Two Afghanistan U19 officials not to seek asylum, return home

Video analyst Sherullah Afghan and physio Dr. Sifatullah Wardak have returned to Afghanistan, and are set to be reemployed by the board

Umar Farooq16-May-2022

Afghanistan Cricket Board CEO Naseeb Khan and chairman Mirwais Ashraf meet Dr Sifatullah Wardak and Sherullah Afghan•Afghanistan Cricket Board

Two out of four Afghanistan team members from the 2022 Under-19 World Cup touring party returned to the country three months after staying back in England with a view to seeking asylum in the wake of the Taliban takeover of the country. ESPNcricinfo understands both have been accepted back by the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) and are likely to be reemployed by the board.Afghanistan finished fourth at the Under-19 World Cup in the Caribbean, three places higher than in 2020. While returning from Antigua, the team had a scheduled stopover in London. While the rest of the Afghanistan squad, including the coaching and support staff, boarded their flight from London, four members of the travelling party decided to stay on at Heathrow with a view to seeking asylum.”There were three officials and one player [who stayed on in London], with video analyst Sherullah Afghan and physio Dr. Sifatullah Wardak among them, but those two have decided to return to Kabul,” ACB chief executive Naseeb Khan told ESPNcricinfo. “It was not the first time that people in our country stayed in other countries in various ways or were smuggled out of the country. I am pleased that our technical staff has returned to the ACB, and I warmly welcome them.”Their presence shows that security in Afghanistan is improving day by day and that the ACB has overcome the challenges it faced in the early days of the regime change. I hope those young people who have left the country return, as there are several possibilities for them to serve their country on various occasions. The doors are open for all Afghans.”Both officials met with the ACB’s top brass at the board headquarters in Kabul as the duo admitted that they preferred to return to serve their cricket. “Afghanistan needs manpower in technical aspects, so we decided to return back and work in our very own country because there is peace and prosperity in the country, so the priority must be given to Afghanistan,” Wardak said in a statement.ACB chairman Mirwais Ashraf confirmed that both will be given employment. “The game has spread to all parts of the country,” said Ashraf. “The country is in need of technical staff and capacities, so everyone must strive hard to work for the country.”Immediately after Taliban took over the country last August, hundreds of Afghans including at least one former president, bureaucrats, sportspersons and civilians left. Since the takeover, the cricket board has been reshuffled extensively, and the working structure was revamped. Former allrounder Ashraf was brought in as the new chairman.Despite being a Full Member country, availing visas has become progressively tougher for Afghan cricketers and support staff, especially in the aftermath of the Taliban establishing a government. To alleviate the problem and expedite visas, the ACB has decided to procure UAE residency visas for nearly two dozen players and officials. The residence visas will allow the players and officials to stay in the UAE for longer periods of time while also ensuring they are able to apply for visas without physically needing to be present in Afghanistan.Afghanistan’s next tour is against Ireland in Belfast in August, with the ACB in the process of procuring UK visas.

ترتيب الدوري الإنجليزي بعد فوز ليفربول ومانشستر سيتي وآرسنال

انطلقت منافسات الجولة الثالثة والثلاثين لبطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز “البريميرليج” لموسم 2024-2025.

وحقق مانشستر سيتي الفوز أمام إيفرتون بهدفين دون رد، وسجل له نيكو أورايلي وماتيو كوفاسيتش.

وخلال الجولة ذاتها، حقق أستون فيلا فوزًا كبيرًا أمام نيوكسل يونايتد بأربعة أهداف مقابل هدف.

ونجح آرسنال في تحقيق فوزاً كبيراً على مضيفه إيبسويتش تاون برباعية نظيفة، بينما انتصر تشيلسي بهدفين مقابل هدف أمام خصمه فولهام.

وتمكن ليفربول من تحقيق الفوز أمام ليستر سيتي على ملعب “كينج باور”، بهدف دون مقابل، وتختتم منافسات الجولة بمواجهة نوتينجهام فورست وتوتنهام غداً الإثنين. ترتيب الدوري الإنجليزي بعد فوز مانشستر سيتي وآرسنال

1- ليفربول، 79 نقطة.

2- آرسنال، 66 نقطة.

3- نوتينجهام فورست، 60 نقطة.

4- نيوكاسل يونايتد، 59 نقطة.

5- مانشستر سيتي، 58 نقطة.

6- تشيلسي، 57 نقطة.

7- أستون فيلا، 57 نقطة.

8- بورنموث، 49 نقطة.

9- فولهام، 48 نقطة.

10- برايتون، 48 نقطة.

11- برينتفورد، 46 نقطة.

12- كريستال بالاس، 44 نقطة.

13- إيفرتون، 38 نقطة.

14- مانشستر يونايتد، 38 نقطة.

15- ولفرهامبتون، 38 نقطة.

16- توتنهام، 37 نقطة.

17- وست هام، 36 نقطة.

18- إيبسويتش تاون، 21 نقطة.

19- ليستر سيتي، 18 نقطة.

20- ساوثهامبتون، 11 نقطة.

ويمكن متابعة ترتيب الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، موسم 2024/25، محدث بشكل مستمر من هنا.

Saudi clubs want him: Man Utd heading for Ronaldo repeat with £40m star

Every Manchester United supporter will undoubtedly still be on cloud nine after the comeback victory over local rivals Manchester City on Sunday afternoon.

In a game of very little quality from either side, Amad Diallo popped up in the closing stages, winning the penalty for Bruno Fernandes’ goal, before firing home the winner after a stupendous touch and finish.

The victory over Pep Guardiola’s men was the first at the Etihad since March 2021, ending a run of three successive away defeats in the derby – a clash that was Ruben Amorim’s first taste of the fixture.

It’s been a tricky start to life at Old Trafford for the 39-year-old, but the win against the noisy neighbours will undoubtedly be a turning point in his stint at the helm over the coming years.

However, he was able to claim all three points without one player, who now surely looks set for a move away from the club in the upcoming January transfer window.

Man Utd star attracting interest from Saudi Arabia

According to talkSPORT, United are open to allowing attacker Marcus Rashford to leave his boyhood club in January as Amorim looks to make his own mark on the first-team squad.

Such a decision has put Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad on red alert for a potential move ahead of the upcoming transfer window.

Any transfer would see the Red Devils pocket a decent sum, valuing the Englishman at around £40m after spending nearly a decade in the club’s senior setup after coming through the academy.

The 27-year-old has made over 400 appearances to date, scoring over 100 goals and giving the fanbase numerous memorable moments, including his double against Arsenal on his Premier League debut in 2016.

However, off-the-field issues have plagued his time in Manchester, as demonstrated for the clash with City on Sunday, being dropped completely from the travelling squad by the new boss.

Should Rashford leave in the next few weeks, it could follow a similar trend of a player who was also offloaded after numerous issues with the manager at the time, despite his talents on the pitch.

Another Ronaldo situation for Man Utd

Man United have been the home to countless talents throughout the years, making a real impact on the side, before banking a huge profit in the future.

To this day, Cristiano Ronaldo remains the record departure from Old Trafford, joining the Spanish giants for £80m ahead of the 2009/10 season after making 277 appearances in his six years as a Red Devil.

However, he would rejoin the club in the summer of 2021, spending over a year back at the side where he made his name in the professional game after his previous stint in England.

The Portuguese international would notch 27 goals in his second spell, but it would be his feud with boss Erik ten Hag and his off-the-field issues that would bring his stint at Old Trafford to an end.

His situation is similar to that of Rashford, with disciplinary problems rearing their head, with the Englishman potentially joining his former teammate in Saudi after Ronaldo’s move to the Middle East halfway through the 2022/23 campaign.

Marcus Rashford’s Premier League stats in 2024/25

Statistics

Tally

Games played

15

Goals scored

4

Pass accuracy

77%

Dribbles completed

26%

Dispossessed

6

Duels won

35%

Fouls committed

8

Stats via FotMob

The current Al Nassr star only managed ten league appearances before his transfer away from England, with Rashford currently in a similar position, featuring in 15 top-flight games but desperately lacking form, only scoring on four occasions.

It’s a dreadful shame to see a once-promising academy graduate’s time in Manchester come crashing down, but ultimately he hasn’t helped himself with his antics away from the pitch which could lead to his eventual departure.

His drop off in form since 2022/23 when he scored 30 times in all competitions has been notable, undoubtedly needing a fresh start to kickstart his professional career.

United would do well to receive a fee in the region of £40m for his signature, allowing Amorim to move on a problem player from his squad, whilst handing him the funds to recruit players in January.

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GUIA DO BRASILEIRÃO: Ceará e a necessidade de adaptação em meio à disputa da Série A

MatériaMais Notícias

Nos números “frios”, o Ceará poderia ser considerado como uma equipe que chega de maneira consistente no Brasileirão, já que fez 14 partidas onde venceu nove, empatou cinco e perdeu apenas uma. Porém, as quedas no Cearense e na Copa do Nordeste pesaram em Tiago Nunes, fazendo com que o treinador fosse demitido. Com a chegada há pouco tempo de Dorival Júnior, o Vozão entra na disputa da elite nacional tendo um técnico que estreou no meio de semana, vencendo o Independiente-ARG pela Sul-Americana.

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>Confira as primeiras rodadas detalhadas do Campeonato Brasileiro

Vaivém do Ceará

Quem chega: Michel Macedo (lateral-direito), Nino Paraíba (lateral-direito), Victor Luís (lateral-esquerdo), Lucas Ribeiro (zagueiro), Richard (volante), Richardson (volante), Rodrigo Lindoso (volante), Dentinho (atacante), Iury Castilho (atacante), Zé Roberto (atacante) e Matheus Peixoto (centroavante).
Quem sai:Gabriel Dias (lateral-direito), Igor Inocêncio (lateral-direito), Natan Masiero (lateral-direito), Klaus (zagueiro), Fabinho (volante), Marco Antônio (volante), Pedro Naressi (volante), Marcos Brazion (meia), Marlon (meia), William Oliveira (meia), João Castro (atacante), Vítor Jacaré (atacante), André Magno (centroavante), Cristiano (centroavante).
Quem pode chegar: –
Quem pode sair: –
Necessidade de reforços: meia de criação.
Retornos de empréstimo: Wescley (atacante).

Os primeiros jogos

9/4 – Palmeiras x Ceará – Allianz Parque
17/4 – Ceará x Botafogo – Arena Castelão
23/4 – Fortaleza x Ceará – Arena Castelão
30/4 – Ceará x Bragantino – Arena Castelão
7/5 – Athletico-PR x Ceará – Arena da Baixada
15/5 – Ceará x Flamengo – Arena Castelão
22/5 – Santos x Ceará – Vila Belmiro
29/5 – São Paulo x Ceará – Morumbi
5/6 – Ceará x Coritiba – Arena Castelão
8/6 – América-MG x Ceará – Independência

Opinião do setorista – Futebol Latino

Apesar das boas estatísticas, a troca feita pela diretoria do Vozão no comando técnico pode acabar mais atrapalhando do que ajudando o clube, que precisa dividir suas atenções entre Campeonato Brasileiro e Sul-Americana. Com um elenco de mais adições defensivas do que ofensivas, a necessidade de se adaptar ao novo trabalho pode ser um empecilho na disputa do Ceará que, a primeira vista, deve ser no meio da tabela.

Instead of Bergvall: Ange should have subbed “non-existent” 5/10 Spurs man

It felt like a predestined result. Tottenham Hotspur would have needed a miraculous performance to turn over high-flying Newcastle United, given their injury crisis and rut on the field.

In fairness, Spurs showed grit and togetherness against Eddie Howe’s side, but they were unable to prevent their quarry from escaping with all three points, extending their Premier League winning run to five matches.

Tottenham manager Ange PostecoglouTottenham manager Ange Postecoglou

Tottenham, conversely, are still languishing in the bottom half of the table as they begin the second half of the campaign. Ange Postecoglou watched Dominic Solanke secure the early lead, but Anthony Gordon and the unstoppable Alexander Isak responded in a frantic first half.

It’s not all doom and gloom, with Brandon Austin impressing between the sticks and 18-year-old Archie Gray continuing to perform valiantly in central defence.

Tottenham Absences vs Newcastle

Player

Reason

Guglielmo Vicario

Ankle injury

Destiny Udogie

Thigh injury

Ben Davies

Thigh injury

Cristian Romero

Quad injury

Micky van de Ven

Thigh injury

Richarlison

Thigh injury

Mikey Moore

Illness

Rodrigo Bentancur

Suspension

Wilson Odobert

Thigh injury

However, it was Lucas Bergvall who shone the brightest here. Let’s pick out the positives, ay? What a future this talent has ahead.

Lucas Bergvall shines in the centre

Postecoglou took Bergvall off just after the hour mark and a fair few groans reverberated across the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The 18-year-old midfielder impressed against one of the Premier League’s most dynamic and imposing central engines.

Lucas Bergvall subbed off for Tottenham

While the Lilywhites lost again, it’s important to remember that they are battling against a shocking injury crisis that is making a mockery of Postecoglou’s tactics, the Australian unable to implement his vision as a consequence.

But with up-and-coming prospects like the Swede able to stand out among their more experienced peers, the club will be sure to rise again.

Tottenham 1-2 Newcastle – Lucas Bergvall Stats

Match Stats

#

Minutes played

62′

Touches

47

Accurate passes

28/34 (82%)

Dribbles (completed)

1 (1)

Possession won

5x

Tackles

1

Interceptions

2

Clearances

3

Total duels (won)

5 (4)

Stats via Sofascore

Bergvall was crisp in the challenge, completed his only dribble and could have easily stayed on for longer. Football content creator George Achillea even called him the hosts’ “best player by a mile,” going on to rebuke winger Brennan Johnson for his “non-existent” showing on the right.

We’d like to ask the same thing.

Ange should have subbed Brennan Johnson

Johnson played the full 90 against Newcastle and the question has to be raised regarding Postecoglou’s persistence. Why was he not hooked? Dejan Kulusevski could have seamlessly moved into his natural position and Bergvall would have kept his flair and elegance on the field.

Writing in their post-match player ratings, London World questioned the ‘perplexing’ decision to take Bergvall off and criticised the 5/10 Johnson for squandering good opportunities in front of goal.

As per Sofascore, Johnson missed two chances, scratching the woodwork with one, and also failed to provide support for the likes of Solanke in the centre, missing with each of his three attempted crosses.

The Welshman’s saving grace was that he won four of seven duels and made three tackles, willing to get stuck in but not offering enough for an outfit that is desperate for a result to shift the narrative down N17.

The general consensus was that Bergvall should have stayed on the pitch, with the ‘non-existent’ Johnson deserving the hook instead.

Kulusevski could have easily shifted onto the right to allow Yves Bissouma to still enter the fray and pack a punch against the Magpies.

Postecoglou will be frustrated by his threadbare options, but he didn’t get this one right and has slumped to yet another defeat.

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ByJack Salveson Holmes Jan 3, 2025

Náutico rejeita oferta do Sport pelo meia Jean Carlos

MatériaMais Notícias

A janela de transferências do futebol brasileiro encerra nesta terça-feira e o Sport tentou levar o meia Jean Carlos, do Náutico.

– VEJA A TABELA DA SÉRIE B

Segundo o ge, a diretoria do Leão procurou o Timbu e colocou na mesa uma oferta entre R$ 3 a R$ 3,5 milhões. O Náutico rejeitou.

Além da questão dos direitos federativos, o Sport ofereceu um salário mensal de R$ 200 mil ao atleta que é ídolo nos Aflitos.

Multa Rescisória

Se não bastasse a rivalidade entre os clubes, outro ponto que tornou inviável a negociação foi o valor proposto. A multa de Jean Carlos está na casa dos R$ 19 milhões, ou seja, bem superior ao que o Sport se dispôs a pagar.

Sem chance de negócio, Jean Carlos permanece no Náutico onde tem contrato até dezembro de 2024.

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خاص | موقف دونجا وشلبي وعبد الواحد السيد من السفر إلى الإمارات لمواجهة بيراميدز

هناك الكثير من الجدل حول موعد إقامة مباراة نهائي كأس مصر بين الزمالك وبيراميدز والذي تم تحديده سابقًا في 20 مايو الحالي.

لكن بعد تأهل بيراميدز إلى نهائي دوري أبطال إفريقيا أمام صن داونز، تقدم السماوي بطلب إلى الاتحاد المصري لكرة القدم بتأجيل نهائي كأس مصر ضد الزمالك لما بعد يوم 1 يونيو.

ثم جاء عرض من جانب الاتحاد الإماراتي لكرة القدم باستضافة المباراة أحد يومي 5 أو 6 يونيو، وبالتالي من المتوقع أن تلعب المواجهة خارج مصر.

اقرأ أيضًا.. خاص | زيزو يضع شرطًا للمثول للتحقيق في الزمالك

ولكن التساؤل الأهم هو ما موقف الثلاثي نبيل عماد دونجا، مصطفى شلبي ومدير الكرة، عبد الواحد السيد خاصة مع أزمة حبسهم في الإمارات خلال فترة بطولة كأس السوبر المصري في أكتوبر الماضي؟.

قبل أن يتم الإفراج عنهم بعد تواصل المسئولين بين مصر والإمارات عقب نهاية البطولة، لكن هل سيسافر الثلاثي مع الفريق دون مشاكل؟.

تواصل بطولات مع مصدر داخل نادي الزمالك، وأكد: “لا مشكلة في سفر الثلاثي لخوض نهائي كأس مصر أمام بيراميدز”.

وتابع: “فالثلاثي حصلوا على عفو رئاسي من الإمارات ورحلوا بشكل طبيعي، ودليل على ذلك أن دونجا وأحمد فتوح تواجدا في دبي قبل أسبوعين لقضاء إجازة قصيرة دون أي مشكلات”.

وأتم: “لذلك لا مشكلة في سفر دونجا أو شلبي أو عبد الواحد مع بعثة الزمالك إلى الإمارات، وسيشاركون بشكل طبيعي”.

Rachin Ravindra has Durham debut to remember with career-best 178*

Borthwick, Bushnell help pile on the runs against Worcestershire

ECB Reporters Network12-Jun-2022

Rachin Ravindra had a day to remember•Getty Images

Durham 375 for 3 (Ravindra 178*, Borthwick 96, Bushnell 61*) vs WorcestershireRachin Ravindra produced a debut to remember for Durham, scoring a career-best 178 not out as the home side piled on the runs on day one against Worcestershire in their LV= Insurance County Championship Division Two clash.The New Zealander was only signed by Durham for one match after Keegan Petersen’s premature departure, but certainly made an impression for the North-East outfit with a sublime unbeaten hundred, his fourth in first-class cricket.He became the first overseas player since Tom Latham to score a century on debut for Durham, sharing a mammoth stand of 230 with Scott Borthwick, who notched 96, for the second wicket. Ravindra was there at the close alongside Jonathan Bushnell, unbeaten on his debut on 61, with the hosts positioned on 375 for 3 after the first day at Seat Unique Riverside.”I was seeing a couple of mates in Dublin when I got the call to play for Durham,” Ravindra said. “I thought it would be a perfect opportunity, it has always been a dream of mine to play in the County Championship. It’s been good to play with a great bunch of lads. As soon as the opportunity came up I was raring to go.”Related

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Durham won the toss and opted to bat first, where Michael Jones and Ravindra made a measured start against the new ball. Jones scored four boundaries to kick start his innings of 21, but he was ruffled by Charlie Morris’ fifth over before edging behind to Gareth Roderick.Borthwick joined Ravindra, and the two left-handers settled in for the morning session, offering the Worcestershire bowlers little encouragement. Ravindra brought up the fifty partnership for the second wicket with an elegant glance through the leg-side, and pushed the score past 100 at lunch to end a positive session for the home side.Ravindra maintained his poise after the break and deployed the glance again to score his 10th boundary, bringing up his half-century from 103 deliveries. Borthwick was finding life just as simple as his new team-mate, registering his fifth fifty of the term working the ball down to the third-man boundary to reach the milestone.

Durham put their foot on the accelerator courtesy of Ravindra, who continued to play with freedom against both pace and spin. The left-hander became the first Durham overseas player since his compatriot Latham in 2017 to score a century on debut, producing a sublime drive down the ground before raising the bat.Borthwick seemed destined to join Ravindra in reaching three figures, but he fell agonisingly short when he was pinned lbw for 96 by Josh Baker attempting a sweep. The Durham skipper’s disappointment was evident as he made a slow trudge off the pitch after failing to fully capitalise on a fine knock and good batting wicket. David Bedingham also failed to make an impression falling for only four, but Ravindra kept pushing on alongside Bushnell.Ravindra worked past his previous career best of 144 and notched his maiden score of 150 in 222 balls, remaining flawless in the middle. Bushnell continued a fine day for the home side with his maiden fifty, punching a cover drive off the back foot to the fence. And, there was time for the two players to reach the century partnership for the fifth wicket before the close, cementing a dominant position for the hosts.

الزمالك يسعى لتصحيح مساره أمام البنك الأهلي في الدوري المصري

يلعب فريق الكرة الأول بنادي الزمالك، مواجهة قوية مساء غداً الإثنين، ضد البنك الأهلي، في إطار مواجهات بطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز.

ويلتقي الزمالك مع البنك الأهلي، ضمن مباريات الجولة الرابعة من عمر منافسات المرحلة النهائية لبطولة الدوري.

ويسعى فريق الزمالك للعودة إلى طريق الانتصارات سريعًا، وتصحيح مساره، بعد التعادل الأخير أمام المصري، بالجولة الماضية من عمر منافسات بطولة الدوري.

الزمالك يرغب في عدم الابتعاد عن المنافسة على لقب الدوري هذا الموسم، حيث يتواجد في المركز الثالث برصيد 39 نقطة، متاخرًا بـ 8 نقاط عن المتصدر بيراميدز و7 عن الأهلي صاحب المركز الثاني.

وأكد البرتغالي جوزيه بيسيرو، المدير الفني لنادي الزمالك، أكد في تصريحات عبر المؤتمر الصحفي الذي أقيم اليوم، أن الزمالك لن يستسلم في سباق الدوري، مشيرًا أن الفريق سيواصل المنافسة حتى نهاية الدوري.

وعلى الجانب الآخر، فريق البنك الأهلي، يحتل المركز الخامس في ترتيب جدول الدوري المصري، برصيد 32 نقطة.

وقدم البنك الأهلي، أداءً رائعًا في المرحلة الأولى لبطولة الدوري هذا الموسم، ناجحًا في حجز مقعده بالمجموعة المتنافسة على لقب الدوري.

وتنطلق مباراة الزمالك والبنك الأهلي، في تمام الساعة 8 مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة والسعودية، على ملعب استاد القاهرة الدولي.

Jamie Overton's six wickets set up Surrey's perfectly judged revenge win over Yorkshire

Forties from Foakes and Hardie see visitors home to move 15 points ahead of Hampshire

David Hopps14-Jul-2022

Jamie Overton took six wickets in Yorkshire’s second innings•Getty Images

Surrey exacted satisfying revenge for their defeat against Yorkshire in the Vitality Blast quarter-final with another nerve-jangling victory, this time in the Championship, as they completed an immaculately-judged pursuit of 227 in 44 overs by four wickets with three balls to spare at North Marine Road.At 147 for 6 in the 28th over, their chase was faltering badly. But Ben Foakes’ unbeaten 42, astute from the outset, and 40 not out from the Australian all-rounder Aaron Hardie on Championship debut, a committed innings which grew in authority as it progressed, brought them home with an unbroken stand of 81 in 16 overs.Hardie was thrilled at his first experience of Championship cricket. “To come here today and win was a bit of a dream,” he said. “Everything had to go perfectly to plan, and it pretty much did. Our plan was to take it deep because we knew we’d be the ones driving the game. It worked.”Surrey needed this victory to consolidate their position at the top of the Championship after Hampshire had won earlier in the day. If Hardie had departed early, they might have settled for the draw and Foakes, dropped back down to No. 7, would have been charged with organising it. But victory leaves them 15 points ahead of Hampshire with five matches remaining, Lancashire now a distant third, their hopes fading.As for Yorkshire, they had shared in a memorable struggle despite a colossal list of absentees, but their second defeat of the season (made worse by the docking of two points for a slow overrate) sends them to Taunton next week fearing they might yet be dragged into a relegation fight. They have taken every game into the final session but have not won since their opening match against Gloucestershire.A season’s best 6 for 61 for Jamie Overton, two on the previous evening, had set up the chase as Yorkshire were dismissed for 220 in their second innings despite a maiden Championship half-century for Matthew Waite. They now must wait for the ECB to confirm which, if any, players will be released for Blast Finals Day on Saturday. The clash of fixtures between England and the climax to county cricket’s biggest week of the season is unconscionable – either greedy, cynical and deliberate or greedy incompetent and lacking in empathy: take your pick.Dom Bess, after his five wickets in the first innings, bore Yorkshire’s hopes. He struck the first blow on the brink of tea, a loopy, turning delivery which drew Rory Burns down the pitch and beat the outside edge, Johnny Tattersall completing the stumping. Yorkshire entrusted the offspinner with a decisive spell, and he did little wrong, but he never asserted the control he would have wanted and finished with 1 for 105 from 18 overs.Not that they had many options. With the West Indies quick, Shannon Gabriel off the field initially because of a hip injury sustained in the field, his presence was delayed until the 20th over. In that time, Surrey lost Ryan Patel, who paid for a wind-up at Steve Patterson, and Hashim Amla, an uppercut against Jordan Thompson which flew to third man. The catcher was James Wharton, shortly after he had passed a concussion check after being struck on the helmet at short leg by Overton. Standing at short leg when Overton is swinging is nobody’s idea of fun.Related

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Overton clubs sixes even when his bat is barely in the same postcode and Bess suffered more than once, but Thompson befuddled him with a back-of-the-hand slower ball, leaving Surrey 106 short with 20 overs remaining.Gabriel’s contribution caused a tremor, but only a short one: 2 for 18 from three overs. Jacks pulled him for six, but then fell lbw – unfortunately so as the ball struck him outside the line. There was no doubt about Jamie Smith’s dismissal as Gabriel plucked out his off stump. Short-term overseas signings face quite a task to hit the ground running, and injury problems in the second innings and 16 no balls in the match told its own story.Surrey’s assault on Bess with 43 needed from six overs shifted the match their way. Both Hardie and Foakes swept him for six. With 35 overs behind him in the first innings, and the need to pull off several goalkeeping dives off his own bowling, he was a weary, sweat-soiled figure by the time he was withdrawn from the attack with four overs remaining, but days that will hurt in the here and now will bring long-term benefit.Yorkshire had a 71-run lead banked overnight with eight second-innings wickets left. The loss of two wickets in the penultimate over the previous evening had left them vulnerable and a dank morning suggested that an inexperienced batting line-up were even more up against it. For Yorkshire supporters, it was a folded-arms sort of morning as they sat back, demanding the best but fearing the worst. They were proved right – but had to wait til after half-past six to say they’d always known as much.Only 18 overs into the day, they were 123 for 6. Surrey sensed the game was theirs – and some of their supporters wondered if they would even see it before they had to catch the 5.30 back to London. Those first four wickets fell to lbws, to four different bowlers, as Surrey bowled at the stumps, seeking a bit of seam and indifferent bounce. George Hill, dropped at cover, limped off as Overton had him lbw on the boot. There was a brief interruption for bad light but Will Fraine fell to Dan Worrall immediately on the resumption. James Wharton and Will Luxton were then caught on the crease as Tom Lawes and Hardie maintained the approach.Surrey could not be reliant on a second new ball to finish off the Yorkshire innings – by then there would have been fewer than 30 overs and a successful chase would probably have been beyond them. As Waite assembled a stand of 52 with Tattersall, the imperative for a further breakthrough was clear. Jacks had bowled only five overs of offspin in the first 58 – lightly used compared to Bess, his Yorkshire opposite number, but his first ball brought dividends as he turned one to end Tattersall’s vigil. Another lbw, this one bringing grumbles, but it seemed fair enough.Thompson unsuccessfully tried to shift the equation away from Surrey with a quick salvo, but Overton was hitting his straps for the first time in the match and he claimed Thompson and Patterson in successive balls.With the lead 193, some sort of last-wicket resistance was essential for Yorkshire and Gabriel, for all his hulking presence, came to the crease at No. 11 with a first-class average of 5.17 and a top score of 20. Waite attacked in selective fashion. He was put on his backside as he dug out an Overton yorker, but he hooked him resoundingly to reach a maiden Championship 50. They added 32, and were beginning to scent safety, when Overton had Gabriel caught at the wicket for his sixth wicket. Surrey had time – but only just.

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