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Thunder qualified for their first ever Charlotte Edwards Cup Finals Day this weekend thanks to a landslide seven-wicket win over local rivals Northern Diamonds, who they all but knocked out of the competition in the process at Blackpool’s Stanley Park.Scottish off-spinner Olivia Bell, 19, starred with 3 for 9 from three overs in only her third senior regional appearance as the Diamonds were bowled out for just 96, a target achieved in 15 overs to secure a five-point, bonus-point victory thanks to an unbeaten 42 not out off 34 balls from Fi Morris.Not only have Thunder qualified for their first ever T20 regional Finals Day, at New Road on Saturday, by securing a top-three berth, it is the first time in three-and-a-half seasons of regional cricket that they have got out of the group stage of either this or the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy. And they have done so by winning four of their last five matches on the back of losing their first two.For the Diamonds, finalists in 2021 and the reigning RHFT 50-over champions, they wasted a golden chance to qualify having won their first four games. They needed just one win to guarantee qualification from their remaining three fixtures but lost all of them.It would take a miracle defeat from Southern Vipers against Sunrisers later for the Diamonds to qualify on net run-rate. But they can realistically prepare for a free weekend.After the Diamonds elected to bat, Thunder piled on the pressure with some excellent bowling and fielding on the way to the lowest total of this season’s competition.New-ball left-arm quicks Tara Norris and Mahika Gaur both claimed two wickets, as did the off-spin of Morris, who later picked the perfect time to post her highest score for Thunder since joining over the winter.Naomi Dattani claimed three catches at long-on, affected a run out and opened the batting with 20.The Diamonds got off to a disastrous start, losing Leah Dobson, captain Hollie Armitage – the leading run-scorer in the competition – and Lauren Winfield-Hill all caught within the first 15 balls.Dobson and Armitage fell to Norris in the space of four balls at the end of the second over, caught at mid-on and backward point respectively, before Winfield-Hill drilled Gaur to long-on. And they failed to recover.Bess Heath followed when she aimed a wild swing at Gaur at the start of the fifth over, losing off and middle stumps, and the Diamonds were 19 for 4 and Thunder were dreaming of Finals Day, where they will play in the afternoon semi-final against a yet-to-be-determined qualifier. The winner will play the Blaze in the evening final.South African Chloe Tryon threatened a recovery by calmly moving in the twenties, but she was bowled by Morris trying to play expansively through the off-side. And returning Beth Langston, playing her first match since August following an ACL injury, followed four balls later when bowled by Bell.Tryon and Dutch international Sterre Kalis with 24 were the only Diamonds batters to make it beyond 20, with wickets continuing to fall.Kalis holed out to long-on off Morris before Bell had Katherine Fraser the same way – the third of Dattani’s catches in that position – as the score fell to 93 for 8 in the 18th over.Bell then had Katie Levick caught at cover for a golden duck before Grace Hall was run out to wrap up the innings with eight balls unused.Thunder handed a debut to fledgling left-arm spinner Sophie Morris, who bowled two wicketless overs before watching her batting team-mates seal victory.Openers Liberty Heap and Dattani both fell as the score slipped to 64 for two inside 10 overs, but they were only minor blemishes.Heap fell to a smart Kalis catch running back towards deep gully off Fraser’s off-spin before Dattani guided seamer Langston to short third.But Morris was strong on both sides of the wicket to spark joyous scenes by the seaside despite the late departure of Deandra Dottin to Levick.

Crystal Palace have confirmed the departure of sporting director Dougie Freedman, and now the Eagles are eyeing up a controversial move in a bid to replace him, according to a recent report.

Freedman leaves Selhurst Park for Saudi Arabia

The 50-year-old has been with the South Londoners since 2017 and has been at the heart of their recent success off the pitch in terms of bringing players such as Michael Olise, Eberechi Eze, Marc Guehi, Adam Wharton, and Dean Henderson to the club.

Crystal Palace eyeing Griezmann-esque £21m forward who's an "absolute star"

The Eagles are closely following a young forward who has been compared to Antoine Griezmann.

ByDominic Lund Mar 12, 2025

Freedman was linked with moves to Manchester United and Newcastle United in the past to take up similar roles, but he remained at Crystal Palace and continued to work with Steve Parish. However, on Monday, that came to an end, as he has now left his role at Palace to take up a role overseas, believed to be in Saudi Arabia.

Palace confirmed Freedman’s departure in a statement on their official website, in which Freedman also spoke and stated how much of an “honour” it had been to work at Palace, and he is “incredibly proud” of the work that has been done. “I would like to extend my thanks to Steve Parish, the other owners and to all the staff, managers and players who have been at the club during my time here. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed learning from and working alongside you all.

“It’s been an honour to represent the club, and I am incredibly proud of the work that’s been done, with the Chairman’s support, in growing the football club into its current position. To be leaving the club with a squad full of exciting talent led by an excellent manager, I truly believe the foundations are in place to be built upon.

“Finally, a huge thank you to all the fans for your continued support and passion – especially with how you’ve helped new signings and academy products settle into life at Selhurst Park by supporting and getting behind the team.

Fulham (FA Cup)

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“Crystal Palace is and will always remain in my heart, and I will continue to look for results and follow the club’s progress closely.”

Crystal Palace eyeing controversial move to replace Freedman

As Freedman’s departure has now been confirmed, according to The Daily Mail, Parish and Crystal Palace are eyeing up Iain Moody to replace the 50-year-old.

The report states that Palace are looking to re-shape their recruitment team, and Moody is likely to take up a more prominent position. Moody has been working as a managing director at Sapienza Football Consulting for the last 10 years and remains close to Parish.

Moody has worked with the Eagles before, but his time with the club was very controversial. He was the club’s sporting director for 11 months between 2013 and 2014 before he resigned under a very big cloud after it was alleged he had sent racist, homophobic, and sexist text messages to Malky Mackay, who he had worked with at Cardiff City.

Since his exit, Moody has been back at Selhurst Park to watch Crystal Palace games, and given his relationship with Parish, he could be one to watch as a replacement for Freedman.

Liverpool are pushing toward the Premier League title. It’s far from over, but the Reds have a seven-point lead on Arsenal in second and are showing little sign of suffering the total collapse that would be required for something so significant.

And with the summer, comes the unknown. Arne Slot has worked wonders in reshaping Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool to his own design, willing it into a new and more controlled version. However, it’s a plain truth that he is also thriving through the brilliance of Mohamed Salah, the leadership of Virgil van Dijk, the matchless creativity of Trent Alexander-Arnold.

All three of these Anfield heavyweights could be plying their art elsewhere by the start of the 2025/26 season, for they are all entering the final few months of their contracts.

However, they aren’t the only Redmen touted for a summer move. One or two further first-team members could be sold – and for a pretty penny at that.

The player(s) Liverpool could sell in 2025

The coming summer will be one of investment, but that’s not to say that Liverpool won’t be open to cashing in on a superstar, should there be just cause.

Darwin Nunez, for example, is the roadblock between a free-scoring number nine and a fourth season of imbalanced output from an admittedly brilliant frontline. There was recent intrigue in the 25-year-old, who joined Liverpool for a fee rising to £85m in 2022, but FSG could not abide the loss of such an important member of the make-up at the season’s midpoint with it all on the line.

It’s understood that Saudi interest in Nunez was genuine this winter and that offers were even been prepared to exceed €75m (£62m). This would present Liverpool with a significant cash influx for a player who has never really lived up to the club-record price tag.

With Luis Diaz playing so much of the campaign as a patchwork centre-forward, it does feel like Slot and co are gearing up to part ways with Nunez. This is a shame.

Diaz, by the by, has also been linked with a transfer to the Gulf of late, with Barcelona also interested for a while now, and Liverpool would look to claim a whopping £67m fee for the Colombian’s sale.

However, Liverpool aren’t likely to be eclipsing their record transfer sale. Why don’t we take a moment to revisit the departure of Philippe Coutinho, a crushing blow at the time but, well, the spark for illustrious heights, in the end.

Why Liverpool sold Phil Coutinho

There was a time when Coutinho was the shining light in Liverpool’s team, one whose magic skills on the ball guided the club through dark post-Suarez days and into the Klopp era.

He shepherded Anfield’s lost denizens into a new beginning, with his ultimate moment that of his sale, leaving for a jaw-dropping £142m fee, enabling funds to be directed back into the market. Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker were the targets. They’ve done alright.

Liverpool actually signed Coutinho for a small sum, purchasing the little Brazilian from Inter Milan for £8.5m in January 2013. He played 201 times for the Reds and notched 97 goal contributions.

Liverpool remains the team that he has played the most football for and by some distance at that (Barcelona are second, having used Coutinho 106 times).

Philippe Coutinho: PL Stats 17/18
Match Stats*	#
Matches (starts)	14 (13)
Goals	7
Assists	6
Shots (on target)*	3.9 (1.2)
Pass completion	79%
Key passes*	2.9
Dribbles*	2.8
Tackles*	1.2
Duels won*	5.6
Stats via Sofascore (* = per game)

Coutinho led a lengthy career on Merseyside, but it was the final six months of his stay that proved the most fruitful on the field. Of course, this may be because in August 2017 Coutinho handed in an official transfer request after Barcelona had a bid rebuffed.

When Liverpool doubled down on their stance, he remained a committed part of the project, not exactly frogmarched out onto the pitch, but Coutinho no doubt knew that La Blaugrana intrigue would persist and that he had to prove himself worthy of a place at Camp Nou.

In the end, as stated already, this mattered little to Klopp’s grand plans. Or rather, it mattered greatly but proved to be a watershed moment for a team that had rediscovered its identity and needed a sprinkling of quality across defensive positions to ascend to the next level.

Steven Gerrard once hailed Coutinho as a “world-class player” and it’s clear to see why. However, the South American’s determination to leave for pastures new in Spain may stand as a cautionary tale for those who wish to make such a move.

Coutinho’s never quite been the same, albeit winning hordes of silverware in Spain and out on loan with Bayern Munich, where he won the Champions League.

Liverpool cashed in at the perfect time, banking an absurd sum for a talented player, one that actually stands as a 1570% increase from that one-time package that was paid to Inter.

Football is built on variables, and had Coutinho decided to remain as the playmaking centre-point of Klopp’s system, things might have been so different for a side that went on to conquer the biggest prizes that Europe has to offer.

Harking back to the likes of Nunez, you can see why FSG might be tempted to cash in for big bucks once again on a coveted forward, with Michael Edwards’ track record in the market hardly something that leaves a lot to be desired.

Market Movers

In any case, given that Liverpool signed the attacking midfielder for a smart fee, enjoyed the finest football of his career and sent him off to La Liga for £142m, he can only go down as a comprehensive success.

He's outperforming Diaz: Liverpool will rue selling "world-class" star

Liverpool may be looking to invest in a new wideman in the coming transfer windows.

By
Angus Sinclair

Feb 11, 2025

England all-rounder has now been instrumental in two World Cup finals

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Nov-20222:44

Stokes is ‘a big presence, a big personality, a big winner’

After his Player-of-the-Match performance in the 2019 ODI World Cup final, Ben Stokes guided England through a tricky chase to win the 2022 T20 World Cup final against Pakistan. Stokes scored his first T20I fifty to lead England to glory in Melbourne, and former New Zealand captain and current Chennai Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming called him a “champion under pressure” who is “forging a career where he is there at key moments.””He’s [Stokes] a big presence, he’s a big personality and he’s a big winner,” Fleming said on ESPNcricinfo’s T20 Time Out show. “And that’s pretty key ingredients when you talk about a good to great player.”Related

Sam Curran, England's unassuming superstar, delivers at the death in style

Stokes hails England's new legacy under Buttler: 'We've lived up to all challenges thrown at us'

Stephen Fleming: Pakistan made a 'massive mistake' in the death overs

“What he is doing is forging a career where he is there at key moments. He has won Test matches on the last day single-handedly, he was there today. He has been in some unbelievable battles and you’d back him most times to win them. So his temperament is so tested, and it comes through every time that you’ve got to say he’s a champion under pressure. And there’s not many that really rise to that occasion or on that occasion as much as he seems to do.While there were questions over Stokes’ role in this England T20 line-up at the start of the tournament, he ended up playing a crucial innings in a must-win group game against Sri Lanka to qualify for the semi-finals. And in the final England were 32 for 2 when Stokes walked in to bat in the fourth over. Even as he saw Jos Buttler depart two overs later, Stokes formed partnerships with Harry Brook and Moeen Ali to ensure there was no slip-up in the chase of 138. He remained unbeaten on 52 off 49 balls.”He [Stokes] gets into that position where he is the main man and everyone around him feeds off that,” Fleming said. “You saw at the end what it meant to those other players as they ran out. They were really dependent on him being there and doing that job and he has done it yet again for England.”Dawid Malan, who usually plays the anchor role for England, missed the semi-final and the final of the World Cup with an injury and former Australia allrounder Tom Moody said that his absence may have ended up helping Stokes’ game.”I think that what Stokes did today is exactly what Malan has done for this England side for the last 2-3 years,” Moody said. “He has created that real nice balance where he can play that measured innings with the power around him. They’ve got natural power-hitters that are prepared to go after it and back themselves when they are given clear roles. But when they are stacked up with Stokes and Malan at 3 and 4, it nearly cluttered that middle order when they had that depth and power that they had.”So I think if anything, it’s really unfortunate for Dawid Malan to have the injury, the timing of that injury. But it just created that open space for Ben Stokes to be Ben Stokes the T20 cricketer.”

Phil Parkinson has hailed the “great intelligence" of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney as “the public don’t really see” their hard work at Wrexham.

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Hollywood stars took control in 2021Overseen three successive promotionsContinue to lean on the expertise of othersFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Hollywood co-owners completed a stunning takeover at SToK Racecourse back in 2021. A remarkable journey has been taken in across the last four years – with history being made while enjoying three successive promotions.

AdvertisementGetty/GOALTHE BIGGER PICTURE

A once National League club are now heading to the Championship, with only one more step needing to be taken in order to reach the Premier League. Reynolds and McElhenney have financed a meteoric rise, while also investing in the local community.

DID YOU KNOW?

They are considered to break the mould when it comes to ownership teams – particularly those from outside of the UK – and have shown unwavering belief in Parkinson and those that are charged with the task of running Wrexham on a daily basis.

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GettyWHAT PHIL PARKINSON SAID

Parkinson has said of the job that Reynolds and McElhenney have done in North Wales: “It's a job done with great intelligence from them as people. The public don't really see as much as what we see, the humbleness of them as people and I love it when they're over here because the support they give the lads and myself is second to none. They must think this game is easy!

“You look at people who buy football clubs and there's loads of examples recently. I've read what they're saying and I think, 'that's going to be an expensive learning curve for you because it's like any industry'.

“If you go into an industry and you buy a business, you employ people to run that business for you unless you've got great experience, and that's what they've done. They've trusted us and that's been the key element of the success.”

Rajitha, Asitha and Pathirana likely to be named standbys as Sri Lanka grapple with depleted pace attack

Andrew Fidel Fernando and Sidharth Monga19-Oct-2022Sri Lanka’s seam-bowling spearhead Dushmantha Chameera is out of the Men’s T20 World Cup, after suffering a grade two tear in the calf of his landing foot. Chameera pulled up while running in to bowl the last over of his spell against UAE on Tuesday, and immediately hobbled off the field wincing.The injury is likely connected to the ankle and calf complaints that had kept him out of the Asia Cup, with medical staff also suspecting that the cold weather in Geelong aggravated the issue. In fact, Chameera may be out of contention for much longer than just the T20 World Cup.”He’s out of the tournament definitely, but he might also use the break to do the ankle surgery that he’s been needing,” Arjuna de Silva, head of SLC’s medical advisory committee, told ESPNcricinfo. “The previous injuries were on the anterior part of the ankle, but this is in the calf. It’s a grade-two tear.”Related

Heartbreak the only guarantee as Netherlands and Sri Lanka face off

Nissanka and bowlers give Sri Lanka NRR-boosting win

Chameera ruled out of Sri Lanka's Group A decider against Netherlands

Weather watch: High chances of rain affecting Aus vs NZ, Ind vs Pak

Injured Madushanka out of T20 World Cup; Binura named replacement

Pramod Madushan, the other frontline seamer who played on Tuesday, will also miss Thursday’s vital match against Netherlands with a hamstring complaint. “But clinically, he’s not too bad. He could be okay in about a week,” de Silva said.Danushka Gunathilaka, who was out of Tuesday’s match with a hamstring problem of his own, has the mildest case of the three. He is set to undergo a fitness test ahead of Thursday’s game, and may be available for that match. Gunathilaka “will be fine”, in the words of captain Dasun Shanaka.Sri Lanka are likely to call up more replacements. The main reason for that is, having already lost left-arm seamer Dilshan Madushanka even before Chameera, they need to make sure their training nets remain of high quality without bowling their main fast bowlers into the ground. Shanaka even named the frontrunners for the role of these standbys.”Kasun Rajitha, Asitha Fernando, Matheesha Pathirana,” Shanaka told the media. “So I don’t know the exact date when they will arrive. We are okay for the next game but as the tournament progresses we need to have a few more bowlers. At practices, we don’t want to waste away our main fast bowlers. It’s not finalised yet. Selectors are deciding, I think, definitely two or three fast bowlers will be here soon.”Chameera’s loss is a substantial one for Sri Lanka. He has been the team’s go-to death bowler in the past two years and has also frequently made breakthroughs with the new ball. For Thursday’s match, with Madushanka and Madushan also out, Sri Lanka are without their top three seam options.The only fast bowler among the reserves in Australia, Binura Fernando, has already been called up to the main squad after the injury to Madhushanka. Fernando and Lahiru Kumara will both very likely play against Netherlands.

شهدت الساعات الأخيرة، أنباءً عن وجود نية لدى الاتحاد الإفريقي لكرة القدم كاف، لزيادة عدد الأندية المشاركة في بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا وكأس الكونفدرالية.

ومن المقرر أن تنتهي البطولات الإفريقية في شهر يونيو من العام الجاري، حيث يلتقي بيراميدز مع مامليودي صن دوانز الجنوب إفريقي في نهائي دوري أبطال إفريقيا، بينما يواجه سيمبا التنزاني فريق نهضة بركان في نهائي كأس الكونفدرالية.

طالع.. موعد مباراة بيراميدز وصن داونز في نهائي دوري أبطال إفريقيا

ونفى مصدر داخل الاتحاد الإفريقي لكرة القدم “كاف”، في تصريحات لـ”راديو مارس” المغربي، ما تردد في الساعات الأخيرة بشأن وجود نية لزيادة عدد الأندية المشاركة في بطولتي دوري أبطال إفريقيا وكأس الكونفدرالية خلال النسخ المقبلة.

وأكد أن تلك الأنباء لا أساس لها من الصحة، مشددًا على أن المكتب التنفيذي لـ”كاف” لم يناقش هذا الملف مطلقًا، سواء في الاجتماعات السابقة أو حتى ضمن جدول أعمال الاجتماع القادم.

Manchester United are among the teams interested in signing a young 6 foot 3 goalkeeper who they have tried to sign before, according to a recent report.

Man Utd transfer news

The Red Devils have just over two weeks to complete any incomings and outgoings they wish to do before the transfer window shuts until the summer. It’s been widely publicised that United would like to let two or three players leave the club this month, one to bring down the wage bill, but also so it possibly allows them to bring in one or two new arrivals.

INEOS ready to make transfer offer to sign £50m ace for Man Utd this month

United and Ruben Amorim are looking to add to the squad this month.

1 ByBrett Worthington Jan 14, 2025

One player United look keen to sign either in this transfer window or in the summer is Paris Saint-Germain left-back Nuno Mendes. The Portuguese has become a top priority for the Premier League side, as they look to bring in a new left wing-back to address that area of their team, as Ruben Amorim continues to rely on Diogo Dalot to fill the void. Reports have emerged this week that United want to accelerate transfer talks for the defender, as Real Madrid and Man City lurk in the background.

Another player that United might look to sign this month if an opportunity presents itself is RB Salzburg’s Nene Dorgeles. Fabrizio Romano has reported that United are monitoring the attacker, and he is among their list of options for either this transfer window or the summer. Romano goes on to add that initial talks have been held to get an understanding of the price and the overall package, and it is now down to United to decide what they want to do.

Man Utd eyeing bid to sign £40m goalkeeper

Mendes and Dorgeles are not the only players the Premier League side could look to sign this month, as according to talkSPORT’s Alex Crook, Man United are interested in signing Parma goalkeeper Zion Suzuki, a few years after he turned down a move to Old Trafford.

The 22-year-old looked set to join the Red Devils in the summer of 2023 from Japanese club Urawa Red Diamonds, but in the end, he turned down the move as he didn’t want to be second choice behind Andre Onana. Instead, Suzuki joined Belgian side Sint-Truiden on loan before Italian side Parma snapped him up last summer.

The goalkeeper has been a standout performer in Italy, earning some rave reviews, and that has now placed him back on United’s radar. Crook reports that the Red Devils are among the teams interested in signing Suzuki, and it could cost them as much as £40 million to secure his services.

Apps

19

Goals conceded

30

Clean sheets

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As well as United, Chelsea also considered signing the shot stopper that summer, and while they have since added to that area of the team, they continue to keep an eye on the player. The report goes on to add that Parma are hoping to keep Suzuki for at least one more season, but a big-money offer would test their resolve. For United, if they do pursue a move for Suzuki, they will know he will want to be their number one, which could mean a decision needs to be made about Onana.

Unbeaten 47-ball ton allows Falcons to complete their highest T20 run chase

ECB Reporters Network03-Jul-2022

Wayne Madsen struck an unbeaten century•Getty Images

Wayne Madsen scored his first T20 century as Derbyshire Falcons finished their Vitality Blast North Group campaign with a record-breaking five-wicket victory over Durham at Derby.Madsen scored a brilliant unbeaten 100 off 47 balls with 11 fours and three sixes as the Falcons completed their highest T20 run chase by cruising to 194 for 5 to set them up for the quarter-finals.Durham had posted a challenging 193 for 5 through Ollie Robinson’s 43 from 27 balls and Michael Jones’s 42 off 22 with Falcons leg-spinner Mattie McKiernan taking 3 for 29.But Madsen was at his inventive best and supported by Shan Masood’s 31 off 28 balls and Hilton Cartwright, 38 from 23, the Falcons sealed a ninth group win with five balls to spare.Durham had lost nine of their previous matches but started well after Jones smashed 19 from the first over by Ben Aitchison who was making his first Blast appearance of the season following a back injury.The seamer was driven for three consecutive fours before Jones launched him over the long on boundary and with Scott Borthwick finding his range after an uncertain start, Durham were 67 without loss after the powerplay.But McKiernan shifted the momentum by removing them both in consecutive overs as Borthwick failed to clear long on and Jones drove to long off.Ashton Turner pulled the leg-spinner for six but fell next ball trying to repeat the shot and it was left to Robinson to pick up the tempo.After he survived a sharp chance on 20 at backward point, Robinson pulled and drove Alex Hughes and Luis Reece for three sixes as 31 came from the 14th and 15th overs.Robinson skied Aitchison to long off but Brydon Carse scored 17 from nine balls and Jonathan Bushnell an unbeaten 25 off 20 to take Durham to a competitive total.The Falcons lost Reece in the first over, lbw playing across the line at Carse, but Masood was soon into his elegant stride, easing the ball to the ropes on both sides of the wicket.Madsen scooped Ben Raine over the wicketkeeper for six in the fifth over and pulled Nathan Sowter for another before a savage straight drive almost took out Raine on its way to the fence.The danger signs were flashing for Durham as Madsen tore into Carse, pulling him for four and driving him for a third six to reach 50 off only 25 balls.Durham had to break the stand and Andrew Tye delivered by trapping Masood lbw in the 10th over which cost only three runs.Raine struck in the 11th when Leus du Plooy cut to backward point but Cartwright marked his first Blast appearance for the Falcons by driving Borthwick and Sowter for sixes..Cartwright pulled and cut Tye for two fours and Madsen inflicted further damage in the 16th when he pulled Borthwick for four before the bowler’s shy at the stumps fizzed away to the boundary.Cartwright was caught at long off but Madsen cruised to his hundred to complete a memorable afternoon for him and the Falcons.

Umran Malik is a fast-bowling “gem” who is creating “anxiety” in all kinds of batters and is now ready to play for India. That is the combined view of Daniel Vettori and Chris Lynn, ESPNcricinfo experts, who agree that Malik’s searing pace can make the difference even at the international level and he should be fast-tracked into India’s squad for the T20 World Cup later this year.According to Lynn, the bouncy and pacy nature of pitches in Australia, where the T20 World Cup will be held this year, would suit Malik. The Jammu & Kashmir seamer debuted for Sunrisers Hyderabad towards the end of IPL 2021 and instantly rattled batters and impressed Indian selectors, who added him as a net bowler for the 2021 T20 World Cup which was held in the UAE.Related

• 'We have to be realistic' – Dravid tempers Malik mania

• Tom Moody on Sunrisers' dream fast-bowling line-up: 'You should be able to take wickets in all phases of the innings'

• Kimber: Malik, bringing the IPL alive with raw pace

• Daniel Vettori sees shades of Chris Gayle in Abhishek Sharma's takedown of Rashid Khan

• The decimation and redemption of Rashid Khan

Lynn feels Malik is now ready to be part of the squad.”From the outside looking in, definitely,” Lynn said on after Malik’s maiden five-for dismantled Gujarat Titans’ batting, before Rahul Tewatia and Rashid Khan created their own magic to stun Sunrisers at the Wankhede stadium. “I will factor the wickets are bouncy here in Australia and you need I suppose that youth and just that guys haven’t played against it. You keep going back to whom you drop because it is such a formidable [bowling] line-up, but would love to see this guy in the World Cup. He’s going to take the world by storm if he does get a chance at the international level. It is lucky that I am not a selector for India.”Malik’s figures of 5 for 25 are the second-best by an uncapped Indian seamer in the IPL. According to ESPNcricinfo’s Smart Stats, his five wickets were worth almost eight, and his bowling impact of 166.64 is the highest ever for a bowler in an IPL match.Raw pace remains Malik’s weapon as he consistently delivers 145-plus kph speeds, including crossing the 150-barrier frequently. Such high pace, Vettori pointed out, is rare and makes every ball an event.”That pace generates anxiety among batters and not just tailenders, it’s all batters,” Vettori said. “We don’t often see bowlers get around the 153-154 mark. That’s exceptional pace, that’s a rarity that we haven’t seen I suppose consistently since the likes of [Brett] Lee, Shoaib Akhtar or Shaun Tait. So to see that is a huge part of the game now. You can see the excitement factor, brings a bit of X-factor.”ESPNcricinfo Ltd

In the early matches this IPL, Malik was utilised during the powerplay where he erred in the lengths and went for runs. Sunrisers changed their approach quickly and started utilising Malik solely in the middle overs (7-16) where batting teams are starting to tilt the balance. But Sunrisers have not asked Malik to compromise on his pace. With the help of Sunrisers’ captain Kane Williamson, who has set smart fields including having two fielders virtually straight behind the keeper to pouch top edges, Malik has steadily become more accurate. On Wednesday, he showed his bowling smarts against Titans’ captain Hardik Pandya.In the teams’ first contest this season, Hardik had been hit on the helmet first ball by Malik. Pandya shooed away the Titans’ physio and responded to Malik’s aggression with equally aggressive batting. Back then, Malik got carried away pitching fuller and shorter. On Wednesday, though, Malik again roughed up Pandya with a short-of-length delivery that hit the Titans skipper on the shoulder. Once again, Pandya sent back the physio who was rushing in. Next ball was in the slot, which Pandya timed nicely for a four. Soon, Malik would return to challenge Pandya’s ego by bowling short and sucking him into playing a pull which was caught easily at fine third man. Having already sent Shubman Gill’s stumps flying, Malik would have fun with the rest of the Titans batting order.A smarter and more accurate Malik, Lynn said, would be a dangerous proposition for batters. “The fact that he’s learning quickly as well is probably (what) impressed me more than anything. He has always got that raw pace, but it is all about that cricket IQ now which is developing every game and he is very, very impressive.”According to Vettori, the Indian team management as well as the national selectors need to quickly manage Malik to safeguard his unique talent.”Potentially. It might be the best thing for him coming under the umbrella of the BCCI or the NCA, and they can manage his workloads, because there is a temptation for a player of his pace to keep bowling. I am reflecting on my conversation with Shane Bond and the fact that he thought the more you bowled, the slower you got.”In the subcontinent, you are used as a net bowler, you are going on tours and things like that. So the workload could get a bit much. This is a gem here and it’s just how it’s looked after in the next couple of years for Indian cricket and how to get the best out of him.”