All posts by n8rngtd.top

It was the latest in South Africa’s list of unlikely wins, and the hero of the hour was Nadine de Klerk, not usually the first name that comes to mind when thinking of game-changing players

Vishal Dikshit10-Oct-20253:14

Review – You ain’t seen Nadine yet!

South Africa take a lot of pride in turning things around.England, for example, know this. Three years ago, South Africa had been handed a 6-0 thrashing on their white-ball tour of England. Seven months later, at the T20 World Cup, South Africa – far from being the favourites – edged England by six runs for a historic maiden World Cup final appearance.Coming into this World Cup, their recent record of five straight ODI losses to India in subcontinent conditions wouldn’t have given them much confidence for the game on Thursday. And the memory of the 69 all out against England at the start of the tournament would have still been pretty fresh. But South Africa found a way, once more, somehow, under pressure, against the home team, and when they were again far from being the favourites, to win the game, and win it in the last ten overs.Related

• Tryon grinds it out, just like South Africa needed her to

• South Africa eye NRR boost against Bangladesh

• De Klerk upstages Ghosh as South Africa win thriller

The performance that turned the tables on India came from a player who is hardly the most celebrated or feared or the best-known in the South African camp. Nadine de Klerk. She did take a three-for against Australia in the 2020 T20 World Cup semi-final, but she’s hardly the player oppositions mark as among the first few to target.On Thursday in Visakhapatnam, de Klerk was thrown perhaps the biggest challenge of her career so far. In India’s home World Cup, with nearly 13,000 Indian fans thronging the stands, she walked out with the score at 142 with South Africa’s top six gone. The equation was a stiff 110 to get from 85 balls. The Indian spinners were tightening the strangle in the middle overs. When de Klerk joined Chloe Tryon in the middle, they knew their best shot was to take the game deep, even with ten runs an over to get in the last four-five overs.But, to get there, de Klerk didn’t take the safest or most cautious of routes. She swept away the worries against left-arm spin by putting away Shree Charani for four and followed it with a fearless shimmy out of the crease to find the gap on the leg side for the same result.Nadine de Klerk found ways to pierce gaps that few players are able to•Associated PressDe Klerk has trained herself for a power game that requires her to go for big hits. She has featured in T20 tournaments around the world and mastered the skill of hitting powerful sixes. Being a multi-sport athlete, she has kept herself fit physically and mentally to keep up with the rigours of being an allrounder, even if it means performing day-in and day-out, as South Africa had to do on Thursday after travel from Guwahati to Indore to Visakhapatnam for their third match. She has been given the job to “finish games off”, and now she was planning her way through it.She decided to “take the game on” and her experience of being a former hockey player helped her “hit those awkward gaps where normally there are no fielders”. If mid-on and mid-off were in the circle, she went over them; if they were dropped back, she dispatched the ball square for more runs to make the Indian team sweat.”I think today it was just about not trying to overhit the ball,” she said after the game. “I think simplicity is everything. I think today was just about really backing myself and not trying to overhit it and just time the ball. It was quite a good wicket.”

“I guess when it comes to the back ten [overs], you can really start backing yourself and try and take the game on. And if it does come off, that 70 or 80 runs in the last ten makes a massive difference in these totals”Nadine de Klerk

She and Tryon brought it down to 60 from 36 – ten an over in the last six like they had planned – but now, Tryon started to face issues in her heavily strapped left leg. She got treatment after hobbling around for a while and the onus, naturally, fell on de Klerk, who took down Sneh Rana for a six and a four at the start of the 46th over to make it 42 off 28 before Rana trapped the struggling Tryon lbw on 49.”Yeah, I think it obviously got a little bit more tricky when she [Tryon] got out, but I think even though her leg gave her a bit of problems, I think she’s probably one of the best finishers in world cricket,” de Klerk said. “We know she can clear any boundaries. I think when we were batting together, we were still pretty confident to chase the score. I guess it’s just about the belief and the character at the end of the day, and we just wanted to stick it out and fight really hard because we knew how important this game was for our team.”With India now into South Africa’s tail, de Klerk thought it was best to target the quick bowlers as pace was easier to work with under the lights with some dew around, and she went after India’s most inexperienced, Kranti Gaud. There was the punch on the Protea emblem on her jersey with her left glove, right hand holding the bat aloft after launching Gaud well beyond the deep-midwicket boundary to get to her third ODI fifty. That was followed by a straight six that deflated the Indians further, having brough the equation down to 23 from 18 with. It was an 18-run over.And the celebrations begin…•ICC/Getty Images”I think the most important part is, and we’ve seen it in this World Cup, is you just have to stick it out,” de Klerk said. “Doesn’t matter if you’re batting No. 8 or 9, if you give yourself a chance. I mean, Richa [Ghosh] did it today for India as well. Just try and bat time. And I guess when it comes to the back ten [overs], you can really start backing yourself and try and take the game on. And if it does come off, that 70 or 80 runs in the last ten makes a massive difference in these totals.”With Ayabonga Khaka at the other end, de Klerk farmed the strike and took it upon herself to wipe out almost all of the remaining runs, with two mighty sixes in three balls against Amanjot Kaur finishing things off.A day before this game, de Klerk had said there were “going to be a lot of ups and downs” in this World Cup and “this World Cup is all about fight and character at the end of the day”. Who knew those words would narrate her own story a day later and reverberate so loudly in a stadium with thousands of Indian fans gone quiet after she hit the winning runs, before being mobbed by her team-mates.And South Africa’s record against India in the last three World Cups? Three-zero. Try turning that around.

Eoin Morgan falls to contentious umpiring decision, before New Zealand batting implodes in second warm-up game

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Oct-2021England’s main batters all found time in the middle, and Jos Buttler made the most of it with a typically stylish half-century, before Mark Wood and Adil Rashid triggered a collapse to a budding New Zealand chase. A last-wicket stand of 47 between legspinners Ish Sodhi and Todd Astle took New Zealand within 14 runs of victory with five balls to go, before Astle was out hit-wicket off Chris Woakes to hand England the win. New Zealand have now lost in both their warm-up games.England captain Eoin Morgan came into the XI after sitting out the game against India and lost the toss. England then lost Jason Roy first ball of the match, before Buttler took charge in a 48-run stand with Dawid Malan.Buttler was happy hitting through the line and over the infield during the powerplay, and even brought out his scoop, as he kept the pace up with Malan scratching his way to 11 off 15 at the other end.Sodhi was the only one to put the brakes on Buttler’s innings, and he went on to get Malan and then Morgan, the latter a fortuitous lbw for which he had barely appealed. Morgan seemed to have got a big inside edge on his attempted reverse sweep but was given out immediately on appeal.Buttler kept his scoring up, eventually falling for 73 after having hit 11 boundaries and two sixes. Jonny Bairstow batted at No. 5 and till the last over, but it was Sam Billings who made a ripple in the death overs with an unbeaten 17-ball 27.New Zealand’s chase took off immediately with Martin Guptill enjoying the pace of the pitch as he got off to his free-flowing best. Much like Buttler, Guptill looked far more comfortable than the batters at the other end as he got his eye in early. He holed out to long-on immediately after the powerplay, but his 41 off 20 had taken New Zealand to 66 by then.Devon Conway’s scrappy innings ended with a run-out and from that point on, England tied New Zealand up through Rashid and Wood, who took seven wickets between them as 81 for 2 swiftly turned to 103 for 9.But Astle and Sodhi made use of the five-and-some overs still left in the innings, with the asking rate not too far out of reach thanks to Guptill’s early exploits. Sodhi played the aggressor, taking a particular liking to Woakes, and Astle managed to get a six off Chris Jordan in the 19th over to leave New Zealand 15 to get off the last over. A scrappy victory wasn’t to be, though, as he stepped on his stumps trying to turn Woakes behind fine leg.

Sussex come unstuck as George Garton’s allround efforts are thwarted

Paul Edwards18-Sep-2021
It comes to something when one of the players of the match in a T20 Blast semi-final is less than five years away from being eligible for Covid booster jab but Darren Stevens won’t give a stuff about that. Far more pressing on his immediate agenda is the prospect of picking up a third winners’ medal in the T20 Blast. The opportunity to achieve that honour is partly down to his own efforts in making 47 and then taking the important wicket of David Wiese as Kent gained a thoroughly deserved victory over Sussex by 21 runs in the second semi-final at Edgbaston.Yet this was a team triumph, too, Fred Klaassen took four wickets and Matt Milnes three as Luke Wright’s team never truly came to terms with their task. All the same, Kent’s side featured their three highest run-scorers in T20 cricket along with their second-highest wicket-taker. And it is, of course, Stevens who features in both lists; the 45-year-old was winning the 2004 Blast with Leicestershire just a fortnight after Archie Lenham, one of his opponents and the last man out in the semi-final, was born. Yet Lenham does not play his cricket with any more enthusiasm in his first season than Stevens evinces in his 25th summer on the circuit.But it was Daniel Bell-Drummond, another of the players on the batting lists who won the player-of-the-match award for his innings of 82 in his side’s 168 for 8. Despite the late hitting of George Garton, no one on the Sussex team could match that contribution and it is Kent who will take on Somerset in an hour or so’s time.After the early loss of Zak Crawley, bowled by Garton when playing a shot one doubts he learned at Tonbridge, the Powerplay overs were dominated by Bell-Drummond’s cleanly-hit strokes until Joe Denly dishclothed Garton to Chris Jordan in the sixth over. But the fact that the left-arm quick bowler had had to bowl three of the six overs said something about the indiscipline of everyone else and the ability of the Kent opener to capitalise upon such weaknesses.Qais Ahmad leaps for joy after striking for Kent•PA Images/Getty

Anyway, Wright was probably relieved to introduce Lenham’s leg spin in the seventh over and even more so when he conceded just six singles. At the other end Will Beer reinforced the impression that Sussex were imposing a measure of control, albeit that Bell-Drummond reached his fifty off 29 balls. But in the tenth over Sam Billings on-drove Beer for Kent’s first boundary since the Powerplay and Kent reached the midpoint of their innings on 82 for 2.Not even Ravi Bopara’s waist-high full-toss and the six that came from the free hit could restore Kent’s earlier prosperity. Billings was bowled for 14 by a very straight ball in the same over and Jack Leaning by a very much better one from Tymal Mills in the next. Jordan Cox was caught behind off the next ball but Stevens avoided the hat-trick by the simple expedient of playing no shot.The veteran’s contribution to Kent’s cause over the next 27 balls was vastly more valuable. In company with Bell-Drummond, he added a further 38 runs until the opener was caught at deep midwicket by Ravi Bopara off Chris Jordan for his 51-ball 82. Undaunted by this – who knows, maybe reinvigorated by it – Stevens was unbeaten on 47 when the innings ended with what was plainly a defendable total.Related

• Sam Billings seeks happy homecoming ahead of career-defining winter

• Luke Wright: 'We can't be losing our best players all the time'

• Kent live in Darren Stevens' world as veteran lines up final glory

Sussex’s reply depended to a degree on their having a decent Powerplay but it was Kent who struck three vital blows in the first six overs. Phil Salt was caught behind by Billings off Klaassen for 9, Luke Wright played on to Milnes for 10 and Delray Rawlins smeared Klaassen to deep point where Jack Leaning dived forward to take a fine catch.There was no reprieve for Sussex, no Rashid Khan to rescue them. Stevens struck with his first ball and then Ahmad bagged the vital wicket of Bopara for 22 when the batsman nicked a fine leg-spinner to Billings. Very soon Sussex’s hopes rested on Garton, whose power hitting has rescued his side on a few balmy evenings in Hove. True to form, the left-hander whacked four fours and three sixes in 23-ball 41 but when he was caught at short third man by Grant Stewart off Milnes in the 16th over, his side still needed 50 off 26 balls. Jordan and Beer did their best but the job was beyond themAnd suddenly it struck one that Salt and Jordan have now played their last game for the county they have represented for the best part of a decade. As far as Hove is concerned, this is good bye, not au revoir. Kent, meanwhile, prepare for the final. And one really wouldn’t be astonished if Stevens enjoyed this evening as well.

Sunderland are battling Championship rivals Watford for the signing of a prolific 22-year-old this summer, and he could even be available on a free transfer soon.

Sunderland manager & transfer news

The Black Cats are going through a key period at the moment, with the club still looking to find their next manager, after interim boss Mike Dodds stepped down from his role at the end of the season.

A host of names have emerged as options to take charge at the Stadium of Light, including Queen Park Rangers boss Marti Cifuentes, who took charge of the west Londoners last year. Granted, he could only guide his side to 18th in the Championship table, but avoiding relegation was seen as an achievement in itself.

Former AZ Alkmaar manager Pascal Jansen has also emerged as an option for Sunderland this summer, having left the Eredivisie side earlier this year. He prefers a 4-3-3 formation, naturally adopting a defence-minded approach, which may not get Black Cats supporters off their seats.

In terms of potential new signings on the pitch, the Championship side have been linked with a move for Ajax ace Ar'Jany Martha, with the 20-year-old left-back starting eight league games for the Dutch giants in 2023/24, as well as featuring in the Europa League. He is viewed as possibly being their next version of Patrick van Aanholt, who was a successful player in the position for a number of years.

Sunderland battling rivals for prolific winger

According to Valencia Plaza [via Sport Witness], Sunderland are interested in signing Valencia B youngster Declan Frith this summer, with Watford also providing competition for his signature.

The 22-year-old is yet to make his debut for Valencia's first team, which shows why he could eye a move away in the coming weeks and months. It is even claimed that he could be available on a free transfer in July, should the La Liga not trigger a one-year extension to his current deal.

Frith may not be a huge name, but he could be a high potential option to bring in for Sunderland at relatively low cost. The Englishman has impressed for Aston Villa's Under-23s in the past, registering a prolific 15 goal contributions (eight goals and seven assists) in just 24 appearances, and he also played fives time for Chelsea at the same level, showing that he has pedigree as a highly thought of young player.

Moving to Sunderland could be far more beneficial than toiling away for Valencia's B team, and the fact that he could be available for free takes away a large amount of risk when it comes to the Black Cats making a move for him.

New Sunderland boss must sell underperformer who earns more than Bellingham

The next Sunderland manager could well end up ditching this dud finally.

By
Kelan Sarson

Jun 10, 2024

The winger could provide some extra end product at The Stadium of Light after a season in which none of the club's centre-forwards stepped up and forced their way in as the recognised goalscorer.

After guiding the USWNT to a gold medal with a short run-up to the 2024 Paris Games, Hayes can now really get to work

Winning a major tournament, in the best of circumstances, is hard. Doing so with a short runway? Almost impossible. That's what U.S. women's national team manager Emma Hayes accomplished this summer at 2024 Paris Olympics. That's why people are so excited about the future of this USWNT. It's because Hayes, in almost no time at all, accomplished the impossible.

This past summer was just the beginning. Hayes has signed on for a long-term project, which means that what happened in France was a first step. A golden step, to be clear, but it really was still a bonus and an indication that this team is already further ahead than many believed.

After making the perfect introduction at the Olympics in France, the real work has just begun for Hayes. The Olympics were about scrambling to put together a team that could compete; now, it's about building a program that wins over and over again. Not just instant success, but consistent, sustained success.

That process really begins now. The USWNT's October camp is the first since the Olympics and, more important, the first of a new cycle. After turning the Americans into champions in just a matter of weeks, Hayes now has three years to build on the Olympic win. She now has that window to really put her vision into place.

"Nothing changes in terms of it's another opportunity for us to create new history and new heights and an identity that is built on in an already outstanding program," Hayes said. "For me, it's just about evolving. The Olympics form a great basis and they're a great foundation for us, but it's not a future predictor for success."

• Getty Images
  

  A hot start

  When Hayes signed with U.S. Soccer, it was clear she'd finish the season at Chelsea before heading stateside. The USWNT knew they’d need to act fast once she arrived.

  Hayes, though, wasted no time.

  She took over on June 1 for a series of four pre-Olympic friendlies, which resulted in three wins and a draw. Then, once the Olympics rolled around, Hayes and the USWNT zoomed through the competition, ending the tournament with a Gold Medal Game win over Brazil to reclaim a spot among the elite.

  “Winning’s in my DNA," Hayes said. "I’m used to being in finals, I’m used to competing for trophies. And so is the U.S. women’s national team."

  In just a matter of weeks, Hayes had accomplished more than anyone could have believed. While that's great and all, she wasn't really brought in for the Olympics and she wasn't hired to win one tournament.

  That's the work that begins now: the work that Hayes was really hired to do.

Advertisement

• (C)Getty Images
  

  The rebuild really begins

  Hayes, at her core, is a builder. She's a winner, too, obviously, but, deep down, she's a coach that appreciated impact just as much, if not more, than results. It's why she stayed at Chelsea for 12 years, turning the Blues into a powerhouse. It's also why she was so drawn by the USWNT job.

  So, while the Olympic run was fantastic, a career highlight, there's still so much to look forward to.

  This camp, which features two friendlies against Iceland and one against Argentina, offers a glimpse at that. With this being a victory tour, Hayes obviously leaned on her gold medalists, but there's some razzle dazzle mixed in there, too, in the form of newcomers.

  In total, 18 members of the Olympic squad are in the team for these friendlies, but there are eight players involved that weren't in France this summer. Some of those eight could be key in a few years time.

  Rising stars such as Olivia Moultrie and Alyssa Thompson will look to take the next step, while uncapped players like Eva Gaetino, Emma Sears and Hal Hershfelt push for their chance. Hershfelt, of course, was an alternate this summer, but is among the six uncapped players in camp.

  Starting now, the player pool will begin to turn over, adding new faces while phasing out some of the older ones. The current squad has five players over the age of 30, although a few of them could still be involved in a few years.

  "I've said this, although I say it privately more than I do publicly: the U.S. could quite easily put two teams out there," Hayes said of the current player pool. "There's always going to be players that are missing and there were players and there are players that are outside of this roster that equally deserves to be in."

  The Olympics laid a foundation, but now Hayes gets the chance to really build upon it. The culture is way ahead of schedule, and now Hayes has a group of young stars eager to show that they deserve a place in it.

• Getty
  

  Tactical identity

  Given her limited time with the USWNT, Hayes didn't introduce too many wrinkles when she initially took over. She guided her players, who were all supremely talented and empowered them by putting them in a position to succeed. When you're as good as this USWNT team is, that's all you have to do on most nights: give your players a chance to be better than the opposition's players.

  Hayes will look to do more, though. Whatever edge she can find, she'll surely take it and, now that she has some time to work with this USWNT group under a bit less pressure, she'll have the ability to get creative.

  "Tactically, we will evolve," she said. "That's the reality of it. I think you saw throughout the Olympics that teams started to sit a lot lower, sitting with a lot of bodies, and made it very difficult for us to break teams down. We had to find different ways against different opponents all of the time, much like playing against a team like Brazil that will go man for man all over the park.

  "For us, I feel like we've already got a great understanding of our principles. We just need to evolve it to the next step."

• Getty
  

  Youngsters on the rise

  Of the 18 players on the Olympic squad, 10 were at the Vlatko Andonovski's failed World Cup squad the summer prior. Hayes took those players, rebuilt their confidence and turned them back into winners. It was an incredible job.

  In the long term, though, the players who will define this team's future are really just getting started. Several of them are in this camp.

  We already know what Hayes thinks of Jaedyn Shaw, who looked poised to be a breakout star this summer. After watching her thrive under interim manager Twila Kilgore, Hayes looked ready to turn Shaw into a major part of the attack, only to see injuries limit her at the Olympics. Unfortunate, of course, but the 19-year-old attacker is just getting started. Under Hayes, Shaw should be a staple for years to come.

  Youngsters such as Olivia Moultrie and Alyssa Thompson have had their moments, Thompson actually a part of the 2023 World Cup squad, but Hayes will now get the chance to work with them up close and personal and help them live up to their lofty potential. Both are involved in this camp. Despite all of their experience, both are still teenagers.

  Gaetino, Hershfelt and Sears are in line for their first caps, and all are under the age of 24. Gisele Thompson, Kennedy Fuller, Croix Bethune, Trinity Byars, Lexi Missimo and perhaps even 17-year-old Lily Yohannes? There are so many young stars itching to break through, and developing those young stars into USWNT contributors will perhaps be the most rewarding part of Hayes' job.

There couldn't have been many better places to play or watch football in England than Selhurst Park towards the end of this season, as new boss Oliver Glasner transformed what once felt like a sterile and listless team into one of the most dynamic ones in the Premier League.

The Austrian led his side to seven wins out of a possible 14 following his arrival, including massive victories over Liverpool, Manchester United, Aston Villa, and Newcastle United, all while playing aesthetically pleasing football.

However, for all his genius, this turnaround was facilitated by some of the extraordinary talents he had at his disposal, players like Eberechi Eze, Jean Phillippe Mateta, and Michael Olise, and if recent reports are to be believed, the South Londoners could soon be about to pull the trick that landed them the latter in 2021.

Crystal Palace transfer news

According to a report from BBC Sport journalist Alex Howell earlier this week, Palace have maintained their interest in and are now "tracking" Norwich City's Brazilian star, Gabriel Sara.

The Canaries ace has been linked to the South Londoners several times this year, but these reports confirm that interest is still there following the Championship side's painful play-off semi-final defeat.

Howell does not mention how much the Eagles could pay to sign the 24-year-old, but a report earlier this year from Football Insider claimed that the Norfolk side would demand £30m for their starman.

It remains to be seen whether the fact they'll still be playing in the second tier next season affects this price, but even if it doesn't, it would make sense for Palace to repeat what they did with Olise and bring Sara to Selhurst Park.

Crystal Palace could repeat their Olise trick

If Steve Parish and Co are feeling reticent about spending such a sizable fee on a player after an impressive season in the Championship, then he only needs to think back to the club's acquisition of Olise from Reading in 2021. After all, he had a haul of seven goals and 12 assists to his name in 46 Championship games the season prior, and he's turned out rather well for Palace.

In fact, in the Frenchman's 90 first-team appearances for the Eagles since his arrival, he has scored 16 goals and provided 25 assists, meaning he has averaged a goal involvement every 2.1 games despite his numerous injury setbacks.

So, with how well the 22-year-old has taken to life in South London, the club should feel confident that the "superb" Sara, as described by talent scout Jacek Kulig, will do the same. Especially as his output for Norwich this season has been better than the Palace star's was in his final year in the second tier, racking up 14 goals and 13 assists in 53 games.

Moreover, the "ridiculously talented" Joinville-born star, as data analyst Ben Mattinson describes him, has versatility on his side as well. He's started games in the middle of the park, out wide, in defensive midfield, and even in both full-back positions.

Ultimately, there is always going to be an element of risk in signing a player from the Championship, but if any club should be confident about it, it's Crystal Palace.

Crystal Palace could sign £51m "monster in the making" to replace Edouard

The impressive prospect could become a leading Premier League striker.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

May 28, 2024

Surrey suffer rare shocker in five-wicket defeat, with only Clarke standing firm

ECB Reporters Network03-Aug-2021Glamorgan made it three wins from five Royal London Cup matches and stayed in the hunt for qualification for the knock-out stages with a five-wicket hammering of Surrey.Surrey made just 132 from 44.1 overs with only Rikki Clarke standing firm with 35. It was a total Glamorgan reached with ease thanks to an innings of 58 from 52 balls from Hamish Rutherford.This was Surrey’s first defeat of the competition as they had a day to forget. The visitors won the toss and chose to bat on a glorious Cardiff morning, but Mark Stoneman nicked Michael Hogan’s first ball of the day to Nick Selman, who took a neat catch at second slip, and that set the tone for a rare Surrey shocker.Glamorgan captain Kiran Carlson nearly claimed a stunning catch at mid-on to dismiss Hashim Amla off the bowling of Lukas Carey, but he unfortunately spilled the ball. Carey nonetheless dismissed Ryan Patel, again caught smartly by Selman at slip, and then Amla went too – this time caught behind by Tom Cullen for just four.Jamie Smith was the next to go, caught by Cullen from Joe Cooke’s bowling, leaving Surrey at 35 for 4.Such a position called for responsible batting, not something Nico Reifer delivered when he smacked Andrew Salter up in the air to be caught by Rutherford.Tim David also fell to Salter – Selman again the catcher – as Surrey slipped to 63 for 6.Salter finished with career-best List A figures of 3 for 37 and when Clarke was finally dismissed by Andy Gorvin, Surrey had inched their way to a below-par total.Veteran Clarke – who will retire at the end of the season after a fine career – was Gorvin’s first Glamorgan wicket.Carey finished with 2 for 28 and the outstanding Hogan 1 for just 18 runs from his 10 overs.Rutherford struck two superb boundaries through cover in the same Matt Dunn over at the start of Glamorgan’s reply, but the Surrey quick did bowl Selman for six. Rutherford’s calm batting – it was particularly pleasant to watch his off-side strokes – took Glamorgan to 52 for 1 after 10 overs.New Zealand’s Rutherford reached 50 off just 45 balls with 10 fours as he and Steven Reingold, who scored 40, put Glamorgan in complete control.Rutherford slog swept Dan Moriarty for six into the Sophia Gardens stands to bring up the 100 and although he was caught next ball, he had already done the hard work.Billy Root was dismissed for 18 with Glamorgan within one run of victory, but Cullen finished the job with 23.1 overs still to be bowled of the home side’s second innings.

England and India served up a treat at Lord’s, leaving the series delicately poised. Alan Gardner was joined by Sid Monga and Vish Ehantharajah to discuss what went down

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Jul-2025England and India served up a Test match for the ages at Lord’s, one that was eventually won by 22 runs deep into the final day as the hosts took a 2-1 lead with two to play. With the dust still settling on the closest contest of the series, Alan Gardner was joined by Sidharth Monga and Vithushan Ehantharajah to pick through all the goodness – from honours board appearances for Joe Root, Jasprit Bumrah and KL Rahul, to Jofra Archer’s comeback, Ravindra Jadeja’s herocis, Ben Stokes’ juju and the welcome return of on-field needle as the tour reaches its pointy end.