Cricinfo takes a look at the results from round one of New Zealand’s 2008-09 domestic State Championship

Cricinfo staff20-Nov-2008Captain Matthew Bell led from the front as Wellington crushed Canterbury by an innings and 42 runs at Basin Reserve. His 146, along with Luke Woodcock’s all-round effort, condemned the defending champions to their second defeat in the competition: they had lost to Auckland in the tournament opener. Rain meant a delayed start, but Bell hit a rapid 88 on day one to make up for lost time. He brought up his 18th first-class ton on the second day. James Franklin (69) and Luke Woodcock (58) also contributed to Wellington’s score of 428. A toothless display followed from Canterbury in their first innings. Franklin and Jeetan Patel picked up three wickets apiece. They did not fare better in the second innings after Wellington enforced the follow-on. Essex allrounder Graham Napier took three wickets, and Woodcock ran through the bottom half as Wellington gained sweet revenge for their defeat in the 2007-08 State Championship final.Even rain on the final day could not prevent Auckland from crashing to a 138-run defeat against Central Districts in Napier. Brad Patton was clearly the star for the hosts, playing the anchor role in the first innings and bringing up his maiden first-class century in the second. Put in to bat, Central Districts ended on 213, riding on Patton’s 57. However, Ewen Thomson’s 5 for 57 on the second day ensured the lead stayed with the visitors. Auckland were reduced to 42 for 6 in reply, but some late hitting then from Auckland’s lower order, notably Steven Croft (59), ensured they reached 207. Patton then stroked a well-made 142. He was involved in a 106-run partnership with Timothy Weston, and then added 93 with captain Matthew Sinclair. Central Districts were finally all out for 335 on third day, and soon had Auckland reeling at 159 for 6 by stumps. Scott Styris’ 71 the previous day failed to inspire his team-mates as Brent Hefford ran through the Auckland lower order on day four. He finished with 3 for 48 as the opposition were dismissed for 203.Otago had to be content with first-innings points against Northern Districts in Dunedin. They restricted Northern Districts to 275 after opting to field. Kane Williamson’s 82 was the stand-out performance with the bat. The 18-year-old hit seven fours and a six in his 139-ball innings. Craig Cumming was the star during Otago’s turn to bat. His 72-run partnership with Neil Broom (54) helped the hosts finish just two runs ahead. Trent Boult picked up 5 for 53 – his maiden five-wicket haul in first-class cricket. By the time Northern Districts came out to bat the second time, early on the fourth day, it was too late to force a result. Neil Wagner picked up 3 for 32 as the visitors finished on 181 for 7.

Wellington 1 1 0 00 0 8 2.772 428/8 386/20 Central Dist 1 1 0 00 0 8 1.337 548/20 410/20 Auckland 2 1 1 00 0 8 0.938 983/40 1048/40 Otago 1 0 0 01 0 2 1.147 277/9 456/17 Northern Dis 1 0 0 01 0 0 0.872 456/17 277/9 Canterbury 2 0 2 00 0 0 0.620 886/40 1001/28

Cricinfo presents the Plays of the day from the third day of the first Test between India and England in Chennai

Cricinfo staff13-Dec-2008
Kevin Pietersen had a match to forget with the bat © Getty Images
Split wide open
Harbhajan Singh was so anxious to get his front pad outside the line of off stump when padding up to Graeme Swann that he ended up doing the splits on his knees. He kept the ball out alright, but it’s not a technique that the MCC will be recommending any time soon.Little man, big hit
After Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s dismissal, India knew that any run made would be an unexpected bonus. Few though could have anticipated Amit Mishra coming down the track and clouting Monty Panesar to long-on. If only some of his batting colleagues had shown similar resolve.Run, rabbit, run
Though he could be smiling at the end of it, Kevin Pietersen had a match to forget with the bat. Trapped in front by Yuvraj Singh bowling round the wicket, he trudged off miserably, and then had to suffer the indignity of watching Yuvraj make rabbit ears at him.For want of a catch …
Strauss had made just 15 when he stepped back to drive Mishra off the back foot. The ball zipped off the outside edge, and Dhoni couldn’t quite hold on. England were 43 for 3 at the time. By day’s end, the scoreboard was telling a very different story.It all evens out
Having got a stinker from Billy Bowden in the first innings, Paul Collingwood was due some luck. He got it too, with edges evading and miscues evading fielders. The most astonishing shot though was a loft to long-off for four – off the leading edge.The white hats
There was a time during Greg Chappell’s tenure as coach that the team was introduced to the idea of de Bono hats. Something might have rubbed off, because at one point, seven of them were wearing the white floppy ones in the afternoon. The white one represents facts and information, and on this particular occasion, India got theirs all wrong.

Despite making just one substitute appearance in the Premier League for Southampton this season, Jan Bednarek produced a dominant display for Poland in their 4-1 win against Albania earlier this week.

Ralph Hasenhuttl has left the former Lech Poznan man on the bench for each of Southampton’s Premier League fixtures so far this season, with Mohammed Salisu and Jack Stephens getting the nod ahead of him at centre-back.

Whilst he did come off the bench against Manchester United to play at right-back, it looks as if it will be difficult for him to regain his starting spot, especially with the recent addition of Lyanco, who will provide added competition in Southampton’s defence.

However, the 25-year-old is a regular for his country and started at centre-back as they took on Albania in World Cup qualifying on Thursday, producing a superb display at the back for Paulo Sousa’s side.

As per SofaScore, Bednarek earned an impressive 7.5/10 rating for his performance, with only Robert Lewandowski (8.3/10) earning higher from all the players to feature in the game.

During the 90 minutes, the Saints man contributed an impressive eight clearances and six interceptions, which was the most of any player on the pitch. By comparison, his centre-back partner Kamil Glik managed just four clearances and three interceptions, which emphasises just how important Bednarek was to the win.

The 25-year-old cut an imperious figure for Poland as Albania’s attackers struggled to best him, with the centre-back dribbled past just once in the 90 minutes, whilst he also won all six of his aerial duels during the game.

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Hasenhuttl will surely take note of Bednarek’s impressive performance and it will be interesting to see who the Austrian selects at centre-back for Southampton’s next match after the international break, which sees them take on West Ham at St Mary’s.

In other news… Southampton could’ve signed Hasenhuttl his ideal number 6 with swoop for £10.3m beast

Celtic confirmed the signing of right-back Josip Juranovic from Legia Warsaw on Saturday, subject to international clearance.

As to be expected, a number of Hoops supporters went wild on social media following the announcement.

Juranovic, who can also play as a centre-back and a right midfielder, is the club’s eighth signing of the summer, and the move has reportedly cost Celtic £2.7m.

You’d expect that the 26-year-old will come in and rival Anthony Ralston at right-back, although all seven of his starts this season for his previous club had come as a right midfielder.

Juranovic, who scored on his final appearance for Legia Warsaw in a Europa League qualifier, looks set to bring plenty of versatility to Ange Postecoglou’s squad, and a number of supporters were delighted that a five-year deal is now confirmed.

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Celtic fans react

Celtic shared the news regarding Juranovic on their official Twitter page. Here is what these Hoops fans had to say in reply, with plenty voicing their delight with the deal, which one fan labelled “incredible value for money”.

“HERE WE GO”Credit: @TheCelticBook”Wooooow. Huge signing, buzzing for today”Credit: @MontielCartel”Incredible value for money for a Croatian international who has featured in the latest Euros. A 5-year deal is good business too. Gives him a large amount of time to shift the Bellshill Bergomi out of the team”Credit: @Dechughes_”More good news for the Hoops, Josip Juranovic is a Celt!”Credit: @nancysbelfast”Signing international defenders…what madness is this @CelticFC?”Credit: @LoneStarCSC”Brilliant singing for good money too. Hope Ralston isn’t dropped for him, wait until Tony doesn’t play well as he’s doing fantastic at the minute.”Credit: @hoopdawg88″Daylight robbery, what a signing”Credit: @BhoysAnalytics

In other news: Celtic are also set to sign this defender

MatériaMais Notícias

ScorecardBaluchistan’s batsmen showed more appetite for the fight than they had displayed during their embarrassing first-innings effort of 57 all out, but they still face an uphill struggle to get back into the contest after being set a daunting 393 for victory by Federal Areas. By the close of the third day, they had reached 147 for 3, thanks to 64 from Shoaib Khan jnr, and an unbeaten 36 from Saeed Anwar jnr.That target might have been more attainable had Federal Areas been bowled out cheaply after resuming in the morning session on 198 for 8 in their second innings. Instead they stretched their total to 303, thanks largely to Usman Saeed, who converted his overnight 21 to an unbeaten 87. He was well supported by Yasir Ali, who made 30 in a stand of exactly 100 for the ninth wicket.Ali then struck early in Baluchistan’s second innings, as Usman Tariq was caught behind for 11, while Sohail Tanvir, their first-innings tormentor, trapped Rameez Alam lbw for 13. Shoaib and Saeed prevented another collapse, but their hopes of victory are looking slim.
Scorecard
North West Frontier Province need another 67 runs on the final day against Punjab at Lahore, after Junaid Khan triggered a dramatic turnaround with second-innings figures of 6 for 56. Despite conceding a first-innings lead of 37, with Younis Khan adding only five runs to his overnight 70 before being left high and dry by the tail, NWFP roared into the ascendancy by skittling Punjab for 134 in 32.3 overs.Junaid, a 19-year-old left-arm paceman, was the stand-out performer. After Nauman Habib had removed Punjab’s captain, Mohammad Hafeez, in the first over, Junaid ripped through the middle order, reducing them to 75 for 7 before Mohammad Salman and Wahab Riaz staged a partial recovery. Salman top-scored with 35 before being bowled by Junaid.Energised for their run-chase, NWFP set off at nearly a run a ball before losing both openers, Yasir Hameed and Adnan Raees, with the score on 21. Rafatullah Mohmand, however, reached the close on 35, and with Younis still waiting in the pavilion, his team are now odds-on to complete a comfortable win.

Celtic have now been backed to lose Odsonne Edouard before the summer transfer window ends.

The Lowdown: Edouard out?

As per Football Insider, Nice are lining up a move to sign Edouard, and the Parkhead club would be willing to listen to offers of less than £20m for their star striker.

However, as quoted by Glasgow Live, Ange Postecoglou has admitted that there is a ‘concern’ about cashing in on him, despite only having a year left on his current deal.

The Latest: Campbell on Edouard

Speaking to Football Insider, former Everton and Arsenal striker now pundit Kevin Campbell has backed the Hoops to lose Edouard before the window shuts, even going as far as to claim that it is ‘inevitable’:

“Here’s the thing, Edouard’s been touted everywhere.

“I think it will happen, it’s inevitable. If it doesn’t I think he can help his new strike partner a lot.

“He’s seen it, he’s done it. If you take him away, maybe they are a lot weaker.

“It will be interesting to see how that dynamic works, if he stays and if he goes.

“But I expect him to go before the window closes.”

The Verdict: Sell now

Given that he only has a year left on his contract, and that he has been linked with a move away, there seems to be no desire at all for Edouard to sign a new one, and so the Celts must look to cash in on him now or risk losing him for free next summer.

Of course, he is such a key player for them, scoring no fewer than 85 goals and making a further 39 assists in 176 games in total over all competitions across the last five consecutive seasons (Transfermarkt).

However, considering that he is only valued at £15.3m by Transfermarkt right now, getting close to £20m for him in the next ten days would be great business.

The Bhoys should be looking to sell the Frenchman now, so that they leave themselves enough time to replace him before the window closes.

In other news, find out who has now flown in for a Celtic medical here!

انتقد محمد الشيخي مدير المركز الإعلامي السابق بنادي أهلي جدة، بقاء رئيس الأخضر ماجد النفيعي في منصبه، رغم هبوط الفريق لدوري الدرجة الأولى السعودي، وعدم تلبية دعوات الجماهير له بالرحيل.

الأهلي السعودي هبط إلى دوري الدرجة الأولى “دوري يلو” عقب التعادل السلبي في العاصمة الرياض أمام الشباب في الجولة 30 والأخيرة من الدوري السعودي للمحترفين ليحتل الفريق الأهلاوي المركز الخامس عشر برصيد 32 نقطة، وسط انتقادات وهجوم حاد من الجماهير على رئيس النادي، وطالبته بضرورة الرحيل عن منصبه.

طالع | البنوك تحجز على ممتلكات عبد الله السعيد وتجمد أرصدته بسبب الأهلي

وكتب الشيخي عبر حسابه الرسمي بموقع التواصل الاجتماعي “تويتر”: “كابر على البقاء في منصبه رغم ضعفه وقلة خبرته وحيلته وتمسك بقناعاته إلى أن حدث السقوط”.

وأضاف: “لو كان النفيعي في النصر أو الهلال لن يجلس ساعة واحدة بعد الهبوط!”.

كابر على البقاء في منصبه رغم ضعفه وقلة خبرته وحيلته وتمسك بقناعاته إلى أن حدث السقوط ، لو كان النفيعي في النصر أو الهلال لن يجلس ساعة واحدة بعد الهبوط ..!#سيدي_ولي_العهد_الاهلي_يدمر7 https://t.co/a78RTIcHuJ

— محمد الشيخي (@mohmad_alshieky) July 4, 2022

An update has emerged on free-agent manager Steve Cooper, regarding Southampton’s interest in his services.

What’s the talk?

According to Alan Nixon of The Sun  (12.09.21, pg. 64), via The 72, former Swansea head coach Steve Cooper is Southampton’s number one choice to replace Ralph Hasenhuttl.

The report claims that the Saints have identified Cooper should they need to replace the Austrian, whether that be because they decide to relieve him of his duties or because another club comes calling for his services.

Nightmare

Southampton owner Gao Jisheng must avoid a nightmare scenario by forgetting about any move for Cooper. The Saints chief must veto any deal for the ex-England youth head coach as it would be a terrible decision by the club, given how things went for his Swansea team last season.

His Swansea team rarely left fans excited as they went for a pragmatic, defensive, approach to Championship football. They ended the 2020/21 campaign in fourth place, but only scored 56 goals in their 46 league matches – compared to Brentford’s 79 and Norwich’s 75.

This ultimately played a hand in their failure to secure promotion, with his side winning just four of their last 14 matches – including a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Brentford in the play-off final as they failed to lay a glove on the Bees.

So, why would Southampton want to bring in a manager who was unable to produce good football in the second tier and is unproven as a coach at the top level? It could be a disaster situation for the Saints and one they must avoid, although it must be stressed that there is no suggestion Hasenhuttl will be going anywhere any time soon.

Hasenhuttl has averaged 1.31 points per game across 118 Premier League matches in charge of the Saints, compared to Cooper’s 1.61 points-per-game across 105 Championship games.

Given the gulf in quality between the two divisions and with Southampton battling relegation whilst Swansea fought for promotion, these statistics do not suggest Cooper would be an upgrade on the Austrian.

Hopefully, Hasenhuttl will remain at the helm for the foreseeable future and Gao will not need to be in a position where he needs to make a decision.

However, if such an occasion does arise then they could benefit from looking elsewhere instead of going for Cooper.

AND in other news, Fewer touches than McCarthy: Saints dud who lost 85% of his duels let Ralph down badly…

أكد أيمن صلاح المشرف على المنتخبات القومية أن دعم الجماهير لمنتخب مصر لكرة اليد، مؤثر للغاية.

ونجح منتخب مصر لكرة اليد في الفوز على المغرب بنتيجة 36-21 في المباراة التي أقيمت اليوم ببطولة الأمم الإفريقية 2022. طالع التفاصيل.

وقال أيمن في تصريحات خاصة لـ “بطولات” إن المنتخب يتطلع لتقديم أقوى مستوى خلال كل مباراة، ولا يفكر في أي منتخب غير الذي سيواجهه.

طالع أيضًا.. موعد مباراة مصر والجزائر في ربع نهائي كأس أمم إفريقيا لكرة اليد 2022

واختتم: “دعم الجماهير بالطبع مؤثر جدًا، وإن شاء الله سيكون الدعم أكثر خلال المباريات المقبلة”.