Lancashire held on by four runs as Leicestershire’s captain, batting with a runner, just failed in a plucky retort
ECB Reporters Network04-Aug-2017Mark Cosgrove, batting with a runner, fell four runs short of victory [file picture]•Getty Images
Lancashire ended a run of four defeats and improved their chances of qualifying for the quarter-finals of this year’s NatWest T20 Blast with a last ball victory over Leicestershire at the Fischer County Ground.Mark Cosgrove, batting with a runner throughout most of his innings, needed to hit Ryan McLaren’s last ball for four to claim a tie, anmd for six to win the match, but failed to score, finishing on 77 not out, leaving Leicestershire’s bright start to the season a distant memory.Having lost their first five wickets for just 25 against Northamptonshire the previous evening, the visitors can only have been reasonably satisfied to end their opening Powerplay on 47 for 0, after being put in by Leicestershire captain Clint McKay.The more so because openers Liam Livingstone and Karl Brown struggled to find their timing on a pitch that looked a little two-paced, and it was no surprise when Brown lofted the gentle medium pace of Cameron Delport high to Tom Wells at long on, before Livingstone, looking increasingly frustrated, top-edged the same bowler to short third man, where a back-pedalling Callum Parkinson took a good catch.Jos Buttler and Dane Vilas initially found the going equally hard, but they were helped by Leicestershire’s bowlers producing a series of wides – the final total of 11 was the most bowled by any side in domestic T20 this season – and no-balls to keep the score building. The 50 partnership was raised off 32 balls, and had gone on to 74 when Vilas, on 33, cut a short, wide delivery from McKay high to Matt Pillans on the point boundary.Buttler went to his half-century, his third in the competition this season, off 34 balls before being caught behind trying to carve a wide delivery from Pillans to the cover boundary, but the England international had given his bowlers a total that looked defendable.Leicestershire openers Luke Ronchi and Cameron Delport gave their side their usual brisk start, but as has regularly been the case this season, neither was able to go on and make a match-winning contribution, Ronchi hitting 21 off 10 balls before pulling Junaid Khan straight to Jordan Clark at midwicket, and Delport bowled slogging at Steven Croft’s off-spin for 17 off 8 balls.Colin Ackermann was bowled in similar fashion giving leg-spinner Matt Parkinson the charge, and Cosgrove’s innings had barely begun when he was hit on the knee by Aadil Ali’s on-drive at Livingstone. After several minutes of treatment he resumed, albeit with a runner, and almost on one leg kept his side in the game by reaching his 50 off 41 balls.He and Ali brought up the 50 partnership off 44 balls, but Lancashire’s bowlers had the discipline Leicestershire’s lacked, conceding only a handful of extras, and the 14 the Foxes need off the last over proved too big an ask.
Justice RM Lodha was critical of the Indian board and the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators in the tardiness regarding the implementation of reforms suggested by his committee
Arun Venugopal29-Jun-2017
‘After the Supreme Court’s judgement what do you negotiate,’ asked Justice RM Lodha•AFP
Justice RM Lodha, the architect of the Lodha Committee recommendations, has expressed dismay at the tardiness of the BCCI and the Committee of Administrators (CoA) in implementing the sweeping structural reforms approved by the Supreme Court nearly a year ago.While Lodha, a former Chief Justice of India, was irked by the BCCI’s defiance, he was also critical of the CoA for not being proactive enough.”It’s unfortunate, actually, [that] nothing has been done,” Lodha told ESPNcricinfo. “Things have not moved, reforms have not been taken forward, so definitely it is not a good thing to happen. I have yet to see a body defy the Supreme Court’s order continuously. It is almost one year – 11 months are already over and the 12th month [is] going on and there is no sign of implementation of the highest court’s order. This is something that doesn’t happen at all.”Had [the CoA been proactive], by this time [the] Supreme Court order and reforms would have been in place. Unfortunately, I think, [they have involved] themselves in incidental matters instead of taking the reforms forward and implementing the order which was the main brief given to them.”Lodha also felt that the resignation of CoA member Ramachandra Guha, who alleged inaction on a number of issues, was possibly an indication that the committee did not function smoothly.”The CoA are doing their job,” he said. “[But] maybe they [spend] a lot of their time in these contractual and administrative matters, whereas the focus should have been the implementation of the court order because that was the primary task. Everything else was incidental. Maybe, as the reports have come, one of their members has resigned, so maybe the things aren’t going on smoothly. I don’t know; it’s all conjecture and surmise.”The fact of the matter is the BCCI actually continues to defy and not implement the Supreme Court order. The CoA, being a body appointed by the court, must have been actually proactive and the focus ought to have been implementation of the court order.”In the lead-up to the board’s special general meeting earlier this week, the CoA had been hopeful that the BCCI would adopt the Lodha reforms.After discussions, the committee had urged state associations to distil their objections of the Lodha recommendations to a few points which could then be run past the Supreme Court. The committee believed this might make the court more amenable to revisit these recommendations.However, the BCCI went ahead and formed a committee of their own to examine the areas of difficulty in the implementation process.Justice RM Lodha on the Committee of Administrators: “Unfortunately, I think, [they have involved] themselves in incidental matters instead of taking the reforms forward.”•AFP
Lodha was categorical that there was no scope for negotiation in an order delivered by the highest court in the land. “After the Supreme Court’s judgement what do you negotiate?” he asked with a laugh. “You can’t bargain on the court’s order. To overrule the Supreme Court’s judgement, no authority can do that. The only authority that can change it [the order] is the Supreme Court itself, no-one else.”The Supreme Court’s judgement is there, it is there. And, it has been passed after hearing BCCI at quite some length. I don’t fathom any reason. I just can’t figure out what should be negotiated. A Supreme Court judgement is non-negotiable.”According to Lodha, there was no ambiguity in the Supreme Court’s position since it passed the order in July 2016. “There is no history of order passed by the Supreme Court staying the implementation of the judgement,” he said. “Rather, the orders subsequent thereto have been to implement the order. The cricket board and the state associations will continue to put obstructions, but that should not hamper the implementation of the highest court’s order.”People who know the procedure of the court know how the Supreme Court actually deals with the matter after the final judgement is passed. There is a procedure for [filing a] review petition. The other procedure is of curative petition, that’s all. Both processes have been pursued [by the BCCI] and pursued unsuccessfully.”There have been no impediments from the court’s side. As a matter of fact, there is no order; the judgement of July 18 stands as it is. It’s as simple as that: it has to be implemented because Supreme Court has not modified or reviewed its order.”The BCCI SGM was attended by veteran administrators N Srinivasan and Niranjan Shah despite their being ineligible to be office bearers on more than one count according to the Lodha guidelines. When asked about Srinivasan’s eligibility, CoA chairman Vinod Rai had said his committee was not mandated by the Supreme Court to “sit in judgement on people’s qualification or disqualification.”Lodha, however, said the eligibility was clearly specified in the court’s order. On whether the CoA could have taken a call on the matter themselves, he said: “Look, our report is there. A person is disqualified if he has attained the age of 70 years. This has got the seal of the approval from the Supreme Court. One should always keep in mind [that] what cannot be done directly cannot be done or achieved indirectly. Ultimately, it is a committee of administrators appointed by the Supreme Court to oversee the affairs.”Still, with the Supreme Court hearing the matter on July 14, Lodha was optimistic the reforms would be implemented. “The court order has to be implemented. There may be some delay that is happening, of course,” he said. “But, I am sure it will be taken to its logical conclusion and our efforts and hardwork will not go waste.”
Worcestershire rewrote the record books in completing a 42-run victory over Leicestershire
ECB Reporters Network30-Apr-2017 ScorecardMoeen Ali tuned up for England duty with 90•Getty Images
Worcestershire rewrote the record books in completing a 42-run victory over Leicestershire. Put in to bat by on a flat pitch, they hit their highest ever limited-overs score against first-class opposition in a 50-over encounter, surpassing the 320 for 8 against Hampshire at the Rose Bowl in 2008.The tone of their innings was set by Moeen Ali, whose 90 at the top of the order came off 87 balls and included two sixes. The England international was dropped on 22 by wicketkeeper Lewis Hill off Gavin Griffiths, but while he was not quite at his fluent best, was still more than good enough to take full advantage of some inconsistent bowling from Leicestershire’s inexperienced attack.Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Tom Fell and Joe Clarke all leant valuable support Worcestershire raced to 200 off 30 overs. If Leicestershire hoped the dismissal of Moeen, feathering a catch behind the wicket off Zak Chappell, might slow the scoring rate, Brett D’Oliveira and Ben Cox’s partnership of 73 off 10.2 overs disabused them of the notion.Leicestershire did pick up three quick wickets, but John Hastings and Ed Barnard combined to smash 46 off the last 20 balls to maintain the momentum until the end.Leicestershire began as though determined to knock off the runs with overs to spare, but the alert Cox, seeing Cameron Delport had stepped out of his ground after missing an attempt to thrash Leach through the off side, threw down the stumps to pull off a remarkable stumping.Mark Pettini raced to 36 of 34 balls before glancing a Joe Leach delivery into the gloves of Cox, but Mark Cosgrove had hit 67 off just 45 balls before Jack Shantry took a brilliant return catch high above his head.Aadil Ali, making his first first-team appearance of the season, hit three sixes as Leicestershire kept themselves in the hunt, reaching the final six overs needing 67, but wickets kept falling at the other end. Ali was last man out, run out trying to keep the strike.Worcestershire take their 100% record in the competition to Northamptonshire on Wednesday. Leicestershire meet Warwickshire at the Fischer County Ground on Tuesday.
Christian Pulisic was all smiles after being shown a video of his father’s relaxed reaction to the AC Milan star scoring a crucial goal against Lazio.
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American on target at San SiroFamily were in attendanceMade impressive start in ItalyWHAT HAPPENED?
The United States international broke the deadlock for Milan in their latest Serie A fixture as he netted on the hour mark at San Siro. That effort paved the way for the Rossoneri to go on and secure a 2-0 win – claiming three priceless points in the process.
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Pulisic now has three efforts to his name in the Italian top-flight – having netted just once through 30 appearances for Chelsea last season – and is making a positive impression in Milan on the back of his €22 million (£19m/$23m) summer transfer.
DID YOU KNOW?
He has had plenty to celebrate on the back of that switch, but his dad looked remarkably calm when seeing his son hit the net against Lazio. The video of his understated reaction to a vital goal has gone viral, but Pulisic did not appear overly surprised at seeing his father remain seated when shown the clip in question.
@acmilan
Risposta a @AC Milan 😍⚽️ #Pulisic #dad #MilanLazio #reaction #ACMilan #TikTokCalcio #FootballTikTok
♬ I Wanna Know You – BLVKSHP
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Pulisic was dropped to the bench for AC Milan’s opening Champions League game of 2023-24 against Newcastle, but will be hoping to retain his place in Stefano Pioli’s starting XI when the Rossoneri face his former employers Borussia Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park on Wednesday.
So far, it's been a case of so good for Ange Postecoglou and Tottenham Hotspur this season. The Lilywhites have finally rediscovered their attacking intent, after struggling to entertain under the likes of Antonio Conte, Nuno and Jose Mourinho. And this is all without club-record goalscorer Harry Kane, who left for Bayern Munich in the summer transfer window.
It could even be argued that Spurs didn't replace Kane in the transfer window, with the closest player to stepping into the shoes of the England captain from elsewhere being Brennan Johnson, who made the move from Nottingham Forest.
As it turns out, too, the North London club could have lost two other players before the window slammed shut, as revealed by Alasdair Gold.
What has Alasdair Gold said?
Ange Postecoglou
Having started to set the foundations for success under Postecoglou in the transfer window, Spurs will now be keen to keep an eye on the future, and ensuring that their most promising players enjoy their futures at the club.
Speaking about two particular youngsters in the Spurs ranks, Gold revealed that they could have left the club during the summer, but opted to stay put, despite receiving offers.
Speaking about Mikey Moore and Callum Olusesi, Gold said on his YouTube channel: “Mikey Moore and Callum Olusesi, at 16 years old have committed their future to Spurs. I was told there were eye-watering offers coming in for them. Eye-watering offers coming in for players that were 15/16 years old, but they’ve decided to stay at Spurs."
It's a positive sign that, even after receiving huge deal offers, both Moore and Olusesi opted to stay put at Spurs, perhaps buying into what Postecoglou is aiming to build at the club. From their perspective, they'll now hope to just push on with their development and achieve their dream of one day making their mark on the first-team.
Who are Mikey Moore and Callum Olusesi?
Both 16-years-old, Moore and Olusesi have the world at their feet at Spurs, and after committing their futures at the club, they'll be keeping an eye on any opportunities that come their way.
Moore, in particular, has received high praise, including from John Wenham, who told Football Insider: "Mikey Moore scored two in that game against Charlton, he is someone I said I will be talking about a lot more.
“One of the goals was absolutely ridiculous as well. He is on such a positive trajectory as a 15-year-old being selected to play at a higher level and contributing massively in those games.
"That is really pleasing for me. It was great to see Jamie Donley get on the scoresheet as well, it’s been a little while since he scored so that was great for him. The fact we have added Donley and Lankshear is fantastic for the club and things are looking a lot better now."
With that said, Spurs will be hoping to see academy options continue their development into top talents, handing Postecoglou yet another boost in his side, who have already impressed many this season. Both Moore and Olusesi are certainly ones to keep an eye on.
Nottingham Forest made their return to the Premier League for the first time since 1999 last season.
Under the guidance of Steve Cooper, Forest have managed to reestablish themselves in the top flight.
After recording a 16th-place finish to secure survival, The Garibaldi's will be looking to build upon that in order to ensure they get a third successive campaign in the world's most lucrative division.
The change in their fortunes is a far cry from where the club was less than a decade ago.
Rewinding back to 2016, the club was stuck in the Championship and was in the bottom half of the table. It would be six years before they would find the man who would lead them back to the promised land.
The lofty heights of the Premier League appeared to be a long way off. But it wasn't all doom and gloom at the City Ground.
One young player had risen through the ranks and caught the attention of everyone. He possessed so much skill that his international manager said, "he is a similar player to Gareth Bale."
The man in question is Oliver Burke.
When did Oliver Burke make his Nottingham Forest Debut?
The Scottish attacker made his debut for the East Midlands club in 2014. At just 17 years of age, he was at the time the sixth-youngest player to ever feature in the first team. He has since dropped to seventh on that list.
His appearances were sporadic in his first season. In the 2015/16 season, he began earning more regular playing time. He finished the season with 21 games in all competitions for Forest, scoring twice.
He also made his international debut since then, coming off the bench for Scotland in a 1-0 victory over Denmark.
The player seemed to have the world at his feet. Interested parties included Manchester United and Bayern Munich. It appeared that bigger things were on the horizon.
He began the 2016/17 campaign still at Forest, and he started with a bang. Four goals in five league games indicated that he was ready to take the next step.
His destination would be Germany. However, it wouldn't be for the Bavarians.
Who signed Oliver Burke from Nottingham Forest?
Burke left the side whose academy he had risen through the ranks of to join RB Leipzig for £13m.
The deal saw him become the most expensive Scottish player in history and a lot was expected from the starlet.
His reason for joining the German side was that he believed he would receive more game time than at some of the other giants who were linked with his signature.
Former Man United boss Ralf Rangnick, who was the sporting director for Leipzig at the time of the deal, was pleased with the signing. "He is an outstanding talent with an awful lot of potential," he remarked. "He fits with the high pace and style of play very well and will make his next sporting development step with us."
Now playing in the top tier in Germany, more eyes were on Burke than ever. He was featured by UEFA as part of the 'weekly wonderkid' series.
The piece listed a number of bold claims, one coming from Scottish scout Mick Elliot who claimed that Burke "will be as big as Kenny Dalglish. And Kenny was my hero, so it shows you what I think of Ollie."
For the man dubbed as the next King Kenny, his journey in Germany was over as quickly as it started.
After 26 appearances and one goal for Leipzig, it was decided that Burke was perhaps not at the level they believed him to be.
One year on, the Scot was shipped back to England. The saving grace was that he wasn't returning to the Championship. He was headed to the Premier League.
Which Premier League team did Burke join?
Burke joined West Bromwich Albion in 2017. Despite not making a great impression in Germany, belief in his potential was such that Leipzig still managed to make a profit on the player, selling him for £15m.
Despite having the opportunity to feature in the Champions League, Burke opted for the move with aspirations of first-team football.
In a club statement, the 6-foot-2 forward said:
"I feel like it is time for me to move on and play more games. I'm here, I want to impress, and I want my name to be first on the team sheet."
Manager Tony Pulis also believed that the player was ready for more first-team football, remarking:
"He’s already got good experience from playing at Forest and now the added taste of figuring in a team which finished second in the Bundesliga."
Burke's life lessons abroad may have been what he needed to kickstart his career in the direction of superstardom.
That's not quite what happened though.
Burke played just 357 minutes that season for The Baggies across 16 games. He registered no goals or assists.
Later, Burke would say that he didn't feel comfortable at the Hawthorns, telling the Daily Mail:
"When I was at West Brom I felt very left out."
Two moves that were engineered in order to give Burke the most amount of game time had failed. Now began a litany of loan spells to see if the Scot could recapture the magic.
Who did Burke play for on loan?
While still contracted to West Brom, Burke had two loan spells. One in Spain with Alaves and another in his native Scotland with Celtic.
Oliver Burke's loan spells away from the Hawthorns, via Transfermarkt
Club
Appearances
Goals & Assists
Alaves
36
1 & 2
Celtic
19
4 & 3
The Spanish side did their best to help the Scottish international feel comfortable, pairing him up with their Scottish groundsman.
Their attempts did not produce stellar performances, however, with the player scoring just once in 36 games.
Having tasted some of the best leagues in the world, his move to Celtic was close to being the final straw. He was expected to be good enough to be a top player in the division.
He was able to achieve the best numbers of his career to date with 7 goal contributions in 19 games. But, that was still nowhere near where he was expected to be.
The most damning criticism of Burke came following a poor performance in an Old Firm derby against Rangers.
Former Celtic player Frank McAvennie labelled the ex-Forest player's performance as "a disgrace."
"I thought for somebody, he is going to leave at the end of the season, and that’s one of the biggest games in the world, and you don’t show there."
The disappointment from McAvennie mirrored that which had followed Burke ever since he emerged on the scene in Nottingham as a teenager.
At this point, the jig was up. It seemed that the former 'wonderkid' was never going to reach the ceiling that many predicted for him.
Where is Burke now?
Burke stats since 20/21
Sheffield United
36
2 & 1
Millwall*
31
4 & 3
Werder Bremen
19
2 & 1
Birmingham City
N/A
N/A
*Both spells combined
Since his time at the Hawthorns, Burke has made several moves. A permanent switch to Sheffield United offered the forward another chance at Premier League football.
He returned to Germany to join Werder Bremen, with loan moves to Millwall sandwiched either side of this.
The 6 foot 2 dynamo's most recent excursion has seen him join Birmingham City on loan during deadline day this summer.
Throughout his career, Burke has failed to score more goals for any club than he did as a teenager for Nottingham Forest.
To highlight his downfall, a player that was once bought for £13m, he is now worth just £2m – an 85% decrease on what the Reds let him go for all those years ago and having failed to live up to his early-career promise, it's clear that the recruitment hierarchy at the City Ground allowed the club to hit the jackpot on this occasion.
Crystal Palace are looking to bolster their squad before the summer transfer window slams shut in just a couple of weeks.
Roy Hodgson saw his side get off to the perfect start in the Premier League, securing a 1-0 victory against Sheffield United, but it could have been more.
They recorded 24 shots in total yet had just one goal to show for it, and the Eagles are now showing interest in a former Premier League striker…
Who could Crystal Palace sign?
The Sun journalist Alan Nixon has provided an update regarding interest in Southampton striker Che Adams.
Everton are currently in the lead to sign the player amid interest from three other clubs, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Crystal Palace, and AFC Bournemouth are also keen on the player.
Hodgson will be hoping to convince the £30k-per-week hitman to move to London despite the interest from other top flight clubs and with the Scottish international having just a year left on his current contract, they could land him for a knockdown price.
How good is Che Adams?
Palace netted just 40 league goals throughout the entirety of the 2022/23 season, a total higher than just six teams, and it’s evident if Hodgson wants to take the club to the next level, improving his firepower is vital.
Only one player across the whole squad hit ten goals last term, Eberechi Eze, with no strikers scoring more than seven.
Odsonne Edouard has started the campaign strongly, netting the winner against the Blades last weekend, and he could be vital should he return to the form that saw him score 87 goals for Celtic in just 179 appearances.
The Frenchman hasn’t quite hit the same sort of heights in England, finding the step up from the Scottish Premiership more difficult than anticipated, yet once he clicks into gear, the 25-year-old is an excellent striker.
Che Adams
Indeed, during the victory last week, he registered seven shots in total, made two key passes, succeeded with two of his three dribble attempts, and even missed a big chance, indicating that he could have scored more than once.
Adams could give the Palace frontline that added boost they clearly require to finish teams off, while he is also statistically similar to Edouard.
According to FBref, the “clever” striker – as lauded by pundit Ally McCoist – is the sixth-most comparable player to the former Celtic frontman and this could suggest he would be a fine signing.
Indeed, last season, the duo registered similar statistics with regard to goal contributions (13 v nine), shots on target per 90 (0.88 v 0.79), shot-creating actions per 90 (2.57 v 2.2) and successful take-ons (both 16), proving that they offer a solid attacking threat.
Having scored 25 Premier League goals during his career so far, Adams knows what it takes to find the net at the highest level and having ranked first across the Saints squad last term for shots per game (1.7) and second for goals and assists (eight), he could give Palace something extra up top.
Combine this with the fact he has shone on international level for Scotland, netting five times while grabbing three assists, so Hodgson could find himself with a player who is already perfectly suited to the rigours of the top flight.
Tottenham Hotspur have enjoyed a fine summer window already, and with their transfer war chest having now been suitably replenished, Ange Postecoglou could be set to feast by bolstering the rest of his squad…
Who are Tottenham Hotspur signing this summer?
The sale of Harry Kane has finally brought to an end the long-running saga involving the England captain, who has ended his 19-year stay in north London by joining German champions Bayern Munich.
Having had just one year left on his deal, the £100m fee attained represented a classic Daniel Levy success, holding out for a figure worthy of his star creation.
Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE…
With James Maddison, Manor Solomon and Alejo Veliz all offering additional firepower having joined, Tuesday noted a fresh target to supplement their attack, with Leeds United's Wilfried Gnonto referenced in a report.
Despite the Yorkshire outfit having released a club statement claiming the Italy international will not leave this window, Everton remain interested as the winger pushes for an exit, even refusing to play.
It is expected that only a fee of around £25m will see his exit sanctioned.
How good is Wilfried Gnonto?
Having only moved to Elland Road last summer, the 19-year-old trickster instantly took to English football, with his pace, dynamism and trickery endearing him to his new fanbase.
However, it is fair to say that those bridges have since been burned.
wilfried-gnonto
This is despite the former FC Zurich star posting eight goal contributions across all senior competitions in England, showing his penchant for creation as well as goalscoring.
Although hardly outstanding figures, for a debut campaign these mark a fine return with the foundation for unbridled future successes.
Pundit Tam McManus took to Football Insider to laud such form, claiming: "The boy who got the assist, he came on and he just looks like a little pocket rocket. Wow, what a performance from him. He looks like he has a real low centre of gravity and he looks absolutely tremendous."
To once again return to Leeds for a signing could see Spurs replicate a sensational deal of the past, as Robbie Keane took that same path from Yorkshire to north London.
Joining in a £7m move, the Irish marksman departed due to the financial constraints of his previous club and hit the ground running under Glen Hoddle.
The 43-year-old took little time to connect with his new fans, and spent six stunning years at the club, taking a one-year hiatus at Liverpool before then returning under new management.
Keane was prolific throughout his time at White Hart Lane, of which he managed 306 appearances and scored 122 goals. To further emphasise his hero status, he was also part of the squad that last won silverware; a feat which Postecoglou will be desperate to replicate.
The Australian has a tough task on his hands to lead the new-look squad back to where they will feel they belong, but should Gnonto prove as influential as Keane was, this would be a huge step in the right direction.
Perhaps the teenage sensation could help usher in a brighter era full of far more trophies than his predecessors, also helping to bring back some excitement for this fanbase.
Gio Reyna logged 60 minutes for Borussia Dortmund from the starting whistle in a 2-2 draw against AZ Alkmaar in a friendly on Saturday.
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Dortmund take on AZ Alkmaar in friendlyGio Reyna startsBlack and Yellow draw 2-2Getty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?
The friendly, which was played in four 30-minute periods with stoppage between them all, saw the two sides clash in a top match. Dortmund's Dutch opponents took the lead early through Evangelos Pavlidis and doubled their lead in the 36th minute through Jens Odegaard. Ex-Bayern Munich man Marcel Sabitzer then gave the Black and Yellow life with a goal back in the 63rd minute before Marco Reus brought them level 17 minutes later.
USMNT star Gio Reyna was subbed off at the 'halftime' break, playing 60 minutes for Dortmund in the fixture. It was the largest sum of playing time he has had since November 1, when he played 70' in their DFB Pokal victory over Hoffenheim.
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In their first match of 2024, Edin Terzic opted to roll Reyna out in the starting XI, alongside much of the first-team. However, he occupied what appeared to be a deeper-lying central role instead of his normal role as an attacking midfielder. Regardless, it's important minutes for the USMNT youngster, especially with a potential loan away from Dortmund on the cards.
Getty ImagesUSMNT IMPACT
Reyna getting the start is big, big news for Gregg Berhalter and Co. as the young midfielder needs minutes – and fast. Even if this is just preparation for a January loan move away from the club, he's shown that he's fit and healthy and ready to play. The USMNT needs an in-form Reyna for 2024, and if this is the way it starts, the horizon seems rather positive at the moment.
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GOAL'S RATINGS
Gio Reyna (7/10): Reyna getting the nod from Terzic is massive for his confidence, and he repaid him with a solid midfield performance. With it being a friendly, i'm not sure the result matters much here.
Led firmly by the captain Heather Knight, England outmanoeuvred Australia in the third match of the women’s Ashes at Coffs Harbour to close the gap between the sides to just two points ahead of the Test match leg of the contest in North Sydney next week.Much as Australia had done in game two, England made the most of the opportunity to bat first and set the hosts a target beyond their reach, aided by a rain delay that reduced the pursuit by two overs and upset the momentum of the opener Alyssa Healy and Nicole Bolton when they were motoring along at better than a-run-a-ball.It was Knight who provided the spinal contribution of England’s innings, gliding to 88 from a mere 80 deliveries, aided by strong top-order contributions from Sarah Taylor and Tammy Beaumont, who lasted until the 36th over after losing her opening partner Lauren Winfield for a duck to Ellyse Perry with the new ball.Australia’s response began briskly through Healy and Bolton, but while they made it as far as the 22nd over in a stand of 118, England’s bowlers were able to peg back the run rate gradually after the rain delay, which then added pressure to the home side’s middle order once wickets began to fall. Alex Blackwell, playing a record 250th match for Australia, was left to try to mount a late pursuit but the requirement proved to be beyond her and the tail.On a sunny morning, Perry had given Australia the ideal start by pinning Lauren Winfield lbw with the last ball of the second over. But any hopes the captain Rachael Haynes had of inducing a rush of wickets were to be denied by Taylor and Beaumont, who set a terrific platform for the England middle order by adding 122.Their efforts ensured Knight could play with plenty of freedom by the time she made it to the middle, as Australia struggled to contain the scoring rate. Most of Knight’s runs came through deft placement and plenty of hustle between the wickets, but she also smote the only six of the innings. Beaumont’s equally important contribution was ended when a brilliant back-handed flick by Healy found her overbalancing out of the crease by a matter of centimetres.Australia needed a rapid start to their response, and were handed it by a proactive Healy in particular. But at 0 for 39 after 37 deliveries, heavy rain stopped play and revised Australia’s target to 278 from 48 overs via Duckworth Lewis Stern. While Healy and Bolton carried on strongly, they were unable to get ahead of the required rate. This meant that once Healy was taken in the outfield, when trying to loft Alex Hartley, there was immediate pressure to keep momentum ticking.Bolton was unable to bat through the innings as had seemed her intention, Perry made a start but could not go on to a truly influential score. Elyse Villani and then Haynes were both dismissed when trying to lift the rate by taking the aerial route to the boundary. Blackwell and the fit-again Ashleigh Gardner were left with primary responsibility to chase down the target, but the latter was unable to repeat her heroics from the first match as the asking rate continued to climb.While determined to take the game as deep as possible, Blackwell could not summon the big hits she needed, and Australia reached the final over needing no fewer than 31 to win. The vastly experienced Jenny Gunn was never likely to concede anywhere near that many, and after Blackwell’s exit there was time for a quicksilver Taylor stumping of Amanda-Jade Wellington before England were able to celebrate closing the gap on Australia.