يوفنتوس يحدد بديلاً لـ بوجبا من الدوري الإنجليزي بعد أزمة المنشطات

يبحث نادي يوفنتوس الإيطالي عن بدلاء للاعبه بول بوجبا، بعد سقوطه في اختبار تحليل المنشطات، ووضع بعض اللاعبين على راداره.

تم إيقاف بوجبا مؤقتًا بعد الاختبار الذي تم إجراؤه عقب فوز يوفنتوس 3-0 على أودينيزي في 20 أغسطس، حيث جاءت نتيجة العينات إيجابية للمنشطات.

وذكرت صحيفة “لا ريبوبليكا” الإيطالية، أن يوفنتوس يبحث عن حلول، إذا تم إيقاف بوجبا، وأحد المرشحين هو توماس بارتي لاعب آرسنال.

وأبدى يوفنتوس اهتمامًا سابقًا ببارتي خلال انتقالات الصيف بالفعل، وأجروا اتصالات مع آرسنال لكن بقى اللاعب في ناديه بنهاية الأمر.

اقرأ أيضًا | كومان عن إيقاف بوجبا: هناك شيء مفقود في أزمة تعاطيه المنشطات

بارتي بدأ أساسيًا في أول ثلاث مباريات في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز هذا الموسم، ولم يشارك في مباراة مانشستر يونايتد لإصابة في الفخذ.

وأوضح التقرير أن آرسنال لن يسمح له بالرحيل في انتقالات يناير، ما لم يجد بديلاً مناسبًا لتعزيز خط الوسط.

وقال يوفنتوس في بيان يوم الإثنين: “يعلن نادي يوفنتوس لكرة القدم أنه اليوم، 11 سبتمبر 2023، تلقى لاعب كرة القدم بول بوجبا أمر إيقاف احتياطي من المحكمة الوطنية لمكافحة المنشطات بعد نتائج الاختبارات التي أجريت في 20 أغسطس 2023، ويحتفظ النادي بالحق في النظر في الخطوات الإجرائية التالية”.

وأكدت رافائيلا بيمنتا، وكيلة بوجبا، أن يوفنتوس ينتظر عينة ثانية، مضيفة: “الأمر المؤكد هو أن بول بوجبا لم يرغب أبدًا في كسر القاعدة”.

إذا ثبت أن بوجبا مذنب، فسيواجه عقوبة الإيقاف لمدة تصل إلى أربع سنوات.

De volta ao time titular, Valdo projeta duelo contra o Avaí

MatériaMais Notícias

Visando uma vitória fora de casa na Série A do Campeonato Brasileiro, o elenco do Ceará se prepara para mais uma batalha na disputa: enfrentar o Avaí, na Ressacada, no domingo. Focado neste duelo, o zagueiro do Vozão, Valdo, destacou a força do Leão em Floripa e pediu atenção máxima durante noventa minutos de partida.

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‘O Avaí é uma equipe que sempre vai muito bem dentro de casa. A Ressacada é um aliado para eles. Temos que ter o máximo e atenção para sairmos com um triunfo desta partida. É importante não vacilar durante os noventa minutos. Temos que fazer um jogo seguro, sem erros, para pontuarmos como visitante’, disse.

Ainda de acordo com o defensor, o elenco alvinegro tem tudo para evoluir nas próximas semanas.

‘Nós estamos fazendo boas partidas neste início de Série A. Temos grandes chances de evoluir nestas próximas semanas para buscarmos uma boa sequência na Série A. Isso vai nos dar confiança para o restante do ano’, concluiu.

Minas ganhará novo um time profissional na cidade de Betim

MatériaMais Notícias

Na primeira segunda-feira do mês de maio (06), a AMDH (Associação Mineira
de Desenvolvimento Humano) promoverá, no Monte Carmo Shopping, um
grande evento de divulgação, que revelará aos convidados a profissionalização
da equipe de futebol da instituição e outras importantes novidades a respeito
do projeto esportivo da entidade de Betim. Entre as demais grandes inovações
no clube, estão o uso do novo nome fantasia e novo escudo e o programa
Sócio Guerreiro.

A entidade conta, desde 2012, com um trabalho especializado de categorias de
base no futebol de Minas Gerais, acumulando títulos e importantes feitos pelo
sub-17 e pelo sub-15. Os objetivos da associação tornam-se cada vez mais
ambiciosos e, em busca de um trabalho mais consolidado, promissor e bem-
sucedido, a AMDH reunirá todos os seus apoiadores para apresentar as
mudanças planejadas.

Paulo Henrique, diretor da instituição, comenta as expectativas para o evento e
as metas traçadas pelo clube:

-Para nós, da diretoria da AMDH, será um grande marco na história da instituição. Uma oportunidade ímpar de celebrar a trajetória vitoriosa dos últimos sete anos do projeto AMDH Betim Futebol junto aos nossos stakeholders, e, ao mesmo tempo, apresentar o nosso novo momento com inúmeras novidades, como aprofissionalização do clube e a mudança do posicionamento de marca com a utilização do nosso nome fantasia, como forma de estreitar ainda mais a nossa relação com a comunidade. Nosso objetivo é elevar o nome de Betim no cenário do futebol com uma gestão eficiente e envolvimento de toda a comunidade!-disse

– Confira todas as informações a respeito do evento:

Logística:
Data: 6 de maio de 2019
Horário: 20h às 23h
Local: espaço de eventos do Monte Carmo Shopping
Endereço: Av. Juiz Marco Túlio Isaac, 1119, Ingá Alto – Betim/MG – 2º piso,
em frente à Clínica Escola da Faculdade Pitágoras

Novidades apresentadas:
– Profissionalização do clube;
– Uso do nome fantasia e mudança no escudo;
– Programa Sócio Guerreiro;
– Mascote da equipe;
– Novo site;
– Quiosque no shopping.

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Back to familiar format after emotional farewell

After Sachin Tendulkar’s emotional farewell, India move on to the format in which they are now used to playing without him

The Preview by Abhishek Purohit20-Nov-2013Match factsThursday, November 21, 2013
Start time 1330 local (0800 GMT)Rohit Sharma: ODI double-hundred. Twin Test centuries. What next?•BCCI

Big Picture Days after Sachin Tendulkar’s emotional farewell, India move on to the format in which they are now quite used to playing without him. Unlike in the Tests, the cricket will no longer be the sideshow. An India win can no longer be taken for granted.Only a few weeks ago, till the last Australia wicket fell in Bangalore, either set of batsmen could have edged the run-marathon of an ODI series. Over 3500 runs were scored in 11 innings; 350 threatened to permanently become the new 300. Did that series reveal to us the future of ODI cricket in India? Have bowlers been irreparably crippled in such conditions by the restriction of four deep fielders? The next three games will tell us more.MS Dhoni said his fast bowlers had been working hard on their variations, including yorkers, ever since the Australia series, to ensure they don’t leak too many runs at the death. India’s batsmen, as usual, will be confident of hunting down whatever their bowlers concede. Dhoni will hope Yuvraj Singh, who had a horror run amid the Australia run glut, is one of them.West Indies’ showing against the No. 1 ODI side will be interesting to track. They lost both Tests inside three days. They have been criticised for being drunk on T20 cricket. Their Test captain’s place in the team has been questioned for the umpteenth time.In the ODIs, they will be a led by a man who was not part of the Test squad, but has similar – many will argue superior – skills compared to the Test captain. What will Dwayne Bravo do in the ODIs that Darren Sammy couldn’t in the Tests? How will he lift the morale of a side thumped by an innings in both Kolkata and Mumbai?Bravo will at least have fresher men to choose from. Apart from a different leader, West Indies will also have different options on all fronts – batting, fast bowling, spin, wicketkeeping. Will all this translate into some sort of a challenge for India? The hosts won 4-1 the previous time the two played in India, in 2011, although West Indies ran them closer than the scoreline suggests. Getting on the board this time will be an achievement, after the embarrassment of the Tests.Form guideIndia WWLWL (last five completed games, most recent first)
West Indies LLTWLIn the spotlight Chris Gayle had starts in each of his four innings in the Tests, but went past 35 in none of them. He is less likely to not convert a start in limited-overs cricket, although he has had a poor year in the format. Gayle averages 55.85 in India and, barring Zimbabwe, his ODI record in any other Test nation does not even come close. Six of his 22 innings in India have been centuries, which again shows how much he likes to bat in the country.Rohit Sharma has already scored more ODI runs this year than he did in the previous two years combined. Five days after hitting a double-century in Bangalore, he made a hundred on Test debut in Kolkata, and added another one batting with the No. 11 in Mumbai. Mindboggling is the word. And even during his fallow years, before his move to the top of the order, West Indies were his favourite opposition.Team newsVinay Kumar went for 102 runs in nine overs in the last ODI India played in Bangalore. Although he has made it back to the side as an injury replacement for Dhawal Kulkarni, it is hard to see him meriting a place in the XI. Ravindra Jadeja is back, after missing the Tests with a shoulder injury.India (probable) 1 Rohit Sharma, 2 Shikhar Dhawan, 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Suresh Raina, 5 Yuvraj Singh, 6 MS Dhoni (capt & wk), 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 R Ashwin, 9 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10 Jaydev Unadkat/Mohit Sharma, 11 Mohammed ShamiGayle moved down the order in Pakistan’s previous ODI series after three failures as opener. Given his record in India, West Indies might want to move him back up. Sunil Narine, who many said should have played the Tests ahead of Veerasammy Permaul, will take his regular ODI spot. Kieron Pollard is injured and that will help Sammy keep his place in the XI.West Indies (probable) 1 Chris Gayle, 2 Johnson Charles (wk), 3 Darren Bravo, 4 Marlon Samuels, 5 Narsingh Deonarine, 6 Lendl Simmons, 7 Dwayne Bravo (capt), 8 Darren Sammy, 9 Sunil Narine, 10 Ravi Rampaul, 11 Jason HolderPitch and conditions Only ten overs were possible in the five-day Duleep Trophy final last month in Kochi. One of the finalists had to be decided by the toss of a coin as even two innings could not be completed over six days in the first semi-final, also played in Kochi. The Nehru Stadium, also used for football, has received a lot of flak for its refurbished drainage system. It has also taken a lot of rain. The southwest monsoon is over, but it is northeast monsoon time now in south India. Unusually for an India venue, and in anticipation of more showers, the entire ground, instead of just the square, has been kept under covers. Rain is forecast in the morning and evening of the match, but not during the afternoon.Stats and trivia Gayle averages 20.73 in ODIs in 2013, his lowest return since 1999, his debut year Virat Kohli is 81 short of 5000 ODI runs. If he gets there in Kochi, he will tie with Viv Richards as the fastest to the landmark in 114 inningsQuotes “It’s important, not only for them but also for the team, that they score runs – the No. 4 and No. 5 spots are very important. After the openers set the platform, these guys capitalise in the last 10-15 overs.”

حارس منتخب مصر الأولمبي: لم نبخل بنقطة عرق.. ونسعى لتحقيق لقب أمم إفريقيا

تحدث محمد أحمد السيد الشهير بـ “سيحا” حارس مرمى منتخب مصر الأولمبي، عن التأهل إلى أولمبياد باريس 2024 والمباراة النهائية لكأس أمم إفريقيا تحت 23 عاماً المقامة في المغرب.

منتخب مصر انتصر على غينيا بهدف دون رد، في مواجهة نصف النهائي لبطولة أمم إفريقيا ونجح في التأهل لـ أولمبياد باريس ونهائي البطولة الإفريقية.

وقال سيحا خلال تصريحات عبر برنامج حوار كورة كل يوم المذاع على قناة الحياة: “لم نبخل بنقطة عرق في المنتخب، ونحمد الله أننا خرجنا بهذه النتيجة أمام غينيا، ونسعي لاسعاد الشعب المصري بتحقيق اللقب”.

طالع | فيديو | حمزة علاء باكيًا: تعرضنا لانتقادات كثيرة ونسعى للفوز بأمم إفريقيا

وأضاف: “حمزة علاء حارس مرمى كبير جدًا والنادي الأهلي يتميز في مركز حراسة المرمى سواء مصطفى شوبير أو حمزة، وعدم دخول مرمى حمزة أي هدف في البطولة يعطي له دفعة كبيرة”.

وتابع: “حراس المرمى المتواجدين في المنتخب على مستوى عالي ويعملون بشكل جيد جدًا”.

وأتم: “سيد السويركي مدرب حراس مرمى المنتخب، أخ لنا وصنع حالة مميزة بين حراس المرمى في المنتخب”.

ويعد سيحا هو الحارس الثالث في قائمة منتخب مصر الأولمبي ببطولة أمم إفريقيا مع حمزة علاء وعلي يحيى.

ومن المقرر أن يلتقي منتخب مصر الأولمبي مع الفائز من مباراة “المغرب ومالي” في نهائي كأس أمم إفريقيا تحت 23 عاماً وذلك يوم السبت المقبل.

Sahara stalemate could continue till September

It’s been more than a month since Sahara India pulled their franchise Pune Warriors out of the IPL and, according to insiders from both Sahara and the BCCI, the stalemate is likely to continue till September

Amol Karhadkar25-Jun-2013

Sahara India still hasn’t communicated its decision to pull out to the BCCI officially•AFP

It’s been more than a month since Sahara India pulled their franchise Pune Warriors out of the IPL and, according to insiders from both Sahara and the BCCI, the stalemate is likely to continue till September, when the board convenes for an annual general meeting. It is believed that the reason for the delay is that the Sahara issue has been overridden by the recent spot-fixing controversy, the fall-out of which led to a change in the BCCI top management with the president stepping aside till the probe panel completes its investigations.Despite Sahara’s public announcement of its quitting towards the end of the IPL, five weeks hence, the company hasn’t communicated its decision to the BCCI officially.”As of now, the stalemate continues. Saharashri (Subrata Roy) has made it clear in his interviews that the new BCCI management may result in Sahara continuing to be a part of the IPL,” says a senior Sahara functionary. “So the discussions are on at the moment, and nothing has been finalised yet.”The franchise had pulled out in May over financial differences with the BCCI stemming from the valuation of the annual franchise fee it has to pay. Since their inception into the IPL in 2011, Sahara and BCCI have been at loggerheads over the former’s annual franchise fees of Rs 170 crore, the highest in the IPL.Sahara had been demanding that the franchise fee from their original agreement should be recalculated proportionately since the minimum matches per year have been reduced to 14 from the 18 promised to them. As a result, both the parties had agreed to initiate arbitration procedures but the process hasn’t yet started due to their disagreement over judges for the arbitration process.According to IPL insiders, Sahara were unhappy when the Hyderabad franchise (formerly Deccan Chargers) was resold before the 2013 season to the Sun Group for an annual consideration of Rs 86 crore, almost half of Sahara’s annual fees. As a result, Sahara withheld its annual franchise fee, which resulted in the BCCI encashing the bank guarantee.The franchise agreement terms non-payment of franchise fees as an “irremediable breach”. It could result in the franchise’s termination without the need of serving a 30-day termination notice. The franchise agreement states that 30% of the annual payment has to be paid “on or before 2 January” every year. And the remaining 70% should be paid “on the date of the first match in the League in each such year”.”Either party may terminate this Agreement with immediate effect by written notice if the other party commits or permits an irremediable breach of this Agreement or if it is the subject of an Insolvency Event,” the franchise agreement says.In the past, the BCCI has taken action against defaulting franchises, including Rajasthan Royals, Kings XI Punjab and Kochi Tuskers Kerala. However, after encashing Sahara’s bank guarantee, the board seems to be buying time for now.”There is no reason for the board to act in haste. In fact, we would like to continue our association with all the team owners. If the problems are amicably resolved, there is no reason for us to take the inevitable step,” a BCCI insider said.The reason for the board’s guarded stance has nothing to do with Sahara being the title sponsors of the Indian team. Sahara stated it would continue its sponsorship till the end of December 2013, when the contract expires. What’s stalling the BCCI is that due to its internal crisis, nobody seems willing to take drastic measures.”In such a fragile environment, nobody wants to push for taking tough calls,” another insider said. “Who will be responsible in case a drastic step like terminating Sahara backfires in the court?”For the first time in its history, the BCCI’s working committee had asked its president Srinivasan to step aside till the probe against his son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan and the IPL team that he owns – Chennai Super Kings – is complete. Let alone the legality of the appointment as an interim chief (Jagmohan Dalmiya), the legal status of the working committee meeting that ratified the decision is under question. If any of the BCCI members take the legal recourse, all these decisions – and those that have followed including the appointments of the incumbent secretary and treasurer – may turn void.In such an insecure environment, virtually every member is buying time till the annual general meeting (AGM) and hoping that both the probes constituted to examine the alleged wrongdoings of the players, teams and team owners would have concluded by September.Depending on the developments over the next three months, the BCCI AGM may see the return of Srinivasan as the BCCI president for another year, or see him pitted against Shashank Manohar, if the anti-Srinivasan lobby manages to convince the former president, Manohar, to return to the BCCI fold in a presidential election. But the third possibility – that of the current management continuing in case the probe commission, working without a deadline, hasn’t finished its work – is dreaded by many BCCI members.”While it may suit a certain group of officials, to a large extent, it will create plenty of problems, especially with the conduct of the IPL,” says a senior BCCI member. “We will have to decide whether to terminate Sahara and the two tainted teams (Rajasthan Royals and Super Kings), discuss possible replacements and most importantly, start gearing up for the big auction (in 2014) smoothly to detract sponsors from backing out. All this would need security for the decision-makers.”If the pace at which the probe commission has gone about its work over the last few weeks is an indication, one fears that it might only submit its findings sometime next year.

Will Sunrisers continue to surprise?

Match facts

April 14, 2013
Start time 1600 local (1030 GMT)Will Brendon McCullum get his first game of the season?•Getty Images

Big Picture

Sunrisers Hyderabad have been the surprise team of the tournament so far. Widely expected to be one of the whipping boys, they have begun with three wins out of four matches, mainly due to their exceptional bowling spearheaded by the best bowler in the world, Dale Steyn. The batting is clearly the weaker link in the side, but with the bowlers limiting the opposition to smallish totals in most games so far, that chink hasn’t been exploited much yet. On Friday, the bowlers chipped in with the bat as well, as Amit Mishra and Steyn kept their head to successfully complete a tense chase.While a share of the top spot will be a huge boost for the Sunrisers, there is still a long way to go in the tournament. Last season’s cellar-dwellers, Pune Warriors, also began with three wins in their first four matches, but soon after they embarked on a 11-match losing streak which they only snapped earlier this week.While the West Indies captain, allrounder Darren Sammy, is flying in for Sunrisers, whether he’ll be ready in time for this game is uncertain. Sammy had missed the start of the tournament for the birth of his child. He tweeted in the early hours of Sunday that he was on his way: “Two more flights to @SunRisers. #IPL6 soon begin for me.. Can’t wait.”Sunrisers are up against defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders, who have made an indifferent start. They began well enough, with their trump card Sunil Narine bamboozling Delhi Daredevils, but were then undone on a pacy pitch in Jaipur. They could do little to change the result in their third match as Chris Gayle, as he has so many times at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, led a demolition job.With opener Manvinder Bisla getting single-digit scores in each of the three matches so far, Knight Riders will be toying with the idea of bringing in Brendon McCullum at the top of the order, perhaps in place of England batsman Eoin Morgan.

Players to watch

Thisara Perera is the only game-changing overseas allrounder currently with the Sunrisers, and vital to the balance of the side. Capable of bowling a full quota of overs, and providing some much-needed humpty towards the end of the innings, Perera has a big role to play. He will want to make amends after holing out taking on the man at long-on when he was the only recognised batsman in the middle and with a run-a-ball needed in a tight chase against Daredevils.L Balaji was one of the outstanding bowlers for Knight Riders in the previous season. “Bala is the unsung hero, he’s been brilliant all through,” Gautam Gambhir had said after last year’s final, saying that they won the title for Balaji. Narine may have hogged the headlines through the tournament, but Balaji’s miserly economy-rate of 5.40 was also critical to Knight Riders’ campaign. They will want him to replicate that form as they look to get their season back on track.

Stats and trivia

  • Narine might only be starting his second season for Knight Riders, but he’s already the franchise’s highest wicket-taker with 36.
  • Yusuf Pathan scored at a strike-rate of 161.24 for Rajasthan Royals, but his scoring-rate with Knight Riders is only 125.85.
  • Steyn has not only taken plenty of wickets this season, he has been extremely difficult to score off as well. His economy-rate of 4.73 is best of the tournament (min five overs).

Quotes

“Throughout the IPL I will pick his brain and see what I can get off from him.”
Dale Steyn wants to learn as much as he can from Pakistan great Waqar Younis during the IPL
“Lots of games are at home, the next game is at home and hopefully we can turn it around as we did last time around.”

رسميًا | مانشستر يونايتد يعلن رحيل مدافعه بنهاية الموسم

أعلن نادي مانشستر يونايتد الإنجليزي، رحيل مدافعه فيل جونز بنهاية الموسم بعد مسيرة استمرت 12 عامًا مع الشياطين الحمر في ملعب أولد ترافورد.

المدافع الإنجليزي انضم إلى مانشستر يونايتد في عام 2011 قادمًا من بلاكبيرن روفرز، وفي الموسم التالي فاز باللقب الأخير لـ فيرجسون من الدور الإنجليزي، وهو آخر ألقاب الشياطين الحمر في بطولة الدوري.

طالع أيضًا.. باريس سان جيرمان يزاحم مانشستر يونايتد لضم لاعب نابولي

صاحب الـ31 عامًا لديه 27 مباراة دولية مع منتخب إنجلترا، وخاض مع الشياطين الحمر 229 مباراة بمختلف المسابقات طوال مسيرته وسجل 6 أهداف.

الإصابات كانت العدو الرئيسي لـ فيل جونز، وأبعدته عن المشاركة في كثير من المباريات، وتحديدًا هذا الموسم الذي لم يظهر فيه نهائيًا منذ إصابته ضد برينتفورد في نهاية الموسم الماضي.

وفي تصريحاته للموقع الرسمي، قال فيل جونز: “لقد كان الأمر صعبًا. ليس هناك ما ينكر ذلك. لا يمكنني الاختباء من الواقع. لقد لعبت عائلتي دورًا حيويًا في أن أبقى مستقيمًا، ولكنني لاعب كرة قدم، في النهاية كنت أتأثر كل مرة أتعرض فيها للإصابة”.

وأضاف: “لقد كنت محظوظًا بما يكفي بأنني لعبت لـ مانشستر يونايتد، لم أترك أي جهد دون أن أبذله، حاولت العودة في كل مرة، ولكن كان الأمر صعبًا. كلما تذكرت كل مرة تعرضت فيها للإصابة، أصبت بالقشعريرة”.

واختتم: “أشكر عائلتي وجماهير مانشستر يونايتد، كانت هناك بعض اللحظات الرائعة في مسيرتي، لكن الأمور لم تكن كما أردت”.

Big match comes to DY Patil stadium

The DY Patil stadium has excellent facilities but it is yet to become a regular venue for big matches. The crucial Ranji match could just be the tonic the organisers need

Amol Karhadkar28-Dec-2012The Dr DY Patil Sports Stadium in Navi Mumbai was involved in a controversy last month for hosting England Lions for a fortnight without the requisite clearances from the BCCI and Mumbai Cricket Association. It led to the stadium being stripped off two Women’s World Cup matches it was scheduled to host in February 2013.But on Friday, as Mumbai and Gujarat practised on either side of the main stadium on the eve of their crucial Ranji Trophy Group A match, parity was restored for the hardworking staff and volunteers (read students of the DY Patil university).While the wandering students in the campus could catch a glimpse of Zaheer Khan and Ajit Agarkar – two of the biggest names in Mumbai cricket – they missed out getting photographed with Parthiv Patel, who still comes across as a wonder boy a decade after making his international debut as a teenager. Not because Parthiv didn’t turn up for the training but because his team was preparing in the nets that were not as accessible as the Mumbai ones.Similar to their Ranji campaign, in which they have silently marched to the second spot, the Gujarat players went about their practice unnoticed. But they were focused as they have been all along the season. Under the watchful eyes of coach Mukund Parmar, Parthiv’s men had a prolonged net session. And with most of the squad members being under-25, they didn’t mind putting in the extra yards.”It was a conscious decision at the beginning of the season to build a team of youngsters,” Parthiv said of his team’s excellent campaign so far. “And it wasn’t as if we were not expecting ourselves to do well. We believed in our abilities and the results are there for everyone to see.”The game changer for Gujarat has been left-arm spinner Rakesh Dhurv, who was imported from adjoining Saurashtra as a professional. And Dhurv has justified the faith put in by the Gujarat selectors by emerging as the most successful spinner this Ranji season with a tally of 35 wickets at 23.57 apiece. “We lacked a quality spinner, so it was decided to bring on Rakesh and he has delivered by taking all those wickets. That has made a big impact.”Mumbai, the home side, is pleased this time to see a green-top after having been given two disappointing pitches at the Wankhede and Agarkar, the Mumbai captain, is happy that the team’s chances are in their control.”That [the scenario] is something that augurs well for us,” Agarkar said. “We know that our future depends on what we do. If we win, we are through. We don’t have to wait for some other results to go our way.”The match is set up nicely. Both teams are coming into the game with wins under their belt – Gujarat having surprised table-toppers Punjab and Mumbai clinching a thriller against Madhya Pradesh. Gujarat has 21 points to Mumbai’s 20 and even if the match doesn’t see a result, the side that pockets three first-innings-lead points is assured of a spot in the quarter-finals. An intense battle awaits and it’s just the tonic the organisers at the stadium needed.

Ambrose edges Warks closer to title

Tim Ambrose and Ian Blackwell piled on the runs at Edgbaston as Warwickshire all but ended Nottinghamshire’s Championship hopes

Jon Culley at Edgbaston30-Aug-2012Nottinghamshire 188 for 4 (Hales 80*, Read 54*) trail Warwickshire 504 for 6 (Ambrose 151*, Westwood 81, Blackwell 69*) by 316 runs
ScorecardTim Ambrose notched his first century in three years, while Ian Blackwell added quick runs•PA PhotosIf the bounce in Warwickshire’s step and the low set of Nottinghamshire’s shoulders was anything to go by as Tim Ambrose and Ian Blackwell piled on the runs at Edgbaston, the participants in this game believe the die is already cast in the race for the County Championship.Warwickshire, with every chance of taking maximum bonus points, will be happy with a draw from a rain-affected match, which would consolidate what already looks like a title-winning lead. When Nottinghamshire slumped to 69 for 4, their cause not helped when James Taylor trod on his stumps after he had scored only a single, it seemed they might do even better than that. At least Chris Read, who comes with a desire to uphold team pride as fierce as most players, was ready to make a fight of it.When bad light forced an early close – early in times of overs left, if not the time on the clock – he and Alex Hales had put on 119 for the fifth wicket, with every hope of adding a few more on the final morning. Another 167 are required, however, for the follow-on point to be passed.This is because Warwickshire, who were 298 for 5 before rain washed out the whole of the second day, cracked on at such a pace in the morning session against a weakened Nottinghamshire attack they were able to declare on 504 for 6, just seven overs after lunch. Maximum batting points were sealed with eight balls of the first 110 overs to spare during an onslaught that added 206 in just 37 overs.Tim Ambrose finished unbeaten on 151 – his first century since he hit three in 2009 – after rarely passing up a chance to score against weary Nottinghamshire bowling. His hundred came off 169 balls with 17 fours, to which he had added five more plus a six before the declaration came. There was an impressive crispness to his driving and there was a confidence about him, after so long without a substantial score, that you suspect reflects the buoyancy in the whole Warwickshire team at the moment, aware that the title that eluded them last season is now theirs to lose.Nottinghamshire have conceded, more or less, that if anyone is to deprive Warwickshire this time, it will not be them. With Andre Adams taking no further part after aggravating his calf injury on Tuesday, the seam bowling trio of Luke Fletcher, Andy Carter and Paul Franks were unable to do much to stem the flow of runs and Graeme White, the left-arm spinner, took some heavy punishment, especially at the hands of Ian Blackwell. Fletcher, who is not the lightest man on the field, deserves special mention for his stamina, getting through 37 overs and finishing with an economy rate of 2.75 even after his last three went for 24.The only wicket to fall went to White after Chris Wright had added a first-half century for Warwickshire to the 69 Championship wickets he has taken since joining them from Essex towards the end of last season. Attempting to hit the ball over midwicket, Wright – ostensibly nightwatchman – got a leading edge which Carter collected at mid-off.Blackwell, on loan from Durham and with an interest in following Wright’s lead by obtaining a full contract, hit 69 off 59 balls, with five sixes, four of them off White. He may have to do more with the ball, however, to make his move permanent.Nottinghamshire, needing to pass 354 to avoid the follow-on, started badly when Riki Wessels, who had just found the boundary on the leg side with a similar shot, flicked a ball from Wright straight into the hands of Ian Westwood at square leg. Keith Barker, finding some dangerous swing, then drew the left-handed Michael Lumb to play at one outside off stump, taken by Varun Chopra at first slip.Taylor was unfortunate – or careless, depending on your point of view – when he went back to a ball from Wright and knocked the bails off with his boot as he played on the leg side. Either way, it was not what Nottinghamshire needed from the newly elevated Test batsman and when Adam Voges, chasing a widish ball from young Tom Milnes that kept somewhat low, was snapped up superbly by William Porterfield at gully, Nottinghamshire were in serious trouble. For Milnes, the 19-year-old seamer who has come in for Darren Maddy in this match, it was a first Championship wicket at Edgbaston and Warwickshire, their tails up, celebrated it with some gusto.But Alex Hales, after surviving an edge between first and second slip off Wright on 43, completed an 86-ball half century and had moved to 80 from 136 deliveries at the close, with Read responding to the challenge in his familiar, positive style. There is much work still to be done, however, if Warwickshire’s charge is to be delayed.

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