Plays of the Day from the third day of the third Test between India and New Zealand in Nagpur
ESPNcricinfo staff22-Nov-2010The giggle of the day
Suresh Raina was the runner for a limping MS Dhoni but nearly joined the wounded list himself. He had just completed a single when he realised, almost too late, that the throw was heading straight at his head. He swerved, looked at the approaching missile, swayed away and collapsed down to the ground. When he got up on his feet he was smiling.The power-packed shot of the day
Andy McKay hurled one full and Dhoni thrust his front foot out and bludgeoned it to the straight boundary in his inimitable style. He then strolled across the pitch and sported a gentle smile at his partner Rahul Dravid.The misery of the day
Every bowler is going after Raina’s head these days. Either bounce him out, or push him back and get him with a fuller delivery. Today, too, Raina got hit on the body by short deliveries and was tested with full ones. He must have sighed in relief when Daniel Vettori brought himself on. Mistake. The first ball turned in and bounced, and Raina edged his defensive prod to short leg.The anticlimax of the day The very first delivery from McKay was an off cutter from short of a length that Sachin Tendulkar partly steered, partly edged past gully. The third delivery kicked up and left Tendulkar, who, after being opened up, stabbed it to the keeper. The 50th hundred that the fans have been waiting for since the start of the series couldn’t come today.
Arsenal have established consistency like no other team in the Premier League over the past several years.
The Gunners have finished runners-up three years in a row, and while silverware continues to elude Mikel Arteta, he has fashioned his squad into a team of superstars, feared by all across Europe. Despite a recent blip, Arsenal remain top of the standings, their performances and stability creating the general opinion that they are the most complete side in the division, the favourites for the title.
However, while Manchester City and Aston Villa chase up to the Emirates side, Arteta will likely feel that injury troubles stand as his greatest adversary once again.
The latest Arsenal injury news
Once again, Arsenal find themselves on the top end, the wrong end, of the Premier League injury table, but Arteta and new sporting director Andrea Berta have made positive moves on the transfer front, and they have crafted a balanced squad capable of dealing with such setbacks.
Arsenal
9
5
Tottenham
8
7
Burnley
8
4
Crystal Palace
8
3
Bournemouth
7
2
Liverpool
6
6
As the table-toppers prepare to host Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League on Saturday evening, Arteta will be gritting his teeth amid a wave of setbacks, with key players like Declan Rice, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes and Leandro Trossard all ruled out or doubtful ahead of the top-meets-bottom clash.
However, the club have been boosted by the return of Gabriel Jesus, who made his first appearance of the season off the bench against Club Brugge in midweek, drawing plaudits for his silky and proactive display.
It had been nearly a year since the Brazilian had played for the Gunners in a professional capacity, having torn his ACL last year, and while there have been murmurings of late regarding Jesus’ potential departure from the Emirates Stadium, Arteta has poured cold water on such claims, instead urging the 28-year-old to kick on and become the main man.
Arsenal’s current injury crisis suggests he has a chance to do so, but Jesus may even work his way into the starting line-up over a star who is fresh and raring to go at number nine, having been likened to former Gunners goalscorer Olivier Giroud.
Arteta must drop the new Olivier Giroud
When Arsenal completed a £64m deal for Viktor Gyokeres this summer, it was felt that Arteta had finally solved an interminable problem at the spearhead, landing a 27-year-old striker who had scored 97 goals across just two seasons in Portugal with Sporting Lisbon.
But the powerhouse of a forward has found it difficult thus far. Too often he has drifted through games, struggling for service and fluency in the final third. He has scored six goals across 18 matches in all competitions, including four strikes in the Premier League.
The £200k-per-week striker has not hit the ground running since returning to England, but that’s not to say that he won’t rekindle the kind of form that has struck such fear into European defences over the past few years.
And with former stars such as Theo Walcott suggesting that Gyokeres has what it takes to emulate someone like Giroud, claiming the Sweden international is “similar” and “probably stronger” than the veteran Frenchman, who scored 105 goals and supplied 37 assists across 253 matches for the Gunners.
For now, though, Arteta might be wise to give Jesus a run in the side and withdraw Gyokeres from the starting line-up. He has left much to be desired so far this season and was branded with a 5/10 match rating by football.london in Brugge, missing a golden opportunity after Gabriel Martinelli’s whipped delivery and altogether flattering to deceive as the focal frontman.
As per Sofascore, he squandered two big chances, losing all three ground duels and taking only 12 touches, while losing possession on four occasions. That equates to having lost the ball every three touches.
Giroud, 39, only scored one goal from his first ten Premier League appearances in 2012/13, having joined Arsenal from Montpellier in Ligue 1.
With Merino capable as a moonlit centre-forward, demotion to the bench might not be a bad thing for Gyokeres as he looks to find his feet.
Giroud, after all, established a reputation as a high-scoring substitute in the Premier League, scoring 21 times. With Gyokeres, Arteta could repeat that trick.
Bigger problem than Gyokeres: Arteta must bin Arsenal's new Aubameyang
Arsenal could have another Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang situation developing this season…
Manchester United’s 2-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest at the weekend was their ninth loss in the Premier League.
This is the same number they suffered in the whole of last season, and Erik ten Hag’s side sits eighth, nine points off fourth.
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With that in mind, the former Ajax boss could look to enhance his squad this winter, with outgoings expected and incomings potentially on the cards.
Man Utd transfers latest – Andre
According to a report from Brazilian outlet Trivela earlier this week, Man United are interested in signing Andre, who has been labelled as “one of South America’s biggest jewels” by Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig.
morten-frendrup-andre-liverpool-opinion
Other Premier League clubs, such as Fulham and Liverpool, are also monitoring the Brazilian.
It is rumoured that a fee of around £17m could secure the services of the Fluminense star, which could represent something of a bargain, even for a cash-strapped side like United.
Andre’s style of play
Casemiro has been unavailable for United since October, missing 17 matches in the process due to a knock. In truth, his performances before the injury were subpar, with his lack of athleticism and Ten Hag’s lone defensive midfield tactic exposing the 31-year-old, having notably been "torn to shreds" in the defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers on the opening weekend, according to Gary Neville.
Therefore, it is reported that a move to Saudi Arabia could be on the cards for the former Real Madrid winner.
Although unlikely, United could cash in on their number 18 with the view of investing in Andre as his replacement. The 22-year-old has become a key player for Fluminense, featuring 60 times for the club in 2023 and playing 75% of his matches in a defensive midfield role. The table below gives a concise look at the number 7’s style of play by looking at his statistics from the last year.
Passes completed
76.27
Top 1%
Pass completion % (short, Medium, Long)
96.2%, 97.3%, 79.9%
Top 1%, Top 1%, Top 5%
Passes into the final third
6.63
Top 8%
Touches (Def third)
89.95 (30.39)
Top 2% (Top 1%)
Successful take-ons
1.38
Top 14%
Tackles won
1.50
Top 26%
As you can see, Andre has a completely different profile from Casemiro, with the former being described as a “roaming playmaker” by Jacek Kulig. That is obvious when addressing his stats, such as his ability to complete passes with accuracy regardless of the range. He rarely gives the ball away, but his passes into the final third stat show that he isn’t safe in possession, and he is willing to progress play if the opportunity presents itself, which would give much-needed control to the United side.
Furthermore, the Brazil star plays in Fernando Diniz’s demanding side, which is fluid and willing to play the ball out from the back. Ten Hag also wants to progress to using his goalkeeper Andre Onana in the build-up, and Andre would allow the boss to implement that philosophy, as he is used to playing one touch in his own box. His calmness in possession, ability to evade the press using his quick feet, and awareness are attributes that Casemiro cannot provide.
Andre Trindade with Fluminense teammates.
Andre’s defensive stats aren’t near Casemiro's – who averages 3.03 tackles per 90, for instance – but that is going to be the case when he plays for a side that dominates the ball in almost every game. However, his energy and ability to win duels in the middle of the park make up for that.
Overall, Andre would be an excellent signing for Man United, and he would improve their approach massively, focusing on ball retention and not always forcing the ball forward. The 22-year-old has plenty of room to develop, so the Red Devils would be buying a future gem, not just a player who could improve the team now.
If it’s not United, whoever signs up Andre will be getting themselves a bargain.
Unlike last season, Arsenal are not sitting top of the Premier League table by late November. However, Mikel Arteta's men are still just one point behind the golden spot this term, with two-thirds of the season left to play.
Arteta looked to strengthen his midfield department during the summer to avoid last season's collapse once more, bringing Declan Rice and Kai Havertz to the club for a combined total of £170m, but arguably the weakest component of the Gunners' side is the number 'nine' position.
Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah have led the line this season, but neither has been a prolific goalscorer throughout their respective careers. Nevertheless, there is still one more option that Arteta could try before the January transfer window opens to save some money.
Arsenal's centre-forward option
Having picked up a devastating knee injury at the World Cup last season, Jesus spent a number of months sidelined. It was suggested by journalist Dean Jones that Gabriel Martinelli should get the nod to play down the middle, having had a fantastic campaign off the left. The Brazilian has played up top 16 times before in his professional career and scored nine goals in all competitions.
Last season, Martinelli proved to Arteta that he is one of Arsenal's major goal threats, having scored 16 goals in 36 Premier League appearances, leading journalist Mark Mann-Bryans to label the winger as a "monster" for some of his displays in a red and white shirt. Martinelli was also handed a new deal for his excellent performances worth £180k-per-week.
Nevertheless, with Jesus still absent with an injury and Nketiah recovering from a slight knock, Arteta opted to deploy Leandro Trossard as Arsenal's striker against Burnley and Sevilla and the Belgian scored against the former. The Spanish coach also has Havertz as an option to play as a false 'nine' but the German featured at left-back on Saturday night for his national team in a 3-2 defeat at home to Turkey, scoring within five minutes, and may have found a new role for himself in the process.
Regardless, Trossard and Havertz don't possess the natural goalscoring instinct that Martinelli does, as the duo have bagged just eight goals in total since joining the club.
Gabriel Martinelli's stats this season
Jesus has scored four goals this season for Arsenal while Nketiah has registered one more than his Brazilian counterpart. The pair are being outscored by Trossard who has found the net six times and is the Gunners' joint-top scorer in the current campaign alongside Bukayo Saka. Despite being out-and-out centre-forwards, neither Jesus nor Nketiah have proven themselves to be consistent goalscorers under Arteta.
Meanwhile, Martinelli has turned into one of Europe's great wingers. Statistically, the 22-year-old stands out from the crowd when compared to all wide players from Europe's top-five leagues. Martinelli is in the top 9% for non-penalty goals per 90 and the top 11% for non-penalty expected goals per 90. Additionally, the Arsenal star ranks in the top 2% for touches in the opposition's penalty area per 90 as well as the top 5% for progressive passes received per 90.
According to FBref's player comparison model, Martinelli's data is most comparable to Vinicius Jr., Saka, Raheem Sterling, and even Mohamed Salah. Arsenal's number eleven may not reach Erling Haaland-numbers for goals but is currently outperforming Jesus and Nketiah on a host of key attacking metrics this season and should be given an opportunity by Arteta to showcase his talents up top.
Goals
0.13
0.25
0.59
Shots
2.13
2.5
2.94
Goals per shot
0.06
0.1
0.2
Shots on target
1
0.74
0.82
xG
0.14
0.44
0.36
Touches in opposition's box
7.88
6
6
Key passes
2.13
1
0.71
Progressive passes received
15.1
6.75
5.29
Assists
0.25
0
0
Stats via FBref
Martinelli is scoring at a lesser rate than Jesus and Nketiah because it's difficult to have quality chances when cutting in from the left due to the angle of the shot. However, the Brazilian is creating more opportunities and isn't lagging too far behind on goalscoring metrics.
With that in mind, Arteta should give Martinelli a shot up top to showcase what he can do in the absence of Jesus.
Stats preview of the second Test between South Africa and Australia to be played in Durban
Siddhartha Talya05-Mar-2009South Africa failed to repeat their Perth heroics in Johannesburg and were beaten comprehensively, but Australia will be aware that the home team has had the experience, quite recently, of bouncing back from being 1-0 down to win a three-Test series. India beat them for the first time in South Africa at the Wanderers in 2006-07 but lost the next two Tests in Durban and Capetown. West Indies caused a massive upset the following year in Port Elizabeth, but the hosts again recovered to take the rubber 2-1 with convincing wins in the subsequent games. South Africa will bank on their excellent record in Durban – since readmission, they’ve won eight Tests and lost two – but they’ll know that their only defeat at the venue in the last nine years came at the hands of Australia in March 2006.
Tests in Durban
PlayedWonLostDrawnW/L ratioSouth Africa (overall)35139131.44Australia (overall)94321.33South Africa (since readmission)168264Australia (since 1991)31111Jacques Kallis has been the most successful among South Africa’s batsmen in the current squad at Kingsmead – he’s 69 shy of reaching 1000 runs at the venue – with four centuries, all consecutive, in five Tests since 2002. In six Tests before that, he had only managed two fifties. The others, though, have mixed records. Graeme Smith averages a modest 31.81 in seven Tests but struck form at the ground with a half-century against India in 2006, and followed that up with an aggressive 147 against West Indies the next year, setting up an innings win. Mark Boucher is next in the list with 30.38 in 10 Tests, but AB de Villiers has impressive figures, averaging 64.20 with a century and two fifties in four Tests. Neil McKenzie and Hashim Amla have struggled in Durban, managing just one half-century between them in 11 innings.
SA batsmen in Durban (minimum of three Tests)
BatsmanTestsRunsAverage50/100AB de Villiers432164.202/1Jacques Kallis1193158.183/4Graeme Smith735031.811/1Mark Boucher1039530.384/1Neil McKenzie410717.830/0Hashim Amla37114.201/0Among the Australians in the squad, Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey are the only two to have played a Test at Kingsmead. Ponting has performed splendidly at the venue, averaging 85.50 in two Tests, including a century in each innings in his team’s 112-run win in 2006. In the same Test, and in his only innings in Durban, Hussey made 75.Makhaya Ntini has done well in Durban, averaging 24.62 – his career average is 28.17 – in eight Tests, and taking a wicket in each of his 16 innings. He took eight in the win over India in 2006 to turn the tide in favour of South Africa in the series after they had lost the first Test. On the other hand, Kallis has managed just 15 wickets in 11 Tests at an average of 37.80; he concedes 30.97 runs per wicket overall. Dale Steyn has played just two Tests at the venue, capturing ten wickets – including 6 for 72 against West Indies last year – at 23.80 apiece.Though pace bowlers have taken far more wickets at Kingsmead since 2000, spinners have a better average. South Africa, however, did not play a specialist spinner in their last two Tests in Durban and have relied primarily on pace throughout, but with Paul Harris bowling well, their approach this time might be different.Since 2000, spinners have done well in the first and the fourth innings, averaging 29.37 and 28.72 respectively. For South Africa, they have been relatively disappointing with 17 wickets in over eight years at 39.41 apiece as opposed to the fast bowlers’ 26.50. Overseas spinners have done considerably better, capturing 39 wickets at 26.48, including a matchwinning effort from Shane Warne in early 2006. For Australia, Michael Clarke could be given extended spells.
Pace and Spin in Durban
OversRunsWicketsAverageRuns-per-over5W/10WPace since 20001991.2658019433.913.306/0Spin since 2000565.117035630.413.013/1Pace for SA since 20001090333912626.503.064/0Spin for SA since 2000212.46701739.413.150/0Teams have preferred to field first – they’ve done so in five out of eight occasions – in Durban since 2000, and have won each time. The three times teams have opted to bat first, they’ve won twice and drawn once. Over the last nine years, the pitch has tended to favour the bowlers in the first innings and ease significantly in the second, third and fourth innings.
Tottenham Hotspur could move for one "playmaker" striker who's "like" former star Harry Kane if they decide to sign one in 2024, according to a very reliable media source when it comes to football transfers.
Spurs transfer targets for 2024
Ange Postecoglou has now officially overseen the best start made to a Premier League season by any new manager, with the Spurs head coach breaking that record while endearing himself to the Lilywhites fanbase in very quick fashion. Tottenham boast a brilliant seven wins from a possible nine thus far; remaining unbeaten in that time with results against high-flying potential title contenders Arsenal and Liverpool.
The north Londoners have discovered a new lease of under Antonio Conte's replacement, who arrived from Celtic in June after winning a plethora of honours north of the border. There had been doubts over Postecoglou's appointment given his lack of experience in an elite European division like the Premier League, but Tottenham's popular new boss is sharply putting them to bed.
However, there is a real elephant in the room where their current form is concerned – Spurs' lack of depth. Son Heung-min, James Maddison, Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven – alongside full-backs Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie – are now pivotal for Postecoglou. There is an argument to be made that serious injuries to any of the aforementioned would be a huge, huge worry for Tottenham, not to mention the fact they're lacking a world-class natural centre-forward after Kane's departure.
As a result, reports in the media have linked them with a centre-back and striker most commonly. Galatasaray defender Victor Nelsson, Juventus star Gleison Bremer, Bournemouth's Lloyd Kelly and Bayer Leverkusen's Edmond Tapsoba and Chelsea centre-half Trevoh Chalobah have been named as Spurs transfer targets at various points as options to bolster the defensive area. Meanwhile, Stuttgart striker Serhou Guirassy and Brentford's Ivan Toney could be Tottenham transfer options to replace Kane.
Ivan Toney transfer update
Sharing some news on the latter's future at Brentford this week, reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano suggests that Toney could be a target for Spurs next year, if they do indeed opt to sign one. Romano, writing in a Daily Briefing this week, said (via TEAMtalk):
"We have to [also] see what Tottenham want to do. At the moment they are very happy with the squad but in case they go for a striker, Toney could be an opportunity.”
The 27-year-old marked himself out as one of England's most deadly front men before his ban for alleged gambling breaches this year. Toney scored a brilliant 20 league goals last season, making him one of the country's hottest transfer commodities right now amid widespread interest from up and down the country.
England teammate Declan Rice even likened Toney to Kane while speaking on talkSPORT, hailing the "playmaker" striker.
"I think from the moment he stepped in the Premier League he's taken it by storm," Rice said.
"If you look at what he does for Brentford, how consistent he is and what he does for his team, he's fully deserving of a call-up. He's kind of like Harry Kane in a way where he's not only an out-and-out striker, he's a playmaker as well – his left and right footed passing, the way he picks out his teammates is a special technique to have."
Liverpool suffered their first loss of the campaign against high-flying Tottenham Hotspur in a controversial Premier League display last week, but could now respond with a statement victory over Brighton & Hove Albion this afternoon.
Jurgen Klopp rued the shambolic officiating that prevented Liverpool from leapfrogging Manchester City into first place, but will now be firmly focussed on capitalising on the Seagulls' own woes, having fallen to a heavy 6-1 defeat at Aston Villa last weekend.
Liverpool are juggling several absences but will be confident that their newfound vigour will prove enough to secure three points on the south coast.
What's the latest Liverpool team news?
Following their red cards at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Liverpool will be without both Curtis Jones and Diogo Jota, with the latter scoring in midweek against Union Saint-Gilloise in the Europa League.
Talking of absent goalscorers, Cody Gakpo is expected to be sidelined until after the international break having injured his knee against Spurs, scoring before half-time to restore parity.
Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo.
The Dutchman joins Thiago Alcantara and his young Spanish compatriot Stefan Bajcetic on the sidelines, thinning Klopp's midfield options for the tie at the AMEX Stadium.
That being said, Trent Alexander-Arnold is in contention for his first Premier League start in over a month having recovered from a hamstring injury, which could inject the creativity required to clinch victory.
Why should Liverpool start Wataru Endo?
Another man whose prospective involvement from the start might be prudent in stifling Brighton's threat is Wataru Endo, with the industrious midfielder playing a peripheral role for Liverpool since signing from German side Stuttgart for around £16m in August.
Jones has been making major strides to his game in 2023 and have cemented a regular starting role for himself, but after seeing red in London, the Scouser will need replacing for the next three Premier League matches.
A cool and composed central presence, Endo, aged 30, is not the most technically proficient but can certainly do a job in the middle, and might be the glue needed to allow the likes of Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister to flourish.
Ryan Gravenberch has been immense since joining in the summer himself and will be hoping for his first start in the English top-flight, and while he could slot in for, possibly, Mac Allister, Endo might be the man for the job in the holding role later today.
There will be tougher tests to come, but the recent victory over Leicester City in the Carabao Cup really did showcase Endo's skills and effectiveness against a fluid foe, and with Brighton's ball-playing game among the division's very best, his inclusion as the midfield anchor could be paramount.
Indeed, Albion have completed the fourth-highest number of passes in the league this season (4169), which is higher than Liverpool (3793) and inhibiting the Reds' flow will be something Roberto De Zerbi will indeed be seeking to exploit.
But with Endo's robustness in the centre, this will not come easy for the home side, with the Japan star ranking among the top 8% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for aerial wins and the top 15% for clearances per 90, as per FBref.
The £50k-per-week ace has been described as a "proper warrior and leader" by Bundesliga commentator Kevin Thatchard, and bringing his mettle to sink the Seagulls could be the difference-maker for Klopp's side as they push for a return to winning ways.
ScorecardYorkshire edged through to the Royal London Cup knockout stages for the fifth year running by beating already eliminated Northamptonshire at Emerald Headingley. The Vikings claimed a fourth successive North Group win by chasing 242 with four wickets in hand and an over remaining.On a tense final day in North Group, they had to be satisfied with third place and an away tie in the play-offs, missing out on a home semi-final eliminator tie by not reaching their target in 41 overs in order to better Nottinghamshire’s net run-rate.In fact, they nearly missed out all together by slipping to 134 for 5 with David Willey out for 71. But Gary Ballance and Jonny Tattersall, who made a maiden county half-century in his second attempt to make the grade at Headingley, went a long way to clinching the win with a calm 87-run stand for the sixth wicket inside 14 overs. Ballance made 66 off 61 balls and Tattersall 52 not out off 51.Yorkshire now travel to Chelmsford to face Essex next Thursday for the right to advance to the semi-finals.Willey, who was outstanding against Lancashire earlier in the week, starred with bat and ball against his former county, also taking 3 for 24 from 9.5 overs as Northants were bowled out for 241.In pursuit, Yorkshire slipped to 14 for 2 early in the fifth over of their reply as Adam Lyth and Tom Kohler-Cadmore were both caught behind off Kleinveldt and Hutton. The hosts then stuttered as Rob Keogh’s offspin (2 for 26 from 10 overs) tied them down.Willey was fast out of the blocks. He hit four of his first six balls for four, hit Kleinveldt for two leg-side sixes in the 10th over and reached 50 off 42 balls in the 17th over as the score advanced to 85 for 2. But shortly afterwards Keogh made two crucial breakthroughs, getting Joe Root caught behind reverse sweeping for 18 and Che Pujara lbw as the score slipped to 102 for four in the 25th over.A workman on Headingley’s new stand takes a breather•Getty Images
When Willey miscued Saif Zaib’s left-arm spin to long-on eight overs later, Yorkshire nerves were jangling. But Ballance and Tattersall held it together, reaching fifties to the delight of the 2000 strong home crowd before the former fell with 21 needed.Willey had claimed two of the first three wickets as the visitors, who elected to bat, fell to 23 for 3. He had Ben Duckett caught behind and Ricardo Vasconcelos at first slip before returning at the death to get last man Ben Cotton caught at mid-off, but Yorkshire made things more difficult for themselves as Northants recovered from 101 for 6.Debutant Charlie Thurston, 21, was the Northants standout with 53 off 62 balls. Thurston shared partnerships of 42 and 46 for the seventh and eighth wickets with Rory Kleinveldt and Graeme White, who finished 41 not out.
Virat Kohli steered his side to 175 in Bengaluru, but the KKR top order fired collectively to win with five balls to spare
The Report by Nikhil Kalro29-Apr-2018 3:11
Agarkar: KKR doing the basic things better than RCB
Kolkata Knight Riders gained two significant advantages even before a ball was bowled in Bengaluru. First, Dinesh Karthik chose to bowl at a favourable chasing ground. Then, Knight Riders found out that AB de Villiers was out with a viral fever. Both those factors had a decisive impact as Knight Riders chased down a target of 176 with relative ease, with five balls to spare, consigning Royal Challengers to their fifth loss in seven games.Without their highest run-scorer of the season, Royal Challengers had to employ a less attacking approach, aiming for par instead of a 200-plus score, like the one they got in the previous game against Chennai Super Kings after losing the toss. All they could manage was 175 – the par score in day-night games at this ground in the IPL since 2015 has been 172 – even with a terrific, 44-ball 68 from Virat Kohli.Even on a pitch that was turning appreciably, Knight Riders had too much firepower. Led by Chris Lynn’s 62, along with rapid cameos from Sunil Narine, Robin Uthappa and Dinesh Karthik, Knight Riders cruised home against a bowling attack that lacked penetration and sufficient defensive skill.Sussing out conditionsBrendon McCullum was brought into the XI due to de Villiers’ sickness. Quinton de Kock, despite coming off a half-century in the previous game, hadn’t quite found his fluency. For Royal Challengers’ batting line-up, already weakened significantly, a strong start was imperative.ESPNcricinfo Ltd
McCullum and de Kock scored 40 runs in the Powerplay, 11 runs below their average score in the period this season. McCullum soon found his hitting rhythm, though, with two fours and two sixes in two overs after the Powerplay, lifting the scoring rate to over eight.Soon after the time-out, however, Royal Challengers lost their way. De Kock holed out to deep cover. McCullum toe-ended a pull to the keeper. Two balls later, Manan Vohra was bowled off the inside edge. A score of 67 for 0 quickly turned to 75 for 3.Kohli owns the deathDe Villiers’ absence also hampered Kohli’s scoring template. Aware that his presence in the death overs could marginally increase the utility of Royal Challengers’ score, Kohli was cautious early in his innings. He took 18 balls to score 20, but with Royal Challengers at 100 for 3 in 14 overs at that point, Kohli couldn’t wait any longer.Royal Challengers hit nine boundaries in six overs thereon; Kohli hit six of them. Royal Challengers scored 75 from there; Kohli hit 48 of them. His innings included three sixes, two of which were a direct result of a strong bottom hand through the line of the ball, hit in the arc between long-on and deep midwicket. Royal Challengers had 175, a score that seemed below par given the ground dimensions.Theatrics of T20sBefore the start of the chase, Knight Riders’ target of 176 – one less than the score Royal Challengers needed to beat Delhi Daredevils earlier this season and one more than the score Knight Riders needed in the reverse fixture against Royal Challengers at the Eden Gardens – seemed insufficient.Lynn and Narine made a strong start before a rain interruption that lasted 30 minutes. Then, with Knight Riders seemingly in control, the game drifted on with the illusion of control. Royal Challengers made a strong comeback in that period, including having Andre Russell caught for a golden duck on his 30th birthday.The equation by then came down to 43 off 24 balls. But just when the game seemed in the balance, Knight Riders broke the chase open, much like those two previous games Royal Challengers were involved in.