Chelsea have shown interest in Lille defender Leny Yoro as they look to weigh up their options to replace the aging Thiago Silva.
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Chelsea targeting Lille's Leny YoroLooking to replace Thiago Silva in summerPSG and Real Madrid also interested in YoroGettyWHAT HAPPENED?
Yoro has been linked with multiple clubs so far this season and now, Chelsea are also showing interest in the 18-year-old as per . With Silva's contract expiring this summer, Chelsea are looking to bring in a younger centre-back. Despite having few defensive options due to injury problems, Mauricio Pochettino has benched Silva for Chelsea in their last two Premier League games. Yoro is thought to be a perfect fit for the Chelsea project with the France Under-21 international having already become part of Lille's senior team.
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The 18-year-old has had a fantastic season in France, and other major European teams like Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain have shown interest in signing him in the summer. PSG remain the front-runners for the youngster but Lille are keen to keep him in Ligue 1 beyond the summer.
GettyDID YOU KNOW?
Nice's Jean-Clair Todibo and Sporting's Ousmane Diomande are two potential centre-back alternatives to Yoro as Chelsea plan yet another busy summer of transfer activity. Chelsea are said to be unconcerned about breaching Premier League Profit and Sustainability rules, and believe they will be free to splash the cash and battle for their targets.
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WHAT NEXT FOR CHELSEA?
The club will keep fighting to improve their dismal season as they will look to end a disappointing campaign on a high and signal to their potential summer targets that the club is still the place to be despite their fall in form. They will take on Leicester City in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Saturday, March 16.
Crystal Palace have now made an approach to sign a “superb” defender, who would be open to a move to Selhurst Park.
Palace keen to strengthen at right-back amid interest in Munoz
Palace may have their work cut out trying to keep hold of Daniel Munoz in 2026, amid growing interest in the defender, with Chelsea previously being named as potential suitors, while Manchester United and Manchester City have also now joined the race.
Pep Guardiola is personally an admirer of the right-back, but the Eagles have made it clear they will not sanction a departure during the January transfer window, as they view him as a key player.
Steve Parish is confident about retaining Munoz’s services until the summer, given that he remains contracted until 2028, which means there is no pressing need to cash-in, but a big offer at the end of the season could tempt the chairman into a sale.
As such, Crystal Palace have been looking at new options at right-back, with it being revealed earlier this month that Bayern Munich’s Sacha Boey is a target for the January transfer window.
Boey is not the only option, however, with Sky Sports journalist Sacha Tavolieri revealing Palace have now made an approach to sign KRC Genk’s Zakaria El Ouahdi (via Sport Witness), and the Belgian club are open to a sale for a fee of around €10m – €12m (£9m – £11m).
Contact has been made with El Ouahdi’s agent, with the defender open to a move to Selhurst Park, although he is a back-up option for Boey, should the Eagles be unable to get a deal for the Bayern Munich ace over the line.
The right-back has already turned down a move to Everton, given that he doesn’t want to join a club fighting relegation, which is a little peculiar, considering the Toffees are ninth in the Premier League table, two points behind Oliver Glasner’s side.
Crystal Palace make contact to sign £50m forward with "frightening pace"
Palace are pursuing a move for a new attacker.
ByDominic Lund 2 days ago "Superb" El Ouahdi impressing in Belgium
The Moroccan certainly put in some eye-catching performances during the 2024-25 campaign, with scout Jacek Kulig describing him as a “superb complete full-back with all the qualities needed to play in a top 5 league.”
Since then, the Belgium-born ace has continued to perform, particularly impressing on the front foot, having chipped in with four goals and one assist in the Belgian Pro League this season, which is a solid tally for a defender, and he has impressed on some other key metrics over the past year too.
Zakaria El Ouahdi’s key statistics
Average per 90 (past year)
Non-penalty goals
0.28 (99th percentile)
Pass completion %
83.1% (87th percentile)
Touches (Att pen)
2.74 (91st percentile)
Blocks
1.56 (91st percentile)
Muniz is also known for his attacking exploits, amassing five goal contributions in the Premier League this season, which suggests the Genk star could be a like-for-like replacement for the Colombian.
That said, Palace should do their utmost to keep hold of their current right-back, given that he has already proven himself in England, and El Ouahdi is yet to test himself in one of Europe’s major leagues.
Tottenham Hotspur have been a side crying out for transparency from the top for years now, as their desire to see the questionable decisions explained has seldom been fed.
Led by chairman Daniel Levy, the 61-year-old has often been on the end of vicious criticism for a lack of spending, terrible managerial appointments, clueless player acquisitions and more, but his work on the financial side of things could rarely be faulted.
He has forged a fine business model with the foundation for huge successes in the near future, as a commercially viable outfit with the football to match of late.
So, what makes things even more positive is his replies at the club's recent Fan Forum, in which he answered openly about the transition from a progressive coach like Mauricio Pochettino to silverware-chasing legends like Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte:
"I want to win as much as anyone else. The frustration of not winning and the pressure from some players and a large part of the fanbase impacted me, it was a lot of pressure.
Tottenham's Heung-min Son and Ange Postecoglou.
"We came so close with Poch and we changed strategy and hired win now managers, it didn’t work, wrong hires. So maybe it will take longer, maybe we need this strategy and that’s why I hired Ange."
To see Levy take responsibility marks a refreshing change for the supporters, who largely understood the decision, although it failed spectacularly. Now, with Ange Postecoglou at the helm, hopefully he has his head coach for the foreseeable future, ready to lead them towards trophies in a way that captures the imagination.
That's not to suggest that the chairman is completely exempt from criticisms of the past though, with one failed transfer pursuit in 2016 of Sadio Mane likely still haunting him and the current Chelsea manager given what could have been had they seen the deal through.
Did Spurs nearly sign Sadio Mane?
Speaking on the Athletic’s ‘The View From The Lane’ podcast, journalist Jack Pitt-Brooke noted: "The other forward they looked at in 2016 and they nearly got him I think, was Mane who has obviously turned out to be an unbelievably good footballer."
This was not the first suggestion that they had tried to sign the Senegalese superstar though, who would move to Liverpool for £34m, and has since joined Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr for a further £24m after a brief spell at Bayern Munich
The Times seeks to support such a notion, further outlining Levy's frugality by suggesting that Mane had even visited the club's training ground before the finances got in the way. At the time, Harry Kane remained their top earner on £100k-per-week, despite having just scored a whopping 25 goals in the Premier League the season before.
Unsurprisingly, the former Southampton forward wanted far more of an incentive to pick them over the Merseyside outfit, which Levy could not provide. An inability to find those funds pushed the dynamic winger into the arms of a rival, who went on to explode with the 31-year-old a key cog in Jurgen Klopp's side.
Was Sadio Mane better than Heung-min Son?
Given how Mane starred on the left flank, immediately this failed transfer venture brings up an argument over whether he would have been a more integral figure in north London than Heung-min Son has been.
After all, the South Korean had been signed just a year before the £650k-per-week week wizard joined the Reds, and has since enjoyed similar proficiency throughout his time in England that saw the two become rivals.
269
378
120
148
48
80
7.36 (2018/19)
7.50 (2021/22)
12
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However, former Spurs favourite Robbie Keane sought to dispel the debate, boldly claiming: "For me, honestly, I think he is one of the best players we have ever seen in the Premier League. I don’t think he gets the respect that he should get."
That is not to suggest that Mane was not also on the receiving end of such praise, with Klopp having gone one further to say: "One of Liverpool’s greatest ever players is leaving and we must acknowledge how significant this is. He leaves with our gratitude and our love. He leaves with his status among the greats guaranteed. And, yes, he leaves in a moment where he is one of the best players in world football."
Writer DaveOCKOP would back this statement up too: "A true legend of Liverpool FC, he gave his all for the club."
It is true that Mane became a hero at Anfield, with his exploits helping them to win it all. The speedster played a huge hand in winning the Premier League and Champions League alongside numerous other domestic honours, with his goals proving integral as he showed up in the big moments.
Such a tendency to appear when needed is unquantifiable, but it does lend to the suggestion that he was at the very least more prolific than Son.
Although the current club captain is often lauded for his clinical nature in front of goal, it is a testament to Mane's quality that he has arguably outscored him during their respective periods with these two English greats.
After all, across his six years and 269 games with Liverpool, the 97-cap whiz scored 120 times and assisted a further 48. This meant that he would find the net every 2.24 games, which marks an impressive figure for a natural wide man.
Meanwhile, Son has currently scored 148 goals in 378 games, and whilst he does have more strikes and will almost certainly continue to add to them, this only averages out at a goal every 2.55; slightly less reliable in front of goal.
Not to mention that, during their most recent full campaigns in the Premier League, Mane averaged a 16% goal conversion before departing whilst his two-footed competition could only muster up 12%.
Although it is extremely close with regard to the quality they boasted across their tenure in England, these figures do suggest that the former Klopp favourite just edged the contest.
With goals at the Allianz Arena to fell Bayern Munich in the Champions League, numerous strikes against title rivals Manchester City, debut stunners against Arsenal and even an equaliser in the Champions League final against Real Madrid.
It would be unfair to Mane's trophy-winning legacy to suggest that Son, whose only piece of silverware came with his national team, was a more complete and lethal forward than the current Al Nassr star.
The South Africa quick lost 15% of his match fee over the incident, and gained one demerit point, taking his overall tally to five; eight points within a specified period mean a weighty suspension
ESPNcricinfo staff14-Feb-2018South Africa fast bowler Kagiso Rabada has picked up a fine and a demerit point for giving India opener Shikhar Dhawan a send-off in Port Elizabeth. He lost 15% of his match fee over the incident, and gained one demerit point, taking his overall tally to five.Each demerit point stays on a player’s record for a period of 24 months. Four demerit points warrant the first suspension, and eight lead to another longer suspension. Rabada was already suspended for one Test against England in mid-2017, for having accumulated four demerit points. He picked up the first three of those on February 8, 2017, following an ODI against Sri Lanka.If Rabada reaches eight points before the second week of February, 2019, he will receive a weightier penalty – a ban of two Tests, or one Test and two ODIs/T20Is, or four ODIs/T20Is – whichever comes first for the player.Rabada had dismissed Dhawan in the eighth over the India innings, caught at deep-square leg off a bouncer, then waved at the batsman, pointed him to the dressing room and, according to an ICC release, “made a comment which could have resulted in a reaction from the batsman”. Rabada admitted to the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by match referee Andy Pycroft, so there was no formal hearing.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola could be about to get his hands on a replacement for Riyad Mahrez by signing one of Europe's most promising young wingers, according to reports.
Who is the Mahrez replacement going to be?
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has given a crucial update in Manchester City's pursuit of Rennes winger Jeremy Doku, stating on X: "Man City, advancing on Jeremy Doku deal as new verbal proposal close to €55/60m package is being discussed with Rennes.
There’s competition but City hope to reach an agreement with Rennes this week — after green light on player side since beginning of August."
Sky Sports also confirm that Manchester City are in talks with Rennes over Doku as they look to bring in another offensive player at the Etihad Stadium following the departure of Riyad Mahrez to Saudi Pro League side Al Ahli for £30 million.
It is believed that the Belgium international has emerged as a 'leading contender' to succeed Mahrez at Manchester City. West Ham United have emerged as rival suitors for the £25k-a-week ace and had a bid rejected to try and bring him to the London Stadium earlier this month, though they are unlikely to win a race against the treble winners.
Football Insider claim that personal terms have already been agreed between Manchester City and Doku while a personal 'intervention' from Guardiola has brought the proposed deal 'very close' to full completion.
Doku found himself on the Rennes substitutes bench last week amid speculation surrounding his impending move to the Premier League champions, which looks like it is now edging closer to becoming a reality.
How good actually is Jeremy Doku?
Doku possesses plenty of flair and exciting attributes and is as highly recommended as they come, having previously been hailed as "incredibly quick" by none other than Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe in the past, cited by Get French Football News.
Bringing in an exciting young talent following a period of excellent service from Algeria international Mahrez will be one of Guardiola and Txiki Begiristain's biggest priorities in the remainder of the window and it now looks as if they are close to getting one of their main targets on board.
Belgium forward Jeremy Doku.
In his time at Ligue 1 side Rennes, Doku has made 92 appearances across all competitions, registering 12 goals and ten assists in the process, as per Transfermarkt.
Of course, elite clubs pay a premium for potential in the modern day and it is easy to see what qualities the 21-year-old can bring to the table.
According to WhoScored, Doku evaded his opposition marker with regularity last term, completing 3.3 dribbles per fixture in the French top flight. He also gained an average match rating of 7.08/10 in Ligue 1, showing commendable consistency in his displays.
FBRef illustrate that the Borgerhout-born attacker has excelled in comparison to his positional peers across Europe's top five divisions concerning the art of progressive carries, managing 6.94 per 90 minutes in the last 365 days, putting him in the 99th percentile for this metric.
Under the tutelage of Guardiola and his coaching staff, Doku could go on to become a Premier League star with the correct guidance if he is to move to Manchester City.
Worcestershire’s director of cricket has left the club with immediate effect, in the wake of an internal investigation
ESPNcricinfo staff14-Dec-2017
Steve Rhodes is accused of a cover-up•Getty Images
Worcestershire’s director of cricket, Steve Rhodes, has left the club with immediate effect, in the wake of an internal investigation into the circumstances of the arrest of allrounder Alex Hepburn, who was charged with two counts of rape last month.Rhodes, a legend of the club with more than three decades of service as a player and coach, was put on indefinite leave by Worcestershire (and relieved of his duties as head coach of the England Under-19 squad) after it emerged that he had fail to report Hepburn’s arrest in a timely fashion.The club said in a statement: “We thank him for his 33 years as a player, coach and Director of Cricket. We wish him well in the future.”It is alleged that, when Hepburn was first arrested on April 1, he approached Rhodes for assistance. Rhodes agreed not to pass on details of the allegation to the club’s board and, while the investigation continued, Hepburn was selected for the first team (in T20 cricket) and signed a one-year contract extension with the club.Alex Hepburn has been charged with two counts of rape•Getty Images
News that he had subsequently been charged resulted in the matter coming to the attention of the club and the ECB. It is understood they were told on November 9 and 10.Hepburn, who is suspended on full pay, appeared at Worcester Crown Court on December 7, where he was released on unconditional bail until his hearing commences at 9am on January 4.Rhodes, who kept wicket for England in 11 Tests, had been in charge of Worcestershire since 2006, having played for the county from 1985 to 2004.The club will be making no further comment.
تحدث حسام المندوه أمين صندوق مجلس إدارة نادي الزمالك عن ملفات قضايا القلعة البيضاء لدى الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم “فيفا”، ومباراة نهائي الكونفدرالية.
وقال المندوه في تصريحات تلفزيونية بفضائية “أون تايم سبورتس 2”: “نسعى لجدولة المبالغ المطلوبة في قضيتي جايمي باتشيكو وخالد بو طيب، وهذا الملف مع عمرو أدهم، ولكن لم نتفق على شيء بعد”.
مران الزمالك | تعليمات خاصة لـ دونجا وبرنامج تأهيلي استعدادًا لنهضة بركان
وأضاف: “جوزيه جوميز مستمر مع الزمالك حتى نهاية الموسم بغض النظر عن نتيجة مباراة الزمالك ونهضة بركان”.
وواصل: “بالتأكيد سيكون هناك مكافآت للاعبين حال الفوز بالكونفدرالية طبقًا للائحة”.
وأتم: “أشكر جمهور الزمالك، كلما ذهبنا لمكان نجدهم، والبطولة ستأتي بسببهم يوم الأحد المقبل ان شاء الله”.
واختتم: “أتلقى مكالمات من جماهير للزمالك متواجدون في إنجلترا يريدون أن يأتوا لحضور مباراة الزمالك ونهضة بركان”.
ويستعد الزمالك لمواجهة نهضة بركان المغربي في إياب نهائي بطولة الكونفدرالية على ملعب استاد القاهرة الدولي مساء الأحد المقبل.
وكان الزمالك قد عاد من مباراة الذهاب بخسارة بهدفين مقابل هدف، يطمح في تعويضهم بموقعة الإياب.
Chelsea have "sent an official bid" to Brighton & Hove Albion for their number two goalkeeper, Robert Sanchez, and consider him a "cheaper and smart option" in the market, claims transfers expert Fabrizio Romano.
Is Robert Sanchez joining Chelsea this summer?
It looks like it could be the end of the road for Kepa Arrizabalaga at Stamford Bridge this summer, or at the very least, he'll have to battle it out with his fellow countryman for the number one spot next season.
According to The Athletic, Brighton's Sanchez was left at home during pre-season to sort out a move away from the Amex and has since been the subject of an offer from Mauricio Pochettino's side this week.
With the departure of Edouard Mendy to Saudi Arabia earlier in the window and the fact that Kepa has never truly lived up to his astonishing price tag, the Pensioners have needed a new man between the sticks for some time now.
Read the latest Chelsea transfer news HERE…
While the price for the twice-capped Spaniard hasn't been revealed, it is unlikely to be too dear as he has been relegated to a bench role since March of this year, and with just two years remaining on his £25,000-a-week deal, the club are eager to sell him, per transfers expert Fabrizio Romano.
Robert Sanchez
He explained the situation on his YouTube channel, saying:
"Chelsea have sent an official bid today [Monday] to Brighton for Robert Sanchez, the goalkeeper. Yes, Chelsea always had his name in the list; even when Onana was mentioned internally as a possibility, Robert Sanchez has always been considered as a cheaper and smart option, and Chelsea decided to bid for Robert Sanchez.
"I will let you know about the amount, but at the moment, Chelsea prefers to keep things quiet because of their relationship with Brighton. But this deal, first of all, is very concrete because the player wants the move.
"So Brighton want Sanchez to leave and Sanchez wants to go to Chelsea, he's been very clear. So, negotiations are ongoing, but very positive feelings."
How good is Robert Sanchez?
While it has certainly been a tough year for the Spaniard, with his game time being almost half of what it was the season beforehand, last year still wasn't quite as bad as some people may believe.
Across his 23 Premier League games last season, the 25-year-old made 2.1 saves per game, maintained a passing accuracy of 74.7% and averaged a match rating of 6.42, per WhoScored.
Unfortunately, he also conceded 1.3 goals a game, and his season rating was his lowest since making his debut for the Seagulls in the 2020/21 season.
With Brighton's tactical approach being so heavily reliant on a goalkeeper that is exceptional with the ball at his feet, it's easy to see why Steele was brought in to replace the Spanish international, as he averaged a passing accuracy of 88% in the second half of the season.
Robert Sanchez
That said, his fortunes might have turned somewhat with the departure of Graham Potter, as the Englishman was a huge fan, heaping praise on him following a standout performance against Burnley:
"He is a monster in terms of his physicality. He's not just big, but he is powerful, he is fast.
"In terms of attributes as a goalkeeper, he has got everything to be a top goalkeeper."
However, even with that ringing endorsement from the former Chelsea coach, should the Champions League-chasing Blues be opting for Brighton's number two keeper, especially when it looks like Arsenal could be about to sign David Raya?
Is it a stroke of genius from the west Londoners or an unnecessary gamble? We'll just have to wait and see on this one.
Allrounder Marcus Stoinis will return to his home state of Western Australia for the 2017-18 season, after spending the past five summers playing with Victoria
ESPNcricinfo staff14-Aug-2017
After five productive seasons with Victoria, Marcus Stoinis is heading home to Western Australia•Getty Images
Allrounder Marcus Stoinis will return to his home state of Western Australia for the 2017-18 season, after spending the past five summers playing with Victoria.Stoinis had debuted for the Warriors in 2008-09 before moving to Melbourne in 2012, and his change of states led to consistent output at domestic level and international selection in the limited-overs formats.Stoinis, who turns 28 this week, has been Victoria’s second-leading run scorer in the Sheffield Shield in the past three years, behind only Test batsman Peter Handscomb.He will be joined in the Western Australia squad this summer by allrounder Matthew Spoors, who has been handed a rookie contract for the first time.Gone from last year’s squad are the retired batsman Adam Voges, along with Nathan Rimmington, Ryan Duffield, Josh Nicholas and Liam O’Connor.”We’re thrilled to have Marcus coming home to Western Australia, not only because he’s an extremely talented player but he’s a great character as well,” coach Justin Langer said. “Young Matt Spoors is an exciting young talent. I love his dancing feet; a lot of kids these days have really slow footwork, but Matt’s got really fast batting feet.”Twelve players have been Australian representatives and that’s a great tribute to the program we’re running here at the WACA.”Western Australia squad Ashton Agar (Cricket Australia contract), Cameron Bancroft, Jason Behrendorff, William Bosisto, Hilton Cartwright (CA), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis, Michael Klinger, Simon Mackin, Mitchell Marsh (CA), Shaun Marsh, David Moody, Joel Paris, Jhye Richardson, D’Arcy Short, Marcus Stoinis, Ashton Turner, Andrew Tye, Jonathan Wells, Sam Whiteman. Rookies Alex Bevilaqua, Jake Carder, Kyle Gardiner, Clint Hinchcliffe, Matthew Kelly, Matthew Spoors.
England 377 for 7 (Sciver 137, Knight 106) beat Pakistan 107 for 3 (Ayesha 56*) by 107 runs – DLS Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsNatalie Sciver brought up her maiden ODI century off only 76 balls•PA Images
Natalie Sciver converted her maiden ODI century into a blistering innings of 137 from 92 balls, and Heather Knight, the captain, also passed three figures for the first time in limited-overs cricket, as England dusted themselves down after their opening-match defeat against India to rack up a formidable total of 377 for 7, and a commanding if rain-interrupted 107-run victory over Pakistan at Grace Road.England’s total was their highest in a World Cup match, and second only to Australia’s tournament record of 412 for 3 against Denmark in 1997. But it didn’t seem entirely on the cards during a cagey first ten overs, in which England lost both of their openers, Sarah Taylor and Tammy Beaumont, to the erratic but occasionally penetrative swing bowling of Kainat Imtiaz. At 42 for 2, the hosts still appeared to be suffering from a certain degree of stage fright.Sciver and Knight, however, took it upon themselves to stamp their authority on the innings. In June last year, Sciver had played an integral role in England’s last great statement performance, against the same opponents at Worcester, by smashing 80 from 33 balls to apply the finishing touches to what remains, by one run, England’s highest total in all ODIs.On that occasion, Sciver had arrived at the crease in the 39th over, with full licence to have a swing, following a formidable opening stand of 235 between Beaumont and Lauren Winfield (who was once again missing from today’s match with a wrist injury). This time, although she turned on the after-burners late in her stay with three consecutive sixes off Asmavia Iqbal, her initial duty had been one of consolidation. Steadily at first, but with increasing intent, she and Knight bent England’s innings back into shape, and Pakistan’s prospects decisively out of kilter, with a stand of 213 in exactly 30 overs.Sciver’s poise at the crease is the source of her formidable power, and two brusquely dismissed straight drives in her first six balls were an ominous sign for Pakistan, whose impact faded as the new balls lost their shine and the change bowlers their lines and lengths. The left-arm spinner, Nashra Sandhu, was treated with disdain as Sciver helped herself to four consecutive fours – including one off the toe of the bat through third man – to rattle through to a 35-ball fifty, and having nudged calmly through the nineties with a diet of singles, she drilled Sadia Yousuf into the covers to bring up her maiden hundred from 76 balls.Knight, whose 46 against India had given her team a glimmer of hope in their opening defeat against India, nailed an early drive through the covers to settle into her new day’s work, but she stepped up the ante when Sana Mir entered the attack with her offspin. Using her feet with good intent, she dumped a lofted drive through long-on for four, before picking off two more fours in her next over, with a paddle behind square and a thump through point.And, just as she had done against India, Knight also led the way in clearing the ropes, cracking a brace of sixes over cow corner en route to her own century from 105 balls. She fell one over later, caught in the deep for 106 as she launched Asmavia to wide long-off, but Danni Wyatt was on hand to keep England’s impetus going. She finished unbeaten on 42 from 27 balls, with five fours and a six over midwicket, although Pakistan saved themselves from conceding a new record total by chiselling out Fran Wilson and Jenny Gunn in consecutive deliveries in the penultimate over.In reply, Pakistan battled hard but were unable to make much headway in the face of England’s towering total. Katherine Brunt, who had born the brunt of Smriti Mandhana’s onslaught in the India match, settled much more quickly into her day’s work by extracting two early wickets – Nahida Khan, caught pulling a long-hop to midwicket for 3, and Javeria Khan, brilliantly bowled by devious slower ball for 11.Ayesha Zafar refused to be cowed, and kept going for her shots, cracking eight fours in total in reaching a 67-ball fifty. But Alex Hartley pinned Asmavia Iqbal lbw as she danced down the crease and missed a hoick across the line, and the contest was dead in the water long before the Grace Road rains applied a literal interpretation.