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Babar, Rizwan fifties secure Pakistan's semi-final spot

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Pakistan ticked several boxes as they wrapped up a fourth win in four games at the T20 World Cup

Sreshth Shah02-Nov-20212:55

Have Pakistan arrived at the perfect batting template for these conditions?

With one foot in the semi-final already, and having an opportunity to tick off some other boxes before the knockouts, Pakistan did exactly that by opting to bat first, putting on a total of 189, and then defending the score with ease.Pakistan’s 45-run win over Namibia has now confirmed their final-four spot, leaving only Scotland in their path to a 100% group-stage win rate.

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Sign up for ESPN+ and catch all the action from the Men’s T20 World Cup live in the US. Match highlights of Namibia vs Pakistan is available here in English, and here in Hindi (US only).

It was Pakistan’s first time winning a game while batting first in this tournament. Their captain Babar Azam mentioned that as their main objective at the toss and he backed his words up with a 49-ball 70 as well. His opening partner Mohammad Rizwan complimented him with 79. And an all-round bowling effort saw them cruise to victory.The only box Pakistan did not tick was in testing their bench strength. Pakistan played the same XI like their first three games, and Azam said that was because the Namibia contest was their first in Abu Dhabi. Although Pakistan’s bowlers could take only five wickets in Namibia’s chase, they did well to restrict their opponents to 144 with Imad Wasim and Hasan Ali going at economies of less than six.Azam-Rizwan develop a century habitPakistan’s start was not fluent. Left-arm seamer Ruben Trumpelmann beat Rizwan’s outside edge thrice in the first over to start off with a maiden. Rizwan then struggled with his timing as he either missed or mis-hit his shots. With the Namibia seamers – JJ Smith and David Wiese, along with Trumpelmann – all bowling change-ups on a sticky deck, Pakistan could only muster 29 in the first six overs. That was the fourth-lowest powerplay score in all T20Is for a team that lost no wickets.But while Rizwan was looking off-colour, Azam kept finding the gaps with his controlled aggression and together they reached 59 in ten overs. At that stage, Azam was on 43 and Rizwan 16 in 25 balls.But with ten wickets in hand, and only ten overs left, the duo had the liberty to up the risks. Azam’s 70 took them to their fifth T20I century stand – the most by any pair in the format’s history – before the first wicket fell in the 15th over. But by then, Pakistan were at 113.Mohammad Rizwan: at the top of his game•ICC/Getty Images

Rizwan changes gearsAggression was the only way to approach the last five overs. But Fakhar Zaman did not last long, caught by the wicketkeeper Zane Green as he dived to his left after being briefly wrong-footed. That brought in Mohammad Hafeez at No. 4, and he began with an assault that saw him make 32 in 16 balls that included five fours. Most of those boundaries were deft shots, either scooping fours past short fine leg or threading late cuts between backward point and short third man.In Hafeez’s company, Rizwan finally found his hands. Before the final over, he was on 55 off 44 balls. And then he decided to break loose. The last over from Smit went for 24 off Rizwan’s bat and Pakistan’s late hitting took them to 189 for 2. Namibia leaked 130 in the back half after conceding only 59 in their first half.Hasan finds his footingAlthough Hasan hasn’t been horrendous by any means, the success of the other bowlers in the Pakistan set up so far meant that he was the least impressive bowler in the XI coming into the game.On Tuesday night, he – instead of Imad – was given the new-ball duties alongside Shaheen Shah Afridi, and struck in his first over by getting a full ball to swing in and dislodge left-hand batter Michael van Lingen’s stumps.That set the tone for his first spell, where he conceded just nine runs in two powerplay overs. He returned for another two overs later in the innings, and conceded only 13 in those 12 balls to finish with 1 for 22. It was just the kind of return Pakistan needed from Hasan for his own confidence moving into the business end.Too much for Namibia to doAlthough Namibia lost just five wickets, they were never really in the chase. Craig Williams batted for 37 balls, but he could eke out only 40. Stephen Baard made a run-a-ball 29 before being run out. Gerhard Erasmus’ 10-ball 15 looked promising, but he was snuffed off by Imad before he could cause big damage.With three overs to go, Namibia’s chances of a win according to ESPNcricinfo’s forecaster was 0.67%. And despite the ultra-aggressive hitting from David Wiese it kept dipping even further. Wiese did the best he could to ignore the match situation and entertained the crowds with his two sixes and three fours to finish unbeaten on a 31-ball 45.

Kennar Lewis' Powerplay aggression lays foundation for big Tallawahs win

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

St Lucia Kings were promisingly placed in a steep chase but rapidly fell away

Peter Della Penna10-Sep-2021A powerful attack on St Lucia Kings’ new-ball spinners by opening batter Kennar Lewis resulted in the second-fastest half-century of the 2021 CPL and laid the platform for an imposing total that was well out of reach to chase in a 55-run for Jamaica Tallawahs.Lewis brought up his fifty off 21 balls with a single off David Wiese in the seventh over after having wreaked havoc earlier on Jeavor Royal, Samit Patel and Roston Chase in the first four overs of play.Lewis justified Rovman Powell’s decision to bat first as he bullied Royal’s left-arm spin in the opening over, slicing two fours over the off side before heaving a six over midwicket in the first four balls. After opening partner Kirk McKenzie struck Alzarri Joseph for three boundaries in the second over, Lewis got back to work on Patel in the third, punishing a leg-stump line for two fours and two sixes to start the over. After McKenzie fell to Chase in the fourth, Lewis stole momentum back just as fast by ending the over with another slog sweep over the leg side rope.Lewis eventually fell to a slower ball from Kadeem Alleyne flicked to deep midwicket for a catch by Royal, but at 91 for 2 in the eighth over, Tallawahs were off to a flying start and continued to maintain a double-digit run rate the rest of the way. Imad Wasim gave Tallawahs one more final boost in the 20th over, clubbing a hat-trick of sixes off Alleyne to push them past the 200 barrier.Three of Kings’ top four – Andre Fletcher, Mark Deyal and Chase – blasted rapid cameos and at 104 for 2 in the ninth over put their side in a superb position to overhaul the target of 212. But Carlos Brathwaite struck with back-to-back deliveries, getting Deyal with a slower bouncer pulled tamely to deep square leg before Chase fell next ball to a bouncer at full pace gloved down the leg side to Lewis.Kings could not recover from the twin setbacks as Imad left-arm spin and a pair of sharp run outs dented Kings further before they were eventually bowled out for 156 with 11 balls left unused.

Pace is the ace: why you need quick bowlers to win in Australia

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Top-quality fast bowling always helps when you’re trying to win a series in Australia, and the history of the Ashes bears that out

Greg Chappell04-Oct-2025It was Douglas Jardine who said in , “Cricket is a game of skill, but it is also a game of war. You must find a way to win or you are lost.”As the shadows lengthen over the Australian summer, the 2025-26 Ashes series looms in Perth on 21 November, a mere six weeks away. For England, under the audacious stewardship of Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes, the mantra is clear: speed thrills.Their squad, boasting a “cartel” of express pacemen led by the enigmatic Jofra Archer and the thunderous Mark Wood, offers echoes of history’s lessons. To understand this bold gambit, we must rewind to the summer of 1932-33, when Jardine faced a Hobson’s Choice – take the only option on offer or face certain defeat. Bodyline, that infamous tactic, was not born of malice but necessity, a desperate counter to Donald Bradman’s otherworldly batting. It reminds us that cricket, for all its genteel veneer, can ignite passions that spill beyond civil norms, turning gentlemen into gladiators and crowds into cauldrons of fury.Related

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  • Australia's pace depth: Who's in the Ashes mix if Cummins and co run aground?

Jardine’s predicament was the stuff of captaincy nightmares. Bradman had just dismantled England in their own backyard during the 1930 Ashes, amassing 974 runs at an average of 139.14 – a record that still beggars belief. His triple-century at Headingley was a symphony of dominance, reducing England’s attack to rubble. Jardine, a steely Oxford-educated amateur with a disdain for defeat, knew that accepting Bradman’s supremacy fatalistically was tantamount to surrender. As England’s captain, his remit was unequivocal: find a way, within the laws, to curb this prolific scoring machine. But what options did he have? Conventional bowling had proved futile; spin was neutralised on Australia’s true pitches; and seamers like Hedley Verity offered control but not terror.Herein lies the essence of Jardine’s Hobson’s Choice – the illusion of alternatives masking a singular path. He turned to “fast leg theory”, a tactic not invented by him but refined to lethal precision. Precedents abounded in the 1920s. Australian fast bowlers like Jack Gregory and Ted McDonald had employed similar short-pitched barrages with packed leg-side fields during the 1920-21 Ashes, unsettling English batters on lively surfaces. Jardine, ever the tactician, drew from this example, consulting Nottinghamshire’s Arthur Carr and Percy Fender, who had trialled it domestically. He came upon the idea observing Bradman flinch against Harold Larwood’s bouncer at The Oval in 1930. “I’ve got it! He’s vulnerable!” Jardine exclaimed. Secret sessions in London honed the plan: short balls at the body, a ring of leg-side fielders to snare deflections. It was legal, innovative, and crucially, the only sensible option against a batter averaging over 100.Critics vilified Jardine as unsportsmanlike, but as a former captain, I see his dilemma plainly. Every leader, amateur or professional, bears the responsibility of solving the game’s riddles. To let Bradman score at will would betray Jardine’s team, his nation, and the competitive spirit of cricket. Bradman averaged 56.57 in the Bodyline series – still formidable, but mortal. The series’ flashpoints, like the Adelaide riot after Bert Oldfield’s skull fracture, evoked raw emotions: Australian crowds baying for blood, diplomatic cables flying between boards, threats of trade boycotts (and this during the Great Depression). Sport, in such moments, transcends civility, tapping into tribal loyalties that can fracture empires. Jardine became the scapegoat, retiring from Tests thereafter, but his choice delivered a 4-1 victory. Without it, England would have been lambs to Bradman’s slaughter.This theme – pace as the great equaliser in Australia – threads through every English Ashes win down under since Bodyline. History is unequivocal: to win in these vast, sun-baked arenas, you need express bowlers who can intimidate, extract bounce, and shatter partnerships on pitches that reward raw speed over subtle swing.Top bowling, old boy: Chris Tremlett is mobbed by his team-mates after England make it 3-1 in Sydney early in 2011•Associated PressConsider the 1954-55 series, which England won 3-1 win under Len Hutton. Frank Tyson, called “Typhoon” for his 95mph thunderbolts, claimed 28 wickets at 20.82, terrorising batters with sheer velocity on firm tracks. Brian Statham’s accurate outswing complemented him, but it was Tyson’s pace that broke Australia’s spirit, reducing legends like Neil Harvey to caution. Emotions ran high; Tyson’s ferocity evoked Bodyline, with crowds murmuring about “intimidation”, but in the end it was the key to victory.Fast-forward to 1970-71, Ray Illingworth’s 2-0 triumph. John Snow, lanky and lethal at 90mph, snared 31 wickets, his bounce and skid exploiting Australian frailties. Bob Willis, on debut, added fire. The series boiled over in the last Test, in Sydney, where a Snow bouncer felled Terry Jenner, sparking a bottle-throwing melee and Illingworth leading his team off the field in protest. Again, pace stirred primal reactions, but it secured the urn.Mike Brearley’s 5-1 rout in 1978-79 leaned on Willis’ speed and bounce (20 wickets) and Ian Botham’s deceptive pace and all-round skill (23 wickets). Willis’ hostility on Perth’s bouncy deck set the tone, evoking crowd hostility that bordered on the uncivil – boos, jeers, even objects hurled. Again, without this pace edge, England’s win would have evaporated.England’s 2-1 upset in the 1986-87 series under Mike Gatting, saw Graham Dilley take 16 wickets with his sharp pace. Botham chipped in again with nine wickets, his medium-fast swing and bounce augmented by Gladstone Small’s (12 wickets) awkward speed. Emotions peaked in Melbourne, where Botham’s heroics fused triumph with controversy, his off-field antics amplifying the drama.Most recently, the 3-1 masterclass under Andrew Strauss in 2010-11 rested on James Anderson’s 24 wickets (late swing at 88-92mph), Chris Tremlett and Steven Finn’s towering bounce (31 wickets between them). Their cartel overwhelmed Australia, with Mitchell Johnson’s waywardness contrasting with England’s precision. The Gabba draw turned on pace pressure, and the series’ intensity – verbal sledging, crowd taunts – underscored how speed ignites passions that push boundaries.In each case England’s victories hinged on one or more express bowlers. Spin played cameos but pace was the protagonist, exploiting Australia’s pace-friendly conditions: Perth’s steepling bounce; Brisbane’s humidity, which aids swing; Melbourne’s variable decks. Without it, touring sides wilt under home dominance – think Australia’s Lillee-Thomson terror in the 1970s or McGrath-Gillespie’s relentlessness in the 2000s.England’s 1932-33 series was indubitably secured by fast bowling•JA Hampton/Getty ImagesNow to the present. McCullum and Stokes have done their homework. They have prioritised the fitness of Archer and Wood, assembling a sextet of quicks – including Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Matthew Potts, and Josh Tongue – apart from Stokes himself, to launch an assault. “We need that cartel fit and firing,” McCullum declared, echoing Jardine’s resolve. Archer’s X-factor swing and Wood’s 95mph heat are statements of intent; the two have been managed meticulously after injuries to peak in Perth. With only Shoaib Bashir as spinner, they’ve put nearly all eggs in the speed basket, betting on rotation to sustain pressure across five Tests.Australia lack a Bradman, but curbing Steve Smith, Travis Head, and Cameron Green to mortal outputs will be pivotal. The openers will be important to Australia’s success, but it is the middle order that will need to make big runs if Australia are to win the series. If England’s attack delivers and dismantles Australia’s middle order, McCullum and Stokes will join the list of successful England leaders in Australia.Batting-wise, England appear settled, with Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett’s aggressiveness as openers, Ollie Pope’s flair, Joe Root’s mastery, Jamie Smith’s precociousness, and Harry Brook’s prodigious talent – the latter averages 57.55 in Tests, a comet streaking across world cricket. Australia’s line-up will look more settled before the first Test on the back of early-season form, but vulnerabilities persist in the wake of David Warner’s retirement.Yet, batters will be critical only insofar as they withstand the barrage. This series, like its forebears, will be decided by the superior bowling side. England’s pace gamble could evoke Bodyline’s emotions – imagine a bouncer from Archer felling a key bat, crowds erupting, words flying. Sport’s power lies here: it distils human drama, where triumph and controversy collide, pushing participants and spectators beyond civil norms into realms of raw passion.Jardine took the only sensible option. History affirms pace’s primacy in Australia, and in 2025-26 too, bowling will crown the victor. As the urn beckons, let the need for speed reignite cricket’s eternal fire.

'He's not English' – Arsene Wenger questions Thomas Tuchel appointment as former Arsenal boss explains why he couldn't have managed England

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Arsene Wenger insists the FA should not have appointed Thomas Tuchel as the new England head coach due to his nationality.

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  • Wenger criticises appointment
  • Says he could not have managed England
  • Tuchel to begin new role in January
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  • WHAT HAPPENED?

    England have appointed only the third foreign coach in their history with the installment of Tuchel as Gareth Southgate's successor, following in the footsteps of the late Sven Goran-Eriksson and Fabio Capello. However, there have been multiple concerns raised by people within the game, including Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville, insisting that the England manager should be English.

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    THE BIGGER PICTURE

    Wenger has now joined that chorus, insisting that he could not have managed England when he was a coach because of his loyalty to France. Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, by comparison, insists that England fans simply have to get behind their new boss, regardless of his nationality.

  • WHAT WENGER SAID

    Wenger told BeIN Sports: "I just feel – to make it as simple as possible – If I’m the manager of England and I play against France I cannot sing the national anthem of France. To me on that front, I prefer that the manager is from the country. Why should the player have to be from a country and not the manager? There is a big inference."

    He added: "I think he is a perfect coach and a perfect candidate, but he's not English. But it's allowed so there is nothing wrong with that."

  • Getty Images Sport

    WHAT NEXT?

    Lee Carsley will manage England's next two fixtures, against Greece and the Republic of Ireland in November, before Tuchel takes over and leads England through qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.

Spurs could forget Eze by signing £51m “special talent"

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Tottenham Hotspur didn't qualify for the Champions League last season but Ange Postecoglou has planted the seed for a prosperous tenure.

There is plenty of promise about this Spurs side but also plenty to address, and transfer activity must be conducted with a flourish this summer to make further improvements next term.

Eberechi Eze has been at the forefront of transfer rumours in recent days but Postecoglou's side would be wise to line up alternatives with Manchester United also on the hunt.

Crystal Palace's Eberechi Eze

It looks like Daniel Levy and Co have done exactly that.

Spurs transfer news

According to Spanish sources earlier this week – via TEAMtalk – Tottenham are eager to sign Real Sociedad winger Takefusa Kubo and have even made an opening offer to the La Liga side, though it has fallen below the Japanese's €60m (£51m) release clause.

Takefusa Kubo

Kubo is a versatile and dynamic wide player who could add to a Tottenham team in need of some added depth, with European football on the cards after spending the 2023/24 campaign confined to domestic duty.

Takefusa Kubo's season in numbers

Kubo signed for Sociedad from Real Madrid on a five-year deal in 2022, having completed a series of loan spells across Spain after joining Los Blancos, never completing an appearance before moving to his current club on a permanent deal.

The 23-year-old might not be the most prolific of wingers – he has only posted 16 goals and 14 assists across 85 outings for Sociedad – but he is electric and enthusiastic and would offer competition for Brennan Johnson and Dejan Kulusevski down the Lilywhites' right flank.

Evidencing this: as per FBref, he ranks among the top 9% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for progressive carries, the top 18% for successful take-ons and the top 17% for shot-creating actions per 90.

Takefusa Kubo: La Liga Stats 23/24

Stats

#

Matches played

30

Matches started

24

Goals

7

Assists

4

Big chances created

10

Pass completion

81%

Key passes per game

2.0

Dribbles per game

1.8

Ball recoveries per game

3.3

Duels won per game

4.8

Stats via Sofascore

Dubbed a "special talent" by journalist John Bunting, Kubo would bring some really impressive qualities to the Tottenham first team, and one can only imagine the partnership that could be forged with James Maddison.

Imagine Kubo & James Maddison

Maddison signed for Spurs from Leicester City in a £40m deal last summer and started life in London with a bang, winning the Premier League's Player of the Month award for August and leading journalist Henry Winter to dub him a "nightmare for defenders".

Averaging 2.4 key passes per game in the Premier League last season, the 27-year-old's unfortunate ankle injury suffered in November stifled a blistering start, but with some impactful additions welcomed in the months to come, it could be a positive fresh start.

For a speed demon like Kubo to have such string-pulling expertise beside him will only serve Tottenham well, with Maddison ranking among the top 7% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 1% for shot-creating actions and progressive passes and the top 2% for passes attempted per 90.

Spurs are eager to sign a ball-carrying whiz in Eze, but if they fail in that pursuit, Kubo could be the perfect player to strengthen Tottenham's wings.

What Spurs' starting lineup could look like after £201m spending spree

Spurs will want to give Postecoglou everything he needs to build a successful side this summer.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Jun 9, 2024

'I've been dreaming of this moment' – Gavi revels in Barcelona return as midfielder receives standing ovation and captain's armband after long injury hell finally ends

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Gavi returned to action after almost a year as he received standing ovation and the captain's armband after stepping onto the pitch.

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  • Gavi returned to action for Barca
  • Got standing ovation
  • Pedri handed over captain's armband
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  • WHAT HAPPENED?

    On Sunday, Barcelona welcomed the young midfielder, who had been out of action since November 2023 after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury during Spain's Euro 2024 qualifying game against Georgia. After missing the entire 2023-24 campaign, the European Championship this summer, and the start of the current season, the Spaniard got back on the pitch during Barcelona's 5-1 thumping of Sevilla in La Liga.

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    THE BIGGER PICTURE

    Hansi Flick introduced the 20-year-old in the 83rd minute of the match as he replaced Pedri. While leaving the pitch, Pedri handed over the captain's armband to Gavi as a welcoming gesture while the fans stood up and applauded.

  • WHAT GAVI SAID

    Speaking to reporters, the midfielder said, "I'm very happy to be back with the team. I've been dreaming about this moment for many months and I'm grateful to everyone because they've made it much easier for me. The worst thing is not playing with the team.

    "Watching the team from the outside is very hard and you have to enjoy every moment and value things. I feel very lucky to be here today. It's my life and what I've been doing all my life and I missed it. I feel very lucky. When all the fans and teammates love and value you, you feel very lucky."

  • AFP

    WHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA?

    The result on Sunday will provide a massive boost to the Catalan giants' confidence who now gear up to face Bayern Munich in a Champions League clash on Wednesday.

Zimbabwe to host Women's ODI World Cup qualifier

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Top three secure qualification for 2022 WC in New Zealand, while fourth and fifth make it to next edition of ICC Women’s Championship

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Aug-2021The Women’s ODI World Cup Qualifier 2021, that will decide the final three spots for the 2022 World Cup, will be held in Zimbabwe later this year. The ICC announced that the ten-team tournament will be played between November 21 and December 5 in Harare.The qualifiers were originally meant to be hosted by Sri Lanka in July 2020, but the Covid-19 pandemic forced the postponement of the tournament, as well as the main event in New Zealand.The ten teams, vying for the three World Cup spots, will include Pakistan, West Indies, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Ireland – and the five regional qualifiers who won their respective competitions in 2019.Hosts Zimbabwe are the Africa regional qualifiers, Thailand are from Asia, Papua New Guinea represent Asia East-Pacific, Netherlands are the European winners and United States of America will play as Americas champions.While the top three make it to the eight-team ODI World Cup in March-April 2022, the next two teams from the competition will also secure their places in the next ICC Women’s Championship.The next cycle of the ICC Women’s Championship will expand from eight teams to ten, thus freeing up five places. The other five spots will be taken by the automatic qualifiers of the ODI World Cup – Australia, England, India, South Africa and New Zealand – on the back of their top-five finish in the previous ICC Women’s Championship.”I wish to express our heartfelt thanks to the ICC board for their magnanimous gesture in allowing us the privilege of hosting the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2021,” Zimbabwe Cricket’s Tavengwa Mukuhlani said.”On our part, we will leave no stone unturned to ensure this prestigious global event stands out as a unique event that celebrates Zimbabwe in all its magnificent splendour, richness, vibrancy, diversity and glory. I believe being granted the right to host this tournament is a vote of confidence in what we as ZC are doing and what we are hoping to do.”You can rest assured we will not disappoint. We will not disappoint the nation of Zimbabwe and we will not disappoint the game of cricket.”

Race to IPL 2025 playoffs: three teams battle for one spot

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With three teams already through, the final spot will go to one of Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants

S Rajesh18-May-20252:40

What could DC have done differently?

Mumbai Indians

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DC’s loss to GT means there will be plenty riding on their next game, against MI on Wednesday. A win for MI will almost certainly ensure qualification, as DC can then only finish on a maximum on 15 points. Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) can still get to 16 if they win their three remaining games, but their net run-rate (-0.469) is so far behind MI’s that it is near-impossible for them to catch up: even if they win their matches by a combined margin of 300 runs and MI beat DC by just one run, MI will still need to lose their last match, against PBKS, by about 70 runs for their NRR to slip below that of LSG’s (assuming first-innings scores of 200). Plainly put, MI can consider themselves through to the playoffs if they beat DC.If they lose, though, qualification will be out of their hands as DC can then beat PBKS and reach 17 points and clinch the fourth spot. If DC lose to PBKS then MI can still qualify with 16 points if they beat PBKS.If MI lose both matches, they will be out.

Delhi Capitals

As explained above, LSG’s run rate is so poor – and MI’s so good – that they can’t win that battle. Hence, LSG will have to not only win their three remaining games but also hope that both MI and DC stay below 16. That’s asking for a lot, especially from a team that is struggling for form, having lost three in a row and four of their last five matches.If one of their matches is washed out and they finish on 15, their only chance will be if MI lose both and DC finish on 15. Even then, any NRR battle is highly unlikely to go in their favour.

Arsenal now make £45m+ transfer bid to sign "intelligent" star for Arteta

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Arsenal have launched a £45m+ bid to sign a transfer target for Mikel Arteta, however, it may not be enough to land the player in question.

Arsenal transfer rumours

It was another campaign of mixed emotions for Arsenal last time out, who took the Premier League title race down to the final day – an improvement on last year – before losing out to Manchester City after the Sky Blues beat West Ham to lift a fourth league title in a row.

Arsenal keen on "phenomenal" £250k-p/w star as Chelsea interest collapses

The Gunners could be set to make a statement signing this summer.

By
Ben Browning

Jun 1, 2024

In their quest to finally chase down the Manchester outfit, the Gunners are seemingly looking to be quite active on the transfer front this summer, with a number of names already tipped to make a move to the Emirates.

It has been claimed that Arsenal are in pole position to sign Napoli striker Victor Osimhen this summer. The Gunners are said to be among the clubs who have held a long-term interest in the Nigerian, who has a £112m release. Arsenal are also reportedly preparing an official bid for Bologna star Joshua Zirkzee, but Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich have the striker on their list of potential targets and are "involved" in the race.

Elsewhere, Arsenal are believed to have held talks with AS Monaco midfielder Youssouf Fofana via his representatives, but they face competition from Paris-Saint Germain and Atletico Madrid – who have done the same.

However, there is another big name from Europe being linked with the north Londoners as well. The player in question is RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko. Edu Gaspar and Arteta are thought to be prioritising the addition of a new striker this summer and Sesko has been regularly mentioned by sections of the press as a player who is wanted at Arsenal.

Meanwhile, last month, journalist Christian Falk provided an insight into Arsenal and Manchester United's interest in the hitman.

"Benjamin Sesko is the hottest Bundesliga stock in England at the moment," Falk said. "Arsenal FC and Manchester United are particularly interested in the striker. In Leipzig they say: Sesko is physically even stronger than Erling Haaland (Manchester City). Both strikers were trained at Red Bull Salzburg. Like Haaland, Sesko also demanded an exit clause for a move to the Bundesliga."

Arsenal make £45m+ transfer offer to sign "intelligent" star

Now, a fresh update on Arsenal's interest in Sesko, who scored 14 in 31 Bundesliga outings this past season, has been provided.

Football Transfers report that the Gunners have made a concrete step towards signing the 21-year-old this summer, with the club launching a bid of €55m (just over £45m) for Sesko. The striker's current release clause is €65m but Arsenal are hopeful their offer will still be accepted.

Should Arsenal complete a move for Sesko, Chelsea goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic has provided an insight into what he could bring to the club. When asked about Sesko, who he may face off against in the Euro 2024 group stages, Petrovic was full of praise for the forward.

"He’s having a good half-season, he’s in great scoring form. I read that he’s scored in his last seven matches in a row. He seems to have gained strong momentum for the Euros. He’s a forward who has everything a modern player needs. He’s tall, strong, fast and intelligent. I’ve watched some of his matches. Of course he can play in the Premier League. Absolutely! He has great potential and he’s been successfully proving it in recent months."

Devon Conway's 70* helps Somerset seal quarter-finals place with thumping win at Glamorgan

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Visitors win by 74 runs as Glamorgan’s bowlers struggle at both ends of the innings

ECB Reporters Network16-Jul-2021Somerset sealed a place in the Vitality Blast quarter-finals as they hammered Glamorgan by 74 runs at Sophia Gardens.New Zealand run machine Devon Conway batted Somerset’s full 20 overs for an unbeaten 70 from 52 balls as Glamorgan’s bowlers struggled at both ends of the innings.In between, Roman Walker impressed with 3 for 15 from his four overs but Glamorgan’s batsman were nowhere near as good as they were bowled out for just 107 with First Minister of Wales Mark Drakeford watching on.Somerset – who were without England pair Lewis Gregory and Tom Banton – won the toss and unsurprisingly chose to bat on a stunning evening in the Welsh capital.Conway struck two leg-side boundaries from Andrew Salter’s first over, but Glamorgan’s poor bowling gave their opponents a flying start. Dan Douthwaite’s first over went for 16 and included a ball which went for five wides. Two more wides and a six struck by Steve Davies followed.Timm van der Gugten dismissed Davies, caught behind by Chris Cooke for 22, but it was a rare good delivery as Glamorgan strayed on to leg stump far too frequently.Somerset were 55 for 1 after six overs and 84 for 2 at the halfway stage, but Walker dragged Glamorgan back into it with the wickets of Will Smeed and veteran James Hildreth.Lewis Goldsworthy smashed Marnus Labuschagne for six down the ground, but Walker showed him how it should be done with his third wicket of a superb spell.Conway watched the wickets fall at the other end until Tom Lammonby joined him and smashed Van der Gugten for four, four and six from the first three balls of the 17th over.Conway went past 50 and then joined in the fun by hitting the struggling Douthwaite for six although the Glamorgan seamer did dismiss Lammonby for 34 thanks to a smart Salter catch.Kiran Carlson smashed Jack Leach for six on the second ball of Glamorgan’s response but was caught and bowled by the England spinner on the fourth. Colin Ingram carted a six over midwicket but he too went caught and bowled, this time at the hands of Craig Overton for 19.Glamorgan were 36 for 2 after the first powerplay. David Lloyd hit Goldsworthy’s first ball to Overton at cover and it left Labuschagne and Billy Root needing 122 from the final 10 overs. Glamorgan didn’t get close. Labuschagne pulled Marchant de Lange to the mid-wicket boundary where Roelof van der Merwe took a stunning catch and from there the Welsh side folded. Somerset’s spinners were far too good with Goldsworthy finishing with 3 for 14 and Van der Merwe 3 for 20.