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Tottenham Hotspur fans have been blessed by countless attacking talents over the years, many of whom have handed the supporters memories to last a lifetime.

Whilst he failed to claim any silverware in North London, striker Harry Kane will arguably go down as one of the best ever players to represent the Lilywhites.

The 32-year-old posted an incredible tally of 280 goals during his decade in the first-team squad, often being the go-to player in terms of producing the goods within attacking areas.

His subsequent tally saw him overtake Jimmy Greaves in the club’s history books, becoming the Lilywhites’ all-time leading scorer in the league and all competitions.

However, his departure in 2023 has left a huge hole at the top end of the pitch, with Thomas Frank yet to find a suitable successor during the early months of his tenure.

What Frank has made of Richarlison in 2025/26

With Dominic Solanke’s injury issues coming back to bite him in the early stages of the 2025/26 campaign, new boss Frank has had to rely upon Richarlison to provide the goods in the final third.

The Brazilian looked set to depart to join Galatasaray during the summer transfer window, but the Dane’s arrival seemingly gave the forward a new lease of life in North London.

He netted twice on the opening day against Burnley, also scoring against Brighton & Hove Albion – but has come under fire in recent weeks amid his lack of impact.

The 28-year-old has now failed to score in any of his last four outings for the Lilywhites, which has led to criticism from the fanbase over his long-term future at the club.

However, Frank himself has previously spoken about Richarlison’s impact, offering a glowing review of the forward and praising him for his form since taking the reins.

In a recent interview, the Dane stated: “Right now he’s my starting nine, he’s scored some fantastic goals. He is a very good player, and I’m very happy with him.”

Despite the praise, rumours have also been swirling around his future, potentially seeing him move to the MLS to join Orlando City in the upcoming transfer window.

There’s no denying that the hierarchy will be targeting reinforcements in such an area in the distant future, but they could save themselves millions by unleashing one player within their ranks.

The Spurs star who could be a Harry Kane regen

Whoever fills the void for Spurs in the centre-forward position will have huge expectations placed upon them, mainly due to the impact produced by Kane.

Losing a world-class level talent is always going to provide a near-impossible task of replacing him, as seen by the Lilywhites’ attempts in recent years since his departure.

Given Solanke’s recent issues with fitness and Richarlison’s inability to provide the goods on a consistent basis, a solution desperately needs to be found if the manager is to be a success in the role.

However, the £110m spending spree this summer may have a bearing on the levels of funds available next year, with the manager needing to consider utilising Will Lankshear.

The 20-year-old is a product of the Lilywhites’ academy, just like Kane, but the similarities go deeper than just his route to becoming a professional.

He was sent on his first loan spell last campaign, subsequently joining West Brom in January, but was unable to make the desired impact after failing to find the net in his 11 outings.

Kane suffered a similar fate back in 2010/11, with the Englishman struggling to set the world alight during his first loan spell at Leyton Orient in League One.

Will Lankshear – Oxford stats (25/26)

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

9

Goals scored

3

Pass accuracy

78%

Chances created

1.6

Shots on target

1.2

Dribble success

57%

Aerials won

46%

Fouls won

1.9

Stats via FotMob

However, Lankshear has seemingly impressed in England’s second tier so far this season, already netting three times in his nine outings for Oxford United.

Such form has seen the forward be labelled a “Harry Kane regen” by one analyst, further highlighting the huge potential he possesses at present.

There’s no disputing that Lankshear will need to make a huge jump between starring for Oxford and the Lilywhites, but it’s something that Kane managed to do upon his break into the squad.

Such a move won’t be the supporters’ main one, but it’s a cost-effective one that could certainly make the club millions should he reach the levels achieved by his compatriot.

As for Richarlison, if the youngster manages to cement his place within the first team ranks, it could certainly spell the end for him in North London despite the manager’s hefty recent praise.

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Dale Benkenstein is the latest casualty of Lancashire’s disastrous start to this season’s County Championship, as it was confirmed by the club that he has left his position as head coach by mutual consent.Steven Croft, Lancashire’s former captain, has taken over the role in an interim capacity, with the club yet to record a victory in seven attempts this season as it sits just one point above rock-bottom Kent in the Championship’s second division.Benkenstein, 50, was appointed as head coach in December 2023 when Glenn Chapple stood down following seven years in the role. However, he oversaw the club’s relegation from the top flight last summer, and has been unable to oversee an upturn in their fortunes in this season’s first block of first-class fixtures.Although the return of James Anderson had given the team a short-term lift, with a dominant display in a drawn contest against Derbyshire, the nadir came at Grace Road last week with an innings-and-three-run loss to Leicestershire, this season’s unlikely pace-setters at the top of Division Two.That was Lancashire’s second crushing loss of the campaign, following a three-day defeat to Northamptonshire earlier in the month that led to the resignation of Keaton Jennings as the club’s red-ball captain.Prior to that, the club hierarchy had issued a public apology for the team’s performances, with Mark Chilton, director of cricket performance, describing their form as “not acceptable”, and adding that Lancashire would “make necessary changes” to improve the situation.Now, with the club’s attention switching from the Championship to their T20 Blast campaign, which begins against Worcestershire at Old Trafford on Thursday, Lancashire have opted for a clean slate.”Following a difficult start to the season, we feel that now is the right time to make a change, as we look to improve our on-field performances,” Chilton said.”After relegation at the end of last season, results have not improved so far this year and after much consideration, both Dale and I feel the team will benefit from a change in direction.”We would like to thank Dale for his hard work and commitment during his time at the Club. He leaves Lancashire Cricket with our best wishes for the future.”Croft was a key member of the last Lancashire team to win the County Championship in 2011, and also captained the side to victory in the T20 Blast in 2015. Having retired from all forms of cricket last season, he is set to take over the club training from Tuesday, and will be supported in the role by William Porterfield, Craig White and Karl Krikken.”Steven is a Lancashire legend, highly respected in the dressing room and has been working incredibly hard on his coaching career for several years,” Chilton said.”More recently, he has coached within our Second XI and Academy and has also joined a couple of England Under-19s tours, working with some of the brightest prospects in the country.”I’d like to thank Steven, along with the other coaches, for stepping into the role at short notice ahead of our Vitality Blast opener tomorrow evening.”

As anticipation builds for the season’s first Clasico, Barcelona’s young defensive prodigy Pau Cubarsi has claimed that Kylian Mbappe is “harder to stop” than Jude Bellingham, praising the Frenchman’s blistering pace and lethal finishing. With Real Madrid sitting top of the table with 21 points and Barca just two behind, the Santiago Bernabeu clash promises to be a defining early chapter in La Liga's title race.

Cubarsi sets the stage for upcoming Clasico

Madrid currently lead La Liga with 21 points from eight matches with the October 26 Clasico clash approaching, while reigning champions Barca sit in second with 19 points after their heavy 4-1 loss to Sevilla. In this charged atmosphere, young centre-back Cubarsi has spoken up, warning that the threat up front is different this season, claiming Mbappe is harder to handle than Bellingham and suggesting that stopping the French forward will require more than usual.

AdvertisementAFPCubarsi explains why Mbappe's unpredictability sets him apart

Cubarsi believes Mbappe’s dynamic playstyle gives him an edge. He highlights how the French forward can appear in unexpected spots- either out wide, drifting inside from the wings, or directly at your feet.

In an interview with , the Barca defender explains why Mbappe is more dangerous than Bellingham: "Both are difficult, because Mbappe is very mobile, attacks spaces well, and is very fast. You don't expect Bellingham because he comes from deep, from the second line. But I think Mbappe, because he's fast, finishes with his first touch and can score."

Barcelona need to fix defensive issues

Barca have been criticised for defensive lapses and lack of intensity, seen most recently in Sevilla, where they conceded four goals. Cubarsi has flagged these issues, said the team needs better pressing from the front, and emphasised that every player, forward as well as back, has to contribute. Los Blancos, by contrast, seem more settled under Xabi Alonso, with a coherence in style and fewer vulnerabilities.

Mbappe will hope to capitalise on the issues plaguing Hansi Flick's team, especially as he has an impressive record against the Catalan club, having scored 11 goals in eight matches. He is flying this season, too, with 14 goals in 10 games so far, while Bellingham is on the hunt for his first of the campaign.

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AFPInjury concerns ahead of the Clasico

Barca enter the clash weakened with Lamine Yamal sidelined due to a groin injury and in a race against time to be fit for the trip to the Spanish capital. Raphinha, Joan Garcia and Fermin Lopez are also missing out.

For Madrid, meanwhile, Dani Carvajal is out for around a month with a calf injury and Trent Alexander-Arnold is also sidelined with a biceps femoris injury. To mitigate these losses, Madrid may rely on younger backs or deploy versatile midfielders like Federico Valverde into defensive roles. With both sides battered by injuries, the Clasico showdown will test both side's resilience and define their title campaign.

Arsenal are now leading the race for a “world-class” Barcelona star, who has the same agent as Viktor Gyokeres, with Mikel Arteta personally keen on a creative midfielder.

Gunners eyeing new midfielder despite Zubimendi masterclass

After suffering a setback against Liverpool before the international break, the Gunners responded in perfect fashion against Nottingham Forest, chalking up a 3-0 victory, with summer signing Martin Zubimendi looking particularly impressive.

The Spaniard bagged the opening and final goal against the Tricky Trees, finding the back of the net with a superb volley from the edge of the box, which saw the 26-year-old pick up the Man of the Match award.

Arteta is well-stocked in the engine room, with the manager clearly a big fan of Mikel Merino, having trusted the 29-year-old to start ahead of Declan Rice against Forest, saying: “Mikel [Merino] comes back after scoring four goals in two games with a really high emotional state and I want to use that when a player is in that moment.

“I want to play him because he is going to bring something different with the qualities that they have and Declan comes in and it will have an impact immediately or he will play the next game.”

However, according to a report from Spain, Arteta has set his sights on bringing in another creative midfielder in the January transfer window, with Arsenal now keen on a deal for Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong.

The Gunners are said to be the leading candidates for De Jong’s signature, despite interest from the Saudi Pro League, with the Dutchman keen to remain at an elite European club, although ideally that would be Barcelona.

However, the 28-year-old, who cost the La Liga club €75m (£65m), is yet to agree a new contract with Barca, which means his current employers could look to cash-in this winter.

"World-class" De Jong could take Arsenal's midfield to next level

There are perhaps some doubts over whether the Gunners need another central midfielder, having signed Zubimendi in the summer, who has made a flying start to life at the Emirates Stadium.

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However, with Arteta’s side clearly at the stage where they can go deep into the Champions League, having reached the semi-finals last season, it makes sense to have a deeper squad, and De Jong could take their midfield to the next level.

Simone Inzaghi has suggested the Netherlands international could be one of the best players in the world in his position, saying: “Let me say that Frenkie de Jong is just sensational, he’s a world class player. Frenkie surprised me at same level as Lamine Yamal did.”

The Barca star, who is represented by HCM Sports management, the same agency as Gyokeres, has considerable experience at the top level, picking up 19 goals and 23 assists in 261 games for Barcelona, so it is exciting news that he could be on his way to the Emirates Stadium this winter.

Former South Africa offspinner and current Queensland and Brisbane Heat coach Johan Botha believes Matthew Kuhnemann will always wear the stigma of having his action reported regardless of whether he is cleared or not when he undergoes testing in the coming weeks.Kuhnemann, who plays under Botha at Heat, was reported by match officials for having a suspect bowling action during Australia’s second Test against Sri Lanka in Galle last week.Related

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Botha had problems with his bowling action throughout his career and said Kuhnemann faces a difficult road ahead even if he is cleared.”It is a long process and unfortunately either way if you get cleared or not it will always be there,” Botha told SEN in Brisbane. “Guys think it’s a one-off and you get rid of it. That is not how it is. It is a bit of a process. For now he will have to bowl at a very similar speed and revolutions as he did in the Tests. Nothing gets changed now.”He needs to try and prove himself not guilty and from there on if it is a ball or so over 15 degrees he will obviously have some work to do, then a long process starts. It never goes away because there is always someone in the crowd, someone in the opposition, or a match referee who wants to have a say or wants to feel a part of it.”Unfortunately this will be part of it now. It is never the guy who gets 0 for 100. It is the guys who get wickets and affect games. They are the ones under scrutiny. Guys want to have a look at it and try and find fault.”Kuhnemann has never been reported previously in an eight-year professional career, including when he first played ODI cricket for Australia in Sri Lanka in 2022 and when he made his Test debut and played three Tests on the 2023 tour of India.Johan Botha has his action tested in 2006•Getty Images

Botha added it is possible his action came under scrutiny at the back end of the second Test because of fatigue.”He bowled quite a lot balls in the Test series. As you get tired your action gets put under pressure,” Botha said. “I know he likes to bowl. He bowled quite a lot during the Big Bash. He went to Australia training when they were at the Gabba during the Big Bash.”I’d be interested to see when the umpires thought or the match referee thought it was not as clean as they would have liked it. And I would guess it could be later in the game. When you start getting tired, the ball is older and softer and you have to try and generate a little bit more pace. Whereas with the new ball it obviously comes off the wicket a bit quicker so I don’t think you need to force it so much.”Botha said his own experience had taught him that it is hard to recognise problems in your own action. He was first reported soon after his debut Test in January 2006 and was subsequently banned from bowling by the ICC. Another examination in August that year found his action to be illegal once again and he was cleared to bowl only in November.In 2009, following an ODI against Australia in Port Elizabeth, Botha was reported once again and this time the ICC ruled that his action while bowling the doosra was illegal and he was banned from bowling it. His other deliveries, however, were found to be within permissible limits.Botha was again cited in 2013 while playing an Australian domestic 50-over match for South Australia. He was once again tested and was cleared entirely.”I’ve looked at my stuff over the years and it doesn’t feel like it looks at times,” Botha said. “There’s a whole lot of different things. It’s a big process.”Hopefully for Kuhney’s sake it’s just a little hiccup and it’s nothing serious. I really thought in the last couple of days about things I did to change it which I might pass onto him. But I think for the first bowling test you’ve got to go and bowl as close to as you did in the Test match. There’s no use trying to change things now. That could make it worse.”Kuhnemann will now have to undergo independent testing at an ICC-accredited centre with Brisbane the likely location. Bowlers are permitted 15 degrees of flex in their elbow during their bowling action but anything more than that is deemed illegal.Kuhnemann is still available to play Sheffield Shield or Dean Jones Trophy (Australia domestic 50-over games) matches while undergoing testing but he cannot play in international matches during the process. He did not play in Tasmania’s 50-over clash with Victoria on Thursday.

Sky Sports man Anthony Joseph is now reporting that Celtic are eyeing another striker alongside Michel-Ange Balikwisha this summer.

Celtic reach agreement in principle to sign Balikwisha

The Hoops haven’t always had things their own way during the current transfer window, with Brendan Rodgers recently hinting at his frustration at a lack of business.

“It’s not my decision in the end. You know, I can prepare the team, the staff, and the players that are here have been fantastic over pre-season. We are all clear on what we need to improve, and for whatever reason, we haven’t been able to do that. So now we are in this position and we have to accept it, not dwell on it and try to come through it for Saturday and for Tuesday.”

On the plus side, one recent report has claimed that Celtic have reached an agreement to sign Royal Antwerp forward Balikwisha, who has been a long-time target for the Scottish Premiership champions.

The 24-year-old could be just what Rodgers is looking for in the coming days, as he looks to bolster his attacking options, not least in order for his side to give a better account of themselves in the Champions League this season.

Celtic pushing for striker alongside Balikwisha

Now, Sky Sports reporter Joseph has claimed that Celtic are “looking to sign another striker” alongside Balikwisha before the windows slams shut.

That said, he also states that “two new wingers” are also potentially being looked at as an alternative option, allowing Daizen Maeda to then take up a centre forward role, with Adam Idah, Shin Yamada and Johnny Kenny the backup players in that position.

Celtic fans would love to see an extra striker signing for Rodgers, especially as it would show plenty of ambition after a lack of it has arguably often been on show this summer.

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It remains to be seen who the striker in question with Balikwisha could be, but some names have been touted of late, including Leicester City legend Jamie Vardy.

At 38 years of age, the Englishman’s very best days are now long behind him, but that’s not to say that he couldn’t be a success in the Scottish Premiership for a year or two.

Vardy could be an older addition alongside Balikwisha, allowing Rodgers to bring in both relative youth and vast experience, with the former Foxes hero still possessing the pace and finishing ability to trouble defences, as well as the character to make him an instant favourite among the fanbase.

أعرب محمد هاني لاعب الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بالنادي الأهلي، عن سعادته بعد فوز فريقه على الزمالك بهدفين مقابل هدف، خلال المباراة التي أقيمت بينهما اليوم ببطولة الدوري المصري.

والتقى الأهلي مع الزمالك، على أرضية استاد القاهرة الدولي، ضمن منافسات الجولة التاسعة من عمر مباريات بطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز.

وقال محمد هاني في تصريحات عبر قناة “الأهلي”: “ألف مبروك للشعب الأهلاوي، هذا مكان الفريق الطبيعي ارفع رأسك وافتخر أنك أهلاوي”.

طالع أيضاً.. فيديو | القمة 131.. الأهلي يحقق فوزًا مثيرًا على الزمالك في الدوري المصري

وتابع: “أشكر الفريق بالكامل والجهاز الفني والإداريين واللاعبين والعمال والجهاز الطبي، الفترة الماضية الأمر لم يكن سهلا علينا أن نكون في هذا المكان لأن هذا ليس مكاننا الطبيعي، قوتنا تجعلنا نفوز على أي فريق وأي مباراة في أي وقت، ولكن حدثت ظروف في أول الموسم عطلتنا بعض الشيء”.

وأتم: “اللاعبون المتواجدون على أعلى مستوى ومستعدين أن يضحوا بحياتهم من أجل الأهلي، (مش جايين النادي يأخذوا قرشين ويمشوا)، لا يوجد أشخاص مثل هؤلاء ويستمرون في النادي، الذي لم يعطي للنادي 100% لا مكان له، وهذه قاعدة في الأهلي أعرفها منذ أن كنت في الناشئين”.

وأكد: “أدعموا اللاعبين وهذا الوقت الذي لابد أن تقفوا فيه بجانبهم، الفترة الماضية كان جمهور الأهلي حزينا ومن حق الناس أن تكون حزينة”.

وواصل: “نحتاج أن تقف الجماهير بجانبنا، الذي حدث في بداية الدوري كان شيء بعيدًا عن إرادتنا، نحن نحاول ونجتهد، وتحدثنا واجتمعنا أكثر من مرة في منزل أكثر من لاعب وهذا ما ظهر في المباريات، هذا المكسب لا يأتي من فراغ”.

وأتم: “لا أحد يعلم ماذا يدور داخل غرفة الملابس، والأهلي أصبح اسكواد ثقيل جدًا أقوى اسكواد في إفريقيا، نحن تعاهدنا من بعد مباراة إنبي”.

Newcastle United may have signed Anthony Elanga this summer, but that is the only highlight for Eddie Howe thus far.

Moves for no.1 target Joao Pedro and striking sensation Hugo Ekitike failed in recent weeks while Howe was also keen on signing Bryan Mbeumo, but it appears as though Manchester United have snatched him away from the Magpies.

The Cameroon international would have been an excellent versatile option for Howe next season, as he can play across the front three.

As such, he will have to explore other options ahead of the new season.

Newcastle's forward search

Benjamin Sesko and Julian Alvarez have both been linked with moves to Newcastle in recent days. Either one would make for a magnificent signing, no doubt about that.

With everything, the transfer fees could be the biggest problem regarding either deal. This could mean Howe might have to turn elsewhere to sign another forward.

According to Africa Foot, Newcastle have entered the race to sign Evann Guessand, now set to rival Tottenham Hotspur for his signature.

It’s claimed that the Toon have recently opened talks with the player’s entourage as they now explore whether to formalise their interest in the player.

He would only cost a reported £22m, which could enable Howe to move for other targets while simultaneously improving his attacking options.

Guessand, given his positional flexibility, could even be Howe’s own answer to Mbeumo should he sign for the Toon this summer.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Why Newcastle must sign Evann Guessand

While the signing of Elanga is a promising one, giving Howe some depth on the flanks, it is evident another centre-forward is required.

Callum Wilson left the club upon the expiration of his contract, leaving just Alexander Isak and William Osula as the only recognised strikers at the club.

Last season for Brentford, Mbeumo scored 20 goals and grabbed nine assists. He spent the season operating either as a main striker or on the right flank, showcasing his versatility.

Guessand may not have matched this tally of 29 goal contributions, but he still scored 13 goals and recorded ten assists in all competitions for Nice.

24/25

42

13

9

23/24

38

7

2

21/22

25

1

3

20/21

3

0

0

19/20

1

0

0

Like the Brentford star, the Ivorian played either as a striker or on either wing for the French club, and this sort of flexibility could give Howe a major boost.

Guessand’s performances in Europe last season will offer Howe more positives. Indeed, the attacker shone when compared to his peers in the Europa League.

According to FBref, not only did Guessand rank in the top 12% for successful take-ons per 90 (2.67), but he also ranked in the top 5% for touches in the opposition penalty area (7.21) per 90. That’s certainly an Mbeumo-esque set of traits.

He also ranked in the top 12% for aerials won and in the top 16% for tackles per 90, highlighting that he is solid off the ball and is always looking to win it back for his team. While Mbeumo may not be prolific in the air, his work-rate is also exemplary.

U23 scout Antonio Mango hailed the 24-year-old as “electric” earlier this season, and considering he could be available for £22m, it makes perfect sense for Howe to move ahead with a move.

Newcastle might have missed out on Mbuemo, but in Guessand, they could have the next best thing.

Even better than Sesko: Newcastle agree personal terms to sign £50m striker

Newcastle United would love to welcome in this £50m striker who is even better than Benjamin Sesko.

2 ByKelan Sarson Jul 20, 2025

Somerset threw open the County Championship Division One title race by beating leaders Surrey in a thrilling day-four finish at Taunton – but victory came at a cost, with Tom Banton ruled out* of Saturday’s Blast semi-final rematch between the teams after rolling his ankle while playing football.Banton batted at No. 11 in Somerset’s second innings, scoring 46 in a vital last-wicket stand with Craig Overton worth 71. Surrey then collapsed from 95 for 3 to 109 all out in the final session of the game, Somerset securing victory with minutes left in the day to cut the champions’ lead at the top to eight points.Speaking before the extent of Banton’s injury was confirmed, Jason Kerr, Somerset’s head coach, conceded that it was “pretty serious”, adding that James Rew would be added to their squad as wicketkeeping cover.”Tom is an incredible talent, but so is James and we believe he has a bright future in all formats,” Kerr said. “Yesterday was a fantastic day and we need to use the confidence and momentum from that tomorrow. We know that anything can happen in the short format of the game, but the confidence in the group is extremely high and it’s a challenge that we’re all looking forward to.”Aside from Banton, who top-scored with 132 in the first innings, Somerset’s heroes were Archie Vaughan – the son of former England captain, Michael – and Jack Leach. Vaughan, playing only his second first-class match, claimed match figures of 11 for 140, while Leach took 9 for 142.Somerset’s dramatic victory kept them in touch with Surrey, the two-time defending champions, and maintained their hopes of winning a domestic treble, having also progressed to the One-Day Cup final later this month.”It was a crazy hour at the end,” Somerset captain, Lewis Gregory, said. “There were periods when not much happened, but the lads hung in there and Jack Leach and Archie Vaughan were fantastic the whole game.”To get a win with only a couple of minutes left in the match was very special. Four-day wins are some of the most pleasing you have as a cricketer because you work so hard for them.”Archie has taken to first-class cricket like a duck to water. The fact that he is more of a batter than a bowler is the really exciting bit and we believe he is going to be very good to watch with the bat over a number of years. If you throw in the off-spin he has bowled in this game, there is a mighty special cricketer developing.”Leachy is a great mate of mine. He has been through a good deal of adversity in his life and not just his cricket career. It’s great to see him back in the England squad and I’m sure he will show what he can do in Pakistan.”The coaches and myself said at the start of the season that we wanted to be in a position to challenge for trophies come September. The fact that we can still win three shows the calibre of players we have in our dressing room.”Although Surrey had their lead at the top cut, they remain in control of their own destiny with two rounds of the Championship to play – a home fixture against Durham and a trip to Chelmsford to play Essex.”We had a concentration lapse for the last hour of the game and it cost us the result,” Surrey head coach, Gareth Batty, said. “It was a very good game of cricket and we played our part in it, but Somerset deservedly take the points.”We are still top of the league and eight points clear. And, while we had a poor hour, there were still lots of positives to take from the game for us.”Archie Vaughan bowled nicely, but it is for Somerset to comment on his performance. It’s a really nice start for the lad and we wish him all the success for the future.”It will stay in the dressing room how we are feeling. We are a very tight unit and we will go into next week incredibly confident that we can do what is required at The Oval.”We meet Somerset again at Finals Day on Saturday. It will be a different format and different colour ball, but both teams have played good cricket in the group stages. There will be a few new faces in the match-ups and we will go again.”*September 13, 4.23pm BST – This story was updated following confirmation of Banton’s omission

His 4 for 15 in nine overs helps restrict Sussex to 132 for 9 in match reduced by rain to 41 overs-a-side

ECB Reporters Network07-Aug-2024Ajeet Singh Dale summoned a blistering career-best performance with the ball to propel Gloucestershire to a eight-wicket win over Sussex Sharks in a one-sided Metro Bank One Day Cup contest at Bristol’s Seat Unique Stadium.Bowling with real venom, the 24-year-old pace bowler claimed 4 for 15 in nine overs to help restrict Sussex to 132 for 9 in a match reduced by rain to 41 overs-a-side. Fellow seamer Zaman Akhter proved almost as deadly, returning figures of 3 for 25, his best in List-A cricket, while Danial Ibrahim top-scored with 30 for the outgunned visitors.Required to chase 132 to win on the Duckworth Lewis Stern Method, Gloucestershire comfortably overhauled their target with 21 overs to spare, courtesy of an authoritative innings of 49 not out from Cameron Bancroft and a whirlwind knock of 46 in 28 balls from Miles Hammond.Victory means Gloucestershire can still qualify for the knockout stages from Group B, providing they win their remaining games against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge on Friday and Leicestershire at Bristol on August 14. Sussex remain bottom of the table after suffering a sixth straight defeat in the 50-over competition.Gloucestershire skipper Jack Taylor won the toss and did not hesitate to insert an inexperienced Sussex batting line-up on a green-tinged pitch beneath cloud cover. It quickly became evident that his decision was the right one as Singh Dale built up an impressive head of steam from the Ashley Down Road end, undermining the top order with a devastating new-ball spell of 3 for 11 in seven overs with three maidens.Henry Rogers pushed at a ball that pitched outside off stump and nicked to Bancroft at second slip, while the in-form Tom Clark sent a thickish edge looping to Hammond at backward point.Charlie Tear may have survived when Matt Taylor put down a sharp chance off his own bowling, but there was no escape when Singh Dale squared him up and Bancroft again demonstrated safe hands in the cordon to reduce Sharks to 19 for 3 in the eleventh.Bowling with genuine pace and accuracy, Singh Dale produced his most incisive List-A contribution since his previous career-best 4 for 58 in a winning cause against Northants at Cheltenham 12 months ago. And things scarcely became any easier for the visitors when he made way for Akhter, the 25-year-old seamer bowling with great accuracy in a six-over burst that yielded 2 for 22.Frustrated at being tied down, Oli Carter was bowled for 10 in the act of driving, while the hitherto obdurate Zach Lion-Cachet played back to a straight one that hit middle and off and departed for a gritty 57-ball 27 as Sussex lurched to 65 for 5.Now in almost complete control, Gloucestershire made further in-roads before the rain arrived, slow left-armer Graeme van Buuren persuading Bertie Foreman to cut uppishly to backward point with the score on 94.Resuming their innings on 101 for 6 with nine overs fewer in which to retrieve a parlous situation, Sussex lost another wicket almost immediately, Ibrahim miss-timing a pull shot and offering a return catch to Akhter after battling his way to 30 from 57 deliveries.Singh Dale then had Aristides Karvelas caught at mid-on to improve upon his previous best return and consign the visitors to 106 for 8 and almost certain under-achievement. Archie Lenham scrambled a valuable 24 before being run out by substitute fielder Joe Phillips in the final over as ball continued to dominate bat in an innings that yielded a modest 11 fours.Hammond and Bancroft were able to raise boundaries far more readily in a progressive stand of 73 in nine overs that set the tone for the chase. Karvelas proved expensive with the new ball, conceding 31 in three overs before making way for Sean Hunt, and Gloucestershire’s openers took full advantage of some loose bowling to advance the score to 50 from seven overs.Demonstrating aggressive intent, Hammond smashed Jack Campbell for three sixes in as many balls on his way to a quick-fire 46, only to blot his copybook by hoisting a delivery from Hunt high to mid-off in pursuit of a sixth four.There was no appreciable let-up in the scoring rate, Bancroft taking advantage of a free hit to raise an imposing six over mid-wicket at the expense of Ibrahim as the home side kept their foot to the floor. Hunt had Ollie Price held at backward point, but Bancroft proved unmovable in an innings that spanned 53 balls and included five fours and a six as Gloucestershire moved level on points with Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire and improved their net run rate into the bargain.