Category Uncategorized

A victory in the opening match of the Championship season will inevitably have supporters quietly asking themselves if this could be the year

George Dobell at Taunton22-Apr-20182:57

Defending champions Essex off the mark

ScorecardExperience should have taught Somerset supporters better. Years of near misses have tempered expectations at Taunton and they remain, painfully, one of just three of the first-class counties never to have won the County Championship title. Northamptonshire and Gloucestershire are the other two.They’ve been second a few times. Including, in 2010, when they finished on the same number of points as the winners (Nottinghamshire) but missed out on the basis of having won fewer games. A period in which they were second so often in so many different competitions that it led to a sense of fatalistic acceptance. Such experiences tend to leave scars.And yet… somehow, at this time of year, the hope like the sap rises. A victory in the opening match of the Championship season – the first time they have managed that since 2012 – will inevitably have supporters quietly asking themselves – in weak moments and against their better judgement – if this could be the year. Not many, not even the most fervent supporters of other clubs, would begrudge them.There were encouraging signs here, certainly. It must have been some time since Somerset won a home again without their spinners taking a wicket. Or, indeed, bowling until 39 wickets had already fallen in the match. They have several skilful seamers who, in this second innings in particular, harnessed the conditions very well. Matt Renshaw, too, settled in quickly and may prove to be an astute overseas signing. They have now won three in a row at home.But Somerset will know that life is going to get much harder. Worcestershire, for all the all-round excellence of Ed Barnard, produced two flimsy displays with the bat – Tom Fell has not scored a half-century in any form of the game since September 2016, Brett D’Oliveira has scored 10 in four Championship innings so far this season and George Rhodes has two runs in his last three innings – and dropped several chances. Crucially, James Hildreth was put down twice in each innings.And Somerset will know that, against more resolute opposition, their own frailties may be exploited. Their batting, to some extent masked in this match by Renshaw’s resilience and Hildreth taking his chances so well, remains a concern, while Marcus Trescothick is starting to become a bit of a worry at slip. He put down two chances in Worcestershire’s second innings and might have been a touch slow to go for a couple that might be termed half-chances. When you’re aged 42, people will start to ask questions though it is true that slip fielders of all ages drop chances.There was just a touch of controversy at the end of the match. Steve Magoffin, clearly struggling with a hamstring injury, failed to make his ground when attempting a second run and was beaten by Renshaw’s throw from the cover boundary in front of the Caddick Pavilion. Those close to that boundary – and the dressing rooms of both sides overlook it – insisted that one foot was over the rope when he intercepted the ball leaving Joe Leach, the Worcestershire captain, to politely but clearly remonstrate with the umpires.To be fair to Renshaw, who as a replacement for Cameron Bancroft must be desperate to avoid any negative publicity, he might not have known his foot had crossed the rope. There was no way the umpires or most of those in the crowd could tell, though those close to the incident seemed pretty certain. As a local wag put it: “He was so far over, he was in bloody Dorset.”Leach was pretty philosophical about it. He accepted Worcestershire’s fielding was more relevant to this result than Renshaw’s but frustrated that, for all the glimpses of quality his side have shown in their first two games, they have lost two from two and find themselves already a little off the pace”As we lost by more than 80 runs, the run-out probably wouldn’t have made any difference,” he admitted. “But there have been big last-wicket partnerships and you never know.”In the end our fielding has cost us the game. We’ve let ourselves down. I don’t know how many catches we dropped, but it was too many, and if you drop six or seven chances you’re going to struggle. In both our opening games we have had periods of control and I have no doubts about our ability to compete in the First Division as the season progresses.”Not for a moment did it appear Worcestershire would chase down their target of 279. Lewis Gregory claimed two wickets in his opening spell, Travis Head flashed at one off the back foot and, while Barnard added 74 for the last two wickets, it always looked likely to be too little, too late.Gregory bowled beautifully in that first spell. Having sneaked one through the gap between Daryl Mitchell’s bat and pad to knock out both off and middle stumps, he set up Joe Clarke with a series of outswingers and trapped him with one that tailed back just a little.He later denied any knowledge of an approach from another club, though Jason Kerr – Somerset’s head coach – admitted it was “inevitable” and confirmed Gregory had been offered a new contract at Somerset. “He wants some time to think about it and that’s okay,” Kerr said. “We’re in discussions.”Somerset, meanwhile, are awaiting news of scans on Jamie Overton and Eddie Byrom, who dislocated his shoulder while fielding.It will be no consolation to Worcestershire, but this match was, in many ways, the perfect antidote to news from elsewhere in the game over recent days. To see two teams stuffed with home-grown players – there were nine in the Worcestershire side and six in Somerset’s – contesting an entertaining match in front of a good number of spectators (more than 5,000 over the three days) was heartening.For those of us who aren’t entirely sure what a Kardashian is, don’t recognise who the ‘celebrities’ entering the jungle are and don’t much care whether they leave it or not, it was a reminder that this great game doesn’t need too many gimmicks to retain its charm or value. If only those that run our sport believed in it as much as those that watch it.

When Dinesh Karthik scythed that final delivery for six, the release from the fans was one of unbridled ecstasy. Sri Lankan and Indian fans were embracing each other in kinship

Madushka Balasuriya19-Mar-2018

The enemy of my enemy is my friend. So goes the ancient Sanskrit proverb that for Sri Lankan cricket fans has probably, during the better part of the last two decades, been exhaustively internalised when it comes to drawing allegiances in neutral contests involving India.Exactly how that became the case though is unclear. Circa 1996 there was genuine camaraderie between the two sets of fans, and while certainly the antipathy between them has grown in recent times – no doubt accelerated by India’s recent sporting superiority – there was always a sense over the years that Sri Lankan supporters took an undue amount of pleasure from India’s failures.As such, when Bangladesh eventually sit down to take notes on what went wrong in Sunday’s dramatic and heart-wrenching final defeat to India, there is one moment in particular that they might come to rue. In the aftermath of that now-notorious disagreement over a no-ball, it was not just a dressing room door that was shattered, they had also lost any potential Sri Lankan home support.As the teams took to the field, murmurs were heard of Sri Lankan fans – some 20,000 of them – turning up for the final in support of India.”We don’t expect the away crowd to support us. We were not focusing on that,” a dismissive Shakib Al Hasan said after a game in which the partisan support was bordering on the surreal.”It would have been nice if they had supported us but these things can happen. We were not worried about who was supporting whom. It was important for us to play some good cricket on the field.”While Shakib’s take may well be an honest reflection on events, it fails to account for the impact such fervent support had on a fairly inexperienced Indian outfit. Buoyed by the ‘home’ support, India put in their best fielding display of tournament. The team threw themselves at every delivery, with even Suresh Raina, who had been guilty of several errors earlier in the tournament, seen racing towards the ball like a hare at a dog race.”The crowd was brilliant, it was magnificent. We didn’t feel that we were playing outside India,” India captain Rohit Sharma said. He wasn’t wrong.As the match drew to its conclusion, the tension in the stadium was arguably at a higher plane than at any point during a game involving Sri Lanka this tournament. Every Indian piece of fielding, every wicket by an Indian bowler, every dot ball was cheered by a bouncing Khettarama stadium.With the bat, Indian boundaries were willed across the ropes, while wickets were mourned with deathly silence. Even the stadium DJ was in on it, his loyalty clear for all to see, as he repeatedly failed to play music after a Bangladesh boundary.”They came out in large numbers and their support was very crucial,” Rohit said. “It is always good when you get that support, just to get you going, it is very important. They supported us throughout the course of 40 overs. Even when we were bowling and making those stops, and when we started off batting, they were there for us.”While it would be tempting to draw a line under this sudden shift in allegiance down to the mere dislike of Bangladesh, it’s definitely something that has been rolling along unspoken in the background for a while now.The upswing in relations might have begun on India’s tour of Sri Lanka last year, where Virat Kohli’s image underwent significant rehabilitation in the eyes of Sri Lankan fans. There was already begrudging respect for Kohli the cricketer on the field, but his numerous match-winning efforts against Sri Lanka had made him an easy villain.However, with Kohli and his team-mates immersing themselves in the local culture on that tour – with a strong social media offensive to boot – that begrudging respect steadily began to evolve into a begrudging fondness. The sporting animosity was also thawing, as fans’ acceptance of the dismal run Sri Lanka Cricket was going through allowed them to appreciate the quality of Indian cricket unabashed.That journey eventually came to a head on Sunday night. When Dinesh Karthik scythed that final delivery for six, the release from the fans was one of unbridled ecstasy. Sri Lankan and Indian fans were seen in droves performing the now iconic (cobra) dance, and embracing each other in kinship. Bonds were being formed; even Sri Lanka’s most iconic supporter, Percy, was seen joining the Indian side on their lap of honour.All the while firecrackers – reserved usually for Sri Lankan wins – were set outside the stadium and in the distance. As Hindi music blared in the background, Colombo was awash with the sounds of a once great friendship being rekindled.

Arsenal are weighing up their defensive options ahead of transfer deadline day, as Mikel Arteta prepares to add to his backline following the injury to Jurrien Timber.

The Dutchman was injured just 50 minutes into the Premier League season, leaving the Gunners short at the back once more, however, another potential replacement for the 22-year-old has emerged.

With just over three days left to do business in the transfer window, it’s expected to be a busy period of both incomings and outgoings at the Emirates.

Who could Arsenal sign this summer?

Taking into consideration the injury to Timber and the expected sale of Rob Holding, Arsenal could be two centre-backs short by the time the window is closed.

Read the latest Arsenal transfer news HERE…

According to FootballTransfers, a new target has been revealed in the form of Barcelona ace Eric Garcia.

The report claims that the Gunners are ‘working to sign’ the centre-back, who is said to fit the requirements wanted from Arteta to fill the gap left by Timber.

Considering Barcelona’s financial woes, it’s added that the Catalan giants would ‘prefer to sell’ the 22-year-old rather than loan him out, with FootballTransfers valuing him at €26.6m (£23m).

Earlier in the window, reports from Spain (via Football365) reported that Nou Camp president Joan Laporta was looking for around €20m (£17m).

How good is Eric Garcia?

Having learned the art of the game through the guidance of Pep Guardiola and the infamous La Masia set-up, Garcia’s footballing brain is one expected of a player moulded by such influences.

In 2017, the Spaniard departed the comforts of La Masia to endeavour a challenge in England, joining Manchester City’s academy at U18 level.

Four years and 19 Premier League appearances later, the defender ventured back to the Camp Nou, where he has since recorded 52 La Liga appearances for his boyhood club.

Now, the 22-year-old could be on course to add to his Premier League tally, with Arsenal’s interest presenting a potentially exciting move for the Gunners, who could hugely benefit from the youngster's arrival.

Having been hailed as a “monster” with an “elegant” streak to his game by scout Jacek Kulig, the Spaniard could replicate a fellow defensive signing that has proved to be a monumental hit at the Emirates.

William Saliba arrived in north London back in 2019 and journeyed through three loan spells before making a senior appearance for Arsenal in order to gain vital experience.

At 22, the Frenchman has asserted himself as one of Arteta’s most important players and one of the Premier League’s most impressive central defenders.

In capturing the talent of Garcia, the Spaniard could encapsulate the qualities and youthful spark of Saliba in a move that could be fundamental to the north Londoners’ title hopes.

While the two centre-backs are strong in their defensive duties, both players excel in areas relating to their distribution from the heart of defence.

As per FBref, last season Saliba averaged an assured pass completion rate of 91.0% per 90, as well as recording an average 3.69 progressive passes per 90.

Such numbers were similarly recorded by Garcia, who averaged a 90.9% pass completion rate and a mammoth 6.67 progressive passes per 90, showcasing the similarities in their playing styles.

Therefore, the Barcelona gem could be the perfect fit for Arteta’s set-up, as highlighted by his strengths lying in mirrored areas to the Spaniard’s favoured defender, making him the ideal candidate to install at the Emirates alongside another player of his mould, in the form of fan-favourite Saliba.

West Bromwich Albion are now eyeing a move for Reading left-back Nesta Guinness-Walker, with a new report revealing they could stand a good chance of signing him…

What's the latest West Brom transfer news?

With less than two weeks remaining of the summer transfer window, Carlos Corberan is still keen on bringing in new reinforcements, particularly in defence, with Football Insider reporting West Brom are keen on Millwall defender Jake Cooper.

As the 28-year-old is now entering the final year of his contract with the Championship outfit, a number of clubs are hoping to land him for a cut-price fee, with Leeds Untied and Rangers also being named as potential suitors.

Financial constraints have hindered the Baggies' ability to bring in the players they would have liked, but they could also make a move for Nottingham Forest midfielder Lewis O'Brien, who will now be allowed to go on loan to the Championship.

However, Corberan's main priority appears to be strengthening his defence, and West Brom are now eyeing a move for Reading left-back Guinness-Walker, amid a financial crisis at the Select Car Leasing Stadium, according to a report from Football Insider.

The Royals have informed senior players, including the left-back, that they may be sold to raise funds, and the Baggies are ready to seize the opportunity to take him to the Hawthorns.

With Reading desperately trying to balance the books, Corberan has been presented with the perfect opportunity to bring in a new defender, however there may be competition for his signature.

Blackburn Rovers are also credited with an interest in the 23-year-old, with Jon Dahl Tomasson looking to add some late signings to his squad before the deadline on September 1st, so West Brom will have to see off competition from their Championship rivals.

Who is Nesta Guinness-Walker?

Born in Twickenham, the Englishman made his first professional appearance for Metropolitan Police in the FA Cup, before going on to earn a move to AFC Wimbledon, who were in League 1 at the time, making a total of 97 appearances for the Dons.

The former Wimbledon man has managed to work his way up the footballing pyramid very quickly, making 28 appearances in the Championship for Reading last season, and he has picked up where he left off in League 1 this term.

So far this season, the defender has averaged a 7.25 Sofascore match rating, the third-highest in the Reading squad, having been ranked as the Royal's best-performing player against Port Vale, making a total of five tackles.

Not only is the Reading ace capable defensively, but he is also able to threaten on the front foot, as displayed when he completed an outrageous elastico skill move before firing a shot on goal against Hull City last season.

Having now had his first taste of Championship football, Guinness-Walker could be ready to join a team that will have aims of fighting for promotion this season, and West Brom should undoubtedly test the waters with an opening bid in the near future.

Victoria lost their last six wickets for a mere 10 runs on the second day, before Tasmania’s top order bolstered their first-innings advantage at the MCG

Daniel Brettig14-Nov-2017
ScorecardGetty ImagesTasmania rattled through Victoria’s lower order and forged into a strong lead through the efforts of former Test batting pair Alex Doolan and George Bailey on day two of the Sheffield Shield match at the MCG.Fuelled by a pair of four-wicket hauls to Gabe Bell and Thomas Rogers, the Tigers are in position to win their first outright points of the season after a pair of hefty losses to Western Australia and Queensland in the opening two rounds.In pursuit of the Tigers’ first-innings 172, the hosts seemed reasonably positioned at 4 for 134 with Marcus Harris and Daniel Christian in occupation. However, Harris’ exit for 86 signalled a shattering collapse, as the last six wickets went down for a mere 10 runs. Earlier, Victoria had lost their first four for 25, but were resuscitated to an extent by the century stand between Harris and Christian.The Tigers’ reply began steadily as Doolan found help from the erstwhile out-of-touch Jake Doran. Doran, who had been dropped after the first two Shield rounds, was parachuted into the match as a concussion substitute – the first in a first-class game – after Jordan Silk suffered delayed effects from being struck on the helmet by a Peter Siddle bouncer on day one. Cricket Australia recorded a marked increase in concussions this year when releasing their annual study of injury statistics, though this was partly attributed to greater awareness of the issue. The move to introduce concussion subs in the Sheffield Shield was formalised in August, after the ICC cleared the change while allowing the tournament to retain its first-class status.Upon Doran’s dismissal it was the captain, Bailey, who provided accompaniment to thoroughly frustrate the Bushrangers. Neither Doolan nor Bailey, both of whom played for Australia’s Test side over the 12 months from November 2013 to October of the following year, are in serious contention for selection in this year’s Ashes series.

Suresh Raina, Parthiv Patel and Abhinav Mukund will lead the India Blue, Green and Red teams respectively in the upcoming Duleep Trophy, which will be played with the pink ball under lights for the second year in succession. The tournament will be held from September 7 to 29 in Kanpur and Lucknow, the BCCI announced on Thursday.The new Lucknow International Cricket Stadium will host two matches, including the final, while Kanpur will host two round-robin games. The three round-robin fixtures will be played over four days, and the final, to be played from September 25, will be a five-day contest.

Duleep Trophy 2017-18 schedule

• September 7-10 – India Red v India Green (Lucknow)

• September 13-16 – India Red v India Blue (Kanpur)

• September 19-22 – India Blue v India Green (Kanpur)

• September 25-29 – Final (Lucknow)

M Vijay and Karun Nair will feature in the Green team, while Ishant Sharma, Jayant Yadav and Manoj Tiwary will turn out for Blue. The 15-member Red squad includes Ambati Rayudu, Dinesh Karthik, Rishabh Pant and Dhawal Kulkarni.The BCCI’s swiftness in announcing the fixtures comes after it had earlier decided to scrap the tournament this year, citing a cramped calendar and shortage of venues. On Tuesday, however, the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators asked the board to retain what it felt was an “important” tournament in the 2017-18 domestic calendar, following which the BCCI reversed its decision and published the itinerary a day later.Squads
India Red: Abhinav Mukund (capt), Priyank Panchal, Sudip Chatterjee, Ishank Jaggi, Ambati Rayudu, Dinesh Karthik, Rishabh Pant (wk), B Indrajith, K Gowtham, Karn Sharma, Basil Thampi, Dhawal Kulkarni, Ashok Dinda, Rahul Singh, CV MilindIndia Green: M Vijay, R Samarth, Prashant Chopra, Shreyas Iyer, Karun Nair, Ankit Bawne, Parthiv Patel (capt & wk), Shahbaz Nadeem, Parvez Rasool, Navdeep Saini, Mohammed Siraj, Sidharth Kaul, Mayank Dagar, Nitin Saini, Aniket ChoudharyIndia Blue: Suresh Raina (capt), Samit Gohel, KS Bharat, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Manoj Tiwary, Deepak Hooda, Vijay Shankar, Ishan Kishan (wk), Jayant Yadav, Bhargav Bhatt, Kaushik Gandhi, Ishant Sharma, Ankit Rajpoot, Sagun Kamat, Jaydev Unadkat

كشفت تقارير صحفية مدة الغياب المتوقعة لنجم برشلونة، فرينكي دي يونج، بسبب الإصابة التي تعرض لها في مباراة الأمس ضد ريال مدريد.

واستضاف ملعب “سانتياجو برنابيو” مباراة الفريقين في خضم منافسات الجولة الثانية والثلاثين من الليجا، حيث خسر برشلونة بنتيجة 3-2.

اقرأ أيضًا.. تشافي ينفجر بعد الخسارة أمام ريال مدريد: أقصى قدر من الظلم.. وعلينا ألا نصمت

ولم يتمكن دي يونج من استكمال المباراة بعدما تعرض لإصابة في الوقت الضائع من الشوط الأول.

وحسبما ذكر الصحفي توني خوان مارتي، فإن فرينكي دي يونج سيخضع لفحص بالرنين المغناطيسي صباح اليوم لمعرفة حجم الإصابة.

وأوضح أن هناك شعورًا بغياب دي يونج لمدة لن تقل عن 4-5 أسابيع، ومن ثم من الصعب عليه العودة إلى برشلونة من جديد هذا الموسم.

وعانى دي يونج من كثرة الإصابات هذا الموسم، حيث غاب عن 15 مباراة في مختلف المسابقات.

Brighton and Hove Albion manager Roberto De Zerbi has denied claims that he told Moises Caicedo he could leave this summer amid links to Chelsea.

What's the latest Moises Caicedo transfer news?

It's no secret that the Ecuador midfielder is much-wanted by the Blues right now and they've actually already made an attempt to sign him.

Indeed, as per Sky Sports, Chelsea tabled a bid of £70m for Caicedo but it was rejected out of hand by the Seagulls as they now value their asset at around £100m – which is in the same bracket as Arsenal's record-signing Declan Rice.

No doubt fans of the West London club will be concerned that they might be priced out of a move but there have been some suggestions that De Zerbi gave his midfielder his word that he would be sold this summer.

Indeed, when the player signed a new four-year contract toward the end of last season Fabrizio Romano reported that De Zerbi told Caicedo: "Stay here with us until the end of the season, and we will sell you in the summer."

The journalist added: "This was the plan, this was promised to the player."

However, now refuting these claims, the Brighton manager has insisted that no such promise was made.

Indeed, De Zerbi recently explained to the press the club's current stance, saying: “At the moment Moises is a Brighton player. I spoke with Tony Bloom and he told me if the conditions don’t change, Moises stays with us.

“For me it should be great news because it is difficult to find another player like Moises.”

He then denied talk of there being a verbal agreement to let his midfielder for a certain price, saying: “It is not true. I am coach, not owner, I’m not a sporting director. I’m only a coach. Believe me, it is difficult to be a coach.”

What did De Zerbi say about Colwill and Caicedo?

These claims from the Brighton boss will likely annoy many Chelsea fans who may feel as though this potential summer transfer is slipping through their fingers.

To make things worse, De Zerbi probably then upset even more Blues supporters when he suggested that Caicedo may even play for the Seagulls with their very own Levi Colwill next season.

The Chelsea defender spent last term on loan down on the south coast and is still wanted by Brighton, and they've already had a £30m bid rejected with Mauricio Pochettino keen on keeping him around.

De Zerbi also proposed a possible swap deal as a compromise. In full, he said: “There are two questions. Not only about Caicedo, also about Colwill, and maybe it can be [a swap].

“I would like to play with Caicedo and Colwill together but at the moment I can only speak about Caicedo as Colwill is not one of my players.”

It remains to be seen where the two players end up at the end of the transfer market but at the moment it feels as though any outcome could end up happening.

Perhaps both will stay put at their current clubs, perhaps both will play under De Zerbi for the Seagulls next term, and perhaps both will end up with Pochettino at Chelsea.

Kolkata Knight Riders have a perfect home record against Sunrisers Hyderabad, who will be looking to change that with their strong bowling line-up

The Preview by Rachna Shetty14-Apr-2017Match factsKolkata Knight Riders v Sunrisers Hyderabad
Kolkata, April 15, 2017
Start time 1600 local (1030 GMT)3:49

Agarkar: Will pick Shakib ahead of Woakes

Head to headLast season: Kolkata Knight Riders beat Sunrisers Hyderabad in two of their three encounters – by eight wickets and 22 runs respectively. The only match they lost was the Eliminator, where Sunrisers won by 22 runs on their way to a maiden IPL title.Overall: Knight Riders have won six out of the nine matches between the two sides. At Eden Gardens, their record stands at four wins in four matches.Form guide

Knight Riders (second): beat Gujarat Lions by 10 wickets; lost to Mumbai Indians by four wickets; beat Kings XI Punjab by eight wickets

Sunrisers Hyderabad (third): beat Royal Challengers Bangalore by 35 runs; beat Gujarat Lions by nine wickets; lost to Mumbai Indians by four wickets.

In the newsMoises Henriques missed Sunrisers’ last match due to an illness, after scoring successive fifties in the first two. A team source said he trained with them on the eve of the match but the only spot available to him might be Ben Cutting’s. David Warner is the captain, Mustafizur Rahman is likely to get a longer run and Rashid Khan has performed impressively enough to stay in the XI.For Knight Riders, Trent Boult’s early form could be a source of concern. The New Zealand quick has been unlucky, with fielders having missed catches off his bowling in the last two matches. He has also conceded 123 runs for one wicket so far with an economy rate of 10.39, the third poorest among those who have bowled more than 10 overs this season, after Ashok Dinda (11.9) and Mitchell McClenaghan (10.75).The Knight Riders’ middle order has not had much to do in two of their three games so far. That might change, given the potency of Sunrisers’ attack. With Chris Lynn still recovering from a shoulder injury, KKR might look to fill his spot with an allrounder. Colin de Grandhomme performed the role on Thursday, but he could face competition from Shakib Al Hasan and Rovman Powell, whose playing style has been likened to Andre Russell’s by the franchise’s CEO.Likely XIsSunrisers Hyderabad: 1 Shikhar Dhawan, 2 David Warner (capt), 3 Deepak Hooda, 4 Yuvraj Singh, 5 Ben Cutting / Moises Henriques, 6 Naman Ojha (wk), 7 Vijay Shankar / Bipul Sharma, 8 Rashid Khan, 9 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10 Ashish Nehra, 11 Mustafizur RahmanKolkata Knight Riders: 1 Gautam Gambhir (capt), 2 Robin Uthappa (wk), 3 Manish Pandey, 4 Yusuf Pathan, 5 Suryakumar Yadav, 6 Colin de Grandhomme / Shakib Al Hasan / Rovman Powell, 7 Chris Woakes, 8 Sunil Narine, 9 Piyush Chawla, 10 Umesh Yadav, 11 Trent BoultStats Barring Lasith Malinga, Bhuvneshwar Kumar is the most successful bowler in the last five overs against Knight Riders in the IPL. The Sunrisers seamer has struck 13 times in this period and averages 8.92 runs per dismissal. In the 2017 IPL, Sunrisers have the second-best economy rate in the slog overs – 7.65 – and the second-highest wicket tally (10). Knight Riders, despite taking eight wickets, have conceded runs at 10.44 runs per over. David Warner and Gautam Gambhir hold the record for the most half-centuries (centuries excluded) in IPL. Gambhir brought up his 33rd against Kings XI Punjab on Thursday. Sunil Narine’s economy rate of 7.06 is second-best among spinners who have bowled at least 40 overs in the IPL since 2015. However, his average and strike rate – which were 16.13 and 16.7, respectively, the best for spinners before 2015 – have dropped to 30.60 and 26 respectively.The only Knight Riders batsmen Mustafizur Rahman has dismissed in the IPL so far are Jason Holder and Andre Russell. Against Gambhir, Manish Pandey and Yusuf Pathan, combined, Mustafizur has bowled 43 balls and given away 62 runs. There isn’t much difference between the overall run-rates of Sunrisers and Knight Riders in the last five overs – 9.14 and 9.29 respectively. However, in head-to-head encounters, Sunrisers have only scored at a rate of 7.96, their lowest against any team. Knight Riders, meanwhile, have managed to score at a rate of 9.24 in the last five overs against Sunrisers.

Manchester City have entered the race to sign Celta Vigo midfielder Gabri Veiga, according to Fabrizio Romano.

What’s the latest Man City transfer news?

Pep Guardiola and those at the Etihad have already made a start on their summer business by bringing in Mateo Kovacic from Chelsea. The midfielder looks likely to fill the void left by Ilkay Gundogan, who is set to join Barcelona when his City contract officially expires at the end of the month.

Kovacic may not be the only Croatia international to make the move to the treble winners, though, with RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol reportedly a top target in defence and personal terms already agreed.

Another midfielder to join Kovacic could also be in the works, and after City pulled out of the race to sign Declan Rice from West Ham, it appears as if Veiga is a target despite Liverpool leading the race for his services. Recent reports have claimed those at Anfield are 'well ahead of any club' in the race for Veiga, although 'many twists and turns could still take place', and it looks as if that could come from Manchester.

According to Romano in the last 48 hours, City are now in the race and informed when it comes to a possible deal for Veiga, who has a release clause set at €40m (£34.5m).

“Manchester City have entered the race for Spanish talent Gabri Veiga after pulling out of Declan Rice deal.

“He’s one of the options now being considered at the club. Liverpool and Chelsea remain interested but City also informed now. Release clause: €40m.”

Who is Gabri Veiga?

Veiga, who has been hailed as a "very electric player" by Romano, is 21 years of age and is primarily a central midfielder who can also play in attacking and defensive midfield roles.

The Spaniard has progressed through Celta Vigo’s academy and has gone on to make 55 senior appearances for his current employers – 40 of which came during the 2022/23 season. Veiga has scored 11 times and has registered four assists with Celta Vigo and has seen his Transfermarkt valuation rocket to a career-high €30m.

As per FBref, Veiga already ranks in the 99th percentile for goals and assists for midfielders and the 98th percentile for successful take-ons that lead to a goal, showing his ability in the final third.

He looks to be a real star in the making, and by the looks of it, City could look to capitalise over the coming weeks, potentially making him the club’s second midfield addition of the summer to rival the likes of Kevin de Bruyne and co.