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“God has been kind to me, but I think God gave him a little more today”

ESPNcricinfo staff29-May-20231:23

Sanjay Manjrekar: ‘Titans showed they aren’t over-reliant on Shubman Gill’

After defending champions Gujarat Titans lost to Chennai Super Kings on the last ball of the IPL 2023 final in Ahmedabad, their captain Hardik Pandya said he didn’t mind losing to MS Dhoni, whom he considers his mentor.In a rain-affected game, it came down to CSK needing ten from two balls, and Ravindra Jadeja hit Mohit Sharma for a six and four to seal the win for his side.”I’m very happy for him [Dhoni],” Hardik said at the post-match presentation. “Destiny had this written for him. If I had to lose, I don’t mind losing to him. I said last year that good things happen to good people. I think he is one of the nicest people I have met. God has been kind to me, but I think God gave him a little more today.”Related

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After being put in, Titans posted 214 for 4, thanks to 21-year-old Sai Sudharsan’s 47-ball 96. But rain, and then wet conditions, reduced CSK’s task to 171 required from 15 overs.When asked if rain hampered his side’s chances, Hardik said: “I’m not one of those guys who make excuses. CSK played better cricket than us. The way we batted was definitely amazing. Special mention to Sai as well. Someone that young coming and playing at this stage the kind of innings he played. I just wish him well and he is going to do wonders in his life.”While Titans couldn’t defend their title, there were many positives throughout the season. Shubman Gill finished the tournament with 890 runs, the second-most for a batter in an IPL season. Mohammed Shami, with 28 wickets, was the leading wicket-taker this year, and Mohit and Rashid Khan were the joint-second with 27 each.”I am really happy for the guys,” he said. “We’ve always been about backing them, and making sure they get the best out of them. Their success has been their success. The way they have prepared, the way they have taken the responsibility… Mohit, Shami, Rashid, everyone… the way they put their hand up and said, ‘Don’t worry, we got you.’ So very happy for the boys.”I think we tick a lot of boxes, and we play with our heart. We’ve always been a team that has stood together and backed each other. Really proud of the way they have played the whole season. No one gave up. They kept fighting. In our team, there’s a motto: we win together and we lose together. Maybe it was one of those days today.”A special mention for the coaching staff as well. They have been fantastic. They have had sleepless nights making sure the boys are in a good frame of mind. I can’t ask anything more from them.”

No play before 2pm and early finish leaves players frustrated at Derby

ECB Reporters Network12-May-2023Gloucestershire seamer Matt Taylor impressed on his first appearance of the season against Derbyshire in the LV=Insurance County Championship match at Derby.The 28-year-old exploited helpful conditions to take 2 for 18 from 10 overs as Derbyshire struggled on another day badly hit by the weather.No play was possible until 2pm because of a wet outfield and after Gloucestershire won the toss, Derbyshire reached 130 for 5 before bad light ended play early at 5.20pmOpener Harry Came held the innings together with an unbeaten 59 from 111 balls and Ajeet Dale supported Taylor with 2 for 29 from 11 overs.Gloucestershire’s decision to bowl first came as no surprise given the conditions which were overcast and Marchant De Lange almost struck with the second ball.Came edged to third slip where Miles Hammond could not cling onto a hard chance and the ball ran away to the third man boundary.Came initially scored freely but with the floodlights on and the bowlers getting movement on a grassy pitch, batting was not easy and Gloucestershire did not have to wait long for the breakthrough.Haider Ali played across a full length ball from Tom Price and Came survived another chance when he drove Taylor to gully but Marcus Harris was unable to take what would have been a good catch above his head.Taylor and Dale bowled accurately and the latter was rewarded when he moved one in late to knock out Brooke Guest’s off and middle stumps in the 16th overBoth were making the batters play in challenging conditions and Dale picked up the big wicket of Wayne Madsen in his next over with enough late movement to take the edge and Ben Charlesworth took a good low catch at first slip.The pressure was eased by De Lange who strayed onto the pads too often and both Came and Leus du Plooy took advantage to prevent further setbacks before tea.Came walked off one short of his fourth first-class fifty which he completed in the second over of the evening session but by then he had lost his skipper to the second ball after the resumption.Taylor had been relentless in his line of just outside off stump and du Plooy was drawn into pushing at the left-armer and was caught behind to break a stand of 55 from 89 balls.That brought in Mitch Wagstaff on his first-class debut and the 19-year-old struggled before he became another victim of Taylor’s accuracy.He played and missed several times before the 27th ball he faced moved away to take the edge through to James Bracey.By now the light had got worse and three overs later the umpires took the players off with just under 25 overs still to bowl.

For every Cameron Carter-Vickers, there is a Maik Nawrocki. For every Nicolas Kuhn, there is a Luis Palma. As evidenced here, getting recruitment right at an elite club like Celtic is never an easy task.

Thankfully, while there has been the odd miss along the way, the Parkhead giants have enjoyed far more hits on the transfer front in recent years, with Ange Postecoglou and Brendan Rodgers having overseen a golden period of domestic dominance for the Hoops.

Indeed, the Scottish champions have become renowned for sniffing out a bargain, with young Matt O’Riley perhaps the greatest example of the club’s scouting success. Signed for just £1.5m from third-tier English club, MK Dons, the Danish international was subsequently sold for a club record £25m fee last summer.

There may be a sense of frustration among some at being labelled something of a ‘selling club’, although that also goes hand in hand with being able to offer a clear pathway to help attract talented, high-potential talents in the first place.

Perhaps, having witnessed the fortunes of many of those who have opted to leave the Glasgow side in the hope of a brighter future elsewhere, the current crop may think again before securing too hasty an exit.

The fortunes of Celtic's record sales

Let’s begin with O’Riley. The current Brighton and Hove Albion man hasn’t exactly enjoyed the smoothest of starts in English football, picking up a cruel injury blow just nine minutes into his competitive debut for the Seagulls.

Now into March, the 24-year-old has only started five Premier League games for the high-flying side, albeit while notably stealing the headlines after scoring the winning goal in the 2-1 comeback win over Manchester City.

Meanwhile, six years on from leaving the Hoops to join Arsenal, Kieran Tierney is set to re-join the Old Firm side this summer on a free transfer, with the 27-year-old having endured an injury-hit spell south of the border.

The Scotland star will follow in the footsteps of another of the club’s notable sales, Jota, by making an emotional return to Celtic Park, with the Portuguese sensation lasting just 18 months abroad before making his way back to Glasgow.

Elsewhere, at the age of 28, Moussa Dembele – sold to Lyon for £20m in 2018 – now finds himself out in Saudi Arabia, while fellow striker, Odsonne Edouard, is now in something of an exile on loan at Leicester City, having signed for Crystal Palace for £14m in 2021.

As evidenced with the club’s five record sales above, the grass isn’t necessarily always greener elsewhere. Perhaps that might be something Celtic’s potential next big sale might want to consider…

Celtic's next big sale

Discussing those who could leave Rodgers’ side should well be viewed in a flattering sense, with talk surrounding the club’s key figures a sign that they are performing at a high level for the Premiership leaders.

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Performing at a high level is exactly what this current Celtic team is doing right now, having come agonisingly close to seeing off Bayern Munich in the Champions League Round of 16. Such a showing would have been unheard of earlier in the campaign, let alone last season.

A player who has been central to the improvements on the European stage, in particular, is Arne Engels, with the 21-year-old having enjoyed a stunning debut campaign in green and white.

Engels league stat comparison – 23/24 vs 24/25

Stat (*per game)

Augsburg (23/24)

Celtic (24/25)

Games

32

26

Goals

3

9

Assists

2

5

Big chances created

1

10

Pass accuracy*

75%

85%

Key passes*

0.6

1.7

Tackles*

1.0

0.8

Interceptions*

0.5

0.1

Total duels won*

48%

47%

Successful dribbles*

0.2

0.3

Stats via Sofascore

It hasn’t all been plain-sailing, with Rodgers coming out in defence of a player who he said “is nowhere near the finished article” following a quiet spell back in the Autumn, yet the £11m man has really taken it up a gear of late.

Brought in from Augsburg as Celtic’s record signing, it might not be too long before Engels breaks that £25m barrier as the club’s record sale too.

At present, the midfield maestro already has 22 goals and assists to his name in all competitions, a tally that includes four goal involvements in just ten outings in the Champions League.

Also described by Celtic legend Chris Sutton as a player he is “liking… more and more”, the promising Belgian has certainly gone someway to filling O’Riley’s void, even while carrying the burden of his hefty price tag.

That said, that £11m fee could now even be considered a bargain due to his soaring value, with CIES Football Observatory suggesting that he is already worth as much as €30m (£25m), thus marking a 127% increase on his initial cost.

Previously also tipped to be Celtic’s first £40m sale, Engels is certainly doing a lot right at this moment in time. Let’s hope, for both his sake and the club’s, that such form continues.

Related Compared to £105m star: Celtic struck gold with "exceptional" £1.4m signing

At a time when defensive midfielders are priced at £100m+, Celtic struck gold by signing an “exceptional” midfield maestro for only £1.4m.

Posts ByBen Gray Mar 7, 2025

Their first FA Cup title, Richards held a clean sheet and Turner went unused on the bench as the Eagles made history at Wembley Stadium

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• Crystal Palace defeat Man City 1-0 to win first FA Cup title
• USMNT's Richards starts, has standout performance
• Matt Turner earns medal as backup goalkeeper

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  U.S. international Chris Richards started and played all 90 minutes as Crystal Palace lifted their first FA Cup in club history on Saturday, defeating Manchester City 1-0 in the final of the 2024/25 competition. A first half goal from England international Eberechi Eze proved to be the difference, while goalkeeper Dean Henderson made an emphatic save on a penalty kick attempt from Egyptian attacker Omar Marmoush as well.

  25-year-old Richards played a fantastic match, keeping City's star-studded attack – including Erling Haaland – goalless all evening.

  Fellow USMNT regular, Matt Turner, was named to the bench as the backup goalkeeper for the affair for Palace.

  Richards and Turner became the second and third USMNT players to lift the coveted English trophy, following in the footsteps of legendary goalkeeper Tim Howard – who won the competition with Manchester United in 2004.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Richards helped Palace keep a clean sheet across all 90 minutes, putting in a blistering performance as the right central defender in a back-five system. He completed 82 percent of his passes while registering 40 touches on the ball. He completed five passes into the final-third of the pitch, while defensively, he made four blocks and recorded 12 clearances.

  Seven of the 12 were headed clearances, while he also made two defensive recoveries as well.

  He won four of five aerial duels, and one of two ground duels.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Turner and Richards joined Howard as Americans to play in the FA Cup final, but previously, both John Harkes and Christian Pulisic had featured in the finale of the competition as well. Pulisic, in fact, was a runner-up for three straight seasons with Chelsea and even scored in their 2020 final defeat to Arsenal. However, only Howard had lifted the trophy prior to Saturday.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Palace will celebrate their FA Cup title over the course of the weekend and into next week before they wrap up their Premier League campaign with two remaining matches against Wolverhampton and Liverpool.

  Richards and Turner, meanwhile, will look to see their names announced on the USMNT roster for the CONCACAF Gold Cup this summer. Mauricio Pochettino's roster is set to drop before the end of May.

Chris Green produced a player of the match performance on a losing side adding 38 not out to his nine wickets, as NSW were bowled out for 134 in the second innings

AAP24-Nov-2022

Eight wickets to offspinner Corey Rocchiccioli helped Western Australia extend their sizeable lead at the top of the Sheffield Shield table after a 133-run win over cellar dwellers New South Wales.Not even a player of the match performance from NSW spinner Chris Green on first-class debut could prevent WA from claiming their fourth win of the season leaving the embattled Blues bottom of the table, with pressure mounting on coach Phil Jaques as he enters contract negotiation season.Green, 29, claimed nine wickets for the match, including 5 for 41 in the second innings, and played a lone hand with the bat on the final day, topscoring with 38 not out as NSW crumbled to be all out for 134.Set a target of 268, the hosts were skittled on day three after they could only manage 93 in their first innings.With cracks lengthening on the lively wicket, NSW’s batters faced another tough day at the office. It took all of 10 minutes for paceman Matt Kelly to pick up his first victim of the day. Coming around the wicket to left-hander Kurtis Patterson, Kelly drew the opener’s edge as Patterson wafted clumsily outside off stump.Three wickets for Rocchiccioli, and one apiece for D’Arcy Short and debutant Charlie Stobo, sent the hapless Blues into lunch at 6 for 85. Rocchiccioli and quick David Moody mopped up the tail after the break.NSW and WA were both bowled out on an eventful second day that saw 20 wickets fall. On a pitch that has favoured the bowlers, WA’s modest first-innings 233 proved the difference.The loss sees NSW remain in last place after South Australia salvaged a draw against Queensland on Wednesday.Speaking to Sky Sports Radio on Thursday, Cricket NSW CEO Lee Germon said Jaques’ contract is set to go under review when the competition goes on break for the BBL.”It’s been made public that Phil is in the last season of his existing contract,” Germon said.”He’s as aware as anyone that, with the legacy and the history of the Blues, as a coach you have to get results and develop players.”It was always planned that there’ll be a review.”NSW are yet to win a game after five matches, their worst start to a Shield season since 2008-09.

Liverpool-linked Milos Kerkez sent a special message to compatriot Dominik Szoboszlai after the Reds' Premier League triumph.

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• Kerkez sent message to Szoboszlai after EPL win
• Bournemouth defender linked with a move to Liverpool
• Reds crowned English champions for the 20th time

• AFP
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Liverpool became the English champions for a record equalling 20th time on Sunday as they outclassed Tottenham Hotspur 5-1 at Anfield. Following the Reds' historic triumph, Bournemouth defender Milos Kerkez congratulated his compatriot Dominik Szoboszlai in a special message on social media.

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• WHAT MILOS KERKEZ SAID

  Kerkez shared a photograph of himself celebrating with the Reds midfielder in Hungary shirts and wrote in the caption: "You deserve it my friend, love."

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Kerkez's social media post has fuelled speculations over his future at Bournemouth as he has been strongly linked with a move to the Merseyside club in the past. The Cherries consider Kerkez to be an integral part of the team and are expected to demand a transfer fee in the region of £45 million ($58m) if Liverpool place a formal bid for the player this summer.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MILOS KERKEZ?

  The full-back will be back in action for Andoni Iraola's side this Saturday as they take on Arsenal at Emirates Stadium.