All posts by h716a5.icu

Plays of the day for the third day between Australia and Pakistan at the SCG

Peter English and Osman Samiuddin at the SCG05-Jan-2010Heat rises on North
Marcus North can be relieved Phillip Hughes didn’t succeed on his return. If Hughes, who had come in for the injured Simon Katich, had pushed on further than 37 in the second innings North might have spent the next week wondering if he would be the one squeezed out for the final Test in Hobart. In the second innings North thrust his bat in defence at Danish Kaneria but picked the wrong line and the inside edge shot to Faisal Iqbal at short leg. The dismissal left him with scores of 1, 8, 10 and 2 for his past four bats. He probably has one more chance.Cometh the hour, cometh the man?
Before the first morning, much of the talk for this Test had been aboutKaneria’s role at the SCG. He didn’t need to do much in the firstinnings but the first session of the third day was a good time for him tomake an impact. He did, but not the kind Pakistan would’ve wanted; he waslucky to last five balls of the day’s first over, then fluffed a catchpulled straight to him at deep fine leg. And with the ball he initially looked lessthreatening than Imran Farhat had at the MCG.Thanks for the laughs
Most of the day was pretty tense: Australia were trying to fight back after being 204 behind andPakistan, though confident, would have been much happier against any otherside. Thank heavens for Kaneria then to provide some humour in the field.He’d already let one catch through before he dropped a bizarre returnoffering from Ricky Ponting; the captain cut hard, the ball struck sillymid-off on the thigh, and looped up towards Kaneria who somehow managed not toget a hand on it going backwards. Throw in a few comic efforts in thefield and Kaneria, who also gave away four over-throws, was a one-man stand-up. The Australians weren’t laughing later in the day when Kaneria turned serious and ran through the middle order.Akmal watch
Number-crunchers will confirm it, but if Kaneria had a wicketkeeperwho could hold onto some edges, he would’ve gone past 300 Test wicketslong ago. Instead he has Kamran Akmal. The senior Akmal dropped regulationedges from Michael Hussey thrice off Kaneria’s bowling, on 27, 45and 52. In the morning Akmal had inexplicably forgotten to remove thebails in a run-out attempt on Shane Watson. Younger brother Umar has alsodropped two sitters in the series so far; perhaps Adnan, the best hands ofthe three brothers according to the late Bob Woolmer, should be recruitedas a substitute?Ponting’s summer drought
If this was the last Test it would count as Ricky Ponting’s worst batting campaign in a home summer since he was dropped during the 1998-99 Ashes. Ponting’s second-innings 11 took his tally in the five Tests against West Indies and Pakistan to 216 at an average of 27. Twelve summers ago Ponting had 47 in three Tests and was cut for Darren Lehmann. This season has been a difficult one for Ponting, who has been carrying a tender elbow since Perth, and he has one more match to adjust the record.Stan stands in bronze immortality
Stan McCabe’s unbeaten 187 at the SCG in the Bodyline series was one of three epics in his 39-Test career and hooking was a feature of those brutal and courageous innings. Now the shot has been set in stone at the ground following the unveiling of his sculpture outside the visitors’ dressing room. McCabe, who died in 1968, joins Richie Benaud and Fred Spofforth as bronzed Aussie cricketers who are remembered that way here. Playing at the same time as Bradman, McCabe shone brightest at the SCG in 1932, Johannesburg in 1935 and Trent Bridge in 1938.Pink haze
It’s Jane McGrath Day so the SCG underwent a pink makeover. The Ladies’ Stand was renamed in honour of Glenn McGrath’s late wife, some Australian flags had their blue backgrounds replaced and Michael Slater, the former batsman turned commentator, was suited to look like an elf dunked in fairy floss. The McGrath Foundation is raising money for breast cancer nurses during the “Pink Test” and late on the third day had collected A$116,000.And the winners are …
It’s award season in Australia and Mitchell Johnson and Shane Watson have picked up some of the fringe prizes as the best performed in 2009. Johnson received the McGilvray Medal as the ABC Test Cricketer of the Year, the second time in a row he has taken the accolade, for his 63 wickets and 500 runs. Watson was the Australian Cricket Media Association’s best following his streak of 716 runs at 65.09 in seven Tests after replacing Phillip Hughes.

Raheem Sterling won’t be leaving Manchester City to join FC Barcelona in January, according to Marca.

City are said to be unwilling to let Sterling leave The Etihad on loan midway through the campaign.

Sterling’s equalising goal in City’s 2-1 Champions League victory over Paris Saint-Germain in midweek was his fourth of the season.

The Englishman has now started, and scored, in back-to-back matches but game time has been limited overall.

The £300,000-per-week forward has started only four of City’s first 12 Premier League matches.

Sterling, who’s valued at £81million by Transfermarkt, will be out of contract at the end of next season.

Sterling not the only City player Barca fancy

21-year-old Spaniard Ferran Torres has, according to The Athletic’s Sam Lee, been ‘seduced by the idea of leading the line’ for Barcelona.

City are aware that he’s keen to move to the Camp Nou in January.

Fan feed City Xtra relayed Marca’s Sterling report, and here’s how supporters responded.

City fans celebrate news that Sterling won’t leave in Jan

“Sterling is staying in City no matter what happens go find someone else”

Credit: @Stark03865875

“Good, but Sterling deserves game time then…..”

Credit: @Goatdebruyne

“Super Raz is here to stay”

Credit: @curtis73479941

“Yesss”

Credit: @Mr_Magic_Bryce

“Phewww…”

Credit: @lqmnkhai

“This has been a good day of news”

Credit: @_TJ932O

“Dub”

Credit: @Irish_cityfan

In other news, a Bundesliga target has emerged for the reigning Premier League champs.

Speaking to Football Insider, BBC Radio 5 Live pundit Alan Hutton has been left thrilled by a West Ham transfer claim involving Liverpool defender Nathaniel Phillips.

The Lowdown: West Ham line up Phillips move…

As per Football Insider, it appears that Irons manager David Moyes is targeting the Reds powerhouse, who has found game-time difficult to come by this season. Starting 15 Premier League games under Jurgen Klopp last year, the 24-year-old has been restricted to just 46 minutes across all competitions so far this term (WhoScored).

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He has duly been linked with a move away in January, and West Ham are apparently lining up a move to sign him for Moyes. As per Football Insider sources, the groundwork is being laid for a potential winter deal as the Hammers eye cover for injured defender Angelo Ogbonna, and it is believed that a fee as small as £12m could be enough to get the deal done.

The Latest: Hutton approves…

Speaking to Football Insider, former Premier League defender Hutton has been left thrilled by the development, voicing his approval of the prospective move. He said:

““Moyes’ transfer record has been brilliant since he’s been at the club.

“I think this fits the bill – a young player who’s got that experience and big-game experience. He’s still got a lot to learn but I think under the likes of David Moyes you can learn as you go along.

“He’s that type of guy, he’s building something for the future. I think the West Ham team are very strong at the moment. There’s a lot young players in there who are doing unbelievably well. I think Phillips would fit that bill.

“The price is great and for a guy so young, there’s a lot of room there for improvement. There could be a sell-on fee.

“There’s so much going in the right direction for him so I see that as being a good move. Jurgen Klopp, with the amount he has got back fit now, Konate’s come in as well, it is going to be limited game time for Phillips.

“It might suit all parties.”

The Verdict: Bang on…

As Phillips searches for more game-time and West Ham scour the market for greater depth, this transfer would certainly come as a win-win for both the Irons and Liverpool, just as Hutton has intimated.

A fee of £12m is arguably too good to turn down, especially for a player who averaged more aerial duels won per 90 and clearances made than any of West Ham’s current defenders last season (WhoScored).

Homegrown, fairly young and with it all to prove, Phillips could certainly come as an astute January option and possible alternative to Craig Dawson. Lauded as a ‘monster’ by Klopp, the centre-half may well be what West Ham are seeking.

In other news: Newman also eyeing West Ham bid to sign 129-goal ‘big name’ striker, find out more here.

Centuries from Mohammad Kaif and Parvinder Singh put Central Zone in a strong position against East Zone

Cricinfo staff20-Jan-2010
Scorecard
On another day when bad light held up play for nearly an entire session, centuries from the Uttar Pradesh pair of Mohammad Kaif and Parvinder Singh put Central Zone in a strong position against East Zone in Amritsar.East struck soon after play started after a two-hour delay, Ranadeb Bose picking up his 300th first-class wicket when he bowled Suresh Raina two short of a hundred. There wasn’t much joy for East after that as Kaif and Parvinder stitched together a 184-run partnership for the fourth wicket. As in his partnership with Raina on Tuesday, Kaif was the more watchful one, while Parvinder was more adventurous, hitting 13 fours and a couple of sixes in his 113.Parvinder’s innings continues his successful season – four of his five career first-class centuries have come in 2009-10. Kaif, meanwhile, crossed a career milestone, reaching 7000 first-class runs when on 75. East were unable to prise out a wicket till just before stumps, when Ashok Dinda bowled Parvinder.

What is India’s best bowling attack in Kolkata: the existing two-seamer and two-spinner combination or does it make sense to field three fast bowlers

N Hunter13-Feb-2010What is India’s best bowling attack for Kolkata? Is it the existing two-seamer and two-spinner combination or does it make sense to field three fast bowlers with Harbhajan Singh as the lone spinner and Virender Sehwag as a sidekick. The Indian think-tank has less than 24 hours to sort out that puzzle before the final Test begins.The question has cropped up only because the South Africans, among the best players of spin in India, successfully tackled the pair of Harbhajan Singh and Amit Mishra in Nagpur through a mixture of sheer application and some luck. It continues the trend of Indian spinners struggling for consistency, which was on evidence in the Sri Lanka series late last year as well.In the past the thumb rule was to field at least two spinners because the pitches would invariably start turning sharply from the third day. But on surfaces which have refused to break and have been slow and low (Motera and Green Park during the Sri Lanka series are good examples), the Indians spinners have failed to find a rhythm, adding pressure on the fast bowlers. The pitches cannot be as spin-unfriendly as they are made out to be especially considering Paul Harris’ effectiveness against some of the best players of spin in Nagpur.In the three-Test series against Sri Lanka, Harbhajan managed 13 wickets at an average of 41. India won that series more because of their batting might and some incisive fast bowling spells. Otherwise more questions would have been asked of India’s best spinner, whose form has been a concern for a while now.You can’t blame his slow-bowling partners, Amit Mishra and Pragyan Ojha, since neither of them has been given the long rope. Mishra failed to make an impact with his leg breaks against Sri Lanka in Ahmedabad, picking only one wicket, but came back with an impressive seven-wicket match haul in the first Test in Bangladesh. Harbhajan returned for the next Test but only picked two wickets in the game, in which Mishra was dropped for the left-arm spin of Ojha. Even in the Sri Lanka series, Ojha was preferred over Mishra during the victories in the final two Tests, in which Ojha claimed nine victims.With the spinners unconvincing, a better ploy at Eden Gardens could be to play three fast bowlers. It might look like a desperate measure, but with MS Dhoni emphasising that India prefers the four-bowler theory, it is the only way to play their four best bowlers. Dhoni, too, agrees to an extent. “We have always been comfortable with four bowlers because it has worked for us. If you have an allrounder in the side that makes it very easy but we don’t have that option.”Importantly, India’s fast bowlers have featured prominently in most of the recent Test wins. Less than three months ago, Sreesanth produced an amazing spell of fast bowling against Sri Lanka at Kanpur in what was India’s 100th Test victory. Then, as now, Sreesanth was coming out of a break, but found his rhythm and swing without much sweat. Also, South Africa have been Sreesanth’s favourite opposition: his 22 wickets against them are his highest against a single team, with the famous 8 for 99 at the Wanderers remaining his career-best performance.His presence could lighten the burden on Zaheer Khan and even Ishant Sharma, who has been under pressure over the past year. But the team management has retained confidence in Ishant, who has faded a bit in the recent past after his much-heralded arrival during the tour of Australia in 2007-08.A crucial factor that might support the quicks could be the conditions especially in the final session when the breeze wafting in from the Hooghly on the West side of the ground can help swing bowlers a lot. The trio of Zaheer, Ishant and Sreesanth has the capability of swerving the ball about and could prove a handful on their day.”There is a bit of grass on the wicket so I think the seamers will get a bit of help,” Dhoni said after the final training session. He also acknowledged the afternoon breeze could play a role, especially with the stands on the West side being reconstructed. “There is no stand on one side of the ground so you can see a bit of breeze going across the field so there will be a bit of help for the seamers.”But Dhoni remained non-committal on the number of seamers of spinners he would like to field, leaving that decision for Sunday morning. Perhaps he could heed the thoughts expressed by John Wright, former India coach. “You have to play a spinner but you don’t play a spinner for a spinner’s sake, he has to be among your four best bowlers. Who are your first bowlers? That is a question you need to ask.”

With Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s Glasgow Rangers side heading into Thursday evening’s Europe League clash with Lyon knowing that they could not improve on their second-placed standing in Group A, many had dismissed the fixture as a dead rubber.

However, for a number of Gers’ peripheral first-team players who were handed a start at the Groupama Stadium, the match was very much an opportunity to impress their new manager, something which many of them grasped with both hands.

Indeed, the likes of Scott Wright, Jon McLaughlin and John Lundstram all highly impressed in the fixture, however, it was the latter of this trio whose performance will have caught Van Bronckhorst’s eye the most in the 1-1 draw with the Ligue 1 side.

88% duels won

While Lundstram has somewhat struggled to hold down a starting place in the Rangers side since his summer move from Sheffield United, the 27-year-old central midfielder’s display against Lyon will have undoubtedly given Van Bronckhorst some food for thought ahead of Gers’ upcoming Premiership clash against third-placed Hearts this weekend.

Indeed, over his 90 minutes on the pitch, the £6.3m-rated man enjoyed 78 touches of the ball, completed 56 passes – one of which was key – found his man with seven of his nine attempted long balls and successfully completed his one dribble.

The player, who Chris Wilder dubbed an “exemplary” professional, also made a whopping four tackles, one interception and won seven of his eight attempted duels – a success rate of 88%.

These returns saw the £22k-per-week midfielder earn a SofaScore match rating of 7.5, with only Lyon’s Rayan Cherki receiving a higher score than the former England U20 international on the night.

As such, while a number of Gers’ players impressed after being handed a start by Dutch manager, with both Ryan Kent and Kemar Roofe also turning in admirable displays, it was undoubtedly Lundstram who shone the brightest against Lyon, with the midfielder’s display surely increasing his chances of starting once again at Tynecastle this weekend.

In other news: Wilson may repeat his huge 2017 “mistake” by signing £15m flop, Rangers fans will fume

Plays of the Day from the IPL game between Delhi Daredevils and Mumbai Indians

Jamie Alter in Delhi17-Mar-2010Sanath Jayasuriya and Sachin Tendulkar put paid to the notion that Twenty20 is a young man’s game, with their fleet-footed running (file photo)•Associated PressTriple play
The sight of Sanath Jayasuriya, well past the age of 40, and Sachin Tendulkar, nearly 37, scampering two threes in the first over of the game was something else. On both occasions it was Tendulkar, with the gusto of a twenty-something, loudly urging his partner on for the third run, each time turning around before Jayasuriya. No country for old men? Yeah right.In the same over, after giving chase to a well-placed clip from Tendulkar through midwicket, a 28-year-old Gautam Gambhir pulled up with a sore hamstring. He had to leave the field before the start of the second over, while the two old men continued stealing ones and twos from under the fielders’ noses.Lord of the fans
Gambhir pointed out how crucial the home fans would be for his team tonight, even going as far as to say they would be the 12th man, but the crowd’s reaction to each run Tendulkar gathered made it sound more like Dadar than Delhi. When Tendulkar clipped three runs, collecting the ball from outside off and working those wrists, the fans showed their appreciation. When he walked down the track and put Farveez Maharoof away for four, they went wild. And when Tendulkar steered a lovely four, opening his hands and placing it past the infield, well that was just what you’d expect from fans of this man. Lalit Modi, the IPL commissioner, had spoken before the first season of how he had envisioned city-based loyalties. That’s not going to happen anywhere in India when Tendulkar is batting.Catching on
Yogesh Nagar, the substitute fielder for Gambhir, pulled off the catch of the tournament while fielding at mid-off. Jayasuriya drove Maharoof on the rise and it appeared destined for the boundary, but Nagar stuck his right hand, while airborne and leaping backwards, and pulled off a ripper. Nagar was in the thick of action later, running in and taking a neat low catch to cut off Tendulkar for a splendid 32-ball 63.Maharoof suffers again
Maharoof was lucky to get the wicket of Jayasuriya, and his habit of leaking runs continued. He entered this game as Delhi’s most expensive bowler in the tournament and his troubles preceded him. His first over saw Tendulkar and Jayasuriya pick up a boundary each. His second over began with Tendulkar collecting two fours, and Jayasuriya’s exit had no bearing on him either, as he hit the next two balls as if he was facing a spinner, using his feet and wrists and displaying impeccable placement. Maharoof came on to bowl his third over, the tenth of the innings, and promptly sprayed the ball down the leg side for five wides, bringing up the fastest 100 of the IPL. For good measure, Tendulkar finished off by taking him for another four that gave him figures o 3-0-40-1. Maharoof’s bemused expression, drooping shoulders and lethargic walk back to his fielding position said exactly what state of mind he was in.Carry on Tiwary
Saurabh Tiwary has not been able to match the achievements of some of his fellow 2008 Under-19 World Cup-winning team-mates, namely Virat Kohli, Manish Pandey and Ravindra Jadeja, but in two IPL matches this season he’s been blazing like wildfire. Tiwary hails from the same state as MS Dhoni, Jharkhand, keeps wicket, and once admitted that Dhoni was his batting hero. This evening, as he did against Rajasthan Royals, Tiwary played some shots straight out of the Dhoni manual. The long, dyed, straightened hair might be so 2007, a la Dhoni, but the shots that flowed from Tiwary’s bat were very much in keeping with the current format.Wake-up call
Kieron Pollard, the most expensive buy in this year’s IPL auction, barely had enough time to get over his jetlag – he and Dwayne Bravo arrived in Delhi late last night – before he was out in the middle needing to really swing his bat in the last two overs of Mumbai’s innings. If he was a bit groggy, the second ball he faced sure as hell woke him up. It slipped out of Dirk Nannes’ hand and ended up a nasty beamer that very narrowly missed knocking off Pollard’s head. Such was the gravity of that illegal delivery that Virender Sehwag, fielding at square leg, gasped and cupped his mouth with his hands. Pollard’s reply? Biff the next ball down the ground, where Mishra spilled a tough chance.Sweet, but far too shortTillakaratne Dilshan had faced three deliveries in IPL 2010 and was out twice without scoring a run. Hardly a fluent start to the season, but when he came out to open in place of an injured Gambhir, Dilshan realized it was time to flex his muscles. Seeing a length ball first up, he smashed Zaheer Khan over mid-off for four. More frenetic hitting followed as Dilshan slashed and inside-edged four before steering a boundary behind point. Seventeen runs in 11 balls was exciting stuff, but unfortunately it was too exciting to last long, because he swiped at the next ball and was bowled.Playing for keeps
It was called a wide, but little did that matter. Harbhajan Singh’s delivery spun down the leg side, Dinesh Karthik fell over trying to play it, and before you could say Jack Robinson, the wicketkeeper Aditya Tare broke the sticks with an excellent reactionary flick. It was brilliant work down the leg side. Tare’s reaction to the dismissal was equally mind-blowing because he charged toward the bowler, laughing and leaping like he’d just hit the winning penalty kick in a World Cup final.

Rangers manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst is just weeks away from his first transfer window in charge of the Ibrox giants.

He may want to dip into the market to bring in one or two players of his own to bolster his squad and ensure that they are fully prepared to see out the second half of the season and clinch as many trophies as possible.

One player who has recently been linked with a move to Glasgow is Heerenveen gem Joey Veerman, who is reportedly of interest to the Gers heading into next month.

Brutally axe

He only joined the club in the summer from Sheffield United, but midfielder John Lundstram could find himself on the chopping block if a deal for Veerman is completed.

Van Bronckhorst already has a plethora of options in the middle of the park and the addition of another one in January could result in someone losing their place in the squad. That does not mean that they will need to be sold or that their future at Ibrox is completely over, but simple maths dictates that Veerman taking up a position in the XI or bench will force a player to watch on from the stands.

Lundstram has not had the best of times since moving from Brammall Lane earlier this year and his form this season has not been good enough to warrant a regular spot in the starting team.

Earlier this season, Kris Boyd blasted him after an error against Dundee United in a Premiership match, telling Sky Sports:

“John Lundstram switches off for the goal and I know it’s early days, but he’s got a lot to improve on.

“We’ve seen big names come here and struggle in the past and he’s going to have to up his game.”

The dud has only started seven games in the league and has averaged an unimpressive 1.6 tackles and interceptions per game, winning only 2.3 duels per match. This shows that he is not a guaranteed starter getting minutes week-in-week-out, potentially putting his place under threat.

Therefore, signing the £6.3m-rated Dutchman, Veerman, could lead to van Bronckhorst brutally axing Lundstram from his matchday squads unless he is able to show, consistently, that he is good enough to make a big impact for the side.

The likes of Juninho Bacuna, Steven Davis, Joe Aribo, Glen Kamara and Scott Arfield are also vying for the starting XI and competition could be fierce if another body is added to the mix.

AND in other news, Gvb could solve big Rangers issue at Ibrox by unleashing “clinical” 21-goal teen…

Some Liverpool fans are seething after the Premier League attempted to explain why Harry Kane only got a yellow card for a terrible tackle on Andy Robertson.

The Reds took part in a thrilling Premier League clash on Sunday afternoon, having to make do without the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Fabinho, Jordan Henderson and Thiago.

In the end, Jurgen Klopp’s men had to settle for a 2-2 draw at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which felt both a fair result and an adequate one from a Liverpool perspective.

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Robertson was sent off for a wild tackle in the second half but Kane somehow avoided the same fate for an awful challenge on the Scot before half-time.

According to The Athletic’s David Ornstein [via Anfield Watch on Twitter], Kane wasn’t given a red card because the Liverpool defender was off the ground at the moment of contact.

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Liverpool fans fume at Kane tackle explanation

It is ludicrous reasoning for the decision and these Liverpool supporters have let their feelings be known on Twitter, with one branding the explanation as “pathetic”.

“So basically Robbo should break his leg just to get Kane suspended? Kane went in studs up, with pace and intent and didn’t get the ball and man, isn’t that enough for it to be RED???”

Credit: @dhruv_961

“So we only give out red cards if we break someone’s leg?”

Credit: @Aminalarian

“That nullifies the whole reason behind punishing potential reckless tackles. Just wow.”

Credit: @varuncanny

“Look what clubs are having to deal with. Absolute idiots”

Credit: @LiamWill1984

“Insanity”

Credit: @ldmu3aj

“Pathetic, so you have to get injured first before you get a red card, what is the point of VAR if we have idiots controlling it?”

Credit: @WOmaticus

In other news, some Liverpool fans have slammed one player’s performance against Spurs. Find out who it is here.

A fourth-wicket stand of 127 from youngsters Sam Robson and Adam London helpedstruggling Middlesex share the honours on the first day of their CountyChampionship clash with Northamptonshire

21-Apr-2010
ScorecardA fourth-wicket stand of 127 from youngsters Sam Robson and Adam London helpedstruggling Middlesex share the honours on the first day of their CountyChampionship clash with Northamptonshire.Robson and London both showed their more experienced team-mates how to do itafter the visitors, who had won the toss and chosen to bat, slipped from 72without loss to 90 for 3 at Wantage Road.England captain Andrew Strauss had earlier made 25 before he departed butRobson and London dug in and John Simpson and Gareth Berg saw Middlesex throughto the close on 281 for 5.Middlesex, who have lost their opening two games of the season, avoided losingany early wickets for the first time this term as openers Strauss and ScottNewman put on 72 runs.Their previous best had been a paltry 11 in the clash with Glamorgan last weekbut Strauss was dismissed in the 18th over when he played Andrew Hall onto hisleg stump shortly after being dropped by Jack Brooks off the bowling of LukeEvans.Newman quickly followed after making a breezy 44 when his off stump was toppledby David Lucas, the first time the former Surrey batsman had made it into doublefigures this year.Dawid Malan, who hit a century in his last innings against Glamorgan, made justa single before he was trapped lbw by Brooks to leave Middlesex wobbling on 99for 3 at lunch.Robson and London stabilised their innings after the break with a solid ifunspectacular fourth-wicket partnership, with boundaries few and far between. They survived the whole of the afternoon session, their partnership reaching 107 at tea, with only Lucas looking like taking a wicket for Northants when hetwice narrowly missed Robson’s off stump.Both players achieved patient half-centuries in the 69th over off Northantsskipper Nicky Boje, with 20-year-old Robson’s arriving from 149 balls and21-year-old London’s taking eight fewer.But Boje finally made the breakthrough when Robson (52) edged to Hall at firstslip. London (77) finally went towards the end of the day when his attempted driveoff Boje led to him being stumped by wicketkeeper Paul Harrison.That left Simpson (28 not out) and Berg (four not out) to bat out the finalfour overs, but Northants might be left to rue the 50 extras they conceded inthe day.