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Charles Coventry secured an honourable end to Matabeleland Tuskers’ Twenty20 campaign as his boundary-laden half-century took them to a nine-wicket win over Southern Rocks at Harare Sports Club

The Bulletin by Liam Brickhill21-Nov-2010
Scorecard
Charles Coventry lines up a big shot during his 67 0ff 40 balls•Zimbabwe CricketCharles Coventry secured an honourable end to Matabeleland Tuskers’ Twenty20 campaign as his boundary-laden half-century took them to a nine-wicket win over Southern Rocks at Harare Sports Club and third place in the final standings. Entering after Neil Carter had been removed early in pursuit of Rocks’ 154 for 8, Coventry shared in an unbroken 126-run partnership with Paul Horton, who hit an unbeaten fifty of his own, as victory was achieved with 10 balls to spare.Carrying a niggling injury that has curtailed his bowling in this tournament, Carter has been used as a top-order pinch-hitter and launched Tuskers’ innings with three successive boundaries in left-arm seamer Tendai Chisoro’s second over. Elton Chigumbura struck back for Rocks with his very first ball as Carter gave himself room and slashed out to deep cover where Tendai Chitongo held a superb catch, diving to his left.Coventry got off to a fluent start, collecting boundaries off his national team-mates Chigumbura and Chamu Chibhabha. But where Coventry might often have been accused of throwing away his wicket too quickly, today he played himself in carefully as seven overs of careful accumulation passed before he broke free.When the charge did finally come, it was explosive, and successive sixes helped plunder 22 off Chigumbura’s final over. With Tuskers hurrying towards their target, former Zimbabwe Under-19 legspinner Chitongo was crunched for six over the cover boundary and offspinner Keith Kulinga’s second over was dismissed for 11. After Horton went to his fifty, Coventry finished the job two balls into the 19th over, slapping Chitongo to midwicket to seal the win and third place for Tuskers.It was a disappointing end for Rocks, who had a nightmare season in 2009-10 but came back strongly this time round and appeared to be the form team of this tournament. Their batting had been their most impressive facet, but today it was the batsmen that let the side down. With Sikandar Raza and Chigumbura both falling early, it was left to Tatenda Taibu to repair the innings with a typically enterprising half-century. But he found precious little support, with the middle order being skittled cheaply as medium-pacers Keegan Meth and Bradley Staddon picking up two wickets apiece.

An update has emerged regarding Newcastle United’s pursuit of Arsenal full-back Cedric Soares…

What’s the talk?

According to TuttoMercatoWeb, the Magpies are one of the clubs plotting a deal to snap up the Portuguese defender this summer.

The report claims that Porto are also in the running to land his signature and have submitted a bid of €5m (£4.2m) as they look to tempt the Gunners into cashing in on the 30-year-old.

A move to St James’ Park has not been completely ruled out but the player is said to prefer a stay at the Emirates Stadium over a transfer away from the north London club.

He’d be brilliant for Eddie Howe

The Telegraph’s Sam Dean dubbed Cedric’s crossing “brilliant” earlier this season, and that perfectly describes what he would be for the Magpies next season as he is an experienced and versatile gem of a player. 

Cedric has been playing in England since 2015, for Southampton and Arsenal, and he knows what it takes to perform at this level. He has racked up 151 Premier League appearances to date, scoring twice and setting up 12 top-flight goals from full-back.

In that time, he has played in a number of positions – left-back, right-back, right midfield and left midfield. This shows that he is capable of adapting to a multitude of roles for Howe in the Newcastle team, which would make him a valuable asset to have when dealing with injuries and suspensions throughout a campaign.

The 30-year-old has been a solid option for Mikel Arteta to call upon this term. Last month, Alan Hutton heaped praise on the defender’s role with the Gunners as he said: “[Cedric Soares] has done really well, but he’s gone under the radar because of Tomiyasu.

“When you are going for the European spots and trying to challenge, you need competition for places. He knows the style of play, he knows what Arteta wants. He’s a good deputy for Tomiyasu.”

In the Premier League this season, he has averaged a SofaScore rating of 6.79 across 16 appearances. This shows that he has been dependable for Arsenal, as he has put in respectable displays when he has been needed at either left-back or right-back, and this is why he would be brilliant for Howe.

Matt Targett is out? Cedric comes in. Kieran Trippier is out? Cedric comes in. It would be a superb deal for Newcastle if they can get a player of his quality, versatility and experience for a meagre fee of £4.2m, so PIF must ensure that they can convince the Gunners to part ways with the defender.

AND in other news, “I’m told”: Insider reveals deal NUFC are set to complete, supporters will be buzzing…

Monaco midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni could potentially join Liverpool this summer, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.

The Lowdown: Tchouameni linked with move

Jurgen Klopp could be looking to make midfield reinforcements this summer, considering it is an ageing area of the Reds’ squad.

One player who has been linked with a move to Liverpool is Tchouameni, who is arguably one of Europe’s most highly-rated young midfielders.

The 22-year-old has been an influential performer for Monaco throughout this season, averaging 2.5 tackles and 2.8 interceptions per game in Ligue 1.

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The Latest: Romano drops fresh claim

Speaking on his YouTube channel [via This Is Anfield], Romano claimed that Liverpool are in the conversation with a ‘huge chance’ to sign Tchouaemi this summer:

“So keep an eye on Liverpool, keep an eye on what happens at Manchester United, because they will go for a midfielder.

“But at the moment, there are still no negotiations open for Tchouameni. But he could be a huge chance for the Premier League clubs. I’m told that they are really keen on signing him in the summer.”

The Verdict: Perfect summer addition

Tchouameni is an enormous prospect who has been described as ‘extraordinary’ by Paul Pogba, and he looks like someone who could be the perfect addition to Liverpool’s midfield.

He could come in as a squad player initially but it likely wouldn’t take long before he was an integral part of Klopp’s team, combining quality on the ball  – he enjoyed a 90.9% pass completion rate across five appearances for France in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers – with tenacious work off it.

With the likes of James Milner, Jordan Henderson and Thiago all now in their 30s, and Fabinho turning 29 this year, it is vital that fresh legs come in in the middle of the park. Tchouameni is perfect, in that respect.

In other news, a journalist has dropped a big-money Liverpool claim. Read more here.

Shakib Al Hasan, the Bangladesh allrounder, has been retained as captain of the national team for 2011

ESPNcricinfo staff31-Dec-2010Shakib Al Hasan, the Bangladesh allrounder, has been retained as captain of the national team for 2011. Opening batsman Tamim Iqbal has been named his deputy, and both will face their first major assignment in the new year in the World Cup.The Bangladesh captaincy has shuffled between Mashrafe Mortaza and Shakib since the tour of West Indies in 2009 but Mortaza’s knee injury has affected his prospects for the next year. Tamim, who returned to the line-up after a hand injury in Bangladesh’s last ODI series against Zimbabwe, takes over from wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim as vice-captain.The year 2010 was a mixed one for Bangladesh as they lost each of their seven Tests, but bounced back from a poor start in the ODIs to beat New Zealand 4-0 at home in October. They then followed that up with a 3-1 series win over Zimbabwe to end the year on a satisfactory note.

A huge Rangers update has emerged on goalkeeper Allan McGregor and his future in Glasgow heading into the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

According to Football Insider, Ibrox sources have revealed that the Scotland international is set to put pen to paper on a fresh deal with the club ‘imminently’.

The report claimed that both sides are close to reaching an agreement to keep him with the Light Blues next season, with his current contract expiring at the end of next month.

Supporters will be delighted

Gers supporters will surely be delighted by this news, as the veteran’s performances in Europe have been sensational this season.

Although he has struggled domestically for Rangers, the 40-year-old has been a standout in the Europa League and has been crucial to the team’s run to the final. Across 13 appearances in the tournament, he has averaged an excellent SofaScore rating of 7.00.

He has been named in the Europa League Team of the Week twice in that time and saved 73% of shots against him. The shot-stopper has also been able to avoid making a single error leading to a shot or goal, which shows that the Ibrox stalwart of 443 club appearances has been a reliable presence between the sticks for Gio van Bronckhorst.

Therefore, fans will be buzzing with this update, as they will surely want to see him rewarded for his form with the chance to play in the Champions League next season, if Rangers can see off Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League final in Seville next week or go through via the qualification phases in the summer.

It is worth stressing, though, that Ross Wilson must bring in a young goalkeeper to challenge McGregor for his position. The Scot has been underwhelming in the Premiership, as he has made three direct errors leading to goals, and only saved 67% of the shots against him in the league.

At this stage in his career, the 40-year-old has not been able to maintain a consistent level of performance across multiple competitions, and that is why a new shot-stopper must be brought in. This will allow Van Bronckhorst to rest the veteran regularly and ensure that the club do not suffer from any of his lapses in concentration, as they have in the league this season.

For now, Rangers fans will surely be happy with McGregor’s new deal and hoping that he is provided with a significant challenge for his number one jersey in 2022/23.

AND in other news, Van Bronckhorst can finally axe £14k-p/w Rangers dud by unleashing “really impressive” 18 y/o gem…

One of surprises in Pakistan’s preliminary 30-man World Cup was the absence of batsman Fawad Alam, whose omission has been attributed to his lack of form by chairman of selectors Mohsin Khan

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Jan-2011One of the surprises in Pakistan’s preliminary 30-man World Cup squad was the absence of batsman Fawad Alam, whose omission has been attributed to his lack of form by chairman of selectors Mohsin Khan.”We simply could not find a place for Fawad in the squad and that was down to him not being in the sort of form needed in a tournament like the World Cup,” Mohsin told .Alam scored two half-centuries in his previous eight one-day innings, but he also has four single-digit scores, including his last two knocks against South Africa in Dubai two months ago.Pakistan had announced their squad on Tuesday, a day ahead of the ICC’s extended deadline for naming the 30. Shoaib Malik, the former captain, and legspinner Danish Kaneria have also been left out of the probables. Kamran Akmal, the wicketkeeper who has been out of favour over the past few months, has been included.The PCB hasn’t said so publicly but the trio have been under suspicion in the aftermath of the spot-fixing scandal that has rocked Pakistan’s cricket. Akmal was the subject of an ACSU notice earlier this year but has since asked for and received a written clearance from the ICC.

Kevin Pietersen has denied reports that he could quit one-day cricket after this month’s World Cup

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Feb-2011Kevin Pietersen has denied reports that he could quit one-day cricket after this month’s World Cup.The said, on Friday, Pietersen wants to retire from one-dayers because he wants to spend more time with his family but Pietersen wrote on Twitter: “Just to set the record straight … I have NO intention of retiring from ODI’s after the World Cup!!”Pietersen, 30, has played 110 one-dayers so far, and has been in poor form in the format over the past two years. He has managed only one half-century in that time, and his average has tumbled from around 50 to 41.37.He has been a vocal critic of England’s hectic schedule. England fly out to Bangladesh on Saturday for the World Cup, just four days after returning from a three-month tour of Australia. “Our schedule is ridiculous going into this World Cup. It has been for England teams for a very long time, and that’s probably why England have not done well in World Cups,” he had said towards the end of the one-day series against Australia, which England lost 6-1.

Former Scotland international Alan Hutton has backed Celtic to sign a new goalkeeper this summer, offering a stronger backup to Joe Hart and replacing Vasilis Barkas.

The Lowdown: Goalkeeping outgoings?

The Hoops have enjoyed a superb season, lying on the cusp of another Scottish Premiership title, and Hart has played his part between the sticks.

The 35-year-old has started 32 league games, as well as five in the Europa League, proving that he can still perform at a high level.

Barkas has been linked with a move away from Celtic after struggling for playing time, so a new stopper could be required in the summer transfer window.

Bodo/Glimt ‘keeper Nikita Haikin is one player who has been tipped to come in.

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The Latest: Pundit talks up new signing

Hutton, a pundit for BBC Radio 5 Live who of course spent some of his playing career across town at Rangers, was reacting to news from a Celtic source that they will look to replace Barkas.

He told Football Insider:

“I always think it’s a difficult one. Obviously, everybody wants to play but the goalkeepers are a specialised position.

“You want to push somebody on but if you’re second choice, you know you’re not going to play an awful lot. So you have to have someone in there with a really good, strong mentality. It can be difficult.

“Everybody needs competition. Joe Hart’s no different. I still believe he can play for a good number of years, he’s got a lot of football left in him.

“He’ll want that pressure on his shoulders as well so he performs at a top level. The only problem is you need to get somebody out, Barkas or Bain or whoever.

“You can’t bring in another keeper and be sitting there with four goalkeepers. The squad isn’t balanced. That’ll probably happen first and foremost but of course, they’ll need somebody in to challenge.”

The Verdict: Makes complete sense

A stronger deputy to Hart makes perfect sense going into next season, especially with Champions League football looking likely to return to Parkhead.

At 35, Hart certainly isn’t getting any younger, while an injury to him would require a good ‘keeper to fill the void left by him and not look overawed doing the job.

The money received for qualifying for Europe’s best club competition would generate more transfer funds, increasing Ange Postecoglou’s chances of bringing in a more-than-competent rival for Hart.

In other news, a pundit has dropped a ‘crazy’ Celtic financial claim. Read more here.

Zimbabwe’s batting woes in the World Cup are a consequence of the team not having played Tests in a long time, the national coach Alan Butcher has said

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Mar-2011Zimbabwe’s batting woes in the World Cup are a consequence of the team not having played Tests in a long time, the national coach Alan Butcher has said. Zimbabwe have gone past 200 just once in four matches this tournament, and that effort came against minnows Canada.”You get used to batting for longer period of times in Test cricket and that does relate to one-day cricket as well,” Butcher told reporters on the eve of Zimbabwe’s Group A clash against Pakistan in Pallekele. “Your top four players want to bat for the majority of the innings in a one-day game; they may have had the opportunity to bat for a day and a half in Test matches.”Zimbabwe have been in self-imposed isolation from Test cricket since 2006, when they didn’t have the players to field a competitive team. However, late last year, the country’s cricket board laid out an 18-month plan to return to the Test fold.Butcher said Zimbabwe would have to look for newer talent if the trend of low scores continued. “I hope that eventually another couple of players will show that ability, because if they don’t we have to find new players rather than continue with those who give us 170 totals.”Zimbabwe have gone past 200 just once in this World Cup•AFPZimbabwe, who’ve lost three of their four games, have the ability to cause an upset, Butcher said. While the batting has been a problem, he believed the team had a bowling attack capable of defending a score in the range of 250. “I think the concern is to put a positive total on the board and that’s what’s been our problem. The minimum realistic target is 250 and if we score that then we have a chance against most teams.”Butcher also backed captain Elton Chigumbura, who’s had a poor run this tournament in the middle order, to recover. “I’m not sure whether the captaincy is weighing on him. He keeps practising, keeps trying to work hard, trying to turn things around. He has got the ability and is working on some technical issues and hopefully they will pay dividends.”

The agent of Villarreal forward Arnaut Danjuma has provided an intriguing update on the future of the player, amid interest from Newcastle United.

What’s the word?

Speaking to Radio Castellon (via Sports Witness), the player’s representative Michael Moses revealed that there is a “50% chance” that his client could leave the La Liga outfit this summer, having been in sparkling form during the club’s shock run to the Champions League semi-finals.

Moses went on to add that Newcastle could be well placed to snap him up should he in fact depart, with the ‘presence of Eddie Howe’ likely to aid any deal, the 25-year-old – who has a reported £64m release clause in his existing deal – having been signed by the Englishman during his stint at Bournemouth.

This follows recent reports that suggested the current Magpies boss is eyeing a reunion with the Nigerian-born Netherlands international in the upcoming window, as he looks to bolster his ranks ahead of next season.

Better than Saint-Maximin

Amid growing speculation that the St James’ Park outfit are contemplating the sale of fans’ favourite Allan Saint-Maximin this summer, in Danjuma PIF have found their ideal replacement, with the six-cap international potentially an upgrade on the club’s dazzling Frenchman.

While Saint-Maximin remains a key cog in Howe’s side, chipping in with five goals and four assists in the top-flight this season, his lack of consistency has been a continued issue since his £16.5m move from Nice back in the summer of 2019.

That is the view of journalist Liam Kennedy, who suggested the winger’s inability to produce the goods week-in-week-out has held him back from joining an elite club, while pundit Gabby Agbonlahor stated that the £28.8m-rated man is “frustrating” owing to his tendency to try and do it all himself.

As for the man currently starring under former Arsenal boss Unai Emery in Spain, the £25k-per-week gem – who has been dubbed a “nightmare for defenders” by pundit Kevin Phillips – has shown remarkable consistency at the highest level this season.

Having joined the ‘Yellow Submarine’ in the summer after recording 22 goal contributions in just 33 league games for the Cherries in the Championship last term, the one-time Brugge man has gone on to swiftly adapt to life in a major league, providing ten goals and three assists in the Spanish top-flight.

In Europe, the £45m-rated speedster has also dazzled being dubbed “spectacular” by Louis van Gaal, and notably handing Manchester United full-back Diogo Dalot a torrid evening at Old Trafford in the group stage, while netting six times in the competition in the run to the last four.

The skilful winger also ranks highly among other players in his position across Europe’s top five leagues, ranking in the top 6% for touches in the attacking penalty area, as well as in the top 16% and top 14% for dribbles completed and progressive carries, respectively.

An absolute menace for any defender, the Newcastle faithful will be hoping that he will be causing havoc in front of their eyes next term.

AND in other news, Howe plotting NUFC swoop for £9m-rated “goal machine”, he’s a huge upgrade on Wood…