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Fifties from the middle-order pair helped Pakistan overhaul a 263-run target against co-hosts New Zealand

The Report by Karthik Krishnaswamy01-May-2020 #RetroLive They lost three of their first five matches, and should probably have lost a fourth too, when England bowled them out for 74. Rain saved them there, and gave them an underserved point, a point that was eventually critical to their progress into the last four of this World Cup.But don’t take anything away from Pakistan for what they’ve done since that early run. They beat Sri Lanka, Australia and New Zealand on the bounce to reach the semi-finals. And now they’re in their first World Cup final, having pulled off a sensational chase to dump out New Zealand, the co-hosts and league-table toppers, on their own turf.They’ve pulled off the fourth-biggest successful chase in any World Cup match. Of the three above it, two came in 60-over matches, and the third against an Associate side, Zimbabwe. And none of the top three chases came in a knockout match.It was challenge enough for Pakistan to chase 263. When Imran Khan and Saleem Malik fell in the space of five balls, their task had grown immeasurably more difficult: 123 needed off 95 balls, with six wickets in hand.It was here that Inzamam-ul-Haq, all of 22, with only 15 ODIs behind him, joined Javed Miandad at the crease. Inzamam wasn’t unknown or unproven at this level; he’d scored back-to-back ODI hundreds against Sri Lanka earlier this year. But this had been a quiet World Cup for him up to this point, and this was a semi-final.For a player of quality, though, a semi-final is a cricket match like any other. And Inzamam is most definitely a player of quality. How else do you score a half-century in 31 balls while exuding the air of someone taking a leisurely stroll around the neighbourhood, pausing occasionally to chomp on an apple?It wasn’t an in-your-face explosion of sixes and fours. There were moments of sublime timing, such as when Inzamam stepped out to Gavin Larsen and sent the ball racing to the midwicket boundary with the gentlest of nudges, and shots that hinted at supreme judgment of length, such as a pulled four off a Chris Harris delivery that was only marginally short. But more than all that, it was an innings of awareness, of where the gaps were and how to find them; to that end, his best shot was probably a dancing flick over midwicket off Willie Watson, which landed in a wide, unguarded area to the left of deep square leg and allowed him to run three.There was some poor bowling too; Harris kept floating the ball wide of off stump when the batsmen advanced at him, with no sweeper protecting the off-side boundary. Inzamam and Miandad threaded fours through the off-side infield once each in successive overs. Dipak Patel, the offspinner, kept bowling into Inzamam’s sweeping and pulling arc despite leaving a massive gap between deep backward-square leg and deep midwicket.Inzamam, in truth, was showing up a limited New Zealand attack for what it was. Their dibbly-dobblers – Harris, Larsen and Watson – have been unhittable at times during this World Cup, especially on the slower pitches in New Zealand, but there’s a sameness to this attack, and a lack of genuinely attacking bowlers apart from Danny Morrison.Once Inzamam and Miandad brought the required rate back under control with an 87-run partnership off 63 balls, New Zealand needed a couple of quick wickets to bring themselves back in the match, and lacked the bowling firepower with which to do it.Their fielding could have brought them a couple of wickets, though. Two direct hits from Harris had Miandad – batting on 1 at that stage – and Moin Khan – on 5, with Pakistan needing 16 off 16 with four wickets in hand – scrambling for safety. Replays showed both of them marginally, but clearly, short of their crease. There was no way the square-leg umpire could have given either of them out, but with technology playing an increasingly influential role at this level, expect video umpires to make an appearance soon.Who knows what might have happened had Miandad been run out so early, with Pakistan needing 177 off 161 balls. The fallout of Moin’s non-dismissal was clearer; he’s still new to this level, but he showed Miandadesque calmness and smarts in helping the senior man finish off the match, and clubbed a pair of unorthodox, Miandadesque boundaries to seal the deal.That Pakistan had needed to hustle to such a degree at the finish was down to their turgid scoring through the first two-thirds of their innings, which was largely down to Imran Khan’s struggle, after promoting himself to No. 3 once again, to pierce the field, and, on occasion, to put bat to ball. It lasted 93 balls, and brought him only 40 runs, 12 of them coming in two hits.A similar struggle took root at a similar stage of New Zealand’s innings, after they had chosen to bat first with a grim forecast in mind. Mark Greatbatch, as he has done through this tournament, clubbed a couple of early sixes, before failing to pick up a back-of-the-hand slower ball from Aaqib Javed that spun like a googly. John Wright and the No. 3 Andrew Jones struggled to time the ball, though, and Ken Rutherford, batting at No. 5, took an age to get going, remaining scoreless for 20 balls, and taking 43 balls to reach double figures.If it wasn’t for the in-form Martin Crowe, who moved his feet with precision and timed the ball like a dream from the moment he stepped in, New Zealand’s innings could have come to a complete standstill. Mushtaq Ahmed, who had returned figures of 2 for 18 in 10 overs in the league-stage meeting between these sides, dismissed Jones with a brilliant quicker one, and gave Rutherford a torrid time as well, and with Pakistan’s second legspinner, Iqbal Sikander, starting tidily as well, New Zealand crawled to 119 for 3 in 34 overs. Getting to 220 looked unlikely.But as if a switch had been clicked on, Rutherford suddenly found his rhythm, and his feet began to twinkle against the spinners, bringing him a series of boundaries including a straight six off Sikander. Crowe, like Inzamam would do later in the match, began punishing the smallest errors in line and length, sweeping and pulling the spinners at every opportunity, and whipping Wasim Akram for a stupendous six off his hip, over backward square leg. Crowe raced to his fifty in 51 balls. Rutherford flew from 17 off 47 balls to 50 off 67, before a miscued pull off Akram ended their partnership at 107.New Zealand’s innings had legs now, but their captain’s legs gave way in the 44th over, Crowe injuring his left hamstring while taking a single off Sikander. On 79 then, he would add 12 more to his score, before a mix-up involving his runner, Greatbatch, sent him back in the 47th over, right after another brutal pull off a barely-short delivery had moved him into the 90s.Crowe’s injury didn’t have any immediate effect on New Zealand’s morale, with Ian Smith leading their plundering of 40 runs off the last 22 balls of their innings. But their tactics during Pakistan’s innings lacked the Crowe stamp. Rather than swap his bowlers around constantly as Crowe has done through this tournament, the stand-in captain Wright kept his bowlers on for long spells, refusing to use Jones’ offspin as a sixth option. With Inzamam new to the crease, he delayed the reintroduction of Morrison, who had four overs left, and kept plugging away with his slow-medium trio.It’s hard to say, though, that this same New Zealand attack, shuffled into a different configuration, could have dealt with Inzamam in the mood he was in. Today was simply his day, and this tournament may simply be Pakistan’s, though England or South Africa may have something to say about that. RetroLive

Real Madrid have sent a heartfelt “always proud of you” message to Cristiano Ronaldo after seeing him make history with goal number 900.

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Portuguese superstar hits another landmarkHas rewritten the history books once againBlancos proud of their all-time top scorerGettyWHAT HAPPENED?

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner hit that mark, while rewriting the record books once again, when taking in a UEFA Nations League outing with Portugal against Croatia. Emotion spilled out of Ronaldo after finding the target and reaching another remarkable career landmark.

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CR7 has made a habit of producing exploits of the history-making kind down the years, with countless individual achievements set to stand the test of time. One of those sees the legendary Portuguese hold the record for most goals scored for Real Madrid – with 450 efforts for the Blancos registered through 438 appearances.

WHAT REAL MADRID SAID

He may have bid farewell to Santiago Bernabeu in 2018, but he will forever hold a special place in the hearts of those in the Spanish capital. With that in mind, Real Madrid have posted after seeing Ronaldo reach 900 career goals: “Another historic feat: 900 goals in the professional career of one of the biggest legends in the history of Real Madrid and world football. Congratulations, dear and admired @Cristiano! Real Madrid and the club’s fans are always proud of you.”

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WHAT NEXT?

Ronaldo will not be stopping at 900 on the goal front, with the evergreen frontman having already stated his desire to reach 1,000. International retirement is not being considered any time soon, while prolific exploits for Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr should help to nudge him closer to that mark before a day finally comes in which to hang up the most distinguished of boots.

Glasgow Rangers may still be in the hunt for the Premiership title, but it will take a dramatic turn of events for the trophy to return to Ibrox following a three-year drought.

Not only will the Gers have to beat Celtic at Parkhead – something which has happened just twice since 2010 – but they will likely need their rivals to drop points in either of the two games after that too.

It appears as though the dropped points to Motherwell, Ross County and Dundee since the beginning of March will prove to be Philippe Clement’s undoing, but he can only do so much with the squad at his disposal.

Former manager Michael Beale endured a poor summer transfer window last season, which saw the Englishman splash millions on players who have either missed large sections of the season due to injury (Danilo) or have simply not been good enough in front of goal (Cyriel Dessers), leading to the club potentially having to undergo yet another rebuild this summer.

Much will depend on how many players Clement moves out this summer with regard to his budget for improving the team, but a few of Beale’s signings could be those who move on, notably Cyriel Dessers and Danilo.

Why Dessers & Danilo could leave Rangers

Beale spent £4.5m on the Nigerian before splashing £6m to bring Danilo to Ibrox from Feyenoord last summer as he sought to bolster his attacking options.

Both have endured tough spells during their maiden year in Glasgow, although Dessers has a chance to finish as the club’s top goalscorer this season.

Since joining, the 29-year-old has scored 20 goals and grabbed eight assists in all competitions, which, on the surface, represents a decent enough debut season at the Light Blues.

Metric

Danilo

Cyriel Dessers

Goals

4

14

Assists

1

3

Shots per game

3

2.9

Big chances missed

9

24

Big chances created

1

7

However, in the top flight alone, Dessers has missed a staggering 24 big chances in 32 games, which means if he was more clinical, the striker could be sitting on 30 or more goals.

His lack of consistency – world beater one minute to taking four chances to score the next – means that his future is currently undecided at this moment in time, although he could be a decent backup option for next season.

Danilo, on the other hand, hasn’t had much time on the pitch to really make a solid impression. The Brazilian has only played 21 times this term due to a succession of injuries, scoring six goals in the process.

The 25-year-old missed nine games in September and October due to a broken cheekbone suffered against St Johnstone before a knee injury sustained against Hearts in December ultimately ruled him out for the rest of the campaign.

Due to the hefty fee paid to sign the forwrad, it looks as though Clement will utilise him next season when he returns to full fitness as he showed promise during his time on the pitch.

Dessers is currently valued at £3.4m according to Transfermarkt, while Danilo’s valuation by the same source is now £5.1m, showing that both players now have values below the fees that Rangers paid to sign them. Hardly a promising sign.

Interestingly enough, the Light Blues managed to sell a player back in 1995 for a fee which, in current money, actually works out as more than Danilo and Dessers’ market value. We're talking about Mark Hateley.

How Mark Hateley performed at Rangers

With Graeme Souness in charge, Hateley became the next big English player to sign for the Light Blues, following in the footsteps of Chris Woods, Terry Butcher, and Gary Stevens.

The former AC Milan striker endeared himself to the Ibrox faithful during his maiden season, scoring twice against Aberdeen in the final match of the season to ensure Rangers won their third league title in a row, and he would become a key player under Walter Smith.

The next three seasons at Ibrox saw Hateley and Ally McCoist become one of the finest striking partnerships in the club’s history. The little and large duo were excellent as the Gers swept up the majority of domestic prizes on offer.

He scored 62 goals across those three years in the league alone, with more notable efforts coming in the Champions League against Leeds United while scoring in both domestic cups.

After 13 goals in just 23 league matches during the 1994/95 campaign, Hateley was sold to Queens Park Rangers at the start of the following season.

Mark Hateley’s transfer value in 2024 money

After five highly successful seasons in Glasgow, Smith sold the Englishman to QPR for a transfer fee in the region of £1.5m, which wasn’t a bad piece of business considering he was approaching the final stages of his career.

In 2024 money, however – with Totally Money adjusted for inflation over the years – that transfer fee would be worth a staggering £14.5m.

This means that Hateley’s transfer value is worth more than Danilo and Dessers combined, showing how much the club hit the jackpot by moving him on nearly 30 years ago.

The Englishman would return for one final fling at Rangers towards the end of the 1996/97 season as the club were chasing history.

With an injury crisis engulfing the squad, Smith signed Hateley ahead of the final Old Firm clash of the season, and it proved to be a stroke of genius as he bullied the Celtic defence throughout, with a 1-0 win being secured.

He may have scored just once in four appearances, but it was clear he was ready to do anything for the club as they were edging towards securing their ninth title in a row.

If only the current squad had players with this mentality, they wouldn’t be trailing their Old Firm adversaries by three points with just three matches left, especially with how poor Celtic have been this term.

With a big summer ahead for Clement, he will be hoping to add his own version of players such as Hateley and McCoist, who contributed so much to the club.

Much will depend on his budget, but if a decent offer comes in for Dessers or Danilo, the 50-year-old may take the money and run.

Market Movers

Football FanCast's Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club's star player or biggest flop worth today?

Dawid Malan was unbeaten on 50 as Yorkshire closed three down and needing 68 more for victory

Paul Edwards at Chester-le-Street03-Aug-2020
Sometimes the incomparable game reaches back into its rich past even as it charms us with its dynamic present. Should the forecast be correct this match may yet be curtailed by the weather. Yorkshire need 68 runs to win, Durham require seven wickets, yet the threat of rain means any result is possible in a contest that has recalled treasured dynasties.Cricket, you see, has its simple lists and its honourable lineages. Bowling fast and opening the batting for Yorkshire are among the latter. Bill Bowes, Fred Trueman and Darren Gough are just three of those who have taken the new ball for the White Rose while Herbert Sutcliffe, Leonard Hutton and Geoffrey Boycott all opened their county’s innings. All six cricketers performed their skills with much honour for England on very many occasions. And there were seasons when Halifax-born batsman Alex Lees seemed destined to follow in their line. For had not those mighty prophets Boycott and Bird assured us it would be so?Such years have now been consigned to the Elder Days. Lees left Yorkshire nearly two years ago, having fallen out of favour with the club’s management. There were even days when it seemed he didn’t much like the game itself. So neutrals were pleased to see him make a success of his move to Durham while Yorkshire supporters could be reassured that since his new team was in the second division there was little immediate chance of him playing against their county in proper cricket.That, though, was before Covid-19 and the inception of the Bob Willis Trophy. No one foresaw that Lees might do anything so dastardly as to make a century against Yorkshire, something he accomplished early on this third afternoon at the Riverside when he nudged Harry Brook backward of square for two runs on the off side. It was his 16th first-class hundred, a dozen of which have been scored for the county of his birth.So maybe it was thought fitting that Lees’ innings should be ended – and the match changed utterly – by York’s Matthew Fisher, who still has a career bubbling with promise despite the injuries that have haunted him in recent seasons. When Fisher took the new ball ten overs after lunch Durham were 215 for 3 and were digging themselves out of trouble. Their 96-run first-innings deficit had been cleared and Lees was unbeaten on exactly 100.Immediately, though, Fisher achieved prodigious swing, even on a warm afternoon unthreatened by cloud. Lees thin-edged his first ball to fine leg for four and had collected two more runs before the sixth delivery swung in, brushed his pad and sent the off stump sprawling.Fisher was merely warming to his task. Four overs later he produced what may be seen as one of the balls of the season: a ferocious inswinging yorker which not only removed Jack Burnham’s middle and leg stump but even succeeded in knocking the hapless batsman off his feet as he sought to play or avoid it. Two balls later Durham’s newly appointed skipper, Ned Eckersley, played sloppily across the line and was leg before. In the next over Paul Coughlin departed in similar fashion although not as culpably. Fisher had taken four wickets in 19 balls.Durham’s batsmen were allowed no respite. Jordan Thompson, a Loiner, replaced Fisher at the Finchale End and immediately dismissed both Ben Raine and Matthew Potts, who might have fared just as well had they been batting with a stick of tusky. Chris Rushworth joined Gareth Harte and the pair added 27 with a mixture of useful thumps and alert running. Durham’s lead was 170 when Steve Patterson completed the collapse by trapping Rushworth leg before. Less than two hours earlier he had begun it when he removed David Bedingham in like fashion for 77 four overs before the new ball became available. That wicket brought to an end the South African’s 136-run stand with Lees; more significantly it began a tumble that saw Durham lose their last eight wickets for 59 runs, and 6 for 18 before the last-wicket merriment.Yorkshire now needed 171 to win but fortunately we had an interval before the game’s final innings began. Dishes of tea were taken and chatty reports about the arrival of the soon-to-be ermined Lord Botham of Somewhere-or-Other were discarded. Wits were gathered and then immediately puréed as Rushworth rumbled in from the Lumley End and had both Adam Lyth and Will Fraine leg before in the first five overs of Yorkshire’s innings. At that point supporters of the away team watching events on the live stream may have decided that something stronger than tea was required.Dawid Malan and Tom Kohler-Cadmore calmed matters with a stand of 52 but Rushworth switched to the Finchale End and Kohler-Cadmore became the 14th batsman in this match to fall leg before. He was on his front foot but Graham Lloyd’s decision looked fair enough. That was Rushworth’s 500th first-class wicket in a fine career and his team-mates gave him a round of applause which was rather more enthusiastic than the one Lees had been afforded by his former colleagues. That was understandable enough, of course, although Patterson, a decent fellow at the worst of times, patted the opener on the back when he was out. Come to think of it, Yorkshire’s other cricketers may simply have been rubbing sanitiser into their hands.Durham pressed for further wickets in the soft evening sunlight and Malan was dropped on by Sean Dickson at first slip off Ben Raine when he was on 32 when Yorkshire needed a further 96. We then wondered if eight overs might be added to the day’s allocation but the umpires decided we had seen enough. Malan will resume on 50 after reaching his first half-century for Yorkshire in the final over of the day. His only contribution to the third morning had been to negotiate an obstacle course and retrieve the ball from a stand into which it had been hit by Bedingham. One imagines the former Middlesex batsman rarely had to perform such vulgar tasks when he worked at Lord’s but he may have something more useful to do on the fourth morning of this fine match.

Barcelona star Lamine Yamal has become the latest superstar 'signing' for Gerard Pique's Kings League tournament.

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Pique launches Kings League tournamentSeven-a-side event grows in popularityBarca's Yamal league's latest 'signing'WHAT HAPPENED?

On Sunday night, Yamal was unveiled as a new recruit for the seven-a-side competition. In a Traitors TV show-like reveal, the 17-year-old took off his hood and said: "Here begins the new Kings' season. Let's beat the game."

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Spanish publication Sport says although the Spain international's role has not yet been revealed, it will be detailed in the coming days. The fourth edition of this competition gets underway on September 15 at the Cupra Arena in Barcelona. If Yamal plays in the tournament, that will be quite the bombshell.

DID YOU KNOW?

The Kings League was launched in late 2022 by former Barca and Spain defender Pique – who tweeted a bomb emoji in response to Yama's unveiling. The format involves additions such as a tie-breaker penalty shootout, unlimited substitutions, double goals, and more. In the previous editions of the tournament, former stars such as Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Iker Casillas, Sergio Aguero, Ronaldinho, and Eden Hazard have taken part.

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WHAT NEXT?

Sport state that more players for the tournament will be confirmed on Wednesday, September 11. Spanish side Porcinos FC will once again be the team to beat after winning the first Kings World Cup in June.

Aston Villa chiefs are willing to offer a player-plus-cash deal to land one of their summer transfer targets, according to recent reports.

Aston Villa transfer rumours

Villa have enjoyed a remarkable 2023/24 Premier League campaign under the guidance of Unai Emery. Their Europa Conference League run may have ended in disappointing fashion, but the Midlands outfit have secured a place in the Champions League ahead of the 2024/25 campaign getting underway.

Villa proved during 2023/24 that they can compete with some of Europe's best clubs, taking points off both Arsenal and Manchester City. However, the Champions League is a completely different beast and the Villans are no doubt well aware their squad will need to be improved during the summer if they are to give a good account of themselves in Europe's premier club competition.

According to reports, Paris Saint-Germain's versatile midfielder Carlos Soler is expected to leave the Ligue 1 champions this summer and is attracting a hive of interest, with Aston Villa said to be holding advanced talks regarding the move.

Elsewhere, Villa have been boosted by the news that Lille midfielder Angel Gomes is open to a return to the Premier League under Emery this summer. The Spaniard has also reportedly "convinced Aston Villa Sporting Director Monchi" that Alex Baena would be a good addition to the Midlands outfit, and they will "make an approach" for him in the upcoming summer transfer window.

Now, another major summer transfer is seemingly been lined up by Villa as they look to continue their rise under the Spanish tactician.

Aston Villa ready to offer player-plus-cash for "extraordinary" player

According to reports in Spain, Aston Villa have set their sights on Chelsea's Conor Gallagher ahead of next season. The 24-year-old has been one of the Blues' most consistent performers in the Premier League this term, scoring five and assisting seven in 36 games.

Gallagher's rise has been labelled as "extraordinary" by former Blues boss Thomas Tuchel: "His development is extraordinary and outstanding. He is one of the key players at Crystal Palace (on loan) and he has made a huge step in his development up front.

"He was a pleasure to coach in pre-season – he has so much positive energy, so much energy in general and so much work-rate to give that he can of course be a big help and a big influence."

However, despite Mauricio Pochettino wanting to keep him, Gallagher's future at Stamford Bridge appears uncertain heading into the summer and Aston Villa are ready to seize the opportunity. According to the aforementioned report, NSWE are "willing" to make an "attractive" offer to secure his services, including the possibility of inserting young striker Jhon Duran into a deal for the Englishman.

In terms of the cash involved in a deal for Gallagher, no fee is mentioned in the report, but he is valued at around £43m by Transfermarkt.

Visitors must move on from Test disappointments as England white-ball team enters bubble

The Preview by Danyal Rasool27-Aug-2020What a difference a session makes to the outlook of a tour. It was one Day 4 session in the first Test at Old Trafford that sketched the wafer-thin border between triumph and disaster for England and Pakistan; a passage of play that – in the wake of a washed-out second Test – denied the visitors a shot at a first series win in England in 24 years, and set up the hosts for their first against Pakistan anywhere in a decade.And who knows how much the sting of that failure will linger for Pakistan as they enter the T20 leg of their tour. In ordinary times, a preceding Test series might be rendered irrelevant, but on a tour of close-knit bubbles, isolation protocols and empty stadiums, it might actually be Pakistan’s only true frame of reference.For England, it’s a strikingly different scenario. A wholly different squad, even down to the management staff, will rock up to Manchester for this leg of their bio-secure summer, and while it might appear that a touch of insouciance has crept into England’s white-ball cricket since they lifted the ODI World Cup last year, with two T20 World Cups in the next two years, there’s no reason for that to extend to the shortest format.Babar Azam and Eoin Morgan pose with the series trophy•Getty ImagesCurrently ranked behind only Australia in T20s, Eoin Morgan’s side have an opportunity to work up handy white-ball momentum before Australia rock up for three T20Is and three ODIs next month, although they will once again be lacking a host of shoo-in names with the likes of Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler and Jofra Archer all out of contention after their time in the Test bubble – not to mention Joe Root, who is set to feature for Yorkshire in the Blast in a bid to restate his credentials in the shortest format.England’s most recent form reference is a slightly bonkers T20I series against South Africa in February, where all three T20Is went down to the final over and they just about held their nerve to eke out a 2-1 series win. It kept alive an unbeaten T20I series run that extends to more than two years now, and if they can keep that going over the next month or so, England could truly think of this as, given the circumstances, just about the ideal home season.If their memories stretch that far, Pakistan would do well to look upon a tour of England four years ago. Well beaten in the ODI series, they approached the one-off T20 with a certain elan that would set the gold standard for T20I cricket in the three years to follow, as they stormed to the World No.1 ranking and put distance between themselves and the rest. England were thrashed by nine wickets, commencing a run from Pakistan which would see them win 29 of 33 T20Is, including 11 consecutive series triumphs.They’ve come back down to earth with an unseemly splat in the 18 months since – that No.1 ranking is certainly long gone – but a younger side that still retains several characters from those heady days may wonder if they can hit the restart button and go again once more. Babar Azam, now leading the side, and the world T20 batsman rankings, has another opportunity to put his stamp on a team one imagines he’ll feature in for much of the next decade. A series win here would certainly be the most gratifying way to have the last laugh.Mohammad Rizwan gets a piggyback from Shaheen Shah Afridi•Getty ImagesEngland WWLWW (last five completed matches, most recent first)
Pakistan WWLLLTom Banton’s breathtaking form for Somerset in the 2019 Blast catapulted him into the national team, but in his (admittedly very brief) stint at the top, it hasn’t quite clicked for him. Fifty-six runs in three T20Is against New Zealand were followed by an underwhelming ODI start, and while eight international innings is no kind of sample size, his most recent T20 numbers don’t make the best reading either. The PSL was an immense struggle for him, managing just 74 runs at the top of the innings – 34 of them in one rain-curtailed 12-over match – even as his opener partner Kamran Akmal finished as the seventh-highest runscorer in the league. He ended up being benched, and while the Old Trafford surface won’t quite be the same as any in Pakistan, he will face some of the bowlers who troubled him there. It’s one to watch out for.ALSO READ: Eoin Morgan challenges young players to seize World Cup rolesBanton’s Peshawar Zalmi teammate Haider Ali was one of Pakistan’s few PSL success stories with the bat, with 239 runs at a strike rate a shade under 160. It followed on from a decent World Cup but it’s not just the numbers when it comes to the 19-year old. The obviously freakish talent, both as striker and stroker of the ball, has led him to reap rewards in T20 cricket as well as first-class. He said recently his batting idol was Rohit Sharma, and while any comparisons would be ludicrous, you can see why the Indian opener is the ideal cricketer for Haider to seek to emulate. The T20 World Cup’s postponement might prove ideal both for him and Pakistan, for if he is to emulate his domestic success on the international stage, he’d be among the first names on the team sheet.With Jason Roy ruled out by a side strain, Dawid Malan appears set to get another opportunity, having scored 103 not out from 51 balls in his last-but-one outing in New Zealand. Old Trafford has historically favoured spin bowling, so Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid are set to resume their fruitful alliance. England have a wealth of all-round options to bulk out their middle order, but Jonny Bairstow, Eoin Morgan and Sam Billings, who enjoyed a productive run against Ireland, may need to provide the batting ballast.England (possible): 1 Tom Banton 2 Jonny Bairstow (wk) 3 Dawid Malan 4 Eoin Morgan (capt) 5 Sam Billings 6 Moeen Ali 7 Tom Curran 8 Dawid Willey 9 Chris Jordan 10 Adil Rashid 11 Saqib MahmoodA dearth of spinners isn’t exactly a problem for Pakistan, with Shadab Khan one of as many as five potential options Pakistan could line up with. Rizwan’s brilliant Test series may be enough for him to retain his T20 slot even with Sarfaraz Ahmed poised to make a first appearance for Pakistan in nearly a year.Pakistan (possible): 1 Babar Azam (capt), 2 Fakhar Zaman, 3 Shadab Khan, 4 Haider Ali, 5 Shoaib Malik, 6 Mohammad Rizwan/Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), 7 Iftikhar Ahmed, 8 Imad Wasim, 9 Mohammad Amir, 10 Wahab Riaz, 11 Shaheen AfridiIn T20s at Old Trafford since 2017, the overall run rate has been 7.98 runs per over, suggesting 160 might be a par score. Rain is expected through much of the day, but should clear in good time for the game to get underway at 6pm. Persistent rain over the week will mean conditions are damp, which could result in a slow outfield. It wouldn’t be too surprising to see Pakistan open with a spinner, as they did to great success while on that jolly T20 streak.Stats and trivia Shoaib Malik is 108 runs away from becoming the first non-West Indian to score 10,000 T20 runs. He needs 31 more to surpass Brendon McCullum, who sits on 9,922. In all T20s at Old Trafford since 2017, spinners have conceded 1.3 fewer runs per over than seamers. Their economy rate is 7.27, while seamers have seen their overs go for 8.57.”This is another opportunity for guys who potentially sit outside that 15 to present their best case, moving forward, for winter tours and the World Cup next year. Opportunities like this don’t come around very often when we have our squad at full strength”
England skipper Eoin Morgan challenges his side to make the most of their chances

Burnley and Alan Pace are reportedly eyeing up a move for a big-name new manager who actually played alongside Vincent Kompany.

Vincent Kompany to join Bayern Munich

The Clarets suffered relegation last season in their first year back in the Premier League, however, Kompany won’t be the man in charge at Turf Moor looking to take the club back to the top flight.

The Belgian is set to join Bayern Munich with an announcement planned on Wednesday, leaving Burnley on the search to find a suitable replacement ahead of the Championship season.

Already, there have been names mooted in the media, such as former Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper, who has turned down the chance to pursue a move to Lancashire. Meanwhile, Kompany’s assistant at Burnley, Craig Bellamy, is very keen on the idea of stepping up into a senior managerial role, with chief executive Paul Fletcher wanting to appoint the Welshman who is set to remain at the club.

That’s according to Football Insider, who say that Burnley chiefs are at odds over who to bring in, with Pace's personal preference a big-name boss who brings eyes to the club in the same way Kompany did.

Burnley eyeing move for Lampard to replace Kompany

FI state that a big-name manager who could fit the bill for Pace is Frank Lampard. The Clarets appear to be eyeing a move for the former Chelsea and Everton manager, who began his career as a manager in the Championship with Derby County.

The 45-year-old, who plays an attacking 4-3-3 system, led the Rams to the Championship playoff final in 2019, losing to Aston Villa at Wembley before departing for Chelsea.

Games

196

Wins

83

Draws

40

Losses

73

Goals scored

326

Goals conceded

288

Points per game

1.47

Lampard also played alongside Kompany at Manchester City in the final years of his career, with Kompany hailing the Englishman during his time as a manager at Stamford Bridge.

"He is the man [for Chelsea], not only a great guy but someone who I learned so much from at a stage in my career. He was a bit older when he joined Man City and Frank was an incredible professional. What he brought at the time, he stepped the level up for everyone else.

"I know the impact of Frank Lampard on a team and I'm trying to have the same impact when I come as an older player for Anderlecht. He's up there with the most intelligent players so it's a natural match with Chelsea, I completely support him."

A move could therefore be one to watch, and you’d expect that Fletcher and Pace will want to bring in Kompany’s successor relatively quickly, giving the club plenty of time to prepare as they aim for an immediate return to the Premier League.

Ange Postecoglou is surprised to see criticism over his 'always win things in second year' comment after derby defeat.

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Postecoglou's comment drew criticismAustralian claimed he said the truthSpurs went down 1-0 in North London derbyFollow GOAL's official WhatsApp channel!Join nowWHAT HAPPENED?

Postecoglou's Tottenham Hotspur are off to a disappointing start in the 2024/25 campaign having secured just four points from as many games in the Premier League. Last Sunday, Spurs suffered a 1-0 defeat against arch-rivals Arsenal in the North London derby which sent the club down to the 13th position on the league table.

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After the derby loss, the Australian manager told Sky Sports, "I'll correct myself – I don't usually win things, I always win things in my second year. Nothing's changed." The remark has not gone down well with the fanbase who criticised the coach for the arrogant comment right after a defeat at the hands of their fierce rivals.

WHAT ANGE POSTECOGLOU SAID

On Tuesday, while addressing the media in a pre-match press conference, the Spurs boss defended his remark as he said, "It's amazing, isn't it? I just stated a fact. Am I supposed to just lie or just say it never happened? But do you really think it's me sort of boasting? It's just confusing to me that people are making a big deal out of something. I'm not sure how I'm supposed to answer something that is true. I've just said something that's true, and it seems like it's upset a lot of people for some reason."

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The Lilywhites will now aim to get back to winning ways as they take on Championship side Coventry City in round three of the EFL Cup on Wednesday.

The Herons let a late lead slip in a wide-open contest, but stayed firm favorites for the Supporters Shield after a 2-2 draw

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David Ruiz opened scoring, Leo Campana bagged secondAleksey Miranchuk late leveler sealed chaotic 2-2Leo Messi played 30 minutes in second game since injuryBrett Davis-Imagn ImagesTELL ME MORE

Inter Miami got off to a bright start, but couldn't hold on as they drew 2-2 against Atlanta United at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

grabbed the lead much against the run of play, David Ruiz finding the bottom corner after receiving the ball unmarked in the box in the 29th minute. Miami entered halftime with a 1-0 lead but Atlanta would respond.

Saba Lobzhanidze equalized for the home side shortly before the hour mark, his deflected header squirming through the legs of Drake Callender in the 56th minute. Yet, Miami appeared to be in winning position as Leo Campana put Miami back ahead within two minutes of Lobzhanidze's goal, with Campana's free kick flying into the net via the legs of Dax McCarthy. Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez would then come off the bench looking to pad the visitors lead.

However, Atlanta would respond again, though. United's new star DP Aleksey Miranchuk curled in an effort into the top corner – his first MLS goal since joining the team this summer. It was no more than they deserved on the night.

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How about a different inverted attacking midfielder impressing on Wednesday? Messi may have had his moments, but this night belonged to Miranchuk. The former Atalanta forward, known for his love of Hip-Hop, provided all sorts of rhythm for his side's midfield on Wednesday night.

He created three chances, played eight passes into the final third, and scored an absolute peach of a goal to grab a well-deserved point for his team. A fine performance from the big-money man.

THE BIG LOSER

What a miserable evening for Dax McCarthy. The veteran midfielder seemed to be at the center of everything that went wrong for the home side against Miami. First, he inadvertently diverted the ball into the path of Ruiz for the visitors' first. Then, he gave up the free kick that led to the second. It seemed to be a benevolent act when he was hooked after an hour.

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WHAT COMES NEXT?

Miami's focus remains steadily on their Supporter's Shield hunt. play NYCFC on Saturday, in what will be Messi's first appearance in an MLS match in New York City. The club now needs just nine points to tie up the best record in the league, and prime themselves for a playoff run.