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A round-up of the first day’s action in the fifth round of matches of the 2009-10 Regional Four-Day Competition

Cricinfo staff13-Feb-2010Leeward Islands made a steady beginning in their fifth-round match against Windward Islands at Bourda, reaching 254 for 5. They were led by Monticin Hodge’s half-century and steady contributions by Kieran Powell and Gavin Williams. Openers Hodge and Mali Richards started slowly, before Richards tried to flick Shane Shillingford down the leg side and gave a catch to the wicketkeeper. He didn’t look too pleased with the umpire’s verdict, though. Powell walked in and batted briskly as Leewards went to lunch at 63 for 1. Powell continued batting aggressively in the afternoon session but fell two short of his fifty when he holed out to long-on. Hodge, who played the supporting role till then, reached his fifty off 165 balls. He and Williams took the score to 161 for 2 at tea. However, Windwards hit back to take two wickets for six runs, including Hodge for 61 and Williams for 44. Steven Liburd and Omari Banks mixed aggression with defence to take the score to 229 before Liburd failed to pick a fuller delivery from Shillingford, trapped lbw offering no shot.A five-wicket haul by offspinner Ryan Austin saw Jamaica collapse under lights against Combined Campuses and Colleges at the Guyana National Stadium. Jamaica were well placed at 151 for 1, but wasted the start provided by Danza Hyatt and Donavan Pagon to collapse to 191 for 9. Pagon and Hyatt made good use of a placid pitch and brought up their half-centuries midway through the post-lunch session. Both hit six fours in getting to their respective milestones. But Austin struck in the final over before tea, trapping Hyatt lbw with a quicker delivery. Pagon fell for 80 when he edged to the keeper down the leg side off left-arm spinner Kavesh Kantasingh. Austin then had Nkrumah Bonner trapped lbw and then had Tamar Lambert caught at short leg. David Bernard was then caught at silly point and Austin picked up his fifth wicket when Bevan Brown holed out to deep midwicket. Kantasingh took 3 for 44 as CCC claimed the final session and the day’s honours.Half-centuries by Ryan Hinds, Jason Haynes and Dale Richards put Barbados in a commanding position at 326 for 5 against Guyana at the Albion Sports Complex. Hinds hit 13 fours and a six in his 76 and shared a stand of 126 for the third wicket with Haynes, who hit 69. Richards dominated an opening stand of 76 with Kraigg Braithwaite and hit eight fours. But he fell to a great catch by Brandon Bess running backwards at long-on. Hinds fell to a soft dismissal when he steered Royston Crandon to gully. Guyana then picked up two more wickets after Hinds’ dismissal. Christopher Barnwell took two wickets while Zaheer Mohammed, Bess and Devendra Bishoo took a wicket each.

Divock Origi is among the possible targets for Newcastle United when the transfer window opens in just over a month’s time. 

That’s according to The Northern Echo’s chief sports writer Scott Wilson, who tweeted that the Magpies are ‘stepping up [their] plans’ for what is shaping up to be a crucial January transfer window – after 12 Premier League games, they find themselves bottom of the table and without a win.

The lowdown

Origi, one of the players to whom they may turn as they look to lift themselves from the mire, has been restricted to just 16 minutes of Premier League football for Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool this season.

However the Belgian is seizing opportunities when they come. Across his seven appearances in all competitions (including three in the Champions League) he has been directly involved in five goals, scoring three and setting up two more (via Transfermarkt).

The 26-year-old’s £60,000-per-week contract is up at the end of the season, but it could be extended if the requirements of a performance option are met.

The latest

According to Wilson, Eddie Howe apparently wants to ‘heavily prioritise’ targets who are ‘proven Premier League players’.

Newcastle’s ownership, for their part, are particularly keen on players who are struggling for game-time at their current clubs, hence why Origi is regarded as a potential loan option ahead of January.

The verdict

Origi certainly meets Newcastle’s criteria. He is struggling to dislodge the likes of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino, Diogo Jota and Sadio Mane at Anfield, but there’s no real shame in that.

Over the course of his Premier League career, he has a respectable return of one goal every 170 minutes, while Liverpool assistant manager Pep Lijnders even dubbed him ‘one of the world’s best finishers’.

The problem for Newcastle is that Mane and Salah are due to head to the Africa Cup of Nations in January, so the Reds might want to keep Origi around as a much-needed option for their attack. That could certainly complicate the Magpies’ chances of doing a mid-season deal for the Belgian.

In other news, this goalkeeper wants to join Newcastle

Ange Postecoglou has confirmed that there is still no timeframe in regards to Christopher Jullien making a Celtic return, as reported by Jo Hendry.

The Lowdown: Jullien’s terrible 2021…

The 28-year-old hasn’t featured for the Hoops for almost 12 months now after suffering a serious knee injury against Dundee United just after Christmas 2020.

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The Frenchman, labelled as ‘excellent’ by former Hoops boss Neil Lennon, is yet to feature under Postecoglou, who brought in a number of defensive additions over the summer.

Jullien returned to training back in October, but he hasn’t managed to feature in a competitive match for the Bhoys in the current campaign.

The Latest: No timeframe…

Postecoglou confirmed on Wednesday prior to the meeting with Hearts that Nir Bitton and Tom Rogic would be available to fact Hearts tonight.

However, Carl Starfelt and Giorgos Giakoumakis remain sidelined, while no timeframe has been given in regards to Jullien’s return.

The Verdict: Not ideal…

It’s been more than six weeks since Jullien returned to training, so it appears as if the Hoops are being extremely cautious when it comes to the centre-back.

Celtic have a very busy month ahead with nine fixtures in all competitions, so it isn’t ideal being without Starfelt and still having no timeframe when it comes to the French centre-back.

Hopefully, we will learn more on Jullien before the end of the year, but at this moment in time, it appears as if we may not see the 28-year-old defender until 2022.

In other news: Nicholson ‘plans’ to sell ‘terrific’ Celtic ace in record-breaking £25.5m deal. 

A near-full house in Nagpur was witness to a fiery match, with Sri Lanka leveling the series with a three-wicket win as runs and wickets flowed in equal measure in good batting conditions

The Bulletin by Jamie Alter18-Dec-2009
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
Tillakaratne Dilshan’s aggression set the platform for Sri Lanka’s successful chase•Associated PressThe second humdinger between these two teams this week ran the gamut from wonderful to what-the-heck as runs and wickets flowed in equal measure in good batting conditions. Sri Lanka leveled the series with a three-wicket win in a match defined by two individual innings, contrasting in style and strength, at either end of a collapse that threatened to give India the advantage and a 2-0 lead.With another evening of thrilling batting, Tillakaratne Dilshan proved right every single reason behind Sri Lanka’s decision in January to open the innings with him permanently. Dilshan’s fifth one-day century, and second in a row, was the dominant force in Sri Lanka clinching this win but it so nearly ended up in another lost cause, if not for Angelo Mathews.Dilshan contributed 63 to a 102-run opening stand, playing with the freedom and control fans have grown accustomed to; then, in the period where India followed up a double-strike with 12 boundary-less overs, he collected his century while ensuring the asking rate stayed in control. There was a massive scare as Sri Lanka lost three wickets, and a limping Mathews was called on to douse the flames. That he did, standing one on leg and coolly striking out the threat of a revved-up India. With eight needed from nine balls the match was on a knife’s edge, but Nehra bowled a full toss, Mathews bunted it to mid-on, and Zaheer let it right through his legs for four.While India’s attack had been spread through the line-up, with Virat Kohli, centurion MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina playing dominant roles, Sri Lanka rode on Dilshan’s shoulders. Needing to score at over a run a ball, he got the chase off to a brisk start. And as often happens, India failed to apply pressure from both ends. If Zaheer allowed just a run off his second over, Praveen Kumar leaked three consecutive fours in his, veering between too wide and too full. Ashish Nehra wasn’t allowed to settle, with both openers punching aerial down the ground, and Zaheer’s length was offset by a manipulative Dilshan. Sri Lanka’s fifty came up in 6.3 overs, most of the runs coming down the ground.It was enthralling batting from Dilshan. Zaheer and Nehra tried to push him back but he rode the bounce, and at times his luck – such as when he danced out to Nehra and edged for four. Whenever the ball was pitched up, Dilshan, at times batting out of his crease, plonked his front foot further forward and clunked powerful drives over mid-off and mid-on.After Virender Sehwag Dilshan comes closest in today’s era to being able to make the bowler bowl where wants them to. Dhoni turned to Harbhajan Singh for the eighth over, slip and leg gully in place. Having come out and gone back to pick the gaps in Harbhajan’s first over, Dilshan had the bowler in two minds. At one point, he twice hurried out to thump the ball down the ground, as he’d spotted the extra flight. Then Harbhajan bowled it quicker and wider, hoping Dilshan would come out to that one as well. Instead Dilshan read it perfectly, stayed in position, and cut it past point for four. The batsman had set the bowler up.When Harbhajan purchased some turn, Dilshan used his crease to get over the ball, nudging it off his pads. A streaky but deliberate edge off Harbhajan for four raised a 31-ball fifty. Harbhajan had some success against Upul Tharanga, who was lured out and then edged a breaking ball to slip where Sehwag snapped a good catch to his left (102 for 1). Dilshan was then responsible for running his captain out, and for the next 55 deliveries India, through Nehra, Praveen and Ravindra Jadeja, pulled Sri Lanka back.Dilshan spent 16 deliveries in the nineties, reached his century, raised his arms, and promptly clubbed Nehra for two dingers that snapped a 12-over barren run of no boundaries. He featured in a 66-run third-wicket stand with Mahela Jayawardene, which ended when Nehra bowled Dilshan with a fine yorker.MS Dhoni ensured that the momentum didn’t fall away after Virat Kohli departed•Associated PressZaheer delivered a further twist in the tale when, with 70 needed from 66, he got Jayawardene to nick for 39. With the rate within grasp thanks to Dilshan, Thilina Kandamby cut out the risks until his first aerial shot, in the first over of the batting Powerplay, was excellently held by a leaping Kohli at mid-on. Two legal deliveries later, a perfect yorker cleaned up Chamara Kapudegera, and the game was India’s to win. But Mathews controlled his eagerness to flat-bat marvelously, nudging and pushing the ball around with the occasional aggressive drive to remain unbeaten on 37. He was outstanding under pressure, and aided by a runner (Kapugedera) picked out the deliveries to put away. Zaheer’s gross error sealed Sri Lanka’s fate.At the halfway mark, the visitors would have considered the target within their reach as the wicket was still good for batting. After deciding to make first use of a pitch virtually devoid of grass, a century stand between Dhoni and Raina, after a shaky start, picked up the tempo for India. Coming together at the fall of Kohli (54), Dhoni and Raina gave India their best phase.Dhoni ensured that the momentum didn’t fall away, working the ball around superbly from the outset, and immediately showing the rich vein of form he is in this year. It wasn’t a pure innings though. Dhoni had edged his first ball for four, was nearly taken at third man when on 11, edged wide of Kumar Sangakkara on 24, and got two more lives in three balls from his counterpart off Ajantha Mendis. Dhoni raised his half-century off 70 balls and thumped a six to celebrate.Dhoni picked the batting Powerplay after 40 overs, just after Raina dumped Chanaka Welegedara for six over long-on. Two more sixes, again hit down the ground with power, pushed Sri Lanka onto the back foot as the pair took on Mendis and Suraj Randiv on in a three-over burst that bled 35 runs. Raina’s fifty came up off 44 balls and that five-over block yielded 50. Looking for his fourth six, Raina picked out deep midwicket, and soon after, Mendis dropped a clanger at cover when Dhoni was on 94. In the same over, Dhoni raised his century, his second in consecutive innings in Nagpur, to a rousing reception.Those cheers were nowhere near as boisterous when Dilshan raised his, but the resonance of the game’s second century was definitely louder.

Another win for England would ensure they cannot lose the ODI series against South Africa

The Preview by Andrew Miller26-Nov-2009Match facts Friday, November 27, 2009
Start time 14.30 (12.30GMT)Big pictureSix wins from seven starts … a statistic that looked like an anomaly is starting to take on a life of its own, as England continue their improbable dominance of South Africa in 50-over cricket. At Centurion on Sunday, Paul Collingwood marked his national-record 171st appearance with a sublime allround performance, as England exacted satisfying vengeance for their humiliation in the previous week’s second Twenty20.Their seven-wicket victory showcased the unfamiliar vein of confidence that is running through the squad at present, and while Andrew Strauss has made caution a watchword throughout his impressive tenure as England captain, it’s fair to suggest that they have got their opponents a little bit rattled at present.Mickey Arthur, South Africa’s coach, has not been short of a word or two in this series, but his attempts at psychological warfare have so far fallen on impassive ears. Jonathan Trott, the principal object of his ire, ignored the boo-boys and fronted up with a critical 87 to anchor England’s run-chase at Centurion, and though Arthur’s other target, Adil Rashid, has been rather subdued in his two appearances to date, he can hardly be regarded as a pivotal figure in England’s plans just yet.The same, however, cannot be said of Jacques Kallis, whose absence with a rib fracture has necessitated something of an overhaul of South Africa’s team balance, especially after he had been earmarked to open the batting alongside Graeme Smith. Hashim Amla proved an able understudy in the Centurion match, but as Arthur himself admitted, there’s no way to replicate the experience and allround ability that Kallis provides for the side. Herschelle Gibbs has earned a reprieve from the selectors and could yet play, but the call-up for the swift but erratic Morne Morkel underlines the concerns about the lack of penetration in South Africa’s attack.England had plenty concerns at the start of the tour when they were barely able to rustle up 11 fit men, but one by one the wounded are returning to the fray. Stuart Broad has overcome his shoulder problem and seems likely to slot in in place of Sajid Mahmood, while Graeme Swann has resumed training after a side strain, and could yet replace Rashid, unless the management take a punt on the uncapped offspinner, James Tredwell. Meanwhile, the unexpected success of Tim Bresnan as a new-ball sidekick to James Anderson has expanded the options available to his captain.Form guide (last five completed matches, most recent first)
Stuart Broad is back in the reckoning for England•Getty ImagesSouth Africa – LWWLW
England – WLLWWTeam newsAlviro Petersen produced a composed half-century at Centurion to enhance his claims to a middle-order berth, but Gibbs’ return to the set-up highlights the concerns about South Africa’s middle-order inexperience. It would not be a surprise to see him reintroduced, along with the promising left-arm seamer, Wayne Parnell, who made his name during last summer’s ICC World Twenty20, but has been out of the reckoning lately with an ankle injury. Charl Langeveldt has a shoulder problem, and could also miss out.South Africa (possible) 1 Graeme Smith (capt), 2 Hashim Amla, 3 AB de Villiers, 4 JP Duminy, 5 Herschelle Gibbs, 6 Alviro Petersen, 7 Mark Boucher (wk), 8 Ryan McLaren, 9 Roelof van der Merwe, 10 Wayne Parnell, 11 Dale SteynEngland’s decision to push Trott up to No. 1 paid handsome dividends at Centurion, and they are sure to repeat the experiment on his old home ground at Newlands, with Joe Denly and Alastair Cook missing out once again. Broad’s return will bolster the lower-order batting, and allow Sajid Mahmood to slip out of the firing line after a difficult couple of weeks. Swann could also return as the frontline spinner, although Tredwell remains on standby.England (possible) 1 Andrew Strauss (capt), 2 Jonathan Trott, 3 Kevin Pietersen, 4 Paul Collingwood, 5 Eoin Morgan, 6 Matt Prior (wk), 7 Luke Wright, 8 Stuart Broad, 9 Tim Bresnan, 10 Graeme Swann, 11 James AndersonWatch out forJonathan Trott grew up in Cape Town and played his early cricket in the shadow of Table Mountain, but his excitement about returning to his old stamping ground has been tempered this week by his touching, if slightly over-egged, claims that Birmingham is now the centre of his universe. No matter what his true feelings may be, he will surely seek to bury them in order to continue the domineering run of form that has marked him down as one of the key batsmen to watch for the rest of the winter.AB de Villiers launched his international career against England back in 2004-05, and his recent promotion to No. 3 in the ODI side reflects the fact that he has since developed into one of the most exciting batsmen in the world game. Against England, however, he hasn’t quite been able to display the full extent of his talents. Collingwood’s pluck in the gully sawed him off for 2 on Sunday, taking his tally in 12 matches against England to an unworthy 182 runs at 16.54. His time will doubtless come, but will it be now?Stats and trivia If Gibbs does play at Newlands, he will have happy memories of the last time he faced England on his home ground, in 2004-05. Back then he scored a century in a total of 291 for 5, as England in turn were bowled out for 183. Newlands is, by some distance, South Africa’s favourite home venue in ODI cricket. In 27 matches since 1992, they have won 24 and lost just three, most recently against West Indies in the opening match of the 2003 World Cup. Quotes”South Africa are going to come back hard at us, there’s no doubt about that. They are always competitive anyway, but they won’t have enjoyed losing that first game.”
“Jacques is a two-in-one cricketer, and his skills affect the balance of the side. We will either be one batter light or a bowler right, and that’s going to be our challenge.”
South Africa’s coach, Mickey Arthur, acknowledges a huge hole in his team’s resources

If the best way to spark interest in a seven-match ODI series is to stage a brilliantly tense opener, then Australia and India achieved their goal in Vadodara

The Bulletin by Brydon Coverdale25-Oct-2009
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were outRicky Ponting top scored for Australia with a classy 74•Getty ImagesIf the best way to spark interest in a seven-match ODI series is to stage a brilliantly tense opener, then Australia and India achieved their goal in Vadodara. Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey set up what looked like being a comfortable Australian win until a lively, crowd-lifting partnership from Harbhajan Singh and Praveen Kumar threatened to snatch victory for India.In the end, nine were required from the final over and Peter Siddle held his nerve to confirm a four-run margin in Australia’s favour. The key moment came when Harbhajan (49) was bowled from the second ball of the 50th, trying to launch a boundary off Siddle. Six from the last ball was too much for Ashish Nehra to produce.The feisty 84-run stand from Harbhajan and Praveen was unexpected after India fell to 201 for 7 with ten overs remaining, when they needed more than nine an over. Shane Watson won’t want to watch the replay of his final overs; he became predictable with his full tosses outside off and when he sent down the 49th of the innings it cost Australia 20 runs.Ultimately, Australia got off the hook, largely because India had let themselves down in the field and through the middle overs of their own innings. Although Praveen, with his unbeaten 40 from 32 balls nearly got them home, his ten overs earlier in the day had cost 77 and Australia’s batting contributions were even and widespread.Ricky Ponting thinks a seven-match one-day series is too long; Michael Hussey would play cricket 365 days a year if he could. Both men looked sharp at the start of this tour in setting up the challenging total of 292 for 8. Ponting and Tim Paine built the platform before Cameron White and Hussey drove the total higher, and all four men posted half-centuries.In reply, only Gautam Gambhir fired up properly out of India’s top order. Gambhir had fought his way to 68 from 85 deliveries when he fell to the first ball of the batting Powerplay, which was also the first delivery with the changed ball after 34 overs. Mitchell Johnson found some dip and a hint of swing that trapped Gambhir in front of middle stump and the chase was threatening to derail.Prime Numbers9The number of 50-plus scores for Michael Hussey in ODIs in 2009. In 26 innings this year, he averages 42.09, at a strike rate of 92.05.84The partnership for the eighth wicket between Praveen Kumar and Harbhajan Singh. It’s India’s highest for that wicket in ODIs. 58The number of runs India scored in the last five overs. Harbhajan contributed 32 of those.50The number of wickets for Brett Lee in ODIs against India, which is the highest by an Australian against India. Steve Waugh is next, with 43 wickets in 53 games. Lee’s 50 have come in 29 games, at an average of 20.70. 8The number of Man-of-the-Match awards for Hussey in ODIs. It was his first, though, against India. Of the teams against which he has played at least ten ODIs, New Zealand is the only one versus whom he hasn’t won the award.580The total number of runs scored in the match, which fell short of the record at this ground by a single run. In the match between India and West Indies in 2002, India scored 290, but lost by five wickets.The runs had been well restricted by Brett Lee and Peter Siddle in the middle overs and Gambhir and MS Dhoni were under pressure to make full use of the Powerplay, with the required rate climbing to 7.87. A pair of wickets to Johnson slowed India further.That Johnson bowled even a single delivery was a positive for Australia after he rolled his ankle early in the fielding effort and appeared to be in significant pain. He left the field briefly and returned to have an impact, although the loss of James Hopes to a leg injury after he sent down two overs will be a concern for the remainder of the series. Australia had the bowling options to cover for Hopes and the part-time spin of Adam Voges accounted for Virat Kohli, who had combined with Gambhir for a 58-run stand until he skied a catch for 30.Gambhir was comfortable rotating the strike and found the boundary six times, also clearing it once with a strong strike over wide midwicket off Hopes. He was at the crease at No. 3 thanks to the return of Virender Sehwag, who opened with Sachin Tendulkar, although neither of the veterans could make it to the ten-over mark.But whereas India’s two most experienced players failed, Australia’s two most capped batsmen stepped up to guide their team. Ponting’s 74 was the innings that set the tone but it was Hussey’s 73 from 54 deliveries that kept things on track and ensured a healthy total when India threatened to fight back late in the innings.Australia took their batting Powerplay from the 43rd over and it brought 3 for 33 (India’s would later result in 3 for 32) after the powerful White skied a catch for 51 from the second delivery. It was important that Hussey bat until the end and he did survive to the final few balls, accumulating his runs in typically anonymous and understated fashion.One exception came in the penultimate over when he launched Praveen for a monstrous straight six that left the ground and was so impressive that Hussey was even caught by the TV cameras raising his eyebrows and mouthing “that’s big” to his partner. But for the most part, Hussey pierced the field along the ground and ticked the score over with hard, tireless running between the wickets.He followed the lead of his captain Ponting, who was fierce against the fast men, punching off the back foot and going over the top when the occasion warranted. Few batsmen in the world would have the confidence to hook a fast man after walking down the pitch and being surprised by a bouncer but Ponting did just that, launching Praveen over the boundary for six.Praveen felt the brunt of Ponting’s form and he was also whipped through leg by Paine, whose 50 was important in setting up Australia’s effort. Ishant Sharma was more dangerous with a fuller length that allowed the ball to swing and his 3 for 50 was well deserved.Nehra collected two wickets and bowled reasonably, while Ravindra Jadeja’s figures improved when he trapped Ponting plumb lbw. But ultimately India had too few contributors while the Australians all played their part.The only visitor who didn’t contribute was the umpire Mark Benson, who sat out of the match through illness. He missed a classic of the 50-over format.

Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with a transfer move for in-demand Fiorentina striker Dusan Vlahovic ahead of the upcoming January transfer window.

What’s the story?

According to talkSPORT, Spurs are one of several Premier League clubs interested in securing the highly-rated 21-year-old’s signature, with both Arsenal and Liverpool also listed as potential suitors.

The report states that: “Fiorentina striker Dusan Vlahovic has attracted a host of Premier League interest with Arsenal, Tottenham and Liverpool all in a race to sign him.”

With Vlahovic’s contract set to expire in the summer of 2023, La Viola may be tempted to part ways with their prized asset over the coming months in order to receive a suitable price for his services.

He’s just what Conte is missing

Ever since he made the switch from boyhood club Partizan Belgrade to Florence back in 2018, the Serbia international has established himself as one of the most exciting and promising youngsters in Europe.

Last season, Vlahovic bagged an incredible 21 goals in 40 appearances for Fiorentina despite their struggles near the foot of the Serie A table.

But the imposing 6 foot 2 beast appears to have taken his game to new heights in the opening weeks of the current campaign, notching up a remarkable 10 strikes in just 13 outings for Vincenzo Italiano’s charges.

The youngster’s eye-catching exploits and sizeable frame have seen him likened to his childhood idol Zlatan Ibrahimovic by many, while scout Jacek Kulig dubbed him a “machine,” highlighting his truly top-class potential.

However, prizing him away from the Stadio Artemio Franchi over the winter window will be a difficult task.

Speaking on Sky Sport Italia, reliable journalist Gianluca Di Marzio said: “In January, it is an impossible operation because Fiorentina are asking for €80 million (£68m).”

But Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is renowned for being a tough negotiator, and he must do everything in his power to entice Vlahovic to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Antonio Conte is currently lacking a natural alternative to Harry Kane in his first-team squad and with the 28-year-old’s long-term future still up in the air, Vlahovic’s arrival would ensure the capital club have a fearsome forward line for many years to come.

And, in other news…Paratici plotting Spurs swoop for “explosive” £31.5m-rated gem, Conte badly needs him

Former England fast bowler Alex Tudor was the unlikely last-daybatting hero as Surrey lost only six wickets in three sessions

Mark Pennell at The Oval12-Sep-2009
ScorecardFormer England fast bowler Alex Tudor was the unlikely last-daybatting hero as Surrey lost only six wickets in three sessionsat The Oval to force an improbable draw against promotion-chasingNorthamptonshire.Surrey looked destined for a fifth straight championship defeat goinginto the fourth and final day as they teetered on 116 for 3,effectively 0 for 3 as the scores in the match were tied.Yet batting heroics from the usually aggressive Tudor, who remained atthe crease for nigh on two hours to score an unbeaten 20, coupled witha brace of dropped chances by Northamptonshire, allowed Surrey to slipaway with a draw and 10 points to Northamptonshire’s tally of 12.Needing a rearguard action to survive, Surrey made a dreadfulstart when they lost Sri Lankan batsman Arun Harinath to the sixth ballof the day from Lee Daggett, the most impressive paceman on show with figures of 3 for 39. For the second time in the match Harinath aimed an airy drive outside off to edge to the keeper and leave the hosts even deeper in trouble on 119 for 4.Matt Spriegel enjoyed an early let-off when, with his score on 3,he edged a lifter from Daggett between slip and the keeper withoutAndrew Hall or Niall O’Brien laying a glove on it.That proved a costly miss as Spriegel teamed up with Usman Afzaal (31)to add 52 in 23 precious overs for the fifth wicket as Northamptonshire’s attack struggled to get much help from a sublime Oval pitch.Afzaal eventually went just before lunch when visiting skipper NickyBoje turned one out of the foot-holds and back in to the left-hander totrap him lbw when playing back in defence.After lunch Northamptonshire blundered again when Chris Schofield’scut shot slid through the hands of Hall at slip to hit the SouthAfrican in the chest and fly to ground with Schofield on 27. But the stand came to an end when Daggett returned with the second newball to remove Spriegel and Schofield in quick succession.Having scored a backs-to-the-wall 50 from 130 balls Spriegel went lbwto a Daggett yorker that hit him full on the boot then Schofield (36)played late on another full ball that plucked out the left-hander’s offstump.After tea Monty Panesar chipped in with only his second wicket of thegame when he snared Jade Dernbach (4) lbw, but no-one coulddislodge Tudor and last-man James Anyon and, after 10 overs of trying,Northamptonshire shook hands on a draw with Tudor unbeaten afterfacing 102 balls.Surrey’s director of cricket Chris Adams said afterwards: “The energyand work-rate of the side this week has been fantastic. We knew we had a big challenge ahead of us this morning but theyprepared as well as they could by facing plenty of left-arm spin in thenets. They then went out, battled hard and got their justrewards.”

A number of Aston Villa fans have hit out at winger Anwar El Ghazi on social media for his display against Southampton.

Dean Smith made three changes to the side that lost 4-1 to West Ham, with Tyrone Mings, Axel Tuanzebe and El Ghazi coming in on Friday evening.

However, the trio couldn’t help turn Villa’s fortunes around, with Adam Armstrong’s early strike making it five losses in a row.

El Ghazi was making just his fourth Premier League start of the season, turning out on the left-hand side of a 4-2-3-1 formation.

The 26-year-old was booked early on and was fortunate to remain on the pitch before being replaced by Keinan David in the final stages.

As per SofaScore, El Ghazi was Villa’s joint-worst starter alongside Tuanzebe with a match rating of 6.4/10. He gave the ball away on 16 occasions, lost seven duels and failed to complete a cross or a dribble.

Villa fans react

This is what these Villa fans had to say about the wide man on Twitter, with one labelling him as a ‘pony’ while another feels the winger will get Smith ‘the sack’.

“El Ghazi you fraud get out of my club you embarrassment”

Credit: @avfc_jf

“Take El Ghazi off immediately. Should have had a red already. Awful.”

Credit: @FauxniqueJ

“This is hurting my eyes How is El Ghazi still on the pitch”

Credit: @PongoVilla

“El Ghazi is and always has been absolute pony”

Credit: @Wainwright6Avfc

“Genuinely astounded he’s not at least taken El Ghazi off here, guys gonna get him the sack”

Credit: @JBaker_24

“This is close to total meltdown. Bailey can’t/won’t defend. El Ghazi had enough & trying to get sent off? We look a bunch of strangers!”

Credit: @RichTidmarsh

In other news: NSWE now looking at another Newcastle-linked boss for Villa; he’s mates with Purslow. 

Daan van Bunge fell two short of a deserved maiden first-class hundred, but nevertheless helped Netherlands pull off a fine result to draw against Canada on the final day at Rotterdam

Cricinfo staff18-Jul-2009
ScorecardDaan van Bunge fell two short of a deserved maiden first-class hundred, but nevertheless helped Netherlands pull off a fine result to draw against Canada on the final day at Rotterdam.Play was delayed by rain on what was a blustery day, and only 59 overs were possible – all of which played into Netherlands hands, as they resumed in the perilous position of 120 for 5. he lost his overnight partner, Jeroen Brand, in the second over of the day when he was trapped lbw by Umar Bhatti, but found good support from Netherlands’ dogged lower-order.Bart Schilperoord helped put on 53 for the seventh wicket as van Bunge passed fifty, and there was a turgid but vitally defensive stand of 37 in 27.1 dead-panning overs with Mark Jonkman, as Netherlands ground the game to a virtual halt.Jonkman fell, handing Qaiser Ali a wicket to record remarkable figures of 8-7-1-1, but van Bunge was defiant and remained heroically unbeaten on 98, an innings that spanned 294 balls, as the match was drawn.Canada captain, Umar Bhatti, praised van Bunge’s match-saving effort. “It was an excellent batting performance by (van) Bunge as he put the team first and batted with tremendous responsibility. Even the sight of a maiden first-class century couldn’t distract him. I think his knock has been an example and a lesson for many batsmen,” he said.Bhatti was optimistic that his team would learn from their experience in this tournament. “This is just the beginning of a long season and I’m sure we’ll be able to translate whatever we have learnt on this tour into those matches. Ideally, we would have been happier with a few more points against our names but we still have matches in hand and we’ll try to bag maximum points from the Kenya match.””The tour has proved to be an excellent learning curve to our team and specially the youngsters. Obviously we would have liked to win a few more matches but playing in different conditions and against different oppositions has provided to boys to understand what to expect at this level and how we can improve our performances for upcoming matches.”