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Manchester United began 2026 with a 1-1 draw away to bitter rivals Leeds United.

The Red Devils struggled to consistently create chances in what was a cagey game, but with so many defensive players on the pitch, worked hard to keep the home side at bay and ended up with a point.

The first 45 minutes zipped by without either side having much of a clear-cut chance. Dominic Calvert-Lewin hit the post with a header, but a combined expected goals tally of just 1.4 xG suggests it was not the most gripping of games.

It was Daniel Farke’s side who took the lead, just over an hour into the clash. Attacking midfielder Brenden Aaronson managed to nip in behind young defender Ayden Heaven onto a loose ball, carrying into the penalty box and slotting home to send Elland Road into pandemonium.

The Red Devils did manage to hit back, just three minutes after the Leeds opener. It was Brazilian attacker Matheus Cunha who bagged, after being slotted through exceptionally by substitute Joshua Zirkzee. The United number ten took his chance well, slotting home past Lucas Perri first time with his right foot.

It was a new look attack on Sunday, with Amorim adapting the frontline again in response to a lot of absences.

How Man United adapted in attack vs. Leeds

It is no secret that United have been hit hard by attacking absences of late. Amad and Bryan Mbeumo are at AFCON, and Bruno Fernandes, Mason Mount and Kobbie Mainoo are injured. It has required some adaptation from Ruben Amorim.

We have already seen the Red Devils boss play a back four on Boxing Day, before switching to his favoured 3-4-2-1 against Wolves for the final game of 2025. Against Leeds, Amorim kept that same system, but made personnel changes.

The main change saw Patrick Dorgu push higher up, and Leny Yoro replace Zirkzee from the start. It meant the Dane played as United’s right number 10, where his intensity off the ball was important, though he did struggle in possession, perhaps because he was playing narrower than he did against Newcastle United on Boxing Day.

Despite keeping the same system throughout the game, Amorim did replace Yoro with Zirkzee at the 63-minute mark. This saw Dorgu play wing-back and Diogo Dalot right centre-back.

With the lack of attacking options on the bench, perhaps this adaptation could be seen as one that was made in an attempt to buy United a goal. Zirkzee, of course, had an immediate impact.

Despite the changes made by Amorim, there was still one attacker who struggled.

Man Utd's most disappointing player vs Leeds

It was yet another tough day at the office for summer signing Benjamin Sesko. The Slovenian star failed to add to his two Premier League goals this season, and whilst he had a couple of brighter moments linking up play, generally struggled to make an impact at Elland Road.

His stats from the game really reflect that. The former RB Leipzig star had 51 touches of the ball, but lost possession 14 times. He failed to complete a dribble, create a chance, complete a cross, or win a tackle.

Sesko key stats vs. Leeds

Stat

Number

Touches

51

Possession lost

14x

Shots

3

Big chances missed

2

Expected goals

0.74xG

Dribbles completed

0

Chances created

0

Stats from Sofascore

Overall, it was a really disappointing showing from the United number 30. One person who was critical of Sesko at full-time was Goal journalist Richard Martin. He gave the striker a 4/10 post-match rating, explaining that he “seemed to infuriate his team-mates with his lack of movement.”

Subscribe for the newsletter: deeper Man United insight Craving deeper takeaways on Man United’s tactical tweaks, Sesko’s form and selection dilemmas? Subscribing to the newsletter gives focused match analysis, tactical breakdowns and player-tracking that put performances into clearer context – and broader club coverage too.

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It will be fascinating to see what the immediate future holds for Sesko. He is a player whose “confidence was shot,” according to Martin, and the Red Devils really need someone up front who is firing at the moment.

Amorim has options at his disposal if he wishes to drop Sesko from the side, too. Zirkzee is the natural replacement, and it might also create fluid rotations with Cunha, another player who can operate as a number nine.

Either way, his form must pick up soon, or United might find they struggle to get consistently better in front of goal. For a team that is already struggling with attacking absences, Sesko’s lack of form has come at a bad time.

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Posts ByRobbie Walls

Tottenham Hotspur are looking to complete some business in the January transfer window. Despite beating Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park at the weekend, they remain in the bottom half of the Premier League, 11th at the season’s midpoint.

There is much work for Thomas Frank to do, many holes to be plugged, but Tottenham are building something atop the foundation of last season’s Europa League win, and a well-utilised winter market could help accelerate the manager’s vision.

The Lewis family are going to back the boss. Funds have been provided; expect a fresh face or two.

There’s no question that Tottenham need a new centre-midfielder, but there has been movement on the Brennan Johnson front, so landing a new wide-attacking recruit could be first on the club’s co-sporting directors’ list of priorities.

Spurs lining up Brennan Johnson replacement

On the overtures of the New Year, it has emerged that Tottenham have agreed a deal in principle with Crystal Palace for the transfer of Johnson, worth £35m.

Johnson has played a sporadic role this season, with his creative and physical metrics leaving much to be desired. Only at the end of last season did the Wales international score the winning goal in the Europa League final, his 19th of the season, but football moves quickly.

So quickly, in fact, that the north Londoners have already earmarked a replacement, with the Daily Mail revealing that Spurs are interested in AS Monaco’s Maghnes Akliouche.

Akliouche, 23, has been excellent for his French employers since graduating from their much-lauded academy, and at £40m, he would be more affordable for Tottenham than someone like Bournemouth’s £65m-rated winger Antoine Semenyo, who is headed for Manchester City.

Why Akliouche would be a Johnson upgrade

Akliouche has become one of the most important members of Monaco’s senior squad, featuring 22 times in all competitions this season, scoring three goals and supplying five assists.

But this is not a player who is defined by data. He is elegant and fleet-footed, dangerous out wide or from a central midfield berth. As per Sofascore, he has created seven big chances from only 14 league appearances in 2025/26, his athleticism underscored by an average of 5.3 ball recoveries per game.

Data isn’t everything, but as the statistics will tell you below, Akliouche is a strong playmaker and he likes to dribble forward with the ball himself, albeit leaving something to be desired when in front of goal and striking at the keeper.

Akliouche vs Johnson (past 12 months)

Stats (per 90)

Akliouche

Johnson

Goals scored

0.16

0.39

Assists

0.30

0.04

Shots taken

2.25

1.08

Shot-creating actions

4.13

1.59

Touches (att pen)

5.07

2.75

Pass completion (%)

82.9

67.4

Progressive passes

5.77

2.19

Progressive carries

3.81

1.98

Successful take-ons

1.53

0.73

Ball recoveries

4.89

2.62

Tackles + interceptions

2.31

1.72

Data via FBref

Johnson might have a firm advantage on the goalscoring front, but he’s turning out to be something of a one-trick pony, otherwise offering very little.

Subscribe to the newsletter for Spurs transfer insight Curious how Spurs could replace Brennan Johnson? Subscribe to the newsletter for detailed transfer coverage, expert breakdowns, stats comparisons and tactical context that explain targets like Akliouche and what they mean for the squad.

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Given that a lack of spark and creativity has been among Tottenham’s most damaging flaws this season, the decision to have shipped him out is understandable, especially now that Akliouche is in ENIC Group’s sights.

A veritable artist on the ball, talent scout Jacek Kulig has actually remarked that Akliouche has “a left foot made of gold”, with pinpoint, inventive passing showcased each time he takes to the field.

This is a versatile winger of “ridiculous” technical quality, as has been said by analyst Ben Mattinson, and though he’s not a shoot-first kind of wideman, Tottenham have struggled on the playmaking front, and he would be perfect.

A left foot made of gold, and a skillset tailor-made for Frank’s Tottenham team. The shoe could very well fit.

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Posts 2 ByAngus Sinclair

Match facts

February 8, 2016
Start time 1400 local (0100 GMT)Can Brendon McCullum and New Zealand fly once more, in his final ODI?•Getty Images

Brendon McCullum’s one-day international career ends on Monday in Hamilton, and it ends with a chance to lift the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy. The World Cup eluded McCullum and his men last summer but the Chappell-Hadlee would be some sort of consolation, a piece of silverware that means a lot to the New Zealanders given their neighbourly rivalry with the Australians. It was against Australia that McCullum’s ODI career began at the SCG back in January 2002. He shared his debut with Australia’s Ryan Campbell and it is fascinating to compare their careers. McCullum has played more than 400 internationals but will not be part of the upcoming World T20; Campbell has not played international cricket since 2002 but now at 44 is in Hong Kong’s squad for the World T20.Monday is the Waitangi Day public holiday in New Zealand, and combined with McCullum’s farewell and the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy being up for grabs, it is no surprise that tickets for this third ODI at Seddon Park have sold out. For Australia, the challenge is to crash New Zealand’s day of national celebration by carrying on the form that they showed during the second ODI in Wellington. Not that there isn’t room for improvement – single-figure scores to Steven Smith, George Bailey and Glenn Maxwell left them in a quandary after the 122-run opening stand between David Warner and Usman Khawaja. But Mitchell Marsh and John Hastings steered them to an important victory, not only keeping the series alive but giving Australia a much-needed morale boost ahead of the Test series, after five successive losses to India and New Zealand across the ODI and T20 formats.

Form guide

New Zealand: LWWWW (last five completed matches, most recent first)

Australia: WLLWW

In the spotlight

Look at the raw figures and it has been a pretty good series for Mitchell Santner. From two matches he has 80 runs without being dismissed and has taken 5 for 47 from 10.2 overs. Santner has been an important batsman in the lower order, steering New Zealand to competitive totals in both games, and his bowling brought New Zealand back into the contest in Wellington after the big opening partnership between Usman Khawaja and David Warner. Now the Hamilton-born Santner gets his first opportunity to play a one-day international on his home ground of Seddon Park. He will be most disappointed, therefore, if he does not recover enough from the pain he experienced in his right foot following the second ODI to play this one.*Million-dollar Mitchell Marsh might have grabbed the headlines on Saturday but the efforts of John Hastings to help Australia to victory in Wellington cannot be underestimated. Australia were 197 for 6 when he walked to the crease to join Marsh and while they had plenty of time to get the remaining 85 runs in their chase, they were running out of wickets. Hastings played the perfect support innings and finished unbeaten on 48, having earlier played a key restricting role with the ball when his ten overs cost only 42 runs. This summer has been something of a career renaissance for Hastings, who had faded from international cricket after 2011-12. He may lack genuine pace but is a clever bowler who keeps the runs down, and was also the leading wicket taker in the recent Australia-India ODI series. Hastings started the summer not in Australia’s ODI squad; he has now made himself impossible to drop. His form spike was also a case of perfect timing – it brought him approximately AU$270,000 in Saturday’s IPL auction.

Team news

New Zealand were unchanged in Wellington and there appears little reason to alter the side for the decider. Unless Santner is not declared fit to play. They have brought legspinner Ish Sodhi into the squad as cover.New Zealand (possible) 1 Martin Guptill, 2 Brendon McCullum (capt), 3 Kane Williamson, 4 Henry Nicholls, 5 Grant Elliott, 6 Corey Anderson, 7 Luke Ronchi (wk), 8 Mitchell Santner, 9 Adam Milne, 10 Matt Henry, 11 Trent BoultKane Richardson was a late withdrawal from the second match due to back soreness and he has now been sent home for further assessment. Joel Paris, the left-armer who made his ODI debut against India last month, has joined the squad as cover for the final ODI, having already been in New Zealand as part of the Western Australia side for the Sheffield Shield match in Lincoln. However, there is every chance Australia will be unchanged after their win.Australia (possible) 1 Usman Khawaja, 2 David Warner, 3 Steven Smith (capt), 4 George Bailey, 5 Glenn Maxwell, 6 Mitchell Marsh, 7 Matthew Wade (wk), 8 John Hastings, 9 Adam Zampa, 10 Scott Boland, 11 Josh Hazlewood

Pitch and conditions

The Seddon Park pitch is usually good for batting in limited-overs matches, and the forecast for Hamilton is for a fine day and a top temperature of 27C.

Stats and trivia

• McCullum will finish third on New Zealand’s all-time ODI appearance list behind Daniel Vettori and Stephen Fleming, and third on their runs tally behind Fleming and Nathan Astle
• Last time a Chappell-Hadlee series came down to the last match was in 2008-09 when the teams were 2-2 heading to Brisbane – the final ODI was washed out and Australia retained the trophy
• The second match in Wellington was Billy Bowden’s 200th ODI as an on-field umpire; Rudi Koertzen (209) is the only other man to have reached that milestone

Quotes

“It’s a big moment for Baz and all the guys that have played with him for so long but the focus is certainly on the game tomorrow.”
*05.15GMT, February 7: The preview was updated after news of Mitchell Santner’s niggle came in.

Inzamam-ul-Haq was one among three members of the Pakistani contingent who didn’t travel to Jamaica for the inquest © AFP

One of Jamaica’s top police officers has said that four members of the Pakistan cricket team have declined to testify at the inquest into the death of their former coach Bob Woolmer.Mark Shields, Jamaica’s Deputy Commissioner of Police, told Coroner Patrick Murphy on Wednesday that former Pakistan captain Inzamam ul-Haq was among those that refused to give testimony.Apart from Inzamam, who had recently retired from international cricket, along with medium-pacer Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, assistant manager Asad Mustafa and former media manager Pervez Mir refused to travel to Jamaica for the inquest, which began on October 16.Shields, who made the requests through the Pakistan Cricket Board, told Coroner Murphy and the 11 jurors that both players said they were unable to make it. “Mustafa said he has already given a statement to the police,” Shields added.Woolmer died hours after he was found unconscious in his Jamaica hotel room on March 18, a day after Pakistan suffered a humiliated defeat to Ireland at the World Cup of cricket.

Cricket is a growing sport in Afghanistan © AFP

A team of Royal Marines were emphatically beaten today by the Afghan National Army, in a match to celebrate New Year and Eid.Members of 45 Commando Group, who are currently based in Helmand, southern Afghanistan, were bowled out for a paltry 56 in 14 overs. Their opponents knocked off the required runs in just 12 overs.”The skill level of the Afhans was brilliant,” Lt Rob Cooper told . “We soon realised we were in trouble when they opened the bowling.”Afghanistan enjoyed a successful tour of England last summer – their first – in which they also beat the Officer Cadets of the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst. Cricket is enjoying a boom in Afghanistan, ever since the Taliban were overthrown in 2001, thanks to the refugees bringing the sport home from the camps in Pakistan. The game continues to be well supported by the government and has spread to over 16 provinces, where it was once banned by the Taliban to just four.”Obviously, we were disappointed to lose as badly as we did,” added Cooper, “but we still managed to enjoy the encounter. It certainly provided a good break from the operational work being done on a daily basis out here.”

Nobody poured more effort into England’s campaign than Andrew Flintoff © Getty Images

8 Andrew FlintoffNobody poured more effort into England’s campaign than Flintoff, and forthat reason his desperate display at Lahore deserves some mitigation.Utter exhaustion is forgivable in the circumstances, especially when it iscoupled with the sort of dejection he must have felt at finishing on thelosing side at Multan. In that match he produced a career-best haul of 8for 156 and looked the most complete fast bowler in the world. His battingsuffered as a side-effect, and he produced more than his fair share ofdumb dismissals. But he also produced a match-saving 56 at Faisalabad, notto mention more overs – 140.1 – than any other player on display.8 Ian BellEngland’s solitary success story in the batting ranks. A traumatic Ashesseries looked like extending into a tough winter of drinks-waitering whenhe was initially overlooked for Multan, but Vaughan’s knee offered areprieve that he gratefully accepted. Capped his series with a century atFaisalabad, and made big runs in each of the three matches. Still shows atendency to go missing when the stakes are at their highest, but has anappetite for accumulation that no England batsman has matched sinceMichael Atherton.7.5 Steve HarmisonWidely tipped to go missing mentally, given his previous problems withhomesickness in Pakistan, but instead hit a subcontinental length from hisfirst spell at Multan and stuck to it rigidly to the tune of 12 wickets -nine more than the great Dennis Lillee managed on these same pitches.Mohammad Yousuf described his spell on the third evening at Lahore as oneof the finest he had ever faced, and as if that was not inspirationalenough, Harmison, at No. 11, was one of the few English players to executethe sweep shot properly.7 Marcus TrescothickFaultless display as England’s stand-in captain at Multan, where his 193should have set up a memorable victory, and made important first-inningscontributions in the final two Tests as well. His second-innings statswere another thing entirely, however. He managed just five runs in threeinnings, including ducks at Faisalabad and Lahore as Shoaib Akhtar torechunks out of England’s resolve. Deserved better support from histeam-mates, but his struggles confirmed that the defeat was no fluke.7 Paul CollingwoodStuck at his task, but not even scores of 96 and 80 at Lahore could fullyconvince the doubters, who question whether Collingwood has the techniqueor temperament to thrive as a Test-class No. 4. As a team-man, hisattitude is unrivalled, and his disappointment at Lahore was keenly feltby all who have appreciated his uncomplaining approach, even whenopportunities have been hard to come by. His bowling was heralded as atrump card on these wickets, but it was his rival Bell who bagged the mostscalps – all one of them, and even that was dubious.7 Geraint JonesOne of the few players to make genuine strides on this tour. His battingwas solid without ever blooming into something spectacular, but it was hiswicketkeeping that caught the eye – or rather, didn’t, because he hardlyhad a blemish in all three matches. Crouching lower than in the summer,and with a wider cordon to allow him fuller expression with those divingchances in front of slip, he took 11 catches on the slow low strips andensured that Matt Prior remained nothing more than an eager understudy.7 Matthew HoggardLearned the ropes as a rookie on this tour in 2000-01, and proved that thelessons had sunk in with a disciplined and penetrative performance in allthree Tests. Consistently found swing with the new ball – if only ever fora couple of overs – and seemed set to rescue his batsmen’s blushes when hegrabbed two early wickets at Lahore. Did as much as could have been askedof him.6 Kevin PietersenA stylish hundred at Faisalabad, but it was the manner of his parting -caught slogging across the line one ball after raising his century with asix – that said the most about KP’s contribution to this series. Initiallyearmarked as England’s No. 4, Pietersen remained one place lowerthroughout, which was perhaps a hint that his application was noteverything that Duncan Fletcher had hoped. His talent is so intense thathe will always leave the fans wanting more. But in the second innings atboth Multan and Lahore, they deserved more as well.6 Liam PlunkettEngland’s youngest Test debutant since Ben Hollioake in 1997, Plunkettpassed his test with flying colours and confirmed that he has a brightfuture in the game. Batted with nerve and plucked an effortless catchbefore he was even called upon to perform his strongest suit, but hedidn’t disappoint with the ball either, generating pace and accuracy, andproviding England with two breakthroughs that, with a bit more of a totalto defend, might have given Pakistan greater cause for concern.

A tough tour for England’s semi-fit skipper © Getty Images

5 Michael VaughanA tough tour for England’s semi-fit skipper. His trip appeared to be overwhen his knee locked up at Bagh-e-Jinnah, and though he returned for thefinal two matches, his rehabilitation appeared rushed at best andfoolhardy at worst, especially when he mustered 11 runs at Faisalabad. Areturn to the top of the order heralded a late blossoming at Lahore, butit was all too brief. Fifty-eight sparkling runs in the first innings wererendered inconsequential by a rash sweep-shot, and his captaincy lackedthe imagination he had shown in the summer4 Andrew StraussUntil this series, Strauss hadn’t failed to score a century in a seriesagainst major opponents, but with fatherhood impending, he never lookedlike extending that proud record. His mind was back in England long beforethe rest of his body followed suit, as he proved by droppingInzamam-ul-Haq on the midwicket boundary in the closing stages atFaisalabad. Though he’s guaranteed an immediate return to the top of theorder for the India trip, there is some question as to whether he shouldhave come on this leg at all.4 Ashley GilesArrived in the country with a reputation to maintain, but was hampered bya hip injury that forced him to miss the final match, and remained ashadow of the man who took 17 wickets in the same series five years ago.Sent down too many full-tosses that destroyed his rhythm, and was unableto extract anything but the most negligible turn. But his full value wasonly recognised in his absence, as England toiled for three days at Lahorewith barely a sniff of salvation.4 Shaun UdalPromising beginnings at the end of a long, long wait, when he took hismaiden Test wicket at the age of 36. But Udal’s penetration receded as thetour progressed, as his economy-rate ballooned all the while. By the timehe was selected as the solitary spinner at Lahore, Pakistan had hisnumber, and cashed in with alacrity in their single mighty innings. ThatUdal bowled 18 overs in that innings, to Harmison’s 43 and Flintoff’s 36,was ample proof that he had failed his biggest test. His batting was abonus, mind you. Almost Gilesesque, in fact.

Vijay Hazare: A great cricketer and a thorough gentleman© Cricinfo

Polly UmrigarI am sorry to hear about his sad demise. He was one of our great cricketers, and gave yeoman service to Indian cricket for a number of years. What appealed to me about Vijay is that he was a gentleman cricketer with few words. He had terrific amounts of concentration while batting, which was a very strong point. He was a treat to bat with, as he had a very sound defence and he gave you a lot of confidence. In fact I associate my big innings with him.He was a dedicated cricketer. Once he got into the game, if he stuck, it was very difficult to shift him from there. He was a very good, quiet person. Good, in the sense that he would mind his business and play cricket and put everything into the game. He did not go to parties in the evenings. Once the game began, he was [all] there.I remember an incident. It was against Pakistan. After I got my fifty I attacked the bowling and got to my hundred. He was in his nineties. I asked for a glass of water. He came near me, and expressed in few words, “Young man, you’ve got your hundred, but I’ve not got mine.” I knew at once what he wanted to say. I should have waited for him to get his hundred. He was a man of few words, but was to the point.After we had batted, we had the habit of sandpapering our bats. Once he got a duck, and he sat in the dressing-room and did this in one corner. We said, “Rao [as a mark of respect], the ball has not touched your bat, so why are you using this sandpaper?” He said, “I’m preparing myself for the second innings.” He had that grit.Mushtaq AliVijay Hazare was a fine gentleman and a brilliant cricketer. We had contrasting styles – he had one of the best defensive techniques while I always attacked. Vijay was a run-getting machine and managed to stay at the wicket for very long periods. We also had a good friendship off the field, and I still remember the wonderful times we had on the 1946 tour to England. He was a great person to know. I was very saddened to hear about his ill health, and am still in a state of shock after hearing the news of his sad demise.Madhav ApteHazare and Vijay Merchant were the two greatest Indian batsmen of their generation. I have many memories of watching Hazare bat. His technique was one of the soundest I have ever seen. Hazare was also my captain on the tour of West Indies in 1952-53, and he went out of his way to make sure I felt comfortable.Hazare was a thorough gentleman – a very quiet, reserved person with a heart of gold. After retirement he returned to Baroda, and I saw him only rarely. The last time I saw him was at a function last year in Mumbai to honour Indian players who had done well at Lord’s, and then he was clearly ailing. He will be remembered as one of the greatest batsmen India has ever produced.

Anura Tennekoon, the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) chief executive, has announcedthat he will be standing down after England’s tour of Sri Lanka. Tennekooncited personal reasons for his decision to step down.Tennekoon, a former Sri Lanka captain and opening batsman, announced hisdecision on Friday. “Due to personal reasons I am relinquishing my duties aschief executive of Sri Lanka Cricket,” he said in a media statement. “Iwould like to take this opportunity to wish Sri Lanka Cricket the very bestin the future.”Tennekoon was appointed in Dec 2000 after the controversial sacking ofDhammika Ranatunga, the brother of World Cup winning captain Arjuna.Although widely respected for his honesty and integrity, he had facedgrowing criticism for not being forthright enough in various commercial andcontractual negotiations.”Anura is a man of great honesty and integrity and we needed someone likethat at that controversial juncture,” said Mohan de Silva, the SLCsecretary. “He always had the game at heart and he made a big contributionto the development of the game in Sri Lanka.”According to de Silva, the search for Tennekoon’s successor will beginimmediately. The SLC will headhunt a top business leader with a cricketingbackground.

The Australian influence in Otago cricket continues to grow with the inclusion of ‘sandgroper’ Nick Morrison in the association’s Under-19 squad.The Western Australian was born in New Zealand but has lived most of his life in Perth. He intends to study at Otago University next year.Standing at almost two metres tall, Morrison is a left-handed top-order batsman and right-arm part-time bowler with the ability to generate significant pace. He played for the Western Australian Under-17 team last summer and at just 17 himself has another season at Under-19 level.Four of last year’s team return with Jordan Sheed, Matt Adair, Alistair Collie and Jarrad Waldron back in harness. And there is also a good representation from last summer’s Otago Under-17 team with Henry Bates, Stephen Brown, Eric Standfield and Nic Turner making the step up.The squad will be trimmed by one after the mid-December match against the Otago Under-22 selection with the three-day match against Canterbury in Oamaru just before Christmas signalling the beginning of the tournament.Otago then plays Auckland in Auckland in another three-dayer starting on December 27 with one-day games against Central Districts, Wellington and Northern Districts rounding out the series.The squad is: Jordan Sheed (captain, Dunedin), Matt Adair (Central Otago), Henry Bates (Dunedin), Stephen Brown (Dunedin), Alistair Collie (Dunedin), Mathew Harvie (Dunedin), Simon Murley (Dunedin), Michael Ross (Dunedin), Eric Standfield (Central Otago), Nic Turner (Southland), Jarrad Waldron (Dunedin), Nick Morrison (Western Australia), Tim Geeves (North Otago). Coach: Mike Hesson, manager: George Morris.

South Africa declared their innings closed overnight on a score of 293/6 there was everything to look forward to on the morning of the second day of the three day game. In contrast to the first day, there was a sprinkling of cloud cover that gave the stadium a cool air. It was not only the weather that was different from the previous day. The pitch that afforded no bounce on the first day was suddenly responsive as the powerful South African opening bowlers steamed in. Allan Donald and Nantie Hayward gunned for pace and bounce against Arun Kumar and Wasim Jaffer.Donald was clearly bowling well within himself. Though he generated good lift off the wicket, Donald was appreciably slower than Hayward. Arun Kumar played a couple of handsome shots in Hayward’s very first over, finding the boundary on both occasions. He assumed that batting against the South African quicks was not as difficult as it was cut out to be and paid the ultimate price. Arun Kumar was late on a straight full delivery and looked back to see his stump cartwheeling towards Mark Boucher.Mohammed Kaif came in at one drop and his trial by fire began immediately. Hayward bowled at full tilt and got the ball to rise sharply to the youngster. Kaif took his eyes off the ball in the last minute and the bouncer struck him on the side of the helmet. Visibly disturbed by the blow, Kaif motioned to the dressing room and the helmet was given a fair bit of attention. In the end, Kaif seemed largely unhurt and continued.Wasim Jaffer looked the part as an opener while he was at the crease. From the word go, he middled every ball he played. When the ball was even slightly out of reach he let the ball go, a sign of a batsman comfortable opening the innings. Jaffer settled down to a good rhythm and was not flustered by either the accuracy of Donald or the pace of Hayward. Donald’s first spell of five overs cost him just three runs.Having done all the hardwork in the initial stages Jaffer looked good for a long innings. However, the double change in the bowling, when Jacques Kallis and Lance Klusener came into the attack the Mumbai opener’s rhythm was unsettled. Klusener kept the ball up to the bat and bowled fairly straight. He rapped Jaffer on the pads and went up in an enthusiastic appeal. However, he was hardly backed up by the fielders and the appeal was turned down. In the 18th over, a similar shout was upheld by the umpire. The ball was full, dead straight and Jaffer looked very adjacent. After making a patient 12 off 53 balls, Jaffer gave way to Mohammed Azharuddin.Azhar walked out to hearty cheering from the Mumbai crowds and looked at ease at the wicket. Lance Klusener made things easier for Azhar to settle down by sending down a fair few leg stump deliveries. Azhar made easy work of these and kept the strike rotating.Spin in the form of Clive Eksteen was introduced into the attack at the end of the 23rd over. With lunch drawing close, Azhar took no risks and played out the left arm spinner’s overs.Kaif’s spirited resistance came to an end in disappointing fashion as he inside edged a Hayward delivery onto his pads and onto his stumps. Kaif looked back in dismay as the ball trickled onto the stumps and knocked a bail off. Kaif was at the wicket for over one hundred minutes in his innings of 23. What was equally indicative of the kind of innings he played was the fact that 20 of these 23 runs came in boundaries. At lunch, the Indian Board President’s XI were precariously poised at 68/3.A most interesting session immediately after lunch resulted in a flurry of events. The new man in, Ajay Jadeja looked less than convincing at the crease as Hayward squared him up time and time again with extra pace. It was only a matter of time before a ball pitched in the right spot made short work of the batsman. In Hayward’s 12th over the expected happened. A short, rising delivery outside off stump clipped the outside edge and flew through to the waiting gloves of Mark Boucher. While this was the first dismissal after lunch, the drama had begun earlier.Mohammed Azharuddin was struck on the gloves by a rising delivery from Hayward and seemed to be struggling. At the end of the over the physio came onto the field and examined Azhar. To the disappointment of the crowd, the former Indian captain walked off the field having made 9 runs.Nayan Mongia replaced Azharuddin and found himself in the company of Murali Kartik after Jadeja was dismissed. Kartik had a couple of wild swishes at Hayward and was gone before he could trouble the scorers. He chased a full, wide delivery from Hayward and only managed to get a thick outside edge. The ball flew to the gap between second slip and gully. Clive Eksteen diving across from gully snatched the ball out of the air and sent Kartik on his way.Allan Donald was brought back into the attack in the 37th over. Mongia struck the ball to wide mid off and set off for a single. Strydom picked up the ball and had a good angle to throw down the stumps with his natural left hand. If he hit the stumps it was always going to be close. As is more often than not the case with the South Africans, Strydom nailed the middle stump and caught Mongia well short of his crease. Umpire Murali was in motion trying to get to a good vantage position and declared the batsman not out. In disbelief, Donald walked across to Strydom and gesticulated that Mongia was at least a yard out of his ground. Television replays seemed to confirm that belief.If the pacemen had done all the damage upto this point, it was Eksteen’s turn to get into the act. He foxed tailender Kumaran off the wicket and had him easily caught by Cullinan in first slip.Debashish Mohanty watched from the non striker’s end as Harbhajan entertained the crowds with some clean hitting. Swing nicely through the line, Harbhajan chanced his arm against the spinners and fast bowlers alike. Using his wrists well, Harbhajan cleared the infield easily. The one time he mishit the ball, it ballooned high into the air above the slip cordon. Running back from first slip, Cullinan threw himself full length and got both hands to the ball. Falling hard on the Brabourne Stadium turf, Cullinan could not hold onto the ball.Mohanty then tried to work Eksteen away and presented him with a tough return catch. Eksteen dived across the catch and plucked the ball out of the air. Having grassed a similar chance earlier on, Eksteen was ready for it the second time around.The gala continued as Amit Bhandari took a page out of the Harbhajan Singh coaching manual and used the long handle to good effect. Having hit a couple of clean strikes, Bhandari’s confidence grew. He came down the wicket and hit Eksteen into the stands over long off. Attempting to repeat the stroke Bhandari skied the ball into the deep. Nantie Hayward running in a couple of paces should have completed the catch with ease but dropped it at the last moment.Bhandari and Harbhajan swatted the Indian Board President’s XI past the follow on mark. Bhandari soon assumed the role of senior batsman and put the attack to the sword. Another huge six off Eksteen followed and Bhandari had made the top score of the Board President’s XI innings. Soon after Harbhajan overtook him. Tea was taken when Harbhajan chopped a ball from Eksteen straight back to his hands. His entertaining innings of 38 included seven fours and came off just 44 balls. Bhandari was unbeaten on 30 off 28 balls. His innings included two fours and two huge sixes. At 172/9 the players left the field and it was learnt that Mohammed Azharuddin who was injured earlier in the day would not come out to bat. Azhar had sustained a bruise on the tip of the thumb of his left hand earlier in the day. X-Rays were taken and it was confirmed that there had been no fracutures. Nantie Hayward who knocked the stuffing out of the Indian batsmen was unlucky not to pick up five wickets and ended with 4/68 off his 17 overs.After tea, in a strange sequence of events, Hansie Cronje walked out to the middle with Herschelle Gibbs. Daryll Cullinan retired hurt without offering any explanation. Sitting at the Press Box it was not possible to ascertain either nature or the seriousness of the injury that caused him to take this course of action. In the end it proved to be irrelevant.Herschelle Gibbs had used the sweep shot to good effect against the spinners but attempted the shot once too many times and ended up being trapped LBW. He missed the line of a straight delivery completely and was struck on the full. The umpire lift his finger without hesitation and sent Gibbs on his way. Gibbs had made 28.Pietr Stryom joined his captain at the crease and saw South Africa through to stumps without further loss. Cronje looked in good touch as he toyed with the spinners and helped himself to 29 runs including five boundaries. Strydom played second fiddle to the captain and for majority of the time just rotated the strike around. He ended the day unbeaten on 12. South Africa closed on 93/3 and from this stage on, it is extremely unlikely that a result is possible in this game.