“There was a bit of confidence in our group when they only got 200 [203], thinking we’ve dragged them back here,” Hopes said
ESPNcricinfo staff02-Jun-20251:53
Moody: Shreyas identified key moments to go into the fifth gear
The Punjab Kings [PBKS] batting unit, led by Shreyas Iyer’s unbeaten 87 off 41 balls, will get all the plaudits after they topped Mumbai Indians’ [MI] 203 with an over to spare. But bowling coach James Hopes was also effusive in his praise of the PBKS bowling group, particularly the way they “just hung in there the whole night” on a belter of an Ahmedabad surface in Qualifier 2.Sent into bat, MI had raced to 65 for 1 inside the powerplay and regularly went at better than ten runs an over through the middle phase. But the PBKS bowlers struck at regular intervals to prevent the death-overs assault.”There was a stage where I reckon they [MI] were looking at 220, 225 and we just kept pegging them back at the right time,” Hopes said in a press conference after PBKS qualified for their first IPL final in 11 years. “We never went for that big over of 18, 19. We kept pegging them at 10, 11 knowing that we got Arshdeep [Singh] coming at the end and Azmatullah [Omarzai] bowled beautifully as well.Related
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“We gave them a few extra runs, yeah, but that’s why I was saying I thought they were going to get 220. There was a bit of confidence in our group when they only got 200 [203], thinking we’ve dragged them back here. You could even tell our first over batting the way the ball came off the bat, it was just skipping off the bat a little more and you could tell there was just a little bit of dew, a little bit of wetness out there, that was going to help us, and it did.”Chasing 204 against five-time champions MI, who had never before lost a game defending a score in excess of 200, was going to be a tough ask. Especially when the bowling group was led by Jasprit Bumrah, who was coming into the game with an economy rate of 6.36.But Josh Inglis was determined to not let Bumrah settle down, crashing him for two sixes and two fours in his opening over – the fifth of the innings – to give the chase the momentum it needed.”The way Josh Inglis attacked Boom [Bumrah] up front to get him off his game a little bit… if you’d told us we were chasing 200 at the start of the day and we were going to take 40 off Jasprit, we would have taken that every day of the week and liked our chances,” Hopes said. “Josh has got a pretty good record against him in short-form cricket. He plays him well.”I don’t think it was a conscious decision to go after [Bumrah in that] over. He just got some balls and he put them away, and on another day, those balls go to the fielder and he’s not taking what he did off that over. So doing that to him in the first over not only has a flow-on effect for his bowling but has a flow-on effect for the rest of their team as well.2:31
‘Such a big over’ – Aaron on Inglis taking 20 off Bumrah in the fifth
“We were having the chats at half-time that if Bumrah bowls four overs for 26, what do we need off the other 16 overs? So there’s just an expectation he’s going to be at a certain level every game, and even tonight he bowled well.”Varun Aaron and Tom Moody agreed that Inglis’ assault on Bumrah formed the base of PBKS’ successful chase. That they were all “cricketing shots” and Inglis was not “trying to just hit the cover of the ball” was the highlight.”Big over, such a big over,” Aaron said on ESPNcricinfo’s Time Out. “It was down to someone to take him [Bumrah] on tonight. These are those big games where somebody has to show up and be like, ‘you know what, I’m going to take the bull by the horns and I’m going to take down their biggest bowler’, and that’s Jasprit Bumrah, and he did that so well. Just played cricketing shots.”Moody pointed to Inglis’ technical acumen against Bumrah.”He [Inglis] has got a really good technique,” Moody said. “So when it comes to playing high-quality bowling, like Jasprit Bumrah, he’s got the ability to play proper cricketing shots that have penetration – whether that be the cover drives, the shot down the ground; the six he hit, it was the slower ball, he was technically in perfect position [to play it].Shreyas Iyer led Punjab Kings’ chase with a composed half-century•Associated Press
“So it’s not like he is trying to just hit the cover of the ball. Just identified it was an off-pace delivery and hit straight through it. And most batters when they are facing Bumrah, they are more in the defensive position. He is still engaged in the contest – ‘okay, you’re bowling it short, I am still comfortable because I back myself to get into that position; if you’re slightly fuller, I’ll take advantage and cover drive; slower ball, I’m hitting you over the top’.”‘Shreyas a sensational captain, a sensational player’While Inglis’ 21-ball 38 put PBKS’ chase in top gear, it was captain Iyer who formed the spine of the innings with a clinical knock. He measured his innings, rotated the strike well, before going on an all-out attack. Hopes, who has worked with Iyer previously at Delhi Capitals (DC) in 2020, said that his calmness stood out.”He doesn’t get flustered very easily and he knows his match-ups,” Hopes said. “He knows what he has to do at certain times and he’s prepared to take that risk. When he was a younger player in Delhi, he was a little bit more explosive and gung-ho, but he scores at a high strike rate now strictly because he knows when a bowler comes on that that’s his match-up and he’s going to take it and with his captaincy.”Tonight we kept them to 200 when I reckon they could have got 220, 230 and just because the way he pulls the strings out there and manoeuvres bowlers around. We had [Vijaykumar] Vyshak with one over left. He took his gut call to bowl Azmat. He’s a sensational captain and he’s a sensational player.”
With planning already underway for 2026 signings, one player’s agent has now revealed where his client sees himself playing amid interest from Chelsea and Liverpool.
Klopp becomes latest to defend Florian Wirtz
After Julian Nagelsmann jumped to the defence of Wirtz last week, iconic former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has done the same. The midfield star has so far struggled to adapt to life at Anfield – failing to score or assist in seven Premier League games – but maintains the full faith of those watching on.
It’s true that the former Bayer Leverkusen star has endured a tough start in Liverpool colours, but it’s also true that Arne Slot’s side haven’t been firing on all cylinders as a whole.
When Wirtz emerged from the bench against Chelsea, it quickly became clear that he’s not the problem in a Liverpool side that entered the international break off the back of three straight losses.
Questions have, therefore, been asked all throughout the break and those questions must receive an answer against Manchester United in a game Liverpool simply must win.
The Reds’ recent form has also sparked a number of transfer enquiries. Despite spending big in the summer, breaking their transfer record twice to sign Wirtz and then Alexander Isak, those at Anfield could yet welcome further reinforcements in 2026.
Among them could even be one player who already has his transfer preference in mind ahead of the 2026 window.
Fofana's agent outlines transfer preference
Among Liverpool’s targets is Malick Fofana, according to Caught Offside. The £50m-rated winger looks destined for great things with the Reds, Chelsea and others keeping a watchful eye on his development at Lyon.
Amid such interest, the ball seems to be in the Belgian’s court and his agent has set his sights on big things as a result. Speaking to reporters about his client, Frederico Pena said: “This is the season Fofana wants to show himself to the world, especially at the World Cup. If he succeeds, he can go from Lyon to a top ten club. We strongly believe in him at Roc Nation. Liverpool, Bayern, Man City – those are the clubs he belongs at.”
Liverpool eyeing move to sign £50m+ Real Madrid target similar to Van Dijk
He could be a fantastic option for the Reds.
ByHenry Jackson Oct 12, 2025
Name-dropping Liverpool rather than Chelsea alongside the likes of Bayern Munich and Manchester City, Fofana’s agent has just handed those at Anfield quite the boost.
Given that Mohamed Salah’s contract is set to expire in 2027, the Lyon star wouldn’t exactly be a bad option. The 20-year-old has the ability to play on both flanks and was described as “explosive” by analyst Ben Mattinson last season after scoring 11 goals and setting up another six in all competitions.
تعادل منتخب قطر تحت 17 عامًا مع نظيره جنوب إفريقيا، ضمن منافسات دور المجموعات من بطولة كأس العالم تحت 17 عامًا.
وواجه منتخب قطر تحت 17 عامًا نظيره جنوب إفريقيا، في تمام الساعة السادسة إلا ربع مساء بتوقيت القاهرة، في الجولة الثانية من دور المجموعات من بطولة كأس العالم تحت 17 عامًا.
طالع.. التعادل الإيجابي يحسم مباراة قطر وجنوب إفريقيا في كأس العالم تحت 17 عامًا
وتعادل منتخب قطر تحت 17 عامًا، مع جنوب إفريقيا بهدف لكل فريق، على ملعب اسباير زون.
ويقع منتخب قطر في المجموعة الاولى من مجموعات كأس العالم تحت 17 عامًا رفقة جنوب إفريقيا وإيطاليا وبوليفيا.
ويهذه التعادل رفع منتخب قطر تحت 17 عامًا رصيده إلى نقطة وحيدة في المركز الثالث في جدول ترتيب المجموعة. ترتيب مجموعة قطر في كأس العالم تحت 17 عامًا
O Corinthians anunciou nesta quinta-feira (28) a contratação de Mano Menezes, que chega para substituir Vanderlei Luxemburgo à frente do comando técnico do clube. Em sua terceira passagem na equipe do parque São Jorge, o treinador assinou um contrato válido até o fim de 2024.
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Mano não pretendia assumir nenhum time este ano, mas a identificação com o Corinthians foi fundamental para ele aceitar a proposta. Desde a saída do Internacional, no fim de junho, ele chegou a negociar com a seleção paraguaia e um clube árabe.
O experiente treinador de 61 anos soma passagens vitoriosas por clubes brasileiro e estrangeiros, além de ter comandado a Seleção Brasileira entre 2010 e 2012. Ao todo, na Amarelinha, foram 33 jogos, 21 vitórias, seis empates e seis derrotas (sem contar as partidas com o selecionado olímpico).
Pelo Time do Povo, o gaúcho já conquistou uma Copa do Brasil (2008), a Série B do Campeonato Brasileiro (2008) e o Campeonato Paulista (2009). Confira todos os títulos de Mano na carreira.
➤ Campeonato Brasileiro Série B: 2005 (Grêmio) e 2008 (Corinthians) ➤ Campeonato Mineiro: 2018 e 2019 (Cruzeiro) ➤ Campeonato Gaúcho: 2006 e 2007 (Grêmio) ➤ Campeonato Paulista: 2009 (Corinthians) ➤ Copa do Brasil: 2008 (Corinthians), 2017 e 2018 (Cruzeiro)
Going head-to-head with Chelsea in the transfer market, Aston Villa have now reportedly set their sights on signing one of the “most promising” defenders that Ligue 1 has to offer.
Emery not "surprised" by Go Ahead Eagles defeat
Whilst the rest of the Premier League may have watched on in shock as Go Ahead Eagles defeated Aston Villa in the Europa League on Thursday, Unai Emery admitted that the 2-1 loss did not “surprise” him.
The Spaniard initially saw his side race into the lead courtesy of one of their most expensive signings, Evann Guessand, before goals from Mathis Suray and Mats Deijl turned the game on its head in dramatic fashion. Emiliano Buendia did have the chance to level things up from the spot, but only compiled Villa’s misery by missing his penalty.
Having his say on the result, Emery said: “It was not a surprise to lose for me and the players because we are having here our experiences playing in Europe and playing away. Every year we had one defeat like that. Two years ago, Legia Warsaw, last year, Brugge, and this year, yesterday.
“Of course, still matches to play, and I want to learn. For me, yesterday, everything happened, for us, is learning. Learning, and as well reminding ourselves the experiences we had in some similar circumstances.
“Why? Because of course we were favourites and of course we dominated and of course we had more chances, but even like that, you can lose. In Europa League we are being consistent, even yesterday, losing, we are being consistent.”
Aston Villa eyeing £150,000-a-week Man City star who Pep is set to sell
The Villans are ready to pounce ahead of competition from elsewhere.
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Performing well on the European stage will be the key for Aston Villa if they want to avoid further PSR problems and then attract some of the most promising talents around. Advancing in the Europa League would, for example, do them no harm in the race to beat Chelsea to an impressive Ligue 1 defender.
Aston Villa set sights on Guela Doue
According to Pete O’Rourke, Aston Villa are now eyeing a move to sign Guela Doue from Strasbourg, but face competition from Chelsea, who are looking to put Todd Boehly’s links to good use once again, with Strasbourg under BlueCo ownership.
If there were any doubts about Doue’s potential, then they should have been put to bed against PSG last weekend. The right-back got an assist as Strasbourg shocked the European champions by racing into a 3-1 lead before eventually drawing 3-3 at the Parc des Princes.
At just 23 years old, there’s still plenty to come from Doue and that plenty could come at Villa Park in the near future.
سجل منتخب إنجلترا، الهدف الثاني أمام منتخب مصر، في المباراة الجارية بينهما الآن، ضمن منافسات بطولة كأس العالم للناشئين تحت 17 عامًا.
ويتواجه منتخب مصر مع إنجلترا، في الجولة الثالثة والأخيرة من مواجهات المجموعة الخامسة لبطولة كأس العالم للناشئين.
وأحرز هدف إنجلترا الثاني، اللاعب ريجان هيسكي في الدقيقة 54 من عمر اللقاء، بعد هجمة مرتدة سريعة جعلته منفردًا بمرمى منتخب مصر، لتصبح النتيجة 2-0. هدف منتخب إنجلترا الثاني أمام مصر في كأس العالم تحت 17 عامًا
طالع | المنتخبات المتأهلة إلى دور الـ32 من كأس العالم تحت 17 عامًا
وكان ريجان هيسكي سجل هدف منتخب إنجلترا الأول أمام مصر في الدقيقة 14 من الشوط الأول للمباراة.
وكان منتخب مصر قد حقق الفوز في لقاء الجولة الأولى على هايتي 4-1، ثم تعادل إيجابيًا 1-1 أمام فنزويلا في الجولة الثانية.
A Série C de 2023 teve algumas definições importantes neste sábado (7). O Amazonas venceu o Botafogo-PB por 2 a 0 e avançou para a final da competição. Além disso, time de Manaus garantiu o acesso para a Série B do ano que vem. No jogo mais disputado do dia, o Volta Redonda bateu o Paysandu por 1 a 0, mas resultado não foi suficiente. O segundo clube classificado para a segunda divisão foi o Papão.
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VOLTA REDONDA X PAYSANDU Com festa da torcida, o Volta Redonda recebeu o Paysandu no Estádio Raulino de Oliveira. O Voltaço precisava de uma vitória por 2 a 0 para se classificar para a Série B do ano que vem. Na primeira etapa, as duas equipes demonstraram o nervosismo e não foram bem. Já na segunda etapa, o time da casa tentou a todo custo chegar ao ataque e balançar as redes. O único gol só veio aos 17 minutos, com Bruno Barra depois de cobrança de falta e desvio. Mas o jogo terminou assim, 1 a 0 para o Volta Redonda e Paysandu garantido na segunda divisão.
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AMAZONAS X BOTAFOGO-PB Em um jogo equilibrado, o Amazonas venceu o Botafogo-PB por 2 a 0. Empurrados pela torcida que lotou a Arena da Amazônia, a equipe abriu o placar com Diego Torres de pênalti, aos 18 minutos. Tavares ampliou quatro minutos depois. Na segunda etapa, os dois times buscaram o ataque, mas o placar seguiu o mesmo.
+ Com muita chuva e gol no fim, Portuguesa Santista vence o São José pela ida da final da Copa Paulista
No domingo (8), outras definições vão acontecer na Série C. O Operário enfrenta o São Bernardo, enquanto o Brusque pega o São José. Os dois jogos acontecem às 16h. O time catarinense tem 12 pontos e já confirmou sua vaga na final e o acesso. Já São Bernardo e São José lutam pela possibilidade de classificação para a Série B.
Allrounder takes four in each innings as Madsen battles to 95 not out for Derbyshire
ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay02-Jul-2025
George Balderson sealed Lancashire’s first Championship win of the season•Getty Images
Lancashire 367 (Green 121, Jennings 106) and 406 for 6 dec (Turner 121, Balderson 82, Jones 63) beat Derbyshire 261 (Andersson 79, Madsen 70, Balderson 4-71) and 251 (Madsen 95*, Guest 46, Balderson 4-54) by 261 runs George Balderson ended Lancashire’s red-ball drought when he bowled them to a crushing 261-run victory over Derbyshire in the Rothesay County Championship match at Chesterfield.The all-rounder took 4 for 54 and eight in the game as the Red Rose finally celebrated a first Championship victory of the season with Derbyshire dismissed for 251 which ended their unbeaten run in Division Two.Set an improbable 513, skipper Wayne Madsen made an unbeaten 95 and Brooke Guest 46 but once the fourth wicket pair were parted, the hosts collapsed with Tom Bailey taking the last two wickets to finish with 3 for 39.The grey clouds over Queen’s Park suggested the conditions were good for the bowlers, especially Jimmy Anderson, and although the bat was beaten, Derbyshire survived the first hour in relative comfort.Madsen eased Anderson to the cover boundary on his way to his second fifty of the match which came off 86 balls and when the former England fast bowler failed to take a wicket in his four over opening spell, Derbyshire had achieved their first objective of the morning.With Anderson out of the attack, Madsen and Guest kept the board ticking over without taking any risks and the stand was worth 127 in 18 overs when Lancashire finally broke through.The decision to bring on Chris Green at the Lake End was rewarded when Guest tried to shovel the off spinner through mid-wicket, missed, and was lbw.That would have come as a relief to Lancashire who might have been starting to get a little anxious but they were soon celebrating again.Martin Andersson had top scored in the first innings but this time he got a good ball from Balderson that straightened to take the off stump.The morning got even better for the visitors when Anuj Dal, who has figured in several Derbyshire rearguard actions, tried to whip Green off his legs and was bowled.When Balderson again found just enough seam movement to bowl Zak Chappell, Madsen was in danger of being stranded and he saw another wicket fall in the last over of the session.Ben Aitchison edged Balderson low to second slip where Green took a good catch which meant Derbyshire had lost 5 for 33 in 11 overs.Madsen went into lunch unbeaten on 78, his eighth 50 in 15 innings this season, and it was now a question of whether he could convert that into three figures.He was denied by Bailey with the new ball which accounted for Blair Tickner and Jack Morley with Anderson taking the catch at third slip which sparked Lancashire’s long awaited celebrations.
Glasgow Rangers head coach Danny Rohl is looking to do something tonight that Russell Martin did not achieve in his time at the club: back-to-back wins in the Scottish Premiership.
The former Gers boss only won five of his 17 games in charge of the Ibrox giants, and he only won one match in the league before his dismissal earlier this month.
Rohl arrived to replace him in the dugout at Ibrox and won his first Premiership game in charge of the club at the weekend, beating Kilmarnock 3-1 in front of the home support.
The Gers face Hibernian away from home in the Premiership this evening, and the German boss must ruthlessly ditch Thelo Aasgaard from the starting line-up.
Why Thelo Aasgaard should be dropped
The Norway international should be dropped from the XI against Hibs tonight because his performance against Kilmarnock last time out left a lot to be desired.
Aasgaard, per Sofascore, came off the pitch in the 81st minute after failing to register a single shot on goal or create any chances for the team at the top end of the pitch, which shows that he was ineffective as an attacking force.
Thelo Aasgaard’s Premiership season
Opponent
Manager
Goals + key passes
Kilmarnock
Danny Rohl
0 + 0
Dundee United
Stevie Smith
1 + 4
Falkirk
Russell Martin
0 + 0
Livingston
Russell Martin
0 + 0
Hearts
Russell Martin
0 + 1
Celtic
Russell Martin
0 + 0
St Mirren
Russell Martin
0 + 0
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, the former Luton man’s only impressive attacking outing in the Premiership came during Stevie Smith’s match as interim manager.
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The English-born playmaker has not proven that he can be relied upon, as evidenced by his dismal league form, which is why he should be dropped for a tricky away game against Hibernian, who are third in the league.
The Rangers star Rohl should replace Aasgaard with
Rohl should ruthlessly ditch Aasgaard from the team in order to bring hard-working central midfielder Connor Barron into the middle of the park alongside Mohamed Diomande and Nicolas Raskin.
The box-to-box star could help to make Rangers solid and difficult to beat, rather than having a natural attacking player like Aasgaard in there, which could help them to record back-to-back wins in the league.
Prior to Martin’s arrival in the summer, pundit Andy Haliday claimed that Barron “was Rangers’ best player for the first few months of the season” in the 2024/25 campaign, which shows that he is capable of outstanding performances for the Light Blues.
Connor Barron (Premiership)
24/25
25/26
Appearances
28
7
Pass accuracy
90%
86%
Passes made per game
40.8
23.4
Key passes per game
0.8
0.1
Tackles per game
2.2
1.7
Interceptions per game
0.6
0.3
Ball recoveries per game
3.8
3.0
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, the Scotland international’s performance levels in and out of possession were much higher before Martin arrived at Ibrox earlier this year.
Barron was a defensive force, averaging 6.8 tackles, interceptions, and recoveries per game, for Rangers in the Premiership last season after his move from Aberdeen, buzzing around the pitch to disrupt the opposition and win possession back for his side.
Rohl should be looking to unlock his talent, which was seemingly hidden by Martin’s tactics, by unleashing him in midfield against Hibernian ahead of Aasgaard this evening, as he could provide the bite and drive that they may need to come away with all three points in a difficult away match.
Rohl could now turn "exciting" Rangers star into his own Shankland at Ibrox
Following Rangers’ 3-1 home win over Kilmarnock on Sunday, has Danny Röhl unearthed an “exciting” attacker who could be their own Lawrence Shankland?
ByBen Gray Oct 28, 2025
Rohl has made it clear that he is not wedded to one style of play or system, which is why taking a creative midfielder like Aasgaard out for a pitbull like Barron could make sense for a tougher match away from home, as it is a pragmatic move.