Erling Haaland has hailed Neil Warnock as a "legend of the game" after meeting the veteran manager at Manchester City training.

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Warnock and Haaland met for the first timeEx-QPR manager visited training groundNorway international hails his influenceFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Haaland and Warnock crossed paths when the latter was invited to training by City boss Pep Guardiola. Warnock, per The Sun, spent time chatting with players, and gave Haaland advice ahead of the FA Cup final this weekend, when City take on Crystal Palace, one of the 76-year-old's former employers.

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Haaland says he and Warnock bonded over "kick and run" tactics, with the striker agreeing that teams often need to go route one. That will come as something of a surprise given the tactical preferences of Guardiola, but the striker has explained he gets his "old school" views from his father.

WHAT HAALAND SAID

Haaland told the BBC: “He’s a really funny guy, a good guy. I’ve watched a lot of English football my whole life so I know he’s a legend of the game.

“I didn’t know he was coming so it was a surprise but I had a good chat with him. He’s got an old school way about him and I’m also a little bit old school because of my father. We had some good discussions.”

Asked what they discussed, he replied: “Sometimes you have to kick and run a little bit.

“That was his tactics in his days and I agree with it — a bit of kick and run.

“We both love football so we talked about that, the period we’ve been in but how we’ve got a good momentum going on now. In other seasons, something has happened to give us some extra energy from somewhere and this is exactly the time it should happen.”

Getty WHAT NEXT?

City face Palace in the FA Cup final on Saturday. They also continue to fight for Champions League qualification, as they sit fourth, but are just two points clear of sixth-placed Aston Villa. Their last two league games come against Bournemouth and Fulham.

Real Madrid star Arda Guler has revealed how he inadvertently turned Cristiano Ronaldo into Michael Jordan 'Last Dance' mode.

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• Pair crossed paths at Euro 2024
• Turkish star idolises Portuguese GOAT
• Never got his post-match chat

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Turkish sensation Guler was just a teenager when lining up against Portuguese GOAT Ronaldo during the group stage of Euro 2024. He had hoped to enjoy a special outing when facing his boyhood hero.

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• Getty
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The plan was for Turkey to pick up a positive result before entering into a post-match discussion with CR7 – potentially swapping jerseys along the way. Events outside of Guler’s control ultimately conspired against him.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Unfortunate headlines in the build-up to a crunch clash in Dortmund provided added motivation for Ronaldo, who ended up on the winning side and opted to shun any discussions with rivals at the final whistle.

• Getty Images
  

  WHAT ARDA GULER SAID

  Reflecting on that encounter for , Guler said: "For our match against Portugal, I was a little nervous. I hoped that Ronaldo would talk to me after the game, because I respect him so much.

  "Then on the day of the game, Marca printed this front page: GULER CHALLENGES CRISTIANO. Oh, no…..

  "The truth was, I was honoured to share the pitch with Cristiano. Have you seen The Last Dance? Cristiano is like Michael Jordan. A headline like that is fuel to him. Portugal won 3–0, and after the game he did not speak to anyone."

da cassino： Manchester United are believed to be interested in hiring a “phenomenal” manager to replace Ruben Amorim in the near future, according to an intriguing new update.

Amorim under pressure at Man Utd

da aposte e ganhe： There was plenty of positivity in the air when Amorim was confirmed as Erik ten Hag’s replacement earlier in the season, not least because of the superb job he did at Sporting CP.

It’s fair to say that things haven’t panned out too well so far, however, with the 40-year-old always speaking well and carrying himself with class, but ultimately getting nowhere near enough positive results. In fact, he has only averaged 1.57 points per game in charge, which is a big drop-off from 2.29 per match achieved while at Sporting.

United have arguably become a worse team under Amorim, currently languishing in 14th place in the Premier League, and while he is admirably sticking by his principles and not changing his approach, things have to improve on the pitch sooner rather than later.

If that doesn’t happen, Sir Jim Ratcliffe could be forced into making a decision that he likely would never have expected to make so soon, especially if the squad stop playing for the Portuguese. Now, a big update has emerged regarding the managerial situation at Old Trafford.

Man Utd eyeing "phenomenal" manager

According to a report from Spain, Manchester United and INEOS are eyeing Aston Villa manager Unai Emery as a potential Amorim replacement at Old Trafford.

It is claimed that those high up at the club “could take drastic measures and accelerate the search for a replacement” if things don’t improve, with the 53-year-old emerging as a target.

To see Amorim depart so quickly would be a huge shock, and it does feel as though he still has the backing of the club for now, with the summer transfer window acting as a chance for him to bring in the right players and dispose of numerous players he doesn’t want.

That said, if United remain so poor as the season goes on, Emery could be a fantastic option to come in, having done such an impressive job with Villa, guiding them into the Champions League and reaching the last 16.

The Spaniard has so much experience at the highest level now, incredibly winning the Europa League four times, as well as seeing off United on three occasions. Meanwhile, BBC pundit Danny Murphy has waxed lyrical over the job he has done at Villa:

“His impact’s been absolutely phenomenal. I’m not sure anyone predicted the level of consistency, and the results, and the form, which they’ve had since he came in. I don’t think any of us saw that coming. It’s very difficult to get such a quick impact and keep it going, so I have nothing but admiration for what he’s done.”

Unai Emery’s managerial record

Matches

Points per game

Aston Villa

124

1.76

Villarreal

129

1.78

Arsenal

78

1.85

Paris Saint-Germain

114

2.42

Sevilla

205

1.78

Spartak Moscow

26

1.50

Valencia

220

1.72

Almeria

84

1.62

Lorca Deportiva

24

1.25

For now, Amorim needs to be trusted at United, but if he ultimately shows that he isn’t the right man for the job, Emery should be considered a standout candidate.

افتتح برشلونة موسمه في الدوري الإسباني بالفوز ضد ريال مايوركا، بثلاثية نظيفة، في الجولة الأولى خلال اللقاء الذي جمع بينهما على ملعب سون مويكس.

ويبدو أن بيدري قد استمتع بفترة تحضيرية رائعة مع برشلونة، بعد أن حصل على فترة راحة جيدة، ثم تدرب بشكل مكثف مع زملائه، لذلك يشعر اللاعب بالتفاؤل بعد بداية الموسم الجديد.

اقرأ أيضاً.. صفقة الـ100 مليون تؤجل ظهور باردجي مع برشلونة في الدوري الإسباني

وتحدث بيدري لاعب خط وسط برشلونة عن التدريبات التحضيرية مع زملائه في تصريحات نشرتها صحيفة “موندو ديبورتيفو”، قائلًا: “لطالما عملنا بشكل ممتاز”.

وأضاف: “في الفترة التحضيرية تدربنا جميعاً معاً منذ البداية وأعتقد أن هذا يعطينا دفعة معنوية، أعتقد أننا خضنا الفترة التحضرية بشكل جيد وعلينا مواصلة الموسم بنفس النهج”.

وأكد بيدري حماسه ولياقته البدنية قبل بداية هذا الموسم، مقارنًا ذلك بمواسم التحضير السابقة: “أشعر بحال جيد جداً”.

وختم: “مر وقت طويل منذ أن شاركت في موسم تحضيري منذ البداية، لطالما كنت ملتزمًا باللعب مع منتخبات وطنية وتعرضت لإصابات وأمور أخرى تعيقني، لكن الآن أشعر بحال جيد جداً وحافز كبير، والأهم أنني في حالة بدنية جيدة”.

A last-minute injury cost him a crack at last year’s T20 World Cup. Now he’s fit and making a case to be in England’s first-choice attack

Matt Roller03-Oct-2023

Warm-up games carry an unwelcome sense of jeopardy for Reece Topley. On the eve of last year’s T20 World Cup, he trod on a boundary toblerone ahead of a game against Pakistan at an empty Gabba and ruptured ligaments in his left ankle, ruling him out of the tournament.There was a sense of relief, then, that he made it through England’s low-key win over Bangladesh unscathed on Monday night. Not only that: he returned figures 3 for 23 in his five overs, spread across two spells with torrential rain causing a long delay between them, and delivered an inch-perfect yorker to Mahedi Hasan with his first ball after the break.”I’ve been steering clear of any mishaps and playing it quite safe – and I’ll continue to do so ahead of the first game,” Topley said, before England flew to Ahmedabad on Tuesday afternoon. “Obviously I don’t want any repeat of what was so gutting last year. It was a tough period to go through.Related

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England rope in Indian sidearm specialist for World Cup prep

“I wouldn’t wish it on anyone, because these are the moments and the events that you dream of being a part of… hopefully I can play my part this year and make up for lost time, if anything, and make a contribution to England going all the way again. I’m looking forward to getting some game time, just as I was anticipating last year, and this time, hopefully, I can help the team retain the trophy.”For England, it was a useful run-out after their first warm-up game, against India, was wiped out entirely by rain. “We got everything we needed from the game,” Topley said. “What we did out there was a steady effort, but nothing too taxing, to be honest – so, a good box ticked to get us ready and raring to go for the opening match.”Topley will be in the selection mix when England train in Ahmedabad on Wednesday night ahead of Thursday’s tournament opener against New Zealand. He is one of six frontline seamers in the squad, and while he may miss out if they select only three, his case for inclusion is helped by an impressive record against left-handers – with New Zealand likely to field four in their top seven. Topley averages 22.07 against left-hand batters in ODIs, and 29.58 against right-handers.”Everyone is fighting for a spot in that final XI,” Topley said. “But whatever XI they end up picking, the whole squad is right behind each other. It is going to take a squad effort to be successful out here, and the side that goes out in each match will continue to live up to the exciting way we play our cricket.”If anything I would say that I’m pretty undercooked,” he admitted. “But, going into a long tournament, I don’t necessarily think that is the worst thing. I feel like I’m just about to come into my stride, hopefully.”It’s not about tearing in at the warm-up game and impressing the right people; it is about delivering in the nine group games. That last group game [against Pakistan on November 11] is still pretty far away so I feel like I’m where I should be, but there is still some work to be done for sure.”

They haven’t won a Test against India in the last 21 years but the Queen’s Park Oval pitch could help them change that

Hemant Brar19-Jul-2023Big pictureIt’s a historic occasion. The second Test between West Indies and India, in Port-of-Spain, will be the 100th Test between the two teams. Of the 99 played so far, West Indies have won 30 and India 23, while 46 have been draws.In the last 21 years, however, West Indies have not managed a single win against India. Their previous victory came in 2002, when Yashasvi Jaiswal, the Player of the Match in the first Test of the current series, was not even five months old.Since then, the two sides have met 24 times, with India winning on 15 occasions and drawing on the other nine. Given how the first Test went – India winning by an innings and 141 runs – West Indies will have to put in a serious effort to end that streak.Related

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Having said that, this could be one of their better chances to do so. The pitch at the Queen’s Park Oval has been, traditionally, conducive to fast bowling, and West Indies have a far more experienced seam-bowling attack in this series.Neither West Indies nor India play another Test for the next five months at least. So both teams will be looking to make the most of this opportunity, apart from pocketing some World Test Championship points. West Indies will be looking to achieve some stability with the bat, and India will hope that Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan spend a considerable time in the middle.Form guideWest Indies LLLWD (last five Tests, most recent first)
India WLDLWIn the spotlightThe world first took notice of Alick Athanaze when he topped the runs chart at the 2018 Under-19 World Cup. Last month, against UAE, he smashed the joint-fastest fifty by a batter on ODI debut. Then on his Test debut last week, against R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja and a turning track, he showed he had the temperament for the long format as well. With wickets tumbling at the other end, he top-scored for West Indies in each innings with knocks of 47 and 28. Ian Bishop said he could be “a leading light in the years to come”, and West Indies will hope he proves Bishop right.In Dominica, Athanaze was impressive on a pitch that offered turn and bounce to spinners•Associated PressAt the same U-19 World Cup where Athanaze was the leading run-scorer, Shubman Gill was second on the list, and was named the Player of the Tournament. While it took Athanaze five years to make his international debut, Gill is already seen as the heir apparent to Virat Kohli. In the first Test, by asking to be moved down to No. 3, he took another step in that direction – experts believe the middle order is his natural home. But a failure in India’s only innings in Dominica meant he now averages 31.96 after 17 Tests. The good thing is he has all the time in the world and the backing of the team management.Team newsWith Raymon Reifer out of the squad, left-hand batter Kirk McKenzie could be in line for a debut. West Indies may also be tempted to bring in Shannon Gabriel for either Jomel Warrican or Rahkeem Cornwall. Meanwhile, uncapped offspin-bowling allrounder Kevin Sinclair will be on standby as a like-for-like replacement for Cornwall in case the latter is yet to fully recover from his chest infection.West Indies (probable): 1 Kraigg Brathwaite (capt), 2 Tagenarine Chanderpaul, 3 Alick Athanaze, 4 Jermaine Blackwood, 5 Kirk McKenzie, 6 Jason Holder, 7 Joshua Da Silva (wk), 8 Rahkeem Cornwall/Kevin Sinclair, 9 Alzarri Joseph, 10 Kemar Roach, 11 Shannon Gabriel/Jomel WarricanTwo days out from the Test, India captain Rohit Sharma said he was not looking to make “any drastic changes”. He also backed Ishan Kishan, saying he was “very impressed” with the wicketkeeper’s glovework. So it will not be a surprise if India field an unchanged XI.India (probable): 1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 3 Shubman Gill, 4 Virat Kohli, 5 Ajinkya Rahane, 6 Ravindra Jadeja, 7 Ishan Kishan (wk), 8 R Ashwin, 9 Shardul Thakur, 10 Jaydev Unadkat, 11 Mohammed SirajPitch and conditionsWhile the Queen’s Park Oval has not hosted a Test since 2018, fast bowlers have always enjoyed the conditions here, registering a much better average (27.39) and strike rate (61.0) as compared to spinners (36.57 and 88.7). Rain is forecast on all five days of the Test, though.Stats and trivia Kohli (8555) needs 32 runs to go past Virender Sehwag’s Test tally of 8586. Among Indians, only Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sunil Gavaskar and VVS Laxman have more Test runs. Ashwin is 14 short of 500 Test wickets. In Dominica, Athanaze became only the second West Indies batter to top-score in each innings of his Test debut. The first was Lawrence Rowe, who scored 214 and 100 not out against New Zealand at Sabina Park in 1972. India have won three of their 13 Tests at Queen’s Park Oval. Another win here will make it their joint-most-successful overseas Test venue alongside the MCG. England and Australia are the other two teams West Indies and India have met India 100 times in Tests.

MatériaMais Notícias

da realsbet： O Corinthians estreia no Campeonato Paulista no domingo, às 16h, contra o Red Bull Bragantino, e o técnico Fernando Lázaro vai ajustando os preparativos finais para a primeira partida oficial do Timão no ano. Nesta quinta-feira, o treinador conduziu uma atividade tática com os jogadores no CT Joaquim Grava.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasCorinthiansTorcida do Corinthians esgota ingressos para estreia; Organizadas anunciam protestos contra preçosCorinthians12/01/2023CorinthiansCorinthians abre venda de ingressos para primeiro jogo do ano na Neo Química Arena; veja preçosCorinthians12/01/2023CorinthiansPor cautela, Corinthians solicitou permanência de Du Queiroz até o meio do anoCorinthians12/01/2023

da dobrowin： + Confira quem sai, quem fica e as movimentações do Timão no mercado

Antes, os jogadoresiniciaram o treinamento realizando exercícios de fortalecimento na academia. Renato Augusto e Yuri Alberto, desfalques na atividade de quarta, aberta à imprensa, treinaram com bola normalmente com o restante do grupo.

Sete jogadores da base do Corinthians completaram a atividade do dia: o goleiro Cadu (2005); o lateral-direito Vitinho (2005); o lateral-esquerdo Gustavo Henrique (2005); o volante Cauan (2003); o meio-campista Adryan (2005); e os atacante Léo Agostinho (2005) e Luan (2003).

+ Veja todas as movimentações do futebol brasileiro na nova ferramenta de mercado do LANCE!

Para a estreia, o técnico Fernando Lázaro não poderá contar com os meias Paulinho e Ruan Oliveira. Ambos estão em fase final de recuperação de suas respectivas lesões e devem estar à disposição ao longo da competição. Já Gustavo Mosquito, que rompeu oligamento cruzado anterior do joelho direito em outubro, só voltará aos gramados na metade do ano.

O Corinthians tem até sexta-feira para divulgar os 26 atletas inscritos na Lista A do Paulistão.O elenco alvinegro irá realizar mais dois treinos no CT Joaquim Grava antes do confronto contra o Red Bull Bragantino. Os ingressos para o setor visitante no estádio Nabizão já foram esgotados.

+ Veja tabela e simule os jogos do Paulistão 2023

O Timão está no Grupo C do Campeonato Paulista, ao lado de Ferroviária, Ituano e São Bernardo. Já o Massa Bruta está no Grupo A, com Santos, Inter de Limeira e Botafogo-SP. Os dois melhores de cada grupo avançam e se enfrentam em jogo eliminatório.

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The Philippe Clement era at Rangers is over.

Last weekend’s 2-0 home defeat at the hands of St Mirren, the Buddies’ first victory at Ibrox since 1991, proved to be the Belgian’s 86th and final match in charge, enjoying 55 victories but unable to lead the Gers to a 56th title.

His sacking was announced a week ago before, the following morning, it was confirmed that Barry Ferguson, who made 410 appearances for the club, will be in interim charge until the end of the season, assisted by a trio of fellow-former Rangers players, namely Neil McCann, Billy Dodds and Allan McGregor.

Given that, as noted by Graham Ruthven of the Total Soccer Show, Ferguson has no pedigree as a top-level manager, previously taking charge of Clyde, Kelty Hearts and Alloa Athletic with mixed success, he’s unlikely to get the job permanently.

So, should Rangers’ potential new investors, namely Paraag Marathe of 49ers Enterprises, look to a manager from farther afield, with Pep Guardiola’s approval no less, as Clement’s long-term successor?

What went wrong for Philippe Clement at Ibrox

Ever since Rangers were knocked out of the Scottish Cup by Queen’s Park, beaten at Ibrox in that competition by a team from a lower division for the first time ever, it was only a matter of time until Clement lost his job.

With his team also currently 16 points adrift run-away Premiership leaders Celtic, speaking on Premier Sports’ Scottish Football Social Club, former Hibs and Hearts midfielder Michael Stewart said he could not see how Clement could survive such an historic cup shock.

Meantime, speaking on the Scottish Football Show, Findlay Marks believes Clement has been a ‘dead man walking’ ever since that cup exit, adding that while the Belgian is clearly a good manager, he ‘never figured out… how to play in Scotland’.

Clement failed to win any of his first six Glasgow derbies, two of which came in cup finals, another reason why Mark Atkinson of the Scotsman believed ‘most Rangers-minded individuals wanted him gone’ a while ago.

With Rangers marooned in second spot in the Premiership, not going to catch Celtic and equally unlikely to be overtaken by Aberdeen, they can start planning for next season, which they know will commence on 22 or 23 July with the first leg of a Champions League qualifier.

By then, the Light Blues could have new owners, given that 49ers Enterprises are attempting to purchase a ‘controlling stake’ in the club, as reported by Jordan Campbell of the Athletic, so should they look to the other side of the world for their first managerial hire?

Manager Focus

Who are the greatest coaches in the land? Football FanCast’s Manager Focus series aims to reveal all.

Rangers' ideal Clement successor

According to David Irvine of the National, Kevin Muscat is currently third-favourite to be the next Rangers manager, having been interviewed for the job back in October 2023, when Clement was appointed instead, a decision that left him ‘disappointed’.

As a player, Muscat made 26 appearances for Rangers in the 2002/03 season, also representing Crystal Palace, Wolves, Millwall as well as various clubs across Australia, infamously deemed to be too hot-headed by manager Alex McLeish to play in an Old Firm.

He’s since become something of a globe trotter in management, in charge of Melbourne Victory for six years, winning two A-League titles, before a brief stint as Ange Postecoglou’s assistant at the 2017 Confederations Cup in Russia.

After little over a dozen matches in charge of Sint-Truiden in Belgium, he then succeeded Postecoglou at Yokohama F. Marinos, after his compatriot became Celtic head coach, winning the J1 League in 2022.

Since December 2023, Muscat has been in charge of Shanghai Port in China, winning the Chinese Super League and Chinese FA Cup double last season, beating Shandong Taishan 3-1 in November’s final in Wenzhou, as he pointed out himself, achieving the club’s very first double.

“Guardiola has approved of Kevin Muscat’s high-tempo attacking football” as noted by digital producer Sacha Pisani, with the Manchester City boss saying of Muscat’s Yokohama side “wow… they are dynamic in their process, the build-up, everything they do. I like it.”

So, let’s see how he compares to Clement.

Matches

86

200

116

46

Wins

55

95

67

33

Wins %

63.95%

47.5%

57.76%

71.72%

League titles

Zero

2

1

1

Cups

1

2

0

1

As the table underlines, Muscat has won a league title in three different countries, not many can boast that, while his Shanghai Port side won last season’s Chinese Super League title with a record-breaking 78 points, dropping only 12 points all year.

Thus, the 51-year-old’s pedigree means he has to be a serious candidate to fill the current vacancy at Ibrox.

Philippe Clement sacked: 6 things the new Rangers manager must do at Ibrox

The next Rangers manager will have a big to-do list.

ByRoss Kilvington Feb 24, 2025

Arsenal now hold a strong interest in a “lethal” £50m striker, who is seen as an ideal solution to their attacking issues, according to a report.

Doubt over Havertz's Arsenal future

Although the Gunners are still in the Premier League title race, currently sitting six points behind Liverpool, there is a feeling they could have done with bringing in some extra attacking firepower during the January transfer window.

In a recent interview with Football Insider, former scout Mick Brown revealed Mikel Arteta is set to pursue a new striker in the summer, casting doubt over Havertz’s long-term future at the Emirates Stadium.

“I don’t think their position has changed since they first started looking at options. Arteta wasn’t happy that they didn’t strengthen in January, because they needed to.

“So if Arsenal can get a top-quality replacement, I expect them to do that in the summer.”

Arsenal keen on "special" £25m ace who's now available to sign this summer

The Gunners have set their sights on a hot prospect, who is being targeted by some of Europe’s top clubs.

By
Dominic Lund

Feb 9, 2025

Alexander Isak and Benjamin Sesko are among the main strikers to be linked with a move to north London in the summer, but reports from Spain have now revealed there is another name on the list of targets.

Arsenal are said to hold a strong interest in Atalanta’s Mateo Retegui, having been impressed by his performances this season, which has attracted the attention of a number of big clubs.

Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain are also ‘bidding strongly’ for Retegui, so there may be stiff competition for his signature, with Atalanta set to try and hold out for up to €60m (£50m).

With the Gunners still lacking a reliable striker, the Atalanta star is viewed as an ideal solution, but they are yet to make any concrete moves towards getting a deal done.

Retegui on fire in the Serie A

It is no surprise the Italian has attracted Arsenal’s attention, as he has been prolific in the Serie A this season, scoring 20 goals in 22 games, most recently bagging four in his side’s 5-0 victory against Hellas Verona.

Italy manager Luciano Spalletti was full of praise for the 25-year-old earlier this season, saying: “Inside the box, he is lethal. And now he has learned how to connect with the team better. He’s going to become a top player.”

If the Gunners are keen on an out-and-out striker, Retegui could be their man, given that he ranks in the 96th percentile for non-penalty goals per 90 over the past year, when compared to his positional peers.

As you’d expect, Havertz outperforms the Atalanta forward on a number of key defensive metrics, while he has also provided far more assists during the same timeframe.

However, the most important thing for any striker is to find the back of the net, and the Argentina-born marksman certainly knows how to do that, so it is promising news the Gunners are considering a summer move.

Thunder ended their Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy campaign with a five-wicket victory against Western Storm in an entertaining and spirited game at Emirates Old Trafford.Half-centuries from Emma Corney, Sophia Smale and skipper Sophie Luff led Storm to 250 for 7 with Thunder spin duo Olivia Bell and Liberty Heap taking three wickets apiece.In reply, Thunder captain Ellie Threlkeld and Naomi Dattani posted the highest-ever partnership of 177 for Thunder, with both players making career-best List-A scores of 107 not out and 82 respectively to chase down their target with 20 balls to spare.Corney and Smale made the perfect start for the Storm after Luff won the toss, compiling a 98-run partnership across the opening 20 overs.Corney, who played a confident range of shots on both sides of the wicket including a six over midwicket off Bell, reached an excellent 57-ball fifty but perished for 53 after hitting Bell to Tara Norris at long-on.The introduction of Bell in the 14th over had started to apply the brakes to the Storm run-scoring and the off-spinner next bowled Fran Wilson for 24 to give Thunder some further relief.Sophia Smale responded in fine fashion reaching her fifty off 77 balls before slicing a drive back to Bell who took a good diving catch to claim her third wicket. It was a sensational effort by Bell who bowled her ten overs in one spell that produced a return of 3 for 30, and the 19-year-old has now taken 25 wickets from her last eight Thunder outings.Heap backed that up with a further three wickets to bring Thunder back into the game, bowling Niamh Holland for a duck and Nat Wraith for 8 with two sharply turning deliveries to have Storm 160 for 5 in the 35th over.Heap (3 for 39) then broke a good 39-run partnership between Luff and Katie Jones when the latter top-edged a pull to Dani Collins at backward square leg for 16.Luff, who had arrived at the crease at the fall of the second wicket, played a gem of an innings using all her experience to rotate the strike and keep the score moving steadily, and she next joined forces with Chloe Skelton in an enterprising partnership of 50 off 51 balls over the closing overs.Visiting skipper Luff went to a 63-ball half-century in the penultimate over of the innings before falling in the last, caught for 54 off Norris with Skelton unbeaten on 21.Chasing 251, the Thunder made a disastrous start to their reply losing three wickets for 17 runs inside eight overs.Heap was run out without scoring, Seren Smale fell lbw to namesake Sophia for 3 who then held onto a good caught-and-bowled offering at the second attempt when Fi Morris drove back up the wicket having made 11.Dattani and Threlkeld stopped the rot with a steadying partnership that initially added fifty inside 11 overs and the pair kept the momentum going, reaching the halfway point of the innings on 115 for 3 with 136 required.Once established, the Thunder duo played their shots and ran cleverly putting the visitors under increasing pressure with both reaching fifties, Threlkeld from 54 balls and Dattani off 83.It took a spectacular one-handed diving catch by Holland off her own bowling to break the partnership and dismiss Dattani, leaving Thunder on 194 for 4 and needing 57 off 67 balls.Threlkeld expertly finished the job, reaching a fabulous century from 107 balls and getting good support from Laura Delaney (22) and Dani Collins (12 not out) before hitting her 14th boundary to win the game in the 47th over.