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Mithali Raj may just have done more for Indian women’s cricketwith one innings than several others have in a lifetime

Anand Vasu17-Aug-2002Mithali Raj may just have done more for Indian women’s cricketwith one innings than several others have in a lifetime. Scoring214 in the second and final Test against England, the 19-year-oldnow holds the record for the highest individual score in Women’sTest cricket.This is, however, not the first time an Indian has held thisrecord. When Sandhya Agarwal made 190 in the third Test againstEngland at Manchester in 1986, it was a moment deserving ofcelebration in India. The highest score in women’s Test crickethad just been scored by an Indian, beating the 189 made by BettySnowball.The joy of Indian fans and the pride of the Women’s CricketAssociation of India were short-lived, however, as Denise Annetsof Australia made 194 in the following year in a Test againstEngland. Several former Indian players mischievously whisper,half jocularly, that the English bowlers perhaps did not trytheir best to dismiss Annetts as she approached Agarwal’s mark.Agarwal and that little tale apart, Mithali has inscribed hername in the record-books with little controversy. A player ofimmense talent, Raj has consistently impressed observers who haveseen her play at all levels. Beginning to play serious cricketwhen she was just nine, when her father started to coach her,Mithali constantly played her cricket against women both olderand more accomplished than her. Perhaps it is this that has madeher mature beyond her years.A shy girl off the field, Mithali stays away from most pressconferences and interviews, preferring to let her bat do thetalking. But that is hardly unusual for someone from Hyderabad. Aplace, they say, can shape a person. and Hyderabad has producedsome of the most stylish batsmen in Indian cricket history. FromML Jaisimha to Mohammad Azharuddin, every cricketer from thatcity has wielded the willow more with skill and flair than rawpower. A slightly built girl, Mithali is no different. Using thepace of the bowler to great effect, Mithali is more likely totime the ball through the gaps rather than thump it past thefielder.Those who have watched her bat are not in the least surprised byher success. Sudha Shah, former Indian captain and coach,stressed on Mithali’s ability to keep a cool head. “From the timeI first saw her bat, when she was about 10 years old, I’ve saidthis girl will go places. She makes batting look so easy,” saidShah. As coach, Shah has worked extensively with Mithali and hasalways believed that the middle-order bat would go far.”She’s cool-headed and quite mature for her age. Don’t be fooledby the fact that she’s 19,” added Shah. Coach of the Indian teamthat played the CricInfo Women’s World Cup in New Zealand, Shahfelt Mithali’s illness greatly hampered India’s progress in thattournament. “If she had been fit and played every match, I thinkIndia would have done much better. She’s a thinking cricketer andnever lets the pressure get to her,” explained Shah. Laid lowwith a rare strain of typhoid, Mithali missed most of the WorldCup, only able to watch as India made it to the semi-finalsbefore losing to eventual champions New Zealand.Mithali’s captain at the domestic level, GS Lakshmi, who hasprobably seen more of her than anyone else, was delighted to hearthe news of Mithali’s big score. “I’m extremely happy to hearthis. I believed she was the best bat India has produced sinceRajni Venugopal, but now I think she has surpassed even her,”said Lakshmi from her residence in Hyderabad.”She’s so young and yet so mature, and as captain I expect a lotfrom her. I would say this is a great achievement, but believeme, she has a long way to go and will be one of India’s leadingcricketers,” said an obviously proud skipper. Even in domesticcricket, Mithali has been in great form of late, scoring anunbeaten 99 in the final of a tournament against Air India, oneof the strongest sides around.Lakshmi remembers that innings, and many more like it, withclarity. “It would be wrong to pinpoint just one innings of hers.She has won so many matches for us at Railways and previously forother teams too. The best thing about her is the way she picksherself up after a failure. As captain, you know that a big knockis always round the corner. Even if she fails in two or threegames, she’ll come good,” explained Lakshmi. “And you also knowwhat, when wickets fall early at one end, she relishes thechallenge. Mithali is not one to let her partner do all the work.She rotates the strike well and will score at a good rate.”At this very moment, though, Mithali will not be too worriedabout the rate at which she is scoring. In just her fourth Testinnings, and with 0, 55, 9 not out being her previous scores, shehas arrived on the world scene in dramatic fashion. Now she cansit back and savour the moment.

Liverpool have had phenomenal consistency in their attack over the last few years, with Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino leading the front line on a regular basis.

Last season, Salah’s fine form of PFA Fans’ Player of the Year. Alongside this, Salah was also named in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year and helped the Reds to a third place Premier League finish.

Liverpool were also helped out by Mane’s nine goals and nine assists.

With the attacking trio a consistent part of Jurgen Klopp’s starting XI when fit, it begs the question could anybody come into Liverpool and force one of their talented trio out the side.

According to Football Insider, the Merseyside outfit have told Wolves that they are willing to pay up to £25million for the player the west Midlands outfit value at £50m, but former Liverpool player Paul Stewart says Traore might not be the right fit for the club right now.

“You look at the front three of Liverpool, they interchange, Salah comes in, Mane’s all over the place. 

“I can’t see Traore being that because he’s a feet on the touchline type of man and then pace is his massive attribute.”

Traore has scored 10 goals and has got 18 assists in his time at Molineux, but Stewart wants to see the winger add to his end product, adding: “When I first watched him, I thought with that pace if he could have an end product he could be a world beater, but I haven’t seen that end product yet”. 

Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa is now being wanted by Fiorentina to take over the reins at the Serie A club.

What’s the story?

Reports in recent weeks have suggested that the Argentine is expected to put pen to paper on a new contract at Elland Road, with Fabrizio Romano claiming that this should be done “soon”.

However, RAI journalist Sara Meini has revealed that Fiorentina are plotting a move to lure Bielsa away from Yorkshire, adding that he figures among the contenders to take over the manager’s job there.

Nightmare for Andrea Radrizzani

Make no mistake about it, losing Bielsa this summer would be the kind of seismic blow from which Leeds would find it extremely difficult to recover.

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, Brian Deane said of the Argentine: “He’s brought a massive change to the club and I don’t know what the figures are, but he’s delivered. He’s over-delivered.

“I think their target was to finish fourth bottom and look where they are in the table, so he’s doing something good. And I’m sure these guys have factored into any budget that they’re going to offer the manager.”

Touching on what Bielsa has managed to do at Leeds, former Wigan manager Paul Jewell told FFC: “What I like about Bielsa is, and I think he can speak English but he’s pulling our legs, so fair play to him, but what I like about him is that he doesn’t make excuses.

“The difference he’s made to those Leeds players like Dallas, Cooper and Ayling, the list is endless. They were Championship players, and not great ones, but he’s turned them into Premier League players.

“He deserves unbelievable credit and he won’t have a trophy at the end of the season, but what a manager he is.”

As Jewell says, Bielsa has turned essentially lower-division players into fully-fledged Premier League stars, and even internationals in the case of England hero Kalvin Phillips.

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It would be a massive nightmare for Radrizzani to lose Bielsa to Fiorentina, and it’s exactly why he must be proactive in trying to get the Argentine to put pen to paper on a new deal at Leeds as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, Leeds are eyeing this Copa America star…

All Frizzell Women’s County Championship matches are one-day 50 over perside. There are three divisions of six teams in the tournament, which isrun on a round robin basis within each division, with relegation and promotion for the teams finishing top and bottom. All matches take place at University Grounds, Cambridge from Saturday 27th – Wednesday 31st July.Division OneReigning Champions, Yorkshire, secured their second win on day two, beatingSurrey convincingly by eight wickets. England’s young fast bowler LauraSpragg took 3 wickets for a miserly 4 runs from her eight over spell beforeEngland team-mate Melissa Reynard reached 64 not out, including nine fours,in response to the Surrey total.

Surrey: 129 all out (49.3 overs)Yorkshire: 130-2 (35.5 overs)

Promoted Sussex recorded their first win of the Championship beatingStaffordshire by three wickets at King’s College. England and SussexCaptain, Clare Connor, took two wickets to add to her five wicket haulagainst Yorkshire on Day One. England’s young development squad bowlerCharlotte Burton took 3 for 25 and New Zealander Haidee Tiffen also took 3for 21 playing for Sussex. England’s Laura Newton took 3 for 27 from 5overs for Staffordshire.

Staffordshire: 150-9Sussex: 151-7 (47 overs)

Berkshire have retained their strong challenge to Yorkshire by beatingNottinghamshire by 49 runs at Fitzwilliam College. England’s prolificbatsman Claire Taylor scored 78, including nine fours and a six to add toher 59* yesterday.

Berkshire: 169-6Nottinghamshire: 120 all out

Division TwoSomerset beat newly promoted Middlesex by five wickets at Queen’s College.Middlesex’s Beth Morgan reached 70* as Middlesex finished on 165 for 8. Inreply, Somerset’s Jan Godman made 58 from 63 balls and was assisted by 46from Sarah Collyer and 35 from England’s Hannah Lloyd.

Middlesex: 165-8Somerset: 166-5 (47.5 overs)

Kent beat Hertfordshire by 202 runs at St John’s Ground thanks to 104 fromPaula Flannery. In Kent’s match yesterday England batsman Charlotte Edwardsreached 151* giving Kent two wins from two games. Hazel Lovegrove took 4Herts wickets for just 1 run as Kent secured a second convincing victory.

Kent: 226 all outHertfordshire: 24 all out

Division ThreeHampshire made it two wins in two days as they defeated Warwickshire atChurchill Ground by six wickets.

Warwickshire: 101-8Hampshire: 105 – 4 (30.1 overs)

Newcomers Durham recorded their first County Championship win as they beatEssex by 77 runs at Trinity Old Field. Durham’s women’s cricket developmentofficer, Pauline Peel, top-scored with 51 opening the innings for Durham.

Durham: 228-7Essex: 151 all out (49.1 overs)

Cheshire beat Wiltshire by six wickets at Press Ground with Dawn Prestidgetop-scoring for Cheshire with 54, including seven fours.

Wiltshire: 155-6Cheshire: 157-4

Rangers have been tipped to sell George Edmundson this summer by Frank McAvennie after the club reportedly received a number of bids for the young centre-back, and Steven Gerrard should heed his words and axe the former Oldham Athletic man from his squad at Ibrox this summer.

Speaking to Football Insider, the former Hoops striker said:

“Gerrard will already have made his mind up about him leaving. Rangers will go about their business quietly, as they tend to do. I have no problem with that.

“Edmundson wasn’t getting game time at Rangers so it’s better for him to get going and try to restart his career. There’s nothing worse than training all week and not getting a game, it’s a horrible feeling.

“He might go away and want to prove people wrong but he has to know he messed up. He’s still young though, he could become a better player but his Rangers days are over if you ask me.

“I can see him leaving soon with minimal fuss now.”

The 23-year-old has made just 17 appearances for Rangers since joining from Oldham in the summer of 2019, in which he has contributed two goals and one assist.

However, he found himself behind Connor Goldson, Filip Helander and Leon Balogun in the pecking order this season and after breaking some of the Covid restrictions in November, it was no surprise to see him sent out on loan in the winter transfer window, as he joined Wayne Rooney’s Derby County.

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There, he would make 10 appearances in the Championship, averaging a less than impressive 6.62 rating from WhoScored for his performances, which arguably does not bode well for his future at Ibrox.

Football Insider also reported earlier this month that the defender, who was dubbed “easily expendable” by Steven Naismith last year, was attracting interest from a number of sides but their bids have so far been rejected by Rangers.

It seems unlikely that he will be able to win back Gerrard’s trust next season, especially with the addition of Jack Simpson which could see him slip further down the pecking order at Ibrox.

[freshpress-quiz id=“593776″]

His performances thus far have done little to suggest that he would be good enough for a side who want to challenge in the Champions League next season, so Gerrard should arguably cash in on him this summer.

And, in other news… Wilson should seal Rangers swoop for “top player” likened to Kante, Gerrard would love him

More punishment from Jimmy Maher and Martin Love was followed by a long-awaited fightback as New South Wales finally produced some answers for Queensland in an otherwise one-sided Pura Cup match between the teams here in Sydney today.

Claire Killeen02-Mar-2002More punishment from Jimmy Maher and Martin Love was followed by a long-awaited fightback as New South Wales finally produced some answers for Queensland in an otherwise one-sided Pura Cup match between the teams here in Sydney today.By stumps on the second day, a good start to the Blues’ first innings had seen the home team reach a mark of 0/95 in reply to Queensland’s mammoth 4/528.New South Wales has already tried five different opening batting combinations this season. The sixth brought it more joy:Matthew Phelps (48*) and Corey Richards (42*) playing with conviction as they launched the reply. Phelps benefited fromdropped catches by Stuart Law and Brendan Nash, and Richards survived a confident lbw appeal from the bowling of AshleyNoffke (0/20), but the duo were otherwise untroubled as the Blues’ innings began.Phelps’ score was 15 when Law, at short mid on, was slow to react and was forced to unsuccessfully grasp one-handed at a ballthat had ballooned toward mid wicket at gentle pace off inside edge and pad to a Joe Dawes (0/13) delivery.Nash’s chance at short leg – with Phelps at 46 – was lower to the ground and significantly more difficult.And another half-chance went begging when a frustrated Noffke failed to convince umpire Simon Taufel of the merits of an lbwappeal against Richards with the right hander’s score at 32.It still remained Queensland’s day, however.Though Maher (198) and Love (184) each fell despairingly short of double centuries before Law declared the visitors’ inningsclosed in the shadows of tea, the opening two sessions again belonged to the Bulls. The pair’s methodical 294-run partnershipwas an all-time Queensland record for the second wicket against New South Wales and helped ease the Bulls into a position fromwhich outright defeat seems an impossibility.Resuming at the overnight score of 1/325 and with their own partnership resting at 191, each of the two players again dominatedthe NSW bowlers as play re-commenced. They availed themselves of almost every opportunity to score and the Blues werebarely given so much as a whiff of a chance until a lapse in concentration finally saw Maher – just two runs short of his seconddouble-century of the season – cut off the top edge to a juggling Phelps in the gully.Love fell in the following session – and also to paceman Stuart Clark (3/106) – when wicketkeeper Brad Haddin divedspectacularly to his right to make a one-handed interception of an outside edged off drive.But, by then, both had made an indelible impression in plying their trade on a placid pitch. They must each remain a genuinechance of being included in the soon-to-be-named Australian one-day squad to tour South Africa and Zimbabwe.

عزز فريق ريال مدريد صدارته للدوري الإسباني بفوز ثمين أمام خيتافي بهدفين دون رد، مساء اليوم السبت، ضمن مواجهات الليجا لموسم 2021-2022.

واستقبل ريال مدريد نظيره خيتافي على ملعب “سانتياجو برنابيو” في إطار مباريات الجولة 31 لليجا.

وتقدم ريال مدريد بهدف أول عن طريق البرازيلي كاسيميرو في الدقيقة 38، لينهي الشوط الأول لصالحه 1-0.

في الشوط الثاني، ضاعف لوكاس فاسكيز النتيجة بهدف آخر للنادي الملكي في الدقيقة 68.

وانتهت المواجهة بفوز ريال مدريد بهدفين دون رد، ليرتفع رصيده للنقطة 72 في صدارة جدول ترتيب الليجا، ويتوقف رصيد خيتافي عند النقطة 32 بالمركز 14.

اقرأ أيضًا.. ضربة لـ ريال مدريد قبل مواجهة إشبيلية في الدوري الإسباني

ويأتي فوز ريال مدريد قبل مباراته القادمة أمام تشيلسي في إياب ربع نهائي دوري أبطال أوروبا على ملعب “سانتياجو برنابيو”، والمقرر لها الثلاثاء القادم.

تشيلسي حقق فوزًا عريضًا على ساوثهامبتون بسداسية دون رد، في إطار مباريات الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

جدير بالذكر أن مباراة الذهاب بين ريال مدريد وتشيلسي انتهت بفوز الفريق الإسباني بثلاثية لهدف، على ملعب “ستامفورد بريدج” معقل الفريق الإنجليزي. أهداف مباراة ريال مدريد وخيتافي

Many Glasgow Rangers fans are livid with comments from politician James Dornan as the fall-out following their Premiership title celebrations continues.

This campaign has been one many Gers fans will never forget. They picked up their first top-flight title in 10 years, and they even went the entire campaign in the Premiership unbeaten (BBC). In fact, they only suffered three defeats across the whole season, one of which was on penalties (Transfermarkt).

Following the 4-0 defeat of Aberdeen on the final day of the season, throngs of Rangers supporters took to the streets of Glasgow to celebrate the team being given the trophy. There was some trouble in George Square – 20 arrests were made (firstpost.com) – but the celebrations were generally peaceful.

There have been plenty of discussion regarding sectarian chanting, with Rangers players and fans accused of singing anti-Catholic songs – there has been no proof of either charge as of yet.. However, football commentator Derek Clark @derekclarksport has put together two tweets from SNP politician Dornan, who appears to have indirectly shown double standards.

Dornan’s tweets were shared by Clark on Twitter and they attracted plenty of attention from Gers supporters. These took to the social media platform to share their thoughts on the matter.

Let’s see what the fans had to say about Dornan below

“See for all this talk about the constant singing of anti-Catholic and anti-Irish songs from a week past Saturday I’ve still not seen any videos of it. Surely with the amount of people there a video of it would have surfaced somewhere?”

Credit: @RyanKerr_1

“What a shocker @glasgowcathcart still pontificating while remaining silent on the apology front he said he would do himself.”

Credit: @GBryson86

“The double Standards”

Credit: @ayeready1872

@glasgowcathcart thinks it’s OK to have a hatred towards people from the UK, but not OK if that hatred is directed towards Irish. Normal people call out hatred wherever it’s directed.

Credit: @NoColoursLaddie

“This however, is exactly why people like @glasgowcathcart have zero credibility. They believe they and only they, get to decide what is and isn’t acceptable. Condemn others, but when they vent their anti-UK bigotry and hate, they should be allowed to do so with complete impunity.”

Credit: @wavydot

“He’s lost it”

Credit: @declanlally

In other news, these European giants are interested in signing Joe Aribo.

West Ham United’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions League were dealt a devastating blow on Saturday evening as David Moyes’ side struggled to pick up all three points on their travels.

And several members of the Irons squad badly let the 58-year-old down, leaving the East Londoners in sixth place, some five points adrift of the top four. They could well drop to seventh by the end of Sunday, too.

Moyes was able to welcome back Declan Rice for the first time in seven matches, whilst there was also a recall for Jarrod Bowen, who certainly needed to make a statement having been snubbed from the starting XI in their previous two outings.

However, after offering the Scotsman absolutely nothing when entering the pitch early against Everton last time out, the 24-year-old winger was found wanting once again as the Hammers came from behind to snatch a draw at Brighton.

The Seagulls not only had nothing to play for but they were also contending with plenty of injuries, meaning it really should have been a game where West Ham picked up the win.

Bowen was ineffective and weak once again on the right flank.

As per SofaScore, he managed only 27 touches throughout the 64 minutes he was on the pitch – by comparison, even Lukasz Fabianski, who was graded their worst player, was more involved in the game, touching the ball 32 times.

Similarly, the Polish goalkeeper also recorded more passes (13) than Bowen (ten), which further shows just how little he was involved on the night.

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Furthermore, the former Hull City dynamo failed to register a single shot, with the Irons managing just three on target all game, and also did not register a successful dribble.

Bowen was wasteful with the ball, losing possession every 2.7 touches and he did not manage to provide Michail Antonio with an accurate cross from two attempts either.

He won just two of five duels (40%) to round off a disastrous night on the south coast.

On social media, Manchester United loan star Jesse Lingard copped a lot of flak for appearing to be a disappointment for another game but the figures would suggest he had a decent game, managing two key passes, making 100% of his three dribbles and managing a whopping 82 touches of the ball, via SofaScore.

Indeed, even football.london’s ratings column graded the attacking midfielder higher than Bowen, who was described as “pretty anonymous” whilst the Evening Standard’s Jack Rosser claimed he “lacked a cutting edge.”

All in all, the £27m-rated attacker, who earns a reported £60k-per-week at the London Stadium, certainly failed to justify his return to the line-up and as result, let his manager and the side down with a pathetic showing.

With absolutely crucial matches against West Brom and Southampton on the horizon, Moyes may want to think again about selecting Bowen.

AND in other news, Get rid: Moyes must axe £13.5m-rated West Ham disaster, he’s cost GSB £4.3m per goal…

Plenty of Aston Villa supporters have praised Matt Targett on social media for his performance against Crystal Palace on Sunday lunchtime.

Dean Smith made four changes from the side which drew 0-0 with Everton on Thursday evening, with Ahmed Elmohamady, Kourtney Hause, Jacob Ramsey and Ollie Watkins coming in for Matty Cash, Tyrone Mings, Ross Barkley and Keinan Davis respectively.

Targett kept up his record of starting in every league game this season, and his display at Selhurst Park impressed a number of Villa fans. The 25-year-old has missed just 15 minutes of top-flight action this season and was a part of a changed Villa defence alongside Elmohamady, Hause and Ezri Konsa.

The left-back was coming up against Palace winger Andros Townsend in the capital and completed a number of accurate long balls against Roy Hodgson’s side, posing a considerable threat with some neat deliveries.

Villa fans praise Targett

Here is what these Villa supporters had to say about Targett, with one fan describing one of his passes as ‘outrageous’.

“Targett is absolutely class man, could be player of the season for us tbh”

Credit: @GreaseSZNN

“Targett is quality right now. Definitely should be in the conversation in terms of getting a England call up.”

Credit: @will_avfc

“Another brilliant ball from Targett”

Credit: @VillaTil1Die

“Matt Targett what a player this season most improved player in the league by a country mile”

Credit: @__ryannpaul

“That is an outrageous pass from Matt Targett in to Watkins”

Credit: @JonahB90

“Wow Targett has come on leaps and bounds really send some great balls up to AEG”

Credit: @Noelmurray19

In other news: Villa keen on in-demand 22-year-old, could replace £32,000-a-week man, find out more here.