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Jos Buttler starred with 58 not out off 26 balls as Lancashire mauled champions Northamptonshire by 53 runs at Old Trafford to continue their excellent start to this summer’s NatWest T20 Blast.

Press Association20-Jun-2014
ScorecardJos Buttler kept Lancashire in peak form (file picture)•Getty ImagesJos Buttler starred with 58 not out off 26 balls as Lancashire mauled champions Northamptonshire by 53 runs at Old Trafford to continue their excellent start to this summer’s NatWest T20 Blast.The explosive England limited-overs wicketkeeper-batsman led his side to an imposing 187 for 3 with a record equalling 22-ball fifty for Lightning in this format before the Steelbacks floundered in reply.Two wickets, including the run out of Richard Levi, went down to successive deliveries from Junaid Khan in the second over of the chase as they slipped to 3 for 2 before being bowled out for 134 with seven balls to spare.Pakistan left-arm quick Junaid finished with 3 for 16 from three overs. Matt Spriegel’s 16-ball 32 was mere consolation.Lancashire, joint North Division leaders with Worcestershire, have now won six of their first eight matches and are closing in on a quarter-final place.After in-form opener Tom Smith had skied David Willey to mid-off in the second over of the match following Paul Horton’s decision to bat, Ashwell Prince and Karl Brown shared 90 in 10.3 overs for the second wicket.Opener Prince hit 43 and Brown 46 – both men favoured backing away to leg and carving over the off side – before falling to successive James Middlebrook deliveries at the start of the 13th over, leaving the score at 99 for 3.But Buttler shared an unbroken 88 in 7.4 overs for the fourth wicket with Steven Croft, who finished with 29 not out off 20 balls in his 95th consecutive Twenty20 match, equalling the English record set by former Leicestershire wicketkeeper Paul Nixon.Buttler smashed three fours and as many sixes, two of them over long-on off slow left-armer Graeme White in the 16th over, before reverse sweeping Olly Stone to third man for four in the 19th.The loss of Levi, run out by a direct hit from Prince in the covers, and Willey, bowled by Khan, put the skids under the Steelbacks, who did not post a boundary until the sixth over.The visitors reached halfway at 55 for 3 following the departure of David Sales – caught at long on – against off-spinner Arron Lilley in the ninth and their target of 135 off 60 balls looked all but impossible.That proved to be the case as regular wickets tumbled, with Kabir Ali having White caught at mid-off to end the Steelbacks’ misery.

Graeme Swann proved his fitness for the Ashes with a five-wicket haul to help England to victory over Essex in Chelmsford, but concerns linger over the availability of Stuart Broad

The Report by George Dobell in Chelmsford03-Jul-2013
ScorecardGraeme Swann gave his captain Alastair Cook plenty to smile about in England’s comfortable victory•Getty ImagesGraeme Swann proved his fitness for the Ashes with a five-wicket haul to help England to victory over Essex in Chelmsford, but concerns linger over the availability of Stuart Broad.Swann, who missed all but one of England’s games in the Champions Trophy through back and calf injuries, bowled only nine deliveries in the first innings here after sustaining a blow to his right forearm while batting against Tymal Mills, which Andy Flower admitted caused “great concern”. But, defying a painfully slow pitch and a draining lack of intensity in a downgraded match, Swann worked his way through the Essex batting line-up until it capitulated and looked in decent rhythm going into the Test series.Essex lost their last six wickets for 32 runs in nine overs with Graham Onions, as nagging as ever, claiming 4 for 43 including a spell of three wickets without conceding a run in 11 balls. It meant England won by 228 runs.A doubt remains over the fitness of Broad, however. Broad injured his right shoulder diving to regain his ground while batting in the Champions Trophy final and has had a cortisone injection to reduce the inflammation. Flower expressed himself “pleasantly surprised” by Broad’s first attempt at bowling since the injury, during the tea interval on the final day here, and said “we anticipate him being fit. He could not have played this game, but he should be OK.””We thought Swann might have cracked his ulna,” Flower said. “For a couple of hours we thought he might have been missing [from the first Test], which would have been a serious blow. When he came in after batting I was surprised by how swollen it was.”I was also surprised by how well he played the fast bowler after getting hit that badly. He fought out there and didn’t come off and get it seen to. It’s a good example of his resilience. Because he’s a jokey sort of guy we forget he is a tough competitor as well.”This was an admirably professional performance from England. Despite a pitch that was too slow for purpose and the lack of atmosphere over the last couple of days, they retained their discipline with bat and ball and made the best of the imperfect situation with which they were confronted. With the Champions Trophy finishing only days earlier, there has been no opportunity for the sort of warm-up period from which they benefited in Australia in 2010-11 – they placed great store in performing well in their three first-class warm-up games – but they have at least come together as a squad and played some red-ball cricket.A couple of areas of concern remain. Several chances were squandered in the field – Swann missed Ravi Bopara in the slips off Steven Finn on the final day, while Kevin Pietersen missed two chances in the first innings – and Jonny Bairstow, who has hardly batted since the Leeds Test against New Zealand and was bowled in both innings here – still looks in need of time at the crease. Pietersen, too, has hardly batted but Flower expressed confidence in his form and no concern about any need for further time at the crease before the Tests.”There were a few chances that went down,” Flower admitted. “And taking chances will be very important in this series. But we’re working hard and we’re hoping that hard work will pay off.”We felt Bairstow needed more time in the middle because he has gone three or four weeks without cricket during the Champions Trophy. He’s had what he’s had; there’s nothing more we can do.”Performances in this game – or the game in progress at New Road – are most unlikely to affect selection for the first Test. Flower suggested the identity of the XI that will play at Trent Bridge has been known for some time and this game was more about gaining rhythm and testing potential replacements. In that case Boyd Rankin, who bowled with hostility in spite of the surface, will have done himself no harm, though Nick Compton’s place in the selectors’ thoughts seems to rely upon injury befalling one of the top three. Joe Root will open for the foreseeable future, however; Flower is not the fickle type.”I’ve been very impressed with Rankin,” Flower said, “and thought he bowled especially well. He is very impressive physically and he has the pace and bounce which can trouble international batsmen. He’s quite an exciting prospect.”It’s nice to see and a good reaction from Compton. It’s a really good reaction that he has scored runs consistently and it shows he’s a good tough fighter. Of course, he’s still in the picture. But he is an opening batsman and if there were an injury to someone batting at six it doesn’t necessarily mean that he would be the next cab off the rank. But his best reaction was to score heavy runs and that’s what he’s doing. That’s great.”There were some impressive performances from the Essex players in this game, too. Jaik Mickleburgh, who demonstrated a compact technique and astute shot selection in both innings, belied his lowly average and looked a fine prospect, while Mills’ pace and improving control made a large impression on the England management. “His rate of progress is really exciting for Essex,” Flower said. ” His control has improved and he’s really impressive physically. If he continues he might play for England.”Perhaps Onions might feel a little aggrieved. He scarcely bowled a poor ball in this match but, despite finishing with five wickets and remaining the most consistent bowler in county cricket over the last couple of seasons, it seems he will remain on the periphery of the side.While the likes of Finn, who bowled better than his figures suggests, and now Rankin and Chris Tremlett are preferred for their height, pace and bounce, Onions may be reliant on injury or rotation to Broad or James Anderson to win a further opportunity. In the current England set-up, his qualities – accuracy and consistency – are considered worthy, but less valuable than those offered by his rivals.In some ways this game did not present an overly flattering demonstration of Essex cricket. The pitch was poor and the sight of a 15-year-old substitute fielder – talented though Aaron Beard looks – lent a faint air of ramshackle amateurishness to proceedings. By the time the game ended, they had drafted in three players to replace injured members of their starting XI – Greg Smith replaced the injured Tom Westley on Wednesday – though David Masters made a bizarre reappearance as a batsman on day four despite a hopeless match situation and a pronounced limp that could have been exacerbated by running between the wickets.To their immense credit though, Essex is a club that continues to produce talented young players and, in Mills, Mickleburgh, Reece Topley, Ben Foakes et al, they have several cricketers who could follow the path of Alastair Cook into the England team. And that, after all, is their primary role.

India quick Ishant Sharma and Pakistan keeper Kamran Akmal have been fined for their altercation in the closing overs of the Pakistan innings in Bangalore on Tuesday

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Dec-2012India quick Ishant Sharma and Pakistan keeper Kamran Akmal have been fined for their altercation in the closing overs of the Pakistan innings in Bangalore on Tuesday. The players had been involved in a heated argument in the 18th over of the chase, which Pakistan eventually completed successfully to win the first Twenty20 by five wickets.Both players were reported to the match referee, Roshan Mahanama, by the umpires – S Ravi, C Shamsuddin, TV umpire VA Kulkarni and fourth umpire K Srinath – and charged with ‘conduct contrary to the spirit to the game’. They both pleaded guilty, and Kamran was fined 5% of his match fee. Ishant, though, appealed against the penalty levied; after reviewing video footage and reiterating his view that Ishant had initiated the incident, Mahanama fined Ishant 15% of his fee.Mahanama said with this series being so high profile, it became all the more important for the players to set the right example: “This is clearly a high profile and high-intensity series, and the players on both sides have been reminded of their responsibility. Both players recognised their duty to set the right type of example through their on-field behaviour and they have accepted that they fell short of the level of conduct required.”The game was played in the true spirit till this incident was initiated by Ishant, who is an experienced cricketer.”The incident occurred soon after Ishant had the well-set Shoaib Malik caught of a ball that was deemed too high to be legal. Earlier the same over, Ishant had claimed Pakistan’s other set batsman, Mohammad Hafeez. With the pressure building and a tight finish in view, Ishant beat Kamran and, after exchanging words in his follow-through, the two ended up standing inches apart from each other, yelling. Suresh Raina – followed by his India team-mates – came between the two, as did the umpires, but the talk continued for a while. When Ishant caught Kamran off Ashok Dinda in the next over, he was quite vocal in his celebration.This series is a marquee one, as it revives bilateral ties between the neighbours. The previous one-on-one series between the teams was five years earlier, in late 2007, with bilateral ties hitting a roadblock following the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.

Adhering to the demands made by the Ranji Trophy captains and coaches the BCCI has advanced the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and changed the format of its inter-state limited overs championship to a group-knockout league format

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Jul-20154:47

Aakash Chopra: Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy getting the importance it deserves

Adhering to the demands made by the Ranji Trophy captains and coaches the BCCI has advanced the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy [domestic Twenty20 championship] before the IPL auction and changed the format of both its inter-state limited-overs championships from an intra-zonal-knockout format to a group-knockout league format.Also, the senior domestic season will conclude with the Irani Cup from March 6 to 10, almost a month before last year owing to the World Twenty20, which is set to begin on March 11. The revised domestic schedule will result in a two-month gap between the league and knockout stages of the Ranji Trophy. In addition to that, the Duleep Trophy will not be held in the coming season.Instead of attributing the change in calendar to make the Twenty20 tournament more relevant for IPL franchises and aspiring cricketers, the BCCI stated the revision was made keeping in mind the international calendar. A BCCI release stated, “the schedule has been planned keeping in view the forthcoming Under 19 World Cup and the ICC World T20, and with an intention to complete all our relevant domestic competitions well before the selection for these tournaments, and our players get an opportunity to participate and perform.”In the existing format of the limited-overs tournaments, the teams competed in zonal leagues before proceeding to national knockouts. The BCCI now has decided to divide the 27 participating teams into four groups based on their performance in the previous season. This will mean that teams are challenged to perform against opponents that are not familiar to them.According to a BCCI statement, the Ranji Trophy league stage will be played from October 1 to December 4, followed by the Vijay Hazare Trophy from December 8 to 25.Major tournaments

Ranji Trophy league: October 1 to December 4
Vijay Hazare Trophy group stage: December 8 to 16
Vijay Hazare Trophy knockouts: December 21 to 25
Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy group stage: January 2 to 10, 2016
Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy super league: January 15 to 20, 2016
Prof DB Deodhar Trophy: January 24 to 28, 2016
Ranji Trophy knockouts: February 3 to 28, 2016
Irani Cup: March 6 to 10, 2016

After the New Year’s break, a first after many years, the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy will be staged from January 2 to 20. The limited overs’ segment will end with the Deodhar Trophy from January 24 to 28. The Ranji knockouts will then be played from February 3 to 28.The BCCI, meanwhile, has introduced more tournaments for women and Under-19 cricketers. “A new Under-19 Challenger tournament has been introduced, which will feature three teams selected by the junior national selectors and provide yet another opportunity to all the players to perform before the national squad is selected for the Under-19 World Cup, to be played in Bangladesh in January,” the release said.”Two new tournaments are being introduced for women cricketers from this year, an Inter-state and then inter-zonal one-day Under-23 tournament and a three-day senior women inter-zonal tournament, which will provide more opportunities to our women cricketers.”

Darren Stevens led Kent’s second innings as they secured an honourable draw with Hampshire.

08-Jun-2013
ScorecardDarren Stevens’ innings was an essential rearguard action•Getty ImagesDarren Stevens led Kent’s second innings as they secured an honourable draw with Hampshire. Eighth wicket pair Calum Haggett and Adam Riley held out for 22 oversas Kent, set 342 to break a six-match winless sequence, fell 46 short at 296 for 8.Hampshire seemed to be on their way to only their second win of the season whenKent were reduced to 41 for 4 before lunch but a stirring innings of 96 fromDarren Stevens removed the initiative from the home side which they never regained.The scene was set for an intriguing last day when Hampshire were fed 108 in 9.4overs by Sam Northeast, who had never previously taken a wicket, and Robert Keywho had managed only three. Liam Dawson and James Vince gorged themselves on arich diet of full tosses and half-volleys before Hampshire declared at 207 for 3.Kent made a dreadful start in their search for a first victory, losing Key for1 and Northeast for 13, both to David Balcombe, along with Brendan Nashand Ben Harmison all in the first 13 overs. But on a blameless wicket, Stevens and Daniel Bell-Drummond launched a powerfulcounterattack with a dynamic stand of 144 in 34 overs for the fifth wicket.The aggressive Stevens struck two sixes and 15 fours from 105 balls andappeared certain to reach three figures before he misjudged a short deliveryfrom Sean Ervine and wicketkeeper Adam Wheater held the catch.At tea Kent were still not out of the reckoning at 194 for 5 and Hampshirehad a whole session to get the five wickets they needed.Bell-Drummond’s useful contribution of 66 ended with the score on 219 when he turned spinnerDanny Briggs to Vince at short leg and Geraint Jones fell to the samecombination three runs later. Kent were 222 for 7 with 32 overs remaining but they were in no mood to gift Hampshire some extra points.Haggett and Matt Coles began the resistance with a stand of 28 in 10 oversbefore a mix-up over a run saw Coles beaten by a direct throw from Jimmy Adams.But that was the closest Hampshire got to a badly-needed win, Haggett and Rileydigging in with an unbroken stand of 46, surviving numerous appeals and bowlingchanges to deny their desperate opponents.Young spinner Riley, who took seven wickets in Hampshire’s first innings, hadthe unusual experience of recording best bowling and best batting performancesin the same match.

Surrey director of cricket Alec Stewart has refuted claims that Graeme Smith has made any decisions regarding his future at Surrey, following a series of tweets that gave the impression Smith would not be returning to The Oval.

Vithushan Ehantharajah27-May-2014Surrey director of cricket Alec Stewart has refuted claims that Graeme Smith may be about to retire, following a series of tweets that gave the impression Smith would not be returning to The Oval.Smith is currently in his second year of a three year contract with Surrey but has once again not been able to complete a full season through injury. This year it was a fractured knee, diagnosed earlier in the week, which forced him to return home on Monday night.Smith’s activity on social media seemed to suggest he was packing in entirely; thanking the club and the staff and saying it had been a privilege to be a part of Surrey.But Stewart, who drove back from Surrey’s game at Chelmsford to take Smith and his family to the airport last night, confirmed that the former South Africa captain has “a lot to consider” regarding his future.Upon returning home, Smith will consult with a specialist, who is expected to recommend surgery on the knee. From there, recovery and rehab will determine whether Smith will be able to return for the back end of the 2014 season, something that Stewart, with his “very limited knowledge” on the injury sustained, feels is unlikely.”I had a good chat with him last night,” Stewart told ESPNcricinfo. “Where he is, he’s thoroughly enjoyed his time with Surrey, despite it being two very brief periods over the last two years. He’s still under contract for next year – it’s a three year deal that he has signed.

It's been a privilege to be a part of @surreycricket and thank everyone at the club!

— Graeme Smith (@GraemeSmith49) May 26, 2014

“After seeing his knee specialist, he will find out exactly what the way forward is and, from there, whether he’ll be out for a matter of weeks or months. As soon as we have more information, from the damage to the knee, we’ll be in a better position to say if he is coming back or not. I would have thought it was doubtful.”Rain ruins third day at Chelmsford

Surrey’s ambitions to press ahead at Chelmsford were ruined by the rain as just 16 overs of play were possible on the third day through a combination of early morning rain and afternoon gloom.
Play commenced at 1.30pm after an early lunch and it was not quite the droll of the second day with 57 runs scored, even if the enthusiasm out in the middle matched the dim surroundings.
There were moments of class from Steve Davies and stand-in captain Gary Wilson; the former square driving his way to a third Championship fifty of the season. Wilson, too, impressed on the front foot, the ball skidding off the damp outfield to the boundary with great ease as he found his touch to take Surrey to another batting point.
Aside from the will of supporters, Davies was the only victim of the day when indecisive footwork saw him trapped in front by a slightly quicker delivery from Monty Panesar.
Surrey have a lead of 33 runs and, at this juncture, are in control of the game in terms of whether day four is anything more than a sodden bore. In truth, Gareth Batty’s first innings eight-for aside, this match should be consigned to a scrap heap.

It was during the second innings at Kent that Smith began feeling some discomfort in his knee. Surrey’s medical team did their best to manage the injury, prescribing painkillers to give Smith some comfort, but when the effects of those wore off, even walking proved a struggle.He batted superbly in the fourth innings of the following game against Gloucestershire, registering his first Championship hundred for Surrey to see them home for a first win of the season and a first victory under Smith. But even here he did not look right, at times hobbling between the wicket on the final day, even requiring medical attention in the middle when he was nearly run out by opening partner Rory Burns.Smith then played Twenty20 matches against Sussex and Somerset before scans confirmed a fracture in his knee and medical attention was required. He may now have played his last game.Without Smith, Surrey are again looking for a replacement captain. Gary Wilson has assumed the role for the current Championship match against Essex. Stewart, while impressed with Wilson’s handling of the responsibility over the last few days – he has also keeping wicket so that Steve Davies can focus on his batting – has stated that there is no certainty that Wilson will be in charge for the rest of the season.

Injuries are always tough especially when you feel job is half done. Sad to be leaving @surreycricket today but wish the club and team well.

— Graeme Smith (@GraemeSmith49) May 26, 2014

As for Smith’s replacement as overseas player, Hashim Amla has been signed until June 25, which will take him to the end of the Championship game against Leicestershire at The Oval. He will miss the upcoming four day game against Worcestershire as he returns to South Africa to attend a Cricket South Africa awards dinner and could be unveiled as the new South Africa Test captain.Stewart confirmed that Surrey will be in the market for another overseas player but conceded that the international schedule will make things tricky. Every Test nation is involved in one series or another before the end of the county season.”We’ll look at options and decide if there is one that will enhance our squad,” Steward said. “If there isn’t anyone we feel would better the squad, then we won’t sign one. All that will be looked at over the next four weeks.”It remains to be seen just how much Championship cricket Kevin Pietersen will play. He arrives at the club in the next few days from captaining the Dehli Daredevils in the IPL and will line up for Surrey in their NatWest T20 Blast fixture against Middlesex on Friday evening. Primarily on a T20 contract, he has no obligation to play four day or even 50-over cricket, but has the option to make himself available for either of those formats.Pietersen is also set to play in the Caribbean Premier League for the St Lucia Zouks, but Stewart confirmed that Pietersen’s involvement in the competition will not involve missing T20 games for Surrey.

Mohammad Hafeez said the Pakistan side achieved their objective of blooding young talent in the two-match Twenty20 series against Sri Lanka

Andrew Fidel Fernando14-Dec-20130:00

Middle-order collapse killed chase – Hafeez

Sharjeel Khan earned praise from his captain for his 25-ball 50•Getty ImagesMohammad Hafeez said the Pakistan side achieved their primary objective of blooding young talent in the two-match Twenty20 series against Sri Lanka, despite having lost the second match by 24 runs.Pakistan played four young cricketers with fewer than 10 matches’ experience, in both matches, and although only opener Sharjeel Khan made a significant contribution, Hafeez said the series had helped shed light on the state of Pakistan’s resources, as they look ahead to the World Twenty20 in March. Pakistan have no more official Twenty20s scheduled before the world event.”We really got what we wanted to out of the series. It’s a positive sign that the youngsters are coming in and doing good for Pakistan. We wanted to see where the youngsters are standing so we can make the right combination for the mega-event. It will be easier for the selectors.”We wanted to inject some of the youngsters and wanted to see them. I think we got the best out of Sharjeel Khan and Bilawal Bhatti. We tried Usman Khan because we didn’t have Umar Gul – he’s trying really hard to get back into international cricket – and we’re also missing Mohammad Irfan, who is unfit.”Seam bowlers Bhatti and Usman had been wayward in the second match,conceding runs at 16 and 13 runs an over respectively, as Sri Lanka’s batsmen exploited their inexperience. Hafeez affirmed his belief in their ability, however, and lauded Sharjeel’s 25-ball fifty in his third international match.”Bilawal Bhatti and Usman Khan are youngsters – we should not forget that. But still we believe they are good bowlers and they will learn from this. They just came into international team, and it’s not easy.”Really happy as a captain to see the good performance from the youngster Sharjeel Khan, and also Sohail Tanvir chipped in. Shahid Afridi is also playing well, so those are the positives in the series.”Hafeez also said Pakistan might have posed a more daunting threat to 211 for 3, had his team not lost four wickets to spin for four runs, in the 10th and 11th overs.”We leaked some runs as a bowling unit. We were thinking to chase 160-170 on this track, but they played very well. If you have to chase you have to play very well and I think we were very much on the plan, but the four wickets in eight balls in the middle order really made a difference.”Pakistan continued to lose wickets and rarely approached the required run-rate during the chase, but Sri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal said his team had had nervous moments during Tanvir’s brave 63-run ninth wicket stand with Saeed Ajmal. With Ajmal’s help, Tanvir blasted Pakistan to within 29 runs of victory with two overs remaining, but Lasith Malinga’s 19th over snuffed out the resistance.”I was a little bit scared when Tanvir was batting really well at the end, because as a bowler you couldn’t grip the ball at the end because of the dew – particularly for Malinga,” Chandimal said. “But in the end he came in and dismissed Tanvir. Everyone is in good form now, so we are looking forward to the ODI series.”

Northants collected maximum batting points as their penultimate game of the season drifted to a draw – but events elsewhere made their day

Vithushan Ehantharajah at Wantage Road20-Sep-2013
ScorecardDavid Sales has been in magnificent run-scoring form in the second half of the season•Getty ImagesThe penultimate Friday of the 2013 Championship could not have gone any better for Northamptonshire, all things considered. Beginning with a platform of 183 runs, they batted with great awareness and sense to secure maximum batting points midway through the 105th over. But there was an underlying interest in events elsewhere. “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t looking over at Chelmsford,” Northamptonshire’s coach, David Ripley, admitted to ESPNcricinfo at the end of the day. He wasn’t the only one.News of Essex’s early acceleration to 400 and beyond in their match brought some discomfort. Behind the scenes, journalists and scorers speculated over the possibility of Northants having just a seven-point lead going into the final round, should third-placed Essex skittle out Glamorgan and win by an innings.BBC Radio Northampton, occupying the booth closest to the press, updated listeners every half hour. The ground’s own PA was slightly more frenetic in updating the crowd on the fortunes of their rivals. But any anxiety felt in the stands was often immediately dissipated by the batsmen at the crease.At 11.07am, Essex’s run spurt was hinted at. Three minutes later, James Middlebrook took a single off Charlie Shreck to give Northants their first batting point. Another update came more than an hour later, by which point Middlebrook had departed for a well-deserved century – his first of the season – and Northants were closing in on 300 for 2. Essex had just passed 400, securing maximum bonus points in the match.As David Sales and Alex Wakely returned to the middle after lunch, Essex had declared, leading by 102. When the clock ticked over to 2pm, the door from the scorer’s box swung open, before a voice travelled down the corridor: “I do hope Glamorgan are behaving themselves!” An update across the PA system relaying news that Glamorgan were 61 without loss was greeted with cheers from the home support. There wasn’t another until the game came to a close, by which point a win looked out of Essex’s reach and David Sales had reached his third hundred of the season.”With the rain that was about, I couldn’t really ask for more,” said Ripley, whose side travel to New Road to play Worcestershire in their final match of the season with a 20-point lead. They require just five points to guarantee promotion to Division One.”It was key for the players not to focus on things elsewhere, especially when they were out in the middle. But this team have shown me that they can handle all kinds of pressure. We’re going to Worcester with a feeling of great excitement at what’s achievable next week. We can’t wait to get stuck in.”Success for Northamptonshire, both plentiful and deserved, has been mainly attributed to the opportunities and responsibility afforded to the younger players, such as David Willey (who has signed a new three-year deal at the club) and Alex Wakely. But let’s hear it for the old boy’s bench.Stephen Peters (34) and Middlebrook (36), who also recorded career-best figures of 6 for 78 in Kent’s innings, got the side off to the perfect start on Thursday, before Middlebrook and Sales (35) both converted to three figures on the final day.The back end of the season has seen Sales embark on an astonishing run; including his 110 today, he has scored 619 runs in six innings, at an average of 154.75. In terms of quality of shots to runs, this must rank as one of the finest knocks of the season. His cover drives were straight out of the handbook; his flicks through midwicket wristy and true; his pull shots guided expertly behind or in front of square, at will.Watching him manoeuvre the field, in such a carefree manner, gives you an insight into the skill that still courses through his veins. When he flicked Mark Davies off his pads for six over square leg, in the new ball’s first over, people were so amazed they nearly forgot to clap. It was that sort of knock. Watching innings like this, it is little wonder that Graeme Swann still regards him as one of the toughest batsmen he has ever bowled to.Sales’ contract is up at the end of the season but Ripley was keen to stress that he wants him to remain at the club and that a resolution had not been forthcoming due to issues of finance rather than desire. “There are some budgetary constraints, which is why we haven’t been able to tell David that now. Not being able to bring that to a conclusion has not been ideal, but it will be resolved on September 30th.”Should Northants secure promotion next week, Sales’ experience will be invaluable if they want to avoid going straight back down – something they have failed to do in their last two forays into the top flight.

Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski has asserted that his side can win a trophy before the end of the season.

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Reigning Pichichi winner highlighted "ideal moment to change"Barcelona out of Copa del Rey, off the pace in La LigaFace Napoli in Champions League knockouts next weekWHAT HAPPENED?

Barca have endured a turbulent season, and nine months after claiming a first league title in four years, face a strong possibility of going a full campaign without any silverware. Despite their struggles, Lewandowski has insisted that his side can win a trophy.

AdvertisementWHAT LEWANDOWSKI SAID SAID

In a conversation picked up by Spanish publication , the Polish striker asserted that the beleaguered Blaugrana can turn their season around: "We are in the ideal moment to change, to play better. First in Vigo and then the Champions League arrives… It is difficult to explain what is happening, because we conceded three goals against Granada, for example. We have had a long week to work and, as I said, we are in the perfect moment to change. I am sure that we are going to win many games and at the end of the season we are going to win something."

Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Lewandowski has endured a tricky season of his own. After finishing last season as the league's top scorer, his form has tailed off. The veteran forward has scored 10 and assisted five in domestic play so far.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA?

The Blaugrana face Celta Vigo this Saturday, and could pull within seven points of league leaders Real Madrid with a win. After that, they travel to the Diego Maradona stadium to face Napoli in the Champions League.

Gregg Berhalter's team accomplished their end goal, but it's safe to say it wasn't a convincing process…

In the end, they got there. The United States men's national team is headed to the 2024 Copa America on home soil, which, ultimately, was the big goal of this camp. However, there was no big celebration, no big blowout of champagne or anything like that. The mood, overall, was somewhat somber. Despite defeating Trinidad & Tobago on aggregate, Monday night certainly didn't feel like a win.

That's because it wasn't; it was a 2-1 loss. That defeat left a sour taste after what will, in the end, be seen as a hugely important camp. It's one that will have lasting ramifications, and not just because of the tournament runs it set the U.S. up for.

With the road to the Copa America now officially beginning, everything the U.S. does will now have one eye towards the summer, and it's safe to say that Sergino Dest hasn't started that road off well at all. His boneheaded red card left his team-mates seething, with the defender being scolded for his "immature" and "disrespectful" decision-making.

That leaves his grip right-back spot a bit less tight than it was before, and it raises a huge question: With two red cards in two big games just a few months apart, can the U.S. really trust Dest the most intense of situations?

That'll be one talking point going forward, but there's plenty do discuss. So, with that said, GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from camp…

GettyWINNER: Antonee Robinson

The big winner of the camp, not that Antonee Robinson needed that title, to be fair. Gregg Berhalter called him an "animal" after the second match, and it feels like a good description. Robinson did just about everything asked of him after missing the October window, proving once again why he's so key to this team.

He's been the left-back for quite some time, and despite the emergence of Kristoffer Lund, it doesn't feel like that'll change any time soon. There's no one in the pool quite as complete as Robinson, who brings so much to the team.

With the U.S., he plays a bit more attacking than he does at Fulham, and he seems to enjoy it. In two games this camp, he got two goals, which is always a nice sight from the full-back position.

AdvertisementGettyLOSER: Sergino Dest

We already discussed what Dest's dismissal meant in the moment, but now it's time to look at the bigger picture. This incident, his second inexcusable red card of the year after that Nations League mess against Mexico, now leads to one big question: Can the USMNT trust Dest to keep his cool?

On the latest evidence, the answer is no. The Mexico incident is one we can kind of excuse, as players sometimes lose their tempers in those sorts of rivalry games. Getting sent off against Trinidad & Tobago with your team up 4-0 on aggregate? That's not passion; it's stupidity.

Do you think South America's top teams won't have seen that? If a relative minnow like Trinidad & Tobago can get in Dest's head, what do you think a team like Argentina, Brazil or Uruguay can do when the heat is turned up much, much higher?

Dest's play style already makes him something of a liability in those big games, but it seems his mentality may do so as well. And, with the Copa America looming, he has a lot of trust to earn back if he's to make an impact in next summer's tournament.

Getty ImagesWINNER: Gio Reyna

All of the prior nonsense feels like it's even more in the past, as Gio Reyna is more important to this team than ever right now. His goal in the first game was a great finish, one that really put the tie out of reach. He combined well with Folarin Balogun during the sequence and has, realistically, been the only USMNT player to unlock any sort of on-field chemistry with the striker so far.

The finish marked Reyna's third goal in two games, which makes it pretty clear that the past is well and truly behind him. Injuries have thrust him into the XI, no doubt, but his presence in midfield is now undeniable. When he came off after Dest's red card on Monday, the U.S. never looked the same, lacking the control and creativity in midfield to do anything but survive in that second half.

Overall, it's safe to say that Reyna, in just a few games, has rebuilt things quite a bit under Berhalter. It'll take a bit more time to truly earn back the trust of some sections of the USMNT fanbase, but it's clear that this past winter's incident isn't hanging over player or coach. All involved have moved on and, at least so far, taken things to another level, which is a credit to the player and person Reyna is as he leaps into this next phase of his USMNT career.

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GettyLOSER: Folarin Balogun

We'll start by saying that, overall, Balogun's return is pretty good so far. The striker has three goals and two assists in about 530 minutes since debuting for the national team. If your striker averages just under one goal contribution-per-90, you'll probably take that, especially if you're the USMNT.

However, these felt like games where Balogun could really assert himself as the USMNT's superstar attacker. Without the injured Christian Pulisic and Tim Weah, these felt like games where Balogun could step up, score some goals and carry a team that needed a bit of juice without two star forwards. Instead, we leave camp saying that Balogun is still adjusting to the USMNT, and that the USMNT is still adjusting to Balogun.

His first game wasn't bad, as he did get that assist on Reyna's goal. However, Ricardo Pepi certainly outshined him with his fantastic flicked-on goal to open the scoring off the bencg. The second game? Little more than a cardio session, as Balogun was limited to mainly hold-up play outside of one early chance.

It's clear that the USMNT is still learning how to play with Balogun. He's a different type of striker than any the U.S. has ever had and adjusting to his skillset will take time. His first real games against a lesser CONCACAF team, though, should have been a chance for Balogun to dominate on quality alone, and he never really did that throughout the two matches.