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O Vasco é outro com Ramon Diaz. Vice-lanterna do campeonato antes da chegada do técnico argentino, o Cruz-Maltino agora figura fora da zona de rebaixamento e projeta novas subidas na tabela de classificação. A saída do Z4 aconteceu nesta segunda-feira, ao vencer o América Mineiro, no Independência, por 1 a 0, e ultrapassar de uma só vez Santos, Goiás e Bahia.

Essa foi a terceira vitória consecutiva do time no Brasileirão, algo que não acontecia desde o início da Série A de 2020, quando era comandado por outro Ramon, o Menezes. Na ocasião, a equipe venceu Sport (2×0), São Paulo (2×1) e Ceará (3×0). A sequência atual tem triunfos sobre Fluminense (4×2), Coritiba (5×1) e o Coelho (1×0).

O próximo duelo do Vasco será no domingo contra o Santos, na Vila Belmiro, às 16 horas. Caso vença novamente, repetirá a série de quatro jogos que não acontece desde 2012.

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Liverpool spent big back in 2018 on Virgil van Dijk and Alisson, with the pair helping transform the Reds into Premier League winners once again.

More recently, those at Anfield have splashed the cash on Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz, with the latter becoming Liverpool’s all-time record signing. However, over the years, the Reds have also missed out on bringing some iconic names to Anfield.

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3 ByBen Goodwin May 17, 2025 10 superstars Liverpool almost signed 10 Cristiano Ronaldo

Starting off with arguably the biggest missed deal in Cristiano Ronaldo back in 2003. Liverpool thought they had their man for just £4m when the forward was at Sporting CP.

Former Reds assistant Phil Thompson recalled the story of Ronaldo’s failed move to Merseyside, with Manchester United hijacking a deal.

9 Jude Bellingham

Liverpool were close to signing Jude Bellingham when he was at Borussia Dortmund back in 2023, however, the Reds would pull out of a big-money deal.

Former Reds stars Jordan Henderson and Trent Alexander-Arnold were even looking to lure Bellingham while they were with England, but instead, the midfielder chose Real Madrid.

8 Dani Alves

One of the best right-backs the game has ever seen, Dani Alves came close to a Liverpool transfer in 2006.

Rafael Benitez and the Reds struck an £8m agreement to sign the Brazilian but instead opted to use the funds on Dirk Kuyt. Alves would go on to sign for Barcelona two years later.

7 Dele Alli

Before signing for Tottenham in 2015 from MK Dons, Dele Alli had interest from Liverpool, and being a Reds supporter growing up, was keen on a move to Anfield.

Brendan Rodgers was in charge at the time and once admitted a deal was close, but Spurs ended up paying £5m for Alli.

Dele Alli’s record vs Liverpool

Games

13

Wins

1

Draws

5

Losses

7

Goals

1

6 Diego Maradona

In 1980, Diego Maradona was an unknown teenager coming impressing at Argentinos Juniors and could have signed for Liverpool.

Bob Paisley was in charge at Liverpool and was offered the chance to sign Maradona, however, he was hesitant about the off-field antics of the Argentine and opted against a transfer.

5 Gareth Bale

Gareth Bale began his career as a left-back at Southampton, and Liverpool were after a new one in 2007.

The Welshman was wanted by Liverpool and Benitez, however, a fee failed to be agreed and Bale would join Tottenham. The Reds ended up with Argentine Emiliano Insua.

4 Nemanja Vidic

One of the best centre-backs the Premier League has seen, Nemanja Vidic was actually wanted by Liverpool before his move to Man Utd in 2006.

Vidic would spend eight years at Old Trafford, winning five top flight titles, but Benitez spoke to the Serbian about a move to Anfield.

3 David Silva

After winning the World Cup with Spain in 2010, David Silva was a man in demand and would leave Valencia for Manchester City.

However, Liverpool were also in the race and came close to landing the attacking midfielder. Instead, they would have to face his magic for City over the next 10 years.

2 Michael Laudrup

A teenager in 1983, Michael Laudrup grew up a Liverpool supporter and could have joined the Reds when he was at Brondby.

The length of a contract was the key sticking point regarding Laudrup’s move to Anfield, and he ended up joining Serie A side Lazio.

1 Alexis Sanchez

After Luis Suarez’s move to Barcelona in 2014, Liverpool were on the search for a new marquee attacking signing and attempted to sign Alexis Sanchez.

The Chilean star was at the Nou Camp but would leave that summer, but instead of heading to Merseyside, Sanchez would sign for Arsenal.

West Ham have been left with a major shortage of forwards, and could now go into the market to raid one of their Premier League rivals for a versatile striker in January.

West Ham short of strikers ahead of Brentford visit

With the slightly later slot of Monday night, the Hammers have some extra time to prepare ahead of Brentford’s visit to the London Stadium for a clash that could be pivotal during Nuno Espirito Santo’s early reign in charge.

Niclas Fullkrug is out with a torn thigh and is expected to be out for the foreseeable future, and the Portuguese boss has now hinted that youngster Callum Marshall may be set for a start as he vies with Callum Wilson for a place in the side.

Later, he expanded on Marshall and the potential striker competition, suggesting it will give West Ham’s options extra motivation to battle it out for a starting place.

Jarrod Bowen continues to be a central threat for West Ham, and the England winger could yet be used in a makeshift striker role once again after Fullkrug’s latest problem.

However, West Ham are in need of a natural striker, and have considered January loan moves.

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While that scenario has been evaluated, pace could be a defining factor behind any purchase, with the Hammers struggling to penetrate their opposition at the top end of the field.

After a return of six goals in their opening seven Premier League encounters, West Ham could now turn to one of their rivals to secure a much-needed injection of quality going forward.

West Ham could strike deal for Chelsea sensation Tyrique George

According to Keith Wyness, in conversation with Football Insider, West Ham are trying to land Chelsea forward Tyrique George and ‘sources’ suggest the 19-year-old could well move to the London Stadium in January.

The teenager, while traditionally a left-winger, can play as a centre-forward when required, as he has already done for Enzo Maresca this season on three separate occasions.

George bagged a goal and an assist in Chelsea’s narrow 2-1 win over Lincoln City in the Carabao Cup after being deployed as a striker — effectively winning the clash and sparing Maresca from a major embarrassment.

Now, West Ham are believed to be in for George, and Wyness says it makes perfect sense.

Five similar players to Tyrique George (FBRef)

Bruma

Benfica

Mika Godts

Ajax

Estevao

Chelsea

Manor Solomon

Villarreal

Artur

Botafogo

Valued at around £26 million during the summer by Chelsea, George has registered four goals and six assists in 31 total appearances for the club.

Due to his limited minutes this season, West Ham may now have the perfect opportunity to offer regular exposure to senior football, though it isn’t clear whether he would arrive in East London permanently or on loan.

The team will drive to the chief minister’s office for a short felicitation before arriving at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium shortly after 5pm

Shashank Kishore04-Jun-20252:28

Aaron: Kohli has been king of the castle for 18 years

The celebrations following Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s long-awaited IPL triumph are set to reach a crescendo on Wednesday afternoon, as the franchise prepares to honour its beloved champions at home.Even as the franchise announced grand plans of an open-bus parade along a 2km stretch from Vidhana Soudha to the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in the evening, the city’s traffic police had already begun working overtime to manage crowds and traffic movements around the city’s CBD.As early as 10am, hundreds of fans had already begun descending at the Kempegowda International Airport to welcome the team. But the long commute from there towards central Bengaluru has forced a change of plan, with the team set to now touch down at the old HAL Airport then drive to the chief minister’s office for a short felicitation before arriving at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium shortly after 5pm.Related

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The city’s police are in close coordination with the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), who are likely to throw open a number of stands for the victory lap that is now expected to take place inside the stadium’s premises. The KSCA is preparing for at least 10,000 fans to flock to the ground, but that number is likely to be a lot higher.On Wednesday afternoon, the city police had briefed various traffic units on elaborate plans to manage the weekday traffic, with the franchise and the government agencies making a plea to fans to use public transport and the metro service to prevent major traffic disruptions.The public had also been advised to avoid the CBD from 3pm to 8pm, around the time the team is expected to zip through the city for their engagements and post-IPL celebration. However, by noon, fans had queued up along the periphery of the stadium to get a glimpse of the team.Virat Kohli will expectedly be the centre of attention. Soon after winning the IPL, Kohli professed his love for Bengaluru and the franchise that “stood behind me”. It’s likely Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers, who celebrated with the team into the early hours on Wednesday in Ahmedabad, will be part of the celebration.”I think I’m going to feel the real side of it when we get to Bengaluru,” he told RCB Bold Diaries. “And celebrate it with the city and fans who’ve stood by us through thick and thin. I’m just relieved. This is far more special than winning it with anyone else, because my heart is with Bangalore, my soul is with Bangalore. As I said, this is the team I’m going to play for till the last day I play the IPL. So, this one is absolutely right up there.”

Paris Saint-Germain’s turbulent October continues to expose cracks beneath their star-studded surface. A frustrating 1-1 draw against Lorient has left coach Luis Enrique visibly exasperated, calling his team’s display “bad” and lacking “composure.” With points slipping away, key player injured, and a defining run of fixtures approaching, PSG’s dominance in Ligue 1 suddenly looks fragile.

PSG falter again as Lorient expose familiar flaws

PSG’s trip to Lorient wasn't a fixture to remember as the Parisian's fell short of clinching a win, drawing their third match of the season. Despite enjoying most of the possession, the champions looked unusually blunt and uninspired in attack. After a goalless first half where Lorient comfortably absorbed pressure, PSG finally broke through in the 52nd minute when Nuno Mendes finished off a neat move involving Warren Zaire-Emery and Senny Mayulu.

But just two minutes later, Lorient equalised through Igor Silva, punishing a rare but costly lapse in PSG’s defence. From that point on, the Parisians chased shadows, struggling to create clear chances despite throwing bodies forward. Their lack of sharpness in front of goal and failure to deal with transitions made the performance one of their most frustrating this season. Enrique’s expression on the touchline said it all as the Spaniard was filled with irritation, disbelief, and disappointment, which he clearly expressed in the post-match press conference.

AdvertisementAFPEnrique's blunt verdict on performance

The draw in Lorient is not an isolated slip; it’s part of a broader trend that’s begun to worry PSG supporters. Since their 1-0 defeat to Marseille in late September, PSG have stumbled repeatedly – drawing against Lille, Strasbourg and now Lorient, all while looking short of rhythm and conviction. Matches that once looked routine are now turning into tests of resilience they keep failing to pass. The Parisian coach didn’t hide his frustration in his post-match interview.

"Why did they cause us so many problems? It’s simple, I think we played a bad match. We had a very bad first half, we didn’t create any chances, the opponent defended very well, and it was difficult. We improved a little in the second half, but I think we could play another 90 minutes without scoring today," said Enrique.

Reflecting on PSG's shortcomings in the game, the PSG head coach said: "I think we lacked composure, we didn't create chances, it's difficult to win an away game like that… Lorient's low block? We're used to those phases of play because most teams defend like that, but when you don't have one-on-ones, movement in space, runs in behind, and you lack composure, it's difficult. Is there frustration? Yes, of course, that’s why I’m a coach. When you don’t get what you want, it’s difficult to manage.”

PSG are currently on top of the table with 21 points, however, Monaco are coming close to closing the gap being in second place with 20 points followed by Marseille, Strasbourg, Lyon and Lens with 19 points each. 

PSG's pattern of decline and Desire Doue's injury blow

From the 1-0 loss to Marseille’s high press to the latest draw against 16th-placed Lorient, PSG’s performances reveal a clear pattern of stagnation. Defensive errors, hesitant decision-making and an inability to break compact lines have all combined to blunt the team’s dominance. Even in matches they win, like against Auxerre or Brest, their play often drifts between moments of brilliance and long spells of uncertainty.

The situation worsened against Lorient with  Desire Doue’s injury. The French winger was in visible pain and taken off the field in stretcher after a serious hamstring issue. Coming just weeks after his return from a calf strain, the timing couldn’t be worse. Enrique confirmed post-match that it was “not good news,” a statement that further dampened PSG’s night.

For Enrique, the tactical frustrations now merge with personnel challenges. Without Doue’s dynamism, PSG lose a key link between midfield and attack which is something they have already struggled to establish consistently. Add to that their recurring defensive lapses and lack of final-third precision, and the champions suddenly look less like an unstoppable force and more like a team grappling with its own identity.

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AFPEnrique faces tough challenges against Nice and Bayern Munich

With a crucial Champions League clash against Bayern Munich looming and a tricky Ligue 1 fixture versus Nice scheduled beforehand this Saturday, Enrique has no time to dwell on disappointment. His next challenge is both tactical and psychological as he pushes to revive confidence, improve finishing, and tighten a defence that’s looked fragile under pressure.

The Spaniard will likely demand a reaction against Nice, using the match as a dress rehearsal before Bayern. But the growing list of injuries, coupled with recent fatigue, means squad management will be critical. PSG’s title ambitions remain intact, but their aura of control is slipping.

أعلنت رابطة البريميرليج عن الفائز بجائزة رجل مباراة مانشستر سيتي وبورنموث، في بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، والتي أقيمت مساء اليوم الأحد.

وحل بورنموث ضيفًا على مانشستر سيتي بملعب “الاتحاد”، في إطار مباريات الجولة العاشرة للدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز موسم 2025-2026.

وتمكن مانشستر سيتي من تحقيق الفوز على حساب خصمه بورنموث، بثلاثة أهداف مقابل هدف، خلال مواجهة اليوم.

وحصل على جائزة رجل مباراة مانشستر سيتي وبورنموث، المهاجم النرويجي إيرلينج هالاند بعد الأداء الذي قدمه خلال مواجهة اليوم.

اقرأ أيضًا | تقييم عمر مرموش في مباراة مانشستر سيتي وبورنموث بـ الدوري الإنجليزي

وسجل هالاند هدفين لصالح مانشستر سيتي خلال المباراة، وقد حصل على نسبة تصويت بلغت 89% عبر الموقع الرسمي للبريميرليج.

ورفع هالاند رصيده في صدارة ترتيب هدافي الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز للموسم الجاري، إلى 13 هدفًا.

Newly-appointed West Ham manager Nuno Espírito Santo’s arrival is set to spark a significant shake-up of the Hammers squad, according to reports in the last few days.

West Ham planning to back new manager Nuno Espírito Santo in January

Vice-chairman Karren Brady was reportedly a key driving force in West Ham’s decision to hire Nuno, who swiftly jumped into Graham Potter’s shoes just hours after the east Londoners announced his departure.

Potter left Rush Green despite significant support from senior members of the West Ham squad (The Telegraph), and Nuno took West Ham training that same day as the Portuguese quickly got to work ahead of his debut clash in the dugout against Everton.

His first match ended in a 1-1 draw at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, with Jarrod Bowen’s excellently-taken equaliser cancelling out Michael Keane’s early opener — largely thanks to some impressive work down the left by summer signing El Hadji Malick Diouf.

The latter is standing out as a shining light in an otherwise dismal season for West Ham so far, with members of the media already calling Malick Diouf one of the best finds of 2025/2026.

All signs suggest that the Senegal international could be a key player for Nuno, but West Ham are also prepared to bring in new January recruits to support the 51-year-old’s attempts to save the Irons’ season.

West Ham committed to a long-term deal with Nuno by agreeing a three-year contract, even if chairman David Sullivan was initially contemplating a reunion with former manager Slaven Bilic on an interim basis until the end of the season (Pete O’Rourke).

The club must go all in with their new manager, who guided Nottingham Forest back to Europe for the first time since 1995 last season, with West Ham apparently ready to make winter signings in the forward areas to back Nuno.

The ex-Tottenham and Wolves boss will already have a good idea of the players he wants out too.

Nuno caused a stir when he dropped midfielder James Ward-Prowse from the matchday squad against Everton.

The Englishman’s omission was solely Nuno’s tactical decision and not due to injury, with a report now shedding more light on his long-term future at the London Stadium.

James Ward-Prowse resigned to leaving West Ham after Nuno's arrival

According to GiveMeSport and reporter Andrew Dillon, Ward-Prowse is resigned to quitting West Ham in January after Nuno’s arrival, and the former Southampton star has already been told that he has no place in the new boss’ plans.

Nuno’s call to axe Ward-Prowse just two days after his appointment apparently sent “shockwaves” through the squad, but the 30-year-old has accepted his fate with professionalism with no behind-the-scenes bust-ups occurring.

Nuno briefly worked with the 11-cap England international at Forest, who signed on a season-long loan there at the start of 2024/2025, but they cut his temporary spell short midway through the season and sent him back to London.

Taking this into account, Nuno has clearly never fancied Ward-Prowse that much, with the player now poised to leave this winter in pursuit of a new club.

Ward-Prowse was a firm regular under Potter, and his threat from set-piece delivery was viewed as a prime reason why David Moyes brought him to Rush Green for £30 million in August 2023.

He’s just one free-kick goal away from equalling David Beckham’s Premier League record of 18, but that’s now unlikely to happen at West Ham.

Potter was always a fan of Ward-Prowse, even calling him a “quiet leader” in the team, but Nuno views the player very differently.

Former Italy striker Antonio Cassano has criticised the quality of Serie A, claiming that only the passion of the supporters is keeping the league alive while the level of football in Italy has stagnated. He believes there is a lack of rhythm and flow in the game, with excessive time-wasting making some matches a “chore” to watch. Cassano also feels that the drop in quality has been reflected in the poor performances of Italian clubs in Europe.

• A poor week for Italian teams in Champions League

  Italian teams underperformed in Europe once again, with Inter the only Serie A club to register a win in this week’s Champions League fixtures. They cruised to a 4-0 victory over Belgian side Union St. Gilloise on Tuesday, thanks to goals from Denzel Dumfries, Lautaro Martinez, Hakan Calhanoglu and Pio Esposito.

  Antonio Conte’s Napoli, meanwhile, suffered a shock 6-2 defeat against Dutch side PSV, led by a standout performance from former Parma player Dennis Man. Scott McTominay gave Napoli an early lead, but things quickly unravelred after Lorenzo Lucca was sent off for dissent. A poor headed clearance from Alessandro Buongiorno resulted in an own goal, sparking a PSV onslaught. 

  Juventus’ struggles continued with a 1-0 defeat to Real Madrid, extending their winless run to seven games with five draws and two losses and increasing the pressure on coach Igor Tudor. The match, described by former defender Danilo as one that could have turned Juventus’ season around, saw the Bianconeri put up a strong fight but fall short after Jude Bellingham scored from close range following Vinicius Jr’s shot that struck the post. Dusan Vlahovic squandered a golden chance to equalise, denied by an outstanding save from Thibaut Courtois.

  Meanwhile, Ivan Juric’s Atalanta were held to a 0-0 draw by Czech side Slavia Praha, capping off a disappointing week for Italian clubs in Europe. Former Italy striker Cassano criticised the state of Serie A, blaming its lack of dynamism and structure for the poor performances on the continental stage.

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  Cassano's sharp words against slow Seire A

  The struggles from Serie A teams has raised further concerns about the state of Italian football, as the debate over the quality of the domestic league and their hopes of consistently competing in Europe. Not only are results underwhelming, ex-Madrid, AC Milan and Italy star Cassano says the slow style of football, excessive time wasting, and the lack of reforms from league management have left the nation with a brutally boring game. 

  "The Italian championship is pitiful, it offers no emotion," he said. "Only the passion of the supporters keeps it alive, but the quality is really low. It's an embarrassing situation, almost shameful. Watching some matches is a chore. There is no rhythm, no spectacle."

• Cassano calls for Italy to emulate Premier League

  The treble winning Inter side of 2010 were the last Italian team to lift the Champions League trophy. Since then, Italian clubs have largely underperformed in the competition, often getting eliminated in the knockout rounds or even during the group stage. Juventus reached the final twice, in 2015 and 2017, but were beaten 3-1 by Barcelona and 4-1 by Real Madrid respectively. Inter also made it to the finals in 2023 and 2025, losing 1-0 to Manchester City and 5-0 to Paris Saint Germain, the latter marking the heaviest defeat in Champions League final history. These isolated runs have only highlighted Italy’s overall struggles in Europe.

  Cassano believes the lack of structure and dynamism, coupled with constant time wasting, has hurt Italian teams’ competitiveness. He specifically pointed to Inter’s game against Roma, in which 44 fouls were called, disrupting the flow of play and leaving teams ill prepared for European challenges. “We're surprised that Italian teams are suffering in Europe, but that's exactly what we are,” he said.

  He compared the decline of Italian football to the evolution of the Premier League. “Football must evolve like England. We're going to play friendlies in Perth.”

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• AFP
  

  Hope for reforms in Serie A

  With widespread calls for change not just from Cassano but from several voices across Italy, it remains to be seen what reforms will be introduced by those in power. Serie A resumes on Friday, with league leaders AC Milan set to face Pisa, while Sunday will feature a heavyweight clash as Inter take on Napoli, with Conte looking to avoid a third consecutive defeat.

Seventh wicket stand of 96 keeps honours even after Mason Crane takes three on opening day

ECB Reporters Network29-Jun-2025Gloucestershire 279 for 7 (Akhter 58, Bracey 57*, Crane 3-55) vs Glamorgan A seventh wicket stand of 96 between James Bracey and Zaman Akhter gives Gloucestershire hope at the end of a hard-fought and fluctuating opening day in the Rothesay County Championship Division Two clash with Glamorgan at Sophia Gardens.Glamorgan looked to have taken complete control of proceedings shortly after tea with leg-spinner Mason Crane (3 for 55) ripping through the visitors’ middle-order but Gloucestershire’s early evening counterpunch ensures that at 279 for 7 they have a foothold in this absorbing contest.Having asked the visitors to bat beneath cloudy skies Glamorgan’s seamers failed to threaten in the early exchanges as Gloucestershire’s openers, Cameron Bancroft and Joe Phillips, serenely progressed to a half-century partnership midway through the morning session. It was a masterclass in low-risk batting, the pair expertly rotating the strike and simply waiting for the bad balls to arrive before duly dispatching them to the boundary.With the Glamorgan quicks struggling to create chances and sustain pressure, Sam Northeast, turned to Ben Kellaway’s spin after just 25 overs of the morning session, a decision which soon paid dividends. With his ninth delivery, Kellaway removed Phillips for 38, the Gloucestershire man’s leg-glance superbly caught by Chris Cooke’s behind the stumps to give Glamorgan their first breakthrough with the score on 77.Buoyed by that success, leg-spinner Mason Crane was introduced to work in tandem with Kellaway and found some instant grip and turn. However, Bancroft and Oli Price stood firm to guide the visitors to lunch on 90 for 1, with Bancroft having progressed to an unbeaten 45. A satisfying morning’s work having been asked to bat.The former Australia Test-star looked in ominous form and when he steered Timm van der Gugten to the third-man fence shortly after lunch he brought up his fifth consecutive County Championship score of 50 or more. At that stage, you could have forgiven Glamorgan for fearing the worst, in his last two red-ball innings against the Welsh county, Bancroft had registered 184 and 163 and came into the match off the back of scoring 58 and 176 in Gloucestershire’s thrilling draw with Derbyshire last week.Therefore, the relief among the home players and supporters was almost palpable when van der Gugten trapped the shuffling Bancroft LBW in his next over without any further damage inflicted, the Gloucestershire skipper departing for exactly 50 to leave the visitors on 97 for 2.Miles Hammond joined Ollie Price and put on 43 for the third wicket, but both men struggled for rhythm and fluency, particularly against the accuracy of Crane, and when left-hander Hammond prodded at a googly, he could only guide it straight into the hands of Kiran Carlson at first slip.It was the first of three wickets to fall for just 8 runs, Crane picking up Graeme van Buuren caught behind for 4, before Price’s stodgy stay came to an end with a mistimed pull shot off James Harris which picked out Carlson at mid-wicket. It rather summed up Price’s struggles, his 24 runs coming off 93 deliveries and the visitors were suddenly at a rather precarious looking 148 for 5. By tea, they had limped to 156 for 5 – the afternoon session had yielded just 66 runs in 32 overs for the loss of 4 wickets.It appeared Glamorgan’s stranglehold would continue when Crane picked up the wicket of Ben Charlesworth shortly after tea. The tall left-hander pinned LBW for 16 by a sharp turning leg-break and with Gloucestershire having slipped to 179 for 6, Glamorgan were now firmly in the box seat.However, the ever-dependable Bracey and Akhter had other ideas, launching an early evening counter-attack which added 96 runs in 24 overs. Akhter the chief aggressor, blazing 58 from just 67 balls with 10 fours before falling LBW to van der Gugten (2 for 45) in the penultimate over of the day. Bracey remains unbeaten on 57 and will hope he can find some more willing allies tomorrow and push Gloucestershire’s first innings total towards 300 and beyond.

Sol Budinger and Rehan Ahmed hit explosive centuries as table-topping Leicestershire dominated the second day of their Rothesay county championship division two match against Glamorgan.Left-handed opener Budinger hit three sixes and 17 fours in reaching 118 off just 102 deliveries, and Rehan 13 fours and two maximums in reaching three figures off 112, after the Foxes had taken the five remaining Glamorgan first innings wickets in short order in a remarkable day’s cricket at the UptonSteel County Ground, Grace Road.Half-centuries from opener Rishi Patel and Lewis Hill, who ended the day unbeaten on 66, ensured Leicestershire closed with a lead of 36 with seven first innings wickets in hand.The day, which began with Glamorgan on 305 for 5, could not have begun much better for the home side. Ben Green, having bowled well but without any good fortune on the first day, opened proceedings from the Pavilion End and saw Colin Ingram drive expansively at his third delivery. The ball took the edge and Patel, the solitary slip, took a fine catch two-handed high to his left. The next delivery accounted for Timm van der Gugten, seaming back and taking the inside edge to give Leicestershire skipper Peter Handscomb a straightforward catch behind the stumps, and although Mason Crane kept out the hat-trick ball, his demise was not long delayed: three overs later he too was caught by Handscomb off the inside edge, pushing at a Green delivery which came back.James Harris hung around for a few overs before skying a simple catch to mid-on off Tom Scriven, but last man Ned Leonard stroked Green to the off-side boundary twice in an over, giving Cooke invaluable assistance as he guided the visitors to a third batting bonus point off the last ball of the 110th over, before Leonard became Handscomb’s sixth victim, this time off the bowling of Chris Wright. Only Neil Burns, who took seven catches behind the stumps against Somerset in 2001, has taken more for the Foxes in a single innings.Patel and Budinger played carefully in the 12 overs that remained in the morning session, lunching with the score on 36 for 0, Budinger a relatively sedate 22 off 36 balls, but the afternoon session was a very different story as having reached his 50 off 62 balls, he needed only another 30 to reach three figures. He was particularly severe on Crane, who conceded 13 from his first over, but van der Gugten, the spearhead of the Glamorgan attack was treated with similar disdain, a pull high over midwicket taking him into the 90s before a huge blow over long-on off Crane ensured his first spell in the 90s would be a short one.There were several more telling blows before Budinger, by now playing a shot a ball, lobbed up a simple catch off Zain-ul-Hassan to Northeast at cover, the ball coming off a leading edge as it bounced higher than the batter anticipated. Patel, who had himself hit eight stylish fours in going to a half-century, looked likely to follow him to three figures, but became Zain’s second victim when he contrived to edge onto his pads. The ball lobbed up towards short-leg, and wicketkeeper Cooke, standing up to the medium pacer, was alert enough to scramble out from behind the stumps and dive forward to take the catch.If those two wickets gave the Glamorgan attack hope, it was quickly extinguished by Rehan and Hill. Leicestershire have pushed Rehan – who at the end of 2022 became England’s youngest debutant and is still only 20 – up the order this season, and the legspinning allrounder has responded, reining in some of his more exuberant aggressive shots, early in his innings at any rate.A slight injury means he has been unable to bowl in this match, and that may have added to his determination to add to the two centuries and single half-century he had already scored this season. Whatever, the series of drives he punched through the off side may, to the purist, have lacked footwork, but were quite beautifully timed, and there is no doubt that as a batsman he is continuing to improve.By the time, late in the day, he holed out to deep midwicket off Crane, he and the busy Hill had added 165 for the third wicket. Wright, slightly surprisingly sent in as nightwatch with five overs remaining, hit four boundaries, adding to the impression that Leicestershire will now be hoping to bat only once in the match.