Nottingham Forest’s opening bid for defender Nicolo Savona has reportedly been turned down as Juventus demand €18 million for the academy graduate.

• Forest make €11m bid for Juventus defender
• Serie A side demand €18m for the 22-year-old
• Premier League club recently signed Luiz 

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to , Forest have once again turned to Juventus to sign another player this transfer window. After securing midfielder Douglas Luiz on a season-long loan with an obligation to buy, they have now set their sights on defender Savona. The Premier League club submitted an offer of €11m (£9m/$13m), but Juventus rejected it and have set an asking price of €18m (£15m/$20m) for the 22-year-old. 

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  Forest’s interest in Juventus players is not new. Earlier in the window, they were linked with Timothy Weah and Samuel Mbangula, though neither deal materialised. Now they are back at the table, this time for Savona. A departure for Juventus' academy graduate would give the Old Lady much-needed financial breathing room. The Serie A giants need to raise funds before pushing for new signings. Moves for targets, including Randal Kolo Muani, Edon Zhegrova, and Nahuel Molina, are on hold until someone heads out the door.

  Making things trickier for Juve is Dusan Vlahovic’s situation. He is on a huge €12m salary and not part of Igor Tudor’s plans, but they have not been able to sell him. On top of that, they have been unable to find a club for Nico Gonzalez, who, despite receiving interest from Saudi Arabia, is yet to attract an official bid.

• TELL ME MORE

  According to Nico Schira, right-back Savona already has the framework of a deal with Forest that would run until 2030, with a salary worth €2m per season. But until Juventus and Forest agree on the fee, the deal remains stuck.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR NOTTINGHAM FOREST AND JUVENTUS?

  Forest will likely return with an improved proposal as they continue talks with Juventus, with the transfer deadline nearing. For the Italian club, selling Savona could be the key to continue their own transfer business, but only if Forest come closer to their €18m valuation.

The USMNT striker opened the scoring for the Sky Blues with a clever finish, and has five goals on the campaign

Haji Wright opened scoring for CoventryPoked left-footed finish snuck past sprawling goalieUSMNT hopeful leads the Championship Golden Boot raceFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Haji Wright was among the goals again for Coventry, finding the back of the net to give the Sky Blues the lead against struggling Oxford City on Saturday. The U.S. striker took it well, too, ducking between two defenders before swiveling onto his weaker foot and poking home past a wrong-footed goalkeeper. 

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It has been a prolific opening to the campaign for the U.S. forward. He has now scored five and assisted one in six games in all competitions this season. His success has Coventry flying high early, with the Sky Blues in second in the EFL Championship.

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Wright's per-game numbers were quietly among the best in the Championship last year. The forward struggled with various injuries throughout the campaign, yet still averaged a goal every other game for a tumultuous Coventry.

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Chegou a hora do primeiro teste da Seleção Brasileira após a Copa do Mundo de 2022. Neste sábado, o Brasil encara o Marrocos em amistoso internacional na cidade de Tânger, no país africano. O duelo será disputado às 19h (de Brasília; 22h no horário local), no Estádio Ibn Batouta.

Ainda sem um técnico definido depois da saída de Tite, a equipe brasileira será comandada interinamente por Ramon Menezes, que é o treinador da Seleção Brasileira sub-20. A expectativa é que o presidente da CBF, Ednaldo Rodrigues, anuncie um novo nome até o meio do ano.

+ Veja a tabela e os jogos da Champions League

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MARROCOS
Semifinalista no Mundial do Qatar, o Marrocos fez história e atingiu o posto de melhor classificação de uma seleção africana em Copas do Mundo ao ficar com o quarto lugar. A equipe deWalid Regragui, que foi muito festejada após o torneio, jogará com o apoio de seu torcedor, que deve lotar o estádio com capacidade para mais de 60 mil pessoas.

+ Confira as movimentações do mercado da bola no Vaivém do L!

BRASIL
Em início de ciclo visando a Copa do Mundo do Canadá, Estados Unidos e México, o Brasil terá novidades na equipe. Serão poucos os nomes que foram titulares no Qatar que começarão jogando neste sábado com Ramon Menezes.

+Amistoso dará chances: saiba há quanto tempo um jogador do seu clube não é titular na Seleção Brasileira

FICHA TÉCNICA

Marrocos x Brasil
Amistoso internacional
​
Data e horário: 25/03/2023, às 19h (de Brasília; 22h no horário local)
Local: Estádio Ibn Batouta, em Tânger (MAR)
Onde assistir: TV Bandeirantes, ESPN, Star+ e Canal GB (Youtube). O LANCE! acompanha o duelo em tempo real

PROVÁVEIS TIMES

MARROCOS (Técnico: Walid Regragui)
​
Bounou; Hakimi, Aguerd, Saïss, El Yamiq e Mazraoui; Ziyech, Ounahi, Amrabat e Boufal; En-Nesyri.

BRASIL (Técnico: Ramon Menezes)
​
Ederson; Emerson Royal, Éder Militão, Ibañez e Alex Telles; Casemiro, Andrey Santos e Lucas Paquetá; Rodrygo, Vitor Roque (Antony ou Rony) e Vini Jr.

Swiss defender Manuel Akanji is set for a medical at Inter after they agreed to a loan deal with Manchester City.

• Inter and Man City agree loan deal for Akanji
• €2m loan fee with €15m buy option
• Defender rejected AC Milan before accepting Inter

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Inter have reached a full agreement with City to sign defender Manuel Akanji, according to Fabrizio Romano. The Swiss international has agreed to the move and is now set to travel to Italy to undergo a medical and finalise the deal before the transfer window closes. This came after the English club and Inter entered into late negotiations for the defender as part of a potential three-way deal that could also see Benjamin Pavard join Marseille, according to a report from . The focus of the discussions revolves around a dual loan arrangement to finalise the intricate transfer before the transfer deadline.

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  The transfer marks a dramatic conclusion to Akanji's summer saga, which saw him reject a move to Inter's city rivals, AC Milan, just days ago, along with a link with Tottenham. His desire to play Champions League football was the key factor, and he has now secured that wish with the Nerazzurri. The deal represents a major deadline-day acquisition for Inter, who moved quickly to bolster their defensive options. For the deal to happen, Inter are trying to facilitate Pavard's long-rumoured move to Marseille, creating a vacancy in their defence for Akanji to fill. According to , Pavard has already given the green light for the move.

• THE DEAL IN DETAIL

  The agreement between the clubs has been structured as an initial loan with a buy option. Inter will pay City a €2 million loan fee for the season. The deal includes a €15 million (£13m/$17m) purchase option, which will only become mandatory if certain difficult-to-achieve conditions are met, making it a financially astute piece of business for the Serie A side.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR AKANJI AND INTER?

  Akanji's immediate priority is to complete his medical and sign the contract before the transfer deadline. Once officially an Inter player, he will join Christian Chivu's squad, providing valuable experience and versatility across the backline for their domestic and Champions League campaigns. His arrival may also pave the way for Pavard's potential departure. Inter recently lost 2-1 to Udinese, and they will look to be back to winning ways against Juventus after the international break. 

The British-record buy is a certain starter once fully fit, meaning Arne Slot is going to have some big selection calls to make

Newcastle tried to sign Hugo Ekitike to play alongside Alexander Isak this past summer. It is Liverpool, though, who are now in a position to make it happen. 

With the Reds having first hijacked Newcastle's deal for Ekitike, they've now broken the British transfer record to prise Isak away from their Premier League rivals. So, as soon as the French and Swedish strikers return from international duty next week, Arne Slot will be able to make Eddie Howe's dream a reality. 

Unsurprisingly, Liverpool fans are experiencing a mix of delight and disbelief right now, almost overcome with excitement at the prospect of seeing Isak in the same side as not only Ekitike, but also another new face in Florian Wirtz, the £100 million ($133m) signing from Bayer Leverkusen, and living legend Mohamed Salah.

However, while the Premier League champions cleared some space in their forward line by selling Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez this summer, and allowing Harvey Elliott to join Aston Villa on loan with a conditional obligation to buy, Slot will still have his work cut out trying to keep all of his top talents happy for the remainder of the 2025-26 campaign…

• AFP
  

  Throwback to two up top?

  There was a time when playing two up front was commonplace in English football. There was Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp at Arsenal, Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole at Manchester United, while even Niall Quinn and Kevin Phillips did an awful lot of damage together at Sunderland in the classic 'big man, small man' partnership.

  Times have changed and the game has evolved, with forward lines more fluid than ever before – as Paris Saint-Germain so effectively illustrated by winning the Champions League with three wingers up front.

  However, Liverpool have enjoyed a fair bit of success over the years with dynamic duos (Kevin Keegan & John Toshack, Kenny Dalglish & Ian Rush, Michael Owen & Emile Heskey, Luis Suarez & Daniel Sturridge), so might Slot consider adding Ekitike & Isak to that illustrious list?

  BOYLE Sports

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  'In football, you need to adapt'

  As tall, slender, technically-gifted attackers capable of beating opponents with pace and fast feet, Isak and Ekitike are eerily similar players. Indeed, the presumption was that Newcastle wanted Ekitike to replace Isak – and that Liverpool wanted Ekitike as an alternative to Isak.

  However, Eddie Howe clearly felt that the two could play together, and Slot does too. The first half of last season probably illustrates why.

  Before Omar Marmoush's winter-window move from Eintracht Frankfurt to Manchester City, the Egyptian was tearing up the Bundesliga thanks in no small part to Ekitike. The pair worked wonderfully well in tandem and were directly involved in a combined 51 goals in all competitions. It's not hard, then, to imagine Isak also flourishing alongside Ekitike, who excelled as a lone striker following Marmoush's exit, but openly admits that he loves dropping deeper to pick up possession.

  "I mean, I do what the coach asks me to do, but yeah, I like to do everything," the 23-year-old told Liverpool's official website. "I can't define myself only as a striker [who likes] to finish: I like to play, I like to be in the game, in the collective part of play [and] create also.

  "So, I can do both – I can play alone and I like to play also with another striker and I think that’s what makes me versatile and you know now in football, you need to adapt."

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  Box midfield?

  Of course, playing two up top would have plenty of knock-on effects. Salah could obviously play more as an orthodox right winger – and the same goes for Cody Gakpo on the opposite flank – while Wirtz could remain in his classic trequartista role just behind Isak and Ekitike.

  However, that would mean seriously overburdening Ryan Gravenberch at the base of the midfield. Consequently, it seems unlikely that we'll see Isak, Ekitike, Salah, Wirtz and Gakpo on the field at the same time unless Liverpool are chasing a goal in the closing stages of a game against deep-lying opposition.

  Indeed, the only way a front two might work would be to have Salah and Wirtz playing as twin-10s in a 'box' midfield – a bit like Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan at Manchester City – with Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister assuming nearly all of the responsibility for protecting the defence, and the very attack-minded full-backs Milos Kerkez and Jermie Frimpong charged with providing the width.

  It would be a risky ploy, though – not least because Wirtz and Salah are struggling in their usual roles right now. The former's issues are easily explicable. 

  As Slot has said himself, Wirtz is still getting to grips with the intensity of the Premier League and, as the attacking midfielder proved with his lively second-half display against Arsenal on Sunday, he'll definitely prove his worth at Anfield. 

  Salah, of course, can't use unfamiliarity with the physicality of English football as an excuse for his patch performances so far, and his first touch was worryingly poor at the weekend – but the Egyptian king has been here before, and he always bounces back. 

  A little patience will clearly be required, so a significant change of role really doesn't make much sense for either player at the minute. Both Wirtz and Salah should be allowed to find their very best form in their preferred positions. 

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  Ekitike vs Gakpo

  Consequently, it seems much more probable that Slot will continue with his preferred 4-2-3-1 formation – just with minor tactical tweaks and perhaps more changes in personnel from game to game.

  One could easily envisage Ekitike excelling on the left-hand side of a narrow front three, given his propensity for drifting wide anyway. Just like Gakpo, who initially played primarily through the middle after his arrival from PSV, and indeed Isak, Ekitike is a very modern and mobile forward who loves cutting inside onto his favoured right foot, and could regularly interchange with Isak, who is also very comfortable running the channels.

  If we know nothing else about Liverpool's data-obsessed recruitment team, it's that they love multi-functional forwards who press well – and Slot certainly won't be able complain about a lack of attractive options in attack once Isak is available for selection. The challenge, of course, will be ensuring that nobody's nose is put out of joint by being asked to play in a different possession or spend more time on the bench than initially anticipated.

  Gakpo, for example, won't be best pleased if he's asked to give up his starting spot to accommodate Ekitike, given the Dutchman has already been directly involved in three Premier League goals this season. At the same time, it feels as if that the former Eintracht forward has to play, given his clever link-up play has been almost as impressive as his lethal finishing.

MatériaMais Notícias

O lateral-esquerdo Welington passou por cirurgia na manhã desta segunda-feira (20). O procedimento cirúrgico foi realizado para acorreção de lesão ligamentar e lesão de sindesmose no tornozelo esquerdo. Segundo o LANCE! apurou, o jogador pode ficar em tratamento no São Paulo por até um ano.

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Tendo somente Caio para o setor, o Tricolor acendeu novamente as procuras por mais um nome para a posição. Diante a este cenário, surge Jemerson, destaque no Guarani no último ano.Segundo foi informado pelo portal ‘iG’ e confirmado pela reportagem do LANCE!, o jogador foi oferecido para o São Paulo no início da temporada, quando Reinaldo deixou a equipe – rumo ao Grêmio. Entretanto, o negócio não teria ido para frente.

Conmebol divulga ranking dos 32 clubes que estão na Libertadores 2023

Veja tabela do Campeonato Paulista

Com a lesão de Welington, o interesse teria retornado. Porém, até o momento, nenhuma proposta concreta foi feita. Caso avance em negociações, o Tricolor teria que lidar com a concorrência de três equipes. No caso, o Santos, Coritiba e Internacional – que estariam já sondando o jogador.

Inclusive, foi informado à reportagem do LANCE!, que um dos nomes que estariam por trás deste primeiro contato – ainda no começo do ano -, seria de um ex-campeão pelo São Paulo. No caso, o ex-jogador Palhinha, que seria um dos empresários do jogador.

Jamerson foi um dos destaques do Guarani na série B do último ano. O lateral-esquerdo encerrou a temporada como líder em assistências – sete ao todo.

No Campeonato Paulista deste ano, disputou onze jogos, com um gol e uma assistência. O jogador, com apenas 24 anos, teria interesse em disputar a série A do Brasileiro nesta temporada.

O São Paulo terá que correr contra o tempo se quiser trazer mais reforços, tendo em vista o alto número de lesões e o afastamento do jogador Pedrinho, que responde processo por acusação de violência doméstica. A janela de transferências deste semestre fecha no dia 4 de abril.

The USWNT and Washington Spirit forward unexpectedly took over interviewer duties following Shelton’s straight-sets victory at the 2025 US Open

Rodman playfully asked Shelton why serves weren't exceeding 140 mphShelton appeared surprised when Rodman was handed the microphoneHe jokingly blamed the cold weatherGetty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED

Following his second-round straight-sets win over Spain’s Pablo Carreño Busta, American tennis star Ben Shelton was finishing up his postmatch press conference when an unexpected questioner stepped forward. Tournament officials handed the microphone to Washington Spirit forward – and Shelton’s girlfriend – Trinity Rodman, who playfully pressed him about his serving performance, leaving Shelton momentarily stunned.

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The playful exchange highlights the unique dynamic between these two high-profile American athletes who went public with their relationship earlier this year. Shelton, 23, has emerged as one of America's brightest tennis prospects, climbing to world No. 6 following his recent Canadian Open victory. His relationship with Rodman represents a power couple in American sports.

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Rodman faces a quick turnaround as she returns to Washington for the Spirit's upcoming match against Chicago Stars FC on Aug. 31. The Spirit currently sit in second place on the NWSL table, behind runaway leaders KC Current, with 31 points after 17 games. 

MatériaMais Notícias

Em meio ao clima de absoluta alegria e descontração na entrevista coletiva do Grêmio após o título do Gauchão, houve espaço para o tradicional ‘banho’ no técnico Renato Portaluppi e também para uma ‘alfinetada’ direta ao arquirrival Internacional.

Questionado sobre como avalia o seu trabalho de maneira individual neste início de temporada, Renato preferiu não dar uma opinião específica por apontar que existem ‘opiniões diferentes’. Sem deixar de demonstrar, porém, seu comportamento um tanto quanto provocador em relação ao eterno rival do Tricolor.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasFora de CampoNarrador comenta pênalti para o Grêmio: ‘Se fosse pró Caxias, o VAR nem chamaria’Fora de Campo08/04/2023GrêmioGrêmio concede placa e camisa comemorativa a Renato Gaúcho por seus 700 jogos pelo clubeGrêmio08/04/2023GrêmioVina, após título do Gauchão com o Grêmio: ‘Onde passo quero fazer história’Grêmio08/04/2023

>Suárez vibra com segundo título em três meses: ‘Não esperava começar assim’

– É um trabalho do técnico, mas de todos os departamentos. A partir das primeiras conversas (para sua volta ao Grêmio), a gente começou a construir porque o torcedor não merecia sofrer como sofreu em 2021. Reformulamos tudo e o torcedor começou a acreditar na gente. Sobre o trabalho, nao curto falar muito porque tem outras avaliações. Cada um tem sua opinião sobre meu trabalho. Mas é importante ressaltar que quem foi campeão hoje fomos nós. Eu gosto do Mano Menezes, mas vou lembrá-lo que quem está insatisfeito somos nós por não sermos campeões invictos. Perdemos uma para o Ypiranga.

Renato também tratou de fazer elogios tanto ao comportamento do torcedor nas arquibancadas da Arena como no fato do clube ter se aproximado, durante a semana, a marca projetada de 100 mil sócios-torcedores ativos. Houve espaço, também, para fazer elogios ao Caxias, adversário da decisão estadual:

– Parabéns aos torcedores. É uma grande marca, a maior do clube. Parabenizar também ao Caxias, que valorizou muito nosso título. Foram uns leões na decisão, assim como o nosso grupo. Agora, o momento é do torcedor comemorar, usar a camisa do Grêmio, ir com ela para o trabalho, porque ser campeão é muito difícil.

Após a conquista, o Grêmio volta suas atenções para a Copa do Brasil, em que, na próxima quinta-feira, enfrenta o ABC, em Natal.

Lionel Messi’s legacy has been assessed by Rodrigo De Paul with “the end approaching”, with the all-time great having “won everything”.

All-time great now 38 years of ageEnd of remarkable career approachingHas inspired millions around the worldFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The all-time great is the most decorated player of all-time, with 46 trophy triumphs featuring on his glittering roll of honour. At 38 years of age Messi is not done yet, but retirement – at least in international circles – is not far off.

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The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner admits that a World Cup qualifier against Venezuela – a contest that saw him bag a brace in a 3-0 win – is likely to have been his last as an Argentina star on home soil.

WHAT DE PAUL SAID

He is expected to grace the 2026 World Cup next summer, but no decision has been made on his involvement there as yet. De Paul, who now plays alongside Messi at MLS side Inter Miami, said after witnessing an emotional evening at Estadio Monumental: “He's been coming here for 20 years, and the end is approaching. That's life, and the best thing he'll have left, when he decides not to come back anymore, is that he gave everything, won everything, and made a lot of people happy.”

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Fellow World Cup winner Lautaro Martinez added on magical Messi: “An emotional night, one to remember, that will remain with us for what Leo means. I'm not just talking about him as a footballer, but about his leadership, his daily lessons, and the person he is.”

Only four India batters reached double-figures after not having answers to Starc’s swing and pace

Sreshth Shah19-Mar-20233:21

Tait: Starc close to being an Australia all-time great

Mitchell Starc produced a masterclass in new-ball swing bowling before openers Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head hammered rapid fifties to complete a knockout performance against India and level the series 1-1. India received a thrashing like no other in Visakhapatnam – their heaviest defeat in terms of balls remaining – when they were bowled out for 117 in just 26 overs.Starc was the tormentor in chief with his 5 for 53, his ninth five-for in ODIs, and gave Marsh and Head freedom to bat with no scoreboard pressure; Marsh raced to 28-ball fifty before Head got to his in 29 balls and Australia chased the target down in just 11 overs.Starc got deliveries to swing in as well as angle across to the right-hand batters in equal measure. His work up top allowed Sean Abbott and Nathan Ellis to join hands and run through the lower middle order thereafter. In all, the Australian bowlers were done with their shift inside two hours and 20 minutes, with the three seamers sharing all ten wickets.When Starc got the deliveries to angle across, he tempted Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma to drive away from their bodies, only for both to get dismissed cheaply. Gill was the first to go, out for a duck in the first over, when he chased a full and wide delivery and drove to point, in what was a repeat of his dismissal from the Mumbai ODI. Rohit, returning to the side in place of Ishan Kishan, was out in the fifth over. He had had moved to 13 by relying on leg-side flicks, but then swung big against a wide ball to edge to first slip.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Suryakumar Yadav walked in looking to make up for his first-ball duck from the first ODI, but he suffered the same fate when Starc swing the ball into him again, and had him lbw for another golden duck. In what was another repeat from the first ODI, KL Rahul came in trying to survive a hat-trick delivery. He did that successfully, but could not last too much longer. The half-centurion from the previous game was also trapped lbw by Starc, on 9, with another inswinging delivery that got him missing a shot across the line.At 48 for 4, India needed a recovery job, but that wouldn’t come. Abbott got a length ball to bounce a bit more and Hardik Pandya poked at it only to see Steven Smith take a stunning one-handed diving catch at first slip to rock them further. Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja tried to resurrect the innings, but they failed as well this time. Kohli was trapped lbw by Ellis when, on 31, he swiped across the line to a full ball, and didn’t bother reviewing the on-field decision. Ellis then came around the wicket to get Jadeja edging a catch to the wicketkeeper Alex Carey. At 91 for 7, India were on the mat and the crowd was completely silenced.That India reached triple-digits was because of Axar Patel’s unbeaten 29. He was circumspect at first alongside Kuldeep Yadav as India went past 100. But when Kuldeep and Mohammad Shami fell in quick succession to Abbott, Axar realised the end was coming soon. He smacked Starc for back-to-back sixes but ran out of partners as No. 11 Mohammed Siraj became Starc’s fifth victim after seeing his off stump rattled.Marsh and Head thwarted India’s hopes of staging any kind of fightback. While Head’s 30-ball 51 was dominant when taken in isolation, it almost paled in comparison to Marsh’s 66 off 36 balls.When the full deliveries from Siraj and Shami were put away in the initial burst of overs, both bowlers tried to go short. The openers were equally competent to the short ball, and made use of the day’s best batting conditions just before sunset.Marsh pulled, drove and punched his way to his second straight fifty after his 81 in the first ODI. Head’s boundaries were more streaky but the highlight was his four consecutive fours against Shami in the sixth over soon after Australia had crossed 50. Marsh also launched three sixes in a Hardik over before finishing the game in the 11th.The ODI series now moves to the decider in Chennai on Wednesday. After the way they have put India’s batters in trouble in these two games, Australia will quietly think they go into the final game as favourites.