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Greg Blewett also believes Australia should stick with the same batting order for the third Test in Adelaide, but Mike Hussey wants Usman Khawaja to open again

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Dec-20251:00

Clarke: Not sure I’d go back to Khawaja

Former Australia captain Michael Clarke is unconvinced by the need for Usman Khawaja to return to the side in Adelaide, although he believes the selectors will recall him for the third Test.Khawaja was ruled out of the Gabba Test after failing to recover from the back spasms he suffered in Perth, where he was forced down to No. 4 in the first innings and was then unable to bat in the second after a recurrence of the injury. That meant Travis Head partnered Jake Weatherald at the top in the run chase, where they added 75, with the pair continuing in Brisbane where an opening stand of 77 set the tone for Australia’s first innings.”I think the selectors will pick him,” Clarke told ESPN’s . “I think he’ll be back at the top of the order. I don’t know if I would make a change, to be honest.Related

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“I think I’ve said before, normally with senior players like that and certainly when you get to that age, you’re selected for big tournaments, either a World Cup or an Ashes series, and at the end of those, your time is done.”Australia are 2-0 up. We’ve got someone at the top of the order that scored an unbelievable hundred. I don’t know if they need to go back to that now. I know that might be hard on Uzzy because he’s had a wonderful career and been a big player.”His spot wasn’t spoken about before a ball was bowled in this this series, but things have changed. Australia’s dominating, their style of play is working, so I don’t know if I would go back to that.”Greg Blewett argued that Australia should stick with the current opening combination. “I’m keeping the batting order the same,” he said. “I think that functioned really well up there for the second Test match so I’m not touching that, although if Usman Khawaja’s fit then they may bring him back, but I’m not touching it.”While Khawaja had long been locked into Australia’s plans at the top of the order, there had been scrutiny over his form with a downward trend since the 2023 Ashes. He is averaging 31.84 since that series with one hundred in 45 innings.One option that has been floated is Khawaja returning in the middle order with coach Andrew McDonald saying “he does have flexibility.” When Khawaja made his comeback in early 2022, he batted No. 5 at the SCG and scored twin hundreds before quickly moving up to open.Usman Khawaja has had an interrupted start to the Ashes series•Getty ImagesQueensland team-mate Matt Renshaw said that Khawaja would be able to take on any role offered to him.”Uzzy is a world-class player,” Renshaw told SEN Radio. “He can slot in anywhere – he’s an unreal player of spin and can face fast bowling. Head has been doing an amazing job as opener, so there is absolutely a role for Uzzy to play at five and he averages 250 [238] batting at five in Test cricket.”However, former Australia batter Mike Hussey believes that if he is passed fit, Khawaja should return to his opening role and partner Weatherald in what was the original plan for the series.”If you think about it, before the Ashes series started, Khawaja was at the top of the order,” Hussey told . “Would that one innings change the whole mindset of the selectors? From him being locked in as the opener for the Ashes series, to one innings later suddenly he’s just out of the team. In my mind, no.”Just thinking about [the Perth Test] pragmatically, it wouldn’t change my thinking that much.”

اختار ماوريسيو ساري، مدرب نادي لاتسيو الحالي ويوفنتوس وتشيلسي السابق، أفضل ثلاثة لاعبين دربهم في مسيرته التدريبية.

ويمتلك ساري مسيرة تدريبية مميزة، قام خلالها بالإشراف على تدريب العديد من الفرق، من بينها تشيلسي ونابولي ويوفنتوس، وأخيرًا لاتسيو.

لكن ساري وفي تصريحات نقلها موقع “فوتبول إيطاليا”، اختار كريستيانو رونالدو، أسطورة ريال مدريد ونجم النصر السعودي الحالي من بين أفضل من دربهم في مسيرته.

وعمل رونالدو مع ساري لمدة موسمين في يوفنتوس وحقق معه لقب الدوري الإيطالي وقدم عروضاً رائعة مع البيانكونيري.

اقرأ أيضًا .. روبرتو كارلوس يقارن بين ميسي ورونالدو ويقيم منتخب البرازيل مع أنشيلوتي

وقال ساري: “يعتمد الأمر على اللحظة والدور، لقد دربت العديد من اللاعبين الأقوياء، من البديهي أنه عندما تدرب كريستيانو رونالدو الذي يسجل 32 أو 33 هدفًا في الدوري، فإننا نتحدث عن لاعب حاسم”.

كما أشاد ساري بنجم تشيلسي السابق والنصر الحالي، نجولو كانتي، حيث أضاف: “كان لديّ لاعبو وسط استثنائيون في تشيلسي، مثل كوفاسيتش وكانتي وجورجينيو، ومدافعون ممتازون مثل كوليبالي”.

واختتم ساري: ”لطالما استخف بألبيول لكنه لاعب رائع ولن أنسى ماريك هامسيك، لاعب الوسط الذي ربما لم يحقق ما يتوقع منه بسبب شخصيته اللطيفة، سيكون لاعب خط وسط كهذا مفيدًا جدًا لفريق لاتسيو”.

“We have proven players in the current squad,” Litton Das says after West Indies won the T20I series 3-0, indicating that his boys have his trust

Mohammad Isam01-Nov-2025Litton Das has words of support for his players despite West Indies trouncing Bangladesh 3-0 in the home T20I series over the past week, only the second time in 12 bilateral home series where Bangladesh have been swept away. It came on the back of Bangladesh winning four consecutive bilateral T20I series since July this year.Bangladesh couldn’t chase down 166 and 150 in the first two matches, and West Indies then. chased down a 152-run target quite convincingly in the third game on what Roston Chase said was the best pitch in the series.”We have proven players in the current squad,” Litton said after the game. “One or two series, we can play like this. A player can go through a bad time for four or five matches. A batter knows where he has to improve. I am sure the batters will focus on those areas and consult the batting coach to make a comeback. If you change players every day, the results will be the same. A new player is unlikely to give you much more. So those who are playing cricket for a long time, it is better to go ahead with them to expect better results.”Related

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Bangladesh’s batting was woeful in this T20I series, with only Tanzid Hasan hitting consecutive fifties. In the third game, only Tanzid (89) and Saif Hassan (23) crossed double-digits as they collapsed from 107 for 2 to be bowled out for 151 in 20 overs.Litton suggested that the T20I players needed some rest.Bangladesh have been the second-busiest team in 2025, having played 42 matches, two fewer than Pakistan. They have also played more than 40 matches in the last five calendar years and will feature in two Tests and three T20Is against Ireland in November and December to close off their 2025 tally.”We had separate fitness and skills camps before the Netherlands series. Then we beat them at home, before we went to the Asia Cup and Afghanistan series in the UAE, and then we came home for the West Indies ODIs and T20Is,” Litton listed. “Except for me – I was not in the T20 squad, so I got some time at home – most of these players were playing [continuously].

“World cricket is now far ahead, and those who bat on turning wickets play the reverse sweep. In that regard, we are a little behind. We need to work on those things. You should increase your strengths as much as possible, but when you apply it depends on your game”Litton Das

“Sometimes, the players need rest because when you play so much, many things will not go your way. When the players get a break, like now that the T20 series is over, they will get at least ten days of break to restart themselves. Then there is the Ireland series, and before that, there will be practice. I think all the players will recover well and will be able to come back well.”Litton, however, conceded that the Bangladesh batters were behind the times in terms of skill development, especially in T20Is.”The more you develop your skill, the better you will get. Obviously our batters need to increase their skill and play all kinds of shots. We hardly have batters who play the reverse sweep, for instance,” he said. “World cricket is now far ahead, and those who bat on turning wickets play the reverse sweep. In that regard, we are a little behind. We need to work on those things. You should increase your strengths as much as possible, but when you apply it depends on your game.”Litton said that someone like Jaker Ali should look to be more positive and surround himself with people he can trust to get out of his batting dip.”There is only one option to come back from this: to keep his spirits high, not to worry too much, because if you worry, the negative thought will come more, the positive won’t. If he can think positive, it will be very good for him,” Litton said. “I will always say that when a person is struggling, he should back himself, give himself time, and hang out with people who always help him. I think he will get back into runs soon.”

Chelmsford stalwart hangs up bat after 12 years in the first team

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Sep-2025

Nick Browne scored 20 hundreds for Essex•Getty Images

Nick Browne, the Essex opener, has announced his retirement from the professional game.Browne, 34, was in his benefit season after more than a decade on the books at Essex but only made three One-Day Cup appearances. His last outing in the County Championship, the format which showcased the best of his ability, came in July 2024.Having made his county debut at the age of 22, Browne went on to become a mainstay at the top of the order, scoring 20 first-class hundreds – including four doubles, equalling the record of Graham Gooch for the club – and helping Essex to four-red-ball titles between 2016 and 2020.Related

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“The time has come to hang up the Gray-Nicolls boots and retire from professional cricket,” Browne said. “It has been my lifelong dream to play for Essex, starting with the club at the age of 8, the last 26 years of my life has been about Essex Cricket and I have loved every minute of it.”I want to say a massive thank you to all of the members and fans of Essex for your unwavering support throughout the years. I have played every ball, every session and every day like it is my last. I have tried to play with a smile on my face every day and hope I have given you some joy and happiness.”I am incredibly grateful to all my coaches who have thrown millions of balls at me over the years. They have supported me through so many great days and some average ones. To the boys who I have shared the dressing room with, thank you for everything. We have had so many great memories on and off the field from winning Championships to the late nights in the changing rooms.”To my parents, family, friends and my partner Alice, I have had the most amazing, unforgettable time playing cricket, I could not have done it without your love and support. You have always been there for me to celebrate me in the highs and the lows. I cannot thank you enough. I look forward to the next chapter.”Predominately a red-ball player, Browne passed 1000 runs for the season three summers in a row between 2015 and 2017. His runs helped secure the Division Two title in 2016, followed by Essex’s first County Championship in 25 years in 2017. He struggled to reach such heights again, but was part of another Championship-winning side in 2019, as well as the team that lifted the Bob Willis Trophy a year later.Having been almost an ever-present at the top of the order for a decade, he only played six times in the Championship last season and has not featured this term.Dan Feist, Essex’s chief executive officer, said: “Nick Browne is the epitome of dedication and professionalism. His contributions to Essex Cricket have been remarkable, and his commitment to the club is admired not just by those at Chelmsford but by players, officials and supporters throughout the county game.”Nick has been a true professional on and off the field, with a passion for the game and for Essex Cricket that stands out. We are grateful for his immense contributions and wish him every success in retirement and beyond.”

Somerset 379 (Banton 84, Abbas 3-59) and 238 for 4 drew with Nottinghamshire 509 (Haynes 157, Slater 124, Kishan 77, James 66, Leach 6-121)Somerset’s Tom Kohler-Cadmore defied Nottinghamshire with a match-saving final day century as the Rothesay County Championship Division One match at the Cooper Associates Ground, Taunton, ended in a draw.The visitors had realistic hopes of victory when reducing their opponents to 28 for three, still needing 102 to avoid an innings defeat. But Kohler-Cadmore hit an unbeaten 147, off 196 balls, with 11 fours and six sixes, sharing stands of 96 with James Rew and 114 with Tom Abell, to see Somerset to 238 for four by the time the players shook hands at 4.50pm.Left-arm spinner Liam Patterson-White bowled 29 overs unchanged from the River End either side of lunch and finished with four for 104 from 33, but no other Notts bowler could make a significant impression with the Kookaburra ball on a pitch offering only occasional turn and no assistance for the seamers. Somerset took 11 points from the game and Notts 12.The home side set out at four for one, having lost nightwatchman Matt Henry to the only over bowled the previous evening. Soon it was 18 for two as Sean Dickson was rapped on the back pad by a ball from Patterson-White that turned and departed lbw for six.Worse was to follow for Somerset when Tom Lammonby, on seven, pulled a short ball from Patterson-White and picked out the only fielder on the leg side, Farhan Ahmed at deep square, who pouched a comfortable catch.Kohler-Cadmore went on the counter-attack, launching three big sixes back over the head of off-spinner Ahmed, each sending the ball further than the one before and the last pitching on top of the Marcus Trescothick stand.But the most impressive aspect of the former Yorkshire player’s innings was the respect he showed the other bowlers having spread the field, content to pick up ones and twos as he and Rew laid the first foundations for avoiding defeat.Left-hander Rew was equally intelligent in his shot selection, nullifying the effect of Patterson-White, who displayed the same control of line and length that his Somerset counterpart Jack Leach had shown on day three.By lunch the scoreboard read 112 for three and the Notts lead was down to 18 runs. Patterson-White had bowled throughout the morning, sending down 15 overs for 46 runs and two wickets. Somerset could feel some relief, but there was still work to be done, especially when Rew fell for 43 early in the afternoon session, top-edging a sweep off Patterson-White to Joe Clarke at short fine leg.The reassuring figure of Abell took his place and batted through the rest of the session with Kohler-Cadmore, who blasted his fourth six over wide long-on off Patterson-White and then clipped a four through the leg side off Ahmed to reach a fine hundred off 138 balls.It was Kohler-Cadmore’s third Championship century since joining the Cider county for the start of the 2023 season, two of them coming in the last two matches. Cloudless skies did not aid the Notts bowlers and by tea, with the Somerset total advanced to 197 for four, the draw looked inevitable.The final session saw Kohler-Cadmore strike another straight six, this time onto the roof of the Lord Ian Botham Stand off Patterson-White, before moving past his previous best Somerset score of 130, made against Northamptonshire at Taunton in 2023.By then the outcome was all but settled. Abell had contributed just 21 when his stand with Kohler-Cadmore reached the century mark, but it was a typically solid knock that extinguished any lingering notions of a Notts victory.When Notts wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan entered the attack to bowl what proved the last over of the game it was a tame end to an often compelling contest.

يستعد فريق مانشستر سيتي، بقيادة المدرب بيب جوارديولا، لخوض مباراة مساء يوم الأربعاء في إطار منافسات بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا، وذلك ضد نظيره فريق بوروسيا دورتموند.

ويستضيف ملعب “سيجنال إيدونا بارك” مباراة فريقي مانشستر سيتي وبوروسيا دورتموند، في الجولة الرابعة من دوري أبطال أوروبا، مرحلة الدوري لموسم 2025/26.

ويمتلك مانشستر سيتي 7 نقاط، بعدما فاز في مباراتين وتعادل في واحدة، مثلما هو الحال مع بوروسيا دورتموند.

ويسعى مانشستر سيتي إلى تحقيق نتيجة إيجابية في مباراة اليوم للحصول على دفعة قوية قبل مباراته النارية المرتقبة ضد ليفربول، يوم الأحد المقبل، في الجولة الحادية عشر من الدوري الإنجليزي. موعد مباراة مانشستر سيتي وبوروسيا دورتموند اليوم في دوري أبطال أوروبا

تنطلق المباراة في تمام الساعة 10 مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة، 11 بتوقيت السعودية. القناة الناقلة لمباراة مانشستر سيتي وبوروسيا دورتموند اليوم في دوري أبطال أوروبا

تُذاع المباراة عبر قناة beIN SPORTS 3. معلق مباراة مانشستر سيتي وبوروسيا دورتموند اليوم في دوري أبطال أوروبا

سيعلق حفيظ دراجي على أحداث مباراة الليلة.

ويمكنك متابعة مباريات اليوم لحظة بلحظة من خلال مركز المباريات من هنا.

Spinner sparks dramatic collapse as Derbyshire take first-day spoils

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay 22-Jun-2025

Jack Morley claimed career-best figures•Getty Images

Jack Morley claimed career-best figures of six for 55 as Derbyshire dominated the opening day of the Rothesay County Championship Division Two match with Gloucestershire at the Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol.Bowling around the wicket from the Ashley Down Road End, the 23-year-old left-arm spinner sent down 18.2 overs, sparking a collapse that saw the home side crash from 68 for no wicket to 187 all out after winning the toss.Cameron Bancroft top-scored with 58, while James Bracey contributed 47 and there were two wickets each for Zak Chappell and Alex Thomson. By the close of a day in which six overs were lost to rain, Derbyshire had replied with 116 for two, Harry Came unbeaten on 29.Before play began, players, officials and staff from both clubs stood in line to observe a minute’s silence as a mark of respect for Gloucestershire president and former fast bowler David ‘Syd’ Lawrence MBE, who has passed away at the age of 61 following a long battle with motor neurone disease.Just 50 minutes play followed before rain forced an early lunch, taken at 12.30pm. By the break, Gloucestershire openers Bancroft and Joe Phillips, the latter making his first appearance of the season, had put 35 runs on the board in 12.2 overs.There was little sign of the carnage ahead as the resumption at 1.25pm saw Bancroft and Phillips extend their partnership comfortably before Phillips, on 27, drove Morley in the air to mid-on where Ben Aitchison took a good tumbling catch.It was 82 for two when Ollie Price was bowled on the back foot by a delivery from Morley that hurried through and 86 for three when Miles Hammond advanced down the pitch to the same bowler only to miscue a catch to Aitchison at mid-off.Bancroft went to a solid 114-ball half-century, with 8 fours, but fell with the total on 102, caught behind trying to pull a short ball from Chappell. Gloucestershire’s plight worsened when Graeme van Buuren went lbw to Thomson, pushing forward on off stump, and Ben Charlesworth followed for a duck, caught at second slip by Aitchison attempting to drive the off-spinner.At 114 for six, Gloucestershire’s innings looked in tatters. But Bracey and Zaman Akhter stopped the rot with a seventh-wicket stand that was worth 37 by tea, Akhter playing positively before the break, reverse sweeping Thomson for four and off-driving another boundary in the same over.The England Lions all-rounder continued in the same vein after the interval, timing a sweet straight four off the opening delivery of the session, sent down by Chappell, and quickly following up with a boundary through the covers.Bracey had begun his innings with two edged fours wide of second slip off Chappell. But under clearing skies and early evening sunshine, he also found his touch as the stand reached 64 before Akhter was bowled by Morley on the back foot for 32.Australia Test off-spinner Todd Murphy, making his Gloucestershire debut, could score only one before being caught at deep square pulling a ball from Chappell, Aitchison pouching a fourth catch. Ajeet Singh Dale was bowled by a ball from Morley that straightened and when Bracey, having run out of partners, holed out to long-on Gloucestershire had lost all ten wickets for 119 runs in the space of 36 overs.Derbyshire were left with 28 overs to face before stumps. Openers Lloyd and Caleb Jewell took the score to 49 in the 11th over before Jewell, who had just pulled a six off Akhter, fell to the same bowler, edging a back-foot shot to second slip and departing for 32 off 39 balls.Murphy, brought on as early as the eighth over, was unable to pose the problems caused by Morley from the same end, but 19-year-old seamer Archie Bailey struck with his eighth ball on seasonal debut as Lloyd, having moved untroubled to 35, cut a catch to point.Came and Wayne Madsen saw out the remaining overs as Derbyshire reached the close trailing by only 71 runs.

Celtic are in action in the quarter-finals of the League Cup this weekend as they prepare to take on Partick Thistle to battle it out for a place in the semi-finals of the competition.

The Hoops thrashed Falkirk 4-1 in the last 16 of the League Cup earlier this season, thanks to goals from Daizen Maeda, Alistair Johnston, and Dane Murray, along with a Liam Henderson own goal.

This clash with Partick Thistle will provide Brendan Rodgers with a chance to rotate his side, which could see Arne Engels handed a rare chance to impress.

Why Celtic should be worried about Arne Engels

After selling Adam Idah to Swansea City for a deal worth up to £7m, £1.5m less than they paid Norwich City for him last year, the Hoops should be worried that Engels is the next big-money signing to ultimately flop at Parkhead.

The Belgium international, who signed for a club-record fee of £11m from Augsburg last year, has only started two of the club’s five matches in the Scottish Premiership this season, and was an unused substitute against Kilmarnock last time out.

Engels has failed to score a goal and provided one assist in seven appearances in all competitions this season, after a return of ten goals and 13 assists in the 2024/25 campaign, per Transfermarkt.

The 22-year-old midfielder has found himself out of the side and potentially clinging onto his career at Parkhead, and it is because of the summer signing of Benjamin Nygren.

Why Benjamin Nygren could end Arne Engels' career at Celtic

The Sweden international, who sometimes played as a striker before his move to Celtic, was compared to legendary centre-forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic when he was 16.

First Impressions

What did pundits and fans alike think about their new star signing when they arrived? Football FanCast’s ‘First Impressions’ series has everything you need.

Nygren is Swedish and also has a lanky build, which is why it is not a surprising comparison, but he has established himself as a central midfielder at Parkhead, rather than as a centre-forward like Ibrahimovic.

Despite mainly playing as a right winger for Nordsjaelland in the 2024/25 campaign, per Transfermarkt, the £1m (£1.3m) signing has locked in a spot alongside Callum McGregor and Reo Hatate in central midfield, which was the slot that Engels filled last term.

Appearances

5

Starts

5

Goals

3

Key passes per game

3.2

Big chances created

2

Assists

1

As you can see in the table above, Nygren has scored three goals and created 3.2 chances per game across five outings in the Premiership so far this season for the Hoops.

Engels, however, only scored two non-penalty goals and created 1.7 chances per game across 34 appearances in the top-flight for the Hoops last term, per Sofascore.

These statistics suggest that Celtic have improved their midfield by signing Nygren for £1.3m to replace Engels in the XI because of the quality that he has already provided as both a scorer and a creator of goals.

This is bad news for the Belgium international because it will now be difficult for him to break back into the starting line-up unless he is able to improve on his performances from last season and on Nygren’s this term.

If he cannot oust the Sweden international from the midfield before the January transfer window or next summer, there could be a decision to be made on his future, as there was with Idah when it was clear that Rodgers did not fancy him as the first-choice number nine moving forward.

Worth more than Tounekti: Celtic are brewing the new Reo Hatate at Parkhead

Celtic have a brilliant midfield star who could be the club’s next Reo Hatate in the middle of the park.

ByDan Emery Sep 16, 2025

Therefore, Nygren, once compared to a legendary striker, may be the player who ends Engels’ career at Parkhead if he continues to impress in midfield for the Scottish giants.

Before the match, many expected Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) to post the first 300-plus total in IPL history. There were reasons to justify the speculation. After a record-breaking IPL 2024, SRH had posted 286 for 6 in their IPL 2025 opener, also in Hyderabad, and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) were without at least two of their first-choice bowlers.Forget 300, SRH could not even score 200. They managed 190 for 9 with Shardul Thakur picking up 4 for 34, his best figures in the IPL.Still, 190 was not a small total. But Nicholas Pooran made it look minuscule. He smashed 70 off just 26 balls, hitting six fours and as many sixes. By the time Pat Cummins had him lbw, LSG needed only 71 from 68 balls.Related

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Mitchell Marsh, who played second fiddle to Pooran while they were together, also scored a fifty before Abdul Samad applied the finishing touches.LSG chasing down their target with 23 balls and five wickets to spare was giving SRH a taste of their own medicine. Last season, Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma had taken just 9.4 overs to chase down LSG’s 165 at this very venue.

Thakur gets two in two

LSG knew the only way to stop the marauding SRH batting unit was to take early wickets. Thakur went in search of swing in the first over but did not find success. But in his next over, he dismissed Abhishek and Ishan Kishan off successive balls. Abhishek pulled a short ball into the hands of deep square-leg, and Kishan was caught down the leg side.1:28

What makes Shardul Thakur effective?

Head went after the returning Avesh Khan, hitting him for two sixes and a four in the fourth over. Two overs later, he tried to take on Ravi Bishnoi but ended up skying a slog sweep. Pooran, though, put the chance down at long-on. Four balls later, Bishnoi failed to latch on to a tough return catch. Head was on 35 at the time of the first drop but it cost LSG only 12 as Prince Yadav made a mess of Head’s stumps for his first wicket in the IPL.

Klaasen’s bizarre run out

Nitish Kumar Reddy and Heinrich Klaasen took SRH past 100 in the 11th over before Klaasen was run out in bizarre fashion. Nitish hit a full toss from Prince to the bowler’s left. Prince failed to hold on to the catch, but the ball found a way to ricochet on to the stumps at the non-striker’s end with Klaasen well outside his crease. Soon after, Bishnoi castled Nitish for 32 off 28, leaving SRH in a spot.

Sixes and outs

In keeping with the SRH team ethos, the batters kept attacking. But while they kept hitting sixes, they also kept getting out. Aniket Verma smashed Bishnoi for back-to-back sixes and repeated it against Digvesh Rathi in the following over before getting out for 36 off 13 balls. Cummins walked out at No. 8, hit the first three balls he faced for three sixes, and was out on the fourth. That took SRH to 180 for 8 after 18 overs. However, only ten runs came from the last two.1:49

Knight breaks down Pooran’s six-hitting

Pooran makes it a one-sided contest

Mohammed Shami removed Aiden Markram in the second over of the chase, but Pooran took the attack to the opposition as soon as he walked out. His first boundary came via a misfield before he smoked Simarjeet Singh over deep midwicket twice in two balls.Bringing on a left-arm orthodox spinner with Pooran in the middle is always risky. But Cummins took that gamble with Abhishek. Pooran faced only two balls from him and slog-swept both for sixes. He has now hit seven sixes off nine balls against Abhishek in T20 cricket.He didn’t spare legspinner Adam Zampa either, hitting him for two sixes and a four in the seventh over. Off the first 20 balls he faced, he hit five fours and six sixes.

Marsh’s fifty, Samad’s cameo

Marsh was on 37 off 22 balls when Pooran got out. He had hit Shami for two straight sixes in the powerplay. In the 11th over, he hit Cummins for back-to-back fours to bring up his fifty off 29 balls. Cummins had him caught at long-on soon after but it was too late.At the end of 11 overs, LSG needed only 53. They did lose Rishabh Pant and Ayush Badoni along the way, but their victory was never in doubt. Samad, a former SRH player, smashed an unbeaten 22 off eight balls to complete the formalities.

Kevin De Bruyne scored a second-half penalty to get Napoli back in the game against AC Milan before being subbed off by Antonio Conte in their first Serie A defeat. The Belgian looked frustrated as he walked off and went straight to the bench without acknowledging Conte. The coach said the decision was to bring fresh legs, adding he hoped De Bruyne’s displeasure was with the result, not him.

• Kevin De Bruyne wasn't happy with Conte's decision

  De Bruyne was one of Napoli's standout performers in their clash against AC Milan, orchestrating play from midfield and constantly probing the opposition defence. His most significant contribution came when he won a penalty after being tripped by a Milan defender while making a clever run into the box. The Belgian confidently stepped up and converted the penalty, briefly levelling the score for Napoli and showcasing his composure under pressure. Despite his strong performance, coach Conte chose to substitute De Bruyne around the 73rd minute. The decision clearly frustrated the player, who swiftly exited the pitch, notably bypassed Conte, and sat on the bench looking visibly disgruntled over being taken off at a crucial moment.

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  Conte's has no time to deal with tantrums

  Asked about the changes specifically substituting De Bruyne, Scott McTominay and Rasmus Hojlund in the 73rd minute, the coach said: "I tried to bring in fresh players for one-on-one situations because Milan were closing down a lot. I swapped the striker for Lucca and nothing happened… You make substitutions to try and do something good. I think they were the right changes."

  Sharing his take on De Bruyne's reaction, the coach said: "I hope he was upset about the result because if he was upset about something else he's got the wrong person."

  The Italian coach wasn't pleased with the result but defended the team's overall performance blaming the drop in defensive hold on the lack of players and a congested fixture run.

  "We've conceded a few more goals lately, seeing as we did the two goals against Pisa, the two goals today, and the goal against Fiorentina," he said. "Defensiveness has always been our strength, we'll have to be good at improving. Coming here with this performance and playing with this quality against Milan, who are a tough and physically strong team. If they close down, it becomes difficult… It has to give us a good feeling as a team."

• Napoli needs defensive reinforcements

  Napoli’s defence is in crisis with the absence of both Amir Rrahmani, out for several weeks with a muscle injury and expected to return in mid-October, and Alessandro Buongiorno, sidelined for about a month with an adductor injury, leaving the team short of centre-backs. Conte admitted after the Milan game that conceding more goals lately has been a problem and emphasised the need for defensive improvement, especially with only Juan Jesus and Sam Beukema left as fit centre-backs, while other defenders like Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Leonardo Spinazzola and Mathias Olivera are either suspended or fatigued.

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  Conte shifts focus to the Champions League

  Napoli will host Sporting CP in their crucial Champions League match on October 1. With several key defenders injured, Conte is counting on the young players to step up and deliver strong performances to keep the team competitive during this injury crisis.