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In an age obsessed with speed, Ramesh Powar is charmingly headed the other way. Siddhartha Vaidyanathan met him

Siddhartha Vaidyanathan07-Sep-2007

It’s said that some cricketers belong to a different era. Ramesh Powar belongs to a different century.He is from an age when cricketers came in different shapes and sizes, wore outsized red sunglasses and delectable hair bands, and bowled slow, really slow. We’ve heard about the adrenalin rushes, speed barriers and shoulder-aches that the fastest bowlers experience. Now it’s time to celebrate the slowest among the slow.Over his last five games Powar has defied the modern notion that bowling in one-day cricket is about restriction. In a high-scoring series he has rarely darted the ball in at a flat trajectory, never beaten batsmen with speed. He has wound the clock back to the golden age of cricket, the Edwardian twilight preceding the first World War, and risked conceding runs for wicket-taking rewards. Expectedly he has got wickets (six in five games); surprisingly he has been economical (4.41). Only Andrew Flintoff, who has played two games fewer, has done better.A ten-minute chat with Saqlain Mushtaq, when the Indians played Sussex during the early part of the tour, made a big impact. Powar was fretting over not getting any of the Indian batsmen out in the nets. Saqlain’s advice was simple: “If you succeed in making these guys defend you, then you are bowling very well. Don’t think of getting a Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar or a Rahul Dravid out. Even if you are able to bother them in the nets, it’s good enough.”Powar has grown in confidence with every game since, so much so that he has not hesitated in slowing down his pace considerably. He usually operates in the 45-to-55 mph range. Occasionally, especially when he bowls the undercutter that goes straight, he gets slightly faster. More often, when he simply lobs up a moon-ball that goes straight, he gets slower. Once he dropped as low as 41mph. He admits it’s his slowest phase yet but, fascinatingly, thinks he can “easily get slower”.At Edgbaston, in the third game of the series, brought on in the 16th over, with Ian Bell and Alastair Cook at the crease, Powar slipped in a really slow one and nailed Cook on the top-edged sweep.”In the third game it struck me that if I bowl a little slower, they might sweep,” he said. “I knew they wouldn’t try to hit over the fence because they rely on batsmen like KP [Pietersen] and Bell to stay at the wicket. They couldn’t afford to take many chances. So I’ve been taking chances against Cook, Bell, [Paul] Collingwood and Pietersen.”It’s helped that Powar is usually operating with Piyush Chawla, the legspinner, who is comparatively faster. “It always helps with Piyush bowling at the other end, because the batsmen tend to always go after those bowling quicker. So, suddenly when the slower bowlers come on, it becomes difficult for them to work around it. And with my kind of pace, I don’t think they can do that easily.”Does he think he can slow it down further? “For left-handers I might go a lot slower because they play against the spin. For right-handers I think it’s fine. Because I’m an open-chested bowler, I can adjust my action easily. I deliver the ball behind my ear and lose pace since I am a side-arm bowler. And since I’ve been bowling like this for seven-eight years, I know how to lose pace with the same action. Sometimes you don’t tweak the wrist – just let it go. Sometimes you hold the ball in the palm, sometimes you hold it in two fingers rather than three. There are a lot of ways to lose pace and I’ve worked on different methods in the nets.”

Powar’s Headingley dismissal of Ravi Bopara, one of England’s best batsmen against spin, underlined the value of pace variations. Two quick ones, at around the 55mph mark, were followed by a straight dolly, lobbed up at 42.4mph. Bopara, completely deceived, popped a simple return catch.”They had changed the ball just then,” Powar said. “It was a newish ball and I knew that tossing it up may help getting some bounce. Maybe he didn’t expect it to spin or bounce that much. There was not much spin but some extra bounce.”Powar anticipates the batsmen’s intentions much better these days. He has always been a shrewd bowler but thinks his gut feel pays off more often these days. Paul Collingwood’s case is worth mentioning. “Collingwood always played the chip shot against me [lobbing over midwicket]. So I decided not to bowl any offbreaks that will help that chip shot. In ten balls I will probably bowl seven straight balls to him. I’m guessing better right now.”The straight one which he utilises so effectively was mastered by watching a great legspinner on television. “I learned that delivery watching Shane Warne bowl. I used to try it earlier also but it used to spin a bit. That’s maybe because at the Wankhede anything spins. When I tried it here in England at the beginning of the tour, it was going straight really well. I don’t know whether the release has changed slightly but it is working. That’s all that matters.”Powar’s trade requires him to bide his time and wait for success. His philosophy in life – one that has seen its fair share of tribulation – is similar. “I’m not the kind who wants success every day,” he says sombrely. “I’ve seen life in and out. So success and failure in a game shouldn’t be taken too seriously.” It’s a perspective that has made Powar the cricketer he is. It’s also helping him become the bowler he wants to be.

Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino has criticised Blues striker Nicolas Jackson, despite him scoring a hat trick against Tottenham on Monday.

• Jackson bagged hat trick in Spurs win
• But Pochettino not happy with striker
• Nkunku likely to take spot when fit

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The London derby was the most chaotic Premier League game of the season so far, with Spurs ending the contest with nine men and VAR creating plenty of controversy. Chelsea eventually triumphed 4-1, with Jackson grabbing a second-half hat trick at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

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• WHAT THEY SAID

  Despite scoring three times, Jackson was criticised for his poor finishing in the clash, and these sentiments were echoed by his manager on Friday. Pochettino said: "It's easy to say: okay, scored three goals. It's a process. He's still young, needs to improve. Okay scored three goals, but should have scored six. The most important is to keep calm and relaxed and he is going to improve with time. Nights like Monday help him not to be too much nervous and approach a game in a different way."

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Due to Christopher Nkunku and Armando Broja being ruled out with injury, Jackson has likely played more minutes than he was expecting during his early Chelsea career. The frontman now boasts five Premier League goals from 10 games, but with Nkunku set to return to full fitness after the international break, he could see his playing time limited.

  Pochettino provided an update on the Frenchman's availability ahead of his side's Premier League clash with Man City. "We had some conversation and he said to me I want to be ready for after the international break, Newcastle. I asked him yesterday and he said 'hmmm', and I said you are liar. It is close and he is really well. We are happy with him."

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• WHAT NEXT?

  Jackson will be in action for Senegal when club football pauses after this weekend, as the Lions of Teranga take on South Sudan and Togo in World Cup qualifying. Before that, Chelsea face a tough test when they entertain Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday.

The former captain suffered a grade one tear to his calf muscle during training

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Sep-2017Sri Lanka allrounder Angelo Mathews has been ruled out of the first Test against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi later this month with a calf strain. He had sustained the injury during training on Tuesday, before undergoing scans on Wednesday.SLC cricket manager Asanka Gurusinha confirmed Mathews’ unavailability.This is the latest in a long history of leg injuries for Mathews – the last 12 months having been particularly problematic. He had suffered a torn hamstring during Sri Lanka’s tour of South Africa in January, and did not play international cricket again until June. He had also missed a tri-series in Zimbabwe late last year due to “multiple injuries” in his legs.Given the recurrence of these injuries, Mathews’ workload has been closely managed over the last few months. In fact, he was only required to deliver a few overs per game in the ODIs against India, and did not bowl at all in the Tests. Nevertheless, he finds himself unable to play again, just as Sri Lanka attempt to put the torrid series against India behind them. Mathews had been excellent during Sri Lanka’s last Test series the UAE, in 2013-14, hitting 412 runs at an average of 103.Sri Lanka’s two-Test series against Pakistan begins on September 28 in Abu Dhabi. The second match will be a day-night Test, in Dubai.

Barcelona star, Ilkay Gundogan, has been blasted for his underwhelming performances with Germany by DFB vice president Ralph-Uwe Schaffert.

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• Gundogan's form with Germany under the scanner
• Schaffert believes midfielder is a shadow of his Barcelona self
• Urged for more fighting spirit from the German team in general

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Gundogan, who arrived at Barcelona in the summer, has been an integral figure for the Blaugrana, participating in all 24 matches played in La Liga and the Champions League under manager Xavi. However, his form for Germany has led Schaffert to criticise his contrasting performances between his club and national team. The FA official believes that Gundogan plays exceptionally well for Barcelona but his form dips significantly when he turns up for Die Mannschaft.

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• WHAT SCHAFFERT SAID ABOUT GUNDOGAN

  Speaking to Schaffert said: "Gundogan strangely plays outstandingly for the club and then plays in such a way for the national team that one can come to think: Has he sent his twin brother, with less talent? I don't understand it."

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The German team has been going through a lean patch of form since the 2022 World Cup where they were ousted in the group stages. The DFB replaced Hansi Flick with Julian Nagelsmann at the helm of affairs but their fortunes have not turned around as they remain winless in their last three international fixtures including defeats to Turkey and Austria.

  The recent results led Schaffert to express doubts about Germany's prospects in the upcoming European Championship, citing a significant disparity between potential, aspirations, expectations, and reality. He attributed the team's struggles not solely to the coach but pointed to a broader issue of attitude and commitment among the players.

  "I have many doubts regarding next year's European Championship," he said. "In terms of potential, we can go far. But aspirations, expectations and reality are so far apart at the moment that it is absolutely inexplicable to me. I don't think it is due to the coach. I have the feeling that quite a few of the players who are currently on the pitch believe that they can go out on the field with maybe 85% of their possible commitment, and then you have to discover that this is no longer enough against Turkey and Austria.

  "I don't even want to imagine what will happen if we play against France or England with this attitude. Maybe we will no longer need only those who are very talented, but also those who are willing to roll up their sleeves. The best example of how to do this was given by our under-17 when they won the World Cup."

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Gundogan will get an opportunity to prove his critics wrong when Germany face France and the Netherlands in two friendlies during the next international break in March. In the short term, he will return to action with Barcelona on January 4 against Las Palmas.

Ian Westwood is, in many ways, an unlikely saviour. But here, and not for the first time, he was exactly the man Warwickshire required in a crisis

George Dobell at Edgbaston21-Apr-2017
Scorecard1:42

County Championship Round-up: England hopefuls make their case

Ian Westwood is, in many ways, an unlikely saviour. Fifteen years into a first-class career in which he averages in the low 30s, he has endured prolonged periods out of the side, is out of contract at the end of the season and has prepared for life after his playing career by starting the qualification process as an umpire.But here, and not for the first time, he was exactly the man Warwickshire required in a crisis. Reeling from the worst start to a season most can remember – they have never previously lost their first two Championship matches by an innings – Warwickshire desperately required some resistance from a batting line-up that looks so strong on paper but has, of late, folded as if made of the stuff.Westwood responded with perhaps the best innings of his life. His century, studded with powerful pulls and sweetly-timed flicks off the legs, was the quickest (130 balls) of his Championship career and came when his side had been inserted under lights and against a bowling attack that inflicted one of those innings defeats. It helped Warwickshire not only register their first batting bonus points of the season – a pretty remarkable statistic given that this is their third game – but get within eight runs of doubling their tally of total points as well. Nobody else reached 50.We shouldn’t be surprised. While Westwood has never been rated as highly as the man he developed alongside in the Warwickshire Under-10 side a quarter of a century ago – Ian Bell – he has, in his own way, served the club with the same level of commitment. So it was Westwood who produced the century (against Durham) that buffered his side against relegation last year, Westwood the club turned to when they required a captain in the tough, transition years of 2009 and 2010 and Westwood who was left out of the side for the 2010 Lord’s final when a stronger combination of players was available.That’s the way it is for players like Westwood. On days like this, with few spectators in attendance and a back-to-the-walls relegation fight to be had, he is just the man. But he knows that, when Warwickshire have recruited once more, when the transition is over, when they find themselves back on a more glamorous stage, he will be probably be deemed surplus to requirements once more.The early part of this innings was typical Westwood. Scrappy and dogged. He got off the mark with an edged boundary – the generous assessment would be he was keen to make use of an unusually short boundary towards the Pershore Road side of the ground – and three of his early fours came to third man. On 46, he edged just in front of third slip and, on 104, he may have been missed by Ben Foakes down the leg side.But it was, at least until he reached three-figures, a chanceless affair. And, once he settled, there were some elegant strokes. Jade Dernbach was punished for dropping short by two sixes – one upper cut over that short boundary, the other pulled over it – and he utilised the vast boundary to the other side of the ground by picking up three all-run fours.The real difference between this innings and other Warwickshire efforts this season, however, was not the attacking shots but the defensive ones. Whereas his colleagues have prodded and poked, Westwood left and waited. He refused to be drawn into searching for the ball outside off stump and, by forcing the bowlers to wait, persuaded them to go searching for wicket-taking deliveries. He picked off the resultant loose balls with gratitude and has given Warwickshire not only a foothold in this match but some belief at the start of a season that was slipping away from them fast.In doing so, he showed what Warwickshire had been missing. Playing his first game of the season having recovered from a foot injury – he replaced the somewhat unfortunate Alex Mellor, who was signed as a reserve keeper and pressed into service as an opening batsman – Westwood provided the grit his side have lacked in the first couple of games. The unsettling concern remains, though, that his runs – more than 50 per-cent of Warwickshire’s total when he was dismissed in murky light a delivery before play was abandoned for the day – did not represent a collective return to form from the batsman as much as a masking agent for their continued troubles.Ian Westwood made a vital hundred on his return for Warwickshire•Getty Images

Surrey were not especially impressive in the first session. Just as Bell was criticised for bowling first at The Oval, Gareth Batty may be criticised by those who see that Warwickshire’s openers posted 126 and conclude that conditions were good for batting. But as Surrey’s assistant coach, Stuart Barnes admitted afterwards: “We weren’t pleased with the first session at all. We didn’t get as many balls in good areas as we have done in other games so far this year and we paid the price for it.”Certainly Footitt struggled to replicate the rhythm and pace he demonstrated at The Oval a couple of weeks ago – you suspect he doesn’t quite understand why some days it clicks and some days it doesn’t – Tom Curran conceded 18 fours in his 20 overs and Jade Dernbach suffered for his aggression. Only Sam Curran offered control throughout the day.They showed they had learned their lesson by the time they took the second new ball, though. The first four overs with it produced only two runs and earned two wickets as Tim Ambrose was defeated by one that nipped back sharply and Westwood’s defiant innings ended when he poked at one that bounced and left him a little on his off stump.Earlier Bell was, for the third time this season, caught in the slips by Scott Borthwick off Mark Footitt – this time Bell prodded at one he could have left – while Jonathan Trott and William Porterfield both edged deliveries from Tom Curran on or just outside off stump.Curran also dismissed Ateeq Javid. Having beaten his man often and seen a strong appeal for a catch declined, Curran was fired up, but the send-off he gave Javid slightly took the gloss off the moment. He’s a fine young bowler; he doesn’t need to roar in anyone’s face to prove it.Javid, playing ahead of the dropped Sam Hain, never really settled. Only winning selection after Matthew Lamb, a highly-rated 20-year-old, sustained an injured foot in the seconds, he looked understandably nervous – he is playing his first Championship game since mid-2015 – and, perhaps, as if he were playing for his future.His wicket was the first of three for the addition of just 29 runs that left this game pretty much even. The absence of a heavy roller may render first innings runs at a premium but, while this was, thanks to Westwood, a much-improved day for Warwickshire, Surrey will fancy they are still very much in this game.

The Blues' two summer signings have made a flying start to life with the club, but can they be the solution to Mauricio Pochettino's No.9 problem?

Many would argue that pre-season performances should not be used as a barometer for what is to come when competitive action resumes, but Chelsea have very recent evidence to suggest that this preparatory period should not be taken for granted. Their woeful results on tour last summer foreshadowed a disastrous 2022-23 campaign, but now there is renewed optimism.

Two games into their run of fixtures in the United States this time around and things are going swimmingly under Mauricio Pochettino's tutelage – two wins from two, nine goals scored and just three conceded (although, granted, one of those games was against League Two Wrexham).

One aspect of their displays has been particularly pleasing, if unfamiliar: Chelsea's strikers have been on song. New signings Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson have hit the ground running, but is this a sign of things to come long-term?

• Finally, some finishing ability

  A striker's job, first and foremost, is to score goals – something Chelsea dearly lacked last season in particular, although they have had a dearth of prolific output for some time. Given the profligacy Blues followers and coaches alike have become accustomed to from their forward players in recent years, it has been striking just how comfortable Nkunku and Jackson have looked in front of goal.

  Unburdened by the weight of weeks and months of misfiring from goalscoring opportunities in a blue shirt, and indeed the pressure of the season proper, the two new signings have looked free and easy when chances have presented themselves.

  Nkunku has two goals in fewer than 90 minutes on Chelsea's pre-season tour, ruthlessly firing into the roof of the net after rounding the goalkeeper against Wrexham, and producing an instinctive flick to net against Brighton. Jackson has scored once, sweeping a finish into the top corner on the run against the Seagulls, but has been a creative force elsewhere.

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  A surprise package, a physical presence

  It's Senegal international Jackson who has caught the eye in particular. There was probably some expectation that Nkunku would hit the ground running, but Jackson – who would have been an unknown quantity to anyone who hadn't followed La Liga in any great detail – has been a surprise package.

  The 22-year-old has oozed confidence in his brief time in a Chelsea shirt, seemingly still riding on the wave of his prolific end to the 2022-23 campaign with Villarreal, where he scored nine goals in as many games. He has effortlessly generated an understanding with his colleagues in the attacking third, and the early signs are good as he contributes goals and assists already.

  Granted, one of his the striker's appearances came against Wrexham, but there is no doubt that Jackson's combination of attributes could stand him in very good stead in the Premier League; a rangy 6'2 frame, pace, a fine first touch and devastating finishing ability – he could become a problem.

  Given Chelsea's dearth of options up front, he could well be their starting striker as the new season edges ever closer. That will of course be the real test, but his form so far in pre-season and at the back end of 2022-23 suggests he could well be up to the challenge.

• Impressive link-up

  Indeed, that immediate synergy with his team-mates has been the most impressive thing about Jackson's start to life at Chelsea. He had his first assist for the club two minutes into his debut against Wrexham, completing a winding run by laying the ball off to Ian Maatsen to finish.

  Against Brighton, he helped Mykhailo Mudryk to finally get off the mark for the club, exchanging passes with the winger with a cute one-two before the Ukrainian crashed a fine strike beyond the goalkeeper. He showed close control to provide a scruffy assist for Conor Gallagher later in the game, too.

  Jackson's laid-back personality is clearly strengthening those bonds. Speaking on the club's U.S. tour, he said: "I get on with everyone. I talk to everybody. We chill out together. We’re playing cards, playing games when we are not training."

  Nkunku, too, has shown his ability to drop deep and link play – exemplified by his strike against Wrexham. His deft layoff to Cesare Casadei in the build-up was sublime, before he turned on the afterburners to get on the end of the Italian's pass and round the goalkeeper.

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  Intelligent movement

  Even in isolation, that burst of pace through the lines was refreshing to see. Although there is some responsibility on the player playing the pass, Chelsea followers have grown apathetic having witnessed countless aimless runs or wasted darts into space by the likes of Kai Havertz and Timo Werner in recent years.

  Jackson's movement and assist against Wrexham were impressive, too, and he could well have profited from his interchange with Mudryk as he created space by rolling away from his marker. The Senegal international's run between two Brighton defenders was also immaculately timed in the lead-up to his goal. Pochettino and Chelsea will hope this is all a sign of things to come.

The Argentina youth international bagged the winning goal for Los Blancos against Napoli, and now looks set for a bright future at the Bernabeu

Real Madrid's hero against Napoli was an unlikely one. With Los Blancos tied, 2-2, with the Italian side, and five minutes remaining, you wouldn't have guessed who would be the one to bag the winner. With Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo and Federico Valverde on the pitch, Nico Paz didn't seem like the match-winning presence.

But Paz provided the big moment all the same, expertly pivoting away from a defender before unleashing a 25-yard strike that found the bottom corner — via a ricochet from the gloves of Alex Meret.

After the game, Carlo Ancelotti didn't seem surprised: "He is a player for the future of Real Madrid. He has all the quality that a Real Madrid player needs to have."

Still, this is a player with rare talent, and excellent footballing pedigree. Paz's father played for an elite national team, while his Madrid academy education has ensured that he has been put in all of the right places to be a star for years to come. Add that he is a midfielder, hoping to break into a side that has some of the best in the world, and Paz has a real chance to get his minutes — while also being allowed to grow at his own pace.

But who is Nico Paz, why do Madrid rate him so highly, and can he really be the future of this storied club?

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  Where it all began

  Paz had something of an advantage from day one. His father, Pablo, was an excellent footballer in his own right, a centre-back who enjoyed a 21-year career starting in Argentina, before moving to La Liga, and ultimately finishing in the Canary Islands. He made 14 appearances for Argentina's national team, and was in the squad for the 1998 World Cup.

  Nico, then, was earmarked as a talent from early on. Born on the island of Tenerife, Paz was originally, like his father, a centre-back. But as he grew and developed, it became clear that he was better used further up the field. It was something that Madrid realised when they signed him to La Fabrica — their elite youth setup — in 2016. Paz quickly became a promising attacking player, before settling into a central midfield role.

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  The big break

  Paz's development in the Madrid ranks has been steady. Such is the quality of La Fabrica, that the player was offered time to grow and figure out his best position. He was training with Raul's Castilla side in 2021, and made his official debut for the team — Madrid's U-23s — in January 2022, then aged 17.

  His first goal for the team came less than a week later, Paz bagging the opener against Getafe less than three minutes into the game. He settled in after that, and continued to impress. Ancelotti, who has historically has been reluctant to use the academy, called the youngster up to first team training last summer.

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  How it's going

  A Madrid injury crisis has proved to be a blessing for Paz. With Vinicius Jr out, Luka Modric struggling for fitness, and Brahim Diaz not quite ready for a full game, there was room for the youngster to earn a few minutes in white.

  He made his debut against Braga in the Champions League, and worked his way into the side from there. Paz has now played for Madrid's senior side four times, and held his own in each instance.

  Most recently, Toni Kroos — a player who knows a thing or two about being a successful midfielder — highlighted Paz's quality, saying: "This boy should train with us every day because he is very good."

  And although he is a regular fixture on the Madrid bench, Paz's occasional showings for Castilla have been equally impressive; he has six goals to his name in 10 appearances.

  According to , Paz had hoped to work his way into the Spain squad. But with Luis de la Fuente showing little interest in the teenager, Argentina swooped in. Paz trained with the senior side ahead of the 2022 World Cup, and seems to be in line for a debut before too long.

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  Biggest strengths

  Paz is an interesting player in that he doesn't quite have a defined position. Nominally a "playmaker", Paz has switched from centre-midfield, to box-to-box, to No.10 when needed.

  Academy coaches highlighted his control in tight spaces, and corresponding strength to ensure that he doesn't get barged off the ball. He has an excellent right foot, and is also good in the air — his 6'1 frame allowing him to take on most central defenders. In a sense, then, all of the traits of a modern attacking player — versatility and all — are here.

An Eddie Howe masterclass helped the Magpies secure a thumping European win over the French champions at St. James' Park

Newcastle secured a famous Champions League win over Paris Saint-Germain with a 4-1 win on Tyneside on Wednesday night. The Magpies took the lead in the 17th minute as they pounced on a defensive error from Marquinhos, and a few seconds later Miguel Almiron fired past goalkeeper Gigi Donnarumma.

Dan Burn doubled the hosts' advantage as he powered home a towering header shortly before half-time, and fellow local lad Sean Longstaff put his side into dreamland with a powerful strike that proved too hot for Donnarumma after the break.

Lucas Hernandez pulled a goal back for the visitors, who had more than 70 percent possession but registered just one shot on target, only for Fabian Schar to complete the rout in second-half stoppage-time with a long-range runner to give the hosts their first Champions League win in 20 years.

GOAL rates Newcastle's players from St James' Park…

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  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Nick Pope (7/10):

  Didn't have a great deal to do despite the wealth of attacking talent PSG have at their disposal. Was perhaps a tad slow to follow the flight of a deflected ball for Hernandez's goal but saved well from Dembele late on.

  Kieran Trippier (8/10):

  Wasn't really troubled by arguably the world's best player in Mbappe and beautifully set up Longstaff for Newcastle's third of the night. He didn't track Hernandez's run into the box for PSG's consolation goal but a solid outing for the right-back.

  Jamaal Lascelles (8/10):

  Was defensively solid at the back in what was a rare start for the club captain. Put his body on the line as Botman was not badly missed.

  Fabian Schar (8/10):

  Missed a glorious chance to sweep home a clever corner from Trippier when unmarked but fired just wide. Apart from that, was relatively untroubled on the night. Put the cherry on the cake with a stunning curled effort from outside the box to make it 4-1.

  Dan Burn (7/10):

  Initially struggled at times against the pacey Dembele but powered home a towering header to make it 2-0. Was isolated on occasion but still was solid enough in defence.

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  Midfield

  Sean Longstaff (8/10):

  Took his goal well and helped Newcastle's midfield get the better of PSG's for long periods.

  Bruno Guimaraes (9/10):

  Had the wherewithal to cut out Marquinhos' floated pass in the build-up to Newcastle's opener and beautifully set up Burn with a dinked cross to the big defender. Never stopped running and is worth his weight in gold.

  Sandro Tonali (8/10):

  Was a real enforcer in the centre of the park. A good engine across the pitch and seemed to make the right decisions at the right time.

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  Attack

  Miguel Almiron (9/10):

  Showed excellent composure to drill a first-time effort into the corner to make it 1-0. Got the better of Hernandez as well. PSG couldn't get to grips with him for much of the night.

  Alexander Isak (8/10):

  Threatened PSG's backline with his pace and trickery, and his strike on goal set up Almiron's opener. Was bruised and bloodied but gave his all for his team, despite a quiet second half.

  Anthony Gordon (9/10):

  Continued his fine form this season with a tenacious and battling display on the left side of Newcastle's attack. Offered something both in attack and defence.

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  Subs & Manager

  Elliot Anderson (7/10):

  Looked lively when he came on and was keen to run at PSG's shaky defence.

  Jacob Murphy (7/10):

  Put in the hard yards for his team when he came off the bench in the second half.

  Eddie Howe (9/10):

  Something of a tactical masterclass from the manager. His side outthought and outfought the visitors, their high press worked wonders, and they played intelligent football throughout.

Leaders Notts were too strong for promotion rivals Northants – and Worcestershire and R Ashwin are next up

ECB Reporters Network31-Aug-2017Samit Patel picked up three cheap wickets•Getty Images

Nottinghamshire remain on course for an immediate return to top flight cricket after defeating Northamptonshire by 163 runs on the final day of their Specsavers County Championship fixture at Trent Bridge.The Division Two leaders needed just over an hour to take the final five Northants wickets, with Adam Rossington unable to bat due to the thumb injury he sustained on the second day.Samit Patel closed out the contest, finishing with 3 for 17 and Jake Ball picked up 3 for 86.The outcome may have done irreparable damage to Northamptonshire’s promotion hopes. Having claimed just three bonus points, their tardy over-rate of minus five left them another couple of points in debit, ground they will hope to make back when they face in-form Sussex at Wantage Road next week.Nottinghamshire, gained another 20 points and remain unbeaten at the top of the Division Two table, ahead of next week’s clash at home to second-placed Worcestershire.David Ripley, Northants’ coach, recognised his injury-disrupted side had ultimately been outplayed, but reserved most of his irritation for losing points because of their slow overrate. “That’s not good,” he said. “We’ve just spoken about it as a group. We talk about it far too much and we need some actions. That’s going to hit us because we are going to lose points from this game and go back with minus points. In the past we’ve not been promoted out of this division by just one point, so every point is vital and we’ve just lobbed some away.”Resuming on 167 for 4, after they had added an unbroken 45 for the fifth wicket in the gloomy conditions of the previous evening, Alex Wakeley and Josh Cobb were parted in just the second over of the day.Wakeley, having advanced his score to 37, pushed firmly at Brett Hutton and nicked firmly through to Chris Read. The same combination accounted for Rory Kleinveldt four overs later, although the South African all-rounder, who made 12, was swishing vigorously towards extra cover.Read’s third catch of the morning saw off Cobb, for 38, with Ball adding to the two wickets he grabbed on the third day.Azharullah decided to make the most of a rare opportunity to throw the bat and hit five fours in making 23 but he then miscued Samit Patel high to Cheteshwar Pujara at cover.Ben Sanderson, batting with a hamstring injury and using Rob Keogh as his runner, made an enterprising 16 not out but the innings ended when Richard Gleeson, who scored 21, clubbed Patel into the safe hands of Riki Wessels at mid off.

MCA and TNCA believe the rescheduling of two Group A fixtures to after the final round of matches would be unfair on the other teams, and have expressed their displeasure to the BCCI

Arun Venugopal27-Nov-2016Mumbai Cricket Association and Tamil Nadu Cricket Association have opposed BCCI’s decision to reschedule two postponed Delhi fixtures (due to pollution and smog) to after the completion of the ninth and final round of matches in the ongoing Ranji Trophy season.The Group A clash between Gujarat and Bengal and the Group C fixture between Hyderabad and Tripura will now be played four days after the completion of the final round, from December 15 to 18, in Visakhapatnam and Kolkata respectively.The MCA has already lodged an official protest against the rescheduling of the Group A clash, and the TNCA is expected to follow suit on Monday. Mumbai are currently group toppers with 26 points, while Gujarat, with 21 points, are two points behind second-placed Tamil Nadu.While Tamil Nadu and Mumbai only have one and two games respectively, Gujarat have three by virtue of the rescheduling. According to , MCA joint-secretary Unmesh Khanvilkar had stated in his letter to the BCCI the rescheduling was unfair to the other teams.”The rescheduling of the said match after the completion of all matches gives unfair advantage to the participating teams with respect to their qualification the knockout phase,” Khanvilkar wrote. “This would be unfair for the rest of the teams who would have finished all the matches by then.”TNCA secretary Kasi Viswanathan said the matches in question shouldn’t be rescheduled, and that the points should be shared retrospectively. “In a league stage you cannot do this; it will be a disadvantage to the other teams. It is an act of God, and you should have only shared points,” he told ESPNcricinfo. “Last year we lost almost four days due to rain against Gujarat; so many matches have been affected by fog, nothing was done then.”We are saying the matches should not be rescheduled and that points should be shared like in any match that is washed out. We have orally conveyed [our displeasure] to the BCCI. We will have a meeting with our president and office bearers, and then we will file an official protest tomorrow mostly.”Viswanathan said they should have waited till the fourth day before calling the games off in Delhi. “After all, only two days of play had elapsed; they could have still completed the game on the third and the fourth day,” he said. “It has happened in so many games in the past; it is not something new.”He also contended the technical committee wasn’t empowered to reschedule the games. “The BCCI press release says that the two matches were called off by the technical committee,” he said. “I would like to point out that the technical committee has no jurisdiction over it. Only the senior tournament committee has the powers to decide this.”In Group C, the top-three teams are separated by only three points. While table-topper Andhra and third-placed Haryana have two more matches remaining, Hyderabad, who trail Andhra by only two points, have an extra game against Tripura, who are in the bottom half. Andhra coach Sanath Kumar admitted Hyderabad would have the advantage of knowing what they need to do in the last match, but said there was no point worrying about it.”All we have to do is our two games we have to focus and have to do our best. If we win one of the games and take the first-innings lead in the other we are anyway through,” he said. “These things we can’t do anything about. It is not intentionally done or something like that. Definitely it is an advantage, but you can’t avoid it; you can’t do anything else.”The BCCI had also pushed back the knockout matches to accommodate the two games. The quarter-finals, initially scheduled to begin on December 17, will now be held from December 24 to 28. The semi-finals were moved from December 27 to January 3, while the final, originally set to be played from January 7, will now take place from January 12 to 16.