A former Real Madrid ace believes it would be "tremendous" for outgoing star Luka Modric to join Swansea City after buying a stake in the club.
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Modric set to leave Real Madrid
Now a minority owner at Swansea
Told to join Championship side
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WHAT HAPPENED?
Just over a month on from becoming a minority owner at Swansea, Modric has been told by former Madrid striker Fernando Morientes to make the switch to the Championship outfit for next season. The Spaniard said there would be so much "excitement" among fans and the 39-year-old could still probably play for a couple more years.
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WHAT MORIENTES SAID
He told Casino Hawks: “Luka Modric playing for Swansea would be tremendous. I'm sure there would be a lot of excitement among the fans. A player like Luka Modric, even if he's at the end of his career, would be welcome I’m sure and he would be excited for the project.
"Obviously, we shouldn't expect him to be 100% or at his best because he's at a certain age, but even when he came on against Barcelona, the feeling of Madrid in midfield changed. He probably doesn't have the level of competitive rhythm that a game like that demands, but he's so intelligent, he's so good in midfield, he has so much quality that he could continue to give a few good seasons. I think he could have a couple of good seasons in England, without a doubt and I'm convinced the excitement he would generate among the fans would be tremendous.”
THE BIGGER PICTURE
This comes hot on the heels of Modric announcing he will leave Madrid this summer after 13 hugely successful years at the club. The Croatian international, who will go down as a Los Blancos legend after winning a remarkable 28 trophies there, was reportedly not offered a contract extension, so he may want to play on for a while yet – perhaps giving Swansea an outside chance.
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WHAT NEXT?
Before Modric can think about his future, he will play his final La Liga game for Madrid on Sunday against Real Sociedad. He will then round off his Los Blancos spell at the Club World Cup in June.
رد فينيسيوس جونيور نجم ريال مدريد على منتقديه بأسلوب رائع خلال الفوز بهدفين لهدف ضد ريال مايوركا على ملعب سانتياجو برنابيو في الدوري الاسباني لكرة القدم.
وكان فينيسيوس قد جلس على مقاعد البدلاء في وقت سابق، قبل أن يعود ويقدم أداء رائعًا ويتسبب في مشاكل مستمرة لدفاع ريال مايوركا.
وإلى جانب تألق فينيسيوس الهجومي فقد أبهر الجميع بأدائه بدون كرة حيث واصل الركض والضغط بقوة، وهذا الأمر لطالما كان ينادي به تشابي ألونسو جميع لاعبيه في الخط الهجومي.
وحرص ألونسو بعد المباراة على تسليط الضوء على جهود فينيسيوس في غرفة الملابس ووفقاً لصحيفة “ديفينسا سنترال”: “إذا لعبت بهذه الطريقة، ملتزماً دفاعياً وحاسماً هجومياً، فأنت لا تقهر”.
اقرأ أيضاً.. رجل مباراة ريال مدريد ومايوركا في الدوري الإسباني
وقد غادر البرازيلي أمس الملعب مبتسماً حيث يدرك أنه استعاد ثقة مدربه الكاملة، وسيستفيد اللاعب من فترة التوقف الدولي إذ لن ينضم إلى تشكيل المنتخب في تصفيات كأس العالم.
ونشرت الصحيفة الإسبانية أيضاً أن فلورنتينو بيريز رئيس ريال مدريد حرص على التوجه لغرفة خلع الملابس وقد أشاد بالوافد الجديد ألفارو كاريراس وأدائه في مباراة أمس.
ووصف بيريز مساهمات كاريراس في دفاع ريال مدريد بأنها كانت حاسمة، وبشكل خاص وجه لتشابي ألونسو رسالة عن الظهير الأيسر بعد صافرة النهاية: “إنه لاعب رائع، لقد أنقذ المباراة بفضل مساهماته الحاسمة”.
Liverpool star Harvey Elliott has opened the door to leaving the Merseyside club this summer amid his lack of minutes under Arne Slot.
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Elliott struggling for minutes under Slot at LiverpoolMidfielder opens the door to a potential departureClaims that he doesn't 'want to be wasting years'Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Elliott joined Liverpool's youth system in 2019 from Fulham after having come through the Cottagers' ranks. The Reds have seen the London-born midfielder slowly grow into the senior team; however, the 22-year-old has not been a major part of the first team. This season, Elliott only managed 822 minutes under Slot, with players like Wataru Endo and Curtis Jones getting priority. The midfielder has now opened up that he may be considering leaving the Reds, so as not to 'waste years'.
AdvertisementAFPWHAT ELLIOTT SAID
Speaking to the media while on duty with England U-21, Elliott said: "It's just a situation that me and the team have to have a conversation about because I'm coming into an age now where I'm 22, I'm going to be 23 next season. I don't really want to be wasting years on my career because it's a short career. You don't know what's going to happen.
"I need to reflect. I need to see if I'm content in doing what I'm doing and how can I improve as a player, because that's the most important thing. I just want to improve and be the best possible version of myself. If that's to go somewhere else, then it's a decision that I'm going to have to make, and I just need to see what happens.
"Nothing makes me want to leave. I love the club, I love the fans, the team. I support them as well. But most importantly, it's just about what's best for my career."
(C)Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Liverpool are set to sign another midfielder in the form of Bayer Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz if they can reach an agreement with Die Werkself. However, the signing will also push Elliott further down the pecking order. As such, it may be likely that the England U-21 star may be headed for the exit doors at Anfield.
WHAT NEXT FOR ELLIOTT?
The midfielder has yet to make his way into the England senior squad, and he will also likely be hoping that a fresh start with another side could help him rise into Thomas Tuchel's shortlist of midfielders for the Three Lions, with the World Cup approaching fast.
Cameron Gannon’s five-wicket haul helped secure a 100-run lead but the home side hit back
Tristan Lavalette12-Mar-2024Victoria’s attack hit back against Western Australia late on a dramatic day two as the fight for a spot in the Sheffield Shield final intensified.In what has been a see-saw contest with so much at stake, 15 wickets fell in the day’s play in tough batting conditions at Junction Oval.After dismissing Victoria for 144 to gain a 100-run lead, WA’s top-order fell apart to slump to 31 for 4 before Cameron Bancroft and Josh Inglis provided a steadying 75-run partnership.Related
McSweeney's ton and McAndrew's strikes put pressure on leaders Tasmania
Boland makes his return count to lift Victoria in finals race
Inglis fell for 45 near the close, but Bancroft held firm with a gutsy unbeaten 42 off 151 balls to stretch WA’s lead to 219 runs.With top-placed Tasmania in a major battle against South Australia in the concurrent fixture, WA could leapfrog them with victory and clinch a home final starting on March 21.Tasmania have already secured a place in the five-day decider and they will play either Victoria or WA, who only need a draw to get through.Victoria fought back well after their batting order wilted to be bowled out in 43 overs as their bid for a third straight final’s appearance nosedived.Having overlooked spinning allrounder Ashton Agar, who has been unable to squeeze into the Shield line-up this season, WA were vindicated with their quartet of seamers menacing on a green-tinged surface marked by widening divots.After searing heat on day one, conditions cooled considerably as per Melbourne’s notoriously fickle weather. Cameron Gannon and Joel Paris relished the overcast skies as Victoria lost three wickets in the opening 30 minutes to slump to 21 for 4 in reply to WA’s first innings of 244.WA were ignited by a spectacular one-handed catch from wicketkeeper Inglis, who dove low to his left to remove Marcus Harris for 17. Paris then took over with the wickets of Campbell Kellaway and Peter Handscomb in successive overs.An onlooker to the flurry of wickets, Mitchell Perry dug in to continue his knack of producing indefatigable knocks as a nightwatcher against WA. He combined in a steadying 90-run partnership with Matthew Short, who scored runs quickly in a counterattack.Short raced to his half-century, but gifted his wicket after holing out to left-arm quick Liam Haskett on what was the last ball before lunch. It triggered a collapse after the interval with Victoria losing 5 for 33 as a number of their batters provided catching practice to WA’s outfielders.Skipper Will Sutherland tried to play aggressively, but fell into an awkward position to miss-hit a short-pitched Haskett delivery to fine-leg. Perry’s 95-ball rearguard ended tamely when he hit Haskett straight to square leg as Victoria’s lower-order offered little resistance.Without injured frontline quicks Jhye Richardson, Lance Morris and Matt Kelly, WA’s deep pace stocks have been underlined by the strong performances of Gannon and Haskett, who combined for eight wickets.Victoria desperately needed early wickets and Fergus O’Neill stood up with a terrific new-ball spell to dismiss opener Sam Whiteman before claiming the wickets of Jayden Goodwin and Hilton Cartwright on successive deliveries.WA’s collapse continued when Perry had Aaron Hardie caught at second slip with a cracking delivery that bounced sharply and shaped away. But Inglis came out firing after tea with his best shot being a belligerent pull shot to whack a short delivery from Scott Boland for six.WA appeared to have regained a stranglehold until offspinner Todd Murphy provided a late twist by having Inglis edging to Short at slip. He then had Charlie Stobo stumped in his next over as this crucial contest is fittingly headed for a grandstand finish.
da jogodeouro： Após a eliminação do São Paulo nas quartas do Campeonato Paulista, pelo Água Santa, a torcida organizada Independente – a maior do clube -, está fazendo uma série de manifestações nas redes sociais. Desta vez, a mais recente deu um ‘prazo’ para que alguns problemas sejam resolvidos.
RelacionadasSão PauloApós fala de Ceni, Marcos Paulo faz postagem suspeita e curte críticas ao treinador do São PauloSão Paulo15/03/2023São PauloSem calendário, São Paulo faz tratativas para amistosos: rival Santos pode ser um dos convidadosSão Paulo15/03/2023São PauloPermanência de Ceni, reforços e futuro do Reffis: São Paulo reavalia suas rotas após eliminação no PaulistãoSão Paulo15/03/2023
da prosport bet： Fora do Paulista, o Tricolor só volta a campo daqui um mês, na estreia do Campeonato Brasileiro, contra o Botafogo. E foi exatamente esta quantidade de tempo que a agremiação ‘definiu’. Segundo o comunicado, o Brasileirão deve ser tratado como ‘vida ou morte’.
Quem é quem no Água Santa, time que eliminou o São Paulo no Paulistão
Veja tabela do Campeonato Paulista e simule os próximos jogos
Além disso, algumas ‘exigências’ foram feitas. Entre elas, a contratação de reforços pontuais, mudanças no departamento médico, demissões, e a definição do futuro de Rogério Ceni – que como o LANCE! adiantou, deve continuar na equipe.
Especificamente sobre Ceni, a Independente afirmou que ‘não pretende demitir treinador’, mas destacou que quer um posicionamento oficial da diretoria sobre seu futuro.
A organizada ressaltou também que, caso o técnico seja demitido no futuro, quer um ‘gringo’ em seu lugar.
O LANCE! também adiantou que, após o resultado negativo, um dos pontos mais discutidos foi sobre a possível vinda de novos reforços. Muito também pela situação do departamento médico tricolor. Na eliminação para o Água Santa, Giuliano Galoppo e Welington se juntaram ao ‘time’ dos lesionados. O argentino deve passar por cirurgia em breve.
Veja o comunicado publicado pela torcida organizada Independente
Nottingham Forest have reportedly made an approach to sign a new £30m+ striker who has been compared to Man City star Omar Marmoush.
Nottingham Forest take one step closer to Champions League football
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side took another step closer to qualifying for the Champions League on Tuesday with a 1-0 win over Manchester United at the City Ground.
Former Red Devils winger Anthony Elanga scored the winning goal to take Forest to an incredible 57 points in the Premier League with eight games remaining.
Centre-back Murillo was also the hero in the final stage with a goal-line clearance to deny Harry Maguire. Talking after the win, Nuno said: “Over the moon. We are delighted, realising how the game went. We could not be more proud than we are, because it was very tough.
“The fans played their part. We were against the ropes. In this moment, we were against the ropes, and it was about heart and belief because the legs weren’t there anymore.”
Nottingham Forest now racing to sign £33m defender wanted by Real Madrid
He’s a man in-demand…
ByTom Cunningham Apr 2, 2025
With European football on the cards in 2025/26 for Forest, attention is already turning to the transfer market and a new signing in attack is on the to-do list.
Evangelos Marinakis is ready to break the bank and spend big, with the likes of Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres, Wolves star Matheus Cunha and Brentford forward Yoane Wissa three forwards linked with moves to Forest. Now, another name has emerged on the radar from the Bundesliga.
Nottingham Forest make contact to sign Mohamed Amoura
According to reports in France, relayed by Sport Witness, Nottingham Forest have been in contact over a move to sign Mohamed Amoura who is under contract at Royale Union Saint-Gilloise.
It isn’t said whether or not Forest have made an approach to Amoura’s camp or the club, however, Arsenal and Liverpool have also been in touch as all three eye a deal.
The 24-year-old is currently on loan at VfL Wolfsburg, who have the option to make a move permanent for around €14m plus €4m bonuses in the summer. They look likely to do that and could then sell the Algeria international for up to €40m (£33.3m) to make a quick profit.
Julian Alvarez
Atletico Madrid
Omar Marmoush
Man City
Kai Havertz
Arsenal
Charles De Ketelaere
Atalanta
Antoine Griezmann
Atletico Madrid
Amoura has been impressing in Germany for Wolfsburg, netting 10 goals and providing eight assists from 24 Bundesliga games in 2024/25, and by the looks of things, he could be seen as a real rival to Chris Wood at the City Ground.
Amoura, dubbed a player with “exceptional” pace, has been likened to City star Marmoush and other high-quality forwards, so a move to Forest could be one to keep an eye on.
Tottenham Hotspur and chairman Daniel Levy are believed to be changing their minds about selling a star player this summer, with La Liga giants Real Madrid also holding internal talks over a potential deal for him.
Tottenham stars attracting interest ahead of this summer
Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou, if he is indeed still in the job by next season, will likely have to contend with elite clubs attempting to poach his key squad members this summer.
52-year-old holds talks with Levy to join Tottenham as "rich offer" readied
The Lilywhites chairman personally met with him yesterday.
ByEmilio Galantini Mar 28, 2025
The Lilywhites, according to TEAMtalk, are mindful of AC Milan and Atlético Madrid’s serious interest in midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur as one example. Both European heavyweights are apparently considering a swoop for the Uruguay international this summer, and Spurs are set to open formal new contract talks with Bentancur as they look to stave them off.
Chelsea (away)
April 3rd
Southampton (home)
April 6th
Wolves (away)
April 13th
Nottingham Forest (home)
April 21st
Liverpool (away)
April 27th
The £75,000-per-week ace’s contract expires in 2026, meaning time is running out for Tottenham to tie him down with fresh terms, and if they can’t, then a sale this summer could be a real possibility.
Meanwhile, there have even been suggestions that Bayern Munich are weighing up a surprise move for Son Heung-min this summer. Tottenham recently triggered the one-year extension clause in his contract, meaning he won’t be leaving until next year, but Bayern could apparently try and tempt Levy into an early transfer.
A lot of speculation has also surrounded star centre-back Cristian Romero and his long-term future at N17, with Atlético also said to be expressing an interest in the Argentine World Cup-winner alongside Bentancur.
Romero is apparently prepared to leave Tottenham this summer as well, following the club’s dismal 2024/2025, but Atlético are not the player’s only temptation.
Tottenham stance on selling Cristian Romero as Real Madrid eye move
According to GiveMeSport, Diego Simeone’s arch rivals Real are also eyeing up a move for the South American. The Galacticos are widely rumoured to be on the hunt for a big-name central defender this summer, and Romero is on their list of star-studded targets.
The outlet reports that Tottenham are now tempted to sell Romero, following a significant U-turn behind-the-scenes, and Real have held internal talks over a swoop for the 26-year-old.
While the club have relaxed their stance over an exit deal for him, Spurs have most recently demanded £60 million to let go of Romero, and Atlético in particular are set to fall short as things stand.
Simeone’s side want to open talks over a transfer worth £33 million, but this is set to fall short of Levy’s demands. While Real haven’t yet made contact with Tottenham or Romero’s camp, there is a distinct possibility they could do, if they decide he is indeed the right man to bolster their backline.
Ireland were bowled out for 119 chasing 237, with the 19-year-old debutant Kharote proving the perfect foil for the experienced Nabi
ESPNcricinfo staff12-Mar-2024The ball turned and skidded to the tune of Mohammad Nabi and Nangeyalia Kharote, who combined with Mohammad Nabi to grab nine wickets and fashion a big win for Afghanistan in the third ODI against Ireland in Sharjah. Nabi, who turned 39 at the beginning of the year, got his maiden ODI five-for 15 years after his debut. Kharote, the 19-year-old left-arm spinner, was on debut and pocketed four.Ireland lost 8 for 26 in a startling collapse, as a comfortable 93 for 2 in the 22nd over turned into 119 all out in 35 in pursuit of 237. Afghanistan won by 117 runs, and took the three-match series 2-0 after victory in the first and a washout in the second.Nabi bowled all ten of his overs in a single spell – he finished with 5 for 17 – using all his experience to keep varying his pace, line and length and sternly testing the Ireland batters. Nabi’s best on night was his fifth wicket. He went around the stumps to Graham Hume, and angled it into the left-hand batter. The ball dipped on the shorter side of a length on off, and rushed through to strike the stumps after beating Hume’s defence.Kharote bowled nine overs on the trot at the other end and finished with 4 for 30, with his first wicket coming in the 25th over. Curtis Campher, on 43, tickled one to the wicketkeeper, having smashed Kharote’s first two balls in international cricket for 6 and 4 back in the 19th over.The slowness of pitch meant it wasn’t easy for a new batter to start on, and Nabi had, earlier in the day, played his part with the bat too. He added 97 in 21 overs for the fifth wicket with Hashmatullah Shahidi, before departing for 48. Shahidi, though, batted deep for a patient 69. Both batters’ knocks were much needed after their side were 96 for 4 despite a half-century by opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz.From there Ireland’s bowlers did well to restrict Afghanistan to 236, claiming 5 for 45 in the last eight overs. But their batters were not allowed to back up that effort as, despite the absence of Rashid Khan and Mujeeb-ur-Rahman, the veteran Nabi found an able partner in teenager Kharote to help carry Afghanistan’s spin-bowling baton.
da bet sport： Everton’s time at Goodison Park has very nearly run its course with a second test event at Bramley-Moore Dock now complete.
da supremo： It remains to be seen what players will be picked by David Moyes for Everton’s first competitive fixture at their fresh home, with the Scotsman having to wrestle with the futures of many of his camp now owing to their contracts running down, on top of loanees such as Jack Harrison and Jesper Linderstrom perhaps not sticking it out long-term.
Whatever does take place, the options at Moyes’ disposal on the left side of the attack look to be light with Iliman Ndiaye currently out injured and homegrown gem Anthony Gordon now way away from the grasps of Goodison at Newcastle United.
Gordon's rise at Newcastle since leaving Everton
Gordon has had to walk away from Thomas Tuchel’s England camp this international break due to his own injury difficulties, but it’s fair to say his career has come on leaps and bounds since waving goodbye to Merseyside.
Anthony Gordon celebrates for Newcastle
Indeed, the Liverpool-born attacker is front and centre of Eddie Howe’s EFL Cup-winning side right now, with Gordon boasting an impressive nine strikes and six assists this season in all competitions, even if he did miss that Wembley showdown with the Reds through suspension.
Those numbers alone actually match his entire output from when he was in the Everton first-team picture, with Gordon only mustering up a disappointing seven goals and eight assists at the Toffees, having previously shone in many a youth side.
Still, this didn’t prove to be a setback for the now fully fledged Three Lions international who has gone on to excel past Merseyside.
On the flip side, however, a fellow former Toffees youth product hasn’t quite gone on to reach the heights once expected of him, despite bettering Gordon back in their U23s education.
The Everton academy star who was ahead of Gordon
It’s to be expected in the cruel landscape of youth football that some won’t hit the heights they believe they’re destined for, with the hype next to their name often working against them.
Nathan Broadhead is arguably a forgotten face when examining the recent crop to have come up through the youth ranks at Goodison, with the likes of Gordon stealing most of the plaudits for his heroics now at St James’ Park.
But, back in 2021, many would have been expecting Broadhead to be the star to hit the big time in the same way Gordon has, considering the Welsh starlet had a number of goal-and-assist laden campaigns under his belt playing for the U23s.
Broadhead had been in and around the U23 set-up since 2017, with Gordon still having to cut his teeth in the U18 picture initially, whilst his counterpart went on to tally up 17 goals and seven assists from 59 appearances in the highest level of youth football.
Anthony Gordon
Gordon paled in comparison with his output for the U23s too – helping himself to just eight goals and five assists from a lesser 28 appearances – but only one of them would ultimately go on to forge a senior career at the club.
Despite making a name for himself in the youth circles at the club, Broadhead only made a meagre two first-team appearances for the Toffees, with the path to stardom for Gordon laid out for him when he seized his senior chances better.
Broadhead’s senior career after Everton
Season
Games played
Goals scored
Assists
24/25
16
0
1
23/24
41
13
5
22/23
21
8
6
Sourced by Transfermarkt
He has since gone on to play in the Premier League more regularly at his current employers Ipswich Town after Kevin Thelwell sanctioned a £1.5m switch, but he has had to work hard to get back up to the level, having joined the Tractor Boys when they were marooned down in League One.
Ultimately, it’s extremely hard to predict how a youngster’s playing days will pan out, with Gordon potentially set for even dizzier heights at the Magpies, whilst Broadhead stares a relegation back to the Championship in the face.
Best signing since Branthwaite: Everton have hit gold on "dynamite" star
All the major talking points from the week gone by in the Super Smash
Deivarayan Muthu23-Jan-2019Mitchell out obstructing the fieldIn the fifth over of Northern Knights’ innings against Canterbury Kings, Daryl Mitchell patted a ball from Kyle Jamieson back to him and took a couple of steps out of his crease. The bowler swooped down on the ball in his follow-through and aimed to throw the stumps down, but Mitchell stuck his right leg in the way. Though the ball wasn’t heading towards the stumps, Mitchell was guilty of deliberately coming in the way of the throw.Jamieson gestured that Mitchell knocked the ball away with his leg and launched an appeal for obstructing the field. The on-field umpires Wayne Knights and Ashley Mehrotra got together and referred it to TV umpire Tony Gillies, who ultimately gave Mitchell out.
You don't see this everyday – Mitchell dismissed for obstructing the field. #BKSupersmash #wearecanterbury #cricketnation #KnightsvKings pic.twitter.com/T6IUrLeXvD
— Canterbury Cricket (@CanterburyCrick) January 16, 2019
Four days later, in the final over of Otago’s chase of 185, Auckland Aces’ Mitchell McClenaghan bowled an inch-perfect yorker from round the wicket and Leicestershire’s Ben Raine hastily jabbed his bat down and set off for a single. In the process, he collided with McClenaghan, who recovered and scooped the ball onto the stumps at the striker’s end, where Nathan Smith had reached his crease in time.McClenaghan, though, appealed for obstructing the field but replays indicated that Raine hadn’t changed his line while running. The soft signal was not out, and TV umpire Derek Walker sided with it.Sun stops play in NapierSun squinted into the eyes of the batsmen and forced a 25-minute interruption in the match between Central Districts and Canterbury at McLean Park in Napier. Moments before the players and the officials walked off the field, legspinner Todd Astle had drawn a thick outside edge from Dean Foxcroft, but Tom Latham, the keeper, had dropped it. The action resumed once the sun moved away.The setting sun was at an awkward angle again during the first ODI between India and New Zealand and interrupted the visitors’ chase on Wednesday.ALSO READ: Sun stops play in New Zealand v India ODI
Sun stopped play…love it! #SuperSmash pic.twitter.com/Odjwzgmywp
— Sean Brown (@sean_brown235) January 19, 2019
Astle, Neesham watchHaving been asked to prove their fitness in the Super Smash and audition for the last two ODIs against India, Todd Astle (knee) and James Neesham (hamstring) had low-key returns. Astle began promisingly and created the aforementioned chance, but lost his lines and lengths once Will Young and Tom Bruce began teeing off. Astle wound up leaking 44 runs in his four overs, including 14 in his last.Turning out for Wellington Firebirds against Auckland, Neesham was dismissed for 1 by Colin Munro. He then bowled only two overs, conceding 15 runs.Mitchell McClenaghan sends down a delivery•Getty ImagesMatch of the weekThe clash between Northern Knights and Canterbury Kings at Seddon Park. After being sent in, the Knights posted 154 for 5 in a rain-hit 16-overs-a-side game on the back of opener Nick Kelly’s maiden T20 half-century.Then the Kings lost Tom Latham to Mitchell Santner off the first ball of the chase. The returning Henry Nicholls flickered briefly for 40 off 25 balls before Ish Sodhi reeled him in with a wrong’un. Cam Fletcher and Leo Carter, however, put on a 56-run stand off 40 balls and took the game deep.When the Kings needed 19 off the last two overs it was anybody’s game. But Knights’ overseas recruit Kyle Abbott and Daryl Mitchell sewed up a six-run win (via DLS method) with a variety of cutters and yorkers. The result put the Kings out of contention for the knockouts.Batsman of the weekLatham exploited the short boundaries and the fast McLean Park outfield, cracking his maiden T20 century – and the first in this season’s Super Smash – off 57 balls against Central Districts. He was particularly severe on left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel, smashing him for 30 runs from nine balls before holing out off him. However, the rapidly rising asking rate was too much to overcome and Canterbury came up short in a chase of 226.Bowler of the weekMcClenaghan is an excellent bowler in the Powerplay, but he hasn’t been as effective in the end overs. Against Otago, he nailed one yorker after another and defended 16 in the final over against the well-set Raine and Smith. He is currently the second-highest wicket-taker in the competition with 11 scalps in five matches at an economy rate of 7.95. Jamieson, who has played two more games, leads the list with 14 wickets.