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West Indies Women captain Stafanie Taylor has said her team cannot quite believe it that they are the new World T20 winners, after they beat three-time champions Australia by eight wickets in the final in Kolkata

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Apr-2016West Indies Women captain Stafanie Taylor has said her team cannot quite believe it that they are the new World T20 winners, after they beat three-time champions Australia Women by eight wickets in the final in Kolkata. West Indies chased down a stiff target of 149 in the last over, but the pursuit was made easier by an opening stand of 120 between Taylor and Hayley Matthews.”I don’t think it has sunk in yet,” Taylor said. “When we wake up in the morning it’s going to be like ‘is it real trophy?’ I will ask myself, ‘is this real?’ When we touch down at the Caribbean that’s when it’s going to hit you. [There will be] a lot of people with cameras you will realise that you have won the World Cup.”Taylor did not just revel in the celebrations of West Indies’ maiden World T20 title, but also expressed that the victory could act as a stepping stone for women’s cricket in the Caribbean islands. She called for the authorities to develop infrastructure so that the women’s game would develop there.”We have to move on from here, not just enjoy, look at it [as a] stepping stone,” Taylor said. “We don’t want to [be] stuck here. We definitely need some infrastructure like in Australia and England. We need young guys coming up.”When these core players go, it will deteriorate. We need to start building. We need consistency to compete [against] teams like England and Australia.”Taylor scored 59 off 57, her 18th T20I fifty, in West Indies’ chase and ended the tournament as the highest run-scorer with a tally of 246 and an average of 41. She is also the second-highest run-scorer in women’s T20Is with 2208 runs, behind Charlotte Edwards’ total of 2605 runs. Taylor said her team did not think much about the total they were after, and instead focused on batting through the innings.”It’s funny, we never discussed the total,” she said. “We just wanted to bat through, it was good to keep wickets in hand. We could do that, stay there and bat through.”The chase was set up aggressively by 18-year-old Matthews, who had gone past the score of 20 only once in the tournament, but shone in the final by hammering 66 off 45 balls with six fours and three sixes, to be named the Player of the Match. It was her maiden T20I fifty in her 19th match. She had recently played for the Hobart Hurricanes in the inaugural Women’s Big Bash League to score 195 runs, and her captain, Taylor, had featured for the Sydney Thunder, who won the tournament. Taylor credited Matthews’ stint in the Women’s BBL for their side’s dominating show.”It actually helped us,” Taylor said. “It was good for her exposure and build on her. She’s matured the way she played.”The West Indies players were joined in their celebrations by the men’s team who were going to play against England soon at the same ground. Taylor said the men’s team were backing them and were giving them full support.”We have the full support,” she said. “When we won the semis, Darren Sammy said we need to celebrate and have a drink. We are quite far far away [from home]. We can’t interact face to face and rely on text messages with people back home. We just need to go there and do your best.”With one dream fulfilled, Taylor said another one on the list was to play Test cricket. “That’s one of my dreams – to play Test cricket. It will suit my style and build my game. [I’d] definitely like to play Test. Some of the girls playing here will like the longer format and build their game. It will help us in ODI games.”Taylor had taken over the captaincy only last September from Merissa Aguilleira, and led West Indies to ODI and T20I series wins against Pakistan at home. She was the highest run-scorer in the ODIs with an average of 130.50.

Wrexham co-chairman Ryan Reynolds had better watch out as world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury has challenged Deadpool to a fight.

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Red Dragons eased to victory over the ShrimpsLancashire native wants to exact revengeMarvel superhero called out by the 'Gypsy King'WHAT HAPPENED?

The enigmatic boxing superstar has reacted to Wrexham’s 6-0 mauling of Morecambe in their latest League Two fixture – with Fury a native of the Lancashire town. He has previously launched a bid to complete a takeover of the seaside-based outfit, which would have put him in direct competition with Reynolds and Rob McElhenney in the chairmanship stakes.

AdvertisementWHAT FURY SAID

For now, Fury wants to exact revenge of sorts by squaring up to Reynolds’ famous Deadpool character in the ring. He has asked his loyal legion of social media followers to choose who would win in a fight if he were to trade blows with the Marvel superhero.

InstagramTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Fury had revealed back in September, after seeing Wrexham join Morecambe in League Two, that he intended to “call out Ryan Reynolds” when attending a meeting between the two clubs. He has been as good as his word, with the larger-than-life 35-year-old currently readying himself for a unification fight against Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia on February 17, 2024.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT?

Wrexham will face Morecambe again shortly after that battle in the Middle East – on March 9 – with it possible that Fury will be in attendance at Mazuma Mobile Stadium. Until then, he is reflecting on a crushing defeat for the Shrimps that saw Red Dragons striker Paul Mullin add another hat-trick to his collection.

The 47-year-old has been confirmed as Vlatko Andonovski's successor, but takes over a squad that has a lot of question marks hanging over it

After several months of treading water, the U.S. women's national team is finally ready to start pushing in the right direction again. A new coach is on the way in, and she's a good one. After several months of searching, interviewing and discussing, the USWNT brought in one of the world's elite.

On Tuesday, Emma Hayes was officially announced as the USWNT's next head coach following confirmation that she will be leaving Chelsea at the end of the Women's Super League season arrived 10 days earlier. In Hayes, U.S. Soccer has gone out and flexed its muscles, luring in one of the world's most respected and successful leaders to help usher in a new era.

Hayes will know what she's walking into: a situation with unlimited potential, but plenty of pitfalls to navigate along the way. This job isn't easy by any means; there's just so much pressure and so many egos to navigate. Plenty of her predecessors have struggled to adapt, although Hayes does have the advantage of entering a locker room that has been humbled by several years of let-downs.

Because of that, the team that Hayes is inheriting is one that requires some fine-tuning. She isn't taking over a champion; she's taking over a squad that will need to re-learn what it takes to get to the top of the mountain.

But what are the big problems Hayes will have to address, and how might she go about rebuilding one of the world's elite? GOAL looks at some of the keys to Hayes' reign…

Getty ImagesThe Alex Morgan dilemma

Alex Morgan's spot with the USWNT has been guaranteed for about a decade, but even before Hayes' arrival, it had started to come under question. The striker is in the middle of an 11-game goal drought for the national team, and given the number of rising attacking stars that have emerged in recent times, it's fair to ask whether 34-year-old Morgan's time as the USMNT No.9 is coming to an end,

Well, maybe not. Morgan still does plenty of strong attributes having evolved her game over the years. The goals will come for a player of her quality, too, even if that is a concern at the moment.

Still, with young talents like Sophia Smith, Trinity Rodman, Mia Fishel, Jaedyn Shaw and Alyssa Thompson all vying for minutes, what role will Morgan play going forward? Now playing under a coach in Hayes that loves free-flowing attacking play, could this team look better without her in it?

Hayes will need to figure out what role Morgan will play and how big that role will be. Can she still start? Can she be a key veteran off the bench at a major tournament? Or, with a next generation looming, is time winding down for a player that, no matter what happens, will go down as one of the best the USWNT has ever seen?

AdvertisementGettyChoose a No. 6

The No.6 position in the USWNT has been a problem area for quite some time. The U.S. has been searching for answers ever since Julie Ertz stepped away to give birth, and it'll be up to Hayes to finally find a permanent replacement following the midfielder's post-World Cup retirement.

Andi Sullivan got the nod at that World Cup, but never quite made the role her own. Emily Sonnett has since stepped up, and to her credit, has looked pretty good. Then there's Sam Coffey, a player that probably should have more caps than she does with the USWNT based on her club form for the Portland Thorns in the NWSL.

With stars like Rose Lavelle and Lindsey Horan in midfield, the U.S. can go up against any team in the world, but only if they have that shield defensively to hold things down. Finding that player has been a struggle, but it clearly isn't impossible.

GettyUsher in a new generation

It's no doubt that one of the reasons Hayes took the job in the first place is that the USWNT is absolutely loaded with young talent, and whoever replaced Andonovski would have been tasked with bringing those players along and turning them into killers.

Doing that, though, is a delicate process. Players move and grow at different speeds, while veterans age and fall off the radar in different ways. Throughout her tenure, Hayes will need to make some tough calls about when and where to throw players in at the deep end.

The good news is that several players have already experienced the biggest stage. Rodman and Thompson already have World Cup experience, so that's one less thing for Hayes to worry about. However, for players like Shaw, Fishel and Olivia Moultrie, Hayes will need to make big decisions on when they're truly ready to step into the spotlight.

Shaw and Fishel have gotten a taste, and both have gotten goals to their name already, too. Moultrie was recently in camp and looks like the next player to make the step up. There's a young core starting to develop as Hayes' appointment nears, and piecing that puzzle together will be one of her more fun challenges during her time in charge.

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Getty ImagesFix the attack

The wealth of attacking options available to the USWNT is almost unmatched in world football. Morgan, Rodman, Smith, Thompson, Shaw… all current or future stars. You can also toss in Lynn Williams, a potential Olympic starter, as well as Ashley Hatch and Midge Purce. And don't forget about Mallory Swanson, who will be back at some point, too.

Still, despite all of that firepower, the U.S. has rarely looked like a cohesive attacking unit in recent times. The group struggled to generate much of anything at the World Cup, scoring just four goals in as many games, with three of those coming against minnows Vietnam.

Hayes will be very aware of that, and throughout her time at Chelsea has shown a willingness to try different systems to get the best out of all areas of her team. Hayes isn't a rigid coach married to one tactical ideal; she's open to adjusting so as to get the most out of what she has. She also is more than ready to think outside of the box and give players freedom, as evidenced by how she handles England stars Fran Kirby and Lauren James, who do not always have defined positions.

It may take some trial and error, and Hayes may have to experiment with different players formations and ideas to get it all firing, but getting the attack to play at least equal to the sum of its parts will be a big key to getting the USWNT going again.

James Foster led from the front as Essex opened their LV= County Championship Division Two campaign with a five-wicket victory against Kent at Chelmsford

Press Association21-Apr-2015
ScorecardJames Foster calmly steered his side to victory•Getty ImagesJames Foster led from the front as Essex opened their LV= County Championship Division Two campaign with a five-wicket victory against Kent at Chelmsford.The home captain hit an unbeaten 80 containing 10 fours and one six as Essex reached their target of 193 shortly after the lunch interval on the third day.The penultimate day began with the game evenly poised and the home side lost the wicket of 17-year-old Daniel Lawrence without addition to the overnight 66 for 3. The youngster became Mitch Claydon’s third victim of the innings when he was snapped up at forward short leg, but that dismissal heralded the arrival of Foster to underline his class.While Jamie Porter, who had come in as nightwatchman, was content to defend resolutely at one end, Foster, despite one or two anxious moments on a pitch where the ball sometimes rose awkwardly off a length, penetrated the field with some forceful strokes either side of the wicket.When the 50 stand was raised from 109 balls, Porter’s share was a solitary single, off Ivan Thomas, having been put down by Matt Coles at second slip in the same over. Porter then picked up runs through midwicket before earning a big cheer from the crowd when he found the offside boundary against Claydon.Soon afterwards, however, he was dismissed in unfortunate circumstances when a delivery from Coles struck him on the helmet and trickled onto his stumps to dislodge the bails. Porter’s valuable resistance, that spanned 85 deliveries, had brought him 14 runs and one boundary in a stand that yielded 66 in 22 overs.That left Essex on 132 for 5 but it was the last success Kent were able to celebrate as Foster, in partnership with Jesse Ryder, saw the hosts to the winning post.They needed just nine balls after lunch to gather the 23 runs required with both batsmen hitting sixes. Foster despatched Claydon into the crowd in front of the pavilion at mid-wicket while the New Zealander sent a ball from Thomas over long-on.The victory underlined Essex’s fighting qualities particularly as they were in dire trouble at 69 for 7 in their first innings, and gives them a great start to their season’s main objective of winning promotion to Division One.It also gave them their sixth consecutive Championship victory, a sequence which began in mid-July last year. Essex collected 19 points from the match while Kent took just three points in an encounter where neither side collected a batting point.

Surrey captured seven prime wickets in the space of 65 overs on a blameless surface at the Kia Oval to fight back against Middlesex

Andrew Miller at Kia Oval15-May-2016
ScorecardNick Gubbins raced to a half-century but couldn’t register his maiden hundred•Getty ImagesOn a day of North London sporting collapses, Middlesex’s subsidence against Surrey couldn’t hold a candle to the tragicomic events up at St James’ Park, where Tottenham Hotspur squandered the chance to finish above Arsenal in the Premier League for the first time in 21 years.Nevertheless, the capture of seven prime wickets in the space of 65 overs on a blameless surface meant that, by the close of the first day at the Kia Oval, Surrey’s threadbare attack had recovered manfully in their own game of domestic one-upmanship.After winning the toss on another flat and straw-coloured deck – precisely the sort of surface that the ECB would have had in mind when they introduced their new spin-friendly directive – Middlesex made such hay in the morning session that their lunchtime scoreline of 126 for 0 seemed like a promise of the riches to come.Instead, despite starts for each of their top four including a particularly classy 91 from Nick Gubbins, the day finished with a belatedly claimed new ball from Surrey, men around the bat, and quite a task in hand for Middlesex to secure their full allocation of batting points.Surrey’s cast of bowling absentees could fill most attacks in the land – Zafar Ansari (thumb), Mark Footitt (side), Matthew Dunn (hamstring), Sam Curran (A Levels – how dare he?), Jade Dernbach (stress fracture) and Stuart Meaker (groin, to put it euphemistically) – so when Kumar Sangakkara spilled Sam Robson on 9, a sharp but catchable chance at first slip, it felt like the sort of opportunity that wouldn’t go unpunished.Instead, Surrey stuck to their guns and chiselled out their wickets – two each for Gareth Batty, whose pumped-up performance refused to allow the standards around him to slide, and James Burke, and three for Tom Curran, whose key extraction of Gubbins after lunch was followed by two more in three overs before the close, to inject some urgency into the final moments of the day.Surrey’s first breakthrough came only four balls into the afternoon session, when Robson, on 53, was lured down the wicket by a wide delivery from Batty and beaten round the outside edge as he stabbed half-heartedly into the covers. Ben Foakes whipped off the bails to deny Robson a fourth century of a summer in which he had converted each of his previous three fifties to three figures.Despite Robson’s ongoing form, Gubbins had been the main man of Middlesex’s morning, driving and pulling with particular ferocity as he closed in on a maiden first-class hundred that remains strangely elusive for a man of his talent. Twice before he had reached the nineties, and once again he fell with three figures in sight – a loose waft across the line to a full ball from Curran, and Arun Harinath tumbled at mid-off to scoop the looping chance. Both men had been awarded their caps during the lunch break, and together they took the crowd’s applause again.Adam Voges, back in the side after taking a blow to the head while fielding against Hampshire a fortnight ago, joined Dawid Malan in a third-wicket stand of 72, and at 238 for 2, Middlesex seemed back on course for their dominant first-innings total. But once again, the onset of an interval took some of the wind out of their sails. After the addition of six runs in 20 minutes after tea, Malan aimed a flat-footed drive at Burke to be caught behind for 58, and Burke was back in business soon afterwards as Voges propped half-forward to be sent on his way lbw for 47.Despite the depth in Middlesex’s line-up, and the sun on their backs throughout a near-perfect day for batting, their struggle for dominance continued as Surrey cranked up the pressure. Batty struck again as John Simpson shaped to sweep only to be struck in line with leg stump for 12, while Paul Stirling and Ollie Rayner were no match for Curran in the day’s closing overs.

Romelu Lukaku got the “40,000 whistles” reception at Inter that Nerazzurri fans had promised, with ultras defying a ban on the handing out of gifts.

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Striker won league title at San SiroReturned on loan last seasonNow with Serie A rivalsWHAT HAPPENED?

The Belgium international striker was once a fan favourite to San Siro, with Serie A title glory savoured back in 2020-21. After enduring a forgettable second stint at Premier League giants Chelsea, Lukaku returned to Milan on loan last season.

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He was then linked with a move to Inter’s arch-rivals Juventus over the summer, before ending up back in Italy working under Jose Mourinho at Roma. Lukaku was never going to get a warm recerption from the home support when returning to familiar surroundings, with passionate supporters vowing to make his “life on the pitch hell”.

DID YOU KNOW?

Inter ultras were ordered not to hand out whistles prior to a meeting with Roma, but that advice was ignored and Lukaku was welcomed onto the pitch for his pre-match warm-up by a deafening noise.

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WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Lukaku knew what was coming and was able to see the funny side. He calmly applauded the Roma fans in attendance before going about his business with a smile on his face. Inter followers had, however, made it clear that they would whistle his every touch, with the 30-year-old forward unable to escape the most ear-splitting of sounds in the stands.

A "devastated" Thiago Silva apologised to Chelsea fans in an emotional message after an awful error gifted Newcastle a goal in a 4-1 defeat.

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Silva issues apology after silly errorChelsea convincingly beaten by NewcastleBlues drop to 10th spotWHAT HAPPENED?

The defender was at fault after a critical error led to Joelinton's goal that helped the Magpies to further extend their lead. Silva's sloppy pass was cut off by his compatriot and Joelinton made no mistake to score past a helpless Robert Sanchez between the sticks.

AdvertisementWHAT THIAGO SILVA SAID

Silva posted an emotional message after the defeat which read: "I'm devastated. It wasn't a good day for us. I would like to apologise to everyone for the defeat, especially to my teammates who believe in me and support me every day. I take full responsibility. Let's gather strength and come back stronger."

Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

After coming out second-best to an injury-ravaged Newcastle, Mauricio Pochettino was naturally left "upset". Alexander Isak scored the opener but Raheem Sterlingensured that they were back on level terms soon after scoring a brilliant free kick. However, after the break, the Magpies upped the ante and Jamaal Lascelles made the most of the inspired start and put his team back in the lead. After Silva's howler, things went further south for Chelsea as Reece James was handed his marching orders. Ten minutes later, Anthony Gordon scored the fourth of the match for Newcastle to seal a memorable evening for the fans at St. James' Park.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR THIAGO SILVA?

Silva is one of the leaders in the dressing room and became the oldest player to ever feature for the Blues at 39 years and 64 days when he was named in the starting XI against Newcastle. The centre-back will look to put this disappointment on the back burner and move ahead as Chelsea are set to host Brighton next on December 3.

Star midfielder Pedri capped a dominant display with the only goal of the game as the Liga leaders extended their advantage over Real Madrid.

Pedri was the star of the show as Barcelona beat Getafe 1-0 to move six points clear at the top of La Liga, for the time being at least.

The visitors proved as physical as expected, treating both Pedri and Gavi to a series of kicks and trips for the majority of the game.

The Blaugrana had few chances, as a result, but took their one gaping opportunity 35 minutes in, when Pedri converted a cross from Raphinha.

Barca also needed some help from Marc Andre ter Stegen, who made two crucial stops to keep Getafe out.

But there could have perhaps been an extra goal or two for Barca, had Franck Kessie and later Ansu Fati showed more composure inside the box.

Still, it was a mostly steady showing, with Pedri and Gavi ensuring that the Blaugrana maintained pole position in the title race…

Getty ImagesThe Winners

Pedri:

The young Spaniard gets better to watch with each passing game, and is becoming an increasingly versatile midfielder. Last week, as Barca won the Spanish Super Cup, he was a pure attacking midfielder, getting into advanced positions with a defensive duo behind him. This time out, he was a box-to-box no.8, winning tackles, breaking up play and holding everything together. In a contest that required composure, Pedri was the epitome of cool. It helped, of course, that the 20-year-old also grabbed the winner, meeting Raphinha's cross with a well-timed slide. But his impact here was bigger than the scoreline suggests.

Sergi Roberto:

Roberto is an odd fit in this Barca squad. At 30, he's a few years ahead of the young core steadily developing in front of him. He's also not as quick or agile as the kind of advanced full-back Xavi prefers. But he's experienced, reads the game with aplomb, and can always be counted on to put in a shift. With Ronald Araujo rested, and Jules Kounde shifted to centre-back, Roberto filled in at right-back wonderfully. There were one or two scary moments, highlighted by a misjudgment on a Getafe counter-attack that almost saw a goal go in. But it was otherwise a solid 77 minute showing, which is exactly what Barca needed from their veteran.

Sergio Busquets:

Seven hundred appearances and counting. Not bad. The captain has now been a first-team regular for over 10 years and he was as reliable as ever on his milestone appearance for the Blaugrana. Busquets touched the ball more than any Barca midfielder, completed 92 per cent of his passes, and made seven recoveries. He seldom dominates games and certainly doesn't have the legs he used to, but in scrappy, testy contests like these, the ageing Spanish midfielder is a real difference-maker. Busquets might not have too many more showings in a Barca kit; a summer exit seems likely. This game, then, was a reminder of what Barca might miss.

AdvertisementGettyThe Losers

Jordi Alba:

Is the left-back slowly being phased out? It certainly seems like it. Alba ceded his starting spot to Alejandro Balde for the second time in three games, and simply wasn't on the same level as his positional rival when he was brought on in the second half. This was by no means a terrible showing from Alba. He was steady in possession, eager to get forward, and lashed one shot on goal. But his athleticism is waning, while Balde looks to be rounding into a more complete full-back. There's something a bit sad about watching a club legend see his playing time reduced, but Alba's days as a guaranteed starter appear numbered.

Real Madrid:

There are relatively few home fixtures in which Barca might drop points, but this is usually one of them. Getafe are very difficult to beat. Furthermore, with Robert Lewandowski still suspended and the visitors set up with their usual defensive grit, this was undoubtedly a potential banana skin for the Blaugrana. But they found a way to win, which is a blow for Real Madrid, who will likely have hoped Getafe could have done them a favour ahead of their evening encounter with Athletic Club, particularly with a trip to the Club World Cup round the corner.

GettyBarcelona Ratings: Defence

Marc Andre ter Stegen (7/10):

Made one crucial save to hold on to a 1-0 lead late in the first half. Did it again in the second, and exercised some clever gamesmanship late on.

Sergi Roberto (7/10):

Has made it clear that he wants a new deal, but will likely be a squad player going forward. Still, did well enough here to suggest he can fill in whenever needed.

Jules Kounde (7/10):

Impressive in the air, reliable on the ball, and opened up his stride to make a few recovering tackles. One of the best in Europe when he's on it.

Andreas Christensen (6/10):

Not the most assured showing, and left Barca vulnerable on the counter once or twice. Removed after 45 minutes with a hamstring issue.

Alejandro Balde (7/10):

Preferred to Jordi Alba, a selection choice that may well become common as the season goes on. Relentlessly bombed down the left. Taken off at half-time after a good shift.

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GettyMidfield

Gavi (7/10):

Did all the dirty work in midfield, flying into tackles and causing a sort of controlled chaos. Was solid on the ball, too, and had some lovely moments of link-up play with the front three.

Sergio Busquets (7/10):

Celebrated his 700th Barca appearance with a satisfying win. Solid as ever.

Pedri (8/10):

Scored the winner, controlled the game, and kept his head despite getting kicked all over the place. The best player on the pitch.

Royal Challengers Bangalore face Kings XI Punjab next in a bid to erase the memories of two horror losses in their last two games

The Preview by Devashish Fuloria27-Apr-20145:20

Agarkar: Bowling clicking a good sign for Kings XI

Match factsApril 28, 2014
Start time 1830 local (1430 GMT, 2000 IST)Big PictureA team wanting to make it to the knockout stage of the IPL can only afford a few horror matches in the season. Royal Challengers Bangalore have already had a couple of them, one after the other, early in their season. A campaign that started with encouraging wins now needs to shake off the bad inertia. It can only be a good thing that they face Kings XI Punjab, the strongest team on current form, next; win this and get the anaesthetic you need to numb the wounds from last two losses.It doesn’t sound easy and it’s going to be even more difficult in reality. After two good wins, question marks have now been pasted all over on Royal Challengers’ batsmen. It now seems that only the inclusion of Chris Gayle can perk the team up. However, there is still no conclusive news on his fitness. Irrespective of Gayle’s availability, the rest of the batsmen, especially the middle order, will need to shrug off the uncertainty that has set in. Royal Challengers’ bowling is better placed at the moment and they are likely to bring back the impressive Varun Aaron after resting him from the previous game.Kings XI would have been extremely satisfied with their win against Kolkata Knight Riders. First time in the tournament, their batting came under pressure with the early exits of Glenn Maxwell and David Miller, but their bowlers responded with sustained intensity. Mitchell Johnson has said that he is slowly finding his best after missing out on cricket for a month due to a toe infection and that gives the attack a well-rounded look. Johnson fires it quick, Sandeep Sharma likes to nip it around, L Balaji loves bowling those legcutters and Akshar Patel’s left-arm spin is gaining traction.Watch out forOne thing is for sure that the moment Yuvraj Singh steps out, George Bailey is going to unleash Mitchell Johnson on him. Rewind to October 2013 to trace the beginnings of Yuvraj’s slide. Johnson served up a 150-plus short ball to send Yuvraj back for 7 in an ODI in Pune. Another short ball in Mohali and Yuvraj edged it to fall for a first-ball duck. In Nagpur, Yuvraj expected the short ball, but left a mighty gap between the pad and the bat to be bowled for a two-ball duck. Life hasn’t smiled at Yuvraj since then (except on the IPL auction day) and Johnson is no happy news.AB de Villiers did score an unbeaten 45 in Royal Challengers’ second win but his last two outings are a cause for concern for his team. Against Knight Riders, he, along with Yuvraj, let the game drift away to the last over before being dismissed, albeit to an exceptional catch by Chris Lynn. Against Rajasthan Royals, he walked in early in the third over in a scenario that should have allowed him enough time to build. Instead, he fell for a duck playing a loose shot to an innocuous delivery. His patchy form seems to have extended from the World T20 where he managed a single half-century. With their campaign floundering a bit, Royal Challengers need the cushion of the old de Villiers.Stats and trivia The batsmen from Kings XI and Royal Challengers, along with Delhi Daredevils, have hit the most centuries – five each. The last of them was a 38-ball 101 by David Miller, against Royal Challengers Virender Sehwag’s 37 in the match against Knight Riders was his highest score from his last 13 IPL innings

Mumbai Indians face another must-win match, this time against Kings XI Punjab in Mohali, a team they have beaten earlier this season

The Preview by Devashish Fuloria20-May-20143:12

Prasad: Mumbai need to believe in turnaround

Match factsWednesday, May 21, 2014
Start time 2000 local (1430 GMT)Hello, anybody home? Mohali has often worn the deserted look•ESPNcricinfo LtdBig PictureA month after they took this edition of the tournament by storm, Kings XI Punjab return home to Mohali, a ground notorious for its sparsely filled stands be it international cricket or the IPL, for the first of three home games. In the recent past, only an occasion as big as the 2011 World Cup semi-final between India and Pakistan saw Mohali choc-a-block with people. Now, they won’t have an excuse as Kings XI have been the team to watch in the tournament, their style of batting possibly the most exhilarating ever in seven editions of the IPL.Facing them will be Mumbai Indians, a team on the brink. The defending champions have had a disastrous campaign and need to win all their remaining matches to have any chance of making it to the playoffs. The Mohali test promises to be their toughest as they will be playing their last two matches against Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Daredevils with the vociferous support of the Wankhede crowd behind them. That they are one of only two teams to beat Kings XI this season should boost their confidence.Form guideKings XI Punjab: WWLWW (completed games, most recent first)
Mumbai Indians: WLWLWWhere they standKings XI Punjab: Top of the table, with 18 points from 11 games
Mumbai Indians: Seventh, with 8 points from 11 gamesPrevious encounterHarbhajan Singh reined in the Glenn Maxwell storm just when it was threatening to explode in the teams’ previous meeting. George Bailey and David Miller failed to fire and Kings XI could only set a target of 169, which, considering the conditions in Mumbai, was slightly below par. Kieron Pollard, with a 12-ball 28, helped Mumbai Indians complete the chase in the last over.Watch out forKings XI retaining Manan Vohra, a 20-year-old batsman, ahead of the auctions seemed to be against conventional wisdom. They then kept him hidden for nine matches, raising more questions about that decision. But if you saw him hit that back-foot punch for six over cover off a quick Mohammed Shami delivery against Daredevils, you wondered why on earth was he out for so long. Vohra’s stats for his two matches this season read 89 runs off 39 balls, which is a strike rate of 228.20, a few notches above that of Maxwell.Michael Hussey’s return to the top of the order has lent solidity to a fragile Mumbai Indians batting. His half-century in his comeback match in Ahmedabad gave Mumbai Indians their best start this year. Maybe the team could have been patient with his form earlier. With three must-win games ahead of them, they now need Hussey to come good three more times.Stats and trivia Kieron Pollard’s strike-rate – 130.89 – is the best for Mumbai Indians this season. Kings XI have five batsmen with a better strike-rate than that In four matches against Mumbai Indians in Mohali, Kings XI have lost just once. They scored 168 batting first in that match, the same as in their loss against Mumbai Indians earlier this season Kings XI are nine short of becoming the fourth side to hit 500 sixes in the IPLQuotes”He is a genius and he has done it so many times before for the Chennai Super Kings in previous seasons and Australia as well.”