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Lancs lead Worcestershire by 12 runs as weather plays a big part again

ECB Reporters Network12-Jun-2019Lancashire’s hopes of securing a substantial first-innings lead were halted by the weather on day three of the Specsavers County Championship match with Worcestershire at Blackfinch New Road despite an unbeaten half century from Liam Livingstone.The Division Two leaders had to kick their heels in frustration for nearly two days after bowling out Worcestershire for 98 on the opening day.When the action finally resumed at 2.10pm on Wednesday, Lancashire recovered from a shaky start to reach 110 for 3 with Livingstone dominating an unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 78 with Haseeb Hameed. But bad light halted play just 2.2 overs after tea with Livingstone on 53 and Hameed 22.The resumption was the first action since the players left the pitch at 2.30pm on the first day after Worcestershire had been dismissed in 38.1 overs. More than 1,100 gallons of water were pumped off the outfield today after more heavy overnight rainThe home side needed to make early inroads after being bowled out so cheaply and club captain Joe Leach struck in his third over when he trapped Keaton Jennings lbw for 6.Alex Davies, restored to the side in place of Jake Lehmann, looked in good form and cover drove and cut Charlie Morris for successive boundaries. Davies, who scored a century for the Second Eleven against Durham last week, picked up two more fours to third man in the next over from Morris.But the introduction of Wayne Parnell into the attack brought about a double breakthrough with successive balls in his first over. Davies went for a drive and inside-edged a delivery from the left-armer onto his back pad and through to keeper Ben Cox. Then Parnell picked up another scalp when Rob Jones pushed forward and was beaten by a ball which hit his off stump.Livingstone survived the hat-trick ball and then began to flourish in partnership with Haseeb Hameed. He pulled a delivery from debutant Adam Finch for four after he had replaced Leach and then took a shine to the bowling of Ed Barnard, cutting the England Lions all-rounder for four and then hoisting him over mid-wicket for six. The 50 stand between Livingstone and Hameed came up in 92 balls.Finch was given an official warning by umpire Mark Newell for running on the pitch and was replaced in the attack after a four-over spell.Livingstone completed his fifty shortly after tea with a single off Leach and his 68-ball knock contained eight fours and a six. But the players left the field shortly afterwards.”I felt like I was hitting the ball well from last week,” Livingstone said. “It was a bit tricky early on but got a bit easier as time went on.”It is so frustrating when there is so much rain around. I felt in decent nick. It was about getting in and hopefully setting a foundation to try and get to 200 but the light has stopped us getting another point. Hopefully there is a miracle tomorrow and somehow this rain disappears.”

Everton are in a difficult spot in the Premier League at the moment. Sean Dyche's side are sitting merely a point above the relegation zone, having played a game extra than 18th-place Luton Town.

The winter transfer window is of paramount importance to Dyche and his team as the board will need to invest in the squad to avoid dropping out of the top-flight for the first time ever.

As a result, Dyche is reportedly interested in bolstering his midfield department before the January window closes.

Everton transfer news – Hannibal Mejbri

It was reported by The Guardian this past week that Everton are one of two interested parties alongside Sevilla who are keen to take Manchester United youngster Hannibal Mejbri on loan until the end of the season.

The Toffees are said to be hamstrung in the transfer market due to Financial Fair Play regulations so the Tunisia international coming in until the end of the campaign would fall under Everton's capabilities.

However, it has also been reported that Manchester United and Arsenal are hoping to secure the services of Amadou Onana this month, with the Merseyside club said to be holding out for £60m for the Belgian.

If a club matches Onana's price tag, Everton may even be able to capture Mejbri permanently, as the player currently holds a market value of merely £8.6m, as per the CIES Football Observatory.

Hannibal Mejbri's stats this season

Mejbri moved to Old Trafford back in 2019 as a highly-rated 16-year-old from AS Monaco for a reported £9.3m. The young playmaker even left a lasting impression on football scout Jacek Kulig, who described Mejbri as a player with a "high football IQ".

Having spent his first three seasons at the club in the academy set-up, the Tunisian got his first consistent taste of men's football last season when he joined Championship outfit Birmingham City on loan. Unfortunately, upon returning to Old Trafford, Mejbri has struggled to see much action, playing merely 327 minutes in total for the Red Devils across ten appearances, which averages out at 32.7 minutes per match.

A loan spell at Goodison Park could be welcomed by the player himself. However, Dyche may be forced to tweak his tactics, especially if Onana leaves the club. Mejbri can play as both a number ten behind the centre-forward or even as a central midfielder, having done so 87 times in his career.

Hannibal Mejbri's Career Stats

Position

Appearances

Goals

Assists

Attacking Midfield

55

6

15

Central Midfield

32

2

9

Left Midfield

2

0

0

Left Winger

1

0

0

Right Winger

1

0

0

Right Midfield

1

0

0

Stats via Transfermarkt

The one position that the Man United academy product hasn't played is as a holding midfielder, which is where Onana currently operates, alongside either Idrissa Gueye, James Garner or Andre Gomes in a double-pivot. If Onana leaves, Mejbri can't directly fill his shoes, but Abdoulaye Doucoure certainly can.

The Malian is Everton's top goalscorer this season with six goals but could be forced down the pitch to fill Onana's colossal boots. Nonetheless, he is more than capable based on his stats this season.

Per 90 Metrics

Abdoulaye Doucoure

Amadou Onana

Goals

0.35

0.1

Expected Goals

0.32

0.1

Assists

0.06

0.05

Expected Assists

0.06

0.07

Progressive Carries

2

0.96

Progressive Passes

3.06

4.73

Progressive Passes Received

5.19

2.12

Key Passes

1.44

0.68

Passes To Penalty Area

1.88

3.42

Stats via FBref

Everton will lose quality if Onana leaves, that is certain, but Doucoure has played in his position 68 times in his career so he would know exactly how to play the role, even if it diminishes his attacking output. On the other hand, Dyche could also revert to a 4-5-1 instead of his preferred 4-4-1-1, using Mejbri and Doucoure as the two central midfielders with Garner or Gueye sitting behind them.

Mejbri is a player with Premier League experience and who will be hungry to impress. Even if Onana stays, Dyche shouldn't pass up the opportunity to sign the Manchester United star on loan.

Fans share their opinion after news broke that Premier League could consider abolishing VAR from the 2024/25 season.

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Fans spoke out on the possible abolition of VARWolves submitted resolutionNeed consent from 14 Premier League clubs to pass motionWHAT HAPPENED?

On Wednesday, reported that Premier League clubs are set to vote on scrapping the VAR system ahead of the 2024/25 season at their annual general meeting next month after Wolves formally submitted the resolution.

AdvertisementWHAT THE FANS ARE SAYING

Several fans took to X to share their opinion on the possibility of removal of the highly controversial VAR from the Premier League starting from the 2024/25 campaign.

A fan named Will Reyner expressed frustration over the referees more than the technology as he wrote, "Use it like they do in Europe. Not difficult. It’s the referees who need scrapping."

A fan account named Asensii refused to blame the technology as he wrote, "Only thieves complain about CCTV."

Patrick Timmons also blamed the referees as he wrote, "If you can view the same incident 10 times from 10 different angles and STILL come to the wrong decision, the issue is the referees, not the technology."

An account named The Ferguson Way wrote, "Blaming VAR for the ref's being useless is like blaming the car for not knowing to drive."

This account, named Shadows Of Constantinople, backed the Premier League clubs' decision by writing, "Get rid of it! It’s corrupt and wastes our time! It was BETTER BEFORE."

Echoing similar views, Abie wrote, "Scrap it off man, it's killing the vibe."

GettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

There have been several VAR-related controversies throughout the current season, most notably Liverpool's wrongly disallowed goal against Tottenham earlier in the campaign. Nottingham Forest have also repeatedly complained about the usage of the technology, even writing to the Premier League to protest against it.

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Getty/GOALWHAT NEXT?

Wolves need consent from 13 out of the remaining 19 Premier League clubs to pass the motion and for VAR to potentially be removed from the English top tier.

The trio will be inducted on Monday night at the Australia Cricket Awards in Melbourne

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Feb-2019Dean Jones, Billy Murdoch and Cathryn Fitzpatrick will be inducted into the Australia Cricket Hall of Fame at the Australian Cricket Awards in Melbourne on Monday night.Jones is perhaps best remembered for his heroic double century in the 1986 tied Test in Madras which he made despite suffering severe illness, but he also helped revolutionise one-day cricket in the late 80s and early 90s, playing a key role in Australia’s 1987 World Cup victory and he was ranked the No. 1 ODI batsman for four years between 1989 and 1992.”A game changer, he was renowned as one of the best runners between the wickets and being one of the best outfielders of his generation,” Hall of Fame chairman Peter King said. “He was one of the key reasons that Australia claimed the World Cup in 1987 while his heroics with the bat to score a double century in oppressive conditions in the famous Tied Test between Australia and India in 1986 remains legendary in the history of Australian cricket.”Fitzpatrick, renowned as one of the fastest bowlers to have played, is currently the second-highest wicket-taker in women’s ODIs having represented Australia for over 15 years and starred in the 1997 and 2005 World Cup victories, then went on to coach them to T20 World Cup wins in 2012 and 2014 alongside the 2013 World Cup.”Cathryn Fitzpatrick was regarded by team-mates and opponents as the world’s premier female fast bowler over her decorated career,” King said. “Her dedication to the game ensured she regularly bowled at a sharp pace which batters around the world often struggled to handle. She was dangerous right to the end of her career, claiming a six-wicket haul – that included a hat-trick – in her second last match.”Murdoch was the second captain of the Australia Test team and played 19 matches between 1880 and 1890, one of which – his last – came for England against South Africa in 1892 after he had qualified to represent them. He was the first player to score a Test double hundred, at The Oval in 1884, and made nearly 17,000 first-class runs with a career-best 321 not out against Victoria in 1881-82.In 1884-85, Murdoch led the Australians in a pay dispute having been denied his demand of 50 percent of gate takings. It was six years until he played another Test for Australia.

Glasgow Rangers return to domestic action this weekend following the prolonged international break and Philippe Clement will be hoping his side can continue from where they left off.

Six wins and a draw in his first seven matches is a positive start, but the foot must not be taken off the gas as the club face 12 matches in just 38 days, starting with a tie against Aberdeen this Sunday.

If the Ibrox side can emerge from this period unscathed, then Clement could delve into the transfer market to add another fresh face or two to his squad.

Rangers transfer news

At the start of the month, the Scottish Sun claimed the Gers were showing an interest in centre-back Nathaniel Adjei as Clement aims to bolster his defensive options.

Old Firm rivals Celtic are also keeping tabs on the defender, along with some European sides, as the race for his signature heats up.

The Light Blues could have received a recent boost, however, as Sunderland – who were credited with an interest in the youngster – won’t be making a move for him in January.

With reinforcements needed at Ibrox ahead of the second half of the season, especially if European progress is secured, Clement could now make a more concrete approach for the player.

It could take a fee of around £3m to lure him to Glasgow and this could be the only stumbling block.

Nathaniel Adjei’s season in numbers

The Gers have enjoyed previous success with recruiting players from Scandinavia, as Alfredo Morelos joined from HJK Helsinki in the summer of 2017, and enjoyed a wonderful six-year spell in Glasgow.

Indeed, the Colombian not only scored 124 goals for the club – becoming only the 18th post-war player to reach that total for the Gers in 2021 – but he is also the top scorer in European competition for the Light Blues.

This proves that there is quality to be found in Scandinavia and Adjei could have a similar impact, albeit at the other end of the pitch, should he move to the Premiership side.

For Hammarby last season, Adjei ranked fifth across the squad for accurate passes (40.8) along with ranking third for accurate long balls (3.5) and third for clearances per game (2.7), clearly impressing in the Swedish top flight.

His physicality is arguably one of his best traits as he won 61% of his ground duels while also winning 62% of his aerial duels in the league last term and this attribute could allow him to slot easily into the heart of the defence at Ibrox.

The Ghanaian was even dubbed a “physical monster” by Kai Watson – who runs the informative Rangers Journal – and he would be a colossus alongside Connor Goldson.

It didn’t take Morelos long to settle in following his move from Finland, as he scored 18 goals during his debut campaign, and Adjei could certainly follow in his footsteps.

Clement will be desperate to add at least one or two new faces to his squad in January and, at just 21 years old, Adjei fits the profile of a player who could be ready for first-team action straight away, while also having the potential to develop into a star.

The next few weeks could be very interesting indeed.

There was never any doubting Jurgen Klopp, surely? Last term Liverpool looked a shadow of the team that had run Manchester City so close to the title, and indeed won the Premier League during that bizarre campaign during the pandemic.

The club had lost its aura and that was largely due to a paperweight midfield that was without a cut and thrust capable of competing with the barnstorming central areas that City and Arsenal possess.

They lacked a Rodri, a Thomas Partey, players who crash around while still bringing an element of class to the way they use the football.

However, in 2023/24, that problem has been fixed. A holding midfielder is perhaps still required but in Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister, a brighter picture has been painted.

So, the thought of adding to that young triumvirate of players is exciting. Enter the January transfer window…

Liverpool's January plans

Chief among the club's plans for the upcoming transfer window will be keeping Mohamed Salah who was the subject of a mega bid from Saudi in the summer.

The thought of their great Egyptian leaving in the next few years is becoming more of a reality the longer time goes on and finding an heir apparent is wise.

It perhaps explains recent links to Bayer Leverkusen sensation Florian Wirtz. The German has attracted the interest of Chelsea of late according to reports but Liverpool are in the conversation too.

Indeed, as per claims in Spain, the Reds are even preparing a €92m (£80m) bid to lure the 20-year-old away from the Bundesliga.

Wirtz's stats this season

Widely renowned as one of the most promising young footballers on the continent, Wirtz has recovered exceptionally well from a horrendous ACL injury that kept him out of action for the best part of nine months in the latter stages of 2022.

Despite that, he was still able to feature 25 times across all competitions for Leverkusen last term, posting four goals and eight assists.

In 2023/24, however, he has gone to another level. Under the wing of former Liverpool hero Xabi Alonso, Wirtz already has six goals and ten assists in 17 outings.

It's been a remarkable start to the season for a young talent who sadly for Alonso seems destined for greater pastures.

Wirtz's style of play

Wirtz is a phenomenally versatile player having played on the wing fleetingly in his young career, as well as a second striker and as a classic number 10. It's in that attacking midfield position, however, where he's been electric this season.

A right-footed talent, the player's heat map (as per Sofascore) dictates that he likes to drift inside onto his favoured foot, often operating in the left-hand channel.

Though, as a remarkable goal in October (shown below) dictates, he can also operate equally as well on the opposing side, gliding past players in jaw-dropping fashion.

This is seemingly a player who has it all. Anton Ferdinand, whether you take his opinion seriously or not, is one man who has been left in awe of the Germany international who he claimed should be spoken about "in the same way as Bellingham", a man Liverpool were so religiously linked with before his move to Real Madrid.

Klopp may have Szoboszlai in his ranks now, a man compared to the marvellous Philippe Coutinho but truth be told, Wirtz is the true heir.

Like the Brazilian who left Anfield for Barcelona, he likes those left-hand channels, cutting inside and unleashing a deadly dose of creativity.

At his peak, Coutinho was a freak of nature in the opposition's third of the pitch. During 2017/18, he sat inside the top 2% of positionally similar players in the Premier League for progressive passes per 90 (11.77) and progressive carries (5.60).

Wirtz isn't quite the same level of ball carrier, managing 4.23 per 90 this season in the Bundesliga, but his creativity is immense. Ranking inside the top 2% of positionally similar players in the German top-flight, he has registered 7.59 progressive passes. It's not quite the dizzy heights of Coutinho just yet but at the age of just 20, these numbers will certainly get even better.

Such a generational talent would, therefore, be a wonderful addition to the Anfield ranks. It's just a pity they'll have to break the bank to seal their next Coutinho.

Newcastle United have been dealt another potential injury blow ahead of their Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain, according to journalist Keith Downie.

Newcastle's injury crisis continues…

The Magpies had such high hopes going into this season, having finished fourth in the Premier League last time around, getting back into the Champions League in the process. A 5-1 win at home to Aston Villa on the opening weekend of the campaign did little to dampen the optimism at St James' Park, but since then, Newcastle have been hit with a string of injury problems.

Eddie Howe has had to make do without endless key men for significant periods of the season already, with the likes of Sven Botman and Dan Burn influential absentees at the back. In midfield, Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton have been out at different times, while attacking pair Callum Wilson and Alexander Isak have struggled to consistently stay fit and new signing Harvey Barnes has barely played.

On top of that, Sandro Tonali's 10-month ban for betting offences has rubbed salt in Newcastle wounds, and Howe will be desperate for a lot more fortune in the availability department between now and the end of the season.

Related Newcastle eyeing one of the “most interesting” players in his position

The Magpies have tracked him “for some time”.

Posts ByHenry Jackson Nov 26, 2023 PSG vs Newcastle team news and updates

Taking to X, Downie claimed that Sean Longstaff is not in Paris with his Newcastle teammates ahead of the clash with PSG, joining Joe Willock on the sidelines and paving the way for teenager Lewis Miley to start.

"No Sean Longstaff or Joe Willock here in Paris, meaning 17-year-old Lewis Miley is set to make his first Champions League start in the Parc Des Princes tomorrow night."

This is just another update that sums up the scarcely believable bad luck that Newcastle have encountered with injuries this season, with Longstaff someone who could be a huge miss against PSG.

While not necessarily a player who fills column inches, the 26-year-old brings industry and underrated quality in the middle of the park, with Howe praising him recently and talking up his chances of getting into the England squad:

“I haven’t spoken with Sean in any great detail about the England squad or his dreams and aims but I’d encourage it for him because I think he is good enough. I think he’s got everything depending on what system you want to play but for us, he perfectly fits the No. 8 role that we’re using him in."

Losing Longstaff to injury is bad enough for Newcastle, but the fact that such a young player looks like he will have to fill in is an added concern, considering Miley only has five first-team appearances to his name for the Magpies. It will be a huge test of his maturity in a daunting atmosphere, despite his excellent performance against Chelsea.

Some may point towards the extra games this season as a reason for Newcastle's injuries, but while a few fitness issues can be caused by too much football, the number of casualties since August almost beggars belief.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Santos conseguiu a liberação para que o atacante Kaio Jorge atue na partida contra o Grêmio, nesta quarta-feira (09), às 19h15, em Porto Alegre, pelo jogo de ida das quartas de final da Copa Libertadores. O jogador havia sido convocado pela Seleção Sub-20 para um torneio quadrangular na Granja Comary, com Bolívia, Chile e Peru.

RelacionadasSantosCuca explica escolha por Santos titular contra o Palmeiras e mostra confiança na LibertadoresSantos06/12/2020SantosCuca explica formação com quatro atacantes e movimentação ofensiva do SantosSantos06/12/2020

O jogador teria que se apresentar a seleção nesta segunda-feira (07) para a preparação da competição que acontece entre os dias 12 e 18. No entanto, devido o bom relacionamento entre a diretoria santista e a CBF o atleta foi liberado para se apresentar após a partida pela competição continental. No entanto, ele ficará de fora do duelo contra o Flamengo, no próximo domingo (13), pela 25ª rodada do Brasileirão, no estádio do Maracanã, mas retorna para atuar no confronto de volta diante do Tricolor Gaúcho, no dia 16 de dezembro, na Vila Belmiro.

Após o empate em 2 a 2 entre Peixe e Palmeiras, neste sábado (05), pela 24ª rodada do Brasileirão, o técnico Cuca se manifestou sobre a convocação de Kaio, pedindo sensibilidade à entidade máxima do futebol nacional para liberar o atacante.

– O Kaio Jorge não pode ir pra Seleção. Eu sempre beneficio e valorizo a convocação do jogador. A última vez o Kaio Jorge foi convocado, eu falei vai e fiquei sem ele. Agora nós temos jogo de Libertadores, jogo contra o Flamengo e a volta da Libertadores, a Seleção vai fazer dois jogos amistosos na Granja, acho que tem que ter a sensibilidade do pessoal que convoca de saber que hoje a necessidade que o Santos tem do jogador é maior do que ele ir e fazer dois jogos amistoso, com todo respeito que tenho à Seleção e ao pessoal que dirige a Seleção – disse Cuca na ocasião.

Revelação santista, o jogador de 18 anos tem 35 jogos em 2020 e quatro gols marcados.

India had their collective best day of the Test series despite the rare instance of Virat Kohli failing to convert a half-century and Ajinkya Rahane falling in the 80s. Asked to bat in the most even bat-ball contest of the series, India showed all-round improvement: the openers added 60, India rediscovered some of their back-foot batting, and then Kohli and Rahane put on India’s highest partnership in the country since the 2002 tour, debutant Rishabh Pant got off to a bright start, and India ended up with a comfortable 307 on the board with four wickets in hand.England were left debating the wisdom of two decisions: picking Adil Rashid over Sam Curran, and then deciding to bowl. There can be two reasons for the latter decision. Either England feel the only life in this pitch was to be had in the first session or they got ahead of themselves and expected India to roll over. The second seemed likelier given the second new ball zipped around towards the end of the day’s play, but India had scored plenty by then. England’s fielding continued to let them down, taking their drops count this series to 10.That India were not going to roll over was evident from how well the openers had lifted their game. This was the third opening combination in three Tests, but KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan had done some work on their batting. It helped them that England bowled shorter than they did in the first two Tests, which meant the ones that moved actually beat the bat as opposed to taking the edge. India also left alone more balls in the first 15 overs – 38 – than in any of their previous innings. They also used the crease more, happy to cut and work the ball of the back foot. Dhawan provided the impetus, punishing every small error, hitting seven fours in his 35.By the time Chris Woakes got rid of the openers in quick succession, they had added more than any Indian opening partnership outside Asia and the West Indies since December 2013. Cheteshwar Pujara then put India in a further spot of bother with an extremely uncharacteristic dismissal: a hook in the last over before lunch after having sworn off that shot six years previously. Good bowling and tough conditions perhaps force you to look for other scoring options.At 82 for 3, it seemed it was all down to Kohli again to rescue India’s day, but this time he had company. Rahane was finding form. Kohli started watchfully, respecting Stuart Broad who had got him out last. Rahane took the responsibility to do the early running, benefiting from the lack of extravagant movement. The sun came out, the movement began to die, a rusty Ben Stokes bowled too short, and for the first time since the first day of the series, batting seemed like an occupation where you needed to make big mistakes to fail.Kohli and Rahane did make mistakes early on, but small ones. Kohli nearly got out first ball, playing a defensive push to a wide ball. Rahane edged a couple of short-of-a-length deliveries, but they didn’t go to hand. Once the movement died, and when England went to Rashid, these two were set: Rahane 27 off 38, and Kohli 23 off 47. Rashid put on an absolute buffet of five overs for 29 runs, failing to help James Anderson, who was bowling well at the other end, and by the time he was done India were 170 for 3.Both soon brought up their fifties, and now was Anderson’s turn to make a mistake. On 57, Rahane unleashed a full-blooded cut shot off Woakes, high over point, where Anderson went airborne and spilled a tough chance. Dropped catch No. 9. This heralded a period where Kohli and Rahane matched each other shot for shot, putting on an exhibition of drives and cuts. This was a period where India wanted to dominate, and Rahane took the lead. Before he edged a drive on the up, he had played attacking shots to each of the previous six deliveries. This was a time to attack: the pitch had settled down, the new ball was 13 overs away, just that this ball seamed a touch to take the fatal edge.This wicket just reinforced Kohli’s resolve. It was almost unthinkable Kohli would repeat the mistake. Forget Johannesburg, and six of his last first-innings half-centuries ended between 149 and 243. Rashid redeemed himself with Kohli’s wicket only for the second time in his 90s. Kohli saw a full ball, bowled with a scrambled seam as usual, went for the big drive, but got an edge to slip.Pant then announced himself with a six second ball, having picked Rashid’s wrong’un and lofting it back over his head. The first recorded Indian to get off the mark in Tests with a six, Pant showed composure after that, clipping nicely off his pads after a string of plays and misses outside off. He ended the day unbeaten on 22 off 32.At the other end, England were left frustrated by their fielding again. It was about six overs before the eventual end of day’s play when Broad produced an edge from Hardik Pandya. The lob was dropped at third slip by Keaton Jennings. Even though Anderson got Pandya with the last ball of the day’s play – Pandya added only four after the drop – England had lost an opportunity to cause damage with the new ball in the dying moments of the day.

ScorecardMiles Hammond’s quickfire first T20 fifty and an unbeaten 32 from Ian Cockbain eased Gloucestershire to their sixth Vitality Blast victory of the season in a top-of-the-table clash with Kent at Canterbury.There was also a typically calm and responsible 43-ball 46 from their captain Michael Klinger as Gloucestershire chased down Kent 160 for 5, in which Joe Denly played an almost lone hand with a superb 99 not out from 63 balls, with five sixes and seven fours.Benny Howell, too, played his part by following up his 2 for 29 with 20 not out from 13 balls, including the winning four struck over mid-off from the second ball of the final over, bowled by Adam Milne, with the scores level.Left-hander Hammond had scored 51, with three sixes and five fours, when he hit the 31st ball he faced, the first of Calum Haggett’s second over, to wide deep midwicket to end an opening stand of 76 with Klinger.Hammond uppercut Haggett for a remarkable six over cover point in the third over, and then also clubbed leg spinner Denly and seamer Ivan Thomas for sixes.Klinger, content to play a supporting role, nevertheless seized on a high full toss from left-arm spinner Imran Qayyum at the start of the 11th over to smash a six over long leg. The over, which also contained five wides when Qayyum speared a ball down the leg side, ended up costing 18 runs and left Gloucestershire requiring just another 57 from the last nine overs.To their credit, Kent’s bowlers made the visitors work hard for the win, with Klinger departing in the 16th over when he tried to reverse-hit Qayyum but could only pick out Denly at backward point.Cockbain and Howell held their nerve, however, and the result was never in doubt once they had plundered 18 from the 18th over, bowled by Marcus Stoinis until he went off injured after bowling five balls, leaving Qayyum to finish it.A six by Cockbain over midwicket was followed by Howell driving a powerful four and then taking another four, through backward point, from Qayyum’s final ball.Kent reached 50 without loss in the six-over Powerplay, with Denly the initial aggressor with square cut and lofted off-side fours in the third over, bowled by Matt Taylor, and a six swung over wide midwicket against David Payne.Daniel Bell-Drummond, starved of much of the early strike, got going in the sixth over by pulling Taylor for six and then lofting the next ball over mid-off for four. On 19, however, he was perhaps unfortunate that a thigh-high full toss from Benny Howell was not called as a no ball as he mis-hit to deep midwicket.At halfway Kent were 84 for 1, with Denly hoisting Howell for six in his second over, and Heino Kuhn contributed a brisk 18 before being bowled sweeping at Graeme van Buuren’s left-arm spin in the 11th over.Successive sixes by Denly off van Buuren in the 13th over, the first straight and the second over the head of the long on fielder, provided Kent with some much-needed acceleration but Sam Billings found it hard to get going and it was no surprise when, on 7, he hit his 13th ball straight to long-on to give Howell his 100th T20 wicket.Stoinis offered one meaty blow, a lofted four off his fellow Australian AJ Tye, before hitting the same bowler to long off where Howell ran to his left to hold a good catch.Denly finished that same over by driving Tye wide of Howell for six but at the start of the next over Alex Blake was leg-before for a first ball duck trying to work David Payne to midwicket and the only boundary conceded by Payne and Tye in the last two overs came from the final ball of the innings, which Denly crashed through square cover to end up a frustrating one run short of a fifth T20 century.