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Derby County go into Tuesday night's home clash with Reading positive that a third win on the bounce will be forthcoming at the final whistle, having put Port Vale and Bristol Rovers to the sword prior to facing off against the Royals.

The 3-0 win away in Bristol at the weekend just gone saw the likes of Dwight Gayle come good in attack for the League One side, the veteran striker bundling in an effort to get in on the goalscoring act to take his Rams goal tally to two since joining on a free transfer.

Away from Gayle sticking out as a key performer, there were some notable underperformers for the automatic promotion candidates despite the emphatic final scoreline.

Ebou Adams, in central midfield, didn't have his liveliest or most impactful game versus the Gas – the Cardiff City loanee in danger of dropping out of Warne's XI for the clash on Tuesday consequently.

Ebou Adams' performance vs Bristol Rovers in numbers

Adams has become a fan's favourite at Pride Park since joining in January, praised for his no-nonsense approach in the middle of the park which saw him win 12 duels against Stevenage last month.

Yet, the ex-Forest Green man had a quiet day at the office against Bristol Rovers on Saturday from his 73 minutes on the pitch.

The Rams number 32 would only manage to notch up 29 touches from central midfield alongside experienced partner Conor Hourihane, registering fewer passes than Joe Wildsmith in the process too with only ten accurate passes tallied up compared to the Derby goalkeeper's 15.

Minutes played

73

Touches

29

Accurate passes

10/16 (63%)

Accurate long balls

2/5

Successful dribbles

0/1

Duels won

5/8

Only completing one accurate long ball in the game also, alongside falling way short of his usual standards coming up for duels with five won out of eight attempted, Adams might find himself out of Warne's lineup to give fresh blood a go from the start against Ruben Selles' men in his place.

The players who could replace Ebou Adams

The Gambia international could well drop out for Korey Smith to start instead, the ex-Norwich City man competently putting in a shift late on in Bristol when replacing Adams to ensure the three points were secure.

Smith would manage to accumulate five accurate passes – not far off Adams' total of ten from 56 minutes less – whilst also managing to throw himself about effectively with one aerial duel won.

Warne might shake things up differently by moving Louis Sibley into Adams' central spot away from playing the homegrown Rams product down the wing, who struggled against the Gas going forward after bagging two goals against Port Vale from this position.

The 22-year-old midfielder would fail to register a single accurate cross from six attempts at the Memorial Stadium playing on the left channel, with the Rams boss wondering whether or not he could get more out of his adaptable number 17 in Adams' vacant spot.

Warne will know it's crucial that his confident Derby side pick up a third consecutive win when facing off against Reading, knowing that the League One giants have an almighty showdown with fellow automatic promotion hopefuls Bolton Wanderers to contend with directly after.

In a major reshuffle following Rahul Dravid’s elevation to the position of head of cricket at Bengaluru’s National Cricket Academy, Sitanshu Kotak and Paras Mhambrey have been promoted to the top coaching posts with the India A and India Under-19 teams, respectively.

Under-19 Asia Cup schedule

Group A: India, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kuwait
Group B Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, UAE
Sept 5: India v Kuwait and Afghanistan v Pakistan
Sept 6 – Sri Lanka v Nepal and Bangladesh v UAE
Sept 7 – India v Pakistan and Afghanistan v Kuwait
Sept 8 – Sri Lanka v UAE and Bangladesh v Nepal
Sept 9 – India v Afghanistan and Pakistan v Kuwait
Sept 10 Sri Lanka v Bangladesh and UAE v Nepal
Sept 12 – Semi-final 1 – A1 v B2 and Semi-final 2 – A2 v B1
Sept 14 – Final

Kotak, the former Saurashtra batsman, will perform head coach and batting coach duties with India A, with Ramesh Powar, the former India offspinner, taking over as bowling coach and T Dilip as fielding coach. The appointments, for the moment, are only for the upcoming tour of India by South Africa A for a series of two four-day matches and five one-dayers.Former India fast bowler Mhambrey, who has worked for long with the ‘A’ and Under-19 sides under Dravid, will be the head coach as well as the bowling coach of the junior side at the upcoming Asia Cup in Colombo in September. Former India batsman Hrishikesh Kanitkar and Abhay Sharma, another key member of Dravid’s team, will be the batting and fielding coaches, respectively.ESPNcricinfo understands that Mhambrey and Abhay will continue to be members of Dravid’s permanent staff at the NCA, but will serve elsewhere – like with the Under-19 team – as required.Dravid had served as the head coach of the two teams since his appointment in 2015, till being given the NCA position earlier this year. Dravid, however, has a meeting with Justice (retd) DK Jain, the BCCI’s ombudsman-cum-ethics officer, lined up on September 26 following conflict-of-interest allegations levelled by Sanjeev Gupta, a Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association life member. Gupta’s contention is that Dravid should not be on the BCCI’s payroll – as NCA cricket boss – because he was a long-term employee of India Cements, the company owned by former board president N Srinivasan that also owns Chennai Super Kings.Apart from Mhambrey and Abhay, the others also have coaching experience at the higher levels. Kotak, who retired from first-class cricket in 2013 after 130 appearances that netted him 8061 runs, has been Saurashtra coach, while Kanitkar, who also played his last first-class match in 2013, has worked extensively with Goa and Tamil Nadu in the domestic circuit. Dilip, meanwhile, has been a fielding coach with Hyderabad and was in the three-man shortlist – along with Abhay – for the senior India men’s team job, which now looks likely to go to R Sridhar, the incumbent.It’s important to remember that at the time of naming Vikram Rathour as the likeliest successor to Sanjay Bangar as the next batting coach of the senior men’s team, MSK Prasad had mentioned that the candidates placed second and third in the respective lists – batting, bowling, fielding – would be given the option to be accommodated in the India A or NCA staff. Bangar and former England batsman Mark Ramprakash had been two and three on the list for batting coach, and Mhambrey and Venkatesh Prasad on the list for bowling coach, behind the incumbent B Arun. Prasad’s thought, of course, does not include Ramprakash.Powar, meanwhile, was in the news most recently after a much-publicised fallout with Mithali Raj, which led to his ouster as chief coach of the India women’s team. Powar landed the women’s team job in July 2018 in an interim capacity following the resignation of Tushar Arothe, and his contract was subsequently extended till the end of the Women’s World T20 later that year.But Mithali, who was left out of the XI for India’s semi-final at the World T20, which they lost, returned home and wrote a letter to the BCCI accusing Powar of trying to “destroy” her career, to which Powar responded by saying that Mithali had threatened to retire if she wasn’t allowed to open the batting. Though Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana expressed their support for Powar, his contract wasn’t extended, and WV Raman has since been in charge of the women’s team.

Alisha Lehmann continues to enjoy her summer tour of Los Angeles, with the Swiss star taking in a trip to the exclusive Magic Castle in California.

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Swiss star enjoying break in the StatesHeaded from Florida to CaliforniaMaking the most of chance to see sightsWHAT HAPPENED?

The Aston Villa forward is in the United States ahead of boyfriend Douglas Luiz figuring for Brazil in Copa America competition. She has already watched him in friendly action against the USMNT in Orlando – with a dream vacation starting out in Florida.

AdvertisementDID YOU KNOW?

After swapping the east coast for the west, Lehmann has been spending plenty of time on the beach. She has continued to soak up sun alongside close friend and former Villa team-mate Chaney Boye-Hlorkah. The 25-year-old has also visited the iconic Walk of Fame and legendary Hollywood sign.

InstagramTHE GOSSIP

With her days being filled by the sea, Lehmann needs something to do at night. She has now taken the opportunity to visit the Magic Castle – a clubhouse for magicians and magic enthusiasts that is only open to those in the magic circle or guests that receive a special invite.

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WHAT NEXT?

Lehmann will be sticking around in California for at least one more evening, with Luiz and Brazil set to open their quest for Copa America glory against Costa Rica on Monday. That game will be taking place at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood – the home of the LA-based Rams and Chargers NFL franchises.

Benjamin Sesko has explained why he decided to sign a contract extension with RB Leipzig despite attracting interest from the Premier League.

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Sesko wanted by Arsenal, Chelsea & Man UtdSlovenian signed contract extension to 2029Striker says deal was 'logical step' for himWHAT HAPPENED?

The Slovenia international signed an extension that ties him to the Bundesliga club until 2029. His stunning debut season in Germany saw him score 18 goals and register two assists in 42 games across all competitions.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

That goal record caught the attention of the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United, with reports claiming the 21-year-old wanted to join the Gunners this summer. However, he opted to remain at the Red Bull Arena and says it was a "logical" step.

WHAT SESKO SAID

"I had a good first year at RB Leipzig and am incredibly happy to be here," he told the club's website. "Team, club, city, fans – the overall package is simply outstanding for me. The early contract extension was therefore the logical next step for me. Even though I didn't play or score as much in the first half of the season, this phase was very important for me and my development. I feel a lot of trust and appreciation throughout the club and that is crucial for being able to perform to my full potential. In the second half of the season in particular, I was able to give something back with my goals. We have a team with great potential and a balanced mix of young and experienced players.

"I'm really looking forward to taking the next steps with this team. We've already achieved a lot in my first season and often shown the amount of quality and outstanding football we can bring to the pitch. But there's still a lot more to be done and that's now our common goal."

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR SESKO?

The attacker will attempt to carry his excellent club form over to Euro 2024. Slovenia will line up against Denmark for their first game of the tournament on June 16, followed by matches against Serbia and England.

Brendan Rodgers won a copious amount of major honours in his first spell with Celtic so to see the way his second tenure is playing out is a tad peculiar.

Indeed, things began to look rather rocky in December as the Hoops lost games to both Hearts and Kilmarnock. The ship has since been steadied – winning every game since Christmas – but there is a sense that Rodgers needs to do more to keep fans on side.

A transfer window in which Nicolas Kuhn is the only addition will hardly appease those at Parkhead, therefore.

Neither it seems will a late move for Norwich striker Adam Idah. A regular bench player is your first choice of forward, Brendan? Yeah, it's not ideal.

Celtic's late transfer business

The last 24 hours have been a rather bizarre affair with regard to incoming news at Paradise. A move for Sydney van Hooijdonk was first put on the table but that now unfortunately will not be happening.

Instead, the forward will be heading to Norwich and as a result, it looks as though the Canaries will let Idah make the trip to Scotland.

Reports emerged late on Tuesday evening suggesting that the Bhoys were closing in on a move for the Republic of Ireland international before Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph provided the following update on Wednesday morning.

However, with just seven goals in 34 outings this term, it's not set many pulses racing in Glasgow.

As such, one alternative in the shape of Aberdeen's Bojan Miovski was posed by Go Radio's Mark Guidi.

He said this week: "Around about the £4m mark again, he’s got a really good goal at the weekend but unlucky for him it was chopped off but the quality of the finish. And I think he’s got a good all-round game. A Macedonian internationalist and his value’s only going to go up.

“Miovski is one that can grow for you and if he is on Celtic’s radar and Celtic signed him before Thursday, then that would be a good bit of business.”

How Miovski compares to Adam Idah

18 goals in 33 matches plays seven in 34. Argument done, finished, over. Okay, we'll give you a bit more than that but already we can see why Miovski would be the more appealing signing for those at Celtic.

The Macedonian has been electric this season and has proven himself to be a real "clutch striker" in the words of journalist Filip Mishov, notably scoring against Rodgers' men to register his first goal of the campaign in the second week of the 2023/24 season.

Since then the 24-year-old has been an unstoppable force in the Premiership. Only Lawrence Shankland (14) of Hearts has more goals in the SPFL than Miovski (11) this term in the league, with a further seven goals coming in various cup competitions.

Boasting composure and also a degree of power, Miovski would be an ideal late addition and at a potential £4m they'd be getting a striker already proven to cause chaos at this level. But, where are the other plus points? Well, this comparison against Idah tells you all you need to know.

Goals

0.42

0.77

Assists

0.07

0.38

Goals per shot

0.21

0.29

Progressive Carries

1.69

1.15

Key Passes

0.49

1.15

Passes into final 3rd

0.49

1.54

Progressive Passes

1.34

2.31

Shot-creating Actions

1.62

2.31

Take-ons Attempted

1.69

1.92

Aerials Won

1.06

1.15

So, while Idah might be better when it comes to dribbling with the ball, Aberdeen's Macedonian sensation offers a great deal more than just his goals.

Miovski is a creative threat as well, notably in the Europa Conference League where he boasts an impressive haul of shot-creating actions every 90 minutes, as well as far more key passes than the Irishman.

It's highly unlikely the Dons will want to sell their prized asset at such a late hour in the transfer window but it's a certainty that Miovski is a better option at this moment in time than Idah.

Reliable transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano has shared an update on Tottenham and their chances of signing Chelsea star Conor Gallagher in January.

Postecoglou chasing new midfielder after Spurs double signing

It's been quite an eventful first fortnight of Spurs' January transfer window.

All confirmed Premier League done deals: January transfer window 2024

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ByLuke Randall Feb 1, 2024

The north Londoners have wasted no time in sealing two major signings, with chairman Daniel Levy and the recruitment team bringing in both forward Timo Werner and much-needed centre-back Radu Dragusin.

Werner joins Tottenham on a six-month loan with an option to buy, reported to be £15.5 million, while Dragusin puts pen to paper on a move to Spurs worth around £25 million.

The duo arrive at N17 to reinforce manager Ange Postecoglou's attacking and defensive options, coming after the Australian publicly urged his side to make early window signings.

It's been without question the club's most eventful January in recent memory, with long-serving defender Eric Dier joining Bayern Munich as well.

Djed Spence and Ashley Phillips have also sealed loan moves elsewhere in that time, and we can't rule out Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg leaving Spurs either.

After all of this, widespread reports continue to suggest that Chelsea star Gallagher could well follow Dragusin and Werner to Tottenham, if Mauricio Pochettino's side make him available for sale.

The Englishman has been one of Chelsea's star players this campaign, and that has elevated his importance at Stamford Bridge after a slightly more bit-part role last term.

Postecoglou, though, is believed to be chasing a new number eight midfield running man – and one who can alternate with James Maddison when required (Miguel Delaney). Gallagher fits the bill in this respect, with respected transfer reporter Romano now sharing his own update on the saga.

Romano shares Gallagher to Tottenham update

Speaking to GiveMeSport this week, Romano refused to rule out Spurs signing Gallagher this month in what comes as a bit of hope for the north Londoners.

While Romano claims it will be difficult to do, the journalist says to wait and see what happens next after both Tottenham and Chelsea held "concrete" talks last year.

"The reality is that they like Gallagher and have done since last summer, this is not new," said Romano.

"We know that last summer including on deadline day Tottenham tried to make it happen with Chelsea for Gallagher. They had a concrete conversation, but then Chelsea said no. Now I'm not aware of any direct negotiation between Chelsea and Tottenham for Gallagher so far, but we have to see what happens in the next weeks."

The Englishman's new-found status as a key player under Pochettino could make things more complicated, but previous reports have suggested that Chelsea could green-light a shock sale for Gallagher this month to fund their own transfer activity.

There is little denying the former Crystal Palace star's creativity and energy would be an asset for Postecoglou, so it will be intriguing to see if Spurs can get a deal done.

Celtic look to be using the January window as an opportunity to offload several fringe players, but the exit of one highly-rated player could now lead to a new striker signing.

Celtic outgoings take precedence

Brendan Rodgers has made no secret of his desire to trim his squad where possible as he looks to streamline his options ahead of the return following the Scottish Premiership winter break.

Cited by The Scotsman, the Irishman explained in a recent interview why he is willing to offload some of his fringe players, stating: "You have to for multiple reasons (offload fringe players), for the players themselves and for their football careers, they need to play. For financial reasons, you can’t be carrying numbers of players each month who aren’t contributing. It then allows us the opportunity to bring players in. That’s just a natural process."

Rodgers could ignite Kyogo with Celtic move for £3m SPFL star

The Hoops have been touted with an interest in the impressive centre-forward.

ByDan Emery Jan 10, 2024

On Tuesday, Celtic announced through their official channels that forgotten man Yosuke Ideguchi has joined Japanese giants Vissel Kobe on a permanent basis, and he is unlikely to be the last to leave the building over the coming weeks.

Summer signing Gustaf Lagerbielke is attracting interest from the likes of Genoa and Lecce. At the same time, Benjamin Siegrist, Alexandro Bernabei, Kwon Hyeok-kyu and Marco Tilio could all become part of a cost-cutting operation at Parkhead before the window expires.

Now, a fresh report has emerged detailing that another Celtic man has been given permission to speak to another club as Rodgers continues to enact a clearout in Glasgow's east end.

Rocco Vata could form Bologna swap deal

Taking to social media platform X, Sky Sports News reporter Anthony Joseph has let it be known that Celtic have allowed youngster Rocco Vata permission to speak to Bologna over a move, and both avenues of a permanent transfer this month or a pre-contract agreement are being explored by the Serie A high-flyers.

The Republic of Ireland Under-21 international has been involved with the Hoops' B team this campaign and has notched 13 goals in 20 appearances across all competitions (Vata statistics – Transfermarkt).

Scottish reporter Scott Burns has indicated that the Glasgow giants haven't offered Vata a new deal despite his current terms expiring later in the year and it now seems as if the 18-year-old could move on to new pastures after featuring just four times for Celtic's senior side.

There could be a positive twist in the tale for the Hoops, with reports from Italy, via Sport Witness, claiming that Bologna may try to use striker Sydney van Hooijdonk as a "pawn" in negotiations to "unblock the operation" amid Rodgers' rumoured interest in the Dutchman, who is the son of club icon Pierre van Hooijdonk.

With Celtic on the hunt for a goalscorer, the 23-year-old's record of 92 strikes from 196 games would likely appeal, given Oh Hyeon-gyu and Daizen Maeda's absence courtesy of being called up for the Asian Cup.

يستهل فريق الاتحاد مشواره ببطولة الدوري السعودي عن الموسم الجديد 2024-2025، بمواجهة هامة أمام نظيره الخلود.

ويلتقي الاتحاد مع الخلود على أرضية استاد مدينة الملك عبد الله الرياضية، في مستهل مواجهات الأسبوع الأول من بطولة دوري روشن.

ويخوض الاتحاد مباراة اليوم أمام الخلود طامحًا في الفوز، وتقديم أداء جيد لمصالحة جماهيره، وذلك بعدما أنهي الموسم الماضي وهو بالمركز الخامس.

طالع أيضاً.. فيديو | الأهلي يفتتح مشواره في الدوري السعودي بثنائية أمام العروبة.. وفيرمينو يسجل

على الجانب الآخر يرغب الخلود الصاعد حديثًا لبطولة دوري روشن، في الخروج بنتيجة إيجابية أمام العميد وحصد ثلاثة نقاط، في بداية مشواره.

ويضم فريق الخلود في صفوفه لاعب الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بالنادي الأهلي المصري، أليو ديانج لاعب خط الوسط. موعد مباراة الاتحاد والخلود اليوم في الدوري السعودي

من المقرر أن تنطلق المباراة في تمام الساعة السابعة وعشر دقائق مساءً بتوقيت السعودية ومصر. القناة الناقلة لمباراة الاتحاد والخلود في الدوري السعودي

من المنتظر أن تُنقل مباراة الاتحاد والخلود عبر قناة SSC HD. معلقين مباراة الاتحاد والخلود اليوم

يتولى مهمة التعليق على أحداث المباراة عبد الله الغامدي وفهد عريشي.

ويُمكنكم متابعة أحداث المباريات لحظة بلحظة من مركز المباريات من هنــــا

Lionel Messi bagged his eighth and ninth goals of the MLS season Saturday, leading the way in a win over the New England Revolution.

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• Miami thump Revs 4-1
• Messi bags goals No. 8 and 9
• Argentine in stunning form

Get the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games now

• Getty Images
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  A brilliant first touch set the first goal up, with Finnish international Robert Taylor playing a delightful through ball to Messi, who finished in a calm and composed fashion. The second brought more of the same, with Mesi this time on the end of a Sergio Busquets to make it 2-1 on the day. He then chipped in a late assist, teeing up Luis Suarez to seal the 4-1 win.

  With his goals Saturday, he's now had a goal contribution in every match he's played this season.

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• WATCH THE CLIPS

• USA Today Images
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  After conceding just 40 seconds into the match. Miami responded well with a calm and composed half. Without Luis Suarez in the XI, Miami opted to roll out with Leonardo Campana and Robert Taylor in their XI up top alongside their Argentine goalscorer.

  Messi, though, made the difference, making MLS history with his fifth consecutive match with at least two goal contributions.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR INTER MIAMI

  The Herons will take on the New York Red Bulls next weekend. It will be a clash between two of MLS' elite sides in the East, as both look to continue their hot form.

Jos Buttler scored a half-century and England then struck four times with the ball, but Sri Lanka were undermined by their own errors on day three in Colombo

The Report by George Dobell 25-Nov-2018The sight of Suranga Lakmal throwing his water bottle to the ground in frustration spoke volumes for Sri Lanka’s fortunes on the third day in Colombo. The Sri Lanka captain had watched his spinners drag his side back into contention with four wickets in the first hour of play. At 39 for 4 England were wobbling and Lakmal knew it.But then he saw Ben Stokes, who had just driven a catch to extra cover, reprieved after replays showed left-arm wristspinner Lakshan Sandakan had over-stepped. Instead of a taking a key wicket, Sri Lanka had instead conceded a single to a no-ball. Stokes was on 22 at the time.To make matters worse – ridiculously, really – Stokes survived in similar fashion a few minutes later. On that occasion Stokes, by now on 32, appeared to have edged straight to slip only for replays to show, once again, that Sandakan had overstepped. Lakmal a reluctant captain anyway, buried his head in his hands. His side could ill afford such self-inflicted injury.Perhaps Sri Lanka had some grounds for feeling aggrieved. Broadcasters later suggested than as many as 40% of the deliveries in Sandakan’s first spell should have been called no-ball. But with the umpire at his end, S Ravi (they call him DRS Ravi round these parts), not calling them, the bowler may feel he was not given the chance to correct where he was landing.Ultimately, though, the bowler has to take responsibility for keeping his foot behind the line. And for a spinner, in particular, to err in such fashion hinted at a lack of rigour, a lack of discipline, a carelessness that has undermined Sri Lanka’s cricket throughout this series.For the scoreline probably won’t show it now – England are well on their way to a first whitewash in Asia (in series of three games ormore) and their first away anywhere since 1963 – but Sri Lanka have had opportunities in every game of this series. And on each occasion, they have lost the key passage of play as much through their own errors as England’s excellence.Those no-balls weren’t Sri Lanka’s only errors of the day, either. Niroshan Dickwella, the Sri Lanka keeper, was unable to cling on to a thin edge offered down the leg-side by Jos Buttler, on 38, from the first delivery after lunch, while Angel Mathews’ impatient pull in the dying moments of the day seemed oddly naive from such an experienced player.As it was, Stokes and Buttler added 89 for England’s fifth wicket and slammed the door on Sri Lanka’s hopes. In a low-scoring Test, it may well prove to be a definitive partnership.Buttler was easily the most fluent batsman. England managed only one boundary – a clip through midwicket for four by Jonny Bairstow – in the first 70 minutes of play and were in some danger of reverting to the stuttering, timid mess that has characterised much of their batting on previous tours of Asia.But Buttler, skipping down the pitch to the spinners, scored at nearly a run a ball, turning decent deliveries into full tosses and disrupting the length of the bowlers. At one stage, Sandakan conceded four boundaries in 10 deliveries. In the context of this match, it was a feast of runs.Jos Buttler uses his attacking options well•Associated Press

There were some nervous moments along the way. Buttler was given out on 22 – an lbw decision won by Dhananjaya de Silva – only for Stokes to insist he utilise a review, which showed the ball would have bounced over the stumps. It was one of six decisions overturned on an inglorious day for the umpires.Eventually, Stokes lofted a catch to long-on and Buttler was stumped after Sandakan saw him advancing down the pitch and fired the ball down the leg side. Dickwella made a tricky stumping appear straightforward. But by then the damage was done.The day had started so well for Sri Lanka. Dilruwan Perera, with 22 wickets in the series, certainly does not deserve to be on the losing side and gave his side renewed hope with three early wickets on the way to a second five-for in three matches. Keaton Jennings, planting his front foot, was trapped leg before by the first delivery of the day – one that skidded on – while Rory Burns fell in similar fashion a few overs later.When Bairstow became the latest batsman to fall to a sharp catch at short-leg – turning one off his hips nicely enough only to see Kaushal Silva, on as a substitute, cling on – and Joe Root gave a return catch to Malinda Pushpakumara as he attempted to work him against the spin, England were four down, leading by 135, and starting to look uncomfortable.But Stokes and Buttler, with some help from Sandakan’s ill-discipline, put clear water between the sides. And with England’s lower order again showing their worth with the bat – the final three wickets added 59, with Ben Foakes’ unbeaten 36 earning him a decent chance of ending the series as the highest run-scorer and with the highest batting average – Sri Lanka were set 327 runs to win. No team has chased so high a total at the SSC ground.Whatever hopes Sri Lanka may have had of achieving an historic run chase were all but ended within the first few overs of their second innings. Moeen Ali, taking the new ball, had Danushka Gunathilaka caught at slip as he felt for one that left him sharply, before Dimuth Karunaratne was punished for leaving a gate by a straight one that passed between bat and pad.Jack Leach, meanwhile, beat a groping Dhananjaya de Silva with one that straightened – although it took a review to confirm the dismissal.The final wicket, Mathews caught attempting to pull a short ball from Stokes for the second time in the match, was another nail in the coffin. To see an England bowler bounce out an experienced player on a relatively sluggish Asian surface was to see a new, aggressive England finding new ways to win in these conditions. But it was also to see a weak Sri Lanka succumb with disappointing lack of application or spirit. There have been a few moments in this series when they’ve been outplayed; there have been several more when they have played a huge part in their own downfall.