Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola says he "gets the message" that Arsenal will be their closest Premier League title challengers going forward.
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Hampshire’s 288 for 6 at stumps reflects a day when the ball moved a lot but batsmen could prosper if they played straight and late
Paul Edwards20-May-2019
When a man’s desire defeats his reason he is wont to dream. That is where a quest starts and also the hard work needed to achieve a goal other men dub fantasy. Little more than a decade ago there was nothing but pasture where Newclose cricket ground now stands. Then Brian Gardener, the prosperous visionary who owned the land, decided the Isle of Wight should have a venue capable of not only staging Premier League club matches but even of tempting Hampshire to cross the Solent. And at eleven o’clock this morning, over four years after Gardener’s death, Luke Fletcher bowled to Joe Weatherley.Nobody knows exactly how much money Gardener spent to realise his vision; estimates have settled on something above £2m. All that spectators might have noticed as they gathered on the grassy banks surrounding the arena was that the pavilion was modelled on that at Sir Paul Getty’s ground at Wormsley and that the seating in front of the pavilion reminded them of somewhere … ah yes, Lord’s, that was the place. Some, seeing the alders and oaks on the River Medina side of the ground, made comparisons with Arundel but Newclose is less intimate than that particular Elysium. The outfield, though, is smooth as one could wish and the pitch is clearly fit for first-class cricket even if it did not encourage free scoring on this first day.Hampshire’s 288 for 6 at stumps was thus an accurate reflection of three sessions in which the ball had moved about a lot yet one in which batsmen could prosper if they played straight and late. The images one remembers are not those of Stuart Broad or Jake Ball racing in but those of Steven Mullaney bowling his brisk medium pacers and taking 2 for 42 in 24 overs from the Carisbrooke End while Hampshire’s openers, Weatherley and Oli Soames went about their business as cautiously as bomb disposal men.Batsmen who looked to force things generally perished: Ajinkya Rahane did so in mid-afternoon when he edged a drive off Broad and was caught at around fourth slip by Chris Nash for 10. By then Weatherley had also departed, unluckily judged caught behind off Ball for a pleasant 66 when the ball had done no more than brush his upper arm. But that contribution represented something of a relief for an opener who had passed thirty only twice in his previous 18 first-class innings. Rather more to the point, Weatherley’s 112-run stand for the first wicket with Soames had given Hampshire a foundation upon which Aneurin Donald and Ian Holland can build further on the second morning. Mullaney’s bowlers might yet regret the inaccuracy which characterised their efforts in the opening sessionWhatever the analysts tell them cricketers will always be suspicious of a fresh pitch on a new ground. Both Weatherley and Soames have played second-team cricket at Newclose but only when Broad bowled an attacking length did he leak a few boundaries as first Weatherley and then Soames drove him through the covers. The pair put on 88 in that morning session and Weatherley looked to be in particularly sound form.By middle of the day, though, Hampshire had lost two wickets and Nottinghamshire’s bowlers had found a better length and line. Then just before tea, a few cricketers’ thoughts turned to self-preservation as a modest swarm of bees approached the ground from the Medina side. Some players, among them Broad, lay on the ground and one remembered wartime photographs of fielders lying in similar positions to avoid the rather more deadly danger of German bombers. By contrast, the threat this afternoon was brief and its effect faintly comical.Having rediscovered their accuracy in the second session Nottinghamshire’s bowlers got the rewards they deserved in the hour after tea. Soames’ four-hour vigil for 44 runs was ended in the over after the resumption when he pushed at Ball but only nicked a catch to Matt Carter at second slip. Half an hour later Sam Northeast’s innings of 33 ended when he attempted to force the ball through midwicket but was leg before wicket to Mullaney, who almost immediately took a second wicket when Tom Alsop was athletically caught down the leg side by Tom Moores. Hampshire’s poorest period of cricket was then completed when Liam Dawson drove loosely at Fletcher and was bowled for 25.And so we got to the end of a day created by the ambition of a man who did not live to see an occasion he would have treasured. Gardener was assisted in the building and development of Newclose by a number of similarly able lieutenants, among them the former Sussex chief-executive Hugh Griffiths. As the cricket unfolded on this first day and the niggling problems which always affect such great undertakings cropped up, Griffiths and many others scurried about in the manner of outground officials across the land. And you can be sure that as they did so they were thinking of the man whose money and drive had made it all possible in the first place. “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful and committed citizens can change the world,” Jed Bartlet tells Will Bailey in . But Bailey has the rejoinder to that one ready. “It’s the only thing that ever has,” he says.
Kerala added 212 at the loss of three wickets to their overnight 206 for 4
Shashank Kishore18-Feb-2025Seven years after his maiden first-class hundred, Mohammed Azharuddeen struck his second, a stonewalling effort that fetched him an unbeaten 149, as Kerala ground Gujarat on a placid Ahmedabad deck.Kerala were painfully cautious on the second day, just like they were on the first, adding 212 to their overnight 206 for 4. Their go-slow approach made it clear that they were keen on batting just once in their quest to enter their maiden Ranji Trophy final.Kerala lost a wicket off the second delivery in the morning when Sachin Baby was snuffled out in the slips by Aarya Desai off the bowling of left-arm seamer Arzan Nagwaswalla. But for the next 62 overs, Gujarat were frustrated by Azharuddeen and Salman Nizar, whose last three knocks coming into this game were 112*, 44* and 150.As the pair defied Gujarat’s bowlers, they missed a rare opportunity to dismiss Azharuddeen on 74. A loud lbw shout off Nagwaswalla wasn’t reviewed, with replays showing the ball pitched in line and would have hit the stumps. That was one of the very few chances Gujarat created.The 149-run stand for the sixth wicket was broken when Nizar was out lbw to left-arm spinner Vishal Jayswal. After that, debutant Ahammed Imran, who crashed his first delivery in first-class cricket to the cover boundary, made 24 before nicking behind late in the day off Nagwaswalla, who had his third.Azharuddeen and Aditya Sarwate saw off the day with no further damage as Kerala kept their hopes of getting past 500 alive as a tired Gujarat attack trudged off knowing they would need a massive batting effort to stay alive in the game.
One of the best times of the summer as a New York sports fan is when we get to watch the Subway Series between the Yankees and Mets. The two teams will play two games in Citi Field this week and then will meet at Yankee Stadium for a two-game set in late July.
Tonight will be the first meeting between these two New York teams this season and it promises to be a fun one. If you want to bet on the game, you've come to the right place.
It's time to dive into everything you need to know to bet on the first edition of the 2024 Subway Series.
Run line:
Moneyline:
Total:
Gerrit Cole: The Yankees' ace made his first start of 2024 last week, pitching 4.0 innings against the Baltimore Orioles. He gave up three hits, one walk, and two earned runs in that start, totaling 62 pitches. It will be interesting to see how he fares tonight but I expect he'll need a few starts before he starts pitching at an elite level again.
Francisco Lindor: Francisco Lindor has quietly been one of the better players in the Majors this season, and his offensive numbers have started to skyrocket over the past month. He has an OPS of /875 in the month of June with a WAR of +2.3 on the season. He's the most impactful player in this Mets lineup.
In today's edition of Walk-Off Wagers, I broke down why betting on the Mets as underdogs in tonight's Subway Series is one of my favorite plays of the day:
According to a report from Portuguese newspaper Jornal de Notícias (via Sport Witness), Wolverhampton Wanderers are now in a three-way battle for Sporting CP midfielder Joao Palhinha.
Wolves could be in the market for at least one central midfielder as experienced star Joao Moutinho fast approaches the end of his contract at Molineux (Transfermarrkt).
As things stand the 35-year-old will move on this summer, whilst Leander Dendonker has been linked with a move to SS Lazio and talismanic star Ruben Neves continues to be indexed with a big-money departure.
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With doubts lingering over the aforementioned trio, it’s no surprise that Wolves are already being touted with possible successors…
As per Jornal de Notícias, translated by SW, Wolves are one of the ‘main interested’ clubs in Palhinha alongside Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.
It’s claimed that Sporting will listen to offers of around €30-40million (£25-34million) for the 26-year-old Portugal international.
The report states that Palhinha – who was described as ‘brilliant’ and the ‘most underrated player in Portugal’ by journalist Zach Lowy – is a personal priority for Bruno Lage this summer.
As the Wanderers prepare for life after at least one of their current midfielders, ready-made additions will be a necessity if Lage is going to push the side forwards once again next term.
Albeit the 2021/22 campaign has been a success overall, the heavy defeat at the hands of Manchester City and the recent form moreover has acted as a stark reminder as to how far away Wolves are from the upper echelons of the Premier League.
Predominantly operating as a defensive-minded midfielder, Palhinha has a Sofascore rating of 7.11 this season in the Primeira Liga, winning an impressive 7.1 duels and making 3.0 tackles on average per game.
Those combative attributes would suggest that the 12-cap international ace could be the ideal candidate to replace Moutinho or Dendonker in the Molineux ranks, particularly at the lower end of the mooted valuation.
In other news, Wolves have been backed to sign a Premier League attacker this summer. Find out who it is here.
Wes Agar took five wickets for South Australia after the visitors had to fly in a back-up wicketkeeper in the morning
AAP20-Feb-2023Junction Oval witnessed the fall of 15 wickets, the red ball return of Glenn Maxwell, and a reinforcement arriving after the start on a chaotic day of Sheffield Shield action as Victoria hosted South Australia in a potentially crucial match.Despite the steady flow of wickets, honours ended fairly even after day one with South Australia 5 for 75 in response to Victoria’s 169.A tricky pitch that was largely green but also worn-looking in patches greeted the teams as Victoria elected to bat.South Australia’s problems began prior to the commencement, with wicketkeeper Harry Nielsen ruled out with illness during the morning.A hastily-arranged flight booking led to uncapped wicketkeeper Harry Matthias being brought over from Adelaide, with the replacement taking to the field after an hour’s play and 12th man Thomas Kelly donning the gloves in the interim.Short-form specialist Maxwell lined up for a first Shield match since 2019, but his return to the crease lasted just nine balls.Matt Short was the only batter to dominate•Getty Images
Maxwell, who scored a half century in grade cricket on the weekend after a three-month absence with a broken leg, was adjudged lbw off the bowling of Jordan Buckingham in what appeared a questionable decision.Matt Short made what was comfortably the day’s top score with his aggressive approach yielding 70 off just 69 balls, including 10 boundaries.Wes Agar knocked over openers Travis Dean (34) and the in-form Marcus Harris (15) before running through the tail for a return of 5-54 – his second best figures in first-class cricket.Remarkably, a 31-run partnership for the second wicket between Dean and Ashley Chandrasinghe proved the highest of the day as Victoria were bowled out inside two sessions.In reply, South Australia faced a similar struggle and Nathan McSweeney (23) top-scored as the Redbacks grafted at less than two runs per over. Victoria seamer Mitch Perry was the chief destroyer with 3 for 28.The two teams share second place in a four-way charge for one available berth in the final with two further rounds remaining.
Chelsea managed a 1-1 draw in a tightly contested match against Arsenal at Stamford Bridge, taking them third in the Premier League on 19 points, winning five games, drawing four, and losing two in their opening 11 games.
Despite having slightly less of the ball (49% possession), they managed to take 17 shots, creating one big chance and generating 1.28 xG.
Enzo Maresca’s side are now averaging 54.7% possession (the fifth highest in the division), 14 shots per game (ninth highest in the division), and 12.8 shots against them per 90.
But it’s some of the individual performances that have improved under Maresca that are just as impressive, with many players improving under the Italian since he took over from Mauricio Pochettino.
One of those happens to be Pedro Neto – who scored against the Gunners – but there are some other notable names alongside the Portuguese…
Levi Colwill is one of the main examples, being used heavily as a left-back last season under Pochettino, and coming under some flack for his performances in that position.
But now under Maresca, back in his best position, Colwill is orchestrating games from the back, bringing another level of physicality to his game, and forming a great partnership at the back with Wesley Fofana. Between them, they boast a pass success rate of 89.3% and 89.5% respectively; not bad at all.
Another name is Moises Caicedo, who had a rocky start to life at Chelsea under Pochettino, following his £115m move to the Blues in the summer of 2023. Caicedo did have a very solid secondnd half of the season under Pochettino, but he’s taken it up another level under Maresca yet again.
The 23-year-old has made the second most tackles (38) and the joint-fifth most interceptions (18) in the Premier League this season, putting out fires in the middle of the park, and kick-starting attacks for the Blues, even providing two assists.
But perhaps the biggest improvement is a star who was reportedly set for the axe under Pochettino, Marc Cucurella. The Spaniard put in yet another big performance against Arsenal.
Tasked with defending against one of the league’s best wingers in Bukayo Saka, Cucurella was absolutely excellent at minimising his ability to affect the game.
Winning four of his six ground duels, making three tackles, three interceptions, one block and two clearances, it was a superb defensive display from the Spanish defender.
|
Cucurella vs Arsenal |
|
|---|---|
|
Stat |
Cucurella |
|
Minutes |
90 |
|
Touches |
58 |
|
Accurate Passes |
36/39 |
|
Long Balls |
1/2 |
|
Ground Duels Won |
4/6 |
|
Clearances |
2 |
|
Blocks |
1 |
|
Interceptions |
3 |
|
Tackles |
3 |
|
Stats taken from Sofascore |
|
The 26-year-old has quickly become an undroppable figure in Maresca’s side, showing the tenacity and aggression the Italian manager likes in his defenders, giving them the ability to go man for man.
The Spain international has made 12 appearances this season, contributing to two clean sheets, and totaling 920 minutes played.
Cucurella has been used in a variety of ways already this season, becoming the left-sided centre-back in a back three, inverting into midfield, and even appearing further up the pitch in the left half spaces, operating as a number ten at times.
This allows Maresca to platform others in the team, to put them in their best positions to succeed, with Cucurella being a key man to allow that.
The form of Cucurella, mixed with the profile of the defender which suits Maresca so well, makes the 26-year-old undroppable, as Chelsea face Leicester City in their next game after the international break.
100% duels won: Chelsea star was even better than Neto v Arsenal
Chelsea picked up a point following a 1-1 draw with Arsenal on Sunday.
By
Connor Holden
Nov 10, 2024
Arne Slot slammed Trent Alexander-Arnold's critics after he scored a stunner in Liverpool's FA Cup win over Accrington Stanley.
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England became the first side to score 500 runs on day one of a Test
Valkerie Baynes01-Dec-2022A quartet of centuries helped England plunder a record 506 for 4 on the opening day to put the tourists in command of their first Test appearance in Pakistan for 17 years.Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, who put on a 233-run opening stand, were joined by Ollie Pope and Harry Brook – the latter playing just his second Test – in posting hundreds on a remarkable day in which England’s run rate scarcely dipped below a run a ball as they became the first side to score 500 runs on day one of a Test.No sooner had Brook brought up his maiden Test fifty, and he surged towards his century by whipping Saud Shakeel for six fours in one over to almost all quarters of the ground. Brook reached his ton off just 80 balls after he and Pope had added 176 runs for the fourth wicket and, when bad light ended play, he remained not out on 101 with Ben Stokes unbeaten on 34.Crawley had threatened to become the first Englishman to score a hundred before lunch on the first day of a Test as he and Duckett set a solid foundation for their side, which had been laid low by a sickness bug just 24 hours earlier.Stokes was among the worst affected but fronted up for, and won, an all-important toss after England were only able to confirm that they had a fit XI two-and-a-half hours before the start. They were forced into just one change to their intended team, handing Will Jacks his Test debut for a still-recovering Ben Foakes, with Pope to take the wicketkeeping gloves.ESPNcricinfo Ltd
The last time Crawley had played against Pakistan, he struck 267 to deliver on the promise of three half-centuries in 11 previous innings. A tumultuous stretch followed that knock in August 2020, with just a brace of fifties in 21 innings which followed 10 single-figure scores and two ducks among them bringing his place under increasing scrutiny.That was until his century in the drawn first Test against West Indies in Antigua in March this year, which seemed to set him up for the English summer, only for another unspectacular spell to ensue until his rapid unbeaten 69 off just 57 balls in September’s third and final Test against South Africa.Crawley’s latest innings was next-level speed-wise, however, as he perfectly merged England’s assertive approach under Brendon McCullum with the need to make the most of his time in the middle while some of his team-mates regained their strength.One of only four players in England’s original XI named on Tuesday to take part in an optional training session on match eve, Crawley opened with three fours off Naseem Shah so that England were 14 without loss in the most expensive first over of a Test in two decades.Haris Rauf, making his Test debut after 57 T20Is and 15 ODIs, entered the attack in the eighth over, but Crawley continued to find the boundary with back-to-back fours either side of the pitch in Rauf’s second over and, after 10 overs, the tourists had motored to 63 for 0.The last time Duckett played a Test, he fell for 5 and 0 at the hands of a rampant R Ashwin as England suffered a heavy defeat to India in November 2016 and he admitted thinking his Test career was over.Making his return six years later after an excellent Championship season for Nottinghamshire, Duckett looked assured, his fortuitous slash through third to bring up England’s fifty notwithstanding, as he reverse-swept then ramped Zahid Mahmood to the fence.Crawley brought up his half-century off just 38 balls, sweeping Zahid through fine leg for four, while England brought up their 100 in 13.5 overs and Duckett reached a run-a-ball fifty in the second hour.Save for a hearty appeal for lbw, which looked to be high with no functioning DRS in the third over to test the on-field not-out decision, and a slash off Rauf which went just wide of a slow-moving Mohammad Ali at mid-on to move into the 90s, Crawley’s innings was domineering. He had scored 17 fours by the end of the morning session as he and Duckett took England to lunch unscathed with 174 runs on the board.ESPNcricinfo Ltd
Pakistan, missing the injured Shaheen Shah Afridi and fielding three other debutants alongside Haris, in right-arm seamer Ali, legspinner Zahid and middle-order batter Shakeel, looked toothless and needed a breakthrough. They eventually got there through Zahid and Rauf in the space of nine balls.On 99, Crawley managed to overturn his lbw dismissal playing around Naseem’s full delivery which rapped him low on the front pad but was shown to be heading down the leg side. Two balls later, Crawley’s deft punch through the covers brought up an 86-ball century, the fastest by an England Test opener and joint fifth-fastest overall.Duckett brought up his maiden Test ton with a pulled four off Rauf, a beaming smile spreading across Duckett’s face as he soaked up the applause. His stay was shortlived thereafter when he missed his reverse sweep of Zahid and was struck on the pad in line with off stump, although Pakistan had to review Joel Wilson’s not-out decision.So ended England’s highest Test opening stand against Pakistan and they went from 233 without loss to 235 for 2 when Crawley followed a short time later, done by Rauf’s reverse swing as the ball slid through the gate and took a deflection on to middle stump.Joe Root fell lbw to Mahmood for just 23, burning a review in a bid to overturn his dismissal before Pope and Brook forged on.Brook, who had pulled Zahid for six on the stroke of tea, helped himself to another six in the evening session when he muscled Rauf over deep midwicket. He brought up his fifty with a single in the next over moments before Pope raised his century working Agha Salman off his toes for one to reach the mark in 90 balls.Even when Pope fell to Ali, lbw on review to give Pakistan something to smile faintly about in the fast-fading light, Brook surged ahead with England’s quickest Test hundred now in his sights. He fell short of Gilbert Jessop’s 76-ball mark set in 1902, but slotted in at No. 3 behind Jonny Bairstow when he struck Naseem for a gorgeous cover drive for four.The fact that England still have the firepower of Jacks and fellow debutant Liam Livingstone to come on a batter-friendly pitch gave the hosts ever more to worry about overnight.
Chelsea have agreed terms with a player over an outright summer move to Stamford Bridge in 2025, and insiders within the club view this deal as a potentially very astute one for manager Enzo Maresca.
The west Londoners rounded off their final Europa Conference League game of the year with a 5-1 victory over Irish side Shamrock Rovers on Thursday evening.
Agents tell Chelsea they can sign "underrated" 16-goal striker for £25m
He’s been in the form of his life this season.
By
Emilio Galantini
Dec 19, 2024
A hat-trick from summer signing Marc Guiu – alongside goals from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Marc Cucurella – extended Chelsea’s excellent run of form to eight straight wins in all competitions.
Maresca’s side also haven’t tasted a single defeat in all competitions for nearly two months, last losing to Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup, and they haven’t lost a Premier League game since their 2-1 loss to Liverpool at Anfield in October.
|
Chelsea’s next Premier League fixtures |
Date |
|---|---|
|
Everton (away) |
December 22 |
|
Fulham (home) |
December 26 |
|
Ipswich Town (away) |
December 30 |
|
Crystal Palace (away) |
January 4 |
|
Bournemouth (home) |
January 14 |
Chelsea’s tremendous strength in depth allows them to battle on three fronts in very efficient fashion, with Maresca’s B team getting the job done against Shamrock and certain players now well rested for a looming test against Everton on Sunday.
“Very excited, first of all, with the performance, with the result,” said Maresca on Chelsea’s 5-1 win over Shamrock.
“Once again I think they show how serious they are, how professional they are. In this kind of game sometimes it’s easy to drop, but first of all they know that they are not allowed to drop, and second, we need to show that we are serious, we are professional, and once again I think they show that.
“And then, yeah, it’s been a good chance for the young players, some of them, so we are very happy.
“I think now that we are in the next round, we have to be focused on the next round, and then if we are able to win, go in the next, but thinking to play the final or to win this competition when you have still five or six games to go, I don’t think it’s the correct thing.”
One player who was included on the bench against Shamrock but didn’t play, potentially in an effort to rest him for Everton, is £100,000-per-week winger Jadon Sancho.
The Englishman has really impressed on the whole since making the move to Chelsea on loan from Man United in the summer, so much so that the club are making moves ahead of time to secure his future at the club.
According to reliable journalist Simon Phillips, via his Substack, Chelsea have already “provisionally” and “verbally” agreed terms with Sancho over an outright move to London next summer, and his temporary deal is set to become permanent for around £23 million if they finish higher than 15th in the table.
Cobham sources view this move as a “massive bargain” behind-the-scenes, and Maresca has really enjoyed working with the ex-Borussia Dortmund star who’s been on “cloud nine” since joining.
With Chelsea’s first permanent signing of next summer looking all but certain, attention switches to January, and it looks set to be an intriguing window.