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Her 103 off 51 balls – the first century by an Indian woman in T20Is – consigned New Zealand to a 34-run loss in the World T20 opener

The Report by Deivarayan Muthu09-Nov-2018
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I perform better under pressure – Harmanpreet

Sixteen months after blitzing an unbeaten 171 against Australia in the 50-over World Cup semi-final in Derby last year, Harmanpreet Kaur unleashed another brutal hundred – the first by an Indian woman in T20Is – to raze New Zealand in the World T20 opener at Providence.After she tip-toed to 5 off 13 balls, Harmanpreet switched on the Harmonster mode and charged to a fifty off 33 balls. When she glanced Sophie Devine off her pads for a couple in the last over of India’s innings, she raised a hundred off 49 balls. Her monster sixes – she smashed eight in total – vaulted India to 194 for 5 for their second highest total in T20Is.New Zealand opener Suzie Bates briefly threatened to do a Harmanpreet and became the top scorer in Women’s World T20s, but the rapidly rising asking rate was too much to overcome.Harmanpreet walked out to bat when India were wobbling at 40 for 3 inside the Powerplay. Fast bowler Lea Tahuhu struck with her first ball to burst through the defences of new opener Taniya Bhatia, and in her next over, she had Smriti Mandhana holing out to deep midwicket, where Hayley Jensen leapt to her left and pulled off a blinding catch – an early contender for the highlights reel of this tournament. When debutant D Hemalatha jumped across off and swept weakly to short fine leg for 15 off 7 balls, questions were raised about players batting out of positions. Why was Bhatia bumped to the top after impressing in the middle order in Sri Lanka? Where would Mithali Raj bat?Harmanpreet Kaur blasted seven fours and eight sixes during her 103•Getty ImagesUltimately, India didn’t need Mithali at all. It was 18-year-old Jemimah Rodrigues, who made the early running in a 134-run partnership with Harmanpreet – the highest for any wicket for India in women’s T20Is. She crunched Tahuhu through extra-cover, swatted Jensen over midwicket, and even left umpire Gregory Brathwaite in the firing line with a fierce drive. After a poke here and a prod there in the early exchanges, Harmanpreet exploded when she ventured down the track and swatted offspinner Jess Watkin over the midwicket boundary. She owned the arc between long-on and midwicket, nailing five sixes and two fours. She was particularly severe on Watkin, taking her for 27 off 7 balls.And just like that, Harmanpreet outscored Rodrigues and raised her fifty in the 15th over. While Rodrigues’s strokeplay was easy on the eye, Harmanpreet’s power-hitting was extraordinary. Although she regularly stepped across the stumps or down the track, she maintained a stable base and launched the bowlers into oblivion.Rodrigues was dismissed in the 19th over by Watkin, but by then India had passed 170. Harmanpreet then nicked behind off the penultimate ball of the innings, but she had armed her side with a mighty total.It did not appear as mighty, though, when Bates jumped across off and mowed the ball into the leg-side boundaries. Bates ran up a 38-ball half-century, but India’s spinners kept striking at the other end. Legspinner Poonam Yadav removed Sophie Devine and Watkin off successive balls with donkey drops that turned and gripped, but it was offspinner Hemalatha, the debutant, who claimed the key wicket of captain Amy Satterthwaite, when she had her skying a sweep to square leg. When seamer Arundhati Reddy removed Bates in the 14th over, New Zealand slipped to 98 for 5. There would be no way back for them.

Glasgow Rangers have shown vast improvement under Philippe Clement since he took over last month as the Ibrox side have won six of his first seven matches in charge.

An impressive record, yet it will all be for nothing if the club do not maintain their current form and secure a trophy or two by the end of the season.

The Belgian might also be targeting the upcoming January transfer window as a chance to not only bolster his squad, but to also add some much-needed depth.

Rangers transfer news

According to TEAMtalk, the Light Blues are reportedly keen on signing teenager Noah Mbamba in January as they appear to be ahead of Manchester City in the race for the youngster.

The 18-year-old gem is currently playing for Bayer Leverkusen in German and the outlet adds that any potential move would likely be a loan deal.

Bayern Munich have previously sent scouts to watch his performances before he sealed a move to Leverkusen, and it looks as though a temporary move will give him some senior experience.

Fabrizio Romano dubbed the young midfielder a “top talent” upon his arrival at Leverkusen back in January and Clement looks like he wants to give the player a platform to shine on, albeit temporarily.

The Gers signed Abdallah Sima on a season-long loan deal in the summer, and the club could repeat that masterclass by landing another superb loanee.

Noah Mbamba could be Abdallah Sima 2.0

The on-loan Brighton and Hove Albion gem has certainly impressed during his stint at the club so far, scoring nine goals across 22 matches and proving to be a dangerous threat on the left wing.

The winger also ranks second across the squad for goals and assists in the league (six) while also ranking second for successful dribbles per game (1.7) and third for scoring frequency (a goal every 151 minutes), indicating how impressive he has been domestically.

The young Belgian could also have a similar impact at the Gers should he make a move to Glasgow in January, given his impressive cameos in the top-flight of German football this term.

While he has played just twice in the Bundesliga this season and averaged just seven minutes of playing time, he has already created a big chance and averaged 0.5 key passes per game – assisting one goal.

Despite being a defensive midfielder by trade, Mbamba has been able to showcase his attacking quality and could, as Sima has, make an impact at the top end of the pitch for the Gers during the second half of the campaign.

A 94% pass success rate also means he can dictate the play well, and he also has Champions League experience, playing three times in the competition during the 2021/22 season aged just 16.

The teenage sensation may be a rough diamond, but Clement could certainly give him a platform to shine on, especially if the Gers go on a deep run in Europe, where squad rotation could be important.

Sima has enjoyed a wonderful spell so far, chipping in with vital goals, and with any swoop for Mbamba looking like it will be a loan deal, he could have the potential to replicate Sima’s success.

Whilst there is no guarantee that the Leverkusen youngster will be able to hit the ground running, like the Senegal international has, the scope is there for him to be an exciting signing.

With City keen on the youngster, Clement will need to act fast in order to snap him up once the winter window finally opens.

Tom Curran starred with the ball while Jordan Silk and Moises Henriques helped Sixers start 2019 on a winning note

The Report by Alex Malcolm01-Jan-2019Moises Henriques and Jordan Silk have delivered the Sydney Sixers the perfect start to the New Year executing a brilliantly timed chase to ensure Brisbane Heat remain winless.The pair came together with the Sixers needing 84 from 51 balls. Henriques made an outstanding 57 from 37 balls before falling with 44 still needed from 23. But Silk and Josh Philippe ran the Heat ragged and maneuvred the ball to the vacant boundaries behind square with extraordinary skill. Silk fell for 46 from 25 balls with just six runs to win but Tom Curran finished the job.Earlier, Chris Lynn held together the Heat’s batting with a powerful 84. Youngster Max Bryant made an electric start in the Powerplay but he and Lynn were the only players in the Heat’s top six to reach double figures. At one stage they were targeting a total of 150 but Lynn and Jimmy Peirson finished the innings superbly to set the Sixers 165 to win, but it still wasn’t enough.Bash Brothers’ new siblingThe Heat opted for a change at the top of the order, dropping Brendon McCullum down to No.4 and promoting Sam Heazlett to have a left-right combination. Heazlett only made 2 but he was involved in a 34-run opening stand from the first 2.5 overs as the newest Bash Brother bucked his head. Max Bryant, 19, had shown glimpses in the first two games and he exploded here. The Sixers opted for spin from both ends and Bryant showed Ben Manenti and Steve O’Keefe no respect. He was savage on O’Keefe, who has been untouchable in the Powerplay this season, clubbing three fours and a six in the second over. He showed smart footwork against the veteran finding the rope off both the front and the back foot. He failed to go with his start though, holing out to long on in the fourth over for 34 from just 18 balls.The lives of LynnLynn had gone 21 T20 innings with a fifty, including seven T20 Internationals late in 2018. That was set to be 22 when he hit a towering sky ball to deep midwicket on 13, but Manenti was strangely positioned in the key spot instead of Silk, and looking into the sun he spilt the opportunity. Lynn reached 19 off 20 balls with just one boundary before he unleashed on Manenti with a huge six over long on. But he had to reign it in again as he lost Joe Burns and Ben Cutting in quick succession. He played wisely picking the gaps and biding his time. He launched his second six to bring up his fifty in the 15thover. He then unfurled his trademarks strikes. He hit Sean Abbott 98m over midwicket and Tom Curran’s slower ball 93m over long on. He gave another life on 73, with Daniel Hughes unable to hold onto to a ball sliced over his head at backward point. It cost the Sixers another 11 runs before he was out for 84. Lynn got great support from Jimmy Peirson who made an excellent 23 off 17 balls to raise the total above 160.Avendano air walkThe Sixers finally made a change at the top of the order dropping Jack Edwards and promoting 25-year-old North Sydney batsman Justin Avendano. It was an inspired move. Avendano struck two huge sixes and a boundary and the Sixers only lost one wicket in the Powerplay. Henriques joined the debutant after the fall of Joe Denly and the pair steadily built, never letting the required run-rate climb above 10 an over. But Avendano had a brain snap in the 11thover. After squeezing out a yorker to short third man, he was called through for a single. Ben Cutting threw at the non-striker’s end and hit but Avendano didn’t ground his bat and had his feet in the air. He would have made his ground easily if he had simply grounded his bat. Daniel Hughes fell five balls later as the required rate climbed to 10.25.Silky finishHenriques and Silk didn’t panic. They faced just three dot balls in a 40-run partnership. Lynn had held back Mujeeb Ur Rahman’s last over, after he conceded just 18 from his first three, hoping to bowl to a new batsman. But Henriques and Silk forced Lynn’s hand in the 16thover. With Henriques set and ready to target the quicks, Silk gambled and slog swept Mujeeb for six and took 12 from the over. Henriques fell off the first ball of the 17th. But Silk and Josh Philippe never stuttered. They ran brilliantly to force fielding mistakes. Philippe played an incredible falling ramp shot to fine leg for four forcing a field change before Silk was able to pick the gap at deep square after the change had been made. Silk holed out from the last ball of the 19thbut had the presence of mind not to cross with Philippe so the set player was on strike for the start of the last. Philippe couldn’t find the boundary but Tom Curran did to get the Sixers home with three balls to spare.

Harry Kane claims to have no mixed emotions ahead of an outing for Bayern Munich that could dash Champions League dreams for Arsenal and Tottenham.

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England star preparing to face GunnersTaking aim at semi-final berthProgress could impact friends at SpursWHAT HAPPENED?

The prolific England international severed career-long ties with Spurs last summer when heading to the Allianz Arena. The north London outfit will forever hold a special place in his heart, but there is no room for sentiment as he takes aim at a place in the semi-finals of elite European competition for 2023-24.

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Victory over Arsenal on Wednesday will keep Bayern in the hunt for continental glory, with that heavyweight encounter locked at 2-2 on aggregate. Progress for the Bundesliga giants could also cost Spurs a Champions League place for next season, as Germany seeks to overtake England in the battle for a fifth qualification spot that currently sees the two nations tied on the same UEFA coefficient points.

Getty ImagesWHAT KANE SAID

Quizzed on whether he has given any thought to potentially upsetting friends at Spurs while also downing their fiercest rivals, Kane told reporters: “I don't know how to answer that. The Bundesliga has been a great experience for me so far. You've got some top teams in this league. I can't focus on what may or may not happen in the Premier League, I just have to focus on Bayern and trying to finish as high in the league as possible and that's second place.”

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DID YOU KNOW?

Kane is determined to help Bayern progress in this season’s Champions League and admits that defeat in the 2019 final to Liverpool has him desperate to right a few wrongs in Europe’s biggest club competition. He added: “When you reach a final and don't quite get over the line there is always a burning fire to get back there and go one step further. We have an opportunity that starts with a big game tomorrow and then, if we get through, it's just a couple of games to Wembley. It's in the distance at the moment and I can just try to put in my best performance and step by step we can reach our goals.”

Former Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness has confirmed that the Bavarian side are in talks with Ralf Rangnick to become their new manager.

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Bayern confirm Rangnick interestCould replace Tuchel at Allianz ArenaHoeness says deal could happen 'within a week'Getty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?

Current Bayern manager Thomas Tuchel is set to leave the Allianz Arena at the conclusion of the season, and Rangnick has been tipped to replace his fellow German, with Hoeness confirming their interest in the Austrian national team manager.

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Speaking to Frankfurter Allgemeine, Hoeness said [via Fabrizio Romano]: "Yes, there are talks ongoing with Ralf Rangnick. I think we will have a decision within a week."

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Bayern Munich made the decision to part ways with Tuchel in February after it was all but confirmed that Bayer Leverkusen would run away with the Bundesliga title, meaning that the Bavarians would lose the league title for the first time since 2013. Rangnick has emerged as a surprise option for them after Xabi Alonso remained their favourite candidate until the Spaniard confirmed his decision to stay put with Die Werkself.

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WHAT NEXT FOR BAYERN?

The Bavarians will hope to settle their affairs soon as the new manager will influence the club's transfer policy for the upcoming summer. Meanwhile, Tuchel and company will look to win the Champions League as they take on Real Madrid in the semi-final on April 30 and May 8.

West Ham and manager David Moyes are "hoping to complete a deal" for one club's lethal striker with "zero expectation" that he stays put in January.

West Ham on the lookout for new striker

Some reports suggest West Ham are eyeing as many as three new additions next month (TEAMtalk), but to comply with FFP and avoid an Everton-type scenario, they may need to be careful.

West Ham "leading the way" to sign striker who Shearer thinks is "clinical"

Steidten is chasing a new forward.

ByEmilio Galantini Dec 12, 2023

The Hammers spent close to £120 million on signings over the most recent summer window, a kitty bolstered by their marquee sale of former club captain Declan Rice to Arsenal. However, reliable club insider ExWHUemployee has recently stated West Ham will need to be careful budget-wise in January, mainly due to their overspending in the summer of 2021.

“I have spoken to the person who would be best placed to answer on our January transfer budget,” said Ex (via The West Ham Way). "We overspent in 2021 and we have to be careful to not ‘do an Everton’. So although there is money there in the pot, it isn’t a huge amount as the club are being understandably careful."

That being said, technical director Tim Steidten is still working with co-chairman David Sullivan and the board to identify transfer targets. Steidten's "main focus" is signing a striker for West Ham, according to reports, with there being a few names on the agenda.

RB Leipzig ace Timo Werner and Chelsea's Armando Broja are some of the more high-profile names to be linked with a move to east London recently, while Stuttgart star Serhou Guirassy is a very promising lesser-known option.

West Ham "hoping to complete a deal" for Guirassy

According to TEAMtalk, Moyes is personally very keen to add a goalscorer and West Ham are "hoping to complete a deal" for Guirassy in January.

The Guinea international has caught the eye with some scintillating Bundesliga displays this season, sitting just behind Harry Kane in the Bundesliga's goalscoring charts.

Guirassy would also be eager to make a Premier League move and test himself in Europe's most prestigious division, which gives hope to West Ham alongside his enticing £15 million release clause.

Such a figure would come as one of the bargains of the season based off his form this campaign, and West Ham are given a further incentive to move based off news over his future at Stuttgart.

TEAMtalk and journalist Fraser Gillan add that there is "zero expectation" Guirassy stays at his club beyond January, with a winter move almost a matter of who he leaves for rather than if.

The 27-year-old, who can also play as an attacking midfielder, is one of Germany's most potent marksmen right now. According to WhoScored, only Victor Boniface, Harry Kane and Lois Openda have averaged more attempts at goal per 90 so far this term.

Scoring 16 goals in just 12 appearances, Guirassy's red-hot form makes his meagre clause look like a price well and truly worth paying. Going by Ex's information on West Ham's limited budget, this electric striker seems like the most obvious solution.

The CoA has lifted the suspensions on the two cricketers ‘with immediate effect’, pending the appointment and adjudication of the BCCI’s ombudsman

Nagraj Gollapudi24-Jan-2019Hardik Pandya will join India’s limited-overs squad in New Zealand and KL Rahul the India A squad that is currently playing a 50-overs series against England Lions in Thiruvananthapuram, after the BCCI lifted their suspensions on Thursday.Pandya will fly out to New Zealand “at the earliest”, according to a BCCI release, while Rahul will join his India A team-mates for the last three matches of the series, on January 27, 29 and 31. Given that India play their second ODI against New Zealand on Saturday, the third ODI in Mount Maunganui on Monday, January 28, appears to be the earliest possible opportunity for Pandya to return to action.Rahul and Pandya had been suspended for their controversial comments on a TV show, but became available for selection as soon as the BCCI’s Committee of Administrators lifted the ban on the pair, pending the appointment and adjudication of the board’s ombudsman.The CoA banned Pandya and Rahul on January 11 for their controversial comments on a TV chat show. However, the fate of the two players since then had been in limbo because of the split in the two-member CoA over what the next step should be.CoA chairman Vinod Rai was in favour of placing a two-match suspension and allowing the players to return pending an inquiry by an ad-hoc ombudsman. However, former India woman’s captain Diana Edulji, the other half of the CoA, disagreed, saying either the office bearers and the COA carry out the inquiry or it be done by an ombudsman. Two of the three BCCI office bearers had then pointed out that the ombudsman could only be appointed by the BCCI.It was then decided that the CoA would wait for the Supreme Court to take call on the appointment of the ombudsman, considering the BCCI had failed to fill the position lying vacant since late 2016. At a hearing last week, the court deferred its decision saying it would have a say only after amicus curiae PS Narasimha took charge.It is understood that Edulji was not keen to change her stance, but Narasimha is learned to have intervened and said the interim suspensions over the players be lifted subject to the ombudsman’s adjudication, once appointed.Accordingly, the BCCI issued a statement, stating the CoA had lifted the “interim suspension” on both Pandya and Rahul with immediate effect. “The above matter and decision has been taken with the concurrence of the amicus curiae, Mr PS Narasimha. In view of the above, the suspension orders dated 11.01.2019 is immediately lifted pending appointment and adjudication of the allegations by the BCCI ombudsman,” the board said.

Celtic ensured that they will be top of the Scottish Premiership table ahead of their Old Firm clash on Saturday as they beat Dundee 3-0 away from Parkhead on Boxing Day.

An untidy finish from Paulo Bernardo and a double from Michael Johnston off the bench secured all three points for Brendan Rodgers' side.

The Hoops have now won back-to-back top-flight matches without conceding a goal to bounce back from successive defeats to Kilmarnock and Hearts.

Whilst academy graduate Johnston caught the eye with two goals off the bench for the Scottish giants, the real star of the show for Brendan Rodgers was the man he replaced – Luis Palma.

Johnston's performance against Dundee in numbers

The Republic of Ireland international came on as a substitute with just over ten minutes to play and scored twice from four shots on goal.

His first goal came just four minutes after his introduction as the attacker was given the space to drive inside onto his right foot and that allowed him to unleash a shot from distance that Trevor Carson may feel he should have done better with as it did not go in the corner.

The second then came in stoppage time as a loose ball in the box fell into his path and allowed the forward to stroke a composed finish into the bottom right corner.

Johnston also completed ten of his 11 (91%) attempted passes to go along with the goals that sealed a comfortable victory for the Hoops.

He had an impressive cameo and it was great to see the academy product on the scoresheet twice but the real star of the show was Palma as the sublime whiz ran the game and constantly opened up the opposition defence.

Luis Palma's performance in numbers

The Honduras international played the first 79 minutes of the match and his attacking prowess was on full display as he put on a magical show for the supporters.

Palma produced a staggering 11 key passes for his teammates to fire a shot on goal, one of which resulted in the opening goal and another created a 'big chance'.

The summer signing from Aris provided the pass for Bernardo's opener as he brilliantly slid the ball down the channel for the midfielder to run onto and slot, albeit unconvincingly, past the goalkeeper.

His quick feet were also on display as Palma completed all five of his attempted dribbles to get past his opponent to then open up space further up the pitch for him to then create a chance or get a shot away.

The exciting magician also stood up to the physical nature of the match as he won 11 of his 17 duels, including two of his three aerial battles.

Palma was, therefore, excellent in and out of possession for Celtic and had contributed to what would have been the winning goal from Bernardo before Johnston's late double.

He was the star of the show with his exceptional creativity and is now on five goals and nine assists in 12 Premiership matches so far this season since his move to Scotland in the summer.

Allrounder suffers injury while chasing ball to boundary, as West Indies toil in the field

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Feb-2019West Indies suffered a significant injury blow on the third morning of the third Test in St Lucia, when Keemo Paul, their impressive young allrounder, had to be stretchered from the field after damaging his right quadriceps. He is not expected to bat in their second innings*.The incident occurred in the fourth over of the morning, when Paul set off in pursuit of a Joe Denly cover-drive off Shannon Gabriel. After initially sprinting at full tilt, Paul pulled up suddenly ten metres from the rope, and fell to the ground as soon as he had left the field of play.He continued to receive treatment behind the boundary as play continued, before being wheeled around the perimeter of the ground to sympathetic applause, and was replaced by the substitute fielder, Jomel Warrican.West Indies announced soon afterwards that Paul had suffered a right quadriceps strain, and later said he had been sent for scans, along with Darren Bravo, who did not take to the field all day after injuring his finger earlier in the match.Those scans revealed a significant tear which is likely to prevent Paul playing any part in the ODI series that follows the Test series. While West Indies said he could bat in an emergency in the second innings of the Test, he is most unlikely to do so with the match situation rendering such a gesture largely futile.It was a cruel end to a very impressive performance from Paul, who came into the St Lucia match as a replacement for West Indies’ captain, Jason Holder, following his suspension for a slow over-rate in Antigua.Paul struck with his first ball of the Test to remove Keaton Jennings in England’s first innings, en route to creditable figures of 2 for 58, and he repeated the dose with his first ball on day three, as Rory Burns clipped a loosener to square leg.*February 12, 1615 GMT – This story was updated with news of Paul’s scan

Inter Miami superstar Luis Suarez was spotted playing head tennis with Ferrari's Formula 1 driver Carlos Sainz.

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Suarez and Sainz spotted togetherSuperstars play head tennisMiami Grand Prix set to go ahead this weekendWHAT HAPPENED?

The worlds of Formula 1 and football collided this week in Miami ahead of the next Grand Prix on the 2024 calendar. Inter Miami superstar Luis Suarez visited the Ferrari motorhome and played a game of head tennis with the only non-Red Bull Racing driver to have won a race since 2023.

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The duo may have met up as both are sponsored by Puma. Sainz is a well-known Real Madrid fan and has been spotted multiple times supporting Los Blancos at the Santiago Bernabeu. It seems likely that if time allows the Spaniard will visit the DRV PNK Stadium to watch the Herons' clash against the New York Red Bulls this weekend.

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WHAT NEXT FOR SUAREZ AND SAINZ?

The Spanish F1 driver will be in action on Friday afternoon as he will take on the twisty Miami International Autodrome to prepare for Formula 1's Sprint Weekend. Meanwhile, Suarez will be in action just hours after Sainz's qualifying session ends on Saturday, as the Herons take on the Red Bulls in MLS.