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Former New Zealand allrounder Chris Cairns will face a charge of perjury in the UK

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Sep-2014Former New Zealand allrounder Chris Cairns will face a charge of perjury in the UK. The Crown Prosecution Service has confirmed that Cairns will face one count of perjury related to a libel action trial from two years ago.A spokeswoman for the Crown Prosecution Service said: “We can confirm that we have authorised police to charge Chris Cairns with one count of perjury, which arises from a libel trial held in the UK in March 2012.”In a statement, Cairns said he was “extremely disappointed” by the charge but would extend full cooperation to the authorities.”I can confirm that I have now been notified by the Crown Prosecution Service in the UK that it is their intention to lay charges against me on 25 September for perjury,” Cairns said in a statement.”I’m obviously extremely disappointed, however, at least there will now be an opportunity to face my accusers in an open forum, with some rigour and proper process around that, so that I can clear my name once and for all.”I hope that, through this forum, significant additional information will be flushed out that will help people to better assess the situation, as well as the character and motives of the parties involved.”I wish this wasn’t the situation – having been to Court before, I know what lies ahead and how gruelling it will be and how tough it is on my family – but I have nothing to hide and I will do whatever it takes to once again prove my innocence.”I will continue to co-operate fully with the authorities, including voluntarily travelling to the UK to face these changes.”New Zealand Cricket also released a statement acknowledging the likely charges.”New Zealand Cricket acknowledges the decision from British police to lay perjury charges against former New Zealand cricketer, Chris Cairns,” the NZC statement said. “These charges, quite different from proceedings conducted by cricket authorities into match-fixing and corruption, will now be tested in a British court of law and be subject to the normal processes of a criminal trial. Accordingly, NZC will not make any comment on the matter until such time all proceedings have been concluded.”The Crown Prosecution Service also charged London-based lawyer Andrew Fitch-Holland with one count of perverting the course of justice. Fitch-Holland had served as Cairns’ lawyer during the libel action against former IPL commissioner Lalit Modi in 2012.In May, Cairns had been interviewed by the Metropolitan Police, the ECB and the ICC’s Anti-Corruption Unit in London. He claimed the interviews in London had been conducted at his own request and dealt with allegations he had perjured himself during the Cairns v Modi trial in 2012, and separate allegations of match-fixing.

A menacing opening burst from Otago Volts’ fast bowlers and a well-measured mauling from Brendon McCullum delivered them an eight-wicket victory over Faisalabad Wolves, who failed to compete in any discipline

The Report by Andrew Fidel Fernando17-Sep-2013
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsFile photo – Brendon McCullum took Otago Volts home with an unbeaten 83•AFPA menacing opening burst from Otago Volts’ fast bowlers and a well-measured mauling from Brendon McCullum delivered them an eight-wicket victory over Faisalabad Wolves, who failed to compete in any discipline. All four Otago’s quicks bowled out, but none conceded more than 6.5 an over and shared seven wickets between them.Misbah-ul-Haq the batsman might have his reputation embellished, after hitting a 34-ball 46 that ensured that there was a contest, but as a captain he will perhaps attract yet more scrutiny for misreading the Mohali pitch, and handing the opposition a clear advantage by batting first. McCullum’s thoughtfully-constructed 83 not out from 65 made light work of Faisalabad’s 139, and Otago reached their target with 13 balls to spare.James McMillan might not even have played this match, had Jacob Duffy been fit, but his impact on the match was immediate and far reaching. Ammar Mahmood struck the first ball of the match powerfully for four, but could not get McMillan’s first ball further than point, who knelt to take a straightforward catch.That over cost one run and had reaped one wicket, and were it not for an inside edge off the last ball, McMillan’s second over would have been no less impressive. Otago’s seam collective wasted little of that early momentum, as they rarely veered far from the stumps in the early overs, and had Faisalabad hobbling at 34 for 3 in the eighth over.With that dismally familiar scoreline beckoning Misbah to the crease, he rolled up his sleeves to launch another dutiful recovery, as he has done for Pakistan so many times in the last year. He found a like-minded partner in Khurram Shehzad, and the pair began reclaiming ground in steady shovelfuls at first, before Misbah felt he had the measure of the pace-friendly Mohali dirt.A legside six off Nathan McCullum in the 12th over foreshadowed the aggression to follow, which would yield Faisalabad their most profitable over of the innings. In the 14th, Misbah walloped two more sixes and a four in the same cow-corner region, off the same bowler, hauling his side’s run rate beyond six for the first time since the first over.Though Khurram had clung on in Misbah’s company to help forge a 61-run stand, he could not match his captain’s attacking competence, and departed for 27 off 36, just as the innings might have moved into a phase of dominance, had he stayed around. Misbah’s progress slowed, as Otago’s disciplined pace bowlers returned in full force, and he was bowled making room to hit through the offside, off the last ball of the 17th over.McCullum did not allow poor balls to go unpunished early in his innings, but atypically, he did not go looking for trouble either. Neil Broom had departed in the first over, and with a modest score to chase, a return of 16 from his first 20 balls did not seem to irk him. Three Hamish Rutherford sixes saw Otago eclipse the required rate in the Powerplay overs, and McCullum sought nothing more than to maintain that steady momentum for the majority of his innings.Eventually he grew bold, after he and Derek de Boorder had put on more than 50 for the third wicket, and Faisalabad’s efforts sagged as the game slipped from them. Having progressed to 50 at just under run-a-ball, McCullum took them home with a flurry of thumping hits, and secured a fine net-run-rate, should it be required further down the line.

A round-up of the President’s Trophy matches on October 26, 2013

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Oct-2013Water and Power Development Authority completed an emphatic 213-run victory over Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited. WAPDA batted first, putting up a strong first innings total of 311, led by Aamer Sajjad (81) and Adnan Raees (68). Imran Khan was the pick of the bowlers with 5 for 70, and was ably supported by Zafar Gohar’s 3 for 60. ZTBL’s reply was rather flat as they only scored 185, with Naved-ul-Hasan doing the most damage with 4 for 28. Only Yasir Hameed stood out with his score of 70.WAPDA then added 237 in their second innings, with Mohammad Ayub scoring 64. This created a target of 364 for ZTBL, and it was vital that the top order provided useful starts. However, this would not be the case as Sharjeel Khan and Imran Nazir were the only batsmen to hit fifties as ZTBL folded for just 150, with each of the WAPDA bowlers taking at least two wickets.The opening match between Faisalabad and Multan petered out to a draw in Faisalabad. Multan batted first and posted 427, with Usman Liaqat top-scoring with 176. Contributions from Waqar Hussain (51) and Kashif Naved (64) did not go amiss, while Adnan Munir was the pick of the bowlers with 5 for 101. In reply, Faisalabad put up an impressive 475, courtesy lower-order centuries from Zeeshan Butt (102) and Fahim Ashraf (116). Both Shahbaz Hussain and Asif Fawad took four wickets a piece, as Faisalabad held a slight lead of 48 runs. Multan batted well again in their second innings, with Ahmed Rasheed making 99, while Mohammad Imran finished unbeaten on 51, as the teams held for a draw.State Bank of Pakistan completed a 133-run victory over Habib Bank Limited in Islamabad. After opting to bat, SBP put on 226, thanks largely to fifties from Raheel Majeed and Usman Saeed. Ehsan Adil and Sarmad Anwar were the pick of the Habib Bank bowlers, taking 5 for 53 and 3 for 37 respectively. Habib Bank matched SBP’s first innings score with key contributions from Hasan Raza (45), Rameez Aziz (43) and Adil (40). Saad Altaf took a five-for as things remained even-stevens.SBP put on a sizable 293 in their second innings, with Rizwan Haider’s 60 the top score. Sarmad took 4 for 80 and was ably supported by Mohammad Aslam’s 3 for 50. With 294 to chase, Habib Bank looked in trouble as they lost both their openers for just 8 runs. The middle order simply did not capitalise on their starts as Tabish Khan ran through the line-up to finish with 5 for 67. Mohammad Naved also chipped in by taking 3 for 46 as Habib Bank was dismissed for 160.National Bank of Pakistan kicked off their President’s Trophy campaign with a seven-wicket win over Pakistan International Airlines in Sialkot. After being put into bat, PIA posted just 135 in their first innings as Hammad Azam and Zia-ul-Haq ran through the order, picking up four and three wickets respectively.Despite losing opener Anwaar Hafeez inside the first over, Sami Aslam (109) and Kamran Akmal (53) ensured NBP did not make the same mistakes as they scored 278. Shoaib Malik was the pick of the PIA bowlers with 5 for 78. Facing a 143-run deficit, PIA did their best to run up a big total, but faltered as NBP’s bowlers, led by Adnan Rasool’s 4 for 64, restricted them to 218 in the second innings. Only Malik and No. 9 Rafaiy Safdar posted fifties in the second innings for PIA. With just 76 to chase, NBP did the needful in just under 19 overs.Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited began their title defence with a five-run win over Port Qasim Authority in Rawalpindi. SNGPL opted to bat first, but lost wickets at regular intervals and were restricted to 178 by PQA’s bowlers, led by Abdur Rauf’s 5 for 52. PQA’s openers put on 34 but the rest of their batsmen struggled to make meaningful contributions. Medium pacer Imran Ali led SNGPL’s charge, taking 8 for 42 as PQA were skittled for 132. With a slight lead of 46 runs, it was imperative SNGPL put on a strong total to build a sizeable lead.However, the PQA bowlers reduced SNGPL to 33 for 4 early on, with each of the bowlers chipping in. Only Ali Waqas and Khurram Shehzad posted over 30 runs, as Mohammad Talha and Mohammad Sami picked up 4 for 26 and 3 for 26 respectively to dismiss SNGPL for 110. Chasing 157, Imran Ali’s 5 for 55 tore through the top and middle order but PQA were still in sight of victory at 138 for 8, needing another 19 runs, but Sohail Khan’s wicket on 151 meant they fell just short of the target.Khan Research Laboratories beat Pakistan Television by six wickets to register an opening win in the competition. Pakistan Television batted first and only put on 125, with Sadaf Hussain (5 for 36) doing most damage, ably supported by Yasir Arafat’s 3 for 57. In reply, KRL put on 159, boosted by No. 10 Umaid Asif’s counterattacking 47 off 57 balls. Rizwan Akbar starred with the ball for PTV, taking 5 for 47, and Waqar Ahmed chipped in with 3 for 40.Imran Ali and Haroon Ahmed put on a better show in the second innings for PTV, adding 91 for the first wicket. But down the order, apart from Rizwan Ahmed’s 74, the rest of the batting folded without much fight. PTV lost wickets in clusters at several points in the innings, with four wickets falling for just 10 runs towards the end. Facing a chase of 200 runs, KRL overhauled the target without too much trouble. Saeed Anwar jnr’s 74 and Usman Salahuddin’s unbeaten 62 helped KRL reach the total within 42 overs.

IPL chairman Rajiv Shukla has said the decisions of the three-man commission looking into corruption complaints in the IPL must be directly implemented, and not presented before the general body of the BCCI

ESPNcricinfo staff29-May-2013N Srinivasan’s position as BCCI president, so solid all through the spot-fixing crisis and the arrest of his son-in-law on betting charges, appeared to wobble on Wednesday as the senior politicians on the board began speaking out on the issue. The most significant comment came from IPL chairman Rajiv Shukla after meeting with BCCI vice-president and disciplinary committee member Arun Jaitley: Srinivasan, they had decided, must “stay away” from the inquiry commission set up by the BCCI to look into the fixing and betting issues.Responding shortly after, Srinivasan said Shukla’s statement reiterated his own stand. “He has very clearly clarified that what he says is that the commission has been appointed and I should dissociate myself from the procedure as stated. He has reiterated what I stated in the press conference in Kolkata…that I have nothing to do with the committee.”Shukla did not clarify what he meant by “stay away,” but he did say they did not specifically mean that Srinivasan must stand down from his position. “He is an elected president and he says he has done nothing. That is his view,” Shukla said. “We would want that he stay away during the investigation procedure and have suggested to him that he do so. The image of the BCCI and of Indian cricket has been very badly affected by these events.”Shukla’s statement, which he repeated almost verbatim a couple of hours later, also said that the decisions of the three-man commission must be directly implemented, and not presented before the general body of the BCCI. It was important the investigation was “independent and that the persons responsible, no matter how they big they may be, are severely punished.”The inquiry commission had originally meant to comprise two BCCI officials and an independent member, but Shukla said it had been altered to assert its independence by including two judges and a single member from the board, in this case its secretary Sanjay Jagdale.The commission’s remit was widened to look into India Cements, the owners of Chennai Super Kings, apart from Gurunath Meiyappan, the Super Kings official arrested on charges of betting, and Jaipur IPL Pvt Ltd, the owners of Rajasthan Royals, three of whose players – Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan – were arrested on allegations of spot-fixing.The growing political pressure was also signalled by India’s sports ministry, which issued a statement calling for Srinivasan’s resignation. “The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has observed with considerable disquiet, the reports about match & spot fixing in cricket,” the statement read. “BCCI is inquiring into allegations of match and spot fixing. As there is a conflict of interest in this inquiry, therefore BCCI President should tender his resignation on moral grounds, pending the outcome of the inquiry.”Adding to the voices was former BCCI and ICC president Sharad Pawar, also a minister in the federal government, who backed another past president Shashank Manohar’s call for all IPL 2013 matches to be investigated by an external agency.”The entire issue should be referred to the home ministry and it should investigate all IPL matches,” Pawar said. “Shashank Manohar’s suggestion is correct. There should be a detailed investigation, not just one game, [but] all games should be looked at.”Pawar also said such a crisis “never happened” when he was in charge of the BCCI. He felt it was up to Srinivasan to decide whether he should resign, but when asked if he would have stepped down if he had been in Srinivasan’s position, he said, “If I had been there I would not have allowed these type of things.”Pawar was the board president, and Srinivasan the treasurer, when the BCCI had allowed India Cements, controlled by Srinivasan and his family, to bid for an IPL franchise in 2008. In the board’s opinion at that time, it did not amount to a conflict of interest but Pawar advised caution in the future.”In 2008, we had taken legal opinion and we got a considered view that there is no conflict,” Pawar said. “In that situation, when we discussed it in the office bearers’ meeting, it was cleared. But henceforth, we have to be very careful.”

S Badrinath, the injured India middle-order batsman, has said he hopes to return to first-class cricket in two weeks

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Nov-2011S Badrinath, the injured India middle-order batsman, has said he hopes to return to first-class cricket in two weeks. He has been sidelined since mid-October, after hurting his shoulder during the Challenger Trophy in Nagpur.”I’m making good progress. I have started batting from this week,” he said in Delhi. “I am aiming to play the upcoming Ranji match from December 6 [against Bengal]. I’ll get to know on Monday whether I would be able to take the field.”Badrinath is set to receive the Madhavrao Scindia award for the highest run-getter in last year’s Ranji season, where he amassed 922 runs at 131.71. “It was something I wanted to achieve. Last year I went into the season with an aim to do something phenomenal and make a statement with what I do on the field. So, I am happy I am able to achieve it and I hope it doesn’t go unnoticed.”He has missed the first three rounds of the Ranji Trophy, a tournament where he has been a heavy scorer over the past few seasons. Despite the early season set back, he has set his sights high this year as well. “I think I will come back and do whatever I can in the rest of the games. My aim is to make an impact. I have not got a triple century yet in a first-class game and that is what I want to do.”Badrinath, 31, last played for India during the tour of the West Indies earlier this year, and though there are several younger candidates for a spot in the middle-order, he remained optimistic of making a comeback. “I have been in the national team for a while, but didn’t get a chance to play [much]. In the back of my mind, I know I haven’t really lost. Maybe the [national] spots would open up soon and I feel I am the best guy to do the job.”

Queensland joined Victoria on 22 points at the top of the Sheffield Shield table on a day when 15 wickets fell at the Gabba

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Feb-2013
ScorecardQueensland joined Victoria on 22 points at the top of the Sheffield Shield table on a day when 15 wickets fell at the Gabba. Ten of those were in Western Australia’s first innings, which concluded for a mere 111 after the visitors had been sent in.Conditions in Brisbane were helpful to seam bowlers but not exactly unplayable, yet the Warriors were rounded up in only 51.5 overs, Adam Voges the only man to threaten a score of substance in making 38 while wickets fell around him.The Bulls shared the wickets, Cameron Gannon nipping out four and James Hopes three, Matthew Gale accounting for the in-form Shaun Marsh. Michael Hussey was a victim of Gannon, edging behind for five.Setting off in pursuit of a meagre total, Greg Moller and Luke Pomersbach guided Queensland to 83 without loss, before WA’s bowlers struck in the final session. Newly announced as a developmental tourist to India, the left-arm spinner Ashton Agar claimed another two wickets as the Bulls slipped to 5 for 100.However Hopes and Chris Hartley, captain and deputy, guided their side into the lead and an imposing position by the close.

Arran Brindle struck an unbeaten 40 to help England Women win the third ODI against India Women

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Jul-2012
ScorecardTammy Beaumont made 44, her highest ODI score, as England chased 174 to win•Getty ImagesArran Brindle struck an unbeaten 40 to help England Women win the third ODI against India Women and maintain their hopes of victory in the five-match series. Danielle Wyatt struck the winning runs with 16 balls remaining as England succeeded where they had failed 24 hours earlier, cutting India’s lead to 2-1 ahead of the fourth ODI in Truro on Sunday.England went into the series on a seven-match winning streak in one-day cricket but failed to defend 229 in a tight finish at Lord’s and then came up short attempting to chase down 130 on a slow Taunton pitch. After reaching 100 for 2 in the 27th over of the third ODI, England made hard work of reaching their target of 174. Tammy Beaumont top-scored with 44 but the hosts lost four wickets for 28 in a late stumble, as Brindle battled stoically to get them over the line.After another poor start that saw India slip to 47 for 4, captain Mithali Raj hit her second unbeaten ninety of the series to rescue the innings. She was the only India batsman to pass 24, combining with Reema Malhotra for a 71-run partnership, then adding adding 55 with wicketkeeper Sulakshana Naik in 8.2 overs at the end. However, despite economical and penetrative spells from Gouher Sultana, Nagarajan Niranjana and Archana Das, it wasn’t quite enough.

GOAL breaks down the Italian defender's journey from son of a legend to legend himself

Long before he burst onto the scene at AC Milan, Paolo Maldini's last name was legendary in Italy. His father, Cesare, was an icon for both Milan and the national team, a captain for both club and country. A dominant defender in his playing days, Cesare Maldini went on to manage AC Milan, too, making him one of the most important figures in history for one of the world's biggest clubs.

All of that is to say that the name Maldini carried weight and, for many, that weight would have been crushing. The moment Paolo Maldini was born, that weight was thrust upon him. He spent his entire childhood being looked at as Cesare's boy as he followed in the footsteps of his father for both club and country.

So how did Maldini shoulder that weight? How did he respond to the massive expectations thrown on him? Well, he simply became perhaps the best defender this sport has ever seen. Not bad… not bad, at all.

By the time his own career was over, Maldini redefined what his own last name meant. Over the course of two-and-a-half decades, Maldini won everything there is to win, reinventing himself as a player over and over again. His time at Milan was iconic. No player is more synonymous with a club than Maldini and Milan.

Born amid unrelenting pressure, Maldini exceeded every expectation, becoming an all-time great. To coincide with the release of his Future Stars Icon card on EA Sports FC24 on PlayStation 5, GOAL takes a look back at Maldini's journey and how he went from Future Star to ICON…

GettyWhere it all began

Maldini was born to play football, that much is clear. It didn't take long for him to prove that, either.

He rapidly rose through the club's youth teams and made his senior debut for the club at just 16 years old during the 1984-85 season. That was his only appearance during that Serie A season, but, at the start of the next campaign, Maldini was thrust right into the starting XI as a right-back. Notably, he was also handed the No.3 shirt that previously belonged to his father, too, cementing him as a player to watch for a rising Milan team.

He won his first Scudetto in the 1987-88 season, anchoring a legendary Milan side that would be remembered as "The Immortals". Featuring the likes of Marco van Basten, Frank Rijkaard, Ruud Gullit and Franco Baresi, the Rossoneri were loaded with legends and conceded just 14 goals throughout an entire Serie A season. Over the next two years, Maldini and Milan lifted back-to-back European Cups as the defender cemented his place among the best in the game.

AdvertisementThe big break

Although he is likely best known for his skills as a centerback, Maldini's early career was defined by his play on the outside. Having started on the right, he was eventually moved to the left by manager Arrigo Sacchi, highlighting Maldini's ability to play with both feet.

Still at the height of their powers, Milan took things to an even higher level during the 1991-92 season, going unbeaten for 58 matches to earn the "Invincibles" monicker. Under Fabio Capello, Maldini and Milan won three consecutive Serie A titles and reached three consecutive Champions League finals, establishing Milan as the top side in the world.

After winning a third Champions League trophy and reaching the 1994 World Cup final, Maldini truly arrived on the world stage. He finished third in that year's Ballon d'Or voting, a massive achievement for a defender, and finished fifth in the FIFA World Cup Player of the Year voting.

By 1994, at just age 26, Maldini had already won four Serie A titles, three Champions League titles, three European Super Cups and had been to a World Cup final. Following Franco Baresi's retirement, he was also handed Italy's captaincy and, ahead of the 1996-97 season, he was rewarded with the armband at Milan as well.

GettyBecoming an ICON

After being handed the captaincy, Maldini ushered in a new era of AC Milan dominance. Throughout the final years of the 20th century, the club's performance dipped a little as the players that formed the backbone of that early-90s side aged out. Maldini, then, was entrusted to be the face and leader of a new generation, one which went on to reach incredible heights as well.

As the figurehead of a backline that also featured Alessandro Nesta and Cafu, Maldini and Milan won the 2002-03 Champions League, his first as a captain. That win, which came over Juventus, came exactly 40 years after his father, Cesare, also lifted the trophy as Milan's captain. Maldini, of course, was Man of the Match, solidifying his place among the game's legendary defenders.

Now a centerback, Maldini went on to win one more Champions League in 2006-07 after infamously losing to Liverpool in the final the year prior. He went on to play all the way until 2009, making 902 total appearances for Milan. In total, he won 26 trophies with the Rossoneri, who retired his No.3 shirt after his retirement.

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GettyBiggest strengths

Where do you even begin? It's difficult to break down everything Maldini could do given the fact that he was a superstar at two different positions.

As a fullback, Maldini showcased fantastic pace and stamina, while also showing off the famous tackling and defending that would define his play as a centerback later in his career. The Italian was an underrated crosser of the ball, too, popping up with goals and assists that often go overlooked due to that defensive prowess.

That defensive prowess, though, is what made him a legend. One of the best pure defenders of all time, Maldini was a master of marking. Always aware of his surroundings, Maldini's positioning was unmatched, leaving few gaps for even the world's best attackers to exploit.

From a leadership perspective, too, there were few better, as evidenced by his trophy count and the trust put in him by both Milan and Italy to lead them as their captain.

Preview of the match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Chennai Super Kings in Hyderabad

The Preview by Kanishkaa Balachandran07-May-2013Match factsMay 8, 2013
Start time 2000 (1430 GMT)Big PictureIn-form teams are entitled to the odd bad day. On Sunday, Chennai Super Kings, on top with 18 points and two wins away from the playoffs, had one. Nobody would have expected the table leaders to go tumbling for 79, the lowest team score in this IPL. The captain MS Dhoni and coach Stephen Fleming conceded it was good in a way that the meltdown happened now, rather than in the later stages, when qualifications for the playoffs are at stake. Super Kings have relied on their batting depth to get them this far, but the slow pitch in Hyderabad will test them.Sunrisers Hyderabad, like Mumbai Indians, haven’t lost a game at home. They have a chance at making it back to the top four. They are presently at No.5 and a win will knock Royal Challengers Bangalore down a notch. Momentum is on their side, after two consecutive wins.Form guide (most recent first)Chennai Super Kings LWWWW
Sunrisers Hyderabad WWLLWPlayers to watchKaran Sharma, the Sunrisers legspinner, has picked up five wickets from seven games this season. Not sensational numbers, but he has made a bigger impact with his economy-rate of 5.59, which is gold dust in this format. With an action similar to Zimbabwe’s Paul Strang, Sharma has emerged as one of the relatively unknown Indian players to watch out for.S Badrinath has featured in all 12 Super Kings games this season, but has been underutilised, having batted in only six innings. Badrinath has been a regular with the team since the opening IPL, but has been shunted down the order below the allrounders Dwayne Bravo and Chris Morris, unless the team is in trouble. He was promoted to No.4 against Mumbai Indians but was dismissed for a third-ball duck.Stats and trivia S Badrinath has three scores of 34 this season MS Dhoni has hit the most runs off Dale Steyn in the IPL – 76 from 42 balls. It’s the most Steyn has conceded to any batsmanQuotes”Four more games are left and it’s a pretty long tournament to maintain your standards.”
“There have been a number of games in which teams, including ours, have not scored what we felt was a par score on it. I think we have bowled particularly well on it, at times our opponents too bowled well on it. I think it is not as bad as it looks statistically. It is decently good surface.”

Wolves came from 2-0 down to secure a dramatic 2-2 draw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League this afternoon.

A quickfire brace in the second half from Romelu Lukaku gave the Blues a comfortable lead before Francisco Trincao halved the deficit with 11 minutes to go.

Bruno Lage’s men nicked an unlikely point through captain Conor Coady in the 97th minute to prevent a fourth consecutive defeat and prolong Chelsea’s woes at home.

The point keeps Wolves in the hunt for an unlikely European place, with the West Midlands outfit two points off seventh with three games to go.

Moreover, Lage may now have to hand more opportunities to 22-year-old January signing Chiquinho, who came off of the bench to make a stellar impact today.

Chiquinho saved the day for Wolves

The Portuguese winger played just 19 minutes against Chelsea but set up both of his side’s goals in just his seventh appearance for the Wolves first team.

Along with his assists, Chiquinho – who was previously labelled a “ridiculous talent” by The Athletic’s Tim Spiers – completed six out of seven passes at an 86% accuracy rate and completed three out of four dribbles (75% accuracy) whilst winning 71% of his duels.

While there was little defensive contribution with just one tackle, Lage would’ve brought the youngster on to make an impact in the final third, and the 22-year-old certainly did that.

Given the fact that Wolves hadn’t scored in any of their previous three matches, the Portuguese youngster’s impact was particularly impressive, with the West Midlands side seemingly headed for another defeat before he made his mark.

Having joined in January from Portuguese outfit Estoril for a minimal fee, it seemed as though it would take time for the winger to be integrated into Wolves’ plans.

However, with three under-23 appearances and now seven first-team matches, it appears as though Chiquinho is very much in the Wolves manager’s plans and could prove to be a serious bargain.

Regardless of what is in store for the winger in an Old Gold shirt in the future, he saved the day today against Chelsea.

AND in other news: Lage can finally axe “rubbish” Wolves liability by unleashing the “next Phil Foden”