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The chase became nervy but his 90-run partnership with Asalanka turned the tide in their favour

Madushka Balasuriya31-Aug-2025Where Zimbabwe had faltered on Friday, Sri Lanka followed through in consummate fashion. Set a target of 278 in the second and final ODI in Harare, the visitors tracked it down with five wickets and three deliveries to spare. And with it, they swept the series 2-0.Similar to the first ODI, this too went down to the wire, and like that game on Friday, the chasing side seemed in control right until the last. But here with wickets in hand, and a deep batting line-up, Sri Lanka held firm and saw the game through.That said, Sri Lanka perhaps made life more difficult for themselves than they needed to. They did not score a boundary in the final powerplay until the 48th over – two ended up coming off that one, to leave the equation at 12 needed off 12 – but it meant the game was heading for yet another final over finish.In the penultimate over, Charith Asalanka got a boundary after deep midwicket had misjudged a skier, but was caught a ball later, having scored a crucial 71 off 61. Then, Kamindu Mendis defied space and time to inside edge an attempted reverse lap sweep for four, off a pinpoint Ngarava yorker to bring the equation down to 6 off 2. After that, the rest was a formality.Nissanka found boundaries to keep the required rate in check•Zimbabwe Cricket

The scorecard might indicate that the game was closer than it might have been, but with the chase anchored around Pathum Nissanka’s seventh ODI hundred – as he shared successive stands of 48, 20, 78 and 90 with Nuwanidu Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama and finally Asalanka – the visitors were always in control.It was in that final stand with Asalanka that Sri Lanka would say they broke the spine of the chase, with their partnership, at a touch over run-a-ball, ensuring the scoring was brisk through the middle overs.Indeed, this period was one of the main points of differentiation between the two sides. Where Zimbabwe scored 139 runs for the loss of four wickets between overs 15-40, Sri Lanka struck 27 more runs and lost one less wicket in the same period.It meant heading to the death overs, the scoreboard pressure was minimal for Sri Lanka, who were left needing just 67 off 60, with seven wickets in hand. Zimbabwe, by comparison, had scored 83 at the death just to push their total to competitive territory.Perhaps if a straightforward chance off Nissanka, when he was on 78, had not been spilled, Sri Lanka might have had a tougher time. In the end, however, they saw the game through to victory with minimal peril – even if ideally it should have been wrapped up sooner.Sikandar Raza was crucial to Zimbabwe’s batting effort•Zimbabwe Cricket

Nissanka’s innings of 122 off 136 was exactly what was required in a chase of this variety. It earned him both the Player of the Match and Player of the Series awards. His frequent boundaries during the opening powerplay ensured the lack of strike rotation was not as keenly felt, and then, through the middle overs, his ability to find boundaries to punctuate lulls in play meant Sri Lanka never let the required rate get out of hand.Once Asalanka joined him, the boundary scoring burden was alleviated somewhat, with the Sri Lanka skipper willing to up the ante when required – most notably, with a trio of boundaries in the 40th over off Blessing Muzarabani.The target, however, had always seemed a touch below par on a fresh surface that was expected to suit the batters. Zimbabwe, having been put in to bat, did reasonably well at the start and end of their innings, but Sri Lanka controlled the middle overs to restrict the hosts to 277 for 7.That they got even that much was down to an unbeaten 59 off 55 from Sikandar Raza, as part of 76-run sixth-wicket stand with Clive Madande (36 off 36), and then smaller stands with the tail-enders.Ben Curran top-scored for Zimbabwe•Zimbabwe Cricket

Ben Curran top-scored in the innings with a 95-ball 79, but unlike Nissanka later in the day, he was unable to be around for the final overs. Where the Zimbabwe innings lost their way was losing wickets at crucial points through the middle overs.After Zimbabwe’s fast start – scoring 55 inside the opening powerplay – the entry of a rusty Brendan Taylor allowed Sri Lanka to apply the brakes on the scoring. Taylor and Curran put on a stand of 61, but since it came off 84 deliveries, it allowed Asalanka to sneak in several overs of the fifth-bowler quota.Taylor laboured to 20 off 37 during this period, while Asalanka snuck four of his own overs in for just 17 runs. With six more fifth-bowler overs remaining, Asalanka brought on Janith Liyanage, who dismissed Taylor in his second over, as the experienced batter mistimed a scoop to short fine while seeking to up the scoring.Sean Williams then entered, and all it took was one monster strike down the ground for Liyanage to be removed from the attack. With Williams generally looking to attack, both Maheesh Theekshana and Dushmantha Chameera kept things tight during this period.Dushmantha Chameera was the pick of the bowlers•Zimbabwe Cricket

Curran had done well up until this point, but his nine boundaries had come early on. His rhythm too had been interrupted by the lack of strike rotation during his partnership with Taylor – something perhaps impacted by a seeming hamstring niggle Taylor picked up during the innings.With the pressure building, the expensive Asitha Fernando was brought back and he delivered instantly, bookending his over with the wickets of Curran and Williams – both succumbing to short deliveries, with the former top edging one and the latter a delivery dragging on to the stumps.At 155 for 4, this shifted the momentum decisively in Sri Lanka’s favour. Liyanage was allowed to bowl a few more cheap overs to complete the fifth over quota, and while both Raza and Tony Munyonga struck boundaries following a couple of overs of consolidation, Madushanka returned to dismiss the latter.It was at this point that Raza took the lead, setting the tone with a pair of boundaries – the first a deft late dab, the second of inside out lofted cover drive – to signal Zimbabwe’s late charge.While boundaries weren’t as frequent in the following overs, the running between the wickets – a highlight of Zimbabwe’s chase in the first game – was once more exemplary. Despite scoring just six fours and a six in the final ten, they managed to score at beyond eight an over in the death overs, and with it, put up a fighting total. In the end, however, it wasn’t enough.

Marcus Rashford scored twice and Fermin Lopez netted a brilliant hat-trick as Barcelona thumped Olympiacos 6-1 in the Champions League on Tuesday. Hansi Flick's side blitzed their opposition with four goals in 11 second-half minutes, as they took advantage of a remarkably harsh sending off that reduced the visitors to 10 men.

Barca could have had the lead within five minutes, only for Rashford's volley from 10 yards to zip over the crossbar instead of nestling in the top corner. But they didn't have to wait long, as Fermin scored just two minutes later, lashing home after Lamine Yamal had slalomed his way into the box beyond multiple defenders and goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis. 

Fermin added a second before half-time, collecting a fine pass from teenager Dro Fernandez, before sitting down a defender and finishing coolly. 

On 49 minutes, Olympiacos had a goal back, as striker Ayoub El Kaabi rose above Eric Garcia to score. However, the strike was ruled out for offside, with a penalty awarded instead due to a handball by Garcia in the build-up; fortunately for the visitors, El Kaabi stepped up and scored again. 

Within six minutes, the Greek side were down to 10 men, as Santiago Hezze was shown a second yellow card for apparently brushing the face of Marc Casado in a decision that left the visitors rightly frustrated. That sense of injustice only deepened when Barca won a penalty after the hour, as Rashford was brought down by Tzolakis. A VAR review was required, and replays suggested that the Manchester United loanee bought the spot-kick, although Yamal had no qualms with putting it straight down the middle from 12 yards. 

Rashford had time to add a fourth with a fine finish from inside the area, before Fermin completed his hat-trick in style with a thumping strike of a bouncing ball. Rashford added a sixth from range to put the cherry on the cake of an easy win ahead of Sunday's Clasico clash with Real Madrid. 

GOAL rates Barcelona's players from Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys…

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  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Wojciech Szczesny (6/10):

  Didn't have a lot to do but was well beaten by Olympiacos' penalty. 

  Jules Kounde (7/10):

  Glanced a header wide in the first half. Barely tested throughout. Subbed as Flick managed his minutes. 

  Pau Cubarsi (7/10):

  Played well. Strong on the ball as well as off it and barely looked troubled by Olympiacos' forays forward.

  Eric Garcia (6/10):

  Handled the ball before Olympiacos' penalty. A little unlucky as he was involved in the usual penalty box jostling.

  Alejandro Balde (7/10):

  Set up Rashford for the fourth, and got up and down the flank as well as he always does. Subbed as Flick cast an eye towards this weekend's Clasico.

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  Midfield

  Pedri (8/10):

  Everywhere in midfield. He mucks in defensively, barely gives the ball away, and stitches together defence and attack with a minimum of fuss. An exceptional operator. 

  Marc Casado (5/10):

  Not as solid as he could be, and was bypassed more than once by Olympiacos. Takes care of the ball well but needs a bit more steel. Also got Hezze sent off with a disgraceful dive, which blots his copybook significantly.

  Dro Fernandez (7/10):

  Found Fermin for his second. Just 17, always looking to get on the ball, and has an assist under his belt. Could be a bit stronger off the ball, but he's a teenager; a very promising start.

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  Attack

  Lamine Yamal (8/10):

  Incredible dribbling before Fermin's opener left Olympiacos' backline at sixes and sevens and the goalkeeper on his back. Smoothly dispatched his penalty straight down the middle. Such a threat.

  Marcus Rashford (9/10):

  Fired a volley over within five minutes, but won the penalty in the second half as he trailed a leg and was brought down by Tzolakis. Scored the fourth with a smart finish, before adding a sixth from the edge of the box after an outrageous first touch. Get him on the plane for the World Cup now!

  Fermin Lopez (9/10):

  Scored the opener, finishing beyond a clutch of Olympiacos bodies after some dazzling Yamal dribbling. Added a second with another ice-cold finish, then completed his hat-trick with 15 minutes to go. He's some player and appears to be realising his significant potential. 

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  Subs & Manager

  Frenkie De Jong (7/10):

  Replaced Dro. Slotted in and played as we all know he can; keeping the ball and making Barca tick. 

  Roony Bardghji (7/10):

  Off the bench, beat his man, slipped, and his cross found Fermin for his hat-trick. A remarkable impact. 

  Gerard Martin (N/A):

  On in the second half. 

  Ronald Araujo (N/A):

  On late. 

  Marc Bernal (N/A):

  Replaced Pedri. 

  Hansi Flick (8/10):

  A perfect evening. Ahead of El Clasico, he will have wanted a straightforward win with the option to rotate thoroughly. Ask, and it shall be done. 

A “relentless” star has now informed his club that he wants to join Tottenham Hotspur this summer, reporter David Ornstein has revealed.

Tottenham keen to strengthen attack despite emphatic victory

Tottenham got off to the perfect start to the new Premier League campaign, securing a 3-0 victory over Burnley, courtesy of a brace from Richarlison, before Brennan Johnson sealed all three points with a little over 25 minutes to play.

Thomas Frank will be happy with his side’s attacking display, not least because new signing Mohammed Kudus was also very impressive throughout the match, with the former West Ham United man picking up two assists.

That said, Spurs were always expected to beat a newly-promoted side, and they remain a little light on options in attacking areas, given that Son Heung-min’s 10-year stint in north London came to an end earlier this summer, while James Maddison is set for a lengthy absence.

Consequently, Frank is still eager to get a winger and attacking midfielder through the door, with Manchester City’s Savinho among the main targets out wide, while Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze could be a direct replacement for Maddison through the middle.

Speaking prior to Manchester United vs Arsenal yesterday, Ornstein has now dropped a new update on Tottenham’s pursuit of Eze, in which he suggests Frank’s side are in ongoing talks to hash out a deal.

The reporter said: “He quite possibly is still going to Tottenham, but he’s continuing to play for Palace in the meantime, which we saw with the Community Shield as well. Tottenham are pushing for his signing, but there’s no agreement yet. Eberechi Eze has told Crystal Palace that he would like to make the move there, and Palace are understanding of this.

“At 27-years-old, his contract expires in 2027. There was a release clause, it’s now expired, it was valued at £60m + £8m (£68m). I think Palace would accept a bit less but they want the right deal for them, and it’s not there yet.”

Fabrizio Romano has since added a new update, reaffirming Ornstein’s claims of Eze wanting to join but adding Daniel Levy is talking to Palace chairman Steve Parish “today” (Monday).

"Relentless" Eze could flourish at N17

The Crystal Palace star has been extremely impressive in the Premier League over a sustained period, picking up 16 goal contributions in the competition last season, and the Englishman thought he had gotten off to the perfect start to the new campaign.

Frank approves Tottenham move for "world-class" £60m Savinho alternative

Thomas Frank has now given the green light for Spurs to make a move for a winger.

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By
Dominic Lund

Aug 18, 2025

Indeed, the 27-year-old scored a free-kick to fire the Eagles into the lead against Chelsea on Sunday, before the goal was controversially ruled out, due to an alleged infringement by Marc Guehi.

Former Palace man Joel Ward has claimed his ex-teammate’s “methodical” and “relentless” approach is the reason he has been able to establish himself at the top level, and the attacking midfielder is now ready to test himself at one of England’s biggest clubs.

As such, it is good news that Tottenham are in ongoing discussions over a deal, and it is even more promising that Eze has informed Palace of his desire to join Frank’s side.

Seamer Jake Ball chimes in with 4 for 34 as Somerset win by six wickets

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay14-Aug-2025Somerset 252 for 4 (Vaughan 95, J Rew 53*) beat Yorkshire 247 (Revis 85, Ball 4-34) by six wicketsFour-wicket seamer Jake Ball and opener Archie Vaughan with a career best 95 starred as Somerset ended Yorkshire’s 100 percent winning start to this season’s Metro Bank One-Day Cup by bowling the Group B leaders out for 247 at York and then chasing confidently.Somerset joined their hosts on 12 points at the top of the table at the halfway stage in the group campaign courtesy of this six-wicket win with five balls remaining. Both counties having won three and lost one.Yorkshire still hold sway courtesy of a superior net run-rate, but they were second-best on a used Clifton Park pitch.Yorkshire lost wickets in clusters at either end of a scrambling innings which saw ex-England limited overs quick Ball take an excellent 4 for 34 from 9.4 overs and Matthew Revis top-scored with a middle-order List A best of 85 off as many balls.Ball’s best List A figures in just over six years preceded Sheffield-born teenager Vaughan’s classy 127-ball effort with 11 fours. It was ironic that this senior best should come against the county for whom his father Michael starred.Yorkshire, inserted, slumped to 28 for 3 inside 10 overs.Without injured in-form opener Imam-Ul-Haq (hip), they lost Adam Lyth bowled by a beauty from Ball, Will Luxton run out next ball and James Wharton caught behind one-handed going low to his right by James Rew off Ben Green.Luxton misjudged a push to mid-off, where Josh Thomas misfielded before recovering to throw the non-striker’s stumps down.Revis, who hit nine fours, held things together on the pitch used for Tuesday’s win over Lancashire, with Yorkshire compiling nothing more than a workable total.Fin Bean, on 28, cut 18-year-old debutant seamer James Theedom to backward point with the score on 72 in the 18th over.Revis oozed confidence following three recent Championship centuries and a 69 earlier in this competition. He reached a 49-ball fifty here shortly before Yorkshire reached the halfway-mark in their innings at 115 for 4.He found an ally in fellow all-rounder George Hill. They calmly shared a recovery fifth-wicket partnership of 102.Yorkshire then lost four quick wickets, including Revis and Hill caught pulling, as the score fell from 174 for 5 in the 36th over to 204 for 8 in the 42nd. Green’s second wicket accounted for Revis, 34-year-old Ball’s second was Hill for 41.Tom Lammonby’s left-arm seam also claimed two wickets in that period.Dan Moriarty heaved the only two sixes of Yorkshire’s innings in a career-best 30 before holing out to cover as Ball struck twice in the 49th over to wrap things up.Vaughan, in his first competitive senior career appearance against his birth county, steered Somerset’s stress-free chase.Lammonby was well caught at deep gully by Lyth off Hill en route to 48 for 1 after 10 overs before 19-year-old Vaughan shared a second-wicket partnership of 70 with Lewis Goldsworthy, 30.Vaughan was particularly strong off the back foot on either side of the wicket. He reached his fifty off 65 balls.Goldsworthy fell at 111 for 2 in the 25th over when he top-edged a pull at Revis to long-leg.Vaughan continued on unflustered, sharing 64 with his captain James Rew. But he was bowled looking to go over the top against Dom Bess’s off-spin. Still, at 175 for three in the 38th, Somerset were in a strong position.James Rew finished unbeaten 53 off 62, while brother Thomas also contributed 31.

Since taking over footballing activities at Manchester United, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS have made efforts to bring in young players that they believe will be able to develop into world-class talents.

In previous years, United have spent big on proven players, which, while it has its benefits, has put them far behind many of their Premier League rivals in terms of profits from player sales, which in turn has put them in a precarious position PSR-wise.

After bringing in Christopher Vivell, among other notable backroom figures, United have started scouting and bringing in promising players who had previously been relatively unknown, such as Sekou Kone, Enzo Kana-Biyik and Diego Leon.

The club is now hoping to continue this as they have identified a promising up-and-coming striker in Brazil.

United scouting Brazilian talent Mathias

Reports from Brazil, via Sports Witness, have revealed that Manchester United scouts were at Wednesday’s 1-1 draw between Fluminense and Internacional. United scout Alexandre Torres, former Fluminense defender and son of Brazil legend Carlos Alberto Torres, was seen at the game scouting the young Brazilian striker Ricardo Mathias. Mathias came on in the 53rd minute for a subdued performance where he didn’t manage many actions.

Torres was likely not the only scout there, as Mathias has been garnering attention from a number of European clubs. Sports Witness also shared that an unknown Premier League club has gone as far as submitting a letter of intent to Internacional to register their interest, with United potentially hijacking a top flight rival.

Additionally, there had been past interest from PSV as well as “two foreign investment groups in Brazil” but none of these were as advanced as the letter from the unknown Premier League club.

Wednesday’s game would not have given Torres a true taste of Mathias’ capabilities. If he also watched Internacionale on Saturday, then he would undoubtedly have left impressed with Mathias’ promise, as his two goals were instrumental in his team’s 3-1 victory over Red Bull Bragantino.

Mathias' breakout season

Mathias’ performance against Bragantino may have fully solidified his place in his team’s starting 11. Internacional are midway through their season, as the Brazilian league runs from March to December, and at the start of the campaign, Mathias was a regular feature on the bench and only sporadically seen on the pitch.

As the season has progressed, so have Mathias’ minutes, and he has now received four starts, scoring four goals across those games. From 28 games in all competitions without a start to leading the line and bagging a brace, Mathias’ development this season has undoubtedly gained him further international attention.

With United having only this week agreed a deal of up to £73.7 million for striker Benjamin Sesko, it seems unlikely that they would be willing to pay the £56 million release clause in Mathias’ contract this summer. United are still hoping to buy a midfielder this summer and potentially another goalkeeper, which further throws doubt on this deal being completed this summer at the release clause value.

At only 19 years old, Mathias could become a long-term United target that the club could sign at a later date. Alternatively, United could attempt to negotiate Internacional down from their £56 million price tag. Both options come with risks, as paying now would likely decrease the funds available for other transfers this window, and waiting could allow for the unknown Premier League club to swoop in and sign him.

There has been a twist in Rangers' manager hunt as Steven Gerrard has once again emerged as favourite to take charge at Ibrox Stadium, days after he pulled out of the race for the head coach's role. After Rangers parted ways with Russell Martin earlier this month, Gerrard was poised to return to Glasgow and he even held talks with the club hierarchy, but he later withdrew his name.

• Gerrard pulled out after holding talks with Rangers officials

  After a disastrous start to the 2025-26 campaign, which saw Rangers winning one out of their first seven Premiership matches, the Scottish giants parted ways with ex-MK Dons, Swansea City and Southampton manager Martin, only a few months after he took charge at Ibrox. Martin, who was once considered to be a perfect fit at the club due to his ball-playing philosophy, quickly fell out of favour with the fans once the new season started. The fans wanted the manager out of the club after just one month in charge, as in September, they had publicly showcased their opposition by unfurling banners at Ibrox, displaying their wish to see the coach leave the club.   

  Rangers' 1-1 draw with Falkirk just before the international break proved to be the last straw as the 39-year-old English coach was shown the door. Soon after Martin's departure, Liverpool icon Gerrard emerged as the favourite candidate to take charge of the club and return to Glasgow after four years. He even flew down from the Middle East to hold talks with Rangers officials and was in advanced talks, only to later withdraw his name from the race as he felt that the time was not right to return to football management. 

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  Gerrard back to being favourite to manager Rangers

  Days after turning down the offer, Gerrard has reemerged as the favourite to take charge of Rangers. According to , the former England star has become the bookie's favourite to manage the Gers. , however, also claims that despite being the bookie's favourite, Gerrard is unlikely to be in contention any more and he has already flown back to Bahrain. On Wednesday morning, Gerrard's odds were as high as 20/1 with William Hill. 

  Spokesperson of William Hill, John Hill, told : "Despite ruling himself out of the job just a few days ago, Steven Gerrard has been heavily backed in our next Rangers manager market this morning. Gerrard is now just evens to return to Ibrox for a second spell in charge."

• Premier League legend has encouraged Gerrard to take Rangers job

  Amid the drama over Rangers' manager hunt, Premier League and Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer shared advice for Gerrard as he urged the Reds icon to ignore the football cliche. 

  In a chat with , Shearer said: "I don't know Steven's tax situation with him being back in the UK and he can only answer that. There is that 'never go back' saying but if he wants to get back to management, he knows what it's like up there, he's done it and been successful before. He's a huge name in football. I don't think Celtic are that great either. Hearts are top of the SPFL at the moment so that tells you that Celtic aren't a great team either. Steven, or whoever goes into that role may fancy their chances and say it's worth the opportunity and worth going up there to compete. Rangers are miles off it at the minute and it's no surprise that Russell lost his job. The fans were going mad up there and it's not nice to see because of the human behind it and at the end of it. That's what you have to think of but you also know the score when you go into management – if you don't win games, you'll get sacked. The Rangers job will be a brilliant one for whoever takes over."

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  Who will become Rangers' next boss?

  Per SunSport, former Gers star Kevin Muscat is tipped to become the next Rangers head coach. The Australian, who played for the Scottish giants in the early 2000s for a year, is poised to make a comeback after more than two decades. Former Manchester United coaches Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Michael Carrick are also among the contenders to take charge at Ibrox, although Muscat remains the favourite.   

Joao Palhinha has hit out at Bayern Munich for denying him the chances he “deserved,” describing his time in Germany as one of frustration and lost rhythm. The Portugal international, now thriving on loan at Tottenham, says he feels “happy and trusted” again as he enjoys a fresh chapter in familiar Premier League surroundings.

• Palhinha finds his rhythm again in north London

  Palhinha’s move to Tottenham has given him the spark he was missing at Bayern. The Portuguese midfielder joined Spurs on a season-long loan with a €30 million (£25m/$33m) purchase option, and his impact has been immediate with 11 appearances, three goals, and a renewed sense of confidence. The 30-year-old admitted that his time at Die Roten was far from ideal. After joining from Fulham in a deal worth up to €56m (£47m/$61m), Palhinha managed just 25 appearances in all competitions, with only 10 starts. Injuries and fierce competition limited his influence, prompting the switch back to England – a league he knows and thrives in.

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  Palinha reflects on a frustrating spell at Bayern Munich

  Speaking to , during Portugal’s national team press conference ahead of matches against Ireland and Hungary, Palhinha reflected on his struggles in Munich: “Last season wasn’t easy for me, especially when I got injured with the national team. I was out longer than expected. Afterwards, I didn’t get the opportunities I think I deserved.”

  He went on to explain how that lack of playing time affected both his confidence and international form: “The moment with the national team depends a lot on what we live at our club. Now I’m going through a happy moment in my life. A new club, a new project. A league that isn’t new to me and that I’m enjoying again. Football and life are very momentary. I just have to enjoy these moments.”

• Tottenham move revived midfielder’s spark

  Palhinha’s return to the Premier League fits perfectly with Tottenham’s transfer strategy under Thomas Frank – targeting experienced players who can bring stability and grit to midfield. His consistent displays have earned him the trust of the coach, restoring his confidence after a lost year in Germany.

  “I’ve simply been having the opportunities I didn’t have in the past. I feel total confidence from the people who wanted to bring me to Tottenham. In this case, the coach, who was the main person responsible for my return to England,” Palhinha explained.

  “When we feel wanted somewhere, I think that’s where we should be. So I made this decision very easily, honestly. Not only because it’s the Premier League, but because I felt the desire from the other side to work with me. And that’s what’s helping me show again what I’m capable of."

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  Tottenham weighing permanent move for in-form midfielder

  Spurs are expected to review their midfield options at the end of the season, and all signs point to Palhinha wanting to stay beyond his loan spell. His form, leadership, and physicality have strengthened their midfield. With an option to buy already in place, Tottenham's decision may come down to finances rather than performance. If his current trajectory continues, a permanent deal seems only a matter of time, as Palhinha looks set to turn a career setback in Munich into a redemption story in north London.

He got his chance because of an injury to Kane Williamson, and B Sai Sudharsan had done the work to make the most of it

Deivarayan Muthu08-Apr-20231:18

Sai Sudharsan: Knock against Delhi Capitals one of my best

On his IPL debut last season, he hooked Kagiso Rabada over the boundary. On Tuesday, he scooped a 144kph delivery from Anrich Nortje off the stumps for six over the wicketkeeper, and went on to ace the chase for Gujarat Titans. He’s only seven matches into his IPL career and 21-years old, but there’s something special about B Sai Sudharsan.R Ashwin wanted him to be fast-tracked into the Tamil Nadu side after he had played one TNPL game in 2021. It was after that TNPL season, in which he scored 358 runs in eight innings at a strike rate just under 144, that Titans bought Sai Sudharsan at his base price of INR 20 lakh for IPL 2022. Then, despite a bright start to his IPL career, he got only five games last season.

This boy Sai Sudarshan is special, get him into the TN team asap! @TNCACricket . He had such a good league season and has now seamlessly transitioned into the 20 over format. #solidtalent @TNPremierLeague #TNPL

— Ashwin (@ashwinravi99) July 19, 2021