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Barcelona are in a race against time if they are to trigger Denzel Dumfries' €25 million release clause amid reports of a bid for the Inter star.

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Dutchman has a release clause of €25mThe release clause expires on 15 JulyBarcelona must decide and act quicklyFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

According to , the 29-year-old has a release clause of €25 million (£21m/$30m) that is valid until July 15 for foreign clubs. The player is also on the verge of changing his agent from the Wesserman agency to Jorge Mendes, which further incentivises the Catalan club to make a move for the Dutchman.

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Barcelona have been looking for someone with a similar profile to Dumfries. The Dutchman has shown his powerful physique and strong mentality against the Spanish side in last season's Champions League, where he scored two goals in the latter half of the game. However, with ongoing financial issues and Inter wanting the fee in a single payment, it will be tough for the Catalan club to negotiate.

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Inter hope that Dumfries stays but have highlighted Dan Ndoye as a possible replacement, though Bologna are demanding €45m (£39m/$53m) in him, while Napoli are interested, too.

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The Champions League finalists will hope Barca do not trigger the clause in Dumfries' contract as they prepare to bolster the squad. They are looking to sell Hakan Calhanoglu to Galatasaray and are reportedly lining up a bid for Palmeiras' Richard Rios.

Batter relishing the ride as relentless touring lifestyle continues at pace

Cameron Ponsonby05-Dec-2023Harry Brook says that he agreed his three-year deal with England “as soon as they called”, with there being no temptation to keep his franchise options open with a shorter deal.Brook is one of just three England players, along with Mark Wood and Joe Root, who signed three-year central contracts with the ECB. Unlike Root and Wood, who are both in their 30s and would have appreciated the certainty that came with the length of the deal, Brook is 24 and highly sought after on the franchise circuit, becoming an IPL millionaire last year when he was picked up by Sunrisers Hyderabad for INR 13.25 crore.Nevertheless, despite the riches on offer around the world, Brook said there wasn’t even a thought of a negotiation with England when Rob Key called him.”Straight away as soon as England called I was going to sign the contract,” Brook said, one day out from the second ODI against the West Indies. “I’ve wanted to play for England all my life.”Brook was one of six players who were offered three-year contracts, with himself, Wood and Root agreeing to the deal, while Jofra Archer and Jos Buttler opted for two years and Test captain Ben Stokes gambled on a one-year deal on the basis that the value of central contracts may increase when new terms are agreed next year.As arguably the most talented batter of his generation, Brook’s commitment to England is a boon to the national side as they are able to control the workload of one of their most prized assets, who himself admitted to having felt that he needed a break following a difficult World Cup campaign.Since his Test debut in September 2022, no one has played as many matches for England as Brook’s 45. And it isn’t until you get to Chris Woakes at No.7 in that list with 32 matches that you find another player who has played Test cricket. With such a high workload, there could have been consideration to rest Brook for the ODIs and have him join up with the squad for the T20Is.”Obviously England made that decision but I’m happy to be out here to be honest,” Brook said of the potential to have had an extended rest. “It’s a different lifestyle. I’ve been waking up at six o’clock every morning and jumping in the sea so it’s been an enjoyable tour so far.”For a cricket nuffy like Brook, the West Indies tour also represents an opportunity to work on a format of the game he has had next to no experience in. Following the World Cup, he returned to his school coach for a few work-up sessions, but still the challenge of finding the tempo of one-day cricket has proved challenging. A fact that made his 71 in the first ODI all the more satisfying.”I liked the way I went about my innings,” Brook said reflecting on his run-a-ball innings at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium. “I’ve struggled a little bit in this format at the start of my career. I haven’t quite found the tempo of how I wanted to play.Related

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“Until the summer I hadn’t played anything. So yeah, I was just trying to figure out, find my feet in the format really and try to find a tempo with the way I wanted to bat. England have been renowned for being an aggressive side but there’s always so much time. The other day was a perfect example of that. It was about nine overs from the end that I got out and I felt like I was sat up on the balcony watching for about three hours.”Despite a relentless workload, Brook has put his name into the auction for the IPL which, coming off the back of England’s five-match Test tour there in January, will mean he’ll have spent the best part of six months from the start of October to the end of May in India.”In India you can end up sitting in your hotel room with not much stuff to do,” Brook said of the cricket-mad nation where the celebrity effect takes things up a notch and can make social media a particularly difficult place. “I’ve been off social media for a while now. So anything I stumble across, I delete it from the phone…I think that’s helped my game, helped my mental health and everything, to be off social media and seeing all the negativity that brings.”It marks a change for Brook, who after a run of low scores in IPL 2023 said in a post-match interview following his century against Kolkata Knight Riders that he was “glad he could shut them [his critics] up to be honest.””I was an idiot and I said a stupid thing in an interview which I regret a little bit,” Brook laughed when recalling the incident, adding that it wasn’t this incident alone that led him to quitting social media. “I’d find myself scrolling Instagram or whatever, and you just come across stuff you just don’t want to see, so I thought it was the right idea to get rid of it. I’ve obviously still got Instagram and Twitter but thankfully I’ve got someone running it for me.”

Bayern Munich are reportedly eyeing Arsenal forward Leandro Trossard as a potential Plan B, with the German champions growing increasingly doubtful over their chances of signing Liverpool’s Luis Diaz. Trossard’s versatility, experience and short contract make him an appealing alternative as Bayern look to reinforce their left wing this summer.

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Bayern turn to Trossard after Diaz talks stallArsenal may sell due to expiring contract situationTrossard’s versatility suits Kompany’s tactical visionFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Liverpool are standing firm on their stance that Diaz is not for sale and Bayern have started exploring alternatives. According to German publication BILD, Arsenal forward Trossard has emerged as a serious candidate for the Bundesliga giants.

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Bayern are in urgent need of wide reinforcements following the exits of Leroy Sane and Mathys Tel. While Diaz remains their top priority, Trossard’s experience and contract situation make him a more attainable option. Arsenal could be open to a deal to avoid losing him on a free next year. Additionally, the Belgium international recently changed agents, and his new representative, Dirk Hebel, has strong ties to German clubs, potentially easing a move to Bavaria.

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Trossard scored ten goals and provided ten assists across 56 appearances last season, proving to be a valuable attacking option for Mikel Arteta. He also deputised effectively as a central striker during injuries to Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz.

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Bayern will continue to monitor Diaz’s situation but could soon accelerate talks with Arsenal for Trossard. The Gunners must now decide whether to extend the Belgian’s deal or cash in before the new campaign begins.

Wicketkeeper-batter, who also holds Australian citizenship, will replace Quinton de Kock for Renegades’ final two BBL games

Alex Malcolm04-Jan-2024Melbourne Renegades have sent an SOS to Netherlands captain Scott Edwards to be available for the last two games of the BBL season as a replacement for the injured Joe Clarke.Edwards is currently in South Africa with the Netherlands team on a training tour that includes five practice matches against SA20 teams before the start of that tournament and a month-long camp.But Edwards, who also holds Australian citizenship, is leaving South Africa early to return to Melbourne, where he grew up, to be available for Renegades’ final two BBL matches, as they will be without a specialist wicketkeeper-batter after Quinton de Kock departs for the SA20 following the match against Hobart Hurricanes on Thursday.Related

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Renegades don’t have a local wicketkeeper on their list, having traded Sam Harper to Melbourne Stars for legspinner Adam Zampa. They had recruited de Kock to keep in the six games he was available for, and were relying on Clarke to fill the role for the remaining matches. But Clarke’s season-ending quad injury threw a spanner in the works.Englishman Jordan Cox was recruited as a replacement player for de Kock, and has played two matches for Renegades already as a specialist batter – one before de Kock’s arrival, and the other as Clarke’s replacement in the Melbourne derby on Tuesday. Cox has played as a wicketkeeper in 24 of his 88 T20s at professional level, but has not kept in his last 26 matches dating back to January last year.Edwards, 27, qualifies as an Australian local, and had played in Renegades’ practice matches before the BBL. But the Netherlands ODI and T20I captain, who had a very impressive ODI World Cup in India with both bat and gloves, was not signed by any of the BBL teams despite being fully available for the tournament, even as Stars only carried one specialist wicketkeeper in their 18-man squad.Edwards instead spent December playing club cricket in Melbourne before heading to South Africa with the Netherlands team. But he will return to Melbourne on January 11, and will be available for the second Melbourne derby against Stars at the Marvel Stadium on January 13 and for their final match of the home-and-away season against Sydney Thunder on January 17 if required.Edwards has never played in the BBL or been contracted despite winning the Ryder Medal as the best player in Victoria’s Premier Cricket competition in 2021. He has also never been contracted to play domestically in Australia despite being eligible as a local, although he has played second XI cricket for Victoria in Cricket Australia’s second-tier four-day competition that sits underneath Sheffield Shield cricket.Renegades replace Mujeeb with HoseinRenegades have also added West Indies left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein for the last two games of the season after Mujeeb Ur Rahman was ruled out of the remainder of the BBL following the Afghanistan Cricket Board’s decision to revoke his No-Objection Certificate.It continues a tumultuous season for Renegades, with their captain Nic Maddinson dropping himself mid-season due to being out of form, while long-time captain and all-time leading run-scorer Aaron Finch was also left out of their most recent match despite being fit, and has announced he will retire at the end of the season despite having a year to run on his contract.

Lucas Vazquez has finally left Real Madrid after 18 years with the team. It looks like his boat could head to Italy to play against Luka Modric.

Juventus offered Vazquez after Real Madrid exitSalary demands could delay or block transferPlayed 402 games and won five UCL titlesFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Vazquez has been offered to Juventus following his Madrid departure, according to a report from . The 34-year-old is now a free agent having left Santiago Bernabeu, where he won five Champions League titles and made 402 appearances. Juventus, in need of depth on the right flank amid potential exits of Timothy Weah and Andrea Cambiaso, have been approached by the player’s agents with a proposal, as the player recently snubbed a La Liga proposal.

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The Old Lady are actively scouting replacements on the right flank, with Damien Comolli evaluating several names alongside head coach Igor Tudor. While younger targets like Joan Gonzalez and Fiorentina's Dodo remain on the radar, Vazquez presents a cost-effective and experienced option, as he would arrive on a free transfer. However, his previous €4.5 million salary at Madrid could prove a stumbling block. Juventus might attempt to navigate this via a multi-year contract to distribute the wage burden.

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The Spanish international made 32 appearances in La Liga last season under Carlo Ancelotti, scoring once and assisting five times. Despite being 34, he remained a regular starter before the arrival of Trent Alexander-Arnold under new coach Xabi Alonso.

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Juventus will continue to assess right-back options in the coming weeks. While Vazquez is seen as a short-term solution, the final decision will depend on how negotiations around contract length and salary unfold. Juventus open their Serie A campaign next month and aim to finalize squad reinforcements before pre-season ends.

The conviction relates to whether he and Bushra Bibi waited long enough after Bibi’s divorce before getting married

Danyal Rasool03-Feb-2024Imran Khan’s legal troubles continue to mount, with the former Pakistan captain and Prime Minister sentenced to a further seven years in jail. The conviction, his third of the week, relates to his marriage to his current wife Bushra Bibi, and whether the pair waited long enough after Bibi’s divorce from her previous marriage before formally getting married. It is the maximum sentence the judge could have imposed in the case and the marriage has also been declared void by the court as part of the sentence.The case concerns whether the marriage had taken place during Bibi’s period, a concept in Islam and Pakistani law that requires a woman to wait for a certain amount of time following a divorce or the death of her husband before remarrying. The case was especially controversial because of the extent to which it scrutinised the intensely personal nature of Imran and Bibi’s relationship, going so far as discussing Bibi’s menstrual cycles to determine whether the period had not been breached.While Imran and Bibi had married nearly six years ago, the case was registered by her former husband Khawar Fareed Maneka only in 2023, around the time Imran’s other legal troubles began to snowball. But in 2018, when Bibi and Maneka had separated, Maneka had released a video statement saying Imran was not the cause of his divorce.Related

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Bibi was also sentenced to seven years in prison. Imran and Bibi were also each fined PKR 500,000 (US $1788 approx). Bibi had earlier been incarcerated in the Toshakhana case alongside Imran, and sentenced to 14 years in jail. However, she had been allowed to serve the sentence under house arrest. But it is not yet clear if that changes with the current conviction.This latest conviction is expected to run concurrently to Imran’s other three convictions, which carried sentences of three, ten and 14 years in jail, respectively. Therefore, it does not extend the amount of time he is legally required to be incarcerated. However, it shows the extent to which Imran’s relationship has deteriorated with the state, which has launched a thinly-veiled attack on him and his political party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI), ever since he was removed from power in a no-confidence vote in April 2022.PTI issued a scathing statement after the sentence regarding Imran’s marriage to Bibi was passed.”How many people have fallen to bring down one person? In this case, Imran Khan and his [Bibi] were not given the right to defend themselves, nor were witnesses allowed to present themselves. When this case goes to the higher courts, in a minute this decision will be rejected and thrown into the trash.”When Imran Khan was arrested in May 2023, violent uprisings took place throughout the country•AFP/Getty ImagesImran’s lawyer called the verdict “shameless and baseless”, and said the decision would be appealed.Imran’s latest conviction comes five days before Pakistan goes to the polls in an election both he and PTI are barred from contesting. Political rallies organised by them have been dispersed and shut down by authorities. Earlier this week, a rally in Karachi was halted by police, who fired tear gas and detained dozens of PTI workers.Earlier today, another PTI political rally in Swabi was dispersed, and for months, there was a de facto ban on even mentioning Imran’s name on Pakistani TV. In the past few months, when PTI attempted to host virtual or online fundraisers, there were nationwide internet blackouts that coincided with the timing of the events. Authorities, however, have claimed the two were unrelated.The International Federation for Human Rights, in a statement after Imran’s other sentences this week, said its findings revealed “a disturbing disregard for the basic principles of justice and due process” after he was denied access to his chosen counsel, which they termed “a flagrant violation of rights enshrined in international law”.Opinion polling in the lead-up to the elections has been non-existent, but the most recent independent polls have shown Imran to be the most popular politician in the country. When he was arrested by paramilitary security forces in May 2023, violent uprisings took place throughout the country that led to an internet blackout that lasted several days; thousands of his political supporters were also arrested at the time.

Maya Jama and Ruben Dias find themselves holidayed to exhaustion, with the pair catching up on some sleep after a "work & play balancing" act.

Pair got together late in 2024Finding gaps in hectic schedulesDias ready to rejoin ranks at CityFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

With professional commitments at Manchester City and Love Island on their respective agendas this summer, Dias and Jama have made the most of rare breaks in their schedules. Sunshine has been chased at every opportunity.

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They jetted off to relax and unwind ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup and latest instalment of Love Island, before reuniting in the United States for a quick break in Florida. A return to Europe has seen them head to the White Isle of Ibiza.

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Dias has been looking to keep himself fit during a short post-season, with Jama being dragged along for the ride. An action-packed summer of fun appears to have caught up with the pair as they jokingly fell asleep in the back of a car packed with friends.

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WHAT JAMA SAID

Jama says she has been enjoying “work & play balancing”, with the TV presenter having made a point of catching Dias in action while also building her own brand by taking on exciting new media and commercial opportunities.

Luka Jovic is set for a fresh start in Greece with AEK Athens as the striker hopes to revive his career after difficult spells in Spain and Italy.

Jovic rejects Real Oviedo for AEK AthensFormer Madrid and Milan striker moves as a free agentOviedo resume striker search ahead of new seasonFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

According to a report from , Jovic is set to join Athens after rejecting an offer from newly promoted La Liga side Real Oviedo. The Serbian striker, who previously failed to impress at both Real Madrid and AC Milan, has agreed a deal with Athens until June 2027. After negotiations with Oviedo intensified in recent weeks, Jovic ultimately declined their project, favouring the proposal from the Greek club. He is currently in Athens to complete his medical and finalise the transfer.

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Jovic has struggled to live up to expectations since his €63 million ($71m/£54m) move to Madrid in 2019, tallying just three goals in 51 appearances before spells at Fiorentina and Milan, where he found only limited success. Despite Real Oviedo’s attempts to secure his signature ahead of their return to La Liga, Athens have capitalised on Jovic's desire for a fresh start, to the point that he even rejected Cruz Azul. The move is expected to become official after medical examinations, with Jovic aiming to revive his career for the Greek Super League side.

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Jovic’s contract with Milan expired earlier this summer, making him a free agent. He scored 13 goals in 47 matches during his time at Milan, but injuries have plagued his career since leaving Eintracht Frankfurt, where he famously scored five goals in a single Bundesliga match – becoming the youngest ever to do so in that league.

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AFPWHAT NEXT FOR JOVIC?

After passing his medical, Jovic is expected to be unveiled as an Athens player and will join pre-season preparations immediately. With a contract running through June 2027, he seeks to establish himself as AEK’s lead striker. Oviedo, left empty-handed, will continue their search for a forward ahead of the new La Liga campaign. Jovic’s move shuts the door on a return to Spanish football for now, as he focuses on finding form and consistency in Greece.

Hosts recover from 15 for 4 through England pair, then seamers put Worcestershire to sword

ECB Reporters Network17-May-2024A fifth-wicket stand of 148 between Dan Lawrence and Ollie Pope, a superb new ball spell by Dan Worrall and Kemar Roach’s late double-strike put Surrey in control against Worcestershire despite themselves being bowled out for 213 on a frenetic 17-wicket opening day at the Kia Oval.When the dust settled on the high-octane action Worcestershire were 112 for 7 in their own first innings, still 101 runs in arrears, after Worrall’s 3 for 16 from seven overs, Roach’s two wickets in three balls and scalps too for Sean Abbott and Jordan Clark backed up Lawrence’s 84 and Pope’s 63.Put in on a well-grassed surface, Surrey were soon in all sorts of trouble at 15 for 4 as Joe Leach took 3 for 24 in seven overs in a new-ball spell that threatened to embarrass the county champions.But Lawrence then joined Pope to pull the innings around in a counterattacking partnership of great quality that looked even better once Surrey’s lower order had failed to build substantially on it and Worcestershire’s top order had been cut down by Worrall and his fellow pacemen.Worrall first had Gareth Roderick caught at fourth slip for 15, pushing out at an away-swinger, before bowling Jake Libby for 1 with a magnificent delivery that nipped back to beat the opener’s attempted off drive.Kashif Ali, after a couple of promising boundaries took him to 15, flashed leaden-footed at Worrall and edged to keeper Ben Foakes and, when Abbott replaced Worrall at the Vauxhall End, Adam Hose – facing only his fourth ball – went needlessly after his loosener and carved it into the cordon to depart for 4.Worcestershire were 53 for 5 when Clark angled one into Rob Jones’s pads and had him leg-before for 14, but at least Matthew Waite helped his skipper, Brett D’Oliveira, put on 58 in a fighting sixth-wicket stand before Roach made sure the day belonged to Surrey.Swinging the ball back into the right-handers, Roach won two leg-before decisions to end Waite’s 42-ball 35 and also send back Nathan Smith for nought just before bad light stopped play at 6.26pm, with seven overs of the day’s scheduled allocation remaining unbowled. D’Oliveira was unbeaten on 22.Rory Burns, Dom Sibley, Jamie Smith and Foakes were the early casualties when Surrey batted, with New Zealand overseas Smith striking first in the fourth over to have Burns lbw for eight as aimed to clip to leg.Sibley drove at a ball too wide for the stroke to edge Leach behind and, later in the over, Smith was bowled for a fourth-ball duck by an absolute beauty that clipped the top of his off stump.Foakes, beaten off the pitch, edged to second slip on 1, but Lawrence and Pope took the attack back to Worcestershire and, with just a little bit of good fortune early in their stand, turned the tide of the innings.Lawrence, who had got off the mark with a skewed lofted drive that just cleared mid-off running back, then skipped down the pitch to swing debutant seamer Yadvinder Singh for six over wide midwicket, while Pope bedded in confidently at the other end.They rallied Surrey to 110 for 4 by lunch and continued on merrily enough afterwards until their 33-over alliance was broken by Smith, who had Pope caught behind one ball after seeing him missed in the slips. Pope had faced 110 balls, hitting six fours.Frustratingly for Surrey, Lawrence then departed in the very next over, throwing his bat at an outswinger from medium-pacer Waite and edging behind after a punchy 102-ball innings that featured two sixes – the second driven high and straight off Leach – and 11 fours.Abbott top-edged a pull at Waite to long leg and the same bowler trapped Gus Atkinson leg-before for a fourth-ball duck to finish with the creditable figures of 12-4-19-3.Clark, hitting Smith for four consecutive fours at one stage, and also lofting him straight for six in a 36-ball 42 not out, tried his best to revive Surrey again but Roach fell for four, edging Ben Gibbon behind, and Worrall was run out at the bowler’s end for nought after initially failing to respond to Clark’s call for a bye to the keeper.

Vipers wobble to 136 for 6 needing 207 after Seren Smale’s 99 puts Thunder in strong position

ECB Reporters Network01-May-2024Nancy Harman got Southern Vipers over the line in a tight three-wicket victory over Thunder to give the holders three wins in a row.Allrounder Harman, in her first appearance of the season, came to the crease with Vipers wobbling on 136 for 6 needing 207 – and behind the DLS with rain about. But she beat her previous best of 23 not out to guide her side to victory, and continue Vipers’ unbeaten record against Thunder.Earlier, England A batter Seren Smale beat her previous best of 94 – scored against Central Sparks last season – and bagged her third career Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy fifty but ended up heartbroken after being run out on 99.Vipers chose to bowl first and strangled Thunder in the opening 10-over Powerplay, with Shachi Pai bowled by Linsey Smith and only 16 runs coming.But Smale and Katie Mack got the innings into gear with a risk-free approach of singles and only eight boundaries making up their 94-run stand. The partnership underpinned the innings, albeit not coming at any great speed, as Smale reached her half-century in 84 balls.She earned lives on 53 and 65 – a caught and bowled spilled by Smith and a drop at deep midwicket – but showed great skill to pepper her innings with six fours, all coming in the V.Mack and Fi Morris both fell with the score on 111 within two balls of each other. The Australian was involved in a classic run-out mix-up before Morris skied a pull to give Alice Monaghan the Vipers’ first wicket to pace this season.Ellie Threlkeld was bowled trying to ramp Mary Taylor and Naomi Dattani drove straight back at Charli Knott, but Danni Collins joined with Smale to put some impetus into the back end of the innings.All eyes were on whether Smale could convert to three figures for the first time in her career. She had to contend with not getting a great deal of strike and wickets falling at the other end.Collins – after putting on 41 in a 21-ball 23 – and Tara Norris fell to Smith in consecutive balls. The left-arm spinner ended up with 3 for 19, and the most economical spell for a Vipers bowler for the second week in a row.Phoebe Graham was castled by Taylor as Smale needed five runs in the final two overs. But she only faced four balls before she was run out attempting to reach the landmark and she remained sprawled in her dived state for a while before dragging herself off.Vipers’ reply got off to a stuttering start as Norris hooped an in-swinger to bowl Ella McCaughan with the fifth ball of the innings before Knott ended her run of 41, 58 not out and 40 when she hit to short midwicket.With rain around, Vipers tried to match the DLS target – Georgia Adams crashing a series of straight boundaries with aplomb. But Abi Norgrove advancing and getting castled to make it 46 for 3, saw DLS rocket from 52 to 70.Adams and Georgia Elwiss put Vipers comfortably ahead of the rate with a partnership oozing in quality before Elwiss was strangled down the leg-side and Emily Windsor was beaten for pace by Graham.Adams reached her 50 in 62 balls – her 15th half-century – but top-edged Dattani behind to swing things back to the visitors. Then Rhianna Southby, Harman and Monaghan scored the last 72 runs to guide Vipers to victory with 39 balls to spare.