Sri Lanka have been at the wrong end of 5-0 scorelines twice this year, against South Africa and India. Can they find a way to evade the same fate against Pakistan?

The Preview by Andrew Fidel Fernando22-Oct-2017

Big Picture

For the third time in a year, it has come to this: Sri Lanka must win to avoid a whitewash at the hands of an opposition they have barely pushed through the first four games. They did not manage to win the fifth match against South Africa in February, nor the fifth against India in September. As their bowlers continue to prove friendly, and their batting brittle, a third 0-5 whitewash beckons seductively from the corner. When mediocrity has called, Sri Lanka’s 2017 ODI team has rarely resisted.So dominant have Pakistan been that it is difficult to pinpoint an area that needs a definite tune-up. Even without Mohammad Amir in the squad, Sarfraz Ahmed’s suggestion that Pakistan have the best ODI attack in the world is not outlandish, Shadab Khan and Hasan Ali having run white-hot through this series. Babar Azam and Imam-ul-Haq have fired at the top of the order, and Shoaib Malik has batted well in the middle. When required, the lower order has bailed the team out as well. They are facing weak opposition, but with several Pakistan players continuing to make a charge up the ODI rankings, they can claim to have consolidated the ODI form they had gathered during the Champions Trophy.Sri Lanka require a fantastic individual performance to propel them to an unlikely victory, as the team does not appear to be meshing well as a whole. A whirlwind Niroshan Dickwella innings or a terrific Akila Dananjaya spell have the potential to transform Sri Lanka’s fortunes. But whenever Sri Lanka have mustered a passage of good cricket, Pakistan have usually responded with a better one.

Form guide

Sri Lanka LLLLL (completed matches, most recent first)
Pakistan WWWWW

In the spotlight

That Sarfraz Ahmed had to report an allegedly corrupt approach may be the most memorable story about him from this series, but he has also now fashioned an impressive start to his limited-overs leadership. Under him, Pakistan have now won three ODI trophies in three different continents (plus a single ODI against Zimabwe in 2015). He is a difficult captain not to like – constantly proactive, and often using his bowlers intelligently. If Pakistan win, this would be his first whitewash at the helm.Upul Tharanga, meanwhile, has had a difficult time in his own leadership. He had been Sri Lanka’s captain during the two previous whitewashes this year – though he was suspended for two matches in the India series – and has not been successful on other occasions he has led. His own batting form, however, has largely been good. In this series, he is the second-highest run-scorer after Babar, with 191 runs at an average of 63.66.

Team news

Pakistan may be tempted to experiment in this dead rubber. Left-arm quick Usman Khan may get another match after taking 1 for 38 on debut on Friday.Pakistan (probable): 1 Imam-ul-Haq, 2 Fakhar Zaman, 3 Babar Azam, 4 Mohammad Hafeez, 5 Shoaib Malik, 6 Sarfraz Ahmed (capt & wk), 7 Imad Wasim, 8 Shadab Khan, 9 Hasan Ali, 10 Usman Khan, 11 Junaid KhanHaving run themselves out of options, Sri Lanka may retain many of the same XI that lost by seven wickets on Friday.Sri Lanka (probable): 1 Niroshan Dickwella, (wk), 2 Upul Tharanga (capt.), 3 Dinesh Chandimal, 4 Lahiru Thirimanne, 5 Sadeera Samarawickrama, 6 Milinda Siriwardana, 7 Seekkuge Prasanna, 8 Thisara Perera, 9 Akila Dananjaya, 10 Suranga Lakmal, 11 Lahiru Gamage

Pitch and conditions

Sharjah surfaces are rarely conducive to scores of more than 300, but are not overtly biased towards the bowlers either. The temperature is forecast to be in the mid-30-degree range in the afternoon.

Stats and trivia

• Pakistan have won 11 of the 13 ODIs they have played under Sarfraz’s captaincy.
• Sri Lanka have won four and lost 15 under Tharanga
• In addition to now having lost 11 consecutive ODIs, Sri Lanka have also lost eight out of ten ODIs against Pakistan since 2015

After 458 appearances, 14 years of senior service, 90 goals, and three consecutive Player of the Season awards, Wilfried Zaha’s Crystal Palace departure to Galatasaray has been confirmed.

Palace’s job is to find a Zaha replacement is just as difficult as West Ham’s mission to replace Declan Rice. Arguably, the Eagles find themselves even more under threat, as Michael Olise, another of the club’s most dazzling assets, is attracting serious attention from Chelsea and Manchester City.

It leaves the south Londoners in an extremely precarious position, but they have sounded out Demarai Gray as a possible addition.

Is Demarai Gray signing for Crystal Palace?

Speaking to Football FanCast, reporter Dean Jones has suggested that Gray could fill Zaha’s void, saying:

“A lot of Premier League clubs have had a sniff around him and he’s a player that makes things happen so it makes sense that he’s going to appeal to lots of teams of different types.

"Palace losing Zaha has obviously been a blow because there was always a small chance he might end up staying but now they need to get round to finding another player that can create moments like he did and Gray certainly does have a bit of magic about him."

Daily Express journalist Ryan Taylor has also spoken on this situation, adding in a conversation with GIVEMESPORT that other clubs are interested in the 27-year-old: “Demarai Gray is one that I expect to end up getting done. I know Fulham are also interested. There have been clubs from Saudi Arabia, including Al-Hilal, who are also interested.”

How good is Demarai Gray?

Throughout his career, the former Birmingham City prodigy has showcased flashes of glimmering potential, but has been unable to pinpoint the crucial component that separates the top players from the rest – consistency.

Last season, in 27 Premier League starts, the winger scored four times, including a scintillating long-range curler to secure a draw at Manchester City. As Jones mentions, the winger is capable of magic moments, just they come all too infrequently.

Meanwhile, in three of the last four top-flight campaigns, Zaha reached double figures and his sumptuous productivity has become synonymous with consistency.

However, over the years, the Eagles have been a far more stable outfit than the Toffees, and due to his unfathomable talent, the Ivorian was awarded far more freedom to express himself.

Nevertheless, excluding the goal and assist count, Gray ranks far closer to Zaha than you would think. The Palace legend narrowly outperforms the £25k-per-week dynamo for shots per 90 (2.52 vs 2.05), shot creating-actions per 90 (3.58 vs 3.37), progressive carries per 90 (3.38 vs 3.37), successful take-ons per 90 (2.16 vs 1.18), and touches in the attacking penalty area per 90 (5.63 vs 3.73).

The last metric is probably most indicative of the defensive and restrictive play style that has consumed Gray at Everton.

If he can average higher involvement in more threatening zones, his full potential can be unlocked. Therefore, if Gray can improve his directness and positioning he will be in for a chance of reaching Zaha’s level.

A major update has emerged on Glasgow Rangers and their attempts to add a third new centre-forward to the squad ahead of the 2023/24 Scottish Premiership season…

What's the latest Rangers transfer news?

According to the Daily Record, Feyenoord have decided to accept an offer of around £6m from the Light Blues for their striker Danilo.

The report claims that the Gers sent the bid in with the intention of it being their final effort to sign the 24-year-old ace, which potentially pressured the Dutch side into striking an agreement with them.

It states that the Eredivisie team are now expected to give the player permission to travel to Scotland, where he could complete a medical and put pen to paper on a contract with the club.

He could arrive as Michael Beale's eighth signing of the window; following Kieran Dowell, Abdallah Sima, Dujon Sterling, Cyriel Dessers, Sam Lammers, Jack Butland, and Leon Balogun.

How many goals did Danilo score last season?

The Brazilian marksman plundered 14 goals across all competitions for Feyenoord last term and could arrive as the head coach's next version of English poacher Danny Ings.

Beale worked with the current West Ham United centre-forward during their time together at Liverpool, when the 42-year-old tactician was their U21 manager, and the 31-year-old star has gone on to enjoy an impressive Premier League career.

Ings plundered 46 goals and 10 assists across 100 matches in all competitions for Southampton after joining them from the Reds. He then managed 13 goals in 30 league starts for Aston Villa before a move to join David Moyes' team in January.

Legendary Newcastle striker Alan Shearer praised the former Burnley man's excellent 'instincts' in front of goal for the Hammers earlier this year and the talented forward ended the campaign with two goals and two assists in seven top-flight starts for his current club.

Danilo was recently described as an "amazing instinctive finisher" by Eredivisie expert Melvin Dupper and this suggests that he could be a similar type of player to Ings in the sense that they are both instinctive goalscorers who boast impressive records in front of goal.

The Brazilian dynamo scored ten goals in 14 Eredivisie starts last season, which came after a superb return of 15 goals in 26 matches for Ajax's first-team and U21 side combined during the previous campaign – with two goals in one top-flight start.

He also showcased his goalscoring talents whilst on loan at FC Twente during the 2020/21 season as the talented gem scored 17 times to go along with five assists in 30 Eredivisie starts. For context, no Rangers striker scored more than 14 Scottish Premiership goals last term.

This means that the possible Gers signing has scored 29 goals in 45 Dutch top-flight starts over the last three years, which works out as a strike every 1.55 starts on average.

Therefore, the potential is there for Danilo to be an outstanding addition to Beale's squad as a reliable scoring option through the middle of the pitch, as he can use his instinctive finishing – in the same way that Ings did for the head coach and throughout his senior career – to be a focal point for the Scottish giants.

Luton Town boss Rob Edwards has revealed that Tom Lockyer has been discharged from hospital and is in 'good spirits' following his cardiac arrest.

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Edwards reveals Lockyer has been dischargedCaptain in "good spirits" following cardiac arrestReveals that he watched Luton's last two gamesGettyWHAT HAPPENED?

Lockyer collapsed after going into cardiac arrest during the Hatters' December 16 match against Bournemouth, which was later called off. After having an implantable cardioverter defibrillator fitted, the captain of the Hatters was allowed to leave hospital. He was able to witness his team-mates' victories against Newcastle and Sheffield United from a distance. Edwards has offfered an update on his captain's condition and revealed that the midfielder is already bored at home but is in good spirits as he recovers from the incident.

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"I speak to him every day. He is progressing. He seems bored already, but in generally good spirits, which is really good," Edwards said at a press conference.

"He was taking the mick out of my Christmas trainers against Sheff United, so yeah he is doing well. I think we were tight already, I don’t think it is because of what has happened that we’ve won two games of football. Performances have been good before that but they’re an incredibly tight group these lads and they’re like a family."

"And obviously one of the family had a really tough time a couple of weeks ago, so we all have to rally round each other, support each other and help. If that has brought us tighter, then good but the main thing is Tom in all of this."

GettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Luton have seen an upturn in form since the incident against Bournemouth as they have gone on to win their last two matches including a scintillating 3-2 victory over Sheffield United in midweek. The Hatters are now looking to turn their fortunes around as they sit in 18th place in the league, one point behind Everton who have played a game extra.

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WHAT NEXT FOR LUTON?

There has been no communication regarding the return of the Hatters' captain, however, the team will look to maintain their improved form when they take on Chelsea on Saturday, December 30.

Christian Pulisic helped AC Milan to a 3-0 win against Empoli as the winger ran the length of the field before setting up Chaka Traore for a goal.

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• Pulisic ran whole length of pitch
• Squared to Traore for AC Milan goal
• Rossoneri beat Empoli 3-0 in Serie A

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The American collected the ball in Milan's half and charged forward, leading the counter attack against the home team. With one defender left in his path, Traore appeared on the left side of Pulisic, who squared to him perfectly, and the 19-year-old fired in his team's third goal of the game.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The assist comes just over a week after Pulisic netted the only goal as Milan beat Sassuolo 1-0 in their last game of 2023. The United States international is enjoying a solid season with the Rossoneri, having now scored six and assisted five goals in Serie A.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR PULISIC?

  The 25-year-old will be looking to help the San Siro side to another victory on Wednesday when they come up against Atalanta in the Coppa Italia. The two sides meet in the quarter finals, with the winning team going on to meet either Fiorentina or Bologna in the last four.

Arindam Ghosh’s half-century helped Railways set a target of 94, following which Anureet Singh and Avinash Yadav ran through the Uttar Pradesh batting order

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Oct-2017Railways defended a target of 94, skittling Uttar Pradesh out for 72 on the third day in a come-from-behind win in their first-round match in Lucknow. It was the second-lowest fourth-innings defence in Ranji Trophy history.Anureet Singh and slow left-arm spinner Avinash Yadav reduced UP to 28 for 6 inside 11 overs, and left-arm pacer Deepak Bansal joined in to pick up two wickets – including that of UP captain Suresh Raina – as Railways wrapped up a sensational 21-run win.Railways began the third day 27 for 3 in their second innings, still trailing UP by 46 runs. Overnight batsmen Arindam Ghosh (57) and Vidhyadhar Kamath (30) added a further 69 runs in the morning, before Kartik Tyagi dismissed Kamath to end an 86-run fourth-wicket partnership. Abhishek Yadav (20) scored crucial runs after that, but the recovery was ended by Ankit Rajpoot and legspinner Zeeshan Ansari. Railways eventually folded for 161.UP’s top order faltered in their chase, with Avinash and Anureet removing both openers inside three overs. Himanshu Asnora fell in the fifth over, before Anureet trapped the next two batsmen lbw. By then UP were 28 for 6, staring at defeat. Raina top-scored with 29, and was seventh out with 45 still to get. Rinku Singh remained unbeaten on 23, but received no support from the tail, and UP were all out in the 26th over. Avinash finished with a match tally of seven wickets, while Anureet ended the game with six. Barring Rinku and Raina, the other nine UP batsmen scored 15 between them, including four ducks.Delhi increased their advantage over Assam at Feroz Shah Kotla after fifties from Anuj Rawat (71) and Manan Sharma (69) helped the home side finish their first innings on 435 from an overnight score of 269 for 4. Delhi bowlers, led by Navdeep Saini’s brace, then took three top-order wickets before stumps as Assam were struggling at 60 for 3 at the end of day’s play. They trail by 117 runs.Gautam Gambhir could add only one run to his overnight score of 136 before he was bowled by Abu Nechim in the day’s second over. Pulkit Narang was the next man to go, but Rawat and Manan then put together 122 runs for the seventh wicket to take Delhi past the 400-run mark. Nechim returned once again to break the partnership, and then cleaned up the tail to finish with figures of 7 for 68, but by then Delhi had already taken a 177-run lead.Assam looked to wipe out that deficit in their second innings, but both openers fell cheaply to Saini. Kulwant Khejrolia then dismissed Assam captain Gokul Sharma – with the visitors at 26 for 3 – but Sibsankar Roy (28*) and Tarjinder Singh (8*) saw the day off with no further casualties.Meanwhile, for the third day in a row, there was no play possible in the match between Hyderabad and Maharashtra in Hyderabad.

Leeds United's summer revolution continues, as Daniel Farke seeks to usher in the wholesale changes needed to turn them into true Championship contenders.

Is Divock Origi leaving AC Milan?

With plenty of departures to note, the German manager has inherited a team that has been gutted following their relegation from the Premier League.

Several of their star men have forced loan exits, and the future of those who remain are still uncertain. For a new boss seeking to put together a squad, the elements are certainly against him at this moment in time.

However, the addition of Ethan Ampadu and the expected arrival of Karl Darlow does show promise.

Especially if they are to add Divock Origi into the fold, who was also a reported target of theirs earlier this month. The AC Milan forward has seen his chances in Italy limited, and he could seek a return to England to reignite a career that once promised much.

FootballTransfers value the Belgian marksman at just €9m (£8m).

How many goals did Divock Origi score for Liverpool?

Origi had grown into something of a cult hero for Liverpool before his exit last summer, and his departure was met with widespread sadness from most of the fanbase.

He had been ever-present throughout Jurgen Klopp's reign, involved in many of their greatest triumphs including his famous Champions League semi-final brace against Barcelona, and subsequent goal in the final.

A man for the big occasion, he would score 41 times during his eight-year stay at Anfield, making 175 appearances.

It was expected that his switch to the San Siro would allow the 28-year-old to flex his goalscoring muscles with more regularity as a starter, but having made just ten starts in Serie A last season, that has been far from the case.

Dropping down to the Championship could see him cement himself as Leeds' star man, sure to play every game and spearhead their push for promotion.

The former LOSC Lille maverick could even finally realise that once sparkling potential, which was outlined in 2016 by journalist Aaron Flanagan. He claimed:

"Divock Origi was outstanding second half. Still got a few doubts about him but looks very powerful now. Dangerous with space to play."

The latter statement has remained the case, as his aforementioned Champions League final finish against Tottenham Hotspur showcased. Just an inch of space allowed him to fire home with his weaker left foot, creating something out of nothing and winning his side the ultimate prize.

In snatching such an asset from the Rossoneri, it could mark the avenging of the Whites' failure to capture Charles De Ketelaere last year.

Having been embroiled in a long-standing transfer saga throughout the 2022 summer, it was the Italian outfit who eventually captured him for a fee reaching €35m (£30m).

The Belgian maestro was coming off the back of a stellar campaign in his homeland, where he had posted 28 goal contributions across all competitions during the 2021/22 season.

Whilst he has since struggled, failing to score across 40 games most recently, it still represented a huge hammer blow for a side seeking a replacement for the departed Raphinha.

It could be argued that the failure to add that firepower left them severely reliant on the injury-prone Luis Sinisterra to score the goals they lost with the exit of their Brazilian talisman, leading to their relegation.

Now, to make up for such a frustrating steal, the Milan side could present a peace offering that rebuilds the broken relationship last summer likely induced.

Origi is clearly surplus to requirements for Stefano Pioli, and yet for Leeds, he could be a real star.

His acquisition should mark a no-brainer for Farke in an attempt to avenge the club's previous mistakes in the transfer window.

The T20 encounter against the Knights on Wednesday will be Steyn’s first competitive match since breaking a bone in his shoulder during the tour of Australia in November 2016

Firdose Moonda14-Nov-2017Dale Steyn is expected to make a comeback to competitive cricket, after a year on the sidelines, in the Ram Slam on Wednesday. Steyn has been named in the Titans’ 13-man squad set to play the Knights in Kimberley, for their second match of the competition.The Titans beat the Lions in their opening game on Sunday, where Steyn carried drinks and reunited with his team-mates after seven years at the Cape Town-based Cobras. Steyn, whose career began up-country with the Titans, opted to return to the franchise while still recovering from the broken bone in his shoulder that has seen him spend the last 12 months out of action.In that time, Steyn has had a pin inserted into his right shoulder and overcome torn bicep and pectoral muscles. When speaking to ESPNcricinfo last month, Steyn explained how he was slowly building up his bowling loads so that he could be at 100% by the time he returns. That time, it seems, is now.To make space for Steyn in their XI, the Titans will likely have to leave out David Wiese from the side that beat the Lions. That means the Titans could boast at least six current internationals with Quinton de Kock, AB de Villiers, Farhaan Behardien, Aiden Markram, Tabraiz Shamsi and Lungi Ngidi all in the mix and Dean Elgar waiting in the wings. Morne Morkel and Chris Morris, who are recovering from a side strain and a back injury respectively, are not part of the Titans’ squad for now but are both expected to make comebacks at some stage of the Ram Slam.If all goes well with Steyn’s participation in the Ram Slam, he is expected to make a return to the national side in whites, where he needs just five wickets to overtake Shaun Pollock as South Africa’s highest Test wicket-taker. South Africa play Zimbabwe in the inaugural day-night Test over Boxing Day and then host India for three Tests. New coach Ottis Gibson has already indicated Steyn will walk back into the XI provided the man himself is confident he can get through a full Test.

Set a daunting target of 386, South Australia ended the third day on 5 for 124 with an entire day to spare at the Adelaide Oval

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Nov-2017
ScorecardGetty Images

Captain George Bailey’s 86 and twin strikes each from Jackson Bird and Gabe Bell combined to take Tasmania only five wickets away from victory. Set a daunting target of 386, South Australia ended the third day on 5 for 124 with an entire day to spare at the Adelaide Oval.Resuming on 2 for 79, Bailey had to carry the Tasmania middle order as none of his team-mates could cross 25 on the third day. He scored his third straight 50-plus score – after 106 and 59 against Victoria – to take the lead past 300 before Adam Zampa (3 for 85) took two middle-order wickets and Kane Richardson (4 for 30) wiped out the tail. By the time they were dismissed for 244, Tasmania’s lead had neared 400.Under 10 overs into the chase, 22-year old Bell removed the South Australia openers cheaply before Callum Ferguson and Travis Head stitched a 60-run stand to steer them towards 100. Once left-arm quick Sam Rainbird removed Head for a brisk 31, Bird struck twice in the 34th over to rattle the stumps of Jake Lehmann (17) and Joe Mennie (0). The doube-strike left South Australia five down for 119. Ferguson was unbeaten on 46 with a tall task for the last day.

Sergio Herrera claimed that the Spanish Super Cup was designed for Barcelona or Real Madrid to win following Osasuna's defeat to the Blaugrana.

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• Barcelona beat Osasuna 2-0
• Herrera's comments came after the defeat
• Barca to meet Real Madrid in the final

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Robert Lewandowski finally got back his scoring boots after squandering countless chances to open the scoring, while Lamine Yamal scored the second to seal a date with Real Madrid in the summit clash in the final. However, Osasuna feel Lewandowski's opener should have been struck down as they deem there was a foul on Jose Arnaiz by Andreas Christensen in the build-up. But, on-field referee Alejandro Muniz Ruiz did not blow the whistle nor did VAR intervene after the goal. This infuriated the Osasuna camp and Herrera slammed the Spanish FA after the match.

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• WHAT SERGIO HERRERA SAID

  Speaking to reporters, Herrera said: "This competition is clearly designed for Barça or Madrid to win. It's obvious, they are the teams that generate the most money. Whoever disagrees does not watch football."

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Osasuna defender David Garcia also minced no words to express his disappointment with the refereeing and added: "You’ve all seen it. The number of fouls that are whistled like that, the number that in the first half have all been whistled in favour of Barcelona. It was very obvious, very clear to me. Three minutes later, the same play was blown and the whistle was blown for the same side. What do you say? It was very obvious to me, but coincidentally or not, it’s always the same teams that benefit.”

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Lamal became the youngest goalscorer in Supercopa history after he found the bottom corner, deep in stoppage time, for Barcelona's second goal. He replaced an injured Raphinha late in the first half and is poised to start in the final after a sensational finish.