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Following on from signing Joe Rothwell and Emmanuel Fernandez, Glasgow Rangers are now reportedly closing in on an agreement to sign a 6’2 defender for Russell Martin.

Rangers pushing on after Rothwell and Fernandez

The Rangers overhaul is officially underway following the arrivals of Max Aarons, Fernandez, Lyall Cameron and Rothwell, but even after four fresh faces the 49ers are not done. Martin is seemingly set to be backed with further signings before the Scottish Premiership gets underway as he looks to cause a shock in his first season at Ibrox.

Just who else comes through the door remains the question around Glasgow. Already, the Gers have completed some impressive business but the likes of Conor Coady and David Brooks may still be on their way in what would make it four Premier League signings this summer.

Joining Aarons and Rothwell, Coady and Brooks would round off an excellent few weeks on the transfer front. And Martin has already been full of praise for all of his new arrivals, including Rothwell.

The manager told the club’s official website after the midfielder put pen to paper: “He is a player who we thoroughly enjoyed working with during my time at Southampton.

“His leadership, professionalism and quality were a huge asset. He is joining on the back of two promotions so helps bring a real winning mentality to the group. We are excited for Joe to join up the squad, get to know his teammates, and help make the group stronger.”

Even with Coady and Brooks already on their radar and with Rothwell arriving alongside Aarons, however, reports are now suggesting that Rangers could be about to sign an alternative Premier League defender this summer.

Rangers closing in on Djiga agreement

According to Sky Sports’ Anthony Joseph, Rangers are now closing in on an agreement to sign Nasser Djiga on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers and hoping that he undergoes a medical in the “coming days”.

After joining Wolves in the January transfer window, the 6’2 defender looks set to arrive at Ibrox in search of much-needed playing time before returning to the Midlands.

At 22 years old, the centre-back is certainly a player full of potential even if he has struggled to show it in full at Wolves. Dubbed “quick” and “aggressive” by former Wolves sporting director Matt Hobbs after signing for the club in January, Djiga could now finally show his best form in Scotland.

More career goals than Tavernier: Rangers eyeing 'legendary' Igamane upgrade

With Hamza Igamane seemingly on his way out of Ibrox, should Rangers sign a “living legend” who has scored 244 senior career goals?

ByBen Gray Jul 4, 2025

By signing the defender alongside Leicester City’s Coady, Martin would instantly have an upgraded backline to work with at Ibrox.

Wayne Rooney has criticised Alexander Isak for how the Newcastle United striker is going about things as he refuses to play amidst Liverpool links.

Rooney lays into IsakNewcastle star 'refusing to train'Rooney once asked to leave Man UtdFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Reported by Mail Sport, Rooney spoke as a pundit on Match of the Day about the current situation surrounding Isak, claiming the Swede is not going about things in "the right way". Rooney added that it may be difficult for Isak to reintegrate himself into the Magpies squad should he be forced to stay at St James' Park.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Rooney likened the scenario to one that he faced himself during his Manchester United career. The United and England legend submitted a transfer request in the 2010-11 season after a falling-out with Sir Alex Ferguson, but eventually had a U-turn and decided to stay at Old Trafford. As a man with first-hand experience, Rooney does not believe Isak is acting in the right way as he pushes for a move.

WHAT ROONEY SAID

Rooney said: "The fact that he's refusing to come in and train, it's going to be very difficult for him to come back in. There's a trust element there; he's going about it the wrong way. Maybe he's getting advised wrongly.

"But also for the team who's trying to sign him, in this case it looks like Liverpool, you have to wonder, is this the sort of player you want, who's going to desert his team-mates and a huge football club. It's a good opportunity, but it has to be done in the right way.

"There's the right way to do it and the wrong way. And I've been there myself when I've asked Manchester United to leave."

Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR ISAK?

Isak remains a Newcastle player for the moment and will likely remain that way until the Magpies can bring in a suitable replacement. Eddie Howe's side face Liverpool next up in what will no doubt be a fiery encounter. Even if Isak himself plays no part, he will certainly be at the centre of it.

Liverpool hardly need a rebuild, and could likely go again next season, qualifying for the Champions League and competing for major trophies, with just minimal investment.

But FSG are prepared to reward Arne Slot for winning the Premier League in his first year in charge by making a ferocious statement of intent in the market.

Already, the Reds have signed Jeremie Frimpong to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold; Milos Kerkez and Florian Wirtz are in talks to follow.

But it’s not just incomings on sporting director Richard Hughes’ mind. Liverpool have a few potential high-profile exits to contend with.

Liverpool transfer exit news

Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez is expected to leave this summer, having been persistently linked with a move to the Saudi Pro League. La Liga giants Atletico Madrid have also shown an interest.

Having scored only seven times across all competitions for Slot’s side, the 25-year-old would probably be best off wiping the slate clean and trying his hand elsewhere, especially since plans have been drawn up for a new number nine.

Though Nunez is tenacious and likeable, there’s no doubt he’s regressed in a Liverpool shirt over the past year, incongruous and ineffective as the frontman of Slot’s set-up.

On the note of players in need of a switch, Harvey Elliott has admitted on England U21 duty that he may need to leave Anfield this summer.

Elliott, 21, is a boyhood Liverpool supporter and a special creative talent, but his opportunities have been limited since Klopp departed, and a move away might be for the benefit of his career.

However, Liverpool may not just be selling those they wish to part with. Indeed, Luis Diaz is being mooted for a move to Saudi Arabia, and it might prove a bigger mistake than many are anticipating.

Why selling Luis Diaz would be a mistake

Liverpool acted swiftly to replace Sadio Mane with Diaz before their Senegalese legend had even left the club. In January 2022, FSG purchased Diaz from Porto in a deal, rising to £49m, and his predecessor stayed on until the end of the campaign.

When Liverpool sold Mane to Bayern Munich, however, they perhaps didn’t grasp how out of kilter it would knock Klopp’s side. The 2022/23 season sits as an infamous outlier across the illustrious span of Klopp’s tenure, a dark and permanent blot on his copybook.

Though Mane objectively reached a higher level of quality than Diaz, the Colombian is still one of the most important parts of Slot’s system, and he’s just come off his most productive campaign too, having posted 17 goals and eight assists across 50 appearances.

Regarded as a “world-class player” in the view of his former German boss, at least, Diaz’s unique value for Slot has been further underscored by his regular deployment as a false nine, combating an absence of reliable central striking options.

Diaz might be happy at Liverpool, but the riches of the Saudi Pro League could tempt him to pack up and leave off the back of winning the Premier League.

According to Foot Mercato, talks appear to have already begun, with Al-Hilal having established contacts with the 28-year-old as they sound out a bid.

Liverpool were warned that losing the “irreplaceable” Mane would “knock them sideways” by former star Dean Saunders in 2022, and this proved to be the case – in the short term, at least.

Diaz has done a rather good job in the years since, now a Carabao Cup and Premier League champion in the seasons since Mane’s departure.

Given the need to make numerous signings this summer, maybe Liverpool would be better off warding away interest in their dynamic left winger.

Move over Wirtz: Liverpool can sign Salah's next Firmino in £84m "magician"

Mohamed Salah is going to have some exciting new attacking talent alongside him next season.

By
Angus Sinclair

Jun 8, 2025

da dobrowin： Arsenal and sporting director Andrea Berta are getting busy behind-the-scenes, and supporters are very eager to see them strengthen with key new signings after a lacklustre Premier League title challenge.

da esport bet： Mikel Arteta has already expressed the need for Gunners officials to bolster his squad in certain areas, with the Spaniard publicly predicting a “big” next few months in the transfer window.

Related Their answer to Mbeumo: Arsenal bidding hard to sign £53m "level-raiser"

The dynamic winger would be an excellent addition to Arsenal’s squad.

Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 16, 2025

The arrival of Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi has already been agreed after months of talks dating back to January, and despite some concerns over his cryptic comments recently, the move apparently remains on track with Arsenal regarding the Spaniard as “done and signed” (David Ornstein).

Arsenal transfer spending under Arteta (via Sky Sports)

Money on new signings

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

Arsenal are still believed to be closing in on a deal for Chelsea keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga too (BBC), despite the wait for an official confirmation from north London, but a lot of the noise is centered around their pursuit of a striker.

Last week, Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres was reportedly subject to a failed bid from Arsenal, according to Portuguese newspaper Record, with Berta appearing to simultaneously work on deals for both the 27-year-old and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko.

As reported by Romano there, talks remain ongoing over the latter despite the Gyokeres noise, coming after the Slovenia international rounded off a career-best Bundesliga campaign with 21 goals in all competitions last season.

However, there are some discrepancies over his price tag, and he could end up being a costly operation, with Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg saying that Sesko’s final price could be up to £85 million despite reports of a release clause below that figure.

Arsenal could sign Benjamin Sesko in the next two weeks

According to talkSPORT’s Ben Jacobs, speaking on a call with the broadcast giant this week, an Arsenal move for Sesko remains alive, and they could still strike a deal for the 22-year-old before the end of June.

“Well, I think it also comes down to the player. If they agree a fee for Sesko, I think that one could actually be done when the window opens on the 16th of June,” said Jacobs.

“I’m not saying day one of when the window reopens, but certainly in the last two weeks of this month.”

Sesko is a player who Arsenal wanted last summer and attempted to sign in January (Ben Jacobs), so he’s long been on Arteta’s radar, but the negotiations appear to be dragging on somewhat – indicating some potential issues behind-closed-doors.

News of Gyokeres being very keen on a move to N5 in his stead comes as a welcome boost for Arsenal, though, with their striker search shaping up to be one of the major stories of the summer.

The New York Mets (+125) are the favorites to win the NL East at SI Sportsbook.

The New York Mets, after winning 101 games in 2022, look poised to have another successful season after adding the reigning AL Cy Young winner, veteran Justin Verlander. The rotation now boasts two multiple-Cy Young winners (Verlander, Max Scherzer). The Mets lineup that scored the fifth-most runs (772) and had the second-best batting average in the league (.259) remains almost completely intact, adding catcher Omar Narvaez as a defensive upgrade.

• AL East Odds

The Atlanta Braves come in with the next-best odds at +140 and present better value than the Mets after winning the NL East last season with the exact same 101 wins. The Braves are a young and talented team that is just one season removed from a World Series title, and they look to be a threat again with a full season of Ronald Acuna Jr. heathy and batting leadoff. The Braves boast both the 2022 NL Rookie of the Year (starter Spencer Strider) and the NL ROY runner-up (centerfielder Michael Harris Jr.). They look like a team that can log triple-digit wins every season for the foreseeable future.

It was a fun night for us MLB fans at SI Betting! Not only did our over bet cash in the fourth inning of the Astros-Cardinals game, we got to see the first perfect game since 2012 courtesy of Domingo German, who dazzled vs. the A’s at the Oakland Coliseum.

It was the 24th perfect game in MLB history and the fourth in franchise history for the Yankees.

The Yankees offense erupted for an 11-0 win and even Giancarlo Stanton looked alive with two hits, including a home run, and three RBIs.

And If you saw that one coming… please share your crystal ball.

In the spirit of sleeping offenses erupting, we are going to repeat our over play in the Astros-Cardinals game Thursday night.

Games at Busch Stadium are now averaging 10.58 runs per game after last night’s 10-7 victory for the Astros in St. Louis. Tonight’s line is set at 9.5 — a run higher than last night — but we are still rolling with the over.

Here’s why:

There used to be few things more reliable than Adam Wainwright pitching at home, but things have changed dramatically in 2023. Not only is Wainwright’s ERA all the way up at 6.52 with an xERA even higher at 6.88, his home ERA is 7.03. According to Statcast, his xBA is in the bottom 1% of the league, his xSLG is in the bottom 2%, and his barrel rate is in the bottom 15%. Not only that, but he quite simply isn’t striking batters out anymore. Wainwright’s 4.63 Ks per nine is not only a career-low, it’s in the bottom 1% of MLB. Last night, we saw Jose Altuve tee off in his return while Jose Abreu also had multiple hits and a home run. Kyle Tucker was also productive, and this could be dangerous for the Cardinals tonight as Wainwright’s 40.3% fly ball rate this season is the highest of his career.

On the other side of this one is J.P. France for the Astros. Houston owes France a solid, after he has given them four quality starts in June with little to no run support. We think they will tonight, but we also think the Cardinals will get a few knocks in as well. France’s 3.58 ERA is well below his 4.38 xERA and the Cardinals have scored an average of 5.21 runs per game at home this season.

Both bullpens have been vulnerable of late, and everything about this matchup — including the ballpark — favors the hitters.

The Bet: Astros-Cardinals Over 9.5 

Setting their sights on a crucial summer transfer window fresh from Championship promotion, the 49ers are now reportedly ready to launch their move to sign an attacking reinforcement for Leeds United this summer.

49ers ready to back Farke with big summer spend

After securing the Championship title with 100 points and a better goal difference than Burnley, Leeds have already commenced their summer plan. Names such as Beto, Jamie Vardy and Caoimhin Kelleher have all been mentioned on the 49ers’ radar as they look to make a statement ahead of the Whites’ return to the top flight next season.

Vardy would be a particularly interesting signing. At 38 years old, it’s easy to assume that his days as a Premier League striker are behind him. Those assumptions have been proved wrong throughout the current campaign, however. In a struggling Leicester City side, the veteran forward managed nine goals in all competitions, with eight of those coming in the Premier League.

Set to become a free agent following the expiration of his current Leicester deal next month, Leeds could do a lot worse than boosting their squad with the addition of a Premier League-winning striker.

Those at Elland Road aren’t shying away from just how difficult the Premier League will be next season, either. Club chairman Paraag Marathe told fans in a club statement after promotion was sealed: “The Premier League is where Leeds belongs, and our goal is to establish a long-term presence there. With that in mind, we have been quietly preparing the club for this moment.

49ers now in talks to sign "great" relegated star in bargain deal for Leeds

He could commence their summer business.

2 ByTom Cunningham May 14, 2025

“The road ahead won’t be easy but we are ready to step confidently into this next chapter. Above all, this is your club and your promotion. I want to thank each and every one of you, along with the players and every member of staff at Elland Road and Thorp Arch, for your tireless commitment in pursuit of this unforgettable moment.”

Leeds ready to launch Geubbels move

If it’s not Vardy, then it seems as though those in Yorkshire still want to sign an attacking addition this summer. According to Berliner Kurier, as relayed by Sport Witness, the 49ers are now ready to launch a fresh bid to sign Willem Geubbels from St. Galen this summer, handing Leeds and Daniel Farke an instant boost.

The Frenchman was reportedly on Leeds’ radar in January before a deal never took place. This time around, however, the Whites have Premier League football to offer and the forward, himself, is open to leaving St. Gallen.

Once tipped for great things, injury problems have often prevented Guebbels from reaching his top potential. After scoring 16 goals in all competitions this season, though, Leeds could offer him a route back to where he belongs at the top level.

It would be quite the story if the 23-year-old managed to fight his way back from obscurity surrounded by injuries all the way to the Premier League, but it remains to be seen whether Leeds can win the race for his signature.

He has played in every Test on the tours of South Africa and England, but his performances so far suggest he’s better utilised as a horse for helpful courses

Nagraj Gollapudi04-Sep-2018Virat Kohli feels safe playing a five-man bowling attack overseas. In each of the seven Tests India have played in South Africa and England this year, Hardik Pandya has been one of the five bowlers. Pandya does not classify himself as either a bowling or a batting allrounder. He wants to be known as just an allrounder.Let us look at his numbers. In four Tests in England, Pandya has been India’s fourth-highest runmaker with 164 at 23.42, including one half-century. He’s also taken 10 wickets at 24.70, including a five-wicket haul. Both the fifty and the five-for came in the same Test, in India’s victory at Trent Bridge.Take away the six riotous overs in which he ran through England’s middle and lower order in that Test, however, and his bowling figures look a little less impressive – five wickets in five innings at an average of 43.8 and a strike rate of nearly 70. It reflects his reliance on conditions to be penetrative as a bowler.In Southampton, where there wasn’t as much help for the quicker bowlers, he was only trusted with 17 overs over the two England innings, picked up just the one wicket, and went at over a run a ball in the first innings. At Edgbaston, Kohli didn’t use Pandya at all in the second innings, not even as a potential partnership-breaker when Sam Curran was rescuing England from 87 for 7.BCCIKohli, then, hasn’t shown faith in Pandya to bowl in all conditions, despite picking him in every Test of India’s overseas cycle so far. In 12 innings in South Africa and England, he has delivered 115.1 overs – that’s less than ten overs per innings – and taken 14 wickets.Those figures suggest Pandya is a batting allrounder capable of making an impact with the ball in helpful conditions rather than the pure allrounder he wants to be known as. Those figures would be more than acceptable if he was pulling his weight with the bat, but that hasn’t always been the case.In Southampton, for instance, he came in at No. 7 in the first innings and fell to a loose shot, just when Moeen Ali was looking dangerous and needed to be tackled with a little more care. In the second innings he was pushed up to No. 6, coming in after a century stand between Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane, which had given India a 50-50 chance in a chase of 245. His early dismissal – squared up by Ben Stokes – showed his technical limitations, and put England right back on top.With those technical limitations, Pandya isn’t yet capable of consistently batting at No. 6. He has been working on his batting, aiming at becoming sounder technically. But his best work so far has come when he has played instinctively, played his shots, and transferred the pressure back onto the opposition. The end goal should be for Pandya to tighten his defence while continuing to be a positive-minded player, but he isn’t there yet.And while he keeps making efforts to get there, it’s important for India to be flexible about when to play Pandya. Kohli will need to better weigh the pros and cons of Pandya versus a specialist bowler or batsman in the given conditions.On the eve of the Southampton Test, Kohli himself said he expected the pitch to take turn from the footmarks as the match went on, hinting at the possibility of playing an extra spinner. Come match day, however, India went in with the same combination as at Trent Bridge. As it happened, Kohli’s prediction of spin playing a crucial role came true; Moeen Ali, just as he was at the same venue against the same opposition in 2014, was England’s match-winner, picking up nine wickets in the match.Getty ImagesFor India, R Ashwin, who looked less than 100% fit having picked up a hip niggle at Trent Bridge, bowled 51.5 overs across the two innings and only picked up three wickets. On the fourth morning, before the start of play, Ravindra Jadeja made a close inspection of the wear and tear at the Pavilion End. Would it not have been better for India to have played Jadeja rather than Pandya? With all the wear and tear on the surface, all India could do then was imagine – imagine the effect Jadeja could have had against England’s seven left-handers, ripping the ball into them from the rough outside the off stump.At Edgbaston, India benched Cheteshwar Pujara. Given it was the first Test, and that the fast bowlers would come into it with fresh legs, and given the conditions that transpired – where the four main bowlers made enough of an impact for Pandya’s bowling to not be that much of a factor – wouldn’t India have been better served with an extra batsman?Leaving Pandya out in Southampton would have been harder than at Edgbaston, given he was coming off a brilliant all-round display at Trent Bridge. But didn’t England send Sam Curran, Player of the Match in the first Test, back to Surrey when they had both Ben Stokes and Chris Woakes fit and available for the third Test in Nottingham? It did not do any damage to Curran, who came back hungrier in the fourth Test and made a match-turning impact once again.Pandya is an integral member of India’s Test squad and deserves to be part of the dressing room. He remains India’s best allrounder. He will probably be more effective on the harder, flatter pitches India will likely play on in Australia later this year. His batting technique may not be tested as severely, and he might be more required as a workhorse with the ball. He could even get more purchase out of the old, reverse-swinging Kookaburra.But as he continues evolving as a Test allrounder, it’s important India use him wisely, and less rigidly. It will only help his and the team’s growth.

Despite Manchester City making several important signings during the winter transfer window, including Omar Marmoush and Nico Gonzalez, Pep Guardiola will be busy this summer.

Kevin De Bruyne has announced that he is leaving the club, which could see the Spaniard hunt for a replacement, while there are other areas in the squad that need to be bolstered ahead of the 2025/26 season.

There have been rumours surrounding a few possible transfer targets for City leading into the summer window.

One such player plays for Tottenham Hotspur, but Guardiola is a fan.

The latest on Man City's pursuit of Destiny Udogie

City are reportedly showing plenty of interest in making a move for Udogie this summer in a bid to bolster the left-back position ahead of next season.

Indeed, Fabrizio Romano reported at the back end of last week that they have added the Italian to their shortlist of summer options which also includes Andrea Cambiaso.

Much could depend on just how much Spurs value the 22-year-old, but according to Football Transfers, he is worth £51.5m and there is no doubt the north Londoners will be expecting more than this to part with him.

Udogie has shone when compared to his positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues. Indeed, the defender ranks in the top 9% for progressive passes (5.6), the top 10% for touches in the opposition penalty area (2.55) and in the top 4% for tackles (3.43) per 90 over the previous 365 days.

These statistics highlight just how good he is across both attacking and defensive metrics, which could certainly appeal to Guardiola ahead of next season.

The Man City star worth millions more than Udogie

City have unearthed a gem in Nico O’Reilly who has featured at left-back in recent weeks and he has done well to make that spot his own considering the man in front of him.

Indeed, competition was required for Josko Gvardiol at left-back who has been an inspired signing since moving to City.

According to Football Transfers, Gvardiol is now worth around £67m and this value should only continue to rise as the years go by.

Still only 23, the Croatia star joined City in the summer of 2023 and helped the club win their fourth successive Premier League title in his maiden season.

The £200k-per-week defender was hailed as a “Rolls-Royce” of a player by former teammate Kyle Walker and as the “Haaland of defenders” by scout Jacek Kulig, proving there is no doubt he is already one of the finest defenders in Europe.

Metric (per 90)

2023/24

2024/25

Accurate passes

54.6

63.2

Tackles

2

1.6

Total duels won

4.8

4.4

Interceptions

1

1.1

Ball recoveries

5.4

4

When compared to his fellow defensive peers, Gvardiol ranks in the top 2% for progressive passes (7.12), progressive carries (2.48) and successful take-ons (0.75) per 90 across Europe’s big five leagues.

Furthermore, he even ranks in the top 1% for touches in the attacking penalty area (2.54) per 90, proving how big of a threat he is in the final third.

With the defender not yet hitting his peak, it is scary to think just how good he can become under Guardiola over the next few years.

City have certainly hit the jackpot in signing Gvardiol, who is not only worth more than Udogie, but his market valuation will continue to rise, especially if he continues to deliver excellent performances on a consistent basis.

Man City's "top talent" showed in 27 touches why he can be the new Silva

During Manchester City’s comeback 5-2 victory over Crystal Palace, one youngster stood out, now being compared to club legend David Silva.

Apr 13, 2025

All-round contributions from Luke Wells, George Balderson see Foxes well beaten

ECB Reporters Network14-Jun-2024Lancashire 162 (Wells 35, Currie 4-25) beat Leicestershire 137 for 9 (Patel 43, Balderson 2-15) by 25 runsLancashire Lightning continued their strong start to the North Group by making it five wins from six matches, overcoming Leicestershire Foxes by 25 runs in their Vitality Blast clash at the Uptonsteel County Ground.The group leaders failed to bat out their full 20 overs, dismissed for 162 in 18.5 by a Foxes bowling attack led by seamer Scott Currie’s 4 for 25 and on-loan left-arm spinner Lewis Goldsworthy’s 2 for 25.It was a total that looked potentially a little below par after Lightning’s Luke Wells (35 off 18 balls), Matty Hurst (32 from 24) and veteran Steven Croft (29 from 20) had all been dismissed when threatening to inflict major damage but, in the face of some disciplined Lancashire bowling, Foxes were always behind the required rate.Rishi Patel hit 43 from 31 balls including two sixes, and skipper Peter Handscomb 33 from 26, but only two other batters made it into double figures as Wells (2 for 24 from four overs), George Balderson (2 for 15 from two on his Blast debut) and Luke Wood (1 for 20 from four) returned some mean bowling figures as Foxes were restricted to 137 for 9.Asked to bat first, Lightning had built their innings on the foundation of 65 runs in the powerplay, a decent return even at the cost of three wickets. Josh Hull was involved in all three, holding a good, low catch at short fine leg as Josh Bohannon fell to Wiaan Mulder in the opening over before knocking out Keaton Jennings’s off stump and Tom Bruce’s middle in two superb overs of his own.Wells and Hurst combined to take 23 off Ben Mike’s second over. The pair added 57 in 32 deliveries but Lancashire lost both in close succession as Wells holed out to long-off for 35 of 18 balls and Currie bowled Hurst for 32 off 24.Croft brought Hull back to earth with 19 off an over that cost 24 in total, including a six crashed over cover from a free hit, but another promising Lightning partnership was broken when Balderson (22 from 18), having cleared the long-on boundary off Goldsworthy, attempted a repeat and was caught by Currie, who picked up his second wicket as Croft was leg before.Lancashire needed a big finish but suffered the opposite, failing to bat out their full allocation as their last three wickets fell for 10 runs in 11 deliveries.After Leicestershire’s batting powerplay, though, Lightning were squarely back in the game, pace bowlers Saqib Mahmood and Wood combining to restrict the home side to 31 runs, with Harry Swindells, making his first appearance since his heroic match-winning hundred in last summer’s Metro Bank One-Day Cup final, run out for a somewhat tortured 4 from 11 balls.Patel raised the scoring rate with a couple of big sixes against Wells and Blatherwick but his departure via an uppercut to backward point left the Foxes 66 for 2 at halfway, needing 97 and 13 off the pace according to the Duckworth Lewis Stern calculation.As scoreboard pressure built, Handscomb – dropped on 26 – and then Louis Kimber fell trying to clear the boundary off Balderson, Mulder falling in similar fashion off Wood.Ben Cox was bowled with a swing and a miss off Green, Rehan Ahmed likewise off the spin of Wells, who found a way past Mike’s attempted sweep two balls later. A requirement of 59 from the last five overs had turned into 43 off 12 deliveries when Goldworthy top-edged Mahmood to be ninth out and an impossible 32 off the last over.