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Durham’s bowlers wasted no time in wrapping up a comprehensive 311-run victory over MCC in the first match of the county season

01-Apr-2010 Durham 459 for 9 dec and 228 for 6 dec beat MCC 162 and 214 (Murtagh 55*, Borthwick 4-57) by 311 runs
ScorecardScott Borthwick’s four wickets capped an impressive game for the legspinner•PA PhotosDurham’s bowlers wasted no time in wrapping up a comprehensive 311-run victory over MCC in the first match of the county season.The champions resumed on day four needing three more wickets and mopped up the tail in 45 minutes. While the setting, a deserted Sheikh Zayed Stadium rather than a rainy Lord’s, was unfamiliar, Durham’s status as the side to beat in English cricket is fast becoming the norm.Nevertheless, the focus has been less about the build up to the summerprogramme and more about the innovations on show, chiefly the use of a pink ball under floodlights.Durham had looked likely to wrap up victory inside three days until Tim Murtagh and Jon Lewis put on an unbroken 59-run stand for the eighth wicket last night. But having delayed Durham’s inevitable triumph and ensured their bowlers would have to return for one final push in sapping heat, Lewis (32) promptly threw away his wicket off the first ball of the day.Ian Blackwell was the bowler, but he will take little satisfaction from thedelivery, a slow long hop that Lewis somehow contrived to nick to wicketkeeper Phil Mustard.Steve Harmison took only eight balls to add the wicket of Dean Cosker (14) at the other end. The out-of-favour England bowler has looked dangerous when motivated, which has been intermittently at best, and had no problems beating the Cosker’s defences to win a clear lbw verdict.Murtagh, now with only Steve Kirby for company, quickly added the 23 he needed to reach 50 and was dropped by Mustard off Harmison moments later. He finished 55 not out as Kirby fell for 16 to 19-year-old legspinner Scott Borthwick, who picked up his fourth wicket of the innings and eighth of the match with a googly.

Having gone through October and November without a win in the Premier League and with just one victory under their belt from four league games so far this month, Everton have been going through a rather rough patch in their season, leading to public fan unrest and the departure of Marcel Brands from his role at as their director of football.

One factor that has contributed to Everton’s poor form this season is the fact that Toffees striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin hasn’t played a game since August as a result of a fractured toe.

Taking into account how he managed to score a goal in all three of Everton’s opening games of the campaign that he played in, this shows just how important he is to the team in an attacking sense and why their results have dipped since he’s been out of action.

Despite his injury, Calvert-Lewin has still managed to be linked with a move away from Goodison Park with fellow Premier League club Arsenal interested in signing him in the future.

Given how important he’s proved himself to be for Everton this season alone, it would be nothing short of an unforgiveable disaster for the club and Rafa Benitez if he left anytime soon.

Since making his senior debut for the Toffees back in December 2016, the 24-year-old, who is currently valued at £40.5m according to Transfermarkt, has gone on to score 56 goals and provide 16 assists in 176 appearances across all competitions.

Having been praised by former Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti for being “cold” in front of goal, it’s safe to say that Everton would be in a better position than the one they’re currently in had Calvert-Lewin been available for the entire campaign.

With all of this in mind, Benitez will undoubtedly be hoping that not only will the England international be able to make a full recovery as soon as possible but also that he doesn’t get tempted with a move away from the club to somewhere like Arsenal. An eventuality like that surely wouldn’t improve the relationship between the Everton fans and Benitez.

On a more positive note, the fact that Calvert-Lewin’s contract at the Merseyside club isn’t set to expire until the summer of 2025 should put to bed any concerns that some Everton fans may have that he will be leaving anytime soon.

That said, with a torrid run of form, seeing their best player head for pastures new would only exacerbate their problems and the pressure on the manager’s shoulders. Considering his relationship with the fans already, selling him could have disastrous consequences.

In other news: Benitez should brutally axe £110k-p/w “nightmare” who’s thrown his Everton career away – opinion

Many Everton fans have been bemoaning some early team news ahead of their Premier Leaguematch at home to Brighton and Hove Albion today.

As per journalist Alan Myers, new signing Vitaliy Mykolenko is ‘not eligible’ to play at Goodison Park this afternoon.

The Merseyside club had announced the Ukrainian’s signature on their official website on Saturday morning, but they will not be able to see a first glimpse of him when they take on the Seagulls today.

Of course, there is still speculation surrounding the future of the recently-overlooked Lucas Digne as well, so Rafael Benitez’s team may go into the game without a recognised left-back, which in turn could affect their chances of getting all three points against Graham Potter’s side.

Everton fans on team news

These Everton fans bemoaned the team news as it was shared on Twitter, with one supporter claiming that they were ‘gutted’, while another even went as far as to call it a ‘blow’:

“Boooooo”

Credit: @RhysDavies1878

“Why always us?”

Credit: @HeidiInteriors

“That’s a blow”

Credit: @EvertonAllSorts

“That’s sad”

Credit: @534Nz

“Just let us be happy for 5 minutes please, I beg”

Credit: @maggiejane1985

“Gutted”

Credit: @michmosh85

In other news, find out what transfer news has left these Evertonians fuming

Cricinfo staff05-May-2010Indian opener Gautam Gambhir has declared himself fit for India’s first Super Eights match in Barbados, after missing the previous game against South Africa due to a groin injury.”I am fit and feeling strong. I am looking forward to the big games,” Gambhir said after a nets session at the Three Ws Oval in Barbados. “These are really important matches and I am looking forward to playing a big role in that.”India failed to make the semi-finals in the World Twenty20 in England last year, where they were exposed by short-pitched bowling. However, Gambhir felt India were better prepared this time, despite expectations of a fast, bouncy surface at the Kensington Oval.”We haven’t played on this wicket so we don’t know how it will play. Obviously, we have heard from people that it has got a lot more bounce in it than at St Lucia,” Gambhir said. “You cannot go into the match with set ideas just because the wicket is sluggish or fast. Sometimes it works the other way when a guy goes and turns the match around in six overs.”India won both their group games convincingly and Gambhir credited the varied bowling attack for setting them up.”We cannot plan for what the opposition has strategised for us. We will go with our own strengths,” he said. “We have a good quality set of bowlers who can dismiss the opposition. We also have a set of spinners who are really good. I personally think that a quality spinner is an asset and the quality will show irrespective of what the surface is.”Our bowling unit has performed well. Zaheer (Khan), Harbhajan (Singh) and Ashish (Nehra) have done really well. They look to dismiss the opposition. That is the only way of how you can restrict the teams. By getting wickets it gives us the momentum and sets up the match for us.”India could be facing Australia in the Super Eights and Gambhir tipped them to play aggressively in order to reverse their poor record in the World Twenty20.”Australia haven’t done well in the T20s. The first time they lost in the semis and the next year they did not qualify,” he said. “So you can expect Australia to come back really strong. They have got some quality players in their side who can change the course of the match.”India play their first Super Eights match on May 7.

Lots of Wolves fans have been left raging over some transfer news that has emerged on Nelson Semedo.

As per Marca, the right-back has now emerged as one of the options that Atletico Madrid are potentially looking at to replace Kieran Trippier, who is bound for Newcastle United.

They have tried to sign him before, and the fact that his agent is Jorge Mendes could well work in his favour.

However, it would not seem wise for the Midlands club to sell one of their regular starters, especially in the January transfer window when there is little time to find a suitable replacement.

Semedo has been one of the Molineux faithful’s best players as well so far this season, ranked sixth in their squad by WhoScored, as he ranks highly among his teammates in terms of average tackles, clearances, blocks and dribbles in the Premier League.

Wolves fans on Semedo transfer news

These WWFC supporters raged as the transfer news was shared on Twitter:

“I will commit a crime if this happens”

Credit: @_TheClassicMan

“Please no”

Credit: @Millennewell

“Fits nicely with the Doherty rumours. Brilliant”

Credit: @dewsbury_tom

“@Fosun_Intl letting him go just shows our lack of ambition!”Credit: @KGeorge86″NO!!!”Credit: @SmithShakesp”Delete this.”Credit: @superkeeper33In other news, find out what transfer update has Wanderers fuming here!

Steve O’Keefe’s impressive game for Australia A continued as he took seven wickets before his side gained a 305-run lead against Sri Lanka A

Cricinfo staff19-Jun-2010Australia A 208 and 6 for 200 (Bailey 57*) lead Sri Lanka A 103 (O’Keefe 7-35) by 305 runs
Scorecard
Steve O’Keefe’s 7 for 35 kept Australia A on top at Allan Border Field•Getty ImagesSteve O’Keefe’s impressive game for Australia A continued as he took seven wickets before his side gained a 305-run lead with two days to play against Sri Lanka A. O’Keefe, the New South Wales left-arm orthodox spinner, scored 61 at Allan Border Field on Friday and backed up with a memorable haul as the visitors were dismissed for 103 before lunch.That gave Australia a 105-run advantage and they increased the comfort of their position by reaching 6 for 200 at stumps. George Bailey, the captain, finished unbeaten on 57 and O’Keefe was 28 not out, while Michael Klinger (32), Usman Khawaja (30) and Andrew McDonald (21) got starts. Dammika Prasad was the leading bowler with 3 for 34 while the offspinner Sachithra Senanayake, who took the new ball, had Ed Cowan lbw for 9.O’Keefe, who has played six first-class games, was as difficult to conquer as Senanayake was on the opening day when he captured 8 for 70. O’Keefe delivered 18 overs while taking 7 for 35 in an outstanding performance mixing control and destruction.Replying to Australia A’s 208, the Sri Lankans were in a reasonable position at 4 for 72 before losing their last six wickets for 31. O’Keefe grabbed four of those to add to his dismissals of Lahiru Thirimanne, the top scorer with 20, and Dinesh Chandimal (15) at the start of the day.

Pakistan batsman Mohammad Yousuf is aiming to return to the international fray during Pakistan’s tour of UAE where they will play South Africa

Cricinfo staff26-Jun-2010Pakistan batsman Mohammad Yousuf is aiming to return to the international fray during the tour of UAE in October and November, where Pakistan will face South Africa for two Tests, five ODIs and a Twenty20. Yousuf has kept a low profile since his sudden retirement from international cricket in March, but he’s now taking his first steps back in to some form of cricketing action by appearing in the Lahore Premier League, a local club tournament.”I plan to play domestic cricket this season but right now international cricket is not on my mind. If I do plan to return I will target the Test and one-day series against South Africa later this year in the UAE,” Yousuf told .Yousuf was the captain during Pakistan’s win-less tour of Australia, where the team came under fire for their performances. The PCB responded by penalising seven players it believed were responsible for the defeats, Yousuf among them. He and Younis Khan were banned indefinitely, and as a mark of protest, Yousuf announced he was quitting the game “for now”, hinting at a possible return later on. He was the only one among the seven players not to appeal against the punishment, despite the PCB leaving the door open for him to return. However, Yousuf hadn’t responded to those messages from the board so the national selectors could not consider him for the tour of England.Though the domestic season won’t start for a few more months, Yousuf is looking forward to the club tournament to get back in to the groove.”Cricket is in my blood and I still enjoy playing the sport. It will be a challenge to play again and specially in a club level tournament,” Yousuf said.

Wolves are ready to turn down the opportunity to re-sign Matt Doherty from Tottenham this month, according to a fresh transfer rumour.

The Lowdown: Doherty tipped for Wolves return

The 29-year-old has struggled to make a significant impact at Spurs since leaving Molineux in 2020, making just 42 appearances in the last couple of seasons.

As such, Doherty has been linked with a return to Wolves in the January transfer window, in a move that could potentially go down well with Wanderers supporters given his incredible production in his last spell with the club, scoring 28 times in over 300 appearances..

If a new report is to be believed, however, the 25-cap Republic of Ireland international will not be making his way back to the Midlands.

The Latest: Contrasting rumour emerges

According to The Mirror, Wolves are ‘ready to snub’ a return for Doherty, with the player himself not thought to be keen on the idea of a move back.

The right-back still wants to remain in the Premier League, however, and an exit from Spurs could still be on the cards.

The Verdict: Could be an error

Doherty was a brilliant servant for Wanderers over many years, so the idea of missing out on a reunion with him is disappointing.

Granted, the former Black Country star is about to turn 30 later this month but he has been hailed as ‘absolutely superb’ by Danny Mills in the past and his attacking quality is undeniable, having registered 41 assists for Wolves last time out – that sort of creativity from the flank would not go amiss.

He would provide ideal competition and support for Nelson Semedo, adding depth in a position that requires players to maintain an immense level of fitness.

In other news, some Wolves fans have flocked to a piece of transfer news. Read more here.

Despite facing a second-string Leicestershire Pakistan failed to impress at Grace Road with their bowlers going through the motions in the end, not a good omen ahead of the Test series against Australia starting next week

The Bulletin by Nagraj Gollapudi at Grace Road08-Jul-2010
ScorecardMohammad Asif failed to trouble the Leicester batsmen•Getty ImagesDespite facing a second-string Leicestershire side Pakistan failed to impress at Grace Road with their bowlers going through the motions even though the first Test against Australia starts next week. The hosts raised a modest 277 for 6 courtesy a vigilant 87 from Greg Smith and Wayne White after the match had started in sluggish style.Smith broke the tedium of the morning with his confident footwork and strokeplay in the second session and White, the allrounder, took over from Smith later to remain unbeaten on a positive half century which included ten boundaries and a huge six over the cow corner that bounced into Milligan Road.Salman Butt led a new-look Pakistan team to the one that had inflicted successive defeats on Australia in the Twenty20 series at Edgbaston earlier this week. Most of the senior players, including captain Shahid Afridi, the Akmal brothers – Kamran and Umar – and the fast bowling pair of Umar Gul and Mohammad Aamer were rested. In came a throng of newcomers, almost all of them opening batsmen.Pakistan have had a long history of top-order inconsistency since Saeed Anwar retired, and considering it is a long summer spanning six Tests, the selectors decided to pick a host of batsmen who could open such as Imran Farhat, Yasir Hamid, Azhar Ali and Umar Amin. Leading the bowling attack was Mohammad Asif along with Tanvir Ahmed in addition to the left-arm pace of Wahab Riaz. Zulqarnain Haider, who had been included in the large squad owing to the long summer spanning six Tests over seven weeks, was given the gloves instead of Kamran Akmal.With his ability to seam the ball both ways Pakistan were reliant on Asif for early breakthroughs. He did start with some control, beating the edge frequently, but as the day stretched on Asif cut a forlorn figure and was even taken off by Butt after a two-over spell with the second new ball after e failed to control the swing and shoved a wide into the hands of the first slip.He bowled in short bursts with the 17 overs split into four spells but ended wicketless. Still Waqar Younis, Pakistan’s coach, dismissed fears about Asif’s form . “It was a slow pitch. You can’t really judge someone on such a surface,” he said. He called Asif a “premier” bowler and a definite starter for the first Test against Australia.The other two quick bowlers, Riaz and Ahmed, hit the deck harder at greater pace but apart from inducing a few thick edges that rushed into gaps they couldn’t gain the upper hand. Instead it was the hosts who threw away the advantage with two silly run-outs and a couple of loose strokes. After Will Jones edged to Imran Farhat at first slip, Matthew Boyce erred in deciding to take single having tapped a bouncer from Riaz on the leg side and was stranded mid-pitch as Shoaib Malik finished the run out. Otherwise it was a laborious first session with the bowlers still trying to find their feet and the batsmen reluctant to move their own.Smith, who took 27 balls to open his account, returned post lunch playing with more vigour, hitting seven boundaries in the seven overs in the first hour after the break. His footwork was precise and he moved quickly behind the line to take advantage of any loose deliveries. Runs came on both sides but the delicate clips off Ahmed and Riaz stood out for the Smith. Unfortunately his momentum was stalled when Jacques du Toit played into the hands of Farhat at mid-on as he charged Saeed Ajmal.It was another misunderstanding that brought Pakistan their next breakthrough when Josh Cobb ran halfway down the pitch for a second after Ajmal had failed to pick the ball cleanly on the first attempt at midwicket. Smith didn’t want the extra run, but Cobb was already committed and 10 minutes before tea, Steve Adshead played a loose drive to Butt at mid-off against Ahmed.In the company of White, Smith arrested any further damage by rotating strike. It only frustrated the Pakistanis further, and some of the fielders were sitting on the haunches stretching after a long day. A few of the new incumbents had arrived straight into the match after a long flight from Pakistan.Ahmed, who landed the previous evening, suffered from exhaustion and had to leave the ground briefly midway into an over during the last hour. It proved lucky for Pakistan as Smith played a premeditated pull, mistimed the shot and offered a simple catch to Ajmal at square leg. It was his career-best for Leicestershire and meant that Pakistan had been given a decent work out.

Crystal Palace have not made any signings as of yet during the winter transfer window, which is unexpected when you look at how active the club was in making acquisitions in the summer.

Despite no official bids though, the club has been linked to a number of players during January.

Palace have been touted to young players in the forward line specifically, with Christian Benteke turning 31 recently and Vieira on a mission to inject youth in a squad that had the oldest average age in the Premier League before his arrival in the summer.

Vieira brought in a number of young players upon his appointment during the summer, including Conor Gallagher and Odsonne Edouard, who have both made an incredible impact on the side.

For context, they have been involved in 19 goals between them, and as a result, the club’s boss is clearly intending to continue his youth revolution as the club has been linked with 22-year-old Eddie Nketiah, and 21-year-old Bamba Dieng this month.

Whilst Gunners striker, Nketiah, has been ruled out of a move by his manager Mikel Arteta, we can focus our attention on the strengths that Marseille striker, Dieng, can offer Palace.

He could become the perfect replacement for Jean-Philippe Mateta, who is not a regular choice for Vieira with just eight appearances this season and has been linked with a move away from the club, cutting his loan deal six months early at Palace.

Dieng has been impressive for Marseille, with his talents not going unnoticed after he was hailed “a Didier Drogba” type player by El Hadji Diouf who sang the young striker’s praises last year:

“He’s a striker, a Didier Drogba. All he can do is score goals. He is a young person with a future. All I have to say is keep his head on his shoulders, keep working. He is an attacker who ends up in the box.”

According to Squawka, when you compare the attacking output from Dieng at Marseille this season, to Mateta’s campaign with the Eagles, the young Senegalese forward has three more goals, a better conversion rate, over twice as many shots on target and almost double the passes completed than his counterpart.

If the statistics shown are anything to go by, Vieira clearly has an important decision to make on the future of his forward line with many choices he could make over the next few months.

Nketiah will be out of contract in the summer and thus, potentially available on a free transfer if he refuses to commit his future to Arsenal, and £30k-per-week Mateta’s 18-month loan deal also comes to an end in June too.

Therefore, the French coach will need to decide if he will sign the player on a permanent contract, but with Dieng linked it would be hard not to consider his attacking output and the potential he offers at just 21 years old.

After all, he looks the perfect player for Vieira to sign while axing the rather disappointing Mateta.

In other news: Reliable journalist gives update on Jean-Philippe Mateta