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Despite their form, the duo won’t be dislodging the current top three of David Warner, Aaron Finch and Steven Smith

Andrew McGlashan02-Sep-2020Marnus Labuschagne and Marcus Stoinis would appear unlikely to be able to force their way into Australia’s first-choice T20I XI for the start of the series against England despite making a strong impact in the intersquad warm-up matches at the Ageas Bowl.Labuschagne, who only has 10 T20 matches at domestic level under his belt, rattled off a 50-ball century in the second of two matches on Tuesday while Stoinis struck 68 off 37 balls to add to the 87 he made in the 50-over practice game at the weekend.Few would bet against Labuschagne eventually earning a T20I berth given his last 12 months at the international level – coach Justin Langer spoke of the “acceleration of his improvement” – but both he and Stoinis, who had a prolific Big Bash last season opening the batting for the Melbourne Stars, won’t be dislodging the current top three of David Warner, Aaron Finch and Steven Smith.”We’ve had a pretty settled T20 side over the last 12 months or so and all we can ask for is that guys bang so hard they are putting pressure on the guys in there,” Langer said. “So, whether Marnus plays this series or not, or certainly the first game on Friday night, time will tell. We haven’t decided that yet. But he’s certainly done, as has always been the way since coming into international cricket, everything he possibly could. He was hitting Pat Cummins, the world’s best, over point for six.”Marcus Stoinis had an impressive showing in the warm-ups•Getty Images

One option for Stoinis, who has not played for Australia since last year’s World Cup, would be to return in the middle order. He also provides a solid bowling option with his medium pace, but Langer believes his best position in the format is opening and labelled the Warner-Finch pairing as the best white-ball first-wicket combination in the world.”He certainly won’t displace them at the moment,” Langer said. “I think he is an outstanding top-order player, it gives him a lot more time, he’s got incredible power. We also know that he is an adaptable player, and he can play anywhere but I feel he is [best] in the top order. When an opportunity comes time will tell. He is doing everything in his powers to be knocking on the door for selection.”While knowing that Australia will lack some match “hardness” heading into the series having not played since March – against an England side that has been in action for two months – Langer was comfortable with the lead-in the squad had managed. However, he acknowledged the challenge the home side will pose, particularly having brought back some first-choice players who had been on Test duty.The T20I series will pitch the top two-ranked sides together, but in ODIs there is a considerable gap from England in top spot to Australia in fifth.”Dangerous, that’s what I made of England,” Langer said having followed the T20Is against Pakistan. “I’ve watched the way Eoin Morgan plays, it’s exciting to watch, he just comes out and smacks it from ball one. They’ve got some good young players, we’ve seen the squad, they’ve brought some of their more experienced players back. They’ve been the best one-day team in the world for a few years now. We know what to expect.”

MatériaMais Notícias

Pela 19ª rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro da Série B, em pleno estádio Castelão, em São Luís, o Avaí venceu o Sampaio Corrêa pelo placar de 2 a 0. O primeiro gol saiu na etapa inicial com Copete, após bela tabela com Getúlio. O segundo foi na etapa complementar em belo arremate de Lourenço.

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>Aplicativo de resultados do LANCE! está disponível na versão iOS

Com o resultado, o Leão alcançou a vice-liderança da competição e agora soma 33 pontos. Já a Bolívia Querida permanece na 5ª colocação do Campeonato Brasileiro da Série B, com 30 pontos ganhos.

CALENDÁRIO
Na próxima rodada, o Avaí recebe o Coritiba, na Ressacada, em Florianópolis, sexta-feira (dia 20 de agosto). Já o Sampaio Corrêa visita o Goiás, no estádio da Serrinha, em Goiânia, domingo (dia 22 de agosto).

A partida

COMEÇO DE JOGO ANIMADO
Os primeiros 20 minutos no estádio Castelão, em São Luís, foram movimentados, mas sem grandes chances de gol. O Avaí foi quem teve mais a bola, só que o lance mais agudo foi do Sampaio Corrêa. Daniel Costa resolveu arrematar de fora da área e soltou a bomba. O goleiro Gledson caiu no canto e conseguiu efetuar a defesa.

COPETE ABRE O PLACAR
Aos 29 minutos, Copete partiu com a bola em velocidade, passou para Getúlio, que devolveu para o atacante. O colombiano saiu cara a cara com o goleiro da Bolívia Querida e só escolheu o canto para inaugurar o marcador: 1 a 0 para o Avaí.

AVAÍ QUASE AMPLIOU
O Leão aproveitou que a Bolívia Querida sentiu o gol e aproveitou para criar duas grandes oportunidades para ampliar o placar. Só que Marcos Serrato e Copete finalizaram para fora suas oportunidades.

SAMPAIO CORRÊA APOSTA NA BOLA ÁREA E QUASE EMPATA
A Bolívia Querida não conseguiu criar nada na base do toque de bola para empatar o jogo e passou a apostar no fim do primeiro tempo na bola área. E em dois cruzamentos, Nilson Junior e Jean Silva quase igualaram o placar em cabeçadas.

SAMPAIO CORRÊA VOLTA MELHOR PARA SEGUNDO TEMPO E QUASE EMPATA
A Bolívia Querida voltou determinada para etapa complementar a igualar o placar. Das chances criadas, a mais clara foi aos 5 minutos, quando Jackson cabeceou a bola rente ao travessão e marcou o gol.

AVAÍ MATA O JOGO
O bom começo de segundo tempo do Sampaio Corrêa passava a impressão que o empate surgiria a qualquer momento, mas o time do Avaí teve a tranquilidade para segurar a pressão e ampliar o marcador. Lourenço recebeu ótimo passe e soltou a bomba no canto para fazer: 2 a 0, aos 20 minutos.

CADA TIME CRIA UMA CHANCE PARA MARCAR
Após o segundo gol do Avaí, cada time teve uma boa oportunidade para marcar. Primeiro foi Ciel que perdeu uma chance inacreditável para Bolívia Querida. A resposta do Leão veio com Copete, que não conseguiu superar o goleiro do time maranhense.

AVAÍ ADMINISTRA NO FIM E CONSEGUE ÓTIMA VITÓRIA
Nos 15 minutos finais, o Leão passou a controlar o jogo, não ceder oportunidade para equipe do Sampaio Corrêa e administrar o resultado. No fim do jogo, Vinicius Leite até poderia ter feito o terceiro gol, mas ele acabou carimbando o goleiro Mota e perdendo a chance de ampliar a contagem.

SAMPAIO CORRÊA 0 x 2 AVAÍ – 19ª RODADA DO CAMPEONATO BRASILEIRO SÉRIE B
Estádio: Castelão, em São Luís (MA)
Data/horário: 17 de agosto de 2021, às 21h30 (de Brasília)
Árbitro: Antonio Dib Moraes de Sousa (PI)
Assistentes: Rogério de Oliveira Braga (PI) e Márcio Iglésias Araújo Silva (PI)
Cartões amarelos: Zé Mário e Ciel (SAM), Copete (AVA)
Cartões vermelhos:
GOLS: Copete, 29’/1ºT (1-0) (AVA); e Lourenço, 20’/2ºT (2-0) (AVA)

SAMPAIO CORRÊA (Técnico: Felipe Surian)
Mota; Watson, Joécio, Nilson Júnior e Zé Mário (Eloir, aos 32’/2ºT); Márcio Araújo, Ferreira e Daniel Costa (Ciel, aos 18’/2ºT); Jean Silva (Roney, no intervalo), Jackson (Diego Cardoso, aos 32’/2ºT) e Pimentinha (Jarro Pedroso, aos 18’/2ºT).

AVAÍ (Técnico: Claudinei Oliveira)
Glédson; Diego Renan, Rafael Pereira (Fagner Alemão, no intervalo), Betão e João Lucas; Bruno Silva, Marcos Serrato (Iury, aos 25’/2ºT) e Lourenço (Jean Cléber, aos 25’/2ºT); Renato (Valdívia, aos 31’/2ºT), Getúlio (Vinícius Leite, 16’/2ºT) e Copete.

West Ham United have reportedly agreed their second signing of the summer, according to Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth.

Steidten making early West Ham moves

Technical director Tim Steidten helped West Ham win the race to sign Brazilian Luis Guilherme from Palmeiras last week, with the teenage winger becoming the club’s first arrival of the Julen Lopetegui era. Speaking after securing a deal, Steidten was full of praise for Guilherme:

“We are really happy that Luis Guilherme is now a West Ham United player. He is a very exciting young talent who we have followed for some time, and once we became aware that he was available, Julen and I were determined to bring him to London.”

Related West Ham now ready offer to sign new £17m left-back

There’s been contact with his representatives.

Posts ByCharlie Smith Jun 20, 2024

He then added: “This is a very important signing for us – we’ve worked hard across the Club, working closely with the Board, to secure Luis’s signature.

"We know how the tough the Premier League is, and we want a squad that is competitive next season, but also to find the balance of ensuring that we plan for the longer-term future. Exciting young players like Luis Guilherme will help us to reach those goals.”

Guilherme looks to be the first of many through the London Stadium door ahead of the 2024/25 campaign. For example, contact has been made with left-back Ryan Sessegnon after he left Tottenham, whereas a bid was reportedly launched to sign striker Jhon Arias.

Fabrizio Romano also recently revealed that contacts have begun over reuniting Lopetegui with Wolves centre-back Max Kilman, but it is a goalkeeper who is on course to be the next addition of the window.

West Ham agree Wes Foderingham terms

According to Sky Sports’ Sheth on X, West Ham have agreed terms with goalkeeper Wes Foderingham after he departed Sheffield United. The soon-to-be free agent has agreed a two-year deal at the London Stadium, whereas Nathan Trott is set to secure a permanent Hammers exit to FC Copenhagen.

Foderingham, now 33 years of age, will officially become a free agent at the end of the month, but his exit from the Blades has already been confirmed and West Ham have seemingly made their move for the shot-stopper, who Jurgen Klopp hailed as "incredible" following a save last year.

Wes Foderingham career stats

Games

Goals conceded

Clean sheets

Swindon Town

191

199

71

Rangers

143

144

56

Sheffield United

112

149

39

The Englishman, as can be seen, will arrive with plenty of club experience for the likes of Swindon Town, Rangers and Sheffield United, although he has only played 30 times in the Premier League, conceding 79 times and keeping just one clean sheet.

You’d expect he’ll provide cover for Lopetegui, potentially being used in domestic cup competitions if needed, but with Trott departing, Foderingham could be seen as third choice behind 31-year-old Alphonse Areola and 39-year-old Lukasz Fabianski.

Tasmania’s lower order hauled them to a respectable total after they suffered an afternoon collapse

Andrew McGlashan10-Oct-2020Michael Neser enjoyed a fine opening day to the season as he claimed 5 for 32 to help dismiss Tasmania for 250. However, that was more than what Tasmania looked likely to get at tea with Beau Webster anchoring a lower-order rally to complement Ben McDermott’s earlier half-century.Tasmania’s last three wickets added 101, the innings ending when Webster was brilliantly caught on the deep midwicket rope by Marnus Labuschagne. He sprinted to take the catch and then flicked it back to Mitchell Swepson as he slid near the rope. The umpires conferred, without the benefit of replays, before giving it out as Xavier Bartlett picked up his fourth wicket of the innings.Neser, who has been a regular member of Australia Test squads without yet making a debut, removed Queensland’s first three wickets during the morning session – including his first two scalps in the space of four balls as Jordan Silk was lbw and Charlie Wakim spooned a catch to point – before completing his haul in the final session.In the middle session, Bartlett did most of the damage with a three-wicket burst that included removing Australia Test captain Tim Paine to a catch at first slip as Tasmania slipped from 3 for 138 to 7 for 149. McDermott, who added 68 for the fourth wicket with Jake Doran to lead a recovery from 3 for 70, had been the best of Tasmania’s early batting as he compiled a steady 74 before driving Bartlett to cover.Michael Neser claimed the first two wickets of the season in the space of four balls•Getty Images

The final wicket of the afternoon came through a brilliant rebound catch at slip by Usman Khawaja when Nathan Ellis cut a quicker delivery from legspinner Swepson, who bowled a 23-over spell, with the edge initially parried before Khawaja flung himself to his left to take a brilliant grab.Tasmania fought back in the final session as Webster and Peter Siddle, who joined in the off-season from Victoria, added 57 for the eighth wicket in a stand that Siddle dominated before he was pinned lbw on the back foot by Neser who quickly accounted for Jackson Bird.However, the end did not come quickly for Queensland and the efforts of the first day in the field started to show on the quicks. Webster smartly farmed the strike – although Meredith more than did his part – then brought up his fifty by swinging Bartlett over deep midwicket. An attempted repeat next ball was the end of the innings.Queensland’s openers, Bryce Street and Joe Burns, managed to survive eight very challenging overs from Bird and Siddle to stumps.

MatériaMais Notícias

A contundente vitória do Flamengo sobre o Santos no último sábado, na Vila Belmiro, por 4 a 0 chama a atenção pelo placar elástico e pelo poderio ofensivo do time de Renato Gaúcho. No entanto, ao analisar os números, fica evidente que a força e a eficiência da defesa rubro-negratambém foram essenciais para garantir os três pontos no confronto.

>ATUAÇÕES: Gabi comanda vitória do Flamengo sobre o Santos

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Segundo as estatísticas do site “SofaScore”, o Santos, durante toda a partida, conseguiu 11 finalizações, mas apenas duas delas encontraram a direção do gol. Isso mostra que, durante todo o confronto, o Peixe poderia fazer, no máximo, dois gols sobre o Flamengo.

Para deixar ainda mais evidente a força do sistema defensivo, essas duas únicas finalizações que fizeram Diego Alves trabalhar ocorreram apenas no segundo tempo. Na primeira etapa, por parte do Peixe, foram apenas quatro arremates, todos sem a direção da meta rubro-negra.

> Veja a tabela do Campeonato Brasileiro

Em outros quesitos, inclusive, o Flamengo também mostrou superioridade ao Santos. Segundo o site, o time carioca teve mais duelos ganhos (41 contra 50), disputas aéreas vencidas (cinco contra 14), desarmes (dez contra 11), interceptações (dez contra 13) e cortes (14 contra 19).

Agora, por conta da Data FIFA, o Flamengo só volta a campo no dia 12 de setembro, um domingo, contra o Palmeiras. Em busca de manter a mesma eficácia no sistema defensivo, o Rubro-Negro enfrenta o Alviverde, em São Paulo, às 16h, em partida válida pela 20ª rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro.

اختار ثنائي مانشستر يونايتد السابق، ريو فرديناند وأوين هارجريفز، أفضل لاعب في بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، لهذا الموسم، بعد مرور 18 جولة.

ويتصدر ليفربول حاليًا جدول الدوري الإنجليزي برصيد 42 نقطة، بفارق 6 نقاط عن تشيلسي صاحب المركز الثاني، ولديه مباراة مؤجلة ضد إيفرتون.

وتناقش ريو فرديناند مع أوين هارجريفز حول هوية لاعب الموسم الحالي من الدوري الإنجليزي.

واستقر الثنائي على اختيار نجم فريق ليفربول، محمد صلاح، كأفضل لاعب في الموسم الجاري من البطولة.

ويقدم محمد صلاح أداءً استثائيًا تحت قيادة المدرب آرني سلوت، حيث سجل 16 هدفًا وصنع 11 في موسم الدوري الإنجليزي.

اقرأ أيضًا | التشكيل المثالي للجولة 18 من الدوري الإنجليزي.. موقف محمد صلاح

وقال ريو فرديناند، في تصريحات نشرتها صحيفة “مترو” الإنجليزية: “سأختار محمد صلاح، أعتقد أن كول بالمر وبوكايو ساكا في المرتبة الثانية”.

واتفق أوين هارجريفز، قائلًا: “سأقول محمد صلاح وسأقول كول بالمر في المرتبة الثانية”.

وأضاف: “أعتقد أنه لكي تكون أفضل لاعب، يجب أن تكون في الفريق الأول، في حدود المعقول، أستند في ذلك إلى حقيقة أن ليفربول يتصدر الدوري وأن إنتاجه (محمد صلاح) أفضل من أهداف وتمريرات أي شخص آخر”.

واختتم: “أود أن أقول إن كول بالمر خلفه مباشرة، ثم بوكايو ساكا، كايسيدو يمكن أن يكون اللاعب الأكثر تحسنًا، ولكن إذا كنا نتحدث عن أفضل لاعب في الوقت الحالي، سننظر إلى الفريق المتصدر، ومحمد صلاح لديه أفضل الأرقام، لا يوجد نقاش في هذا الأمر”.

MatériaMais Notícias

Após a vitória sobre o Sport, por 1 a 0, na Ilha do Retiro, pelo Campeonato Brasileiro, o elenco do São Paulo realizou atividade generativa na manhã desta segunda-feira, no hotel que a delegação está hospedada, em Recife.

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O retorno à capital paulista está previsto para esta tarde. Já na terça-feira (24), o time de Hernán Crespo se reapresenta no CT da Barra Funda, já em preparação para enfrentar o Fortaleza, na quarta-feira (24), às 21h30, no Morumbi, pela ida das quartas de final da Copa do Brasil.

O triunfo diante do Leão fez com que a equipe afastasse da zona de rebaixamento. Agora, o São Paulo está na 12ª posição, com 21 pontos, a três do G6 do Campeonato Brasileiro, grupo que se classifica à Libertadores de 2022.

ATUAÇÕES: Volpi, Nestor e Pablo levam as maiores notas na vitória do São Paulo diante do Sport

VEJA A TABELA E SIMULE A CLASSIFICAÇÃO DO BRASILEIRÃO

Uma situação que gera expectativa no Tricolor é a condição física do zagueiro Arboleda, que não foi relacionado diante do Sport por conta de uma lesão na coxa. Ele deve ser reavaliado no CT da Barra Funda. Liziero é desfalque certo contra o Juventude, na 18ª rodada do Brasileirão, pelo terceiro cartão amarelo.

🏋🏽 Manhã de trabalhos no hotel em Recife (PE), antes do retorno a São Paulo.#VamosSãoPaulo 🇾🇪 pic.twitter.com/JtYpaJe8sE

— São Paulo FC (@SaoPauloFC) August 23, 2021

تواصلت الإثارة في منافسات بطولة الدوري الإيطالي، لهذا الموسم 2024/25، حيث حقق إنتر ميلان فوزًا ثمينًا على خصمه كومو مساء يوم الإثنين.

وتلاقى الفريقان في إطار منافسات الجولة السابعة عشر من السيري آ، لقاء الختام، حيث فاز إنتر ميلان بهدفين دون رد. أهداف مباراة إنتر ميلان وكومو في الدوري الإيطالي

كان التعادل السلبي قد سيطر على أجواء الشوط الأول بين الفريقين، حيث لم يتمكن أي منهما من التسجيل طوال الدقائق الـ45 الأولى.

وتغير الوضع مع بداية الشوط الثاني، وتحديدًا في الدقيقة 48، بعدما سجل كارلوس أوقستو هدف التقدم لصالح إنتر ميلان.

وانتهت آمال كومو في إمكانية العودة بعدما سجل ماركوس تورام الهدف الثاني لصالح إنتر ميلان، في الدقيقة الثانية من الوقت المحتسب بدلَا من الضائع.

بتلك النتيجة، ارتفع رصيد إنتر ميلان إلى 37 نقطة في المركز الثالث، بينما تجمد رصيد كومو عند 15 نقطة في المركز السادس عشر.

Enzo Maresca has been tasked with the job of returning Chelsea to the top of the Premier League following his appointment from Leicester City earlier this month.

The Italian comes in to replace Mauricio Pochettino who was relieved of his duties despite leading the Blues to automatic qualification for the Europa League ahead of the 2024/25 season.

Maresca arrives at Stamford Bridge with a talented young squad following huge investment from owner Todd Boehly who has splashed over £1bn on new transfers since his takeover of the club back in 2022.

However, despite the huge influx of incomings, the new Chelsea boss will undoubtedly want to bolster the squad, looking to make more new additions following the arrival of Tosin Adarabioyo from Fulham upon the conclusion of his current deal at Craven Cottage.

As a result, numerous players currently playing their trade at the club will have to make way to allow for more investment, with a plethora of players being linked with an exit.

One player in particular has been subject to huge interest, potentially ending his longstanding affiliation with the Blues this summer.

Chelsea could sell £20m star this summer

Chelsea forward Armando Broja has recently been linked with a big-money move away from Stamford Bridge in the hopes of reigniting his once-promising career at the club.

The Albanian striker suffered an ACL injury in a friendly against Aston Villa during the break for the World Cup in 2022, looking a shadow of his former self upon his return to action.

He spent the second half of last season on loan at fellow Premier League side Fulham, failing to score a single goal and only featuring eight times in a disappointing move for the 22-year-old.

However, despite his dismal spell under Marco Silva, he’s been subject to £20m interest from the likes of Wolves, Crystal Palace and Everton – with all three battling to win the race for his signature ahead of next season.

Broja is currently representing his nation at Euro 2024, and after his display against current holders Italy on Saturday night, the club should look to cash in on him as soon as possible.

Armando Broja’s stats against Italy

Undoubtedly, Albania were underdogs going into the clash against the Italians this weekend, but Broja failed to have any real impact on the game, subsequently being replaced with just under 15 minutes remaining.

The 22-year-old forward failed to register a single shot during the entirety of the encounter, only managing 22 touches – an average of one touch every three and a half minutes.

He also only completed six passes, giving possession away six times and committing two fouls, picking up a yellow card for his troubles during the 2-1 defeat.

Armando Broja's stats against Italy (Euro 2024)

Statistics

Tally

Minutes played

77'

Shots

0

Passes completed

6

Touches

22

Possession lost

6

Fouls committed

2

Dribbles completed

1/2 (50%)

Stats via Sofascore

Broja only managed to complete 50% of his attempted dribbles in Dortmund, with his display unable to catapult Albania to a shock victory despite taking the lead in the first minute of the game.

Saturday's display was further evidence of his huge decline since his horrific injury, with Broja unable to match his previous from before his extended spell on the sidelines which saw him score nine times on loan at Southampton during the 2021/22 season.

The club and player desperately need to part ways, with Chelsea receiving a hefty sum to reinvest in their battle to return to Premier League glory, with the striker presented with a fresh start to reignite his career away from Stamford Bridge.

Related Enquiry made: Chelsea could repeat Lukaku mess by signing £65m star

The Chelsea target can be bought for £65m this summer.

Posts ByTom Lever Jun 13, 2024

KKR have several bowling options, but Kuldeep’s form may be a cause for concern

Shashank Kishore29-Sep-20206:38

Spotlight on Kuldeep Yadav, should KKR change their winning combination?

Big pictureIt was last in 2015, the year before their two-year ban, that Rajasthan Royals won their first three games in a season. Having started the 2020 season with two wins, including a record-breaking highest successful IPL chase on Sunday courtesy Rahul Tewatia and Sanju Samson, they go in to Wednesday’s clash with a chance to emulate this.Having played their opening two games in Sharjah, where they made scores of 216 and 226, they will now play on a bigger ground and on perhaps a more challenging surface in Dubai. This could mean a slight recaliberation of their plans. Their spinners will come into play a lot more and their batsmen may not find hitting through the line as effortless as they may have in Sharjah.Royals, however, have concerns in their bowling even though Sharjah may not be an ideal barometer to base their performance on. Jaydev Unadkat, their lead Indian bowler, has proved expensive in both his outings. The highest wicket-taker in the Ranji Trophy season is yet to strike. He also didn’t complete his quota of overs against Kings XI Punjab. His potential replacement Varun Aaron has also been expensive in the past. They have two rookies in Kartik Tyagi and Akash Singh waiting on the bench. Should they call up one of them on a bigger ground?Knight Riders, meanwhile, rebounded strongly after a pounding at the hands of Mumbai Indians in their opener. Against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Eoin Morgan, their finisher, sewed up a regulation chase. Shubman Gill, who they see as a future star, set it up for them upfront along with Nitish Rana, another talent they’ve invested heavily in. Questions over Sunil Narine’s form and his effectiveness against the short ball continue to persist, but the upside to his patchy form is that he doesn’t eat up too many balls in the powerplay.Kuldeep Yadav’s form, however, continues to be a real concern. The team’s strike bowler until 2018, Kuldeep averages a wicket every 55 balls since IPL 2018. Last season, nine games yielded a mere four wickets. In their second game, after going for 39 runs in four wicketless overs, he didn’t even bowl his full quota of overs.Varun Chakravarthy, their second spinner – more in the Narine mould – helped get through the middle overs economically on his debut for the franchise. Over the years, Knight Riders have had the reputation of backing their players – both Indian and overseas. Russell, who had to serve a year-long doping ban, and Narine, whose action had been under scrutiny on and off, being prime examples. Can Kuldeep repay that faith?In the news Royals don’t yet have the services of Ben Stokes, who is with family in New Zealand. However, he has started training and could return from compassionate leave early October. Over the last couple of seasons, Knight Riders have had to furiously seek replacements in the first half of the tournament because of injuries. This year, they look settled on that count and have all players available for selection.BCCI

Likely XIs Rajasthan Royals: 1 Jos Buttler (wk), 2 Steven Smith (capt), 3 Sanju Samson, 4 Robin Uthappa, 5 Riyan Parag, 6 Rahul Tewatia, 7 Shreyas Gopal, 8 Tom Curran, 9 Jofra Archer, 10 Ankit Rajpoot/Varun Aaron, 11 Jaydev Unadkat Kolkata Knight Riders: 1 Shubman Gill, 2 Sunil Narine, 3 Dinesh Karthik (capt & wk), 4 Nitish Rana, 5 Eoin Morgan, 6 Andre Russell, 7 Kamlesh Nagarkoti, 8 Pat Cummins, 9 Shivam Mavi, 10 Kuldeep Yadav, 11 Varun ChakravarthyStrategy punts Sunil Narine has an excellent record against the Royals’ top three – Jos Buttler, Steven Smith and Sanju Samson. Narine has dismissed Samson thrice while ensuring he has only managed to strike at 87 off the 45 deliveries he has bowled. Smith, who has been out twice to Narine, only strikes at 115. Perhaps, there’s a case for Narine to bowl out with the new ball, given Knight Riders’ bowling depth. Dinesh Karthik has opted to bat at No. 3 in the first two games. Since IPL 2019, he’s been dismissed thrice by googlies, the most for a batsman. He’s been out to the delivery in each of his two previous knocks this season too – lbw to Rahul Chahar and Rashid Khan respectively. Royals could perhaps look to attack him with Shreyas Gopal, who has an excellent googly, and Rahul Tewatia.Stats that matter Pat Cummins is two short of 100 T20 wickets. The last time these two sides played in the UAE, Royals beat Knight Riders on boundary count after the Super Over also ended in a tie. It was the second tied game between the two sides in IPL history. The first one happened at Cape Town in 2009, when Yusuf Pathan won the Super Over for the Royals. Buttler averages 57.2 as an opener since IPL 2018, the third best after David Warner and KL Rahul among all batsmen with 200-plus runs. In the 16 innings he has opened, he has just dismissed five times inside the powerplay. His strike rate of 160 in this period is second best in the IPL in this qualifying period. Prior to this season, Samson had managed just four half-centuries in 27 IPL innings; his form tailing away after strong starts somewhat becoming a trend. He’s so far managed 159 runs, including two half-centuries in his first two outings. Can he sustain his good run of form?