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Poor fielding display condemns holders to third straight loss in round-robin stage

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Mar-2022Lisa Keightley, England’s head coach, says that she shoulders the blame for the collapse in form that has left her team’s defence of the World Cup hanging by a thread, following their third straight loss of the tournament, and their sixth ODI defeat in a row.After opening their campaign with narrow defeats to Australia and West Indies, England batted first in Mount Maunganui and posted 235 for 9 in their 50 overs, with half-centuries from Tammy Beaumont and Amy Jones and five wickets for South Africa’s Marizanne Kapp.In reply, however, England missed a number of key opportunities in the field – most notably against Laura Wolvaardt, who anchored South Africa’s chase with 77 from 101 balls. Sune Luus and Kapp backed up their earlier efforts with the ball with a pair of important 30s, before Shabnim Ismail and Trisha Chetty sealed a three-wicket win with four balls to spare.England, who beat South Africa by two wickets in a similarly tense semi-final of the 2017 World Cup, now face four must-win contests in a row, starting with Wednesday’s clash with India in Mount Maunganui. Even that, however, might not now be enough for qualification with Australia, New Zealand and West Indies already better placed to push for a spot for the semi-final berths.”As a coach, I take a huge amount of responsibility,” Keightley said. “It’s up to me to drive the team and get the wins on the board, that’s the job of the coach. And we’re trying really hard, the coaching staff and myself, to get the players up and about and we don’t have to do too much.”The players are pretty gutted,” she added. “They were pretty gutted after the last match and they wanted to bounce back. They were unable to do it, so the responsibility and the buck lies with me and I’m happy to cop that.”Moving forward, do I feel the pressure? I don’t feel any more pressure than what the players feel and I’m no more disappointed than the players. We came into this World Cup wanting to play better than we have and we haven’t, and it’s been frustrating.”After an arduous winter campaign, which featured the disappointment of England’s Ashes defeat in Australia, the weariness of England’s fielding performance will raise inevitable questions about the fitness levels of the squad, with the veteran new-ball pairing of Anya Shrubsole and Katherine Brunt likely to come under particular scrutiny.Keightley, however, hinted that England would once again be relying on their experience of their proven matchwinners in the India game, rather than rotate them out, despite the likes of Freya Davies and Tash Farrant waiting in the wings as new-ball options.”We will have to have a look, see how they pull up, and make those decisions,” Keightley said. “They’ve done a great job for England over a number of years and they’re working really hard to do their job for the team. I think we’re on a new [pitch for the India match]. So it probably makes sense to play some senior bowlers.”Related

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One bowler who did once again emerge with credit was the spinner Sophie Ecclestone, whose ten overs went for just 23 runs, including the key wicket of Mignon du Preez for 8.”Sophie has been amazing,” Keightley said. “She bowled well again today, and in the last games she has been fantastic. If we’d taken our chances in the Powerplay, we would have put pressure through the middle with Charlie [Dean] coming infor her first World Cup game. We tried really hard and created chances, we’re just not taking them.”We haven’t really put our finger on it really, we have fielded pretty well throughout the Ashes and took a lot more chances than we have today,” Keightley added. “The last two days, we’ve trained really well and the girls have been up and about and putting a lot of effort in.”We just haven’t got the rewards in the games that matter, so it is something that we’ll have to think about when we review after this World Cup.”Despite England’s bleak standing on the World Cup table – only Pakistan, with four defeats out of four, sit below them – Keightley is adamant that the round-robin format can still get them back into the qualification mix.”We’re trying hard to get those wins and once I think we win a close one, we’ll get a bit of momentum and finish strong,” she said. “We’ve just got to dust ourselves off, come back out in two days’ time and play the way we want to play.”

Enzo Maresca has had a brilliant start to life at Chelsea, guiding them to third in the Premier League after 12 games played, and first in the UEFA Conference League after three games played.

The Blues have averaged 55.4% possession so far this season in the top-flight which happens to be the fourth-best record. Furthermore, they have taken 14.2 shots per game (8th highest in the division), scoring 23 goals in 12 games. Meanwhile, defensively, Maresca’s side have only conceded 12.1 shots per match which is the sixth lowest in the league.

In contrast, Chelsea averaged 59% of the ball last season (5th highest), took 14.4 shots per game (8th most), scoring 77 goals in 38 games. However, this came at a defensive cost, conceding 14.6 shots per match (7th highest), and conceding 63 goals in 38 games.

Chelsea have already won both of the other European trophies, winning the Champions League and Europa League, but winning the newly established Conference League would complete the trio for the Blues, and they look right on track for that this season.

Chelsea's Conference League run so far

In their opening game of the competition, Maresca’s side took on Gent at Stamford Bridge, winning the game 4-2, with goals from Renato Veiga, Pedro Neto, Christopher Nkunku and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.

Next up was Panathinaikos, playing away in Greece, and returning with a 4-1 victory. Goalscorers on this occasion were João Félix (x2), Mykhailo Mudryk and Nkunku.

In their last Conference League game, Chelsea beat Noah 8-0, putting on a real show at Stamford Bridge with goals from Tosin Adarabioyo, Marc Guiu, Axel Disasi, Felix (x2), Mudryk and Nkunku (x2).

On Thursday, Chelsea will face Heidenheim, who currently sit sixth in the Conference League, also winning their opening three games, as this shapes up to be the Blues’ toughest task in this competition to date.

Maresca’s side will travel to Germany for this game, before returning and preparing for their clash against Aston Villa on Sunday, just three days apart.

The manager may well look to make plenty of changes, as he has done throughout this competition, especially with one eye on the Aston Villa game this weekend, and one player, in particular, could be rested after his excellent performance last weekend.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast's Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Enzo Fernández's season in numbers

Argentine midfielder Enzo Fernández has been in brilliant form in recent weeks after finding himself on the bench for multiple games in the place of Roméo Lavia.

The 23-year-old scored and assisted goals against Leicester in their 2-1 victory last weekend, and this recent upturn in form could mean Maresca looks to rest the Argentinian, keeping him fresh for this weekend’s Premier League clash.

Of their core midfield trio, Fernandez is the most creative, looking to dictate play from deep with his expansive passing range, bringing others into the game, and looking to arrive in the box to get the odd shot away, something he did well for his goal against Leicester, arriving just on time to nod it home.

Goals + Assists

0.69

0.26

0.26

Progressive Carries

1.10

0.85

0.51

Progressive Passes

5.27

5.04

2.82

Shots Total

1.09

0.60

0.00

Key Passes

2.09

0.77

1.28

Passes into Final Third

5.05

5.81

4.87

Shot-Creating Actions

3.85

2.56

1.54

Tackles

3.19

3.50

2.82

Blocks

1.32

1.37

1.03

Interceptions

0.50

1.62

1.79

Caicedo and Lavia, on the other hand, are the more defensive midfield archetypes, winning more tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90, often covering more ground, and adding more physicality in midfield out of possession, something Maresca eluded to himself recently.

The aforementioned Lavia is unavailable for this Conference League game, as he was not registered for the group stage of this competition due to injury issues last season, and the club wanted to protect him. This is a similar precaution the Blues have taken with Wesley Fofana, who also suffered from a big injury last season, and therefore they want to ensure his minutes are managed appropriately.

That leaves Caicedo as the only other first team holding midfielder, and given his importance for the Blues this season, the likelihood of Maresca deciding to rest the Ecuador international is fairly high, which could see some minutes for a certain academy graduate.

Chelsea's teenage solution

17-year-old Kiano Dyer has been described as a player who will be “world-class” in the future by some in the know, making ten appearances for Chelsea U21 this season, providing three assists in 849 minutes played.

The young midfielder is known for his quality passing range, mixed with his tenacity and ability to anticipate where the ball will land, allowing him to hoover things up in the middle, whilst also dictating the tempo.

Dyer has been playing as the number 6 for the academy, playing a role very similar to Caicedo, where he picks up the ball from the defensive line, looks to penetrate with balls forward into the final third, and is ready to counter-press if the ball is lost.

But the youngster’s passing range is seen as his biggest strength, much like Fernandez, which could make Dyer the perfect combination of the pair, especially to take the reins in this second unit and gain experience at such a young age.

Maresca could view this as the perfect time to test Dyer in the first team, resting Fernandez and Caicedo for the weekend, whilst keeping the qualities the Italian wants in his team in this area of the pitch, meaning the team doesn’t lose that sense of rhythm in build-up.

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Chelsea could sign an “unbelievable” striker to make Palmer even more unplayable

ByConnor Holden Nov 27, 2024

Roberto Martinez has explained why Cristiano Ronaldo is still being picked by Portugal at 40 years of age, with CR7’s greatest attribute highlighted.

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All-time great showing no sign of slowing downBoasts record-setting hauls of caps and goalsIntends to grace another World Cup next summerFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Having made his senior international debut in 2003, Ronaldo continues to be selected by his country some 22 years later. Unsurprisingly, a number of records have been broken over the course of a quite stunning career.

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Ronaldo has 217 caps to his name and 135 goals, making him the all-time leading scorer in men’s international football. There is the promise of more appearances and strikes to come, with CR7 showing no sign of slowing down.

DID YOU KNOW?

He remains a talismanic presence for Portugal and Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr, with it his intention to reach 1,000 career goals before giving any thought to retirement. With that target in mind, the plan is to grace the 2026 World Cup finals.

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GettyWHAT ROBERTO MARTINEZ SAID

Portugal boss Martinez has told the of why he continues to call upon the evergreen five-time Ballon d’Or winner: “When I talk about a player like Cristiano Ronaldo, I also evaluate him on the basis of these three key aspects. His talent is indisputable; he is one of the best in the history of football. His experience is also unique: the only player to play in six European Championships and to have more than 200 international matches.

“But what stands out the most is his commitment. His passion for representing Portugal is contagious and motivates the entire team. He is not in the team today for what he has been, but for what he continues to be: the top scorer with 17 goals in the 21 games we have played in two years.”

The autopsy in Thailand has confirmed death by natural causes

ESPNcricinfo staff and AAP07-Mar-2022Members of Shane Warne’s family spoke of their heartache for the first time on Monday following his death, as an autopsy confirmed he had died of natural causes after a heart attack.Together, they spoke of the ongoing pain and impossible void left to fill, with his daughter Summer telling of her wish for a tighter final hug and the hurt of their time together being robbed.His parents, Keith and Brigitte, spoke of their “never-ending nightmare” and “a tragedy we will never come to terms with”.Warne’s brother Jason recalled days of travelling to the MCG together to watch Test matches, amid a childhood of wrestling and a lifetime of golf and poker battles.”I remember catching the train into the MCG in 1982, sitting in the front row of the Great Southern Stand with our fingers crossed the great Allan Border and Jeff Thomson would get the runs needed to beat England,” he said in a statement.”Who would have thought he would have such a huge impact at the ground in the years to come and that very stand being renamed in his honour? Amazing life. Amazing guy.”In a moving statement, Summer said: “Our time was robbed. I want more holidays with you, more laughs where your smile lights up the whole room, more ‘goodnight I love you SJ, I’ll see you in the morning’, more talks about how our days were and just to feel safe when you would hug me and you would let me know how proud you are of me and how much you love me.Brooke Warne said: “Dad, this doesn’t feel real and doesn’t make sense that you are not here with us anymore. It doesn’t feel right, you were taken away too soon and life is so cruel. I will forever cherish our final memories together laughing and joking around with each other.”Warne’s son, Jackson, recalled playing poker, golf and watching football. “But I know all you ever wanted for me is to be happy, no matter what,” he said. “You just wanted me to be happy, that’s it. So that’s what I’m going to do, try to be happy.”Former wife Simone said Warne “brought a light so great to the world that even after [he has] gone the light remains”.Following the conclusion of the autopsy, the final plans will now be made to return Warne’s body to Australia which is expected to happen on Tuesday.The family have accepted the offer of a state funeral but will first have a private ceremony before the public are given their chance to pay their respects to Warne. The MCG remains the most likely location for a state memorial service in the coming weeks.Warne also has a statue outside the MCG to go with the newly named SK Warne Stand, with flowers, beers, cigarettes and even cans of baked beans placed at his feet this week.Warne’s parents thanked the Victorian government for its offer of a state funeral and for naming a grandstand after their son but said they would never get over his loss.”The night of the 4th of March 2022 is when a never-ending nightmare began for our family,” they said. “For that is the date we lost our much loved and admired son, father, brother and uncle, Shane Keith Warne, a tragedy we will never come to terms with.”To find words to adequately express our sadness is an impossible task for us and looking to a future without Shane is inconceivable. Hopefully the mountain of happy memories we all have will help us cope with our ongoing grief.”

An “absolutely brilliant” Everton player is unlikely to be offered a new deal at the club, according to an update from reliable journalist Patrick Boyland.

Latest Everton news

The future of Sean Dyche at Goodison Park continues to be a big talking point currently, with the Englishman still struggling to convince the masses. Some of the Blues’ football on show has left a lot to be desired, with back-to-back 0-0 draws away to West Ham and at home to Brentford in their last two matches proving to be dull affairs.

Sergio Conceicao has been earmarked as a potential replacement for Dyche, should Everton make the decision to relieve him of his duties soon. The 50-year-old was most recently in charge at Porto, departing earlier this year, and he won three Primeira Liga titles during his time there, among numerous other trophies.

A reunion with former Blues boss David Moyes has also been mooted, with the Scot without a club since leaving West Ham at the end of last season. His return could lead to a mixed reaction, but he did a superb job during his first spell.

There are doubts about how long certain players will remain with Everton, too, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin far from guaranteed to stay put at Goodison. The 27-year-old is in the final year of his contract, meaning a big decision will need to be made soon, in terms of whether the Merseysiders cash in on him in January, offer him an extension or lose him for free next summer.

"Absolutely brilliant" Everton player unlikely to get new deal

According to The Athletic‘s Boyland, relayed by Goodison News, Everton will likely choose not to offer Michael Keane a new deal at the club, with the £80,000-a-week ace’s current contract expiring at the end of the current campaign.

The 31-year-old is described as “one of the club’s highest earners”, but he is “unlikely to be offered a comparable deal”, with an offer not believed to be “forthcoming”.

Next summer does feel like the right time for Keane’s time as an Everton player to reach its conclusion, following seven years at the club since arriving from Burnley in the summer of 2017.

The centre-back has been a good servant for the Blues overall, with Jeff Stelling lauding his goal against Ipswich Town earlier in the season, saying: “It was a goal out of the top drawer. Any striker would have been proud of it – it was absolutely brilliant.”

At 31, Keane isn’t getting any younger, so the idea of handing him a contract extension when possibly past his best doesn’t make a huge amount of sense. The fact that he would likely again demand high wages is another reason not to retain his services, too.

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Sean Dyche’s days at the Toffees helm could be numbered.

ByAngus Sinclair Nov 28, 2024

Everton may need to be looking at younger central defensive options to replace the Englishman, looking towards the future, one who could potentially partner Jarrad Branthwaite moving forward.

Kylian Mbappe has revealed his true feelings on Nasser Al Khelaifi amid an ongoing dispute with Paris Saint-Germain over alleged unpaid wages.

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Mbappe reveals thoughts on PSG presidentLeft the French club last summerPSG allegedly owe Mbappe €55m in unpaid wagesFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Mbappe left Paris Saint-Germain last summer to join Real Madrid on a free transfer after spending seven years in the French capital. His departure, however, involved a lot of controversy as the World Cup winner alleged that the club still owed him €55 million (£46m/$57m) in unpaid wages. PSG, on the other hand, have always denied owing any money to Mbappe and the matter is set to be taken to court.

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Despite the bad blood with his former team, the Los Blancos star has claimed that he has no problem meeting PSG president Nasser Al Khelaifi in the future, and would even shake his hand if they ever come face to face. Mbappe was PSG's most important player at Parc des Princes, scoring 256 goals while helping the club to numerous domestic trophies.

AFPWHAT KYLIAN MBAPPE SAID

Speaking to , the 26-year-old said when quizzed on whether he would still be cordial with Al Khelaifi: "Of course! I played for PSG for seven years and had some fantastic times. I'm not the kind of person who only focuses on the negative. I know how to appreciate what people give me in life, both professionally and personally. Of course, I would shake his hand, and I can't imagine spitting in my hand before shaking his."

Mbappe added on the ongoing legal dispute with his former club: "It's in the hands of the lawyers. I think it will be resolved soon, so it's not something I'm worried about."

GettyWHAT NEXT FOR KYLIAN MBAPPE?

Mbappe is all set to return to the France national team after missing the last two international breaks. He is set to lead France out as captain against Croatia in a two-legged Nations League quarter-final this week.

Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou has personally asked the Lilywhites, and presumably technical director Johan Lange, to sign one player in January – with Spurs allegedly already in talks over a transfer next month.

Tottenham rescued by Dejan Kulusevski at Rangers in 1-1 Europa League draw

A less-than ideal run of form continues for the north Londoners, who have won just once in their last eight games across all competitions, and they were very nearly humbled by SPFL giants Rangers at Ibrox on Thursday evening.

Tottenham prepared to offload Bissouma so they can sign £17m club captain

The Mali international has been inconsistent this season.

1 ByEmilio Galantini Dec 13, 2024

The Gers fashioned many opportunities and could’ve easily got on the scoresheet on more than one occasion, with Philippe Clement’s side taking a deserved lead just after the second-half restart through the in-form Hamza Igamane.

Tottenham survived periods of sustained pressure from Rangers and managed to create a few chances of their own before star player Dejan Kulusevski rescued a point around 15 minutes from full-time, but it was far from convincing for Postecoglou, who also continues to deal with an injury crisis.

Southampton vs Tottenham

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January 4

Both Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero are absent right now after fresh injuries last weekend, dealing a major blow to Postecoglou who’s been forced to utilise a makeshift option in teenage summer signing Archie Gray at the back alongside Radu Dragusin – their only fit natural central defender.

Alongside van de Ven and Romero, the north Londoners will be without Ben Davies, Rodrigo Bentancur, Yves Bissouma, Guglielmo Vicario, Richarlison and Wilson Odobert to face Southampton on Sunday.

After Gray’s assuring performance in an unfamiliar position against Rangers, Postecoglou heaped praise on the English talent, and it appears that the Australian could be reliant on him over the next few weeks.

“Archie has been asked to do things as an 18-year-old in unfamiliar positions away in Europe and in the Premier League and the way he’s handled it is outstanding,” said Postecoglou on Gray.

“You think to yourself if he can get through this period and keep growing then what’s he going to be like in three or four years’ time. The next manager will love him.”

Postecoglou asks Tottenham to sign Getafe defender Omar Alderete

While Gray is proving his worth right now, Postecoglou won’t want to be too reliant on the former Leeds United sensation if Romero and van de Ven are out for an extended period.

This has led to reports that Tottenham have held talks over signing Omar Alderete from Getafe in the winter, with Spanish publication AS (via Sport Witness) sharing their own update on Spurs’ interest in the 27-year-old.

Indeed, they write that Postecoglou has requested that Tottenham sign Alderete, and the Paraguay international is available for just £13 million – the value of his release clause.

This could actually prove a bargain for Spurs in their search for emergency cover when factoring in that Getafe’s mainstay defender has made more clearances and blocks per 90 than any other player in the La Liga side’s squad (WhoScored).

He’s clearly a solid option which could be obtained at an affordable price from Tottenham’s perspective, and that is very rare for a January window, where prices are usually inflated.

Mumbai are coming off two losses in two games and will be keen to get off the mark against in-form KKR

Shashank Kishore05-Apr-20222:01

Does Cummins walk into the KKR XI straightaway?

Big pictureOver time, Mumbai Indians have made it a habit. Starting slowly, before revving up as mid-season approaches and then pouncing on teams at the back end. They have started poorly this time as well, but the margin for error could be smaller in a 10-team pool. Therefore, they need to get up and running quickly. There’s just one problem. They’re going up against IPL 2021’s runners-up Kolkata Knight Riders, whose firebrand approach to batting, has lent a dazzling touch to the season so far.Live in the USA

You can watch the match live on ESPN+ in English and in Hindi.

In both their losses so far, Mumbai have failed to capitalise on their batters putting them in strong positions. Against Delhi Capitals, both Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan struck half-centuries in a robust opening stand to set up the game, but the middle order came a cropper. Against Rajasthan Royals, they couldn’t close the game out despite going into the final six overs needing 65 runs with seven wickets in hand.Mumbai also have concerns over one bowling spot, currently occupied by Basil Thampi. In the opening game, Lalit Yadav and Axar Patel took him to the cleaners. In the second, he was carted for 26 in his only over. It might be time for a change. There’s plenty of experience in the form of Jaydev Unadkat, but the only hitch is he’s nearly like-for-like to Tymal Mills, in terms of his slower variations and left-arm variety.0:51

Tim David: Rohit Sharma has been ‘a fun captain’

Knight Riders have unlocked magic from Umesh Yadav. Throw Pat Cummins into the mix and their pace attack looks mean. Their spinners are always bound to ask interesting questions, provided there isn’t too much dew around.So far with the bat, the Knight Riders have expressed their desire to play an aggressive brand of T20 cricket. It can look spectacular, like when Andre Russell went after Punjab Kings in a small chase, or fall flat, like when they got bundled out by Royal Challengers Bangalore. Going forward, they will expect a lot more from the likes of Venkatesh Iyer and Ajinkya Rahane.In the newsCummins has completed his mandatory three-day quarantine upon arrival and even trained with the team on match eve, which means he is all set to take Sam Billings’ place in the Knight Riders XI. This means the wicketkeeper’s slot will be taken up once again by Sheldon Jackson, whose glovework has been impressive. Sunil Narine, Russell, and Tim Southee are likely to take up the other overseas slots.Mumbai have their entire complement of players to choose from. It remains to be seen if they will finally unleash Suryakumar Yadav, who has only just recovered from a wrist injury. If he is able to handle to workload of batting in the IPL, Mumbai will likely pick him in place of Anmolpreet Singh.1:18

McCullum: ‘We utilise Russell in the role which we see as his strongest suit’

Likely XIs Mumbai Indians: 1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 Ishan Kishan (wk), 3 Suryakumar Yadav/Anmolpreet Singh, 4 Tilak Varma, 5 Kieron Pollard, 6 Tim David, 7 Daniel Sams, 8 M Ashwin, 9 Tymal Mills, 10 Jaydev Unadkat/Basil Thampi, 11 Jasprit Bumrah Kolkata Knight Riders: 1 Venkatesh Iyer, 2 Ajinkya Rahane, 3 Shreyas Iyer (capt), 4 Nitish Rana, 5 Sheldon Jackson, 6 Andre Russell, 7 Sunil Narine, 8 Tim Southee, 9 Pat Cummins, 10 Umesh Yadav, 11 Varun ChakravarthyStrategy PuntCummins vs Kishan: three innings, five balls, three wickets. Rohit vs Narine: 18 innings, seven dismissals, average 19.6. How can anyone ignore stats like that? The Knight Riders just have to open with Cummins and Narine to try and take on Mumbai’s in-form batters. More so because Rohit, who has started this IPL differently – striking at 147 off his first 10 balls, will immediately be face-to-face with the bowler who has dismissed him the most times in the IPL.Stats and trivia Since IPL 2018, teams winning the toss have opted to bowl every single time at MCA Stadium in Pune. But there’s no significant difference in terms of results as teams batting first and second have won four games each. In 16 IPL games here, pacers have picked up 3.8 wickets per innings as compared to spinners, who have managed just 1.6. Spinners have been fractionally more economical, though, conceding at 8.3 an over to the 8.6 by pacers.This has been a lopsided IPL rivalry so far. Mumbai’s win percentage of 75.8% is the highest win percentage for a team against an opponent in all IPL.

Manchester United have announced Millie Turner has signed a new contract – and her dog, Pongo, has put paw to paper on a 'lifetime' deal.

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Turner signs Man Utd extensionDog Pongo with her at signingPooch pens 'lifetime contract'Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Turner, who was part of United's first women's team in this iteration when they formed in 2018, has decided to extend her time at the club, penning a new deal running until 2028. She was accompanied at the signing by her dog, Pongo.

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Pongo is a regular on Turner's social media channels, and has previously been seen joining up with the Lionesses at their St George's Park training base.

WHAT TURNER SAID

"I'm buzzing!" Turner told United's club channels of her extension. "I'm so happy, I feel like this is where I belong, it's home for me. Being here for so long, it does feel like home. We've created such an amazing family here, that's why it's so special."

Regarding bringing Pongo to the signing, she added: "Who better than bringing Pongo? He's the best little dog ever. Hopefully everyone can see those photos and he's the new assistant manager!"

For Titans, it will be about how they gather themselves back after a batting failure

S Sudarshanan05-May-20222:21

Should Mumbai persist with the same playing XI? Is Hardik Pandya’s form with the bat a worry?

Big pictureIt’s a game between two streak-broken sides.Gujarat Titans had won five games on the trot to have eight wins out of nine before they lost to Punjab Kings. Mumbai Indians began with eight straight defeats before finally turning a page with a win over Rajasthan Royals.While much of the spotlight has been on Mumbai’s batting failures, here’s the thing: in six of their games, Mumbai have had at least one over where they conceded 20 or more runs – the joint-most such games along with Chennai Super Kings and Royals. They have had eight such overs in the season so far, the joint-most with Royals.Watch live in the USA

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And that’s indeed something that hasn’t missed head coach Mahela Jayawardene’s keen eyes. “If you take four-five games, we have bowled well for 18 overs and we’ve had two big overs,” he said on Thursday. “We are one of those teams that has given 20-plus [runs] overs pretty much in every game and that has cost us at least four to five games. We need to make sure that you don’t go for big 20-plus overs, even though we may get hit.”The opponents have been smart to see off Jasprit Bumrah and target the other bowlers. This is evident from Bumrah’s economy rate of 6.87 since the first match (where he went for 43 in 3.2 overs) in return for just five wickets.For Titans, it will be about how they gather themselves back after a batting failure. Shubman Gill and Hardik Pandya have both failed together in the last few games, which has hampered the side. Having started the tournament on a stellar note, Pandya would want to put in a match-winning performance against his former team.In the newsB Sai Sudharsan had landed awkwardly on his ankle while fielding in Titans’ last game and walked off the field. If he misses out, either Abhinav Manohar or Vijay Shankar could take his spot in the XI.Likely XIsGujarat Titans: 1 Shubman Gill, 2 Wriddhiman Saha (wk), 3 B Sai Sudharsan, 4 Hardik Pandya (capt), 5 David Miller, 6 Rahul Tewatia, 7 Rashid Khan, 8 Alzarri Joseph, 9 Lockie Ferguson, 10 Mohammed Shami, 11 Pradeep Sangwan/Yash DayalMumbai Indians: 1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 Ishan Kishan (wk), 3 Suryakumar Yadav, 4 Tilak Varma, 5 Kieron Pollard, 6 Tim David 7 Daniel Sams, 8 Hrithik Shokeen, 9 Jasprit Bumrah, 10 Kumar Kartikeya, 11 Riley MeredithTeams have tried to play out Jasprit Bumrah•BCCIStrategy punt Rashid has dismissed Rohit Sharma twice in five innings. On the other hand, Rohit has a favourable match-up against Lockie Ferguson – a strike rate of 230 across all T20s without being dismissed. Titans could throw Rashid early in the mix to extend Rohit’s misery with the bat. On the contrary, Rashid doesn’t have great numbers against Tim David. David has hit him for 36 runs off 19 balls without getting out. While Suryakumar Yadav has scored only 32 runs off 28 balls against Rashid, the legspinner is yet to dismiss him as well. Together David and Suryakumar could neutralise the Rashid threat. Three of Bumrah’s five wickets this season have been left-handers. Three of the Titans top six are left-handers and it could well be a chance for Bumrah to add a few to his tally. He has dismissed Rahul Tewatia once in two meetings but is yet to dislodge David Miller in seven innings.Stats that matter Mumbai have bowled 40.3 overs of spin in this season so far, the second-fewest after Sunrisers Hyderabad. Bumrah has gone wicketless in six out of the nine games so far. He did worse only in 2014 when he was wicketless for seven games out of the first nine. Titans’ average opening partnership has been 22 runs. Only Kolkata Knight Riders (14.40) have done worse this season. Mohammed Shami had just one wicket in four games against Mumbai Indians till IPL 2018. Since 2019, he has 11 in six meetings against them.