While Manchester City’s season can still be seen as a success, winning a fourth consecutive Premier League title, losing in the Champions League semi-finals to Real Madrid and in the FA Cup final to Manchester United will have gnawed away at Pep Guardiola.

Their squad is arguably the strongest in England, but as seen in the defeats to Madrid and United, a few weaknesses have crept up on them as they failed to repeat their treble heroics from the year before.

Could this be the summer in which Pep undergoes somewhat of a rebuild at City? Especially with the future of Kevin De Bruyne uncertain amid recent comments about a move to Saudi Arabia.

What the club needs is another midfielder or two to bulk up that area of the pitch. Could one such player arrive from a fellow Premier League side?

Man City transfer news

According to the Athletic, Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes is wanted by City this summer as Guardiola aims to bolster his team with one of the finest midfield talents in the Premier League.

It is reported that the Brazilian has a £100m release clause inserted into his contract which runs until the end of this month, meaning City may have to act fast if they wish to sign him at this price.

The midfield is the main area of concern for Guardiola this summer, especially considering there is a lack of depth in this area.

De Bruyne is 32, while Mateo Kovacic is 30 and there is no doubt the Brazilian could be an ideal upgrade on the former Real Madrid gem.

Why Bruno Guimaraes could be a perfect upgrade on Mateo Kovacic

The Croatian made the move from Stamford Bridge to the Etihad last summer for a transfer fee in the region of £25m, which looked like a bargain considering the success he had enjoyed for Madrid previously.

With Guardiola requiring some more steel at the heart of his midfield, Kovacic formed a solid duo alongside Rodri as the club won yet another Premier League title.

Across all competitions, the 30-year-old made 46 appearances for City, adding the English top-flight title to his vast list of silverware won during a glory-laden career.

Guimaraes is four years younger than the Croatian star. However, more importantly, he appears to be coming into his peak years, which could be another advantage for Guardiola as he seeks further improvement.

In terms of trophies won, Kovacic is a clear winner, yet there is only one victor when it comes to who was the better player during the 2023/24 campaign – Guimaraes.

When compared to his positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues, the Newcastle machine currently ranks in the top 3% for successful take-ons (1.85), the top 10% for assists (0.21), the top 10% for shot-creating actions (3.81) and in the top 14% for non-penalty goals (0.17) all per 90, it shows just how impressive he is going forwards.

In comparison, Kovacic, when ranked among his own counterparts in Europe’s top five leagues, fails to rank in the top 50% for non-penalty goals (0.05) or for assists (0) per 90, while also ranking in the top 27% for shot-creating actions (3.08) and the top 21% for successful take-ons (1.09) per 90. These statistics clearly prove that the 26-year-old is certainly the more effective player from an attacking perspective, which will be of benefit to the City side next season.

A central midfield duo of Kovacic and Rodri yielded just 12 goals between them during the entire season. Swapping the Croatian for Guimaraes may well be the missing piece for the City midfield next term.

How Bruno Guimaraes could form a dream partnership with Rodri

"With him, we are a better team," said Guardiola back in March about his compatriot who went on a staggering unbeaten run for City.

Guardiola heaped further praise on his star man by claiming that he is “"the best midfield player, currently, in the world by far.” And nothing has changed in the months that have followed this admission.

When compared to his positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues, Rodri ranks in the top 1% for pass success rate (91.9%), passes attempted (112.71) and progressive passes (12.16) per 90, which is certainly evidence of Guardiola’s comments about him being the best in the world.

His range and vision means the 27-year-old can regularly dictate play and control matches from the heart of the midfield. Having someone like Guimaraes next to him who could provide a more attacking threat, could allow Rodri to continue his dominance.

Guimaraes has been hailed as “magnificent” by his manager, Eddie Howe, and it is clear that everything good at Newcastle comes from the midfielder.

In the Premier League season, not only did the Brazilian score seven goals, but he also registered eight assists, created 12 big chances, averaged 1.7 key passes and succeeded with 1.9 dribbles per game, becoming a key attacking threat for the Magpies and who knows what position they would have finished in had it not been for the 26-year-old.

It is clear that City have had their eye on the player for a while and a prospective move certainly makes a lot of sense, especially with the qualities that he could bring to the Etihad outfit.

While Guardiola has won everything there is to be won during his eight-year stint in charge of City, his constant need to evolve and improve is the reason why the club are still at the very top of the ladder, especially domestically.

Every so often, however, a good team sometimes needs to be taken apart and rebuilt. With a couple of his midfield options approaching the twilight stages of their careers, adding a few younger players may not be a bad thing during the summer transfer window.

Man City could boost Gvardiol by signing "the best LB in the world"

He could be available this summer

By
Joe Nuttall

Jun 2, 2024

Guimaraes’ profile fits what Guardiola is looking for in a player. Having served his Premier League apprenticeship in Newcastle, he could become a fully-fledged member of the elite should City come calling.

Having previously admitted he finds it "so annoying" coming up against Rodri in a midfield battle, it might be nice for the Brazilian to be alongside the Spaniard for a change – hey, if you can't beat them, join them…

أسدل الستار عن منافسات الجولة التاسعة عشر من منافسات الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، موسم 2024/25.

وعزز فريق ليفربول، بقيادة النجم المصري محمد صلاح، صدارته لجدول البطولة بعدما حقق فوزًا عريضًا على وست هام بنتيجة 5/0.

وخاض مانشستر سيتي مباراة في تلك الجولة ضد ليستر سيتي، حيث فاز بهدفين دون رد، ليستعيد توازنه بعض الشيء، بعد سلسلة من النتائج الكارثية.

اقرأ أيضًا.. ترتيب هدافي الدوري الإنجليزي بعد هدف هالاند أمام ليستر سيتي

وواصل نوتينجهام فورست نتائجه الرائعة تحت قيادة المدرب نونو سانتو، حيث فاز على إيفرتون بثنائية نظيفة، وصعد إلى المركز الثاني.

وسقط توتنهام في فخ تعادل مخيب مع ولفرهامبتون بهدفين لمثليهما، وحقق فولهام النتيجة نفسها ضد بورنموث.

وتعرض تشيلسي للهزيمة أمام خصمم إيبسويتش تاون بهدفين دون رد، وهي نفس النتيجة التي عانى منها مانشستر يونايتد أمام نيوكاسل.

بينما فاز آرسنال على خصمه برينتفورد بنتيجة 3/1، في اللقاء الذي جمع بين الفريقين على ملعب “جي تيك كوميونيتي”. ترتيب الدوري الإنجليزي

1- ليفربول، 45 نقطة.

2- آرسنال، 39 نقطة.

3- نوتينجهام فورست، 37 نقطة.

4- تشيلسي، 35 نقطة.

5- نيوكاسل يونايتد، 32 نقطة.

6- مانشستر سيتي، 31 نقطة.

7- بورنموث، 30 نقطة.

8- فولهام، 29 نقطة.

9 أستون فيلا، 29 نقطة.

10 برايتون، 27 نقطة.

11- توتنهام، 24 نقطة.

12 برينتفورد، 24 نقطة.

13- وست هام، 23 نقطة.

14- مانشستر يونايتد، 22 نقطة.

15- كريستال بالاس، 20 نقطة.

16- إيفرتون، 17 نقطة.

17- ولفرهامبتون، 16 نقطة.

18- إيبسويتش تاون، 15 نقطة.

19- ليستر سيتي، 14 نقطة.

20- ساوثهامبتون، 6 نقاط.

 ويمكن متابعة ترتيب الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، موسم 2024/25، محدث بشكل مستمر من هنا.

Lapses in the field a reason why India couldn’t capitalise on any kind of momentum, Virat Kohli says

Sidharth Monga27-Nov-20201:37

Pandya: ‘We lost wickets when we were getting the rhythm’

Hardik Pandya’s lower-back injury, which has taken away his bowling, for the time being, has affected India’s team balance in a big way, but there was good news for India’s fans after the first of the three ODIs in Australia. Not only did Pandya give a good account of himself as a batsman, top-scoring with 90 off 76 from 101 for 4, he also dropped a hint he might be ready to bowl come the World Cups. There are three of those in the next three years: for T20Is in 2021 and 2022, and the ODI variety in 2023. He said he was bowling already but still not confident physically or skills-wise he could do it in games.”It is a process,” Pandya said when asked where he was with respect to a return to the bowling crease. “I am looking at a long-term goal where I want to be 100% of my bowling capacity for the most important games. The World Cups are coming. More crucial series are coming. Whenever it is required.”I am thinking as a long-term plan, not short term where I exhaust myself and maybe have something else [injury] which is not there. So it is going to be a process, which I am following. I can’t tell you exactly when I am going to bowl but the process is on. In the nets, I am bowling. It is just that I am not game-ready but I am bowling. It is all about confidence and the skill has to be at an international level.”ALSO READ: Monga – India’s one-dimensional batsmen hurting their five-bowler strategyThe absence of Pandya the bowler hurts India all the more because they have no part-timer to hold the fort for the time being. Ravindra Jadeja is the only two-dimensional player in the ODI squad in Australia, but he plays as the fifth bowler, leaving no allowance for any of the bowlers to have an off day. At least three of them had it in the series opener, which resulted in a humongous target of 375.Pandya said India needed to groom someone promising even if there was no natural allrounder coming through. “That has been the question always, right?” Pandya said of the missing link in the side. “We have to find and maybe make… I have always believed that… even when I came into the circuit, I was not always the allrounder which I wanted to be. But with time I groomed myself and became that bowling option. I worked on my bowling.Hardik Pandya launches one down the ground•Getty Images”Yeah, it is always going to be difficult when you go with five bowlers. When someone is having an off day you don’t have someone to fulfil the quota. More than injury, the sixth bowler’s role is when someone among the five bowlers is having a bad day. I think it is going to be… maybe we will have to make, maybe we will have to find someone who has already played India, and groom them and find a way to make them play.”Pandya went on to make a cheeky suggestion: “Maybe we should look in the Pandya family only. There is one sitting at home.”Brother Krunal has been tried in T20Is by India, but not in the ODIs. It is probably because they already have one fingerspinner in Jadeja, and they need either a seam-bowling allrounder or a batsman who can turn his arm over.India’s captain Virat Kohli admitted they didn’t have such an option in the touring party in Australia. Asked if he would have a bowl himself, Kohli joked he might bowl if Aaron Finch were batting. He called for his specialist bowlers to pick up wickets to make up for the absence of that cushion of a sixth bowler and asked for a better body language.”The key to winning games is picking up wickets,” Kohli pointed out. “That is something we were not able to do. Also, lapses in the field were also a reason why we couldn’t capitalise on any kind of momentum, the pressure that we created in the early part of the innings.”Everyone needs to show the intent for the entire 50 overs. Probably we played 50 overs after a long time. That could have an effect, but having said that we have played so much ODI cricket that it is not something we don’t know how to do. I think the body language in the field wasn’t great after around 25 overs. It was a disappointing part. If you don’t take your chances against a top-quality opposition they’ll hurt you and that is what happened today.”

MatériaMais Notícias

O fato de marcar o gol do empate em 1 a 1 do Vasco diante do Brasil de Pelotas não foi suficiente para trazer o alento para Daniel Amorim. Em entrevista ao Premiere na noite desta sexta-feira (3), o centroavante expôs sua frustração com o fato da vitória ter escapado diante do penúltimo colocado da Série B. A partida foi válida pela vigésima-segunda rodada.

+ Veja a classificação e os próximos jogos da Série B!

RelacionadasVascoLinhas do VAR não funcionam em gol anulado do Vasco em São JanuárioVasco03/09/2021VascoLisca lamenta falhas do Vasco e critica arbitragem: ‘Não tem como dar aquele impedimento’Vasco03/09/2021VascoATUAÇÕES: Daniel Amorim marca e empata para o Vasco; Vanderlei falha feio e Cano perde pênaltiVasco03/09/2021

– A gente sabe que não é o resultado que a gente queria. A gente está se cobrando, porque, com todo respeito, a gente tem que “amassar” os caras aqui. Mas a gente tem que continuar trabalhando – e destacou:

– A gente acredita, e é isso que a gente vai buscar. A gente vai buscar esse acesso aí. E eu acredito no título também – complementou.

O Vasco volta a campo nesta segunda-feira (6), para encarar o Avaí, na Ressacada, às 20h.

Manchester United have had an incredible plethora of unbelievable strikers play for the club over the years, but one that will always remain a fan favourite is Ruud Van Nistelrooy.

The Netherlands centre-forward was known for being a monster in front of goal, someone who could be relied upon to put the ball in the back of the net.

Now, 18 years after his departure from Old Trafford, he could return in a coaching capacity, having been approached by United, as per Fabrizio Romano.

If the former United goalscorer were to return, it’s fair to say that he’d have a huge impact on the entire squad, but one potential new signing would benefit hugely from his coaching.

Man Utd want to sign a new striker

According to a report from the i Paper, Man United are inching closer to sealing a deal for Joshua Zirkzee.

It’s mentioned that a move for the centre forward is ‘progressing,’ with a new centre forward a priority this summer.

Other reports have mentioned that the 23-year-old had a £34m release clause in his current deal at Bologna, which United will have to activate.

However, they won’t be alone in their pursuit of the Dutch ace, with numerous top clubs, including AC Milan, keen on acquiring his signature.

Why Zirkzee would be special under Van Nistelrooy

Despite being a highly-rated striker at Bayern Munich during his teenage years, it was only last season that Zirkzee truly showed his potential.

Starting up front in a 4-2-3-1 system, the Dutch attacker tore the Serie A apart, making 34 appearances, with 32 of those being from the off.

Across the league season, the number nine scored 11 goals and provided four assists, but his overall profile is rather unique.

If the two Dutch internationals did join the Red Devils this summer, then it’s fair to say that Zirkzee would be heavily influenced by Van Nistelrooy, not just because he knows what it takes to lead the line for Man United but also because of his excellent coaching ability.

Xavi Simons

19

8

Luuk de Jong

14

4

Cody Gakpo

9

12

Joey Veerman

4

10

Gus Til

9

3

During his spell as head coach of PSV, the former United forward had a huge impact on the attackers in his side, notably the likes of Cody Gakpo and Xavi Simons, as you can see in the table above.

Why is this important? Well, Zirkzee is already known for being a clinical finisher, notably due to the fact he overperformed his xG of 9.01 last season, as per Sofascore, with composure being a huge attribute of his.

Yet, the reason why football analyst Ben Mattinson said he has “elite potential” is due to his complete profile, which enables him to combine well with his teammates and create something out of nothing.

According to Sofascore, the Bologna ace created 11 big chances last season, as well as producing 1.3 key passes and 1.5 successful dribbles, which proves that he has the ability to be more than just a direct threat.

As proven by Van Nistelrooy’s attackers performing at an extremely high level, the coach knows exactly how to develop talent, and given that Zirkzee still has plenty of unfulfilled potential, he could really take him to the next level.

Overall, signing the Dutch duo could just completely transform the United attack, and if Zirkzee can get anywhere close to the output that Van Nistelrooy had at Old Trafford as a player, he’ll prove to be a fantastic signing.

What Man Utd's dream XI could look like after £230m spending spree

Marcus Rashford doesn’t make the best eleven.

1 ByTom Lever Jun 7, 2024

Cristiano Ronaldo stole the show with a late penalty as the Portuguese sealed a 2-1 win for Al-Nassr against Al-Shabab in the Saudi Pro League.

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Al-Nassr beat Al-Shabab 2-1Ronaldo converted a penalty deep in injury timeHamdallah turned villain as he missed from the spot Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images SportTELL ME MORE

The ill effects of the recently concluded international break reared its ugly head as Stefano Pioli's men looked disjointed and fatigued for most of the match against a more inspirational Al-Shabab side. Chances came at a premium and if it was not for a stunning reaction save from Bento to deny Mohammed Al-Thani from a corner, Ronaldo & Co would have found themselves chasing the game from early on.

It was a drab first half and the match did not spring to life until Aymeric Laporte opened the scoring in the 69th minute. After the first goal went in, both teams looked more competitive and in the final quarter, Al-Shabab started enjoying more of the possession. Pioli was quick to react and replaced Otavio with Ali Alhassan. However, the defender messed up a clearance in the final minute of regulation time and ended up putting the ball into his net, much to the fury of his manager on the sidelines.

When both teams were looking to settle for a point each, hardly did they know the drama had just begun. Robert Renan lunged into a needless challenge on Abdulrahman Ghareeb just inside the box and the referee had no qualms pointing to the spot. Ronaldo stepped up to take the penalty and the 39-year-old sent the goalkeeper the wrong way to score his sixth goal of the league campaign in the seventh minute of stoppage time. However, it was not yet over as Mohamed Simakan handed Al-Shabab a lifeline as he got himself sent off after stamping on Nader Al-Sharari inside the box. But Abderrazak Hamdallah succumbed to the pressure and hit the woodwork from 12 yards to hand vital three points to the visitors who are chasing Al-Hilal in the standings.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE MVP

Cometh the hour, cometh the man! Ronaldo kept his calm when it mattered the most and delivered the goods, as he mostly does, for Al-Nassr. A stuttered run-up, a good look in the eyes of the keeper, and a well-placed penalty turned out to be the difference-maker between the two sides.

THE BIG LOSER

Hamdallah had a decent game to be fair to the Moroccan. But when his side needed a hero, the striker failed them. He looked under pressure before he took his shot and despite sending Bento the other way, he hit the woodwork which condemned his team to a heart-breaking defeat.

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WHAT COMES NEXT FOR AL-NASSR?

After a thrilling victory in the domestic league, Ronaldo & Co will now shift his focus to the AFC Champions League as they are set to face Esteghlal in Dubai on Tuesday.

After coming so close to the Premier League title for the second successive season, Arsenal now look to use the transfer window to bring in the players that can hopefully finally take them back to the summit of English football.

Arsenal eye fresh faces this summer

Before the curtain had even drawn on last season, much of the Emirates' faithful already knew that their side needed to sign a striker this summer.

Arsenal struck gold on Arteta signing who's worth even more than Kimmich

Joshua Kimmich could sign for Arsenal this summer according to reports.

ByMatt Dawson Jul 1, 2024

Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres have been the two names linked with a move to North London during the transfer window. The rumours linking the former with a move to the Emirates have cooled in recent weeks however after the Slovenia international signed a new contract at RB Leipzig.

Whilst Sesko looks set to stay this summer, the links with Gyokeres remain intact, with recent reports even suggesting that Arsenal have agreed on an initial £76 million package for the Swedish talisman, that could rise to around £101million with add-ons.

With the Gunners' hunt for a striker well under way, attention has turned towards reinforcements in defence. Italy star Riccardo Calafiori is the name at the top of Mikel Arteta's wishlist although the Bologna man now appears more interested in a reuniuon with Juventus boss Thiago Motta.

In preparation for if they are to lose out on Calafiori, Arsenal are now considering a move for another highly rated centre back who has starred at this summer's Euro 2024 tournament.

Gunners consider move for England star

As reported by Football London, Arsenal are said to be considering a move for Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi. The outlet claims that the English centre back is seen as the Gunners' back up option if they are to fail in their pursuit of Calafiori this summer.

Guehi enjoyed something of a breakout season last term, starring as Palace underwent a tactical revolution under new boss Oliver Glasner.

The 23-year-old has taken his domestic form into Euro 2024 with Guehi starting in all of England's games at the competition so far. He even managed to grab himself an assist in Sunday's victory over Slovakia, cementing himself as one of the Three Lions' most consistent performers in the tournament.

It was his performances over the course of last season that saw Guehi earn plaudits from England boss Gareth Southgate. Speaking back in October 2023, the Three Lions' boss waxed lyrical about the defender, telling the press: “Marc is doing really, really well. He’s played with great maturity in the two games last month.

‘He’s a very calm player [and] positionally excellent. [He is] composed with the ball, [has a] very good mentality, so we think he’s developing very well.”

Guehi's zen-like approach to defending makes sense when you understand his influences. The defender spoke on the players he had learned from in a 2023 interview, telling Crystal Palace's club website: “I think Paolo Maldini said something like: ‘If you have to make a tackle, you weren’t in the right position in the first place'".

With the South London outfit slapping a reported £65 million price tag on Guehi this summer, it is clear that the Eagles are not eager to let their player leave. Despite this, the temptation of Champions League football at the Emirates may prove too much when Guehi returns from Germany this month.

Messi and Miami have confirmed their spot in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup after setting a new MLS record Saturday evening.

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• Miami breaks MLS Regular Season points record
• Herons awarded 2025 Club World Cup spot
• Will host opening game at Hard Rock Stadium
• Get the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games now

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Inter Miami set a new MLS regular-season points record with 74, surpassing the New England Revolution's 2021 mark of 73. By winning the Supporters' Shield and with the U.S. hosting the Club World Cup, Lionel Messi and his team have secured a spot in next summer's tournament, FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced Saturday at Chase Stadium after Miami's victory.

  A second half hat-trick from Lionel Messi off the bench and a four goal-contribution showing from Luis Suarez led Inter Miami to an emphatic 6-2 victory over the New England Revolution Saturday evening.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Following the conclusion of the match, celebrated their 2024 MLS Supporters' Shield triumph with their fans on the pitch at Chase Stadium.

  FIFA President Gianni Infantino and club co-owner David Beckham joined majority owner Jorge Mas for a speech, where it was announced that Miami would be participating in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup as the final CONCACAF participant as a result of their regular season triumph.

  "I have three things to tell you," Infantino said to the crowd. "The first, many congratulations for winning the Supporters' Shield. The second, you will be qualified for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025. And third, you will be opening and hosting the opening game at the Hard Rock Stadium in front of 65,000 people!"

• DID YOU KNOW?

  The other participants in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup from Concacaf include Liga MX sides Monterrey, Club Leon, Pachuca and fellow MLS team, Seattle Sounders.

  The tournament itself will have it's opening match in South Florida at Hard Rock Stadium.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR MIAMI?

  will take on the winner of the Eastern Conference wildcard game between CF Montreal and Atlanta United in the Round One best-of-three series next weekend. The No. 1 seed in the playoffs, they will have home-field advantage throughout the postseason.

Late wickets for Mitchell Swepson kept the contest between Queensland and New South Wales very even after a century stand between Peter Nevill and Sean Abbott had threatened to take control.Swepson collected four wickets overall, the pick of them a beautiful leg-break from round the wicket that spun sharply to take Abbott’s off stump and end the sixth-wicket stand 106 which had swung the game New South Wales’ way after they had been 5 for 149.Until Nevill, who remained unbeaten on 54, and Abbott converted into half-centuries it had been a day of the New South Wales top order failing to capitalise after they had taken the last three Queensland wickets inside the opening ten overs.An opening stand of 67 was broken when Nick Larkin was pinned lbw by Jack Wildermuth early in the afternoon session Swepson then got to work when he beat Kurtis Patterson with one that slid on as he skipped down the pitch.Five balls later Daniel Hughes’ promising innings was ended when he inside-edged a drive against Xavier Bartlett. The trend of starts was continued by Moises Henriques, two days after he had earned an Australia recall, when he missed a sweep against Swepson. Daniel Solway became the third batsman to fall for 23, gloving a short ball from round the wicket unable to drop his hands, and Queensland had their noses in front.Nevill was given a life on 13, dropped a square as he pulled, and runs came at a good rate against the older ball. Abbott attacked Swepson, hitting him for three sixes and taking 38 runs off 31 balls against the legspinner, during his second half-century in consecutive games until Swepson found the telling response.Mitchell Starc then skied a slog sweep to mean that New South Wales still had work to do to take a lead. He had early finished with a four-wicket haul as Queensland’s lower order couldn’t take them beyond 300. Overall they lost their last six wickets for 47 runs.

Ishan Kishan dominated a chase of 111 with an unbeaten 47-ball 72

Hemant Brar31-Oct-20204:04

Moody: Delhi look a rudderless batting unit at the moment

The Mumbai Indians finally broke their Dubai hoodoo, and how!First, Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult combined to take 6 for 38 in eight overs to strangle Delhi Capitals to 110 for 9. Then Ishan Kishan struck an unbeaten 72 off 47, taking the likes of Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje apart on his way, to take his side home with nine wickets and 36 balls to spare.The win has ensured the Mumbai Indians a top-two finish in the league stage. On the other hand, the Capitals have now lost four games on the trot, and while they can still finish second on the points table, their net run rate, for now, has slipped below the Kings XI Punjab’s.Boult removes Dhawan, Shaw earlyHow fickle form can be in T20s was evident once again on Saturday. After scoring back-to-back hundreds, Shikhar Dhawan has now two ducks in his last two outings. He was out for a golden duck against Sunrisers Hyderabad, and here he lasted two balls as he failed to keep down a cut against Boult and Suryakumar Yadav took a low catch at point. It was referred to third umpire and there was no conclusive evidence to overturn the on-field soft signal of out.Shaw, who replaced Ajinkya Rahane in the playing XI, didn’t last long either as Boult cut short his stay in his next over. Backing away to a short-of-length delivery, Shaw went for a pull only to slice it high to the wicketkeeper’s left.From the other end, spinners Krunal Pandya and Jayant Yadav hit the hard lengths to keep things quiet as the Capitals finished the powerplay on 22 for 2, the second-lowest powerplay total in IPL 2020.Trent Boult sent back Shikhar Dhawan in the first over•BCCI

Chahar, Bumrah dent Capitals’ recoveryShreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant tried to stage a recovery but the runs were not coming freely. After the third over, the Capitals hit only one boundary – a six by Iyer off Jayant – till the tenth. They limped to 49 for 2 at the halfway mark of their innings, but the silver lining was the eight wickets in hand.Rahul Chahar and Bumrah though shattered any hopes of a revival. Chahar lured forward Iyer with a flighted legbreak before beating him with the turn; Quinton de Kock effected the stumping with Iyer’s foot centimetres off the ground.After that Bumrah breathed fire. He sent back both Marcus Stoinis – a thick outside edge to de Kock – and Pant – lbw from around the wicket – in the same over to leave the Capitals 62 for 5 in the 12th over. Harshal Patel though was unlucky to become Bumrah’s third victim. He was deemed lbw by umpire Paul Reiffel but replays showed the ball hit him high on the back thigh and would have gone over the stumps. The wicket though took Bumrah’s tally for the season to 23, helping him draw level with the purple-cap holder Rabada.Nathan Coulter-Nile then dismissed Shimron Hetmyer to reduce the Capitals to 78 for 7 before R Ashwin and Rabada dragged the score past 100.A straightforward chaseIt was never going to be a tough ask for Mumbai Indians, even though they were without Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya. The Capitals needed early wickets to make something out of it and once they didn’t get those, it was just a matter of time.Despite the ball not coming on to the bat early in the innings, Kishan pulled Nortje for two fours in the fourth over, while de Kock kept playing risk-free cricket at the other end. The duo took the Mumbai Indians to 68 in 10.1 overs, and another ten-wicket win was almost on the horizon before de Kock played on Nortje.Iyer brought back Rabada as a last throw of the dice but Kishan hit his first ball over cover for six and brought up his fifty – off 37 balls – on the next. The winning shot, Kishan hitting Nortje over deep midwicket for six, was symbolic of the Mumbai Indians’ dominance.