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Villarreal boss Marcelino insists Thomas Partey is 'mentally prepared' to face Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League on Tuesday, just 24 hours before the midfielder appears in court over multiple rape charges. The former Arsenal star denies all allegations but will line up against his old rivals in north London before attending his plea hearing at Southwark Crown Court.

• Partey to appear in court after Champions League clash with Spurs

  Partey was charged in July with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, relating to alleged incidents between 2021 and 2022 while he was at Arsenal. He joined Villarreal on a free transfer in August and has already featured in all four of their Liga matches this season. On Wednesday, the Ghanaian will face a plea hearing in London after travelling with Villarreal for their European clash.

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  Marcelino says Partey 'mentally prepared' to face Spurs

  Speaking on Monday, Marcelino backed the midfielder to perform against Spurs: “He (Partey) is with the group. I’m totally convinced that he is mentally prepared, technically prepared, to play the game tomorrow night. For sure, he’ll be ready.

  He added: “We are really happy that Thomas is with us for his football capacity and ability, and his presence as a human. He’s a great player with lots of experience… I think he will get back to his top level which we all know that he’s got and I’m very happy he’s with us in the team.”

• AFP
  

  Partey's rape charges from time with Arsenal

  The five rape charges relate to alleged incidents between April 2021 and June 2022, while Partey was still at Arsenal. The sexual assault charge involves an incident alleged to have taken place in February 2022. Partey has been granted conditional bail, which requires him to inform police of international travel and prohibits any contact with the complainants.

• Villarreal aware of rape charge before signing Partey

  Villarreal signed Partey knowing he was under investigation, stressing their respect for the presumption of innocence. The Spanish side have leaned on his top-level experience as they begin their Champions League campaign. His ongoing legal battle, however, threatens to overshadow his contribution on the pitch.

The first day-night Test in India threatens to be the shortest completed Test in the country, but Mushfiqur Rahim might stand in the way of that

The Report by Sidharth Monga23-Nov-2019The first day-night Test in India threatens to be the shortest in the country. After two days – 916 legal deliveries – India were just four, possibly three, wickets away from recording their longest winning streak: seven. The quickest it has previously taken to achieve an outright result in India is 1028 balls, against Afghanistan in 2018. With that record still up for grabs on day three at Eden Gardens, the match also seems destined to be the joint-leanest for spinners in India – just one wicket to them so far, matching the Golden Jubilee Test of 1981.It is hard to judge if the conditions were very skewed against the batsmen, because Bangladesh did play quite a few tame shots to get out. Ishant Sharma looked nigh unplayable with his inswing and the odd legcutter, ending the day one wicket short of only his second 10-wicket match haul. He hit Mohammad Mithun with a bouncer, and had that resulted in a concussion, Bangladesh would have had to get Mustafizur Rahman in as a batting-only substitute. Bangladesh still found themselves a player short with Mahmudullah injuring his hamstring trying to complete a quick single.And oh, by the way, Virat Kohli scored his 27th Test century, his 20th as captain, going past Ricky Ponting and behind only Graeme Smith’s 25. Speaking of captains, a former captain, Mushfiqur Rahim, made sure the match went into day three with a counterattacking fifty after he himself was hit on the head.The day began with India 68 in the lead, seven wickets in hand and Kohli primed for yet another inevitable-looking Test hundred. Like a matter of routine, Kohli eased his way to a century despite some turn for Taijul Islam, who had come in as a concussion substitute for Nayeem Hasan. The problem with Bangladesh was they were bowling good balls but not good overs. Kohli was alert enough to keep the good ones out, and take risk-free runs off the ordinary ones. Some of the driving of course was gorgeous.Ajinkya Rahane was unfortunate enough to fall to the odd good ball despite having crossed fifty. Unlike Kohli, Rahane likes to stay back to spin and play a lot of horizontal-bat shots. The kind of delivery that would have beaten Kohli on the forward-defensive took a top edge on the cut. Not that it changed the flow of the game a lot. Nor did the movement with the second new ball. All it did was hasten the end of the Indian innings – declared closed at nine down – to give Bangladesh a possible 44 overs to survive on the second evening.The way Ishant started, it didn’t look like Bangladesh would last the night. In his first over, he toyed with the outside edge of Shadman Islam, moving closer and closer to the stumps and finally trapping him lbw. Captain Mominul Haque then grabbed a pair by managing to somehow edge a half-volley.That brought together batsmen with two of the five worst averages in Test cricket in the last three years: Mithun and Imrul Kayes. Mithun soon suffered a sickening blow with an Ishant bouncer following him after pitching. He continued batting after a concussion test but soon played a limp pull to give Umesh Yadav a wicket. Ishant soon drew the seemingly overdue edge from Kayes to leave Bangladesh at 13 for 4.Dangerous games continued as Rahim received a glancing blow in the head from Yadav. With so many blows to the heads and dropped catches, questions will be, and should be, asked if it had anything to do with the pink ball.Rahim, though, waved his physio off, raising questions over concussion protocols in cricket. The way he continued to bat it didn’t seem he was suffering from one, though. Mahmudullah, too, batted fluently despite struggles against the short ball. Both of them chose to attack, and they had plenty of opportunity to do so with the aggressive fields in place.When they took the innings into the 14th over, Mahmudullah and Rahim had put together Bangladesh’s longest partnership of the match. It didn’t stop there. Boundaries kept flowing. Movement died out, India’s lengths became shorter, and the ball kept skidding across the dewy outfield. Mahmudullah, however, had to retire hurt for 39 off 41. The ease with which the two batted, though, begged the question: why weren’t the side’s two best batsmen batting higher and taking more responsibility, especially in the absence of Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal.Now India were forced to go to spin after only one over of it in the first innings, that too to facilitate a change of ends. R Ashwin immediately produced a chance, but Rahane dropped an easy chance at slip, his fourth off the bowling of Ashwin in this series. Ishant came back to get rid of the reprieved batsman Mehidy Hasan, and just before stumps Yadav ended Taijul’s resistance. India are still on their way to a comfortable win, but Rahim had managed to make them wait for another night.

A crazy release clause reportedly won't put Liverpool off appointing a manager who Pep Guardiola thinks highly of, according to a new report from abroad.

Liverpool manager latest

The news that Jurgen Klopp is leaving his job as Reds boss at the end of the season has rocked the football world, at a time when he was generally expected to at least stay until his contract expiry date of 2026.

The German's exit is going to hit Liverpool hard considering he is one of the most influential people in the club's great history, winning huge trophies while being adored by supporters.

The Reds have to accept that they are going to face life without Klopp later this year, and the importance of nailing his successor cannot be downplayed.

Xabi Alonso has arguably emerged as the favourite to take over in the summer, having been a hugely popular player at Anfield and now shining in management with Bayer Leverkusen.

He certainly won't be the only option to come in, though, with Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi and Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann potentially in the running, too. Now, another name has been thrown into the hat, as Liverpool work hard on finding Klopp's replacement.

Liverpool could appoint Ruben Amorim

According to Correio de Manha [via Sport Witness], Liverpool won't be put off by the €20m (£17m) release clause that exists in Sporting CP manager Ruben Amorim's deal, seeing him as an option to replace Klopp with. That clause is among the highest in the history of the game, with Graham Potter topping the pile with a €23m (£19.6m) fee prior to joining Chelsea.

It reportedly "won't be an impediment" for the Reds, with the 39-year-old believed to be "ready for higher goals" in his career. The idea of a move to the Premier League appeals to him.

Amorim is arguably one of Europe's most exciting young managers at the moment, so it is only natural that he is seen as a contender for the Liverpool job. He is someone who is admired by Manchester City boss Guardiola, who has said of him and his Sporting team in the past:

"A year ago we won by five in Lisbon at this stage of the Champions League and they said 'how bad Sporting is'. What a poor team. They had won the league. From my point of view, their coach is one of the best at the moment.

"His team, it was very, very good. Do you know what happened there? Five opportunities, five shots, five goals. It was 100%. How good is the coach, huh?"

Liverpool could sign dream Klopp heir with swoop for "serial winner"

Anfield was rocked by Jurgen Klopp’s announcement that he will leave the club at the end of the season.

By
Angus Sinclair

Jan 26, 2024

Amorim has built up a winning mentality at Sporting, winning three Portuguese League Cups and one Primeira Liga title, and at just 39, he would represent a long-term appointment.

Ultimately, the decision rests with FSG, and the truth is that whoever comes in is going to have one of the hardest managerial jobs in many years, trying to replace a truly iconic figure in Klopp.

There is so much football yet to be played this season but it feels like Liverpool have reached a decisive point in their campaign, with success on the cards across every front.

While it's the 'one game at a time' stage, Jurgen Klopp and his Anfield side will be aware that they are in a very good position to win silverware in any one of the four competitions, first in the Premier League, within touching distance of Wembley in the Carabao Cup and having advanced in both the FA Cup and Europa League.

There have been some pretty major improvements from the 2022/23 campaign, but the plaintive cries of that year are best left in the past now, especially given the degree of the resurgence since sweeping changes were made to the midfield, sapped and soulless last season.

Despite welcoming four fresh faces to the centre of the park, rumours have still darted about over recent months concerning the possibility of a bid for another player this January to complete the pack, though in all likelihood any movements will take place at the end of the campaign.

Liverpool transfer news – Hayden Hackney

According to The Standard, Liverpool are among the contenders to sign Middlesbrough star Hayden Hackney, but will find no success in fighting for his signature this month – though this, as stated, suits the Reds.

Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are all eager to sign the 21-year-old, who would work wonders for the requirement to fill a homegrown quota, with his modern skill set as a defensive midfielder deemed suitable for teams competing at the forefront of the Premier League.

No price tag has been revealed but Spurs signed the promising Djed Spence from Middlesbrough for a deal rising to £20m in 2022 and something in this ballpark will probably be required to prise Hackney away.

Hayden Hackney's season in numbers

Hackney has wedged his way into an important standing at the Riverside Stadium after rising through the club's young ranks and enjoyed the most salient showing of his career to date when netting the winner as Middlesbrough won the first-leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final tie against Chelsea this week.

Boro boss Michael Carrick hailed Hackney for his "immense" performance against the Blues and rightly so, with his goal only telling half the story following a composed and cultured display, belying his young years on the major stage.

The desire to surge forward and poke home to secure a vital home victory for the Championship side typified his display and indeed the talent on show for a player who is clearly destined for a career in England's top flight.

And, while such an effort was impressive, the consistency of his performance in the Championship is even more impressive, having started 16 matches, completed 88% of his passes and averaged 1.3 key passes 1.8 tackles and (remarkably) 7.7 ball recoveries per game.

It's no surprise that he is attracting attention from some of the country's biggest names, and Liverpool would secure a truly special talent if they managed to get this one over the line in several months.

Hayden Hackney's style of play

Hackney's range of passing and ease when situated in the deep pockets of midfield, pulling the strings and elegantly keeping the play ticking, with his distribution and choice of lane so often proving to be the right move for the fluency of the side's progression.

As per FBref, the 5 foot 10 starlet ranks among the top 8% of midfielders across divisions similar to the Championship for pass completion and progressive passes, the top 3% for passes attempted and the top 12% for progressive carries per 90, showcasing an elite technical ability in the making.

Klopp could ruin Endo with Liverpool move for £30m "monster"

Jurgen Klopp may well return for this former target in 2024.

By
Angus Sinclair

Jan 12, 2024

With such noteworthy passing skills to partner a spatial awareness and tenacity in his defensive duties, this is a player of rounded quality to dominate in the engine room for years to come.

It's perhaps worth making a quick side note to note the influence that Carrick, who was once described as "the best central midfielder in English football" by his legendary Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, likely has a pearl of wisdom or two to impart on the rising Boro star.

If Liverpool do succeed in wrapping up a deal, it would certainly disrupt the pecking order regarding the most exciting talents on the red half of Merseyside, with Hackney maybe even having a higher ceiling than the recently-emerged Conor Bradley.

Conor Bradley's season in numbers

Bradley won Bolton Wanderers' Player of the Season award while out on loan last season and returned to his mother club with sights set on a spot in Klopp's plans, though injury ruled him out for the opening months of the term.

Nonetheless, that battle has now been won and he's competed in five fixtures across all competitions, hailed for his "eye-catching cameo" at the Emirates Stadium last weekend by The Athletic's James Pearce before starting against Fulham in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday and receiving the Man of the Match award for his labours.

Taking 87 touches, completing 88% of his passes, making two key passes and six tackles, the 20-year-old is swiftly proving himself to be a first-class starlet under Klopp's guidance and the future is very promising indeed.

Quite simply, Hackney's just that bit better, touted by many of England's most prestigious outfits, described as "sensational" by journalist Graeme Bailey and boasting a technical quality that sets him apart from the lion's share of talented hopefuls.

Bradley looks to be an excellent prospect and will likely now receive a run of starting appearances with Trent Alexander-Arnold injured and not expected back for several weeks, but it's unlikely that he will play a prominent role beyond this spell, instead filling in over the coming months.

And that's not a negative; he will continue to grow and hone his craft and Liverpool will benefit from a new member who may well nullify the rumours for a new right-back – with Alexander-Arnold touted for a future role in midfield.

Of course, if Hackney does bloom the brightest then that is no detriment to Bradley's future at Anfield, and is merely an illustration of just why Liverpool need to augment their ranks with this worthy midfielder, who would only strengthen a youth crop sporting some rather prodigious members.

Cristiano Ronaldo equalled the record for goals scored in World Cup qualifiers with his penalty in Portugal's 3-2 win over Hungary.

• Portugal beat Hungary 3-2
• Ronaldo scores penalty
• Equals World Cup qualifiers goals record

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Portugal came from a goal down to secure all three points at Puskas Arena on Tuesday night. Ronaldo scored from the spot in the victory, taking his goal tally in World Cup qualifiers to 39. That draws him level with Carlos Ruiz of Guatemala and three ahead of Argentina icon Lionel Messi.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Despite turning 41 in a matter of months, former Real Madrid star Ronaldo is still showing he can contribute towards Portugal's attack. That is now three goals in two World Cup qualifying games as Roberto Martinez's side try to secure their place in next year's World Cup.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Ronaldo has now scored 141 goals for Portugal in 223 appearances. Over the course of his illustrious career, the Al-Nassr ace has bagged a remarkable 943 goals. The veteran has set his sights on reaching the 1,000 mark.

• AFP
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  Ex-Manchester United hero Ronaldo will hope to add to his goals tally for his country when Portugal resume their World Cup qualifying campaign next month with home matches against the Republic of Ireland and Hungary.

Visitors have the better of the exchanges on the final day of their only tour game in the lead up to the Test series

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Sep-20191:12

Bavuma a massive Test batsman for us – Markram

Stumps Keshav Maharaj and Vernon Philander provided early warning signs for the Indian Test batsmen after Temba Bavuma and Philander added good runs on the third and final morning of the South Africans’ tour game against an Indian Board President’s XI in Vizianagaram, which petered out into a draw on Saturday.A major point of interest from the Indian perspective was to see how Rohit Sharma fared as an opening batsman. Unfortunately for Rohit, his stay in the middle lasted just two balls as Philander had him out caught for a duck.ALSO READ: Brickhill – Meet South Africa’s next gen Test cricketersIt was 23 for 2 rather quickly as Kagiso Rabada sent back Abhimanyu Easwaran, the No. 3 batsman, for 13, But Mayank Agarwal and Priyank Panchal steadied the ship with a 62-run stand for the third wicket. Agarwal, expected to open in the Tests, scored 39 before becoming Maharaj’s first victim, and after Panchal had fallen to Philander for 60, Maharaj got his second, the in-form Karun Nair gone for 19.At that stage, with the scoreboard reading 136 for 5, the Indians looked in danger of folding for a below-par total, but Siddhesh Lad and KS Bharat repaired the damage with a 100-run stand in just 20 overs.Even as Lad bedded in, though not while missing out on scoring opportunities, Bharat took the aggressive route to hit seven fours and five sixes in a 57-ball 71 before Maharaj sent him back.Jalaj Saxena and Dharmendrasinh Jadeja were also dismissed towards the fag end of the day, falling to the spin of Senuran Muthusamy and Dane Piedt respectively. The Indians were still 14 runs behind with two wickets left – Lad was still there on 52 not out – when the two teams decided to call off the contest.The third day began with the visitors on 199 for 5 in their first innings – the first day was entirely lost to the weather and only 50 overs of play was possible on the second, within which Aiden Markram scored a century – with Bavuma on 55.Bavuma, expected to be the pivot around which the South African stroke-players revolve in the Tests, picked up his scoring rate somewhat, getting to 87 in 127 balls as he and Philander added 80 runs in 14 overs. Philander was even more enterprising, hitting six fours and a six in his 49-ball 48 before becoming left-arm spinner Jadeja’s third scalp.The first Test begins in Visakhapatnam on October 2.

Manchester United could face a fight on their hands to keep hold of an exciting youngster after it emerged that a club are ready to make a significant offer for his services.

Man Utd's potential outgoings…

Despite all the talk being about potential incomings at any given club with the transfer window nearing, outgoings are also a crucially important facilitator in paving the way for exciting new arrivals. United are no different in that regard and could be set to offload a number of players in January, with the likes of Anthony Martial, Casemiro and Jadon Sancho all linked with exits.

One other man who could depart Old Trafford in mid-season is Tunisia international Hannibal Mejbri, who is believed to be attracting attention from the likes of Seville, Olympique Lyon and SC Freiburg over a prospective loan deal after it emerged he wouldn't be travelling to feature for his country at the African Cup of Nations, according to transfer insider Fabrizio Romano.

Outcast Donny van de Beek has already signed on loan with Eintracht Frankfurt and will join the 2022 Europa League winners once the window opens for business on January 1st, demonstrating the Red Devils' intent to get spare parts out of the door at Old Trafford.

Now, Erik ten Hag could have a fight on his hands to keep a bright young star at the club after interest has come to light in his services.

Borussia Dortmund keen on Dan Gore

According to Football Insider, Bundesliga outfit Borussia Dortmund are lining up a significant offer to sign Manchester United youngster Dan Gore in the near future.

The 19-year-old made his Premier League debut against Aston Villa on Boxing Day and has received 30 minutes of senior action in total under Ten Hag. He is someone who has been earmarked as a long-term target by the German giants, and should he be unavailable in January, Borussia Dortmund plan on making a "big bid" in the summer of 2024 for the England Under-20 international.

The Manchester Evening News has recently claimed that Preston North End are also keen to sign Gore once the window opens on a loan basis, presenting several options for the Manchester-born midfielder to continue his development.

Intriguingly, there is also information in the copy that indicates The SEG International agency, who represents Red Devils boss Ten Hag, are keen to recruit him as a client despite the Carrington youth product's entourage being his family.

Looking ahead, United have a decision on their hands when it comes to Gore, and they may want to keep hold of him, given his status as a promising homegrown talent.

Ruben Amorim is reportedly planning team-bonding trips to Portugal and Dubai that will help to fill the gaps in Manchester United’s schedule.

• Red Devils humbled by League Two side Grimsby
• Have no European football on their agenda
• Warm weather training camps are being lined up

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Red Devils will, in the wake of a humiliating Carabao Cup exit at the hands of League Two side Grimsby, play just one midweek fixture – a Premier League clash with West Ham on December 3 – before Christmas.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Collective struggles last season mean that United are not competing in Europe this term, with focus being narrowed on domestic action. One route to major silverware there has already been shut off, with inconsistency proving to be an all too familiar issue.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  According to , Amorim wants to make the most of enforced breaks in the Red Devils’ fixture list. He wants to take his squad to the Algarve or Middle East for warm weather training camps.

  The intention is to strengthen the bond in United’s ranks by taking in the odd change of scenery. Amorim is said to believe that time spent in the U.S. over the summer – when competing in the Premier League Summer Series – brought his players closer together.

• Getty
  

  TELL ME MORE

  Mini breaks are said to have been discussed with United chiefs, but are yet to be signed off. No trips will be sanctioned during October and November, with too many players away on international duty with their respective countries.

Tata Martino has lifted the lid on Luis Suarez’s knee problems, with Inter Miami having to manage the striker’s fitness on a “week by week” basis.

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• Uruguayan striker managing fitness
• Delayed any retirement plans
• Putting his body on the line in Florida

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Uruguayan frontman, who is now 37 years of age, has been playing through pain for some time. He is prepared to put his body on the line, with the decision taken to move to Florida in order to reunite with former Barcelona team-mates Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba.

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  WHAT MARTINO SAID

  Suarez remains a prolific presence, with 15 goals recorded this season, but Martino has said of nursing the South American through every appearance – with the latest seeing him find the target in a Leagues Cup win over Puebla: “Well, [I substituted him in the 85th minute] because this situation where your knee can become inflamed is not something that has only just occurred. Maybe there were other instances you didn't even know about it. Now we had to say it publicly because he did not go to the All-Star Game, but it is a knee that he works on permanently, week by week. There are days that are better, there are weeks that are not.”

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Suarez has said of his condition, with retirement plans being delayed when heading to the United States: “I always want to play, whether I have pain or I don’t have pain. Last year I suffered a lot at Gremio. This week I had some discomfort, but my body asked me to play because the club needed me and I wanted to be here. I gave maximum effort, I was happy to help the team.”

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Inter Miami are looking to Suarez for attacking inspiration during the injury-enforced absence of captain Messi. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner is nursing an ankle problem, with no return date put in place, but the Herons continue to pick up Leagues Cup and MLS wins without him.

Sri Lanka took a giant stride towards chasing down 268 with a wicketless post-lunch session from their openers on the fourth day

The Report by Sreshth Shah17-Aug-2019Stumps
On the back of their openers’ unbeaten 133-run stand across two sessions, Sri Lanka took a giant stride towards chasing down 268 with one day to go. The partnership between Dimuth Karunaratne (71*) and Lahiru Thirimanne (57*) is the highest by a Sri Lanka opening pair in the fourth innings, and they denied New Zealand any wickets for 50 overs setting up an epic day in Galle.On a deteriorating surface, they were made to work hard early on by Trent Boult and Tim Southee. Southee’s inswingers to the left-handers had them splicing towards midwicket, while Boult’s outswingers kept the openers guessing. Will Somerville and Mitchell Santner bowled long spells searching for a breakthrough before tea, but the settled opening pair milked them, cutting them square or flicking through the leg side.Thirimanne, in particular, looked out of touch early, but came out of his shell after the first drinks interval. A Santner over where Thirimanne attempted a reverse sweep was the moment where he finally broke free.Lahiru Thirimanne celebrates his fifty•Associated Press

Karunaratne enjoyed the second half of the post-lunch session too, hitting the innings’ first four in the 22nd over. The Sri Lanka captain hit one more four – in the session’s final over – but sandwiched between those boundaries were numerous twos that kept the scoreboard ticking. Karunaratne, though, was lucky to go into the tea break still unbeaten, having been dropped by wicketkeeper BJ Watling off an under-edged cut. That shot brought up his 23rd Test half-century.After tea, Thirimanne clattered Southee with a cut to further consolidate. An under-edged sweep past Watling brought up Sri Lanka’s hundred. Three balls later, Karunaratne offered New Zealand a second chance, as he clipped one to the short-leg fielder, but the ball popped out of Tom Latham’s hands. Five deliveries later, Watling missed a stumping chance to dismiss Karunaratne off Somerville’s bowling to hand him a third life.At the other end, Thirimanne kept upping a gear. He brought out the sweeps and reverse sweeps to the spinners while tickling anything on his legs past the keeper. One particular nudge down leg in the 45th over brought up his first Test half-century since November 2017.Boult returned for a second spell with the natural light diminishing but found no success, and after 18 overs in the third session, the umpires called stumps due to poor light. The Sri Lanka openers walked back to applause from a sizeable Saturday crowd.Earlier in the day, New Zealand’s lower order began the morning looking to extend a 177-run lead with three wickets in hand. On Friday, Latham had declared at the post-match press conference that they would be happy setting any total above 200. However, a dogged show from their lower order ensured New Zealand went well past that mark, setting Sri Lanka a tricky chase of 268. But the way Sri Lanka’s openers started, it seemed like they learnt a thing or two from the efforts displayed by Watling, Somerville and Boult before lunch.Will Somerville taps one through the off side•Getty Images

Watling and Somerville frustrated Sri Lanka after a 35-minute rain delay in the morning. Resuming on 195 for 7, they were unperturbed by the old ball, so it wasn’t long before Karunaratne opted for the new one. That worked in New Zealand’s favour as runs flowed, and Watling steadily gave Somerville more strike.Somerville repaid the faith, by picking the gaps off bad deliveries and bunting the good ones, successfully negating the spin threat of Lasith Embuldeniya and Akila Dananjaya on a day four pitch. Watling found the occasional boundary off the pace bowlers, using his back-foot punches to great effect. While facing spin, he used his feet to mess with the bowler’s lengths.That’s not to say Sri Lanka’s bowlers were easily rattled. Suranga Lakmal found the length to seam the ball in, and it whizzed past batsmen’s outside edge on a couple of occasions. Embuldeniya and Dananjaya had a few close lbw shouts too, but it was Lahiru Kumara who finally broke the 46-run stand that seemed to have taken the game away from Sri Lanka. A length ball that jagged away after hitting the deck found Watling’s outside edge after his crucial 77 had taken New Zealand’s lead past 200.Boult then joined Somerville for a period of very entertaining cricket. Boult moved around to nudge short balls away for four or danced down the track to swipe them over midwicket, forcing Sri Lanka to go on the defensive. The big gaps then meant Somerville comfortably went into his thirties by picking the ones and twos.Boult fell trying to ramp a short ball over third man, though by then Somerville had gone past his highest first-class score. With only the No. 11 for company, he began to farm the strike, only to realise it wasn’t particularly necessary as Ajaz Patel showed he could nudge the spinners around for singles and even crunch a slog sweep to the boundary off Dhananjaya de Silva. Ajaz was eventually out lbw trying to defend the offspinner, leaving Somerville ten short of a maiden first-class fifty. But New Zealand’s last three wickets – in retrospect, the only ones to fall on the day – had added 90 valuable runs.