All posts by h716a5.icu

Aston Villa could continue their strong feat in the transfer window with a move for Nottingham Forest’s Brennan Johnson.

The Villans have been linked to the playmaker for some time, however, Unai Emery and Monchi could finally secure the talent on the back of three impressive deals.

Youri Tielemans, Pau Torres and Moussa Diaby have already made the switch to Villa Park, with more activity anticipated this summer.

Who wants to buy Brennan Johnson?

As reported by the Daily Mail earlier this month, both Villa and Brentford have an eye on the Welshman, who is valued at around £40m by Forest.

The 22-year-old has been of interest to the Midlands side since May, when FootballTransfers named the Villans as a potential suitor for him in the summer.

The Garibaldi have remained reluctant to sell their star man, however as per the Daily Mail’s report, the club may be forced to accept an offer to ease Financial Fair Play (FFP) concerns.

How good is Brennan Johnson?

Rising through the academy at the City Ground, the Nottingham-born gem has found his feet in recent years, cementing himself as one of the club’s key players.

A loan spell at Lincoln City in the 2020/21 season brought the youngster's talent to light, where he scored ten goals and assisted 12 in 40 League One appearances.

From there, the intricate forward hasn’t looked back, playing a pivotal role in Forest’s promotion to the Premier League in 2022, where he scored 16 goals and registered nine assists, as well as scoring twice in the play-offs, via Transfermarkt.

Johnson has truly worked his way through the ranks, with his form failing to slow down in the top tier, where he netted eight goals for Steve Cooper’s side in his debut term in the Premier League.

While the Welshman's form comes as a thing to be celebrated by Forest, it’s also gathered the type of attention that the club feared, with fellow side’s hoping to pry the 22-year-old away from Nottingham.

For Villa, Johnson could become a valued member of Emery’s squad, adding individual brilliance and providing a fresh outlet for others in the side.

Like the Wales international, Emiliano Buendia shone in the Championship, however, has struggled to transfer his form to the Premier League.

Lauded as “unbelievable” by national team manager Robert Page, the Villa target could prove to be the key to unlocking the Argentine’s past form in the Midlands, through his lively nature in attack.

The 26-year-old secured 17 assists in the Championship before making the switch to Villa Park, highlighting just how efficient he can be as a playmaker.

Clocking the second-fastest top speed in the league last season at 36.70 km/h, via OptaJoe, Johnson could be the desired presence in the side to give Buendia a deadly outlet to target in the final third.

In the 2020/21 Championship campaign, the former Norwich sensation averaged 3.31 key passes and 0.41 through balls per 90, via FBref, highlighting just how deadly he could be if given a pace-ridden spark like Johnson to release.

Emery could add a host of threats to his front line by equipping the Forest star in his side, in a move that could benefit the club on multiple dimensions.

Nathan Lyon made his first mark in the County Championship on another frustrating day for Derbyshire and Worcestershire in the Division Two match at Derby

ECB Reporters Network20-May-2017
ScorecardNathan Lyon claimed his first Championship wicket•Associated PressNathan Lyon made his first mark in the County Championship on another frustrating day for Derbyshire and Worcestershire in the Division Two match at Derby.The Australian Test offspinner claimed his maiden first-class wicket for Worcestershire by removing Alex Hughes for 53 before a storm forced play to be abandoned at 5 o’clock.Luis Reece had top scored with 59 before he and Billy Godleman were dismissed in the space of 10 balls early on the second morning but Hughes and Daryn Smit added 78 in 21 overs to take Derbyshire to 200 for 6.Worcestershire bowlers could have taken more than three wickets on the first day and they soon had two more with Jack Shantry tempting Reece into pushing at a ball he could have left and Tom Kohler-Cadmore took a good low catch at first slip.Joe Leach claimed a second victim when Billy Godleman edged behind which left Derbyshire to regroup and Hughes and Smit showed good judgement to bat through 10 overs before rain held up play until early afternoon.The break appeared to have disrupted the Worcestershire bowlers who struggled for consistency and Hughes took advantage, cutting a short ball from Ed Barnard for his seventh four to move to 50 from 56 balls.Lyon had looked like a bowler whose last first-class appearance was in the fourth Test against India in the Himalayan city of Dharamsala in late March but he was celebrating before the rain returned.Hughes moved across to try and work him to leg but was pinned lbw and that was the last action of the day as a downpour left large pools of water on the outfield.”It’s tough to just try and block him because he’s so good he will get you sooner or later so you have to try and put a bit of pressure on him,” Hughes said.”I enjoy playing against spin and it’s a good test against someone you’re used to watching on the TV, especially in India, and do well against even though he’s now got me out twice in two games.”The action he gets on the ball is very different to the average spinner, he gets a lot of revs on it and a lot more bounce. He doesn’t bowl many bad deliveries and if this pitch gets dry and I think he could be a tough prospect if we have to bat in the third innings.”Leach said: “I don’t think we got our just desserts with the ball, I feel we bowled quite a bit better than 200 for 6 so hopefully that will change and we can knock them over really cheaply in the morning.”It was good for Nathan to get his first wicket, he bowled very well again today so it was a good reward for him to get off the mark and hopefully he will have a bigger part to play in the rest of this game.”

Tottenham Hotspur could be set to take a patient approach in their bid to find a possible successor to in-demand talisman, Harry Kane, following an update regarding the club's interest in Brentford hotshot, Ivan Toney.

What's the latest on Toney to Tottenham?

According to Football Transfers, the Lilywhites are said to be 'willing to wait' until the winter window in order to snap up the one-time Newcastle United ace, with the 27-year-old currently serving an eight-month ban after breaching FA betting rules.

With the one-cap England international's suspension set to end in mid-January, that could then allow the north Londoners the opportunity to pounce midway through the season, if Kane is to depart in the near future.

With the latter man attracting hefty interest from Bayern Munich at present, there is a possibility that the 29-year-old could depart before the September deadline, with the Three Lions skipper having just a year left on his existing deal.

As per the report, there is a chance that such an exit would then see Toney join Spurs this summer, although chairman Daniel Levy is said to be keen to hang on to the club's record scorer until January, when he would then acquire a replacement in the form of the Bees ace.

Who should replace Kane at Tottenham?

Amid the mounting uncertainty over Kane's future at N17, there have been notable links to high-profile targets who could potentially fill the void in Ange Postecoglou's side next term, with Juventus hitman, Dusan Vlahovic reportedly among those being considered.

The Serbian machine initially caught the eye after bagging 49 goals in just 108 games during his time at Fiorentina, having since gone on to net 23 goals in 63 games after making the move to Turin on a £66.6m deal in January 2022.

While lauded as a player who could become "a generational talent" in future, as per journalist Emmet Gates, the 23-year-old hardly set the world alight last term at the Allianz Stadium, notably scoring just ten goals and providing only four assists in 27 Serie A outings.

Toney, by contrast, was far more impressive in the Premier League as the £20k-per-week sensation chipped in with 20 goals and laid on four assists in 33 league outings, with Kane the only English player to have netted more times in the top-flight last season.

A player with the "mindset of a lion", according to his manager Thomas Frank, the Northampton-born marksman has particularly impressed due to his ability to link play and provided quality service for those around him, showcased by the fact that the 5 foot 10 ace created 12 big chances in the league in 2022/23, eight more than Vlahovic achieved in Italy.

Also a figure who has proven himself in the Premier League – having contributed 12 goals and five assists in the division the year prior – Toney also offers the bonus of his willing work ethic in attack, showcased by the fact that he ranks in the top 9% among his European peers for interceptions, as well as in the top 19% for aerial duels won.

That is a far superior record to that of Vlahovic despite the Juve man's 6 foot 3 frame, with the Belgrade native ranking in just the bottom 33% and the bottom 34% for those same two metrics, respectively, across the last 365 days.

While the latter man's record in Italy is nothing to be sneered at, the impact that Toney has already made in England's top flight should make him a more worthy option for Postecoglou and co, even if it means Tottenham are forced to play the long game with regard to his arrival at the club.

Mark Wood enjoyed a successful return for England in the first ODI against Ireland but he admitted his uncertainty after coming back from a third ankle operation

Andrew McGlashan06-May-2017On Friday in Bristol, Mark Wood did what fast bowlers like to do: zipped one through a batsman at close to 90mph, shattering the stumps. But there was added significance for Wood when he removed Paul Stirling because he feared he may never get the chance to do it again.A third ankle operation within a year followed by a rehabilitation that was slow and, at times, lonely allowed his mind to wander. “I thought the dream was gone at times,” he said after a successful comeback outing against Ireland.It was a million miles away from the joy of claiming the Ashes-clinching wicket at Trent Bridge in 2015. That was, of course, “Stuart Broad’s Test” but Wood will always be the man who claimed the final scalp of Nathan Lyon to spark celebrations. Since then, though, joy at international level has been fleeting for him: three more Tests – the same number as surgeries he has had – and a handful of one-day internationals spread over two English seasons.The first of his operations came at the end of 2015 when he left the Test series against Pakistan in the UAE, the second early in the 2016 season and the third at the end of the summer after, gallingly, putting his body on the line to earn Durham a Championship victory that appeared to secure their Division One status only for ECB sanctions to mean otherwise.Three operations on the same part of the body, especially one so crucial to a fast bowler who relies on an explosive delivery stride at the crease, led to a player outwardly so cheerful and upbeat as Wood to have doubts. It was not helped when two possible comeback dates – the one-day series in the West Indies and a Lions tour of Sri Lanka – came and went.”I had questioned at times whether I would actually ever play for England again,” he said. “After the first two operations, I always believed I would get back but then this one, because it [the recovery] didn’t happen at the same rate as it did previously, I was a little bit unsure if I would ever get back to the standard I wanted to set and the pace I wanted to bowl at. It just took a little bit longer than I expected, but it’s good to finally get there.”Wood said he did not feel any pain in Bristol because the adrenalin was surging through his body, but the concerns over his ankle had remained as recently as last month when finishing pre-season with Durham. They manifested themselves more so when he was bowling on his own at a set of stumps and he spent time with the England psychologist, although it wasn’t until he had got through a few spells at the start of the Championship season that his worries were eased.In the most recent of those four-day matches, against Gloucestershire, he tweaked his groin, but he called that “a blessing” because it stopped him thinking about the ankle.”The physios were telling us ‘it’s normal to feel pain, you’re sensitive in that area’. When I am going to nets by myself and having to bowl at cones and stuff, you’re not in the game scenario, the adrenaline’s not pumping. I’m looking for my ankle, ‘is that niggling, is that hurting?’ If I feel anything I could bowl five overs but if I felt one ball, I’d be thinking ‘why is this still hurting?'”Now it’s sort of changed. I spoke with the England psychologist and it was to change my mindset. Rather than looking for pain, [it is] can I still perform with a small amount of pain there? So now, if it doesn’t affect my performance then I am happy. If it was ever to affect my front leg position, if it’s not braced, then I’d be a little bit unhappy but now I deal with it a lot better.”Wood accepts he will probably never be pain free and the ankle will trouble him from time to time. He has had special bowling boots designed to try to stop his front ankle rolling when it slams down in the delivery stride and has also worked with Kevin Shine, the ECB’s lead fast bowling coach, to try and to ensure the leg and foot come through straight rather that splaying to the left and putting pressure on the ankle.He also acknowledges that he probably can’t play every game, but just a short time on from wondering if he would bowl for England again now believes he can withstand the demanding schedule ahead to play a part in Test cricket – including the Ashes – once more.”If you ask me now, I am confident. If you’d asked me before the Durham Championship games, I might have been not sure about how it was going to go. I’m pretty confident now I could get through any sort of international cricket be it Test, one-day or Twenty20.”I wouldn’t say it’s honestly ever going to be totally pain free, I think that’s just the trouble I’ve had – three operations and the way that I bowl, it’s just going to flare up from time to time. Hopefully, that’s the end of the major pain. I haven’t got any bones left in there that are sticking out or anything like that. I’m held together with a bit of tape pretty well.”

Heart of Midlothian didn’t exactly have a season to remember during 2022/23, despite playing group-stage European football for the first time since 2004/05.

They finished third in their Europa Conference League group, recording two victories along the way, yet this clearly wasn’t enough to satiate the supporters, who had to make do with a poor domestic campaign.

The Tynecastle outfit finished fourth in the Premiership, despite holding a healthy advantage over Aberdeen before Barry Robson’s side overhauled them during the final few weeks, and they failed to even reach the semi-finals of both the Scottish Cup and League Cup, coming as a major disappointment considering they had reached three of the previous four Scottish Cup finals.

Lawrence Shankland was the standout performer for the team, scoring 28 goals across all competitions, however, the Jambos had to go through most of the campaign without the services of both defender Craig Halkett, who missed 45 matches and midfielder Beni Baningime, who was ruled out of the entirety of the season due to a cruciate ligament injury.

The duo are set to return during the early stages of the 2023/24 campaign and this could be a big boost for Steven Naismith, especially as he could revive Baningime, who starred for Hearts during his first few months at the club.

Could Beni Baningime be an important player for Hearts next season?

The 24-year-old began his career at Everton, making 68 appearances for the youth sides before finally making his debut for the club during the 2017/18 season, going on to play in 12 games across all competitions, and it looked as though the Toffees had a talented youngster who was ready to make the step-up.

Despite this early promise, changing of managers at the club led to him dropping down the pecking order, failing to shine during loan spells at both Wigan Athletic and Derby County, making only three appearances combined. The Move to Hearts in the summer of 2021 gave him a new lease of life, however.

The £3.5k-per-week machine not only ranked seventh across the whole Hearts squad for overall Sofascore rating, despite playing just 24 matches, but he also finished second for tackles per game (2.6) and interceptions per game (1.2), showcasing his defensive abilities from the heart of the midfield.

Hearts clearly missed his presence last term, conceding 57 goals in 38 league matches, which is 13 more than the previous season and Baningime’s tenacious nature in the midfield was obviously key to the Edinburgh side finishing behind Rangers and Celtic in third place.

Journalist Ewan Murray lavished praise upon the former Everton starlet, dubbing him as an “absolute sensation” and it’s clear that the club sorely missed him last season.

With Naismith taking permanent charge of Hearts following an interim spell at the end of 2022/23, he could be the man to revive Baningime once he returns from his serious injury and if he manages to get him performing like his first nine months in a maroon shirt, then they will have a great chance of improving on last season.

After Mohammad Irfan was provisionally suspended three days ago, Shahzaib Hasan got the same treatment from the PCB for allegedly breaching three anti-corruption clauses

Umar Farooq17-Mar-2017Batsman Shahzaib Hasan has become the fifth Pakistan player to be provisionally suspended by the PCB as part of its investigation into alleged corruption in the Pakistan Super League.Shahzaib was suspended with immediate effect from all forms of cricket for allegedly failing to report a suspect approach in time and in full detail, and also for allegedly inducing players in corruption indirectly.He was charged with breaching three major clauses of the PCB’s anti-corruption code – 2.1.4, 2.4.4 and 2.4.5 – and was given 14 days to respond, the board confirmed.Anti-corruption code clauses allegedly breached by Shahzaib

2.1.4 – Directly or indirectly soliciting, inducing, enticing, instructing, persuading, encouraging or intentionally facilitating any Participant to breach any of the foregoing provisions of this Article 2.1.

2.4.4 – Failing to disclose to the PCB Vigilance and Security Department (without unnecessary delay) full details of any approaches or invitations received by the Participant to engage in Corrupt Conduct under this Anti-Corruption Code.

2.4.5 – Failing or refusing to disclose to the PCB Vigilance and Security Department (without unnecessary delay) full details of any incident, fact, or matter that comes to the attention of a Participant that may evidence Corrupt Conduct under this Anti-Corruption Code by another Participant, including (without limitation) approaches or invitations that have been received by another Participant to engage in conduct that would amount to a breach of this Anti-Corruption Code.

Shahzaib, along with fast bowler Mohammad Irfan, was summoned by the PCB in relation to the investigation into alleged corruption in the PSL. ESPNcricinfo understands that Shahzaib was questioned over two days about his relations with the already suspended Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif and was asked why he had delayed reporting an approach by three days. Irfan had also been suspended for allegedly failing to report a corrupt approach.It has been more than six years since Shahzaib last played for Pakistan and the highlight of his brief international career was the World T20 victory in 2009. His flamboyance was the defining feature of his batting but inconsistency in domestic cricket limited his career to three ODIs and 10 T20Is between 2009 and 2010. Two weeks before the PSL in UAE this year, Shahzaib scored 171 off 117 in the semi-final of the Regional One Day Cup but did not find that form with Karachi Kings, making 19 and 0 in two innings.The corruption scandal in the PSL broke when batsmen Sharjeel and Latif were charged in February, after which an independent tribunal was set up to conduct an inquiry because the players contested some of the charges. Former Pakistan opener Nasir Jamshed was also suspended by the PCB and later arrested in the UK as part of the same investigation. He was then released on bail.

Newcastle United are on the 'tracks' of Villarreal attacker Samuel Chukwueze this summer as Eddie Howe prepares his side for Champions League football this term, according to journalist Rudy Galetti.

What's the latest transfer news involving Samuel Chukwueze and Newcastle?

As per Estadio Deportivo via Sport Witness, Newcastle United are keen on signing Chukwueze this summer and view him as a possible replacement for Allan Saint-Maximin.

The report states that the 24-year-old is out of contract at the Yellow Submarine in 2024 and he has no intention to extend his stay, with a path for an exit becoming 'more and more clear’ either this window or next off-season, where he could depart Villarreal on a free transfer.

One outlet in Spain claim that Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal and the Magpies are all fighting to sign the Nigeria international, who has a clause of around €80 million (£68.6 million) inserted into his current terms at Villarreal, according to GOAL journalist Ruben Uria.

Calciomercato via Football Italia claim that AC Milan have already reached a verbal agreement on personal terms with Chukwueze, though they may fall below his valuation. Villarreal want around €30 million before considering selling the attacker, while AC Milan are planning a bid of around €20 million with add-ons.

Newcastle United have already added Sandro Tonali to the ranks from AC Milan in a transfer worth £55 million as Magpies' boss Howe kicks his transfer proactivity up a notch as the window progresses.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Galetti has revealed that Newcastle United are indeed one interested party in signing Chukwueze this summer.

Galetti stated: "Chukwueze is on the radar of some Premier League clubs. Also, in Serie A, AC Milan are really interested in him. But, the price tag, which is set at around €30m (£26m), is considered a little high for the Italian club.

"Coming back to England – Arsenal, Liverpool, and Newcastle United are on his tracks."

Would Samuel Chukwueze be a good addition for Newcastle United?

Capable of plying his trade on either flank or in central areas, Chukwueze is someone who has an exciting profile and could be a versatile addition to Howe's squad as they prepare to juggle both Premier League and Champions League football this term.

Last season, the 24-year-old enjoyed a productive time of things, registering 13 goals and 11 assists in 50 appearances across all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.

Chukwueze, who has been hailed as a "beast", is something of an entertainer and managed to beat his marker with regularity in 2022/23, averaging around 2.3 successful dribbles per match in La Liga, as per WhoScored.

Providing opportunities for his teammates is a key strength of Chukwueze, evidenced by the fact that he completed 132 shot-creating actions combining his involvement in La Liga and Europa Conference League action, as shown on FBRef.

Newcastle United boss Howe will be intent on bolstering his wide options with the addition of Chukwueze; however, competition from the English top-flight and the continent will make any pursuit tough.

Nevertheless, the lure of playing in Europe's premier competition alongside potentially becoming a key part of the Magpies' project may be enough to entice him to St James' Park.

Crystal Palace could be lining up a transfer move for Charles De Ketelaere, with Pianeta Milan, via Sport Witness reporting that the Eagles have already made contact with the player's agents.

How many goals has Charles De Ketelaere scored for AC Milan?

The 22-year-old made the switch to AC Milan at the beginning of the 2022/23 season, but that move hasn't quite worked out for the striker so far. He's played 32 times in Serie A for the club but failed to hit the back of the net in any league game over the course of the campaign, managing just the one assist.

However, it's worth noting that only nine of those appearances were actual starts for the Belgian and he featured in just 12.9 lots of 90 minutes for the club.

He also played for the Italian side on six occasions in the Champions League, meaning that the attacker already has high level European football experience under his belt. He's yet to find the form though that warranted his move to Milan in the first place, having failed to hit the back of the net as frequently as he did with Club Brugge.

With the Belgian outfit, he bagged 14 goals and six assists in just 31 starts – leading to a rate of 0.66 goals or assists per 90. It means that he managed 20 goal contributions over the course of the season at just 21 years of age.

Are Crystal Palace signing Charles De Ketelaere?

Now, according to a report from Pianeta Milan, via Sport Witness, Crystal Palace are seemingly ready to take a gamble on him. That's because the Eagles have already made contact with the player's party to ask about him and to get information ahead of a potential move for the forward.

He could cost a hefty fee – Milan want 30 million Euros (£25.7m), but even that represents a loss on what they paid out for the attacker – but it appears he could certainly be up for sale during this transfer window.

That means Palace could have a shot at landing the Belgian. The Premier League side won't find it completely easy to snap up De Ketelaere though, with West Ham and Everton both also making enquiries for the player. As of now, no official bid has been lodged by any English side, and it appears that the only form of communication between interested parties and the 22-year-old has been to speak to his camp rather than to make official offers for his signature.

Even though he hasn't performed as well as he would have liked since his switch to AC Milan, De Ketelaere is still viewed highly by those who have watched him play.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig has called the striker "so so promising" in the past, showing the potential that he has in the game. Whilst he hasn't lived up to expectations in Italy, regular football with Crystal Palace might help the attacker to tap into that and become the player that he was expected to be when he left Belgium.

An ice-cool unbeaten 84 from Steven Smith steered Rising Pune Supergiant to a seven-wicket win against Mumbai Indians at the MCA Stadium

The Report by Karthik Krishnaswamy06-Apr-2017
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
4:20

Agarkar: Pollard can’t be banked on as a bowler

One over can often change the course of a T20 game, and on Thursday it seemed as if Ashok Dinda had bowled that over. It was the most expensive 20th over in all IPL matches, and it cost Rising Pune Supergiant 30 runs. On another occasion, it could have cost them the match as well. On this occasion, however, Pune had already done just enough good work with the ball to keep Mumbai Indians, despite that 30-run over, down to a total of 184.On a good batting pitch that seemed to quicken up under lights, it tested Pune’s batting, but proved just short of a winning total. Ajinkya Rahane set the chase up with 60 at a strike rate of 176.47, and Steven Smith steered them home with an ice-cool, unbeaten 84 off 54 balls. The equation came down to 10 off three balls, but Smith wasn’t going to be beaten – he finished the match with successive sixes off Kieron Pollard.If there was one decisive factor that separated the two sides, it may have been the compositions of the two bowling attacks. Pune went into the match with two legspinners in Imran Tahir and Adam Zampa and a purveyor of stump-to-stump slow-medium cutters in Rajat Bhatia. These three ended up with combined figures of 6 for 68 in 10 overs. In the other ten overs, Pune’s three faster bowlers – Dinda, Deepak Chahar and Ben Stokes – combined to take one wicket and concede 114.Tahir and Bhatia, in particular, had profited from the slightly two-paced nature of the pitch, where they got some balls to skid on and others to stop on the batsman. When the quicker bowlers bowled, however, the ball came on to the bat far more uniformly. Mumbai had an attack full of quicks and short on bowlers who could take the pace off the ball. They had left out Harbhajan Singh, their most capped player, and picked only one frontline spinner in Krunal Pandya. Buttler opens for MumbaiMumbai sprang a surprise after being sent in, promoting Jos Buttler to open alongside Parthiv Patel. Pune probably didn’t expect this – before this, Buttler had only batted in the top three positions seven times in a 163-match T20 career, and in the IPL, he had only batted four times in the Powerplay.Buttler made an immediate impression with his unpredictable movements around the crease and deft hands, spooking the raw Chahar in particular. There were three fours and three sixes in the Powerplay, the most eye-catching of them coming off successive balls from Stokes – a six shovelled down the ground and a six in the opposite direction, scooped over the wicketkeeper.With Parthiv profiting from some loose bowling from Dinda at the other end, Mumbai raced to 61 for 1 in the Powerplay.Tahir turns itThat one wicket came in the fifth over. With Buttler going the way he was, Smith, as he would later reveal at the presentation ceremony, brought Tahir on “earlier than he would have liked to”. Having just swept his first ball for four, Parthiv tried again, missed, and was bowled around his legs by a googly.In his next over, Tahir dismissed Rohit Sharma and then Buttler – one bowled, one lbw, one with a googly, the other with a slider, both with balls that pitched on a perfect length – both batsmen were pinned to the crease – and skidded on. There was a bit of luck involved too; umpire S Ravi failed to spot a big inside-edge onto pad and sent Buttler on his way.That immediately brought the run rate down. Nitish Rana found the leg-side boundary every now and then with pulls and slog-sweeps, but there was little else by way of boundary-scoring as Mumbai scored only 66 in the ten overs after the Powerplay. There were three more wickets too – two to Bhatia and one to Zampa. overBefore this match, Ashok Dinda had bowled the 20th over on 19 occasions, for an overall final-over economy rate of 12.8, the worst among all bowlers with a minimum of 10 final overs. He had conceded 25 or more in the 20th over on two previous occasions. When Steven Smith handed Dinda the ball to deliver the 20th over of Mumbai’s innings here, therefore, he must have done so with a certain amount of trepidation. For one, he had already conceded 28 from his first three overs.Dinda had a field set for the wide yorker, and kept trying it and missing either the line or the length. It still needed a quality hitter to take four sixes off that bowling, and Mumbai had one in Hardik Pandya. He slapped a wide full-toss over the point boundary, held his shape for an extra fraction of a second to launch a back-of-the-hand slower ball over long-off, and whipped a straight, full ball over long-on. Then came another wide length ball – this one flew past the keeper off the edge – and a short ball that Pandya swatted over cow corner.By the end of the over, 154 for 7 had become 184 for 8. Mumbai had never before lost while scoring 184 or more.Rahane times itNow, though, they ran into Rahane. He’s not the quickest scorer across conditions, but give him a pitch where the ball comes on to the bat and he can pepper the boundaries. He seemed to be carrying on from the form he showed in India’s small run chase in the Dharamsala Test, driving, chipping inside-out, and pulling with abandon. The surest sign of his form came when he came down the track to Krunal Pandya, found himself not close enough to the pitch of the ball to loft with a full extension of his arms, and checked his shot. The ball still managed to clear a leaping Kieron Pollard at long-on.With a bit of help from Mumbai’s seamers, who offered him width too often for their own good, Rahane ended up scoring quicker than he has done in any of his previous IPL innings. By the time he was done, Supergiants were 93 for 2 in 10.1 overs.Smith does the restWhen Rahane was caught on the square-leg boundary, Pune needed 92 from 59 balls, and when Stokes, their No. 4, fell for 21 off 14, they needed 42 off 28. By then, Smith had already reached his fifty, managing to dispatch any length and any line from any bowler into his favourite leg-side spots. He had also been dropped once, on 36, Rana putting down a fairly straightforward chance at deep square leg when Smith pulled Mitchell McClenaghan in the air.Given all that, it should have been a canter, particularly with MS Dhoni walking in at No. 5, but it wasn’t. The ghost of Dinda’s over stretched this match into some pretty uncomfortable territory for Pune. Jasprit Bumrah and McClenaghan almost bowled the perfect 17th, 18th and 19th overs, cramping Dhoni with back-of-a-length bowling angling into him, but Smith and Dhoni managed to find late boundaries in each of those overs, capitalising on the smallest error.Pollard, defending 13 off the last over, began by conceding just three singles. With 10 required off three, Smith manufactured an astonishing hit; getting on the front foot to a short-of-good-length slower ball and launching it, baseball-style, over long-on. The next ball was full and at his feet, and he whipped it effortlessly over deep midwicket.

England have withdrawn fast bowler Mark Wood from the Lions’ one-day series against Sri Lanka A next month

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Feb-2017England have withdrawn fast bowler Mark Wood from the Lions’ one-day series against Sri Lanka A next month, a move that will raise concerns about his ability to return from a third round of ankle surgery.The ECB has suggested that his recovery remains on track following an operation on a severed bone in his left ankle last year. He bowled flat out for the first time with the England Pace Programme in Potchefstroom in January and it is hoped he will make his comeback in the North-South series in the second half of March.He was only added to the Lions squad a few weeks ago but ECB medical staff have now decided that he would be better served by continuing his rehabilitation over the next few weeks at home. The North-South series takes place in the UAE from March 17.Discussing his rehabilitation, Wood recently admitted he had doubts he would “ever be the same bowler” but said he was working on making minor adjustments to his action while building up to match fitness.”Last year I got in the habits of putting my game-time first and neglected the training side a little bit,” he said. “I now need to get my action solid as a rock, like it was when I made my debut for England.”Wood played four ODIs towards the end of last season, having broken down on the tour of the UAE in 2015, but he then suffered a different injury while bowling for Durham in a Championship match.With question marks over the effectiveness of England’s white-ball pace attack, Wood’s ability to bowl at 90mph would likely see him come into contention for the Champions Trophy – if he can prove his fitness. His last Test appearance came in 2015 but England may still harbour hopes of taking him on the Ashes tour of Australia next winter.No replacement has been named for the Lions, with the squad already featuring seamers Sam Curran, Tom Curran, Craig Overton, James Fuller and Tom Helm. The first unofficial ODI takes place in Dambulla on March 2.