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The thrilling sight of Jofra Archer bowling and a tantalising finish: not much more a fan could ask for at Lord’s

Fram Hansotia21-Aug-2019Choice of game
England went into day five of a pulsating Lord’s Ashes Test, leading by 104 runs with six wickets in hand, and all results still possible.Crowd favourite
Although Ben Stokes played an invaluable role in this game, carving his name into the Lord’s honours board for a third time, Jofra Archer was the player who thrilled us all. He showed no signs of nervousness that tends to be expected from Test debutants. Not since Kevin Pietersen 14 years ago has an England Test debutant seemed so comfortable and self-assured on the biggest stage.There is something primal and inexplicably thrilling about watching an express pace bowler amble up to the crease and then release the ball at 90-plus mph. A large part of Archer’s mystique comes from his deceptively short run-up, which seems more suited to that of a military-medium pacer. Despite being the youngest member of this England line-up, Archer was the man Joe Root turned to when England needed a breakthrough. In contrast with England’s other bowlers, the majority of Archer’s deliveries were accompanied by animated exclamations or groans of disbelief as balls whistled past the edge of the bat. The crowd seemed aware they were watching an exciting young pacer in action.Key performer
Archer thrilled with the ball and Marnus Labuschagne resisted ably with the bat, but Ben Stokes’ century proved to be the significant difference between the two sides. Beginning the day cautiously and running hard between the wickets, he ensured that minimal risks were taken yet the total was kept ticking along. Post lunch, once the lead had extended to near-200 but the game was threatening to meander to a stale draw, Stokes rode his luck and cut loose, smacking Nathan Lyon for consecutive sixes before smoking Peter Siddle through the covers. The sudden acceleration swung the momentum England’s way, and created a tantalising sense of belief in the crowd, which Archer’s opening spell only served to heighten.Face-off I enjoyed
Archer seemed determined to take on Australia single-handedly. He struck Labuschagne, and there was a brief period where Cummins (who had bounced Archer earlier in the Test) had six fielders in catching positions behind him, and three crouched around the bat beside him. Proper Test cricket.Wow moment
Joe Denly catching Tim Paine at full stretch, parallel to the ground, while the ball had almost passed him. The crowd erupted with pure, unadulterated elation. It released an afternoon’s frustration, and sparked a frantic and nerve-wracking final seven overs.AFPShot of the day
Stokes displayed his array of expansive stroke-play as he approached his century, blasting Lyon and Siddle around Lord’s. However, the shot that left a lasting impact on the memory was a checked on-drive off Hazlewood, while he was still in the 30s. It sent both non-striker and umpire scurrying to evade it, and was an indicator of the form he is in.One thing I would have changed
Widespread boos met the announcement at the start of the day that Cricket Australia had substituted Steven Smith for the remainder of the match. While completely understandable, one suspects Australia may have had more of a go at chasing down their fourth-innings target if Smith was anchoring the batting line-up. Having said that, as like-for-like substitutes go, Labuschagne certainly exceeded expectations, with a gutsy, stroke-filled half-century that crushed the English crowd’s hopes of an Australian collapse.Crowd meter
The atmosphere was easily the most animated that I have experienced at Lord’s, yet the high-quality cricket by either side was appreciated with admirable sportsmanship.Overall
Although the momentum oscillated between both teams during this Test, Archer dampened Smith’s aura of invincibility on Saturday, and may have single-handedly altered the outcome of this Ashes. What had seemed to be inevitably becoming a record-breaking series for Smith, has morphed into another potentially thrilling Ashes series.England dominated day five, and any chances of an Australian victory were extinguished by Jos Buttler and Stokes’ partnership. If not for two turning points today, one controllable (Jason Roy dropping a regulation catch at slip, which would have opened up an end and left England with six wickets to get off 20 overs), and the other uncontrollable (losing a crucial ten overs to rain this morning), England might have been celebrating another famous Ashes victory.Want to do a Fan Following report? Read our FAQs here.

Sachin Tendulkar is the only overseas batsman to score more centuries than Cheteshwar Pujara in Sri Lanka

Bharath Seervi03-Aug-20172 – Number of Indians to have brought up 4000 Test runs in fewer innings than Cheteshwar Pujara’s 84. Virender Sehwag had got there in 79 innings and Sunil Gavaskar in 81 while Rahul Dravid got there in his 84th innings. Pujara is one of four Indians to score over 4000 runs in their first 50 Tests.3 – Centuries for Pujara in three Tests in Sri Lanka. He had scored 145* at SSC in 2015 and 153 in Galle in the first Test of this series before making another century on Thursday. Sachin Tendulkar is the only overseas batsman to score more centuries in Sri Lanka. Outside India and Sri Lanka, Pujara has just one century in 29 innings.52 – Balls taken by Pujara to move from 50 to 100. He had taken 112 balls to reach his half-century. At one point in the innings, he had faced 94 balls for 28 runs, amounting to a strike rate of 30.85. He finished the day with a strike rate of 56.88.743 -Combined runs made my India on the opening days in Galle (399 for 3) and SSC (344 for 3), in this series. scored by India on the first days of the Tests of this series: 399 for 3 in Galle and 344 for 3 in this Test at SSC. These include four centuries.5.66 – India’s run rate in the last 15 overs of the second session, in which they struck 85 runs. Overall, the second session produced 137 runs off 30 overs at 4.56. They scored 101 for 1 in first session at run rate of 3.60 and 106 for 0 at 3.31 in the final session.6 – Number of consecutive fifty-plus scores for KL Rahul. He became only the third Indian to record this. Gundappa Viswanath, between 1977 and 1978, and Rahul Dravid, between 1997 and 1998, are the other two to have recorded this streak. Rahul hasn’t converted any of these fifties into hundreds.ESPNcricinfo Ltd6 – Number of double-century partnerships for India in Sri Lanka. But this is the first time two such stands have been recorded by India on the same tour. Shikhar Dhawan and Pujara added 253 runs for the second wicket in Galle. Here, Rahane and Pujara’s stand is unbroken at 211 after the first day.138 – Rangana Herath’s bowling average in this series, easily his worst in a series where he’s played more than one Test. He’s bowled 72 overs for 276 runs and has just two wickets to show so far.34.25 – Virat Kohli’s average against left-arm spinners in Tests this year. He has got out four times to left-arm spin in 10 innings this year, the most against any type of bowling. Before this year, he was out only twice to left-arm spinners and averaged 170.50. He’s been out to Taijul Islam, Shakib Al Hasan, Steve O’Keefe and Herath this year.

The Mirpur pitch, topped with a layer of grass, has tested batsmen but India have displayed impressive temperament and skill to build for the World T20

Alagappan Muthu in Mirpur02-Mar-2016Stupid Asia Cup. Stupid green pitches. Stupid low-scoring matches. Didn’t you get the memo? The World T20 is coming, and its in the subcontinent. Your job was to prime the batsmen to rack up or run down big totals and smother the bowlers with the toughest of love. So what’s the big idea?Only three out of 14 totals in the tournament have tiptoed over the 140-mark. A chase of 84 ended up not being one-sided. That’s not normal, is it? Only, why did Virat Kohli say that batsmen to play games like those? To weather spells like Mohammad Amir’s where the ball was hooping around and zipping about like it was remote-controlled? To endure a nerve-wracking examination of one’s technique and temperament first before coming out the victor? Must’ve been a misunderstanding.After all, Kohli’s idea of a good contest also meant a limited-overs legend like Yuvraj Singh ended up like a sitting duck at a carnival shooting gallery. It’s one thing that seven-foot tall Mohammad Irfan made the ball trampoline past Yuvraj’s nose at 145 kph, but Thisara Perera, another comeback man, who would sooner bowl 145 kph than run at 145 kph, was making things difficult for Yuvraj on Tuesday.He made only 14 not out off 32 against Pakistan and 35 off 18 against Sri Lanka. He set up two victories, but how much more fun would it have been to see him on a featherbed treating fast bowlers like slow bowlers and slow bowlers like net bowlers?Instead, the Asia Cup offered conditions that were prickly for the batsmen. As if Yuvraj didn’t have enough working against him.”When you return to international cricket, there is a lot of pressure from yourself. There are people’s expectations as well,” MS Dhoni said “So the first few matches go out in just figuring out what to do. Whether you want to go out and play the big shot. The minus being that, if you don’t do well in the first couple of innings, then there is more pressure on yourself.”Now consider the sordid past Yuvraj has with Mirpur. It was here, against Sri Lanka, under the overwhelming glare of a World T20 final, that he withered away.”I felt that his approach has always been very good,” Dhoni has said for three straight matches. “He gives himself two or three balls before playing the big shot. And you saw today, he’s someone who can hit sixes at will. So if the same thing continues gradually, he will be in a very good position before the World Cup.”Why did India’s captain – a limited-overs legend himself – offer such glowing testimony to a man who has only 64 runs in three matches at a strike-rate of 96?Because the conditions were so difficult. Because Yuvraj has withstood them for 125 minutes. Because he is nowhere near his best, and yet only Kohli and Sabbir Rahman have bested him at spending time at the crease.The Asia Cup has offered bowlers a chance, and as a result the cricket has been intriguing. There has been a thrust and there has been a parry. Even an Associate nation like UAE has been able to cause a few scares. So much that none of the results so far have been foregone conclusions and all of the matches have demanded the batsmen to be clever.Take India’s innings today, for example. They were 16 for 2 by the fourth over with the ball nipping just about enough to make Sri Lanka believe 138 could be defended. Virat Kohli was at the crease, Suresh Raina joined him and they stuck together for 47 balls. Only 14 of them were dots. There wasn’t any release in pressure but dew had set in and the seam movement had diminished.Kohli and Raina had faced enough deliveries to ascertain the line of attack practiced by Nuwan Kulasekara and company – off stump and just outside – and the field was appropriately set. Point, cover, mid-off and the sweeper. Which meant there were gaps on the leg side; gaps that could be capitalised now that the ball wasn’t jagging about anymore.Out came the flicks. Gentle ones, played late and with a roll of the wrist to keep them down. Kohli diminished his chances of getting out even further by batting outside the crease. This meant he could reach the ball before it had the chance to deviate laterally and even force Sri Lanka to hit a shorter length lest they gave away half-volleys.Such finesse becomes surplus on flat pitches, as was amply clear during India’s tour to Australia in January. Perth was a puppy dog. The Gabba left onlookers gobsmacked. The fastest pitches in the world had been put to sleep. No total seemed safe and the cricket almost numbed the senses. Matches like those can help youngsters like Hardik Pandya get used to the pressure of chasing mammoth targets or Jasprit Bumrah get used to the pressures keeping big-hitting batsmen quiet when nothing is in his favour. But luck may play as prominent a part as skill in such circumstances. In the Asia Cup, with these sporting tracks, skill has been the deciding factor.Even if the conditions have not exactly mirrored those likely for the World T20, there is plenty that all the teams can take away from Bangladesh.”It [this experience] will help us assess the conditions [better],” Dhoni said “You won’t go in with the mindset that ‘generally this what happens here and we will bat like this’. It will push the openers especially to play a few deliveries. Especially, if you are batting first. If you’re batting second you get some sort of an idea as to what is happening. But if you’re batting first, they will give time to the bowler. Then after the second or the third over, depending how much it’s deviating off the wicket or if there is some swing, then they will play their shots. I think that’s very important.”Even on the flattest of wickets, it is the first couple of overs that are really important. We will be able to give that respect to the opposition and the condition, which I think is crucial. Because one or two overs for this side won’t make a lot of difference. Even if we don’t get too many runs in the first two overs, we still have the firepower to get those runs in the next 18 overs. That has been our strength.”What is important is to keep it in the back of your mind as to ‘this is what were thinking like when we were in Bangladesh when it was doing a bit but now’s it’s not so what’s a good score?’ All these things, being a cricketer is a part of your subconsciousness. I feel it will only help us.”This Asia Cup has provided some fantastic cricket, compelling stories, a refreshing balance between bat and ball. If the price for that is a little grass on the pitch, then so be it.

Stats highlights from yet another day of a commanding batting performance from Pakistan in Abu Dhabi

Shiva Jayaraman09-Nov-2014178 Runs Pakistan’s openers added before Mohammad Hafeez was out for 96. This is Pakistan’s highest for the first wicket against New Zealand, beating the 172-run stand between Rameez Raja and Shoaib Mohammad in Karachi in 1990.13 Number of 150-plus partnerships by Pakistan’s openers. Hafeez and Ahmed Shehzad’s latest entry was Pakistan’s fourth-highest for the first wicket in Tests. Pakistan have had three double-century opening partnerships, with the highest being the 298-run stand between Aamer Sohail and Ijaz Ahmed against West Indies in Karachi in 1997. This was also Pakistan’s highest opening stand in over 14 years. Imran Nazri and Mohammad Wasim had added 219 runs against West Indies in Bridgetown in 2000.10 Century partnerships by Pakistan’s top-two in the first innings of a Test. Hafeez and Shehzad’s was the second-highest opening partnership for Pakistan in the first innings of a Test, after the 249-run stand between debutants Abdul Kadir and Khalid Ibadulla in Karachi over 50 years ago. The last century stand at the top for Pakistan was in 2005, when Salman Butt and Yasir Hameed added 102 runs against Australia at the SCG.3 Centuries for Shehzad in eight Tests. Before Shehzad, no Pakistan batsman had managed to hit three tons by his eighth match as an opener. Shehzad has scored 575 runs in 13 innings this year at an average of 47.91. Among openers, only David Warner has more centuries than him.2 Instances since 2000 that a Pakistan opener has batted through the first day of a Test. Before Shehzad today, it was his opening partner, Hafeez, who had been unbeaten on 172 against Sri Lanka in Colombo in 2012. Mudassar Nazar has achieved this the most often for Pakistan – five (excluding rain-curtailed days) times.96 Runs Hafeez scored before getting dismissed – his first fifty in his last 14 innings as an opener. He had scored only 150 runs in 13 innings at an average of 11.53 since his last fifty at the top of the order. Overall too, Hafeez was having a bad run coming into this Test, averaging just 16.43 since 2013 with one fifty from 17 innings.101 Dots bowled by Ish Sodhi in 23 overs (138 balls) he bowled in Abu Dhabi. He finished the day with a respectable economy of 2.95. Sodhi and Mark Craig bowled 40 overs of spin in the day giving away 127 runs at an economy of 3.17. In contrast, Australia’s spinners had conceded 146 runs for one wicket in 36 overs on the first day of their Test against Pakistan at the same venue last month.248 Balls Corey Anderson went wicketless between dismissing Hafeez and Marlon Samuels, his last Test victim at Seddon Park in December 2013. Anderson’s 12 Test wickets have come at 30.58 runs apiece and at a strike rate of 63.5.8 Number of times Pakistan’s openers have scored 90 or more in an innings. Before today, the last instance came at the Oval in 2006. On that occasion though, neither man could get their centuries with Hafeez, again, getting dismissed on 95 and Imran Farhat on 91.14 Hundreds by Pakistan’s top-order in 2014 with Shehzad’s unbeaten 126. This is the second-highest ton tally by their top-order in any calendar year after the 19 centuries scored in 2006.4 Times since 2000 that Pakistan have got to 250 runs before the fall of their second wicket. Before today, the last time was against Sri Lanka in Colombo in 2012 when their second wicket fell at 365. Overall there have been 17 such instances for Pakistan.

Plays from the IPL game between Chennai Super Kings and Pune Warriors in Chennai

Sidharth Monga15-Apr-2013The shot
It is a reverse lap. It is a reverse flick. It is a reverse leg glance, or an off glance if you will. It is Steven Smith up to mischief. It is a huge six. In the last over of Pune Warriors’ innings, Smith switched the stance early, but not the grip. Dwayne Bravo bowled one that would have hit the top of off had Smith not sent it sailing over short third man and some 20 rows behind the boundary. The most incredible part of the shot: it wasn’t a switch hit.The crossing that wasn’t
In the 18th over of the match, Mitchell Marsh cut Bravo in the air and straight to third man, and was so consumed by his disappointment he didn’t bother to even look up. Smith, though, was alert and wanted the strike, but to his chagrin he was the only one making that effort. By the time the catch was taken, Smith had reached within diving distance of the stumps at the strikers’ end, but Marsh hadn’t moved, and the new batsman faced the next delivery.Smith would encounter similar disappointment in the last over when Manish Pandey would refuse to try a single and get bowled when slogging, leaving the new batsman to face a dot ball: no run off the last two balls.The introduction
You know a Twitter joke has overstayed its welcome when it has reached Ravi Shastri, admittedly not an admirer of the micro-blogging site. At the toss, after introducing the captains, he went on to the match referee, “… and not Sir Ravindra, but Rajendra Jadeja.” SMH.The drop
You are a batsman who has not been sent out to bat even though seven others have had a hit. You are unlikely to get a bowl. It’s not quite an evening you are enjoying, and in the second over of your fielding effort you have a sitter coming your way at mid-on and you spill it. M Vijay, the beneficiary of your benevolence, goes on to add 23 more. You are T Suman, and where is the hole you can hide yourself in?

The last time 230 was chased at the Premadasa was six-and-a-half years ago. It was fitting then that on the big day the home side lost the toss, and put in a supreme performance to comfortably chase and win

Sidharth Monga at the Premadasa26-Mar-2011Today the R Premadasa Stadium became only the fourth ground to have hosted 100 ODIs. Yet it is a much-maligned venue, and not without reason either. It was actually a surprise that they kept playing ODIs under lights here, with the side batting first at an obvious and a significant advantage, what with the evening moisture and the ordinary floodlights deciding most of the games between evenly matched sides at the toss. The last time 230 was chased here was six-and-a-half years ago, a statistic that speaks for itself.However, for the year and a half running into the World Cup, they stopped playing here. As they renovated the stands, they also tried to figure out what they could do to address that imbalance. They realised that because the ground is in a low-lying area, the moisture comes up in the evenings and assists seam movement. So they raised the square by three-and-a-half feet, and also installed new, improved floodlights. Hosting a World Cup is a matter of prestige, and nobody would have wanted two unfair knockout matches in Sri Lanka.It was natural that the statistics were thrown around in the lead-up to the match. “Toss crucial,” ran the headlines around the world. Meanwhile Sri Lankan players told anybody who would listen that things had changed, a glimpse of which was shown in how they had looked comfortable chasing 278 against Pakistan before losing their way. It was fitting then that on the big day the home side lost the toss, and put in a supreme performance to not only chase and win, but chase and win comfortably at that.Of course they didn’t win because batting second was easy. Batting was still a bit difficult; 230 was still a good target on a low and slow pitch, in a high-pressure World Cup knockout game. And they didn’t win because they just batted well; their bowling was superb for the conditions, never mind the three dropped catches. More importantly, for all of England’s tenacity – and they were tenacious even today for 70 overs – Sri Lanka had enough class to fall back upon and pull the opposition back. Don’t forget that Muttiah Muralitharan was one of the most expensive bowlers on either side, and yet – except during the partnership between Jonathan Trott and Eoin Morgan – Sri Lanka never really looked in trouble.Shrewdly they opened the bowling with Tillakaratne Dilshan, knowing England would be circumspect with their third different opening combination of the tournament. Dilshan, a smart cricketer, gave the openers little pace to work with, and by the time he was taken off, England had the uninviting prospect of facing 30 overs of specialist spin out of the 42 remaining. England played Muralitharan well, getting to the pitch of the balls and dabbing, paddling, reverse-paddling him for ones and twos. Then came a period when the game seemed to be running out of Sri Lanka’s butter fingers. Three catches went down, a chance to challenge a not-out lbw call was missed, and England looked good to get even 260, which would have seriously challenged Sri Lanka, evening or no evening.England called for the batting Powerplay at 182 for 3 after 42 overs, with set batsmen in the middle who had added 87 in 15 overs. Kumar Sangakkara called for Lasith Malinga. Malinga needed one loosener before firing in three yorkers followed by a slower ball that accounted for Morgan. The fielders woke up again, with Dilshan and Chamara Silva not allowing twos in the outfield and Malinga and Ajantha Mendis not allowing boundaries. Andrew Strauss admitted later that they were not allowed to play well by “a very good side”.Putting Dilshan and Upul Tharanga together at the top of the order has been Sri Lanka’s biggest ODI investment over the last two years. Dilshan had been a middle-order batsman, and to persist with Tharanga, the team management has had to fight undue outside pressures to bring Sanath Jayasuriya back. Both were bold moves, and both have paid off: in 32 attempts the two have added 2023 at an average of 65.25, incidentally surpassing tonight the Jayasuriya-Tharanga combine to become the third-most prolific opening combination for Sri Lanka.It was evident why they work so well together. When Dilshan struggled for timing in the first half hour, it was Tharanga who took the initiative and cut Tim Bresnan and lofted Graeme Swann. There was a clear understanding that Dilshan could throw things away if the runs didn’t come fast enough, and that’s where Tharanga came in. Once Dilshan got in, he took charge of the scoring, and in synchronicity they moved towards their centuries.The freedom with which they batted proved two things. The Sri Lankan bowlers were much higher in quality, and the conditions weren’t as tough as it seemed when England batted. There was the aggressive intent that is necessary to score runs on these pitches, something neither England’s technique nor their loss of wickets allowed them to do.Not long into the Sri Lankan innings, the stands turned into a party. The steel bands blared in every stand, the people danced, exaggerated defensive shots from Dilshan ensured there were enough runs left for Tharanga to get to his century too. Amid all that, a ground was possibly sent on redemption path too.

Stats highlights from the first Test between India and South Africa in Chennai, which ended in a high-scoring draw

S Rajesh and HR Gopalakrishna30-Mar-2008
RP Singh shows how much he enjoyed bowling on the placid pitch at the MA Chidambaram Stadium © AFP
The last three Tests in Chennai have all been drawn, but the previous two – against Australia in 2004-05, and Sri Lanka in 2005-06 – were both severely affected by the weather. Over the last two years, the Indians have been the masters of the draw. Of the 26 Tests they have played during this period, 50% have ended in a stalemate. The percentage is easily the highest among all teams. Pakistan is next with 40%, while Australia are at the bottom of the list with just one draw – against India, as you’d expect – in 17 matches. Of the 13 draws involving India, four have been at home [out of seven matches], while nine have happened overseas [out of 19]. There was little joy for bowlers throughout the game, with only 25 wickets falling over five days. An average of 59.92 runs were scored per wicket, making it one of the most batsman-dominated Tests at this venue – only twice have more runs been scored per wicket in Chennai, but one of them, the Test between India and Pakistan in 1960-61, was hosted at the Corporation Stadium. Overall, 25 Tests in India have had an average of more than 50 runs per wicket, with this game slotting in at 13th place. Most of the batsmen who came out for a hit enjoyed themselves, but the ones who made the bulk of the runs were the openers. Apart from Virender Sehwag’s 319, Neil McKenzie made 94 and 155 not out, while Graeme Smith and Wasim Jaffer chipped in with half-centuries. In all the openers from both teams scored 749 runs, which is second in the all-time list of openers’ aggregate in a Test. The only occasion when they scored more also involved South Africa – against England at Edgbaston in 2003, the openers put together 811 runs in the match, with a double-century for Smith, and hundreds for Herschelle Gibbs and Michael Vaughan. (Click here for the complete list.) McKenzie’s total of 249 runs is the highest by a South African batsman in a Test against India. Hashim Amla, who made 240 runs in the match, is in second place. Both batsmen continued their excellent form: McKenzie has scored 475 runs in his last three innings, pushing his career average to 38.74, while Amla has scored three hundreds and two fifties in his last eight Tests. In a match in which most batsmen filled their boots, the most prolific players from both camps missed out. Jacques Kallis managed just 32 runs in two innings – he has now gone ten innings without a century – while Sachin Tedulkar lasted only five deliveries, making his first duck at home since February 17, 1999, when Shoaib Akhtar famously yorked him with a scorcher. The Indian seamers had a forgettable game, finishing with combined figures of 1 for 313. In home Tests where the Indian pace attack has finished with less than two wickets, this is the most expensive in terms of runs conceded. The only bowler who managed a five-for here was Harbhajan Singh, who finished with match figures of 8 for 265. He had to work hard for his success, though, conceding more than 100 runs in both innings of a Test for the first time in his career. His eight wickets were much better returns than what Anil Kumble managed [3 for 163]. The two spinners have played together in 49 Tests so far, and barring injury or illness, the Ahmedabad match will see the two of them play their 50th Test together.

21-year-old adds four wickets to brisk half-century as Worcestershire fall to derby defeat

ECB Reporters Network23-Jun-2023

Birmingham Bears secured a place in the Vitality Blast quarter-finals with a thumping 53-run victory over arch-rivals Worcestershire Rapids at Edgbaston.Put in, the Bears started strongly and never lost momentum as they totalled 228 for four thanks to half-centuries from Rob Yates and Dan Mousley and Glenn Maxwell’s 20-ball 44.Mousley then continued his brilliant Blast by adding 4 for 41 to his half-century as the Rapids totalled 175 for 9, Mitchell Santner top-scoring with 56 from No. 3.One more win from their last two games will secure Bears a home tie in the last eight while, though the defeat is a setback for Rapids, they remain in the thick of the qualification race.Related

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The Rapids chose to field but Bears openers Yates and Alex Davies put 50 on the board in 30 balls. England’s most recent debutant Josh Tongue suffered a tough first over with three successive wides, but hit back well in his second over, beating Yates with three successive balls without getting the edge.After a strong powerplay (66 without 0), the Bears lost Davies for 29, caught behind off Santner’s second ball but Yates galloped to his second Blast fifty in 24 hours before skying a return catch to Dillon Pennington.Maxwell’s departure, well-held by Pat Brown at long-off off Santner, brought together two of English cricket’s most vibrant young talents – Mousley and Chris Benjamin. They crashed 60 from 30 balls to leave the Rapids needing to score at 11.40 an over.Glenn Maxwell got into his groove•Getty Images

They received a perky start from Brett D’Oliveira and Jack Haynes before the former tried to swat Mousley’s first ball to leg and was bowled. Haynes then swung Danny Briggs over mid-wicket for six but drilled the next ball to Yates at extra cover.The Rapids had to go for broke and that pressure cost wickets. Briggs struck a big blow by luring former Bears team-mate, and fellow Ventnor product, Adam Hose to his doom, stumped by Davies. Kashif Ali smote Mousley far into the Hollies Stand but then dragged a swinging yorker from Hasan Ali on to his stumps in a superb over which cost three runs and sent the required rate into the stratosphere.Santner landed some clean blows in his fifth T20 half-century off 27 balls, but Mousley bowled Ben Cox and Usama Mir with successive balls to leave the Rapids needing 96 from five overs. When Mousley had Santner stumped to complete his four-for, the Bears were home, hosed and in the quarter-finals.

MatériaMais Notícias

Alex de Souza, ex-técnico do São Paulo Sub-20 e atualmente treinando o Avaí, tem interesse na contratação de um ex-comandado de Cotia: o volante Léo Silva. Segundo o LANCE! apurou, o jogador está fora dos planos de Rogério Ceni.

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O Avaí quer um empréstimo de um ano. O estafe do jogador estaria pressionando o negócio para o volante ganhar rodagem – uma vez que, como dito anteriormente, está fora dos planos da comissão técnica do Tricolor no elenco profissional. O atleta tem contrato com o São Paulo até dezembro de 2024.

ATUAÇÕES: Galoppo e Wellington Rato são novamente cruciais na vitória do São Paulo

Veja tabela do Campeonato Paulista e simule os próximos jogos

No último ano, Léo Silva chegou a ser relacionado por Rogério Ceni em alguns jogos. Inclusive, pela fase de grupos da Copa Sul-Americana, contra o Everton e o Ayacucho. Porém, só entrou em campo contra o Ayacucho, onde atuou por 45 minutos na vitória por 1 a 0. Também foi relacionado em uma partida do Campeonato Brasileiro, contra o Atlético-MG.

O treinador preferiu o volante Vinícius, também de Cotia. Este teve seu contrato prorrogado pelo Tricolor até o final do ano.

O LANCE! apurou que o estafe de outras ‘Crias de Cotia’ também querem o empréstimo para os jovens atletas ganharem rodagem. Entre os favoritos a serem emprestados, estão Juan e Rodriguinho – que são frequentemente relacionados por Rogério Ceni, mas não ganham tantos minutos na equipe.

Neste ano, outros dois jogadores revelados na base Tricolor assinaram com outros times. No caso, o zagueiro Walce e o goleiro Thiago Couto. Os dois foram emprestados para o Juventude, ambos com vínculo até o final da temporada.

Borussia Dortmund have set their sights on two Barcelona youngsters as they look to strengthen their squad for the coming campaign.

• Dortmund are pursuing Barcelona youngsters
• Both lack first-team prospects under Flick
• A decision expected post Barca’s Asia tour

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Dortmund are targeting two young Barcelona players, seeking reinforcements for both left-back and midfield positions, according to . BVB’s focus is on right-back Fort, 19, and 17-year-old midfielder Fernandez. Both players have been involved in Barcelona’s pre-season squad but face limited prospects of first-team opportunities under coach Flick.

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  WHAT IS THE BACKGROUND?

  Fort, a Spanish youth international, is being pursued by several clubs including Paris FC, AC Milan, Mallorca and Ajax. Barcelona’s preference is a loan or a permanent move with a buy-back clause, as Fort struggles to break into the team, with Jules Kounde and Eric García ahead of him. Fernandez, a product of La Masia, is under contract until 2027 and is seeking guarantees of playing time. Dortmund, known for developing young talents are one of several clubs to have made concrete proposals for the creative midfielder.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Fort made 17 league appearances last season, mainly from the bench, and has 30 senior matches for Barcelona. Fernandez featured in the pre-season, getting 15 minutes against FC Seoul, but first-team minutes have been scarce. Both players are established Spain U19 internationals.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Decisions on both Fort and Fernandez are expected after Barcelona’s pre-season tour of Asia concludes. Dortmund continue to monitor the situation, with any progress hinging on Barcelona's willingness to negotiate favourable terms, including possible loan agreements or retaining rights through buy-back clauses. BVB recently strengthened their squad with Daniel Svensson at left-back and Jobe Bellingham in midfield, but remain in the market for further youth signings.