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Derbyshire kept alive their NatWest Blast quarter-finals hopes with a 29-run victory with 13 balls to spare at Derby that ended Worcestershire’s chances of reaching the last eight

ECB Reporters Network22-Jul-2016
ScorecardHamish Rutherford’s early assault paved the way for Derbyshire•Getty ImagesDerbyshire kept alive their NatWest Blast quarter-finals hopes with a 29-run victory with 13 balls to spare at Derby that ended Worcestershire’s chances of reaching the last eight.Hamish Rutherford hammered 64 from 38 balls and Wayne Madsen made an unbeaten 50 from 30 balls as Derbyshire posted an imposing 192 for 5. Worcestershire were always struggling after losing early wickets and although Brett D’Oliveira scored 44 from 33 balls, they were all out for 163 with leg-spinner Matt Critchley claiming 3 for 36.Derbyshire had not won a T20 game this season batting first but Rutherford’s up-front fireworks provided the platform to set a challenging total. The New Zealander had already taken a century off the Worcestershire bowlers in the 50-over competition this season and he looked on course for another after pulling Joe Leach and Charlie Morris for sixes in the Powerplay.Although Wes Durston mistimed a pull to deep mid-on and Neil Broom was well caught on the run at deep midwicket, Rutherford drove D’Oliveira for a third six in an over that cost 17 as the Falcons reached 91 for 2 at the halfway stage.D’Oliveira responded to that mauling by taking two superb catches at long-on, first knocking the ball up and holding the rebound inside the rope to remove Chesney Hughes and then diving full length to end Rutherford’s explosive innings after he had launched Daryl Mitchell for his fourth six.But his exit did not slow the Falcons’ flight as Madsen improvised impressively, uppercutting Ed Barnard for the first of two sixes before Shiv Thakor dispatched the seamer high over the sightscreen in the final over as Derbyshire equalled their sixth highest T20 total.The Rapids needed a Rutherford-style start to their chase but after Leach took 12 from the first over, Tom Kohler-Cadmore was caught behind trying to pull Ben Cotton and Alexei Kervezee went the same way to Thakor.When Leach was athletically pouched by Chesney Hughes leaping at mid-on, Worcestershire were 32 for 3 but D’Oliveira hit back by driving Thakor for four and six in the final over of the Powerplay.Worcestershire moved to 77 but after Mitchell launched Durston high to long-off, they went into the last 10 overs needing 114 with much resting on D’Oliveira and Ross Whiteley. Former Derbyshire allrounder Whiteley was threatening to change the game when he pulled and drove Durston for consecutive sixes as 19 came from the 13th over but in the next, he was caught at long-on for 27 from 15 balls.Ben Cox hit Critchley for two sixes but when he skied the legspinner to long-on and D’Oliveira was caught behind cutting at the next ball, the Rapids were heading for the rocks.

Legspinner Ish Sodhi and batsman Colin Munro have returned to New Zealand’s roster of centrally-contracted players for 2016-17

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Jun-2016Legspinner Ish Sodhi and batsman Colin Munro have returned to New Zealand’s roster of centrally-contracted players for 2016-17, the first season after the retirement of Brendon McCullum.Alongside his brother Nathan McCullum, Brendon retired from all forms of international cricket last season, while Grant Elliott dropped off the contract list, having retired from ODIs in April. He now plays only Twenty20 internationals.Sodhi and Munro were joined by first-timers Henry Nicholls, the left-hand batsman, and George Worker, the allrounder, as inclusions in a list that has been expanded from 20 to 21 this year. Having made their international debuts over the past 12 months, Nicholls and Worker are now formally part of the international squad.”We’ve built a strong group of core players over the past couple of years and that’s been a key factor to the consistency of the team’s performance,” Gavin Larsen, the selector, said.”When we’ve brought new players into the group, we’ve been really happy with how they’ve adapted and performed on the international stage. Henry and George have made bright starts to their careers and we look forward to watching their ongoing development.”After missing out last year, Ish and Colin have both worked extremely hard on their game, as we saw with their performances for us in the shorter formats this summer. They thoroughly deserve their contracts. It’s also exciting to see Ish make his way back into the Test squad for the upcoming series in Africa.”New Zealand’s cricketers are ranked across each format. Test matches gain twice the weighting of ODIs and T20s.Contracted players for 2016-17: Corey Anderson, Trent Boult, Doug Bracewell, Mark Craig, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Mitchell McClenaghan, Adam Milne, Colin Munro, James Neesham, Henry Nicholls, Luke Ronchi, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner, BJ Watling, Kane Williamson, George Worker

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has enjoyed a fantastic first season with the club and remains in contention to secure a place in Europe by the end of the month.

The Villans are currently eighth in the table and only behind Tottenham Hotspur in seventh on goal difference with two matches left to play.

Emery has won 14 of his 23 Premier League games in charge of the club since arriving from Villarreal to take over from Steven Gerrard with the Spaniard having engineered a seriously impressive revival.

One of his biggest achievements so far has been the wonders he has worked with centre-forward Ollie Watkins, who has been in phenomenal form.

Prior to Emery coming in, the England international had scored two goals and provided two assists in 14 matches in all competitions for Villa. Since then, the 27-year-old has racked up 13 goals and four assists in 24 appearances – more than one goal contribution every other game.

Watkins' terrific turn in form shows that the Villans head coach knows how to get the best out of a mobile striker who enjoys getting in behind by using his pace on the shoulder of the last defender.

Who could be Emery's next Villa striker?

Emery could now unearth his next version of the former Brentford man by securing a deal to sign Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic this summer.

Football Insider recently reported that the club are interested in a deal to sign the Serbian at the end of the season as they attempt to bolster their forward department.

The £220k-per-week centre-forward has scored ten goals and provided two assists in 21 Serie A starts for the Old Lady in the 2022/23 campaign.

This comes after the 23-year-old plundered 24 goals and three assists in 33 starts in the Italian top-flight for Fiorentina and Juventus combined last term.

FBref coincidentally lists Watkins as the most similar player in world football to Vlahovic based on their respective statistics over the last 365 days. Both strikers accumulate between 0.40 and 0.42 non-penalty expected goals and between 0.11 and 0.12 expected assisted goals per 90.

These statistics show that both attackers offer a similar level of threat in their positioning to create chances for themselves and their creativity for their teammates in the final third. Like the Villa star, the Serbian marksman has proven himself in front of goal and could be a prolific frontman for the club in the years to come, using Emery's expertise in offensive play to better his and Villa's attack.

Vlahovic, who journalist Carlo Garganese described as "scary" and a "monster", has showcased his potential to be a lethal goalscorer at the top level, with his 24 strikes in 2021/22, and Emery's coaching – given his work with Watkins – could get him back to that standard next season.

Warwickshire have confirmed that Varun Chopra is to leave the club at the end of the season

George Dobell05-Jul-2016Warwickshire have confirmed that Varun Chopra is to leave the club at the end of the season.Chopra was captain of the club until January and has a good long-term record as a batsman. He has been Warwickshire’s top run-scorer (if all competitions are combined) in four of the five previous seasons and, after a modest 2015, has rediscovered his consistency this year. Only Samit Patel has reached 50 more often of Division One batsmen and, in his only T20 appearance of the season, he hit a match-winning 97 not out.But, as ESPNcricinfo revealed last week, somewhere along the way, the relationship between Chopra and the club management has soured. His desire to have more time off at the end of the season – the club want all players to report back for training in early November – and his reluctance to commit himself to a long-term future at the club have been perceived as not buying into the team culture and setting a less than perfect example to younger players.The club, mindful of the number of senior players on the staff, are also keen to provide opportunities to younger men and make room in the budget for acquisitions.But Chopra is just 29 – significantly younger than the likes of Ian Bell, Jonathan Trott, Rikki Clarke, Tim Ambrose and Jeetan Patel – and could have his best years ahead of him. He retains England aspirations and is known to be of interest to several clubs. He comes across as a most unlikely rebel – he was widely praised for his calm leadership as he led the club to the NatWest Blast title in 2014 – and Warwickshire may come to rue the failure to manage him more effectively.”Both parties believe that now is a good time for Varun to accept a fresh challenge and he is now able to talk to other counties in order to realise his own career ambitions,” a statement released by Warwickshire says. “In the meantime, he remains fully committed to the club and will continue to perform at his best through to the end of the season.”Whilst everyone at the club is fully aware of his capabilities as a top order batsman, there is also a need to look at the development of the squad in order to be able to maintain a challenge on all fronts in the coming years.”Everyone at Edgbaston would like to thank Varun for his contribution to Warwickshire over the last seven seasons.”

Manchester United have enjoyed a fine first season under Erik ten Hag, but it does seem like they are running out of steam as the campaign reaches its conclusion.

Back-to-back losses against West Ham United and Brighton and Hove Albion had thrown their top-four finish into doubt, which given how comfortable they once looked to bring Champions League football back to Old Trafford, would have been a travesty.

However, having since halted that mini-collapse against Wolverhampton Wanderers, the Red Devils are once again back in the driving seat ahead of their rivals Liverpool.

Given the success of this debut year, the Dutch tactician will likely already be looking ahead as to how he can bolster this team that has served him well. Admittedly, the main cause for concern would be to add to the depth surrounding the starting XI, as they have been hamstrung by numerous injuries in various positions.

Marcel Sabitzer may have deputised well, having joined in January amidst Christian Eriksen's injury, but the Austrian is no match for some of the experienced alternatives this huge club could attract.

Despite that, the on-loan Bayern Munich maestro has made his intentions clear: "I found my place here. Now I know the Premier League and can say there's nothing better."

What's the latest Man United transfer news?

The recent news – as per Football Insider – could spell bad news for Sabitzer with it said that an offer is now being readied to sign Mateo Kovacic in a potential £30m deal.

It was previously suggested that the Red Devils were merely keeping tabs on the Croat, although it now appears as though they are set to step up their interest.

United's hierarchy seem to think they can definitely sign the midfielder, but only if they can convince the selling club to slash their price tag.

How has Mateo Kovacic played for Chelsea?

To claim the 29-year-old entering his prime years could prove a fine coup for Ten Hag, adding a true winner into his squad alongside the likes of Casemiro and Raphael Varane.

The Blues' midfielder is the proud victor of four Champions Leagues amongst numerous other trophies, yet this season has struggled in what has been a horrid transitional period for the west London club.

However, just last year saw the former Real Madrid star maintain a 7.20 average rating in the league, scoring twice, assisting five times and recording 1.1 key passes and two tackles per game, via Sofascore. He truly was imperious, and this is form he has largely maintained throughout his whole career at Stamford Bridge.

It even led Jurgen Klopp to praise the World Cup finalist back in 2018, questioning how to defend the midfielder, when he is "running like a Formula One car".

Although Sabitzer has deputised well, with three goals and one assist in all competitions, the experience of Kovacic, as it has proven with Eriksen, would be vital.

The latter has quietly been one of the Premier League's most consistently high-performing stars in recent years, and should he prove to be a viable option, the decision of who to sign becomes a no-brainer. Indeed, Ten Hag must surely send Sabitzer packing if this move comes to fruition.

Vernon Philander is being prepped for a Test return after being named in South Africa’s A side to play four-day games in Zimbabwe and Australia ahead of a packed summer schedule

Firdose Moonda07-Jun-2016Vernon Philander is being prepped for a Test return after being named in South Africa’s A side to play four-day games in Zimbabwe and Australia ahead of a packed summer schedule. Philander only played three first-class games in the 2015-16 domestic season after tearing ankle ligaments before South Africa’s second Test against India in Bangalore in November last year. He has not been picked in the ODI squad and has not had any game time over the winter after failing to secure a County deal but remains in South Africa’s long-format plans.Philander is part of a 15-member squad for the Zimbabwe series – captained by new Test opener Stephen Cook, who made his debut in last summer’s final fixture – that also includes offspinner Dane Piedt, while the contingent for the Australia series includes Dean Elgar and Temba Bavuma, as South Africa prepare for 11 Tests in the 2016-17 summer, which includes a three-match tour of Australia.”A number of the Test squad regulars, who are not involved in the current tri-series in the Caribbean, have been included in the four-day squads at the request of national coach, Russell Domingo. This will give them quality match practice ahead of the two-match series against New Zealand in August,” Linda Zondi, South Africa’s convener of selectors, said. “Vernon Philander, in particular, has not had a lot of cricket, following his long-term injury lay-off.”Despite the endorsement from the administrators, Philander’s comeback is not guaranteed. He will have to fight for a place in a pack that includes Dale Steyn – who has also not played Test cricket since December and has not been included in the A squads – Kagiso Rabada, Morne Morkel and Kyle Abbott. South Africa are also looking at developing a second tier that includes Hardus Viljoen and Andile Phelukwayo.Test discards Stiaan van Zyl and Dane Vilas have also been included in the four-day squads, keeping their hopes of pushing for places alive. There are four new additions to the four-day squad: all-rounder Dwaine Pretorius and three bowlers – Sisanda Magala, Malusi Siboto and Duanne Olivier.After the four-day matches, South Africa A will feature in an annual fifty-over tri-series against the A teams from Australia and India. Wayne Parnell will captain the side to further underline his place in South Africa’s future. Parnell is currently with the ODI side in the Caribbean, making his comeback after a season on the sidelines. “Wayne Parnell gets the opportunity to develop his leadership skills in the one-day format. He was an outstanding captain of our national under-19 side and took them to the final of the under-19 World Cup in 2008,” Zondi said.The one-day side includes David Miller, who was dropped for the West Indies tour, and Rilee Rossouw and Aaron Phangiso, who are part of the trip. There is also space for Eddie Leie, who has played T20 cricket for South Africa, and Khaya Zondo, who was part of the limited-overs squads that toured India in 2015 but did not play a game.Four-day Squad to Zimbabwe: Stephen Cook (capt), Qaasim Adams, Theunis de Bruyn, Heino Kuhn, Sisanda Magala, Keshav Maharaj, Duanne Olivier, Andile Phehlukwayo, Vernon Philander, Dane Piedt, Dwaine Pretorius, Omphile Ramela, Stiaan van Zyl, Dane Vilas, Hardus ViljoenFour-day Squad to Australia: Stephen Cook (capt), Qaasim Adams, Temba Bavuma, Dean Elgar, Heino Kuhn, Sisanda Magala, Keshav Maharaj, Duanne Olivier, Wayne Parnell, Andile Phehlukwayo, Vernon Philander, Dane Piedt, Omphile Ramela, Stiaan van Zyl, Dane Vilas, Hardus ViljoenOne-day squad: Wayne Parnell (capt), Qaasim Adams, Marchant de Lange, Reeza Hendricks, Heino Kuhn, Eddie Leie, Sisanda Magala, Aaron Phangiso, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Rilee Rossouw, Malusi Siboto, Khaya Zondo, David Miller, Dane Vilas

Journalist Charles Watts has claimed Arsenal may have to sell William Saliba this summer if he doesn't sign a new contract in the near future.

What's the latest Arsenal transfer news?

The French centre-back's absence in recent months with a back injury has severely impacted the club's Premier League title hopes.

Indeed, the defender was a notable absence in draws against Liverpool, West Ham and Southampton, as well as the loss to Manchester City, as the Gunners failed to keep a clean sheet in any of those games.

However, they did manage to end that run with a 2-0 win over Newcastle yesterday.

Although, worrying for Arsenal, with his importance to this team so evident, Saliba's long-term future is also in doubt. Indeed, he will see his £40k-p/w come to an end in the summer of 2024 and he is yet to commit.

While talking about it all on his YouTube channel, Watts warned that the Gunners will simply have to sell this summer if the 22-year-old won't renew terms.

He explained: "Mikel has now been talking about his contract, which at the moment remains unsigned…

"Which is a little bit of a sort of elephant in the room type scenario, really, because we're all sort of hoping Saliba gets back fit, plays a part between now and the end of the season. But if not, then he gets himself fit for preseason, so he's ready to go next season.

“But if he hasn't signed a new contract by the end of preseason, it puts Arsenal in a really difficult position. Because he'll only have one year left on his contract, and he could walk away for free at the end of next season.

"So really Arsenal would have to sell this summer. And that is a bit of a horrible thing to think about, because you don't want to be losing Williams Saliba.

"But if he doesn't sign a new deal, if Arsenal can't get this deal over the line and done, then they're going to have to sell him this summer really. And that would be a huge thing for Arsenal."

Will William Saliba leave Arsenal this summer?

Things are still a little hazy regarding Saliba and his deal with some recent reports suggesting negotiations have reached an "impasse". But in more positive news Mikel Arteta has suggested a deal could be close.

Indeed, as per ESPN, the Spaniard insisted this week that the new deal "is about timing, nothing else", which suggests only a few details have to be ironed out.

Even so, if something happens to change the player's stance on the contract and negotiations fail, it would leave Arsenal in an extremely sticky situation.

As Watts points out, Saliba could leave on a free after next season, so this summer would really be the best time to sell him if they want to make any notable money on the defender.

All in all, it sounds like the Gunners really need that contract signed as soon as possible.

Leeds United forward Wilfried Gnonto has been fully fit for selection in the club’s last two Premier League games, according to a source close to the player.

What’s the latest Leeds news on Gnonto?

Gnonto arrived in the summer from FC Zurich and has made 23 appearances during his first season at Elland Road. The Italy international has scored four times and registered three assists for the Whites but has fallen out of favour under current head coach JavI Gracia.

The forward has played just 53 minutes of action in the club’s last six league games, failing to get on from the bench in Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with Leicester.

Many inside the stadium and in the media were left surprised that the 19-year-old didn’t feature in the week, which led to Gracia being quizzed on why he didn’t use Gnonto following the game.

LUFCFANZONE posted on Twitter in the last 48 hours after hearing from “a source close to the player”. They said that Gnonto suffered a small injury prior to the 6-1 defeat to Liverpool but has been fully fit for selection against Fulham and Leicester.

“Before the Liverpool game Willy sustained a small injury. He was 80% fit for the Liverpool game but has been 100% and available full strength for every game after.”

Worrying for all involved…

Phil Hay has described the situation as strange and compared it to Joe Gelhardt last season, but it is a worry that Gnonto has been fully fit and has played just 10 minutes in the last two games.

He has made things happen this season, registering the same number of assists as Brenden Aaronson in half the playing time while also providing moments of brilliance such as the opener at Old Trafford and stunning volley against Cardiff City.

Gnonto was backed by Hay to be key in the club’s battle to avoid the drop just last month, so it is concerning that he simply isn’t fancied by Gracia, with Conor McGilligan even suggesting there may have been a clash between the pair, something which many may feel could be accurate following this update.

It's not as if Leeds have been free-flowing in the final third without Gnonto either, and with Luis SInisterra going off injured against Leicester, it looks like it is between Jack Harrison, Crysencio Summerville and Gnonto for two starting spots on the wing against Bournemouth this weekend, in what appears to be a make or break game for Leeds in their attempts to avoid the drop.

Liverpool, Manchester United, and Newcastle United have all joined the race to sign Chelsea's star player Mason Mount. The England international's contract at Chelsea is set to expire in the summer of 2024. According to reports, a contract extension hasn't yet been agreed upon.

The questions being asked here are, where will Mount go next, and if he does sign for Liverpool, how would he fit into their midfield?

Who is Mason Mount?

Mason Mount is a 24-year-old attacking midfielder/central midfielder who currently plays for English Premier League side Chelsea. Since playing for the London club, he has scored 27 goals in 127 games across all competitions.

He made his debut playing for Chelsea's senior team after coming through the 'Blues' youth system in 2017 and his international debut for England came in 2019.

While playing for England, he has so far scored 5 goals in 36 games. Mount was born in Portsmouth, England, in January 1999; the right-footed attacking midfielder wears the number 19 shirt for Chelsea.

Where would Mount fit into Liverpool's midfield if he makes the switch?

If Liverpool were to sign Mount this year or next year, it would be purely to strengthen the current midfield, which currently consists of the following players:

Fabinho Harvey Elliot Curtis Jones Jordan Henderson Alexander Oxlade-Chamberlain James Milner Thiago Alcantara Naby Keita Stefan Bajcetic

If he does sign for the 'Reds,' he would definitely be an asset to the club. He would n easily fit into the middle of the field without Klopp having to make too many changes. Liverpool will no doubt be keeping a close eye on Mount's contract situation over the coming months.

Mason Mount's next club odds

If you look at some of today's major soccer betting websites, you will see that Manchester United have a slightly better chance of signing Mason Mount than Liverpool.

Some of the other clubs he could also potentially sign for are Newcastle United (English Premier League), Manchester City (English Premier League), Paris Saint-Germain (French Ligue 1), or Inter Milan (Italian Serie A).

Let's take a quick closer look at the odds:

Manchester United – Mount is currently priced, on average, at around 4/1 in the UK fractional odds format to join the Red Devils. This works out to 400 in the American/moneyline odds format or 5.00 in the European decimal odds format. This also means that there's a 20% chance of him joining Man United Liverpool – To join Liverpool, you're currently looking at odds of around 6/1 (which is 600, or 7.00), with a 14.30% chance of joining Manchester City – To join the Sky Blues, you're looking at average odds of around 12/1 (1,200, or 13.00), with a 7.70% chance of joining Paris Saint-Germain – To join Ligue 1 side PSG, you're looking at odds of around 16/1 (1,600, or 17.00), with a 5.90% chance of joining Inter Milan – To join Inter, the market is priced at around 25/1 (2,500, or 26.00), with only a 3.80% chance of joining

What's next for Mason Mount

Mason Mount is currently worth somewhere in the region of €55 million to €92 million. Whether Chelsea extends his contract to keep him there for a few more years or decides to cash in on their prolific star player while he's in the best form of his life remains to be seen.

Chelsea are currently in tenth place in the Premier League. They have just 34 points after 25 games, having won only 9 games, drawn 7 and lost 9. They have scored 24 goals and let in 25.

On Saturday, March 11th, they travel away in the Premier League to play Leicester City at the King Power Stadium. Their next league game is a home game against Everton on March 18th, and then on April 1st, they have another home game, this time against Aston Villa.

Image Source: Pixabay

Tottenham Hotspur are expected to interview free agent manager Brendan Rodgers, and he is 'very keen' on the job, according to reports.

What's the latest on Rodgers to Spurs?

After parting company with Leicester earlier this month, the Northern Irishman has been sporadically linked with a move to Spurs who were thought to hold an interest in 2021.

Indeed, the 50-year-old was apparently a target for chairman Daniel Levy, and Rodgers was also the Lilywhites chairman's 'preferred choice' to take over from Harry Redknapp 11 years ago too.

Having led the Foxes into a Premier League relegation battle before quitting the King Power, you could argue Rodgers' stock has slightly fallen since Spurs were eyeing him.

Nevertheless, it has been reported in the last fortnight that he is indeed an option for the north Londoners who are still on the hunt for Antonio Conte's permanent replacement.

Cristian Stellini and assistant coach Ryan Mason are taking interim charge while Levy expands the search, with the likes of Arne Slot (Feyenoord) and Vincent Kompany (Burnley) most heavily linked this week.

Now, as per a report by Football Insider journalist Wayne Veysey, there has been an update on their alleged interest in Rodgers as well.

The former Liverpool boss is apparently 'very keen' on the Spurs job and is expected to be interviewed for the post. Rodgers is also seen as one of the frontrunners as Tottenham chiefs take a real interest.

He's apparently happy to work 'within the board’s budget limitations' and his track record of building teams from the ground up is said to be very attractive for Spurs.

This also comes as Tottenham's chances of landing Julian Nagelsmann recede.

Would Rodgers strengthen Spurs?

Despite a torrid end to his time at Leicester, we believe Rodgers is still a very capable coach.

He even guided his most recent club to both an FA Cup and Community Shield win in 2021 – clinching nine trophies in total across his career, including a very successful spell dominating the SPFL with Celtic (Transfermarkt.

What's more, the 4-2-3-1 boss has also been praised for his work in the past by Spurs fan favourite and fellow manager candidate Mauricio Pochettino.

The Argentinian said this on Rodgers and Leicester back in 2019:

"Leicester is a very good team with a lot of unbelievable players and after winning the Premier League they rebuild their squad and today are doing fantastic with a great manager like Brendan Rodgers, who I know very well."

His credentials are there and perhaps his status as a free agent removes all obstacle standing in the way of a potential appointment.