Fluminense e Corinthians se enfrentam nesta quarta-feira (24), às 19h30, no Maracanã, pelo jogo de ida das semifinais da Copa do Brasil.
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+ GALERIA – Bambu falha em gol contra o Fortaleza; veja notas dos atletas do Timão
A partida terá transmissão no Sportv e em pay-per-view pelo Premiere para todo Brasil. O serviço de streaming Prime Video também irá transmitir o jogo.
+ TABELA – Timão ou Flu na Copa do Brasil? Simule as semifinais
Nesta Copa do Brasil, os comandados de Vítor Pereira entraram na terceira fase e eliminaram a Portuguesa-RJ, Santos e Atlético-GO. O time de Fernando Diniz também entrou na terceira fase, e deixou para trás Vila Nova-GO, Cruzeiro e Fortaleza.
No primeiro turno do Campeonato Brasileiro de 2022, o Tricolor das Laranjeiras goleou o Timão, no Maracanã, por 4 a 0, com gols de Cano (2x), Manoel e Fred.
FLUMINENSE X CORINTHIANS COPA DO BRASIL – SEMIFINAL – IDA Local: Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro (RJ) Data e hora: 24 de agosto de 2022, às 19h30 Árbitro:Ramon Abatti Abel (SC) Assistentes:Kleber Lucio Gil (FIFA) [SC] eFabricio Vilarinho da Silva (FIFA) [GO] Árbitro de vídeo:Wagner Reway (PB) Onde assistir:Sportv, Premiere, Prime Video e no tempo real do L! e em áudio na parceira LANCE!/Voz do Esporte
His 4 for 6 rolls Rapids for 100 before defending champions splutter to target
ECB Reporters Network07-Jul-2023Defending champions Hampshire Hawks will face Essex in the Vitality Blast semi-final on Finals Day after Nathan Ellis razed Worcestershire Rapids with his career best.Ellis claimed 4 for 6, with Chris Wood and John Turner both picking up two scalps each in a supreme bowling performance.The Rapids had an enterprising 70-run stand between Usama Mir and Ed Pollock – but it was bookended by slumping to 29 for 6 and then losing the last four wickets for one run as they were rolled for 100.The Hawks spluttered to the target to win by five wickets and reach their 10th Finals Day and maintain their hopes of being the first team to win the Blast back-to-back.The Rapids had never played a Blast match at the Ageas Bowl, and had only faced the Hawks once in the format. On that occasion, in 2015, James Vince blitzed an unbeaten century as Hampshire totted up 196 before Worcestershire reached 58 for 2, then the floodlight-less New Road got too dark.The Rapids would have dreamed of a total eclipse of the hot evening sun and a power failure amid their first collapse, which began with a wicket in each of the first four overs.Jack Haynes lasted until the fourth ball of the innings before a leading edge was well caught and bowled by Chris Wood.The Blast’s breakthrough fast bowler John Turner added Brett D’Oliveira as his 19th victim by cartwheeling his leg stump after an attempted scoop.Mitchell Santner and Adam Hose both picked out fielders – a brilliant long on catch from Vince and spliced to square leg respectively.Two wicketless overs were a mere interlude before James Fuller’s wicket maiden accounted for Kashif Ali and Ben Cox chipped to midwicket.But Mir and Pollock salvaged things with a 70-run stand, which included 16 runs off a Liam Dawson over, with the fifty-partnership coming off 45 balls with a six over long on.The second collapse was as ugly as the first as four wickets fell in eight balls for a single run to end a sorry innings.Mir’s thick outside edge off Benny Howell was easily caught at short third before Ellis splayed the tail with three wickets in four balls – Adam Finch yorked, Dillon Pennington caught at cover and Pat Brown leg before.Aneurin Donald replaced Ben McDermott – who had a back spasm – with the gloves and at the top of the order, and crunched the first ball of the reply through the leg side but edged behind soon after.Vince was caught at cover but is now 20 runs away from equalling his 678 runs from last season – reaching that would give him the best three Blast seasons. It is not beyond the realms of possibility that he could better his annus mirabilis of 710 runs in 2015.Tom Prest hit three fours and a six in a happy-go-lucky 25 before he was well caught playing the reverse sweep, with Dawson falling in similar style.Joe Weatherley got the run chase within five before skying but the Hawks stayed on track for a third Blast title and condemned the Rapids to their sixth quarter-final defeat in eight attempts.
Rains and Hampshire resistance prevent a youthful Somerset from pulling off an emphatic final-day victory
ECB Reporters Network13-Jul-2023
Kasey Aldridge struck twice before Hampshire dug in•Getty Images
Hampshire 330 (Organ 97, Abbott 89, Bashir 3-88) and 215 for 7 (Dawson 68*, Gubbins 50*, Bashir 3-67) drew with Somerset 500 (Rew 221, Aldridge 88, Bess 54, Abbott 4-56, Dawson 4-118)Nick Gubbins produced a four-hour defensive masterclass to earn Hampshire a backs-to-the-wall draw on the final day of the LV= Insurance County Championship match with Somerset at Taunton.The visitors slipped to 115 for 7, from an overnight 34 for 2, needing 55 more runs to avoid an innings defeat, before Gubbins (50 not out) and Liam Dawson (68 not out) produced a match-saving stand of exactly 100 either side of tea.Gubbins’ marathon vigil occupied 241 balls, while Dawson hit 14 fours and a six. Together they frustrated a home bowling attack in which 19-year-old offspinner Shoaib Bashir, who claimed 3 for 67 from 37 overs, excelled.Somerset’s young team, including three teenagers, had to settle for 12 points from a game they dominated, while their opponents took ten.Hampshire began the day needing 136 to avoid an innings defeat and soon lost first-innings hero Felix Organ, who drove at a ball from left-arm seamer Alfie Ogborne and edged to Tom Lammonby at third slip.No rain had been forecast, but a shower arrived at 11.20pm with the scoreboard reading 45 for 3. Nine overs were lost before play resumed at noon. Fletcha Middleton had looked largely untroubled in moving to 29 off 80 balls, but he departed with the total on 58, bowled by Bashir looking to play off the back foot through the on side.Bashir was looking hugely impressive for a player making only his third Championship appearance and without a run added he gave Somerset’s victory hopes a massive boost. Visiting skipper James Vince had held himself back to bat at No. 6 and lasted only four balls before glancing a catch to Kasey Aldridge, shrewdly positioned at leg slip.Ben Brown counterattacked with three fours in moving to 14 by the time a second shower saw lunch taken a few minutes early. At the interval, Bashir had figures of 3 for 17 from 12.4 overs, and Hampshire trailed by 92 runs.Three more overs were lost before a 1.45pm restart. Brown greeted the resumption with a cover drive for four as Bashir completed his 13th over and it was soon clear that Gubbins was setting his stall out to play the anchor role.The sixth-wicket pair built a half-century stand in 97 balls, foiling the combined efforts of spinners Bashir and Dom Bess and forcing Somerset skipper Tom Abell to recall seamer Aldridge to his attack. It proved an inspired move as Brown got a touch to a full delivery and wicketkeeper James Rew took a two-handed catch down the leg side, diving to his left.Three balls later, James Fuller fell for a duck as Aldridge found an inside edge through to Rew and suddenly Hampshire were 115 for 7, still 55 away from making their opponents bat again. Dawson got underway with boundaries off successive balls from Bess. Bashir was now bowling with five fielders clustered around the bat, but meeting solid resistance from Gubbins.He had battled away for 157 balls for his 31 runs by the time tea was taken with Hampshire 135 for 7, having reduced the deficit to 35.Dawson was the aggressor after the break as the pair took their stand past 50. Somerset turned to the occasional spin of first Tom Lammonby and then Andy Umeed for an over each without success ahead of taking the second new ball at 167 for 7.Bashir was handed it and Gubbins and Dawson still had work to do. A Gubbins boundary through the off side took his side into the slenderest of leads. Jack Brooks took the new ball at the other end with blue skies over the Cooper Associates County Ground. Dawson survived two confident appeals for close-in catches in the same Bashir over, Somerset fielders reacting with heads in hands.Left-hander Gubbins set himself to face most deliveries from the offspinner, preventing him exploiting the rough outside right-hander Dawson’s off stump. By the time the last hour and final 16 overs were signalled, Hampshire led by 17 runs.Dawson’s tenth four, hammered through the leg side off Bess, took him to a precious half-century off 115 balls. Gubbins followed to the same landmark off 237 deliveries and Somerset knew it was not going to be their day. The players shook hands at 5.35pm.
They might have had a few years of dire football under previous managers, but Tottenham Hotspur have always been a team that prides itself on playing football the ‘right way.’
Fans want to see exciting, attacking and invigorating football, and while it hasn’t always brought success, that’s what the North Londoners have usually endeavoured to play.
As a result, the club have seen a whole host of incredible attackers play for them over the years, especially on the wing.
Tottenham Hotspur manager AngePostecoglou
Perhaps the most exciting of them all in modern history was the sublime Gareth Bale, and in good news, it looks like Hotspur Way may have just produced the next version of the Welsh legend.
Spurs' great wingers
Before getting to the player who could be Spurs’ next great winger, it’s worth looking at a couple of the club’s greats in that position in recent history, starting with someone who perhaps does not get the recognition he deserves from other fans: Aaron Lennon.
The former Lilywhites ace joined the club for just £1m from Leeds United in the summer of 2005 and remained in North London for almost a decade before he moved to Everton in February 2015.
During his long stint with the club, the Englishman amassed an incredible 364 appearances, in which he scored 30 goals, provided 76 assists and was a part of the last Lilywhites side to win a trophy when he started the 2008 League Cup final against London rivals Chelsea – he scored a couple against the red lot down the road as well.
A winger who looks set to cross the decade mark at the club this summer is Son Heung-min, who put pen to paper and moved to North London in a £22m deal from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2015.
Since then, he’s played 448 games, scored 173 goals, provided 95 assists, been handed the captain’s armband, and started in the club’s only Champions League final in June 2019.
Son’s Spurs record
Appearances
448
Minutes
31830′
Goals
173
Assists
95
Goal Involvements per Match
0.59
Minutes per Goal Involvement
118.76′
All Stats via Transfermarkt
There can be no doubt over the South Korean’s status as a Spurs and Premier League icon for his incredible exploits over the years, but it would be fair to say that neither he nor Lennon could reach the levels Bale did during his peak at the club.
That peak was the 12/13 season, in which he scored 26 goals and provided ten assists in just 44 appearances, totalling 3891 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.22 games, or every 108.08 minutes.
It was a campaign that saw Real Madrid pay a world-record £85m fee for his services, and as things stand, it looks like Hotspur Way might have just produced a young talent who could one day be the club’s new Bale.
Spurs' new Bale
One of the few positives to come out of this season for Tottenham Hotspur has been the development of their youngsters, such as Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall and academy star Mikey Moore.
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The surface-level ones include the fact he’s a left-winger, he made his debut for the club as a teenager and is British, but the most significant is how well he has played in the academy and how those in the know are talking about him.
For example, in just 34 appearances for the Lilywhites’ various youth sides, the “future superstar,” as dubbed by respected analyst Ben Mattinson, has scored a staggering 21 goals and provided 15 assists.
Mikey Moore’s youth record
Team
U18s
U21s
UEFA Youth League
Games
24
5
5
Goals
19
2
0
Assists
13
2
0
Goal Involvements per match
1.33
0.80
0.00
All Stats via Transfermarkt
That means the teenage sensation is currently averaging 1.05 goal involvements every game in the academy, which is incredibly impressive.
That’s not all, though, as even though he is still just 17 and has battled to keep fit at points this season, the Southwark-born prospect has made quite the impression in the few appearances he’s made for the first team, and was just named in GOAL.com’s top 50 wonderkids.
GOAL.com's 10 best wonderkids in world football.
Most notably, in the Europa League game against AZ Alkmaar earlier in the campaign, he was unquestionably the star of the show.
Every time he had the ball at his feet, it felt as if he was going to make something happen, and it wasn’t just us who were left stunned, as teammate James Maddison described him as “fearless” and compared him to Neymar Jr of all people after the game. That certainly suggests he could be in the same bracket as a certain Bale as well.
Ultimately, there is a long way to go for Moore, and the pressure is only going to increase, but from what we have seen so far and with how people are talking about him, we would not be surprised to see him develop into a Bale-esque player for Spurs.
Their answer to Odegaard: Spurs favourites to land "sublime" England ace
The talented international could add some real quality to Spurs’ midfield.
Middlesex 238 (Simpson 60, Holden 55, Abbott 3-37, Overton 3-45, Lawes 3-57) and 272 for 9 (Stoneman 72, Bamber 46*, Abbott 3-60) f/o lead Surrey 433 (Smith 138, Burns 79, Clark 78, Helm 6-110) by 77 runs Middlesex’s batting frailties were ruthlessly exposed by London rivals Surrey as the reigning champions closed in on a big win on day three of their LV= Insurance Division One clash at Lord’s.Aussie seamer Sean Abbott, Jamie Overton and Tom Lawes claimed three wickets apiece as the hosts crumbled from their overnight 179 for 5 to 238 all out in their first innings, John Simpson making 60 and Josh De Caires 30 not out. The latest collapse means they still have only two batting bonus points out of 45 so far this season.Following on 195 behind, stand-in skipper Mark Stoneman led the resistance with 72, but others came and went, before a career-best 46 not out for Ethan Bamber ensured there would be a fourth day.Nevertheless, Abbott, with 3 for 60, bowled De Caires with what proved the last ball of the day to leave Middlesex 272 for 9, a lead of only 77, meaning Surrey will surely wrap up a sixth win of the season early tomorrow.If the home side were to save the follow-on much depended on Simpson continuing his resistance from day two, but the half-centurion added only five before gloving one from Lawes (3 for 57) down the leg-side to a diving Ben Foakes.Nightwatchman Bamber was undone by extra bounce from Overton (3 for 45) and looped a catch off the leading edge back to the bowler, who then castled the in-form Ryan Higgins for three.The piece of theatre of the morning was provided by Tom Latham, the New Zealander pulling off a reflex grab at slip after Will Jacks in the gully had twice parried an edge from the bat of Tom Helm.The fact Middlesex clawed their way to 238 was down to De Caires, who as an opener by trade can rarely have batted with a number 11. He struck a six into the Tavern Stand and protected Tim Murtagh so that the pair added 38 for the 10th wicket. However, with a precious batting point tantalisingly within reach Abbott (3 for 37) returned to uproot Murtagh’s middle stump.As expected, the Championship leaders enforced the follow-on and struck second ball when Dan Worrall’s delivery beat Pieter Malan’s tentative prod and crashed into the stumps. It was the South African’s fifth duck of a miserable campaign.Fellow opener Stoneman adopted a more positive approach, hitting four successive boundaries off Jordan Clark’s first over as the hosts got through to lunch without further bleeding.For a while on the resumption all was well with Stoneman continuing to attack and Sam Robson looking organised in defence, but shortly after driving Abbott for his only boundary the latter prodded the same bowler into the glue-like hands of Latham to end the stand at 65.Stoneman’s eighth four raised his fifty from 57 balls, only for him to play a shot too many and lift a Lawes delivery into the hands of Overton on the mid-wicket fence.By that stage Jack Davies had come and gone and when Simpson gave Foakes more catching practice at 127 for 5 the prospect of an innings defeat loomed large, though this ignominy was ultimately avoided.Cameos by Max Holden and Higgins came close to achieving parity, the former making his runs despite being struck on the jaw by a return from the outfield when he was on seven.De Caires and Bamber, then further frustrated the Surrey bowlers with a stand of 64, two sixes, the second assisted by four overthrows helping the latter to his career-best.
The left-arm spinner will sign off at the end of the ongoing season of the women’s Hundred, where she is a part of Welsh Fire
ESPNcricinfo staff22-Aug-2023
Alex Hartley played 28 ODIs and four T20Is for England between 2016 and 2019•Getty Images
Alex Hartley, the left-arm spinner who won the 2017 ODI World Cup with England, has announced that she will retire from professional cricket at the end of the ongoing edition of the Hundred.Hartley, 29, took a break from the game earlier this year after revealing she was “struggling mentally” while playing for Thunder in regional cricket, having lost confidence in her bowling and enthusiasm for the sport.She returned in the Hundred and has made three appearances for Welsh Fire, taking two wickets. Fire’s revival this year means that they are already guaranteed a spot in the knockout stages. If selected, Hartley’s last game will come either in Saturday’s eliminator at The Oval, or Sunday’s final at Lord’s.Hartley revealed her decision to quit the professional game on , the BBC podcast she co-hosts with Kate Cross, and has already moved into a successful career as a pundit and broadcaster. She had initially planned to play a farewell game for Thunder, but decided the timing was right.”I’m hanging my boots up – I am officially retiring from cricket,” Hartley said. “I’ve absolutely loved it at Welsh Fire, every single second of it. The staff have been really supportive, they’ve been great over the last month. And I don’t want to play 50-over cricket!”I’m really, really excited. I’m going to really miss it. I’m going to be really sad – but it’s right, isn’t it? I’ve been thinking about it for ages.”
Hartley played 28 ODIs and four T20Is for England between 2016 and 2019, with the 2017 World Cup win the obvious highlight of her international career. She played eight of England’s nine games at the tournament and was their second-highest wicket-taker with ten, including the vital wicket of Harmanpreet Kaur in the final at Lord’s.Sophie Ecclestone’s emergence as the country’s leading left-arm spinner cost Hartley her place, and she lost her central contract in late 2019. She continued to represent Thunder in regional cricket and Manchester Originals in the first season of the Hundred, before joining Fire in 2022.Fire play their final group game against Northern Superchargers on Tuesday afternoon. If they win and Southern Brave lose to Manchester Originals on Wednesday, Fire will qualify automatically for Sunday’s final; otherwise, they will play in Saturday’s eliminator.
Chelsea are reportedly prioritising a move for Jamie Gittens but have also identified two Premier League stars as potential alternatives.
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Chelsea set sights on Gittens
BVB value the winger at £50m
Kudus & Pedro are also on their radar
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Getty Images
WHAT HAPPENED?
According to , the Blues are intensifying their pursuit of Gittens as Enzo Maresca seeks to bolster his attacking options with a right-footed left winger. Earlier in the month, Dortmund turned down a £42 million ($56.26m) proposal from Chelsea, deeming the bid insufficient for a player they value at closer to £50m ($67m). However, with personal terms already agreed between Gittens and the London club, Chelsea are expected to return with a revised offer in a bid to finalise the deal.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
While confidence remains high that Gittens will eventually be a Chelsea player, the club is preparing contingency plans. Lyon's Malick Fofana has emerged as a credible backup option should the German side refuse to budge on their asking price.
Maresca currently has few natural options on the wings. Pedro Neto and Noni Madueke are both left-footed, making them better suited for the right flank, while youngster Tyrique George lacks top-level experience. As Chelsea brace for a congested fixture calendar with Champions League commitments next season, depth and adaptability have become a major focus of their recruitment drive.
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Chelsea have touched base with Brighton regarding a potential move for Joao Pedro. The Brazilian forward, who is valued at around £60m ($80m), has also attracted interest from Newcastle United, with the Magpies reportedly further along in negotiations.
The west London club have also assessed RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons and Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike, but both cases present financial roadblocks. Frankfurt’s £84m ($113m) valuation of Ekitike has been deemed excessive by Chelsea, effectively ruling out an immediate pursuit.
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Chelsea have also expressed strong interest in West Ham’s Mohammed Kudus. The Ghanaian attacker, who is also on the radar of Manchester United, Newcastle and another unnamed Premier League club, could be a marquee addition if negotiations progress. Initial conversations between Chelsea and the Hammers have taken place, with the Blues exploring the possibility of a player-plus-cash deal. West Ham, however, have shown no appetite for swaps and remain firm in their stance for a direct transfer. Kudus has an £85m ($114m) release clause valid exclusively for Premier League clubs during the first ten days of July, a clause Chelsea may activate if their other options stall.
England blitzed at Chelmsford as new-look team suffer a first T20I defeat at Sri Lanka’s hands
Andrew Miller02-Sep-2023Sri Lanka 110 for 2 (Athapaththu 55) beat England 104 (Dean 34, Fernando 2-16, Dilhari 2-17) by eight wicketsChamari Athapaththu led from the front in a stunning allround display – first with the ball and then with a rampant 26-ball fifty – as Sri Lanka secured their maiden T20I victory over England in extraordinarily emphatic style: by eight wickets, and with a crushing 40 balls remaining, as Heather Knight’s new-look team were served a dramatic reality check, only two days after cruising to victory in the series opener at Hove.After winning her second toss of the series and choosing to bowl first, Athapaththu showed her team how it needed to be done by bowling the dangerous Danni Wyatt for 1 in her first over, and never let up in her leadership thereafter, as England were hustled out for 104 in 18 overs – a far cry from the 186 for 4 that they had posted in just 17 overs in Thursday’s opening fixture.Then, sensing a chance to crush England from the outset of the chase, Athapaththu climbed onto the offensive with the bat, cracking eight fours and two sixes with similarly positive support from Harshitha Samarawickrama, who sealed the contest with a massive swipe over midwicket to finish unbeaten on 30 from 35 balls.Chamari sets the powerplay toneSpeaking at the toss, Athapaththu insisted – with some justification as things turned out – there had been some “positives” to take from a one-sided series opener at Hove, but recognised that their bowling had to improve after England had romped along at close to two a ball on that occasion.And so the skipper herself added that burden to her already broadly laden shoulders, to set the tone for an astonishingly unrelentingly display. Despite one loose ball that Maia Bouchier carved for four, Athapaththu’s remit in the contest’s first over was to keep the stumps in play as much as possible, on a hybrid wicket that offered a touch of grip for her spinners, and in sunny afternoon conditions a world away from the dank misery of Hove.The gambit paid agenda-setting dividends with the sixth ball of Athapaththu’s over. A beautifully flighted offbreak lured Danni Wyatt on the drive, but a hint of dip and spin bowled her clean through the gate for 1. Suddenly a partnership that had realised 77 from 45 balls at Hove had been broken before it had begun, and that carefree youth that had so flourished in game one had a different scenario to counter.Inoshi in on the actionAlice Capsey had made a belligerent 51 from 27 on that occasion; here she was restricted to an anxious 3 from 9 as Inoshi Fernando followed her skipper’s lead in her first outing of the series. First, her tall offbreaks pinned Capsey to the crease for five consecutive dot-balls and a single, then she snapped the trap shut in the field one over later. Itching to break the shackles, Capsey lashed through the line at Sugandika Kumari and Fernando was almost blown off her feet at mid-off as she clung on well to a flat chance.Bouchier by this stage had connected well on another cuff through the covers, but Fernando’s impact was not done yet. The first ball of her second over was flapped in ungainly fashion straight to Kavisha Dilhari at extra cover, and Bouchier attempted to bend her bat around her helmet as she traipsed off for 12 from 10. Not only were England truly in the m(aia)ire at 21 for 3, but she’d missed a golden opportunity to rebuild a faltering innings, and seize the opportunity for seniority that she’s been handed in the absence of the likes of Tammy Beaumont and Nat Sciver-Brunt.Old guard falter tooInstead, England’s hopes were reinvested in a familiar pair of middle-order stalwarts. Heather Knight and Amy Jones saw out a powerplay that, at 32 for 3, realised less than half the 66 for 0 that Sri Lanka had been subjected to at Hove, but neither batter really exuded an air of permanence in an uncompromising match situation – least of all Jones, who so nearly holed out to backward point as an attempted reverse-sweep off Fernando fell inches short.On 10, Knight successfully over-turned an lbw decision after her attempted reverse-sweep was shown to have flicked her glove before crashing into the pad, but one over later, Jones’ scratchy stay was ended in the opposite fashion – Ranaweera trapped her on the back pad, and after Atapaththu’s last-ditch decision to review, the ball was shown to be thumping the top of leg stump.Jones was gone for a run-a-ball 12, and if 41 for 4 in the eighth over was a dicey scenario, England’s issues were only just beginning. Freya Kemp picked off two singles off two legal deliveries, only to be stumped off a wide in Dilhari’s next over, as she galloped out of her crease for Sanjeewani to gather well down the leg-side and beat her despairing dive, and all hopes of a competitive total ended when Knight spooned a back-foot punch back to Ranaweera. At 48 for 6, England were fully braced for ignominy.Maia Bouchier grimaces after falling in the second T20I at Chelmsford•ECB via Getty ImagesDean digs for double-figuresOnly Charlie Dean, last out for a feisty 34 from 26, found anything like the requisite blend of endurance and aggression, including three fours in a row off Ranaweera – two firm sweeps and a well-dispatched full toss.At the other end, however, the progression continued. Danielle Gibson opted for aggression without endurance, as she survived a slash through deep third that flew inches wide of the fielder, before scuffing a reverse-sweep straight into the lap of backward square.Sarah Glenn, sporting a new cap to mark her 50th T20I appearance, then snicked off fourth-ball to give Dilhari her second wicket. Though Issy Wong hung around long enough to endure England wouldn’t be setting their new record low total in a women’s T20I, when she lashed through a drive at Prabhodhani to be bowled for 13, the end was not long in coming.Cross, Wong bear powerplay bruntIf England thought their day had hit its nadir, Athapaththu had further indignities to deliver. She signalled her intention to keep the hammer down with a second-ball drive for four off Kate Cross, and even though Sanjeewani fell in Gibson’s subsequent over (after two no-balls had hinted at England’s anxieties), Sri Lanka’s captain was only just getting warmed up.Cross’s second over was utterly taken to the cleaners – 21 runs in total, compromising three blazed fours in a row and a simply vast flog over square leg, off the roof off the Felsted School Stand and into the garden of a bemused lady looking on from her balcony. After some similarly rough treatment at the back-end of the first T20I, Cross’s figures for the series now read 4.2-0-55-0 – a reminder perhaps why her impeccable lines have been overlooked in this format since 2019.Nothing, however, was quite as gruesome as the public pillorying that Wong would endure in her first international over of the summer. Her absence from the firing line has been a bit of an ongoing mystery in recent months, given the excitement that surrounded her all-round game last summer, but here was public evidence of a player at war with her own technique.Her first over of the match lasted for ten deliveries, the first four of which amounted to a tragicomedy in themselves – a huge front-foot no-ball that Harshitha Samarawickrama flicked off her pads for four, followed by a flick to deep square leg off that most of the crowd failed to realise was a free hit . Another leg-side no-ball followed, then another catch off the free hit – an astounding one as it happens, as Cross at mid-off snaffled the ball in her outstretched right hand.By the end of it all, Wong could only grin in self-effacement as Glenn jogged down to give her a consoling pat on the shoulder, and as Sri Lanka blazed towards their victory target with barely a shot out of place, it was something of a surprise to see her reintroduced with 13 runs still needed and little left to be gained. Three more drilled boundaries duly drew the scores level, leaving Harshitha to heave Cross into the pavilion for the winning six.Wong’s inclusion for this match had come at the expense of England’s new young thing, Mahika Gaur, and her struggles rather underlined the importance of Knight’s pre-series warning about the youth in this team. Expecting too much too soon is a dangerous thing.
Arsenal, led by new sporting director Andrea Berta, are set to move for an “underrated” marquee player this summer, according to reliable transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano.
Andrea Berta's rumoured transfer plans for Arsenal
Berta signed as Arsenal’s director three weeks ago, and since the Italian’s appointment to replace Edu Gaspar, Mikel Arteta’s side have been tipped for an exciting summer transfer window.
Arsenal hold early talks to sign £50m striker likened to Neymar and Mbappe
He’s compared to two of world football’s most iconic superstars of recent years.
By
Emilio Galantini
Mar 28, 2025
Berta could apparently have a £300 million transfer warchest to spend on up to seven new signings at the Emirates Stadium, according to GiveMeSport, with Arsenal potentially planning to bring in a new backup ‘keeper, a full-back, two central midfielders, a left-winger, an alternative to Bukayo Saka and a striker.
Arsenal’s next five Premier League games
Date
Fulham (home)
April 1st
Everton (away)
April 5th
Brentford (home)
April 12th
Ipswich Town (away)
April 20th
Crystal Palace (home)
April 26th
A fresh centre-forward will be particularly crucial, as Arsenal have long yearned for a prolific vocal point up front as the last missing piece of Arteta’s jigsaw. Long-term injuries to Gabriel Jesus, who could even be out until 2026, and Kai Havertz have also further highlighted the need for a number nine.
According to some media sources, Berta is even gaining a head start on the summer window, with Arsenal opening preliminary talks over Eintracht Frankfurt star Hugo Ekitiké, but the Frenchman isn’t their only attacking target.
Arteta’s “dream” striker target, as per various reports, is Newcastle United star Alexander Isak.
The Swede has been in sensational form under Eddie Howe yet again this season with 23 goals from 33 appearances in all competitions, but Newcastle are not planning to let him go easily despite the rumoured interest from elite sides.
Newcastle United's AlexanderIsak
£125 million is actually one of the cheaper figures to have been mooted by some sections of the press, but even that would require Arsenal to smash their transfer record.
Arsenal will make "important proposal" to sign Alexander Isak
As per Romano, his marquee valuation hasn’t deterred Berta.
Indeed, the respected reporter claims that Arsenal will make an “important proposal” to sign Isak this summer, with Romano sharing an update on his situation for GiveMeSport’s Market Madness podcast.
“We have to see what happens when Arsenal and Liverpool, because I expect these two clubs to arrive with important proposals in the summer,” Romano said.
“And at that stage, we have to see what the player decides to do and also what kind of conversation he will have with Newcastle. But on club side, they keep saying that they will try till the end to extend this contract, to keep the player and to make the face of their project also for the future. So I think it’s going to be a big fight in the summer for this fantastic striker.”
Both Isak and Anthony Gordon have been labelled the Premier League’s “most exciting” and perhaps “most underrated” forward duo by ex-Nigeria international Sunday Oliseh, but it is clear that Arsenal are fully aware of the former’s star quality after repeated links.
The 25-year-old is set to be one of the biggest stories of this summer transfer window, and there is no doubt he’d be a truly transformative signing for Arteta’s side.