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BBC News
2 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
One-Day Cup - Surrey suffer record loss to Essex
Surrey suffered a record One-Day Cup defeat as Essex thumped them by 244 runs at asked the hosts to bat first and watched Essex rack up 417-6 with Ireland all-rounder Curtis Campher hitting a career-best 123 off only 68 balls on debut. Then young 19-year-old Charlie Bennett took 5-36 as Surrey were bowled out for 171 with 12.2 overs to Rapids went top of Group A with a four-wicket win away to Derbyshire Falcons, while Hampshire moved into the top three with a commanding seven-wicket success over Leicestershire Group B, Middlesex made it three wins in a row with a 28-run win over Warwickshire in a maiden List A century from Northamptonshire Steelbacks' James Sales was the foundation of their 150-run victory at Durham. Group A - Campher makes instant impact Previously winless Essex were asked to bat at a sun-baked Chelmsford, and promptly smashed an inexperienced Surrey attack to all parts for their record One-Day Critchley made 58 at the top of the order and Luc Benkenstein hit 83, but it was the partnership between Campher and Simon Harmer that provided the added 175 in under 16 overs as Campher, in the first of just three games for Essex in this competition, walloped 12 fours and six sixes in his highest-ever List A score off only 68 balls, with Harmer equalling his best in this format with were never in a position to threaten Essex's mammoth total with Cameron Steel's 49 the only modicum of took 5-36 in only his fourth game at this level as Essex put a seal on their remarkable 244-run result was record defeat for Surrey in the competition, and they sit second bottom of Group A with one win from four are now top of the group with three wins and a tie, but they were under pressure when Derbyshire's Caleb Jewell and Matthew Montgomery were the grounds of Repton School, their 150-run partnership took them to 196-1 in the 32nd Australian Jewell went for 113 and Montgomery eight short of his century as Derbyshire slipped to 315 all out, crucially with 17 balls not used up as Ben Allison and Khurram Shahzad claimed three wickets Rapids were soon 11-2, but Brett D'Oliveira and Jake Libby (69) turned things around with a stand of 183.D'Oliveira was eventually out for a personal-best score of 138 off 118 balls to leave Worcestershire 272-5, but 19-year-old Daniel Lategan on debut steered his side home on 42 not out by four wickets with 11 balls to made it three wins out of four with a strong display to see off Leicestershire Foxes at the Rose visitors batted first, but were kept in check by some fine bowling from South Africa seamer Kyle Abbott up top as he eventually finished with Budinger (65), Shan Masood (57) and Ben Cox (55) all passed 50, but the Foxes were eventually bowled out for 252 in the penultimate reply, a magnificent opening stand of 202 between Ali Orr and captain Nick Gubbins set up the went for 81, and although Orr perished for a terrific 131 in sight of the winning line, Hampshire completed their seven-wicket success with 6.3 overs to spare. Group B - Hollman spins Middlesex to win Middlesex's momentum in this competition continues to grow with a third win in six days as they moved level on points with Yorkshire and Somerset at the top of Group was not going to plan at halfway after batting first against Warwickshire as they were bowled out for 217, with Jake Lintott taking 5-37 with his left-arm spin. But it was a sign of things to come as Luke Hollman's best figures of 4-27 led the way, as the hosts lost seven wickets to spin to be all out for 189Middlesex captain Ben Geddes was the top scorer in that match with 48, only two days after his side had enjoyed a record run-chase in the One-Day Cup of 390-5. After being on the end of that chase, Durham suffered another damaging home decided to bat first at Banks Homes Riverside and finished on a more than respectable Sales made 117 - his first century in this format and smashing his previous top score of 35 not out - as he shared century stands of 119 with New Zealand batter Tim Robinson (63) and 102 with Justin Broad (59).That total proved more than enough for the Steelbacks as two wickets each for Luke Procter and Luke Guthrie reduced Durham to there, the innings subsided with Durham eventually out for 171 in only the 32nd was a first win in the competition for Northants but a bad result for the hosts, who missed the chance to go level on points with the teams at the top of the group.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Fading force Manchester City unable to re-create past glories
By Charlie Bennett at Wembley Stadium If there was a moment that encapsulates Manchester City's season, it came in the 85th minute of this FA Cup final. Trailing 1-0 but on top and sensing blood, the ball broke kindly on the edge of the box to the one player they would have wanted: Kevin de Bruyne – club captain, all-time City legend and one of the best players English football has seen . It was not a clear-cut chance, perhaps even a half-chance at best, but City have, for so long, mastered 'the moment'. Be it Aguero, Rodri or De Bruyne himself, the past decade of English football is littered with iconic City moments just when it looked like it wouldn't come at all. Like United in their pomp, City have a history of playing with their food. They can stink the house out but you would still expect them to score, to rescue victory from the jaws of defeat. And with De Bruyne standing there, in his last Cup final in his final season at the club, it seemed, just for a split second, that another highlight-reel City moment was inevitable. However, instead of lashing the ball low and hard past a despairing Dean Henderson, De Bruyne mis-kicked it. The ball caught the outside of his right boot, and curled wide of the right post. Henderson dived but it felt like that was more out of respect for the legend who hit it than concern the ball might actually end up in the net. With that, the moment and the match had gone. 🗣️ "I want to play good football"Kevin De Bruyne discusses his future plans and says "maybe" when asked if he could move to another team in the Premier League 🎙️ — Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 17, 2025 It summed up a season that will end without a domestic trophy for the first time in eight years. And it sums up the demise of a player who for so long was regarded as the best midfielder in the Premier League but is now being let go by a club who no longer wants him. De Bruyne's once-great powers have faded – much like the club he represents. "It was sad we couldn't win it for him,' said midfielder Bernardo Silva. 'We wanted to give him this, he deserves it so it's a bit sad. I can't imagine achieving all this success without him. "He is a good friend of mine, I'm sad to see him go. I hoped and wished he would stay longer but this is life. I wish him all the best.' City can't afford to mope. Tuesday brings perhaps an even bigger game, as City host Bournemouth knowing they simply must win in the race for Champions League qualification. Amid a season that has been plagued by injury and a collective loss of form, it's no surprise Pep Guardiola is quick to look to the future. Four signings arrived in January, with perhaps another half dozen this summer. A rebuild is coming, and an expensive one at that. But if his City 2.0 is going to be successful, Guardiola needs to find a solution to the counter-attack, which was again their Achillies' heel here. Eberechi Eze's 15th-minute goal, which proved to be the winner, was Palace's first attack of the game. The Eagles sat back, defended diligently, and then sprung into life when the opportunity arose. City's ageing team could not cope with their pace or power, and Eze was there to sweep a first-time effort into the bottom corner from a Daniel Munoz cross. City huffed and puffed thereafter and missed plenty of golden chances, including an Omar Marmoush first-half penalty. Guardiola chastised his team after last season's FA Cup final defeat to Manchester United but heaped praise on them here. How times – and standards – have changed. Simply, iconic. #EmiratesFACup — Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) May 17, 2025 'With 11 Palace players in the box, we created a lot,' he said. 'I think we have fixed our defensive issues in the last month. We always scored a lot but conceded too many. We have changed that, we have conceded five goals in nine games. 'We know we have to score, it's not easy against 11 players all in the box but we gave learned from many years, we need good crosses, good players in the box. 'I thought the game was similar to the Southampton game [0-0 draw last week], we need our wingers wide and taking players on one-on-one. 'The first 10 minutes of the second half, Savinho was really good and then Jeremy Doku was really good all game as always. 'We had Erling Haaland and Omar waiting for the second balls. The chances were there, they took away our rhythm with wasting time, but we had chances.' It was notable that when Guardiola turned to the bench to change the game in the second half, he threw on Argentine midfielder Claudio Echeverri for a first-team debut – not Jack Grealish, Ilkay Gundogan or Matheus Nunes. 'I know it's the FA Cup and the others have played more and deserve to be there, but Claudio moves really well. He finds something,' he added. The sentiment could not have been more clear - out with the old, and in with the new. At City, the moment for change has come.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Farrell challenges 2025 Lions to be remembered forever after announcing squad
By Charlie Bennett Andy Farrell has deliberated, ruminated, twisted and turned in the 18 months since he was announced as Head Coach. But at last – in front of a packed Indigo Arena at the O2 – he revealed his 2025 British & Irish Lions squad: 21 forwards, 17 backs and unlimited talking points. From three-tour veterans to Lions debutants, 35-year-old Bundee Aki to 20-year-old Henry Pollock, Farrell has picked a squad he hopes will be 'remembered forever' as they target a second straight Test series win against Australia this summer. Of his 38 players, 15 are from Ireland, 13 from England, eight from Scotland and two from Wales, all finding out simultaneously with the rest of the world as Lions Chairman Ieuan Evans read the squad alphabetically. The only player with any inkling was Maro Itoje, announced as Tour Captain for what will be his third Lions Tour, becoming the first Englishman to hold the armband in 24 years. 'What you are after more than anything as a coach is the right balance, the right blend and set standards,' Farrell said. 'You can see throughout the squad they will be vying for respect and that is what it is about, respect from your peers. These are the best of the best and you want to be remembered forever.' Your Lions 2025 squad 🦁📋 #Lions2025 #WeGoBeyond — British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) May 8, 2025 The squad was not finalised until Wednesday morning, as Farrell and his coaches considered as many as 75 players. 'It has been a robust process but that's the way it is supposed to be isn't it,' he added. 'If it's not difficult, then you don't have a good squad. "Going from 75 players and getting it down to 55 - that's tough enough. It says everything about the process. 'Getting it down to the final 38 was hard. It is my job to play devil's advocate and ask the right questions of my coaches. All our conversations have been fantastic. To get from 55 players to the 38 is extremely difficult. 'We got to 90% of the squad and then the final 10% was torture but that is how it is supposed to be.' The analysis will continue for weeks, as the players close out their domestic seasons under intense scrutiny before meeting in mid-June to prepare for 1888 Cup match against Argentina in Dublin, and speculation will now turn to who will play in the Test series. But for now, those 38 players were left to bask in the limelight – and there is nothing quite like being selected for the Lions. Those behind the scenes were quick to tee up live interviews with some of the players and, while the connections were not all perfect and the odd bit of colourful language might have slipped through, the raw emotion was obvious. Ben Earl said he's barely slept for two weeks, Mack Hansen could hardly speak, while Tomos Williams admitted today is the best of his life. "I have got to admit I did shed a tear,' the scrum-half said. The celebrations say everything. 🫶Proud. 🙌#WeGoBeyond | @lionsofficial — Gloucester Rugby 🍒 (@gloucesterrugby) May 8, 2025 "The last two days I've been an emotional wreck. Grateful for my parents, my partner Laura and everyone who has helped me. 'The top of the mountain. You cannot get much higher than this achievement. I'll get a bit of stick for this, no doubt." While every name was met with a cheer from the audience, the announcement of Pollock almost brought the house down. Coming into this season, Pollock had played just 30 minutes of rugby in the Gallagher Premiership, but following his rapid rise, his inclusion cannot be a surprise. A Lions bolter? More of a dead cert, such has been his form for Northampton Saints in Europe. 'If you are good enough, you are old enough,' Farrell said. 'It does not matter how young you are, if you are 20, 25 or 30. Henry is confident, he is cocky, and we want him to show all of that. 'It's about the here and now. If he's performing against quality, he's ready. He will push the others who didn't think he was coming.' The English champions have four players selected, including Fin Smith, who is one of three fly-halves alongside Finn Russell and Marcus Smith. Three of the home union captains will be on the plane, with Scotland centre Sione Tuipulotu, who missed the Six Nations with injury, and Wales flanker Jac Morgan named. Ireland's Caelan Doris misses out after suffering a shoulder injury at the weekend. Of the squad, 26 are first-time tourists, eight are on the second Tour and three – Itoje, Tadhg Furlong, Finn Russell and Elliot Daly – are on their third. 'It is a new squad of players for the Lions. Those who went to South Africa did not get the full experience but they will this summer,' he added. 'I am excited to coach them. It is going to be a summer to remember.'
