Welcome To Sport News: Zlatan Ibrahimovic drops hint he is staying at Man...

Welcome To Sport News: Zlatan Ibrahimovic drops hint he is staying at Man...: Zlatan Ibrahimovic drops hint he is staying at Manchester United by enrolling his sons at their arcade Revealed: What Mourinho same to Luk...

Zlatan Ibrahimovic drops hint he is staying at Manchester United by enrolling his sons at their acade

Zlatan Ibrahimovic drops hint he is staying at Manchester United by enrolling his sons at their arcade

Revealed: What Mourinho same to Lukaku seconds before he scored his initial Man Utd goal

The veteran striker formally left United upon the expiration of his contract at the top of last season, having suffered a horror ACL injury within the Galilean satellite League that untimely complete his campaign.
Ibrahimovic isn't expected to play once more for consequent six months, however, Jose Mourinho invited the Swede to continue his rehabilitation at United’s Carrington coaching complicated.

And, in step with The Sun, he has currently place his sons, Maximillian and Vincent, back to the United youth set-up despite being connected with a move to LA Galaxy.

The youngsters were a part of the academy last season, taking part in within the same Under-10s team because the children of Ryan Giggs and Nicky Butt, and can continue there next season.

Welcome To Sport News: Chelsea fans have a problem with the club signing ...

Welcome To Sport News: Chelsea fans have a problem with the club signing ...: Chelsea fans have a problem with the club signing Man City forward Sergio Aguero - and it involves David Luiz Chelsea fans have a r...

Chelsea fans have a problem with the club signing Man City forward Sergio Aguero - and it involves David Luiz

Chelsea fans have a retardant with the club language Man town forward Sergio Aguero - and it involves David Luiz
helps square measure keens on language Manchester town forward Sergio Aguero, which might be a good little bit of business for the club.
But {a section|a neighborhood|a square measure|a District|a region|a locality|a vicinity|a part} of Blues fans are a little unsure regarding the attainable transfer - and that they have a fairly sensible reason.
The Argentine forward has been one in all the simplest players within the Premier League for the last 5 years, however, is also on the move this transfer window.
Despite his unsatisfied appetency for goals, Aguero has fallen down the hierarchy at Chelsea square measure keen to swoop for the striker in an exceedingly bid to switch Diego Costa, WHO was recently recorded partying in associate degree Atletico Madrid shirt.
And if they're able to get the transfer over the road - for a planned £60million - it'll be, as we say, an associate degree fully good piece of business.
City, with liveliness Guardiola favoring archangel Jew over him.
However, as we tend to conjointly say, some Chelsea fans are not convinced. Why? Well, thanks to Aguero's previous relationship with Blues favorite David Luiz.
It might sound a little odd however the Argentine Republic has antecedently gone in terribly onerous on the Brazilian - last in Chelsea's 3-1 persuade Man town last season.
And they haven't forgotten this truth...

Rangers suffered one of their worst ever results as they were knocked out of the Europa League qualifiers by Luxembourg minnows Progres Niederkorn.

George Bailey hit 161 for Hampshire who declared on 648-7 as batsmen dominated on day two against Surrey at The Oval.

George Bailey hit 161 for Hampshire who declared on 648-7 as batsmen dominated on day two against Surrey at The Oval.
Hampshire captain Bailey batted through the entire first session with Sean Ervine (83), putting on 167 before the Zimbabwean dragged on Conor McKerr.
Ian Holland (58 not out) and Gareth Berg's rapid 35 saw the away side post their fifth-highest first-class score.
Mark Stoneman (56) then fell with three overs left, leaving Surrey 113-1 at stumps, trailing by 535 runs.
Ervine pushed the score on comfortably alongside Bailey, punishing the bad balls, before he inside-edged McKerr on to his stumps to depart at 528-5.
Bailey brought up his 150 with a six off Scott Borthwick, but was caught by Mark Footitt on the boundary from the leg-spinner soon afterwards.
Holland's maiden County Championship half-century continued the momentum, while Berg's aggressive 16-ball stay saw him smash three sixes and two fours before being caught on the boundary to prompt the declaration.
Hopes of Hampshire pressing home their advantage appeared to be fading as Stoneman and Rory Burns (45 not out) put on 103 for the first wicket, but Stoneman edged Ervine to Rilee Rossouw at first slip to bring in nightwatchman McKerr to reach the close.
Andy Murray is ready to face a barrage of serve-volleying when he takes on Germany's Dustin Brown in the second round of Wimbledon on Wednesday.
The defending champion plays world number 97 Brown in the second match on Centre Court at about 15:00 BST.
Fellow British number one Johanna Konta faces Donna Vekic of Croatia in the opening match on Centre Court at 13:00.
Rafael Nadal, Venus Williams, Heather Watson and Aljaz Bedene are also in action on day three.
 Wednesday's order of play at Wimbledon
 Injuries, tantrums, silky skills & day two funnies
 Take on the legends in our interactive game
Britain's Watson faces Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia on court two at 11:30, while compatriot Bedene takes on Damir Dzumhur of Bosnia-Herzegovina on court three at about 13:00.
Two-time champion Nadal plays American Donald Young in the third and final match on Centre Court.
Japan's ninth seed Kei Nishikori opens play on Court One against Ukraine's Sergiy Stakhovsky, before 10th seed and five-time winner Williams plays China's Qiang Wang, and second seed Simona Halep plays Brazil's Beatriz Haddad Maia.
French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko, Petra Kvitova and Victoria Azarenka are also in action in a packed bottom half of the women's draw.
'Dustin will be very aggressive'
Rangers suffered one of their worst ever results as they were knocked out of the Europa League qualifiers by Luxembourg minnows Progres Niederkorn.
The Ibrox side took a 1-0 first-leg lead to Luxembourg but fell behind to a second-half Emmanuel Francoise finish.
Sebastian Thill sealed progress, scoring only the third European goal in the minnows' history to secure their first ever win in Europe.
Niko Kranjcar, Josh Windass and Kenny Miller hit the woodwork for Rangers.
But the Ibrox men had failed to dominate the game the way they had in the first leg, ensuring their first foray into Europe for six years was short-lived as they went out in the first qualifier.
 Our fans don't deserve this - Caixinha
 Rae laments Rangers' 'embarrassing' result
Boss Pedro Caixinha brought Daniel Candeias, Alfredo Morelos and Jordan Rossiter into his starting line-up as he looked for more of a cutting edge in the second leg.
The visitors had the bulk of the early possession but again lacked the final pass that could punish Progres.
Miller had a shot blocked following a Kranjcar corner but it was all too untidy in the last third.
That seemed to give the hosts the confidence they had lacked in the first half at Ibrox, with Olivier Thill curling a long-range free-kick narrowly wide with goalkeeper Wes Foderingham struggling to get across.

Sebastian Thill struck the second goal that sealed victory for Progres
Miller was inches away from connecting with a Lee Wallace cross but it was at the other end where the chances started to come.
Mike Schneider hit one over the bar when in a good position before the home side came very close. Olivier Thill drove forward and fired a long-range shot that had Foderingham beaten but slid just wide.
The second half started with Progres going even closer, this time Francoise bursting clear on the right and drilling a low effort towards the corner that Foderingham saved brilliantly.
As the second half wore on the home side looked the more threatening, with a few nerves evident in the visiting defence.
Home keeper Sebastian Flauss had gone off injured in the first half but Rangers failed to test stand-in Charly Schinker until after the hour, when Ryan Jack's close-range header was directed straight at him.
Moments later Caixinha's side almost grabbed a crucial away goal as Wallace sent in a cross that Kranjcar headed off the bar.
Then came the opener for Progres as Olivier Thill crossed for Francoise to finish at the near post.
The second arrived soon after as Sebastian Thill curled a free-kick into the box that evaded everyone and crept in at the back post.
Rangers rallied in the closing minutes with Windass' diving header coming back off the bar before Miller, in stoppage time, lobbed an effort off the face of the bar.
There was no way through though, and the visitors slumped to a shocking result.
Analysis of Rangers' shock Euro exit
BBC Scotland senior football reporter Chris McLaughlin
"For the Rangers fans it's humiliating. For the players, humbling, and when the dust settles on what some are calling the worst result in the club's history there will be huge questions to answer for the Rangers board and manager Pedro Caixinha.

Manager Pedro Caixinha will be in the spotlight after his side's Europa League exit at the first hurdle
"Where some saw the appointment of the Portuguese last year as a gamble, the Ibrox board believed it to be progressive. They had patience in their man despite a poor start to his managerial career in Scotland. They backed him with significant funds to rebuild and get Rangers back to where they wanted to be. And where they wanted to be was the group stages of the Europa League.
"Now that has gone, they must count the cost. Caixinha's squad may well improve and they may even go on to close the gap on Celtic in the season ahead, but falling at the first hurdle in Europe is a massive blow financially and psychologically.
"Chairman Dave King has continually pointed to funds gained through European football as being key to them closing the gap on their rivals and now that badly needed revenue stream has gone before the season has even started. Only those providing the loans will know the true cost and implications of that.
"It's not the only thing being cut unexpectedly though. The window of goodwill for the new manager has just been slashed drastically. Caixinha needs a blistering start to the season or he and his new recruits could be under serious pressure."

Proteas
New-look Proteas batting line-up a worrySHARE THIS

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• Sutherland remains uninvolved in pay talks
• 'Gutsy’ Elgar the man for the job - Domingo
• Confirmed: Domingo reapplies for Proteas job

Cape Town - Just seven months ago, South African cricket was experiencing the ultimate high.
The Proteas had beaten Australia in a three-match Test series away from home that followed a 5-0 ODI thrashing of the same opposition on home soil.
They were thriving under the new leadership of Faf du Plessis while coach Russell Domingo, who has had his fair share of critics over the last four years, was suddenly being praised from all corners.
A failed ICC Champions Trophy and a couple of limited overs series losses later, and the Proteas now find themselves going into a crucial four-match Test series against England in a very different space and somewhat on the ropes.
The coach is on the verge of being sacked, there is a new captain and there will also be a brand new opening batting pair.
As able a replacement as Dean Elgar is, this is hardly the best time for the Proteas to be going into battle with a new leader.
The importance of this series is massive in South Africa's endeavors to get back to the top of the pile in Test cricket.
While England also have a new captain in Joe Root, it isn't quite the same thing. England have been preparing Root for this role for a couple of years already and this is merely the next step in what will have been a very comprehensive succession plan.
In Elgar's case, he could never have expected to be leading his side out at the 'Home of Cricket' on Thursday.
The series is also obviously equally important to Domingo, who has now voiced his desire to stay on as national coach.
Regardless of what happened in the Champions Trophy, it would be a bold move to sack a coach who has orchestrated away Test series wins over Australia and England in the space of eight months.
If Domingo is to stay on, then one feels that only a series win can save him.
The concern, though, is that there is too much of the untested about this Proteas team.
When going into a series of this magnitude, having a settled line-up is first prize.
The Proteas side on Thursday is likely to look something like this:
Elgar (captain), Kuhn, Amla, Duminy, Bavuma, De Bruyn, De Kock, Philander, Maharaj, Rabada, Morkel.
It is a side that certainly has a lot of quality, but there is something about that batting order that leaves a feeling of unease.
Heino Kuhn has been seriously good for a long time, but he has never played Test cricket before and even he can't know how he will adapt to opening the batting at Lord's on debut.
Hashim Amla is obviously class, and his role in this series should not be understated.
But then at 4, 5 and 6 there is a sense of instability.
Just about everybody barring the selectors seems to have run out of patience with JP Duminy, Temba Bavuma is set to be given more responsibility than normal with a move up the batting order while Theunis de Bruyn will be playing in just his second Test.
It's not that the quality isn't there, it's just that we've never seen this line-up play Test cricket together before.
With Du Plessis out, it would have been fantastic to rely on a guy like AB de Villiers to step up and lead from both a captaincy and batting perspective. Unfortunately, relying on AB at the moment is not something that we can do.
The question is, are there enough guys in the top order who we can back to score big hundreds?
As it stands, only Elgar and Amla have the proven ability to do that regularly.
Follow Sport24 journalist @LloydBurnard on Twitter...

Barcelona Bayern Munich

Neymar: ‘I thought I was in a video game’ at BarcelonaBayern Munich
admit Alexis Sanchez link is ‘not very strong’Hamann hands Liverpool word of warning over £70m Keita Neymar: ‘I thought I was in a video game’ at Barcelona Liverpool, West Ham strike target refuses to rule out move
Lejeune reveals Benitez lure after sealing Newcastle move
All the done deals in the Premier League this summer
Bale ‘to be pushed towards Man Utd to make way for £109m man’
Frustrated Mourinho urges Woodward to start landing targets
Exclusive: Palmer agrees Town return after new Chelsea deal
Newcastle close on French defender after agreeing £8.7m dea
Juve bid for ‘Turkish Dybala’ – player wants Man Utd or Chelsea

‘Man Utd were more in control last summer with transfers’
Euro Paper Talk: Spurs eye €40m Sevilla star; Remy set for Fener move
Everton land Michael Keane to take spending over £100m
Man City handed Mendy boost as Monaco sign replacement
Ancelotti discusses Lewandowski’s Chelsea, Man Utd links
Klopp warns flexible Liverpool to prepare for different systems
Markovic could get shock escape route to Serie A minnows
Paper Talk: City to let star join United; Newcastle’s Gibbs raid
Everton announce £5.3m Sandro Ramirez deal
Totttenham target open to Premier League transfer
West Brom snap up Vitesse Arnhem striker
Aaron Lennon all smiles as he returns to Everton training
Morata rumours intensify as father and agent have Real talks
Former Liverpool favourite confirms Keita wants Anfield move
Inter Milan favourites to sign Liverpool, Stoke striker target
Thomas Lemar’s father advises player against Arsenal move
What Makes A Club: 21 photos to sum up the soul of Man Utd
John Terry: ‘It’s a club I have admired from afar…’
Leeds star linked with shock summer switch to Arsenal
Neymar has said the thought he was inside a video game when he first arrived in the Barcelona dressing room in
Neymar, 25, signed for Barca from Santos for £75million, but he has admitted he was “ashamed” to speak to the likes of Lionel Messi as soon as he arrived.
The Brazil forward is now on a similar level to Messi and after signing a new five-year contract worth around €16million a year, with a buyout clause fixed at €200m for the first year of the deal, €222m for the second and the €250m for the remaining three years, he finally feels at home.
But in an interview with Brazilian television show Caldeirao do Huck, he explained how nervous and “intimidated” he was when he arrived as a 21-year-old.
“I came into the dressing room, looked to one side and there was Messi, I looked the other and there was Xavi [Hernandez], [Andres] Iniesta, [Gerard] Pique, Dani Alves … I thought I was inside a video game,” said Neymar.
“One day I was playing with them on the console and the next I was there alongside them. The first month was the most complicated. I was ashamed to speak to Messi, [he and the others] were idols for me. I was the new arrival and the youngest more or less.”
Alongside Messi and Luis Suarez, the trio have become one of the most feared attacking units in world football and the trio were all present at Messi’s wedding last week in Rosario.

FFA Cup 2017: Round of 32 fixtures, dates, times, venues
THE details for the 16 2017 FFA Cup Round of 32 fixtures have been confirmed.
The fourth instalment of the competition kicks off with a blockbuster state-level clash between South Melbourne and Edgeworth Eagles, which will be broadcast live on Fox Sports.
The following week is headlined by two Member Federation v A-League club match-ups on consecutive nights.
First, 2015 quarter-finalists Heidelberg United will host two-time finalists Perth Glory on Tuesday night, August 1.
The next night, Central Coast Mariners, who were eliminated in the 2016 Round of 32, will face 2016 quarter-finalists Blacktown City.
The final Round of 32 broadcasted match will see Victoria National Premier League heavyweights Hume City host Bentleigh Greens.
Fox Sports will broadcast one game live on each of the four match nights with live crossed to the other three games, but every clash can be live streamed on foxsports.com.au.

Timothée Atouba made only 18 Premier League appearances in just one season at Tottenham, yet he will forever be remembered by those that watched him play – although not necessarily for the right reasons.
Tottenham finished second in the Premier League last season. Though they failed to land silverware, it was their most successful domestic campaign since the Premier League’s 1992 inception.
It provides the north London side with a solid foundation to build upon going forward and marked yet another upturn in form under Mauricio Pochettino. It also continues the work began by Daniel Levy from way back in 2004.
The 55-year-old had replaced Alan Sugar as the club’s chairman in 2001, but it wasn’t until the summer of 2004 that the wheels began to turn as a period of change swept through the Premier League.
Jose Mourinho came in as Chelsea manager, while Rafa Benitez was appointed Liverpool boss as teams turned to Europe’s top tacticians for continued success. Spurs followed suit with the appointment of Jacques Santini, who’d just overseen France’s exit Euro 2004 at the hands of eventual winners Greece.
Martin Jol came in as the Frenchman’s assistant and would eventually take charge in November as Santini departed citing personal reasons, but 2004 was ground zero as far as Spurs are concerned. It was the year that kickstarted the upturn in fortunes, even if it was a long drawn out affair.
Paul Robinson arrived from Leeds and went on to become England number one, Pedro Mendes joined from FC Porto, fresh from their Champions League triumph under Mourinho, while Sean Davis and Michael Carrick made the short trips across the capital from Fulham and West Ham, respectively.
At the back, Noureddine Naybet – an underrated free capture from Deportivo – Noe Pamarot and Erik Edman all joined the ranks as Spurs assembled key components for a functional squad.
The issue here, however, is that these players lacked the flair to really lift fans from their seats. Spurs were effective to an extent in Santini’s short spell in the capital, but in his 11 games, just 14 goals were scored both for and against his team.
Arsenal fans saw 43 goals scored in their games over the same period for context. It was neither pretty nor exciting, but Spurs had the necessary defensive mentality that had been lacking for some time, in part due to a blossoming centre-back partnership between Naybet and young Ledley King.
Yet, as functional as the team was, Spurs fans were still pulling their hair out at any sign of danger, in no small part due to the erratic defensive displays of the other summer signing, Timothée Atouba.
He was part of the Cameroon side knocked out at the quarter-final stage of the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations and was a regular for FC Basel before his switch to England. But Atouba lasted just a solitary season at White Hart Lane before departing for Hamburg – more on that later.
The now 35-year-old made just 18 memorable – for both the right and wrong reasons – league appearances for Spurs, yet is something of a cult hero among fans. Whereas Edman, his rival for a starting spot, would keep things simple – a 7/10 left-back, if you will – Atouba went to great lengths to make things as difficult for his defensive team-mates as humanly possible.
While nowadays, fans strive to see full-backs carry the ball forward and overlap where possible to stretch opponents, Atouba joined in an age where a simple hoof up field would suffice. Yet, this was the easy escape route for the Cameroonian, who would rather dribble his way out of danger at the expense of supporters’ health.
Feints and Cruyff turns were the order of the day for Atouba – which is no bad thing. His decision to carry out these tricks 20 yards from his own goal when under pressure from opponents undoubtedly made games more exciting.
He was always one stepover away from being caught short at the back, yet by some miracle would bring possession forward to start attacks away from his goal. At a time when Spurs lacked flair, the left-back brought this in abundance.
When he tricked his way out of danger, Atouba was a difficult player to stop. His power on the ball meant opposing defenders struggled to halt him once he gained a head of steam. As such, the only threat to Atouba was Atouba himself.
He could get so far upfield and help to punch a hole in an opponents’ defence that he’d momentarily forget how to work his feet, trip over himself, and an attack would break down as quickly as he’d elected to Cruyff turn his way out of danger.
His team-mates, of course, were left constantly fretting over Atouba’s unique approach to defending, but would that stop him? Absolutely not. After all, why try to deny greatness?
He had his moments of magic, sure – his curling winner in a 1-0 victory at Newcastle a stand out – and though he was about as ‘Spursy’ a defender as Spurs could get, ultimately, it was a shame he lasted just 12 months at White Hart Lane before his move to Hamburg. Well, for neutrals and fans of Schadenfreude.
For Spurs fans, though, the sight of gold boots, short socks and shinpads on show is enough to give them nightmares.
Atouba did at least continue his knack for defensive showboating in the Bundesliga, with a prime example coming in Hamburg’s 2-0 home win over Bayern Munich in 2005.

Coming back: John Egbunu returning to Florida for final year of eligibility

Coming back: John Egbunu returning to Florida for final year of eligibility

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) -- Florida center John Egbunu is returning for his final year of eligibility, a big boost for a team that made the Elite Eight last season.

Egbunu graduated from Florida this spring with a sociology degree, and even though he's recovering from a left knee injury suffered in mid-February, he decided to explore his professional options. Unable to work out for NBA teams, he decided Friday to play another season for the Gators. He is expected to return in mid-January.

Egbunu says it's a "chance for me to continue to improve and grow as a player and help the team however I can."

Egbunu has averaged 10 points and 6.5 rebounds in two seasons at Florida. He has 84 blocked shots in 58 games.

Marc Bartra return: Borussia Dortmund v Werder Bremen highlights

Marc Bartra return: Borussia Dortmund v Werder Bremen highlights

DEFENDER Marc Bartra played his first game on Saturday since fracturing his wrist in a bomb attack on the Borussia Dortmund team bus on April 11.

The 26-year-old Spaniard started Dortmund’s final Bundesliga game of the season at home in a 4-3 win over Werder Bremen.

It secured Dortmund third spot on the ladder and automatic qualification to the Champions League next season.

Bartra called it “one of the happiest days” of his career.

It was his first appearance since surgery after fracturing his right wrist when three bombs hit Dortmund’s bus on the way to their Champions League quarter-final at home to Monaco last month.

BUNDESLIGA WRAP: Lahm and Alonso bid farewell

Bartra breaks into tears after finally returning to play after the terrorist incident. Been a difficult time for all of them. pic.twitter.com/exqb6YVqCI

— BlaugranaHome (@BlaugranaHome) May 20, 2017

With Bartra in hospital, Dortmund played the first-leg less than 24 hours after the attack, losing 3-2 to Monaco eventually losing 6-3 on aggregate to the French league side.

Bartra was released from hospital four days after the bomb blast.

The same day, his teammates held his number five shirt aloft as they celebrated in front of their home fans after their 3-1 win against Eintracht Frankfurt on April 15.

What a match, so thrilling, what an atmosphere, such a feeling.. Really HAPPY and PROUD!

Tarde increible la de hoy..FELIZ!

DANKE Familie!!💛🖤 pic.twitter.com/wYYti6jV1I

— Marc Bartra (@MarcBartra) May 20, 2017

A German-Russian, identified only as 28-year-old Sergej W., has been charged with the attack and prosecutors have said the motive was financial and not terror-related.

He has been charged with attempted murder, setting off explosions and causing serious physical injury.

He was hoping to profit from a drop in the football team’s share price as a result of the attack.

As well as Bartra, a policeman on a motorcycle escorting the bus suffered trauma from the noise of the blast.

Champions Celtic beat Hearts to become the first team to complete a Scottish top-flight season unbeaten for 118 years.

Champions Celtic beat Hearts to become the first team to complete a Scottish top-flight season unbeaten for 118 years.

Leigh Griffiths and Stuart Armstrong secured a 34th win of the campaign for Brendan Rodgers' side, who were then presented with the Premiership trophy.

The feat was last achieved by Rangers in 1898-99, over an 18-game season.

And Celtic join Arsenal (2003-04) and Juventus (2011-12) in being unbeaten over a 38-game league season.

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• Watch: Six key moments from Celtic's season
• 'Mental strength in spades' - Tom English on unbeaten triumph
• Records tumble for Celtic's 'invincibles'

Rodgers' side, who won the League Cup in November, will attempt to win the club's first domestic treble since 2001 when they take on Aberdeen in Saturday's Scottish Cup final.

Champions Celtic beat Hearts to become the first team to complete a Scottish top-flight season unbeaten for 118 years.

Leigh Griffiths and Stuart Armstrong secured a 34th win of the campaign for Brendan Rodgers' side, who were then presented with the Premiership trophy.

The feat was last achieved by Rangers in 1898-99, over an 18-game season.

And Celtic join Arsenal (2003-04) and Juventus (2011-12) in being unbeaten over a 38-game league season.

• Watch: Six key moments from Celtic's season
• 'Mental strength in spades' - Tom English on unbeaten triumph
• Records tumble for Celtic's 'invincibles'

Rodgers' side, who won the League Cup in November, will attempt to win the club's first domestic treble since 2001 when they take on Aberdeen in Saturday's Scottish Cup final.

More like Soumya

More like Soumya

Sports Reporter

The Tigers enjoyed an off day yesterday with no scheduled training activities, and Mashrafe Bin Mortaza's men were in a chilled out mood as a perfect win against Ireland in their third match in the tri-series gave them some relief.

Bangladesh will get three more days before playing their last match in the tri-series against New Zealand; a match where the Tigers will definitely try to carry on the momentum they have gained from the last match against Ireland.

Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza also said that they were looking forward to the match against New Zealand which will take place on May 24. Any good result against New Zealand in the last match will be huge boost for Mashrafe's men ahead of their ICC Champions Trophy; where they will start their campaign against England on June 1.

"We're looking forward to it [the New Zealand match], we had a chance in the last match [against New Zealand in the second game] but didn't go through with it, but if we play as well as we did against Ireland there is a chance to win the game," said Mashrafe.

There was a reason for the ODI skipper to be satisfied with his team's effort in the last match as they gave their opponents no chances throughout the match and showed a truly professional approach, stamping their authority as a much better side than their associate member opponents.

Much has already been written about Mustafizur Rahman's spell which provided signs that the left-armer was returning to his old form, but the batting performance of Soumya Sarker also deserves some special credit.

It was not because that the tall left-hander made yet another half century; rather it was the way he stayed in the middle until the end of the innings that provided an encouraging sign.

There have hardly been any doubts about his ability, but the questions were there about his premature demise as he often failed to carry his bat after making a fifty. He made 61, the highest score for his side, against New Zealand, but was dismissed within 25 overs which hindered his side's possibility of putting up a challenging total on the board.

In the last match he batted 28 overs and was not out, showing the kind of benefit his team can get from the batsman if he stays at the crease. It will be a nightmare for any team if the elegant left-hander can carry his bat for more than 30 overs.

Selector Habibul Bashar also believes that.

BOSTON So much for the Cleveland Cavaliers

BOSTON — So much for the Cleveland Cavaliers’ late-season defensive woes. So much for any lingering rust from a restful break between series. So much for the East presenting a challenge to LeBron James.

The Lavs left no doubt the proverbial playoff switch had been flipped, lighting up the top-seeded Boston Celtics at TD Garden in a 117-104 win in Wednesday’s Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals. Kyrie Irving was an afterthought, and Cleveland got little help from its bench, but none of it mattered, because they have LeBron, who paired 38 points, nine rebounds and seven assists with a defensive effort that strangled Boston in a game that wasn’t nearly as close as the final score indicated.

“You’ve got to tip your hat to them,” said Celtics star Isaiah Thomas, who scored 17 points on 19 shots and added 10 assists. “They were the better team tonight, and they had more energy than us. It was obvious. They had a week or two off, and we just went seven games. We can’t use it as an excuse, but they hit us first, and they were the more energized team tonight. There was a reason for that.”

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James’ frontcourt partners Kevin Love (32 points, 12 rebounds) and Tristan Thompson (20 points, nine rebounds, six on the offensive glass) did the rest of the damage. The scariest part? The Cavs could probably play better. The Celtics has plenty to solve before Game 2 on Friday night at 8:30 p.m. ET.

“I don’t even think we played that great tonight,” said James, sending shivers down Boston’s spine.

“Tonight we were pretty good on the defensive end,” Love said of an effort that held the Celtics to 35.6 shooting in the first half, including 2-of-16 from 3-point range. “As Bron said, we felt like we could have played better, and there’s some things we’ll look at tomorrow that we’ll be better for Friday.”

On the same postgame press conference podium moments earlier, Celtics coach Brad Stevens conceded to the dilemma every Eastern Conference coach has faced for the better part of a decade now — they have nobody who can defend LeBron 1-on-1, and they can’t double-team him, for fear of Cleveland’s bevy of sharpshooters. “This is the predicament they put you in,” said Stevens.

Fizz building up steam

Fizz building up steam

Bangladesh bowled well as a unit and wrapped up Ireland for only 181 runs in their third match of the tri-series at Malahide in Dublin yesterday. It was nice to see Mashrafe Bin Mortaza regain his bowling rhythm after a forlorn performance against New Zealand in the previous game, but the captain would be even happier with the performance of Mustafizur Rahman, who finished with figures of 9-2-23-4.  The Tigers were disappointing against New Zealand in the previous game but Mashrafe singled out Mustafizur's bowling in that match as a positive. Few things would have been better for the Tigers' skipper than to see the talented Mustafizur recapturing his old form ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy campaign.

Since returning from shoulder surgery, Mustafizur had some notable contributions for his team during the last Sri Lanka tour but everyone still looked forward to watching the crafty Fizz, especially after an IPL stint where he had to sit in the dugout most of the time.

His performances in the last two games must have given some relief to the team think-tank ahead of the tough challenge in England, where they will face teams like Australia, England and New Zealand in the group encounters, as Fizz was looking at his wiliest, if not his very best.

Mustafizur gave the first breakthrough in yesterday's match in the second over when the dangerous Paul Stirling edged a ball wide outside off stump to short third man where Sabbir Rahman made no mistake.

Again, there was a wide-of-off-stump delivery and Niall O'Brien threw the bat at the ball to send it in the air straight to Tamim Iqbal at third man for a simple catch.

Kevin O'Brien was Mustafizur's third victim but the bowler must thank Mosaddek Hossain for taking a brilliant catch. Kevin hit high in the air towards the cover boundary and Mosaddek came charging off the cover boundary and dived full length to take the catch.

A short ball down the leg side brought his fourth wicket. Gary Wilson looked to hook the ball but only got the edge to place it at the hands of Mushfiqur Rahim behind the stumps.

Taking wickets will have always boosted his confidence, but the most important thing was that Mustafizur swung the ball -- there were encouraging inswingers which he has been trying to develop for some time, along with his usual cutters. While it is true that facing a bowler like Mustafizur in an ODI for the first time is hard for any team, but it was still nice to see that confidence grow within Mustafizur. 

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