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O confronto entre Fortaleza e São Paulo guardou boas emoções para quem acompanhou a partida no Castelão. Em jogo de seis gols e duas expulsões, as equipes empataram em 3 a 3, e mostraram que a vaga para as quartas de final da Copa do Brasil vai ser disputada em grande estilo. O duelo de volta será realizado na capital paulista, no dia 25 de outubro.

Quem gosta de bom futebol não teve do que reclamar na noite desta quarta. Tanto Fortaleza como São Paulo tiveram um desempenho em alta intensidade e protagonizaram um duelo interessante no Castelão. Teve gol de fora da área, gol de jogada trabalhada, gol de bola parada, gol de cruzamento, expulsão e boas oportunidades para os dois lados. O LANCE! te conta como foi a partida.

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>Veja como estão os confrontos da Copa do Brasil

Primeiro tempo em grande estilo
O início de jogo no Castelão foi dos melhores possíveis. Em casa, o Fortaleza logo saiu na frente em um lance de escanteio. O são-paulino Daniel Alves deixou Paulão subir sozinho para cabecear, Volpi fez boa defesa, mas a bola sobrou na pequena área para o atacante David. O São Paulo não demorou a empatar com Brenner aproveitando jogada de Reinaldo pela esquerda e passe de Gabriel Sara.

O time de Rogério Ceni seguiu com a intensidade de costume e não demorou para voltar a ter vantagem no marcador. O lateral Tinga arrancou praticamente o campo inteiro, a marcação abriu espaço e o jogador encheu o pé para marcar o segundo do Fortaleza. O goleiro Tiago Volpi ainda tentou chegar na bola, mas não conseguiu.

No fim da etapa inicial, o São Paulo trabalhou uma jogada com muita qualidade. Gabriel Sara recebeu de costas para o gol, fez o pivô e esperou Igor Vinícius passar em velocidade para dar o passe de calcanhar. O lateral entrou na área e cruzou rasteiro, na medida, para Luciano voltar a colocar a igualdade no placar do Castelão.

Expulsões e demora do VAR
O jogo vinha sendo equilibrado até a expulsão do goleiro Felipe Alves cometer falta claríssima em Brenner em um contra-ataque do São Paulo. O atacante do Tricolor saiu cara a cara com o adversário, fez o drible de corpo e foi derrubado. A princípio, o árbitro Rodolpho Toski Marques deu cartão amarelo, mas após consulta no VAR mudou de opinião e expulsou o atleta do Fortaleza. A paralisação na partida chegou próxima dos incríveis dez minutos.

No fim da partida, o lateral Carlinhos, do Fortaleza, demorou para sair de campo ao saber que seria substituído, bateu boca com o árbitro e foi expulso direto. O São Paulo teve praticamente 15 minutos com dois jogadores a mais em campo.

Fortaleza surpreende
Praticamente no lance seguinte ao da expulsão de Felipe Alves, o Fortaleza partiu em um rápido contra-ataque. Bem posicionado, Gabriel Dias pegou impulso, aproveitou a demora do zagueiro Diego Costa para ir ao combate e subiu alto para cabecear firme ao gol defendido por Volpi, sem chances de defesa.

Brenner salva o dia para o São Paulo
De tanto pressionar, o Tricolor do Morumbi conseguiu o empate nos acréscimos do segundo tempo. Em jogada bem trabalhada por Gabriel Sara, Daniel Alves cruzou para Luciano, o atacante errou a finalização e a bola sobrou para o oportunista Brenner estufar a rede adversária e dar números finais ao jogo no Castelão.

FICHA TÉCNICA
FORTALEZA 3×3 SÃO PAULO

Local:Castelão, em Fortaleza (CE)
Data-Hora: 14/10/2020 – 19h15
Árbitro:Rodolpho Toski Marques (PR)
Assistentes:Bruno Boschilia (PR) e Sidmar dos Santos Meurer (PR)
Público/renda:Portões Fechados
Cartões amarelos:Felipe e Rogério Ceni (Fortaleza); Reinaldo (São Paulo)
Cartões vermelhos:Felipe Alves e Carlinhos (Fortaleza); Fernando Diniz (São Paulo)

Gols: David (5’/1ºT) (1-0); Brenner (15’/1ºT) (1-1); Tinga (20’/1ºT) (2-1); Luciano (43’/1ºT) (2-2); Gabriel Dias (19’/2ºT) (3-2); Brenner (aos, 49’/2ºT)

FORTALEZA (Técnico: Rogério Ceni)
Felipe Alves; Tinga, Jackson (Roger Carvalho, aos 14’/2ºT), Paulão e Carlinhos; Felipe (Max Walef, aos 14’/2ºT), Juninho, Ronald, Gabriel Dias e Romarinho (Marlon, aos 30’/2ºT); David (Yuri César, aos 14’/2ºT).

SÃO PAULO (Técnico: Fernando Diniz)
Tiago Volpi; Igor Vinicius (Tchê Tchê, aos 6’/2ºT), Diego Costa, Bruno Alves e Reinaldo; Luan (Pablo, aos 37’/2ºT), Gabriel Sara, Daniel Alves e Igor Gomes (Paulinho Bóia, aos 37’/2ºT); Brenner e Luciano.

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has been at the club for almost two years, but a reliable journalist has shared an update on his future due to him being monitored for another job away from St. James' Park.

How have Newcastle started the season?

In the Premier League, the northeast outfit have had a mixed start to the new campaign where having won two and lost three of their opening five matches, they find themselves 12th in the top-flight table having taken six points from a possible 15.

At St. James’ Park, Howe was appointed back in November 2021 and the positive change that he’s made to the spirit around the building both on and off the pitch are clear to see, but following an underwhelming opening this term compared to the last, questions have been asked as to whether he is still the right man for the job.

According to Fabrizio Romano, the 45-year-old is currently not under immediate pressure with the owners fully supportive of his position and there isn’t any concrete update at this stage that would suggest they are thinking of relieving him of his duties.

Is Eddie Howe leaving Newcastle?

Writing in his column for CaughtOffside, however, CBS reporter Ben Jacobs named Howe as a candidate who is currently being considered by The FA for the England job should Gareth Southgate decided to step down from his position next year. He said:

"Southgate won’t be sacked. That’s not an option being considered, and rightly so in my view. It’s just a case of whether he stands down after Euro 2024. His contract expires in 2024 as it stands. The FA are already considering options.

"And Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is an interesting one to watch. The FA would love to have him. If Manchester City again dominate, could Pep be tempted by a fresh challenge?"

What is Eddie Howe's record at Newcastle?

Since joining Newcastle, Howe has taken charge of 80 games, during which he’s secured 40 wins, 20 draws and the same number of defeats, whilst averaging 1.75 points per match, via Transfermarkt, so it’s vital that the board do everything they can to retain his services.

The Wasserman client, who has a preferred formation of a 4-3-3, has also received the Premier League’s Manager of the Month award on two occasions whilst in the dugout in the northeast, and the individual recognition he's getting for his work on the sidelines is what he deserves.

The Amersham-born coach, of course, has additionally led the side back to the Champions League for the first time in 20 years and they did extremely well to secure an opening 0-0 draw against AC Milan at the San Siro on Tuesday night, so Howe being dismissed or leaving for England duty would really be a shock.

Ramdin’s 18-ball 42 the lone bright spot for West Indies as they suffer another heavy defeat to round off short Pakistan visit

The Report by Danyal Rasool03-Apr-2018
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsPakistan won with 19 balls to spare to complete a 3-0 sweep. But given how ordinary West Indies have been on tour, this was a competitive match.West Indies’ 153 could have proved handy on a different surface against another side, but in Karachi, it just didn’t seem enough against Pakistan’s firepower. Fakhar Zaman’s early onslaught – a brutal 17-ball 40 – brought the asking rate down drastically and from there on, West Indies had no answers.Babar Azam continued his rich vein of form to stroke an unbeaten 51 to go along with his 97 not out on Monday, as Pakistan won in a canter.West Indies lost Chadwick Walton for a duck but seemed to recover courtesy a 72-run stand between Marlon Samuels and Andre Fletcher. As solid as they were, what West Indies needed them was some big-hitting madness to the innings. Yet, it was a massive improvement to the shoddy batting of the previous two matches. Fletcher found his timing as the innings progressed as he top scored with 52, only for a mini-collapse to set West Indies back.It began with Shadab Khan cleaning up Samuels with another gem of a googly, the variation so well concealed that Samuels didn’t seem to realise the stumps had been rattled. Fletcher was run out following a brilliant piece of fielding – and a direct hit – from Mohammad Nawaz. The debutant Andre McCarthy top edged Shadab to long-off, while extra pace from Faheem Ashraf trapped Rovman Powell in front. 74 for 1 suddenly became 97 for 5.The last four overs proved profitable as Denesh Ramdin outwitted, outthought and outclassed Pakistan’s death bowlers. The absence of Mohammad Amir and Hasan Ali might have had something to do with that, but Usman Khan and Faheem are hardly poor substitutes. Ramdin, however, was all over them in a show of power hitting Lahore Qalandars fans will be wishing he had shown when he was with them just last month. He smashed three sixes and four fours as he surged to 42 off just 18 balls, and West Indies scored a respectable enough 153.West Indies, however, failed to carry that momentum. Fakhar’s fireworks aside, Babar was his usual consistent self, almost effortlessly cruising to another 50 as he anchored Pakistan’s chase. Rayad Emrit, who was hammered to all parts of the under-renovation National Stadium in the first two games, was West Indies best bowler on the day, conceding just 24 in four overs. Unfortunately for the Jason Mohammed’s team, however, he didn’t take any wickets, and thus West Indies were never in with a shot of defending the target.After Babar fell, new boys Hussain Talat – who has had a series to dream of – and Asif Ali took command of the chase. There was no pressure on them, really, but even so, the lack of drama with which they calmly steered the team home was impressive. In the end, it ended all too quickly as West Indies’ bowling disintegrated completely, and there’s plenty to be said about the limitations of the visitors. Today, however, the story was all about Pakistan – all about Karachi.

Dinesh Chandimal, who had led Sri Lanka in six limited-overs matches during the tour of Bangladesh, is likely to take charge in the T20I tri-series, also involving India and Bangladesh

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Feb-20183:18

The Angelo Mathews story

Angelo Mathews’ ongoing hamstring troubles have ruled him out of the Nidahas Trophy tri-nation series, which begins next week. Though nominally Sri Lanka’s limited-overs captain, he has led in only one ODI since his reinstatement in early January. Sri Lanka were led by Dinesh Chandimal in the six remaining limited-overs games on the tour of Bangladesh, and it is Chandimal again who is expected to take the reins for the T20I tri-series in Sri Lanka, also involving India and Bangladesh.There was more bad news for Sri Lanka in the approach to the tournament. Fast bowler Shehan Madushanka, who had made an impressive start to his international career in Bangladesh, has himself been ruled out by a hamstring strain he sustained in Bangladesh. Allrounder Asela Gunaratne, meanwhile, has been ruled out due to a rotator cuff strain.However, batsman Kusal Perera, who had been among the injured in Bangladesh, has played two matches for Colts Cricket Club in the ongoing domestic T20 league, and is fit enough to have been named in Sri Lanka’s provisional 20-member squad. That squad will be trimmed to 15 before the tournament begins.Mathews’ recent history of injury-layoffs does not make for encouraging reading. Since late 2016, he has missed eight out of 18 Tests, 24 of 40 ODIs, and 14 of 19 T20s. In short, he has only been available for 40% of Sri Lanka’s international fixtures. Mathews and Sri Lanka’s physios have said that this current spate of injuries is a consequence of the allrounder’s incredibly heavy workload in previous years. Mathews was one of the most active cricketers in the world between 2013 and 2016, shouldering both batting and bowling responsibilities, in addition to captaining Sri Lanka across formats.The Nidahas Trophy begins on March 6 and runs for 12 days.Sri Lanka preliminary squad: Dinesh Chandimal (capt), Upul Tharanga, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Dasun Shanaka, Kusal Perera, Thisara Perera, Jeevan Mendis, Suranga Lakmal, Niroshan Dickwella, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Isuru Udana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Akila Dananjaya, Amila Aponso, Asitha Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Nuwan Pradeep, Dushmantha Chameera, Dhananjaya de Silva

There has been a significant update in Tottenham Hotspur's pursuit of Nottingham Forest sensation, Brennan Johnson, with Ange Postecoglou and co believed to be closing in on a deal for the Wales international.

What's the latest on Brennan Johnson to Tottenham?

According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, the Lilywhites are "advancing" in their negotiations with the City Ground outfit regarding a deal for the 22-year-old, with the player himself having seemingly given his backing to the move with the deadline fast approaching.

Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE…

Writing on Twitter, the transfer guru revealed: "Negotiations between Tottenham and Nottingham Forest for Brennan Johnson are advancing! Understand deal now getting closer. No agreement in place yet but contacts ongoing to make it happen later today. Brennan’s green light to the move also there."

Would Brennan Johnson be a good signing for Tottenham?

With a touted £50m price tag, it is likely that Spurs chairman Daniel Levy will have to fork out a sizeable sum if he is to seal a deal for the former Lincoln City loanee today, albeit with the player having seemingly warranted that interest after netting eight Premier League goals last season to help ensure Forest retained their top-flight status.

Although making such a costly move so late in the day could be seen as an act of desperation to some, Levy and co have previous for securing major marquee signings on deadline day, having notably secured what proved to be a hugely successful acquisition back in September 2010, in the form of Rafael van der Vaart.

Having been snapped up from Real Madrid on an £8m deal with just a matter of hours left in that summer window, the experienced Dutchman went on to prove something of a cult figure for the north Londoners over the next two years, making an instant impact in his new surroundings.

The now-retired playmaker – who could also operate on the flanks – notably racked up 22 goal contributions in just 28 league games during his debut season at the club, while going on to register a further 11 goals and seven assists in the following Premier League campaign.

Although that 2011/12 season was to prove the end of his time in England, the contribution that the 40-year-old made during that brief spell is likely not forgotten by those of a Tottenham persuasion, with Levy having reaped the rewards for sanctioning the deal so late in the day.

While young Johnson would be arriving at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium at a different stage of his career, the hope would be that the 5 foot 10 speedster could also prove just as impactful in the final third as Van der Vaart was, having previously proved his class in the second tier with 18 goals and nine assists during the 2021/22 season.

The £30k-per-week starlet is seemingly something of a "superstar" in the making – according to ex-Forest midfielder Chris Cohen – with a move to an arguably more elite outfit potentially set to allow his exceptional talents to be truly recognised.

Much like Van der Vaart proved a difference-maker in attack just over a decade ago, Johnson could be yet another statement deadline day signing for the Lilywhites.

When looking at Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool squad over the summer, the main focus was rightly placed on welcoming midfield reinforcements, especially after the departures of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho.

The Reds, in the end, managed to solve their midfield crisis with the addition of Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo, and Ryan Gravenberch. But, in solving that problem, they placed another issue to one side – one that they could revisit come the January transfer window.

That problem, of course, is their defensive depth, with the likes of Joe Gomez and Joel Matip suffering regularly from injury problems without other options to step up in their place. With that said, according to transfer insider Dean Jones, Liverpool could join the race and beat Tottenham Hotspur to their own January target.

What has Dean Jones said?

Even after getting off to a solid start to the Premier League season, remaining unbeaten in four games with three wins to their name, Liverpool still reportedly have their eyes on January reinforcements.

Turning their attention to their defensive options, according to Jones, the Reds could battle it out with Spurs to sign Bournemouth defender Lloyd Kelly when the winter transfer window arrives.

The transfer insider told GiveMeSport, when asked about Liverpool's interest in Kelly: "Yeah, I mean, there's a possibility that Liverpool could join the race on that one.

"It's a bit of a strange situation in the way that it kind of fizzled out at the end of the transfer window, and Tottenham were obviously the hottest link to him at that point. But when you consider what Liverpool might be needing in the January transfer window as they start to tweak the squad, it wouldn't be a complete surprise at all if they were mentioned again in the Lloyd Kelly conversation."

Should Liverpool sign Lloyd Kelly?

As already mentioned, Liverpool left their defensive issues to one side in the summer due to their midfield concerns. The fact is, however, they do not have enough depth within their backline.

As things stand, if Klopp has just four central defenders to choose from, and three of those have had injury issues during their Liverpool careers, as shown by how many games they missed last season, as per Transfermarkt.

Player

Games Missed Last Season

Virgil van Dijk

7

Ibrahima Konate

15

Joel Matip

5

Joe Gomez

5

So, welcoming another defensive option could prove to be crucial when it comes to whether Liverpool can return to the Premier League's top four at the first time of asking. The fact that Kelly can play both as a left-back and centre-back, too, means that he could be an ideal choice.

At his best, the Bournemouth man has earned plenty of praise, including from former manager Gary O'Neil, who said, via the Bournemouth Echo, after the Cherries defeated Liverpool last season: “I thought Lloyd was incredible. I think he had a 12-week ankle injury followed by a six-week calf injury.

"Didn't have much time in between, and then came back today having not trained much, to play left back against one of the best wingers in the world. I thought he showed everything, the potential he has to be a top defender. I thought it was a very, very impressive performance against a top attacker.”

تحدث خالد الدرندلي نائب رئيس اتحاد الكرة المصري، عن مباراة منتخب مصر أمام بوركينا فاسو، التي جمعت بينهما الخميس الماضي في تصفيات إفريقيا المؤهلة لـ كأس العالم، موضحاً سبب تأجيل سفر الفراعنة إلى غينيا بيساو.

وحقق منتخب مصر فوزًا صعبًا على بوركينا فاسو بهدفين مقابل هدف، ضمن مباريات الجولة الثالثة من تصفيات كأس العالم 2026.

وقال خالد الدرندلي في تصريحات عبر قناة “إم بي سي مصر 2”: “البداية جيدة أمام بوركينا فاسو ومتفائلين أن القادم سيكون أفضل”.

طالع أيضاً.. ميدو يشيد بـ تريزيجيه ويختار الثلاثي الكبار للمنتخب الأولمبي.. ويعد لاعبًا بـ200 ألف جنيه

وأضاف: “أول مباراة لحسام حسن مع المنتخب، لكن اللاعبين لم يكونوا قادرين على التدريب لمدة ثلاثة أيام، يوجد محترفون خارج مصر وكات هناك فترة راحة، الشوط الأول كان رائعًا وهذا يدل على أنه كان هناك حماس، والشوط الثاني كان لا يوجد تناغم قوي”.

وتابع: “أعتبر أننا في معسكر مستمر، كلما كان المنتخب واللاعبين مع بعضهم لفترة طويلة سيكون هناك تناغم أكثر”.

لماذا تم تأجيل السفر لمدة 24 ساعة؟ أجاب: “الإقامة هناك صعبة جدًا، كما أنه صعب خوض تدريب خفيف بعد مباراة بوركينا فاسو، وغدًا سيكون هناك مران قبل السفر، وفي غينا بيساو لا نحتاج أكثر من يوم للتدريب”. وأتم: “الجمهور كان مثاليًا ومنظمًا أمام بوركينا فاسو وابتدوا يعودون مرة أخرى للملاعب ولمنتخب مصر، ونريد من الجماهير أن تأتي من أجل التشجيع وليس للمشاهدة فقط نريد حماسًا أكثر”.

Newcastle United will travel to Bramall Lane on Sunday to face Sheffield United in the Premier League before welcoming Burnley to Tyneside the following weekend.

Forthcoming fixtures against newly-promoted opposition; a chance – with victory clinched against Brentford last time out – to put together a three-match winning streak to fully restore the feel-good factor on Tyneside after a challenging start to the campaign that left Eddie Howe's side nursing three successive defeats after a 5-1 win over Aston Villa hinted at such promise.

That's not to say the Magpies are in the mud, far from it. A minor blip does not erase the remarkable feats of the past 18 months or so, with Howe lifting the club away from relegation danger and now fighting for silver-laden success, having defied expectations with a top-four finish last term, despite the lucrative PIF club takeover.

AC Milan presented United with their first continental test of the season, with the Premier League outfit emerging from the San Siro with a point to start off their group phase.

It was an impressive result, all things considered, but the performance itself left little to be admired from an attacking standpoint, with £63m club-record signing Alexander Isak flattering to deceive.

How did Alexander Isak play against AC Milan?

Newcastle, frankly, got battered for large portions of the affair in Italy earlier this week. Despite demonstrating their quality on the ball and definitely proving to be the more energetic and high-octane team, Milan unleashed 25 shots on Nick Pope's goal compared to just six strikes from Howe's men.

Isak led the line for all of 89 minutes but was not among those to test Mike Maignan between the sticks, nullified by a resolute and solid home defence, who left him "knackered" by the time of his withdrawal, according to presenter Kev Lawson.

Isak game vs AC Milan by numbers

Statistic (Sofascore)

Match score

6.5

Goals

0

Assists

0

Total shots taken

0

Key passes

1

Pass completion

89% (17/19)

Dribble success rate

20% (1/5)

Duels won

42% (5/12)

As clearly delineated by the 24-year-old's listed metrics on the night, he endured a forgettable affair and found very little success, effectively marshalled.

While he did drop deep and look to influence the play from the centre of the pitch, he failed to do anything of note with his possession – which is why his pass success rate, which looks impressive on face value, actually doesn't work in his favour given that he failed to carry the ball into positive openings and didn't strike on goal himself.

Should Eddie Howe start Alexander Isak?

Isak was impressive last season and tantalised a future of prolific success on Tyneside, and that's despite suffering an injury-hit campaign.

Indeed, the £120k-per-week phenom posted ten goals and two assists in the Premier League despite only starting 17 times, heralded for his "complete" attacking abilities by former Willem II coach Adrie Koster.

Blighted by issues that sidelined him for 16 matches, the 6 foot 3 machine looks to have found his full fitness this season, and while he scored twice on the opening day of the term, against Unai Emery's Villa, he has yet to net again, starting four times since.

Undoubtedly, the goals will come sooner rather than later, but it might be wise for Howe to remove him from the starting line-up and offer someone else a chance to impress.

The same could be said for £55m summer signing Sandro Tonali, with the Italian midfielder – who was signed from AC Milan – "struggling to impact" the contest against his former side in the Champions League, according to Craig Hope.

A talented playmaker – who ranks among the top 12% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues for assists per 90 – he has not quite hit the ground running despite scoring on his debut, and might also receive a relegation to the bench in the short-term.

Who could replace Alexander Isak?

Clearly, if Isak doesn't start as Newcastle's focal point up top then there is only one man tailor-made to lead the line and do so with a flourish.

Callum Wilson has been superb since joining Newcastle from Bournemouth for £20m in the summer of 2020, scoring 41 goals and supplying ten assists from just 81 matches since his arrival.

Last season, he scored no less than 18 goals from just 21 starting appearances in the Premier League, also registering five assists and earning praise for his "clinical edge" by editor Andrew Musgrove.

And after bagging three times in the Premier League already this term – despite only starting the recent win over Brentford, where his penalty proved decisive – the 31-year-old does indeed appear to have that sharpness to propel the Toon back into form.

As per FBref, Wilson – who just recently signed a contract extension with the St. James' Park side – ranks among the top 6% of forwards across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals and the top 9% for assists per 90.

When comparing that with Isak, who ranks among the top 25% of forwards for goals and the bottom 21% for assists per 90, it's clear to see who offers the more clinical attacking edge.

Of course, the Swede is far more dynamic and boasts a higher ceiling, not just because of his youth but the range of his talents – also ranking among the top 16% for progressive passes, the top 11% for progressive carries and the top 6% for successful take-ons per 90.

But given that Wilson has yet to receive successive starts in the Premier League this season and boasts an impressive record against both Burnley and the Blades – with eight goals and an assist from 16 matches against the two teams combined – Howe might be wise to offer him a shot as the star man up front.

Isak might be a formidable force but he has not quite clicked into gear this season, and with Wilson possessing that Midas touch in attack under Howe's stewardship, he must be provided with a starting berth going forward.

ScorecardSam Hain’s 144 on England Lions debut went in vain as the visitors narrowly failed to chase down their target against West Indies A in the first of three unofficial ODIs. Warwickshire batsman Hain and Matt Parkinson were involved in an extraordinary last-wicket partnership of 102 but, with six required from the final three balls, Roston Chase had Hain well held on the boundary to snatch victory away.The Lions had been struggling in pursuit of 273 after slipping to 128 for 8 and 165 for 9. Aside from Hain, only Nick Gubbins made double-figures among the top order, as Keemo Paul ripped through the middle order.No. 10 Richard Gleeson stopped the procession, scoring 13 in a partnership of 37 in nine overs, as Hain went to his fifty from 56 balls. He then picked up the pace, while keeping the majority of the strike, during a remarkable stand with Parkinson – bringing up his century from his 94th delivery – but fell looking for a six to long-on that would have sealed the game.The West Indies A innings was based around Jermaine Blackwood’s 99, with useful contributions from Andre McCarthy and Rahkeem Cornwall. Four of the Lions bowlers claimed two wickets apiece, with Parkinson’s 2 for 33 from 10 overs the pick.The innings began in unusual fashion, with opener Chanderpaul Hemraj retiring hurt without facing a ball. That brought in No. 3 Blackwood early, and he proceeded to a 77-ball fifty, putting on productive stands with Kieran Powell, McCarthy and Cornwall. He fell one short of his century, hitting Parkinson to short cover, but with Hemraj fit to bat lower down West Indies A were eventually dismissed two balls short of their allocation.

Fidel Edwards’ pace also caught the eye on the opening day at The Oval where almost 3000 spectators soaked up the action

Paul Edwards at Kia Oval20-Apr-2018
ScorecardPosters in tube stations are sometimes weirdly prescient. “We know what we are, but know not what we may be,” asserts a current advert for the Globe’s production of , and Ophelia’s words seemed curiously apt on Friday morning as one exchanged a fetid underland for Kennington’s rather cleaner air. On Thursday the uncertain prospect of hundred-ball cricket in 2020 had been all our rage. Hours later spectators at The Oval – around three thousand of them this Friday stolen from June – watched in perfect absorption, though nothing like content, as Surrey were dismissed for 211 by Hampshire, whose batsmen reached 52 for the loss of both openers and nightwatchman Chris Wood by the close.The Saturday papers may still label it “the visitors’ day” but such an outcome had not seemed at all likely until Surrey squandered their last six wickets for 24 runs immediately after tea. Four of those wickets fell to Liam Dawson in successive overs from the Vauxhall End but the collapse had begun with the first ball of the session when Ollie Pope played across the line to Kyle Abbott and was sent on his way by Steve O’Shaughnessy, the batsman dismissed by a delivery whose only virtue was its straightness. Pope had played well for his 34 but was plainly not infallible, which some may see as letting the side down.But the youngster’s misjudgement was quickly followed by more grievous errors, some of them committed by cricketers who know better. Sam Curran drove Dawson to Wood at mid-off and Rikki Clarke brainlessly lifted the same bowler to the same safe hands at long on. In between these lapses, Ben Foakes, who had stroked the ball with polished ease for 46, was leg before to a quicker arm-ball. Dawson and Fidel Edwards disposed of the tail and the home side’s profligacy was complete.The extent of the wastefulness became plain when one recalled that four of Surrey’s top six had done the groundwork necessary for a major innings and had effected a recovery from a poor start. For in the first six overs of the day the home side had lost Mark Stoneman and Scott Borthwick, both of whom were pinned leg before by Fidel Edwards’ inswingers. Rory Burns and Dean Elgar viewed those early wickets quite properly as proof that caution was needed and the pair batted with Puritan restraint in taking their side to 83 for 2 at lunch.In the interval hundreds of spectators wandered out and inspected the wicket. They did so in the manner of benevolent landlords returning to demesnes they had not visited for some time.Surrey’s third-wicket pair maintained their vigilance into the afternoon session. Then Burns was dismissed for 46 when an authentic glance off Edwards was neatly pouched by Sam Northeast who had been precisely placed at leg slip. It was a fine piece of cricketing craft, much finer at any rate than the inelegant and uncharacteristic slash which Elgar played to a wide ball from Wood, the edge being taken by McManus. That wicket left Surrey on 114 for 4 but Foakes and Pope’s 73-run stand repaired the innings until Dawson recalled the heyday of Peter Sainsbury and began to wheel away after tea.One’s mind turned briefly from a fine slow left-armer to the more immediate changes about to affect the English game. In two years’ time we shall be assailed by hundreds of balls and who knows what the penalty may be for non-compliance with the ECB’s trend hounds? “They say the owl was a baker’s daughter” muses Ophelia as she reflects upon the penalties for disobedience.For the moment, though, let us enjoy the County Championship. For on the day Surrey banned single-use plastics from The Oval, cricket’s older format again proved yet again that it should not be carelessly discarded. May your God be at your table this season but you had better make haste. Hampshire’s cricketers are already tucking in.