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تذمر بيب جواديولا، المدير الفني لفريق مانشستر سيتي، مما حدث خلال مباراة آرسنال مساء يوم الأحد في بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

واستضاف ملعب “الاتحاد” مباراة الفريقين في إطار منافسات الجولة الخامسة من البطولة، حيث تعادلا بهدفين لمثليهما.

وكان مانشستر سيتي متقدمًا في النتيجة بهدف، قبل أن ينجح جابرييل في تسجيل التعادل.

وتسبب هدف آرسنال في إثارة غضب مانشستر سيتي، حيث سبقها مطالبة الحكم للقائد كايل ووكر للتوجه إلى دائرة منتصف اللعب من أجل التحدث معه، قبل ركلة حرة للخصم.

اقرأ أيضًا.. جوارديولا يدافع عن إهدار آرسنال للوقت أمام مانشستر سيتي ويعترف: كنا محظوظين

وعاد ووكر بعد ذلك إلى مركزه، ولكنه تفاجئ بالكرة تعبر فوق رأسه، ليسددها جابرييل في الشباك.

وأثار هدف تعادل آرسنال جدلًا واسعًا بين مانشستر سيتي، وحصل الحارس إيدرسون على بطاقة صفراء نتيجة الاحتجاج، في حين تذمر جوارديولا بقوة.

وقال جوارديولا في تصريحات نشرتها شبكة “مانشستر إيفننج نيوز” الإنجليزية: “قلقي هو أنه عندما يطلب الحكم من ووكر الابتعاد 20 ميلاً عن مركزه، ربما يتعين عليه الانتظار ولكن يتعين علينا تنظيم أفضل”.

وأضاف: “يتعين علينا الدفاع أمام جابرييل بشكل أفضل وكايل ووكر لم يفعل ذلك، إذا قدموا لنا هذا النوع من المباريات، يتعين علينا التعامل مع الأمر”.

وواصل: “إذا لم يتمكن ووكر من التواجد، فيجب على روبن دياز وكوفاسيتش أن ينظما الأمر بدونه، يتعين على لاعب واحد أن يكون في المقدمة لتجنب تنفيذ الركلات الحرة السريعة”.

وأكد: “هناك دائمًا أشياء يمكننا القيام بها بشكل أفضل، لكن في المرة القادمة، سأقول للاعبي عندما يقول الحكم تعالوا وتحدثوا معي، لن نذهب، سأقول للحكم تعالى أنت!”.

Reliable club insider ExWHUemployee has shared some news on West Ham United and talks to sign an "exciting" attacker for David Moyes this month.

West Ham becoming more active after Moyes transfer admission

Widespread reports have backed the east Londoners to become more active before transfer deadline day on February 1, especially after a succession of key player injuries.

Related £13m forward also expected to join West Ham amid talks for Kalvin Phillips

He’s pretty likely to arrive.

Posts ByEmilio Galantini Jan 19, 2024

Michail Antonio recently suffered a setback in his recovery from a knee problem, while it is believed star midfielder Lucas Paqueta is facing around two months on the sidelines.

Star winger Jarrod Bowen could be back to face Sheffield United in what is undoubtedly better news for Moyes, but Mohammed Kudus being at AFCON with Ghana has also exposed West Ham's real lack of depth in some areas.

Forward Said Benrahma could also depart West Ham this window amid interest from Ligue 1 sides, with Moyes publicly admitting that the club want to get new faces in through the door.

Rumoured West Ham transfer targets

Latest key update

Serhou Guirassy (Stuttgart)

January 14th

Santiago Gimenez (Feyenoord)

January 13th

Kalvin Phillips (Man City)

January 19th

Wilfried Gnonto (Leeds)

January 19th

Emile Smith Rowe (Arsenal)

January 19th

“I’ll say yes to that,” said Moyes when asked if West Ham could make signings (via The Evening Standard).

“The truth is we’ll try and do some business. Undoubtedly, there’s a desire from the club to try and do something and from me and everybody there.”

According to Sky Sports this week, West Ham have opened talks to sign Man City outcast Kalvin Phillips as one option, while there have been suggestions of negotiations over Arsenal attacker Emile Smith Rowe.

Both men are failing to get regular game time at their current clubs, as the Hammers look to offer them both minutes ahead of Euro 2024.

ExWHUemployee shares news on Smith Rowe talks

As per ExWHUemployee, who shared news on West Ham's talks to sign the Gunners ace, Moyes and co have been a few roadblocks.

West Ham have held talks with Smith Rowe's agent, but it is believed neither the player nor Arsenal are particularly keen on striking a loan deal.

“As we understand it at this moment in time, talks have not been smooth with the players agent stating that Smith-Rowe would rather remain and fight for his place at Arsenal,” said Ex (via West Ham Way).

“Also Arsenal have no appetite to allow the midfielder to leave as we understand it.”

The 23-year-old has started just one league game under Arteta this season, making six substitute appearances, but it appears the promise of more action at West Ham isn't doing enough to sway him as things stand.

Smith Rowe had been seriously lavished for his potential before this campaign. Sky pundit Jamie Carragher, after being left dazzled by a performance of the midfielder's in 2021, called him an "exciting" talent (Sky via The Mail).

Following a meek performance in Sharjah, the onus is on Shoaib Malik and his men to stave off a series loss in Abu Dhabi

The Preview by Danyal Rasool26-Mar-2019Big PictureFollowing a meek, uninspired performance that saw Australia thump Pakistan in Sharjah – that could apply to either of the two ODIs, in all honesty – a seemingly throwaway comment from Shoaib Malik came in for sustained criticism.At the post-match presentation, Malik told Ramiz Raja that Pakistan were using this series to test their bench strength and “winning or losing doesn’t make a difference”. It was clumsily phrased, probably not what he meant in the manner it was interpreted, but it set off a firestorm of outrage, led by Ramiz himself, who questioned why the series was being played then. Either way, Malik and his men find themselves in the limelight squarely once again, looking to stave off a series loss in Abu Dhabi.Pakistan may be missing several key players, but even so, their toothless bowling attack will be of concern. The quicker bowlers in particular have struggled to put Australia under pressure with the new ball, having taken just four wickets all series, conceding 566 runs.As if these problems weren’t intractable enough, Faheem Ashraf has been rested for the remainder of the series, depriving Pakistan of a valuable all-round option. Mohammad Amir’s ODI drought shows no signs of abating, having taken just 5 wickets at 92.6 in the past 21 months. Mohammad Hasnain will probably be given another game, but Usman Shinwari and Junaid Khan could also be looked at as Pakistan seek to bring in changes in the fast bowling department.Leading up to the World Cup, Australia have quietly, efficiently, suddenly, moved into top gear, peaking at just the right time to sneakinto the contenders conversation. Aaron Finch and Usman Khawaja suddenly look so impregnable you wonder how David Warner can squeeze into an opening slot at present, while the both pace and spin bowlers have discomfited Pakistan enough to keep them well below par twice in a row.Jhye Richardson’s unavailability following a nasty dislocation of the shoulder opens up an opportunity for Jason Behrendorff or Kane Richardson in the remaining three ODIs. With Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood already battling to be fit ahead of the World Cup, Australia will hope to have as many fast bowling options as possible to choose from. The middle order hasn’t been tested this series, but if the India games were anything to go by, they will be up for the challenge. Pakistan’s job for now is to at least pose them some serious questions. Form guide Australia WWWWW (completed matches, most recent first)
Pakistan LLLWLIn the spotlightShan Masood was a shining beacon on a fairly grey Test tour to South Africa a couple of months ago, so much so he was selected for the ODI series here to see if he could be fast-tracked to the World Cup squad. It was a great opportunity to pile on the runs on gentle, docile pitches, but so far, Masood has fallen well short of doing that. He got starts in both games, scoring 40 and 19, but when the time came to kick on, he played ordinary, careless strokes to give his wicket away. His domestic limited-overs form over the past year has been exceptional, but with time running out to claim a World Cup slot, Masood needs a noteworthy display in the games that remain. If that doesn’t happen in the third ODI, Masood may well find himself trying to impress in two dead rubbers, where performances will understandably carry lesser weight.While his circumstances aren’t as dire as his Pakistani counterpart Yasir Shah, Adam Zampa hasn’t reaped the rewards a top spinner on Sharjah’s pitches normally should. He was disciplined and consistent in the first ODI, conceding just 44 in 10 overs, but discipline and consistency is what finger spinners are usually for. The wicket-taking menace that makes legspinners so revered and frustrating in equal measure hasn’t shone through in Zampa’s game thus far, and 1-57 in the second ODI indicated he hasn’t quite hit his straps yet. It was markedly different in the series against India, where, despite going for runs, Zampa took 11 wickets across five games. It is a trade-off any legspinner would be happy to accept, and Zampa’s ODI career average of 36.42 belies the promise of his talent.Team newsShoaib Malik was willing to be so clear about his intentions he didn’t mind copping heavy censure for it, so expect more rotation from Pakistan. Don’t be surprised to see at least one of Abid Ali and Saad Ali make their debuts.Pakistan (possible): 1 Imam-ul-Haq, 2 Shan Masood/Abid Ali, 3 Umar Akmal, 4 Haris Sohail, 5 Shoaib Malik (capt), 6 Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 7 Imad Wasim, 8 Mohammad Amir 9 Yasir Shah, 10 Usman Shinwari, 11 Mohammad HasnainAustralia will need to replace Jhye Richardson. They may opt for the safety of Pat Cummins, or give one of Jason Behrendorff or Kane Richardson some game timeAustralia (possible): 1 Usman Khawaja 2 Aaron Finch (capt) 3 Peter Handscomb 4 Shaun Marsh 5 Marcus Stoinis 6 Glenn Maxwell 7 Alex Carey (wk) 8 Pat Cummins/Jason Behrendorff/Kane Richardson 9 Nathan Coulter-Nile 10 Nathan Lyon 11 Adam ZampaPitch and conditionsSpin is expected to play an important role in Abu Dhabi, too, with both teams likely to opt for two spinners. The weather will be overcast, but rain is unlikely to play any part.Stats and trivia Australia have won 10 of the last 11 ODIs they have played against Pakistan. The only loss came at the MCG in a five-match series in 2017 that Australia won 4-1. If Usman Khawaja scores more than two runs, he will overtake Virat Kohli to become the leading ODI scorer in 2019. Half of Yasir Shah’s 20 ODI wickets have come in just two matches, a four-wicket haul against Sri Lanka and a six-wicket haul versus Zimbabwe.

Ryan Babel believes Arne Slot deserves his chance as Liverpool boss but warned his former club about a lack of patience.

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• Dutchman set to replace Klopp at Anfield
• Babel joined Liverpool from Ajax
• Slot highly regarded in Holland

• Getty Images
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Feyenoord boss Slot is all set to replace Jurgen Klopp, with the German legend departing Anfield at the end of the season after over seven years service. Slot is highly regarded in the managerial world after guiding Feyenoord to the 2022-23 Eredivisie title but Babel is aware patience will still be required.

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  Babel knows a thing or two about swapping the Eredivisie for the Premier League, having joined Liverpool from Ajax in 2007. It’s a move that can often turn pear-shaped and Erik ten Hag’s recent struggles as Manchester United manager should serve as a warning to Slot as he soon prepares to travel to Merseyside.

• Getty Images
  

  WHAT BABEL SAID

  Babel told The Athletic: “A Dutch manager will naturally want to play football, especially if they have been in the top three in Holland. But different rules apply in the Premier League.

  “Erik ten Hag had done a very good job at Ajax, the players he had there could really execute his vision and that made him look good as a coach. And now he’s at Man United, a big team as well. He wanted to apply his vision but, for some reason, it doesn’t really come and now people question whether he is a really good manager or not.

  “So it’s a fine line to see if a new coach has the squad in place to immediately realise their vision. New coaches always naturally have time, the question is how much time does Slot get? Liverpool have been spoilt with the Jurgen Klopp philosophy and era. I think anything less, then frustration will kick in very, very quickly."

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Slot is considered one of the greatest managers in Feyenoord’s rich history, combining positive results with an aesthetically-pleasing style of play. A two-time Eredivise Manager of the Year, his side sit second in the table this season behind only a dominant PSV Eindhoven side, boasting a record of only two defeats from 31 games.

Juventus are now reportedly plotting to sell another one of their players to Tottenham, amid the consistent links surrounding winger Samuel Iling-Junior.

Spurs favourites to sign Iling-Junior

According to reports in the last few weeks, Spurs are real favourites to seal a deal for Iling-Junior as the Englishman doesn't appear to feature in Juve boss Massimilano Allegri's plans.

Related "Very top" – Sky pundit excited as Spurs make "quick" defender a top target

Micah Richards thinks he’d be a top addition.

Posts ByEmilio Galantini Dec 13, 2023

Playing just 114 Serie A minutes this season, with zero starts in that time, the former Chelsea academy ace looks likely to leave in January. As the 20-year-old's future seems far away from Turin, multiple sources have backed that Tottenham are in pole position for Iling-Junior as we approach the winter window. Reliable Evening Standard journalist Nizaar Kinsella, writing on X, recently claimed that Ange Postecoglou's side are "leading the race" for his signing.

This comes as the likes of Sky Sports report that Spurs are very keen to sign a left-winger in January, with Iling-Junior coming as a genuine transfer target alongside former Celtic star Jota.

Juventus "would like to sell" Soule to Tottenham

There is a rich history of transfer business between Juve and Spurs. Midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur and winger Dejan Kulusevski joined the Lilywhites on January deadline day in 2022, with both going on to be huge successes in parts.

Now, according to some information from journalist Fabio Santini, who spoke to TV Play this week (via Sport Witness), Juventus "would like to sell" Matias Soule to Spurs.

The Argentine, who's currently enjoying a very productive loan spell on loan at Frosinone in Serie A, has bagged six goals and an assist in 13 league starts.

Santini adds that a fee of around £22 million is desired by Juve, with Palace also looking likely to be offered out.

“Juventus are working hard on two important midfield profiles. They had already come very close to Koopmeiners in June with a €40m offer and in January it could go up to €45m with the sales of Iling-Junior and Yildiz. They have never let go of the track leading to Berardi and would like to sell Soulé for €20-25m to Crystal Palace or Tottenham," said Santini.

Matias Soule's attacking stats at Frosinone (via SofaScore)

Scoring frequency – every 188 minutes

Goals per game – 0.5

Big chances missed – 4

Goal conversion – 20%

Shots per game – 2.3

The 20-year-old attacking midfielder is looking like a very exciting prospect right now, with journalist Zach Lowy also branding Soule a "special talent" as he dazzles for Frosinone.

Manchester United are in the midst of a crucial run of games and Erik ten Hag may have another issue on his hands that he needs to deal with, according to a new report.

Man Utd's recurring problems…

Undoubtedly, United fans may well be sick to the back teeth of what has become a recurring theme at Old Trafford ever since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013, which is the fact they usually start fairly well under a new manager for a year or so before problems at the club are laid bare.

Other than David Moyes, Louis Van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and now Ten Hag all achieved a tangible level of something resembling moderate success before their respective tenures began to decline slowly, leading to no option but a change in manager at the Premier League giants.

Famously, Ten Hag stated in the opening portion of his reign at Old Trafford that "an era can come to an end" about Manchester City and Liverpool's sustained longevity at the top of English football. For a while, it looked as if the Dutchman was moving closer to living up to his billing, as he secured a top-four finish and an EFL Cup trophy in his debut campaign in charge.

Nevertheless, inconsistency on the field has plagued the Red Devils this campaign, leaving them seventh in the Premier League and five points behind Aston Villa in fourth. In the Champions League, Manchester United sit bottom of their group with one match remaining and their 3-0 defeat to Newcastle United at home in the EFL Cup ensured that they surrendered their hold on the trophy in humiliating fashion.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe already "discussing" one Man Utd matter

Fabrizio Romano has given an important update on one Old Trafford issue.

BySean Markus Clifford Dec 5, 2023

Now, it appears that more problems are on the horizon at Old Trafford that now spell worrying news for Ten Hag, according to a report.

Worrying Erik ten Hag update…

According to Sky Sports, Manchester United boss Ten Hag has now lost elements of the dressing room at Old Trafford in what is a worrying update. Chief reporter Kaveh Solhekol cited reasons for concern, saying:

Man Utd's last five results – all competitions

Opponent & result

Venue

Newcastle United 1-0 Manchester United

St James' Park

Galatasaray 3-3 Manchester United

RAMS Park

Everton 0-3 Manchester United

Goodison Park

Manchester United 1-0 Luton Town

Old Trafford

Copenhagen 4-3 Manchester United

Parken Stadium

"My information is that some of the players are confused with what is happening. He has lost elements of the dressing room. One source tells me that he's lost about 50 per cent of the dressing room. Quite a few players are unhappy with the style of play, they also feel that they're training too hard and that they're running too much during training. I was told that the players don't know what they're running for.

"Also, some senior players have spoken to Erik ten Hag about where they feel the club is going wrong. They've spoken to him about their other experiences of playing for big clubs, and they feel that the manager should be a little bit more touchy-feely."

Manchester United will need to find a swift solution to their issues under Ten Hag as they prepare to face Chelsea, Bournemouth, Bayern Munich and Liverpool in quick succession.

Christian Pulisic was glowing with pride after he helped AC Milan come from behind to rescue a point in their Serie A clash against Sassuolo.

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AC Milan drew 3-3 with SassuoloPulisic came off bench in Serie A clashUSMNT star celebrated on InstagramWHAT HAPPENED?

USMNT Pulisic was on the bench from the start of the game and his side were 3-2 down when he was brought on to replace Samuel Chukwueze with 25 minutes left to play. The Rossoneri went on to net the equaliser less than 20 minutes later, when Noah Okafor sent it past goalkeeper Andrea Consigli to secure a point.

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United States international Pulisic is enjoying a fine season at the San Siro club since joining from Chelsea last year. He has netted 10 times and set up a further six goals in the league and, despite not adding to that tally on Sunday, he seemed to be delighted with the spirit his team showed against Sassuolo.

WHAT PULISIC POSTED

"Proud of the fight today," the 25-year-old winger posted on an Instagram Story in the wake of the away match on Sunday.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR PULISIC?

Pulisic is expected to return to Stefano Pioli's starting XI on Thursday as Milan take on Roma in the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final tie. Roma have the advantage from the first leg after beating Milan 1-0 at San Siro last week.

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag believes that his side were "brilliant" at times during their "unacceptable" defeat against Chelsea.

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Man Utd stunned 4-3 in stoppage timeTen Hag believes his side deserved to winBlamed individual errors for defeatGetty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?

Despite a valiant effort to claw back a 2-0 deficit and take a 3-2 lead, the Red Devils ultimately succumbed to a late surge from Chelsea, with Cole Palmer's hat-trick securing a remarkable victory for the Blues. Nonetheless, their Dutch manager insisted that his team deserved to win, but lamented their inability to manage the game effectively which ultimately cost them the three points despite leading 3-2 until the 99th minute.

AdvertisementWHAT TEN HAG SAID

Speaking to after the game, Ten Hag said: "Yes we started poor, kicking the ball away and defending poorly. But you saw we were dominating the game and it was brilliant how we played – we deserved to win the game. But, you cannot give it away like we did and we have to manage this game better. It is a team performance, you can point to one of the players but it is about team performance.

"When it gets chaotic you have to deal with it as a team and we made the wrong decisions and we didn't help out as a team. Out of possession, we made a bad decision – a lack of concentration. Also, I think (un) lucky at the end with the penalty situation, questionable and very soft but we have to do better."

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United's defensive frailties were once again exposed, with Chelsea registering a staggering 28 shots on goal. This marked the continuation of a concerning trend, who have conceded 20-plus shots in seven of their last eight Premier League games. Their total shots conceded in 2024 now stands at 225, the highest in the league. Despite these alarming statistics, Ten Hag dismissed the significance of these numbers, asserting confidence in his team's defensive capabilities.

"It is ridiculous," he said. "We showed we were fourth ranking before this game in goals conceded. Everyone is talking to each other after, we are good and we have good defending as a team, a good goalkeeper and a good back four so I cannot do anything with such stats."

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(C)Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT?

With United's hopes of securing a place in Europe's top flight next season hanging in the balance, Ten Hag's future at the club appears uncertain. The defeat to Chelsea has intensified the pressure on the Dutch manager ahead of a crucial fixture against Liverpool on Sunday. United must regroup and address the glaring issues exposed in their defeat before facing their arch-rivals who will be eager to avenge their FA Cup defeat earlier in the season.

On Yorkshire Day, two Yorkshire batsmen put England in a position from which to dominate India, but then gifted the ascendancy back to an alert and hungry visiting side. The moment of inspiration came from India’s captain Virat Kohli who ran out Joe Root – once again between 50 and 100 – with a direct hit from deep midwicket, after which this side’s biggest match-winner R Ashwin, took out the dangerous duo of Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler. He ended the day needing one wicket to become the first India spinner to take a five-for in England since 2002. England ended the day at 285 for 9, having at one stage been 216 for 3.What will worry England is that they lost wickets to soft dismissals on a slow and low pitch that looked as though it ought to have assisted India more: seven of the nine wickets to fall were either bowled or lbw, which is India’s speciality. But what will infuriate England is that Root and Jonny Bairstow had the attack at their mercy, going at more than six an over in the final session until Root responded to Bairstow’s call for a second run that didn’t exist. It all went downhill for them thereafter.Kohli is ruthless. He doesn’t think twice before accepting such gifts, having all too often been part of the side on the receiving end of such lapses. The moment arose after Bairstow pushed Ashwin towards deep midwicket where Kohli, to judge by his leisurely initial response, didn’t appear to have considered the possibility of the batsmen attempting a second run. But then he heard the call, and all those hours of strength training kicked in. He went from leisure to business in no time, and Root would have struggled even without a stutter. The exclamation point was how Ashwin judged that the shy was going to hit the stumps, and let the ball go through MS Dhoni-style.Kohli seized the moment to remind Root, and all of England, of his bat-drop celebration after he had finished off the Headingley ODI. He blew kisses. He pressed his finger to his lips. And then he uttered the words that might just be the most enduring ones for this series: “Mic drop?” followed by two words that lip-readers will tell you were of four and three letters, the second of which is “off”. There has been so much talk of Kohli’s batting and his record in England, but here Kohli the fielder had opened the door for India to barge through.Joe Root’s dive couldn’t save him from being run out•Getty Images

Even before this brilliance in the field, Kohli had had a lively start to his day. He dropped Cheteshwar Pujara from India’s starting XI, picked only one spinner, and announced to the world that he wouldn’t look back and regret it if things went wrong. We make a decision and try to make the best of it, he has always said. And after losing the toss, his new-ball bowlers were losing their discipline when he surprised everybody by bringing Ashwin on in the seventh over of the Test.Ashwin had two left-hand batsmen in his sights, a damp pitch that can often offer turn, and a new ball prone to natural variation when it lands on the seam. Out of India’s limited-overs sides, under pressure every time a wristspinner does well with the white ball, and always reminded of his record in these parts of the world, Ashwin showed none of that anxiety. In only his second over, Ashwin set Alastair Cook up beautifully: a quick arm ball to push him back, a slow offbreak to lure him forward, another arm ball, another offbreak, and then the killer offbreak that pitched on middle, much straighter than the rest. The bat face closed ever so slightly, and the slow ball, given every chance to turn by the revs and the seam position towards short third man, spun past the defensive prod.As the early moisture dried out, England’s batsmen – Root and Keaton Jennings, the latter dropped on 9 by Ajinkya Rahane at slip – the turn went out and the batsmen became more comfortable. Ishant Sharma was too short, Umesh Yadav too straight, and it was left to Mohammed Shami, returning from personal problems and a failed fitness test, to keep India in the game. He did so with the wickets of Jennings and Malan in the middle session, but an urgent Bairstow had begin to take the momentum away from India in the second hour of the middle session.India looked ragged at the start of the final session. Shami was down on pace. Ashwin was attacked. Root and Bairstow were scoring at will. Even defensive fields were not working. It looked like Root had gone past those concentration breaks that had resulted in his last 10 half-centuries not getting translated into hundreds. And then they took the ill-advised second. Moments later, Bairstow dragged Umesh onto his own stumps.Ashwin is often criticised for using too many variations. A lazy bit of advice that every expert gives to him is to concentrate only on the offbreak. Here he showed he didn’t need that advice. He used his variations, a lot of them, but he also showed he is a bowler at peace with, and in total control of, his game. The arm ball with the upright seam swerved beautifully away from the right-handers. He even bowled a front-of-the-hand legbreak that swung back in. And then natural variation did the trick. He bowled an offbreak that turned enough to beat Buttler’s inside edge but not enough to miss the leg stump. Stokes played hesitantly at a long hop, offering a return catch. Not long before, it had seemed India were in for a long leather hunt on day two, but with England suddenly in freefall, it seemed the India openers might have to take guard on day one itself.Allrounder Sam Curran kept that from happening, but Ishant and Ashwin inflicted one final blow each before stumps to make the day India’s beyond any reasonable doubt.

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When Ali Khan took three wickets inside the first three overs to reduce Jamaica Tallawahs to 15 for 3 in a chase of 224, the USA seamer was matching his captain Dwayne Bravo move for move in a Trinbago Knight Riders dance-off. One false step in the field by Khan a few overs later and the party was over for the hosts at Port-of-Spain.Khan spilled Andre Russell’s first ball at deep square leg in the seventh over off a top-edged sweep against Fawad Ahmed. The Jamaican then went onto a 40-ball hundred – the fastest in the CPL – in a record chase as Tallawahs won with three balls to spare.Along with a hat-trick in the 20th over of the first innings, Russell’s 121 not out off 49 balls that included 13 sixes, capped one of the greatest all-round individual performances in T20 cricket.Munro keeps motoring
Colin Munro’s excellent early season form continued. Entering seven balls into the match after Sunil Narine miscued an Imad Wasim arm ball, Munro produced his second half-century in three days, adding 98 for the second wicket with Chris Lynn. However, he was hardly the star of the innings, and would be well back in the queue of spectacular performances by the end of the night.Belligerent Baz
Brendon McCullum was scratchy early on, following the loss of Munro with the score 130 for 3 in the 14th over. He was on 7 off 12 balls before a full toss from Kemar Roach in the 17th over helped to loosen him up. That boundary commenced his second 12-ball stretch which netted 43 runs as Knight Riders raced past 200 on the back of McCullum’s 24-ball half-century. He was especially brutal against Roach in the 19th over, wrecking him for 30 runs that included a no-ball hit for six.Russell tricks TKR
A four by McCullum off the first ball of the 20th over set the record for the highest ever CPL total at 216 for 3, but the next three balls went a long way towards allowing the record-setting first-innings score to become a record-setting chase. McCullum miscued a full toss next ball from Russell to long-on to end an 86-run partnership with Darren Bravo.Darren Bravo then dragged a wide yorker onto his stumps on the next ball before Denesh Ramdin yanked a slower bouncer to deep midwicket to complete Russell’s hat-trick, only the second one in CPL history after a trio of googlies netted Rashid Khan the first one for Guyana Amazon Warriors last season against the Tallawahs. A dot and a six off the final two legitimate balls to Javon Searles ended an adventurous 10-run final over, one in which Russell did far more damage in the final calculation.From hero to goat
Khan built on his brilliant spell from Wednesday night and struck three times in six balls against Tallawahs. He first cramped Glenn Phillips to create a catch at short third man. Two balls later, Andre McCarthy was bounced out and beaten for pace, attempting to pull Khan, which resulted in a simple catch to mid-on. Khan’s adrenaline was pumping when he had Ross Taylor pinned on the crease in his next over. He ended his opening spell with 3 for 15.Shannon Gabriel had Rovman Powell chopping on later in the Powerplay to make it 16 for 4. Fawad Ahmed took over for Khan in the seventh over and just as he did two nights earlier against St Lucia Stars struck first ball once again with a googly, trapping Johnson Charles to make it 41 for 5.It should have been 41 for 6 on the very next ball when Russell’s slog sweep swirled in the air toward Khan at deep square leg, but Khan misjudged the chance and nearly overran it coming in from the boundary, switching his hand position at the last moment to reach behind his head before the ball burst through his fingertips.Russell’s record-setting night
When the ball went tumbling off Khan’s hands to the ground, it set the stage for a series of records to tumble over the course of the next hour. The fastest CPL hundred entering the night had been done by Russell in the 2016 playoffs against TKR off 42 balls. He went two better on this night.If Russell sped along to his century like a Ferrari, Kennar Lewis drove a stagecoach in comparison as he took 34 balls to reach a half-century, though in reality much of his innings was spent tapping singles to get Russell on strike. The pair teamed in a 161-run stand that equaled the best for any wicket in the CPL while setting a world record for the sixth wicket in T20 cricket, going 35 better than Calum MacLeod and John Hastings had done for Durham against Northants in the Natwest T20 Blast in 2014.Russell brought up his century with his 12th six, breaking a CPL mark for the most in an innings jointly held by Evin Lewis and Chris Gayle. Kennar Lewis fell in the next over to Fawad, caught at long-on, but by that point they had narrowed the equation to 22 off 14 balls. Two overs later, Russell clattered his 13th six to end the match with room to spare, putting the finishing touches on a memorable captaincy debut.