Jadon Sancho’s future is back up in the air, with the Manchester United-owned winger bidding farewell to Borussia Dortmund at the end of his loan.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
Returned to Germany in winter windowGraced 2024 Champions League finalDue back at Old Trafford this summerWHAT HAPPENED?
The England international returned to familiar surroundings during the winter transfer window after finding himself frozen out under Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford. Dortmund were happy to put a short-term deal in place for the 24-year-old forward, as they know what he is capable of.
AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Sancho showed flashes of brilliance back in Germany, helping BVB to the Champions League final, but is still searching for the spark that convinced United to part with £75 million ($95m) when bringing him back to his homeland in 2021.
WHAT SANCHO SAID
They have a big decision on make on Sancho this summer, with ties once again being severed with Dortmund. Sancho has said in a farewell post on social media: “What a crazy 6 months @bvb09. We win together we lose together, these moments only make us stronger! I’m so grateful to be apart of such an amazing group of players! I want to congratulate Real Madrid on winning the Champions League. We came up short on the night, but we should be super proud of ourselves. We are a family and these moments won’t break us! Thank you to everybody who came out to support us on such a special day! I want to thank everyone involved at such an amazing club. I can’t thank you enough for welcoming me back the way you all have during these last 6 months. Thank you to Edin Terzic, Sebastian Kehl and Hans-Joachim Watzke for believing in me and bringing me back. Finally a special thank you to the BVB fans. Your support is amazing and I’m forever thankful for you all!”
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
GettyWHAT NEXT?
Dortmund would be open to keeping Sancho on their books, but the funds required to meet his asking price and salary demands are putting him out of reach. There has been talk of his slate being wiped clean at United – particularly if Ten Hag is moved on – but for now speculation will continue to rage regarding what the next couple of months have in store for Sancho.
Manchester United could now be at the centre of a transfer saga that could develop in the coming days involving a midfielder who may move to Old Trafford.
Man Utd's hunt for new players…
The Red Devils have endured an inconsistent Premier League campaign that has thrown Erik ten Hag's management style under the microscope from some in footballing circles as the Dutchman continues to search for a winning formula at Old Trafford.
Of course, the January window will provide a platform to alleviate some of his concerns over his available playing squad; however, football director John Murtough has warned that the Red Devils may not be too active in the January window.
All confirmed Premier League done deals: January transfer window 2024
With the January transfer window coming towards its conclusion, FFC has all the info for tracking your club’s winter transfer activity.
ByLuke Randall Feb 1, 2024
"Looking ahead to the January transfer window, we are not expecting it to be particularly busy. There will always be the possibility of deals around the edges of the squad, particularly in terms of finding opportunities for players who are not playing as much football as they would like. However, we’ve always been consistent in saying that we do not see January as the optimal time to do business and our recruitment strategy remains focused on summer windows."
Finding feasible transfer targets mid-season has historically led to the Red Devils exploring the loan market in the last few years to fill the gaps, with the likes of Wout Weghorst, Odion Ighalo and Marcel Sabitzer being recent examples.
Nonetheless, a permanent signing now looks to be on Manchester United's radar in a deal that could be set to develop in the coming days, as per a report.
Man Utd keen on Ederson
According to reports in Brazil via Sport Witness, Manchester United have made contact with Atalanta midfielder Ederson's entourage to discuss the conditions of a permanent transfer to Old Trafford. The outlet claim that the Red Devils are now internally evaluating whether to make an approach to try and claim his signature.
Five similar players to Ederson (FBRef)
Player
Club
Santi Comesana
Villarreal
Pablo Barrios
Atletico Madrid
Pierre Lees-Melou
Brest
Hicham Boudaoui
Nice
Mahdi Camara
Brest
The Serie A outfit have the Brazilian under contract at the Gewiss Stadium until 2026; however, Manchester United's board see him as a 'promising name' and it is suggested that he may swap Italy for England in the mid-season period and that a saga could now develop in the coming days.
Ederson in action during a Serie A match.
Showing his eye for the target, former Brazil Under-20 international Ederson has hit the back of the net five times this campaign alongside recording an assist in 25 appearances across all competitions and the 24-year-old can play as a holding, central or attacking midfielder, showing his versatility (Ederson statistics – Transfermarkt).
United could use some added dynamism in their engine room and Ederson may help to offer an alternative to their current crop of options at Old Trafford if he were to pitch up there this window, making this one to watch.
Sarah Taylor and Katherine Brunt, two of England’s most experienced women’s players, have given the thumbs-up to the ECB’s new 100-ball tournament, saying it will only help improve the health of women’s cricket in the country, the scrapping of the Kia Super League (KSL) from 2020 notwithstanding.”I am happy to play any tournament whatsoever,” Taylor told ESPNcricinfo in Mumbai during England’s ODI series against India. “I am not too fussed either way. I think The Hundred’s going to be a brilliant tournament. The amount of work and effort the ECB have put into The Hundred, I think it will be an absolute success.”It will be a lot of fun for us as well. We’ve had some warm-up games played around with it, and we all love it. We think it’s brilliant. We just think it’s going to be an exciting time for English cricket, and we get to have a little bit of fun as well.”Fast bowler Brunt – at 33, the oldest player in the England squad and second only to Taylor in terms of ODI caps – echoed her team-mate’s views on The Hundred. Brunt also emphasised that the format itself would be a good opportunity for female cricketers to hone their skills further after the platform offered by the KSL, where the domestic players rub shoulders with some of the top-drawer internationals.”The KSL has done its job,” Brunt said. “It’s set the platform for T20 cricket in England. It’s had a lot of good exposure. It’s gotten better, year on year. The overseas [players] take it more seriously now. It’s taken as a really good competition to be part of in terms of their development but also learning from the best in the world and playing cricket has been really good.”The Hundred will be a whole new ball game, obviously keeping some of the same traditions. But sounds like I’m going to be pretty tired bowling ten balls! But that’s exciting too.Katherine Brunt celebrates with her team-mates after a wicket•AFP
“Like anything, a lot of it is about taking it head-on, do the best we can and learn from that. I feel it can only improve your cricket: the better you can be in the shorter [format]. It takes a lot of skills to be good at that. And you can take that forward into longer competitions. I’m loving it. I can’t wait for it to start and see what happens with it.”Taylor and Brunt’s views come at a time when the ECB has been firming up plans to implement a new women’s domestic structure from 2020. This would mean that the women would have a 20-over league and a 50-over tournament, in addition to The Hundred.The new competition has been held partly responsible for the extra money set to come into the English game, through the £1.1 billion broadcast deal announced in 2017, and that is likely to be reflected in a much increased pool of professional women. The Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA) has been involved in negotiating with the ECB and David Leatherdale, the PCA chief executive, said England’s senior women players were supportive of efforts to spread the wealth.”We’ll obviously see salaries in women’s cricket grow substantially, but they’ve been very open to say it’s not just about them, and if we don’t have a domestic structure that develops who is the next Charlotte Edwards, Heather Knight, etc – they’ve been totally understanding that the structure is key,” he said.While several observers have criticised the ECB’s move to scrap the KSL, which has only recently gained full momentum after coming into existence in 2016-17, Taylor and Brunt’s views align them squarely with that of ECB chief executive Tom Harrison. Last week, he told BBC TMS that the 100-ball tournament, “an optimised short-form cricket”, is a “success already” given the purported interest it has generated among those outside the “traditional cricket bubble”.As with Brunt, who said the biggest contribution of the KSL had been “the exposure it gave our youngsters”, Anya Shrubsole, the England vice-captain, emphasised the KSL’s legacy would be the pool of young talent it created.According to Shrubsole, not only did it improve the health of domestic cricket in the country but it also benefited the national side, as was evident through the influx of players like Sophia Dunkley, the batting allrounder, and left-arm spinner Kirstie Gordon in the World T20 side last November, via the KSL route.”Kirstie came in and performed really well,” Shrubsole said. “She, like many others, will go on to play many games for England. That’s the most important part of the [KSL’s] legacy.”Yes, it will change slightly with the Hundred, but it’s about slowly professionalising the women’s game – not just at the international level but also in England. The KSL started to do that, and I’m sure that’ll be carried forward into the Hundred.”England captain Heather Knight added that The Hundred would ring in “an exciting time” for the women’s game in the country, especially for up-and-coming women’s cricketers aspiring to make it to the England side.”The opportunity for the women’s game is to be put alongside the men’s game and be marketed at the same,” Knight said, “and hopefully it’s going to put the women’s game out there and give it an opportunity to shine.”
Tottenham Hotspur's 4-1 victory over Newcastle United on Sunday afternoon has completely changed the mood in north London after an abject run of form that saw Ange Postecoglou's side lose four of five matches in the Premier League, drawing the other game.
There's no hiding from the fact that the recent blip has been an unacceptable lapse in form, injuries or not, but so much credit must be given to the Australian manager for his instant success in transforming the beleaguered Lilywhites squad and propelling them to the forefront of the division across the opening months of the 2023/24 campaign.
But given that he only arrived in the summer after Spurs finished eighth and lost talisman Harry Kane, such can be forgiven: there is a clear philosophy currently being instilled and while defensive reinforcements are needed, the attack deserves attention too.
With that in mind, it might be wise for Postecoglou and chairman Daniel Levy to invest in the frontline in January, with reports this month suggesting that the London club could be among the frontrunners for prodigious winger Johan Bakayoko.
Tottenham transfer targets – Johan Bakayoko
According to a report from Football Insider's Pete O'Rourke at the start of December, Spurs are preparing to go head to head with London rivals Brentford in January, with Thomas Frank's side failing with a club-record £34m offer in August.
More recently, pundit Alan Hutton conversed with the site to detail his thoughts on the prospective move, claiming that Spurs must jump on the chance to secure his services in January.
Hutton said: “Bakayoko I’ve seen play for PSV against Rangers and I thought he was amazing. He’s very tricky, he’s got pace and power, he can score a goal, so Spurs won’t close the door.
PSV Eindhoven forwardJohan Bakayoko.
“If there’s an opportunity to bring a player on that level into your club, it will make you better. I’d never turn it down if the fee was correct.”
With emphasis likely to be heaped on the defensive ranks, it's unclear at this stage whether Levy would be willing to bolster across different areas, but should he decide that his frontal areas need more work, Bakayoko could be the dream acquisition.
Johan Bakayoko's style of play
Described as an "essential piece of this magnificent PSV team" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the 5 foot 10 winger has been immense across the maiden years of his professional career, understandably drawing attention from Premier League sides.
This season, he has posted four goals and 13 assists from 25 outings across all competitions, creating 2.8 key passes and making 3.3 ball recoveries per game in the Dutch Eredivisie, as per Sofascore.
Dribbling
Ball retention
Passing
Key passes
Finishing
Long shots
*Sourced via WhoScored
Already boasting nine Belgium caps, the progress that Bakayoko has made over the past year or so has been remarkable, having scored five goals and five assists apiece in the league during the 2022/23 league season.
During the later days of the summer, Liverpool, Everton and Paris Saint-Germain were credited with an interest, but despite all of this attention, he would remain in the Netherlands, continuing to hone his craft.
As per FBref, Bakayoko ranks among the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers across divisions similar in quality to the Eredivisie for assists, the top 5% for shot-creating actions, the top 20% for pass completion, the top 1% for progressive carries and touches in the attacking box per 90 and the top 2% for successful take-ons per 90.
Kulig seemingly can't get enough of this prospect's ability, also stating: "20 years of age. Such an electric player. Still very far from being a finished product but the potential is really high!"
Indeed, progressive, penetrative and creative, Bakayoko would bring so much quality to the Spurs frontline and could be the perfect counterweight for the relentless Dejan Kulusevski, who has also started to find success centrally, further opening up a dimension to Postecoglou's attack.
With Bryan Gil having featured across six of the past seven Premier League matches, it's clear that further improvements could be made to Tottenham's team, and Bakayoko would be the dream upgrade.
Gil has created just 0.3 key passes per game this season and doesn't appear to offer the physicality or decisiveness to succeed – and has failed to score across 37 matches and has been shipped out on loan since signing for Tottenham from Sevilla for £22m in 2021. It's clear that his time is up.
Should the north London outfit succeed in their pursuit after the new year, then Postecoglou would wield one of the most frightening offensive talents around, with more than a little likeness to one Bukayo Saka, who plies his trade down the road with Spurs neighbours Arsenal.
How Johan Bakayoko compares to Bukayo Saka
Saka has been a prominent name on the English football scene for a number of years now but has really blossomed into one of the Premier League's standout forwards over the past few years.
Aged just 22, Football Transfers lists the England international as the fourth most valuable attacking player on the planet – behind only Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe and compatriot Harry Kane.
Having chalked up 201 appearances for the Gunners already, Saka has scored 46 goals and supplied 52 assists, praised for his ever-improving "ruthless" streak that has now placed him into "world-class" conversation by England manager Gareth Southgate.
This term, the £195k-per-week gem has already plundered eight goals and 12 assists for Mikel Arteta's side, boasting a supreme creative and tricky edge that Bakayoko is showing signs of replicating.
Saka ranks among the top 17% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues for goals, the top 8% for assists, the top 15% for shot-creating actions, the top 14% for progressive carries and the top 4% for touches in the attacking box per 90, highlighting a willingness to drive into the danger area and an aptitude to sink opponents when weaving into such positions.
Spurs have to complete a transfer for Bakayoko in 2024, especially with Gil flattering to deceive and crucially to prevent a Premier League rival from snapping up his signature.
Postecoglou's talent radar appears to be on the money, and with the kind of man management that the Australian could provide this hotshot, it's a deal that has to happen.
Se no começo do Brasileirão o sonho do Fortaleza era garantir uma vaga na Copa Sul-Americana, atualmente a história é bem diferente do imaginado por torcida e diretoria do Tricolor.
+ TABELA DE CLASSIFICAÇÃO DO CAMPEONATO BRASILEIRO
Com 32 pontos, a realidade do Leão é brigar para se manter na elite do futebol nacional, algo frustrante perto do trabalho realizado nas últimas temporadas.
Contratado na semana passada, Enderson Moreira terá a missão de reanimar o elenco e buscar uma redenção que pouca gente imagina.
+ Ninguém quer o Brasileirão! Tropeço de líderes inspira memes entre os torcedores
Quebra de Jejuns
Além de ajudar o time a balançar a rede, algo que não aconteceu nos últimos quatro duelos, Enderson Moreira precisa quebrar a seca de vitórias. Nos últimos sete jogos, o Fortaleza empatou quatro vezes e perdeu três.
O último triunfo do Tricolor do Pici no Campeonato Brasileiro aconteceu no dia 15 de novembro, quando a equipe derrotou o Botafogo por 2 a 1.
RelacionadasVitóriaPerto do Z4, Vitória tenta somar pontos fora de casaVitória12/01/2021GrêmioGrêmio tenta quebrar marca ruim contra os gigantes de São PauloGrêmio12/01/2021GrêmioMaicon deve ser a novidade do Grêmio para encarar o PalmeirasGrêmio12/01/2021
The directive came after Karachi Kings, the Pakistan Super League franchise, sought a stay order against the UAE T10 league’s usage of the name Karachi
Umar Farooq17-Nov-2018
Shahid Afridi goes through his trademark celebratory routine•PCB/PSL
The UAE T10 franchise Karchians is working out a new team name after a court in Pakistan ordered against using the word “Karachians” or anything “phonetically deceptive or resembling name”.The Karachians is one of the eight franchises in the tournament, which is due to begin on November 21 and apparently draws its team names from various parts of the subcontinent, for example Kerala Kings, Bengal Tigers and Punjabi Legends. However, last week, its organisers had to suspend their promotional activities after Sindh High Court’s order barred TV and radio organisations in Pakistan from broadcasting or advertising anything from the T10 league related to the Karachians – or any other team using Karachi in their name in Pakistan or abroad.The directive came after Karachi Kings, the Pakistan Super League franchise, sought a stay order from the court against the UAE T10 league’s usage of the name Karachi. Team owner Salman Iqbal, who was also the president of the T10 league until he stepped down in September, filed the writ petition. And in response to it, the court issued its order to the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA). The Karachians – which is owned by a Pakistani based in the UAE – had been actively involved in the promotion of the league and their team in Karachi and Lahore.Hearing the counter argument, the court observed that the major cause of disagreement was about the use of city’s name or anything related. “Learned counsel for the defendants No 1 and 2 (T10 stakeholders) files a statement and states that the said defendants are the organisers and promoters of second edition of T-10 league and one of the team name in the said league is “Karachians”. However, the said defendants will not use the name “Karachians” or “Karachi” or any name with suffix of “King” nor shall they use any logo etc in the said T-10 league or with any other phonetically deceptive or resembling name. The statement is taken on record,” the court order read.While it is to be noted that a court in Pakistan holds no legal jurisdiction over a business in the UAE, Nawab Shajiul Mulk, the league chairman, said that the franchise would comply with the court order.”We got the high court stay to be fully vacated and we are back to promotions and broadcasting of T10 in Pakistan,” he told ESPNcricinfo.”Due to shortage of time and to avoid the risk of stay being extended for further arguments we agreed to not use the name “Karachians “in the league and will now be changing the name. We are happy that we were able to quickly dispose of the stay order and get back to promotions of the T10 league in Pakistan.”A lawyer representing the T10 league said it still retains the right to use the word “Karachi” and its variations in the future.
Everton's downward spiral may have damaged their reputation for attracting the world's biggest talents, but it hasn't prevented them from unearthing stars from their academy.
Throughout their history, the Toffees have established a clear philosophy of developing youthful talent and giving them an opportunity to shine in the first team.
Wayne Rooney is undoubtedly the most talented player ever to graduate through their academy, making his league debut at the age of 16 before going on to become one of the best Premier League players of all time.
While it would be near impossible for any player to replicate the unparalleled impact he made for Manchester United and England, there was one academy graduate who was expected to challenge the legacy that the forward foraged.
Ross Barkley was once heralded as the 'next Rooney' by former teammate Leighton Baines, but would ultimately crumble under that hefty weight of expectation.
How did Ross Barkley perform for Everton?
When Barkley made his first-team debut as a 17-year-old in August 2011 against Queens Park Rangers, plaudits streamed in for the youngster across that season having showcased his swashbuckling style that caused bums to rise off seats.
Everton icon Tim Cahill said: “He is the most talented footballer I have worked with,” while former Arsenal defender and current pundit Martin Keown said: “Barkley will be one of the best players we will ever see in this country.”
Some high praise for someone who had only just turned 18 in that season and had only made six senior appearances for the club in the top flight.
The campaigns that followed, however, would soon see the free-roaming attacking midfielder showcase his ability to ghost past defenders with his speed, technique and forward-thinking which made him a nightmare to defend against.
Showing glimpses of his talent across his first few years in the first team, it was in the 2015/16 campaign – and his productive partnership with Romelu Lukaku – that would see the talented youngster explode into life.
Everton may have finished in a disappointing 11th place in the top flight, however, Barkley returned eight goals and supplied eight assists in the Premier League, while Lukaku scored 25 goals.
Unfortunately, after one more season at the club in which he produced 14 goal contributions in 36 appearances, he would depart Goodison Park in January 2018 and that would ultimately spark the beginning of his downward spiral.
How much did Everton sell Ross Barkley for?
Despite selling Barkley to Chelsea for £15m and making a colossal profit on their academy asset, the club could have cashed in a couple of years earlier for a significantly higher fee and that is a bitter pill to swallow.
In December 2013, Everton's manager at the time, Roberto Martinez, insisted he wasn't for sale, not even for a world record transfer fee, as per the Mirror.
He said: “Even if we got a Gareth Bale-size valuation we would never even consider it in January.”
Although it seems ludicrous to imagine Barkley leaving for a world-record transfer fee now given how his career has taken a rapid decline, the fact he was valued so highly by Everton in 2013 emphasises just how truly talented he was.
But having been captured by Antonio Conte, with the Englishman describing the move as "unbelievable", his career would, unfortunately, unravel into a nightmare at Chelsea – something which pundit Graeme Souness had foreshadowed after stating that the midfielder "didn't have a brain".
Branded as a 'flop' by several media outlets, including the Mirror, Barkley would only go on to score 12 goals in 100 appearances for the Blues in four and a half years.
He was subsequently released by mutual consent in August 2022, departing for OGC Nice on a free transfer before joining Premier League newcomers Luton Town this summer.
As is so often the way, Barkley is just one of many young English talents who sadly fell victim to media hype.
يفقد نادي الزمالك لاعبين، في مباراته القادمة أمام بيراميدز، التي تقام مساء الجمعة، ضمن منافسات بطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز.
الزمالك يلتقي مع بيراميدز، في المباراة المؤجلة من الأسبوع الـ 18 لمنافسات بطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز.
طالع | موعد مباراة الزمالك القادمة بعد الفوز على الداخلية في الدوري
وكان فريق نادي الزمالك فاز على الداخلية، بنتيجة 2-1، في المباراة التي أقيمت بين الفريقين مساء الأحد، في الجولة الـ 31 من عمر مسابقة بطولة الدوري المصري.
وكشف الجهاز الإداري للفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي الزمالك، عن غياب حمزة المثلوثي مدافع الفريق عن المباراة المقبلة أمام بيراميدز في مسابقة الدوري للإيقاف لتراكم البطاقات الصفراء.
وحصل المثلوثي على البطاقة الصفراء الثالثة في مباراة اليوم أمام الداخلية، وسبق حصل من قبل على بطاقتين صفراواتين أمام بيراميدز وانبي.
وفي نفس الوقت يغيب مهاب ياسر، عن المباراة المقبلة للإيقاف بعد الحصول على البطاقة الصفراء الثالثة اليوم أمام الداخلية، وسبق وحصل على بطاقتين مع فريقه السابق قبل الانتقال للزمالك في يناير.
Aston Villa have found phenomenal form in 2023 under Unai Emery. The wins have arrived, and, therefore, so has a place in the Europa Conference League, leading to an exceptional summer landing players like Moussa Diaby and Nicolo Zaniolo. It has been a near-flawless tenure for Emery, but success is not without its negatives in football, and when the transfer window swings open, the Midlands club may find that out the hard way.
Whilst players continue to reach new heights at Aston Villa, other clubs, be it in the rest of Europe or in the Premier League, will begin to come calling, with one top manager already setting his sights on one particular star player.
Aston Villa transfer news
The Villans did well to not only recruit the right players during the summer, but also keep hold of those who earned a place in Europe in the first place. The likes of Emiliano Martinez and Ollie Watkins stayed put, rightly convinced that Emery's project is the place to be. They may not be so lucky when the January transfer window opens, however, given the latest Douglas Luiz transfer news.
According to reports in Spain, Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has never been so interested in Luiz, and believes that the addition of the Brazilian would strengthen his squad in January. It won't be an easy deal, and Villa are in a strong position with Luiz's contract not expiring until 2026, but the Villans will be on high-alert.
From Emery's perspective, he will surely be desperate to keep hold of his defensive midfielder, who would be hard to replace mid-way through the campaign, with fixtures coming thick and fast, including a potential European knockout tie. The winter window could certainly test the resolve of the star players currently plying their trade at Villa Park.
Douglas Luiz's stats
It's been another impressive season when it comes to Luiz's stats. The midfielder has played a vital part, helping Villa get off to a strong start, leaving them fifth in the table and just four points adrift of table-toppers Tottenham Hotspur. Compared to current Atletico Madrid midfielder Rodrigo De Paul, Luiz stands out even more, as per FBref.
Player
Progressive Carries
Progressive Passes
Tackles Won
Blocks
Interceptions
Douglas Luiz
13
46
13
10
4
Rodrigo De Paul
9
26
6
4
0
The former Manchester City man has earned plenty of praise during his time at Villa, too, including from Emery, who said, via The Birmingham Mail: “His improvement is to be strong in the structure I am creating. Offensively, strong structure trying to occupy good spaces, trying to take passion to get the ball to them.
"Don’t lose this structure offensively then, when we have to react defensively as well, he’s in very good positions to start pressing against them. Of course, sometimes we can have more possession of the ball, sometimes less.
“The idea is to try and keep ball possession for a long time. If we are not doing it, we have to keep our structure defensively strong. We’re being very competitive starting in our structure. Away from home we’re showing it. At home, there’s not the balance I want.”
Lahiru Kumara delivered 13.3 hostile overs, and Kasun Rajitha was probing on Test debut, but a half-century from Devon Smith drove West Indies foreward on a rain-hit second day. They stand only 135 runs behind Sri Lanka, with eight wickets still in hand. Only 42.3 overs were delivered in the day, the rain arriving during lunch to wash out much of the afternoon and evening sessions, before stumps were eventually drawn due to bad light at 5:55 pm.Snith was measured for much of the day, hitting only four fours (two of which were edges past the slip cordon) and a six in his 53 not out off 134 balls. He had his outside edge beaten on plenty of occasions, even through the last few overs of the day, but he did enough to survive, and did not miss out when genuinely poor balls were on offer. The half-century is his seventh overall, and his first since April 2015. Smith was especially strong on the legside in this innings, once advancing to launch Akila Dananjaya over long on for six.Kumara, perhaps, will consider himself unlucky for having only collected figures of 1 for 48. He troubled each of the four West Indies batsmen who came to the crease on day two, often surprising them with the bounce and pace he generated. He touched 145kph on occasion, generally aiming at the batsmen’s ribs. His breakthrough came very late in the day – Kusal Mendis diving to his right from second slip to complete an excellent low take off Kieran Powell, who had attempted to drive that ball. In the first session, Kumara could easily have had Kraigg Brathwaite lbw, with a ball that jagged in from well outside off stump. The ball had hit Brathwaite above the knee-roll though, and umpire Aleem Dar felt it was probably going over the stumps.Rajitha was not quite so aggressive, but there was obviousl skill to the manner in which he operated. He moved the ball both ways off the pitch, and frequently went looking for that edge, his length often full and his line always testing. He had made the first breakthrough, shortly before lunch. Angling a ball in at Brathwaite, Rajitha got it to straighten just a fraction. The result was a feather edge to the wicketkeeper – that touch so light that Brathwaite even reviewed believing he had not hit the ball. DRS disagreed, however. Brathwaite was out for 22 off 79 balls, having gritted his way through almost the entire first session.So disciplined had Sri Lanka’s quicks been in the first session that West Indies made only 63 runs in 25 overs. The scoring rate increased after the first extended rain break, but went south again in the final 6.2-over stretch of play.Encouragingly for Sri Lanka, there was decent turn for their offspinner Dananjaya on day two. Nevertheless, West Indies are still completely in control of this game, particularly with their strong middle order still alive in the first innings.