Whoever is chosen to become the next Arsenal manager will have huge boots to fill following the departure of Arsene Wenger.
The Frenchman transformed the North London outfit into Premier League heavyweights and created a style of football that was easy on the eye.
In his final few years in charge, though, the tide turned and fans grew increasingly frustrated by the lack of genuine title bids.
Last season, plenty of disgruntled supporters held protests in a bid to force the manager out.
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Despite this, Wenger penned a new two-year contract, but a few weeks before the end of the 2017-18 season, he decided to call it quits.
According to Sky Sports News, former Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta is the frontrunner to succeed the 68-year-old, while club legend Thierry Henry will also be spoken to by the hierarchy.
Both figures have little coaching experience, with Arteta spending the last two years assisting Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, while Henry has been splitting his Sky Sports punditry duties with working as Roberto Martinez’s number two in the Belgium national team.
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The ongoing uncertainty over the manager’s hunt has got Arsenal fans talking on Twitter, with some suggesting that Henry and Arteta should team up at the Emirates.
As reported by the BBC, Celtic are on the brink of signing St Mirren winger Lewis Morgan for a fee of around £300,000.
The Scotland U21 international has been in magnificent form this season, helping the Buddies’ promotion push with six goals and five assists in the Scottish Championship. The BBC say he will likely be loaned back to his current club for the remainder of the 2017/18 season.
Seen as one of the brightest young Scottish talents around right now, he’ll now have the chance to improve his skills even further under the guidance of Brendan Rodgers.
While Celtic supporters are pretty happy with the signing, Rangers fans are annoyed their club didn’t attempt to make a move to bring the winger to Ibrox.
Lewis Morgan was once on the books at the Light Blues and was released as a teenager, having been a supporter of the Ibrox club as a youngster. Fans feel such a talent should not have slipped through Rangers’ fingers.
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Having spent the end of last season watching Aston Villa play from the bench, sharp shooter Darren Bent is now back in-shape and on the pitch, this time for Fulham. FootballFanCast.com caught up with Darren, who was speaking at the launch of the Battlefield 4 Beta, this week to reflect on his time at Villa, moving to Fulham and the team’s performance so far this season, the World Cup and his thoughts on his new teammates!
Fulham is the sixth club you’ve played for – do you have a favourite?
I’ve enjoyed my time everywhere but I certainly have a close affinity with Ipswich town, just because I came from the system there. They are the ones that gave me the platform to grow, to live my dream and to play football on a regular basis professionally. Ipswich is the one that sits closest me, closely followed by Charlton just because they gave me the opportunity to play in the Premier League. So definitely Ipswich, then Charlton is a close second.
On the back of recent results – what is the mood like in the changing room?
The boys are all still fine. We know that we’re in a sticky situation but we’re all still fine.
Do you think you can turn it around?
Of course we can turn it around. The main thing is that we start to win games and look at some of the results and the performances because we have played well. I’m sure once we start to win games and goals start flying, we’ll be fine.
You’ve recently come back from injury – how hard is it to get back on form on the pitch?
It’s difficult. You can do all the training you like off the pitch but when it come to playing games you’re never fit enough. The only way you can get match fit is by playing matches. When I was injured for a little while because of my ankle I was still doing hard sessions every day, the first time I came back I was out of breath after ten minutes, just because you can’t get that match sharpness back without playing matches.
Martin Jol has described you and Berbatov as ‘the weapons’ – would you agree?
Yes, I would like to think that in time our partnership will really gel and we will start to do really well and win games. A partnership takes time. It started to show in the game against Arsenal, where my first goal for Fulham came. With time it will start to work.
Berbatov comes across very cool on the pitch – is he as cool off the pitch?
Yes, he’s quite suave. He comes in with jackets on, trouser shoes, shirts nice and fresh and drives a nice car. So yes, I’d say he’s quite cool, always got nice shades on. He looks like Bulgarian mafia!
It was clear from the outside that towards the end of last season your relationship with Paul Lambert had broken down – is there anything looking back now that you would do differently?
I can’t really remember one specific incident where I did something and then everything changed. I just went from one minute being all involved, to not being at all. If I could put my finger on it and why that happened then I’d do it. He’s moved on and Villa is doing well and have got some good results. I’m at Fulham now and once we find our way, we’ll be doing the same as well.
Next summer is the World Cup – do you still think you’re in with a chance?
You’d like to think so. If I have been playing well for Fulham, then there’s no reason why I can’t be involved. For me it’s just a case of not even thinking about it, just playing well at Fulham and concentrating on that, because if I play well at Fulham then I will always be in contention.
Is there one defining match in your career that stands out?
One game, which will always stick in my head, is when Sunderland played Spurs at Stadium of Light. I left Tottenham on not great terms with the way it ended and with the spotlight on me, and when we played them for the first time at White Lane I missed a penalty, and Tottenham fans were all over me, jeering. But then, when we played them at home, I scored after 30 seconds and then a minute later I scored again! That game really sits in my mind as one I was most happy with.
What are your personal aspirations for this season? Is there a goal tally?
I never put myself under pressure and set goal tallies. My aim is to play as much football as possible and play as well as I can and hopefully Fulham will do as well as they can and it will be a really good season.
Now, for a bit about your teammates… Who’s the longest in the shower?
I would probably say Derek Boateng.
Who’s the funniest?
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Steven Sidwell is the biggest joker, he’s always cracking joke, or Adel Taarabt. They’re the funniest I would say.
Worst dancer?
I’m going to say Taarabt again because when I’m mucking around joking and singing in the changing room, he’ll be there dancing and it’s horrendous. Definitely Taarabt – one hundred percent.
Finally, who’s the biggest moaner?
Berbatov. By far he’s the biggest moaner about everything.
Darren Bent was speaking at the launch of the Battlefield 4 Beta, available to download NOW on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 or PC from Xbox Live, PSN and Origin. Watch the trailer for the Beta version of the ever popular first person shooter series here
What constitutes a wasted talent in football? As Michael Owen has made his move to Stoke City, many have been left to analyse his period at Manchester United, which amounted to little more than a three-year bench warming exercise for the one time European footballer of the year. He had so much more to offer the Premier League, but yet chose prestige over game time. Not the wisest decision, in some people’s books.
But in the grand old scheme of things, Owen’s decision isn’t all that bad compared to some of these gentlemen. The talent of these 10 men was never really in any doubt, but what they were able to do off the pitch always seemed to affect their abilities, on it.
A penchant for clubs, casinos, dentist chairs and a damnright contempt for turning up to training have, all seen their careers plummet. Where as they should still have been playing at the highest level, some now face a career of footballing exile or a period on the after-dinners circuit. So have a flick through, have a read and see if you still rate Michael Owen as a wasted talent.
Click on Stan Collymore to unveil the 10
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Have I missed anyone out or are you outraged at some of these choices? Tell me what you think on Twitter: follow @samuel_antrobus and bat me all your views.
The former Australia quick started his career with the state and has been holding the role in an interim capacity
ESPNcricinfo staff06-Aug-2024Ryan Harris has been named South Australia’s new men’s head coach, filling the role vacated by Jason Gillespie’s departure earlier this year.Harris, who began his playing career with the state, has been leading the men’s programme in an interim capacity over the last few months while the role was recruited for and will take over full-time immediately as pre-season ramps up.Related
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It has yet to be confirmed who will become Adelaide Strikers’ BBL head coach (Gillespie held both positions) but it’s understood splitting the job has become increasingly likely. Tim Paine has previously confirmed his interest in the Strikers’ role should that be the case.”I’m thrilled and honoured to be appointed Head Coach of South Australia where I began my first-class playing journey more than 20 years ago,” Harris said. “Having worked closely with the team last summer and during our current pre-season training, I know what this squad is capable of and can’t wait to get started and build on the positive steps we saw last year.”Under new captain Nathan McSweeney, there is a real sense of self-belief among the group and we’ll be working hard to ensure we hit the ground running with the new season rapidly approaching.”South Australia finished fifth in the Sheffield Shield last season after a fourth place in 2022-23 which followed five consecutive wooden spoons. They were bottom in the Marsh Cup after reaching the final the previous season.There is a chance they will see more of internationals Travis Head and Alex Carey early in the Sheffield Shield window during October.After retiring, Harris moved into coaching with the Australia men’s under-19 team at the 2018 and 2020 World Cups and has also worked in the IPL with Kings XI Punjab and Delhi Capitals. He also had stints as a consultant with the men’s team while Justin Langer was coach.In 2021 he was appointed Queensland Cricket’s pathway manager. He applied to be head coach of Australia Women when Matthew Mott left, having had a short-term stint as bowling coach on a tour of New Zealand in 2021, but was overlooked before returning to South Australia to be their bowling coach.
New Zealand’s six domestic associations have released their initial list of 15 contracted players for the 2023-24 season
ESPNcricinfo staff04-Jul-2023Finn Allen’s return to Auckland after three seasons with Wellington, and Kyle Jamieson’s move back to Canterbury after four seasons at Auckland, are some of the major talking points as New Zealand’s six major associations released their first list of contracted players for the 2023-24 season.Cam Fletcher also returned to Auckland after almost ten years at Canterbury, who signed up fast bowler Michael Rae and left-arm wristspinner Michael Rippon from Otago. Ajaz Patel is back with Central Districts after not getting a New Zealand contract for the 2023-24 season.Jack Boyle got his first Central Districts contract, having previously played for Canterbury, while Otago signed former Wellington allrounder Luke Georgeson.There were first-time contracts for seam bowler Harjot Johal (Auckland), Will Clark (Central Districts), Muhammad Abbas (Wellington), Gareth Severin (Wellington), Nick Greenwood (Wellington), James Hartshorn (Wellington) and Thorn Parkes (Otago).The major associations can name up to 15 players in the first round of contract announcements, followed by a two-week transfer window during which uncontracted players can assess their options with another association. Following this, each association will name one more player to complete their 16-man contract list.
List of contracted players
Auckland Adithya Ashok, Cole Briggs, Louis Delport, Danru Ferns, Cam Fletcher, Matt Gibson, Ryan Harrison, Harjot Johal, Simon Keene, Ben Lister, Robbie O’Donnell, Will O’Donnell, Sean Solia, Quinn Sunde, George Worker.Northern Districts Joe Carter, Katene Clarke, Kristian Clarke, Henry Cooper, Matthew Fisher, Zak Gibson, Brett Hampton, Scott Johnston, Scott Kuggeleijn, Bharat Popli, Tim Pringle, Jeet Raval, Tim Seifert, Fred Walker, Joe Walker.Central Districts Jack Boyle, Doug Bracewell, Tom Bruce, Will Clark, Josh Clarkson, Dane Cleaver, Liam Dudding, Joey Field, Greg Hay, Jayden Lennox, Ajaz Patel, Brett Randell, Brad Schmulian, Ray Toole, Bayley Wiggins.Wellington Muhammad Abbas, Nick Greenwood, James Hartshorn, Troy Johnson, Nick Kelly, Callum McLachlan, Iain McPeake, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Robinson, Gareth Severin, Ben Sears, Michael Snedden, Nathan Smith, Peter Younghusband, Logan van Beek.Canterbury Chad Bowes, Matt Boyle, Leo Carter, Sean Davey, Zak Foulkes, Mitch Hay, Cole McConchie, Angus McKenzie, Edward Nuttall, Ken McClure, Will O’Rourke, Michael Rae, Michael Rippon, Fraser Sheat, Henry Shipley.Otago Matt Bacon, Max Chu, Jacob Cumming, Jacob Duffy, Dean Foxcroft, Luke Georgeson, Jake Gibson, Andrew Hazeldine, Llew Johnson, Ben Lockrose, Jarrod McKay, Travis Muller, Thorn Parkes, Dale Phillips, Hamish Rutherford.
New Zealand central contracts
Finn Allen, Tom Blundell, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham, Adam Milne, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Blair Tickner, Neil Wagner, Kane Williamson, Will Young.
Reduced to 27 for 3 after being sent in, Super Giants recovered to set a target of 170, and Sunrisers stumbled at the end of the chase
Karthik Krishnaswamy04-Apr-2022Deepak Hooda, KL Rahul and Avesh Khan led the way as Lucknow Super Giants came back from behind with bat and ball to complete a 12-run win over Sunrisers Hyderabad, continuing the reversal of fortunes for teams batting first in IPL 2022.Reduced to 27 for 3 after being sent in, Super Giants recovered to set a target of 170, and Avesh took two powerplay wickets to put them firmly in front. But Sunrisers took the initiative with quickfire knocks from Rahul Tripathi and Nicholas Pooran; at one stage, they needed 27 from 17 balls with six wickets in hand. But Avesh turned it around once again with two wickets in two balls in the 18th over, and two more solid death overs from Andrew Tye and Jason Holder, playing his first game of the season, completed the job.Washington dominates powerplay Sunrisers didn’t open the bowling with Washington Sundar in their first match against Rajasthan Royals, but they had a clear case to do so against Super Giants. One of their openers, Quinton de Kock, was a left-hander, and the other, KL Rahul, has struggled to score quickly against offspin of late, his strike rate against that style of bowling dropping from 176.66 until the end of 2019.Washington made an even bigger impact than Sunrisers may have hoped for. He dismissed de Kock by denying him room to hit inside-out, and took out another left-hander in Evin Lewis, who fell in the dangerous pursuit of sweeping every ball from a bowler who targets the stumps incessantly. With Rahul and Manish Pandey – another right-hander who starts slowly against spin – taking no chances against him either, Washington ended the powerplay with figures of 3-0-11-2.Romario Shepherd’s hard lengths took out Pandey, meanwhile, after he had conceded a six and a four earlier in the over, and Super Giants finished the powerplay at 32 for 3.A partnership of contrasts In both 2020 and 2021, Rahul came in for plenty of criticism for his low-risk approach in the powerplay and middle overs, which brought him plenty of runs but also left the feeling that his franchise at the time, Punjab Kings, frequently ended up with lower-than-ideal totals even when they didn’t lose too many wickets. That approach was more understandable in this game, given the situation Super Giants got themselves into.At the other end, Hooda adopted a different approach, after taking 12 balls to get his eye in. The rapid Umran Malik bore the brunt of the punishment, with three fours and a six pinging off Hooda’s bat. It wasn’t that Malik bowled particularly badly: Hooda played some exceptional shots off him, including an open-faced slice to steer a near-yorker past backward point and a whipped six off a short ball angled in to tuck him up for room. There was also a ramped six that the leaping third man fielder – stationed fine for exactly that shot – got a hand to but couldn’t grab hold of.Rahul also hit two fours off Malik, and his second and third overs – the 10th and 14th of Super Giants’ innings – went for a combined 36. Even with Sunrisers’ other bowlers doing decently through this phase, Super Giants’ recovery was firmly on track.Bhuvneshwar and Natarajan nail the yorkers Malik’s poor night forced Sunrisers into using Washington’s fourth over – which they probably weren’t planning to bowl – in the 17th over. Rahul and Ayush Badoni – who replaced Hooda following his dismissal in the 16th over – took it for 17.Badoni and Holder then took 17 off Shepherd in the 20th over, but in between, Bhuvneshwar and T Natarajan ensured Sunrisers wouldn’t be chasing too steep a target, with expert use of the yorker – if they erred, they sent down low full-tosses rather than half-volleys, and they always followed the batters’ movements with their line, ensuring they seldom got room to free their arms. Super Giants only took a combined 15 runs off the 18th and 19th overs, and lost Rahul and Krunal Pandya in the process.Avesh, part one Sunrisers began their chase solidly enough, getting to 21 for no loss after three overs, with Kane Williamson picking up an eye-catching six behind the wicket with a scoop over the keeper off Holder in the third over.But just when Williamson’s form was beginning to look ominous – he punched Avesh to the cover point boundary at the start of the fourth over – Avesh got him out, another attempted lap over short fine leg ending up in the hands of the fielder.Abhishek Sharma, the other opener, fell in Avesh’s next over, miscuing an attempted big hit off a slower ball, and Sunrisers ended the powerplay at 40 for 2.KL Rahul and Deepak Hooda put up a half-century stand for the fourth wicket•BCCI
One way, then the other, and back The middle overs seesawed this way and that. Rahul Tripathi clattered 44 off 30, including taking three fours off the eighth over, delivered by Andrew Tye – the highlight a deft ramp over the keeper off a rising short ball. But Krunal took both him and Aiden Markram out, leaving Sunrisers needing 75 off 41 with six wickets in hand and two new batters at the crease.Pooran began not just slowly but also most unconvincingly, as Ravi Bishnoi beat his outside edge three times in four balls with his wrong’un allied to his across-the-left-hander angle. But he muscled Krunal for a leg-side six in the 14th over and hit Holder for two fours in the 15th, before ending the 16th with a glorious drive to bisect extra-cover and long-off, off Bishnoi, to leave Sunrisers needing 41 off 24. The match was turning once again.Avesh, part two Tye’s changes of pace and ability to land the ball wide of the left-handers’ hitting arc ensured he only conceded eight runs in the 17th over, with its one boundary coming via a lofted drive from Washington.Then, with Sunrisers needing 33 from 18, Pooran miscued a pull off Avesh only for the ball to carry all the way for six. The luck turned two balls later, as Pooran hit a full-toss straight into long-off’s hands.Then Avesh nicked off Abdul Samad first ball, delivering another blow to Sunrisers’ chances, before closing out the over with two dots and a wide, backing the wide line outside off to Shepherd.Tye delivered another superb over in the 19th, but just when Sunrisers seemed to be slipping out of the contest with 22 required off 8, an attempted yorker turned into a full-toss that Shepherd launched for a straight six.Sixteen of the last over was possible, though difficult. And it proved even more difficult thanks to the new rule regarding batters crossing over. Looking to hit the first ball for six, Washington was caught on the long-on boundary. Where Shepherd may have taken strike next ball in previous seasons, he now had to watch Bhuvneshwar from the other end.Two singles followed, before Bhuvneshwar holed out. Again, Shepherd couldn’t take strike, and with two sixes needed just to tie the game, the match was all but over.
The former India captain “can resume his regular daily activity soon,” hospital says in statement
Press Trust of India25-Oct-2020Kapil Dev, India’s first World Cup-winning captain, was discharged from a city hospital on Sunday, two days after undergoing angioplasty following complaints of chest pain and uneasiness.The Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, where he had been admitted, said in a statement, “He’s doing fine and can resume his regular daily activity soon. He’ll be under regular follow-up consultation with Dr Atul Mathur.”Dr Mathur, director of the cardiology department at the hospital, conducted the procedure – an emergency coronary angioplasty, to open blocked arteries and restore normal blood flow to the heart – on Dev after he had been admitted and evaluated. Dev, who played 131 Tests and 225 ODIs from 1978 to 1994, is widely hailed as one of the finest allrounders to have played the game. With 5248 runs at 31.05 and 434 wickets at 29.64, he remains the only cricketer to have achieved the double of 5000 Test runs and 400 wickets, and one of only two, alongside Ian Botham, to have completed the 5000-300 double.An outswing bowler of great accuracy and skill, Dev broke Richard Hadlee’s record for most Test wickets (431) in 1994, and his mark of 434 stood until 2000, when Courtney Walsh went past it. Muttiah Muralitharan now holds the record for most Test wickets (800) while James Anderson – who currently has 600 – has the most Test wickets by a fast bowler.
John Simpson 91 not out, but Derbyshire still lead by 121
ECB Reporters Network02-Jul-2019Dawid Malan kept himself in Ashes contention with a batting master-class to blunt Derbyshire’s victory hopes against Middlesex at Derby.The Middlesex skipper played superbly to score an unbeaten 177 to take his side past the 408 follow-on target as the visitors closed day three on 436 for 6, 121 runs behind.John Simpson gave him excellent support with 91 not out as the pair shared an unbroken stand of 186, a seventh-wicket record for Middlesex against Derbyshire.The home side took only three wickets, one of them to Fynn Hudson-Prentice who became only the fifth bowler in Derbyshire’s history to strike with his first ball in first-class cricket for the county.Malan went out to resume his innings knowing a lot rested on him and from the start, he set a tone of defiance with an impressive display of concentration and selectivity.Apart from a couple of false shots, his judgement of when to play and when to leave the ball was exemplary and although Derbyshire switched their bowlers around, they could not force an error.Steve Finn fulfilled his nightwatchman duties by staying with his captain for the first 35 minutes of the day before Logan van Beek knocked out his leg stump and although Max Holden struggled, he hung around for 73 minutes.There was little he could do about the ball that removed him as Hudson-Prentice found late movement to become the first player since John Wright in 1980 to strike with his first ball.Wright was on the ground to see another memorable moment for the 23-year-old who bowled with control and was unlucky to see Simpson missed in the slips on 21.George Scott was not as fortunate when he failed to get over a drive at Ravi Rampaul and saw a thick edge fly low to third slip where Matt Critchley took a brilliant diving catch.At 250 for 6, another 158 runs were needed to avoid the follow-on but Simpson matched Malan’s application to take Middlesex to tea and beyond.Malan completed his third championship century of the season from 200 balls with his 15th four and, Simpson’s escape apart, there was little for the bowlers once the second new ball lost its hardness.Simpson gave another tough chance on 43 when a sliced drive at Reece burst through the hands of Anuj Dal leaping at cover point before he completed a deserved 50 from 138 balls shortly before Malan went to 150 off 302 balls.Leus du Plooy became the eighth bowler used during the day but nothing could part Malan and Simpson who went past Middlesex’s previous best seventh wicket stand of 146 at Lord’s in 1932.
Mason Crane claimed three wickets on his return from injury as Hampshire edged out Surrey in a rain-affected contest
ECB Reporters Network21-May-2018 ScorecardMason Crane and Rilee Rossouw starred as Hampshire continued their 100 percent record in the Royal London One-Day Cup – as they edged out Surrey by four wickets.Legspinner Crane grabbed 3 for 45 on his first appearance at the Ageas Bowl since making his Test debut over the winter, before Rossouw blasted a memorable 90, and Joe Weatherley bundled Hampshire over the line, to condemn Surrey to their second defeat of the tournament.Hampshire were set 227 to win from 34 overs, on DLS method, after Surrey had amassed 262 in 44 rain-affected overs, thanks to Dean Elgar’s 91.Rossouw and Hashim Amla set about the task enthusiastically, with the latter creaming a series of cut shots to the boundary. But the former South Africa Test captain, having helped put on 52 for the first wicket, was leg before to a Rikki Clarke ball that jagged in.Rossouw then went on the attack, plunging Sam Curran and Clarke for sixes on the way to a 34-ball fifty. Vince scored 14 in a 63-run partnership with Rossouw before he was bowled by Gareth Batty while attempting to give himself space to drive.Weatherley joined the swashbuckling Rossouw to add the third half-century stand of the innings but Rossouw fell ten runs short of what would have been a deserved ton as he was bowled by Clarke.Jimmy Adams and Brad Taylor both came and went, skying to Foakes and Meaker respectively, before Gareth Berg, who had received a reprieve as replays showed his edge behind hadn’t carried, was bowled – all three to Clarke.Curran spilled Lewis McManus at third man before the wicketkeeper-batsman, along with Weatherley, 46 not out, edged Hampshire to victory with seven balls to spare.Earlier, Rory Burns won the toss and elected to bat on a good-looking wicket, which was to offer equal assistance for bat and ball, with both sides deciding to pick unchanged XIs from their opening matches.England Under-19s star Will Jacks drove to a diving Jimmy Adams at short cover in the sixth over to bring Burns and Elgar together to add 93 for the second wicket.Elgar produced a scrappy innings, full of swings across the line and dabs into gaps, but while it wouldn’t win any style points it proved effective.The South African reached his half-century from 50 balls before spinners Crane and Brad Taylor started the mid-innings squeeze. Crane struck in three successive overs to have Burns, for a well-made 46, and Ollie Pope lbw before producing a devilish delivery to beat Ben Foakes outside his off-stump, with Lewis McManus completing the stumping.While Crane was making the headline by taking wickets, Taylor was stopping the runs – their combined statistics a miserly 3 for 88 from 18 overs.The fast bowlers returned and Fidel Edwards delivered a rising bouncer which bruised Curran’s glove before being caught behind.
And then Berg had Elgar chopping on for 91, before the rain paused the game after 37.1 overs – eventually play resumed with the match cut to 44 overs a side.From the remaining 6.5 overs, Surrey managed to score 64 runs, with Scott Borthwick and Clarke putting on 56, with the latter lbw to Edwards in the penultimate over but it wasn’t enough to prevent Rossouw’s fireworks.