Back-up Manchester United goalkeeper Ben Heaton wants to "push the squad on" after signing a new deal with the Premier League giants.

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Heaton re-joined Man Utd in 2021Been Red Devils' back-up keeperSigns new deal amid squad warningWHAT HAPPENED?

On Tuesday, United revealed the 38-year-old had put pen to paper on a contract until the summer of 2025. After extending his stay at Old Trafford, the veteran, who re-joined his boyhood club in 2021 after spending eight years at the start of his career (2002-10), wants his side to kick on next season.

AdvertisementGettyWHAT TOM HEATON SAID

Heaton, who is currently with England at the Euros in a training capacity, told United's website: "I am delighted to continue my stay at my boyhood club. I still feel in great shape and I am ready to offer whatever the squad needs throughout the season ahead. In addition to on the pitch, I’m learning so much off it for my next steps, whatever that may be. But, first and foremost, I want to push the squad to build on our successes from last season."

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United won the FA Cup last season – a result that effectively saved manager Erik ten Hag's job – but they still finished eighth in the Premier League; their lowest-ever finish since the competition's inception in 1992. If the Dutchman wants to stay in the role, things will have to improve a great deal next term.

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Getty Images/GoalWHAT NEXT?

Heaton's United side are set to return for pre-season next week, although some will come back later due to international duty. The Red Devils begin their pre-season campaign against Danish team Rosenborg on July 15.

The new selection panel also picked left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican and top-order batsman Sunil Ambris

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Oct-2019The newly-picked West Indies selection panel has dropped Darren Bravo for the upcoming one-off Test against Afghanistan in India next month. With Shannon Gabriel injured, his place was taken by fast bowler Alzarri Joseph who proved his fitness in the CPL recently.Changes to West Indies’ Test squad

IN: Alzarri Joseph, Shane Dowrich, Sunil Ambris, Jomel Warrican
OUT: Darren Bravo, Shannon Gabriel, Jahmar Hamilton

Shai Hope, who had sustained a finger injury during the Tests against India, was picked too – including in the ODI squad – having proved his fitness in Barbados Tridents’ run to the CPL title.Bravo was dropped after managing a mere 47 runs in four innings at an average of 15.66 against India. His form hardly improved in the CPL thereafter, with 128 runs in seven innings, striking at 103.22, and only one half-century. Gabriel’s recent form against India wasn’t impressive either. He claimed just four wickets in the two Tests and averaged as much as 56.50 with a strike rate of 99. He then went to the UK last month to play county cricket for Gloucestershire, and took only two wickets in three innings there, with figures of 0 for 39, 2 for 20 and 0 for 121.Wicketkeeper Jahmar Hamilton, who made his Test debut in the second game against India, was also left out of the Test squad. He got the chance against India after injuries to both Hope and Shane Dowrich, but with both fit to travel to India, there was no place for Hamilton this time.Joseph, who returned to the CPL after an injury layoff, was picked for all three formats. He is yet to make his T20 international debut. He had injured his right arm while playing for the Mumbai Indians in the IPL in April and returned to the field after nearly five months to represent St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in the CPL recently. He played nine matches to pick as many wickets and ended with an impressive economy rate of 7.75.Apart from Joseph’s return, the selectors picked left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican and top-order batsman Sunil Ambris. Both Warrican and Ambris last played a Test in November 2018 against Bangladesh. While Ambris struck some form against India A recently in both four-day matches and one-dayers, Warricon impressed more while playing for Barbados in the domestic first-class competition at the beginning of the year.The lone Test will be played after the T20Is and ODIs, starting November 27 in Dehradun.Test squad: Jason Holder (capt), Shai Hope, John Campbell, Kraigg Brathwaite, Shimron Hetmyer, Shamrah Brooks, Roston Chase, Shane Dowrich, Sunil Ambris, Jomel Warrican, Rahkeem Cornwall, Kemar Roach, Keemo Paul, Alzarri Joseph

Leeds United are in an interesting position at the moment as they are currently unsure as to what league they will be competing in during the 2024/25 campaign.

The Whites are second in the Championship, as it stands, and are hoping to secure promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking, having been relegated from the division at the end of last season.

Daniel Farke's team remained in the automatic promotion places on Tuesday night after Southampton lost 2-1 to Hull at St. Mary's, which has kept them two points above the Saints, and above Ipswich Town on goal difference.

This uncertainty could make it tricky for the club to manage the players who are due to be out of contract in the summer, as their respective futures may be determined by the league that Leeds are in.

One player who is currently on course to depart on a free transfer at the end of the season is long-serving captain Liam Cooper, who turns 33 in August.

Farke has shown a willingness to bring through young players, with the likes of Archie Gray and Mateo Joseph being prime examples, and could dip into the market to find a dream replacement for the Scotland international – Diogo Monteiro.

Liam Cooper's career at Leeds

The 32-year-old titan arrived at Elland Road from Chesterfield in the summer of 2014 as the Whites prepared for a season in the Championship.

Cooper went on to establish himself as a regular for the club in the second tier over the subsequent years and then hit his top form when Marcelo Bielsa arrived in 2018.

The Scottish ace made 36 appearances in the Championship during the 2018/19 campaign as Leeds finished third in the table and lost in the semi-finals of the play-offs to Derby County.

He made 4.1 tackles and interceptions per match on average and won 63% of his individual duels throughout those 36 outings, which shows that the impressive gem dominated opposition attackers and constantly looked to win the ball back for his side.

Leeds then went one better the following season as they won the Championship title and promotion to the Premier League. Cooper featured in 38 of their 46 league matches and helped the team to keep 15 clean sheets.

The experienced defender made 3.2 tackles and interceptions per game and won 62% of his duels that term, as he once again dominated players in physical contests to be a solid presence at the back for Bielsa.

Cooper was then tasked with making the step up to the Premier League for the 2020/21 campaign and did so impressively. The towering enforcer caught the eye with his superb defensive work to help the Whites to achieve survival.

Only Luke Ayling (2.8) made more tackles per game (2.7) and no other Leeds player, in any position, made more interceptions per match (2.4) than the veteran colossus.

He also topped the squad for interceptions per outing (2.0) during the 2021/22 season as the Whites, once again, avoided relegation from the top-flight.

Liam Cooper's season in numbers

However, Cooper – who made 18 league appearances – could not prevent the club from suffering the drop at the end of the 2022/23 campaign, and has been a bit-part player under Farke so far this term.

The Scotland international has made seven starts and played 14 times in total in the Championship so far this season, as the likes of Joe Rodon, Pascal Struijk, and Ethan Ampadu have been preferred to him.

He has made 1.6 tackles and interceptions combined per match and come out on top in 57% of his duels, which shows that the experienced centre-back has not been as dominant as he once was at that level.

Cooper has also been reliable in possession of the ball with a pass success rate of 91% and zero errors leading to shots or goals for the opposition.

The Leeds skipper has been a solid but not key performer for Farke in the second tier, which is why it could make sense to allow him to move on in the summer on a free transfer.

His departure would then open the door for a young player to step up and take his spot as a back-up option, and Monteiro could be the player to make that leap.

Why Diogo Monteiro could replace Cooper

The impressive youngster only turned 19 in January and has already established himself as a regular for the club's U21 side, with 20 appearances since the start of last season.

Monteiro has only missed two Premier League 2 matches during the 2023/24 campaign to date, with 11 outings in the U21 competition so far.

He has also played six matches for Portugal's U19 side since June of last year, and captained his country in four of those games – something the young gem has done twice for Leeds' U21s this season.

This suggests that the Portuguese enforcer has the leadership qualities to potentially develop into Cooper 2.0 at Elland Road, given that the Scottish giant is the current Leeds captain, as he has been selected to lead his team for club and country at youth level.

Back in 2022, Monteiro showcased his quality at first-team level for former club Servette as a 17-year-old against Young Boys with a fantastic performance at the heart of their defence.

Diogo Monteiro	Vs Young Boys (06/11/2022)
Minutes played	90
Blocks	One
Tackles + interceptions	Three
Pass success rate	87%
Duels contested	Ten
Duels won	Six
Sofascore rating	7.4
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the teenage titan was a defensive wall at the back to help his side keep a clean sheet in a 0-0 draw with the Swiss giants.

Football scout Ron Dor described him as a "monster" after his impressive display, which is backed up by his 60% duel success rate as it shows that he got the better of the Young Boys attackers more often than not.

Therefore, Farke may already have the dream replacement for Cooper in Monteiro as the Leeds academy colossus has the mental, physical, and technical qualities to develop into a first-team asset for the club if he can make the step up to the senior side on a regular basis.

The German head coach could allow the experienced Whites skipper to leave on a free in the summer and then bring the Portugal U19 international into the fold to take his squad role moving forward.

In an ongoing battle to secure the financial boost of new owners, a fresh report has issued an update on Everton and 777 Partners' potential agreement, amid the Premier League's Owners' and Directors' test.

Everton takeover news

777 Partners – a Miami-based private investment company – initially reached an agreement with Everton over a takeover back in September, but are yet to be given a green light from the Premier League due to a number of concerns.

Current owner Farhad Moshiri expressed his delight at the time, saying: "The nature of ownership and financing of top football clubs has changed immeasurably since I first invested in Everton over seven years ago.

"The days of an owner/benefactor are seemingly out of reach for most, and the biggest clubs are now typically owned by well-resourced private equity firms, specialist sports investors or state-backed companies and funds."

Now in March, however, Moshiri is still yet to see a resolution to the takeover and remains in control at Goodison Park, where the Toffees were charged for breaching Financial Fair Play rules for a second time earlier this season. And the latest reports haven't exactly provided a positive update over the potential takeover.

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According to the Financial Times, 777's Everton takeover is set to unravel. The report said: "A Bermudian financial structure used by the Miami-based bidder for Everton Football Club to funnel money invested for widows and orphans into the sport has begun to unravel.”

Given that 777 Partners have reportedly already invested as much as over £160m in Everton, meanwhile, the Toffees could face a nervous wait to see what exactly happens to that loan should the takeover fail to take place. The last thing that those at Goodison Park need is more debt to pay off in the coming months.

Everton face worrying wait

By this point, there's no doubt that Moshiri would have been hoping to have the takeover approved, but the fact that the Premier League are still questioning the Miami-based firm six months after the initial agreement doesn't exactly suggest there's a positive outcome to arrive. And that may even be for the best for the Toffees.

According to Josimir, a document has shown that 777 Partners owed a total of $3.6bn to creditors in the summer of 2023. Meanwhile, Philippe Auclair and Paul Brown also reported that a credit rating agency has slashed the rating of one of the main sources of 777's financing, leading to even more doubts over their credibility.

With that said, it looks set to be an interesting few months in Merseyside, as Everton look to stay afloat on the pitch and receive the financial boost to ensure that they survive away from it. Whether 777 Partners are the ones to ensure that however, remains to be seen.

Ex-England player Wayne Bridge has called on Gareth Southgate to drop Harry Kane in favour of Ivan Toney for Euro 2024 semi-final against Netherlands.

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• Bridge would 'drop' Kane
• Captain's displays have been criticised
• England to play Netherlands in Euro 2024 semi-final

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Bridge, who played for England 36 times between 2002 and 2009, suggested he would rather have seen Southgate drop Kane in a game that didn't have much riding on it – like the third group stage fixture against Slovenia – but would still personally bench Kane in favour of Toney…or perhaps Ollie Watkins.

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  Kane has scored twice in five games at Euro 2024, including England's extra-time winner against Slovakia in the last 16. But he has struggled to make a consistent impact with his overall performances, failing to fully click with the wingers and midfielders supporting him. Overall, England have progressed as far as the competition's last four by grinding out results rather than blowing teams away, with Southgate and Kane in particular taking the brunt of frustrated criticism from fans and pundits.

• WHAT WAYNE BRIDGE SAID

  Bridge told : "It would be a big statement for somebody to come out and say 'drop Harry Kane', but if you're in the manager's position, then can you really drop him? I would like to see it however, just to see how things change.

  "I'd love to see either Ivan Toney or Ollie Watkins get more of a chance. It's a big call to drop Harry Kane, but it's one of them that I wish they did in the final group game which they didn't desperately have to win because it would have been good to experiment and see how it goes. If you asked me whether or not to drop Harry Kane, then I'd probably say yes and have Ivan Toney up front but in Gareth's position, it would be a very difficult call to make."

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  England have reached three semi-finals across Southgate's four major tournaments as manager. When he took charge in late 2016, the underperforming national team had made it to just two semi-finals in their last 17 tournament appearances – nine World Cups and eight European Championships – across 38 years.

Kumar Sangakkara says that a balanced bowling attack is the key to winning crunch games in short-form cricket, and that he would select a bowler if he was given first pick in the inaugural draft for The Hundred this Sunday.239 overseas players have registered for the draft and will be competing for only 24 spots, while six players have put themselves forward at the maximum reserve price of £125,000.Those six names include three batsmen – Chris Gayle, Steven Smith and David Warner – and three bowlers in Lasith Malinga, Kagiso Rabada and Mitchell Starc.ALSO READ: Full player list revealed for The Hundred draft“In T20 cricket, or now The Hundred, a balanced, exceptional bowling attack is always what’s going to win you crunch games and finals,” Sangakkara said. “You can have the best batting in the world, but it needs to be supported by the best bowling.”And Sangakkara highlighted the two men that he thought stood out among the overseas players in the top salary bracket. “I would always go for a bowler – someone with the experience and the quality of Lasith Malinga or Mitchell Starc,” he said.But it was the Sri Lankan strike bowler, who will resume his role as T20 captain in his country’s three-match series in Australia later this month, that Sangakkara said would be his first choice.Lasith Malinga is still a force to be reckoned with in short-form cricket at 36•AFP

“I would still go for Lasith Malinga, I think,” he said. “Malinga has really shown, even in the recent past, how skilled he is. He tore through New Zealand in that final T20 game – he took four [wickets] in four balls again, which was an incredible feat, so I wouldn’t look past Malinga.”Malinga has an exceptional record in T20 cricket in England for Sri Lanka, taking 19 wickets in his 11 games in the country. His economy rate in those matches is just 6.66 runs per over, and he was superb in the 2009 World T20, taking 12 wickets in seven appearances including 3-17 against Pakistan at Lord’s.But in a mock draft conducted by eight media teams at Lord’s on Wednesday, Malinga was one of the high-profile overseas stars who was not picked up, with assorted journalists picking Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada and Sunil Narine as their main bowling options instead. The draft takes place on Sunday, October 20.Kumar Sangakkara was speaking at the Sri Lanka High Commission in London as part of a drive to rebuild tourism from the UK to Sri Lanka

Newcastle United are believed to be interested in signing a "very good" Premier League player who Roy Keane has praised for his ability to dictate games from midfield.

Newcastle transfer news

The Magpies are eyeing further business ahead of the summer transfer window, at which point Eddie Howe will understandably want to bolster his squad options.

One player who has been linked with a move to Newcastle is Arsenal attacking midfielder Emile Smith Rowe, who could look to leave this summer after struggling for minutes at the Emirates this season. He is seen as an alternative to Aston Villa ace Jacob Ramsey, who the Magpies made an approach for in January.

The Magpies are also reportedly the front-runners to sign teenage Sunderland star Chris Rigg, seeing him as a hugely exciting long-term candidate who could develop into a special player over time.

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This would be some coup…

ByTom Cunningham Feb 14, 2024

Howe could also look to improve his attack moving forward, not least because Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson struggle to stay fit for long periods, and Lille forward Jonathan David has been backed to seal a move to Newcastle at the end of the season.

Another attacking player who could move to St James' is Albert Gudmundsson, who is currently plying his trade at Genoa, scoring nine goals in Serie A this season.

Newcastle want James Garner

According to a new update from TEAMtalk, Newcastle are keen on signing Everton midfielder James Garner, being joined by a number of other Premier League clubs in showing an interest.

"Garner has emerged on the radar of Spurs and several other Premier League clubs, including Newcastle, after catching the eye at Goodison Park over the last 18 months."

Garner may not necessarily be the elite midfielder that some Newcastle fans crave this summer, but he could still be a shrewd addition, boosting Howe's squad depth and acting as a long-term addition who should only improve.

Appearances

23

Starts

22

Goals

1

Assists

1

Tackles per game

2.8

Clearances per game

1.5

Interceptions per game

1.4

The fact that the Englishman spent so many years at Manchester United as a youth team player says a lot about his potential – he also made seven appearances for the Red Devils' first team – and Roy Keane has lauded him in the past during a spell at Nottingham Forest, saying:

"He’s very good technically and he likes to dictate the play, sit a little bit more than Yates. Tough game for him today, but this game is good for those young players to experience playing top teams like Liverpool. It’s a great way to learn."

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ByZak Anderton Feb 15, 2024

Garner would add to the homegrown quota at Newcastle, which would be an added bonus, and Howe could feel that he could develop an exciting young player into an even more formidable figure as the years pass, ensuring he reaches his potential.

Chelsea's Cobham academy has been the home for many talented youngsters to progress, before having a successful career at Stamford Bridge.

Within the current first-team setup in 2024, players such as Reece James, Levi Colwill, and Conor Gallagher are just three who came through the club's academy before excelling under boss Mauricio Pochettino.

Many players have enjoyed spells with the Blues before leaving the club for hefty fees. Mason Mount, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, and Callum Hudson-Odoi were all products of the academy, making over 100 appearances before leaving the club.

The club also invested in a youngster back in 2017, before rapidly developing at the club, and progressing into the first team. However, the club sold him back in 2022, with the club potentially living to regret his departure after his recent form.

Billy Gilmour's stats at Chelsea

After signing a professional deal following his move from Rangers, midfielder Billy Gilmour joined Chelsea's U18 side with the youngster swapping Glasgow for London.

The Blues paid a rumoured £500k for the midfielder, with the club keeping one eye on the future with his signing.

He quickly became a regular for the U18 side, making 16 appearances in the U18 Premier League, scoring six times as a central midfielder – with Gilmour quickly showing his talent.

The young gem's good form saw him progress into the U21 side, featuring 30 times over the next two campaigns, with the Scotsman still standing out despite his tender age.

His impressive performance did not go unnoticed, with Frank Lampard handing Gilmour his Premier League debut for Chelsea as an 84th-minute substitute against Sheffield United in August 2019, before making his full league debut against Everton in March 2020.

1. Kepa Arrizabalaga

28. Cesar Azpilicueta (C)

2. Antonio Rüdiger

15. Kurt Zouma

3. Marcos Alonso

8. Ross Barkley

47. Billy Gilmour

19. Mason Mount

10. Willian

18. Olivier Giroud

19. Pedro

The midfielder went on to play 11 times in all competitions for the Blues that campaign, before leaving the club to join Norwich City on loan for the 2021/22 season. The move was beneficial for the youngster, with it allowing him to gain valuable top-flight minutes.

He ended up making 24 appearances throughout the campaign, playing for 1,858 minutes, with manager Daniel Farke dubbing the midfielder as a "baller". However, Gilmour couldn't prevent the Canaries from relegation as Norwich ended the season bottom of the league.

Gilmour's loan stint in East Anglia wasn't enough to break into Chelsea's first team, with the former Rangers man permanently moving away from Stamford Bridge after being sold by Thomas Tuchel in the summer of 2022.

Billy Gilmour's stats since leaving Chelsea

Gilmour joined Brighton and Hove Albion for a deal in the region of £7.5m, on a four-year contract. He made 14 league appearances during his first season on the South Coast, before becoming a more regular starter under Roberto De Zerbi this season.

The Scottish international has featured 25 times in the league, along with seven appearances for the Seagulls in the Europa League – with a 91% pass accuracy in the European competition as he has starred on the continental stage as a metronome in midfield.

His performances have seen his market value rise to £15m – with the midfielder's valuation increasing by 100% in the space of 18 months since his departure from Chelsea.

With Gilmour only being 22 years old, he could still have a huge future ahead of him, with the Blues potentially living to regret selling the midfielder given his recent form in the Premier League and Europa League, as they had a blunder with his exit.

With the race for automatic promotion heating up, Leeds United are already preparing their house for the potential of Premier League football next season.

Leeds making room for fresh faces

After a tough start to life back in the Championship, Leeds have gone on to explode into life and pursue a rapid rise up the league table. Now sitting in the automatic promotion places, the Whites have started to decide who will be in their plans next season.

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It could be another busy summer in Yorkshire.

ByCharlie Smith Mar 14, 2024

Recent reports have suggested that full back Cody Drameh has played his last game for the club. Currently on loan at Birmingham, it is apparent that the defender will be shown the door when he returns to Elland Road this summer.

Following Drameh will be fellow Championship loanees Sam Greenwood and Ian Poveda. Currently playing for Middlesbrough and Sheffield Wednesday respectively, the duo are both surplus to requirements in West Yorkshire and as a result up for sale this summer.

With this summer's departures already planned, attention has now turned to incomings with two Premier League talents potentially set to make the move to Elland Road.

Leeds plan swoop for Premier League duo

According to Team Talk, Leeds are set for a big summer spending spree with their first targets being a duo from the top flight. The outlet states that the Whites are plotting moves for Sean Longstaff and Joe Rodon with both players eager for a move to West Yorkshire, and moves actively now "being made" to secure Rodon's permanent status.

Meanwhile, the Whites boast a secret weapon in their pursuit of Longstaff in the form of Nick Hammond. The outlet states that Hammond "counts the Geordies among his former clubs and could secure Leeds an advantage in their quest to sign the player".

Leeds' interest in Newcastle's Longstaff is well known with the Magpies wanting £15 million for the player. The midfielder first broke into the Toon first team back in 2018 but has struggled with a mix of injuries and poor form this term.

Despite his ups and downs, the 26-year-old has remained a fan favourite at St James' Park. With Longstaff's contract set to expire in the summer of 2025, Newcastle may be tempted to cash in on the player while they still can.

The news of Rodon potentially staying at the club will be music to the ears of the Elland Road faithful with the Welsh centreback quickly cementing himself as a mainstay in Daniel Farke's side. The 26-year-old is on loan from Premier League outfit Spurs and has made 35 Championship appearances during his time at Leeds.

During his spell with the Whites, Rodon has stood out as a defender perfectly suited to Leeds' high speed attacking play. Speaking back in December 2023, Farke was quick to sing Rodon's praises telling the press: "What I like about him is that he has an old-school attitude, but he’s a perfect role model of a modern defender as well".

"Because he is quick and good on the ball and you can defend with him on the high line. He has grown more and more into this role and he leads from the backline".

It has previously been reported that Spurs are happy to let Rodon leave this summer with the North London side looking for a fee between £12million to £15million for the player. If Leeds are to continue their push towards promotion, picking up Rodon will give them a high quality player with Premier League experience.

Abhimanyu Mithun rang in his 30th birthday in style, and Mayank Agarwal then put on a masterclass that entertained one of the largest crowds seen for a domestic match in India in recent times, as Karnataka won their fourth Vijay Hazare Trophy title with a dominant display against Tamil Nadu.Mithun took his first five-wicket haul in List A cricket and finished off Tamil Nadu’s innings by becoming the first from Karnataka to take a hat-trick in the competition. He ended with 5 for 34 in 9.5 overs, as Tamil Nadu were bowled out for 252 at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.Rain halted Karnataka’s chase at 23 overs, but they had waltzed to 146 for 1 by then, well ahead of the VJD par score of 86, with Agarwal batting on 69 off 55 balls. KL Rahul was in the middle with Agarwal, on a sedate 52 not out off 72 balls, as Tamil Nadu’s bowlers were sent on a leather hunt.The win was set up by the Mithun-led bowling performance, which reined Tamil Nadu in each time they looked like they had a launchpad. They still got more than any team had against Karnataka batting first in this year’s competition, but it was far from enough.Mithun had struck the first blow after Manish Pandey won an important toss and chose to field, by removing M Vijay for a duck in the first over. He got his second wicket only in the 46th over, Karun Nair plucking a fine catch at long-on, keeping his balance and holding the ball behind him, when Vijay Shankar couldn’t get enough elevation to clear him. It was an important strike, with Tamil Nadu looking to build momentum in the final overs through Vijay Shankar and semi-final hero Shahrukh Khan.In the final over of the innings, Mithun wiped out Shahrukh, M Mohammed and M Ashwin, all caught on the off-side trying to hit big, but not connecting well enough.It capped a fine start for the medium-pacer to what could be a tricky season. R Vinay Kumar, his long-time new-ball partner, is now with Puducherry and that left Mithun as the leader of Karnataka’s attack. Moreover, the team was also without Prasidh Krishna, their quickest bowler, who had picked up a side strain in the quarter-final.Mithun carried the burden of being the senior pro well, and emerged as Karnataka’s highest wicket-taker of the tournament with 20 scalps at an average of 14.55 and an economy rate of 3.93.”Prasidh wasn’t there in the team, so as a senior, I had to take the responsibility for the team. At the end, hard work paid off,” Mithun said after the match. “When we go into a match, everyone knows what they need to do, so there’s very less for me to tell them. If they need anything, I go and talk to them.”Mayank Agarwal goes through the covers during his half-century•PTI

He didn’t need to say much on Friday either, partnering with V Koushik to ensure the advantage of winning the toss was capitalized on. The ball has nipped around consistently at this venue in the first hour, and Tamil Nadu were kept quiet for the most part.They had their best phase when Abhinav Mukund (85 off 110) and B Aparajith (66 off 84) got together to put on 124 runs in 23 overs for the third wicket, but once Abhinav fell, they stumbled from 148 for 2 to 193 for 5. Vijay Shankar (38 off 35) and Shahrukh (27 off 23) provided the thrust that took Tamil Nadu past 250, but Mithun’s late strikes meant they ended with a total that was only competitive, rather than the imposing one they had threatened.Dinesh Karthik opened with his offspinners, R Ashwin and Washington Sundar, but Rahul and Devdutt Padikkal got off to a brisk start in the chase. Sundar rattled Padikkal’s stumps in the fifth over with one that went straight through with the angle from around the wicket, but curiously, Ashwin was taken out of the attack after that.Karthik later reasoned that he wanted to give his pacers a go since it was overcast and the left-handed Padikkal had gotten out, but as it would turn out, Ashwin bowled no more than the two overs he had at the start with rain ending the game early.Agarwal, meanwhile, was imperious from the start. Off his sixth ball, he drove Vijay Shankar over the extra-cover boundary with barely any follow-through. It was the sort of shot you could have predicted would go for six even if you had your eyes closed – merely by listening to the crack the ball made while leaving bat. There was almost a boundary an over after that, with Agarwal executing similarly stunning drives and pulls.Agarwal’s cantering pace allowed Rahul to take his time, and he in turn brought up his half-century with a gorgeous straight drive off what turned out to be the penultimate ball of the match.