Sir Jim Ratcliffe is ready to back Ruben Amorim in the January transfer window, with an “amazing” player now high on Manchester United’s shortlist.
Man Utd have big decision to make with Amorim at "breaking point"
Man United signed off with an unconvincing 3-2 victory against Burnley before the international break, which didn’t exactly silence the critics, and club legend Wayne Rooney believes the manager will be feeling the pressure.
Speaking after the EFL Cup exit at the hands of League Two side Grimsby Town, Rooney said: “Manchester United is so different to where he’s been before. You come in and there’s the media team, the commercial team, the fans and the media.
“There’s a pressure with United, which he will never have felt before. When you’re not winning games, that can start to get [to you] and it looked like he was at a breaking point.”
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The Red Devils would be well-positioned to win the race for a forward.
ByDominic Lund Sep 10, 2025
As such, INEOS have a big decision to make on Amorim’s future, given that the Portuguese manager’s record since arriving last November has been far from impressive, averaging just 1.37 points per match across 46 games.
However, a new report from TEAMtalk states that Ratcliffe and co are ready to back their manager in the January transfer window, suggesting the Man United ownership still believe in Amorim’s project.
The 40-year-old is set to be provided with the funds to strengthen his squad this winter, and a new central midfielder is believed to be of particular interest, with Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson featuring high up the shortlist.
After joining Forest from Newcastle United for £35m last summer, Anderson has enjoyed an impressive rise, recently receiving his first call-up for England, and it would be fair to say the midfielder grasped the opportunity with both hands, impressing journalist Craig Hope.
"Amazing" Anderson impressing for club and country
Not only has the England international caught the eye for the Three Lions, but he has also received plaudits for his performances at club level, being described as “amazing” by former manager Nuno last season.
The 22-year-old is an incredibly well-rounded midfielder, as showcased by the fact he provides an attacking threat, picking up eight Premier League goal contributions last season, while his tackling ability is also impressive.
It is little wonder that Anderson is high on Man United’s shortlist, and he should remain a key target, regardless of whether Amorim lasts until the January transfer window.
SRH also brought back fit-again Harshal Patel for Jaydev Unadkat
ESPNcricinfo staff12-Apr-20252:05
How can PBKS get the best out of Chahal?
Shreyas Iyer called correctly as an unchanged Punjab Kings (PBKS) elected to bat against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad in IPL 2025.”The mindset has been to be aggressive from ball one,” he said. “We’ve seen that we don’t have a fantastic record in the powerplay, we have to see to it that we don’t have that at the back of the mind and play the ball on the merit.”We just need to stay in the present, be brave and bold with our approach and our attitude has to be top-notch. We have a fantastic few matches recently and need to repeat that.”PBKS are sitting pretty with three wins in four. SRH are seeking to overturn a string of four straight losses after opening the tournament with 286, the second-highest T20 total of all time.Fresh off a five-day break, SRH have handed a debut to Eshan Malinga in place of the ambidextrous allrounder Kamindu Mendis. A death bowler, like the OG Malinga, Eshan made his ODI debut for Sri Lanka earlier this year, and also impressed for Paarl Royals at the SA20. Harshal Patel was fit again and back in the bowling XI, having missed the last game because of an illness. Jaydev Unadkat had played on that occasion and goes out for today.”We feel like we can chase down anything,” Pat Cummins said. “It’s not been an ideal start but we’re training well and are in a good place. We try and destress, but it’s a long season. Things can turn quickly in T20s.”Sunrisers Hyderabad: 1 Travis Head, 2 Abhishek Sharma, 3 Ishan Kishan, 4 Nitish Kumar Reddy, 5 Heinrich Klaasen (wk), 6 Aniket Verma, 7 Pat Cummins (capt), 8 Eshan Malinga, 9 Zeeshan Ansari, 10 Harshal Patel, 11 Mohammed Shami Impact player options: Abhinav Manohar, Sachin Baby, Jaydev Unadkat, Rahul Chahar, Wiaan MulderPunjab Kings: 1 Prabhsimran Singh (wk), 2 Priyansh Arya, 3 Shreyas Iyer (capt), 4 Nehal Wadhera, 5 Shashank Singh, 6 Glenn Maxwell, 7 Marcus Stoinis, 8 Marco Jansen, 9 Yuzvendra Chahal, 10 Arshdeep Singh, 11 Lockie Ferguson Impact player options: Suryansh Shedge, Pravin Dubey, Yash Thakur, Harpreet Brar, Vijaykumar Vyshak
O lateral-direito Régis, ex-São Paulo e Botafogo, foi preso na última quarta-feira (5), após ferir seu irmão, Rafael, com golpes de faca durante uma discussão em Corrente, cidade localizada ao sul de Teresina, no Piauí. Mas quem é Régis? Quais clubes ele passou? O Lance! responde.
Livres no mercado! 20 jogadores sem clube que mudariam o seu time de patamar
Régis começou a sua carreira no Guaratinguetá em 2010 e logo depois se transferiu para o São Bernardo. No clube do ABC Paulista, se destacou, mas acabou emprestado para equipes como Marcílio Dias e Paysandu. No ano de 2013, acabou acertando com a Ponte Preta e realizou 23 jogos, atuando em competições como Campeonato Paulista e Brasileirão.
A sua primeira experiência em uma equipe de maior expressão foi no Botafogo, em 2014. Na época, ele estava livre no mercado desde uma passagem pela Portuguesa. Porém, ele não deu certo no Glorioso, disputando somente 14 partidas e sendo liberado antes do fim do contrato. Passou por clubes do interior paulista, como Guarani e São Bento até chegar no São Paulo.
Luan, Soteldo, Nikão… Veja 10 jogadores que estão fora dos planos em seus clubes no Brasil
No Tricolor, em 2018, foi contratado com histórico de boas atuações contra o São Paulo. Foram dois gols em três jogos, todos pelo São Bento. Não deu certo no clube do Morumbi, disputando somente 15 jogos e tendo o contrato rescindido após problemas particulares. Depois, passou por CSA, Volta Redonda e outros clubes do interior.
Seu último time foi o São Caetano, onde foi titular na disputa do Campeonato Paulista da Série A-2.
Histórico de polêmicas
Uma questão que afetou a carreira de Régis foram os problemas pessoais. Em 2018, pouco após rescindir o contrato com o São Paulo, Régis foi detido pela polícia por tentar invadir o apartamento de vizinhos. Um ano depois, quando estava no CSA, acabou se envolvendo em uma confusão em um motel, quando supostamente tentou invadir o local.
Logo em seguida, em sua passagem pelo São Bento, Régis foi preso por dirigir embriagado, além de resistência à prisão e porte de drogas. Nesta semana, ele foi preso por em flagrante por tentativa de homicídio contra irmão, mas já foi liberado pela polícia após audiência de custódia.
أنهى منتخب المغرب مشواره في تصفيات قارة إفريقيا المؤهلة إلى بطولة كأس العالم نسخة 2026، مساء يوم الثلاثاء، بمباراته ضد نظيره منتخب الكونغو.
واستضاف ملعب “مولاي عبد الله” مباراة منتخبي المغرب والكونغو، في الجولة الأخيرة من تصفيات القارة السمراء المؤهلة إلى كأس العالم، حيث فاز أسود الأطلس بهدف دون رد.
جاء هدف فوز المغرب والمباراة الوحيد في الدقيقة 63، وذلك عن طريق النجم يوسف النصيري بعد تمريرة من لاعب باريس سان جيرمان، أشرف حكيمي.
بتلك النتيجة، ارتفع رصيد منتخب المغرب إلى 24 نقطة في صدارة المجموعة الخامسة، بينما تجمد رصيد منتخب الكونغو عند نقطة واحدة في المركز الخامس.
وحقق منتخب المغرب بذلك العلامة الكاملة حيث فاز في مبارياته الثمانية في التصفيات، وسجل 22 هدفًا ولم تستقبل شباكه سوى هدفين فقط، في سجل مميز من جانبهم.
Konstas later brushed the incident aside, but Ricky Ponting said on commentary that Kohli “instigated that confrontation”
ESPNcricinfo staff26-Dec-2024
Virat Kohli and Sam Konstas exchanged words•Getty Images
Virat Kohli has been fined 20% of his match fees and awarded one demerit point for his altercation with Australia’s 19-year-old debutant Sam Konstas during the fourth Test at the MCG. The incident occurred after the tenth over of the morning session, when Kohli and Konstas bumped shoulders while moving across the pitch between overs.Both players exchanged words after the contact before Konstas’ opening partner Usman Khawaja and umpire Michael Gough interrupted to cut the altercation short.Kohli was sanctioned for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct that relates to “inappropriate physical contact with a Player, Player Support Personnel, Umpire, Match Referee or any other person (including a spectator during an International Match”. No formal hearing was required as Kohli accepted the sanctions.Replays that emerged later in the session showed Konstas had turned around from the crease after the last ball of the tenth over, and was walking towards the other end while looking at his gloves, whereas Kohli – while tossing the ball in his hand – was looking ahead and went from outside the pitch towards Konstas and bumped into him.”I think the emotions got to both of us,” Konstas later told in the second session. “I didn’t quite realise; I was doing my gloves, then [there was] a little shoulder charge. But it happens in cricket.”
“Have a look at where Virat walks,” former Australia captain Ricky Ponting observed on commentary for while watching the replay of the incident. “Virat’s walked one whole pitch over to his right and instigated that confrontation. No doubt in my mind, whatsoever.”While talking to Star Sports at the end of the day, former India coach Ravi Shastri said what Kohli did was “unnecessary”.”When you see that, it’s not needed at that moment of time,” he said. “I think Virat will realise that later, with the stature he has in the game, he’s captained the side for many, many years. In heat of the moment, things do happen. But on reflection, I would say it was unnecessary. You don’t want to see such things. There’s a line, you don’t want to overstep that line.”Konstas made his Test debut with a stunning half-century off just 52 balls, by taking on Jasprit Bumrah, the best bowler of the series, who had dismissed Nathan McSweeney four times in six innings in the first three Tests. Konstas replaced McSweeney for this Test, and struggled to 5 off 21 after being beaten several times before moving to 27 off 38 at the time of the altercation with Kohli.By then, Konstas had reverse-scooped Bumrah for a six over the slips which had followed a more straightforward scoop that had fetched him four runs after moving across and flicking the ball over the wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant.Konstas finished on 60 off 65 balls with six fours and two sixes, having scored 34 from 33 against Bumrah and 20 from 19 off Mohammed Siraj.Tests between India and Australia have been high-intensity, and known to throw up such altercations and controversies, especially involving Kohli. He had once collided – when he was captain – for an altercation with the opposite captain Tim Paine in 2018-19, and had a duel with Mitchell Johnson while scoring a stunning century in Adelaide in 2014.
Perth Scorchers 126 (Mooney 44, Halliday 41, Gardner 4-21) tied with Sydney Sixers 126 for 7 (Perry 67, King 3-21) Super overSydney Sixers 15 for 0 tied with Perth Scorchers 15 for 1Perth Scorchers edged into the WBBL finals frame with a dramatic Super Over tie against Sydney Sixers with Mikayla Hinkley hitting Ashleigh Gardner’s last ball for four to again tie scoresGardner had taken four wickets as Scorchers stumbled to 126 all out from 19.2 overs. Sixers then fell one run short of a regulation win despite Ellyse Perry’s fine 67 from 53 balls.Related
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In the initial super over, Perry smacked a six and a four as Sixers made 15 for 0 from Amy Edgar’s spin bowling. Gardner removed Beth Mooney with a sharp return catch in the reply, although replays suggested the ball may have been ground, before Hinkley provided the final drama.Both sides received one point, which lifts Scorchers (nine points) from fifth to fourth, while Sixers (eight points) remain in sixth spot.Perry starred with the bat and Gardner did likewise with the ball – she took 4 for 21 as Scorchers dramatically lost their last 9 for 31After Gardner claimed her first wicket in the second over of the innings, Beth Mooney and Brooke Halliday produced a fruitful partnership.The duo took the score to a solid 72 for 1 after 10 overs, but 23 runs later Halliday became Gardner’s second victim, ending an 85-run stand with Mooney. Halliday’s dismissal triggered the slide. Mooney followed in the next over, and from then only Sophie Devine reached double figures.Perry paced the chase, posting her half-century from 42 balls. But the skipper was caught on the long-off boundary from the bowling of Alana King in the 18th over, and the legspinner struck again next ball, trapping Maitlan Brown leg before wicket.That left Sixers needing 20 from 15 balls, and the equation was 12 runs to win from the last over delivered by Edgar, who conceded 11.Edgar was summoned to bowl the super over and Perry smashed a six and four. Gardner then conceded the same amount, with Hinkley unbeaten on 14 from four balls – three of which she hit to the boundary.
Liverpool are moving like the champions that they are in the summer transfer market, with Arne Slot’s side welcoming a wealth of talented players to the team.
Slot has been rewarded for his magnificent maiden campaign, all right, with Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike and Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong and Giorgi Mamardashvili joining a title-winning side hungry for even more success.
And there’s more still to come. Liverpool’s careful planning across the past few years has allowed them to move into his powerful position.
With Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez both slated for Anfield exits, a few more offensive additions might lie around the corner.
Liverpool's next transfer plans
Should Diaz and Nunez indeed be sold, Liverpool have a variety of options that they might exercise to achieve the next phase of Slot’s sweeping plan.
Ekitike has linked up with the Redmen on their pre-season tour in Asia, but he is a dynamic forward who could play out on the left, should another centre-forward be coveted.
Out-and-out wingers such as Anthony Gordon and Real Madrid’s Rodrygo have also been heavily linked in recent weeks.
But if Liverpool instead choose to sign a new number nine, it’s Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak who has emerged as the leading contender, with Spanish sources claiming that the 25-year-old is right at the top of the club’s summer shortlist.
Given that Fabrizio Romano has since revealed the Sweden international “wants” to sign for the Merseysiders, there’s little question that things are going to start to accelerate – with a move to Anfield said to be his “priority”.
The Magpies, it should be said, will not roll over and allow their talisman to waltz away from St. James’ Park without a fight. Indeed, they would be seeking a British record £130m payment.
What Alexander Isak would bring to Liverpool
Ekitike is a talented and versatile forward, but he’s undoubtedly a work in progress. In Isak, Liverpool would sign themselves a number nine right at the top of his game and with a wealth of Premier League experience.
His clinical shooting his a thing to behold.
The 25-year-old joined Newcastle from Real Sociedad for a club-record £63m fee in 2022 and he has since forged quite the career for himself in England, the frontman of a fast-rising outfit, qualifying for the Champions League in two of his three terms and beating Liverpool to lift the Carabao Cup in March.
Having shaken off the injury issues that plagued him across his debut campaign, the £120k-per-week Isak is “the best striker in the world” to some, with analyst Raj Chohan saying exactly that toward the end of the 2024/25 campaign, with the forward having scored 27 goals and supplied six assists across all competitions.
Alexander Isak’s Newcastle Record
Statistics
#
Games
109
Goals
62
Goal rate
0.57
Assists
11
Assist rate
0.10
G/A rate
0.67
Data via Transfermarkt
The circumstances around the Liverpool bid for this wonderful Premier League player offer certain similarities to when Jurgen Klopp oversaw the £75m acquisition of Virgil van Dijk from Southampton, the Dutchman becoming the subject of a world-record fee for a defender at the time.
Isak’s £130m price tag would also make him a record-breaking player, should he leave Newcastle this summer, which illustrates the depths of Liverpool’s desire, for they are willing to spend significant fees when the player is considered to be talented enough.
They got it right the first time. Could they strike again? Van Dijk, now Liverpool’s title-winning captain, has completed 319 fixtures for the Reds, notching 28 goals and 13 assists, winning the full gamut of silverware and cementing himself as one of the greatest players of his generation.
A leader and far more than just a tough-tackling defender (although that is one of the staples of the 33-year-old’s skill set), Van Dijk warranted such a payment because he is so much more than his position defines him as.
Isak is the same. As per FBref, the centre-forward ranked among the top 16% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues last year for shot-creating actions, the top 13% for progressive passes, the top 7% for progressive carries and the top 8% for successful take-ons per 90.
He would be tasked with scoring the goals for Liverpool, but Isak would also be expected to perform as an all-encompassing talisman. His talent demands it.
Arne Slot and Virgil van Dijk for Liverpool
Of course, Isak and Van Dijk are not positionally similar, but they are two of the most talented players in their respective positions, having cut their teeth and developed their skills elsewhere in the English top flight before making the leap to Merseyside.
Moreover, neither would be the youngest on the block when first arriving at Anfield, for Van Dijk was 26 years old when he made the move and Isak is, of course, 25 years old.
In a way though, this bespeaks their maturity and completeness, arriving at the club with ready-made skills at the highest level, eager to lead the team through a period of sustained success.
Described as a “special football player” by pundit Daniel Sturridge, Isak has the chance to emulate Van Dijk in making the move to Liverpool for a record fee after making his name elsewhere.
Newcastle’s remarkable rise differs to that of Southampton, but the similarities are there.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
If Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes do manage to pull this incredible feat off, it might just prove to be every bit as transformative as that time when Klopp rewrote the script with the capture of Van Dijk.
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Liverpool are still ready to be active in the summer transfer market.
To say Thomas Frank has a massive job on his hands at Tottenham Hotspur next season would be a massive understatement.
The former Brentford boss will have to dramatically improve the club’s Premier League performances while also remaining competitive in the domestic cups and the Champions League.
The best and arguably only way Daniel Levy and Co can help him achieve this is by signing a number of genuinely top-drawer players this summer.
One such player that has been linked with the club in recent days is Mohammed Kudus, although recent reports have also touted an even better option for a move to N17.
Spurs target massive Kudus upgrade
Interestingly, Kudus has been linked with a move to Tottenham for some time now, with the first reports citing interest from the North Londoners emerging back in the summer of 2022 and then again in March 2023, only for West Ham United to swoop in and secure his services for around £38m in August.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
However, even though the 24-year-old is now playing for a London rival, it appears that Spurs are still interested.
In fact, according to stories from earlier today, the Lilywhites have remained just as keen on the former Ajax gem, and with the Hammers needing to address PSR concerns, he could be available for around £60m.
However, there’s another player who has been heavily linked with a move to N17 before, who could finally move this summer and might just be the better option: Eberechi Eze.
According to a recent report from transfers expert Fabrizio Romano, as relayed by GIVEMESPORT, Spurs have maintained their strong interest in the Crystal Palace star.
While no contact has been made over the talented international, Romano has revealed that he was placed on the North Londoners’ list of targets following discussions between the club’s higher-ups and Frank, suggesting he’s someone the manager would want at the club and has given the green light to being signed.
In terms of the former QPR star’s potential cost, it has been widely reported for some time now that he has a release clause worth around £68m in his current contract.
It would be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but Eze would be more than worth it and a better signing than Kudus.
Why Eze would be a better signing than Kudus
So, with goals and assists ultimately being what matters most for attacking players, it makes sense to start by looking at the pairs’ raw output from this season, and when doing that, the superiority of Eze starts to become immediately apparent.
For example, in just 43 appearances, totalling 3,303 minutes, the 27-year-old “magician,” as dubbed by pundit Micah Richards, scored 14 goals and provided 11 assists, which comes out to a brilliant average of a goal involvement every 1.72 games, or every 132.12 minutes.
In stark contrast, the Hammers ace was only able to score five goals and provide four assists in 35 appearances, totalling 2721 minutes this year, which comes out to a far less impressive average of a goal involvement every 3.88 games, or every 302.33 minutes.
On top of scoring more goals generally, the Palace star has also shown himself capable of scoring massive goals in massive moments, like the FA Cup semi-final and final this season.
Unfortunately for the Ghanaian star, the incredibly one-sided nature of this comparison only worsens for him when we take a look under the hood at their underlying numbers.
Eze vs Kudus
Statistics
Eze
Kudus
Non-Penalty Expected G+As
0.53
0.35
Non-Penalty G+As
0.52
0.28
Progressive Passes
3.37
2.74
Progressive Carries
2.40
3.40
Key Passes
2.01
1.08
Passes into the Penalty Area
1.35
1.01
Passes into the Final Third
1.70
1.60
Shot-Creating Actions
4.69
3.72
Goal-Creating Actions
0.35
0.35
Successful Take-On %
48.6%
44.2%
Tackles
1.35
1.32
Ball Recoveries
5.07
4.79
All Stats via FBref for the 24/25 League Season
For example, in practically every relevant metric, the England international comes out way ahead, including things like non-penalty expected goals plus assists, shot-creating actions, and key passes, suggesting that his vastly superior output is no fluke at all.
Interestingly, the Greenwhich-born star also makes more tackles and completes more ball recoveries per 90, which shows that he is more than capable of chipping in and helping with the defensive side of the game when needed.
Ultimately, while Kudus is a talented player and would be a good signing for Spurs, Eze is a brilliant player and would be a sensational addition to Frank’s squad this summer.
Therefore, even if he costs more money, Levy and Co should be doing all they can to sign the Eagles star before someone beats them to him.
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Matthew Mott has stepped down as England Men’s white-ball head coach with immediate effect.Mott was halfway through a four-year contract, during which time he presided over triumph at the 2022 T20 World Cup as well as the side’s failure to defend that title this year or the 50-over crown they won in 2019 at the 2023 edition, where they won just three of their nine games.He will be replaced by assistant coach Marcus Trescothick on an interim basis for the rest of the home summer, which includes three T20Is and five ODIs against Australia in September.Related
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On Sunday, Mott met with Rob Key, ECB managing director of England men’s cricket, to gauge his view on the last nine months as part of a review into the drop in team’s limited-overs performances.”I am immensely proud to have coached the England Men’s team; it has been an honour,” Mott said. “We have put everything into trying to achieve success over the past two years, and I am incredibly proud of the character and passion that the team has displayed during that period, including a magnificent T20 World Cup victory in 2022.”I would like to thank the players, management, and everyone at the ECB for their commitment, support, and hard work during my time. I leave with many great friendships and incredible memories. Finally, I would like to thank the England fans, who have always backed us and given us fantastic support wherever we have travelled around the world.”Appointed in May 2022, Mott also led England to white-ball series victories against Australia, Bangladesh, Ireland, Netherlands, New Zealand and Pakistan. But it appears that England’s most recent campaign, where they were knocked out of the T20 World Cup in the semi-finals by eventual winners India, was pivotal to the decision.Matthew Mott was halfway through his contract•Getty Images
Key said the search for a full-time replacement would begin immediately. He believed the rapport between Trescothick and white-ball captain Jos Buttler “will help us maintain continuity and stability”.”On behalf of everyone connected to England cricket and me personally, I would like to thank Matthew for all he has done for the team since his appointment,” Key said. “He can be proud of his achievements as he leaves his post as one of only three coaches who have won a Men’s World Cup with England.”After three World Cup cycles in a short space of time, I now feel the team needs a new direction to prepare for the challenges ahead. This decision was not made lightly, but I believe it is the right time for the team’s future success. With our focus shifting towards the Champions Trophy early next year and the next cycle of white-ball competition, it is crucial that we ensure the team is focused and prepared.”Trescothick, added: “England cricket is in a strong position, and the potential is huge, given the quality we have available. It is about harnessing that potential and developing the work that has already been put in place by Matthew Mott and the rest of the set-up. I’m excited about the challenge and shaping how we want to play.”Eoin Morgan, England’s former World Cup-winning captain who now works as a commentator, recently dismissed reports that he could replace Mott as nothing more than “speculation”.Other names such as Andrew Flintoff, currently in his first coaching role with Northern Superchargers in the men’s Hundred, Mike Hussey, who was part of the coaching staff for the successful 2022 T20 World Cup campaign, and Kumar Sangakkara have also been touted for the role. However, it is understood no prospective successors to Mott have been sounded out at this juncture.
Nuwan Thushara’s last over brought Sri Lanka screaming back into the match late in the contest. He first bowled Rishad Hossain, and then nailed Taskin Ahmed in front of the stumps with a pinpoint swinging yorker. This left Bangladesh eight wickets down, with 12 runs still to get, and the game looked set to turn on its head.However, the experienced Mahmudullah was at the crease for Bangladesh, and despite some further nervy moments, pushed his side across the line off the last ball of the 19th over to give his side victory in their opening encounter of T20 World Cup 2024.The late Sri Lanka surge aside, this was a match chiefly decided by Bangladesh’s own outstanding bowling in the first innings. Mustafizur Rahman was the best among them, using shorter lengths and his cutters efficiently, to claim figures of 3 for 17. Rishad’s three-for through the middle overs also pegged Sri Lanka back.Mustafizur was especially instrumental in Sri Lanka’s downward spiral through the middle overs, which culminated in a crash-and-burn end. Ultimately, Sri Lanka’s inability to find boundaries, or even rotate strike against good Bangladesh bowling resulted in their downfall. A score of 125 for 9 always seemed poor on a decent pitch, even if their bowlers made a match of it in the end.
The tight finish
It should never have got so close. With five overs to go, Bangladesh had only 25 runs left to get, five wickets in hand, and their two most experienced batters – Shakib Al Hasan and Mahmudullah – were at the crease.But then Shakib uppercut a Matheesha Pathirana short ball, and Maheesh Theekshana took an outstanding diving catch at deep third, surging in from the rope to intercept the ball inches from the ground.And then Sri Lanka’s other slinger, Thushara, took two wickets in two balls in the next over – the 18th of the innings, first bowling Rishad who had tried to hit him inside out over cover, and then nailing Taskin with a toe-crusher that would have hit leg stump.Thushara had three more balls left in the over, with Bangladesh still needing 12. Sri Lanka’s best chance of stealing victory was for him to get another wicket before his spell ended. But Tanzim Hasan Sakib survived, and Mahmudullah was on strike next over.Next over, bowled by Dasun Shanaka (Sri Lanka had used up all their frontliners hunting for wickets), Mahmudullah bludgeoned a thigh-high full toss into the deep square leg stands to ease Bangladesh’s nerves.But there was more drama to come. With two runs needed – but desperate to keep strike off the last ball of the 19th over – Mahmudullah ventured a risky single to mid-off, and would have been out had Wanindu Hasaranga connected with his shy at the stumps. But the Sri Lanka captain didn’t, and the overthrows helped Bangladesh limp over the line.1:32
Tamim: Hridoy’s 20-ball 40 changed the game
Bangladesh boss bowling death overs
The definitive period of play, though, were the last seven overs of Sri Lanka’s innings. They had arrived at the start of the 14th over in okay shape – 100 runs on the board and seven wickets in hand.But then they nosedived. Rishad first dismissed Charith Asalanka, having him caught slog sweeping at deep square leg, after his teammates had kept Asalanka quiet through much of the middle overs. Next ball, he had Hasaranga caught at slip with a ball that dipped and gripped.This double strike pushed Sri Lanka into a tailspin, losing their next six wickets for 25 runs. Only one boundary would be hit in the last six overs, as batters repeatedly tried cross-batted shots against bowlers varying their pace and got themselves out, almost in frustration. Rishad got his three wickets in this period, and Taskin, Mustafizur, and Tanzim Hasan got one each.
Nissanka’s bright start
That Sri Lanka even got to 125, rather than crashing out in double figures as they did against South Africa, was down to their best batter – opener Pathum Nissanka. He struck seven fours and a six, favouring the leg side, and maintained a strike rate of 168 across his 28-ball innings.The turning point for Sri Lanka’s innings, after which they struck only two intentional boundaries (seriously), was when Mustafizur dismissed Nissanka with a cutter towards the end of the ninth over. Until that point, Sri Lanka’s run rate was above 7.50. Afterwards, it was less than five.
Hridoy’s sixes
Given how close the match was in the end, Towhid Hridoy’s four sixes – all of them against Hasaranga – also had an impact. Three of them came back to back to back, at the start of the 12th over. The first two came off slog sweeps, and the third off a beautiful inside-out shot over cover.Hasaranga would trap him lbw next ball, but Hridoy had already landed the important blows. It was these sixes that gave Bangladesh the room to stutter towards the end and still win with two wickets in hand and one over to spare.