Chelsea's manager candidate Mauricio Pochettino is an appointment that could go down 'very well' at Stamford Bridge, says journalist Dean Jones.

What's the latest news involving Mauricio Pochettino?

As per BBC Sport, Chelsea are in 'advanced talks' to appoint Pochettino as their new manager following an extensive search for a permanent successor to Graham Potter.

The report states that former Bayern Munich boss Julian Nagelsmann was also in the running alongside contenders Luis Enrique and Vincent Kompany; however, it now looks like it will be the former Tottenham Hotspur man that will take the reins at Stamford Bridge.

Seemingly, Pochettino has already started to lay down his authority in west London despite still not being officially appointed, with The Telegraph reporting that the 51-year-old will ask forgotten man Romelu Lukaku if he wants to try and revive his career at the club next season.

Of course, the Belgium international was sent on loan to Inter Milan at the start of 2022/23, though he could now be set for an unexpected second chance if Pochettino is duly installed as the man to lead the Blues forward.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Jones reckons that Pochettino could be an exciting appointment at Stamford Bridge.

Jones said: "The Pochettino appointment is going down very well at Chelsea. I've spoken to a lot of season ticket holders that are excited and think this is the right decision. Inside the club they are excited too. At first there was some apprehension, because this is not the first time they have wanted him.

"The difference this time is that the manager role is vacant, Poch seems very assured that this is better timing for him, and any concerns were quelled quite fast. He's very open to working with this squad, I was told the young talent they have been buying is something that impresses him and he is keen to make those signings work.

"The plan to keep having Academy players involved is important too and Pochettino is totally onside with that and the identity they need to build and the reconnections that need to be built between the players on the pitch and the fans in the stands.

"This is a good step in that direction and the timing of all this allows the season to end in optimism.

"Of course, there are players that will have to leave, but nothing is fazing him right now. I think the PSG experience has given him a toughness that means he feels totally ready for turning Chelsea around. It is a good time to go in – let's face it, things really can not get much worse."

Can Mauricio Pochettino turn Chelsea's fortunes around at Stamford Bridge?

Pochettino looks like he could be a solid appointment for Chelsea and the fact he has a proven track record of turning teams around, such as Tottenham, shows that he could be the missing link at Stamford Bridge to turn the Blues' fortunes around.

In his time at The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the Argentinian coach managed to take the Lilywhites to four consecutive top-four finishes in the Premier League and also led his former side to the Champions League final in 2019, unfortunately losing out to Liverpool in the final, as per Sky Sports.

His spell in charge of Paris Saint-German yielded the Ligue 1 title in 2021/22 alongside picking up the Coupe De France and French Super Cup in 2020/21, as per Transfermarkt.

Moving forward, Pochettino could be the man to get Chelsea back in a position to challenge for silverware regularly heading into 2023/24.

However, it is apparent – on the back of this season – that there will be a lot for the Argentine to sort out before the club can return to lifting trophies.

England’s increasingly proficient one-day side might well offer a beacon of hope for those looking for a distraction this week. England cricket fans knew the meaning of omnishambles long before it was added to the dictionary and might regard it as something of a perversity that, after the country’s footballers were put on ice by the smallest nation at Euro 2016 and as politicians continue exploring the realms beyond satire, it is their sport that provides a fleeting opportunity for optimism.It is not so long ago that England’s ODI players were sent packing from a major tournament to the accompaniment of boos and hisses, of course. Eoin Morgan is periodically asked to reflect on how far England have come since the 2015 World Cup and his responses to how the culture of the limited-overs teams has been changed, and where they can continue to improve, are typically well-rehearsed and emotion-free. Is it a stretch to suggest his cool captaincy and emphasis on collective enjoyment feels ever-so-slightly Icelandic?Morgan is no football fan, however, and England are one of the most well-resourced teams in cricket, so it is hard to make theirs an underdog story – no matter how mangy their one-day performances have been over the last couple of decades. England’s captain, who perhaps took slightly more of an interest during Ireland’s Euro 2016 defeat on Sunday, did concede that “emotions are probably running high with everybody around the country at the moment” but stopped short of endorsing the appointment of an Australian as Roy Hodgson’s successor.Coincidentally, Hodgson watched England’s cricketers train the last time they prepared for a match at The Oval (one they lost by an innings to Australia) but he has now joined Peter Moores and Stuart Lancaster in the most recent ranks of English coaching disaster. Morgan was more interested in Eddie Jones’ success in turning around the rugby team – “it’s been phenomenal to watch a whitewash against Australia on home soil” – but eventually talk turned to his ongoing project alongside Trevor Bayliss in improving England’s ODI stocks.A tie at Trent Bridge, where Liam Plunkett’s last-ball six salvaged a game that appeared lost, was followed by more consummate displays in both disciplines at Edgbaston and another solid bowling performance, before the rain arrived to wipe out any chance of a result at Bristol. That means England still need to win one of the final two matches to secure the series – and they may come up against the weather again at The Oval, with a poor forecast for the afternoon.”It’s very important we work hard, they are a strong side, we don’t take them for granted,” Morgan said. “The series still stands at 1-0, given we’ve played some really good cricket and not been able to capitalise because of the weather. Tomorrow again it is going to be tough to get it to that point but it’s important to emphasise the hard work that needs to be put in.”As England have broken records with regularity over the last 12 months, it has been the batsmen that have taken the plaudits – most recently with Alex Hales and Jason Roy knocking off the highest successful chase for a team winning by ten wickets.However, the bowling has stood out so far in this series, with Sri Lanka limited to totals of 286 for 9, 254 for 7 and 248 for 9. England have got by on five specialist bowlers in each match, with Joe Root contributing three overs of back-up spin, and while Morgan said he would prefer to have more options – such as when Ben Stokes has been fit to play as an allrounder in the top six – results had been encouraging.”At the moment it has worked, ideally we would have more but our strength has been our batting and to stick with that sends quite a lot of confidence through the changing room,” Morgan said of the team’s balance.”It throws it over to the bowlers, more responsibility on them and they have done pretty well with it. Sometimes if you go in with six out-and-out bowlers it can be off the pace a little bit, when you pack your team with batters and if they play poorly you wonder if they rely too much on other people. It’s a balance you just have to stay with what you feel is right for the team.”England have become more accustomed to viewing the limited-overs formats as a squad game and Morgan said there were still plenty of options to consider ahead of next year’s Champions Trophy. Steven Finn has yet to play a game in the series – in part thanks to Liam Plunkett’s strong form – and Stuart Broad’s name continues to linger at edge of selectoral discussions.Meanwhile, a combination of poor batting, good batting (from Hales and Roy) and poor weather, means that Morgan, Root and Jonny Bairstow have had little opportunity for time in the middle. For that reason, as well as the desire to avoid going to Cardiff still only 1-0 up, England will hope the rain stays away over south London on Wednesday. As Hodgson, who led his team through a perfect qualifying campaign for Euro 2016, would attest, you can never be too well prepared for the challenges ahead.”There is a lot of talk going into tournaments about knowing your best 11 but its more than that. A guy goes down in the first game, must-win, it’s more than having 11 – it’s how big your squad is. When you turn to guys at certain stages of a tournament you have got to be able to trust them, it’s not just your best team, but best squad.”

Liverpool are the current favourites to sign Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount in the summer transfer window, according to a fresh update.

Is Mount leaving Chelsea this summer?

The 24-year-old has had a disappointing season by his high standards, losing his place in the team at times and currently being sidelined for the rest of the campaign. He has only started 20 of the Blues' Premier League games and his future has been a big talking point.

Mount's current Chelsea deal expires at the end of next season, and with no extension at Stamford Bridge coming close to being agreed yet, a move away has looked likely. Liverpool have been constantly linked with a move for the £80,000-a-week Englishman, with Jurgen Klopp seeing him as a key addition to his midfield.

It seems nailed on that the Reds are at least going to be in the mix, should Mount decide to leave Chelsea, and a new claim has now emerged.

Will Liverpool snap up Mount?

According to The Mirror's John Richardson, Liverpool are the "favourites" to sign the England international in the summer window, in a deal that could cost "around £50m". The report does state that the transfer "depends on the green light being given by incoming Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino", with the Argentine potentially wanting to keep hold of him when he arrives.

It does appear as though the Reds really do see Mount as a primary transfer target, and someone who can help take them up a gear next season. As mentioned, he has struggled to reach his previous heights in 2022/23, but he has been part of a struggling Blues team, and ultimately, footballers can simply have a bad run of form now and again.

The positives easily outweigh the negatives with Mount, and he could slot into Liverpool's midfield with ease, taking up a No.8 role and looking to add a combination of end product and energy. He has been described as "unbelievable" by former Reds player Joe Cole in the past, while a tally of 33 goals and 37 assists for Chelsea shows the quality that he can provide in the final third.

He is still a fairly young player, too, and his injury record was strong until his current layoff, and while he is player who can be divisive, with some arguably failing to notice his subtle qualities, he has all the attributes to thrive in a Liverpool shirt.

A round-up of all DPL matches played on June 1, 2016

Mohammad Isam01-Jun-2016

Ashok Menaria’s impressive all-round performance led Prime Doleshwar Sporting Club to the top of the DPL points table with a five-wicket win over Gazi Group Cricketers in Mirpur.Menaria’s unbeaten 61-ball 59 that included two fours and sixes steered Doleshwar’s chase of 214 after hostile opening spells from pacers Mohammad Sharif and Sajedul Islam had reduced them to 70 for 3 in the 24th over.Wicketkeeper Anamul Haque took a brilliant catch after opener Imtiaz Hossain top-edged a pull. Just as the ball was going over his head, Anamul leapt backwards and completed a one-handed catch to give Gazi Group an early breakthrough. Robiul Islam Robi and Raqibul Hasan added 42 runs in the next 11.4 overs before their wickets, in the space of five overs, tied Gazi Group down.Menaria lifted Doleshwar by first adding 64 runs for the fourth wicket with Nasir Hossain, who scored 40 off 56 balls, and then 70 runs for the fifth wicket with Rony Talukdar, who made 43 off 45 balls. Sharif and Sajedul’s efforts with the ball were undone by sloppy fielding. Gazi Group dropped as many as five catches, and both bowlers had to settle with one wicket each.Earlier, Gazi Group had slipped to 97 for 5 by the 33rd over, with both in-form openers Anamul and Shamsur Rahman falling cheaply. Elias Sunny’s 46 dragged his side past 150, after which a 51-run stand for the eighth wicket between Farhad Hossain and Sharif took them to 213 for 8. Menaria was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3 for 29 in nine overs, including a maiden.Abahani Limited finally had their big players firing, in their five-wicket win over Prime Bank Cricket Club at the BKSP-3 ground. They are placed third in the points table, with 12 points from 10 matches.Yusuf Pathan, fresh off the IPL, slammed seven fours and two sixes in his 47-ball 60, but when he fell in the 28th over, Abahani still needed 89 to reach the 241-run target. Shakib Al Hasan was dismissed for 3 in the next over, but Mosaddek Hossain then anchored the chase with an unbeaten 64 off 49, his second successive half-century.Having been stuck in traffic at the Dhaka-Sarvar highway, Yusuf had arrived 41 minutes after scheduled start of play. But the opposition captain Shuvagata Hom and the match officials allowed him to take the field, despite being late.Mosaddek and Liton Das added an unbroken 87 runs for the sixth wicket as Abahani sealed the win with 33 balls to spare. Liton stayed unbeaten on 25 off 51 balls.Abahani captain Tamim Iqbal had laid the platform with 40 off 46 balls, before falling to Shuvagata in the 13th over. Nazmul Hossain Shanto and Yusuf then put on 94 runs for the third wicket to help Abahani eat into the target.Earlier, Prime Bank posted 240 for 9 in 50 overs with Nurul Hasan top-scoring with 46. Openers Mehedi Maruf (26) and Shanaj Ahmed (24) got starts, but they were dismissed in successive overs. Prime Bank were further pushed back when Sabbir Rahman and new Indian recruit Unmukt Chand exited for a duck and 2.Shakib led Abahani’s bowling surge with returns of 4 for 35, including the wickets of Sabbir, Chand and Mehedi. He was complemented by left-arm spinner Saqlain Sajib who claimed 3 for 37. Shuvagata and Taibur Rahman added 50 for the sixth wicket to help Prime Bank recover from 79 for 4. After both batsmen fell, No.10 Monir Hussain scored a brisk 25 to take his team to 240.Kalabagan Cricket Academy beat Cricket Coaching School by five wickets (D/L method) in a bottom-of-the-table tussle in Fatullah.Having opted to bat, CCS managed only 185 for 9 in 50 overs as no batsman passed 38. As many as five batsmen got starts but none got a substantial score. Captain Mahmudul Hasan led KCA’s superb bowling effort with returns of 3 for 37.Then it was the turn of Jatin Saxena to play a match-winning hand. The Indian batsman struck 87 off 95 balls, including seven fours and three sixes. Jatin was assisted by Mahmudul who made 46 off 84 balls. Rain interrupted KCA’s innings but they reached the revised target of 184 with 53 balls to spare.Left-arm spinners Nasum Ahmed and Saleh Ahmed Shawon took two wickets each for CCS.

Journalist Charles Watts has claimed that he doesn't expect Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli to play again this season after he was spotted in a protective boot.

What's the latest Arsenal injury news?

The Gunners played host to Brighton on Sunday with the likes of William Saliba, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Takehiro Tomiyasu, and Mo Elneny already out injured.

And to make things worse, not long into that Premier League match at the Emirates, Martinelli hobbled off the pitch as a consequence of a foul from Moises Caicedo.

This was merely a precursor for the bad afternoon the north London side would have as they went on to lose the match 3-0 – all but putting an end to their title hopes.

Adding insult to injury, Watts has since noted that Martinelli was seen in a protective boot after the game and has claimed that the Brazilian won't play again this season.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, he said (13:40): “Mikel didn’t know [when he'll be back], said that he's going to go for a scan.

"I saw the club physio spoke to some fans afterwards as he was leaving the game in his car. And I think he said that he thinks he'll play again this season but I don't know.

"Having seen Martinelli yesterday walking around after the game in that protective boot. I'd be surprised if he does but we'll wait and see on that."

Is Martinelli out for the season?

The Brazilian was actually a tad lucky not to go off early when he avoided a red card for a nasty foul on Kaoru Mitoma.

This good fortune has since turned to back luck with manager Mikel Arteta not able to add too much clarity about it all.

He told football.london: "He was very uncomfortable, and he could not carry on playing. We need to scan him and see the extent of that injury."

Arsenal team doctor Gary O'Driscoll was spotted outside the Emirates stating: "He's a bit sore but he should be okay," before adding: "everyone's fighting to be back for the next game".

However, with the title now surely out of reach and with only two Premier League matches left to play for the Gunners, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to rush the £180k-p/w winger back as it could risk aggravating the issue even more.

All in all, it sounds as though Arsenal fans may well have seen the last of Martinelli this season.

Arsenal star Granit Xhaka "might be tempted" to leave this summer, particularly if the club bring in a new central midfielder, according to journalist Paul Brown.

What's the latest on Xhaka's Arsenal future?

According to a recent report from talkSPORT, Xhaka is becoming increasingly likely to leave Arsenal in the summer, despite a stellar season in the Premier League, as his contract expires next summer, meaning this is the club's last chance to cash-in.

Mikel Arteta downplayed recent links to Bayer Leverkusen, with the manager insisting he is "really happy" with the midfielder's performances this season, claiming it is "probably the best season" he has had at the club since signing for £30m in 2016.

However, with the Gunners being linked with moves for the likes of Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo, the Switzerland international's future in north London now appears to be in major doubt.

In a recent interview with GiveMeSport, Brown has indicated that the 30-year-old could be keen on a move this summer, if he feels as though his game time is going to be limited by the arrival of a big-name signing.

The journalist said: I feel if Arsenal were to make a big midfield signing and invest a lot of money in a player like Rice or Caicedo, that Xhaka might feel, at this stage of his career, he doesn't want to play second fiddle or lose out on the kind of minutes he was getting this season.

“So, I think there's an opportunity there for clubs like Leverkusen to come in and make him an offer, and depending on the sort of business Arsenal do, I think he might be tempted to take it.”

Should Arsenal let Granit Xhaka leave?

The £120k-per-week midfielder has taken significant strides this season, having averaged a 6.97 WhoScored match rating in the Premier League, a massive increase on the 6.67 match rating from the 2021/22 campaign.

Hailed as "exceptional" by journalist Charles Watts, the former FC Basel man also plays an important role in the dressing room, having been described as a "positive leader" who sets a "positive example for the young players" by Patrick Vieira.

As such, it would be wise for Arteta to keep hold of Xhaka, if he is willing to accept playing a more limited role than he has this season, in which he has made a total of 45 appearances in all competitions.

Essex’s batsmen piled on the agony by batting all day to establish a 273-run lead over promotion rivals Kent.

ECB Reporters Network04-Jul-2016
ScorecardRavi Bopara made his best Championship score of the season•Getty ImagesEssex’s batsmen piled on the agony by batting all day to establish a 273-run lead over promotion rivals Kent.Kent toiled in the field as Essex feasted on some indifferent and uninspired bowling to add 373 runs on the second day. Essex claimed maximum bonus points to reclaim their place at the top of Division Two.Four Essex batsmen went past fifty, but three of them – Tom Westley, Ravi Bopara and Dan Lawrence – perished within sight of three figures. Captain Ryan ten Doeschate, meanwhile, remained unbeaten on 77.The foundation for Essex’s big score was laid by a third-wicket stand of 169 in 44 overs between Westley and Bopara. The pair completely dominated the Kent attack throughout the morning session and deep into the post-lunch one as well.Westley scored heaviest in the early part of the partnership, being particularly severe on Mitch Claydon. He hit two fours in one over, steering the ball through midwicket and then another through gulley.Westley also dealt with the questions that South African quick Kagiso Rabada had posed early on for Ravi Bopara, to whom he bowled 23 consecutive dot balls. Westley smashed four off the second ball he faced from the man who dismissed England captain Alastair Cook late on Sunday.Bopara started circumspectly, and when he bounced down the wicket to hit Darren Stevens over the top it was a rare outbreak of aggression. But once he was settled, Bopara matched Westley’s scoring rate.Westley reached his fifty first, off 75 balls, when he pushed a single off Adam Ball to mid-off. Bopara’s half-century took 102 balls and arrived just before lunch when he swept James Tredwell for two.Both batsmen, though, survived sharp chances. Westley had added one more to his eighth Championship fifty in 13 innings when he hit low and hard to Sam Northeast at short mid-on, but the Kent captain couldn’t cling on. Soon after, Bopara swished at Tredwell and the ball flew over and through a diving Ball at first slip.Bopara accelerated after lunch and twice advanced down the wicket to hit first Stevens and then Tredwell over the top for fours. The assault ended when Westley became bogged down against Claydon and chased a delivery that was both short and wide to be caught behind. He departed, deeply frustrated, for 88 off 150 balls, with a dozen fours.Bopara went within five overs, attempting to drive but playing loosely at Stevens and being caught low down by Sean Dickson at short extra cover for 94. It was Bopara highest Championship score of the season and took 157 balls and included 11 fours.Jaik Mickleburgh and Lawrence put on 59 for the fifth wicket in 20 overs of sensible batting before Mickleburgh nibbled at one from Ball and gave Tredwell a catch at first slip.Essex were still 43 runs short of maximum batting points at that point with eight overs remaining. Ten Doeschate hit his first two balls for four, and then cut Stevens for a third to show his intent. Lawrence also hit Stevens for successive fours, the first past square leg bringing up a 78-ball fifty, and later lofted Tredwell over long on for six.The pair passed the 400-run threshold, and the fifth batting point, with nine balls to spare, having put on 45 in little more than seven overs. Ten Doeschate took two successive boundaries off Joe Denly to pass 50. He needed just 54 balls to get there, hitting nine fours along the way.The sixth-wicket pair had just brought up the 100 partnership in 18 overs when Lawrence went for another big shot and found substitute fielder Matt Hunn at long-off.

England’s fixtures for the 2017 home season have today been confirmed, with South Africa and West Indies lined up for full tours in a busy summer that will also feature the ECB’s hosting of the Champions Trophy in early to mid-June

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Jul-2016

England’s home season in 2017 has been confirmed as the longest in their international history, after the ECB announced a glut of fixtures spanning 148 days and featuring both the earliest start date, May 5, and the latest finish, September 29.South Africa and West Indies are lined up for full tours in an unprecedented summer that will also feature the ECB’s hosting of the Champions Trophy in early to mid-June, and the women’s World Cup between June 26 and July 23..The previous earliest start to an English summer was May 6, when England and West Indies embarked on that summer’s first Test at Lord’s. The latest finish also involved West Indies, when they beat England in the final of the Champions Trophy on September 25, 2004.England men’s summer will be launched by a two-match ODI series against Ireland, at Bristol and Lord’s on May 5 and 7, before the arrival of South Africa’s ODI squad for three matches – at Headingley, Ageas Bowl and Lord’s – on May 24, 27 and 29, which will serve as warm-up fixtures for the Champions Trophy, which opens with England’s match against Bangladesh at the Kia Oval on June 1.England’s 2017 schedule

May 5, 1st ODI v Ireland, Bristol
May 7, 2nd ODI v Ireland, Lord’s
May 24, 1st ODI v SA, Headingley
May 27, 2nd ODI v SA, Ageas Bowl
May 29, 3rd ODI v SA, Lord’s
Jun 1-18, Champions Trophy
Jun 21 v SA, 1st T20, Ageas Bowl
Jun 23 v SA, 2nd T20, Taunton
Jun 25, 3rd T20 v SA, Cardiff
Jul 6-10, 1st Test v SA, Lord’s
Jul 14-18, 2nd Test v SA, Trent Bridge
Jul 27-31, 3rd Test v SA, The Oval
Aug 4-8, 4th Test v SA, Old Trafford
Aug 17-21, 1st Test v WI, Edgbaston
Aug 25-29, 2nd Test v WI, Headingley
Sep 7-11, 3rd Test v WI, Lord’s
Sep 16, Only T20 v WI, Durham
Sep 19, 1st ODI v WI, Old Trafford
Sep 21, 2nd ODI v WI, Trent Bridge
Sep 24, 3rd ODI v WI, Bristol
Sep 27, 4th ODI v WI, The Oval
Sep 29, 5th ODI v WI, Ageas Bowl

After the tournament, which concludes with a final at The Oval on June 18, England and South Africa play three T20Is – including their first international fixture at Taunton since 1983 – before attention switches to seven Test matches in the space of 67 days.South Africa are lined up for four matches, starting at Lord’s on July 6 then proceeding to Trent Bridge, The Oval and Old Trafford, before West Indies commence a three-Test series on August 17.That opening fixture, at Edgbaston, has been mooted as England’s first home day/night fixture, although the ECB as yet has not clarified its status. Further matches are scheduled for Headingley and Lord’s, before a one-off T20I followed by five ODIs, with the home summer set to finish at the Ageas Bowl on September 29.”With three different international teams coming here next summer and this country playing host to two major ICC global events – the ICC Champions Trophy and the ICC Women’s World Cup – there will be a feast of international cricket to excite us in England and Wales,” said Tom Harrison, the ECB’s chief executive.”Both the international and the domestic schedule will have a different shape to previous years. And the early season block for the Royal London One-Day Cup – with a new mid-season date for its Lord’s final – will support both England’s ICC Champions Trophy preparations and our longer term planning for the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2019. It will also allow players to focus skills on the white ball game and help more people to understand the structure of the season.”It promises to be a memorable summer of cricket for all our international grounds and a particularly special one for Somerset CCC which will host its first England men’s fixture for more than thirty years; a great opportunity for the county to further capitalise on its strong support for England women’s cricket in recent years.”Edgbaston will once again host NatWest T20 Blast Finals day while the Royal London One-Day Cup Final has been brought forward from its traditional mid-September date to a new mid-summer slot in early July.

An overthrow off the last ball, with South Africa needing three, resulted in a heartbreaking loss for Ireland in the first of two women’s T20Is in Dublin

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Aug-2016
ScorecardFile photo: Mignon du Preez top-scored for South Africa Women with 55•ICC/Getty ImagesAn overthrow off the last ball, with South Africa needing three, resulted in a heartbreaking loss for Ireland in the first of two women’s T20Is in Dublin.South Africa, chasing 141, needed 22 off the last two overs, with five wickets in hand. Dinesha Devnarain took the onus after Mignon du Preez’s dismissal for 55. Her unbeaten 11-ball 20, including a crucial boundary in the penultimate over, helped the visitors secure a thriller.Clare Shillington made the early running with a 31-ball 30 after Ireland were sent in to bat. They moved along to 61 for 1 in 10 overs before Sune Luus’ double-strike in the space of five deliveries lifted South Africa.She first clean bowled Shauna Kavanagh and then had Jennifer Gray trapped lbw as Ireland slipped to 63 for 3. When Shillington fell off the next over, Ireland had lost momentum.It took an unbeaten 61-run stand between Isobel Joyce and Kim Garth to lift Ireland to 140 for 5, their second-highest T20I score. Joyce was particularly aggressive, hitting three fours and a six in her unbeaten 31. Ireland pillaged 51 off the last six overs.In reply, South Africa lost experienced opener Trisha Chetty in the third over, but kept chipping away at the runs, even as the asking rate crept up, courtesy Laura Wolvaardt and du Preez. The pair had added 45 in seven overs before Joyce had Wolvaardt caught by Garth to leave the visitors needing 83 off 57 balls.Du Preez, the former captain, brought her experience into play, milking the runs even as wickets continued to fall, before laying into the bowlers; her successive boundaries in the 17th over reduced the equation to 33 off the last three overs.The dismissal of du Preez in the 18th over tilted the game in Ireland’s favour, but Devnarain’s cameo, in Lara Goodall’s company, kept South Africa’s hopes alive. When Goodall was run out in the final over, delivered by 16-year-old medium-pacer Lucy O’Reilly, South Africa were left needing four off the last two balls. That soon became three off the last ball. O’Reilly and Klaas ran two but got four more, courtesy a misfield and an overthrow. With the win, South Africa took an unassailable lead in the series.

Scorecard1:40

‘Amir has only got better’ – Masood

If there were any doubts about Mohammad Amir’s preparedness for a return to Test cricket, he has gone a long way towards dispelling them in Taunton with an incisive spell of top-class swing bowling.Amir claimed three top-order wickets in a performance that demonstrated sharp pace, even sharper movement and impressive control to suggest that, whatever else has happened since the last time we saw him bowl in England, his extravagant skills remain undimmed.Such is notoriety surrounding Amir – his talent as much as his fall from grace – that it might be forgotten that he goes into this tour with much to prove. This was his first first-class game of the year and only his fifth in almost six years. The last time he played at the top level he was just 18. Amir child, if you will. He has questions to answer, to himself as much as anyone, about his stamina, fitness and ability to block out the distractions and overcome the challenges that await.And it is true he may face tougher opposition and more hostile environments than he faced here. At Taunton he was greeted with warm applause when it was announced he was to bowl – it was never likely to be any other way – and then confronted by two top-order batsmen as green as The Quantocks and one who seems to have been around as long as them.But it is doubtful it would have mattered who was at the other end. The delivery that accounted for Marcus Trescothick, a beauty on off stump that demanded a stroke before swinging away late to take the edge of his bat, would have troubled any left-handed batsman in any era. Alastair Cook faces quite a challenge this summer.And while the doubters might suggest a more experienced player than Adam Hose – on first-class debut – might have kept out the ball that brought Amir his next wicket, it’s worth noting that Hose is only a year younger than Amir. Having played pretty well for half-an-hour, Hose saw Amir go round the wicket and swing one back in sharply to take his off stump. He will never have faced bowing of such quality and he may never again after this match. This was a desperately tough baptism.But the best delivery of the lot was reserved for Peter Trego. Back over the wicket, Amir pitched the ball just outside off stump and persuaded it to swing back, through the gate and send Trego’s middle stump cartwheeling. It was, by any standards, beautiful bowling. And, on a benign pitch offering him little, suggested he could prove devastating if England gamble with the sort of surfaces they utilised so effectively against Australia last year.”He swung the ball really late,” Trescothick said. “You get a lot of bowlers who swing it quite early but he was swinging it late. That bit of extra pace is the thing. He hasn’t played international cricket for a number of years so there’s probably an extra bit of zip that he has that makes him hard work. As it was coming down the pitch you were almost guessing whether it was an inswinger or whether it was one of the straight ones.”On that performance, yes, he will cause problems for England.”Adam Hose was one of Mohammad Amir’s three wickets•Getty Images

Amir’s day had started less happily. His first delivery as a batsman was called as a no-ball, the cue for somewhat awkward laughter on and off the pitch, while the next took his edge on the way to the keeper.But it is not his batting that will decide the Test series. It is Amir detail, if you like. It is his bowling. And on the evidence of this performance, it is in fine shape.”He bowled an incredible spell,” his team-mate Shan Masood said. “We have no doubts about his talent. We’ve seen it before and we’re seeing it again. He hasn’t lost it. If anything, he has just got better.”Masood was also keen to point out the ability of the rest of this Pakistan attack. And it is true that Sohail Khan, in particular, impressed with a three-wicket haul of his own. With an action just a little reminiscent of Waqar Younis, he had Tim Rouse – another Somerset debutant – edging one that left him, while Yasir Shah proved too good for the tail. Dominic Bess, the 18-year-old first-class debut, left a straight one that hit his off stump.James Hildreth, undefeated on 47, offered the only meaningful resistance. While he was reprieved on 13, he did show the resolve and technique to justify the locals’ argument that he should be featuring strongly in national selection meetings at present. The counter argument suggests he is not comfortable against the short ball and has an average artificially boosted by playing his home games on Taunton’s batting-friendly surface. But 38 first-class centuries and an average of nearly 45 makes a compelling case. Had he been given a little more support here, he might have made an even stronger one. The fact that no selectors were in evidence does not bode well for him.It all meant Pakistan took a first innings lead of 231. But there was no thought of enforcing the follow-on. This game is about gaining the maximum amount of practice rather than the result. Besides, with Azhar Ali stretching the lead close to 400 by the close, they may well still have time to wrap-up victory on the final day. You might even call it Amir formality.The only cloud on Pakistan’s horizon concerns the form of their captain. After his second ball duck in the first innings, Misbah-ul-Haq fell for 19 in the second innings and dropped a tough chance off Hildreth in the slips. It is too early to read much into such issues, but Misbah is asking a great deal of himself to negate a skilful England bowling attack on their own surfaces at the age of 42.Perhaps he was a little unfortunate here. He made decent contact on a reverse sweep only to see the slip fielder Trescothick, only two years younger than Misbah, anticipate the stroke, move to his right and take a fine catch.Mohammad Hafeez also delayed his departure just a little too long after he was given out caught behind. It makes no difference whether Hafeez edged the ball or not – replays were inconclusive – as a senior player, he must know there is no benefit in head-shaking, shrugging or complaining. It wasn’t by any means a serious incident – and certainly no worse than a few we have seen involving England’s seamers in recent years – but, on a tour that will be scrutinised closely, it was the sort of moment Pakistan could do without.Such is the trepidation in the Pakistan camp about what this tour may bring, they have hired a PR consultant from the world of politics to accompany them and largely protect Amir from the media. But, even if there are those who begrudge Amir his chance to make amends – those who, presumably, have never made a mistake in their lives – there will surely be very few true cricket lovers who can remain hard-hearted in the face of such precocious skills. Bowlers so gifted appear rarely; Test cricket can only be enhanced by his return.The vast majority of England spectators will surely recognise both the rare skill and the fact that he has served his punishment. This has been a pleasing few days for Pakistan and for cricket. We could well be in for a cracking Test series. There’s no down side to that.