Better signing than Woltemade: Newcastle struck gold on star who is “back”

Eddie Howe would have been left equally frustrated and delighted with his Newcastle United troops after their 2-2 Premier League draw with Chelsea on Saturday lunchtime.

On one hand, it was definitely an improvement from the lifeless showing served up against Sunderland in the Tyne-Wear Derby, as the Magpies raced into a two-goal lead in the first half.

Unfortunately, though, Howe’s hosts would have to settle for just a share of the points come the final whistle, as Joao Pedro – who was once on Newcastle’s transfer radar – scored the equalising strike for Enzo Maresca’s comeback kings late on.

Still, Nick Woltemade would have been overjoyed with his own personal efforts, as his own goal in that tense showdown at the Stadium of Light has now been quickly shoved to one side, with the electric brace he managed to pick up against the Blues.

Woltemade's redemption arc vs Chelsea

The towering German would steal the show with his first-half double, with the ex-Stuttgart goal machine presumably overjoyed at the final whistle, after he was public enemy number one against the Black Cats.

The Bremen-born menace will hope he can recapture his best form at St James’ Park now, with just one weak goal next to his name from his previous eight Premier League clashes, heading into his inspired showing against the West Londoners.

Still, despite falling victim to barren patches of form, Woltemade has a bumper nine goals to shout about from 23 Newcastle appearances and counting, with his £69m price tag more than justified when he’s at top form for Howe and Co.

Woltemade will just hope he can be more consistently clinical, with one of his attacking teammates against Chelsea, arguably reinforcing his tag as being a better signing than the expensive German, despite also being prone to hit-and-miss displays on Tyneside.

The Newcastle star who has been a better signing than Woltemade

For how much he cost – which was a record fee for the Toon – Newcastle will just want Woltemade to be capable of hitting his lethal heights on a more regular basis.

Yet, he is only human, with Anthony Gordon, who has partnered the 6-foot-6 marksman an awful lot this season, also letting his performance levels worryingly drop at stages this campaign.

Indeed, the former Everton winger was even accused of entering “Gabriel Obertan territory” by one analyst when he was deep in a poor patch of form, who notably flopped on Tyneside after a major move from Manchester United, with a concerning zero goals or assists heading his way across his first seven Premier League outings of the season.

He was also heavily criticised after the sobering Sunderland loss when failing to register a single shot at Robin Roefs’ goal from a forgettable 22 touches. But, he more than redeemed himself against Chelsea by reminding everyone at St James’ Park why he once cost a whopping £45m to obtain from the Toffees, when looking lively throughout, to stick out as a better purchase than Woltemade.

Gordon’s performance in numbers vs Chelsea

Stat

Gordon

Minutes played

72

Goals scored

0

Assists

1

Touches

37

Accurate passes

13/16 (81%)

Key passes

2

Big chances created

2

Accurate crosses

2/5

Total duels won

5/6

Stats by Sofascore

After all, for £24m less than the former Bundesliga star, Newcastle have managed to win themselves a talent who has a stunning 55 goal contributions for the club, with his assist for Woltemade’s second of the day an inch-perfect cross for the lofty German to tap home.

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Sky Sports’ Andy Sixsmith also declared Gordon as being “well and truly back” to his best against the Blues, with his “tireless” work ethic clear for all to see when winning five duels.

Moreover, it isn’t out of the question that Gordon could be sold on for some mega bucks down the line if he can keep up his blistering return to form, with the Liverpool-born attacker once on the shopping list of the Reds, allegedly, for a mammoth £100m.

On the flip side, while Woltemade is a beloved individual already with the Toon, with the aforementioned Sixsmith boldly labelling his link-up play as “mesmerising”, it could still be argued that Newcastle overpaid somewhat for his services, as his Transfermarkt valuation sits more around the £61m range.

Gordon will pray that he’s out the other side of his dreadful performances for this season, with the gung-ho winger – on his day – Newcastle’s “best player” according to Howe, and he could be viewed as an even better pick-up than the much-talked about Woltemade, for what he’s been able to gift the Toon, ever since walking out of Goodison Park.

Move over Woltemade: 9/10 Newcastle star is looking like another Shearer

Eddie Howe is nurturing a truly special up-and-coming talent at Newcastle

ByAngus Sinclair

Five Man United youngsters to fire the club to Prem glory next season

Sunday’s 1-1 draw with now champions, Leicester, means Manchester United’s top four hopes continue to look bleak.

Despite guiding his side to the FA Cup final, Louis van Gaal’s future hangs in the balance due to another disappointing league campaign.

Speculation that the Dutchman will be replaced by Jose Mourinho persists around Old Trafford, but even if LVG’s tenure does come to an end, he will at least, leave behind a side bursting with potential.

The under-pressure manager has introduced a host of youngsters into his first-team as the season has progressed, and there are enough green shoots of hope around to suggest that Man United will be a real force in the title race next term.

Here are FIVE young Red Devils with the potential to contribute to a much higher league position in 2016/17…

Anthony Martial

The outlandish fee paid for Martial made him the biggest gamble of all Van Gaal’s transfer buys.

Arriving in the summer for £36.5m, plus add-ons, at just 19, the young Frenchman’s transfer raised plenty of eyebrows at the culmination of Man United’s desperate search for striking reinforcements.

Ironically though, he has proved by far the most effective of Van Gaal’s acquisitions to date.

An electric first campaign in a United shirt has seen the former Monaco man become one of world football’s hottest starlets.

Van Gaal originally commented that Martial was a player for the future, but the forward has not looked back since endearing himself to United fans by scoring against arch rivals Liverpool.

He is already a key player for the team and will be crucial in their upcoming campaign. So high is Martial’s stock though, that the continent’s biggest clubs are sure to be  on standby to attempt to lure him from Old Trafford should United fail to secure a Champions League berth.

Jesse Lingard

Lingard’s journey to the United first team has been a slow and steady, rather than explosive arrival, but he seems now to have secured his place with a fine run of form in the second half of the season.

The winger has been monitored closely by Roy Hodgson since the turn of the year, a sign that his transformation from promising youngster to established Premier League star is nearing completion.

Lingard, now 23, has been at United since the age of seven. Sir Alex Ferguson, David Moyes and now Van Gaal all seem to have been impressed by the Englishman, with his pace and work-rate seeing him gradually force his way into the first-team squad.

Lingard has already netted several important goals for the Red Devils and is forming a good understanding with the likes of Martial and Rashford.

While injuries initially gave Lingard his chance, more established names like Juan Mata, Ashley Young and the expensive Memphis Depay now sit on the bench while Van Gaal continues to prefer his rising star.

Marcus Rashford

Few players have made a more sensational impact at the start of their career than Rashford.

The untried teenager replaced Martial, injured in the warm up, against FC Midtjylland with United needing a result to progress back in February, and promptly netted twice on his debut in a 5-1 win.

Van Gaal then continued with the youngster against a much tougher Arsenal side in the league. Incredibly, he repeated the feat, sinking the Gunners with another two goals.

Rashford has been displaying a lethal touch ever since with further strikes helping United continue their Champions League push and reach the FA Cup Final.

The 18-year-old already looks every inch the natural finisher. With bristling pace and the movement of an experienced poacher, he will be a key asset for United next term.

Adnan Januzaj

The emergence of Januzaj was one of few positives from the season that United endured under David Moyes.

The youngster’s undoubted natural ability and spark of creativity came to the fore while the side floundered in the immediate aftermath of Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure.

Despite his contribution, United had a dismal campaign and Moyes’ departure saw the starlet’s development come to an abrupt halt.

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Not being a part of Van Gaal’s immediate plans, Januzaj was then given a temporary move – which was surely the envy of most loanees – to Dortmund. The Brussels-born man, however, failed to make an impact at the Westfalenstadion and returned to United.

The winger is now 21 and it could well be that next year represents a final chance to establish himself at Old Trafford. How best to incorporate his precocious talent will be a key decision for whoever is United manager come August.

Timothy Fosu-Mensah

So severe have United’s defensive injury problems been this year that most of their youth-team defenders have been given some sort of chance in the first XI.

Few have made quite the impact of Fosu-Mensah, though.

The youngster made his debut in the home victory over Arsenal, where the headlines were stolen by fellow teenage sensation Rashford.

In every appearance since, however, the 18-year-old’s hulking frame has really caught the eye as he set about Premier League opponents like he’s been doing it for years.

The versatile Dutchman has so far been introduced to the side at full back but is known to be equally at home in the heart of the defence or in midfield.

His sheer athleticism and combative nature has seen the Old Trafford faithful take him almost immediately to their hearts, but make no mistake; Fosu-Mensah is a talented footballer and in just a few short weeks has proved he could be formidable part of United’s push for honours next year.

Robin leads the way as Pistons knock out Cements

India Pistons set up a title showdown with Chemplast in the Moin udDowlah Cup in Hyderabad on Sunday with a comfortable 49 run win overIndia Cements. In the semifinal clash at the Gymkhana ground, Pistonswere dug out of a hole by the familiar crisis man Robin Singh whoshepherded the lower order to 218 with a priceless unbeaten 80. Inreply, Cements were never in the running, losing wickets at closeintervals and it was only a lone hand of 77 by Sunil Oasis whichhelped them to 169.In the morning, Tamil Nadu seamer J Gokulakrishnan bowled an incisivefirst spell of 5-0-26-3 to leave Pistons reeling at 33/3 after havingbeen put in to bat. Vikram Rathour and JR Madanagopal restored someorder with a battling 44-run stand before both fell in the space oftwo runs to leave Pistons in grave peril at 79/5. Pistons were missingReetinder Sodhi for this vital game, the Punjab youngster havingfallen ill after yesterday’s game and flown back home.Robin was thus the last hope and he responded with the typical gustoof a man who thrives under the challenge of a pressure cookersituation. Two more partners left him along the line after brief showsof solidarity to leave Pistons at 135/7. But although No’s 9, 10 and11 made precisely 13 runs between them, they helped Robin add 83 forthe last three wickets with the skipper running out of partners aftermaking 80 in 90 balls inclusive of six fours. Gokul finished top ofthe pack among the Cements attack with figures of 4/46.Robin led with the way with the ball too, dismissing Jesu Babu withhis first delivery. The other opener VB Chandrasekhar was not hisusual aggressive self, hanging around for 43 balls to make 19 beforeleg spinner Balaji Rao dismissed him. Balaji Rao delivered anothertelling blow by removing S Sharath for three and at 61/5, Cements werein dire straits. Left arm spinner Satyajit Medappa then stepped in andcleaned up the tail in spite of Oasis’ heroics. The Kerala Ranjiplayer was last out for 77 (106 balls, 6 fours, 3 sixes) as Cementsfolded up ignominiously for 169 with 14 balls to spare.

Coles completes 10-for in Kent breeze

ScorecardMatt Coles completed a career-best 10 for 94 on the third morning•Getty Images

Kent lifted themselves off the bottom of the County Championship by completing their second victory of the season by beating Leicestershire by eight wickets at Grace Road.Despite heavy overnight rain, play resumed on time with Leicestershire on 110 for 9, only 59 ahead, and Ben Raine and Charlie Shreck took the score on to 123 before Shreck was bowled by Matt Coles, the seamer’s fourth wicket of the innings to go with the six he took in Leicestershire’s first innings. Coles’ match figures of 10 for 94 were his best in first class cricket. Allrounder Raine finished on 41 not out.Needing just 73 to win on what was still a difficult pitch on which to bat, the Kent batsmen adopted an aggressive approach, and while it paid off for Joe Denly, it did cause the demise of Daniel Bell-Drummond, caught by Angus Robson at first slip off the bowling of Raine for 5, and Rob Key, who lofted Raine straight to Ned Eckersley at mid-on for 4.But Denly prospered hitting 37 off 48 balls, and in company with skipper Sam Northeast, who hit 28 off 25 balls, saw the visitors home shortly after lunch.Captain Sam Northeast praised his three seam bowlers after Kent completed their second victory of the season and lifted themselves off the bottom of the county championship. “Matt Coles, Calum Haggett and Darren Stevens really stuck to their task well after we lost Ivan Thomas [to a side strain] almost at the start of the game, and to bowl Leicestershire out twice and set up the game in the way we did was pleasing,” Northeast said.But he was not impressed with the Grace Road pitch, which was very green and offered the bowlers assistance throughout. “We have to take it as it comes, but we seem to be going from place to place and playing on this type of ‘result’ wicket and I don’t think it’s great for cricket in general, and producing England players and good cricket.”We’ve taken away the points, so people will probably say ‘just be happy’ but I think someone higher up than myself probably needs to look at what is happening at the moment with Division Two wickets.”

BCB invites new franchise owners for BPL

The Bangladesh Cricket Board has advertised for the franchise ownership rights of the Bangladesh Premier League for a period of four years from 2015 to 2018. The board’s chief executive Nizamuddin Chowdhury said it had opted for fresh tender because the contracts with the previous franchise owners had been terminated.The BCB will invite new franchises for the regional teams of Barisal, Chittagong, Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi, Rangpur and Sylhet. Interested parties will have to submit their Expression of Interest (EOI) by August 17. The advertisement is on the BCB’s official website and also appeared in on Thursday.Chowdhury said they had floated the tender to bring in new owners for each of the franchises. Old owners, whose contracts were terminated by the BCB, can bid but they have to meet the compliances of the board.”At this point of time, the contracts with the previous franchises stand terminated,” Chowdhury said. “In terms of the unpaid amount that they are supposed to pay, we are in an arbitration process. If that doesn’t work, we will take the next step. The previous franchise owners can apply for the ownership. They will have to meet our compliances like everyone else.”Chowdhury said there were some parties that were interested but it was too early to name them. The BPL franchise owners in the first two seasons were SQ Sports (Chittagong Kings), Shihab Trading House (Dhaka Gladiators), Orion Sports (Khulna Royal Bengals), Mohan & Associates (Duranto Rajshahi) and Isports Limited (Rangpur Riders).In May this year, the BCB said the Dhaka Gladiators franchise were unlikely to participate in the third edition of the BPL, slated for November, because of the corruption charges against them. Their owners, Shihab Jishan Chowdhury and Salim Chowdhury, were banned for 10 years. “It is almost confirmed that Dhaka Gladiators will not be participating in the next BPL because the ICC has given a decision about them and they cannot legally stay in the tournament,” BPL’s member-secretary Ismail Haider Mallick had said.

Mahanama to step down from ICC match referee panel

Roshan Mahanama, the former Sri Lanka batsman, will step down from the ICC elite match referees panel at the end of the year so that he can spend more time with his family and focus on his business activities in Sri Lanka.Mahanama joined the elite panel in 2004 and has refereed in 58 Tests, 222 ODIs and 35 T20Is till date, including in three World Cups and the Champions Trophy 2009.”This has been an extremely difficult decision as I am very passionate about cricket, which has been an integral part of my life for over 40 years as a cricketer, coach and ICC match referee,” Mahanama said. “However, in life a time comes when one has to keep moving forward based on obligations and priorities. My time has come to devote an uninterrupted focus and attention to my family, who made massive sacrifices over the years to enable me to pursue my career for over three decades.”Geoff Allardice, the ICC general manager – cricket, thanked Mahanama for his contributions. “Roshan has been one of the pioneers of the elite panel and has been an integral component during the phase when the referee’s role was evolving,” Allardice said. “Roshan, very efficiently and intelligently, integrated his cricketing knowledge into match management skills to earn huge respect and appreciation from the entire cricketing fraternity.””Roshan’s hallmark as a match referee has been his meticulous preparation and methodical approach,” Vince Van Der Bijl, the ICC senior umpires & referees manager, said. “His efficiency and dedication to the task in serving cricket has shone through his time with the ICC.”

Yasir six-for leads Pakistan to 131-run win

Live scorecard and ball-by-ball-details1:06

Pakistan spin trio clean up Zimbabwe

Pakistan cruised to a 131-run win over Zimbabwe in the first one-day international at Harare Sports Club, the match following what has become a familiar script during this tour. Pakistan’s lower middle order rallied their side to a good score, and their spin attack, led by Yasir Shah’s 6 for 26, then systematically dismantled Zimbabwe’s line-up. Yasir’s haul was the second best by a Pakistan spinner, and the best ever by a spinner in Zimbabwe.Asked to bat first, Pakistan’s top order stumbled against a spirited Zimbabwean bowling effort before Mohammad Rizwan’s career-best 75 not out and Imad Wasim’s 61, which was his maiden international fifty, boosted the visitors to a challenging 259 for 6. Rizwan and Wasim had added 124 for the sixth wicket, but no Zimbabwean partnership came close to matching them as the hosts crumbled under sustained pressure.Once again, the batsmen struggled to rotate the strike and then inevitably offered Pakistan chances as they sought to ease the pressure with a big shot. The 35-run stand between Sean Williams and Sikandar Raza was the most substantial of the innings, and legspinner Yasir collected his first five-for in ODIs with Zimbabwe having no answer to his combination of turn, bounce and guile.Pakistan had been reduced to a wobbly 35 for 3 in the morning as Zimbabwe’s new-ball bowlers found seam and swing on a slightly resher wicket before Sarfraz Ahmed and Shoaib Malik combined to take the score to 100. When they were both dismissed attempting to attack spin Zimbabwe surged once again, but Rizwan and Wasim weathered their best efforts.Rizwan marshalled Pakistan’s effort from the halfway mark of their innings, starting watchfully against Zimbabwe’s spinners before he broke free with what was perhaps the shot of the day; a checked loft off offspinner John Nyumbu that soared over long on. With Nyumbu, Graeme Cremer and Sean Williams all included in Zimbabwe’s XI, Rizwan faced spin for much of his innings. He certainly showed that he had the aptitude to counter these bowlers in helpful conditions, milking the gaps and finding the boundary with a sweep off Cremer and a deft late cut off Nyumbu.A particular feature of Rizwan’s stand with Wasim was their running between the wickets: something which had been highlighted as an area of concern for both teams after the Twenty20s. Eight twos came off Rizwan’s bat during their stand, while Wasim added seven. This ensured that the score kept ticking over even when boundaries were not forthcoming, and set the platform for Pakistan’s charge at the death.Pakistan added 88 runs in the last ten overs as the big hits became more frequent, with Rizwan bringing up a 61-ball fifty in the 46th over. Wasim brought up a maiden international fifty of his own two overs later, reaching the mark with a superb reverse sweep off Tinashe Panyangara. Wasim had been given a life thanks to Williams’ drop at long-on earlier in the over, and there was a ragged edge to Zimbabwe’s effort at the death. Tempers also flared in Panyangara’s final over, from which Pakistan plundered 22 runs, as the bowler took offence to what he saw as Rizwan’s intentional obstruction of his fielding efforts. The batsman stood his ground as Sikandar Raza played peacemaker, and closed the innings on an emphatic note with his second six, straight over the bowler’s head.Pakistan carried that bellicose attitude into the field, and both Zimbabwean openers were given a thorough working over with the new ball. Yet all 10 wickets fell to spin. Chamu Chibhabha averages 19.72 in matches in which he has been dismissed by a left-arm spinner, and has collected more ducks against this type of bowler than any other – three. He had opened his account by the time Wasim was brought on in the ninth over, but then fell immediately, trapped in front by the left-arm spinner’s first ball.Yasir then took centre stage, nipping one through the yawning gap between debutant Brian Chari’s bat and pad and skittling Hamilton Masakadza with a ball that kept a touch low and rushed on. Raza and Elton Chigumbura fell on the drive, failing to cover Yasir’s prodigious spin, while Richmond Mutumbami’s dismissal came via a stunning reflex catch, low to the ground, by Hafeez at slip. When Panyangara gloved one to slip Yasir had his sixth, and Zimbabwe had crashed from 101 for 4 to 128 all out.

Ashan, Daniel script Sri Lanka victory

ScorecardA century from Shammu Ashan followed by an impressive spell of fast bowling from Jehan Daniel helped Sri Lanka beat Pakistan in a rain-affected Youth ODI in Hambantota.Ashan came in with his team at 50 for 3 and helped hold the innings together with an 86-run partnership with captain Charith Asalanka, who contributed 65 off 75 balls. Sri Lanka’s recovery though was dented when Asalanka was removed in the 34th over. With the score at 136 for 4, Pakistan would have hoped to put the squeeze on, but Ashan held firm at one end to record 103 off only 112 balls, despite hitting only four fours and two sixes. He was unable to prevent Sri Lanka being bowled out before their full 50 overs as seamers Sameen Gul and Arfan Liaqat two two wickets apiece to keep the hosts down to 239 in 49.4 overs.However, the Pakistan chase began poorly. They lost their openers by the sixth over courtesy Daniel, who had figures of 5-2-8-2. The rest of the bowling attack were also very miserly – all of them cost less than 4.5 per over – and that pressure told on the opposition. Pakistan fell well behind the required rate, and were 92 for 4 in the 30th over when rain put a halt to proceedings. They were ruled 37 runs short by the Duckworth-Lewis method and go 0-1 down in the five match series

Ellis, Nicholls guide Canterbury to easy win

ScorecardFile photo: Andrew Ellis produced career-best figures to induce a collapse•Associated Press

Andrew Ellis and Henry Nicholls produced fine displays with ball and bat respectively to help Canterbury romp to a comfortable seven-wicket win against Northern Districts in Hamilton. Ellis triggered a match-turning collapse with career-best figures of 5 for 9 in 2.2 overs as Northern Districts slumped from 90 for 2 to 153 all out.In a world-record fielding effort, Peter Fulton picked up five catches, to equal the T20 record for most catches and Cam Fletcher claimed two stumpings and three catches, also equalling the record for most dismissals by a wicketkeeper in a T20 game.After choosing to bat, Anton Devcich got Northern Districts to an explosive start with an 18-ball 43, an innings that featured three sixes and five fours, as 60 runs were piled on within five overs. However, the Canterbury bowlers chipped away at the wickets while captain Daniel Flynn struggled to increase his strike-rate and was the sixth man out in the 18th over with a 47-ball 43. Tim Seifert provided the required impetus with a brisk 30 but they were quickly bowled out for 153 after being 147 for 5. Todd Astle and Ronnie Hira both produced economical spells and picked up two wickets apiece.Hira began the chase with a six over midwicket and struck a quick 24. However, Northern Districts dragged themselves back into the match after dismissing both openers in the space of four balls. Henry Nicholls and Peter Fulton then formed an 87-run stand to quash any hopes of a comeback win. Nicholls remained unbeaten with a 52-ball 58 and in the company of Leo Carter, carried Canterbury to an easy win with nine balls to spare.

Somerset beat Nottinghamshire by 4 wickets

The National League First Division campaign may still be in its infancy, but already it looks set to hold contrasting fortunes for newly-promoted Somerset and Northants.A four-wicket victory with 17-balls to spare at Taunton made it maximum points from their first two fixtures for the Sabres and had vice-captain Marcus Trescothick enthusing: “We don’t fear anyone in this format.”That sort of confidence can only be envied by Steelbacks skipper Matthew Hayden, who promised a close review of strategy and personnel after his side’s third defeat in as many games.”I don’t think we’re playing that badly, but the results speak for themselves and we need to take a good look at what is going wrong,” admitted the Australian. “We have a strong squad of players and it may be that we have to make one or two changes.”Hayden was happy enough with his team’s batting as they posted the highest score in the competition this season when bowled out for 240 with just two balls of their allotted 45 overs to go.It looked a reasonable effort in cloudy, blustery conditions that had a sizeable crowd huddled up against the biting wind.Hayden himself led a recovery from 27-2, hitting an effortless 47 before carelessly directing a short ball from Paul Jarvis straight to opposing skipper and fellow Aussie Jamie Cox at mid-wicket.The dismissal left Northants 115-5 in the 24th over, but led to the brightest batting of their innings as Graeme Swann and David Ripley added 88 for the sixth wicket in 14 overs.Swann was the more aggressive, collecting 9 fours in a chirpy innings of 57, compiled off only 40 balls. By the time he was bowled off his pads by Trescothick the total was 203 and the Steelbacks were assured of a respectable total.Ripley followed soon afterwards, caught and bowled off a leading edge by left-arm spinner Ian Blackwell, who is proving a shrewd winter recruit by Somerset from Derbyshire.But 240, with the weather still overcast, looked an imposing score, particularly when Somerset lost Cox in only the second over.Piran Holloway was run-out by some sharp work from Hayden at short cover, but Trescothick timed the ball impressively from the start and was soon leading a counter-attack.The England A batsman took 14 off an over from Devon Malcolm, hooking the former England pace bowler for six and clipping two more imperious fours off his legs.A fine catch above his head by Darren Cousins accounted for Mike Burns, while Mark Lathwell, out injured for the whole of last season and still seeking form, fell lbw to Kevin Innes pushing forward.When Trescothick was snapped up by Hayden at mid-wicket attempting to bludgeon the first ball sent down by slow left-armer Michael Davies, Somerset were 119-5 and in trouble.The game appeared well balanced when Cousins accounted for wicketkeeper Rob Turner with the total 158, but it proved to be Northants’ last success.Keith Parsons picked the gaps intelligently to reach an unbeaten half-century, receiving excellent support from Blackwell, who began watchfully, but then cut loose, dispatching Swann over long-on for six in contributing 48 not out.Somerset needed 74 off the last 12 overs. But such was the dominance of their seventh-wicket pair that the target always looked attainable. By the end the unbroken stand was worth 85, with Parsons on 54 to follow the 66 he made in the opening victory over Gloucestershire.

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