Phil Parkinson confirms Wrexham will be without George Evans for 'months' as midfielder to undergo surgery in huge blow for Ryan Reynolds & Rob McElhenney's side

Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson has confirmed midfielder George Evans will undergo ankle surgery, forcing him out for "months".

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Evans suffers ankle injuryWrexham ace set for surgeryMidfielder will be out for "months"WHAT HAPPENED?

The 29-year-old suffered the injury in Wrexham's 1-0 loss to Stevenage Town on Tuesday, with manager Parkinson describing the setback as a "huge" injury blow. The former Millwall man is now set for an extended period on the sidelines.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportWHAT PHIL PARKINSON SAID

He said, via : "All we can do is get the operation done as quickly as possible and give him the best rehab going forward. What we’ve been told is the surgeon, when he has a look inside, will understand the extent of the damage more so they don’t want to put a timescale on it until the operation. But it will be months with George."

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While this is a blow for the Red Dragons, Evans has not been a regular in Parkinson's side this season – with just one of his five League One appearances being as a starter. Moreover, they are still second in the table and are in an excellent position after nine matches. Despite that, losing a player to injury is never a good thing.

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GettyWHAT NEXT?

Wrexham will look to return to winning ways in League One on Saturday afternoon when they host lowly Northampton Town at Stok Cae Ras, before taking on Wolves' Under-21s in the EFL Trophy three days later.

Após acusação de Richarlyson, ex-goleiro divulga nota de repúdio e avisa que vai entrar com processo

MatériaMais Notícias

O ex-goleiroJefferson Carvalhal enviou nota à imprensa onde afirma que vai entrar com processo na Justiça buscando reparações contra Richarlyson, que disse em participação no ‘Arena SBT’ que um goleiro, sem citar nomes, teria aceitado ‘mala-preta’ para rebaixar o Fortaleza em 2003. O goleiro no jogo em questão foi o próprio Jefferson, que se sentiu atingido.

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-Venho informar a todos – imprensa, desportistas, amigos e parentes – que já busquei orientação jurídica para tomar as providências legais necessárias, tanto para direito de respostas, como para que haja reparações por parte do acusador, onde couber dentro da lei. O objetivo é que, com o apoio da verdade e da justiça, um ato dessa natureza, praticado pelo ex-jogador não venha a colocar sob suspeita a história de um atleta que conseguiu, com dedicação, disciplina e boas condutas, além de jogar futebol durante 20 anos, torna-se bacharel em Economia, com pós-graduação em Gestão do Esporte, estendendo, assim, o envolvimento com o meio esportivo – diz trecho da nota.

A partida em questão foi pela última rodada da Série A do Brasileirão de 2003. No Moisés Lucarelli, Ponte Preta e Fortaleza faziam um confronto direto na briga pela permanência na primeira divisão. O empate garantia o tricolor na elite do futebol nacional. No lance em questão, Jefferson acabou falhando em uma jogada aérea e viu o jogador alvinegro Gerson marcar o primeiro gol da partida. A Ponte Preta venceu o jogo por 2 a 0.

Veja a nota na íntegra do ex-goleiro:

“Primeiramente, um pouco da minha trajetória. Fui goleiro profissional durante 20 anos, entre 1995 e 2015. Durante esse período, paute minhas condutas dentro do esporte e sempre com extremo profissionalismo. Em duas décadas, não tenho nada que macule minha carreira. Comecei no Ceará, passei por Fortaleza, Ituano, Sport, CRB, Ferroviário, Treze-PB, Moto Clube, Sampaio Corrêa, Horizonte-CE, Guarany de Sobral, para citar alguns dos clubes do currículo. Em grande parte como capitão e, sempre, como atleta referência de boa conduta desportiva.

No período de 2002 e 2003, estive no Fortaleza Esporte Clube, equipe pela qual tenho grande carinho e respeito, passando por momentos que marcaram positivamente minha trajetória profissional, como o acesso em 2002 para a Série A do Campeonato Brasileiro e o título de campeão cearense de 2003. No Brasileirão de 2003, na primeira divisão, participei efetivamente da campanha, cerca de 35 jogos com a camisa do clube. Exemplifico essa parte da carreira a fim de contextualizar o episódio atual, destacando que fui feliz, fiz amigos e me orgulho de todas as camisas que vesti.

Venho informar a todos – imprensa, desportistas, amigos e parentes – que já busquei orientação jurídica para tomar as providências legais necessárias, tanto para direito de respostas, como para que haja reparações por parte do acusador, onde couber dentro da lei. O objetivo é que, com o apoio da verdade e da justiça, um ato dessa natureza, praticado pelo ex-jogador não venha a colocar sob suspeita a história de um atleta que conseguiu, com dedicação, disciplina e boas condutas, além de jogar futebol durante 20 anos, torna-se bacharel em Economia, com pós-graduação em Gestão do Esporte, estendendo, assim, o envolvimento com o meio esportivo.

Reforço que me identifiquei muito com todas as equipes onde joguei, conseguindo atuar, ser referência e ser respeitado pelas maiores torcidas e clubes do meu estado: Ceará, Fortaleza e Ferroviário, com mais de 100 jogos em cada um, premiações e títulos. Nunca, nada manchou toda minha honra na minha trajetória como profissional. Recebo com tristeza essa situação, mas com muita confiança de que a justiça seja feita, e de forma breve.

Jefferson Carvalhal – Ex-goleiro.”

Saiba quando o Corinthians pretende promover a estreia dos reforços

MatériaMais Notícias

O Campeonato Brasileiro está rolando, o Corinthians conquistou uma vitória importante na última segunda-feira, mas a torcida quer saber mesmo quando vai poder ver os reforços em campo, até porque o desempenho do time está longe de convencer. Por essas e outras, o clube já sabe quando pretende promover a estreia de Giuliano e Renato Augusto, e ele deve ser em clássico.

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> Veja classificação e simulador do Brasileirão-2021 clicando aqui

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> Jemerson e Otero dão adeus! Veja quem já deixou o Corinthians em 2021

A informação foi dada primeiramente pelo GE e confirmada pelo LANCE!, e é colocada no condicional porque alguns fatores, que fogem da alçada do clube, podem colocar uma água fria nos planos, como problemas burocráticos e físicos. Se tudo isso estiver dentro dos conformes, a intenção é que a dupla possa estrear no dia 8 de agosto, em duelo com o Santos, na Vila Belmiro.

Apesar de já terem sido anunciados e integrados aos treinamentos do elenco, Giuliano e Renato Augusto somente poderão ser registrados a partir de 1º de agosto, quando abre a janela de transferências internacionais, uma vez que ambos estavam jogando no exterior antes de assinarem com o Timão.

No mesmo dia, o Corinthians recebe o Flamengo na Neo Química Arena, pelo Brasileirão, maso jogo não poderia marcar a estreia da dupla uma vez que o BID (Boletim Informativo Diário) funciona apenas durante a semana e não haveria a possibilidade de regularizar as contratações. Além disso, esse período será utilizado como uma pré-temporada para os dois jogadores.

Vale lembrar que ambos estão há algum tempo sem jogar. Giuliano, por exemplo, atuou pela última vez em 25 de abril, ainda pelo IstanbulBasaksehir, ou seja, mais de três meses sem entrar em campo. Ele começou a treinar com bola com o restante do elenco na última terça-feira, mas ainda precisa cumprir etapas antes de ser liberado para a comissão técnica de Sylvinho.

O caso de Renato Augusto, por outro lado, deve levar um pouco mais de tempo, uma vez que seu último jogo foi no inicio de dezembro de 2020, pelo Beijing Guoan, da China. São quase oito meses sem atuar, o que deve exigir um período maior de readaptação, por isso ele ainda não treina com bola, mas a expectativa é de que ele esteja em condições de jogo no dia 8 de agosto.

Dessa forma, se nada quebrar esse planejamento, a dupla deverá estar em campo diante do Santos, pela 15ª rodada do Brasileirão-2021. Ainda não é possível saber se estarão no time titular ou se serão opção no banco de reserva, mas a ideia é que ambos estejam na Vila Belmiro. O torcedor corintiano aguarda ansiosamente para ver Giuliano e Renato em campo.

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Aston Villa must cash in on a player who earns more than Diaby & Watkins

Aston Villa's transfer strategy has been on point in recent years, with Unai Emery's signings paying dividends for the fast-rising Premier League.

The sharp-witted tactician has also lifted many of the existing talents to new heights, with John McGinn, Douglas Luiz and Leon Bailey a few of the main figures in Villa's rise, vital in the fight for top four, perched fourth with two games to go, seven points ahead of Tottenham Hotspur.

But none have been more resounding in their success than Ollie Watkins, who has been described as "virtually unplayable" by The Athletic's Jacob Tanswell.

Aston Villa forward Ollie Watkins.

He might just be the outfit's top performer of 2023/24, but he's not the highest earner, albeit earning a pretty penny – with loanee Clement Lenglet proving to be a rare blunder in the sharp strategy.

Why Aston Villa signed Clement Lenglet

Emery was determined to strengthen Villa's defensive accord last summer and thus moved to sign Pau Torres from his former club Villarreal for an initial £33m fee.

But disaster struck and rearguard mainstay Tyrone Mings sustained a significant knee injury in Aston Villa's Premier League opener against Newcastle United last August.

As such, further cover was needed given Villa had qualified for the Europa Conference League, and so Lenglet was landed on a one-year loan deal from Barcelona.

The 28-year-old had failed to impress on loan with Tottenham Hotspur the season before, with journalist Jonathan Johnson branding him "a complete & utter liability of a defender".

But Villa needed support and he fit the system – has it paid off?

Clement Lenglet's season in numbers

Lenglet has started 13 Premier League fixtures this season but he's fallen to defeat on five occasions, shipping 25 goals. Conversely, when the France international has remained on the sidelines, the Lions have lost only three of 19 league games, conceding 19 goals.

1.

Boubacar Kamara

£150k-per-week

1.

Clement Lenglet

£150k-per-week

1.

Youri Tielemans

£150k-per-week

4.

Ollie Watkins

£130k-per-week

4.

Moussa Diaby

£130k-per-week

The biggest problem is that Lenglet pockets exorbitant earnings in the Midlands, perched alongside midfield stars Boubacar Kamara and Youri Tielemans as the club's joint-top-paid player at £150k per week.

The fact that he's outearning the likes of Watkins and Moussa Diaby, the latter of whom joined from Bayer Leverkusen in a club-record £52m deal last summer and has posted ten goals and eight assists for his team, is also of concern.

Moussa Diaby for Aston Villa

The truth of it is that Lenglet is a decent defender, with a flowing passing game and an inborn athletic quality that allows him to push play forward – ranking among the top 1% of centre-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for progressive carries per 90 (as per FBref) to hammer this point home.

But he's consistently failed to break from the periphery and that's despite Mings remaining sidelined for the entirety of the campaign. The Frenchman's hardly helped by Tanswell noting that he's run "into trouble" on different occasions.

Lenglet's second year on loan in England looks set to end with a nonchalant shrug. He's not been terrible, but then he's not had much time to prove himself from the outset in the Premier League.

Aston Villa looking to sign Watkins partner who'd be perfect on UCL nights

He would be perfect for Watkins and he’s been described as “one of the EPL’s best players”.

ByAngus Sinclair May 9, 2024

Report: Liverpool now preparing to bid for £50m+ Real Madrid target

Liverpool are reportedly preparing to table an offer of over £50m for an "intelligent" player this summer, with Real Madrid also interested in signing him.

Liverpool transfer news

It is soon to be a busy period at Anfield, with Jurgen Klopp's shock departure as manager meaning a perfect replacement has to come in. Sporting CP boss Ruben Anorim is the obvious favourite to take charge, but former Bayern Munich leader Niko Kovac has also emerged as a new option.

Away from the managerial situation, new signings will also be needed, not to mention individuals who best suit the next manager's playing style. If Amorim does come in, he could reportedly take Sporting striker Viktor Gyokeres with him to Liverpool, although rivals Manchester United are also interested in beating them to his signature.

Sporting CP strikerViktor Gyokeres.

Similarly, Goncalo Inacio is another much-linked option for the Reds, as he continues to shine at the heart of Sporting's defence. He could now even be available for as little as £40m this summer, which would be an added boost.

Xabi Alonso was previously a front-runner to be the new manager at Anfield, and while that now won't be the case, one of his Bayer Leverkusen stars, Alejandro Grimaldo, has also emerged as a reported target for Liverpool. The left wing-back has played a major role in his team's Bundesliga title success this season, scoring nine goals and registering 12 assists in the competition.

Liverpool readying offer for Real Madrid target

According to a report from Spain, Liverpool are readying an offer of €60m (£51.2m) offer for Real Sociedad ace Takefusa Kubo this summer, having been linked with him in the recent post.

They face stiff competition from Real Madrid, however, with the La Liga giants considering snapping up their former player in front of the Merseysiders. The report says that the Reds are in "attack mode" for the winger/midfielder, as Michael Edwards is clearly not messing around since his return to Anfield as CEO of Football, having already made boardroom appointments like Richard Hughes.

Takefusa Kubo

Kubo could be a great signing for Liverpool in the summer transfer window, with the 22-year-old attacker registering 10 goal contributions (seven goals and three assists) in La Liga this season. He has also been hailed by former United midfielder Shinji Kagawa, who said: "He’s a very good player. He already speaks Spanish because he was at the Barcelona academy for a bit and this is helping him a lot now.

"I think he can play well for Real Madrid. He has a very good chance [of succeeding in Spain]. He’s left-footed and very intelligent on the pitch. He always makes the right decision at the right time."

Not only that, but Kubo has also been likened to none other than Lionel Messi, which is the ultimate praise for any footballer, considering he is widely seen as the greatest player in the history of the game.

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Predominantly a right-sided attacking player, the Sociedad man could be looked at as a long-term replacement for Mohamed Salah, but his versatility also allows him to shine centrally and on the left.

Club contact Southampton over move to sign 22 y/o in surprise transfer

As Southampton fight for promotion, the outcome of their fight looks set to have consequences on their transfer activity this summer, with one player potentially heading for the exit door.

Southampton transfer news

If the Saints go up, then they should be in for an enjoyable summer, with incomings arguably far easier to convince when able to offer Premier League football. Should they fail to reach the top flight, however, then questions will undoubtedly come over their ability to keep hold of players. We saw the damage that losing their Premier League place did last season, with James Ward-Prowse leaving, and this summer may be no different.

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Either way, the rumour mill is already underway. According to reports, Southampton are following Vizela captain Samu ahead of a potential summer switch, whilst Karamoko Dembele has also been linked with a move to St Mary's in the coming months. Both players would improve Russell Martin's squad, with the latter a player who has been tipped for great things since he first broke through at Celtic, before now starring on loan at Blackpool from Brest.

Southampton manager Russell Martin.

Away from incomings, however, the Saints could lose a player who once cost them €10m (£9m). According to Fotomac, relayed by Sport Witness, Galatasaray have made contact to sign Armel Bella-Kotchap from Southampton this summer in what is described as a surprise transfer.

The central defender has endured a frustrating spell on loan at PSV Eindhoven this season, having been hit with injuries and a lack of game time in the Netherlands. Now though, he looks set to be offered a lifeline in the form of a permanent move away from St Mary's and a fresh start altogether at Galatasaray.

Bella-Kotchap has reportedly welcomed the interest of the Turkish giants and doesn't want to return to England if Southampton fail to earn promotion from the Championship this season.

Southampton have decision to make on "fantastic" Bella-Kotchap

Whilst things haven't worked out for the 22-year-old at PSV, he still has plenty of potential and showed glimpses of that even as Southampton suffered relegation last season. The fact that the Saints have a player with such potential on their books makes promotion all the more important this season. If they go up, the German could still play a part in any success that Martin's side has.

The praise of Football Talent Scout's Jacek Kulig certainly suggests that Southampton's forgotten man can quickly become a central part once more, should he decide to stay put this summer.

Meanwhile, logic suggests that the potential Bella-Kotchap has should at least attract an impressive fee if Southampton sell up this summer, with the Saints potentially making back what they initially splashed out. Only time will tell whether that will be the case when the summer window swings open in the coming months, however.

Son Heung-min admits he was 'so upset' by Jose Mourinho 'telling off' that saw him belittled in front of whole Tottenham squad

Tottenham star Son Heung-min has recalled a Jose Mourinho "telling off" in front of the whole squad that left him "so upset".

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Son subjected to 'tough' game jibeWas left shaken after the incidentPortuguese manager later apologisedGettyWHAT HAPPENED?

The South Korean forward has been one of the key figures in the Tottenham squad over the years and was named club captain after Hugo Lloris departed for MLS side LAFC last summer. Since 2015, Son has appeared in 408 matches for the north London side, scoring 162 goals, and was also a talismanic figure during Jose Mourinho's reign, but they didn't always see eye-to-eye.

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Son has opened up on an incident that saw him belittled by Mourinho during a game at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium. The forward admitted that he was left shaken by the manager's outburst in front of all of his team-mates, but he cooled down after receiving an apology text.

WHAT SON HEUNG-MIN SAID

Speaking in an interview with EAFC, the 32-year-old said: "One time Mourinho told me off during the game. [He said] 'I don't think you want to be in a game with a team like Burnley or Stoke (rough game)' in front of all the players and I was so upset about it, I'm not even an 18-19-year-old to be treated like that.

"Later after the match, the coach texted me, 'I know you understand that it wasn't my intention to target and hurt you. But I need to make sure that other players are not being lazy, and I need to show them by telling off the best player in the team, and for me, that player is you.' And after reading that text, I feel good."

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR SPURS?

Son will next be seen in action for Tottenham, who are now coached by Ange Postecoglou, on August 10 as they play their final pre-season friendly against Bayern Munich. The north London side will kick off their 2024-25 season on August 19 against newly promoted Leicester City.

Kylian Mbappe No.9 shirt sale boom at Real Madrid! New Galactico delivers jersey surge as Blancos struggle to deal with demand

Kylian Mbappe is already proving his ‘Galactico’ status at Real Madrid, with the Blancos struggling to deal with demand for his new No.9 shirt.

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  • French superstar heading to Spanish capital
  • New shirt met with unprecedented demand
  • Fans excited by arrival of World Cup winner
  • Getty/Goal

    WHAT HAPPENED?

    The World Cup winner is heading to Santiago Bernabeu as a free agent, having reached the end of his contract at Paris Saint-Germain. He is severing ties with the Ligue 1 giants as the club’s all-time leading scorer, but with Champions League glory having proved elusive.

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    Shop Real Madrid 2024-25 kits at adidasBuy now

    Mbappe will be hoping to break that trophy duck after linking up with the current kings of Europe, with the 25-year-old ready to embrace a new challenge while still approaching his peak. His arrival in Spain is generating unprecedented excitement, with supporters around the world clamouring to get a Madrid jersey.

  • Getty

    DID YOU KNOW?

    On the opening day of sales, with it confirmed that Mbappe will be taking on No.9 for Real as Vinicius Junior already fills his favoured No.7 spot, the Blancos had to contend with an overwhelming surge – with sales far exceeding expectations.

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  • WHAT REAL MADRID SAID

    Real were forced to put out the following statement, with Mbappe’s instant popularity suggesting that he will quickly become a fan favourite: “Due to current high demand, items in this collection may experience a delay in delivery of up to 4-6 additional weeks, regardless of the shipping method selected. This delay will affect both orders exclusive to the Mbappe collection and those that combine products from the Mbappe collection with other products from the online store.”

Pant's shot selection has let the team down sometimes – Shastri

Youngsters must come in with the mindset that they will get only a few opportunities to make mark, says Virat Kohli

Hemant Brar15-Sep-2019

‘No one will change his style but match awareness becomes crucial’ – Ravi Shastri on Rishabh Pant•Getty Images

With the T20 World Cup just over a year away, Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri, the India captain and coach respectively, have laid out their expectations from Rishabh Pant.WATCH on ESPN+

India v South Africa is available in the US on Hotstar and ESPN+. Subscribe to ESPN+ and tune into the three T20s and three Tests.
Sunday, Sep 15, 9.20 am ET on ESPN+: India v SA, 1st T20, Dharamsala
Wednesday, Sep 18, 9.20 am ET on ESPN+: India v SA, 2nd T20, Mohali
Sunday, Sep 22, 9.20 am ET on ESPN+: India v SA, 3rd T20, Bengaluru

The wicketkeeper-batsman’s shot selection has been under the scanner. While reiterating his faith in Pant’s talent and destructive ability, Shastri did say that some of the youngster’s decisions with the bat had let the team down.”When you see a shot like the one in Trinidad, off the first ball, [it’s disappointing],” Shastri said in an interview to , referring to Pant skipping down the track to Fabian Allen in India’s third ODI against West Indies in Port of Spain, only to mistime his loft to mid-off.”He tries to repeat it a couple of times and gets out, he will be told,” Shastri said. “There will be a rap on the knuckles there – talent or no talent – because you are letting the team down, forget letting yourself down. You are letting the team down in a situation where you have the captain at the other end [Kohli was at the crease when Pant got out with India needing 164 off 22.3 overs]. You have a target to chase where the need of the hour is some sensible cricket.”That innings was Pant’s second first-ball duck on the tour of the West Indies. In the first T20I in Lauderhill, too, he had top-edged a slog sweep off Sunil Narine.”No one will change his style but match awareness becomes crucial, shot selection becomes crucial in particular situations,” Shastri explained. “If he can fathom that out, he could be unstoppable. You mentioned how many games [it would take], it could be one game, it could be four games. I don’t see more than that. He will learn. He has played enough IPL cricket. So it’s time now for him to step on to the stage and just show the world how devastating he is.”Kohli said the expectation was not for Pant to change his approach and natural game but to read situations better.”Expectations are only of reading situations,” Kohli said. “You don’t expect a guy to play according to what you might be thinking. It’s about analysing the situation and finding your own way of dealing with the situation. Someone like Rishabh might hit five boundaries in a difficult situation compared to me who likes to take ones and twos and get out of it. So everyone has their own game. But reading the situation and decision-making is the expectation from all the players, including myself.”India’s schedule over the next few months is focused on preparing the team for the T20 World Cup, and while there is likely to be an effort at widening the pool and giving opportunities to potential candidates, Kohli said that those aiming to make a mark couldn’t expect more than about five games to do so.”Youngsters are being pushed into the side from time to time because you need to figure out who are the people who have the mentality, the mindset and the character to take the [team’s] vision forward,” Kohli said. “We are very clear on the fact that … even when I came into the team, it’s not like you got 15 opportunities. You would get five, and you have to make the most of it. And that’s the level that we are playing at.”I think the individuals coming in need to have that mindset. The team definitely has that mindset. The guys who grab the opportunities quickly, they grab the opportunities, it’s as simple as that. I think it’s a delicate balance to strike. But it’s necessary, because you have 30 matches to go, and you need to figure out how much time can be given to each individual for them to ease into the team.”Shastri felt that a pool of approximately 18 players to choose from should be the target immediately before the T20 World Cup. “I would say a pool of 18 players [would be ideal],” Shastri said. “We already have 15, so if you get another three from the outside in that span, you have got your pool. But the important thing is to be prepared to invest, not be scared that you might lose an odd game or two.”

Leicestershire romp home after Derbyshire's batting crumbles

Derbyshire collapse to 24 for 6 in pursuit of 150 as Foxes stay in quarter-final hunt

ECB Reporters Network15-Aug-2019

Mark Cosgrove watches a shot head towards the boundary•Getty Images

Leicestershire put themselves firmly in the chase for the Vitality Blast quarter finals when they thrashed Derbyshire by 55 runs at Derby.The unpredictable North Group sprung another surprise when the Falcons collapsed dramatically chasing what looked a modest target of 150.The Foxes had been held to 149 for 7 with Mark Cosgrove’s 38 the top score as Matt Critchley claimed 2 for 25 in four overs of legspin.But the Falcons pressed the self-destruct button, slumping to 28 for 6, and were bowled out for 94 with Colin Ackermann taking 3 for 9 and Gavin Griffiths 3 for 14.There were signs of what was to come when, after starting steadily, the Foxes began to unravel once they tried to accelerate on a used pitch with three wickets falling in five overs.Harry Swindells failed to clear mid-off when he tried to hit Ravi Rampaul over the top and although Arron Lilley swung Logan van Beek for six over long-on, only 43 runs came from the powerplay.Cosgrove drove Alex Hughes for consecutive fours but Lilley sliced a cut at Luis Reece to point and Cosgrove’s attempt to disrupt Critchley’s line only ended in the hands of deep mid-wicket.Harry Dearden lifted Hughes over deep square for six but then drove to long off and when Ackermann was well caught by Reece diving forward at backward square in the 15th over, the Foxes had slipped to 106 for 5.The Falcons bowled with discipline on a pitch where the ball was not coming on and, backed up by smart fielding, did not allow the Foxes to break free and only 72 came from the last 10 overs.Aadil Ali drove Hughes for six and Callum Parkinson hit the last two balls of the innings from Rampaul for four but the Foxes total seemed below par until the Falcons top order disintegrated in the powerplay.Luis Reece sliced to point after pulling a ball into his helmet and although Wayne Madsen swung a free hit from Dieter Klein for six, he top-edged a reverse sweep at Ackermann and was caught at short third man.It got even worse for the home side in the third over as Billy Godleman sliced Griffiths to third man and Leus du Plooy pulled the next ball into the hands of deep square leg.Former Fox Darren Stevens was run out by Ackermann’s direct hit from cover when he failed to ground his bat and when Hughes swung another short ball to deep mid-wicket, the Falcons were in free-fall.Fynn Hudson-Prentice drove Parkinson for six but the former Derbyshire spinner responded by yorking Matt Critchley and the only consolation for the Falcons was they passed their previous lowest T20 score of 72, against the Foxes six years ago.

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