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It has been a strange season for Alejandro Garnacho. The Manchester United attacker has ten goals and eight assists across all competitions this term, but just six of those 18 goal involvements have come in the Premier League, in 31 games.

With that being said, the 20-year-old has achieved a huge milestone this season. Last weekend, he scored his 15th Premier League goal, coming against Newcastle United as Ruben Amorim’s side slipped to a 4-1 defeat.

Impressively, that took him past his idol, and one of the best players in United’s history, Cristiano Ronaldo, for goals at the same age. At 20 years old, the former Red Devils number seven had just 14 top-flight goals.

However, Garnacho certainly has a way to go before he can match Ronaldo’s legacy at Old Trafford.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s Man Utd legacy

Once described as “the greatest player of all time” by former teammate Gary Neville on Sky Sports, few in history have done it like Ronaldo. The 40-year-old is now plying his trade in Saudi Arabia, but his extraordinary career really took off during his first spell at Old Trafford.

After signing for United in 2003 for a reported £12.24m, the Portugal star scored 118 times and grabbed 60 assists in 292 appearances for the English giants.

He was phenomenal, winning three Premier League titles in a row and the Champions League in 2007/08.

That 2007/08 campaign was nothing short of extraordinary, with United winning the double and Ronaldo the Ballon d’Or in 2008, becoming the best player on the planet. He scored 42 goals and provided eight in 49 games in all competitions that season.

His move to Real Madrid in the summer of 2009 for a then-world-record £80m was certainly devastating for the Red Devils. He was, in many ways, irreplaceable. Although their success continued, it was never easy to replace someone like Ronaldo.

Well, they might well be in danger of a repeat situation this summer, in a deal worth even more than Ronaldo’s back in 2009.

Man Utd’s new Ronaldo in 2025

If you asked United fans 16 years ago which player they would least like to be sold, Ronaldo would likely have been the answer. Well, in 2025, the answer to that question would surely be Bruno Fernandes.

It has been an unforgettable season for United’s captain Fernandes, in what has been a poor season as a side. He has an incredible 16 goals and 18 assists in 46 games in all competitions for the Red Devils.

His eight goals and ten assists in the Premier League this term ensures it is his second-best season in terms of output since his move to United back in 2020. The only season he exceeded those numbers was 2020/21, when he scored and assisted 29 goals. As Statman Dave said, he is a “machine”.

It isn’t easy to pinpoint one performance from the Red Devils’ number eight that has been his best this season. He has managed multiple goal involvements in a single game eight times, but his best was arguably the excellent hat-trick against Real Sociedad in the Europa League.

Indeed, Fernandes’ underlying FBref numbers compared to other midfielders in the last 365 days are astounding. For example, the 30-year-old averages 9.32 progressive passes, which ranks him in the top 3% of midfielders.

Goals and assists

0.65

99th

Key passes

3.15

99th

Progressive passes

9.32

97th

Shot-creating actions

5.93

99th

Ball recoveries

6.10

85th

United fans – and Amorim – may be worrying that their captain will leave the club, given Madrid were recently linked with a move. At the end of March, the Daily Star claimed Los Blancos are targeting a £90m move for their talisman.

That would see him leave for even more than Ronaldo did all those years ago, and given Fernandes’ importance to this United side, there is certainly a case to be made that this would be an even bigger loss.

The Red Devils will surely be hoping Fernandes doesn’t become their new Ronaldo, in that sense.

Upgrade on Rashford: Man Utd leading the race to sign £30m "monster"

Man Utd are looking for attacking reinforcements this summer

ByJoe Nuttall Apr 16, 2025

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da bet7： Palmeiras e Tombense se enfrentam nesta quarta-feira, às 20h, no Allianz Parque, pela terceira fase da Copa do Brasil. Desde a última segunda-feira não há mais exclusividade para sócios Avanti na compra das entradas. Na tarde desta terça, o clube anunciou mais de 26 mil ingressos vendidos.

> Veja tabela e classificação da Copa do Brasil-2023 clicando aqui

Atenção: para este jogo, o novo sistema de reconhecimento facial para acesso ao Allianz Parque estará em funcionamento nos setores Central Oeste, Superior Sul e Superior Oeste (Portão A), Superior Norte e Superior Leste (Portão B) e Central Leste (Portão C) somente para sócios Avanti e torcedores comuns – os demais palmeirenses que utilizam outro serviço para entrar na arena alviverde não passarão pela biometria facial. Nos outros setores do Allianz Parque, o acesso ocorrerá com o e-ticket ou o ingresso impresso.

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da cassino： Os sócios-torcedores palmeirenses possuem os descontos previstos em cada plano e tiveram exclusividade na compra dos ingressos via internet até segunda (10), às 10h, quando começou a comercialização para o público em geral. A venda para os sócios Avanti foi dividida de acordo com a pontuação do rating de cada associado, classificados de zero a cinco estrelas. Para este jogo, não haverá o Setor Família, que geralmente oferece gratuidade para crianças de 0 a 5 anos de idade.

Caso ainda haja disponibilidade de ingressos, a venda física no Allianz Parque acontecerá somente no dia 12 de abril, data do jogo, das 12h até o intervalo da partida, nas bilheterias dos portões A (Rua Palestra Italia) e B (Avenida Francisco Matarazzo).

>Federação internacional faz nova lista dos 50 melhores times do mundo; veja ranking

A comercialização de entradas para associados e donos de cadeiras cativas aconteceu a partir de domingo (09), às 10h, até terça (11), às 10h, somente pelo site www.ingressospalmeiras.com.br. O setor de cobrança, localizado no 1º andar do prédio administrativo do clube social, não realizará mais a venda de ingressos físicos.

Confira os valores dos ingressos para a partida:

Gol Norte – R$ 60
Superior Norte e Sul – R$ 70
Superior Leste e Oeste – R$ 80
Gol Sul – R$ 90
Central Leste – R$ 110
Central Oeste – R$ 130

Trent Alexander-Arnold revealed that he has been taking Spanish lessons for a "few months" after his unveiling ceremony with Real Madrid.

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TAA surpised fans by spekaing fluent SpanishRevealed he has been learning for a "few months"Lavished praise on new manager Xabi AlonsoFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Alexander-Arnold’s switch to Real Madrid has officially begun with the defender unveiled as the Spanish giant’s latest summer acquisition. Although his contract with Liverpool was due to expire on June 30, Real Madrid paid a fee to bring the England international to the Spanish capital ahead of schedule, enabling him to feature in the upcoming Club World Cup.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Alexander-Arnold has signed a six-year contract with the La Liga titans. His deal also includes a staggering €1 billion (£840 million) release clause, which has been the standard for all marquee signings at Real Madrid.

WHAT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD SAID

During the unveiling ceremony, Alexander-Arnold surprised many by delivering his entire speech in fluent Spanish. It was a polished performance that showcased his effort to integrate into Spanish life and Real Madrid culture from day one. He later revealed in a press conference that he had been studying the language for "a few months" in preparation for the move.

"I think he [Perez] was happy with the amount of Spanish I was able to speak, which I think surprised a lot of people," said Alexander-Arnold.

"For me, it was important to be able to do that and it shows that the intent I have got is to come here and have a good start, to get off on the right foot and to achieve something straight away, starting with the Club World Cup."

DID YOU KNOW?

In his first media appearance in Madrid, Alexander-Arnold also took time to reflect on one of his idols and the current Real Madrid manager, Xabi Alonso.

"He is someone who probably impacted my game a lot growing up, seeing him pass a ball. I explained this to him as well," he said.

"Watching him pass a ball – seeing it influenced me to go and train harder at that and have a great hunger to be able to do that and to set standards. Of course, we have not had chance to formally meet yet. We will have a proper chat I am sure over the next few days and be able to talk about what he expects from me.

"It's not just me who is new here. He is a new manager who has got to get his ideas across to the whole team, which might take some time. But he has shown how amazing he is – managerial wise and as a player. His knowledge of football is there in abundance. I am excited. I will be a sponge around him, trying to soak up all the information I can to learn from him."

da 888casino： Setting their sights on the summer transfer window, Newcastle United have now received a green light from manager Eddie Howe to make their move for a defensive reinforcement worth over £30m.

Newcastle readying £30m+ move

da dobrowin： The Magpies have been forced to sit out of transfer drama in recent years, but look set to come flying out of their profit and sustainability shackles to welcome a number of key reinforcements. As a result, the rumours have been coming thick and fast over just who Howe and his side could welcome with open arms when the summer arrives.

Names such as Jonathan David, for example, have been mentioned in what would instantly ease any Newcastle fears over replacing Alexander Isak. The LOSC Lille star has matched the Swede for goals this season and could yet replace the Arsenal-linked forward if he decides to leave in the coming months.

What Isak’s exit would certainly do is hand PIF their greatest spending power since arriving at St James’ Park, perhaps accelerating the Magpies’ progress under their Saudi owners.

With or without the sale of Isak, however, those on Tyneside have already reportedly set their sights on one summer target. According to The Times, Howe has now given Newcastle the green light to sign Jarell Quansah with PIF now reportedly readying a move worth £30m, plus add-ons in the coming months.

The Magpies initially wanted the central defender last summer when Liverpool came in for Anthony Gordon and it seems as though their interest in the Anfield academy graduate has remained.

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One year on, a deal could be far easier to advance, given how Quansah has struggled to make his mark under Arne Slot. In the face of those struggles, Newcastle reportedly hope to lure the defender to St James’ Park using the prospect of consistent game time.

"Complete" Quansah needs Newcastle move

After flying under Jurgen Klopp, Quansah has seen his wings clipped by Slot since the Dutchman’s Anfield arrival. Having started against Ipswich Town on the opening day of the season, the defender’s struggles started from the very first game of the campaign with Slot deciding to haul him off for Ibrahima Konate at half time.

Since then, things haven’t improved. The England defender has started just one Premier League game since that frustrating afternoon at Portman Road, ironically coming in a 3-3 draw against Newcastle. Having been dubbed “complete” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig last season, Quansah desperately needs a move if he is to rediscover that level.

Newcastle could certainly do with a young defender too. As things stand, Howe has just one central defender below 30 years old in the form of Sven Botman, who has endured plenty of injury struggles in the last two seasons.

da pinnacle： Liverpool are believed to be willing to spend more than £40m to secure the signing of a “great” player this summer, seeing him as a possible successor to Virgil van Dijk at the heart of their defence.

Futures of legendary Liverpool trio still unclear

da imperador bet： The Reds may be closing in on Premier League title glory this season, but there are still genuine concerns surrounding the futures of Van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah.

All three Liverpool legends are out of contract at the end of this season, and as things stand, none of them have signed new deals yet. It is a precarious position to be in, and one that has left plenty of supporters frustrated, in terms of the club not sorting the situation sooner.

Alexander-Arnold has been continually linked with a move to Real Madrid for many months now, and the fact that the Reds’ vice-captain hasn’t silenced those rumours suggests that there is a real chance that he could move to the reigning Champions League holders in the summer transfer window.

While Van Dijk and Salah have appeared to be the more likely two to stay put at Liverpool beyond this season, the former has been backed to seal a big-money move to Paris Saint-Germain.

Liverpool line up £40m+ deal to replace Van Dijk – Sky Sports

According to Sky Sports’ Sacha Tavolieri, Liverpool are willing to pay around €50m (£42m) plus possible bonuses to sign Nico Schlotterbeck this summer, with a move to the Premier League a distinct possibility.

The Borussia Dortmund centre-back still has two years remaining on his current deal, but the Bundesliga side will be powerless to do anything if his clause is met.

It goes without saying that Van Dijk will hopefully sign a contract extension with Liverpool as soon as possible, putting to bed any talks of him leaving. If the worst-case scenario does happen and the colossal Reds skipper moves on, however, Schlotterbeck could be a good long-term replacement for him.

The 25-year-old has now racked up 123 appearances for Dortmund, as well as winning 18 caps for Germany, and former Liverpool midfielder Didi Hamann has lauded his ability, saying:

“He is a great player, very good in tackling and strong in heading. He’s probably one of the best centre-backs in terms of ball-playing skills, not just in Germany, but in all of Europe. I really hope he can finally take the next step now.”

Related Forget about Isak: £100m Newcastle star should be Liverpool's no. 1 target

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Posts ByAngus Sinclair Mar 17, 2025

Schlotterbeck is at a great age to come in, possessing lots of experience but also still being young enough to find extra gears, and his quality on the ball would surely appeal to Arne Slot, not to mention defensive expertise that has seen him average three clearances and 2.3 tackles per game across 12 Champions League appearances this season.

Looking to continue their push towards the top half, Crystal Palace have now been boosted by the availability of Eberechi Eze, Eddie Nketiah and one other star who could return against Everton.

Crystal Palace injury news

The Eagles have rediscovered their best form under Oliver Glasner and are pushing towards the top half. On a run of one defeat in their last nine games in all competitions, those at Selhurst Park will certainly be in a confident mood ahead of what once looked destined to be a relegation six-pointer between themselves and Everton.

A key part of that recent run has, of course, been the form of Jean-Philippe Mateta who has shaken off any early season struggles in front of goal to steal plenty of headlines in South London.

The arrival of Everton won’t present Palace with a simple task this weekend, however. After all, the Toffees just quite literally battled their way to a last-gasp point against Liverpool in the final-ever Merseyside derby at Goodison Park. Recent injury news has certainly provided the Eagles with plenty of hope though.

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Dominic Lund

Feb 13, 2025

As revealed by Glasner, Ismaila Sarr could now return from injury against Everton alongside Eze and Nketiah to hand Palace the ultimate triple boost. Missing his side’s FA Cup victory over Doncaster, the winger will be keen to return and instantly add to the four goals that he already has to his name this season.

When asked for an injury update, Glasner told reporters: “Fortunately no new issues and all three [Eze, Nketiah, Sarr] are back and available for tomorrow.”

With fixtures coming thick and fast, Palace couldn’t have asked for much better news on the injury front, handing them every chance of continuing their excellent form.

"Direct" Sarr must rediscover early season form

Since getting his Crystal Palace career off to a solid start with four goals and one assist in his first 17 Premier League games, Sarr has struggled to steal the same headlines, with his last goal involvement coming through an assist against Leicester City midway through January.

With Palace’s frontline all back together and Mateta firing on all cylinders, however, the former Watford man should have ample opportunity to improve his output and pay Glasner back for his praise a few months ago.

The Austrian told reporters when asked about Sarr in December: “Ismaila is more of a direct runner with a lot of pace. We knew if we get him into the right areas in the right moment he will get chances to score goals.

“I don’t think it was his best performance. He had fantastic performances in other games. He was always a very positive impact at the beginning of the season as a substitute, so he could have six or seven assists as well. Sometimes we missed the chances.”

As Everton prepare to arrive, Sarr could yet receive the chance to return with a bang and fire Palace to yet another victory in what has been a fine run of form.

Centurion Gareth Roderick and Ed Pollock batted through sizeable chunks of the final day to thwart Derbyshire’s push for their first LV=Insurance County Championship victory of the campaign at New Road.Roderick battled away for five-and-a-quarter hours to make 123 in only his second match since being promoted to open the innings alongside Jake Libby.Pollock played an out of character knock based on determined defence rather than his free-flowing stroke play to make 56 off 189 balls spanning nearly four hours.Their efforts were largely responsible for defying the Derbyshire attack and only four wickets fell in the entire day.Roderick has batted predominantly in the middle order since establishing himself in the keeper-batter role last summer in contrast to his eight seasons with Gloucestershire in the upper echelons of the order.But he was moved up to number three for the home game against Leicestershire and a second innings knock of 59 spanning five hours helped seal victory on a difficult pitch.He then opened in the last Championship match against Sussex at Hove and had featured in three half-century partnerships with Libby before this marathon knock.Roderick had spoken of his need to turn promising starts into major contributions and this was a top quality effort mixing aggression with stubborn defence.Pollock has dropped down into the middle-order in Championship and T20 cricket after a shortage of runs.But here he got his head down from ball one in support of Roderick and blunted the Derbyshire attack.It took him 120 balls before he sliced Leus du Plooy down to third man for his first boundary but eating up time and deliveries was the prime consideration.Derbyshire’s winless run was extended to 10 games but they can take great heart from a performance achieved without their front line attack of Saranga Lakmal, Sam Conners and Zak Chappell while Ben Aitchison was unable to bowl in the second innings because of injury.Worcestershire reached 105 for 1 on the opening day but were then second best for the remainder of the game until the defiance by Roderick and Pollock on the final day.Derbyshire showed more discipline with the ball and greater application with the bat in the first innings.Three of their batters, du Plooy, Wayne Madsen and Anuj Dal, all reached three figures and they achieved their highest ever score against Worcestershire.The home side will reflect on poor bowling performance, with the exception of evergreen Joe Leach, and slipshod fielding and Madsen, du Plooy and Dal were all survived dropped catches.Worcestershire resumed on 70 for 2 against a Derbyshire attack which was a bowler light after Ben Aitchison had suffered hip and back problems earlier in the game.Roderick was full of attacking intent and clipped the first delivery of the day from Conor McKerr through mid wicket for four.The keeper-batter completed a 69-ball half-century with a similar shot at Anuj Dal’s expense for his eighth boundary.Debutant Rehaan Edavalath scrapped away for 62 balls but after making 15 he drove hard at Nick Potts and nicked to Wayne Madsen who held onto a low chance at first slip.Roderick continued to score freely but Adam Hose managed only a single before he attempted to drive spinner Alex Thomson and was bowled through the gate.Pollock survived a confident appeal when on two for a legside catch by keeper Brooke Guest off Luis Reece.Roderick swept Thomson for four to move into the 90s and then his 16th boundary – a steer to third man off Reece – took him to an excellent hundred from 155 balls.Pollock played an innings out of character with his free-flowing style and scored only five runs from the first 100 balls he faced.But it was an invaluable effort in the context of Worcestershire attempting to thwart Derbyshire’s victory push.Derbyshire rotated their bowlers and set unorthodox and imaginative fielders in an attempt to make a decisive breakthrough.They finally had something to celebrate after the Roderick-Pollock stand of 63 had spanned 38 overs when the latter on 123 pushed forward to Thomson and was caught at short leg.But Matthew Waite (17 not out from 97 balls) also proved a stubborn line of defence after joining Pollock in the middle.Pollock gradually accelerated and, after eight overs were lost to rain, drove Dal through the covers to for his 10th four to reach his half century from 181 balls.But he played a shot out of keeping with the remainder of his innings on 56 when he aimed a leg side blow at Reece and was caught by Dal over his shoulder running back to cover

Leeds United want to expand Elland Road and make it the seventh-largest stadium in England with the city council are set to meet over plans.

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• Leeds plan Elland Road expansion
• Could become England's seventh-largest stadium
• City council to meet on Wednesday

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Leeds are celebrating promotion back to the Premier League after their place in the Championship's top two was secured on Monday, with Daniel Farke's side winning 6-0 against Stoke City and then second-place Burnley beating third-place Sheffield United 2-1.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  With the Whites can look ahead to next season back in the top flight, they have started working on their expansion plan for Elland Road. Per the , Leeds plan to expand their home ground from 38,000 to 56,500 seats, which would make it the seventh-largest football stadium in England. The report adds that the executive board of Leeds City Council are set to meet to discuss the expansion plans on Wednesday.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Leeds are expected to hold an open-top bus parade to celebrate their achievement in the coming days. Farke has confirmed that he is looking forward to the celebrations as he told reporters: "I just want beer after beer and champagne after champagne right now and don't bother me with football, we'll speak about it in a few days."

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR LEEDS?

  The newly promoted club will play their penultimate Championship game on April 28 against Bristol City at Elland Road. They are still fighting with Burnley for the title.

Ellyse Perry and Sarah Bryce led Sixers’ chase but the lower order fell away with Strikers’ legspinners to the fore

Andrew McGlashan29-Oct-2024Bridget Patterson was involved in a nasty incident while wicketkeeping during Adelaide Strikers’ victory over Sydney Sixers at North Sydney Oval where Amanda-Jade Wellington produced a key all-round display.In the fourth over of Sixers’ chase Patterson took a ball in the face from a 119kph delivery by Darcie Brown which pitched in front of her and kicked up, striking near the right eye. Patterson stayed on the ground with a physio and doctor quickly onto the field and after a few minutes was able to walk off. She remained at the venue for remainder of the game and will be further assessed in the coming days.”It was a nasty injury,” Strikers coach Luke Williams said after the match. “Obviously we were all worried about her, but it looks like she’s escaped major injury. It certainly was nasty at the time with the cut.”Patterson had earlier played a key role with the bat as Strikers’ middle-order produced a powerful counterattack to enable the visitors to claim the first win of their title defence.In reply, Ellyse Perry dominated the early stages of the chase with a 26-ball fifty then Sarah Bryce impressed again with 62 off 44 balls but when she fell to Megan Schutt the innings faded swiftly in a collapse of 6 for 18. Legspinners Wellington and Anesu Mushangwe were superb in the closing overs with the former comfortably defending 14 off the last.Patterson, Wellington and Orla Prendergast combined to make 123 between them off 92 balls with 32 runs coming off the two power surge overs. Wellington, inparticular, cut loose inside the restrictions with two sixes and three fours off Ash Gardner and Lauren Cheatle to finish with 40 off 16.Those contributions enabled Strikers to recover from 51 for 4 in the seventh over after Cheatle had made early inroads before Perry held onto a stinging return catch – with a juggle – to claim Laura Wolvaardt.Perry and Bryce added 80 in 50 balls for the second wicket with Perry lacing 11 boundaries although she was dropped at long-on on 17. The impressive, and quick, Brown removed Perry when she top-edged a short ball to fine leg and Sixers suffered another huge blow when Gardner fell for a five-ball duck.But Bryce and 19-year-old Elsa Hunter, on her WBBL debut, put on 53 off 35 balls to bring the target in sight aided by some poor catching from Strikers but they couldn’t finish the job for a Sixers side stretched to the limits by injury.

The top order had the experience to bail out their inexperienced attack, but they instead went down in abject fashion

Andrew Fidel Fernando19-Mar-2023Angelo Mathews, Dimuth Karunaratne, and Dinesh Chandimal have all been on four Test tours to New Zealand (this one included). Kusal Mendis has been there three times. Dhananjaya de Silva twice. By now, they’ve sat through days worth of meetings and analysis on how to bat in New Zealand, pored through many hours of footage of the opposition, discussed leaving on length at length, and – such are this team’s predilections – likely become family friends with Nandos staff across the country.The attack has the excuse of inexperience. They have not toured New Zealand anywhere near as much, have a much more complicated history with injuries, and anyway are treated with borderline disdain at home, where pitches frequently make them comedic props in the spin bowlers’ dramatic production. And while New Zealand have had a difficult World Test Championship cycle, their batting order is studded with an all-time superstar in Kane Williamson, a reliable hand in Tom Latham, and batters who have made very bright starts to what promise to be long careers in Devon Conway, Daryl Mitchell, and Tom Blundell.Their bowling? Well, you’ve kinda gotta maybe say that they were a more daunting proposition in the bad old days when Trent Boult and Tim Southee curved the ball snarl viciously from either end, before Neil Wagner summoned bouncers from the depths of hell in the peak Wagnerball era.Related

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If one didn’t nick you off swinging it one way, the other would get you lbw swinging it the other. And if you survived all of that, the other guy would jam your fingers against the bat with a ball that rocketed off the pitch, his team-mates gathering around to kindly check on you as you writhed around in pain, knowing your tour was over.It is almost to be expected that Sri Lanka’s attack had as poor a first innings as they did in Wellington. On day one, they were battling a near-gale. On top of which, New Zealand’s best batter was incandescent. And there was also the debutant wicketkeeper, who missed a vital catch (he missed a straightforward one off Henry Nicholls on the first evening).

“Their bowling inexperience had made a victory almost impossible, but on day three, batting incompetence sent Sri Lanka nosediving towards defeat”

But for Sri Lanka’s batters to have as poor a day three as this? Just a single 50-plus partnership, and all out for 164, in testing, but not unplayable batting conditions? Their bowling inexperience had made a victory almost impossible, but on day three, batting incompetence sent Sri Lanka nosediving towards defeat.Across that first innings, Sri Lanka made what might be termed rookie mistakes. Late on day two, Mendis saw a short, wide delivery, and failed to hit it far enough away from Conway, who dived spectacularly to his left to intercept it. Mendis has been at the ground for a number of otherworldly New Zealand catches. When they are feeling themselves, this is what New Zealand do.Then, the next day, Mathews fished at one he shouldn’t have. Chandimal charged offspinner Michael Bracewell and went through with his doomed heave to legside when he might have played defensively when he realised he wasn’t getting to the pitch of the ball. Dhananjaya de Silva ran at Bracewell also, and chipped him softly to the catcher at midwicket – perhaps the softest dismissal of the day. Karunaratne played much better than his team-mates, reaching 50 twice in one day. But then he failed to make a century out of either one, holing out twice in the deep, with no need to fall this way in the second innings.Sri Lanka are now faced with an almost impossible climb. They are 303 runs behind, with eight wickets in hand. New Zealand’s bowlers have bowled almost 110 overs in succession, so there is hope the visitors can subject them to further fatigue, batting a wicketless first session out first thing on Monday, then clawing back the lead in the afternoon. It would not be the first time Mathews and Mendis have put on a big stand at the Basin Reserve.But Sri Lanka once again require a second-innings miracle to make something out of this game. The top order had the experience to bail out their inexperienced attack. Instead, in the first innings, they went down in abject fashion.