Marinakis now going all out to tie Nuno to new Nottingham Forest contract

Nottingham Forest fans have been handed a new contract update on Nuno Espírito Santo ahead of their return to top flight action after two weeks off.

Forest keen to land new striker as summer planning begins

It has been an exceptional season for Forest and star striker Chris Wood, but the New Zealand international is not getting any younger, and if European football is secured for next season, then he is going to need some help at the top end of the pitch.

Nottingham Forest table £50m bid to sign striker and want deal done quickly

The Tricky Trees have made a huge offer for a “fantastic” forward.

ByDominic Lund Mar 31, 2025

The Reds are already scouring the market for potential options to strengthen their forward line, with Brentford’s Yoane Wissa a player they wanted to sign in January and remain interested in heading into the summer. Wissa may be considered a cheap option for Forest, as he could be available for just £20 million this summer.

Meanwhile, the Premier League highflyers continue to be linked with a move for Matheus Cunha, who now looks set to leave Wolves after this campaign. Victor Osimhen and Viktor Gyokeres have also emerged as surprise options in recent weeks, as well as Liverpool’s Darwin Núñez, who Forest have reportedly made a £50 million offer to sign.

Liverpool'sDarwinNunezreacts

The Reds believe he can be a key player at the City Ground despite the fact he is not wanted at Anfield anymore.

Marinakis doing everything to secure Nuno contract extension

The Reds are already putting plans in place for the summer transfer window and next season, and part of those plans will include a new deal for Nuno. According to Football Insider, Nottingham Forest are desperately trying to agree a new contract as he nears the final year of his deal.

Nottingham Forest managerNunoEspiritoSantobefore the match

The report states that Forest are ‘desperate’ to agree to a new deal with Nuno, as he will enter the final year of his deal at the City Ground this summer after signing two-and-a-half-year terms when he arrived in 2023. It goes on to add that Marinakis and the club are ‘doing everything they can’ to sign Nuno to a long-term deal.

It has been an excellent campaign for Forest so far this season, and it has the potential to get even better, as the Reds are in the FA Cup semi-finals and have a great chance of securing a place in next season’s Champions League. Nuno has been at the heart of the success, and it is only right that the club look to secure his long-term future before a club comes sniffing around the Portuguese tactician.

Nuno Santo’s Nottingham Forest record

Games

61

Won

26

Drawn

12

Lost

23

Points per game

1.48

If a new deal is secured, it can lay the foundation that Nuno is committed to the cause, and therefore, current players should be, as they also look to agree a new deal with Neco Williams.

It doesn’t state how long the deal will be, but given how well the season has gone, it could be a three-year deal at the very least. The Forest boss will hope the speculation around his future won’t derail their campaign, as they still have work to do in the league.

Absurdo e fantástico: Vidal apresenta credenciais ao Flamengo e titularidade parece questão de tempo

MatériaMais Notícias

Titular pela primeira vez na equipe principal do Flamengo, Arturo Vidal apresentou, de vez, suas credenciais: pegada na marcação e controle do ritmo de jogo. Não à toa, liderou o time em desarmes e foi o segundo maior passador, atrás apenas de Filipe Luís. Assim, a presença do chileno nos “11 ideais” parece ser questão de tempo.

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– Vidal entrou, foi muito bem. Tranquilo, equilibrado. Fez seu trabalho com desenvoltura, dá um timing ao meio de campo. Cada um tem uma característica. Em todos os momentos que o Vidal entra, ele se sente confortável. Temos que ter calma porque ele ficou um longo tempo parado. Mas estou muito satisfeito – avaliou Dorival Júnior.

A primeira chance de Vidal ao lado de Arrascaeta, Filipe Luís e Gabi, entre outros, veio pela ausência de Thiago Maia, que cumpriu suspensão na partida de quarta-feira. Assim, o chileno atuou pelo lado esquerdo do meio de campo, junto com Everton Ribeiro, pela direita, João Gomes, que saiu da esquerda para a faixa central.

Até então, Vidal havia sido utilizado por Dorival Júnior oito vezes. Foi titular contra Atlético-GO e São Paulo, pelo Brasileirão, jogos nos quais o Flamengo atuou com a forte equipe alternativa e venceu.

Uma situação parecida com Fabrício Bruno, que entrou no time devido à suspensão de David Luiz e manteve o altíssimo nível. Após a partida, o zagueiro explicou o que permite tais mudanças na equipe.

– Está todo mundo tendo oportunidades. Quando ele chegou, (Dorival) pregou isso. Não teria titulares ou reservas. Estamos felizes, todos jogando, e é o que ele pede, que a gente mantenha a corda esticada para aproveitar as oportunidades – afirmou, completando:

– Entramos eu e Vidal, que não vínhamos jogando (no time principal), e o que o Vidal fez aqui… A experiência do chileno é absurda.

REFERÊNCIA ‘FANTÁSTICA’ TAMBÉM PARA OS JOVENS

Nas outras partidas em que foi titular, o meia compôs o setor ao lado de outro experiente atleta – Diego, de 37 anos – e de Victor Hugo, de apenas 18. O jovem atleta, que disputa sua primeira temporada com o elenco profissional e vem ganhando minutos com Dorival Júnior, valorizou demais a chance de estar ao lado do “fantástico” meia.

-É um jogador fantástico, sem dúvidas. É uma oportunidade que estou tendo e ou muito grato. Tento desfrutar sempre, aprender cada vez mais e aproveitar os momentos, porque é, realmente, um excelente jogador, ganhou muita coisa. Só tenho a aprender – afirmou Victor Hugo.

A grande atuação na Arena da Baixada também foi reconhecida pelos torcedores. Na saída do estádio, o “assunto Vidal” estava em alta entre os rubro-negros presentes na Arena da Baixada – todos empolgados com o futebol do reforço. Agora, caberá a Dorival Júnior definir quando o chileno voltará a atuar. No domingo, o Flamengo enfrenta o Palmeiras pelo Brasileirão. Já na quarta, inicia as semis da Copa do Brasil diante do São Paulo. Uma semana depois, tem o Vélez Sarsfield (ARG) pela Libertadores. Oportunidades não faltarão.

Kashif Ali cashes in as Worcestershire maintain their winning run

Pat Brown claims three wickets to close out 33-run victory

ECB Reporters Network29-May-2023

An aerial view of New Road, Worcestershire•Getty Images

Worcestershire 183 for 7 (Kashif 69) beat Leicestershire 150 for 9 (Patel 42, Brown 3-25) by 33 runsKashif Ali’s maiden half-century in Vitality Blast cricket and the stranglehold of three spinners enabled Worcestershire to maintain their 100 per cent record with a 33-run success over Leicestershire Foxes at New Road.Kashif, the first product of the South Asian Cricket Association to sign a pro contract with a first-class county, again demonstrated his potential with a sparkling 69 as Worcestershire recovered from 30 for 3.Leicestershire reached 70 for 1 in the 10th over and looked to have laid the foundations for a worthy pursuit of a 184 target.But Rapids Captain, Brett D’Oliveira, Michael Bracewell and Usama Mir all picked up two wickets apiece and bowled tightly with combined figures of 11-0-72-6.It means the Rapids have won their opening three games while in contrast the Foxes have been beaten in their opening trio of fixtures.Mir has ended his brief and successful spell at New Road and will return to playing league cricket for Colwyn Bay, but will be replaced by Mitchell Santner who flies in tomorrow after being part of the Chennai Super Kings IPL squad.The Rapids got off to a shaky start after captain D’Oliveira opted to bat.Bracewell lasted only three balls before he was trapped lbw by a full-length ball from Naseem Shah when working to leg.D’Oliveira took a stride down the wicket in the next over from Wiaan Mulder and only succeeded in nicking through to keeper Harry SwindellsJack Haynes immediately went on the offensive with four boundaries in Shah’s second over before was lbw deep in his crease to Mulder.Kashif mixed some wristy strokes with sheer power as he and in-form Adam Hose set about rebuilding the innings.They added 45 when Hose, who had top-scored in the wins over Northamptonshire Steelbacks and Yorkshire Vikings, tried to slice Callum Parkinson over the off side and fell to Colin Ackermann’s catch running back from cover.A pull for six and a delightful cut to the ropes in the same over from Reehan Ahmed enabled Kashif to complete a 33-ball half century.Shah’s return to the attack brought about Kashif’s downfall when he found the hands of deep backward square.In the same over, Ed Pollock was run out first ball by Ackermann’s direct hit from mid on.But Mir profited from being dropped being he had scored to plunder an unbeaten 32 from 15 balls and Ben Cox struck a typically breezy 28 as Worcestershire recovered from their early troubles.When Leicestershire batted, Bracewell struck an early blow when Sol Budinger clubbed a delivery straight to Hose at deep mid wicket.But Nick Welch scored freely and crucially Leicestershire kept wickets in hand, losing only one in the powerplay.D’Oliveira brought himself into the attack and made a double breakthrough in the space of four balls.Welch was pouched at long on by Haynes and Ackermann was bowled via an inside edge and his pad.Rishi Patel hurried to 42 but, having hit the previous two deliveries from Mir for four, he gave his wicket away when charging down the pitch and being stumped.The Pakistan leg-spinner’s final over of his current spell at New Road also yielded a wicket when Arron Lilley was leg before aiming a blow over mid wicket.Mulder and Rehan Ahmed fell cheaply to end Leicestershire’s last hopes and then Pat Brown wrapped up the tail as he showed more encouraging signs of returning to his best form.

مدرب الزمالك السابق يوضح كواليس حديثه الأخير مع زيزو قبل الرحيل إلى الأهلي

كشف أيمن عبد العزيز مدرب الزمالك السابق، عن كواليس حديثه مع أحمد سيد زيزو لاعب الفريق السابق والأهلي الحالي، قبل الساعات الأخيرة من توقيعه للمارد الأحمر.

وكان أحمد سيد زيزو، قد انضم لصفوف النادي الأهلي، في يونيو الماضي، بعد انتهاء عقده مع الزمالك وشارك مع المارد الأحمر في بطولة كأس العالم للأندية مؤخرًا.

وقال عبد العزيز خلال تصريحات عبر قناة “إم بي سي مصر 1” لبرنامج “اللعيب”: “الأزمة في موضوع رحيل زيزو هي عدم الصراحة منذ البداية”.

وأضاف: “تحدثت مع زيزو، قبل مباراة ستيلينبوش في بطولة الكونفدرالية، وسألته لماذا الذهاب إلى السفارة الأمريكية في ذلك التوقيت، وقبل مباراة هامة للفريق”.

طالع | شيكابالا: زيزو فعل معي موقفًا أحزنني كثيرًا.. وابني ضحك عندما أخبرته باعتزالي

وتابع: “رد زيزو، أنه كان يستخرج تأشيرة بسبب أنه زوجته ستلد في أمريكا، وليس لسبب آخر، لذلك كان من الصعب دخول اللاعب قائمة الزمالك لمباراة ستيلينبوش لأن الجميع عرف أن زيزو وقع للأهلي هنا”.

وأكمل: “زيزو لم يراعي جماهير الزمالك ولا الجهاز الفني ولا اللاعبين، وأخبرني أن والده تعرض لسباب وليس له أي ذنب ولم يدافع عنه أحد”.

وواصل: “قمت بتقديم عرض له خلال حديثي معه، وأخبرته أن النادي سيقدم اعتذارًا في بيان رسمي لوالده وسيفعل ما يريده، فهل تمضي للزمالك”.

واستطرد: “رد زيزو علي وقال لا، لا بد من الرجوع إلى والده وهو يقبل ذلك أم لا، هنا أدركت أن هذه النقطة فيصلية، زيزو لن يبقى معنا في الزمالك”.

محمد إبراهيم كيشو يعلن اعتزال المصارعة الرومانية

أعلن محمد إبراهيم كيشو لاعب منتخب مصر في المصارعة الرومانية، اعتزاله للعب بشكل رسمي، وذلك بعد مشوار حافل له في ألعاب المصارعة.

وكان كيشو قد توج بالميدالية البرونزية في وزن 67 كجم ضمن منافسات المصارعة الرومانية، في أولمبياد طوكيو 2021.

وفي أولمبياد باريس واجه موقفا صعبا، حيث اتهم كيشو بالتحرش بإحدى الفتيات، قبل أن يتم الإفراج عنه لبراءته عقب تفريغ الكاميرات، لكنه لم يتوج بأي ميدالية في تلك الأولمبياد.

وقال كيشو عبر منشور على صفحته على موقع التواصل الاجتماعي “فيس بوك”: “بعد سنين طويلة من التعب، التحديات، والانتصارات، بعد ما شرفت بلدي ورفعت علمها في المحافل الدولية، وقدرت أحقق الحلم وأتوج بميدالية أولمبية في المصارعة الرومانية”.

وأضاف: “وصلت للقرار الأصعب في مشواري الرياضي،  قررت أعلن اعتزالي اللعب رسمياً”.

سفير مصر في باريس: كيشو لن يتم ترحيله.. وندرس مقاضاة الصحافة الفرنسية

وتابع: “القرار لم يكن سهلًا، والمصارعة كانت دايمًا أكتر من مجرد رياضة بالنسبة لي، كانت حياتي، وشغفي، وسندي في أصعب الأوقات”.

وأكمل: “بحمد ربنا على كل لحظة عشتها فوق البساط وكل لحظة فخر، وكل تشجيع سمعته من أهلي وجمهوري وبلدي بشكر كل مدرب ساعدني، وكل زميل وقف جنبي، وكل حد دعمني بكلمة حلوة أو بدعوة من القلب”.

وأتم: “شكراً للمصارعة علمتني أكون راجل قبل ما أكون بطل، وشكراً لكل حد كان جزء من الرحلة”.

Andy Flower takes over as head coach at RCB for three years

The contracts of Mike Hesson and Sanjay Bangar, director of cricket operations and head coach respectively, have not been renewed

Shashank Kishore04-Aug-2023

Andy Flower is one of the most widely travelled and decorated coaches in the game•ICC via Getty

Andy Flower has been appointed head coach of Royal Challengers Bangalore as the franchise looks to overturn a disappointing IPL 2023, where they failed to make the playoffs for the first time in four seasons. Flower has come on board on a three-year term to begin with.The decision follows a “comprehensive three-year performance review” following IPL 2023, where the team finished sixth and missed the playoffs narrowly. At RCB, Flower will reunite with Faf du Plessis, the captain, who he worked with earlier during his time as head coach of St Lucia Kings in the CPL.Flower replaced Sanjay Bangar, the former India allrounder, in the job after having also been in talks with Rajasthan Royals for a similar position under Kumar Sangakkara. The franchise is set to appoint a new director of cricket operations who will replace Mike Hesson. This could happen “over the next couple of months,” RCB vice-president Rajesh Menon said.The new director is expected to appoint the specialist coaches, which also puts a question mark over the future of the incumbents: Adam Griffith (bowling coach), S Sriram (assistant coach) and Malolan Rangarajan (lead scout and fielding coach).

“I recognise the work put in by Mike Hesson and Sanjay Bangar, who are two coaches I respect,” Flower said in an RCB statement. “I’m particularly excited to be reunited with Faf. We have worked very well together in the past I look forward to forging our partnership and relationship into something bigger and better.”Till the end of IPL 2023, Flower was head coach of Lucknow Super Giants. Under him, they made back-to-back playoffs in their first two years in the competition. In July, he was replaced by Justin Langer, the former Australia coach. Prior to his stint with LSG, Flower had been associated with Punjab Kings in the IPL.Flower comes on board with a decorated CV. A T20 World Cup-winning coach with England in 2010, the former Zimbabwe captain has also coached teams to titles at the PSL (Multan Sultans), ILT20 (Gulf Giants), and the men’s Hundred (Trent Rockets). With Flower in charge, St Lucia Kings reached the CPL final twice. Most recently, he worked with Australia as a consultant during the men’s Ashes.

Hesson had stepped into the role in similar circumstances as Flower in 2019, after RCB chose not to renew their contracts with Gary Kirsten, Ashish Nehra and Vikram Solanki following a last-place finish that season.Overall, Hesson led the team to three successive playoffs before the team fell away in their final must-win league game this year against Gujarat Titans. Bangar came on board in 2022, after Simon Katich’s exit as head coach, upon Virat Kohli’s recommendation.As reported earlier, the RCB management was deliberating changes to its coaching staff with the contracts usually up for renewal around September. The franchise is believed to have been keen to give Flower enough space and time leading into the auction.Menon also confirmed that the RCB women’s team will have a new head coach in place soon – Hesson performed the role in the first season of the Women’s Premier League. However, the management of the women’s team is “not likely” to come under the purview of the new director of cricket. “We wanted to have just the head coach and captain drive that ship.” RCB women finished fifth among six teams during the inaugural season.Three-time IPL finalists, RCB have never won the tournament. They last had a shot at the title in 2016, where they were pipped by Sunrisers Hyderabad in a close finish.

Lucas Perri tem seu nome registrado no BID da CBF e já pode fazer sua estreia pelo Botafogo

MatériaMais Notícias

Apresentado pelo Botafogo, nesta sexta-feira, o goleiro Lucas Perri teve seu nome publicado no BID da Confederação Brasileira de Futebol (CBF). Com isso, o arqueiro já tem condições de fazer a sua estreia com a camisa alvinegra.

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O jogador já vinha atuando regularmente pelo Náutico na Série B do Brasileirão. Ele chega ao Alvinegro para disputar a posição com o paraguaio Gatito Fernández, um dos ídolos desse elenco. A tendência é que o arqueiro seja o sucessor natural do atleta, que se tornou o segundo estrangeiro com mais jogos disputados pelo alvinegra.

+ Confira e simule a tabela do Campeonato Brasileiro

No passado, Lucas Perri teve uma curta passagem pelo Crystal Palace, clube inglês em que John Textor tem 40% das ações. Esse foi um dos fatores que empolgou o jogador para o novo desafio no Botafogo.

+Lucas Perri é apresentado pelo Botafogo e revela admiração por Gatito: ‘Uma referência’

O clube carioca volta a campo no próximo domingo contra o Juventude, às 11h, no Alfredo Jaconi, pela 23ª rodada do Brasileirão. A equipe vem de dois empates e precisa voltar a vencer para se distanciar da zona de rebaixamento.

ديمبلي يحذر بايرن ميونخ: لسنا باريس سان جيرمان نوفمبر.. ولدينا 3 مفاتيح

أدلى عثمان ديمبلي، نجم فريق باريس سان جيرمان، بتصريحات عشية مباراة الغد المرتقبة ضد بايرن ميونخ، في إطار منافسات بطولة كأس العالم للأندية نسخة 2025.

ويلتقي باريس سان جيرمان مع بايرن ميونخ، في دور ربع نهائي كأس العالم للأندية، التي تستضيفها أمريكا في الوقت الحالي.

ويواجه الفائز من باريس سان جيرمان وبايرن ميونخ مع الفائز من مباراة ريال مدريد وبوروسيا دورتموند، في نصف النهائي.

وقال ديمبلي، في تصريحات نشرتها صحيفة “آس” الإسبانية، ردًا على قوله بأنه يخبر نفسه قبل كل مباراة بأنه سيسجل 3 أهداف: “لقد قلت ذلك منذ بداية الموسم، حتى في بعض المباريات التي لم أسجل بها، ولكن الأهم هو التفكير في الفريق، آمل أن أقدم مباراة جيدة غدًا”.

وعن الرهان المتبقي للوفاء به من جانبه، قال ضاحكًا: “لن أخبرك”.

وفيما يخص وجود أي عائق أمام مشاركته غدًا، بعد عودته إلى الملاعب كبديل ضد إنتر ميامي السبت الماضي: “أشعر أنني جاهز بنسبة 100%، لقد تدربت جيدًا مع الفريق لمدة 9 أو 10 أيام، أنا جاهز”.

واسترسل: “بايرن ميونخ فريق قوي للغاية، نحن نحترمهم كثيرًا، إنه نادِ استثنائي، رغبتنا في الانتقام من الهزيمة في مرحلة المجموعات من دوري أبطال أوروبا؟ لدينا بعض الرغبة في ذلك، إنه فريق قوي، ولكننا أفضل بكثير من الفريق الذي كنا عليه في نوفمبر ضدهم، لقد أثبتنا ذلك”.

اقرأ أيضًا.. الخليفي: عدم فوز ديمبلي بالكرة الذهبية يعني مشكلة الجائزة نفسها.. ولا أفهم هؤلاء

وأوضح ما تغير بهم، قائلًا: “لقد تغيرت أمور كثيرة، اللاعبون، بما فيهم أنا، رفعوا مستوى أدائهم، نحن أكثر ثقة فيما نفعله على أرض الملعب، لا يهم من نلعب ضده”.

واستكمل: “إنها عقلية الفريق، هذا هو الحافز، إذا كنت في باريس سان جيرمان، عليك أن تكون مستعدًا ذهنيًا لمواجهة أي فريق، هذا هو حافزنا، مفتاح الغد؟ التركيز، السرعة، وأن نلعب كعادتنا”.

وما إذا كان الفريق أفضل مما كان عليه في نهائي دوري أبطال أوروبا، قال: “لا أعلم، كان النهائي صعبًا حتى مع فوزنا، علينا احترام كافة الفرق”.

واستدرك: “الكرة الذهبية؟ أريد مساعدة الفريق على الفوز بتلك البطولة، ليس من السهل مشاهدة المباريات من المدرجات (يقصد غيابه في مرحلة المجموعات للإصابة)”.

وتغزل في المدرب لويس إنريكي، قائلًا: “لقد قدم أداءً رائعًا للفريق، كنا نتحدث منذ انضمامي إلى باريس سان جيرمان، إنه مدرب يسعى للفوز دائمًا، لقد ساعدني كثيرًا”.

وفيما يخص وفاة ديوجو جوتا، نجم ليفربول، بشكل مفاجئ أمس إثر حادث مروع، قال: “كان الخبر قاسيًا على عالم كرة القدم، على الجميع، وعلى الجماهير كذلك”.

ANÁLISE: Palmeiras sai do Maracanã com grande resultado, mas atuação ruim era evitável

MatériaMais Notícias

O Palmeiras conquistou um importante empate em 1 a 1 com o Fluminense, no último sábado, no Maracanã, que manteve os oito pontos de vantagem para o próprio Flu na liderança do Brasileirão-2022. No entanto, não dá para elogiar totalmente a atuação palmeirense, que foi extremamente displicente em boa parte do jogo.

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GALERIA
> Confira os públicos do Palmeiras no Allianz Parque em 2022

TABELA
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Com o lema “cabeça fria, coração quente” de Abel Ferreira, parecia que o Verdão levaria a partida com 1 a 0 no placar após o golaço de bicicleta de Rony. Naquele momento, no cenário que se apresentava, era difícil imaginar que a equipe do técnico português levaria um gol, mas talvez tenha tido um excesso de frieza na cabeça e no coração.

Depois de algumas oportunidades de ampliar o placar e de aproveitar erros do Fluminense na defesa, o Palmeiras parou de jogar, passou a fazer cera de forma incompreensível e diminuiu demais a intensidade de suas ações. Assim, não teria como manter a atenção total que o jogo decisivo pedia, tornando o time desligado.

Foram várias as bolas desperdiçadas no ataque e na defesa por falta de capricho, por falta de concentração e por falta de entendimento do que significaria uma vitória ali no Maracanã. Quando esse conjunto de fatores entra em campo, o que parecia improvável acontece e o Flu empatou em um lance de bola parada com Manoel.

A partir dali, o Verdão, que já não jogava, passou a jogar menos ainda, ficou acuado, sem conseguir construir saindo da defesa ou manter uma bola no ataque. É verdade que o Fluminense teve menos lances de perigo do que o volume de jogo poderia proporcionar, mas ainda assim duas bolas na trave quase deixaram os cariocas à frente.

É importante salientar que Abel Ferreira foi bastante infeliz nas alterações, embora tenha neutralizado boa parte das características da equipe de Diniz. As entradas de Wesley, López e Tabata, por exemplo, comprometeram muito a atuação palmeirense. Além de terem sido piores do que aqueles que substituíram, não se encaixaram no esquema e foram praticamente nulos na partida.

Outro que foi muito mal foi Gustavo Scarpa, que tomou praticamente todas as decisões erradas, não foi bem nos cruzamentos, nas bolas paradas e nas finalizações, as quais exagerou e acabou deixando de oferecer a bola aos companheiros que estavam em melhores condições. Foi a pior atuação do camisa 14 em muito tempo. Além dele, Zé Rafael e Danilo estiveram muito abaixo do que podem.

O resultado foi muito melhor do que a atuação, principalmente encerrando uma sequência difícil. No entanto, essa atuação ruim serve de lição para o restante do Brasileirão. Se repetir algo assim no que vier pela frente, a liderança estará muito em breve comprometida. Nem sempre o futebol perdoa desempenhos desse tipo, que podem comprometer todo um trabalho da temporada.

Somerset hold nerve to seal first T20 Blast title since 2005

Matt Henry leads gutsy defence of 145 as Essex fall short despite Daniel Sams’ defiance

Alan Gardner15-Jul-2023

Somerset win the 2023 T20 Blast•Getty Images

Somerset ended an 18-year wait for a second T20 title as they put their Finals Day heartache behind them, concluding a record-breaking season with another ruthless bowling performance under the Edgbaston lights. Somerset had won 14 games out of 16 going into the final against Essex but made no mistake with the pressure on beneath the spectre of seven previous failures in English T20’s showpiece event.Put in for the second match running, Somerset were indebted to Sean Dickson’s well-crafted half-century as they scraped up to 145 all out from their 20 overs. Matt Henry then ripped the head off the Essex reply with a spell of 3 for 18 and the New Zealander returned to end Daniel Sams’ heroic attempts to win the match on his own, with the help of a flying, one-handed catch from Tom Kohler-Cadmore. In the process they equalled Leicestershire’s 2011 mark for the lowest score successfully defended in the final. The losers on that occasion? Somerset.The final of cricket’s longest day – which had survived an appalling forecast for the loss of just a handful of overs across two semi-finals – pitted Somerset’s winning machine against the South Group rabble-rousers, who only scraped through to the knockouts with a six from the final ball of their campaign. Essex were also bidding for a second title but fell short despite the efforts of Sams, whose belligerent hitting kept the result in the balance even as the ninth wicket fell with 29 still needed.Somerset, for whom Ish Sodhi claimed 3 for 22, had finished runners-up in this competition four times, as well as departing Edgbaston empty-handed in each of the past two seasons. They did it the hard way here, too, batting first in both semi and final. But as Kohler-Cadmore threw the ball aloft and Player of the Match Henry was embraced by his captain, Lewis Gregory, the choruses of “Somerset, la-la-la!” could finally begin.Powerplay blows tradedEssex had been the fastest-scoring side in the powerplay this season but also prone to spectacular collapses. Somerset, meanwhile, had already taken the most wickets in a Blast season coming into Finals Day and continued their potent form by bowling out Surrey with 13 balls to spare in their semi. Clearly, the start to Essex’s chase was going to be a right old dust-up.It was exhilarating stuff from the outset, as Essex raced to 27 from the first 11 balls and then lost four wickets from the next 17. Adam Rossington crunched four fours before belting a tracer bullet to Kasey Aldridge at point, who did well to avoid injury never mind cling on. Henry picked up two more in his next over, producing a peach to bowl Michael Pepper for a duck and trapping Dan Lawrence on the crease, before Robin Das’ attempt to hit Craig Overton over the top plopped tamely into the hands of mid-on.Sams spoke before the game about Essex attempting to demolish the old T20 axiom that losing three wickets in the powerplay meant losing the game – and they had managed three such wins in the group stage. But with Henry and Overton bowling unchanged for combined figures of 4 for 46, Essex had their work cut out for them.Slim chance rests with SamsA wicket for Gregory in his first over put Essex further behind the eight ball as they limped to 71 for 5 at halfway. Paul Walter was then defeated by a tossed-up delivery from Sodhi to be bowled for 26, but the lurking threat of Sams became clear when he mowed Aldridge over the shorter leg-side boundary from the City End to keep them clinging to the coat-tails of the asking rate.Simon Harmer was the next to go, with the requirement 40 from 32, but although Sams kept Somerset fans on edge there was to be no dramatic heist. His eventual dismissal for 45 off 26 confirmed Somerset’s first T20 success since 2005. It also meant that Somerset became the first team to bowl out both of their opponents on Finals Day, and took their record-breaking tally of wickets for the season to 151 from 17 games.Somerset’s big three kept quietHaving opted to chase, Essex needed to contain a powerful Somerset line-up. Their top three coming into Finals Day had all scored more than 400 runs with strike rates in the region of 150-180 but, despite Tom Banton being dropped off the first ball of the innings, Essex managed to see them off without too much damage.Lawrence was the man who failed to hang on to a sharp chance above his head at backward point, and the bowler, Sams, was then twice dispatched through the off-side arc by Will Smeed in the same over. Banton audaciously scooped Sam Cook’s fifth ball over the keeper’s head for six, but Somerset’s early momentum was checked when Smeed dragged on against Shane Snater in the third over.Two more boundaries off Aaron Beard were followed by Kohler-Cadmore slugging Cook into the Hollies for another emphatic six as Somerset reached the end of the powerplay on 46 for 1. But Banton then fell miscuing a reverse-slap off Snater to short third and when Kohler-Cadmore chopped on against Matt Critchley the score had slipped to 54 for 3. Between them, Banton, Smeed and Kohler-Cadmore had managed 48 off 44.Critch catch turns match?
Somerset’s innings hinged around the non-dismissal of Gregory for what would have been a golden duck in the 12th over. Critchley thought he had got fingers under the ball when stooping for a low return catch, but third umpire Nigel Llong ruled it had not been taken cleanly. Had it been given, Somerset would have been 69 for 5, but Gregory and Dickson subsequently combined for a stand of 45 in 28 balls to lift their side back into contention.Dickson, whose unheralded 30 off 22 had proved vital against Surrey, set about playing another shrewd knock in the middle order. He was 12 off 13 before hitting his first boundary, then picked up a brace of fours in Harmer’s solitary over and two more off consecutive balls in the next from Critchley.However, Snater’s return to bowl out brought another key breakthrough as Gregory top-edged a short ball to be caught and bowled, and Essex squeezed again to dismiss Ben Green and Overton cheaply – the latter via Beard’s direct hit from deep square leg. Dickson brought up 33-ball fifty in the penultimate over but then gloved Walter’s short ball behind as the Somerset innings dribbled to a conclusion. But with runs on the board, Somerset’s attack were more than in the game.

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