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Derbyshire have signed one of cricket’s most renowned yorker bowlers, the Melbourne Renegade Nathan Rimmington, for the 2015 NatWest Blast

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Mar-2015Derbyshire have signed one of the doughtiest T20 death bowlers, Nathan Rimmington, for the entire 2015 NatWest T20 Blast. The signing puts effectiveness ahead of glamour with Derbyshire convinced they have secured one of the most parsimonious bowlers in the closing overs in the T20 game.Rimmington will variously combine with two international batsmen – New Zealand international Martin Guptill and Sri Lanka’s veteran Tillakaratne Dilshan – during the campaign.During his time with Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash League, Rimmington, 32, has built a renowned reputation for closing out an innings with his trademark perfect yorkers gaining much attention.In 59 Twenty20 fixtures since the Big Bash began in 2011, he has claimed 65 wickets at 21 apiece, with an economy rate of just above seven runs an over. He starred in the longer format, too, and was also named in Cricket Australia’s Sheffield Shield team of the year.Derbyshire’s elite performance director, Graeme Welch, said: “Nathan brings a wealth of experience bowling at the death which will be vital as we look to progress in the NatWest T20 Blast.”People will have watched him in the Big Bash and know the quality he will bring to the side. Not only will he be a valuable asset at the end of the innings, he will also provide us with a proven strike bowler with the new ball.Derbyshire are trying to get Rimmington to England early so that he can warm up with some league cricket ahead of the Blast and ensure those celebrated yorkers are inch perfect from the outset.

Derbyshire have added to their collection of overseas players for 2015 by bringing in New Zealand opener Hamish Rutherford

ESPNcricinfo staff06-May-2015Derbyshire have added to their collection of overseas players for 2015 by bringing in New Zealand opener Hamish Rutherford to cover for the absence of Tillakaratne Dilshan in June and July. Rutherford is in the UK with New Zealand’s Test squad but is not expected to be involved in the limited-overs leg.Martin Guptill’s Test recall has left Derbyshire currently without an overseas player, although the arrival of Hasim Amla on a short-term deal is imminent. He will then be succeeded by Dilshan, who will be replaced by Rutherford during Dilshan’s spell in the Caribbean Premier League. Nathan Rimmington has also signed to play in the NatWest T20 Blast.Rutherford, 26, has previously played county cricket for Essex. He will join up with Derbyshire in the middle of June and will be available across all three formats until the end of July. In total, he will be available for seven NatWest T20 Blast fixtures, three Championship matches and four Royal London Cup games during his stay.”Hamish is a talented top-order batsman who already has experience playing county cricket in English conditions,” Derbyshire performance director, Graeme Welch, said. “He has international pedigree in both the long and shorter formats, which will be key as he joins us at what is a busy part of the summer. He will join us fresh from a Test series versus England so he will be used to the conditions, match fit and raring to go.”Together with Guptill, Rimmington, Amla and Dilshan, we have now been able to reinforce our line-up with experienced overseas players across the entire season, which provides us with real options in all formats of the game.”

A collective batting effort led by Mukhtar Ahmed’s fifty helped State Bank of Pakistan edge National Bank of Pakistan with one ball to spare in the President’s Gold Cup final

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Feb-2015
ScorecardFile Photo: Mukhtar Ahmed set up State Bank’s chase with 60 off 76 balls•PCBA collective batting effort helped State Bank of Pakistan edge National Bank of Pakistan with one ball to spare in the President’s Gold Cup final. Kashif Bhatti, the No.9, struck two fours in the final over to seal the title after the chase was set up by Mukhtar Ahmed’s 60 off 76 balls. Naved Yasin gave him good support, scoring 42 in a 100-run partnership for the fourth wicket.The dismissal of Yasin though triggered a mini-slide as State Bank lost three wickets in as many overs. At that stage, the equation read 62 off 49 balls, with four wickets in hand. Usman Salahuddin and Aamer Yamin’s cameos – 20 off 20 and 33 off 23 – to put State Bank back on track, before Bhatti finished the chase.Mohammad Asghar was the pick of the bowlers for State Bank claiming figures of 3 for 41. Attaullah, who bowled the final over, had conceded an economy rate of 8.92 despite collecting a couple of wickets.Asked to bat, National Bank were lifted to 279 from a precarious 132 for 5 thanks to a late blitz from Mohammad Nawaz. Coming in at No. 6, he struck 93 off 67 balls to offset a middle-order wobble as Nasir Jamshed and Kamran Akmal perished in the space of seven deliveries. However, Qaiser Abbas stepped up with an unbeaten 46 during a sixth-wicket partnership of 139 with Nawaz.Rizwan Haiden took two wickets, while Mohammad Naved, Aamer Yamin and Kashif picked up a wicket each. Nawaz’s rapid fifty and figures of 8-0-38-0 fetched him the Match of the Match award, but it was not enough to win the final.

Somerset’s players skedaddled away from the Riverside before lunch on Wednesday with a draw in their results column and eight points gained from the match

Paul Edwards at Chester-le-Street13-Apr-2016
ScorecardChris Rushworth could have been a threat to Somerset had there been any play on the final day•Getty ImagesThe point about fire alarms is that they go off while the fire can still be put out. Somerset’s players skedaddled away from the Riverside before lunch on Wednesday with a draw in their results column and eight points gained from the match. Durham received ten points for their efforts. At which point even the most passionate former inhabitant of the Stragglers’ Bar might offer a polite cough and a wry smile. The reassuring thing for Somerset supporters was that Chris Rogers would understand that reaction only too well.Heavy overnight rain and a mid-morning shower put paid to any chance of play on the final day of this match. Somerset’s skipper admitted that, on balance, his relief at not having to face Chris Rushworth and Graham Onions outweighed his disappointment at losing two days’ cricket.”We want to challenge ourselves and we want to get better but it was probably a relief to us in many respects because we were behind in the game and it was going to be hard work, particularly against Rushworth and Onions in that last innings,” said Rogers. “On the other hand, it would have been a useful opportunity to see where we’re at.”The more caustic West Country critics might be quick to tell Rogers where they think his team is “at” but they might be wisely advised to listen to what else he had to say. For example, here is his assessment of Somerset’s performance in a game in which they were bowled out for 179 and in which Durham were 53 for 1 after ten overs in their first innings and – the real horror show – 72 for 0 after 11 overs in their second.”Our fielding was top class and our attitude was top class but we disappointed with the new ball and that’s pretty unforgivable at Durham in the first game of the season. But the guys who had that ball in their hands will know that and they will get better. We found it hard with the bat and lost wickets in groups. Then we were shown that it was possible to stick around by our Nos. 7 and 9.”Given the limitations placed on Rogers by the fact that his comments were for public consumption, there is not too much skipper-speak in them. If he described the new-ball bowling as “unforgivable” outside the dressing room one wonders what adjectives he attached to it in private.Rogers is a fighter and he wants to lead a team of players with similar dispositions. He will be delighted to welcome the Overtons back for the game against Surrey at The Oval a week on Sunday. This is him on the challenge of facing Durham’s seamers on the first evening and second morning of this game.”I loved being back in the fight. To be up at Durham against Rushworth and Onions is probably as tough as it gets and I thought I was coming out at the other end of it when I was run out. These things happen. There were a couple of glances at Peter as I was walking off but I’ve done it to other people too, so you just have to cop that on the chin.”And so he did. But he will not be deceived by that return of eight points. One imagines there are some things Rogers will take on the chin and others which he will refuse to accept.”I’ve learned a lot about the guys and there is plenty to work on,” he said. “There is a lot of talent in the squad but how they put that into practice out in the middle is going to be our challenge. Every game’s going to be tough but it comes down to us. We didn’t get it right in this match but it’s a long season.”

After a long summer of drama, Joao Felix joined Barcelona on loan from Atletico Madrid and the Atleti president has now spoken about Felix's future.

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Felix wanted by Barca on permanent transferAtleti ready to sell playerPermanent deal will be difficult for BarcaGetty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?

The Portuguese international actively pursued a transfer to the Blaugrana, waiting until the final day to complete his ideal move and even consenting to a large pay cut in order to facilitate the deal. Felix made an immediate impression upon arriving, getting off to a great start in his Barca career by both scoring and setting up goals, and soon solidifying his place in the starting lineup. According to recent reports, the Catalan side hopes to recruit the Portuguese on a permanent basis in the summer of 2024.

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Whether or not Atleti are ready to sell Felix to their rivals, a permanent agreement will be difficult to achieve because Barcelona will reportedly to spend at least €105 million (£92m/$113m) in order to sign Joao Felix and Joao Cancelo in the upcoming summer.

WHAT CEREZO SAID

"Joao Felix will be one of the best players in Europe, I wish him all the best at Barca," said Cerezo to COPE Partidazo. "He’s on loan there but if Barca wants to sign Joao on a permanent deal, they’ll have the option to make it happen for sure. Otherwise, he will return."

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(C)Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR FELIX?

Felix has been called up to the Portugal national team for their European Championship qualifiers against Liechtenstein and Iceland. He will then rejoin his club for their clash against Rayo Vallecano on November 25.

South Africa put in a clinical all-round performance in the third-place play-off of the Under-19 World Cup, thrashing New Zealand by eight wickets in Townsville

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Aug-2012
ScorecardDavid Rhoda (left) ran through the lower half of New Zealand’s line-up•ICC/GettySouth Africa put in a clinical all-round performance in the third-place play-off of the Under-19 World Cup, thrashing New Zealand by eight wickets in Townsville. First, after New Zealand chose to bat, South Africa routed them for 90, and then chased down the target in less than 15 overs.New Zealand were in trouble straightaway, with left-arm quick Jan Frylinck picking up two in two balls in the second over of the match. And they never recovered. Calvin Savage ran through the rest of the top order, finishing with three wickets in four overs, while David Rhoda scythed through the tail. The innings’ top scorer was No. 7 Connor Neynens with just 21, and five batsmen were dismissed for ducks.South Africa opener Quinton de Kock scored a rapid fifty to all but seal the chase, and after he was dismissed – for 50 off 43 balls with nine fours – Theunis de Bruyn knocked off 19 of nine to finish the game with all of 212 deliveries to spare.

Zimbabwe have announced a strong A side to face New Zealand in the two-day warm-up match at the Bulawayo Athletic Club, which starts on October 28

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Oct-2011Zimbabwe have announced a strong A side to face New Zealand in the two-day warm-up match at the Bulawayo Athletic Club, which starts on October 28. All but one of the group have international experience, with seamer Mike Chinouya the only player not to have represented the national side.Chinouya has, however, been picked twice for Zimbabwe A and played in one of the four-day matches against the visiting New Zealand A side in October last year. He picked up four wickets in the match and played against the likes of Martin Guptill, Dean Brownlie, Chris Martin and Graeme Aldridge, who are all in New Zealand’s Test squad.Tino Mawoyo will captain the Zimbabweans, and the match will allow several players likely to be included in the Test side with a valuable warm-up. It will also provide seamers Chinouya, Ed Rainsford, Njabulo Ncube and Shingirai Masakadza – who has not played for Zimbabwe since the World Cup in India – with a chance to push for selection.Zimbabwe A squad Tinotenda Mawoyo (Capt), Elton Chigumbura, Mike Chinouya, Hamilton Masakadza, Shingirai Masakadza, Natsai Mushangwe, Forster Mutizwa, Njabulo Ncube, Edward Rainsford, Vusimuzi Sibanda, Tatenda Taibu, Malcolm Waller.

ESPNcricinfo previews the third ODI between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Dubai

The Preview by Siddhartha Talya17-Nov-2011Match factsFriday, November 18
Start time 1500 (1100 GMT)Mahela Jayawardene is just 13 runs away from reaching 10,000 runs in ODIs•AFPBig PictureSri Lanka’s first victory on this tour of the UAE would come as a relief for them not merely for the fact that they broke a winless run. The win also marked a return to form for Mahela Jayawardene, whose struggles with the bat this tour have been a setback for a team that is heavily reliant on a core group of experienced batsmen that includes him.Equally encouraging was the performance of their bowlers, who’ve collectively fallen short of matching a superior Pakistan attack but have been able to improve their chances with the return of Lasith Malinga for the limited-overs games. The series level 1-1, Sri Lanka have the confidence and the players in form they need to press ahead and put behind them the defeat in the Tests and the capitulation in the first ODI.Pakistan will be disappointed they were bowled out in 46.3 overs in a chase they could have sealed, thanks to Umar Akmal’s own return to form. He made 91 and was looking good in the company of the middle-order batsmen who chipped in with useful contributions, but didn’t do enough to secure a win. Abdul Razzaq, Sarfraz Ahmed and Shahid Afridi were set, yet failed to see their team through. Pakistan are still favourites to take this series but Sri Lanka’s renewed confidence could make that task significantly tougher.Form guidePakistan: LWWWW
Sri Lanka: WLWLWWatch out for…He was once a batting allrounder but the role has reversed for Thisara Perera, who opens the bowling and bats at No.8. His onslaught against Zaheer Khan in the World Cup 2011 final is a reminder that he has much to offer with the bat. He’s useful with the ball with his variations in pace. He was included in this series as a replacement for the injured Dhammika Prasad, and will want to seize this opportunity to keep his place. He hasn’t started too badly, with an economical 2 for 30 in nine overs in Sri Lanka’s win.Abdul Razzaq has been around for a while, but he’s still only 31 and a big all-round asset for Pakistan. In a strong bowling line-up, his role has been limited – his last 10-over spell came in November 2009 and as far as opportunities with the bat are concerned, even more so. Though no one would question his ability, a strong all-round performance remains due. With Shoaib Malik also in the squad, he does face competition.Team newsPakistan don’t have any compelling reasons to make changes to their side but perhaps they could give Junaid Khan a go, following his impressive show in the Tests.Pakistan (possible): 1 Mohammad Hafeez, 2 Imran Farhat, 3 Younis Khan, 4 Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), 5 Umar Akmal, 6 Abdul Razzaq, 7 Shahid Afridi, 8 Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), 9 Umar Gul, 10 Saeed Ajmal, 11 Aizaz Cheema/Junaid Khan.Chanaka Welegedera has been drafted into the Sri Lankan squad in place of an injured Suranga Lakmal, who didn’t play the previous game. However, it remains to be seen if Welegedara plays tomorrow.Sri Lanka (possible): 1 Upul Tharanga, 2 Tillakaratne Dilshan (capt), 3 Kumar Sangakkara (wk), 4 Dinesh Chandimal, 5 Mahela Jayawardene, 6 Angelo Mathews, 7 Jeevan Mendis, 8 Thisara Perera, 9 Lasith Malinga, 10 Seekkuge Prasanna, 11 Dilhara Fernando.Stats and trivia Mahela Jayawardene is 13 runs short of 10,000 runs in ODIs and 46 runs short of reaching the same landmark in Tests. He’ll become the ninth batsman to reach that landmark in ODIs. Quotes”I think 230-250 would be a par score these days with the new rules.”

Sri Lanka have failed thrice in finals of limited-overs world events since 2007, and fans are growing weary of the bridesmaids label

Andrew Fernando17-Sep-2012Overview
Sri Lanka enter the World Twenty20 under more pressure to win the title than usual, and this is only partly because they are hosts. They have failed the final test thrice in limited-overs world events since 2007, and fans are growing weary of the bridesmaids label. The team will assert that they have done well to make it so far, so often, and given their lack of consistency between major tournaments, they may be right – but that does not dim the agony of being repeatedly pipped at the finish.Even now, some lament the 2011 World Cup final and dwell on the could-have-beens. Perhaps unfairly. There is not much grace for a team who have performed to expectation in crunch games. But their best was not good enough against better teams in previous finals. Unless Sri Lanka can lift their performance to get their hands on that trophy, they will underwhelm fans at home.The team is also coming into the end of a transition phase, with the young players in the side now showing more skill and maturity. Thisara Perera has been on the forefront of that transformation with the ball, while Angelo Mathews is on the way to becoming one of the game’s best finishers. Others like Shaminda Eranga and Dilshan Munaweera will find the current set up a much more stable atmosphere to settle into and than it was twelve months ago when the team was in the middle of a post-World Cup funk. With Mahela Jayawardene set to reassess his captaincy in January, the youngsters must come into their own and reassure the fans that the path ahead is a bright one. What better stage to do that than at a big tournament at home?Key players Mahela Jayawardene has plenty to ponder even before the tournament has begun. He is largely responsible for Akila Dananjaya’s elevation to the national team, but when and how should the 18-year-old be used in a manner that will both aid Sri Lanka in the short term and promote Dananjaya’s own development? Beyond Dananjaya, how to manage an attack that relies partly on its uniqueness to be effective, against opponents who may have grown wise to its wiles?In addition to all this, as the team’s best Twenty20 batsman, Jayawardene must also ensure his own game is on song. If Munaweera opens alongside Tillakaratne Dilshan, he will have to play telling innings from a less-favoured batting position.Surprise package Shaminda Eranga has shown capacity to impress on a variety of surfaces, and Sri Lanka will require that of their bowlers, as they will have to do well at all three venues if they are to go deep into the tournament. His movement will help at the seam-friendly venues and his pace off the pitch will be handy in Colombo in the knockout matches, if Sri Lanka get that far.Weakness The lower middle order has been Sri Lanka’s downfall in limited-overs cricket in recent years, and this tournament shows no signs of reversing that trend. Kumar Sangakkara provides much-needed solidity to the batting from three or four, but aggression is not his game, and with either Lahiru Thirimanne or Dinesh Chandimal set to follow him to the crease, Sri Lanka run the risk of playing one too many accumulators. As was the case in the warm-up match against India, the finishers could be left with too much to do.World T20 history Sri Lanka’s best World Twenty20 tournament was in 2009, where a varied attack took them to the final, which they lost to Pakistan. In 2007 they faltered in the Super Eights, while in 2010, they lost a semi final to eventual champions England.Recent form In the three Twenty20s Sri Lanka have played in 2012, they have lost two, and won one, but given the infrequency of matches, perhaps their one-day form is a better indicator. They lost four of the five ODIs in a home bilateral series against India, though they had good outings against Pakistan in June and in Australia earlier in the year.

Inter Miami have officially set their first preseason friendly on the calendar, with a match against the national team of El Salvador on the books.

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Inter Miami schedule preseason friendlySet to take on El Salvador national teamRumors of River Plate friendly followWHAT HAPPENED?

January 19 will see the Herons return to the pitch for the first time in 2024, with Messi and co. taking on Los Cuscatlecos. The match will be played on the road in San Salvador at the Estadio Cuscatlán, one day before the USMNT take on Slovenia in Texas in an international friendly. In addition to the El Salvador friendly, the Herons have also been linked with a match against Argentine powerhouse River Plate Thursday, that comes on top of previous rumors of matches against Al-Hilal and Newells Old Boys.

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With the match being played one day before the USMNT take the pitch, both Gregg Berhalter and Tata Martino will have to make a decision on where Benjamin Cremaschi and Deandre Yedlin go. The young attacker made his international debut in a friendly in September against Oman, but is not yet cap-tied due to not competing in an official competitive match. Yedlin, meanwhile, has been on the outskirts of the program of late, but could feature in January due to it not being an official FIFA window.

WHAT INTER MIAMI SAID

“We’re excited to start announcing our preseason plans and preparations ahead of a thrilling 2024 campaign. We look forward to facing the El Salvador national team in what will be a good first test for our squad against the best players from the country,” said Chief Soccer Officer and Sporting Director Chris Henderson.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR INTER MIAMI

The Herons will make their official return to the pitch on January 19, but in terms of build up until then, Inter Miami are in offseason mode. They'll go about planning roster additions, contracts and preparation for the 2024 MLS Draft, but more than anything, it's a small break from a congested schedule.