Aston Villa supporters in the Football Transfer Tavern are hoping to hear news that Tim Sherwood is on the verge of signing a replacement for Christian Benteke, but reports from the Daily Mirror suggest the Villa boss is still hung up on his former striker, despite Villa beating the odds and turning over Bournemouth at the weekend.
Benteke completed a £32.5million move to Liverpool last month, and stated this week he hoped to prove the claims of his former boss wrong during his debut season at Anfield.
Sherwood claimed Benteke’s move to Anfield didn’t make sense as the Belgian international is a player who thrives on crosses, and Liverpool are a side ‘who don’t cross the ball’.
Benteke hit back at Sherwood’s comments earlier in the week, and now it seems the Villa boss has entered a war of words with the 24-year-old, having responded to the man who fired 13 goals in 16 games to save Villa from relegation last season.
Sherwood responded: “I can’t remember ever saying that, he must have dreamt that one.
“I would try anything to make him stay but I don’t remember ever saying he shouldn’t go and play for Liverpool. I wouldn’t be that disrespectful to that football club.”
Sherwood also hit back at claims he had taken the credit for the Belgian’s revival during the second half of last season.
He added: “I took no credit, people gave me credit, I didn’t take it, I didn’t ask for it.”
A bunch of Aston Villa fans over by the pool table here in the Transfer Tavern are deliberating this news, and feel that Sherwood needs to forget about Christian Benteke, as the club have replaced him well with Rudy Gestede!
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Our landlord feels the same way as the Villa fans here in the Tavern and admits that the Villains have replaced Benteke will, with Rudy Gestede already looking like he will do a job in the Premier League for the midlands club this season!
Aston Villa fans, who is the man to replace Christian Benteke at Villa Park? Let us know your thoughts below!
Look Sir Curtly Ambrose in the eye (you may need a ladder) and tell him the West Indies have no hope of beating Australia.Tell him this first Test in Hobart will be over in two days – three, if Jason Holder’s men are lucky – and that more humiliation will follow in Melbourne and Sydney.Tell him that David Warner and Steve Smith will feast on a modest bowling attack and that Australia’s greenest bowling line-up in years will embarrass the West Indies batsmen.Tell him any of this and you’ll be on the wrong end of the fearsome glare that terrorised many a champion batsman throughout his celebrated career as one of the game’s very best fast bowlers.”You as reporters have got to report what you see,” Ambrose said. “So I’ve learned over the years to, I won’t say ignore, but know what to take from the reports and what not to take. But we’re going to be focused. We’re not going to worry about what has been said about us not being a good team or not going to compete … At the end of the day when we perform and beat Australia, then the reporters will have to change their tune.”We played against Australia not so long ago in the Caribbean and even though we lost 2-0 there were moments or periods when we had them on the back foot and had their backs against the wall. And we never really finished them off. So we believe we can compete and not only compete but we believe we can beat them and that’s our focus to beat Australia. Not just to compete but to win and, being the underdogs, sometimes it’s good to be that way.”We have nothing to lose. As far as I’m concerned the Australians are the ones under pressure. They have to beat us because Australians and cricket in general expect them to steamroll us. So they’re the ones who are under pressure, not us. And we’re going to put up a good show.”They are fighting words and there are few who can deliver them with as much conviction as Ambrose, the giant quick who generally let the ball – and his eyes – do the talking on the field.It’s two decades since Ambrose and Steve Waugh conducted one the most famous stare-offs in cricket’s history, the flint-eyed Australian stoic in the face of a blistering spell from Ambrose in Trinidad during the third Test in the 1995 battle for the Frank Worrell Trophy.20 years may have passed since his man-of-the-match performance, but Ambrose’s gaze has lost none of its intensity. And now, as West Indies’ bowling consultant, he wants to use the predictions of impending doom to fire up his charges after an insipid showing in the tour match in Brisbane.”Well first of all we’re not going to be distracted by those comments,” said Ambrose. “We’re here to do a job and we’re going to make a good job of it.”Being here alone should be more than enough motivation for the players but having heard or read those comments should be added motivation for them to prove the critics [wrong], if you will. We are not really distracted. We’re focused and in light of what happened in the warm up game, we are confident that we can put up a good show against Australia.”On its own, the West Indies’ 10-wicket loss to an inexperienced Cricket Australia XI side ahead of the series was a heavy blow. That they avoided an innings defeat thanks only to a stubborn partnership between Holder and Kemar Roach has given former players and current commentators ample fodder to question how the West Indies could take any confidence into the first Test. However, Ambrose pointed to frank discussions in the wake of the match as a potential turning point for the tourists.”We had a meeting, we had a talk about it,” Ambrose said. “And I explained to the guys in no uncertain terms that that’s unacceptable and if we’re going to struggle against an Under-19 team how do we expect to compete against a strong Australian line-up?”But we had a good meeting. Coach Phil Simmons called a meeting and we talked about a lot of things and I expect that, going forward, what’s gone already cannot be changed. So we’ve got to stay focused and move forward. I believe strongly that we’re going to put up a better show against Australia.”Ambrose took up his consultancy role in February 2014 and admits it took time for his charges to “bind” to his concept for their approach to bowling. His status alone ensured the players listened – “Well, I am bigger than most of them so they have to,” he joked – and, while their lack of patience was initially the biggest stumbling block, Ambrose has witnessed an improvement in the control and consistency he believes is necessary to succeed in Australian conditions.West Indies will look to Jerome Taylor, whom Ambrose dubs “the leader of the pack”, to replicate his best spells from the second Test of Australia’s 2-0 series victory in the Caribbean earlier this year. Taylor’s impressive first-innings haul of 6 for 47 off 25 overs in Kingston offered a spark of hope for renewal in his side’s heavy defeat and Ambrose is confident a Taylor-led attack has the ammunition to take 20 wickets, particularly if they can account for Warner and Smith.”Of course they are in some good form at the moment,” said Ambrose. “They are two good batsmen as well, they are going to be key. If you can get them out pretty early for not too many runs and get into the middle as quick as possible, I believe the middle order for Australia is not that solid at the moment.”Once we get them out early that is going to give us some leeway to get into the middle and really test them.”Ambrose isn’t the only member of the 1995 side that defeated Australia in Port of Spain – but, ultimately, lost the series – trying to inspire the current crop of players. Richie Richardson, Courtney Walsh and Stuart Williams all have roles within the West Indies set-up.But whether or not their defiant words can inspire a Test side ranked above only Zimbabwe and Bangladesh to victory over Australia remains to be seen. It will certainly take more than a withering glare. If West Indies manage to pull off an unexpected victory, they will need all the self-belief and passion of their predecessors.”I’m going to do whatever I can, and the coaching staff of course, to put up a good show here,” said Ambrose. “And I believe, once the guys are focused, we’re going to do well.”We’re going to do much better than you think.”
New Zealand are closing in on a series win after an emphatic eight-wicket victory against England under the lights at Derby. Aimee Mason (81) and Sara McGlashan, who made an unbeaten 97, were the chief destroyers as they chased down their target of 241 with more than 12 overs to spare.Mason and Suzie Bates built a rock-solid platform with an opening stand of 42 inside five overs, and then Mason trowelled on further runs with McGlashan cementing a second-wicket partnership of 161. McGlashan and Haidee Tiffen (19*) then saw them home.They now have a 2-0 lead heading into the fourth of six matches leaving England in need of winning the next one, at Blackpool this Saturday, to stay in the series.On a flat pitch with no seam movement or spin runs were there for the taking, but then so were some early chances in New Zealand’s innings. Dropped catches – allied to some poor bowling – cost England dearly, although nothing could really be taken away from the performance of an assured New Zealand.Claire Taylor’s century and Charlotte Edwards’s unbeaten 95 weren’t enough for England. The old firm put on a third-wicket stand of 177, brushing aside the early losses of the openers Sarah Taylor (1) and Jenny Gunn (11), to reach 240 for 3.Edwards’ return from injury showed England just what they had been missing and, after choosing to bat, she just missed out on her fifth one-day century – scoring all round the wicket – as the overs ticked out.Taylor’s 110, her sixth one-day ton, came from 133 balls and included 12 fours. She scored strongly through the off-side and also cut and pulled once she settled. She eventually fell to the part-time medium pace of Haidee Tiffen, who had shuffled her pack before finally bringing herself on as the eighth bowler in the bid to break the deadlock. It worked.New Zealand’s confidence will be ever growing in line with their momentum, but England can take some heart from their batting and Edwards’s return. But they will need even more spirit at Blackpool.
Points tableDay 2 Matthew Walker’s superb 197, his 20th first-class hundred, led Kent to an imposing 440 on the second day against Lancashire at Canterbury. Walker was last man out, run out, but shared in a fine fifth-wicket partnership of 135 with Dwayne Bravo who clobbered two sixes in his 76. After his two wickets yesterday, Andrew Flintoff – in his comeback game following injury to his ankle – went wicket less today but nevertheless has come through 19 overs without alarm. Indeed he bowled with menace and pace, on a flat and lifeless pitch and in conditions more akin to the subcontinent than England. After Walker and Bravo’s fine partnership Walker found great support in Amjad Khan (38) with whom he put on 121 for the ninth wicket to further frustrate Lancashire. In reply, the visitors lost Ian Sutcliffe and Mark Chilton to end the day in the perilous position of 56 for 2, still trailing by 166 runs.Day 1 Michael Yardy and Chris Adams powered Sussex to a solid 374 for 5 on the first day against Middlesex at Southgate. Chris Silverwood struck two early blows for the hosts, trapping Richard Montgomerie for a three-ball duck and Carl Hopkinson for just 8. Yardy and the ever-prolific Murray Goodwin (67) stablised the ship in putting on 159 for the third wicket. Though Yardy fell three short of a deserved ton, Adams made amends to bring up his hundred from 156 balls with 12 fours and three massive sixes.Tim Bresnan and Jason Gillespie gave Yorkshire the honours on the first day against Warwickshire at Scarborough, sharing seven wickets to dismiss the visitors for 201 inside 66 overs. Bresnan removed Warwickshire’s top three before Gillespie cut inroads in the middle-order; Warwickshire were indebted to Heath Streak’s defiant unbeaten 68, from 100 balls with 10 fours, to take them up to a score of respectability. Though Warwickshire grabbed a couple of quick wickets in Yorkshire’s reply, the home side sprinted to 122 and trail by just 79.
Points TableDay 1 Michael Powell held the Glamorgan innings together against Essex at Chelmsford. He made an unbeaten 157 as the visitors reached 312 for 5 after winning the toss. Essex made early inroads to reduce Glamorgan to 40 for 3 with Andy Bichel striking twice in his opening spell and Darren Gough once. Powell then found solid support from Richard Grant, who contributed 44 to a fourth-wicket stand of 137. Powell’s chanceless ton came up in 154 balls with 15 fours – many of which were creamed through the covers. Alex Tudor came in for particular punishment but enjoyed some belated success when he bowled Grant with a delivery that jagged back into the righthander. James Middlebrook was rewarded for an accurate spell soon after tea when he had James Franklin caught by Andy Flower at slip but that was to be Essex’s last success of a soporific day. Mark Wallace (47 not out) ably assisted Powell to the close with little cause for alarm.Click here to read the bulletin from Guildford as Justin Langer hammered a double hundred for Somerset against Surrey.Hassan Adnan was at the helm of two rescues for Derbyshire today at Leicester – and he left them strongly placed by stumps, having made 117. Adnan shared a fourth-wicket stand of 88 with Marcus North and then put on 260 with James Pipe (87*) as Derbyshire made 355 for 8. Stuart Broad had the visitors in early difficulty, a double-strike setting them wobbling at 10 for 2 and he ended with four wickets, including that of Adnan. Nicholas Walker pounced to have them 67 for 3 but from Leicestershire’s bowlers took their foot off the gas as Derbyshire’s batsmen zoomed on. There was a sting in the tail of the day for Derby, though, as they lost three wickets for 10 runs just before the close.
New Zealand have chosen the same 14-man squad that convincingly beat Bangladesh as they prepare for a considerable step up in class for the two-Test series against Australia, which starts on November 18.Richard Hadlee, the manager of New Zealand’s selection panel, said that the players would be aware of the extra intensity needed to face the world’s best side. “It is one of the biggest challenges in cricket to play Australia on their home soil and the Black Caps are very much looking forward to the challenge.”Hamish Marshall had again been named ahead of the more experienced Craig McMillan. “Marshall has done the job asked of him, even though he has had just one Test innings in Bangladesh,” Hadlee said. “With Michael Papps injured, we have confidence in Mathew Sinclair and it makes sense for him to open the innings. It is good for Sinclair to have the opportunity to continue on from where he left off in the Tests against Bangladesh.”New Zealand play Australia at the Gabba from November 18-22 and at the Adelaide Oval from November 26-30.New Zealand squad Mark Richardson, Mathew Sinclair, Stephen Fleming (capt), Scott Styris, Nathan Astle, Hamish Marshall, Jacob Oram, Brendan McCullum (wk), Daniel Vettori, James Franklin, Kyle Mills, Paul Wiseman, Ian Butler, Chris Martin.
The lack of confidence which almost pulled the rug from under West Indies yesterday threatened to return again in the second one-dayer at a soggy Kingstown. After being put in to bat by Bangladesh in a match reduced to 25 overs a side, they limped to 124 for 7. But then their fast bowlers got them out of jail with quick wickets, and in the end the margin of victory was a comfortable 23 runs.The outfield was wet and slow – the start was delayed by rain for almost four hours – and the ball did not come on to the bat. Dwayne Smith’s well-made 62 held West Indies together as all their front-line batsmen – with the exception of Chris Gayle – got in but failed to press home their starts. The manner of their dismissals was also rather subdued, with only Sylvester Joseph caught on the boundary. The rest all fell to half-hearted jabs and swishes. Smith, however, looked assured, sweep-pulling two lovely sixes in an assured innings.Bangladesh’s hero was Tapash Baisya who ended with 4 for 16, all his wickets coming in his last two overs as West Indies tried too late to inject some pace.Bangladesh’s confidence facing a below-par target lasted two overs. In the third, Fidel Edwards struck twice, and from 10 for 2 the brittle middle order never threatened an upset. West Indies didn’t bowl particularly well, but against such a fragile line-up they didn’t need to. Two of the top order – Habibul Bashar and Alok Kapali – were strangled down the leg side, and two fell to superb catches from Man-of-the-Match Smith. With the exception of Hannan Sarkar (36) and Manjural Islam Rana (33*), Bangladesh had little else to offer.But the large crowd who rushed to the ground once play started cared little, and were celebrating victory long before the end. At the moment, they will take what they can get.
Played on Saturday 29 March. The match between Old Georgians SportsClub and Takashinga was postponed due to a pending disciplinaryhearing involving Takashinga.OLD HARARIANS v UPRISINGAt Old Hararians Sports Club; 29 March 2003. Old Hararians won by 57runs at 23 overs (rain stopped play).OLD HARARIANSC H Brewer b Tichana 41R W Price c Zhuwankinyu b Chinyoka 0R W Sims c Senzere b Chiposi 27S M Ervine not out 31*P A Strang b Muteerwa 37G B Brent c Chiposi b Muteerwa 0D P Viljoen not out 3R E ButterworthH P RinkeC Ervine+S KhanExtras (b 1 lb 2 nb 2) 5(5 wkts; 29 overs) 144Chinyoka 6 0 18 1Chinhura 6 0 32 0Tichana 7 0 35 1Chiposi 7 0 42 1Muteerwa 3 1 14 2UPRISINGI M Chinyoka c Khan b Rinke 8A Gwandura c Khan b S M Ervine 1C Rizhibowa b S M Ervine 14I Senzere lbw b Rinke 2A Tichana b Rinke 0A Chihera b Brent 20J Muteerwa c Rinke b Brent 11S Rupiya not out 3I Chemhuru not out 1*G ChiposiG ZhuwankinyuExtras (w 2 nb 1) 3(7 wkts; 23 overs) 63Rinke 6 1 8 3S M Ervine 5 0 21 2Price 4 1 7 0Brent 5 0 16 2Strang 3 0 11 0
As expected, the Netherlands completed a seven wicket victory over Fiji at a windswept Ajax ground today, in conditions that were in stark contrast to the previous days of the tournament. After heavy rain prevented a prompt start, the match was reduced to 45 overs. Both teams helped the ground staff to clear water from the covers, not a familar sight on our Test grounds.The Netherlands won the toss, asked Fiji to bat, and made an immediate breakthrough when Rika snicked an easy catch off Khan’s first ball. Rika lingered at the wicket, more showing disappointment at his own shot rather than dissent at the decision. The Fijians found runs very hard to obtain against an accurate pace attack, with T Sorovakatini (9) taking as many as 46 balls for his score.The Fijians nonetheless showed more application than they had done against the Scots, and saw off the new ball attack, only for wickets to fall to the change bowlers de Leede and Kloppenburg. The run rate fell even further when spinner Esmeijer (1/12 from 9 overs) combined with left-armer van Troost (3/20 off 8 overs) to capture a flurry of wickets and leave the batting side at 79/7 in the 33rd over. Cakacaka and Seuvou added a useful 28, and the Fijians battled hard to take their final total to 127. The Dutch attack was accurate, albeit unthreatening, and Esmeijer bowled superbly in the difficult conditions provided by a strong cross-wind.The Fijians made the Dutch work hard for their win, with Batina in particular bowling a tight accurate line and Tawatatau bowling Zulfikar Ahmed to break the opening partnership. Neil Maxwell bowled four impressive and hostile overs, and was very unlucky not to break the useful second wicket partnership between van Oosterom and Kloppenburg, having an easy catch put down at gully, and several close lbw appeals turned down.The dropped catch apart, the Fijian fielding was keen and effective but the Dutch batted solidly and took advantage of some incosistent line from change bowlers Kamikamica and Sevou to accelerate the run scoring rate. Tukana bowled Kloppenburg for a solid 40 but, by the time van Oosterom was superbly caught on the boundary shortly after reaching an accomplished half-century, the Dutch only needed another 10 runs. It was a measure of the Fijian’s keeness that it took them 6 overs to get them.The hard-working Fijian team was then put to work again assisting the ground staff in the hazardous task of covering the square in a wind so forceful that the sightscreens had blown over.Both teams performed well under the difficult conditions, with the difference between them being the quality of the upper order batting.
The win is ultimately all that matters, but that was a painful watch for Chelsea fans.
Enzo Maresca’s side travelled to the Welsh Capital to take on Cardiff City in the quarter-finals of the League Cup on Tuesday night, but didn’t look two divisions better off than the hosts.
The Blues looked way off the pace from the first minute, and aside from Alejandro Garnacho and Pedro Neto, it’s hard to think of any other players who could leave the pitch with their heads held high.
In fact, it’s easier to list those who stood out for all the wrong reasons, including one starter who took fewer touches than Filip Jørgensen and simply has to be dropped.
Chelsea's poor performers against Cardiff
Starting in the back line, and while it sounds harsh, not one of the starting back four had a good game, albeit Josh Acheampong was the best of a bad bunch.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
The others all looked rushed in possession, failed to read the game and lost the ball 25 times between them, which would be bad enough against a top side, let alone one in League One.
In particular, there was another concerning display from the most senior defender of the lot, Tosin Adarabioyo.
Chelsea’s back four
Player
Lost Possession
Acheampong
9x
Adarabioyo
13x
Badiashile
5x
Hato
7x
All Stats via Sofascore
The 28-year-old looked the most shaky on the ball, completing just 86% of his overall passes and losing the ball the most out of anyone – 13 times.
Moving into the middle of the park, and while Moises Caicedo was one of the West Londoners’ better players, he is now going to miss the first leg of the semi-final due to the yellow card he received for petulantly clapping the referee.
If the Blues get drawn against one of the top sides, that could be a seriously costly error.
Finally, up top, it just wasn’t Marc Guiu’s night.
The young Spaniard wasn’t able to cope with the Welsh side’s physical nature and ended up missing the one he had in the first half.
The former Barcelona gem was replaced at the break, having taken just a single shot on target, failed to play a key pass, and lost 66% of his aerial duels.
However, there was a starter who was even worse than the striker, someone who simply has to be dropped for the next game.
The Chelsea flop Maresca must drop
For those Chelsea fans who had the misfortune of watching the game, it will come as no surprise that the player who must be dropped is Jamie Gittens.
It’s no secret that the Englishman has had a tough start to his Blues career following his mega-money move from Borussia Dortmund in the summer.
In the 19 matches before Tuesday night, the 21-year-old had scored just a single goal and provided five assists, so there might’ve been hope from the management that a game against a third-tier side would offer the perfect chance for him to bolster his statistics.
Unfortunately, it didn’t pan out that way, and the winger once again looked way out of his depth.
Gittens’ game v Cardiff
Minutes
66′
Shots on Target
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Crosses
0
Accurate Passes
21/25 (84%)
Touches
41
Lost Possession
10
Dribbles (Successful)
2 (0)
Ground Duels (Won)
8 (2)
Aeria Duels (Won)
2 (0)
All Stats via Sofascore
For example, in his disappointing 66 minutes of action, he failed to take a single shot on target, didn’t attempt a cross, completed just 84% of his 25 attempted passes, lost the ball ten times, failed in 100% of his dribbles and lost 80% of his duels.
Subscribe for sharp match analysis and player verdicts Want clearer context on performances like Chelsea’s shaky cup night? Subscribe to the newsletter for detailed match breakdowns, player ratings, and tactical insight that help you judge signings and selections with confidence. Subscribe for sharp match analysis and player verdicts Want clearer context on performances like Chelsea’s shaky cup night? Subscribe to the newsletter for detailed match breakdowns, player ratings, and tactical insight that help you judge signings and selections with confidence.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Moreover, the youngster took only 41 touches, 17 fewer than Jørgensen, which just goes to show how limited his impact was.
With statistics like those, it’s hard to disagree with the Express’ Tom Parsons, who gave him just a 4/10 match rating, writing that he was ‘was dispossessed too easily’ and ‘lucky to stay on at half-time.’
Ultimately, there is still plenty of time for Gittens to turn things around at Chelsea.
However, if he keeps on putting in performances like the one against Cardiff, then it’ll become harder and harder to disagree with one analyst’s claim that he’s been a “pointless signing.
Dream for Estevao: Chelsea want to sign "one of the best wing-backs in the PL"
The Premier League star would be an incredible signing for Chelsea and would help get even more out of Estevao.
Bazid: Even Younis will rate it as one of his finest knocks
Younis Khan’s epic, unbeaten 171 led Pakistan to their highest successful chase, the second highest in Asia for any side, and the sixth highest in all Test cricket. It also gave them their first series win in Sri Lanka since 2006, and catapulted them to third in the ICC Test rankings.The feat required the highest fourth-innings partnership for Pakistan, 242 between Younis and Shan Masood, who fell on the fifth morning for 125. Misbah-ul-Haq arrived with 122 needed, saw off Sri Lanka’s quicks till lunch, and opened up after that to reel off an unbeaten 59, finishing the match with a six.Sri Lanka’s fast bowlers put in a spirited effort, especially with the second new ball, but could not break down Younis and Misbah.Pakistan needed 147 more at the start of the day, and Masood and Younis’ record partnership grew by 25 before the former fell to his nerves. Masood had been tied down by Sri Lanka’s accuracy, and was itching to break free. No release was provided by Angelo Mathews and the specialist seamers. When the offspinner Tharindu Kaushal was introduced in the 11th over of the morning, Masood, eyeing some runs, jumped out, but was beaten by the turn to be stumped.Sri Lanka’s specialist spinner had begun promisingly after a wayward return of 0 for 92 in 20 overs on day four, but again, he failed to sustain the pressure. He did shift his line wider outside off and spun it in sharply with men waiting in the leg trap, but was too inconsistent with his lengths. Misbah and Younis used the sweep frequently, and put away the regular full tosses with ease.It was a different story against the quicks. The first boundary of the day came only in the tenth over, when Younis forced an edge through the vacant slip region off Nuwan Pradeep.There was little in the pitch by way of variable bounce to suggest it was a day-five subcontinent wicket. Despite their discipline at the start, Sri Lanka were dependent on the new ball. Pakistan needed 101 more when it was taken, and they had the personnel in the middle to get them through.Misbah was happy to deny himself against the new ball, going 22 balls without a run. Batting on a big hundred, Younis was eager to move across and play as much as he could. There was an unsuccessful review for leg-before against Younis, on 128, by Dhammika Prasad, replays returning umpire’s call for points of impact on pad and stumps.As Mathews tried Kaushal again at the stroke of lunch, Misbah stepped out to lift him over mid-on. Sri Lanka’s challenge fell apart after lunch, Misbah and Younis raining boundaries on the hapless Kaushal, who had played ahead of veteran Rangana Herath, and was to end with figures of 1 for 153 in 31 overs.The winning runs came again from Misbah’s bat, as they had come during their Sharjah chase of 302 against Sri Lanka in 2014. Younis ended with the fifth-highest score in a chase.