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Rahul Sharma threatened to win it but Murali Kartik lost the plot and Rajasthan’s Ross Taylor seized the moment, with valuable support from Ajinkya Rahane, to clinch a thrilling win

The Bulletin by Sriram Veera01-May-2011
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
The contest of the gmae: Robin Uthappa took on Shane Warne, but eventually fell to him•AFPIt was a tale of contrasting performances from two Pune Warriors spinners. Rahul Sharma threatened to win it for them but Murali Kartik lost the plot and Rajasthan Royals’ Ross Taylor seized the moment, with valuable support from Ajinkya Rahane, to clinch a thrilling win. Rajasthan moved to the top of the table while Pune stayed frozen at rock bottom.With 52 runs required from six overs, Rahul bowled a gem of a maiden over that included the wicket of the aggressive Ashok Menaria to end his spell with figures of 4-1-13-3. However, Kartik gifted two short balls and a full toss in the next over and Taylor looted 17 runs with the help of two fours and a six. Suddenly, the equation came down to 29 from 18 and despite two relatively disciplined overs from Alphonso Thomas and Jerome Taylor, Rajasthan just needed the odd boundary here and there to squeeze past the line.Two boundary hits from Rahane and Ross Taylor sealed the contest. When they needed 24 runs from 14 balls, Rahane sliced a slower length ball from Jerome Taylor to the point boundary and when they required 17 from 11, Ross Taylor slugged a length delivery from Thomas deep into the midwicket stands. Game over.Pune will look back and rue the reprieve they offered Ross Taylor. When Rajasthan needed 32 from 20, Taylor, on 31 then, heaved Thomas to left of deep midwicket where Nathan McCullum did all the hard work to get there but couldn’t hold on. He lunged out to take it but it bounced off his palms as he fell to the ground and bounded off his chest and right thigh.It was that kind of night for Pune. Only Rahul sparkled with the ball and almost single-handedly pushed them to the cusp of victory. His evening changed with a long hop in his second over, the seventh of the innings. Rahul Dravid, who again failed to convert a start, pulled it back to him and Rahul started to choke the run-flow with a slew of bouncing top spinners. However, Kartik had a horror day, leaking 41 runs from his four overs.Pune will also look back at their batting effort and wish if they could have done a bit more. The top order flattered to deceive. The contest of the afternoon was between Shane Warne and Robin Uthappa. It had an overload of skill, adrenaline, ego, canniness and a dash of foolhardiness. It lasted eight deliveries but it encapsulated everything that is good about Twenty20. It had an aggressive batsman intent on attack and an ambitious bowler focused on hunting down his prey. Throw in an umpire ready to brave ferocious appeals and rule on the side of conservatism, and you had a thoroughly entertaining package.Uthappa unfurled the reverse-sweep and conventional sweep to collect two fours. Warne ripped a big leg break next, starting from just about leg stump – part of the ball was outside leg – and it beat the bat to strike the pad. It was the start of Warne’s increasingly vocal tussle with the umpire Shavir Tarapore. He yelped out a huge appeal but Tarapore perhaps thought it pitched just outside leg and turned it down. Warne looped the next delivery on a length but Uthappa stretched forward to slog-sweep it over midwicket.Three boundaries in four balls and the heat was well and truly on Warne, who responded with a front-of-hand skidder that landed on the line of leg stump and just about straightened to hit the pad. Warne screamed, Tarapore stayed frozen and Uthappa survived. Warne got the final delivery to skid on towards the leg stump, Uthappa was caught in a tangle and yet again, got stuck on the pad. Replays suggested it would have clipped leg stump but you could understand why the umpire didn’t give it.Warne removed himself from Tarapore’s end and appeared at Simon Taufel’s in the ninth over. Uthappa again reverse-swept the first ball to the boundary but Warne shortened the length off the next and got it to skid and bounce towards middle. Uthappa ended up top-edging the swat to the keeper. Uthappa’s exit was sandwiched between the dismissals of Jesse Ryder, stumped off Johan Botha, and Yuvraj Singh, run out after he backed up too far at the non-striker’s end, and it derailed the innings.

South Africa A cruised to a seven-wicket victory against Sri Lanka A at the P Sara Oval on Saturday to maintain their unbeaten run in the triangular series

Cricinfo staff04-Sep-2010
Scorecard
Heino Kuhn’s century set up an easy South African victory•Getty ImagesSouth Africa A cruised to a seven-wicket victory against Sri Lanka A at the P Sara Oval on Saturday to maintain their unbeaten run in the triangular A team tournament that also features Pakistan A.Both teams had already qualified for Monday’s final, so South Africa coach Corrie van Zyl took the opportunity to experiment by blooding CJ de Villiers and promoting Heino Kuhn to opener.Kuhn, the 24-year-old Titans wicketkeeper- batsman, responded with a fine hundred, and shared a 102-run partnership for the third wicket with the in-form Dean Elgar, the tournament’s highest run-getter. He eventually fell prey to Sachitra Serasinghe’s offbreaks but Elgar and Colin Ingram made sure there would be no more hiccups as they chased down their target with 17 balls to spare. Elgar’s 79 came off 91 balls, with four fours and three sixes, while Ingram took just 30 balls for his 45 that included six fours and a six.Sri Lanka chose to bat after winning the toss and set South Africa a target of 255. Their innings was built around opener Tharanga Paranavitana’s unbeaten 116, which came off 139 balls with seven fours and two sixes, and Jeevan Mendis gave the selectors another reminder of his usefulness lower down the order with a brisk 43.

A number of Liverpool supporters have reacted positively to claims that the Reds are continuing to track West Ham forward Jarrod Bowen.

The Reds look short of attacking options at the moment, especially with Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane away on Africa Cup of Nations duty.

The hope is surely that a new addition comes into the squad in the summer transfer window, providing Jurgen Klopp with an extra face who can make a difference in the final third, especially with Mane misfiring this season and still no sign of a new Salah contract.

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One player who has been linked with a move to Liverpool is Bowen, who is having an excellent season for West Ham, scoring six goals and registering seven assists in the Premier League.

According to The Athletic‘s James Pearce [via Anfield Watch on Twitter], the Reds are still keeping an eye on the 25-year-old’s progress ahead of a possible bid for him.

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Liverpool fans love Bowen latest

These Liverpool fans have reacted positively to the update on Twitter.

“This would be big. His ceiling is still pretty high”

Credit: @FPL_Baldie

“Oh yess Bowen ofc”

Credit: @SociallySober

“Be a superb signing”

Credit: @NumeroUnoDAA

“Sign seal boom I said”

Credit: @shaneegan451

“I beg you #LFC”

Credit: @VentsLFC

“Pls get him at all costs”

Credit: @lvpl_muktar

In other news, Pearce has talked up another potential Liverpool signing. Find out who it is here.

Taking to Twitter, sharing a piece by Sky Sports, their reporter Lyall Thomas has broken some news on a brand new Tottenham Hotspur target in full-back Djed Spence.

The Lowdown: Spurs eye new right-backs…

Strengthening at right-back is one of manager Antonio Conte’s major priorities for this January transfer window with the club in talks to sign Wolves star Adama Traore (Matt Law).

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They aim to convert the Spain international into a RWB for Conte’s system and he isn’t the only defender on that side they have been linked with this window.

Tottenham have also made an approach for Peterborough United full-back Benjamin Mensah as one for the future with news now emerging of yet another promising name on Fabio Paratici’s transfer radar.

The Latest: Spurs could move for Spence…

According to Thomas, Spurs are ‘interested in a deal’ to sign Middlesborough wing-back Spence – who is currently on loan at fellow Championship side Nottingham Forest for the remainder of the season.

Upon potentially signing the 21-year-old, Tottenham would have to immediately loan him back to Forest, but regardless, the Sky journalist says Spurs ‘could make a move’ before January 31.

The Verdict: Exciting player…

Spence has shone on a temporary spell at the City Ground this season, leaving little wonder he has now attracted Spurs’ interest.

The starlet has been a fixture in Steve Cooper’s side this season, with Boro boss Chris Wilder even taking note of his player from afar and calling him ‘outstanding’.

Making the third-most interceptions per 90 out of any Forest regular with more than five starts (1.6, WhoScored), Spence has also shone going forward.

Indeed, out of all of the English second tier side’s players with over two full starts, Spence has also averaged the most completed dribbles per 90 (WhoScored) – highlighting his obvious threat and how he could be an asset for Conte in future seasons.

In other news: Conte green-lights move for £220,000-per-week ‘jewel’ as he lays out transfer demand for Spurs chiefs, find out more here.

On the day he was guaranteed a place in the Perth Test, Steven Smith guided New South Wales to victory with a solid all-round performance against South Australia at the SCG

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Dec-2010
ScorecardSteven Smith performed well with both bat and ball•Getty ImagesOn the day he was guaranteed a place in the Perth Test, Steven Smith guided New South Wales to victory with a solid all-round performance against South Australia at the SCG. Smith took 4 for 112 and then struck an unbeaten 46 to help the Blues to an eight-wicket win, after Callum Ferguson and Daniel Christian fought hard for the Redbacks with twin centuries.Smith has been named in Australia’s 12-man squad for Perth, and the balance of the side means he must play in place of the axed Marcus North. The Blues were only chasing 90 for victory, but Smith’s not-out innings will give him a confidence boost after he won a Test place ahead of several other contenders including his team-mate Usman Khawaja, who was unbeaten on 35 when the Blues reached their goal.Smith had grabbed two wickets on the final day, including the key removal of another Test candidate, Ferguson, who scored 131. Ferguson has two centuries from three Sheffield Shield games this summer and he put together an outstanding 196-run stand with Christian to give the Redbacks hope of salvaging a draw.However, when Christian was lbw to Nathan Hauritz for 106, it sparked a gradual decline for South Australia. Hauritz ended up with a tidy 3 for 62 from 20.1 overs, which was to help New South Wales to victory but not enough for him to win back his place in the Test side.

Ex-BBC pundit Noel Whelan believes that Celtic will be continue to lose their brightest youngsters to Premier League clubs. 

The lowdown: Precedent set?

This comes after the Hoops lost talented young winger Ben Doak to Liverpool, with the 16-year-old confirming the switch on his Instagram profile last week.

A recent report from the Daily Record claimed that Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool once more were looking at emerging playmaker Daniel Kelly, whilst full-back Mitchel Frame was also attracting interest from the English top flight as the Hoops attempt to stave off potential suitors.

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However, with an apparent production line coming out of Lennoxtown, the Glasgow giants may face a conflict of interest when it comes to keeping the brightest prospects at the club.

The latest: Whelan fears the ‘inevitable’

Speaking to Football Insider, former Aberdeen striker Whelan has claimed that Celtic need to sell their prized assets in order to compete at the senior level.

He stated: “It’s inevitable. Even the giants of Celtic and Rangers, the stature they have in Scotland and in Europe and the big sides they are, they can’t afford not to sell. This is what keeps them surviving and being competitive in Europe and then the Scottish Premiership. They have to sell certain players to bring money into the football club.

“That allows them to progress and keeps them at that level. It’s not ideal. But if you go and ask any of the top players if they would have a chance to move to the Premier League in England? That’s their pinnacle.

“They start off at a club. Inevitably if you become successful and do very well, I can’t see them staying there too much longer. Especially if one of the Premier League clubs come in.

“Because of the wage structure and the gap between finances between Scotland and England, it’s very hard to turn down. The managers must be really frustrated, but it’s just the order of things.”

The verdict: Change coming

Financially, Celtic may previously have needed to operate as a selling entity in order to remain competitive in the Premiership. However, that may be about to come to an end as the Hoops stand on the brink of a spot in the Champions League group stages for the 2022/23 campaign.

That brings with it a healthy windfall believed to be in the region of £13.4m simply for participating at the stage, with further income dependent on results.

Champions League participation also brings a certain allure which could also help the Parkhead hierarchy to persuade the club’s best young talents that Celtic is indeed the right place to be in order to reach the very pinnacle of their game.

In other news, journalist urges Celtic to offer key backroom man a new deal. Read more here.

The January transfer window is in full swing and Newcastle have been busy as they get to work on improving Eddie Howe’s squad.

Kieran Trippier has already been brought in from Atletico Madrid and Burnley forward Chris Wood is also reportedly on the verge of arriving at St. James’ Park.

However, there could be more incomings at Tyneside before the end of the month as there are still positions in the team where signings could be mae.

Save the season

One player Howe could sign to potentially save the club’s season is central defender Sven Botman, as he would arrive in an area where the side needs strengthening the most.

The Athletic recently reported that the Ligue 1 side are desperate to keep him until the end of the season, stating that Newcastle’s chances of signing him are ‘all but over’. Whilst it is hardly promising for the Magpies, it also does not 100% rule out a move in the current window.

This leaves the club with a bit of wriggle room to work in and they could piece together an attractive enough offer to change Lille’s mind. It was previously reported that they would not sell Botman under any conditions unless they received £45m or more for his services and this could be the magic number for Nick Hammond to hit.

£45m would be a club-record transfer for the club and it could be worth it as the Dutchman could solve a major issue for the Magpies.

Howe’s side holds the second-worst defensive record in the Premier League, with 20th-placed Norwich the only team worse off than them. They have conceded a whopping 42 goals in 19 matches, letting in 2.2 goals per game and keeping just one clean sheet all season.

AC Milan and Italy legend Paolo Maldini once dubbed Botman a “great player” and his statistics for Lille in Ligue 1 back that comment up. Last season, he averaged an excellent SofaScore rating of 7.08 as he helped them win the league title whilst keeping an incredible 20 clean sheets.

This shows that he can perform consistently to a high level whilst functioning as part of a solid defence, which is exactly what Newcastle have been missing so far this season.

Therefore, he could come in and provide a major upgrade to the backline and possibly save the club’s campaign by adding a defensive toughness that was absent before, helping them to keep more clean sheets and win more points.

Howe must now ensure that he can get a record-breaking deal over the line for him before the window slams shut.

AND in other news, “Still trying”: Keith Downie issues five-word NUFC claim that’ll leave fans buzzing…

A day after being named in Australia’s Test squad to face Pakistan, Brad Haddin has been ruled out and replaced by Tim Paine

Peter English23-Jun-2010A day after being named in Australia’s Test squad to face Pakistan, Brad Haddin has been ruled out and replaced by Tim Paine for the two-match series in England next month. Haddin was initially given another week to prove his fitness from an elbow tendon problem, but the decision to keep him home was made by Dr Trefor James after reviewing the injury.While the complaint doesn’t hamper Haddin when he is behind the stumps, it has troubled the 32-year-old’s batting since the end of last year. He faced an over in the nets on Tuesday but could still feel the pain.”It is extremely disappointing to miss any match for your country and especially frustrating in this situation where I can do everything but pick up a cricket bat,” he said. “I have been extremely aggressive in the treatment process of this tendon injury, doing everything I possibly could to play against Pakistan. After seeing the specialist in Sydney today he has advised me that the best course of action is to take a slow and steady approach to getting it right.”Haddin, the first-choice gloveman since Adam Gilchrist retired, has played 27 Tests and is aiming to return to the national side for the tour of India in October. “Now that I have time on my hands, the specialist and I are very confident I can let the injury repair itself in normal time and be ready to go,” he said.The decision gives Paine, the Tasmanian, two matches at Lord’s and Leeds to challenge Haddin for the position in the long term. Haddin’s superior batting – he averages 38.62 with two hundreds – means he will come back as soon as he is fit, but Paine has a rare opportunity.Not since Ian Healy’s debut in 1988-89 has an understudy gained more than one Test cap, with Phil Emery and Graham Manou limited to a single appearance each. Emery filled in for Healy in Pakistan in 1994 while Manou replaced Haddin when he broke a finger on last year’s Ashes trip.Paine is currently on the limited-overs tour of the British Isles and scored 26 as an opener in the loss to England on Tuesday. He has appeared in 19 ODIs and 37 first-class games, collecting 102 four-day dismissals and averaging 30.96 while playing the majority of his games on a tricky Bellerive Oval pitch.Andrew Hilditch’s selection panel has been impressed by Paine’s work with Tasmania and in Australia’s one-day team. “We feel he has the skills and temperament to do extremely well in Test cricket for Australia,” Hilditch said. “It is a well deserved opportunity which we are sure Tim will make the most of during the series against Pakistan.”

Craig Hope has revealed some big Newcastle United team news ahead of their game at home to Everton in the Premier League next Tuesday night.

The Lowdown: Wood ‘concern’

Shields Gazette journalist Dominic Scurr previously raised a ‘concern’ with regards to Chris Wood, who was away on international duty with New Zealand. The All Whites suffered a virus outbreak in their squad, which forced them to postpone their game against Uzbekistan on Tuesday.

It was not clear whether Wood was one of the players affected, but having likely come into contact with some of his affected teammates, it would naturally have raised some question marks over his participation against the Toffees next week.

The Latest: ‘Should be fine’

Taking to Twitter, Daily Mail journalist Hope has now revealed that Wood ‘should be fine’ to play in the match, as the Newcastle striker travelled back to the UK.

The reporter tweeted: “Chris Wood should be fine for Newcastle game v Everton on Tuesday & is travelling back to UK. There had been a Covid outbreak in New Zealand national-team camp which forced cancellation of yesterday’s game against Uzbekistan.”

The Verdict: Relief

It will most certainly come as a relief to the Toon Army that Wood is fine to play, given the injury to Callum Wilson.

It means that the former Burnley striker should now be able to play against Everton, against whom he has scored three times previously, including a fine finish at Goodison Park last season with Burnley.

His presence would give the Magpies a focal point in attack as they look to secure another vital three points in their race to avoid relegation from the Premier League.

In other news, find out who may have played his last game for NUFC

Celtic sent scouts to watch Hammarby IF defender Mohanad Jeahze this week, according to Swedish newspaper SportExpressen and Fotboll Direkt (translated by Sport Witness). 

The lowdown: Hoops’ interest

This comes after an original report from the same source claimed that the Hoops were eying a £1.6million move for the Iraq international left-back this summer.

Formerly of Mjallby AIF, Jeahze has amassed 124 senior appearances during a professional career spent exclusively in Sweden.

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Now, a move to Glasgow could be on the cards as Ange Postecoglou steps up the transfer plans…

The latest: Scouting mission

As per the Swedish outlet, translated by SW, Celtic sent a representative to observe Hammarby vs Malmo on Monday night in the Allsvenskan.

The match ended goalless with Jeahze replaced on 68 minutes following a 7.10 rated Sofascore display containing 3/4 successful duels, one key pass and 79 touches.

Meanwhile, Hammarby sporting director Jesper Jansson has admitted that there is ‘certainly an interest’ in the 25-year-old when quizzed about the links to Celtic Park.

The verdict: Bargain move

The suggested fee for the four-cap Iraq ace makes this move a no-brainer as Postecoglou looks to add senior competition for places to the squad.

So far this season Jeahze – who was hailed as ‘class’ by Darijan Bojanic – has scored once and provided five assists in 14 appearances across all competitions, eclipsing the four direct goal contributions for Bhoys left-back Greg Taylor this term.

Overall, the Sweden-born star has earned an impressive 7.63 average Sofascore rating this season, making 2.7 tackles and 2.3 interceptions per game on average, showing he does his defensive duties with aplomb too.

Despite being untested amongst Europe’s elite, Postecoglou has already proven to be a savvy operator in the market and should be backed to sign whoever he sees fit, whether they’re a household name or not.

In other news… a Celtic ace has been backed to make a permanent move away from Parkhead this summer.