Leeds United have turned their Premier League season around dramatically.

At one point, with Daniel Farke at the helm, the Whites looked like being dismissed as nervy relegation fodder, with an abysmal five defeats across October and November very much troubling his position at Elland Road.

Now, the West Yorkshire outfit is deep in a four-game unbeaten streak, with wins against Chelsea and Crystal Palace seeing Farke’s men confidently power home seven goals. Subsequently, the Whites have now opened a six-point gap between themselves and 18th place in the difficult division, as Leeds continue to look up the table, rather than down.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin continues to stick out as an absolute gem of a summer signing, with the one-time free agent striker now up to seven goals for the Premier League season, after another lethal showing against the bewildered Eagles.

Why Calvert-Lewin is important to Leeds

Match of the Day pundit Joe Hart has even suggested that the ex-Everton marksman would be a “great option” for Thomas Tuchel to have in the England set-up, and it’s not the wildest shout from the former Three Lions stopper.

Indeed, the 11-time England international looks a man reborn at the moment in Farke’s set-up, with six goals collected from his last five games, making him a vital figure as Leeds continue to push up the standings.

Consistently finding himself in the perfect possible space to fire home chances, the 28-year-old is looking like an unbelievable masterstroke of a signing, with £0 spent on a transfer fee, for a striker who did have a strong 57 Premier League strikes next to his name, before leaving the Toffees behind.

Of course, the concern will be whether he does fall victim to a prolonged spell on the sidelines through injury, but at the moment, he will be considered one of the standout bargains in the entire division.

He isn’t the only sublime bargain Leeds managed to acquire in the summer, though, with an Ao Tanaka-style deal going under the radar at the moment, while Calvert-Lewin steals the limelight.

The star who is one of Leeds' best bargains since Tanaka

It will be hard to top the free transfer signing of the Sheffield-born goal machine, but he does boast a high £100k-per-week wage, which does mean he’s costing the West Yorkshire side a pretty penny in salary costs alone.

On the contrary, Gabriel Gudmundsson only takes home a slim £40k-per-week pay packet, despite also sticking out as a “crucial” – per Farke – first team presence this season, much like his aforementioned Japanese teammate.

Gudmundsson’s PL numbers for Leeds

Stat

Gudmundsson

Games played

17

Games started

16

Goals scored

0

Assists

0

Touches

56.4

Accurate passes

24.4 (78%)

Big chances created

2

Ball recoveries

3.6

Total duels won

5.7

Stats by Sofascore

Ao Tanaka only earns a £25k-per-week wage himself. Still, with two goals this Premier League season already from just seven starts, it’s clear that the former Fortuna Düsseldorf man is another golden bargain pulled off by the top-flight newcomers, having cost just £3.5m to bring in last summer.

Subscribe for the newsletter on Leeds’ smart transfer bargains Dig into Leeds’ transfer masterstrokes — subscribe to our newsletter for focused analysis of bargain signings, player form and tactical shifts. Expert breakdowns unpack why these moves matter for Leeds United’s Premier League push. Subscribe Subscribe for the newsletter on Leeds’ smart transfer bargains Dig into Leeds’ transfer masterstrokes — subscribe to our newsletter for focused analysis of bargain signings, player form and tactical shifts. Expert breakdowns unpack why these moves matter for Leeds United’s Premier League push.

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Looking at the table above, too, the £10m dropped on Gudmundsson’s services also feels like a fair amount to splash on a star who is now Leeds’ guaranteed starter in the left-back spot, with the energetic Swede winning himself a high 5.7 duels on average this season as a battler for his lowly team’s cause.

It was a risky move on Leeds’ end to drop that amount of money on an unproven Premier League talent, with Gudmundsson only being exposed to major top-flight action in the Eredivisie and Ligue 1.

But, he has made that transition look effortless – much like Tanaka instantly getting up to speed with the Championhip and Premier League – with Gudmundsson even being hailed as Leeds’ “best player” by The Athletic’s Beren Cross back in September, which is an assessment which has only grown stronger, after winning a combined 17 duels against Chelsea and Palace to steer Farke’s men to two memorable victories.

Leeds’ shrewd summer transfer activity is really paying off now, with Farke hopeful his team can continue picking up wins, knowing he has the likes of fan favourite Gudmundsson in defence, but also a reinvigorated Calvert-Lewin leading the line.

Related 56 touches, 5 key passes: 8/10 Leeds star was better than Calvert-Lewin

This Leeds United star was even better than Dominic Calvert-Lewin against Crystal Palace as Daniel Farke’s men romped home to a huge 4-1 win.

Posts ByKelan Sarson

I love the Premier League. In spite of the constant bickering between managers, the weekly supplement of controversy and the infuriating cases of ‘gamesmanship’, it still remains an infinitely superior spectacle over its European counterparts. Every fixture boasts a gruelling physical intensity that epitomises the ‘English bulldog’ spirit, which we as fans seem to thrive on.

However, with the end of the season in sight I would argue that the demanding nature of the English game is taking its toll. The excitement of the title race appears to have fizzled out, with United limping over the line as City continue to collapse in an expensive heap. Spurs are no longer the free-flowing attacking threat they once were whilst all of the relegation candidates appear to take two steps back with every step they take forward.

Alongside Gareth Bale, Manchester City’s pint-sized magician David Silva is perhaps enduring the most-publicised slump in form. His manager Roberto Mancini has expressed his concern over the player’s recent performances, in amongst reports that he has been nursing a series of niggling injuries.

“I don’t know how many games David has played for us in the Premier League, Champions League, Europa League, Carling Cup, FA Cup plus internationals. David always plays here [indicates high level with hand] and now maybe he is here [drops hand lower to chest]. This is normal, but I hope he can recover.” (Sky Sports)

As the Premier League’s elite emerges from another congested fixture pile-up, the resulting damage is evident. Uninspiring performances have meant dropped points and with lengthy queues outside treatment rooms, a growing number of managers are calling for a winter break. Former England manager Fabio Capello frequently implied the disastrous World Cup campaign was down to his players’ increased levels of fatigue, a fair point when you look at the success of both Germany and Spain who enjoy considerable respite during their league campaigns.

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Sunderland manager Martin O’Neill has also previously highlighted his desire for such an initiative to be implemented in the football league.

“I would love to see it happen, even for a week or two because psychologically, I believe when you start off the season, it’s pretty long and it gives you something to think about during that time.” (Eurosport)

A winter break would certainly allow for a necessary regeneration period after the customary hectic festive calendar. It could even help contribute to a resurgence in the popularity of the FA Cup, with teams heading straight into third round ties after a fortnight of anticipation.

The main obstacle to overcome surrounds the harsh reality that the current fixture schedule cannot accommodate such a lengthy vacation. The Premier League would almost certainly have to start earlier in the summer, which wouldn’t go down well and definitely wouldn’t be feasible with events like the Olympic Games this summer. The FA has also highlighted concerns that clubs would take advantage of this opportunity to arrange prestigious friendlies but that seems beside the point, given that none of the first-team would feature in any such game. In addition to this, with the English weather being notoriously unpredictable, imagine the nightmare situation that would arise should teams surface from a winter break only to have further matches postponed.

This season saw another heavy burden placed on players in the form of the African Cup of Nations, which Manchester City’s leading football administrator Brian Marwood identified as a reason for individuals suffering burnout.

“I think we need to think very carefully about the calendar, in terms of how we’re scheduling games. For instance, you had the African Cup of Nations, which is a bizarre situation in which you lose players midway through the season for up to five to six weeks. That’s wrong, that’s completely wrong.” (BBC)

Statistics would seem to support the detrimental effect of such international competitions, especially when you consider that since Papiss Cisse netted his first Newcastle goal, Demba Ba has gone 707 minutes without scoring. Did Pardew foresee this apparent demise and sign his compatriot as a replacement rather than a partner?

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

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Whenever the prospect of a reduced fixture schedule has been suggested in the past, supporters have been eager to lament the already ‘pampered lifestyle’ of the modern day footballer. However considering the recent health problems that are affecting a growing number of stars, perhaps the general public and mass media will be more forgiving, and start to realise that they’re only human after all.

Come find me on Twitter @theunusedsub where I’m deliberating whether it’s acceptable to feel happy for Andy Carroll after his match winner last night. 

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Robin Morris stroked his way to his second unbeaten half century ofthe season for Mumbai in the Ranji One-Day West Zone League againstGujarat at the GSFC ground, Baroda. Robin (67 not out) hit twoboundaries and five massive sixes in his unbeaten innings leadingMumbai to a 9 wicket victory. Mumbai openers Robin and Wasim Jaffer(61) put on a 118 run partnership for the first wicket. Mumbai lookedset for their second consecutive 10 wicket victory before Wasimcharged Tejas Varsani and was caught short of his ground by stumperPallav Vora. Mumbai raced away to 150 for one in the 24th over toregister their third win and earned two points.Earlier in the day, Gujurat batting first, succumbed to the Mumbaiattack of Paras Mhambrey (3/17) and Sairaj Bahutule (3/34) and crawledtheir way to 149 all out in 48 overs. Bhavin Mehta (28) was the topscorer.

ScorecardAssam offspinner Swarupam Purkayastha registered yet another five-wicket haul, this time dismantling Goa’s top order in Porvorim. His 13 wickets in the previous game – the best performance by any bowler this season – had set up an innings win last week in Hyderabad. It continued to flow in the same vein.Dheeraj Jadhav, who is playing his 100th first-class game, tossed the ball to Purkayastha after trying out four others bowlers and the results were immediate. Purkayastha broke a solid opening partnership of 67 and took two more quick wickets to reduce Goa to 73 for 4. He then removed Swapnil Asnodkar and Saurabh Bandekar to complete his fourth consecutive five-for. Goa lost its wickets in clumps – 4 for 6, 3 for 13 and 3 for 6 – and were bowled out in 73 overs. By the close of play, Assam had rattled to 69 in the 15th over, but lost KB Arun Karthik off the last ball of the day.
ScorecardSaurabh Tiwary’s 13th first-class century, and his second this Ranji season, set up a strong opening day for Jharkhand against Hyderabad, in Ranchi. Tiwary came to the crease after Jharkhand’s top three had already established a foundation of 103 in 27 overs, of which the openers – Prakash Munda and Ishan Kishan – had added 60. Hyderabad made another breakthrough after a 44-run stand between Tiwary and Kishan (66), but had to wait for long time before picking up another wicket. Tiwary and Ishank Jaggi closed doors on the Hyderabad bowlers with a 147-run stand. Tiwary fell towards the end of the day – in the 85th over – just after he had completed his century off 192 balls, but Jaggi was unbeaten on 58.
ScorecardOn a shortened day in Agartala, Kerala bowlers, led by Nizar Niyas, pulled back Tripura after the hosts had made a solid opening. Tripura lost the toss but were 80 for 1 in 39 overs before Sandeep Warrier had Abhijit Dey bowled for 12. The incoming batsmen, however, neither provided any resistance nor were able to increase the scoring. Tripura lost five wickets for 47 – three of them for five runs – to end the day on 127 for 6 from 63 overs. Niyas was the most successful bowler, with 3 for 25, and others chipped in too. Bishal Ghosh, the Tripura opener, watched the collapse from the other end and was unbeaten on 59 off 191 balls.
ScorecardOnly 34 overs were possible on the first day of Group C tie between Himachal Pradesh and Andhra in Dharamsala as persistent rain washed out play after lunch. By that time, Andhra, who were put in, had recovered from the loss of an early wicket, to Rishi Dhawan, and posted 123 for 2. The major contribution came through an 89-run stand between Srikar Bharat (47) and Murumulla Sriram. Bharat was caught behind off Dhawan, three short of his half-century, but Sriram was unbeaten on 45 when play was called off for the day.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details1:39

Agarwal makes third highest List-A score in India

There were two centurions from India A, and only one from South Africa A. Simple math won in the end, and the visitors were knocked out of the A-team tri-series in Chennai. Mayank Agarwal hammered 176 off just 133 balls, Manish Pandey galloped to 108 off 85, and India A batted the opposition out of the game. South Africa A were set a target of 372, and they had to get it in 29 overs to qualify for the final. Quinton de Kock did his best with 113 off 86 balls, but it was too tall a task.Seeking a better chance to get that bonus point, Dane Vilas, the stand-in South Africa A captain, chose to bowl. As iffy as their history is with chasing, the team’s best chance remained with the batsmen making the play. Among the four left-arm seamers, only Lonwabo Tsotsobe has been decent. Their spin reserves have not impressed either. Trusting the bowlers to get them through seemed too big a gamble. On the other hand, they had a sturdier batting order with the return of de Kock, who now has five centuries from six one-day matches against an Indian team.The problem, of course, was South Africa gave away too many runs. The problem was Agarwal, a player known for short and punchy cameos, managing to play a long innings. He helped lay the foundation with a 106-run opening partnership with Unmukt Chand, and then took control of the middle overs with Pandey in a 203-run stand, the scoring rate during which was 8.45 per over.As mammoth as India A’s total was, it did not come helter skelter early on. India A had been 37 for 0 in 10 overs, but with the pitch offering very little challenge, and the opposition bowlers unable to lift themselves, steady acceleration became all out carnage – 195 runs came off the last 20 overs.Mayank Agarwal hit 110 runs in fours and sixes•K Sivaraman

India A’s innings, in fact, mirrored Agarwal’s. The batsman was slow early on – 30 off his first 49 balls – but he could afford to be because Chand was making sure South Africa A were under the pump with 64 off 77 balls. But once Agarwal got himself set, his usual manic tempo resurfaced. He secured his second hundred of the series off 96 balls, and the 150 came a mere 21 balls later. His lack of consistency has been a long-standing complaint, but Agarwal has five fifty-plus scores in seven one-day innings and his current average of 55.1 is the best for an Indian with at least 1000 List A runs.Almost unnoticed at the other end, Pandey was working himself to hitting rhythm. He was 51 off 52 balls when the final 10 overs began but completed a century in the final over of the innings. It was a partnership well-suited to exploit a benign pitch and listless bowling. Agarwal and Pandey have techniques dictated by strong bottom hands, a preference for the front foot and unorthodox shot selection.So when South Africa A bowled back of a length, the batsmen still waded forward and flat-batted them into a wide arc from midwicket to extra cover. The visitors did not help themselves by dropping Agarwal on 29. He ended up making 110 runs in boundaries alone. The other reprieve came from a mistake by umpire Virender Sharma, who failed to spot an outside edge as Pandey nicked off to the wicketkeeper in the 40th over.With chances of progress distant, de Kock indulged in reclaiming his lost form. He had little trouble assessing the pace of the pitch, and nearly every time he planted his front foot down for an almighty swing to the leg side, he succeeded. He got to 50 off 29 balls, produced a hat-trick of boundaries in the 18th over from legspinner Karn Sharma, and cruised to his hundred off 76 balls. He gathered 76 runs from 60 balls of spin, which should help his confidence ahead of an important tour of India in October.Another hopeful to make the South African Test side, Reeza Hendricks, got some batting time with 76 off 109 balls. He looks like an accumulator and does present a good option for the senior team if they are still looking at a Test opener. Khaya Zondo offset that slow pace with 86 off 60 balls, but South Africa A were never in with a chance today.

Legspinner Amit Mishra has been recalled to India’s Test squad for the tour of Sri Lanka in August. Mishra, 32, last played a Test in 2011 and he took legspinner Karn Sharma’s place in the team that had travelled to Bangladesh in June. It was the only change to India’s 15-man squad.Mishra has not played a Test since the 2011 tour of England, where he played two matches and took three wickets at an average of 106.66. In the 2014-15 Ranji Trophy season, Mishra played six matches for Haryana and took 10 wickets at an average of 20.40.”Amit Mishra has always been part of our thinking,” India’s chairman of selectors Sandeep Patil said in Delhi. “If you remember, even last year he was in the reserves [for the West Indies series]. The final authority of picking the XI is the role of the captain and the team management. Why A was not played and why B was picked it is not what we get into. Looking at the conditions, we have picked him for this SL tour.”Karn and fast bowler Mohammed Shami were not considered because of fitness problems. Karn had been ruled out of India’s tour of Zimbabwe in July with a fractured finger, and Shami is presently recovering from knee surgery.Opener KL Rahul had missed the Test in Bangladesh because of dengue fever and his replacement Shikhar Dhawan made a hundred in that game, leaving India with three openers – M Vijay being the third – to choose from in Sri Lanka.The selectors have not picked a reserve wicketkeeper in the squad as back up for Wriddhiman Saha. “We have a standby wicketkeeper we have nominated,” Patil said. “Secretary and selectors, we are aware who is the wicketkeeper nominated if there is injury on the SL tour.”Does he have the technique or not, time will tell,” Patil said of Saha batting at No. 6. “We have backed him looking at his performance in domestic cricket. The kind of experience he carries. You immediately cannot replace someone like Dhoni and come in and deliver the results. But we certainly feel that Wriddhiman is the right option and looking at his ability in batting as well, he should strike a good balance.”BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur also said Virat Kohli would turn out for India A in the second unofficial Test against Australia in Chennai from July 29-31.”Virat Kohli had requested the selection committee for some match practice and wanted to play a game against Australia A,” Thakur said. “He will be playing the second four day game against Australia A.” Patil, however, confirmed that Cheteshwar Pujara would lead India A in the game.Squad: Virat Kohli (capt), Varun Aaron, R Ashwin, Shikhar Dhawan, Harbhajan Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Wriddhiman Saha, Ishant Sharma, Amit Mishra, Rohit Sharma, M Vijay, Umesh Yadav, KL Rahul

ScorecardMichael Yardy’s farewell century was the proper way to go, unlike his T20 exit•Getty Images

Michael Yardy’s final white-ball appearance at Hove could not have gone much worse. David Willey’s onslaught in the NatWest Blast quarter-final meant he came within a few feet of the indignity of joining a club created by Malcolm Nash 47 years ago. A lucky escape, but you fancy 34 from the over amid a thrashing felt bad enough.His final Championship game here will be remembered far more fondly. Tuesday saw him add an emotional, fluent 40 to Monday’s doughty, important 60 before promptly getting out, his century achieved and job done, having taken Sussex past four vital bonus points, which Chris Jordan would turn into five not long after.Yardy’s was a necessary knock and Hove, to a man, stood in applause. When he fell for 104, pulling Peter Trego directly to deep backward square, the place fell silent before rising in applause once more, as Somerset players came over to shake his hand. By Yardy’s standards, the response was emotional, a violent bat wave to mark the century, and a point to all corners on the slow walk back.Over 16 years, Yardy had earned the right to be a tad teary. Little wonder a number of Sussex folk were emotional, too. Yardy has a mighty cricketing CV. He provides the last link to Sussex’s first ever Championship winners in 2003, and has won the title twice more, in 2006 (when they also won the 50-over trophy) and 2007. In 2009, he captained the club to a limited overs double.To say Yardy’s career has merely “coincided” a golden period for his county does him a gross injustice; his centrality, as player and bloke, cannot be overestimated. Likewise, few will forget his role in England’s World T20 triumph of 2010. He retires as one of just 11 Englishman to have won the final of an ICC event.You read this plenty but Yardy really is one of the good guys; just a normal guy. Softly spoken and kind faced, his dreams, it seems, were always about playing cricket for Sussex. He admitted to being nervous before play, emotional when he reached his century and when he says he will miss his team-mates most, you believe him.The moment, he said, was “very much up there,” in his career highlights, and “very, very special. I will cherish it in the future when I’m not playing cricket…. It’s a funny one because somebody just said how great it was to do that, and then you think after what happened in the T20 I was due a little bit!”Of the celebrations, he said bashfully: “That’s not really me. There was emotion there and I probably welled up a little bit. It meant a lot. When you’re 60 not out coming into your final innings at Hove, you know what you want and the goal is very clear. It was nice to get there.”Yardy has looked a man liberated since announcing his retirement in mid-July. Since then, he has visibly shifted some timber and relocated his smile. It is telling in his cricket; in fact he bows out with centuries in both his final two Championship games at Hove and even had to laugh off suggestions that his decision should be reversed.He lost the chancier Ashar Zaidi to Jamie Overton’s first ball of a day delayed by overnight rain, but was quickly away with a wristily pulled four. The double trigger and mighty crab were as exaggerated and the striking as clean as ever, but his nerves told with some slightly hare-brained running.He moved into the 80s with a straight drive, followed it with another four through mid-on, and into the 90s with a controlled edge to the third man fence. A beautiful cover drive then a dab to fine leg brought up the milestone at a canter.”I’ve played here all my life, from the age of 11,” Yardy said, “and even during that time I’ve loved watching the guys play here. It was always something I aspired to as a young kid: like everyone who plays county cricket, you aspire to play for your home county. It’s a bit sad that it’s coming to an end but nice to finish in a nice way.”After one Jordan heave-ho too many (Luke Ronchi did well to take a swirling skier), Somerset’s response was unfussy until a hefty band of rain came at 4.45. Tom Abell was wonderfully wristy but played on to a Jordan wide one and Tom Cooper flew out of the blocks before nicking through to Ben Brown.At the other end Marcus Trescothick was undefeated, and – considering the manner in which their England careers ended and the esteem they are held at their respective counties – comparisons with Yardy do not take much finding.After both Yardy’s moments, the third-loudest cheer of the day came with another Trescothick dab to third man for four to bring up his 50. He was typically strong in that area, and brutal on that trademark tiny-stepped drive.With rain forecast on Wednesday, this vital match’s value is likely to be seen in bonus points. Both teams to took full allocation in the first round; if the Somerset are to get full allocation in the second, Trescothick must stay put.

ScorecardFile photo: Jiwanjot Singh scored an important 91, was run out towards the end of the day•ESPNcricinfo Ltd

All the facets of an intense day of first-class cricket were on display on the penultimate day of Mumbai’s Ranji encounter against Punjab.The quality of the game may not have been the best, but the manner in which both sides applied themselves, that too in scorching heat, deserved to be complimented.It was such an intense day that after Punjab made 244 for 4 in their second innings, still 171 runs behind to avoid an innings defeat, neither side was completely satisfied. While Mumbai captain Aditya Tare felt “one more wicket” would have made it a perfect day for them, Punjab coach Arun Sharma thought the visitors lost “two wickets too many” in the last session.Once Tare, after helping his team’s lead cross the 400-run mark, declared the innings, Punjab knew they had to bat out almost for two days to avoid the ignominy of an innings defeat.As an element of surprise, and taking a cue from Ankeet Chavan’s second innings nine-wicket haul against the same opponents at the same venue three years ago, Mumbai started the innings with Harmeet Singh’s left-arm spin along with Shardul Thakur’s raw pace. While Harmeet could not provide the breakthrough, a wicket did eventually come from the other end.Manan Vohra was adjudged caught behind down the leg side while attempting a flick off Thakur in the fifth over of the innings. While the bowler along with Mumbai’s slip cordon went up immediately after the ball had rested in Tare’s gloves, the batsman was taken aback with the decision of umpire K Srinivasan and made his displeasure known.Vohra’s wicket brought together Jiwanjot Singh and Uday Kaul. With the wicket hardly asking any questions of them, the duo – considered to be Punjab’s stayers – did not really appear to be in trouble. While they kept the scoreboard moving before the break, Balwinder Singh Sandhu and Harmeet pulled things back after the break.The first six overs of the second session saw just two runs being added. The tightness of the bowlers eventually forced a mistake from Kaul in the next over. Kaul’s defensive prod off Harmeet resulted in an inside edge to Shrideep Mangela at forward short leg.The rest of the session then belonged to Jiwanjot and Mandeep Singh, both of whom batted with discipline. Thakur, who had headed to the dressing room after feeling discomfort in his right leg in his fifth over, returned to bowl another spell, but none of the batsmen played a false stroke. Mandeep was fortunate for having seen two false strokes in a Harmeet over – a heave against the spin and an extravagant drive – dropping in no man’s land. Barring that rush of blood, the duo saw out the session with little discomfort.After doing the hard work in the first two sessions, it was up to both the batsmen to capitalise in the last session and reduce the deficit going into the last day. Instead, Jiwanjot threw his wicket away just after entering the 90s in the manner of a run out. After flicking Thakur through midwicket, Jiwanjot called Mandeep for a second run. Jiwanjot was a tad slow to turn back and Harmeet got such a perfect throw in from the deep that Tare only had to whip the bails in time. Even a desperate dive from the batsman was not enough to save his wicket.Half an hour later, Mumbai got the bonus wicket of Yuvraj Singh. The Punjab captain got off the blocks quickly with a flick off Dhawal Kulkarni but he tried a paddled sweep off part-time offie Akhil Herwadkar, only to bottom-edge the ball on to the stumps.Mandeep and Himanshu Chawla then looked in no trouble with the old ball as Mumbai hurried the over rate to use the new ball as early as possible on the last morning.

ScorecardFile photo: Craig Ervine’s 125-run stand with Sean Williams helped Zimbabweans ride minor hiccups on their way to a comfortable win•Getty Images

The Zimbabweans sounded out an early warning to Bangladesh after they breezed past BCB XI by seven wickets in Fatullah. Craig Ervine and Sean Williams batted serenely before Elton Chigumbura, the captain, belted massive sixes and ended the chase of 278 with a flourish in Sikandar Raza’s company.Chigumbura, who took over the chase in the 34th over, hammered five fours and three sixes in his unbeaten 64 off 49 balls. He shared an unbroken 68-run stand with Raza for the fifth wicket as the Zimbabweans got home with 20 balls to spare.The visitors started poorly with Richmond Mutumbami caught at point by Sabbir Rahman off Shafiul Islam in the eighth over. Chamu Chibhabha made 33 off 35 balls but bad luck followed him when Shafiul took a stunning diving catch off Sunzamul Islam in the 12th over to leave the Zimbabweans in a hint of trouble.Williams and Ervine then added 125 runs for the third wicket before Williams walked off during the second drinks break with the score reading a comfortable 176 for 2 in 33 overs. The in-form Williams struck five fours and a six in his 57-ball 54. Ervine, meanwhile, batted longer, hitting nine fours and a six and looking equally fluent in his 99-ball 95. He was also well caught by Sabbir, who covered good ground from cover to mid-off, in the 40th over. But the good work done by the third-wicket pair converted the chase into a cruise.The start of the match, though, was a bat-off between Anamul Haque and Imrul Kayes after news filtered through on Tuesday night that Soumya Sarkar was doubtful for the ODI series with a side strain. The pair took up the challenge, scoring a half-century each, and adding 105 for the first wicket.Kayes played some attractive shots before holing out to Malcolm Waller off the legspinner Graeme Cremer for 56. Anamul, who made 52, was out stumped soon after off the same bowler, and lost out to Kayes, who was picked as Sarkar’s replacement despite looking equally effective.Cremer had a third wicket when Liton Das skied him, to be caught by the wicketkeeper Regis Chakabva, thereby missing a chance to play a longer innings after making a pleasing 23-ball 25, while Sabbir Rahman (3) was Luke Jongwe’s first wicket.Mushfiqur Rahim and Shahriar Nafees, rewarded with a place in the BCB XI side after he ended the National Cricket League as the highest scorer, added 90 runs for the fifth wicket. Nafees made a run-a-ball 38 with four boundaries and six while Mushfiqur ended as 81 not out off 84 balls to finish the innings on a high. But that wasn’t enough against the spirited Zimbabweans on the day.

A typically belligerent knock of 88 in as many balls from Vinod Kamblilifted Mumbai to a total of 247 on the first day of their Group ASuper League clash against Delhi at the Ferozeshah Kotla today. Mumbaistruck back to take three quick wickets as Delhi limped to 49/3 atstumps.After Mumbai won the toss and batted, openers Amol Rane and AmitPagnis added 47 in 18 overs before both perished in the space of threeballs. Jatin Paranjpe fell cheaply to give Amit Bhandari his secondwicket but Kambli and Amol Muzumdar launched a swift relief operationwith a 99 run stand in just 19 overs. But with the score at 154,Ashish Nehra delivered a double blow. He first induced a tickle fromMuzumdar(36) to give wicketkeeper Vijay Dahiya his third catch of theinnings following which Mumbai captain Samir Dighe walked in and outfor a three ball duck.After Kambli and Sairaj Bahutule had put on 49 for the 6th wicket,Virender Shewag ended Kambli’s fireworks by trapping him legbefore. Kambli’s innings was studded with 16 fours and took his Ranjiaggregate this season to 424 runs at 70.67. The Mumbai tail wascleaned up before long with Bhandari’s 3-69 being the best bowlingfigures for Delhi.The Delhi reply began calamitously as Abey Kuruvilla and SantoshSaxena fired out three men with just 16 on the board. Saxena, who hadtaken just four wickets in his four previous matches this season,rattled the stumps of Devinder Sharma and Mithun Manhas (both forducks) in the space of three balls. Ashu Dani and Virender Shewagcarried the score to 49 without any further inroads.