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After a disappointing Champions League final for Liverpool the supporters were hit with more bad news as it was reported that Sadio Mane plans to leave the club this summer, and now a reliable source has given an update from the club’s perspective.

What’s the latest?

Liverpool reporter for The Athletic James Pearce has given a deeper insight into the potential departure of Sadio Mane this summer and how the club are set to approach the situation.

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As per Pearce’s report for The Athletic, senior sources at Anfield have revealed that the club will not accept the reported €30m (£25.5m) and the club believes that it would be more beneficial to keep the player for another 12 months and let him go on a free transfer in 2023.

However, Liverpool value Mane at around €50m (£42.5m) and would only be interested in sanctioning a deal for the winger if they can find a suitable replacement this summer.

Supporters will be gutted

Mane has been a consistent and outstanding performer for Liverpool over the last six years since he joined the club in 2016, and has played a key part in winning huge honours including the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup.

Not only that, the Senegalese attacker has won the Premier League golden boot and finished fourth in the Ballon d’Or in 2019, proving that he has been considered one of the best players in the world during his time on Merseyside, so supporters will surely be gutted at the prospect of him leaving this summer.

The rumoured decision on Mane’s part to leave the club comes as he has one year left on his contract alongside Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino, and it was believed earlier this month that FSG would work to open contract negotiations with the two wingers in particular to secure their future at Anfield.

With that being said, Pearce’s update does offer an element of positivity for supporters as Liverpool are clearly not ready to let the player go easily and will work to either find a like for like replacement to make sure the club does not suffer from Mane’s exit in the upcoming season should they reach an agreement that is mutually beneficial.

Either way, the news that a player who has scored 120 times for them is set to depart is not ideal at all. It’s certainly a huge blow to Klopp’s Anfield empire.

AND in other news: Forget Mane: Klopp can land new LFC hero in deal for “tenacious” £100m “predator”

Former Celtic striker Frank McAvennie is ecstatic that six Hoops players have made it into PFA Scotland’s Team of the Year for 2021/22.

The Lowdown: Hoops dominate Team of the Year

The Hoops are on the verge of being named the new Scottish Premiership champions, taking a six-point lead with them into the final three matches of the campaign.

Celtic’s dominance has now been recognised, with the news that Cameron Carter-Vickers, Josip Juranovic, Tom Rogic, Callum McGregor, Jota and Kyogo Furuhashi are all named in the Team of the Year.

All six have enjoyed superb seasons, playing a huge role in Ange Postecoglou’s side being so close to title glory.

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The Latest: McAvennie reacts to news

Speaking to Football Insider, McAvennie couldn’t hide his delight at the news:

“I can’t believe it, if you told me six players would make it into the team of the year at the end of last season, I wouldn’t believe it. The team we had last year was rotten. In such a short time Ange has turned it around.

“If you look at those six, Juranovic, Jota, Kyogo and Carter-Vickers all came in this season. I can’t believe that. Four brand new signings all in the team of the season, it’s just, wow.

“That is down to Ange as well because he brought them in. He is the one to thank in all this.

“McGregor and Rogic have improved so much as well, all of them deserve it. I know it doesn’t really mean much but it’s just another sign for the incredible year we have had and hopefully it’s a good sign for the future.”

The Verdict: Richly deserved recognition

To see over half of the Team of the Year dominated by Celtic players is just reward for their efforts, with Postecoglou getting huge amounts out of his squad in his first season at Parkhead.

Carter-Vickers has been an influential figure on loan from Tottenham, averaging 4.1 aerial duel wins per game, while Rogic and McGregor have brought class and fight to the midfield.

Meanwhile, Jota has been another inspired loan signing, chipping in with 18 goal contributions in the league – nine goals and assists each – and both Juranovic and Kyogo have also done their bit for the cause at right-back and in attack, respectively.

In other news, Celtic are reportedly keen on selling one player this summer. Find out who it is here.

Sharp reflexes at short leg may yet made the difference in a closely fought Test

George Dobell at Pallekele17-Nov-2018If England do go on to win the second Test in Kandy – and a match of endless fluctuations of fortune could easily contain one more twist – it will have been their fielding that made the difference.Twice in this game Dimuth Karunaratne (63 in the first innings and 57 in the second) has looked set to carry his side into a position of dominance. And twice his innings have been ended by outrageously good pieces of fielding.In the first innings, it was Ben Stokes’ brilliant pick-up-and-throw that ended Karunaratne’s innings with a run-out. And, in the second, it was a brave, intelligent and, yes, somewhat fortuitous, piece of fielding by Keaton Jennings, at short leg, that resulted in his dismissal.Kennings admitted his deflection to Ben Foakes was actually an attempted catch. But perhaps his commitment and courage deserved some reward. After all, the instinct of most people upon seeing a batsman shape to paddle-sweep is surely to take evasive action. But Jennings anticipated the direction of the ball and attempted to put his body in its way. A grab for the catch subsequently resulted in a deflection which Foakes – alert as ever – held.”I’d love to say I parried it to Foaksey [on purpose],” Jenings said afterwards. “But I genuinely tried to catch it. It hit me really hard and went straight off to Foakesy.”You get a feeling of what the batter is looking to do. You try to watch his movements and match your movements to where he is trying to hit the ball: generally you try and get in the way.”I saw him go down to paddle and just set off running. He got a little too much bat on it and it ended up at me.”It wasn’t England’s only moment of inspiration in Sri Lanka’s second innings. Or Jennings’. His catch to dismiss Dhananjaya de Silva, also at short leg, was every bit as impressive. Again anticipating the direction of the ball, Jennings moved to his right (towards fine leg) only to see the ball squeeze out much more square than he had presumed. But, using his reach – he is six foot four – and benefiting from have remained low and in position, he stuck out his left hand and clung on to an outstanding one-handed catch.”It was actually off the face so I saw it all the way,” Jennings said afterwards. “I went down the leg side thinking that’s where he was trying to hit the ball. It kind of went the other way so I stuck out a mitt and it hit the middle of it, thankfully. It’s one of those that, on a lot of other days, would have hit my hand and gone back out. Thankfully, today it stuck.”Keaton Jennings took a blinding catch at short leg•Getty ImagesNow, when you combine those Jennings efforts with Stokes’ catch of Kusal Mendis in the first innings, Ben Foakes’ stumping of Kaushal Silva in the second and that Stokes run-out, you start to understand how vital a contribution England’s fielders have made. For on a pitch where England’s spinners have, at times, struggled to threaten or even contain the Sri Lankan batting, it has been the fielding that has made the breakthrough and the difference. Without it, England would have looked worryingly impotent at times.It’s worth contrasting England’s effort in the field with Sri Lanka’s. For it’s not just that Sri Lanka have, on the whole, lacked such moments of inspiration, it is that at times they have spurned pretty straightforward chances. And a couple of them have been very costly.Sam Curran, for example, should probably have been stumped on 14 in the first innings. And he certainly should have been caught on 53 when Malinda Pushpakumara made a fearful hash of a chance on the long-on boundary. Instead he went on to make 64. Bearing in mind the tight margins that seem destined to define this game, that is clearly vital.Equally James Anderson might have been missed – again by Niroshan Dickwella – before he had scored in England’s second innings. While he scored only 7, he helped Foakes add 41 for the final wicket. And how different might this game appear if Sri Lanka were going into the last day requiring 34 for victory instead of 75? There’s very little between these sides in batting and bowling. But in the field, there is a chasm.Hard, technical work in training is, no doubt, one of the key factors in England’s improvement in the field. Jennings, for example, has spent many hours in recent weeks working on the position – much of it with Paul Collingwood – having been relegated from the slips after an error-filled summer. From a low-base – he was at short leg in India a couple of years ago but did not look a natural even a couple of weeks ago – he has probably earned himself the job for the rest of the winter. Even though it is, as he joked, “a good job to do badly.”But Jennings had another theory about his success. He reckoned that it was his comfort in the England environment that had allowed him to both relax in the role and throw himself into it with hardly a thought for his own safety.That’s a remarkable thing. He was protected by nothing more than a helmet, shin pads and a box, after all. Over the last two weeks, two games on this tour – the first Test in Galle and the warm-up game in Colombo that preceded it – have been stopped to provide treatment to fielders struck when close to the bat. To hear Chris Rogers – a proficient and apparently fearless short-leg fielder – talk about it towards the end of his career was to hear a man who had started to think of it as something approaching torture. The courage required to stand there should not be under-rated.

Maybe the runs I’ve scored recently have helped with my confidence. But it’s also feeling settled in the environment. I’ve really enjoyed the trip.

“I really enjoyed it on this surface,” Jennings said. “You feel in the game all day. It’s good fun. It’s like being in the slips in England: you feel in the game and want to make a difference.”Cricket balls hurt regardless of whether you’re an opening batter or a bowler. You just hope it misses you or hits you on the shins.”Maybe the runs I’ve scored recently have helped with my confidence. But it’s also feeling settled in the environment. Generally, when you move into a new environment, it is tough to settle down and find a stable base for yourself.”But I’ve enjoyed it. I’ve really enjoyed the trip.”It has been mentioned before that Trevor Bayliss, the England coach, takes a hands-off approach to nearly everything. So there may be times when players requiring technical intervention do not receive it, or the tactics are just a little too aggressive to be sensible.But what he is really very good at achieving is a relaxed environment where stress on players is reduced. They are encouraged to express their skills and enjoy the journey far more than previous teams. It doesn’t mean they are not expected to work hard – quite the opposite, really – but it does mean the environment is welcoming and supportive. You wonder how the likes of Mark Ramprakash and Graeme Hick, in such an environment and supported by more continuity of selection – might have fared.There is still progress to be made on England’s fielding. They put down a couple of relatively straightforward catches at Galle and, over recent months, have proved particularly fallible in the slips. But, with more people now in their optimum positions – the cordon regularly contains Joe Root, Stokes, Rory Burns and Jos Buttler, with Stokes the slip to the spinners – they are starting to improve. And, sometime on Sunday morning, it may have proved one of the key factors behind a rare series win in Asia.

In the past week, we have seen two shots that left us awestruck: Virat Kohli’s jab that sailed over midwicket and Najibullah Zadran’s six over the extra-cover boundary despite slipping in the process. Will either of the two top this compilation?

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Jan-2017

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Aug-2015Moeen Ali played some handsome strokes on his way to 30•Getty ImagesBut a familiar foe was soon back to finish things off as Mitchell Johnson picked up Mark Wood and Moeen with consecutive deliveries. Michael Clarke, playing his final Test match, enforced the follow-on for the first time.•Getty ImagesAdam Lyth was soon on his way after falling to a fine delivery from Peter Siddle, and left the field with the look of a man who knew his time was up•Getty ImagesAnd a curious innings from Ian Bell was ended by a Clarke catch at slip off Mitchell Marsh•Getty ImagesJoe Root top-edged a hook off Mitchell Johnson to fine-leg to leave England in trouble•Getty ImagesMeanwhile, at the other end, Alastair Cook was doing plenty of this•PA PhotosJonny Bairstow looked somewhat shaky, but sent this drive just beyond Johnson’s reach•Getty Images…before prodding meekly to short leg, although replays showed it hit Adam Voges’ grille•Getty ImagesFour balls later, Ben Stokes was on his way and a three-day Test was on the cards•Getty ImagesBut Cook and Jos Buttler dug in for 25 overs•Getty ImagesIn the day’s penultimate over, however, Cook edged Steve Smith to short leg for 85 and leave Australia in touching distance of victory•Getty Images

It’s hard to remain a loyal Bangladesh fan when the team continues to disappoint

Nishat Rahman29-Mar-2014Choice of game
After watching the first game of this World Twenty20, between Bangladesh and Afghanistan, I bought tickets for this game because I had faith that Bangladesh would make it to the Super 10s.Key performer
Anamul Haque was the key performer for Bangladesh. He hit two fours in the first over, which went for 13 runs. He then added 46 runs with captain Mushfiqur Rahim. Mahmudullah also played well, scoring 32 off 23 balls.For India, Rohit Sharma hit 56 off 44 balls and his century-stand with Virat Kohli gave them the win.Thing I’d have changed about the match
I would have sent Ziaur Rahman to bat at No. 4 since he is known to be a hard hitter. Bangladesh may have ended up with a few more runs if he had been sent to bat earlier. But he was out for a first-ball duck at No. 8.I would have also wanted to do something about Bangladesh’s disappointing fielding. Many catches were dropped and boundaries were not saved. They also threw their wickets away.Shot of the day
Anamul’s six over extra cover off Mohammed Shami in the 11th over was a treat to watch.Crowd meter
The stands are always packed in limited-overs matches in Mirpur. More than 25,000 spectators were cheering for the home team. Every Bangladesh boundary was greeted with thousands of roars. The last six of the Bangladesh innings landed nearer our stand.ODI v Twenty20
I prefer ODIs since teams have a chance to fight back from a losing position, which is tough to do in T20s.Overall
The match was frustrating and disappointing for Bangladesh fans. But I’m sure the team will overcome the problems and come back in next match.Marks out of 10
10

Both teams are in transition, but while Australia have a solid recent record, India need a series win to confirm they can compete against top sides

Sharda Ugra21-Feb-2013The India v Australia rivalry, all heat, dust, noise and light is a terrific thing. What is often forgotten is that it is a very modern marvel, sort of like the mobile phone. While technological innovation is not its parent, the intensity and frequency of India v Australia does not stem from any rich, historical tradition, like the Ashes or India v Pakistan.India v Australia in loop arose from administrative foresight. Until the institution of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 1996-97, India and Australia had played 50 Tests in 47 years. Since then, including the forthcoming series it will be 36 Tests in 17 years.Once Jolimont wised up to the fact that TV rights earnings around Indian cricket were about to send cash registers into overdrive, India and Australia formed a friendship which, even if hardly beautiful on a few occasions, has remained most fruitful.For that though, a generation of cricketers must be thanked. They happened, in curious synchronicity, to be among the greatest cricketers produced by either country. Chart toppers in the record books, significant figures in their nation’s cricketing history, cavaliers and round heads, wizards and workmen, aristocrats and rogues. Who created, out of an economic prophesy, a 21st century sporting rivalry that has transfixed millions.When Michael Clarke and MS Dhoni walk out to toss on Friday in Chennai, they know that their dressing rooms are now titan-less. A smattering of figures remain on either side but without the combined force of the entire cast, the teams stand weakened.Yet, this is neither tragedy nor disaster, merely cricket’s natural order moving on its natural course. It is why this ’13 series (ouch, not the most fortuitous of numbers) contains two sub-plots: a tussle between teams in transition and the attempt by a new generation to renew and re-energise the rivalry.While India and Australia will essentially be running into each other over the next few weeks, as teams they cannot be considered to be on the same plane. Australia would like to think they are on their way up and India must show the world that at least they have solid footing on their own ground. Winning will be the only proof for India. The only doomsday for Australia would be a complete wipe-out. Like we said, not on the same plane.Of these two “teams in transition,” one has had a recent series record that reads 0-4, 2-0, 0-4, 2-0, 1-2, ten defeats in 17 Tests. In their last five series, the other’s record reads, 1-1, 4-0, 2-0, 0-1, 3-0, two defeats in 15 Tests. One of the two is transitioning fine, the other suffering from frequent palpitations.Two days before the Chennai Test, Australia threw down all their cards, naming their eleven and talking about attacking India’s under-pressure spinners. India’s wagons were tightly circled but even Sunil Gavaskar was jokingly heard at the Pataudi Memorial lecture calling for some extra slices of luck for the Indians. “As they need it a bit more than the Australians do. The Australians have been winning while the Indians have not.”Along with luck, the least India need is a calamity-proof plan because in terms of the experience and quality at their disposal at the moment, Australia are far from an all-bases-covered England. India’s plans against England included not offering them any spinners in practice matches and calling for a fizzing turner in Mumbai. It was the kind of message whose messengers ask to be shot.Some common sense against Australia. The first two practice matches had spinners causing a minor flutter through the Australian ranks, even though their best batsman and its team’s central figure, captain Clarke, played no part in either.What works in India’s favour is the fact that the series is being played in the latter half of the home season, where the wickets are far more tired and worn than they were when England came touring.The return of Harbhajan Singh into this series is totemic. He has been, for a while now, India v Australia on two legs. His selection though has been made in the hope that along with him, his prime form will return too.In an Indian dressing room environment of excess ‘cool’ even in repeated defeat, it must be remembered Harbhajan can be the most obvious heat-generator in the series. Yet, Australia’s new batsmen carry no baggage vis-a-vis Harbhajan and understand that the first two Tests is the most chance he is going to get. If playing three spinners on the go does not work in Chennai or Hyderabad, one will surely have to be jettisoned in time for Mohali.Harbhajan will need a stack of wickets to stick around, particularly given that the Indian selectors are constantly under instructions to pursue a ‘youth policy’ (the reason behind ignoring Wasim Jaffer from the two Tests).As much as the role of the Indian spinners has been spotlighted, the response of India’s batsmen to Australia’s medium pacers will tell us more. The use of swing with pure pace even on knee-nuzzler Indian wickets hurries and rattles batsmen, particularly the less assured. The last four-man pace attack to win a Test series in India was South Africa 2000: with a combination of Donald, Pollock, Kallis with Cronje/Klusener/Hayward and Nicky Boje in support.As Siddle, Pattinson, Starc and Henriques try to bear up to the load of bowling in India, they will
reveal much about India’s batting too.It is not about finding out whether Virender Sehwag and his new glasses have it in them to put in a few more years opening for India (it would be nice to know, though). Or whether Sachin Tendulkar can produce an innings of final remembrance in what could well be his last Test series in India.Seasons in the not so distant future are not going to contain Tendulkar and Sehwag. The series against Australia will prove as to whether they will contain the names that crowd the playing eleven today. Like Cheteshwar Pujara’s capability to play spin is not in doubt, but his instinctive and beloved pull shot against the quick men will get another working over. The answer that will be sought from Virat Kohli is not about his ability to play the flamboyant drives over extra cover, but whether he is capable of reining himself in.On the Australian side, they are energised by David Warner opening the innings, but Phil Hughes, slotted in the No. 3, averages under 37 after 20 Tests. Ed Cowan enjoyed a decent turn out in the three-day match versus India-A, but is still on the look-out for a career-defining series. What the rivalry needs – and indeed is ideally set up for – is a fresh new name to drive it.At its epic height, India versus Australia has always ended up representative of ‘all or nothing’ for both sides. This time things appear slightly more even-tempered. But maybe this is merely before the first ball is bowled.

ESPNcricinfo presents the Plays of the Day from the IPL match between Rajasthan Royals and Kochi Tuskers Kerala

Sidharth Monga24-Apr-2011The combination
Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman have been through a lot playing for India. Ask any Aussie about that. On Sunday night, though, they were on opposite sides. In a Twenty20 game. Amiss. Just wrong.An interaction came in earnest when VVS Laxman initiated a single after an edge from Mahela Jayawardene rolled towards Dravid at slip. Turned out, Laxman had overestimated himself, and was yards short when Dravid’s underarm throw broke the stumps. In another world, the correct world, they would have batted together, and would never have needed quick singles.The return
To say Rajasthan Royals have missed Johan Botha, out with a hairline fracture on his finger, would be an understatement. They couldn’t get him back soon enough. And he came back with immediate impact. The first ball he bowled turned in sharply across Jayawardene, hit the bottom of the thigh pad, and took the stumps. We’ve been expecting you, Mr Botha.The bad blood
Rajasthan Royals and Shane Warne would have reason to feel they had put Ravindra Jadeja on the map, although those who follow domestic cricket might disagree. “Rockstar,” Warne used to call him, but that was only for the first two seasons. Before the third, Jadeja allegedly tried to find himself a new team, and was consequently banned. Both parties lost. When Jadeja came out to bat on Sunday, there was nothing to suggest old wounds would be opened. No sledging, no verbals to welcome him. However, Warne was to bowl the first ball to him. Late in his delivery stride, he changed the grip, and let rip a bouncer. Jadeja ducked under it. Warne gave him a long, cold stare. “Lethal,” said the big screen. Welcome back, Jaddu.The Victorian
The other set of team-mates that came face to face was Warne and Brad Hodge. The battle of the Victorians, though, lasted only four deliveries. Warne was putting some serious revolutions on the ball, getting some dip and landing it on a length, around middle and leg. Hodge couldn’t do much with the first. To the second he tried to go back, but the ball hurried onto him. The third Hodge swept well for two. Then the inconsistent bounce played up as Hodge went back to punch a shortish delivery through the covers, only for the ball to rise shin high, take the inside edge, and disturb the stumps.The six
It was no surprise that on this slow and low pitch, with occasional uneven bounce, the first six of the match took 29.2 overs coming. Who should be the man to hit it, though? Rahul Sharad Dravid, with a slog-sweep over long-on. Who’da thunk it?The what-goes-around-comes-around moment
Dravid might have run an ambitious Laxman out in Kochi’s innings, but during the chase he showed he was getting on himself too. After playing beautifully for his 44, Dravid cut to third man and initiated the second, only to find out that he wasn’t swift enough for it and needed a dive to save his wicket. The dive wasn’t a-coming.

Cricketers who have received knighthoods

Martin Williamson15-Jun-2007

Arise Sir Garry … Sobers is knighted by the Queen in Barbados in February 1975 © Cricinfo
The knighthood awarded to Ian Botham means that he joins a distinguished list of players, administrators and authors connected with the game who have received such an honour.Until recently, most knighthoods have come near the end of players’ lives, and until Don Bradman was awarded his CBE in 1949, it was the domain of the administrator. A further barrier was broken down in 1953 when Jack Hobbs, by then 70, became the first professional to be knighted, followed three years later by Len Hutton. Since then, with the exception of Gubby Allen in 1986, it’s been professional players who have ruled the roost.Most have to wait until they have hung up their boots. The first exception was the Rajkumar of Vizianagram, known as Sir Vijaya Ananda, or more simply Vizzy. He was knighted on June 15, 1936. It was a memorable month for him as 12 days later he made his Test debut as India’s captain at Lord’s. The fairytale ended there. An indifferent player, his captaincy owed more to his breeding and immense wealth and he undermined his team to such an extent that he was effectively ostracised from the game on his return home.Bradman’s Test career was over when he was made a Knight Batchelor on January 1, 1949 but he played two more first-class games as Sir Donald. He is the only Australian to be knighted, although it is reported that his predecessor as captain, Bill Woodfull, turned it down.In 1990 Richard Hadlee was knighted in the Queen’s Birthday Honours on June 16 and five days later played for New Zealand in the Lord’s Test. However, like Bradman, he had not actually had his knighthood conferred on him while a player.The first person to be specifically honoured for services to the game was Francis Lacey, a fair cricketer but a powerful administrator and for 28 years the secretary of MCC. At least he had played the game.He was followed by the most anonymous name on the list, and one who had not played the game to any degree – Frederick Toone. His award was for fostering relations between “the Dominions and the Mother Country”. He had managed the MCC tours of Australia in 1920-21, 1924-25 and 1928-29. Sadly, he enjoyed the prestige for less than 14 months, dying in 1930.Arthur Mailey dryly noted that “the last bowler to be knighted was Sir Francis Drake”, and he was right until 1996 when Alec Bedser became the 16th cricket-related person but the first bowler to be knighted. Some pointed out that Gubby Allen was a bowler, but he was a good rather than outstanding player and was recognised for his administrative work.Neville Cardus was knighted for his services to journalism, not only for his cricket reports in the Manchester Guardian and his books, but also for his writing on music.Learie Constantine was knighted in 1962, primarily for his services as a barrister, politician and diplomat, and seven years later was made a life peer. Colin Cowdrey, knighted in 1992, was elevated to the peerage (Baron Cowdrey of Tonbridge) five years later and remains the only peer created on the basis of his services to cricket. Lord Botham of Taunton is still some way off.People awarded knighthoods for services to cricketSir Francis Lacey, 1926
Sir Frederick Toone, 1929
Sir Vijaya Ananda (The Rajkumar of Vizianagram), 1936
Sir Pelham Warner, 1937
Sir Donald Bradman, 1949
Sir Henry Leveson-Gower, 1953
Sir Jack Hobbs, 1953
Sir Leonard Hutton, 1956
Sir Learie Constantine, 1962
Sir Frank Worrell, 1964
Sir Neville Cardus, 1967
Sir Garfield Sobers, 1975
Sir George Allen, 1986
Sir Richard Hadlee, 1990
Sir Colin Cowdrey, 1992
Sir Clyde Walcott, 1994
Sir Everton Weekes, 1995
Sir Alec Bedser, 1997
Sir Conrad Hunte, 1998
Sir Vivian Richards, 1999
Sir Ian Botham, 2007

England stutter at the death before Bangladesh batters showcase newfound aggression

Mohammad Isam09-Mar-2023″New Bangladesh” took down England in the first T20I in Chattogram, gunning down the 157-run chase in impressive fashion. The new-look side that had one player returning after eight years, one after two years and a debutant, beat the world champions by six wickets, with two overs in hand. It is very rare to see such a performance in T20Is from Bangladesh.After Hasan Mahmud led with stingy death overs – England scored only 21 runs in the last four overs – the batters did what they are expected to do in a T20 chase: bat with purpose. But this was missing for so long in the Bangladeshi batting approach. Litton Das and Rony Talukdar, the player returning to the side after eight years, struck early boundaries, before Najmul Hossain Shanto and Towhid Hridoy kept up the pressure with a fast partnership.Shanto made his third fifty in his last four innings, before falling for 51. Captain Shakib Al Hasan and Afif Hossain then scored the remaining runs, an unbroken 46-run stand in 5.4 overs to complete the chase. Shakib remained unbeaten on 34, clattering six fours in his 24-ball stay. Afif made 15 with two fours, one of them a classic cover drive.But it was not all plain-sailing for Bangladesh. England got off to a great start, reaching 80 in the first ten overs.Buttler leads powerful start
England fired off 51 for no loss in the Powerplay. Phil Salt struck five boundaries including a six in his 35-ball 38 but it was Buttler who was more punishing. He brought out all his T20 specials including the splayed-leg hoick over long-on and the slightly more open cover drive. Buttler also got his boundaries with the reverse-sweep and the back-foot punch, underlining his authority and quality as a T20 star. He finished with eight boundaries, half of them sixes, in his 42-ball stay.Both Buttler and Salt were dropped in the sixth over. First, Nasum Ahmed dropped a return chance off Salt on 20, before Shakib dropped a sitter at mid-on with Buttler on 19. Salt though wasn’t too happy with his dismissal when UltraEdge picked up an under-edge in the tenth over. Dawid Malan fell shortly afterward, when he holed out in the deep off Shakib.Hasan triggers collapse
Buttler still was going great guns, adding 47 runs with Ben Duckett for the third wicket. But when Mustafizur Rahman removed the left-handed Duckett for 20 off 13 balls, England still had four overs in hand to put up a big total. Instead, Hasan bowled two mean overs at the death to bring Bangladesh back into the contest.Hasan removed Buttler the ball after Duckett got out, before he dismssed Sam Curran for 6 in his next over, both to catches in the deep. Taskin bowled a strong final over, giving away just nine runs as England finished on 156 for 6. A tally of 21 runs in the last four overs was England’s second-lowest in this phase of a T20I innings.A rare Powerplay boost
It is quite unusual for Bangladesh to outscore the opposition in the powerplay, but that’s exactly what happened in Chattogram. The home side raced to 54 for 2, to beat England’s powerplay by three runs. The visitors didn’t lose a wicket but T20 sides often don’t bother about losing two wickets in the fielding restrictions.Litton and Talukdar combined six boundaries in the first three overs before the latter missed Adil Rashid’s googly in the fourth over. Shanto survived a lbw appeal in his second ball, before hitting Rashid for a boundary. Litton fell in the next over, but debutant Hridoy ensured Bangladesh finished big in the Powerplay with two more fours.Shanto, Hridoy bring their Strikers’ gameShanto and Hridoy added 65 runs in just 6.3 overs, reminiscent of their recent exploits in the BPL, playing for Sylhet Strikers. Shanto was the tournament’s highest run-getter, while Hridoy got his senior call-ups for his BPL performance. They played aggressively during this fourth wicket stand against England, something that Bangladesh has missed in the middle-overs from their middle-order for a very long time.Hridoy slog-swept Rashid for a six, before falling for a 17-ball 24, but the innings aided Shanto at the other end. The left-hander drove the ball gleefully, particularly against Mark Wood, taking him for four consecutive boundaries in the seventh over. Shanto steadied himself in the next six overs, before Wood burst one through him. But Shanto’s 51 off 30 balls, and his stand with Hridoy, left an easier equation for the home side.