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Manchester City are reportedly leading the race to sign in-demand Fiorentina striker Dušan Vlahović, according to reports by La Repubblica (as shared by TuttoJuve).

The Lowdown: Vlahović is hot property

The Serbia international has been gaining plenty of attention ahead of the January transfer window following his fantastic start to the 2021/22 Serie A campaign.

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Vlahović sits as the top scorer in Italy this season, having netted an incredible 16 times in 18 matches. This has made the 21-year-old one of the most highly sought-after players in European football right now.

Vlahović looks set to be on the move in either the upcoming January window or over the summer, having rejected Fiorentina’s contract proposals, with his current deal set to expire in 2023.

Arsenal, Tottenham and Juventus have all been linked with the player, so Pep Guardiola will be up against some stern competition as he attempts to bring the Serbian to Manchester in January.

The Latest: Manchester City lead the race

According to reports by La Repubblica (as shared by TuttoJuve), it has been suggested that City have the best chance of anyone of signing Vlahović, with Juventus not at the forefront of the transfer race.

Reports have suggested that the 21-year-old’s preference is to remain in Italy until the end of the season before making his move in the summer, and it appears that City are the front-runners in securing the player’s signature.

The Verdict: Would be an unbelievable signing

With many of Europe’s top clubs fighting it out for the striker’s signature, this would prove to be a phenomenal signing for Guardiola. National teammate Sergej Milinkovic-Savic has described the youngster as ‘outstanding’, saying that ‘he’s bound to become one of the greats’.

After failing to bring Harry Kane to the Etihad Stadium in the summer, the City boss is still on the lookout for an attacker, and it is claimed that Vlahović is his priority. He is said to be ‘in love’ with the Serbian’s goal-scoring ability, so this could be a dream transfer for all parties involved.

In other news: ‘Take the £50m and run’, ‘Let him go’ – Lots of Man City fans erupt at Fabrizio Romano transfer claim

South Africa carried their Twenty20 success into the one-day series with a 66-run win over West Indies in the first game at the Sir Vivian Richards stadium in Antigua

The Bulletin by Liam Brickhill22-May-201050 overs:
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Dwayne Bravo took the wickets of Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis early on, and returned to shatter Johan Botha’s stumps, but West Indies fell well short in the first ODI•AFPSouth Africa carried their Twenty20 success into the one-day series with a 66-run win over West Indies in the first game at the Sir Vivian Richards stadium in Antigua. The victory was set up by twin hundreds from Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers – de Villiers reaching his third consecutive ODI hundred and fourth in six innings – as they added 129 together for the third wicket and registered identical scores of 102 to take the visitors to 280 for 7 after being put in by Chris Gayle. It was a familiar story as West Indies set about their chase in fits and starts, dominating for short periods but losing wickets regularly as they were bowled out for 215 in the 45th over. South Africa put in a team effort in the field, with every bowler except Jacques Kallis picking up at least one wicket.It had been feared that the wicket would once again play inconsistently to favour the bowlers, but Amla, back in the side and opening the batting with his captain, played with the class and wristy flair that has already become his signature to race to a fluent hundred. He got going with a flowing punch-drive through point in the first over, and he and Graeme Smith had taken South Africa smoothly to 43 when the rain that had delayed the start returned in the sixth over.The break shortened South Africa’s innings by two overs, but did Amla’s concentration no harm, and he was straight back into the groove with a crisply-driven boundary off Rampaul. Smith had also looked more at ease at the crease than he has been for quite some time, until Dwayne Bravo found the perfect line with his fifth ball to find the edge of his bat. Bravo was at it again in his second over, as Kallis flashed hard at a short ball outside off stump that gripped and bounced more than he had expected, and the uppercut arced straight to third man.South Africa were 57 for 2 at that stage, and in danger of squandering what had been a flowing start. But Amla and de Villiers weathered the West Indian fightback – with a little luck as the odd ball nipped past the edge or flew wide of a catching fielder – and steadily seized the momentum back for the visitors. West Indies were not helped by the inability of the bowlers to land six balls in a row on the mark, and whenever pressure began to build it was soon released with a loose delivery down the leg side, or width outside off.Amla went to a composed century with his umpteenth dab to third man in the 33rd over, but soon after had his stumps splayed by a ball from Rampaul that landed on a length and kept a little low. Amla stayed back when he should have been forward, and was dismissed after his first real error of the day.With his departure, de Villiers stepped up a gear, pulling Narsingh Deonarine to deep midwicket and swiping him high over square leg to take 13 from his solitary over and move into the 80s. After once again being targeted with a barrage of bouncers – including one that struck him on the grille to leave him lying dazed in the crease – JP Duminy was bowled giving himself too much room to Rampaul shortly after the batting Powerplay was called.De Villiers went to the second century of the innings with a slug to long on and a large total loomed, but West Indies stepped up their game in the closing overs to peg South Africa back with regular wickets. David Miller biffed away merrily amid the wickets to finish unbeaten on 23 and ensure South Africa reached a competitive total.West Indies came out facing a revised target of 282 in 48 overs, but Andre Fletcher failed once again, helplessly edging a searing Steyn outswinger to Kallis at second slip. Gayle and Bravo immediately launched a counterattack and for a brief time they found the boundary at will with a succession of authoritative strokes, adding 40 in under five overs to fluster the normally slick South African fielders. Gayle was dropped twice before an overly-optimistic swish outside off stump saw Bravo dismissed for 15, and the spell was broken.Gayle, though, was determined to go down swinging, collecting five more boundaries – including three marvellous strikes in one over from Morne Morkel – before he fell for 45, Morkel getting his revenge as Gayle top-edged a massive swipe to leg to be well caught by Johan Botha at midwicket.West Indies were 69 for 3 in the 13th over with that wicket, the required run-rate climbing steadily thereafter as Ramnaresh Sarwan and Narsingh Deonarine struggled to impose themselves on South Africa’s bowlers. They added 61 – the highest partnership of the innings – at slightly more than four runs to the over, but, after playing themselves in, then fell within three overs of each other to place a great deal of pressure on the hosts’ lower middle order.Kieron Pollard kept hopes of a late fightback with his best international innings for some time as he reached 44 in quick time, his best shot a soaring straight six off Steyn. He also showed he is more than just a slogger with some intelligent batting to pick up boundaries all round the ground, but when he and Denesh Ramdin fell in consecutive overs with the required rate rocketing past 10-an-over, the result was as good as sealed.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have had a great first half to their season and will be hoping to continue their consistency and improve areas of their team in the transfer window in order to elevate their chances of finishing in a position which could secure European football next term.

What’s the word?

talkSPORT journalist Alex Crook spoke on Jim White’s morning show on Thursday to discuss potential January transfer, giving updates on the rumoured activities of Premier League clubs.

Crook spoke about the potential deal between Wolves and Renato Sanches, claiming that the Old Gold are “looking quite closely” at the 24-year-old. He revealed: “Wolves were trying to push through a deal for Renato Sanches (on deadline day). That move broke down due to a medical issue. He is now fit and is a player, as I understand it, that Wolves are looking quite closely at again.”

The £47k-p/w gem has been heavily linked to a move to Molineux for a while now, and it seemed in the summer that Sanches would become a Wolves player, but the deal fell through on deadline day. However, Bruno Lage could now potentially get a second chance of securing his signature in January.

Fans will be buzzing

Fans will surely be buzzing with the news that Wolves could be reigniting their interest in the Lille midfielder, who won the European Golden Boy award five years ago after his starring role in Portugal’s Euro 2016 triumph.

After popular fan account Wolves Fancast tweeted: “Where do you stand on the rumours Wolves could return to sign Renato Sanches in January? Think it’s possible? Think it’s a PR move that will allow the club to say they tried but couldn’t get over the line before announcing the signing of Hwang to soften the blow?”, one fan replied: “His quality warrants us going in for him again. I’d rather give it everything and fail than not try at all.”

Signing him would be a phenomenal achievement for the Midlands club, considering that Sanches has played his part in qualifying with Lille for the Champions League round of 16, whilst Wolves are currently challenging just to finish in a top half spot in the Premier League. If he were to join the Old Gold, it would surely be with the expectations to secure European football.

Lage could have an outstanding transfer window if he can get this potential signing over the line for the club, and he will be likely working hard to avoid another deadline day disappointment.

In other news: Lage must make a bold decision on this Wolves youngster

Steven Finn bounced through Bangladesh to complete his second five-wicket of the series, after James Anderson had broken their resistance in an unplayable spell of new-ball swing bowling

The Bulletin by Andrew Miller06-Jun-2010 England 419 (Bell 128, Prior 93, Shakib 5-121) beat Bangladesh 216 (Tamim 108, Swann 5-76) and 123 (Finn 5-42) by an innings and 80 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were outSteven Finn claimed his second five-wicket haul of the series•Getty ImagesSteven Finn bounced through Bangladesh to complete his second five-wicket of the series, after James Anderson had broken their resistance in an unplayable spell of new-ball swing bowling, as England surged to victory by an innings and 80 runs in a remarkable day’s play at a damp and overcast Old Trafford. Following a two-and-a-quarter hour delay, England’s decision to enforce the follow-on was amply justified, as they achieved the rare feat of claiming ten wickets in consecutive sessions.Bangladesh came out to bat with a 203-run first-innings deficit, but they never recovered from the devastating loss of Tamim Iqbal to the second delivery of the innings – and nor, to be frank, did they really try. After consecutive scores against England of 86, 14, 85, 52, 55, 103 and 108, the law of averages dictated that Tamim was due to miss out at some stage, but to do so under gloomy skies and against a swing-tastic Anderson sent a message of abject defeatism to his fragile colleagues.After punching his first delivery with confidence and aggression through the covers, Tamim fenced at his second, a zippy lifter outside off stump, and grazed a simple edge through to Matt Prior. For the first time in the series, that left his partner, Imrul Kayes, to cope on his own, and while he gutsed it out as best he could for five overs, the steep bounce of Finn eventually did for him for the fourth innings in a row, as he wafted a hook to Ajmal Shahzad at deep square leg, just as he had done during Saturday night’s collapse.Junaid Siddique joined the procession five balls later, as Anderson’s booming outswing snicked his edge and skewed to Kevin Pietersen in the gully, and Finn made it 21 for 4 when Jahurul Islam dabbed atrociously outside off, for Prior to claim his second catch – a touch gingerly, as it happens, as he was nursing a damaged nerve in his right index finger.The ever-maligned Mohammad Ashraful claimed two fours in three balls as Finn’s peculiar habit of losing his footing in his followthrough persuaded Andrew Strauss to remove him from the attack after five overs, but Anderson ended his brief stay via a looping edge to Jonathan Trott at first slip, before Ajmal Shahzad produced a beauty to snick Shakib Al Hasan’s off bail as the ball jagged back at the left-hander.At 39 for 6, Bangladesh had lost 14 wickets in the match for 129 runs, and were tumbling hopelessly towards their lowest score of all time – 62 against Sri Lanka in July 2007. But Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur Rahim, two batsmen whose obduracy had not really been witnessed so far on this tour, helped patch up the scorecard in a 37-run stand for the seventh wicket. Mushfiqur required treatment for a painful blow on the fingers from Shahzad, but he wasn’t dislodged until Finn returned to the attack in the 26th over – whereupon he clipped a first-ball loosener obligingly to midwicket, and trooped off aghast for 13 from 42 balls.Mahmudullah’s response was to go down swinging – literally, as he belted consecutive bouncers from Finn for four before snicking a top-edge through to Prior in the same over, and his gung-ho attitude rubbed off on Abdur Razzak, who took advantage of Graeme Swann’s preoccupation with a bleeding finger to smash his very next over for two fours and a six over cow corner. But his partner, Shafiul Islam, wasn’t quite so proactive in his approach, and Finn mopped up his second five-wicket haul of the series as Andrew Strauss scooped a low (TV-verified) chance at first slip.Four balls later, it was all over bar the presentations, as Razzak aimed another mow at Swann, for Eoin Morgan to steady himself at long-on and cling onto a steepling chance. Despite the elation of Tamim’s century on Saturday afternoon, Bangladesh had contrived to lose 20 wickets for 213 inside two sessions. It represented a sad crash-landing at the end of a series in which they had won a lot of friends for the style and intent of their play.

Despite currently sitting in eighth place in the Premier League table with 28 points from 19 games, Wolves have only managed to score 14 goals in those games, leaving only Norwich City (8) having found the back of the net on fewer occasions.

With this in mind and the fact that the January transfer window has now opened, this could provide the Midlands club with a great opportunity to sign a player that could be a regular goalscorer for them.

Taking this into account, it seems as though the Old Gold have their eye on one figure that could be a potential candidate to bring a bit of life into their attack.

A recent report from 90min has named Wolves as one of the clubs that have made contact to sign striker Gabriel Barbosa, also known as Gabigol, from Flamengo as well as Chelsea, Aston Villa, West Ham United and Newcastle United.

Having played for Santos, Inter Milan, Benfica and Flamengo, Barbosa has managed to rack up an impressive 129 goals in 284 appearances across all competitions, showing that he certainly knows how to score.

Since joining Flamengo back in the 2019 January transfer window from Inter on loan before signing on a permanent basis, the 25-year-old has netted 84 goals in 124 appearances, showing how valuable he is to them and why they may be reluctant to let him leave this month.

Having been labelled as a player that “can be decisive at any moment in a match” by Adriano, it’s no surprise that so many clubs apparently have an interest in the striker, who is currently valued at £23.4m according to Transfermarkt.

However, given Wolves’ lack of goals so far this season compared to the other teams in the top half of the table, it seems as though they could do with him in their squad more than anyone else at the moment.

Moving forward, the Old Gold should be doing all they can to secure Gabigol’s signature this month as he could well be the player to fix Lage’s issue of seeing his side not score many goals.

That said, it could take a significant amount of money for them to secure him this month.

In other news: Shi could blow Wolves fans away with January swoop for “impeccable” £74k-p/w machine – opinion

A round-up of the matches on the first day of the ICC World Cricket League Division 1 tournament in the Netherlands

Cricinfo staff01-Jul-2010Scotland prevailed in a nerve-wracking contest against hosts Netherlands, winning off the penultimate ball with one wicket in hand in Amstelveen. Their chase of 235 had been dealt a serious blow when the first six wickets fell for 121, but the lower order set about pulling things back.The recovery was led by Moneeb Iqbal, who struck a patient 63 and guided his team towards the target. He was supported by Matthew Parker in a stand of 52 and Gordon Drummond, with whom Iqbal added just as many for the eighth wicket. With 10 needed off 13 balls, Scotland had the edge but Netherlands turned things around with two wickets off the next three balls, including Iqbal. But Drummond held his nerve during an unbeaten 33, along with No.11 Ross Lyons, to see his team through. Their cause was helped by the opposition who lost their nerve in the dying stages.Tom de Grooth dropped Drummond off the penultimate delivery of the match with Scotland still requiring three runs. The batsmen crossed for a single Mark Jonkman bowled a wide next ball that leveled the scores. The batsmen still ran across, thinking it was the final delivery of the match and when the ball was relayed to Jonkman at the bowler’s end he missed the stumps from close range to concede the winning run.Netherland’s competitive total was set up by half-centuries from Tom Cooper (87) and Bas Zuiderent, who smashed an unbeaten 55 off 34 balls to boost his team in the death overs. But, as it turned out, their efforts were inadequate.Drummond was delighted with his side’s thrilling win. “It was a fantastic victory considering the position we were in at 80-odd for five. It shows the character of the team. We did the same against India A last week. We just never give up and can put on partnerships down the order.”As soon as we got to about 190 for 7, I thought we were in a decent position as we still had the Powerplay to come and there would be more gaps in the field as a result. We could always get 35 from five overs in that Powerplay but then we lost two quick wickets and it could have gone either way at the end,” said Drummond who was full of praise for Moneeb.A collective bowling effort and a solid opening performance from Paul Stirling kicked off defending champions Ireland’s World Cricket League Division 1 campaign on a successful note in Rotterdam.Their opponents Kenya, fresh from a stand-off with their board regarding player contracts, were skittled for 163, before Stirling (87), supported by an unbeaten 59 from Alex Cusack, ensured a comfortable chase. For Ireland, Trent Johnson and Cusack grabbed two wickets each to help scupper a steady Kenyan start. Alex Obanda and Collins Obuya had forged a 44-run stand for the third wicket, but the bowlers struck to bag the last eight wickets for just 60 runs.In response, Stirling and Cusack combined in a 127-run stand for the second wicket to crush Kenya’s hopes and seal a seven-wicket win. Stirling was adjudged Man of the Match for his effort. “I’m happy to be among the runs so early in the tournament. It’s important that you set the trend with your performance and I think we have done that today,” he said.”I enjoyed batting out there and though I couldn’t score what would have been my first ODI century, I have no regrets. We were chasing a small score because we bowled very well. I thought the more you stayed at the wicket, the easier the batting got.”Afghanistan put in an admirable batting display to overcome a challenging target of 258 set by Canada in Voorburg. Captain Nawroz Mangal led the charge with an unbeaten 70, off just 58 balls, and the innings was also supported by half-centuries from opener Noor Ali and Mohammad Shahzad. Noor and Shahzad were involved in a 87-run stand, though both fell in quick succession. Afghanistan recovered quickly from those jolts, thanks to an attacking knock from their captain, who ensured victory was achieved with eight balls to spare.Canada’s innings had been shored up by their own captain Ashish Bagai, who top scored with 82, and some aggression in the late overs. Afghanistan didn’t help their own cause by conceding 34 extras, but their batsmen saw off the Canadian bowlers comfortably.

Loads of Glasgow Rangers fans have been left confused by some exit news that ahs emerged involving Stephen Kelly.

As per the official Twitter page of the Ibrox faithful, the central midfield player has now joined English League Two club Salford City on a loan deal for the rest of the season.

He had only made two senior appearances for the Light Blues all campaign, and so has moved in search of more regular game time.

While a loan move is good for the 21-year-old’s development, a lot of Teddy Bears are confused over his move to Salford, claiming that he can play at a better level.

He has played for Scotland many times at youth level, including nine caps with the U21s, and perhaps a move to another team in the Scottish Premiership would have benefitted him better, if another offer came through.

Rangers fans on Kelly loan

These Gers were confused as the transfer news was shared on Twitter, with one RFC supporter claiming that they were ‘baffled’, while another even went as far as to say that it was an ‘awful’ move:

“Makes no sense he’s at a miles higher level than that”

Credit: @ggh1992

“Why?”

Credit: @mrmorton_man

“I’m baffled by this”

Credit: @kennyd9

“So much better than the 4th tier of English football.”

Credit: @cccc18721972

“League 2?!!!”

Credit: @WilliamGrimes_

“That’s an absolutely awful loan move for him.”

Credit: @Newcoinvestor

In other news, find out what other club update has Gers buzzing here!

The 2010 Champions League Twenty20 will see two groups of five teams each competing in a round robin format

Cricinfo staff29-Jun-2010How the tournament works

The ten teams are divided into two groups of five each, who play a round-robin format
Group A: Chennai Super Kings, Victoria, Warriors, Wayamba, Central Districts
Group B: Mumbai Indians, Lions, South Australia, Royal Challengers Bangalore, winners of West Indies domestic Twenty20
The top two teams from each group then progress to the semi-finals.

The 2010 Champions League Twenty20 will see two groups of five teams each competing in a round-robin format, with the top two sides from each group going through to the semi finals.The set-up is a departure from the 2009 edition, which had four groups of three teams, with the two teams from each group advancing to another league stage which determined the semi-finalists. Despite the change, the tournament features the same number of matches – 23 – as last year. The matches have been evenly distributed across four venues, with each stadium hosting at least five games.The Mumbai Indians open the event on September 10th against the South African side Lions at the Wanderers in Johannesburg, which also hosts the final on September 26. Mumbai and Lions are part of Group B, along with South Australia, Royal Challengers Bangalore and a team from the West Indies that will be determined in late July.The teams drawn in Group A are the 2010 IPL champions Chennai Super Kings, Australia’s Big Bash champions Victoria, South Africa’s Pro Series champions Warriors, which is a combination of the Eastern Province and Border first-class teams, as well as Sri Lanka’s Wayamba, which represents the North Western Province, and New Zealand’s Central Districts.The 2009 champions, the New South Wales Blues, did not qualify for the 2010 Champions League.There are a number of players who are eligible to play for two teams: Jacques Kallis (Warriors, Bangalore), Mark Boucher (Warriors, Bangalore), Makhaya Ntini (Warriors, Chennai ), Kieron Pollard (South Australia, Mumbai), Dwayne Bravo (Victoria, Mumbai) and Cameron White (Victorian, Bangalore).New Zealand’s Ross Taylor is the first player to qualify with three teams – his home province Central Districts, and ‘away’ teams Victoria and Bangalore. Bravo and Kieron Pollard could join Taylor if T&T emerge as champions of West Indies’ domestic Twenty20 competition.If a player chooses to play for an ‘away’ team rather than his ‘home’ team (the team from the country he is eligible to represent in international cricket), the ‘away’ team must pay US$200,000 compensation to the ‘home’ team. No compensation is payable to an ‘away’ team if a player chooses to play for his ‘home’ team.That being the case, South Australia are already resigned to losing Pollard and are waiting to learn whether Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi will be available. Pollard and Afridi were key components in the Redbacks qualifying for the lucrative Twenty20 event, but they were not part of the state’s 20-man preliminary squad for the tournament.

Wolves are still looking at the possibility of signing Renato Sanches in the January transfer window, according to journalist Alex Crook.

The Lowdown: Wolves linked with Sanches

Wanderers have been linked with a move for the Lille midfielder since last summer, and their interest does not appear to have waned.

The 24-year-old has not always been a regular for the Ligue 1 champions this season, starting just nine league matches despite helping them to league glory last term, leading to speculation over his future.

There is still time for Wolves to make new signings in January, and it appears as though bringing in Sanches is not yet out of the question.

The Latest: Journalist claims Wolves retain Sanches interest

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Crook claimed that Wolves still want to bring in Sanches, although he added the caveat that the club may need to offload current assets in order to fund a deal for the Portugal midfielder.

The journalist said of the 24-year-old Lille maestro: “He’s definitely someone who’s on their radar. But I think this is where, if they can sell someone like Adama Traore, then it gives them some funds for Bruno Lage to be able to bring in his own players because he hasn’t really done that.”

The Verdict: Positives and negatives

There are clear positives and negatives when it comes to Wolves’ interest in Sanches, making it a tricky move to assess overall.

On the plus side, he is a hugely gifted footballer who won the 2016 European Golden Boy award and was described as ‘incredible’ by Kevin Campbell, not to mention winning 32 caps for his country as well as the European Championship.

However, Sanches has long been an injury-prone player – he has never started more than 16 league games in a season – so there would be a big element of risk in signing him.

Given the wages he could demand – he is currently on £47,000 per week – along with his injury problems, perhaps Wolves would be better off turning their attention elsewhere despite the Portuguese midfielder’s undoubted ability.

In other news, a key Wolves update has emerged regarding Adama Traore’s future. Read more here.

Tharanga Paranavitana is not a very remarkable batsman, but the man has done his job in this series

Sidharth Monga at the SSC26-Jul-2010Tharanga Paranavitana is not a very remarkable batsman. When Tillakaratne Dilshan cuts and slashes and hooks, Paranavitana quietly blends into the background and picks runs. He doesn’t have Kumar Sangakkara’s extravagant drives, nor Mahela Jayawardene’s silken shots. If you run into him in an elevator, chances are you won’t recognise him. He is not a lawyer, nor is he the man with the funky beard and a shot named after him. He is neither the polished batsman from the Colombo school, nor the maverick from outstation.But the man has done his job in this series. Yes it was a flat track, yes the bowling was largely uninspired, but he finished his second century in two matches. And no Test century is easy – not for openers at least.Not long ago, Paranavitana was not completing that job. In the 10 Tests before this series, he had crossed 50 four times, but failed to get the centuries that the openers are eventually judged by, when they are all batted and done. Lahiru Thirimanne, part of Test squad, had started breathing down his neck too, with 66 and 102 in the tour game.Paranavitana’s reaction upon reaching both those centuries, more extravagant than anything he did during those innings, are perhaps an indication that he had felt the heat. Both the times he has brought up the century while running towards the players’ gallery, and he has continued running towards his mates both the times.Both the innings were worth celebrating, coming from a player who not long ago threatened to become one of the long list of left-hand Sri Lankan openers who squandered their opportunities after Marvan Atapattu and Sanatha Jayasuriya stopped opening. Avishka Gunawardene, Michael Vandort, Jehan Mubarak, Upul Tharanga, and Malinda Warnapura must have been waiting for him to join the club. The team management, though, saw something extra in Paranavitana and persisted.The first century has been a big step. Dilshan, his opening partner, sees a more confident man since that effort in Galle. “First hundred is very difficult in Test cricket,” says Dilshan who now has a Tharanga to open with in all formats of the game – Upul Tharanga being the other opener in limited-overs games. “After the first hundred, he has got more confident. Today he went after loose balls. I feel he is much more comfortable now.”It was important that Sri Lanka found an opener who could play the Atatpattu to Dilshan’s Jayasuriya. This is not to compare Paranavitana with Atapattu, but he has now begun to play a somewhat similar role in the partnership. “The thing is, he is giving me strike most of time, so I can go after loose balls,” says Dilshan. “The important thing in the partnership is that I get freedom to go after the early overs. Then both sides are very relaxed, he gets his singles, I attack. We are both very understanding. [Paranavitana’s presence is] really helpful for me.”Dilshan is optimistic that Sri Lanka are pretty close to fill the opening void left by Jayasuriya and Atapattu. “Conventional opener. Takes his time earlier, if you give loose balls later, he will attack. He has adjusted to international cricket now. Now he knows how to handle the 70s and 80s. Now he is matured, getting more hundreds for our team. Perfectly good for us as we have found a very good opener.”Apart from the centuries the other yardstick to judge openers is how well they do in conditions alien to them. The SSC, for example, is where Paranavitana has played most of his cricket. Given the current schedules, he might not be tested away from home too soon, but he has perhaps made sure that he will be present for that test when it does arrive.