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Sanju Samson stunned with a 46-ball 76, but his dismissal deep into a big chase gave Mumbai Indians the breather they needed to secure an eight-run victory

The Report by Karthik Krishnaswamy01-May-2015
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details4:32

O’Brien: McClenaghan the difference in two teams

It came down, in the end, to one stat: Mumbai Indians scored 61 in their last four overs. Their innings till that point had never looked like getting out of third gear, but a late blitz from Ambati Rayudu and Kieron Pollard left Rajasthan Royals chasing 188.At various points, particularly when Sanju Samson was at the crease, Royals looked in control of the chase. But Mumbai’s bowlers, unlike Royals’, found their lengths at the death. Together, Mitchell McClenaghan and Lasith Malinga conceded only 14 runs in the 18th and 19th overs, and picked up three wickets. It left Royals 20 to get from the final over, and even though Vinay Kumar made things interesting with a couple of high full-tosses – one of which was a no-ball that produced both a catch in the deep and a run-out – it was too much of a hurdle to cross. Having made a storming start to the season, Royals went winless for the fifth match in a row.It all came down to that one stat: 61 runs in four overs. In the early part of the season – when Royals won five out of five – Chris Morris and James Faulkner invariably bowled the last four overs. Neither was playing this game; instead, Juan Theron, Shane Watson and Tim Southee sent down a tasty assortment of length balls, short balls and full-tosses that Rayudu and Pollard gobbled up for six fours and three sixes.Royals’ chase got off to a frenetic start. An edgy Ajinkya Rahane played three awful swipes, of which one went to the boundary off the inside-edge, one hit the top edge and fell to the floor via a terrible drop from J Suchith, and the other fell safely into Rayudu’s palms after another miscue. Watson timed and muscled his way to 28 before he was bowled trying to cut a skiddy quicker one from Suchith.The required rate was always daunting but Samson – restored to his No.3 slot after moving from opening to batting in the lower middle order – kept Royals in the hunt with his effortless power and inventiveness. He played cat-and-mouse with Harbhajan Singh, moving around his crease, forcing him to bowl quicker, and using that pace to pick up two deftly dabbed fours through the fine third man region. He jumped in the air and pivoted violently through the hips to muscle a slower bouncer from Vinay into the gap between deep midwicket and long-on. He pulled Malinga over the leg-side boundary and lofted McClenaghan sweetly over long-off, but when he tried to repeat the stroke and failed to get the required elevation, he left Royals 27 to get from 14 balls.That provoked the turnaround. Karun Nair fell next ball, slashing outside off and nicking McClenaghan to the keeper. Deepak Hooda flicked Malinga in the air, into the hands of deep midwicket. In four balls, Royals had lost their three young and exciting domestic talents, and with it the match.For the first 16 overs of Mumbai’s innings, it had seemed as if they would set a target of 165 at the most. Their openers made a bright start on a true pitch, but Parthiv Patel – typically – failed to convert a breezy start, and Unmukt Chand struggled his way to 13 off 14. Still, with Lendl Simmons scoring a 31-ball 38 at the top, Mumbai were going along at over eight an over for the first ten. It was decent going, but their batsmen kept getting out just when they were getting in.Rohit Sharma provided another example of that, moving smoothly to 27 from 20 – with a couple of authoritative pulls in the mix – before picking out short fine leg off Dhawal Kulkarni. When he fell, Mumbai were 120 for 4 in the 15th over, and a tight 16th from Ankit Sharma, who mixed his pace well while not deriving too much turn, left them 126 for 4 after 16.That was when Royals’ new-look death bowling floundered, and in Rayudu and Pollard Mumbai had just the right pair at the crease to take heavy toll. Rayudu hadn’t had the greatest of starts to his season, and hadn’t even played all of Mumbai’s matches, but he looked in top form here, striking the ball cleanly and picking up four fours and three sixes. One of them, not much more than a pick-up shot off Theron, soared high over wide long-on and landed in the second tier.

Steven Smith’s hundred held Australia together, his partnerships of 118 with Michael Clarke and 76 with Adam Voges ensuring West Indies were able to claim only four wickets on the first day

The Report by George Binoy11-Jun-2015
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsSteven Smith scored more than half of Australia’s runs on the first day•Getty ImagesSteven Smith’s ninth hundred – his fifth in six Tests – held Australia’s innings together in Jamaica, his partnerships of 118 with Michael Clarke and 76 with Adam Voges ensuring West Indies were able to claim only four wickets on the first day. The returns were fewer than Denesh Ramdin would have wanted when he gave his fast bowlers first use of a moderately grassy pitch at Sabina Park.West Indies had a hero too, though. Jerome Taylor was outstanding, dismissing Australia’s openers while not conceding a run in six overs before lunch. He swung the ball both ways at pace, got it to bounce appreciably, and finished the day with figures of 15-8-18-3. Unfortunately for the home side, Taylor had little back up. Kemar Roach and Veerasammy Permaul were expensive, and Jason Holder had a bit of a groin problem in the second session.West Indies had been hindered by injury and illness before play began as well. Marlon Samuels had an eye problem, Devendra Bishoo was nursing a sore finger, and Shannon Gabriel had the flu, and so they had to bring in the debutant Rajendra Chandrika, Permaul and Roach.Despite those setbacks, West Indies began the Test so well. Taylor got the third delivery of the match to explode from a length, and David Warner fended as it seamed away from him, the sharp bounce taking the outside edge to third slip. In the fifth over, after moving a couple of deliveries away from Shaun Marsh, Taylor nipped one in from round the wicket and hit the left-hander’s pads as he stumbled across his crease. Australia were 16 for 2. Taylor had 25 wickets at 12.92 apiece at Sabina Park, the second best bowling average at this venue for a bowler with more than ten wickets.Taylor troubled the right-hand batsmen too, beating Smith and Clarke with perfectly pitched outswingers and then hurrying them into defence with skiddy deliveries that zipped in.While Taylor tied Australia down, however, Roach was too loose, too often. He had given Marsh room to play several drives through cover and a half-volley on the pads allowed Smith his first runs off his 11th delivery. Roach’s costliest error, though, came when he had Clarke caught and bowled in the first over of his second spell. Clarke was walking off for 3 when replays showed Roach had over-stepped; Australia would have been 22 for 3.West Indies slumped after that and Clarke cut free, driving and pulling Holder for four, before lofting Roach for six and steering him to the third-man boundary. Roach would end the first session with figures of 7-0-40-0.Ramdin brought on Permaul at the start of the second hour and the left-arm spinner struggled against two nimble batsmen. Smith stepped out and lofted Permaul for four to long-off in his first over; Clarke did the same but for six over long-on in his second. Later on, using his crease expertly, Smith stepped out to flick, then stayed back to cut, and stepped out to flick again for three boundaries in an over.Australia scored 91 in the first session, and Clarke began the second by taking the first runs off Taylor, a flick through midwicket in his seventh over. Even as the ball grew older, Taylor remained economical and got the occasional outswinger to bounce sharply past the outside edge.As Clarke slowed down – he made 17 off his last 66 balls – Smith took a shine to Permaul, stepping out to hit a brace of straight sixes that brought up Australia’s 100 and his half-century. Run accumulation had appeared risk free when Clarke, in an attempt to pick up his pace again, drove loosely at Holder and edged behind on 47.Nothing deterred Smith, though. He kept moving across his stumps to work the quicks through the leg side, and attacked Permaul often by stepping out of his crease. His progress was smooth, and under his charge, Australia made 79 in the second session. With Smith was Adam Voges, who got going by cutting Holder twice for four before dropping anchor to blunt the West Indies attack.Soon after tea, Smith punched Permaul through cover and celebrated his hundred, and Voges also stepped out to clout the spinner for six. Permaul’s ineffectiveness and the lack of options made Ramdin bowl part-time spinner Kraigg Brathwaite for 19 overs: he had only bowled 82 balls previously in his 21-Test career. Brathwaite, however, should have dismissed Smith, but Darren Bravo grassed the edge off the cut at first slip.Smith was on 109 at the time, and with Taylor having just dismissed Voges, Australia would have been 218 for 5. Instead, Smith ended the day unbeaten on 135, having added 48 with Shane Watson to lead his team into a position of strength.

Gloucestershire pace prospect Craig Miles claimed 5 for 61 as Lancashire were bowled out for 275 on a compelling first day of their Second Division match at Bristol

ECB/PA07-Jun-2015
ScorecardGloucestershire pace prospect Craig Miles claimed 5 for 61 as Lancashire were bowled out for 275 on a compelling first day of their Second Division match at Bristol.The 20-year-old seamer took his wicket tally in the competition this season to 29 and received good support from Matt Taylor after the hosts had won the toss in sunny conditions.Despite solid half-centuries from Karl Brown and Steven Croft, Lancashire were 190 for 7 at one stage before useful late order contributions from Jordan Clark, Tom Bailey and coach Glenn Chapple, who blasted 29 not out from 13 balls to ensure a second batting point.Gloucestershire suffered a blow when wicketkeeper Gareth Roderick had to be taken to hospital for x-rays on a damaged hand. Geraint Jones, the former England keeper, took over the gloves in the afternoon session.By the close the home side had slipped to 15 for 2 from ten overs. Lancashire opted to go into the game without a specialist spinner, preferring to give the evergreen Chapple a first outing of the summer, and by the close must have felt they had edged the day.Miles and Taylor set the tone for a disciplined Gloucestershire bowling effort, both conceding only six runs from six-over spells with the new ball, a period that saw Paul Horton caught at gully off Miles for four.Alviro Petersen helped Brown add 45 before falling lbw for 20, advancing down the pitch to try and clip Taylor through the leg side. Ashwell Prince quickly followed, bowled by Miles for a single. Opener Brown moved to a watchful half-century before he also had his stumps disturbed by Miles, playing off the back foot.Alex Davies was leg before to a full ball from Taylor for 11 and James Faulkner fell to a poor shot for nine, caught behind chasing a wide one from Miles.Croft produced some of the best batting of the day, easing to a half-century off 68 balls, and looking in little trouble until he was pinned lbw on the back foot by Miles with the score on 190.Tea was taken without addition to the total before Clark and Bailey produced a useful eighth-wicket stand of 49. They looked set to take Lancashire through to the new ball until Benny Howell struck twice in the same over. The medium-pacer had Clark caught behind driving and then induced a poor shot from Kyle Jarvis, who miscued a catch to cover and departed for a duck.Out stepped Chapple to face the first over with the second new ball. The 41-year-old took three boundaries off it to dent Miles’ figures and bring up the 250.Bailey was bowled by Taylor to end the innings, having made a valuable contribution, and Gloucestershire were left with a tricky period to negotiate before stumps. They lost both openers, Chris Dent, caught behind off Jarvis for two pushing forward defensively, and Will Tavare lbw to Bailey for four.

Glenn Maxwell finally found form for Yorkshire with an unbeaten 92 but Andrew Hodd, a late replacement for England call up Jonny Bairstow, deserved a share of the acclaim

ECB/PA19-Jun-2015
ScorecardGlenn Maxwell hammered an unbeaten 92 off 48 balls•Getty ImagesGlenn Maxwell finally found his form for Yorkshire with a blistering unbeaten 92 as the Vikings beat Nottinghamshire Outlaws by 40 runs in front of an 8,500 crowd at Headingley.But the Australian wasn’t Yorkshire’s only star performer on the night because wicketkeeper-batsman, Andrew Hodd , came into the side at the last minute as a replacement for Jonny Bairstow, called up by England as cover for Jos Buttler, and he also blazed the trail with a sweetly-struck 70.Maxwell, whose previous eight innings in all competitions for Yorkshire had brought him just 73 runs, included many audacious strokes in his 48-ball knock which contained eight fours and five sixes.And the more orthodox Hodd was in tremendous form himself, his runs coming from 39 balls with six fours and five sixes.Insights

Yorkshire, having lost three consecutive matches, were in desperate need of a win, and it is appropriate that in a match laden with quality they were hauled back to winning ways by a return to form of their star overseas signing Glenn Maxwell. His unbeaten 92 followed more than a year of patchy form, going back to the last IPL. Maxwell had scored just 73 runs in his eight innings so far this season and this innings was most timely. It is also intriguing to note that Maxwell was ably assisted by Andrew Hodd, who was only drafted into Yorkshire’s squad as a replacement for Jonny Bairstow.

The third wicket pair flogged 101 together from 58 deliveries to set Yorkshire up for a victory which brought to an end a run of three consecutive defeats in North Group which had seen them plunge next to the bottom of the table.”I was plastering a wall, doing a bit of DIY, when I got the call around 4pm to come to Headingley and replace Jonny,” Hodd said.Put in to bat, Yorkshire lost the out-of-touch, Aaron Finch, in the second over when he chopped Jake Ball into his stumps but skipper, Andrew Gale, and Hodd rushed the total on to 49 inside six overs before Gale fell to a beautifully judged catch at long-on by Samit Patel off Luke Fletcher.The scoring rate soon got up to around ten an over as Hodd and Maxwell delighted the crowd with their contrasting brands of strokeplay. Hodd straight drove Luke Fletcher for six and in the same over Maxwell cut him high over the rope before Hodd walloped Dan Christian for a huge six on the Australian’s debut appearance for Outlaws.Hodd, having reached Yorkshire’s highest individual score so far in this season’s competition, departed in tame fashion by gently driving Patel to James Taylor at short extra cover, but Maxwell continued on his merry way, reverse shovelling a couple of consecutive boundaries off Harry Gurney to the amazement of the fans.Gary Ballance was bowled by Gurney in the final over and Maxwell signed off with a six and a four, his last 47 runs being thrashed from 17 balls.Nottinghamshire needed a flying start if they were to get anywhere near Yorkshire’s 209 for 4, their highest score against the Outlaws, but Michael Lumb gave a return catch to Maxwell in the first over of the innings while at the other end Tim Bresnan produced a brute of a ball which Niki Wessels could not avoid edging to Hodd.It became 10 for 3 as Matthew Fisher, replacing the rested Jack Brooks, had Brendan Taylor caught behind and a rally by Patel and James Taylor was ended by James Middlebrook who dismissed Taylor and Christian in consecutive overs.There was no way back from 82 for five but Patel and Mullaney made a spirited attempt with Patel reaching a 36-ball half-century by blasting Bresnan high for six.Maxwell’s great performance continued as Mullaney drove him to Ballance at long-on but Patel gained some revenge by smacking him for two successive sixes on his way to a career-best 90 not out from 59 balls with five fours and five sixes.

Bangladesh, having been comprehensively beaten in all the matches this series, will be desperate to conjure some of the fight they showed against Pakistan and India

The Preview by Mohammad Isam in Mirpur11-Jul-2015Match factsSunday, July 12
Start time 3.00pm local (0900 GMT)1:31

Isam: Bangladesh need senior batsmen to step up

Big pictureKagiso Rabada lit up a gloomy evening in Mirpur on Friday with a hat-trick in his six-wicket haul on debut. He now holds the record for best bowling figures on ODI debut, and the best ODI bowling figures for a South African. The visiting captain Hashim Amla, while not expecting Rabada to strike another six-for, will want the bowler as well as the rest of the young players to do enough to complete a series win on Sunday.South Africa completed their eight-wicket win through a strong, unbroken 99-run third wicket stand between Rilee Rossouw and Faf du Plessis. Amla later said the pair made a tough situation look easy. South Africa are brutal opponents for lower-ranked sides and Bangladesh are finding that out despite their own recent form.But the home side’s troubles seem more tactical in nature, although captain Mashrafe Mortaza has said that their strategy of using eight batsmen was a confidence issue. For the first time since December 2011, Bangladesh were bowled out for less than 200 when batting first in an ODI. Their batting form was not all that good even in the India series, but they managed to get the job done.South Africa did not give Bangladesh much of a chance to fight back after Rabada’s hat-trick and that is where the home side are behind. South Africa never give up, and in the second ODI, Bangladesh should be be prepared to put up a fight, something they have failed to do in the series so far.Form guideBangladesh: LLWWWSouth Africa: WLWWLPlayers to watchWith his team not doing well, much of the focus will be how Mashrafe Mortaza marshals his resources and inspires the group. He also has to bowl well and ensure South Africa do not get away to a quick start.A hat-trick and six-for on ODI debut has made Kagiso Rabada into an overnight sensation. He will be exciting to watch in the second ODI, particularly with the pace he generates off the slow pitches in Mirpur.Team newsIf Bangladesh stick to their eight-batsmen strategy, then there isn’t much need of a change. If they do revert back to five bowlers, either of Arafat Sunny or Rubel Hossain will likely be picked in the XI.Bangladesh (possible) 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Soumya Sarkar, 3 Litton Das, 4 Mahmudullah, 5 Mushfiqur Rahim, 6 Shakib Al Hasan, 7 Sabbir Rahman, 8 Nasir Hossain, 9 Mashrafe Mortaza 10 Jubair Hossain, 11 Mustafizur RahmanAfter their eight-wicket win, South Africa will look to continue in the same vein, which means changes in the XI are unlikely.South Africa (possible): 1 Hashim Amla (capt), 2 Quinton de Kock (wk), 3 Faf du Plessis, 4 Rilee Rossouw, 5 David Miller, 6 JP Duminy 7 Farhaan Behardien, 8 Chris Morris, 9 Kyle Abbott, 10 Kagiso Rabada, 11 Imran TahirPitch and conditionsRabada said the first ODI wicket looked to have a bit more grass than the T20s. The second ODI wicket too is unlikely have turn and will continue to be a dull surface. Rain has again been forecast, but not in the evening.Stats and trivia Kagiso Rabada became the second bowler after Taijul Islam to take a hat-trick on debut. They both did it at the Shere Bangla National Stadium and both from the same end. Shakib Al Hasan is the first batsman to score more than 2,000 runs at the Shere Bangla National Stadium. He reached the mark when he was on 14 in the first ODI.Quotes”Against India and Pakistan we played unbelievably well. If we can play like that we can win against South Africa as well. But we haven’t even been within touching distance of those performances or of South Africa. We hope to do much better in the second game.””They are not going to go down without a fight. We know they are going to be up for a good scrap tomorrow [Sunday].”

The PCB has put on hold its ongoing discussions with the Afghanistan Cricket Board regarding Afghanistan’s proposed tour of Pakistan in April, following the terrorist attack in a recreational park in Lahore on Sunday

Umar Farooq31-Mar-2016The PCB has put on hold its ongoing discussions with the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) regarding Afghanistan’s proposed tour of Pakistan in April, following the terrorist attack in a recreational park in Lahore on Sunday. Kenya Women’s trip to Pakistan has also been called off amid the new wave of security concerns.Afghanistan were in talks to tour Pakistan next month for a series of three ODIs as well as a four-day game against Pakistan A. But with the blast in Gulshan-i-Iqbal park – about 15 minutes away from Gaddafi Stadium – which killed over 70 people, the tour is now in doubt. Afghanistan’s ODIs in Pakistan had been tentatively slated for the period between April 15 and May 8, with Lahore and Karachi serving as venues.Kenya Women were to have visited as part of a development programme, which would have seen them play a series of matches against a Pakistan Women developmental team.In 2011, Afghanistan became the first international team to tour Pakistan, for a series against Pakistan A, following the terror attack on the visiting Sri Lankan team in Lahore in March 2009. They also visited frequently for conditioning camps at the National Cricket Academy facility. But now, ESPNcricinfo understands, the Pakistan government has advised against hosting the series.Pakistan successfully hosted Zimbabwe for two T20Is and three ODIs last year, with heavy security arrangements in place, but has not been able to attract any other international team since then. With the exception of that Zimbabwe tour, Pakistan has had to play all its home matches since March 2009 at neutral venues, mostly in the United Arab Emirates.

The IPL 2016 match between Rising Pune Supergiants and Mumbai Indians will be held as scheduled on May 1 in Pune, the Bombay High Court ruled on Wednesday

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Apr-2016The IPL 2016 match between Rising Pune Supergiants and Mumbai Indians will be held as scheduled on May 1 in Pune, the Bombay High Court ruled on Wednesday. Last week, the court had ruled that all matches after April 30 should be moved out of Maharashtra due to a severe state-wide drought, but it has permitted the match on May 1 to go ahead after an application from the BCCI.The board had sought permission from the court citing logistical difficulties due to a short turnaround time from the match between Supergiants and Gujarat Lions on April 29. In the application, the BCCI said it was “practically impossible” for the board and Supergiants to shift the match to an another venue outside Maharashtra and “make all arrangements for the same in just a single day”. The application also stated stated that the request to permit the match was “bonafide and is being made in the interest of justice” and, if refused, could cause severe prejudice, grave hardship and irreparable damage and injury to the BCCI and Supergiants.The High Court’s ruling to move matches out of Maharashtra in May has affected 13 matches, including the final, which was scheduled to be held in Mumbai on May 29. The ruling also forced Mumbai and Supergiants, the two Maharashtra-based franchises, to look for alternative home venues for the remainder of the season. While Supergiants have listed Visakhapatnam as their alternative venue, Mumbai have picked Jaipur. Bangalore is likely to host the final, while Kolkata is in line to stage the Eliminator and the second Qualifier, both originally scheduled in Pune. The alternative venues need to be ratified by the IPL governing council.

In his 23rd season as a first-class cricketer, Marcus Trescothick became Somerset’s second-highest run-scorer of all time

Vithushan Ehantharajah at The Oval25-Apr-2016
ScorecardMarcus Trescothick notched a half-century, having passed Peter Wight on Somerset’s run-scoring list•Getty ImagesSpectators at The Oval spent much of the day moving in and out of cover. Those that remained after the third rain delay deserve credit: only a matter of miles away, hail was falling in the capital. While that threat failed to make its way south, those hearty few might not have minded after seeing Marcus Trescothick further cement his legend in domestic folklore. In his 23rd season as a first-class cricketer, he became Somerset’s second-highest run-scorer of all time.Many knew it was coming. When Tom Curran was guided down to third man for four to move Trescothick on to 13, Tom Abell made a note of shaking hands with the 40-year-old, who passed Peter Wight’s total of 16,965 with the boundary. Neither Curran nor Abell had been born when Trescothick made his first-class debut in 1993.Now only Harold Gimblett stands in his way. But with more than 4000 runs needed to topple the 1953 Cricketer of the Year, second might have to do.It is still a baffling achievement, quite frankly. Looking through Trescothick’s first-class numbers requires a few double-takes. It seems inevitable that by the end of the season he will have passed 24,000 first-class runs. If those runs are as easy to come by as they were at The Oval, where he brought up his 177th score of 50 or more, then 25,000 is well within reach.There is a temptation to watch each aspect of Trescothick’s game still on public display – the effortless straight drives with Dalek-like footwork or the caresses through backward point that belie the tree-trunk willow and Popeye forearms – and sink back into “what ifs”. What if his Test career hadn’t been cut short? What if this otherworldly opener was saved from the very human troubles that affected him?But here he is, aged 40, still playing the game he loves, still achieving and getting things done. The only noticeable difference is that he now requires four eyes to do so. Somerset started their first innings 463 behind but you could not tell there were any external forces affecting Trescothick, now batting in spectacles, and the matter at hand.Surrey’s opening duo of Tom Curran and Mark Footitt started a bit too wide but, when they eventually got their lines right, Trescothick pulled out his patented curtain-rail leave. On a handful of occasions, Curran, having moved to around the wicket, thought he had the left-hander beaten. But Trescothick was simply moving his bat inside the line of the ball. It was a feather in Curran’s cap that Trescothick did not score off 32 of the 37 balls he sent his way. Footitt and Ravi Rampaul were not quite so lucky.While Footitt would bag the only Somerset wicket of the day – Abell hooking high to Arun Harinath at deep square leg – he was also hit for three fours in an over by Trescothick, the first of which brought up his fifty from 75 balls, before being cut ferociously over backward point for the innings’ first six. Rampaul, too, was not allowed to settle as he was carted through point when offering a bit of width.The morning session was a peculiar mishmash of Surrey trying and failing to make their last five wickets count and Somerset curtailing them while dropping catches.Zafar Ansari, who was let-off the previous evening on 28, was shelled yet again with 42 to his name. He would go on to complete his half-century off 111 balls before offering a third chance with his 112th, which Trescothick managed to hold at second slip. Curran and Gareth Batty were both run out through indecision and fine work by Roelof van der Merwe, respectively, before Footitt found cover to round off a lower-order collapse of 5 for 69.From the wreckage, Tim Groenewald emerged with 5 for 94 – his second five-wicket haul for Somerset. Ryan Davies, in his first season after signing from Kent, took his first Championship catch for the county when Ben Foakes nicked behind for the first wicket of the day.When stumps was eventually called after a lot of back and forth between the players, umpires and the ground staff, 43 overs had been lost. Trescothick and Chris Rogers reconvene on Tuesday, still 364 behind but knowing that the weather has given them a helping hand in saving this match.

After an 85-run defeat in the last game, Mumbai Indians have joined Royal Challengers Bangalore in a mid-table tussle

The Preview by Akshay Gopalakrishnan10-May-2016Match factsWednesday, May 11, 2016
Start time 2000 local (1430 GMT)Big PictureA Virat Kohli century and an AB de Villiers half-century have helped Royal Challengers resurrect a wavering campaign. Prior to back-to-back wins on Saturday and Monday, they had suffered a hat-trick of defeats. Their see-sawing form can be attributed to a bowling attack, which apart from Shane Watson, has been loose.The Royal Challengers bowling will be tested again at the M Chinnaswamy stadium. Its flat pitch and small outfield must be welcome signs to a Mumbai Indians batting line-up that had collapsed to 92 all out in swing-friendly Visakhapatnam on Sunday.Rohit Sharma has been excellent in chases and Krunal Pandya has been the find of the season with his frenetic cameos and rapid left-arm spin. If Kieron Pollard and Jos Buttler can keep up with their reputations, the defending champions can still make a strong push for the playoffs. After 10 games, they are in fifth place with 10 points. Royal Challengers are one spot below, but they have a game in hand and three of their next four matches take place at home as well.Form guideRoyal Challengers Bangalore WWLLL (last five matches, most recent first)
Mumbai Indians LWWWLIn the spotlightWatson was purchased for INR 9.5 crore by Royal Challengers and he has been worth it. Not only has he bolstered the middle-order with his clean striking, his bowling has been near impeccable. Watson has mixed his pace, and tellingly, his length to choke batsmen at various stages of an innings.Mumbai Indians had begun the season grappling for a viable No. 3. Ambati Rayudu grabbed his chance with a half-century against Sunrisers Hyderabad lash month. He is Mumbai’s second-highest run-scorer with 277 runs at 30.77 and a strike rate of 124.21 and his contributions have taken some pressure off Rohit.Team newsBangalore is a six-hitting paradise so the temptation to bring Chris Gayle back would be strong, despite the West Indian’s lack of form. Australia batsman Travis Head hasn’t had much of a role down the order, so perhaps he could make way. England fast bowler Chris Jordan has not lived up to expectations in his two matches, but South Africa left-arm wrist spinner Tabraiz Shamsi had been fairly good for them. A switch may be in the offing.Royal Challengers Bangalore (probable): 1 Virat Kohli (capt), 2 Chris Gayle/ Travis Head, 3 KL Rahul (wk), 4 AB de Villiers, 5 Shane Watson, 6 Sachin Baby, 7 Stuart Binny, 8 Chris Jordan/Tabraiz Shamsi, 9 Iqbal Abdulla, 10 Varun Aaron, 11 Yuzvendra ChahalWill the 85-run loss in the previous game push Mumbai to think about Martin Guptill, who has played only once and Corey Anderson, who hasn’t played at all?Mumbai Indians (probable): 1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 Parthiv Patel (wk), 3 Ambati Rayudu, 4 Krunal Pandya, 5 Jos Buttler/ Martin Guptill, 6 Kieron Pollard, 7 Hardik Pandya, 8 Harbhajan Singh, 9 Tim Southee/ Corey Anderson, 10 Mitchell McClenaghan, 11 Jasprit BumrahPitch and conditionsThe lowest total from four matches at Chinnaswamy stadium has been 182. Both teams have abundant firepower in the batting department, and if rain keeps away, expect another run-fest.Stats and trivia Each of the eight innings so far at Chinnaswamy stadium have resulted in a total above 170. Mumbai lost their first five wickets for only 30 runs against Sunrisers. It is the lowest score for which they have lost their top half and the sixth-lowest for any team in the IPL.

The transfer season is nearly upon us and multiple Americans could have new homes for the 2018-19 season

With the regular season done in most leagues and the summer fast approaching, it’s time to get ready for the most exciting part of the year.

No, we’re not talking about the World Cup, which should be plenty fun as well. Instead, we’re talking the silly season – the summer transfer window.

It is already open in England, and will be opening soon in other countries. The summer will bring rumors of new homes for players across the world, and Americans will be no exception. It will just be smoke for some of those playing abroad, but for others, there will be plenty of fire.

One American who definitely will be playing elsewhere next season is Alfredo Morales, as the former Ingolstadt midfielder will return to the Bundesliga in 2018-19 with newly promoted Fortuna Dusseldorf.

But what other Americans may be joining Morales in changing addresses this summer? Here's a list of some who could well be on the move.

Getty Images1Joe Corona | AmericaRumors of an MLS move last year swirled around Corona, who eventually followed former Mexico manager Miguel Herrera from Tijuana to Club America. Corona was a firm member of the Aguilas rotation, but only started four Liga MX games, while appearing as a substitute 12 times. If he wants to start, Corona will probably have to move elsewhere this summer. Will an MLS team step up for his services or will Corona potentially be on the move in Liga MX once more? AdvertisementJUNG YEON-JE/AFP/Getty Images2Erik Palmer-Brown | Manchester City

When Erik Palmer-Brown signed with Manchester City, nobody expected the youngster to find his way into Pep Guardiola’s plans anytime soon. Palmer-Brown’s first loan after his City deal came with Belgian side KV Kortrijk. It was a mixed bag for him there, as he played in nine games, making six starts for the side.

Ideally, Palmer-Brown can do as his international team-mate Matt Miazga has done on loan and play himself into being an indispensable part of a team’s XI, while making himself worthy for a jump in competition.

Socrates Images3Andrija Novakovich | Reading

Novakovich did exactly what he needed to do on loan from Reading – he scored goals. He bagged 22 in all competitions for Dutch second-division side Telstar, finishing second in the Eerste Divisie with 19. Novakovich proved he can score at will in a relatively weak league, but where will he get a chance to prove himself at next season? Will it be in the Eredivisie or will Reading give the 21-year-old forward a chance to battle it out for a spot in the Championship?

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Getty Images4Aron Johannsson | Werder Bremen

Johannsson went from afterthought to impact substitute to injured once more in 2017-18. He’s certainly on the market as Werder Bremen sporting director Frank Baumann confirmed that in an interview with the club’s official website. Johannsson showed he can make an impact in the Bundesliga and displayed the ability to play out wide, so whether he finds a new club this summer will depend on someone believing he can stay healthy enough to perform consistently.