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The Gunners maintained their eight-point gap at the top of the table as their Brazilian striker netted his first goals of 2023 to seal a 4-1 win

Anything you can do, we can do just as well. That was the message Arsenal sent out on Saturday as they matched title rivals Manchester City’s 4-1 success against Liverpool with a victory over Leeds by the exact same scoreline just a couple of hours later.

The win was Arsenal’s seventh in a row in the Premier League, and was inspired by a brace from Gabriel Jesus on his first league start since November.

Jesus, who hadn’t scored since the win against Spurs in October 1, settled the nerves when he converted a penalty he had won himself following a foul by Luke Ayling midway through the first half.

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And, after Ben White had doubled the lead moments after half-time, the Brazilian added to his tally with a sharp finish from Leandro Trossard’s ball in.

A deflected Rasmus Kristensen effort briefly reduced the deficit, but Granit Xhaka’s late header put the gloss on yet another win for Arsenal as they restored their eight-point advantage at the top of the table ahead of next weekend’s trip to Anfield.

GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from the Emirates Stadium…

WINNER: Gabriel Jesus

A first Premier League start since November and his first goals since October 1. This was a big day for Jesus.

The Brazil international still has a way to go to get back to the player who was absolutely terrifying defences during the opening couple of months of the season, but this was another important step on his road to full fitness.

Getting Jesus back at this stage of the season could be so crucial for Arsenal. Not just because of his ability on the pitch, but because of the experience he has in being involved in tense title run-ins.

He took his penalty well and the fact he put his hand up to take the spot kick in Bukayo Saka’s absence shows the leadership qualities he possesses. His second goal was excellent, not just the finish, but the part he played in the start of the move as well.

Mikel Arteta said before the game that the Brazilian was back causing chaos on the training pitches at London Colney. Now he’s starting to do that on a match day as well. 

AdvertisementGetty ImagesWINNER: Ben White

A widespread nervousness drifted around the stadium when White cut his warm-up short and headed down the tunnel before the game.

With William Saliba already out and Saka on the bench due to illness, the last thing Arsenal needed was White picking up a problem as well. So there was a real feeling of relief when he emerged with the rest of the team for kick-off. 

And the right-back went on to have a major say against his former side, scoring the crucial second goal right at the start of the second half to give Arsenal the breathing space they needed to go on and win the game.

LOSER: Luke Ayling

Once a Gunner, always a Gunner!

Ayling came through the Arsenal academy and won the FA Youth Cup in the same side as Jack Wilshere in 2009. And he certainly did his old side a favour on Saturday when he dived in wildly on Jesus in the first half and gave away the penalty which gave Arsenal the lead.

Things could have got even worse for Ayling soon after when he got himself in a muddle while trying to steer Gabriel Martinelli’s shot to safety.

The Leeds defender just about managed to scramble the ball the wrong side of the post, sparing himself further embarrassment, but his struggles continued into the second half on a chastening day for the Leeds captain.

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Getty ImagesWINNER: Leandro Trossard

Another game, another Trossard assist.

The Belgian has now set up seven goals since arriving at Arsenal in January, as his fabulous start to life in north London continues.

He was impressive again against Leeds, ensuring the absence of Saka from the start did not prove too costly from an attacking poem of view.

Trossard’s assist for Jesus’ second goal was typically excellent. The movement in the box, the close control and the fizzed ball across the six yard box. It was the exact sort of thing he was brought to the club to do.

As 2020 approaches, Goal picks out an XI of the best players from the women's game over the last 10 years

GettyGK: Hope Solo

Hope Solo divided opinion throughout her career, but never for her talent.

The former United States shot-stopper was named IFFHS’ Best Women’s Goalkeeper for four consecutive years, picked up the Women’s World Cup Golden Glove and Bronze Ball in 2011 and was named in both FIFPRO XIs that were voted on before her retirement in 2016.

After going home with a silver medal in the decade’s first World Cup, the error-free Solo got her hands on the trophy four years later, the highlight of a 16-year international career that brought about 202 caps and Olympic Gold in 2012.

AdvertisementCB: Wendie Renard

Few players have as many accolades to show from this decade than Wendie Renard.

Ten successive Division 1 titles, seven Coupe de France trophies and six Champions League titles show the dominance that Lyon have assumed over the last 10 years.

The towering centre-back has been key to that: helping them be one of the best defensive teams in Europe, while also scoring over 100 goals.

For France, she’s yet to taste the same success, but made the Dream Teams for Euro 2013 and the 2015 World Cup, with a place in every FIFPRO XI so far to boot.

GettyCB: Nilla Fischer

That Nilla Fischer improved European champions Wolfsburg when she arrived in 2014 speaks wonders of her ability.

The commanding centre-back, who can also operate as a defensive midfielder, would eventually become club captain, winning four league titles, five German cups and the Champions League in six years.

The 35-year-old has made the last three FIFPRO XIs, the latest helped by the Women’s World Cup Bronze medal she guided Sweden to this summer.

Add another of those, an Olympic Silver and three titles from her time with Malmo at the beginning of the decade, and it’s been a trophy-laden 10 years.

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GettyCB: Becky Sauerbrunn

The United States have long produced reliable, commanding defenders, few better than Becky Sauerbrunn.

The 34-year-old was crucial to Kansas City’s back-to-back NWSL Championships in 2014 and 2015, named Defender of the Year for both campaigns, as well as in 2013. She is also the only player to be named in every NWSL Best XI since the competition’s inception in 2013.

For her country, two World Cups and Olympic Gold are the highlights of a wonderful 11-year international career. For the last three, she has showcased another part of her game, playing a crucial role to help her centre-back partner, Abby Dahlkemper, develop into one of the world’s best.

Goal looks at the players who have created the most chances in the top five European leagues this season

20Lucas Perez | 77 chances created

Lucas Perez is still technically an Arsenal player, but has enjoyed an impressive season out on loan at Deportivo La Coruna as he waits to learn more about his long-term future after Arsene Wenger's departure from the Emirates Stadium.

AdvertisementGetty Images19Alexis Sanchez | 77 chances created

Sanchez has had his critics this season due to his reduced goal contribution at both Arsenal and Manchester United, but he has created 77 chances this season,

The Chilean also missed nine games in the Premier League, leaving him with one of the best chances created per minute ratios in the entirety of Europe.

Getty Images18Xherdan Shaqiri | 77 chances created

To make this list at a relegated club is some achievement. Shaqiri created 77 chances for Stoke but they couldn’t avoid relegation from the Premier League.

Shaqiri is unlikely to be short of suitors this summer amid expectations he will be sold following Stoke's drop into the Championship.

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Getty17 Aleksandar Kolarov | 78 chances created

The Serbian has been back to his best this season at Roma, assisting eight goals from left-back and creating 78 chances.

A total of 192 was about par on a batting-friendly Wankhede, and it was set up by a Virat Kohli masterclass. But West Indies’ power hitters bulldozed their way through it to their second World T20 final

The Report by Alagappan Muthu31-Mar-2016
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details2:40

Match Day – India’s lack of boundaries the difference

A man who was caught off a no-ball twice beat a man who should have been run-out twice off a single free-hit. That was how comical – and spectacular – this World T20 semi-final was. And the ultimate gag was that Virat Kohli’s 89 not out off 47 balls was nothing short of a batting clinic, but Lendl Simmons 82 not out off 51 balls led a West Indian demolition job that left India’s chances of winning another title at home in the rubble.A target of 193 would not have frightened Darren Sammy. He had been talking up Chris Gayle all through the World T20, but seven balls into the chase, he might have felt nervous. His kingpin was clean bowled by Jasprit Bumrah and Marlon Samuels, who won this very trophy with one of the finest displays of T20 batsmanship, went away without a peep. West Indies were 19 for 2, already the required rate had hit double-digits and the men they had in the middle were Johnson Charles, who accumulates dot balls like his partner Simmons, who had arrived in India only two days ago, had accumulated air miles.Two of the most unheralded batsmen in this power-packed line-up hit one boundary an over from the second until the 14th – which Kohli himself bowled and got rid of Charles with a juicy long-hop. That over, bowled by a part-timer, was the least expensive of the chase, stamping this game as laugh-out-loud madness. And through it all West Indies “just believed,” as Sammy said after the game. Even when they needed 109 runs off only 60 balls.India were wavering. Not least because they seemed completely incapable of getting Simmons out. R Ashwin had him caught at short third man in the seventh over, but had also overstepped. In the 15th, Hardik Pandya had him caught at extra cover but his front foot had strayed as well. The ensuing free-hit was smashed over the midwicket boundary and West Indies went into the final five overs needing only 55 to win.Now the mathletes would work out that is still an asking rate of 10 an over, but the West Indian batsmen are uber jocks. Their mis-hits go for boundaries, and some of Andre Russell’s indeed did. So when he did hit them off the middle, the bowlers had no chance. It was an innings – and a setting – that suited him to a T, much like his Mr T hairstyle. Russell’s first six came off the fourth ball he faced – and when the ball was soaring into the night sky, it seemed like it would clear the entire stadium – and his final one sealed the match with two balls to spare.India did have a chance though, even amid the carnage. The 18th over began with Bumrah bowling three superb slower balls to earn a hat-trick of dots. West Indies now needed 32 off 14 and Simmons knew he had to make up the difference. The next ball was length and it was launched over the leg side. Ravindra Jadeja tracked it from deep midwicket, and it appeared he had pulled off a blinder on the edge of the wide long-on boundary. Only he was too close to the rope. Although he had tossed the ball to – who else – Kohli in a desperate attempt at a relay catch, the tip of Jadeja’s boot had touched the advertising skirting when he first made contact with the ball. Sammy likened his team to David in the pre-match press conference, but their success tonight was right from Goliath’s playbook.There were a few questions to answer for India – mostly about those no-balls, and how the rest of the batsmen had not contributed enough, and also about how Ashwin bowled only two overs in each of the two knockout matches. But eventually, it was logical that the most powerful batting line-up won on a featherbed of a track, with dew also coming into play. Kohli, though, had been defying every kind of logic on a cricket field – the law of averages and strike-rates to name two. The 82 not out against Australia to get to the semi-final was a masterclass. The 89 not out at Wankhede was transcendent, partly because when he came in, he looked incredibly suspect.Quite apart from how he plays proper cricketing shots and still thrives in the hit-and-giggle format, even the mistakes he makes are barely believable. He could have been run-out off a free-hit delivery.Simply sample this: he was not out for a second knockout match in a row – that means he averaged 136.50 in the World T20. He hit only one six, and yet his strike rate was 189.36. Kohli came to the Wankhede with more runs than the rest of the Indian top-five combined, and he finished so too.India play Twenty20 cricket like they play the other formats too. They aren’t hell-bent on boundaries and it was apparent tonight – they got 92 runs through fours and sixes and 96 of them simply by running between the wickets. No one exhibits that style of play better than Kohli. He and Ajinkya Rahane – who came in for Shikhar Dhawan – ran more twos than they played dot balls during their second-wicket partnership of 66 runs. It had only five fours, and only one came of Rahane’s bat.Kohli dominated the next partnership too – with MS Dhoni – and not through brutal hitting. He placed the wide yorkers past point. The whiplash his wrists can generate took length balls from outside off and put them in the square-leg boundary. Before doing so once in the 14th over, Kohli was whispering to himself, “come on, come on, come on.” The same words he had yelled after securing his first four – off an outside edge to deep third man. Kohli was clearly switched on, and went into hyper drive in the slog overs. He struck 45 off 16 balls. Among them was a picture perfect cover drive that he struck after coming down the track and when it beat Russell running to his left from long-off, he indulged in a smirk. That was essentially Kohli in a shot. Playing proper cricket shots and picking the gap to maximise their effect.But West Indies simply outgunned him in the end and were now only one step away from their “mission” to be world champions once again.

Rising Pune Supergiants may be the visitors, but they enter this clash as favourites against an underperforming Kings XI Punjab

The Preview by Sirish Raghavan16-Apr-2016Match factsSunday, April 17, 2016
Start time: 1600 local (1030 GMT)Big Picture”Played two, lost two” only scratches at the surface of Kings XI Punjab’s corpus of worries as they head into their third match of the season. The manner of their defeat against Delhi Daredevils at the Feroz Shah Kotla was particularly disconcerting. The middle order looked shaky and David Miller and Glenn Maxwell – on whom the team strongly depends – appeared badly out of form. Chaotic running between the wickets and missed chances in the field rounded off an all-round shambolic performance. Hence, even as they return to Mohali, Kings XI may be forgiven for feeling like they have strayed up a beanstalk and need to steal a win from Rising Pune Supergiants.Supergiants, for their part, will seek momentum with their settled side. Notwithstanding their defeat at the hands of Gujarat Lions, they have most bases covered. The top order is firing, the spinners are playing their part, and captain MS Dhoni played a fine cameo when he got the chance, against Lions. Though Rajat Bhatia and Mitchell Marsh had a poor match against the Lions, they bowled economical spells in the tournament opener against Mumbai Indians. RP Singh and Ishant Sharma may be more of a concern, though, particularly in relation to their struggles when bowling in the end overs.Ultimately, Supergiants seem to have more options and more ways to win a match than Kings XI. The hosts will need a disciplined and gutsy effort with contributions from their key players to register their first win of IPL 2016.In the spotlightMuch attention has been paid to Kings XI’s underperforming big-ticket overseas players, but in the meanwhile, Manan Vohra has scored good-looking, quickfire thirties in both their matches this season. After a quiet 2015, the 22-year-old looks in fine form at the moment and, with many of his team-mates struggling, might be the man to produce a standout performance.In the spotlight for Supergiants will be Ashwin. Both of them. M Ashwin, the young legspinner, has done a good job in the two matches so far and clearly has his captain’s backing. What was particularly noticeable in the opening match was how R Ashwin, senior offspinner and fellow Tamil Nadu player, was guiding the youngster through his spell, even as he himself got just the one over. In the last match, the two Ashwins bowled out their quotas and were their team’s best bowlers. After Kings XI’s capitulation to Amit Mishra on Friday, the Ashwins might have their work cut out.Team newsDespite the batting collapse of the last match, Kings XI might well be tempted to give the top seven another chance. On the bowling front, though, Mitchell Johnson has looked out of sorts, which could leave the door open for Kyle Abbott or Marcus Stoinis.Kings XI Punjab (probable) 1 M Vijay, 2 Manan Vohra, 3 Shaun Marsh, 4 David Miller (capt), 5 Glenn Maxwell, 6 Axar Patel, 7 Wriddhiman Saha (wk), 8 Mitchell Johnson/Kyle Abbott/Marcus Stoinis, 9 Mohit Sharma, 10 Pardeep Sahu, 11 Sandeep SharmaDhoni is known for his aversion to tinkering with his team, but as he strives to hit upon his best XI, he may make an exception. Albie Morkel might be considered in place of Mitchell Marsh, while RP Singh could well make way for Ishwar Pandey or Jaskaran Singh.Rising Pune Supergiants (probable) 1 Ajinkya Rahane, 2 Faf du Plessis, 3 Kevin Pietersen, 4 Steven Smith, 5 MS Dhoni (capt, wk), 6 Mitchell Marsh/Albie Morkel, 7 Rajat Bhatia, 8 R Ashwin, 9 Ishant Sharma, 10 M Ashwin, 11 RP Singh/Ishwar Pandey/Jaskaran SinghPitch and conditionsThe Mohali pitch is generally good for batting, though Lions’ Dwayne Bravo and Ravindra Jadeja showed that quality bowling can reap rewards too. Big boundaries, especially square of the wicket, will test the teams’ running between the wickets and fielding. That test will be all the greater in an afternoon match, with a forecast high of 38 degrees.Stats and trivia Kings XI have a win-loss record of 1-4 in their last five matches in Mohali. Prior to that, they had won six consecutive matches at the venue Kevin Pietersen has two fifty-plus IPL scores in Mohali, in as many matches

For all the outcry, the ICC annual conference remained wedded to a 10-team World Cup looks set to go ahead in England – and the ECB’s unyielding attitude has caused resentment from Ireland and Scotland in particular

Tim Wigmore01-Jul-2015For the 95 Associate and Affiliate members of the ICC, the most significant part of the recent annual conference was what was not announced. There was no formal discussion of the format of the next two World Cups, effectively confirming that the 2019 and 2023 tournaments will be three days longer than the 2015 edition but reduced to ten teams.”The only information that I’ve had from the ‘Big Three’ was that it was extremely difficult to unpick the TV rights and to change things,” Ross McCollom, chairman of Cricket Ireland, said in reference to the takeover by India, England and Australia. The ICC’s broadcasting deal with Star Sports, agreed last October, guaranteed India nine games in the 2019 and 2023 World Cups.Scotland captain Preston Mommsen has made clear his disgust at the attitude of England who, as hosts of the 2019 tournament and a prime mover in restructuring the governing body, were critical to the ICC’s decision-making.Giles Clarke, the ECB president, is known to be a strong supporter of the move; a senior ICC source recently described him as “hell bent” on a 10-team World Cup. The ECB chose not to explain its stance.”There is anger at what I’m reading about the ECB and their input into this ICC meeting,” Mommsen said. “That’s going to make me and my Associate colleagues very angry that they’ve taken such a selfish and narrow-minded approach to the entire decision-making process. It’s very short-sighted and not good for the growth of the global game.”He added that the proximity of leading Associates to England made the possibility that none would qualify for the 2019 World Cup “a serious missed opportunity”.”I don’t think they have any right to call it a World Cup,” Mommsen said. “It’s completely regressive when you compare it to other global sports. It’s beyond belief that this is actually happening in 2015.”The idea and dream of playing in a World Cup is what inspired me to try and play for Scotland. I’m sure it was the carrot for many current and past Scottish players to play the game.”Mommsen fears that the reduction in teams for the World Cup will “significantly impact upon the younger generation. It’s going to be even more of a challenge now for Cricket Scotland to keep growing the sport.”

“A young lad now may well choose a different sport. All the other sports are expanding their World Cups and we don’t see why we should be shrinking ours”

Mommsen even suggested that “taking that to a higher body is something that I have no doubt will be looked at by the top Associate nations”. In 2011, there was talk of Associate nations challenging the original plans to make the 2015 World Cup ten teams in the Court of Arbitration for Sport, although this time there is at least the prospect of a qualifying tournament for the last two spots.His frustration is exacerbated by the performance of the Associates in the 2015 World Cup, and the support Martin Crowe, Kumar Sangakkara, Sachin Tendulkar and many others gave to their presence.”It’s probably the best tournament that Associates have had,” Mommsen said. “The ICC could actually take a lot of credit for all their hard work but instead of embracing that instead that they’ve decided to take away all the hard work.”It would be good to know the facts of why this decision has been made. Clearly money is a huge factor but that can’t be the only factor,” Mommsen said, arguing that the ICC could make far more money in the long run by displaying a more inclusive attitude. “The deal is short sighted in terms of markets that could be tapped into in the longer term. If you gave other countries the chance to a) take part and b) try and take part that opens the door.”While less withering than Mommsen, Willie Donald, the acting chief executive of Cricket Scotland, was also exasperated by the news. “If England haven’t supported wider access to the World Cup then that is unfortunate,” he said. “We share the disappointment of the other associates.”Donald suggested that there was a “bipolar situation” in the ICC, contrasting the genuine efforts made to expand cricket with “the decision to corner the market”.Niall O’Brien, who has played in all three World Cups in Ireland’s history, said that “we wouldn’t be where we are now” if Ireland hadn’t participated in the 2007 World Cup, which was a 16-team tournament. “If that’s not as possible for a young lad now they may well choose a different sport.””All the other sports are expanding their World Cups and we don’t see why we should be shrinking ours,” he said. “It’s gut-wrenching. It’s just a bit sad that potentially Ireland have played in their last World Cup.”O’Brien added that it was “very strange” that the 2019 World Cup qualifier will be in Bangladesh, while the 2023 World Cup qualifier has been awarded to Zimbabwe. “The ICC obviously don’t want a Full Member to miss out on the tournament,” he said. The previous World Cup qualifier was in New Zealand, replicating the conditions in the main tournament.But McCollom suggested that Ireland had not yet completely given up hope that the decision to contract the World Cup might be reversed.”It’s not like they’ve never changed decisions before so we’ll always live in hope that they might see the light and change their minds,” he said. “The quote that they’re trying to use is a bigger, better global game but reducing the size of the World Cup doesn’t back up what they’re saying.”While Ireland have led the opposition to previous ICC decisions, they have been comparatively less vociferous in opposing the steps taken to reduce the World Cup, reflecting their hope that the new ODI 12-team structure will lead to more fixtures.McCollom conceded that it had been “extremely frustrating” trying to secure games against Test nations but added, “there is traction happening”. It is understood that Ireland hope to host both Sri Lanka and Pakistan for two-match ODI series in 2016; they are also likely to play a triangular series with Afghanistan in Zimbabwe this October, with the same three teams playing in a tri-series in Ireland next year.Tim Anderson, the ICC’s well-respected head of global development, last week asserted that Associate cricket was “in a much better place now than say it was six or 12 months ago” despite the World Cup decision.However, it is far from clear that Associates themselves agree. “I’m not even sure we’re in an equal place – we’re in a new place and a different place,” Donald said.Tim Cutler, the chief executive of Hong Kong, was also not convinced. “With the World T20 now out to four years and the reduction in World Cup teams I would have to say the assertion that there are now more opportunities for Associates and Affiliates isn’t entirely accurate,” he said. “It’s quite a bitter pill to swallow.”Cutler also argued for cricket to strongly consider making a push for Olympic status, something staunchly opposed by England and India. “Perhaps a sixes tournament in the Olympics could be the shop window opportunity for us to showcase our great sport without compromising media deals,” he said. “Even the cynics cannot deny that the potential of national investment in new markets like China is appealing.”Based on the example of rugby sevens, the Chinese Cricket Association would expect to receive $20 million a year from the Chinese government if cricket was included in the Olympics. They currently receive only $30,000 a year from the ICC.

A lower-order rally turned the day around for Somerset before Nottinghamshire were blown away after tea for 114

Alex Winter at Trent Bridge19-May-2015
ScorecardSomerset ran through Notts after tea on the third day•Getty Images begins the Somerset victory song. So far this season they have been unable to locate it but here they grabbed the “gurt big stick” to knock down said bird for a first win of the season, snapping a run of four straight defeats. A lower-order rally turned the day around before Nottinghamshire were blown away after tea for 114.The ball swung from first ball to last, seamed a bit too, and the bowlers lapped it up to take 22 wickets in the day. Batting was as miserable as the clouds that mostly skirted around Trent Bridge. It was quite a turnaround for the Somerset attack who conceded 405 to lose at home to Middlesex two weeks ago. By contrast Notts, who drew their opening three matches, have now lost two in a row.’First-innings runs crucial’

Mick Newell: “We had some soft dismissals in that second innings but overall we haven’t played well enough. We lost the game in the first innings really. They got far too many on a pitch with pace and bounce that we wanted but we haven’t bowled well enough on it, over the games we’ve had we’ve bowled better on the flatter pitches than the livelier ones.
“We’re going to have to keep playing on these types of wickets and just bowl better. We don’t have a world-class spin bowler so we have to encourage our seamers try and win matches.
Marcus Trescothick: “Our first-innings runs were crucial in the context in the game. Three hundred on that pitch was far too many. We’ve been working on numerous things in the last few weeks, we’re pushing to get things right. We did some really good things in the New Zealand game with the ball and carried it on here.
“In my career I think I’ve only won here twice at best. We needed to turn things around and delighted we’ve done so.
“One of the biggest problems this season has been our lower-order runs but here Craig Overton has got 50 off about 25 balls and Lewis Gregory put some more together today.”

Somerset’s bleak run looked set to continue at 59 for 6 in their second innings, 145 ahead. But in adding 75 for the final three wickets they set Nottinghamshire 248 to win – a similar target Notts conceded in the fourth innings to lose at Durham last week. But they got nowhere near repeating the feat against Somerset’s best bowling performance of the season.Keeping a full length, both edges were threatened and all of the seamers profited. As did Marcus Trescothick, Somerset’s beleaguered captain, who took three catches at second slip, including a stunner to remove Greg Smith. When he held Riki Wessels, seventh out after a patient 30, he knew Somerset’s troubles were about to be lightened by victory. They finished the task in the extra half-hour after another fine catch, this from Johann Myburgh diving to his left at backward point.Trescothick held three more catches than he made runs in the match after recording a pair – only the second of his career and first away from Taunton. It was the start of Somerset’s second-innings slide, in a manner of teams who have lost the knack of winning. But as the sun poured through the clouds like butterscotch, Somerset’s day began to get sweeter.Lewis Gregory was a batsman before he became an opening bowler and his 26 not out here was perhaps one of his most significant innings. It helped turn the game back Somerset’s way, leading to a victory that could spark alive their season. He struck a six into the New Stand to take the lead over 200 and stayed with wicketkeeper Alex Barrow – in hideous form before this game and batting at No. 9 – and Tim Groenewald to add vital stands of 39 and 25. Twenty-one of the latter were made by the free-swinging Groenewald, perhaps buoyed by his clean hitting against New Zealand last week; his nine wickets in that match would have done no harm here either.The eighth-wicket affair was fairly comfortable until Barrow, having taken boundaries with a handsome straight drive and a short-arm pull off Gurney, attempted another pull as Gurney went around the wicket and top-edged it to midwicket. There was no Craig Overton repeat act – 55 in 31 balls in the first-innings – but at least Groenewald boosted the total.It was a fine effort in very difficult conditions. The odd ball also kept a little low and Peter Trego fell lbw to one such delivery; he was seventh man out, having briefly counterattacked with four boundaries.Vernon Philander signed for Notts for just these days and cleaned up Trescothick for the second time in the match, the opener having lasted only 11 balls in both innings. This was his fourth duck in his last seven knocks. He has been bowled in five of those seven innings and here an inswinger removed middle stump.It will be clouded by victory but Somerset’s top order remains their biggest concern and there were further failures here for Johann Myburgh, edging a drive to third slip for a third-ball duck, and Tom Abell, who was slightly aggrieved to be given out lbw to Luke Wood. Tom Cooper could have no complaints about the same dismissal.Another lbw decision followed against James Hildreth, who is chasing 1000 first-class runs before the end of May but got only 23 closer. The ball before also produced a huge appeal, for which Philander was given a stern telling off by umpire Tim Robinson.There will now be a bigger telling off for Notts from their coach Mick Newell. Samit Patel and Jake Ball at least delivered a batting bonus point in the opening overs of the day but ultimately, that was all they had to take.

A round-up of Ranji Trophy 2014-15 Group A games played on February 9, 2015

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Feb-2015
ScorecardLed by M Vijay’s unbeaten 104, Tamil Nadu beat Baroda by seven wickets at the Moti Bagh stadium in Vadodara to seal a quarter-final spot.Tamil Nadu resumed their chase of 207 from 51 for 1 on the fourth day, but lost B Aparajith for 10 in the seventh over of the day, with Sagar Mangalorkar providing the breakthrough. Vijay, who resumed from an overnight score of 26, carried on and recorded his 16th first-class century. He added 66 for the third wicket with Dinesh Karthik, and an unbroken 69 with Vijay Shankar, as Tamil Nadu aced their chase of 207. Mangalorkar picked up the two wickets to fall on the final day, capping off a match haul of nine wickets.
ScorecardEklavya Dwivedi slammed an unbeaten 102 off 73 deliveries to steer Uttar Pradesh to a seven-wicket win against Railways, thus helping them avoid relegation. Uttar Pradesh were placed at the bottom of Group A before the game but finished in seventh place.Chasing 243, UP began the fourth day at 25 for 0 but suffered an early setback when opener Shivam Chaudhary was bowled by seamer Anureet Singh in the first over. Tanmay Srivastava, however, kicked on to bring up his 20th first-class fifty and added 81 for the third wicket with Himanshu Asnora.After Asnora (43) and Srivastava (53) fell within three overs, Dwivedi charged to his third first-class ton, while No.4 Umang Sharma chipped in with 35 off 70 balls. Dwivedi scored 15 fours and three sixes during his knock as UP completed the chase in 74.4 overs. Piyush Chawla was named Man of the Match for his match haul of six wickets and a knock of 73 in the first innings.
ScorecardWriddhiman Saha’s doughty 92 helped Bengal avoid a loss and thwarted Madhya Pradesh’s chances of qualifying for the quarterfinals as the game between the two sides ended in a draw. An outright win would have taken Madhya Pradesh to 22 points and would have pipped them over Mumbai in the race for the third qualifying spot from Group A.Following on with a deficit of 184 runs on the fourth day, Bengal lost the overnight pair of Sudeep Chatterjee and Arindam Das in successive overs. Quick strikes from medium-pacer Puneet Datey, who dismissed Manoj Tiwary and Laxmi Shukla, soon had them struggling at 157 for 5, from where Bengal slid to 212 for 7. Saha and Saurasish Lahiri, however, stitched together a valuable 90-run partnership for the eighth wicket, batting out 53.5 overs in the process. Saha was dismissed in the last over of the day for 92 off 232 deliveries with 11 fours, while Lahiri was unbeaten on 48 off 187 balls with nine fours.

PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan has said the Pakistan team had the “worst fitness levels” in the world, and hinted at changes after the ongoing Bangladesh tour

Umar Farooq in Mirpur07-May-2015PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan has said the Pakistan team had the “worst fitness levels” in the world, and that only Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan meet the minimum standard in the country. He added that there will not be any immediate remedial steps as fitness culture has to be developed over time.”None of our first-class teams measure up to the minimum domestic standard of fitness, which makes it difficult to select a national team. These things have to be addressed over time, and it cannot be done overnight. Our fitness levels are not up to the international standards. We have to take drastic steps now because we don’t have a culture of fitness and this has to be installed.”After landing in Dhaka on Wednesday, he gave a 10-minute speech to the Pakistan team, hinting at changes after the ongoing series against Bangladesh, and was also critical of their performance so far in the local media.”I have come here to witness the last Test and give my support personally to the team,” he said. “There is disappointment at the result of this tour but I was not surprised because Bangladesh have shown steady improvement over the last few years and cannot be taken lightly anymore.”There are concerns back home with regard to Pakistan’s performance, and I will talk to the coaches, manager and captain to find out the reasons for our unsuccessful tour. But I am not here to take immediate action. We have decided that we will sit down and assess the situation after the tour to see what is to be done with the team and the strategy.”Shaharyar was particularly disappointed with the gulf in the levels of fitness between Pakistan and the other teams. “I think the problem is very deep, our fitness levels are very poor. We are only at grade 10 while teams like Australia and South Africa are at grade 14. You can see the difference in Bangladesh [too], they are fit. Our minimum level of fitness is only met by Misbah and Younis. None of the others meet this level, which is unacceptable.”Pakistan have had a disastrous tour. They were blanked 3-0 in the ODIs and slipped from No. 7 in the rankings to No. 9. Improvement will be necessary to qualify for the ICC Champions Trophy in 2017. Then they lost the T20 and were on the receiving end of a record-breaking batting performance from Bangladesh in the first Test.”We are not pressing the panic button just yet,” Shaharyar said. “We have lost here and lost it badly, but to a very good Bangladesh team. They are doing very well and playing with a lot of spirit as was evident from the way they recovered from a 300-run deficit in the previous Test in Khulna.”But we will abide by our earlier decision and assess what changes are to be made, both in the short run and the long term. A short-run alteration would mean changing the captain and the selection committee, but I don’t think that is the answer. Tinkering with the team will not make much of a difference. We are looking at remedial actions that will address the issues in the long run.”Shaharyar further said that both Pakistan and Bangladesh are determined to improve their ties in future. “We had a problem in the past as they were supposed to come to Pakistan in 2012 but they had their reasons,” he said. “We want to continue building ties between Pakistan and Bangladesh regularly. I know BCB want to reciprocate by coming to us later on, after two years, but meanwhile they are sending the women’s team and we are happy with that”

The game-changing 267-run stand that sent records tumbling was born of enjoyment and good vibes, protagonists Luke Ronchi and Grant Elliott said, after the pair was instrumental in earning New Zealand a 3-1 lead in the series against Sri Lanka

Andrew Fidel Fernando23-Jan-20153:06

‘Just couldn’t get the strike off Ronchi’ – Elliott

The game-changing 267-run stand that sent records tumbling was born of enjoyment and good vibes, protagonists Luke Ronchi and Grant Elliott said, after the pair was instrumental in earning New Zealand a 3-1 lead in the series against Sri Lanka. The team was on track for a mediocre score, at 93 for 5, when the pair came together, but they both scored quickly, then began to launch a sustained attack that transformed the outlook of the innings.Ronchi hit his maiden international ton and finished on 170 not out from 99 balls, while Elliott scored his second ODI ton, to remain unbeaten on 104 from 96.”It was really fun to be out there with Ronchs. I was sitting at the non-striker’s trying to get the strike off him, but I couldn’t – he kept hitting fours and sixes all the time,” Elliott said. “I really enjoyed watching his innings, and it was great to have a fellow Wellingtonian there to celebrate the hundred with me, and also to celebrate his first hundred.”Ronchi said the pair did not put pressure on themselves, despite the dire match situation when they came together. That manifested in a faster scoring rate than is common in such a situation, and an eventual total that was highly unlikely to be reeled in.”When we first started the innings we thought we’d just bat for a while and get through that little period when the ball was still doing a bit,” Ronchi said. “After that we were pretty relaxed about the whole situation and enjoyed the position we were in. Both of us were scoring quite freely and getting what we wanted out of the bowlers.”You start playing shots and things happen without you even thinking of it, and then you know you’re flowing nicely and in the zone. We were both definitely in that zone at some stage and continued on. It was a lot of fun in the whole situation. There was a lot of joy in getting the hundred and pushing on and winning.”Elliott was the more measured of the two batsmen, often choosing to rotate the strike, rather than match Ronchi stroke for stroke. He has played in a similar vein for New Zealand in the past, and suggested he would continue to shelve his more aggressive domestic avatar away in national colours, at least until the last few overs of the innings.”I think I was very fortunate with the way Ronchs was playing. I could just stay on my end and push ones and get us into a good position. That’s my role – to build a foundation from where we can strike. We were fortunate enough to get into a position when we could say: ‘Let’s both have a go now.’ Ronchs was having a go from ball one anyway.”I’ve been playing a different sort of role for Wellington, where I come in at the end and give it a whack. It seems like whenever I play for the Black Caps, my role is to come in and rotate the strike and strike as close to a 100 as I can, especially if we’ve lost three quick ones. In Nelson I probably gave it away, but I was there for the fun bit today with Ronchs at the end, and that’s where you want to be. Hitting a few boundaries was satisfying.”The unbeaten stand was a world record for the sixth wicket, and second highest for any wicket for New Zealand. Elliott said it was precisely the collective focus on the needs of the team, rather than personal milestones, that has allowed New Zealand to make such major strides in their cricket.”We didn’t even know what the world record is,” he said. “I thought I was on 98 when Luke came to me and told me I only needed a single to get a hundred. I think that that’s an indication of what the team environment is like. It’s not about the milestones for individuals out there. It’s about getting as many runs as we can get as a team. At the end of it, we’ve got some accolades which is great. We’ll share some beers tonight and look at the world record – whatever it may be, and be pretty proud that it’s contributed to a win.”