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Newcastle United are in the midst of an injury crisis right now but have still managed to pick up some huge wins in the Premier League, particularly Saturday's 1-0 victory at home to Manchester United.

Eddie Howe has had to bandage his team up, but those who walk over the white line have certainly stepped up to the plate as of late for the head coach, having picked up massive results in recent weeks against the likes of the Red Devils, Arsenal, Chelsea and even Paris Saint-Germain.

The defence, in particular, has been left bruised and battered with injuries as Dan Burn, Matt Targett, Sven Botman and Nick Pope are all sidelined with long-term problems, meaning Newcastle's defence is quite a makeshift one.

Nevertheless, the back four have done really well so far, and one player in particular has exceeded expectations.

Tino Livramento's stats this season

Tino Livramento joined Newcastle United during the summer for £40m following Southampton's relegation from the Premier League. However, given the form of Kieran Trippier and Burn either side of the centre-backs, the young defender struggled to break into the first-team.

Heading into November, Livramento's only start for the Geordie outfit came in a 1-0 win at home to Manchester City in the EFL Cup back in September, although his display was certainly impressive.

Club legend Malcolm Macdonald called Livramento "faultless" throughout the game and admitted that Howe needed to find a place in the starting lineup for the exciting fullback, although it wasn't until Burn's injury that Livramento had the opportunity to shine for the Magpies, albeit at left-back.

Nevertheless, after a string of stellar performances on the left, the 21-year-old has made the position his own.

In fact, Livramento is outperforming Burn in a number of key metrics this season, meaning the latter could struggle to reclaim his starting place in the team upon returning from injury.

Assists

0.13

0

Expected Assists

0.07

0.02

Progressive Passes

4.36

3.16

Key Passes

0.91

0.23

Passes To Penalty Area

0.91

0.38

Passes To Final 1/3

2.91

2.93

Crosses

1.2

0.67

Progressive Carries

2.91

0.6

Tackles

2.91

1.73

Tackles Won

2.13

0.96

Interceptions

1.47

0.81

Errors

0

0.08

Livramento could have been seen as a long-term replacement for Trippier who is now on the wrong side of 30, but with the Chelsea academy product finding his feet on the left, perhaps another player in Howe's ranks could be his successor.

Harrison Ashby's stats this season

Livramento wasn't the only fullback Newcastle United bought this year. The club also managed to secure the services of Harrison Ashby from West Ham United for a reported £3m back in January.

Ashby was highly rated at West Ham United, with former captain Mark Noble even claiming that the wide defender has a "real physical stature". The 22-year-old had made seven appearances in all competitions for the Hammers over the past three seasons but appeared merely twice last term before making the switch to the Mags.

Nonetheless, after a handful of appearances in the Premier League 2 with Newcastle's U21s, Ashby was sent out on loan to Swansea City at the beginning of the current campaign. It's been a tricky season for the Swans, who recently sacked head coach Michael Duff, but Ashby is still playing plenty of first-team football, making 13 appearances so far, including 11 in the Championship.

Ashby has a bright future ahead of him and with Livramento looking likely to hold onto his left-back berth long into the future, the Swansea loanee could come for Trippier's place over the coming seasons, with the latter turning 34 next year.

Trippier is still outperforming Ashby by a large margin in attack but the young defender has performed quite well defensively in comparison to the England international.

Assists

0.12

0.51

Expected Assists

0.05

0.36

Progressive Passes

1.69

7.33

Key Passes

0.39

3.04

Passes To Penalty Area

0.65

2.07

Passes To Final 1/3

1.69

4.81

Crosses

3.37

8.32

Progressive Carries

1.3

1.85

Tackles

3.25

1.63

Tackles Won

2.44

0.88

Interceptions

2.33

0.88

Errors

0.13

0.07

Trippier is one of the best attacking fullbacks in the world so it'll always be difficult for a young player to reach his heights. However, Ashby is playing regular first-team football for the first time in his career and his numbers are certainly encouraging.

Former Swansea manager Duff even admitted that Ashby came to the Swansea.com Stadium with a "really positive character reference" from Trippier, whom the coach played with at Burnley for a few seasons before retiring.

Perhaps Howe may look to implement him into the team next season, handing Trippier a few nights off, with an eye to having a permanent changing of the guard between the pair.

انتهت المباراة التي جمعت بين الأهلي ومنافسه سموحه بنتيجة 1-0 لصالح المارد الأحمر، في اللقاء الذي جمع بينهما ضمن منافسات بطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز.

والتقى الأهلي مع سموحة، في المباراة المؤجلة بينهما من الأسبوع 24 للبطولة المحلية، على ملعب برج العرب في الإسكندرية. وسجل هدف الأهلي الوحيد اللاعب البديل محمد مجدي أفشة في الدقيقة الخامسة بعد التسعين، مقتنصًا 3 نقاط توجت الأهلي بطلًا للدوري رسميًا. تشكيل الأهلي أمام سموحة في الدوري.. وسام أبو علي يقود الهجوم

بتلك النتيجة يحسم الأهلي درع الدوري المصري، برصيد 81 نقطة، من 31 مباراة، محققًا 26 فوزًا و3 تعادلات وخسارتين. ومن المقرر أن يلعب النادي الأهلي مباراته القادمة، أمام زد، في الذي يجمع بينهما على أرضية استاد القاهرة، في إطار لقاءات الدوري المصري.

مواجهة الأهلي وزد مؤجلة من الجولة الخامسة والعشرين من عمر الدوري المصري الممتاز، والتي كان مقررًا لها السابع والعشرين من مايو الماضي. موعد مباراة الأهلي القادمة أمام زد في الدوري المصري

تقام مباراة الأهلي وزد، يوم الأحد المقبل الموافق 11 أغسطس 2024، إذ تنطلق المواجهة في تمام الساعة 9 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية.

ويُمكنكم متابعة أحداث المباريات لحظة بلحظة من مركز المباريات من هنــــا.

1:06

I perform better under pressure – Harmanpreet

Sixteen months after blitzing an unbeaten 171 against Australia in the 50-over World Cup semi-final in Derby last year, Harmanpreet Kaur unleashed another brutal hundred – the first by an Indian woman in T20Is – to raze New Zealand in the World T20 opener at Providence.After she tip-toed to 5 off 13 balls, Harmanpreet switched on the Harmonster mode and charged to a fifty off 33 balls. When she glanced Sophie Devine off her pads for a couple in the last over of India’s innings, she raised a hundred off 49 balls. Her monster sixes – she smashed eight in total – vaulted India to 194 for 5 for their second highest total in T20Is.New Zealand opener Suzie Bates briefly threatened to do a Harmanpreet and became the top scorer in Women’s World T20s, but the rapidly rising asking rate was too much to overcome.Harmanpreet walked out to bat when India were wobbling at 40 for 3 inside the Powerplay. Fast bowler Lea Tahuhu struck with her first ball to burst through the defences of new opener Taniya Bhatia, and in her next over, she had Smriti Mandhana holing out to deep midwicket, where Hayley Jensen leapt to her left and pulled off a blinding catch – an early contender for the highlights reel of this tournament. When debutant D Hemalatha jumped across off and swept weakly to short fine leg for 15 off 7 balls, questions were raised about players batting out of positions. Why was Bhatia bumped to the top after impressing in the middle order in Sri Lanka? Where would Mithali Raj bat?Harmanpreet Kaur blasted seven fours and eight sixes during her 103•Getty Images

Ultimately, India didn’t need Mithali at all. It was 18-year-old Jemimah Rodrigues, who made the early running in a 134-run partnership with Harmanpreet – the highest for any wicket for India in women’s T20Is. She crunched Tahuhu through extra-cover, swatted Jensen over midwicket, and even left umpire Gregory Brathwaite in the firing line with a fierce drive. After a poke here and a prod there in the early exchanges, Harmanpreet exploded when she ventured down the track and swatted offspinner Jess Watkin over the midwicket boundary. She owned the arc between long-on and midwicket, nailing five sixes and two fours. She was particularly severe on Watkin, taking her for 27 off 7 balls.And just like that, Harmanpreet outscored Rodrigues and raised her fifty in the 15th over. While Rodrigues’s strokeplay was easy on the eye, Harmanpreet’s power-hitting was extraordinary. Although she regularly stepped across the stumps or down the track, she maintained a stable base and launched the bowlers into oblivion.Rodrigues was dismissed in the 19th over by Watkin, but by then India had passed 170. Harmanpreet then nicked behind off the penultimate ball of the innings, but she had armed her side with a mighty total.It did not appear as mighty, though, when Bates jumped across off and mowed the ball into the leg-side boundaries. Bates ran up a 38-ball half-century, but India’s spinners kept striking at the other end. Legspinner Poonam Yadav removed Sophie Devine and Watkin off successive balls with donkey drops that turned and gripped, but it was offspinner Hemalatha, the debutant, who claimed the key wicket of captain Amy Satterthwaite, when she had her skying a sweep to square leg. When seamer Arundhati Reddy removed Bates in the 14th over, New Zealand slipped to 98 for 5. There would be no way back for them.

Nathan Coulter-Nile’s speed and Usman Qadir’s guile combined to upend Victoria and set the scene for a bonus-point victory by Western Australia in the domestic limited-overs match at the refurbished Junction Oval in Melbourne.While Victoria toasted the first match at their new home, the unseasonably early September date of the fixture made it a decidedly useful day to bowl first, an option handed to WA when the home captain Peter Handscomb chose to bat. Coulter-Nile bowled with notable swiftness opposite Jhye Richardson, and both claimed wickets with the new ball.As significant was the adrenaline rush Coulter-Nile appeared to generate with a handful of spiteful short balls, meaning that once he had pinned Nic Maddinson lbw with a late inswinger, the rest of the Victorian top order seemed intent on fighting fire with fire. Handscomb and Glenn Maxwell both fell to the hook shot, after Cameron White had been stranded when attempting to take the attack to the 25-year-old Qadir, whose mere presence in the WA XI was a tale in itself.The son of the formidable Pakistani wristspin bowler Abdul Qadir, he had trained with South Australia as long as five years ago, and was initially called up as a member of the Perth Scorchers squad for this summer’s Big Bash League. Some head-turning displays in practice matches for WA coaxed the Warriors coach Adam Voges into selecting Qadir as Ashton Agar’s replacement, and he would demonstrate his ability with an artful spell of 3 for 50 that showcased his dizzying variations and considerable accuracy.Victoria’s batting order had been the subject of some discussion before the match, and Handscomb reshuffled his deck by promoting White to open and Maddinson to No. 3, while Maxwell remained at No. 5. After the loss of three early wickets, it was up to Handscomb and Maxwell to rebuild things, but the latter was unable to contain himself after hooking Andrew Tye for a big six, top-edging an attempted repeat the very next ball to fine leg.Handscomb, following up his 89 in Sunday’s defeat of New South Wales at North Sydney Oval, was unable to go beyond 57 before falling in similar fashion, and from that point the hosts were never likely to set a significantly challenging tally in what would be the best batting conditions of the match.The Australia Under-19s product Josh Philippe, wicketkeeper Josh Inglis, D’Arcy Short and Marcus Stoinis all connected with a handful of big hits to quickly ensure a successful chase for WA, leaving the Warriors five points clear on top of the table in a competition where all six teams qualify for the finals regardless.

They broke a sequence of ten successive ODI losses against India, winning with one ball to spare in a high-scoring game

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Sep-2018
Chamari Atapattu stretches for a sweep•Associated PressSri Lanka women held their nerve to pull off a thrilling three-wicket win with just one ball to spare in the third ODI against India women in Katunayake. Mithali Raj’s unbeaten 125 had powered India to 253 for 5 at the FTZ Sports Complex, but Chamari Atapattu responded with 115, helping Sri Lanka secure their highest successful ODI chase.It also broke a sequence of ten ODI defeats in a row against India for the home side, and earned them two points in the ICC Women’s Championship. The last time Sri Lanka had beaten India in an ODI was more than five years ago, in February 2013 during the Women’s World Cup that year.Raj and Smriti Mandhana had put on 102 for the second wicket after India lost Jemimah Rodrigues for a duck in the first over of the game. After Mandhana fell for a 62-ball 51 in the 23rd over, Raj shepherded the innings and remained unbeaten. Although both Harmanpreet Kaur and Dayalan Hemalatha fell cheaply, Deepti Sharma provided the finishing kick with 38 off 44 balls, sharing a 92-run stand with Raj off 83 balls.Raj had been circumspect during her initial phase and raised a half-century off 76 balls, but her second fifty came at a run a ball. Jhulan Goswami, who came in with two balls left, swung one for six to ensure India went past 250.At the halfway stage, India would have been eyeing yet another win against Sri Lanka, but Atapattu and Hasini Perera put together a 101-run opening stand to lay the base for an exciting contest. Hasini was caught by Harmanpreet off legspinner Poonam Yadav in the 24th over, but Anushka Sanjeewani joined Atapattu in a 55-run stand that didn’t let India force their way through the brief opening.Although wickets fell more regularly after Goswami castled Sanjeewani, Atapattu held one end up. She, eventually, fell in the 42nd over, and at that point, Sri Lanka still needed 61 more from 51 balls. But Nilakshi de Silva hit a six and a four, while Sripali Weerakkody stayed unbeaten on a run-a-ball 14. The 17-year-old Kavisha Dilhari, playing in only her second ODI, then kept her cool at the death, striking two fours in her unbeaten 12 off seven balls, including the winning hit straight past Deepti.Dilhari had also been the best bowler for Sri Lanka, taking 1 for 37 in nine overs with her offbreaks.

MatériaMais Notícias

Sem dar maiores detalhes sobre as condições de Thiago Maia e Gabriel Barbosa, o Flamengo confirmou as más notícias que já se esperavam deste a noite de sábado. A dupla se apresentou no Ninho do Urubu neste domingo, e, após avaliação do departamento médico, iniciou os respectivos tratamentos. Assim, os dois seguem como dúvidas para o jogo de quarta-feira, contra o São Paulo no Morumbi, que vale uma vaga na semifinal na Copa do Brasil.

Conforme informado pelo clube logo após o empate em 1 a 1 com o Atlético-GO, neste sábado no Maracanã, Gabriel Barbosa sentiu dores na coxa direita, enquanto Thiago Maia sofreu uma entorse no joelho esquerdo. Os dois foram substituídos na segunda etapa da partida válida pela 21ª rodada do Brasileirão.

Pedro, por sua vez, se reapresentou após ser cortado da Seleção Brasileira.

RelacionadasFlamengoProblemas se acumulam, e Ceni terá que ‘quebrar a cabeça’ para montar o Flamengo contra o São PauloFlamengo14/11/2020FlamengoApós empate do Flamengo com o Atlético-GO, Willian Arão cobra: ‘Não podemos tomar um gol daqueles’Flamengo14/11/2020FlamengoApós empate com o Atlético-GO, Ceni destaca ‘vontade de vencer’ do FlamengoFlamengo14/11/2020

Os atletas Gabriel Barbosa, Thiago Maia e Pedro se apresentaram neste domingo (15.11), no CT, e iniciaram tratamento. #CRF

— Flamengo (@Flamengo) November 15, 2020

After a wicketless first session and centuries from Shikhar Dhawan and M Vijay, the Afghanistan bowlers struck five times in the last session to stage a comeback

The Report by Varun Shetty14-Jun-20184:06

Manjrekar: Saw Afghanistan’s never-say-die attitude in the last session

On their first day in Test cricket, Afghanistan looked like they wanted to experience the full range of emotions: they conceded 52 fours and four sixes, made a DRS blunder early on, dropped a catch late in the day, enabled two very different types of centuries, and still, somehow, managed to dominate an entire session and stay alive. India, who were 280 for 1 at one stage, and striking at well more than five per over thanks to domineering efforts from their top three Test openers, lost 5 for 63 in the final session.Afghanistan had had a decent first half hour, with both Wafadar and Yamin Ahmadzai getting the ball to move around in Bengaluru’s dense atmosphere. But neither could apply sustained pressure on India’s openers. Shikhar Dhawan, in particular, was given too many boundary opportunities through short-pitched bowling that remained a feature throughout the day.Afghanistan captain Asghar Stanikzai looked forlorn very early on, attempting to stop the glut by gradually chopping his slip cordon in the face of a rampaging opening stand and a knee injury to Ahmadzai in the eighth over that kept him out for the rest of the first session. But his most remorseful moment as a Test captain came when neither Wafadar, who had drawn a faint edge from Dhawan, nor wicketkeeper Afsar Zazai, who had made the most boisterous appeal, came to his aid when he looked for consultants to overturn the not out decision. Standing in the slips, Mohammad Shahzad was the only player urging his captain to take the review, but Stanikzai, drowned out by too many opinions, didn’t pay heed.The Afghanistan players, including Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi don their maiden Test caps•BCCI

When replays showed a murmur as the ball passed bat, a collective annoyance gripped the visiting team. It was almost like Dhawan sensed it. He spent the next 70 or so minutes flogging his Sunrisers Hyderabad team-mates, Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan, neither of whom looked in control, erring too short to prevent him getting down the track or, in the latter’s case, serving up generous full-tosses. By the middle of the first session, with Mujeeb ur Rahman also taking a pasting, Afghanistan already looked defeated. Seventeen overs after that caught-behind appeal, Dhawan had become the first Indian to make a hundred before lunch on the first day of a Test. Despite a shaky, struggling M Vijay at the other end, India had put up 158 without losing a wicket by lunch.Dhawan fell in the second over after lunch to Ahmadzai – a relay catch, started at second slip by Rahmat Shah’s outstretched left hand, completed by Nabi at first – but that didn’t put a stop to the scoring. Vijay, who had trouble picking length against pace in the first session, settled into a nice rhythm in the company of KL Rahul, who, having kept the other home boy Karun Nair from making a Test return, was pushed ahead of Cheteshwar Pujara into No. 3. The routine of trying to push through variations – googlies, knuckle balls, arm balls – and invariably landing them short meant more easy runs through the second session for the pair, who had both had indifferent tours of South Africa earlier this year. On the cusp of their milestones, both of them were offered short balls; Vijay launched his upper cut over point to bring up his 12th century – his third in consecutive home Tests – and Rahul casually whipped a googly from Rashid past short fine leg to bring up his half-century.In the midst of this were two rain breaks that cost 73 minutes. Upon returning from the second one, Afghanistan were a different team. For starters, both their medium-pacers had discovered a peculiar late movement with a near 50-over-old ball in damp conditions. Vijay didn’t anticipate the dip inwards when he shouldered arms to Wafadar and was rapped on the front leg and a review couldn’t overturn the umpire’s on-field decision. Two balls later, Ahmadzai moved one in off the seam and had Rahul chop onto the stumps attempting a cut. That’s where the opening was found.Super-soppers at work at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.•BCCI

Rashid was a different bowler after the second break as well, switching to a slower pace, a loopier trajectory and relying a lot more on his legbreak. His first maiden in Test cricket came after he had gone for 105 in 17 overs, but it was the start of a tantalising spell. Like he’s wont to do, Rashid managed to turn the dots into a wicket. Ajinkya Rahane was given not out after copping one on his back leg trying to whip across the line, but Rashid had grounds for a review that ultimately proved successful.In Rashid’s next over, Pujara had a stab at a rising legbreak but was dropped by Nabi at first slip. But what Rashid couldn’t get, Mujeeb did: ripping an offbreak from length, he drew Pujara’s inside edge and this time, Nabi took the day’s sharpest catch, lunging low to his left at leg slip.And if India had to prove they were nervous by then, Dinesh Karthik, returning to Tests after eight years, ran halfway down the pitch and failed to ground his bat when diving to return after Hardik Pandya responded in the negative to a non-existent run on the off side. India barely managed to score at three per over in the final session, having begun at 248 for 1 in 45.1 overs.

Sri Lankan Police confirmed that Ranjan de Silva, Dhananjaya’s father, was shot dead in Rathmalana, just south of Colombo

Andrew Fidel Fernando24-May-2018Sri Lanka batsman Dhananjaya de Silva has withdrawn from the tour of West Indies after his father was killed by an as-yet unidentified gunmen on Thursday night.Sri Lankan Police confirmed that Ranjan de Silva, Dhananjaya’s father, was shot dead in Rathmalana – just south of Colombo – at around 8:30 pm. Ranjan was a councillor in the Dehiwala-Mt. Lavinia City Council, having been elected in February.Dhananjaya was due to depart to the West Indies on Friday, with the rest of the Sri Lanka squad. Many of his team-mates had visited Kalubowila Hospital on Thursday night, where his father had been taken. For now, the team’s departure has not been affected, though it is possible plans may change.Dhananjaya’s personal management team sent out his official statement on Friday morning.”I am shocked and sad to inform all of you of a bereavement in my family the untimely and unfortunate death of my loving Dad Ranjan last night,” the statement said. “All this almost on the eve of a very important Test series and tour of the West Indies.”On behalf of my Mother and immediate family please uphold us in your prayers and meditation. Tough as it is we will face the shocking change of events in our family going forward thro [sic] the next couple of days and will respect your understanding in terms of our privacy during this moment of grief.”Thank you for all your concerns, Sympathies and many messages received in all forms. I wish Team SL the very best during the Tour of the Windies – Boys, even though I may not be around to battle the Windies while you do so my heart will always be with Team Sri Lanka.”Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) president Thilanga Sumathipala offered Dhananjaya a message of support. “Sri Lanka Cricket will take every measure to support Dananjaya (sic) at this time of sorrow and grief for him and his family, whilst giving him time to overcome the great pain and suffering caused by this tragedy,” he said in an SLC release.Dhananjaya had only recently fought his way back into the Test side, having scored hundreds in Delhi and later Chittagong. He has played 13 Tests and 17 ODIs to date, and in January had become the fastest-equal Sri Lanka batsman to 1000 Test runs.May 25, GMT 0600 The article was amended to include Dhananjaya’s statement and SLC’s reaction.

Tottenham Hotspur's hopes of offloading midfielder Tanguy Ndombele haven't ended with the closure of this British summer transfer window.

Who has left Tottenham this summer?

Spurs and new manager Ange Postecoglou have sealed all of their major summer signings, but couldn't quite get another over the line after their deadline day capture of Brennan Johnson from Nottingham Forest.

Indeed, there were reports of the north Londoners chasing both Bournemouth defender Lloyd Kelly and Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher on Friday, but those moves ultimately failed to materialise.

That, and we're just speculating here, may have been down to Tottenham's inability to sell certain players – like Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg for instance – who apparently refuted a last gasp move to Fulham.

The likes of Davinson Sanchez and Ndombele also couldn't seal moves elsewhere, despite late interest, with Spurs instead offloading Harry Kane, Sergio Reguilon, Joe Rodon, Djed Spence, Harry Winks, Alfie Devine, Troy Parrott and Dane Scarlett on either permanent deals or loans.

Lucas Moura also left on a free transfer upon the expiry of his contract on June 30, but while Spurs will be pleased to balance the books in certain areas, perhaps the most frustrating surplus player to remain is Ndombele.

On a reported £200,000-per-week, the Frenchman has spent the last two campaigns on various loan spells at Lyon and Napoli respectively.

He doesn't appear to be in Postecoglou's plans, either, with a last minute transfer to Genoa also failing to come to fruition for Ndombele.

Now that the British transfer window is shut, some supporters may believe they're stuck with the 26-year-old until January, but there may be some hope in the form of Galatasaray

Indeed, the Turkish Super Lig giants are apparently an option for Ndombele, and their transfer window actually doesn't close until September 15.

That is according to Sky Sports reporter Lyall Thomas, who shared an update on the midfielder's situation on X.

"Galatasaray remain an option for Tanguy Ndombele but it’s not time sensitive today," said Thomas on Friday night.

"Turkish window remains open to Sep 15. Wants to play for a Champions League team."

What's been said about Tanguy Ndombele?

You could argue that Ndombele's time at Spurs has been one to forget, having ultimately failed to live up to his once club-record price tag after signing from Lyon in 2019.

The former Ligue 1 sensation is now stuck in limbo at Tottenham and a move away could perhaps be best for all parties.

While Spurs haven't proved the ideal fit for Ndombele, there is certainly a good player there at his very best.

Arsenal star Declan Rice, commenting on the player last year, even said that he's one of his toughest ever opponents

“The perception of him, it shouldn’t be what it is because I tell you now, he is one of the toughest I have played against," said Rice.

“He is top. Just a street footballer on the pitch. He takes the ball anywhere, little flicks and tricks. Like he doesn’t care. He does everything so confidently.

"With players like that, you just have to let them play. Give them the freedom to go out and do whatever they want. When we played against Lyon in the Europa League, he was incredible. He’s a top player.”

Getty Images

Smriti Mandhana’s 98-ball 84 and fast bowlers Jhulan Goswami and Shikha Pandey’s combined returns of 7 for 47 in 17.2 overs, helped India open the new cycle of their ICC Women’s Championship campaign with a thumping 88-run win against South Africa in the first ODI in Kimberley. India climbed to fourth on the table after just one game, ahead of England, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, who have played three games apiece.After electing to bat first, India made a strong start with a 55-run opening stand between Punam Raut and Mandhana in 90 balls. The game, though, was set up by a 99-run second-wicket stand between Mandhana – who reached the milestone of 1000 runs in ODIs with a four – and No. 3 Mithali Raj, who fell five runs short of her fifth fifty-plus score in the last 10 matches. MandhanaSouth Africa hit back with four wickets for 14 runs in the space of 39 balls. After Mandhana fell in the 35th over, India could only muster 59 runs in the last 87 balls. Marizanne Kapp and Ayabonga Khaka claimed two wickets each.India’s quicks then did irreparable damage to South Africa’s top order with three wickets in the first 10 overs. The hosts were quickly reduced to 57 for 5 before captain Dane van Niekerk and Kapp steadied the innings with a 37-run partnership. Pandey finished with 3 for 23, while Goswami, who is now one shy of her 200th ODI scalp, cleaned up the tail to return figures of 4 for 24 as South Africa were bundled out for 125 in the 44th over.