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Florian Wirtz's dad claimed that the player's entourage is "perfectly happy" as he weighed in on his son's early struggles at Liverpool. The 22-year-old German was billed as the next great creative force as he was once the crown jewel of Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen side that swept to a historic Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double. However, since he swapped Bay Arena for Anfield, his attacking output has seen an abysmal fall.

• A £116 million dream that hasn’t sparked yet

  When Liverpool won the summer battle for Wirtz, beating Bayern Munich to his signature in a blockbuster £116 million ($154m) move, fans were hoping for fireworks at Anfield. Indeed, Wirtz had been unstoppable in Germany with his sleek passing and knack for goals. Across 197 appearances, he delivered a staggering 57 goals and 65 assists. But the early chapters of his Liverpool story have been a flop show. In 15 appearances so far, the playmaker has yet to find the net and has contributed just three assists, with one of them in the Community Shield. The numbers paint a grim picture as they underline the struggle of a young star still learning the relentless rhythm of English football.

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• GOAL
  

  What did Wirtz's father say about his form?

  While fans have been apprehensive about whether Wirtz can replicate his Bundesliga brilliance, his father and agent, Hanz Wirtz, remains completely calm. Speaking to , Hans offered a glimpse into how the family views Florian’s Liverpool adventure so far.

  "My thought from the very beginning was to wait and see how the first ten league games went," he said. "We and Florian are perfectly happy with that. The incredible speed, the back and forth, that was very impressive for the first few games. The distances covered and the speed were significantly greater. The style of play is sometimes enormously different because it doesn't seem as organised, but rather more focused on pace."

• No regrets about Anfield move

  Despite the adaptation struggles, Hans insisted there are no regrets about the transfer. He believes the Liverpool project under Arne Slot is still in its early stages and that both player and club are a work in progress, which will bear fruits in time.

  "I think the league table clearly shows that there's still room for improvement in this football machine," he said. "But the mechanics will sort that out. I hope he's such a good player that he can adapt to the demands there and that he enjoys it just as much as he did in the Bundesliga. He has settled in well with the team and that his teammates certainly recognise his quality."

  Liverpool’s summer rebuild was one of the biggest in recent memory, and Wirtz was one of the marquee signings alongside Alexander Isak. Hans revealed that Slot played a decisive role in convincing his son to choose Anfield over Munich. 

  "It was important that Arne Slot spoke with Florian and explained his value to him," he revealed. "He showed how he envisioned the collaboration and that convinced Florian."

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Wenger's criticism and a system under scrutiny

  Arsenal legend Arsene Wenger recently raised eyebrows when he claimed that Wirtz’s insistence on playing as a No.10 early in the season "destroyed Liverpool’s balance," and his unreasonable demands forced Slot into making unnecessary tactical changes. According to Wenger, the Reds looked disjointed and got overrun in midfield until the manager recalibrated the shape against Aston Villa and Real Madrid. 

  "When Wirtz had the choice between going to Bayern Munich or Liverpool, he said to Liverpool: 'I come to you if I play No 10. I do not want to play wide.' Liverpool, to get him, they say Okay," Wenger revealed. "They started him and they destroyed their midfield – which was (Ryan) Gravenberch, (Alexis) Mac Allister, (Dominik) Szoboszlai. To play Wirtz, they took Szoboszlai out."

  As results went south, Slot went back to the tried and tested formula that earned them their 20th league title. Weneger added: "What have they done against Aston Villa? They have gone back to their midfield of last year. And tonight, they play Wirtz, but I'm sure that Wirtz will play on the side. The manager has said: 'If you want to play again, you will have to play wide because I do not want to disturb the midfield.' That will be interesting to see tonight. Wirtz is back in the team but certainly will have to play left, where he was when he played at Leverkusen."

  Slot, however, has publicly backed his new star, defending his versatility. 

  "Florian can play in more than only one position," the Liverpool boss said. "He can play off the left, which he did almost all the time in Leverkusen when Xabi Alonso came and introduced his 3-4-3 system. Before, he played as a 10 in a 4-3-3. It is more about getting him positions where he is good, rather than being focused on 'is he a 10, is he an 11, is he an eight?'"

  Wirtz put up an industrious and composed display in Liverpool’s 1-0 win over Real Madrid at Anfield. Next up is Manchester City at the Etihad on Sunday. It is a brutal stage that could expose a player still searching for confidence. It remains to be seen if Slot takes the risk and hands him a start against Pep Guardiola's men. 

It made for a painstaking day in the field for England’s bowlers, who must have rued Stokes’ decision to bowl first on an unusually hot day in Leeds

Matt Roller20-Jun-2025

Shubman Gill hugs Rishabh Pant after getting to a century•AFP/Getty Images

Stumps The two faces of India’s new generation of Test batters traded sparkling centuries to dominate England on the opening day at Headingley. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill cruised to hundreds as opener and No. 4 respectively, shrugging off the absence of two modern greats whose retirements have vacated those roles: no Rohit Sharma, no Virat Kohli, no problem.Jaiswal plundered 712 runs in India’s home series against England 18 months ago; here, he provided further evidence of his adaptability. His century was a masterclass in off-side strokeplay: each of his 17 boundaries, including a vicious cut for six over cover, came on the off side, and he took only 48 balls to move from 50 to 100.But Gill’s innings, his first as captain, was even better. He embodied the tempo that he wants from his side, charging to his fastest half-century (off 56 balls) without offering a chance before cruising serenely to three figures. After lashing a cover drive for four to reach his sixth Test hundred, he bowed to a standing ovation from his team-mates on the dressing-room balcony.Related

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Yashasvi Jaiswal and an exceptional understanding of how to score runs

Gill said on the eve of the series that he would look to lead through his actions and “dominate” with the bat, and backed up his words with an innings that oozed authority. Having never previously made an impact in Tests outside Asia, he looked completely at home as he seized his chance to prove he is not only the future of India’s batting line-up, but the present too.It made for a long, painstaking day in the field for England’s bowlers, who must have rued Ben Stokes’ decision to bowl first on winning the toss on an unusually hot day in Leeds. Stokes himself was the pick of the attack, strangling the debutant B Sai Sudharsan down the leg side on the stroke of lunch and knocking back Jaiswal’s off stump straight after tea.Stokes’ call was informed by the sense that there would be life in the pitch in the first session, but Jaiswal and KL Rahul did not entertain that notion. England’s seamers bowled reasonably full and attacked the off-stump channel but without success, their desperation summed up by a hugely optimistic lbw review when Josh Tongue hit Jaiswal on the pad from around the wicket.Yashasvi Jaiswal brings up his fifth Test hundred•Getty ImagesJaiswal occasionally played and missed, and was struck on the ribcage by a lifter from Brydon Carse, but Rahul looked totally unflustered as he punished width and half-volleys. It came as a shock when he finally offered a chance off a Carse outswinger, his thick outside edge flying straight to Joe Root at slip.Carse’s follow-up ball to Sai Sudharsan, India’s new No. 3, was a snorter which rapped him on the back thigh, and he soon fell into England’s trap. Stokes bowled the final over of the morning session with a leg slip and a leg gully, appealing unsuccessfully for a leg-side strangle with his third delivery; Sai Sudharsan duly obliged one ball later, feathering through to Jamie Smith.Gill started jumpily after lunch, scampering through for a tight single off his second ball and offering a run-out chance off his sixth. He worked Carse to the right of Ollie Pope at short midwicket, whose pick-up-and-throw would have found Gill short of his ground with a direct hit; instead, it ran away to the boundary for overthrows.It proved to be the only real chance of the middle session, though Carse might well have had Jaiswal lbw on review for 45 had he not overstepped. After an itchy start, Gill settled down and looked utterly unflappable for the rest of his innings: he made Chris Woakes look utterly innocuous after lunch, then reached a rapid half-century with a pull off Tongue.Ben Stokes has a few words for Rishabh Pant•Getty ImagesJaiswal battled cramp as he put his foot on the accelerator, marking Shoaib Bashir’s introduction to the attack by slicing his first ball away behind point and later dumping him back over his head for four. As he grew tired, he began to stand and deliver: he reached his hundred by belting Carse for consecutive fours, then snuck through for a single and raised his arms aloft.His innings ended soon after tea, as Stokes angled the ball away off the seam and pegged back the top of his off stump. But the respite was short-lived: Rishabh Pant, playing against England in Tests for the first time in three years, charged at his second ball and belted it over Stokes’ head for four. England’s captain could only laugh.Pant and Gill reined themselves in, allowing Bashir to settle into an economical, if largely unthreatening, spell of 21 unchanged overs from the Football Stand End. But Pant was never likely to wait for long, and started to take on the deep fielders: he nearly miscued a catch to Crawley at short midwicket, but comfortably cleared long-on with a towering straight six.Gill upped the tempo further after his rasping drive off Tongue to reach his century, short-arm pulling six over long leg. And England’s hopes that the second new ball would provide a breakthrough were quickly quashed as Pant toe-ended a slog-sweep through mid-on, then hoicked Woakes over midwicket for six in the final over of the day.

Often in football, there is a flashpoint in the build-up to a managerial sacking, the culmination of a long sequence of poor results.

For Ange Postecoglou and Tottenham Hotspur, winning the Europa League proved to be the straw that broke the camel’s back. The Australian coach had ended Spurs’ endless search for silverware, but he also laboured to a 17th-place Premier League finish.

Daniel Levy, now gone himself, felt the manager’s position was untenable and that a fresh start was needed. Whichever side of the fence you sit on, there’s no denying the rationale of the thought process, with Thomas Frank making a promising start to his tenure.

The signings made in recent months carry with them the promise of sustainable and positive football. Mohammed Kudus and Xavi Simons are testaments to that, with both wide attackers settling nicely down N17.

Kudus & Simons are standouts for Spurs

Tottenham signed Kudus from West Ham United for £55m in June. Some signing, prising him from rivals just like that. And the Ghanaian winger is repaying the faith on the field, having enjoyed a rip-roaring start to life under Frank’s wing.

His final product leaves something to be desired, but the 24-year-old’s pace and energy and directness do not. A maverick, Sofascore record that he has averaged 2.2 key passes and won 7.8 duels per game in the Premier League this season, playing down the right. Kudus has yet to score, but he has three assists.

Likewise, Simons, 22, is yet to break his duck, but then the Dutchman is only four games into his Lilywhites career and has started once in the Premier League. More of a ball-playing creator than his peer, Simons has been described as a “game-changer” by talent scout Jacek Kulig.

Looking at his past two terms in the Bundesliga with RB Leipzig, it’s rather clear Frank has unearthed a gem, landing him for £51m despite the vested attention of Chelsea.

Matches (starts)

32 (32)

25 (25)

Goals

8

10

Assists

11

7

Shots (on target)*

2.5 (1.0)

2.0 (0.9)

Touches*

62.6

68.0

Pass completion

82%

83%

Big chances created

14

12

Key passes*

2.5

2.0

Dribbles*

2.6

1.3

Ball recoveries*

5.2

5.1

Tackles + interceptions*

1.4

1.6

Duels won*

6.3

5.4

These rising stars are shaping Tottenham’s future, but they have yet to hit their stride. This bodes well, but it’s also curious to note that a former Spurs flop is outperforming the pair of them.

Indeed, Ivan Perisic is still producing creative performances.

Ivan Perisic's season in numbers

Tottenham signed Perisic on a free transfer after the 2021/22 season, with the Croatian’s contract with Inter Milan having expired. He was 33 and viewed as a utility buy, a squad deepener.

One goal was all he had to show for that maiden year in the English game, but Perisic proved himself to be a creative force of sublime quality, racking up 12 assists.

Antonio Valle of ESPN marvelled at the quiet jackpot addition, saying, “Perisic, that extremely constant player who is not talked about enough.”

Certainly, the veteran provided a steady supply line through to the forwards, only starting 23 times in the top flight that year but creating 11 big chances and averaging 1.4 key passes per game, as per Sofascore.

However, it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows for the versatile star, with journalist James Maw claiming before the player’s ACL that he would be “remembered as a massive waste of money”.

Indeed, it’s worth noting that he took home quite the pretty penny in north London, earning a living of £195k per week.

However, he played an important part and started strongly in 2023/24 under Postecoglou’s guidance, before suffering that devastating knee injury and before being loaned to Hadjuk Split in January, where he recuperated before his contract expired at the end of the campaign.

Whether it was a mistake to release a player well into their 30s while recovering from a brutal knee injury is open to debate, but there’s no question that Perisic’s Tottenham career is a rueful one, with it all potentially turning out differently had he avoided that disaster.

After all, Perisic has bounced back despite now at the ripe old footballing age of 36. In the Netherlands with PSV Eindhoven, he has already scored a goal and placed six assists this season, thus proving his potency is very much intact and ahead of Simons’, albeit with the two in different spheres.

In fact, given that Postecoglou’s Spurs ship sank after an emphatic start, it’s not out of the question to think that Perisic’s leadership and experience could have helped things along, had he only been fit.

Simons operates with a similar skill on the ball and a wand of a delivery that is akin to the experienced star. At least now, Spurs have a similar player who can step up and deliver.

Perisic’s time at Tottenham was turbulent, but we can’t forget the quality of his playmaking during that first term. Had injury not struck him down, it all could have been so different.

Worth even more than Kudus: Spurs have struck gold on "phenomenal" talent

Tottenham Hotspur have demonstrated their excellent work in the transfer market in recent years.

ByEthan Lamb Sep 26, 2025

Pakistan Test captain moves to Grace Road following a two-year association with Yorkshire

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Mar-2025Leicestershire have signed Pakistan Test captain Shan Masood on an all-format deal for the 2025 summer.The 35-year-old, who oversaw a Test series win against England last year, will bring experience and batting pedigree to Grace Road. He is due to begin his stint in May, following the conclusion of the Pakistan Super League, and should make his Leicestershire debut on May 31, against his former county, Derbyshire.The move confirms the end of Masood’s association with Yorkshire, following the culmination of a two-year deal which saw him captain the club since 2023. The left-handed opener amassed 1,240 County Championship runs at an average of 53.91 in 15 matches, helping Yorkshire earn promotion back to Division One in 2024.He had originally moved to Headingley following an impressive 2022 summer with Derbyshire, in which he scored 1,078 first-class runs at 82.61. It was during this stint, in April, that Masood struck 219 against Leicestershire in an innings victory, becoming the first Derbyshire batter to score back-to-back double centuries following 239 versus Sussex the week before.Masood has been capped 90 times by Pakistan across all formats, including 42 Test caps, and joins club captain Peter Handscomb and Netherlands allrounder Logan van Beek as Leicestershire’s overseas options for the upcoming campaign. He is expected to be available throughout the season, with no Test matches scheduled over the English summer. That could change if the PCB decide to recall him to their limited-overs set-up for a tour of the Caribbean starting on July 31, though Masood’s last international white-ball appearance came in May 2023.”I am really excited to have the chance to play all three formats for Leicestershire. I have always admired the club and have had great conversations with a lot of the team during the last three seasons,” Masood said in a statement released on Tuesday.”I love playing at Uptonsteel County Ground. The fans get behind the team in strong numbers and the games I have been a part of have always been a great spectacle. The club has been very competitive in all formats and produced some fantastic young players over the last few years. It is an exciting time to join the Foxes.”Director of Cricket, Claude Henderson, added: “We are delighted to welcome someone of Shan’s calibre to Leicestershire. He is a proven talent both internationally and in county cricket, and someone who can win matches in all three formats.”Shan completes a fantastic line-up of overseas additions to our squad. His leadership and experience will be invaluable to the team both on and off the pitch.”

Zinedine Zidane's son Luca has earned his first national team call-up as he has been included in Algeria's squad for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers. Luca, born in France, has represented the French national team at youth level, but never broke into the senior team. However, the former Real Madrid goalkeeper has finally got an opportunity to make his international debut.

Luca eligible to represent Algeria

Luca is eligible to represent the African nation through Zinedine Zidane's Algerian lineage. He requested FIFA to allow him to change his sporting nationality from France to Algeria and it was approved only two weeks ago. Now, the 27-year-old goalkeeper has been called up to the 26-member Algeria squad, picked by manager Vladimir Petkovic, which will face Somalia and Uganda in World Cup qualifiers next week.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportAlgeria on the verge of securing World Cup qualification

Algeria are currently four points clear at the top of their qualifying group and will need just one win out of their next two qualifiers to book their berth in the 2026 World Cup that will be held in North America next summer. Luca, as a result, has the golden opportunity of playing in the World Cup for the first time in his career.

Luca, a former Champions League winner

After graduating from Real Madrid's youth system, Luca made his debut for Los Blancos in 2017 under his father's coaching and spent three years at the Spanish capital. He was part of the squad that won the Champions League that year. The 27-year-old currently plays for Granada in the Segunda Division.

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AFPZidane could become next France manager

Zidane has been without a club since leaving Real Madrid for the second time in 2021. He has been linked with a move to Manchester United amid Ruben Amorim's struggles at Old Trafford, however, the France legend is tipped to replace Didier Deschamps as the next Les Bleus manager after the 2026 World Cup. 

Gio Reyna has been told what he must do in order to make the USMNT World Cup squad, with the highly-rated playmaker determined to grace a major tournament on home soil in the summer of 2026. Questions are still being asked of his involvement after suffering “injury after injury after injury”, but Brad Friedel is among those backing the 22-year-old to come good.

Reyna on the move: Bid farewell to BVB

Reyna has taken on a new challenge at club level, with ties finally being severed with Borussia Dortmund following several transfer windows of intense speculation regarding his future. He is now on the books at Borussia Monchengladbach.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportFresh start: Reyna has a point to prove

The plan is to find more regular game time there, with unfortunate fitness struggles leading to a slow slide being taken down the pecking order at Signal Iduna Park. Reyna has aired his excitement at making a fresh start.

World Cup calling: Serious target to aim at

Having decided to remain in Germany, following links to clubs across Europe, Reyna is looking for his domestic performances to secure more international recognition. There is a serious reward to aim at, with the United States set to be one of the co-hosts for FIFA’s flagship event in a matter of months.

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GettyWill Reyna be selected? Friedel offers opinion

Quizzed on what Reyna needs to do after enduring a turbulent time of late, ex-USMNT goalkeeper Friedel – speaking in association with the comparison site – told GOAL: “With Gio, a lot of unfortunate stuff from the last World Cup, then injury after injury after injury. Talented, talented player.

“For Gio, he needs minutes and he needs not to be injured. Then we can see before the World Cup if he is ready. If he is, if he has a run of four or five months with no injuries, playing lots of minutes, he’s in the squad.

“He’s a really talented player, one of the better ones we have. But he really does need to play. When I took the job at Besiktas, I was over at the Copa America and was watching. You could just tell there was something a little bit off. It’s not his ability, that is there. That’s not it. His body has unfortunately not cooperated with this sport.

“Hopefully for him it goes well. He’s a really good kid and I hope he just stays fit, gets a run of games and then it will be down to Mauricio [Pochettino] choosing him or not. I don’t like to see anybody get left out because of injury.”

Only 9.2 overs of play was possible after rain had reduced the contest to 28-overs-a-side

Ashish Pant17-Dec-2024
Match abandonedRain played spoilsport as the opening ODI between Afghanistan and Zimbabwe was called off after just 9.2 overs of play.Earlier, persistent rain had delayed the start by close to four hours with the game reduced to a 28-overs-a-side affair. When the weather finally cleared, Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi had no hesitation to bowl considering the overhead conditions.For Afghanistan, Rahmanullah Gurbaz was ruled out of the series due to a Grade 2B quadriceps injury along with a bony hip flexor injury, while Mujeeb Ur Rahman was rested from the series. Zimbabwe, meanwhile, handed debuts to left-hand batter Ben Curran and left-arm seamer Newman Nyamhuri.Shahidi’s decision to field was vindicated with both Azmatullah Omarzai and Fazalhaq Farooqi getting oodles of movement both off the pitch and in the air. It was a tough initiation for Curran, who was beaten by Farooqi’s away movement in the opening over. He got off the mark in international cricket with a clip to deep fine leg, but batting was always going to remain a task.Tadiwanashe Marumani got Zimbabwe’s boundary counter running with a neat cover drive off Farooqi but was undone by a peach of an in-dipper from Omarzai that saw his middle pole flattened. Brian Bennett, the highest run-scorer in the preceding T20I series, then fell first ball to Omarzai with Mohammad Nabi holding onto a sharp chance to his right at second slip.Dion Myers got a couple of drives away but was trapped in front of the stumps when he misread a AM Ghazanfar carrom ball and stayed back. Omarzai then removed Curran in the eighth over, who went for a flashing drive, only to get a thick outside edge through to the wicketkeeper. Three balls later, it was Sean Williams’ turn to depart. He hung his bat out to a fuller-length ball from Omarzai only to get a thick edge to Ikram Alikhil.The floodlights were switched on right from the start and once rain arrived two balls into the ninth over, it was curtains for the game. Even in his short burst, Omarzai left a mark picking 4 for 18 off his four overs.The second ODI will be played at the same venue on December 19.

Newcastle United face a predicament in their striker department, but club chiefs are now confident one of their targets will join before the transfer deadline.

While on the Asia leg of their preseason tour, Eddie Howe held a press conference where he addressed poor player attitudes, stating: “You have to earn the right to train with us.”

Alexander Isak has not earned this right in the manager’s eyes, and has been “ordered to train separately from his teammates and stay away from a lunchtime training-ground barbecue”.

The departures of Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz, as well as the tragic passing of Diogo Jota, have led to an opening in Liverpool’s forward line that Arne Slot wants Isak to fill, and based on his behaviour, it’s clear that the Sweden international shares this desire.

With Isak causing issues in the dressing room, Howe has set his sights on a new Premier League-proven striker who wants to join the club.

Newcastle "confident" they can sign Wissa

GiveMeSport have reported that Newcastle are eyeing a double swoop of Yoane Wissa and Ollie Watkins following the club’s failure to sign Benjamin Sesko. Of the two players, Wissa looks the most likely to join, as “there is confidence a deal can be done for around £40m before the September 1st deadline”.

The report indicates Wissa’s desire to play Champions League football and believes that will help them secure the move. Last week’s report from The I that Wissa had been “refusing to train in an attempt to push through a move” will also have boosted Howe’s confidence in getting the deal done.

Wissa would be the latest star to leave Brentford this summer, alongside club captain Christian Nørgaard and fellow forward Bryan Mbeumo. However, the club’s biggest loss this summer is undoubtedly Thomas Frank, who had managed the club since 2018.

Frank gambled on bringing in Wissa from Lorient in 2021, and in 2023, he poured praise on his development as a finisher: “Wissa, we knew, has always been a goalscorer. He scored seven goals in the first season and seven in the second in the Premier League, for a player that didn’t play much. It’s remarkable. I definitely think he is best as a 9. He’s got that nose for goals.”

Wissa is an underrated Premier League star

Although he might not have been the first name on Newcastle’s shopping list, he could still end up as one of the best signings this summer if they can get it across the line. Where Frank clearly saw Wissa’s value and potential, the Congo star has not always received the praise he deserves, sometimes falling under the shadow of players like Mbeumo and Ivan Toney.

Wissa’s record against the Premier League’s “Big Six” proves that he can perform in the toughest fixtures.

Arsenal

8

2

0

Chelsea

8

2

0

Liverpool

8

2

0

Manchester City

7

2

0

Manchester United

8

1

1

Tottenham

6

2

1

This impressive record is likely why he is such a high-value target for Howe. This will be Newcastle’s first season in the restructured Champions League, meaning they will face more big sides than ever before, so Wissa’s proven track record in the big games will potentially help them reach the later rounds.

The duo helped Sri Lanka recover from O’Rourke’s strikes after Chandimal and Karunaratne had laid the foundation earlier

Madushka Balasuriya20-Sep-2024Sri Lanka 237 for 4 (Dhananjaya 34*, Mathews 34*, O’Rourke 3-37) and 305 lead New Zealand 340 (Latham 70, Mitchell 57, Jayasuriya 4-136) by 202 runsFifties from Dimuth Karunaratne and Dinesh Chandimal were followed by steadying knocks from Angelo Mathews and Dhananjaya de Silva and Sri Lanka stretched their lead to 202 by the close of play on day three in Galle.The latter pair had put together an unbeaten fifth wicket stand of 59 when an extended final session came to a close, as Sri Lanka inched forward their hard-fought advantage – the foundations of which had been sown earlier.Prabath Jayasuriya, ragged on day two, was on the money on the third morning adding three scalps to his overnight tally to end with innings figures of 4 for 136, while Ramesh Mendis grabbed two himself to finish on 3 for 101.Related

Battle of cricket nerds: How Herath helped New Zealand bring Karunaratne down

This was then followed by a a 147-run stand between Karunaratne and Chandimal, which had it been allowed to continue longer would have certainly taken the game away from New Zealand.It was brought to an end, partly by the visitors’ persistence with their plans and the wearing pitch. With Ajaz Patel consistently seeking to exploit the growing patch of rough outside the left-hander’s off stump – so much so that even against the right-handers a leg stump strategy was employed – he finally got one to spit and sneak under Karunaratne’s sweep, to crash into the stumps.That gave New Zealand the opening they were looking for as Will O’Rourke was swiftly brought back to attack the new batter. He would dismiss the other set batter in Chandimal, who would flick one straight to leg slip.O’Rourke’s unsettling pace and bounce continued to trouble Sri Lanka’s batters and he ended up with further rewards for his efforts, getting Kamindu Mendis to edge behind. This put him on to eight wickets for the Test, on the verge of a 10-wicket match haul.With the ball turning more prodigiously as the day wore on, neither Mathews nor Dhananjaya had an easy stay at the crease, but they found runs when offered and rode their luck on other occasions.Even as late as the final few overs and over 100 deliveries into their stand, there was a potential Dhananjaya outside edge that flew past the outstretched hands of Daryl Mitchell at first slip, while Mathews survived an incredibly close leg before shout – only surviving on umpire’s call with regard to the line of impact.But when Karunaratne and Chandimal were at the crease, batting seemed a lot easier, while any pitch-related demons were largely in hibernation. Their partnership was a lesson in discipline and opportunism.As New Zealand peppered good lines and lengths outside off, time and again both batters, particularly Karunaratne, refused to engage. When the lines tightened closer to off, he was equally adept at either going back or reaching the pitch to defend. It helped that the pitch also seemed to be easing up under the bright sunshine.Will O’Rourke took three wickets on day three•SLCChandimal, while not as comfortable defending, sought other methods – primarily the sweep and reverse, to shift the pressure whenever the bowlers sought to settle into a rhythm – while he also was keen to use his feet. Both batters were also swift in punishing anything dragged short – Karunaratne’s most productive shot, in fact, being the cut.While boundaries weren’t a feature of either of their innings, they were used as a tool to relieve any building pressure. But for the most part, it was clever manoeuvring for ones and twos that ensured the pressure valve never reached uncomfortable levels.The important stand helped cement a resurgent day that had begun with Sri Lanka grabbing the final six New Zealand wickets for just 89 runs inside the morning session.Sri Lanka had started the session brightly, sticking to consistent lines and lengths, and forcing the New Zealand batters to make things happen. For the most part, New Zealand were up to the task – particularly Mitchell, who seemed in imperious form as highlighted by a disdainful loft down the ground off Lahiru Kumara. Mitchell’s footwork was also positive, very much in line with the approach New Zealand had utilised to such devastating effect on day two.But the lifeline Sri Lanka were seeking arrived courtesy of an ill-advised single to cover. Glenn Phillips called for the single, but Mitchell, by then on 57, was marginally slow off the mark, and that was all it took to find him inches short at the striker’s end. With Mitchell at the crease, Sri Lanka were staring at a deficit potentially beyond 100, but suddenly they scented blood.The next few wickets fell quickly as Jayasuriya and Mendis ran through the tail. When it was all settled, New Zealand’s first-innings lead stood at 35 after they were bowled out for 340.It’s an outcome Sri Lanka would have snapped up if it were offered to them at the start of the day, one which New Zealand had begun 50 runs behind with six wickets in hand. But by the innings’ close, you wouldn’t have begrudged them a feeling of mild disappointment at having given the visitors so many.New Zealand, by contrast, would be grateful for each of those 35 runs, having lost five wickets for 50 runs inside the first hour of play. Phillips made the difference in that sense, as he plundered an unbeaten 48-ball 49, including some monster hits against Jayasuriya, before the last man O’Rourke was dismissed. Those runs, though, might still prove handy.