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Aston Villa take on Chelsea in the Premier League this afternoon, with Steven Gerrard’s side desperate for three points.

They currently occupy 16th in the table, and with pressure mounting on the 42-year-old, facing a rejuvenated Chelsea side is a task that he wouldn’t have wanted to face at this stage in the season.

A 1-1 draw in their last match against Nottingham Forest saw some decent individual performances – particularly from Ashley Young, who received a SofaScore rating of 7.6 – and they might rue the fact they didn’t pick up all three points at the City Ground.

One player who Gerrard should unleash today is Emiliano Buendia, as the 25-year-old can provide the spark that his team needs.

The £75k-per-week star, who was dubbed an “amazing talent” by his manager, impressed against Forest in his last outing. He averaged a 7.4 rating via SofaScore, having 67 touches and completing 90% of his attempted passes, and was a general threat every time that he was on the ball.

During the Villans’ second league match of the season against Everton in August, Buendia came off the bench to replace Philippe Coutinho and was outstanding in his 30-minute cameo, scoring once and making three key passes.

Gregg Evans was amongst those campaigning for the Argentine to start in Villa’s subsequent game against Crystal Palace, tweeting: “Emi Buendia is a little bit more exciting than Philippe Coutinho right now. He seems to want it more + he’s producing more when he’s on the pitch. Deserves a start for #AVFC at #CPFC.”

The 25-year-old has only started three league matches so far this season, but he has created two big chances in the campaign and averaged one key pass per match, which suggests that he should be unleashed against Chelsea.

With Leon Bailey not yet 100% following a recent injury, Buendia is the most logical choice to take up the right-wing role for Villa today.

It will be a tough match, especially with Graham Potter leading Chelsea to four consecutive wins, and Gerrard’s side will need to be operating at their full potential to claim a crucial three points. Unleashing the ex-Norwich maestro from the off would appear to be a good start.

Newcastle United have made a late loan move for Tottenham Hotspur winger Lucas Moura, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

The Lowdown: Lack of minutes

Despite making 25 Premier League appearances under manager Antonio Conte last season, the former Brazil international featured just 11 times in Spurs’ starting XI.

Following a busy window in the transfer market, the 30-year-old appears to have fallen even further down the pecking order at Hotspur Way, having played just 12 minutes of top-flight football this season after Spurs signed eight new players.

More worryingly, Moura was omitted from Tottenham’s last two Premier League squads – demonstrating his suspected lack of game time for the season ahead.

The Latest: O’Rourke’s news

Given Moura’s position has faded at Spurs this summer, O’Rourke has shared news of a potential departure for the electric attacker.

Taking to Twitter, the journalist revealed: “Newcastle United have made an enquiry about a late loan move for Tottenham attacker Lucas Moura.”

The Verdict: Great signing

When looking at his underlying stats, it is easy to see why Eddie Howe would be interested in bringing Moura to Newcastle for the season.

As per FBRef, compared with positional peers across Europe over the past year, the winger ranks in the 98th percentile for aerials won, in the 96th percentile for clearances and in the 88th percentile for assists, illustrating his vast and versatile skill-set including defensive protection as well as creativity.

Once described as a ‘nightmare’ to train and defend against by Lilywhites teammate Eric Dier, Moura’s arrival at St James’ Park would add an attacker who can play anywhere across the frontline to Howe’s growing squad.

Hailed as a ‘monster’ by Barcelona star Raphinha, a loan deal for the Tottenham man could only be beneficial for the Magpies, so this would be a brilliant deadline day coup for the Saudi Public Investment Fund.

The agent of Roma winger Nicolo Zaniolo is in contact with Tottenham Hotspur to see whether a resolution can be reached over a potential transfer.

The Lowdown: Zaniolo links

On Monday, Gazzetta dello Sport reported that Spurs remain interested in the 23-year-old, but their current offer – a loan with an obligation to buy for £21.14m – doesn’t meet the Serie A giants’ valuation.

Tottenham were handed a boost in their pursuit when Juventus, another club interested in the youngster, pulled out of the race, having switched their attention to alternative targets (via Football Italia).

However, Roma have still refused to lower their £42m price-tag on Zaniolo, leaving the two clubs stuck at a crossroad.

The Latest: Agent now involved

According to the print edition of Il Tempo (08/08/22 – as relayed by Sport Witness), Zaniolo’s agent, Claudio Vigorelli, is “talking to Tottenham to see if there are margins for an offer in line with AS Roma’s demands: €50m cash, with no counterpart.”

Giallorossi boss Jose Mourinho would apparently like to keep the Italy international, but it is thought that if a suitable offer came in, the Serie A outfit would cash in on the winger.

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The Verdict: Great signing but seems unlikely

Given his underlying statistics, it seems Zaniolo would certainly fit in well playing in Antonio Conte’s fast-flowing side.

As per FBRef, compared with positional peers across Europe over the past year, the 23-year-old ranks in the 93rd percentile for shots total and in the 90th percentile for progressive passes received, boasting similar traits to Adama Traore, another target for Conte.

Once dubbed a ‘lethal playmaker’ by journalist Zach Lowy, Zaniolo would add further depth and quality to the Lilywhites’ squad.

However, with the two clubs so far apart in their valuations, this appears to be an unlikely deal if Spurs aren’t going to budge on their offer.

Recent reports have seen Nottingham Forest linked with a move for Rangers midfielder Glen Kamara, with the Finland international attracting interest from clubs across Europe this summer.

The likes of Turkish giants Galatasaray and Serie A outfit Salernitana have been named as other potential suitors – as well as fellow Premier League sides Bournemouth and Brighton – with the Midlands side set to have to battle it out for his signature.

The report suggests that it could take around £10m to land the 26-year-old before the September deadline, with the Gers man having originally cost the Ibrox outfit a measly £50k back in January 2019.

That figure – described as the “steal of the century” by teammate Scott Arfield – has undoubtedly proven an absolute bargain such has been the one-time Arsenal man’s form in Glasgow of late.

A key part of the side that won the Scottish Premiership title under Steven Gerrard in the 2020/21 campaign, the most recent season saw the former Dundee man once again impress, notably netting three goals and three assists in 31 league games, while also recording a remarkable 91% pass accuracy rate.

Previously dubbed “superb” by Gerrard, the £21k-per-week star was also a vital part of the side that surged to the Europa League final during the 2021/22 campaign, notably scoring in the second-leg, semi-final victory over RB Leipzig.

Also described as a “monster” by the current Aston Villa boss, the £6.75m-rated brute is a hugely imposing presence in the centre of the park, while also offering the versatility to feature all across the midfield.

At his best in a defensive midfield role, the 5 foot 11 menace has drawn eye-catching comparisons to Premier League icon and Gunners legend, Patrick Vieira, from former Dundee boss, Neil McCann.

The Frenchman was one of the most feared and respected midfielders in the division during his stint in north London in the late 90s/early 2000s, notably captaining the famed ‘Invincibles’ sides under compatriot Arsene Wenger.

An imperious and commanding powerhouse, the current Crystal Palace manager is a hugely impressive figure to be compared to, with those at the City Ground likely to be relishing the prospect of having a Vieira-like asset in their ranks if they are to snap up Kamara this summer.

Manager Steve Cooper has already brought in 12 new faces in what’s been an extensive summer of recruitment thus far – including recent arrival Orel Mangala – although the Welshman appears intent on adding new faces in the coming weeks to further strengthen his side.

For a measly fee of around £10m, it should be a simply risk-free deal if they are to move for Kamara in the near future – he could well prove to be Forest’s – and Cooper’s – very own Vieira.

The Northern Echo journalist Scott Wilson has revealed some significant Sunderland transfer news on Jack Rudoni.

The Lowdown: Bid made

It has been reported that the Stadium of Light outfit have already made a bid for Rudoni, but they face competition from a number of other clubs in the Championship for his signature.

Dubbed an ‘excellent‘ player by former AFC Wimbledon manager Mark Robinson, the midfielder enjoyed a standout individual season with the south London club, as he was voted their Player of the Year (POTY).

The Latest: Luton interest

Taking to Twitter in sharing a corresponding report for The Northern Echo, Wilson has revealed that Sunderland are now facing ‘new competition’ from Luton Town to sign Rudoni, adding that it ‘increasingly looks like’ the Black Cats will need to raise their offer to £1m if they want to bring him to Wearside.

The reporter tweeted: “#SAFC facing new competition from Luton Town for Jack Rudoni. They haven’t wanted to go to £1m for the AFC Wimbledon midfielder – but it increasingly looks like they’ll have to if they’re going to get him…”

The Verdict: Get it done

Of course, Sunderland will not want to enter a bidding war with Luton or any other Championship club for Rudoni, but if they can get him for £1m or less, it would represent great business.

The Englishman is only 21 years of age, so his market value is likely to increase over the next few years, leaving the summer as the perfect opportunity to snap him up from AFC Wimbledon after their relegation to League Two.

His more than any Sunderland midfielder managed last term, which suggest that he would instantly improve Alex Neil’s side in the middle of the park.

Leeds United have got their transfer window off to a frantic start with Victor Orta and Jesse Marsch wasting no time in improving the squad.

It’s been an urgent but much-needed rebuild with the Whites enduring a dismal 2021/22 campaign.

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They survived by the skin of their teeth and they are in no mood to repeat things next time around.

Marc Roca, Brenden Aaronson and Rasmus Kristensen have been added to a squad that could be gutted by the potential departures of Raphinha and Kalvin Phillips.

Marsch will have big shoes to fill if they leave but with a glowing list of young prospects coming through the ranks, there is hope that one day the American could unearth his very own Yorkshire Pirlo.

Speaking of Pirlo and the best to play the game over the last two decades, Leeds could well be on the verge of repeating their Rio Ferdinand masterclass.

The centre-back signed for the Elland Road outfit back in 2000 in what was a then club-record fee of £18m from West Ham.

Fast forward 22 years later and Leeds are turning to the Hammers again, this time to sign a player at the opposite end of the pitch to Ferdinand.

That happens to be teenage forward Sonny Perkins with the Elland Road hierarchy believed to be casting their eyes towards the youngster.

The 18-year-old hasn’t earned a great deal of first-team football yet but has been banging in the goals at youth level, finding the net on 19 occasions for their U18 and U23 sides.

That form has seen Leeds linked with a switch as they aim to bolster a set up already blessed with some of the finest talents in their age group; Sam Greenwood and Joe Gelhardt.

Perkins, who has been earning “rave reviews” in the words of ExWHUemployee, certainly deserves more minutes but whether he’d earn them more under Marsch than David Moyes remains to be seen.

Either way, Leeds already have a history of recruiting from the Irons and it went pretty well with Ferdinand before he secured a move to his now beloved Manchester United.

Perkins may not be the stoic defender that the now television pundit is but he is equally as brutal, just in the opposition’s penalty area instead.

The youngster clearly has an enormously bright future ahead of him and as a result, he’d be a wise signing from Orta. Perkins really does have the world at his feet.

AND in other news, Orta now plotting Leeds bid for “complete” £25m machine, just imagine him & Roca…

The Delhi batsman opens up on Gautam Gambhir’s mentorship, lessons learnt at Mumbai Indians, mindset changes and success amid internal turmoil within the Delhi set-up

Akshay Gopalakrishnan24-Nov-2017BCCIDelhi was in the middle of turmoil, both on and off the field, during your debut season in 2015-16. How did you thrive in that kind of environment?
As a newcomer, I was fresh. I didn’t have much to lose and everything to gain. I got a lot of experience. I made two fifties, I guess, and one hundred. In my last innings against Karnataka, I scored a century.I spoke to my seniors to learn how to convert my fifties into hundreds, and they told me a simple thing: ‘When you were playing junior cricket, you got a certain quality of bowlers, and you could play them all day. But at the higher levels, like the Ranji Trophy, if the opposition has five bowlers, each of them will be of the same quality, so concentration levels need to be a lot stronger to score hundreds.’My previous Ranji season wasn’t great. In my first match, I made 150 [146 v Assam], but after that I flopped completely and didn’t get a single fifty. These tough times are when I learned a lot, more than the good times.Did you have good people to guide you?
Absolutely. My coach, my father and mother… there was a time last year when I got dropped from the Delhi side, before the IPL. I stopped believing in myself and doubted if I could make it at this level. Then, my family, coaches and the friends closest to me helped a lot. They made me believe that I am the same Nitish Rana of two or three years back and that I can make it.When I got dropped, there were hardly 10 days between the last match and the IPL. So I got called up for the camp 10 days early. For three or four days, I did not lay a hand on a bat because I was so frustrated that I thought to myself, ‘I don’t want to bat. I will go straight to the IPL and see’.I then spoke to Gautam [Gautam Gambhir] and my parents and my coach, and lots of things came out of it. There was a technical flaw that Gautam corrected. By the time I went to the IPL, a lot had changed in my batting. When Mahela Jayawardene [Mumbai Indians’ coach] saw my batting and compared it to the previous year, he asked me how I had managed to make such a major change. I told him about the poor season I endured and the help I received from Gautam and asked him if it was fine. He told me that he had received a DVD of my batting a couple of months back, and when he saw the change from the previous season, it was exactly what he had wanted to correct.Knowing that the effort I had put in before the season was working gave me confidence. If everyone wanted me to implement those changes, obviously it meant good for me. As I played more matches in the IPL, I grew in confidence, because things that had been going wrong in the previous season were now slowly falling in place.

“I am not the kind that would go and talk to every other person about my technique, but I know that even if I call Gautam at 2am to speak about a problem, he will stand up for me. That holds a lot of importance for me.

What were those technical changes?
My stance was a bit too side-on, as a result of which I couldn’t see the ball until the end. So Gautam made me open up a bit and also asked me to work on my backlift. I haven’t made too many major changes to my batting ever, but I felt then that it was the time to change things a bit.IPL 2017 was a sparkling season for you. What did you learn from it?
Before the IPL, I didn’t even know I had the ability to be a powerful striker. But going there and observing others around me hitting the ball, I gradually started developing the same.Who helped you in that process?
My coach, Sanjay Bharadwaj. But most importantly, with the amount of local cricket that happens in Delhi, if I get out today, there is another match waiting for me tomorrow. So I never had the fear of failure. Even if there was fear, knowing that I had another chance coming my way the next day alleviated it. So I started doing new things in every match I played. Eventually, they became ingrained into my system. But had so many matches not been happening, and had I taken these things straight from practising in the nets to the IPL, things would have been very different and very difficult.BCCIYou played a crucial role for Mumbai Indians at No. 3 this year. What did the management expect from you?
I was just asked to enjoy my game because I am young. Had they put too much pressure on me, I probably wouldn’t have done as well. I was just told to back myself and play my natural game. I did that and I was in my zone for the first few matches. In one match, I scored a fifty or something against Kolkata Knight Riders, a match which Hardik [Pandya] and I won. Till the 18th over, I didn’t even know what the team score was, I was so much in my zone. What was happening around me made no difference to me. As a T20 game progresses, your heartbeat goes up and you feel tensed, but I felt no such thing. I was batting so freely in the trust that at some point, something or the other will work in my favour. That belief was very important.The highs of the debut Ranji season were followed by patches of inconsistency in subsequent ones. How did you overcome it?
From what I have realised, I was overthinking. And it also had to do with circumstances and the people around me. People were forcefully pointing out the flaws in me, so I was caught up in myself. I was so trapped within myself that I wasn’t able to concentrate. If I have to be honest with you, when I was batting last year, I couldn’t see the ball. I was practically batting blindly. That is exactly what I discussed with Gautam , and with Sachin sir [Sachin Tendulkar] and Mahela Jayawardene after going to the IPL. Speaking to them cleared up my mind, and I realised, “Right, if they have played cricket this way, why don’t I try the same?” Doing that, I noticed that I was at a lot more ease with my game.You were dropped from Delhi’s Vijay Hazare Trophy squad in controversial circumstances last season. Gautam Gambhir had a tiff with coach KP Bhaskar, because he felt youngsters were being made to feel insecure. Did you feel that way?
No, because I had enough belief in my ability to know that a bad phase was due. But, yes, the help I received from people around me was very important. The technical aspect is fine, but mentally, the way my family, friends and coach helped me was very important. Had I not spoken to those people, it would have made it difficult for me to get back into that zone.What has Gambhir’s overall influence been on your career?
He has been a huge influence. Me and Gautam are from the same club, so the first time I held a bat, he was batting at a net in front of me. And he was such a big name when I was young. I have been seeing him since childhood, whatever I have learned has been from him. I am not the kind that would go and talk to every other person about my technique, but I know that even if I call Gautam at 2am to speak about a problem, he will stand up for me. That holds a lot of importance for me.What are your goals this domestic season?
The first year I played, I had just one hundred, and in the second year, too, I got only one hundred. That is what I am trying to develop: how to convert those fifties and sixties into hundreds. I just want to make as many big scores as I can. That is something I am learning and trying to adopt. I don’t know how it will happen, but until I don’t try it won’t happen. So that’s my goal: if I am playing, I play a big innings, because all around me, I see every other person is scoring a 200 or a 300. I, too, want to do the same: the day I bat, I bat big.What is the work that’s going in to achieve that?
One or two years back, I was young and immature. When I used to bat, till 40 or 50, I used to feel like I have to keep going. But as soon as I crossed 50, I used to relax and play the wrong shots. Whenever I have spoken to Gautam or any other senior, they have all told me to play one ball at a time. That’s where my effort has been. Even if I’m batting at 150 or 300, I have all eyes on the ball I am about to face, and not the previous one or the one after that.

With a 157-run partnership for Royal Challengers Bangalore in full flow, Sunrisers Hyderabad’s most potent bowling threat – Mustafizur Rahman – was held back until the carnage was nearly complete

Alagappan Muthu in Bangalore12-Apr-2016Twenty20 cricket creates a bit of a time warp, one that is felt most acutely during one-sided passages of play. One team feels like it takes an eternity for the promised relief. “It’ll all be over in a few hours. Just hang in there.” On this night, that was Sunrisers Hyderabad.The other team experiences everything in fast-forward, and they loathe for it to come to end. “Gee, this is too much fun. Do we have to stop?” That was Royal Challengers Banga… wait, actually it was just two men: Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers.

Sarfaraz shines in late cameo

A 157-run partnership between AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli gave 18-year old Sarfaraz Khan the perfect platform to showcase his skills. His unbeaten 32 came off 10 balls as Royal Challengers ransacked 41 runs off the last two overs. The innings included five fours – two of them scooped over fine leg – and two sixes – one of them reverse scooped over third man.
“The shots and the control that he has over where the ball goes is something I’ve never seen before for someone so young,” RCB allrounder Shane Watson said after the win. “Even among the most experienced guys, the control that he has, where he picks where the bowler’s going to bowl and then the execution shows that he has practiced a hell of a lot.
“All different shot options to all different kind of bowlers. It’s incredible that a young guy can do things like that and that’s just the beginning of what he can do.”

Their 157-run partnership felt like the reunion of old college buddies. Chris Gayle’s wicket was a prank – bowled down leg, one that normally speeds away to the fine leg boundary instead moved in off his thigh pad to hit leg stump – and it was tempting to think Kohli and de Villiers were behind it. The events of the next 87 balls certainly made it seem like they wanted as much time together as possible. Those poor bowlers.With the number of overs and the amount of time they need to spend on the field slashed down like cricket was having a clearance sale, you’d think the pressure on them would reduce too. The problem arises when the batsmen figure out there are 10 of them to handle a measly 20 overs.It is said that you need to relinquish fear to succeed in T20s. But where is the need for such a thing in the first place when you have Kohli, de Villiers, Gayle and Shane Watson?Royal Challengers have four bonafide match-winners in their side and they line up as No. 1, 2, 3 and 4. Each of them can bat 20 overs by themselves, and each of them knows that. So there is absolutely no need to hold back. The slogging can start early on flat pitches, exactly the kind their home ground plies them with. It can wait a bit longer on tough pitches, which they will no doubt encounter as the IPL goes on.Tonight, Kohli and de Villiers decided it was go-time in the ninth over. For every over through the end of the innings – barring the ones that fetched the wickets of those two batsmen, the 16th and 18th – yielded double-digit runs. Royal Challengers’ 227 for 4 may be the eighth highest total in IPL history, but it seemed inevitable and it could have been a lot more because Sunrisers failed to recognise moments capable of turning the game.Mustafizur Rahman was their best bowler. He had only nine deliveries at Kohli, three at de Villiers, in the first 17 overs. The first 12 balls were during the Powerplay, when the partnership that would grow to become the second-highest at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in T20s was in its infancy. By the time he returned to bowl in the 18th, Royal Challengers were 183 for 2. At the end of that over, they were 186 for 4.Those six balls were more proof that this 20-year old Bangladeshi fast bowler revels in a big game situation. It was his IPL debut, but Mustafizur overruled his captain David Warner and brought mid-off up. Out came the cutter, and de Villiers, batting on 82, was duped. He got rid of Shane Watson too and was on a hat-trick. Once again he set his own field.Would things have panned out differently had Mustafizur bowled more – or even all – of his overs earlier? Should Sunrisers have followed Royal Challengers and used their best man to set the game up rather than save him for damage control? The answer to that might never be found, and it might not necessarily be a mistake either.Quieting a long batting line-up which loved the short boundaries at the Chinnsawamy is hard enough with all your resources, but Sunrisers were a specialist bowler short for nearly half the overs after Ashish Nehra walked off the field with a groin injury one ball into the 11th. It is one thing to have the world’s best at your disposal – like Royal Challengers do – and giving them maximum exposure, and quite another to ration your resources even as they run out. Nehra was one of the best quicks in the World T20 and without him Sunrisers had to scramble.Mustafizur Rahman celebrated two wickets in the 18th, though by that point the hosts were firmly in command•BCCI”It really hurt when a bowler goes down. I really had to reassess and when two batsmen are going it’s quite hard to stop here especially,” Warner said. “The disappointing thing for me is that we started well – the first three overs went for 12 – and then a bowler went down and if we look at the last four overs, they got 63 runs and one of those overs went for I think three or four runs.”Ashish Reddy, who Sunrisers have turned to before and had success with, struggled to find the blockhole. His overpitching cost 25 runs in 11 balls. The legspinner Karn Sharma forgot his job description. Very few of his deliveries actually turned, very few were even tossed up. His four overs went for 57 runs.Bhuvneshwar Kumar kept going for the yorker even when Sarfaraz Khan had the perfect counter. A scoop over short fine leg for four followed by a reverse paddle over short third man for six. By now the bowler should have tried something different. If not as he ran in to bowl, then at least when he saw the batsman blatantly getting into position for another scoop shot.Bhuvneshwar did not pull the pace back, he did not slant it wide of Sarfaraz’s reach and he did not shorten his length. Another yorker-turned-full toss arrived and was promptly dispatched. Sunrisers lost by 45 runs, this over gave Royal Challengers 27 of them.”If we look back at it,” Warner said “We probably should have changed the pace a little bit, not bowled the same ball two balls in a row, but that’s my fault as well. I should be speaking to the bowlers a bit more and making sure that they’re thinking about that.”Warner was terrific in the chase; his 58 off 25 balls provided the perfect start but he fell in the ninth over. Royal Challengers would have thought this was it. Their bowling looks a bit thin, and it might need to be masked by their outrageously strong batting line-up. It certainly was tonight, but there was still one last chance for Sunrisers. Eoin Morgan. He may be coming off a poor World T20 as a batsman, but in this Sunrisers XI, he was their best bet after Warner.Morgan came in at No. 6 – below Naman Ojha and Deepak Hooda – and faced only 18 balls for an unbeaten 22.”It was more about keeping Morgs after 10 overs,” Warner explained. “I think the plan was to have Hooda go out there and try and get things going a little bit and we know how well Morgs finishes and for us that was what we needed today. We needed him to finish, as I said, if two batsmen had got going, we could have got very close.”But the words that rang stronger on that issue came from Watson. “Once we got Dave out, we knew we had a better chance to squeeze the Sunrisers team. And especially with Eoin Morgan coming in a little bit later, it meant that their real firepower and their class firepower was left quite late which worked into our hands, obviously.”

AB de Villiers and Angelo Mathews. One captaining a must-win game of cricket, the other captaining a past awash with disappointments. For AB de Villiers, the disappointment was banished

Jarrod Kimber18-Mar-2015AB de Villiers’ face. It was different than Angelo Mathews’ face. Mathews had the face of a man hoping he won the toss. De Villiers had the face of a man hoping he wouldn’t lose it.Two captains: one captaining a must-win game of cricket, the other captaining a past awash with disappointments.Then de Villiers’ face got worse, much worse. The Sri Lankan crowd cheered. There weren’t many of them in, but they knew what this meant. Everyone knew what this meant. Sri Lanka would bat first; South Africa would chase. All of South Africa’s past flashed up on de Villiers’ face. The coin was against him. History was against him. His own emotions seemed against him.It even looked like David Boon leant in to sledge him.This was a knockout game. This was knockout game.Kusal Perera opening the batting, with an average of 22, would be a good sign for many sides. For South Africa, it might have brought back thoughts of 361 days ago in the World T20 where Perera opened the batting and made 61. South Africa lost.This time Kusal Perera was different. More 22 than 61. He left one ball. Pushed the next to point. Then missed a swipe. Missed second slip with an edge. Missed the ball. Edged safely again. Tried to run himself out. Play and miss. Swipe and miss. There is a point when you nearly get a batsman this many times that you think a malevolent spirit is orchestrating your downfall.Then Kusal’s edge is found, again. It is flying beautifully straight into first slip’s hand. Instead Quinton de Kock dives. He clutches. The ball bounces. It could go anywhere. Instead it hangs in mid air. And de Kock pulls off a hell of a catch for a man called mentally shot earlier in the week. Luck, and skill.Soon it is 4 for 2. Dale Steyn is so excited his body almost explodes into pure light.Or, maybe it just explodes. The elation is gone and there is concern on the faces of Steyn and de Villiers. A wide ball seems to set it off. Steyn is trying to reach a sore spot that looks like it could, or would, stop him bowling. He finishes the over, and continues to touch this mystery spot. On the boundary, the physio and Allan Donald come around to see how it is. Steyn and the physio touch it 12 times in 8 balls. That’s a worrying pain strike rate.Steyn does not bowl the next over.Instead, he bowls two overs later. And it is fine. So fine, it’s a maiden.In the ninth over there are two shots by Lahiru Thirimanne. Both through point and cover point. Both in the air. Both miss hands. If any country could catch these, it is South Africa. This is the region of Colin Bland. Jonty Rhodes. AB de Villiers. The second one goes over de Villiers, close enough that he could smell it. De Villiers, one of the nicest men in cricket, swears at the sky. Swears at his luck. Swears.Kumar and Mahela are in. The Sri Lankan dream team. Mahela is hit in front by a Tahir wrong ‘un he simply did not pick. Not out. Tahir is certain. De Kock is pretty sure. They review. They want to end this pairing. They are desperate. It is only 22 overs into the innings. That is a long time to not have a review. Replays show he was struck outside the line of off stump. What chances Mahela will not pick another wrong ‘un?

Before Kumar has even left, it rains on the SCG. Rain. South Africa. Knockout game. No. No. Come on

Tahir’s next ball is a short wrong ‘un. Mahela hits it twice. The second hit is the one that does Mahela: it ends with short midwicket. The first hit would have been safe. Maybe. Just maybe.Mahela is replaced by Angelo. Angelo and Kumar. Two dogged men. Two men who can bat for 20 overs and make bad starts into distant memories. Two men who bat for close to ten overs at a slow pace, because they have to, and because they can.Then Mathews walks down to smite JP Duminy, South Africa’s weakest bowler. He sees a gap between mid-on and midwicket. And he cracks the ball towards it. It would have reached the boundary – if it ever got past South African hands, du Plessis’ hands. Eight balls and three more wickets later the match is won. Isn’t it?It’s only Kumar left. Only. Kumar.The first ball of the 36th over has Kumar swiping. He has been nudging, leaving, blocking and occupying space until this point. That Kumar is no more. The swivel-hipped gunslinger is back.’Singles, I don’t want your stinking singles’, as he leaves one on the table to third man. Next ball, he corrects, so there is no need for a single, just four. The next ball he is down the wicket and finds a gap for two. Then another four. The next ball is timed so well, the off-side sweeper nearly didn’t see it, but Kumar hit it straight at him: it’s ball six, it’s time to reload for the other end.It’s just one over, with eight wickets down, and virtually no runs on the board. But it’s Kumar.Next over he starts by trying to send Morne Morkel into outer space. The follow-up ball, sort and wide, is perhaps one of the worst Morne balls of the night. It is also the greatest Morne ball of the night. It is the ball that Kumar finds third man with.Before Kumar has even left, it rains on the SCG. Rain. South Africa. Knockout game. No. No. Come on.”Don’t worry, folks, it’s just a sun shower,” says the announcer. Who is this guy, does he know who he is watching, does he know what he is saying? Social media talks of 22 off one ball. Rain map websites in Australia are watched by a whole country from Africa. When the rain does stop, the covers stay on. Even the groundsmen are trolling South Africa.There is no plucky tenth-wicket partnership. There is no first-over wicket. There is no sign of collapse. South Africa just coast to the ICC-enforced mid-innings rest stop. Even when the mighty Hashim Amla is out, right on the rest stop, there is no panic. There is no uneasiness. There are no worried faces.For the finale, de Kock smashes a ball through cover, the last ball of only the 18th over. As it races away he breaks into a quick step. It looks like he is about to run like a mad man to the changeroom. Then he slows, walks purposefully and gives a tiny fist pump.After all that, this was just a quarter-final. It wasn’t a monster. It wasn’t a demon. It wasn’t an invisible crushing force. No one averted an apocalypse. They just won a game. Not the final game. But game.AB de Villiers’ face at the next press opportunity is different. He is smirking before the question has even been asked. He breaks into a full smile before the question is finished. It is the face of winning a quarterfinal. face.

ESPNcricinfo presents the top five moments from the inaugural Caribbean Premier League

Renaldo Matadeen26-Aug-2013Devon Thomas’ catch of Dwayne Smith
Removing Smith off fellow Bajan Kemar Roach never looked as good as this. Thomas, known for his antics as a wicketkeeper usually for Leeward Islands, proved that plucking a ball out of the air in spectacular fashion was something not exclusive to baseball or the American National Football League. The fact that he took it leaping with his right hand stretched over his head made it much more dynamic. The nonchalant manner in which he performed this acrobatic feat left the crowd in disbelief.Krishmar Santokie dismantling Chris Gayle’s stumps
A perfectly pitched delivery. More than Gayle playing all over it, it was the ball beating the batsman comprehensively. Gayle was somewhat struggling to build his team’s foundation in the CPL and Jamaica Tallawah’s momentum was nowhere near the upswing as Guyana Amazon Warriors’. The Jamaican seamer Santokie was the focal point of Guyana’s early-stage campaign and this wicket exemplified that. Gayle’s look back at the stumps on his way out was priceless and Santokie knew this would be a scalp to remember.Ricky Ponting’s verbal tussle with Tino Best
Best’s exuberance and passion often gets the best of him, as the English would attest, and who better to prod at his strings than Ponting. Ponting’s often been chastised by West Indian fans, not because of his skill as a player or captain, but by his on-field “extra-curriculars”. As he and Best taunted each other, it was clear that one was playing mind games to get the other to react. Darren Sammy had to restrain Best but the Caribbean region surely enjoyed this exchange. Ponting’s wry smile said it all.Andre Russell’s 29* off 6
Seeing the second semi-final ending with three consecutive sixes was worth the price of admission. Russell was the leading six-hitter in the tournament with 16 and he pulled out shots from his arsenal at every juncture. These series of moments combined to form one of the most jovial sparks of the CPL and with each blow, Barbados captain Kieron Pollard’s head dropped lower and lower. How the tables were turned with Russell administering Pollard a bit of his own medicine. Russell was one of the most consistently entertaining factors of the tournament.Shakib Al Hasan’s sixth wicket
Shakib became the darling of the CPL with unbelievable figures of 6 for 6 against Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel. As he took his sixth wicket, the approval of the home crowd at Bridgetown roared through the night. Any one of these “superb six” could be counted as his most cherished. But it was his celebration on the final one that resonated the most. The CPL held a new appreciation for the Bangladeshi as he consigned Dwayne Bravo’s men to defeat. As Bravo slumped, resigned to his crushing loss, the high-fives and smiles of the Barbados players relegated T&T fans into acknowledging how much the CPL would gain from these international stars.