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Individual bests abound as little-known young players take chances

ECB Reporters Network19-Aug-2022Taylor Cornall came within three runs of his maiden List A century to lead Worcestershire Rapids to a second win in 48 hours as they overcame Essex Eagles by seven wickets in a Royal London Cup encounter at New Road.Cornall, a left-handed batter in his first season with Worcestershire, followed his 61 in the victory over Northamptonshire with another excellent contribution as the Rapids chased down a 280 target with eight balls to spare.He shared in a decisive second wicket stand of 158 in 28 overs with Gareth Roderick who hit his maiden List A half century for Worcestershire.Cornall was eventually lbw to Luc Benkenstein on 97 but Jake Libby and Ed Barnard saw the Rapids, who had lost their opening five games, over the finishing line during an unbroken stand of 57.Seventeen-year-old Robin Das, and Benkenstein, aged 20, had also achieved their highest scores in competition with 63 and 55 respectively.Worcestershire captain, Jake Libby, opted to bat and Ben Gibbon made the first breakthrough when Josh Rymell drove at the left armer and edged to Ed Pollock at first slip.Essex captain Tom Westley went into the game as his leading run-scorer in the competition with 335 but he went lbw first ball against Dillon Pennington in the next over.Related

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Grant Roelofsen and Feroze Khushi, Essex’s other in-form batters, scored freely in adding 55 in nine overs. But Tongue came into the attack and was rewarded when Roelofsen on 31 went across his stumps and was caught down keeper Ben Cox down the legside.There was more joy for Tongue when Khushi (43) went to pull a delivery that came onto him quicker than expected and Cox running back held onto another legside chance.Worcestershire were firmly in the ascendancy when Nick Browne was run out by Barnard’s direct hit at the non-striker’s after he had turned Pennington to point and set off for a single.Essex were then 132 for 5 and Benkenstein on three had a let off when he inside edged Tongue on his return to the attack and Cox was unable to hold onto the chance.It was a rare error by Cox whose two catches today lifted his dismissals in all cricket to the 600 mark.Tongue’s permitted quota of eight over for his comeback match resulted in encouraging figures of 8-0-41-2.Benkenstein also survived a sharp chance to Barnard at midwicket off Libby and he and Das brought about an Essex recovery during a stand of 83 in 13 overs. It took a good catch by Pollock running around to deep midwicket to break the stand after Das aimed a big blow at Barnard. His List A best 63 off 64 balls contained nine boundaries.Gibbon struck for the second time as Aron Nijjar picked out Tongue at mid on and then Pennington took a good at midwicket to dismiss Benkenstein off his own bowling after he attempted a hook. His 55 was also his best score in List A cricket and came from 59 deliveries with seven boundaries.It became two wickets in two balls for Pennington as Jamal Richards was bowled after playing an expansive drive before some late blows by Shane Snater lifted the final total to 279 for 9.Pollock, recalled in place of the injured Azhar Ali, got the Rapids innings off to a flying start and hit Snater over midwicket for six. He made 34 from 25 balls out of 50 before he pushed forward to Jamal Richards and was bowled.Cornall was joined by Gareth Roderick and the pair batted with great authority and kept the score moving along at the required rate throughout. Cornall raced to a 59 ball half century with Roderick needed only six more deliveries to reach his maiden List A fifty. Seamers and spinners alike were not allowed to settle although Cornall had a life on 67 when he was dropped at midwicket off Toole.Roderick was full of improvisation, twice reverse sweeping Westley for boundaries, but the same stroke eventually brought about his downfall on 76 from 85 balls. He picked out Jamal Richards at point off Benkenstein to end a partnership of 158 in 28 overs with Cornall.All eyes were now on Cornall to see if he could reach three figures but he fell agonisingly short when lbw to Benkenstein and left the field to a standing ovation.

GOAL takes a look at the biggest keys as the USWNT take on Brazil – again – in a rematch of the 2024 Paris Games final

SAN JOSE, Calif. – The U.S. women's national team lived up to expectations in the rematch of the 2024 Olympic gold medal game, defeating Brazil 2-0 in Los Angeles in front of more than 30,000 fans on Saturday.

Now it's time for take two.

On Tuesday, the USWNT will once again face Brazil, this time just north in San Jose. Since winning the Olympics, it's been clear head coach Emma Hayes has been trying out new pairings and lineups each game, tinkering and tweaking as she ultimately builds a team that will compete in the 2027 World Cup.

It's likely that this second friendly will follow suit. The roster has depth in each position, with options in the midfield – whether that be a young Ally Sentnor or an even younger Lily Yohannes. Similarly, up top, Hayes could play Cat Macario, who's hold-up game has been next level, or give Jaedyn Shaw another chance at the nine.

It's all part of the collective growth of the club, as the development continues on and off the pitch.

“I feel at home with this team,” Haye said after the weekend Brazil win. “I feel like I could make a difference, build an environment that I want to be in and the players want to be in and I think it’s pushing me to new heights. When you’re at a club, you can’t breathe. You’ve got a game every three days, you’re on the road."

GOAL takes a look at five key storylines as the USWNT play the second of two friendlies against Brazil.

Getty ImagesAnother go for Phallon Tullis-Joyce?

Manchester United goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce had, without a doubt, the USWNT's best performance in goal since Alyssa Naeher retired from international competition last fall.

The goalkeeper position has been a major question mark for the U.S. side, with some decent, but not secure showings from Jane Campbell and Maddy McGlynn in other games. On Saturday, Tullis-Joyce earned her stripes, making six saves – the most by a U.S. keeper since Naeher’s seven against Germany in the Olympic semifinals. Tullis-Joyce became the 10th goalkeeper in U.S. history to earn a shutout.

The University of Miami graduate was confident in net, coming out big, covering her near post beyond her years, and making saves against a dangerous Brazil frontline. It would be exciting to see her earn another cap on Tuesday, especially after her shutout performance and obvious impact she had on calming and controlling her backline.

Hayes puts a lot of thought into her pairings, down to how her center-backs will respond and communicate with the keeper in net. So if she goes the route of Emily Sams and Emily Sonnet as the two in front of Phallon, rather than Tara McKeown who played on Saturday, they will have had good rapport leading up to the match.

In terms of continuity, seeing Tullis-Joyce again would star to narrow down the keeper search. But Hayes could also switch things up and give one of the others a shot against a very talented Brazil side.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesA new front line

There was little to complain about after watching the USWNT's front line on Saturday. From Macario's hold-up game – handling difficult balls in the air, laying off or turning on a dime – to Alyssa Thompson and Trinity Rodman's pace and creativity on the flank, it was a a near-perfect showing out of the front three.

Despite that, Hayes has other attacking options on her bench.

While Rodman's presence was heard and seen loud and clear – she scored just five minutes into Saturday's match in her first appearance with the USWNT since the Paris Games final – she is still managing her minutes with her back issues. Thompson may get another run, which would surely be an asset to all – yet Hayes may want to see Yazmeen Ryan, who started for the U.S. side during the SheBelieves Cup.

If Rodman doesn't start, or plays limited minutes, will we see more time from Michelle Cooper? Cooper is hungry to be involved in the attack, and every time she's stepped on the pitch for the USWNT she's displayed remarkable work rate, involvement and bravery in the box – and great service.

Thompson and Rodman drove centrally, which worked well against a disciplined Brazil backline. That doesn't come naturally for either, yet that act alone was a major difference maker. Whether it's Cooper or Ryan, that's going to be massive in creating openings for the likes of Macario or Shaw.

Don't overlook Shaw. It's hard to believe, but she actually has more USWNT experience than Macario despite being just 20. And that's the last piece of this frontline – the nine. While Shaw is a natural 10, Hayes may try her again in the nine. Shaw and Macario both have strong hold-up games, and offer physicality and vision up top.

Getty ImagesCenter-back shake up?

The center-back pairing is not final. There are still gaps, and the team clearly misses the injured Naomi Girma. What Girma offers in the backline is someone who can distribute, play to feet, and make connecting passes that break lines.

While both McKeown and Sonnet are exceptional defenders, both with their IQ and just ball-winning ability, they tend to lean towards big clearances and rock-hard tackles, as opposed to playing out of the back.

The other option is Emily Sams. A key part of last year's NWSL championship for the Orlando Pride, she was one of the best center-backs in the league – if not the best. While she can play similarly to McKeown and Sonnett, she has a bit more pace than McKeown – and don't forget, she's teammates with several Brazilian players in Orlando, and knows their style and how to break them down.

Tullis-Joyce was comfortable with Sonnett and McKeown, so it's hard to tell how she'd fare with a different center-back. However all three of them have similar styles.

To the right, Emily Fox is the steadiest option for the USWNT's outside back. The other side is still a bit of a gamble. While Crystal Dunn offers experience, her style isn't necessarily possession-oriented. Perhaps Hayes shakes up that spot with Gisele Thompson or puts Avery Patterson on that side. On Saturday, Patterson earned her first USWNT cap when she subbed in for Fox in the second half.

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Getty ImagesMidfield magic

There's some quality midfield play happening across for Hayes' side. Lindsey Heaps is captaining the squad well, with her grit, ability to win fifty-fifty balls, and just vision to play out of tight spaces. And Sam Coffey is just solid as ever in that holding midfield spot. Coffey is all over the field, winning battles left and right, and doing the work that bobbles the ball up and allows for her attacking teammates to create magic ahead.

Then there are the younger players in the middle. Whether it's Sentnor and her vision for goals or Yohannes and her vision to make services into the final third beyond her years, the USWNT is stacked.

On Tuesday, Hayes could potentially start Yohannes in the spot Sentnor played. Yohannes entered Saturday's match as a calm playmaker, and just made the entire game make sense. She didn't lose the ball, found teammates in dangerous spaces, and did the work defensively.

While Sentnor didn't have a bad performance, Yohannes' precision was needed in a chaotic game.

His 3 for 38 from ten overs helps restrict Yorkshire to 167 for 4 in first innings, 257 behind

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Jul-2022Jack Brooks bit the hand that used to feed him as Somerset gained the upper hand on the second day of the LV= Insurance County Championship match with Yorkshire at Taunton.Facing his former club, the veteran seamer turned back the years with 3 for 38 from ten overs to help restrict them to 167 for 4 in their first innings, 257 runs behind.Tom Kohler-Cadmore hit an unbeaten 68 against the team he will join next season, while Harry Brook was dismissed for 41.Somerset had earlier extended their first-innings score from 262 for 5 to 424 all out, skipper Tom Abell falling for 116, Lewis Gregory making 77 and Kasey Aldridge a career-best 41.Former Somerset off-spinner Dom Bess finished with 4 for 68 and seamer Matthew Waite 3 for 64.The hosts began the day poorly when Abell, having added only two to his score, fell to the second new ball, lbw to a delivery from Waite that thumped into his back pad.Floodlights were on under grey skies as Gregory and Aldridge progressed the innings to 298 for 6 before rain caused a 45 minute delay, with 11 overs overs lost. By lunch, the pair had added a further 26.Gregory reached his half-century with an edged four to third man off Jordan Thompson, having faced 87 balls and hit seven fours.Aldridge grew in confidence from a sketchy start and brought up 350 with an elegant back-foot boundary off Thompson.Gregory smacked Bess for a straight six, but perished trying to repeat the shot, caught at long-on by Adam Lyth with the total on 376.Somerset had settled for four batting points. But Jack Leach dispatched Bess over long-off for six and cleared the ropes again with a reverse sweep off Jack Shutt, who gained revenge by having the England spinner stumped for 16.Brooks was caught behind to give Bess his fourth wicket before Marchant de Lange took six and four off successive balls from Shannon Gabriel.Aldridge was last man out, bowled attempting a big hit off Gabriel, having boosted his reputation with a composed contribution.Adam Lyth began Yorkshire’s reply with two quick boundaries. But, on 13, he drove at Brooks and was picked up at gully by a tumbling Abell.Brooks almost had a second wicket with the total on 36, just failing to hold a low caught and bowled chance, offered by George Hill on 12.Hill didn’t profit for long, advancing to Leach in only his second over and miscuing a running catch to Matt Renshaw at mid-off to make it 55 for two.Kohler-Cadmore had already hit Leach for a straight six and repeated the dose as he and Brook built a half-century stand, off 92 balls.Tall seamer Aldridge produced a tight six-over spell from the Marcus Trescothick Pavilion End. But Brook pulled his replacement, de Lange, over the short leg side boundary as the South African went for 23 from three overs.Leach switched to the same end, only to be dispatched for another six by Kohler-Cadmore. The Yorkshire pair looked in complete control when Brook clipped Brooks off his toes to mid-wicket where Aldridge took a diving catch.The next ball saw Matthew Revis fall lbw on the back foot and suddenly Yorkshire were 129 for 4, with Brooks rampant.Kohler-Cadmore went to fifty off 86 balls, with four fours and four sixes, showing a relish for his future environment. But when bad light ended play two overs early, he faced more important work in the morning.

Manchester United are yet to complete a transfer this month, but they could be about to change that as they are ready to make an offer for a “remarkable” new attacker, according to a report.

Man Utd transfer news

There could be a few big departures from Old Trafford in the next couple of weeks, as the futures of Marcus Rashford, Antony, Casemiro and Christian Eriksen hang in the balance. It would be expected that if one or two of these players leave, then United will enter the market for replacements.

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Antony’s departure could trigger the Red Devils going after Nuno Mendes, as the Paris Saint-Germain defender is high on the list of new left wing-back targets. Talks have already been held with the Portugal international, and United want to accelerate that transfer, as they don’t want to lose out to Real Madrid or Manchester City, who are also interested in signing the 22-year-old.

Meanwhile, Rashford’s potential departure to AC Milan could mean United goes into the market for a new striker or forward-thinking player. It emerged on Monday that the Premier League side are interested in signing Conrad Harder from Sporting CP, as he’s seen as a “plan B” if a deal for Viktor Gyokeres cannot happen.

The Red Devils have also added Nene Dorgeles to their list of targets as talks have been held to get an understanding of the price and package for a deal to happen.

Man Utd ready to make transfer offer to sign £50m international

It’s not just Harder and Dorgeles who United are interested in signing, as TuttoJuve now reports that United are ready to make a transfer offer to sign Randal Kolo Muani from PSG this month.

The 26-year-old France international, who has been dubbed “remarkable” by German legend Lothar Matthäus, has been with the French champions since September 2023, when he made a big-money move from Eintracht Frankfurt after scoring 15 goals and registering 14 assists in 32 Bundesliga games.

Kolo Muani joined PSG as a player who was going to have a bright future at the club, but he has been unable to replicate his best form in France. Last season, it was just six goals in 26 Ligue 1 games, and with only two in 10 this season, PSG are now ready to let the striker leave this month.

Apps

54

Goals

11

Assists

7

TuttoJuve reports that Juventus are considered to be close to signing the Frenchman, but it is not a done deal. German giants Borussia Dortmund have recently joined the list of potential suitors, but according to this report, there could be further twists.

That is because INEOS have not given up on the idea of giving Kolo Muani to Ruben Amorim, and they are “ready” to make their first offer to sign the striker this month. It just remains unclear if this offer would be for a permanent switch or a loan deal, as PSG are said to want £50 million for the forward.

PSG survived an almighty scare in the Coupe de France as they booked their place in the final of the competition, keeping their quadruple hopes alive.

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Dembele scores twice in 4-2 victoryCan wrap up Ligue 1 title on SaturdayHave also equalled Milan's stunning away recordFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

France international Dembele was the hero as PSG battled back from conceding two goals inside the opening 27 minutes to beat Ligue 2 side Dunkerque 4-2 and book their place in the final of the Coupe de France. Indeed, it was the 27-year-old who sparked the comeback, scoring his first in the 45th minute before adding PSG's fourth, after goals from Marquinhos and Desire Doue, late on to seal the victory.

AdvertisementAFPTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The win ensures Luis Enrique's side have a chance of winning a quadruple of trophies in 2024-25, with PSG 21 points clear at the top of the Ligue 1 table, while they're also in the quarter-final of the Champions League, have already won the French Super Cup and are now just one win away from Coupe de France glory.

DID YOU KNOW?

PSG are among the most in-form teams across Europe's top five leagues and after thrashing Ligue 1 rivals Saint-Etienne 6-1 away from home over the weekend, they equalled AC Milan's record that has stood for over three decades. Having now made it 38 consecutive away games in the French top-flight without losing, they can break Milan's record from way back in 1993 if they avoid defeat to Nantes on April 22.

AFPWHAT NEXT FOR PSG?

Luis Enrique's men will win the Ligue 1 title on Saturday, should they earn at least a point against 14th-placed Angers at Parc des Princes. The Champions League will then become the focus, with PSG facing Aston Villa at home in the first leg of their quarter-final tie on April 9.

The January transfer window officially opened for business on Wednesday and Leeds United now have the chance to dip into the market to bolster their squad heading into the second half of the season.

Daniel Farke’s side are currently one point clear at the top of the Championship table, ahead of both Sheffield United and Burnley who are locked on 52 points, after 26 matches.

The Whites will have automatic promotion as their goal this season after they dropped into the play-offs and, ultimately, lost to Southampton at Wembley last term.

Farke will hope to avoid the lottery of the play-offs by finishing in the top two, hopefully in first, to go straight up to the Premier League after 46 games.

The German head coach, who won two Championship titles during his time with Norwich City, could look to use the January transfer window to give his side the best chance of achieving automatic promotion.

However, he does already have a number of star players who are regularly contributing to the team’s success, hence why they are top of the league, and Pascal Struijk is one of them.

Pascal Struijk's performances this season

The left-footed central defender suffered a groin injury in December 2023 and ended up missing the final 27 matches in all competitions of the 2023/24 campaign.

That meant that Struijk did not play a part in Leeds dropping into the play-off places, rather than finishing in the top two, or in the 1-0 loss to Southampton in the final at Wembley.

The 25-year-old star returned from that injury in pre-season and immediately worked his way back into Farke’s starting XI, starting 24 of the club’s 26 league matches this term.

As you can see in the highlights above, Struijk scored his third goal of the Championship season to put Leeds 1-0 up against Blackburn Rovers from the penalty spot in his last outing.

The Dutch titan is prepared to step up when the Whites need him most, as shown by him having the composure to perform in a pressurised situation with two minutes to go at 0-0 in that match, but his teammates let him down 90 seconds later when Danny Batth equalised.

Struijk has also excelled defensively throughout the season so far and outperformed his centre-back partner Joe Rodon with his performances for the West Yorkshire outfit.

Appearances

26

24

Tackles + interceptions

1.4

2.9

Ball recoveries per game

4.0

4.2

Duel success rate

56%

60%

Error led to shot/goal

2

0

Penalties committed

1

0

As you can see in the table above, the Dutchman has been more dominant in winning duels and making interventions for Leeds, whilst also not making a single direct error, compared to Rodon’s three – including giving away a penalty away at Norwich.

Leeds could land a dream signing for Struijk and an upgrade on the Wales international by swooping to sign one of their reported targets in the January transfer window.

Leeds United's interest in Ligue 1 defender

French outlet Top Mercato reported last month that Leeds have already made an offer to sign Abdukodir Khusanov from RC Lens for a fee of €20m (£16.6m).

However, the Ligue 1 outfit are said to be looking for a fee within the region of €30m (£25m) in order to part ways with the impressive 20-year-old prospect, who has emerged as a key player this season.

The report added that Premier League sides Tottenham Hotspur, Leicester City, Newcastle United, and Manchester City are also showing an interest in the young star, along with French giants Paris Saint-Germain.

It is strange to see Leeds’ name mentioned alongside these European giants, as well as Premier League outfit Leicester, but they may feel that they could tempt him because of their ongoing push to get promoted back to the top-flight.

If the Whites have made an offer to sign the right-footed defender, Leeds could go down the route of an initial loan deal with the obligation for it to become permanent if they are promoted, which would provide a safety net for both parties if it does not work out.

However, Lens are demanding a huge sum of money for his services and may not want to send him out on loan with the prospect of potentially not getting any money for him in the summer.

Why Abdukodir Khusanov would be a dream for Pascal Struijk

Leeds should push to get a deal done for the £25m-rated star, whether that is this month or in the summer if they can secure promotion, as he could be a dream signing for Struijk at the heart of the defence.

The 20-year-old colossus has started 11 times in Ligue 1 for Lens this season and showcased his quality in and out of possession for the French outfit.

He currently ranks within the top 38% of centre-backs in the league for progressive passes per 90 (3.97), which shows that the youngster could be well-suited to Farke’s possession-based system and share the load with Struijk when it comes to playing out from the back.

Khusanov, who was described as a “future legend” of football in Uzbekistan by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has also proven himself to be a dominant defensive force at the back in the French top-flight this season and could come in as an upgrade on Rodon.

Appearances

25

13

Tackles + interceptions

1.4

3.2

Clearances per game

4.0

4.3

Duel success rate

56%

61%

Aerial duel success rate

54%

70%

Error led to shot/goal

2

0

Penalties committed

1

1

As you can see in the table above, the Lens star has won a higher percentage of his duels and been far more impressive in his aerial contests, which could improve Farke’s team from set-pieces – after they conceded from one against Blackburn.

Khusanov has also averaged more than twice as many tackles and interceptions per match, showing that he constantly looks to step in to win possession back for his side.

Leeds could land bigger talent than McAtee in move for "game-changing" star

Leeds United could find a better alternative to James McAtee by signing this star.

ByDan Emery Dec 31, 2024

Overall, Struijk could love playing next to the 20-year-old ace because he is comfortable passing out from the back and dominant defensively, which could make it easy for the Dutchman to play alongside him.

The home side needs one of the top order to convert a start into a substantial score

Andrew McGlashan10-Jun-2022Big PictureThe tour has moved to the hill country of Kandy for the final T20I and opening games of the ODI series. Australia wrapped up their first trophy of the trip in barely 24 hours with back-to-back wins in Colombo, although the second one came in an untidy chase that was a reminder of previous collapses against spin on the subcontinent.But their bowling, led by Josh Hazlewood, has been very impressive and Jhye Richardson’s return seamlessly covered the absence of Mitchell Starc who will continue to be sidelined by his badly cut finger.Sri Lanka have to find a way to put more runs on the board to give their attack a reasonable total to bowl at. As they showed in the second match, and on the tour of Australia earlier this year, they can cause plenty of uneasy moments but it’s rare that totals of 120 will be enough even when Wanindu Hasaranga can spin a web.Related

Hasaranga: 'We have to bring our batting and bowling up to the same level'

Starc to miss third T20I against Sri Lanka with finger injury, in doubt for ODIs

Recent form(last five matches, most recent first)Sri Lanka LLLLL
Australia WWWLWIn the spotlightDasun Shanaka had appeared to make significant strides in his middle-order batting role during the series against India in February where, although Sri Lanka lost, he made 47 off 19 balls and 74 off 38 in the last two matches. But it’s not gone so well against Australia with a second-ball duck then 14 off 17 deliveries in the second outing. He has also stopped using himself with the ball.The last time Australia played a T20I in Pallekele, Glenn Maxwell hit the small matter of 145 off 65 balls – the only two occasions he has opened in T20Is came on that tour and he followed the century with 66 in Colombo. He had the chance to take his side to victory two days ago, but picking out long-off in Hasaranga’s last over heaped pressure on the chase especially when Ashton Agar then fell first ball. Although he was Player of the Series against Sri Lanka in February it has been a little while since he has cut loose with full effect for Australia.Team newsThe home side has been unchanged so far and may give the batting line-up one more chance, but if they wanted to freshen things up the uncapped Nuwanidu Fernando would be an option. Chamika Karunaratne wasn’t used with the ball on Wednesday so they may also consider the balance of the attack. Kasun Rajitha (left hip) and Matheesha Pathirana (right elbow) have both been ruled out with injury but were unlikely to play. Asitha Fernando and Pramod Madushan have been called in as cover.Sri Lanka (possible) 1 Pathum Nissanka, 2 Danushka Gunathilaka, 3 Charith Asalanka, 4 Kusal Mendis (wk), 5 Bhanuka Rajapaksa, 6 Dasun Shanaka (capt), 7 Wanindu Hasaranga, 8 Chamika Karunaratne, 9 Dushmantha Chameera, 10 Maheesh Theekshana, 11 Nuwan ThusharaAustralia could go with an unchanged team as Starc continues to be sidelined with injuryAustralia (possible) 1 Aaron Finch (capt), 2 David Warner, 3 Mitchell Marsh, 4 Glenn Maxwell, 5 Steven Smith, 6 Marcus Stoinis, 7 Matthew Wade (wk), 8 Ashton Agar, 9 Jhye Richardson, 10 Kane Richardson, 11 Josh HazlewoodPitch and conditionsThis is the first T20I played in Pallekele since before the pandemic but history would suggest a chance of a reasonably high-scoring affair with the ground among the fastest scoring in the world.Stats and trivia Charith Asalanka needs five runs for 500 in T20Is; Dushmantha Chameera needs two wickets to reach 50 Hazlewood’s 12 wickets at 10.25 against Sri Lanka make them his most successful opponent in T20Is and he concedes just 5.12 per over.

If Mumbai win, Royal Challengers will qualify for playoffs

Sruthi Ravindranath20-May-2022Big pictureRoyal Challengers Bangalore fans have been sending out pleas to Mumbai Indians on social media platforms. Putting aside the rivalries and schadenfreude from the past, they will be supporting Mumbai, at least for a day. In a bid to stay alive in the competition, Royal Challengers have accomplished what was in their control – beat Gujarat Titans in their last league match. They’ve knocked Sunrisers Hyderabad and Punjab Kings out of the tournament, and now have just Delhi Capitals to worry about. It’s simple: if Capitals beat Mumbai on Saturday, it’s all over for Royal Challengers.Watch live in the USA

If you’re in the USA, you can watch the match live on ESPN+.

Or, to put it the other way, Capitals’ fate is in their own hands. After a huge loss against Chennai Super Kings, they came back to win their next two matches convincingly. Their net run rate of 0.255 adds to their advantage.Mitchell Marsh, in the last few games, has been the backbone of the batting line-up, while David Warner has served up a few Warner specials this season. With Prithvi Shaw out with illness, they have had to make some changes at the top, but Sarfaraz Khan’s striking in the last match is likely to convince the management to persist with him. The bowling unit has regrouped well in the last couple of games after they were taken apart by Super Kings. However, all eyes will be on captain Rishabh Pant, who hasn’t been at his best this season. Can Pant help Capitals land a knockout blow on Royal Challengers and write himself a redemption story?Mumbai have had a dismal season, but they have been quite unpredictable in their last few games. They put an end to Super Kings’ playoff hopes by handing them a thrashing. They also beat Rajasthan Royals and table-toppers Gujarat Titans in back-to-back games. They even came so close to winning against Sunrisers. Despite enduring their worst-ever IPL season, Mumbai want to go out on a high, their captain Rohit Sharma had said after their match against Sunrisers. While they would want to rework their core group for the next season, they will also have a few positives to reflect on, especially Tim David’s contributions in the middle order and the emergence of young Tilak Varma, who is currently their highest run-getter this season.In the newsShaw, who has been discharged from the hospital after recovering from typhoid, is unlikely to be available for this game too. While he has rejoined the Capitals camp, assistant coach Shane Watson had said earlier that Shaw might not be available for the rest of the league games.Likely XIsMumbai Indians: 1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 Ishan Kishan (wk), 3 Tilak Varma, 4 Ramandeep Singh, 5 Tristan Stubbs, 6 Tim David, 7 Daniel Sams, 8 Sanjay Yadav, 9 Jasprit Bumrah, 10 Riley Meredith, 11 Murugan Ashwin/Mayank MarkandeDelhi Capitals: 1 David Warner, 2 Sarfaraz Khan, 3 Mitchell Marsh, 4 Rishabh Pant (capt & wk), 5 Lalit Yadav, 6 Rovman Powell, 7 Axar Patel, 8 Shardul Thakur, 9 Kuldeep Yadav, 10 Anrich Nortje, 11 Khaleel AhmedStrategy puntMarsh has looked in good touch, scoring fifties in the last two games. He has the experience of playing under pressure – a recent example being his performances for Australia at the T20 World Cup last year. While he has done well against quicks this season, scoring at a strike rate of 152.54 and averaging 60, he has significantly slowed down against spinners. He has scored just 71 runs off 70 balls against spin, in addition to being dismissed thrice. Mumbai can deploy spin from both ends when Marsh is at the crease to keep him quiet.Stats that matter Pant has been dismissed six times in 12 innings by Jasprit Bumrah in T20s – the most number of times he has got out to a bowler in the format. Kieron Pollard’s average of 14.40 and strike rate of 107.46 are his worst in a single IPL season. Daniel Sams is one short of 100 wickets in T20s.

Aston Villa are back in action in the Premier League once again this afternoon as they prepare to welcome Manchester City to Birmingham in the early kick-off.

The Villans will be hoping to bounce back from their 2-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest at the City Ground last time out, and are up against a team that is struggling.

It is not often that you can say that Pep Guardiola’s team are vulnerable, but that is the case right now. The Cityzens have only won one of their last 11 matches in all competitions, losing eight of those games.

This shows that this is a winnable match against the reigning Premier League champions and that the Villans are playing them at a good time, before they have a chance to strengthen in the January transfer window next month.

Unai Emery’s side will have to play better than they did in their last match in the league, though, as goals from Nikola Milenkovic and Anthony Elanga in the final ten minutes of the game, including stoppage time, secured a 2-1 win for Forest.

The Spanish head coach could look to make some changes to his starting XI from that defeat, starting with dropping Morgan Rogers from the side.

Why Morgan Rogers should be dropped

The England international has only produced one goal and zero assists in his last 11 appearances in all competitions for club and country, and has gone three matches without a goal contribution.

Rogers has lost possession a whopping 51 times without scoring or assisting a goal for the Villans in the last three games in all competitions, which shows that he has been wasteful on the ball without offering much in the final third to make up for it.

The former Middlesbrough star has been a regular starter in the number ten position for Villa and produced some great moments at times, with four goals and six ‘big chances’ created in 16 appearances in the Premier League.

He has not been at the peak of his attacking powers in recent weeks, though, and that is illustrated by his one goal involvement in 11 games for Villa.

Minutes

90

Shots on target

0

Big chances created

0

Pass accuracy

77%

Duels won

6/18

Possession lost

16x

As you can see in the table above, Rogers struggled badly in the defeat to Nottingham Forest last time out, with both his work in and out of possession.

The 22-year-old star was bullied by the Forest defenders, losing a staggering 12 of his 18 duels throughout the match, and did not contribute with a single shot on target or ‘big chance’ created for his teammates.

Emery should, therefore, drop him to the bench for this clash with Manchester City and make the bold decision to unleash the rarely-seen Emiliano Buendia from the start.

Emi Buendia's struggles with Villa

The Argentine wizard has not started any of his seven appearances in the Premier League this season, and did not make a single appearance in the division during the 2023/24 campaign.

He suffered a knee injury in August 2023 that kept him out for 327 days and 56 competitive games for Villa, which he finally returned from for pre-season ahead of the current term.

Buendia has scored one goal in 12 matches for the club in all competitions but only played 231 minutes in those outings, which shows that the attacking midfielder has not had too many opportunities to shine.

He did drop down to the U21 side earlier in the season to play against Fleetwood in the EFL trophy, though, and caught the eye with his performance in the middle of the park.

Minutes

77

Shots on target

3

Goals

2

Duels won

6/10

Pass accuracy

85%

As you can see in the table above, the Villa number ten was a step above the rest in that match, scoring two goals in a 3-2 win for the young Villans.

Emery must, now, consider unleashing Buendia from the start for the first time in the Premier League this season, because Rogers has struggled of late and the Argentine magician has punished Manchester City with his quality on and off the ball in the past.

Emi Buendia magic against Manchester City

Back in the 2019/20 campaign, the mercurial playmaker was playing for Norwich City and played a huge role in their sensational 3-2 win over City.

The Cityzens were on an 18-match unbeaten run in the Premier League before they travelled to Carrow Road in September 2019 and were met with an impressive Canaries team featuring Buendia as part of their attack.

As you can see in the highlights above, Daniel Farke’s Norwich side pulled off a shock result, beating the champions 3-2 at Carrow Road shortly after their promotion to the Premier League.

Those highlights also show how involved Buendia was in the match. The Argentine dynamo played a key role in all three of the goals, including a brilliant flick over now-Ballon d’Or-winning midfielder Rodri in the build-up to the second goal.

Minutes

83

Big chances created

1

Assists

2

Dribbles completed

5/6

Duels won

10

Tackles won

4

As you can see in the table above, the Norwich star showed off his quality in and out of possession, by winning ten duels and four tackles to go along with his contributions to the three goals.

Whilst this was a number of years ago, Ederson, John Stones, Kyle Walker, and Ilkay Gundogan – who could all feature for City today – all started that match against the Canaries.

Buendia has the quality to step up on the big stage, as shown by that performance, and has offered glimpses – in the EFL Trophy – of a return to form after his injury this season.

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Therefore, Emery should gamble on the rarely-seen star and drop Rogers, who has struggled, from the starting XI for the clash this afternoon.

Japan have confirmed their place in the 2026 World Cup after beating Bahrain 2-0 as they sit top of Group C of AFC qualifying.

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Japan beat Bahrain with Kamada and Kubo goalsSamurai Blue qualify for the 2026 FIFA World CupBecome the first non-host to qualify for tournamentFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED?

Japan have officially become the first non-host side to qualify for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada. The Samurai Blue confirmed their presence in the prestigious tournament on Thursday evening at Saitama Stadium with a 2-0 win over Bahrain, with second-half goals from Crystal Palace's Daichi Kamada and Real Sociedad's Takefusa Kubo.

AdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE

In seven games in the third round of the AFC World Cup Qualifiers, Japan have snatched six wins and drawn once, against Australia. The Socceroos remain second in the standings and have a four-point lead over the other teams in contention for the second qualification spot in Group C.

Getty Images SportDID YOU KNOW?

Japan have now qualified for the World Cup for the seventh straight time, having always made it to the World Cup since their first appearance in 1998. The Samurai Blue have now further cemented their place as the Asian team with the most World Cup appearances, only behind South Korea.

WHAT NEXT FOR JAPAN?

Japan will now only have the job of focusing on improving their side without the added pressure of building up a qualification bid. The World Cup is set to start on June 11, 2026.