their own game

On Sept. 23, Cleveland beat Detroit during its furious push for the division title with the help of a classic display of small ball. The Guardians stitched together two bunts, an infield hit, a wild pitch, a balk and a groundout to scrounge out three of their five runs in a 5–2 victory. It was part of a streak where every break in the American League seemed to be vacuumed into a black hole on the shores of Lake Erie.

As it turns out, the Tigers—a team, as ESPN announcers Sean McDonough and Todd Frazier pointed out, had five sacrifice hits —are quick learners. Detroit turned that formula back on Cleveland on multiple occasions this series, taking the lead in Game 1 on a well-placed bunt by third baseman Zach McKinstry (dubbed the "Zachrifice" by the Tigers' X account). Center fielder Parker Meadows, too, chipped in with a critical bunt in Game 3. The moral of this story for the Guardians may be the sheer fungibility of their luck-centric approach over the long term—but Cleveland fans can take heart in the knowledge that their front office's eagerness to control every variable has kept the Guardians one of baseball's most vital organizations for a decade and counting.

Glancing at the box score, Philadelphia Phillies right fielder Nick Castellanos's removal against the Miami Marlins on Monday may not have looked like much. The move, however, appears to have rankled the two-time All-Star.

Castellanos made an inappropriate comment to Phillies manager Rob Thomson that resulted in his benching Tuesday, Thomson told reporters Tuesday via Charlotte Varnes of .

“It’s his decision. He’s the manager," Castellanos said succinctly.

Thus, Tuesday's game will be the first the Hialeah, Fla., native has failed to start since September 2023. In 72 games this season, he's slashing .278/.321/.425 with seven home runs and 36 RBIs.

Castellanos went 1-for-4 Monday in Philadelphia's 5–2 win, which saw him yield right field to veteran Max Kepler.

The Phillies are currently 43-29 on the year—two games behind the first-place New York Mets in the NL East division. Castellanos is in his fourth year with the team; he made the NL All-Star team, his second, in 2023.