Solomon Mire’s belligerent 112 and half-centuries from Sean Williams and Sikandar Raza helped Zimbabwe run down Sri Lanka’s 316 and register the highest successful chase by any team in the country

The Report by Andrew Fidel Fernando30-Jun-2017
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsSolomon Mire and Sean Williams razed Sri Lanka with a third-wicket partnership of 161•AFP

A belligerent 112 from Solomon Mire set Zimbabwe on track, Sean Williams’ 65 provided stability, and Sikandar Raza’s sparkling 67 not out laid out the finishing touches as a fearless Zimbabwe ran down Sri Lanka’s score of 316 to make history in Galle.Not only was this Zimbabwe’s first ODI victory against Sri Lanka on the island, it was also the first time any team successfully pursued a score in excess of 300. In the end, the chase seemed virtually nerveless. Raza and Malcolm Waller accelerated through the final overs to reach the target with the only six of the innings, with 14 balls to spare and six wickets in hand.Nothing Sri Lanka tried in the back half of the innings worked. Angelo Mathews tried switching his bowlers haphazardly, bringing his wicket-takers back early, and bowled seven men in the innings, but none could shake Zimbabwe’s resolve.As ever, dropped catches will haunt Sri Lanka. Mire was dropped on 17 and 94 – the first of those a difficult opportunity to the wicketkeeper, but the second a straightforward chance to Lasith Malinga, who made a mess of an overhead catch from short fine leg. Williams was also dropped on 13 by Danushka Gunathilaka at point. Had that chance been taken, Williams and Mire would only have had 37 together. Instead, their third-wicket stand of 161 off 133 balls would form the spine of Zimbabwe’s rousing victory.Perhaps you could argue that Sri Lanka should have scored more than 78 in the last 10 overs, given the number of wickets they had in hand, but that is a minor quibble. With Kusal Mendis hitting 86, Gunathilaka joining him for a century stand, and Upul Tharanga making 79 not out, the batsmen largely did their part.Zimbabwe’s innings began inauspiciously, Hamilton Masakadza gloving a legside Malinga ball to the wicketkeeper, before Craig Ervine top-edged a sweep off Akila Dananjaya to deep square leg just after the first Powerplay had finished. With the score at 46 for 2 in the 11th over, 317 looked distant indeed. But in that same over, Mire hit successive boundaries, and followed those up with a reverse sweep for four soon after.Suddenly, batting began to appear much easier. Mire and Williams rotated the strike fluently, and Sri Lanka’s two inexperienced spinners were perhaps guilty of a little indiscipline – Aponso particularly expensive through those early overs. Dananjaya at least seemed to draw regular mistakes from the batsmen, and perhaps could have been used more intensively when Sri Lanka were searching for wickets. By the time he was brought back, the match had largely slipped.It was the legside Mire preferred by far – 87 of his runs coming there. He was ruthless on anything that strayed into his pads, but fetched plenty of balls from wide outside offstump as well. Williams strove largely to turn the strike over. Between overs 15 and 30, the pair added 108 runs, and that, effectively, is where the match was won.Although both batsmen were gone by the end of the 35th over – Mire having completed his maiden ton in the 31st – Raza had the time to work himself into the innings, before he heralded his charge with three boundaries off Asela Gunaratne in the 39th over.Kusal Mendis became the joint second-fastest Sri Lankan to 1000 ODI runs•AFP

What was probably most impressive about the 102-run stand that took Zimbabwe home was how toothless they made Sri Lanka’s bowlers seem. Malinga’s slower balls were expertly parsed, and his swinging yorkers were not merely defused; some were heavily scored off. The spinners were manipulated and picked off, and even Nuwan Pradeep – who was Sri Lanka’s best bowler in the Champions Trophy – began to err towards the death. Zimbabwe, in playing intelligent, percentage cricket, took the game firmly by the collar, and Sri Lanka wilted quickly under pressure.For much of the chase, Zimbabwe needed about a run a ball, but when Waller hit three fours in the 43rd over, bowled by Aponso, he brought the equation down to 33 off 42 deliveries, and it was always going to be a cakewalk from there. Raza completed his half century in the 45th over, and wound up hitting the winning blow over long-on.It had seemed inconceivable that this total would be mowed down with so many balls to spare when Sri Lanka’s batsmen had walked off the field. Their innings was founded on a flowing 117-run second-wicket stand between Mendis and Gunathilaka – Mendis nearly flawless until his leading edge was sharply snaffled by Graeme Cremer in the 32nd over.The two had negotiated Zimbabwe’s coterie of spinners on a track that afforded some slow turn, and had seen out the moving new ball. Gunathilaka drove effortlessly, while Mendis swept and pulled disdainfully. Crossing 28 with an especially ravishing shot through midwicket, Mendis became the joint second-fastest Sri Lankan batsman to 1000 runs, one innings slower than Roy Dias, who had achieved the milestone in 27.Later in the innings, Tharanga would cross 6000 career ODI runs as well, batting from the No. 4 position after ceding his opening spot to Gunathilaka. Mathews cracked 43 off 30, and Gunaratne made a spry 28, but they were all let down by the bowling and fielding effort.On the bowling front for Zimbabwe, seamer Tendai Chatara returned the best figures of the innings – and indeed the game – claiming a wicket at either end of the innings, and going at only 5.44 an over.

Nottingham Forest are reportedly interested in Juventus defender Andrea Cambiaso, as Steve Cooper eyes star quality for his side ahead of the upcoming season.

Adding sufficient reinforcements this summer is integral to ensure that the Reds move away from the relegation zone, after leaving it to the penultimate game of the campaign to confirm safety.

Could Nottingham Forest sign Andrea Cambiaso?

As reported in Italy, both Forest and Tottenham are interested in Juventus left-back Cambiaso.

The report claims that the two Premier League sides have approached the Italian giants over the availability of the 23-year-old.

It’s added that Juve would expect a fee of at least €20m (£17m) for the youngster to allow him to depart.

How good is Andrea Cambiaso?

A product of Genoa’s academy, the defender was snatched by Juventus last summer after a series of loan spells around Italy.

Making a permanent exit to Turin didn’t halt the movements of the 23-year-old, who departed on loan last season to Bologna to gain added experience under the watch of the Bianconeri.

With his future at his new club unknown, fellow suitors have come knocking, which may see the Italian re-locate once more in his budding career.

The full-back made 32 appearances for Bologna last term, making the loan move a positive one in terms of his journey in Serie A.

For Forest, the signing of Cambiaso could be an encouraging coup, with the left-back showcasing the potential to be the dynamic defender that is required to spice things up at the City Ground.

Lauded as being “on fire” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the Juve youngster could be the perfect acquisition for Cooper to chase in the absence of Renan Lodi, who shone on the left side for the Reds last term.

The 25-year-old spent the year on loan in the Premier League from Atletico Madrid, before returning to Spain and being swiped up by Marseille shortly after his return.

The Brazilian added a host of quality to the squad, however, Cooper may have the opportunity to swoop for a player of similar potential in Cambiaso.

While the two are competent defenders as highlighted by their averages in their respective 2022/23 league campaigns, with the Italian averaging 2.36 tackles per 90 to Lodi’s 2.11, the 23-year-old showcased a more progressive side to his game.

As per FBref, the Forest target made an average of 74.24 touches per 90 for Bologna in comparison to their former left-back's mere 46.46, highlighting his desire to be involved in the game.

Influential in his progressive game, Cambiaso averaged 2.65 progressive carries and 3.44 progressive passes per 90 in Serie A, while maintaining a pass completion rate of 84.0%.

Despite being adored at the City Ground, Lodi’s numbers in the Premier League last term were incomparable to those of the Juve man, averaging a pass completion rate of 66.5% and making 1.26 progressive passes.

A prominent area of the Italian’s game is his eye for playmaking, evidenced through his average of 1.16 key passes per 90, presenting Cooper with the option to recruit added quality and a fresh outlet in defence.

With Spurs also watching the 23-year-old, the Welshman must act fast if he is to obtain the young talent.

Chelsea are believed to be preparing an offer for highly-rated Lyon youngster Rayan Cherki in the summer transfer window, according to a new report.

Who is Rayan Cherki?

The 19-year-old is arguably one of the most exciting young prospects in Ligue 1 currently, bursting onto the scene at Lyon and wowing with his attacking quality, on a regular basis.

Cherki, who currently earns just £28,000 per week, scored four goals and registered six assists in the league last season, already showing that he can perform in one of Europe's top five divisions at this early stage in his career. He already has 30 goal contributions (14 goals and 16 assists) in a Lyon shirt, and he has netted five times in 12 caps for France's Under-21s, with a senior call-up surely arriving at some point in the future.

The attacking midfielder isn't out of contract at his current club until the summer of 2025, but that doesn't mean that a move away is out of the question this summer. Chelsea have been linked with a move for him in recent past, and it is a rumour that is refusing to go away.

Could Chelsea be set to bid for Rayan Cherki?

According to ESPN, Chelsea could be about to bid for Cherki imminently, as they look to bring in the attacking starlet as a replacement for Christian Pulisic:

"Chelsea are preparing to make an opening offer for Lyon wonderkid Rayan Cherki as they seek a replacement for Christian Pulisic, sources have told ESPN. Pulisic is closing in on a move to AC Milan, with the United States midfielder due to undergo a medical with the Serie A giants in the next 24 hours, ESPN reported Tuesday.

"Cherki is keen to join Chelsea, sources have told ESPN. Born in Lyon and a product of the club's youth system, he is valued at around €40 million and is under contract until June 2025 after an automatic one year extension was triggered in April when he reached 15 Ligue 1 starts."

Cherki looks like a serious prospect with a massive future in the game, so he could be considered a hugely exciting signing for Chelsea this summer, as new manager Mauricio Pochettino looks to acquire the services of young talent and rebuild the Blues' squad after a bitterly disappointing 2022/23 season.

He could come in as a strong squad option from the off, although not necessarily a definite starter, given his age, before maturing into something truly formidable over time. The fact that Kylian Mbappe has expressed his admiration for him in the past says a lot about his ability, while Laurent Blanc has lauded him as "very talented" and "exceptional".

Predominantly used as a central attacking midfielder, Cherki could help make up for the loss of Mason Mount to Manchester United, linking the midfield and attack at Stamford Bridge, but he has also taken up a left-sided role for Lyon at times, and this versatility is an extra attribute that could further appeal to Pochettino.

أعلن مجلس إدارة نادي الإسماعيلي، اليوم الأربعاء، إنهاء أزمة إيقاف القيد للقلعة الصفراء، بعد سداد مستحقات لاعب الفريق السابق والمصري البورسعيدي الحالي فخر الدين بن يوسف.

وأوضح النادي الإسماعيلي في بيان رسمي، نجاح مجلس الإدارة في تحقيق إنجاز هام بإعادة فتح باب قيد اللاعبين بعد سداد المستحقات المالية للاعب فخر الدين بن يوسف، وذلك وفقًا لأحكام الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم “فيفا”.

وأشار البيان إلى أن مجلس الإدارة واجه تحديات كبيرة خلال هذه العملية، مُشددًا على أن اللاعب ومحاميه حاولا عرقلة إعادة فتح باب القيد من خلال المطالبة بمبالغ إضافية تتجاوز الحكم الصادر لصالحه.

طالع أيضًا | حمدي النقاز: وضع الإسماعيلي في الدوري لا يرضينا.. وهدفنا المراكز الأولى

وشدد على أنه بفضل الجهود الدؤوبة للمجلس، تمكن النادي من إثبات موقفه أمام “فيفا” وسداد جميع التزاماته المالية، بما في ذلك الحكم والفوائد المستحقة.

وبالتالي، أصبح بإمكان الإسماعيلي الآن قيد أي لاعب يرغب في ضمه إلى قائمة الفريق الأول.

ويؤكد مجلس الإدارة على متابعته الحثيثة لكافة القضايا المتعلقة بالنادي أمام المحكمة الرياضية الدولية، سعيًا لحلها بشكل نهائي.

كما يُشدد على أن جميع الإدارات المعنية بالنادي، بالإضافة إلى المحامي السويسري المفوض من قبل النادي، يتابعون هذه القضايا بشكل يومي لضمان تحقيق أفضل النتائج للمصالح العليا لقلعة الدراويش.

Joe Root is discovering the relentless demands made on an England captain – and that is even before he begins to think about the Ashes

George Dobell13-Aug-2017There’s a scene in the film, The Hunger, where the character played by David Bowie ages several decades in a few minutes.It would be an exaggeration to suggest Joe Root must know exactly how Bowie’s character felt – his downfall was related to a vampire lifestyle, after all, and they frown on that sort of thing in Yorkshire – but you get the picture. The demands of captaining the England Test side are substantial and there have been times during the summer when they have shown on Root’s face and in his demeanour.Defeat at Trent Bridge appeared to hit especially hard. “Why’s Joe Root’s granddad taking a press conference?” one journalist whispered as a man who looked a bit like Root shuffled in and tried to explain the loss. Let nobody doubt how much he cares.He looks much brighter today. Rejuvenated by some time off with his family and the series victory over South Africa he is back in Sheffield and, in between thrashing paint-covered cricket balls on to canvas to advertise life insurance – no, I didn’t get it, either – he is reflecting on his first few weeks in the job and looking ahead to England’s first day-night Test and the Ashes.He admits the demands of captaincy have surprised him a little. Not so much the on-field aspects – at which he has excelled – but the off-field requirements.Today is a good example. He is obliged to give a series of interviews which probe his views on a variety of subjects. He’s asked about his thoughts on top-order batting (it’s hard), playing Oasis songs on the guitar (it’s easy), being rested from the limited-overs matches against West Indies (it’s possible), religion (he’s in favour), Sheffield United (he likes them), his method of transporting a guitar on flights (he listens with rapt attention as a journalist tells him the secret is not to use a case) and day-night cricket (it’s worth a try but the fielding side had better strike with that new ball because it goes soft fast).Then he’s asked to do it all again in front of different cameras. Then he does it wearing a different coloured shirt. It is relentless and it is exhausting.”Maybe I was slightly naïve to the time and energy that would go into captaincy,” Root admits now. “I knew there would be a lot more demand upon my time and energy. And I quite enjoy the different responsibilities that come with it.”But I suppose there is slightly more than I expected. I’ve never been a great sleeper and I do find myself thinking about cricket even more than before.”When it comes to batting it’s been fine. I generally don’t think too much other than about watching the ball and playing the situation. In practice it’s about making sure I get all the preparation I need to be ready to score runs.Joe Root fulfils another sponsorship obligation•Getty Images”Coming off the field and having a young family it’s very easy to distract yourself. It’s such a nice thing to be able to go back to. You just don’t think about cricket when you’re back there. It’s the times when you’re on your own and you don’t have that where it’s slightly trickier.”No period was more tricky than the aftermath of that Trent Bridge defeat. While South Africa played beautifully in Nottingham, Root was hugely disappointed by the naïve manner his side responded to the challenge of the moving ball and a fine attack. In the first major test of his leadership, he made it clear that better, tougher cricket was expected from his team. The way they responded bodes well for him.”It was important we sat down after that game and were honest about where we were as a team,” Root says. “It wasn’t a good enough performance by everyone involved and we needed to make sure we adapted better and quicker to the situation. We did that excellently in the next two games.”I don’t think I’ll ever be a man for Churchillian speeches or making everyone emotional through my words, but I feel like I can hold my own in terms of getting my message across in the group.”He knows, too, that one of the most significant test looms just ahead. Whether it’s right or wrong, England players – and captains, in particular – are still judged disproportionately by their success in Ashes series.Root admits he was shocked by the hostility of the Australian crowds in the 2013-14 series. Despite having spent a season playing Grade cricket for Prospect CC in Adelaide (“I enjoyed it, but I’d have loved to score more runs”) and expecting some “banter” on the field, he found it extended off the pitch.While he feels it’s crucial to see the humour in such exchanges, he also believes it is important to warn new players as to what to expect. One particular chant, which rhymed “Trott” with “vagina rot” was especially memorable.”I was slightly surprised,” he says. “I thought they might give us a bit of banter but it was a bit more than that.”A lot of the side that went in 2013-14 was similar to the one which won there in 2010-11. They all said it was an amazing tour and they had a great time. It was tough cricket but brilliant.”My experience was different. It was very hostile. It was aggressive on and off the field. Especially off the field, in fact. The crowd give you a hard time and the guys are fully aware that’s the case.”At Brisbane a beach ball came on the field and they wanted me to throw it back. Someone said something a bit rude so I chucked it to the steward, who popped it. For the rest of that day they carried on about it. There were some not very nice words. It wasn’t very family friendly.”There was a few chants from the crowd that were quite personal at times. Quite offensive. The thing to remember, even if it doesn’t seem it at the time, is it’s generally in good spirit and they’re just trying to create an atmosphere for their side.”But if you respond well to it you have the opportunity to win them over. So I think it’s important to warn players over what to expect. You don’t want to go out there and it just hit you like a train. You want to make sure you’re fully aware of what’s coming your way.”I think that’s probably what made it so enjoyable for the guys who went there and won. You do get a hard time but when you win it’s that bit more enjoyable. Our challenge is to experience that, not let it faze us and hopefully come back with that little urn.”Joe Root is an Ambassador for health and life insurer Vitality, inspiring healthy and active lifestyles

Marcus Rashford exploded last season, cementing himself as one of the most dangerous goalscorers in the Premier League.

Manchester United will certainly hope he can lead them to glory this season – hence his new five-year contract.

Other top clubs will hope to stop him, of course, and one of those is Tottenham Hotspur. They'll try to compete with United once again this season and will come up against Rashford and co. on 19th August.

So how well does Rashford usually fare against them? Football FanCast takes a dive into the numbers to find out.

What is Marcus Rashford's goal record against Tottenham?

Rashford has played 14 times against Spurs and it took him a while to find his feet against them. The forward didn't manage to score in any of his first four appearances, but has since gone on to be a bit of a thorn in the Lilywhites' sides.

He currently sits on five goals in 14 games, with all of them coming within 13 Premier League fixtures. Since his first goal against them, that record stands at five in nine.

What is Marcus Rashford's assist record against Tottenham?

Rashford certainly isn't known for his assists as much as his goals. There are 16 teams against which he's managed more than just a solitary assist, though – a fairly decent record for a prolific goalscorer.

Though, Tottenham aren't one of them. Rashford has just one assist in his 14 games and it actually came in his most recent outing against Spurs. He scored one and assisted another in the Red Devils' 2-2 draw in north London back in April.

What is Marcus Rashford's head-to-head record against Tottenham?

It's very good, actually – and surprisingly so, as United haven't always been comfortably better than Spurs since Rashford broke into the senior setup. But in 14 games against Tottenham, he's been on the winning side nine times. Spurs have won three, with two ending in draws. It's worth noting that one of those wins was in the FA Cup.

That record looks even better in recent times. Since 2019, Rashford has faced Spurs nine times and won seven, losing and drawing one apiece.

What is Marcus Rashford's away goal record against Tottenham?

Rashford has played away at Tottenham seven times in his career. Worryingly for Spurs ahead of their August clash, it's also the ground on which he's done the most damage in this fixture.

The England star has three of his five goals against Tottenham away from home, plus that assist he picked up last season. He's also avoided defeat in his last five trips – a bad omen for Spurs.

Who has Marcus Rashford scored the most against?

There are three teams against whom Rashford has more goals than his five in Spurs matches. There are then a further five who have also conceded five times to United's star.

Leicester City are his most common victim, conceding eight times in 16 appearances against Rashford. Then come Chelsea and Liverpool at six goals each in 17 and 15 games respectively.

West Ham, Manchester City, Arsenal, Newcastle and Bournemouth all sit alongside Tottenham as having conceded five. It's worth mentioning that Rashford's overall record against Newcastle might be his best against any club: 11 games, five goals, five assists.

How many goals does Marcus Rashford have in August?

August isn't a particularly happy hunting month for Rashford as his record in the first month of the season isn't what you would call special. Indeed, he's only got five August strikes throughout his eight-season career. That does, however, include a brace against Chelsea in 2019 and a goal against Liverpool last year.

It's also worth mentioning that the 2020/21 campaign didn't have any games played in August as the season instead kicked off in September. Rashford did grab two goals in the opening month that year, so perhaps it's a little fairer to include those in his 'August' tally.

How many winning goals does Marcus Rashford have?

Rashford has a whopping 45 game-winning goals in his career so far. In fact, he managed 16 last season – an incredible number which actually accounted for over half of his goals.

Two of those game-winners have come against Tottenham, too, so they know full well how dangerous he can be. Indeed, he notched in back-to-back league games against the north Londoners with winners at either end of 2019 – the latter of which was an Old Trafford brace in a 2-1 win to inflict a first defeat at Spurs for Jose Mourinho.

What is Marcus Rashford's overall goal record for Man United?

Rashford has now played 359 games for United – doesn't time fly? He's managed to score a very respectable 123 goals in that time, which is a goal-to-game ratio of around 0.34.

But that will only go up with time as Rashford continues to improve. Last season was his best yet – and this coming campaign could well prove to be even better.

What is Marcus Rashford's Premier League record?

Rashford now has 76 Premier League goals, coming in 239 appearances in England's top flight. That's enough to sit in 60th on the all-time Premier League top scorers list.

But he won't be stopping there. A season like last time out could even see him climb into the top 40 – and who's to say he won't better what he managed in 2022/23?

What is Marcus Rashford's assist record?

Now, different places credit assists in different ways, so the exact number of assists for Rashford is debatable. We'll just focus on how the Premier League credits them.

And with that in mind, Rashford has 37 assists in his league career. That's good enough for 92nd all-time in the Premier League – level with Manchester United greats Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Cristiano Ronaldo. He'll move past both shortly – perhaps even before their trip to Spurs.

How many goals did Marcus Rashford score last season?

Last season was the finest of Rashford's career as he cemented himself as an elite forward. He scored an incredible 30 goals in all competitions, coming in just 56 games.

That was the best haul of his career to date and marked an extraordinary jump on the previous campaign. 2021/22 saw Rashford manage just five goals, which was even fewer than the eight he managed in his debut season as a teenager.

22 had been his previous highest, but now 30 is the figure to beat in all competitions.

That boiled down to 17 Premier League goals in 35 appearances. It's a fine record in a team that was still finding itself under Erik ten Hag and matched his previous best in the competition.

But with things looking a little more settled now, Rashford will want to go even better this time around. That 20-goal barrier just has to be his target.

What is Man United's record against Tottenham?

United's record is fantastic against just about every team in the country. It's no different against Spurs, either, in their 199 fixtures against one another.

That's right, we're coming up on the 200th meeting between United and Tottenham. So far, the Red Devils have triumphed on nearly half of the occasions – 96 times, to be exact.

Spurs have 53 to their credit, with the spoils shared 50 times.

But what about the Premier League? Since the rebrand in 1992, the two sides have met 62 times in the league. United have utterly dominated proceedings, though, winning on 39 occasions. That included a spell from 2001 to 2012 without tasting defeat once.

Spurs have managed just 10 wins in that time, with the majority of those coming since January 2014. There's a long way to go to claw things back and level things up…

What are Man United's recent results against Tottenham?

Very, very good. Spurs have consistently struggled against United historically, but did enjoy a decent spell within the last decade or so.

But that's changed more recently. United are undefeated in the last five meetings, winning four before drawing the most recent encounter. That finished 2-2, with Rashford scoring one and assisting another.

Before that result, United won 2-0 and 3-2 at home, with 3-0 and 3-1 away wins prior to that. So when did Spurs last win against them?

You'll remember it – the 6-1 thrashing at Old Trafford. United have fought back in style after that embarrassment. As for the last time Spurs beat United in north London, you have to return to 2018 and a 2-0 win at Wembley Stadium. Christian Eriksen, now with United, scored the opener before a Phil Jones own goal sealed it.

When is Tottenham Hotspur vs Manchester United?

This latest clash between the two teams will take place on Saturday, 19th August at 5.30pm UK time. It'll be the second Saturday Night Football of the season and is just five days after United's opener against Wolves.

It'll be interesting to see how that affects things – as well as how the two teams line up. Neither team can be sure of who they will and won't have as the transfer window continues to intrigue.

Will Harry Kane be at Spurs? Will United have their new striker? And where will Harry Maguire be playing?

What we do know is that Rashford will almost certainly feature for United, barring an injury. His new five-year contract sets him up to be the star man at Old Trafford for the foreseeable future and it's a role he'll almost certainly thrive in.

Perhaps he'll be the difference once more as these two sides seek early statements in the top-four race.

R Ashwin and Mohammed Shami finished with combined second-innings figures of 43.3-12-100-7 as India completed a 3-0 whitewash with an innings win in Pallekele

The Report by Karthik Krishnaswamy14-Aug-2017
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details7:19

‘Mathews, Tharanga and Chandimal need to set an example’

At 2.46 pm on Monday, when Lahiru Kumara played down the wrong line of an R Ashwin carrom ball, India achieved something they had done only once before. Until then, they had only once won three Tests in an away series, back in 1967-68, when they beat New Zealand 3-1.Now the scoreline was even more impressive, a 3-0 whitewash of Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka, each Test won with a fearsome victory margin: 304 runs, an innings and 53 runs, and now, inside three days, an innings and 171 runs. Plenty has and will be said about the lack of quality in Sri Lanka’s squad, and plenty of that is true, but India’s dominance had just as much to do with their growing into a truly formidable side, with all bases covered, even – in this respect differing from previous Indian sides – on the bowling front.The last day of the series showcased India’s attack at its relentless best, in particular Ashwin and Mohammed Shami, who finished with combined second-innings figures of 43.3-12-100-7 to hasten Sri Lanka’s defeat.After a solitary over from Kuldeep Yadav to start the day, Shami and Ashwin bowled in tandem right through the first hour of day three, setting the tone for a day with no respite for Sri Lanka. Ashwin struck in his first over of the day, removing Dimuth Karunaratne, Sri Lanka’s second-innings specialist. Karunaratne might have been fresh off a hundred in the previous Test, but managed to pick neither the line nor length of the second and third balls he faced from Ashwin.This was one of those days when the ball just comes out perfectly from Ashwin’s hand, when batsmen cannot predict with any sense of certainty where it will land. First up, a big offbreak beat Karunaratne’s outside edge by a long way, his front foot planted down the wrong line thanks to the drift into him. Then, stuck on the crease to a quicker one that took off from a length, he was caught at slip off the shoulder of his bat.Dimuth Karunaratne had his outside edge pouched by Ajinkya Rahane at slip•AFP

At the other end, every ball from Shami looked likely to dismiss the nightwatchman Malinda Pushpakumara, with the TV producers lingering on slow-motion replays of his perfectly upright seam. Having beaten him four times with balls that held their line after angling into the fourth-stump channel, Shami finally found his edge through to Wriddhiman Saha in his fourth over of the day.Kusal Mendis, the other centurion in Sri Lanka’s second-innings resistance at the SSC, was jittery at the crease right from the start, getting himself into tangles in the effort to put the bowlers off their rhythm. Predictably, he tried sweeping Ashwin as often as he could, but this time he wasn’t as successful in picking up the offspinner’s changes of pace and trajectory. On one occasion, he adjusted to the dip, collapsing his back knee and leaning backwards to manufacture room for a swipe through backward square leg. On another, he had to hurriedly change his shot and play a defensive jab into the leg side instead.Mendis was stuck at Ashwin’s end for the first 16 balls of his innings. Finally, facing Shami, he received a rare bad ball – a short, wide one – that he slapped away to the point boundary. The next ball, though, he paid the price for trying to manufacture a scoring opportunity. Spotting his shuffle across the crease, Shami went wide of the crease and fired one in, full and straight. Rod Tucker gave him out as soon as Shami began appealing, penalising his across-the-line shot as much as anything else, with the line suggesting the ball may have carried on past leg stump. Mendis did not review, and ball-tracking returned an umpire’s-call verdict.Chandimal had been the most assured Sri Lankan batsman in the first innings, especially against pace, and a couple of flowing drives through the off side off Umesh Yadav gave the same impression in the second innings too. He was less certain against Ashwin, though, and in one over had two lbw appeals turned down, the ball beating his sweep both times, with his long front-and-across stretch saving him.Chandimal and Angelo Mathews saw Sri Lanka through to lunch, and for a further 8.2 overs after the interval, putting on 65 for the fifth wicket in 27.4 overs. Having survived those lbw shouts, Chandimal put away the sweep, and began instead to use his feet to the spinners. He didn’t always get to the pitch against Ashwin, and a couple of inside edges flew dangerously close of short leg.A catch at short leg eventually sent Chandimal back, though off Kuldeep rather than Ashwin, turn and bounce cramping him as he went back to flick. Then Mathews, looking to sweep a full ball off the stumps, missed, and Ashwin had his second wicket. He soon had his third too, Dilruwan Perera slogging him to deep midwicket.With Sri Lanka seven down, the quicks returned to try and finish things quickly. Lakshan Sandakan top-edged a cut off Shami, and then Niroshan Dickwella, who top scored with a typically punchy 41, fell to a stunning reflex catch from Ajinkya Rahane at gully, when he middled an open-faced slash to his left off Umesh. Shami could have had a fourth, when Vishwa Fernando chipped one straight back at him, but the one-handed effort fell to the floor, leaving Ashwin to return and take the last wicket, swelling his series-topping tally to 17.

Hibernian manager Lee Johnson will be hoping to improve on the fifth-place finish his side achieved during the 2022/23 Premiership campaign, even though it did end up securing them a place in the qualifiers for the Europa Conference League.

Hibs have finished third only once in the top flight since the 2004/05 season and with the likes of Hearts and Aberdeen improving, it will be a major challenge, yet if Johnson manages to make some impressive signings, it certainly isn’t out of the realms of possibilities.

Dylan Levitt and Adam Le Fondre have arrived to bolster the attacking options, yet it is the defence which should be targeted as an area to improve on during the summer transfer window.

Johnson is making inroads with regard to this and is currently looking to sign Manchester United defender Will Fish on loan for the second successive season, following a solid maiden season in Edinburgh.

Are Hibs signing Will Fish?

According to The Scotsman, Hibs are keen on Fish returning to Easter Road in another temporary deal, with the manager remaining confident a move can happen.

He said: “We’re in constant contact with Manchester United and I am in constant contact with Will himself. I’m very positive about that one. But until it is signed, sealed and delivered it’s not one I can guarantee is going to happen.”

Although not yet finalised, the Hibs faithful should begin to get excited about this arrival, and Johnson may finally have a player who could replace Ryan Porteous following his departure in January.

How good is Will Fish?

The former Hibs defender left the club to join Championship side Watford having emerged through the youth academy and making over 150 appearances for the club across five and half seasons.

While his departure was somewhat inevitable given his undoubted talent, which allowed him to make his Scotland debut against Ukraine while still at Hibs, Johnson wasn’t prepared for him to leave halfway through the season.

His no-nonsense approach and tenacious nature is missed, yet Fish could slot back into the heart of the defence with ease during the 2023/24 season and replace Porteous.

Across just 21 Premiership appearances last season, the 6-foot starlet managed to provide an unlikely goal threat, netting three times, while also keeping five clean sheets and winning an impressive four duels per game – a 61% success rate.

To further put his impressive numbers into context, Fish ranked fourth among the squad for interceptions per game (one) and first for clearances per game (five) while also ranking fourth for accurate long balls per game (3.1), showcasing his ability to find a midfielder or a forward from a deep position.

Lauded as “outstanding” by the club's women's captain Joelle Murray following the stunning 6-0 success over Aberdeen in January, it’s evident that another spell at Hibs could see the player continue to develop.

With vital European qualifiers to come, the Easter Road side will be hoping to earn their right to play in the group stages of the Conference League, securing a major financial boost along with it.

Fish is still young and learning constantly, but he proved last term that he can shine in Scotland.

Tottenham Hotspur have informed the representatives of Eintracht Frankfurt striker Randal Kolo Muani of their interest in signing him this summer.

Will Harry Kane leave Tottenham?

Spurs' star striker Harry Kane, two summers after his failed move to Man City, is front and centre of another transfer saga as his contract slowly winds down.

Kane's current Spurs deal expires in 2024, and with no extension in the offing just yet, chairman Daniel Levy has a big decision to make in regards to potentially selling him this summer.

Bayern Munich are the side credited with, perhaps, the most serious interest in signing him, with manager Ange Postecoglou previously expressing his discontent at the rumours surrounding Kane.

“Fair to say I am not relaxed about it," said Postecoglou to the media recently.

“It’s not something you go: ‘Ah, well, you know if it does or doesn’t happen!’ I mean it’s a very important part of this football club, not just the team, but the football club.

“So, you’ve got to deal with it, and I think, for everyone concerned, we don’t want to be doing it for too long. I don’t think that is good for anyone. I don’t think it is good for Harry, I don’t think it is good for the club, because as laser focused as we want to be, you end up sort of repeating yourself along the way.

“But the flip side of that is I don’t want to put a deadline on it, because that adds even more pressure. You want these things to happen for the right reasons. The reality of it is he’s still a contracted player at our football club, so that’s the way I see him."

Amid the uncertainty surrounding Kane's future, Bild journalist and Bayern insider Christian Falk has shared an update as Tottenham reportedly eye Kolo Muani as a possible replacement for him.

There have been reports of the player being "keen" to join Spurs if they can get a deal done, but the proposed move may not be an easy one.

Falk says Spurs have contacted his agents and informed them of their desire to sign their client, but his asking price is a real sticking point.

"Tottenham have registered an interest with the representatives of Muani, but the eventual transfer fee could be too high." said Falk to CaughtOffside.

Expanding on the fee needed for Frankfurt's star, it is believed he could cost around €100 million (£86m) to prise away from the Bundesliga side.

How good is Randal Kolo Muani?

Bagging 15 goals and 11 assists in 32 league appearances last campaign, Kolo Muani dazzled for Eintracht over the 2022/2023 season (WhoScored).

The versatile 24-year-old, who can play across the forward line, also stood out as their best-performing player per 90 in the German top flight (WhoScored).

Kolo Muani has also been showered with praise by those who have coached him previously, namely for his elite dribbling ability and clinical finishing in front of goal.

"He's amazing," former Eintracht and Bayern boss Felix Magath told French newspaper L'Équipe (via Bundesliga).

"He's not only a strong dribbler, but he's very clinical in the final third. I love his mentality; he's always thinking about the team. That's obvious when you look at how many assists he's got this season."

Leeds United won't 'advance things' regarding their pursuit of Swansea City striker Joel Piroe unless his price tag is to drop, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

Is Joel Piroe moving to Leeds United?

According to Football Insider, Leeds United, Southampton and Leicester City are set for a three-way transfer tussle to try and land Piroe this summer.

The report states that Leeds United are keen to replace former striker Rodrigo Moreno, who has recently departed for Qatari side Al Rayyan, while have been impressed by his ability to function as both a central striker and an attacking midfielder.

Last term, Piroe was in brilliant form for Swansea City and notched 20 goals and two assists in 45 appearances across all competitions for the Welsh outfit, as per Transfermarkt.

Piroe has been a particularly potent threat during his time at the Jacks and found space among packed defences at will last campaign, recording 3.3 shots per match in the English second-tier, as per WhoScored.

Earlier in the window, The Daily Mail claimed that Swansea City may hold out for a fee in the region of £12 million amid Southampton's interest.

Nevertheless, The Swansea Independent have claimed that Piroe wants to move to the Premier League and would be open to a switch to Everton or Nottingham Forest.

Serie A side Atalanta are believed to have submitted an enquiry for the 23-year-old this summer; nevertheless, nothing concrete has come to the table at the moment with speculation continuing to mount over the Dutchman's future at the Swansea.com Stadium, according to Wales Online.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jacobs doesn't think that Leeds United's interest in Piroe is at an 'advanced' stage and has indicated that his price tag may need to drop before any prospective move to Elland Road.

Jacobs told FFC: "With Leeds, I think that it's very possible that they don't advance things unless the price drops. I wouldn't want to downplay the fact that they've looked, but I also don't think that anything there with Leeds and Piroe is particularly advanced at the time we're recording this."

What next for Leeds United?

Leeds United boss Daniel Farke will hope that he can add some quality reinforcements to his squad in the next few weeks to boost the Whites' chances of gaining promotion to the Premier League in 2023/24, having only added Ethan Ampadu to the fold so far from Chelsea, as per Transfermarkt.

According to Football Insider, Newcastle United goalkeeper Karl Darlow is in the process of completing a medical at Elland Road ahead of an imminent move to Leeds United.

Football journalist Pieter-Jan Calcoen of Belgian outlet Nieuwsblad has claimed on Twitter X that Anderlecht ace Francis Amuzu is another target for Leeds United alongside Luton Town and Ligue 1 outfit Nice, stating: Francis Amuzu of RSCA is high on the wish list of Leeds, Luton Town and OGC Nice. There is no concrete offer yet, but at least one of the three clubs is preparing one."

The Whites are also in advanced discussions to sign Rangers midfielder Glen Kamara for a fee of £5 million, beating off competition from several Sky Bet Championship clubs, as reported by Football Insider.