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Stina Blackstenius' dramatic extra-time goal won Arsenal the Continental Cup and denied Chelsea the chance of a quadruple in Emma Hayes' final season.

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Arsenal beat Chelsea 1-0 in Conti Cup finalBlackstenius scored only goal in extra-timeChelsea's quadruple dream over for another yearGettyTELL ME MORE

Chelsea thought they'd taken the lead midway through the first half when Mayra Ramirez beat Manuela Zinsberger with a fine strike from range, but VAR intervened and ruled it out for a handball in the build-up by Erin Cuthbert. It was the closest the game got to a goal in a first half peppered with half-chances, with Arsenal's best opening in normal time coming after the break when Cloe Lacasse was unable to beat Hannah Hampton one-on-one.

Lauren James had a great opportunity to open the scoring as the potential of extra-time loomed, put through on goal by Guro Reiten's clever scooped pass, but the angle closed as she waited to take the shot and that worked in Zinsberger's favour, who made herself big to thwart the England star.

To extra-time we went, then, but not before some really horrible scenes as Arsenal midfielder Frida Maanum went down off the ball and was in need of serious medical attention before being stretchered off.

The Arsenal fans did all they could to fire up their team as the game understandably fell flat in light of a really worrying situation, and it was the Gunners who created the best chance in extra-time, as Blackstenius blasted a golden chance over the bar after Alessia Russo cleverly put her through on goal.

That miss wouldn't come back to haunt the Swede, though, as it was she who scored the only goal of the game with just four minutes of extra-time remaining, her shot too powerful for Hampton to stop as Arsenal retained their Conti Cup title.

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Arsenal are the only English team to have won the quadruple, doing so back in 2007, and so there will be a little extra satisfaction for the Gunners with this triumph as it means they have denied Chelsea the chance to match that feat this year. The Blues are still fighting for three trophies though, in the league, the FA Cup and the Champions League.

Getty ImagesTHE MVP

It wasn't Blackstenius' best game and she missed a huge chance before eventually breaking the deadlock, but it's hard to deny her the feat of MVP after she scored the goal that decided this final. The Swede ran hard as she always does, stretched the Chelsea defence and came up with the match-winning moment to ensure Arsenal's season doesn't end without silverware.

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GettyTHE BIG LOSER

In a tight and even contest which became more a war of attrition, there were no outstandingly bad performers, but it was Ramirez on the end of some bad luck when she had a wonderful strike ruled out through no fault of her own. There was no disputing the decision to disallow her superb goal, as it was a clear handball by Cuthbert, but she will have been frustrated all the same.

Allrounder will not travel to New Zealand for the three one-dayers in December

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Nov-2018Pandya likely to play for BarodaHardik Pandya won’t be a part of the India A squad for the three one-dayers in New Zealand as he is yet to fully recover from a back injury that he picked up at the Asia Cup in September. Selected in the India A squad last month in a bid to give him game time before the second half of the Test series in Australia, Pandya has now instead been asked to rest and continue regaining strength by the medical staff at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru.Pandya’s next competitive fixture is likely to be the sixth-round Ranji Trophy clash for Baroda against Mumbai starting December 14. Meanwhile, the selectors are likely to pick Pandya’s replacement from the four-day squad that is currently on tour, with the third unofficial Test starting November 30 in Whangarei.Pandya last played a first-class match for his state, Baroda, against Gujarat during the 2016-17 Ranji Trophy season.Yuvraj boost for PunjabYuvraj Singh, who had initially relinquished his spot in the Punjab side to make way for youngsters, has returned to the squad for their clash against Delhi at the Feroz Shah Kotla. In the absence of Yuvraj, Punjab ended up conceding the first-innings lead in both their drawn matches, against Andhra and Madhya Pradesh. Yuvraj is also set to be available for Punjab’s next two matches against Himachal Pradesh (December 6-9) and Tamil Nadu (December 14-17).Yuvraj was released by Kings XI Punjab ahead of the IPL auction in January. He recently featured in Punjab’s Vijay Hazare Trophy campaign, aggregating 264 runs in seven innings, with a best of 96.Armaan Jaffer vaults into Mumbai squadTwenty-year-old Armaan Jaffer, the nephew of former India batsman Wasim, has forced his way back into Mumbai’s squad for their next game against Gujarat at home. Armaan earned his spot back with an unbeaten 300 off 367 he scored against Saurashtra in the Under-23 Col CK Nayudu Trophy at Wankhede Stadium nearly ten days ago. His knock, studded with 26 fours and ten sixes, helped Mumbai to an innings-and-230-run victory.Armaan made his first-class debut for Mumbai against Tamil Nadu in October 2016 and played only two more matches that season before being dropped. He missed most of last season because of a knee injury that kept him out of action for more than a year.Mumbai continue to be without Shreyas Iyer who is in New Zealand as part of the A squad for three one-dayers to be played next month.Vinay back for Karnataka; Binny droppedKarnataka captain Vinay Kumar, who had missed the team’s previous match against Mumbai in Belgaum because of a neck injury, will return to lead them against Maharashtra in Mysuru. Allrounder Stuart Binny, however, has been dropped after managing only 53 runs in four innings and taking one wicket in two Ranji games this season.

Aston Villa star Alisha Lehmann shared a few photos on her Instagram to provide update on her life.

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Lehmann shares photos on InstagramCaptions her post as 'life lately'Also shares a selfie from her bedroomWHAT HAPPENED?

Lehmann shared multiple photos that showed off her life away from the field and also posted a selfie on her Instagram story from her bedroom.

Instagram (@alishalehmann7)AdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Lehmann has been one of the most recognisable female footballers over the last few years and has been a part of Aston Villa since 2021, having joined the Women's Super League side from West Ham. She is currently dating Aston Villa star Douglas Luiz and the duo have often been spotted together at team parties and dinners.

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Lehmann's activeness on social media has given her the title of 'the most followed female footballer in the world'. She currently boasts 16.6 million followers on her official Instagram account and has been a major figure in bringing more sets of eyeballs onto the women's game.

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WHAT NEXT FOR LEHMANN?

While the 25-year-old Swiss forward did not post any picture of her on the field, she will definitely have been toiling hard the past week as they will look to drop off their 3-1 loss last weekend with a sturdy performance against Leicester City on Saturday, March 30.

Alphonso Davies' agent has attacked Bayern Munich over the club's contract renewal stance, with a summer move to Real Madrid looking imminent.

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Davies forced to extend or present offer by AprilDavies' agent fires back at treatmentReal Madrid move now seems imminent(C)Getty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?

The 23-year-old left-back has reportedly received a contract offer from the Bundesliga winners, but an agreement is still a long way off. As a result, Davies has been given until April to either accept the contract offer from Bayern Munich or present a proposal from any team that wishes to sign him, per sporting director Max Eberl. Nedal Huoseh, Davies' agent has now blasted the Bavarians for their handling of the situation, criticising their need for a quick response despite the continued uncertainty at the club.

AdvertisementWHAT DAVIES' AGENT SAID

Speaking to , Huoseh said: "It’s unfair to receive an ultimatum from Bayern. We will decide how to proceed at the end of the season when there is more clarity. It's unfair that Alphonso is now being attacked. We were close to an agreement a year ago. Then the entire club management was replaced. We didn't hear anything for seven months."

"Now we are being given an ultimatum and are supposed to react within two weeks because the club is under pressure and took a long time to reposition itself in the management? That's not fair," he continued. "It’s a very important contract in Alphonso's career and we're supposed to make the decision without knowing who the coach will be next season or what the team looks like. That's why we think it's unfair to react to the ultimatum."

Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Given these developments and the seeming discord between Davies and his employers, long-term prospects for Madrid appear bright. In the event that the player is dissatisfied and feels under duress to accept a renewal, which it certainly seems like at present, Bayern could ultimately be forced to negotiate with Los Blancos and accept a lower fee for Davies rather than risk losing him for nothing in the future.

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As that contract looks increasingly unlikely to come to fruition, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano offered an update on the situation. Romano states that Davies categorically won't sign a deal with Bayern, leaving Real on high alert and being "prepared to open talks". His transfer to the Spanish capital, then, seems a mere formality at this stage.

Despite being named in the squad, the allrounder did not travel to India because of injury

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Nov-2018West Indies allrounder Andre Russell will not be part of the T20I series against India, after it emerged on the eve of the first match in Kolkata that he was injured and had not yet arrived in the country.ESPNcricinfo understands Russell has been hampered once again by the knee injury that has affected him ever since he made a return to cricket earlier this year after his year-long anti-doping ban. Russell will have another fitness Test ahead of T10 tournament in the UAE that begins on November 21, following which the West Indies selectors are hopeful he can play on the tour of Bangladesh.Currently Russell is busy with rehab, doing strength workouts as well as getting treated on his knee. Part of treatment involves being injected with platelet-rich plasma (PRP). The PRP includes having a portion of the patient’s own blood that has a platelet concentration above baseline, to promote healing of injured tendons, ligaments, muscles and joints, and it can be applied to various musculoskeletal problems.Russell was one of seven players supposed to join the T20I squad over the last three days, but his absence during the training sessions at Eden Gardens – his home ground in the IPL – was conspicuous. He recently played the CPL for Jamaica Tallawahs, and then went to the Afghanistan Premier League where he played one game for Nangarhar Leopards on October 9, a day after he had been picked in West Indies’ T20I squad. Three days later, on October 12, Russell said on Instagram that he was leaving the APL early because of injury.The West Indies T20I squad is already depleted by the absence of Chris Gayle and Evin Lewis at the top of the order, with both players pulling out due to personal reasons.

Wrexham are currently preparing for a season in the Championship after they finished second in League One to earn promotion up to the second tier.

The Red Dragons are yet to make their first signing since the end of last season, but there will be plenty of work going on behind the scenes to identify targets to improve the team.

Phil Parkinson will have to judge which of his players are ready to make the step up to the Championship after a season in League One, which means that some difficult decisions could have to be made.

Why Thomas O'Connor may be replaced

One player who could be replaced as a regular starter is left-sided central defender Thomas O’Connor, who has been at the club since they were in the National League.

The former Southampton academy graduate has never played above League One level in his career to date, and was a regular starter – starting 25 of his 31 appearances in the 2024/25 campaign – for Wrexham this season.

O’Connor was, however, an unused substitute in five of the last seven matches and it remains to be seen whether or not he will be able to handle the step up to the Championship, a level that he has never played at before.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

The BBC reported earlier this month that Wrexham, Norwich, Birmingham, and Sheffield United are among the teams interested in a deal to sign Harry Darling on a free transfer from Swansea City.

His contract with the Welsh side is due to expire at the end of this month, and the Red Dragons are one of the sides looking to snap him up for nothing.

Why Darling would be an upgrade on O'Connor

Parkinson must push to convince Darling to make a move across Wales rather than joining Birmingham, Norwich, or Sheffield United, as he would improve the club’s options at the back.

Despite being right-footed, the 25-year-old Englishman often plays on the left-side of a centre-back pairing and this means that he could take O’Connor’s place as the left-sided centre-back in a back three at Wrexham.

Unlike the current Red Dragons defender, Darling is an experienced Championship defender who has made 108 appearances at that level, which means that he would arrive at the Racecourse as a proven second tier star.

He would be a relatively risk-free signing as someone who has been there and done it and could immediately improve Wrexham’s team, particularly when you take his performances this season into account.

Appearances

31

39

Goals

0

5

Clearances per game

2.9

5.0

Dribbled past per game

0.5x

0.3x

Ground duel success rate

53%

66%

Aerial duel success rate

57%

64%

As you can see in the table above, Darling’s defensive work in the Championship, in terms of his success rate in duels and how often he was beaten by opposition attackers, was more impressive than O’Connor’s was at a lower level.

This suggests that the Swansea star, who was hailed as “outstanding” by former boss Luke Williams, is a big upgrade on the current Wrexham left centre-back, particularly from a defensive perspective.

Darling also, as shown in the table, scored five goals from centre-back, compared to O’Connor’s barren return in League One, and this suggests that he would offer a much greater goal threat in the 2025/26 campaign.

The English titan, who ranked in the top 31% of centre-backs in the league for progressive passes per 90 (3.70), is a ball-playing defender who has shown that he can mix technical quality and class on the ball with strength and reliable out of possession at Championship level.

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Therefore, he would be the perfect signing, as a proven second tier star, to come in as a big upgrade on their left-sided centre-back position this summer.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s Everton future is still unresolved, but that saga will have no bearing on David Moyes’ pursuit of a new centre-forward to take to the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Moyes took the reins from the beleaguered Sean Dyche in January and steered Everton toward a comfortable 13th-place finish, bagging 48 points.

But scoring goals has always been the crux of Everton’s wider problems, and that’s where the Toffees boss wants to make improvements this summer.

Everton approach club for new striker

According to Spanish outlet Cadena Ser, Villarreal’s Thierno Barry has been added to Everton’s shortlist, with the Toffees believed to have made an approach after asking about his situation.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

This comes amid the Merseysiders missing out on Liam Delap, who has signed for Chelsea in a £30m deal.

Barry, meanwhile, has club-hopped for two successive years and could be on the move once again, with a €40m (£34m) release clause in his contract.

However, the Yellow Submarine are keen to keep hold of their man. That said, The Friedkin Group were willing to green-light a move for Delap, and could now turn to Barry instead, with Villarreal sure to evaluate offers if their clause is indeed met.

What Thierno Barry would bring to Everton

Standing at 6 foot 4, Barry is a tall and powerful frontman whose efforts over the past several years have spoke of incremental progress.

Hailed for his “menacing” profile by talent scout Antonio Mango, the 22-year-old Barry appears to be the perfect kind of player for a Moyes system, having won 5.1 duels per La Liga game this term, as per Sofascore.

Indeed, FBref record Barry to rank among the top 1% of centre-forwards across Europe’s top five leagues this season for percentage of aerial battles won (67.3%) per 90, furthering the argument that he’s the man for the job.

He’s not quite so progressive a ball carrier as Delap, who ranks among the top 13% of forwards across Europe for progressive carries and the top 7% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref, but he’s every bit as brutish a talisman.

24/25 – Villarreal

35

11

4

24/25 – Basel

3

5

0

22/23 – Basel

35

9

5

22/23 – Beveren

31

20

4

Barry began life on the senior stage prolifically indeed, although his term with Beveren was contested in the second tier of Belgian football. In any case, he’s showcased an exciting growth that could now be translated to life in the Premier League.

Delap, similarly, landed when making the big jump, having enjoyed a decent breakthrough campaign in the Championship with Hull City last year, scoring eight goals and adding two assists across 31 games for the Tigers.

However, he’s only gone from strength to strength across the past year, unable to prevent Ipswich Town’s relegation but impressing with a 12-goal return across 32 starts.

Barry, with his strength and confidence, might just prove to follow in Delap’s footsteps, even becoming a better version of the English talent. The Frenchman has a higher release clause, after all, while his 20 league goal involvements for 2024/25 ranked him ahead of Delap’s own return of 14.

There would be an element of risk in bringing a young and unproven talent over to Merseyside, but Everton appear to have turned a corner over the past six months, and if Moyes gets this one right, it could make the Toffees faithful forget all about Delap.

Perfect Branthwaite replacement: Everton considering bid to sign £30m star

Everton could lose Jarrad Branthwaite this summer, but appear to have the perfect replacement lined up.

ByEthan Lamb Jun 5, 2025

Lead selector Desmond Haynes indicated Darren had been left out to give opportunities to younger players keeping the 2027 ODI World Cup in mind

S Sudarshanan21-Nov-2023Dwayne Bravo has hit out at West Indies selectors, saying that “the system failed again” after his brother Darren Bravo was excluded from the ODI squad against England.”When will the BS [sic] stop?! I’m not surprised by my brother’s non-selection, but with the recent changes in WI cricket management, I held onto a bit of hope for the better,” Dwayne posted on Instagram. “This is NOT acceptable, and I just can’t make sense of it! So here are my burning questions: What’s the criteria for West Indies team selection? Surely, it can’t be solely based on performance?”Darren was the leading run-scorer in the Super50 Cup 2023 that concluded earlier this month and captained Trinidad & Tobago to the title. He scored 416 runs in the competition at an average of 83.20 and a strike rate of 92.03, batting at No. 3, and was one of the two players with over 400 runs in the competition. Bravo also was among the leading run-scorers for Trinidad & Tobago last season in the 50-over competition with 240 runs at an average of 48 and a strike rate of 76.92.Following the squad announcement on Monday, West Indies’ lead selector Desmond Haynes indicated Darren, 34, had been left out to give opportunities to younger players keeping the 2027 ODI World Cup in mind.”It was a very tough decision for us to make as a panel,” Haynes said of Darren’s omission. “Darren has proven, not only this year but last year as well in the Super50 tournament, to be somebody who has performed well at this level. But we have invested in players like Alick Athanaze and Keacy Carty.”We also had to take into consideration that the World Cup 2027 is something that we have got in mind. We believe that we have invested in these players, and we need to give the opportunity to play against a very strong England side. That is the reason why Darren has been omitted.”Dwayne accused the selection panel of “mistreatment” and “disrespect” towards players.”I usually stay away from these discussions, but the mistreatment, disrespect, and dishonesty towards players over the years demand a voice. When will it stop?” he wrote.”To Mr. Desmond Haynes, your statement didn’t surprise me. It feels like another former player singing for his supper. I hoped for trust in the system with figures like you, Sammy, and the new director of cricket, but the system failed again. To my brother, this too shall pass. Keep your head up, stay focused, and trust in the Almighty.”While Darren was excluded, Kjorn Ottley, 33, was picked for the first time since 2021 as a back-up opener after Justin Greaves was ruled out with injury. Ottley made his ODI debut in Bangladesh in January 2021 and scored 25 across two games before being left out. But he put in a strong performance in the Super50 Cup this year with 317 runs while opening the batting. Only Greaves and Darren had scored more runs than Ottley this season.”You got to look at the roles that you want the player to play,” Haynes said. “Kjorn Ottley was included in the team as we had an injury to Justin Greaves. We thought we wanted somebody to bat up front and that’s the reason why Ottley got picked.”It is also important to have people playing in our domestic season and doing well. We keep saying all the time, our pool is not that big. I also mentioned about investing in young players like Athanaze, Keacy Carty. If we do the knee-jerk reaction where we just decided to invest in guys one year and then get rid of them next year, I am not too sure if that’s good for the development.”Hayden Walsh topped the bowling charts in the Super50 Cup 2023•AFP/Getty ImagesHaynes: Hayden Walsh was very close to selection
After unimpressive outings in ODIs against India at home and Pakistan away as well as the T20Is against New Zealand at home last year, legspinner Hayden Walsh Jr was left out of the West Indies side and was not selected for the T20 World Cup in Australia. Ahead of the CPL 2023, he switched from Barbados Royals to Jamaica Tallawahs, but played just two matches.After he was dropped last year, Haynes said he had asked him to look at his bowling footage in order to work on his shortcomings.”Last season I was the first to go to Hayden when he lost his confidence and I suggested ‘get a camera to look at you, where you are bowling’,” Haynes said. “I thought at the time he was not bowling well and need some assistance from the outside just to have a look at him.”This year I can tell you that I am very impressed with the way the ball was coming out of Hayden in this competition. We even made the suggestion to the West Indies Cricket Board to have Hayden in the 16 and he is going to be in Antigua for the camp.”Walsh returned to form with both bat and ball in the Super50 Cup bagging 20 wickets – joint-most in the tournament with Sunil Narine – and scoring 222 runs with two fifties and a strike rate of 100.45. Against West Indies Academy, he came in with Leeward Islands at 157 for 6 and scored an unbeaten 60 off 55 to lift them to 239. He then picked up five wickets to help his side win by 66 runs.Related

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His second fifty came in a similarly tough situation in the semi-final against Barbados. Walsh scored 57 off just 45 to help Leeward Islands recover from 179 for 6 to post 290.”We were very impressed with Hayden,” Haynes said. “He used to be a two-dimensional player. He batted very well for Leeward Islands, came in at some crucial times and gave Leeward Islands a really good partnership and get them some good runs. We were very impressed with his batting as well.”Hayden was very close to selection, and I am happy he has got back his form. He is bowling well and is always going to be in our plans.”Haynes also said that he was told Jason Holder “is involved only in T20 and Tests” and is not available for ODIs.

Everton boss David Moyes will inherit financial backing from The Friedkin Group this summer, and he is expected to bring in a new era with some exciting arrivals.

Everton set their stall out ahead of upcoming window

Life at Everton is an exciting prospect for supporters, who have enjoyed visits to their new stadium at Bramley Moore Dock during test events. David Moyes has plenty on his plate before the move becomes reality, but he will hope to bring some recognisable names to the club during the close season to ensure morale remains at a recent all-time high.

According to reports, Federico Gatti could become a Toffee this summer for £25 million. Juventus have put his contract situation on hold until the end of the campaign, sparking hope of a timely intervention from the Premier League outfit.

Further up the field of play, highly-rated Sunderland breakout star Chris Rigg is an Everton target. Transitioning to a younger core appears to be on the agenda, which could see Abdoulaye Doucoure depart Goodison Park amid speculation over his long-term future.

Internally, Moyes must decide on out-of-contract stars such as Doucoure, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Seamus Coleman. Jesper Lindstrom, Jack Harrison and a host of other loanees are also in the dark over where they will play their club football next term, prompting scope for movement in both directions.

Everton’s main priority at this point is moving up the Premier League table until safety is mathematically confirmed. Still, questions remain concerning whether the Toffees will conduct a rebuild or a refresh once the window opens.

Everton’s next five fixtures under David Moyes

Liverpool (A)

Premier League

Arsenal (H)

Premier League

Nottingham Forest (A)

Premier League

Manchester City (H)

Premier League

Chelsea (A)

Premier League

Either way, supporters may now have an inkling of where Moyes’ transfer plans lie following news he has a talented forward in his sights who is also attracting attention from European heavyweights.

Everton to fight Bayern Munich for Stuttgart's Woltemade

According to reports in Germany via Sport Witness, Everton are in the mix to sign Stuttgart striker Nick Woltemade. Brighton & Hove Albion and Bayern Munich will also compete for his signature. The latter would like to bring in the Germany Under-21 international to fight it out with Harry Kane to lead their frontline, which is a testement to his return of 12 goals and three assists in 24 appearances this campaign.

Everton must rue losing "special" star worth even more than Branthwaite

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ByAngus Sinclair Mar 28, 2025

Labelled “very special” by Sebastian Hoeneß, the 23-year-old has also shown his capacity to fashion opportunities for others, laying on 24 chances and completing 26 dribbles in the Bundesliga.

Capable of playing as a centre-forward or in a slightly detached role off the main striker, Woltemade possesses the versatility necesarry to make an impact in the top-flight. The Toffees have sent scouts to watch him in action on several occasions, indicating interest in his services definitely carries some weight.

The sticking point for Everton may be their competitors. Opportunities for a young star to join Bayern Munich don’t come around often, while Brighton have shown an ability to develop talent at an alarming rate over the last few years.

Can Moyes convince Woltemade that Merseyside is a better destination? There is no time like the present, with the club set to embark on an exciting new era.

Coad claims three of six wickets to fall, handing hosts two of maximum 10 points needed to secure second place

ECB Reporters Network27-Sep-2024Yorkshire will be promoted to Division One of the Vitality County Championship if they draw their final round clash with Northamptonshire at Headingley after Ben Coad claimed three of six wickets to fall when play finally got underway after tea on day two.Coad’s 3 for 29 from 12 overs, including his 300th first-class wicket, left Northamptonshire in trouble at 117 for 6 from 40 overs, handing Yorkshire two of the maximum 10 points they require to secure second place behind Sussex.The start of play was delayed until 3.30pm following first day rain and a wet outfield on day two.Northamptonshire, with nothing to play for but holding onto fourth place in Division Two, were inserted. George Hill also struck twice with his seamers and Jordan Thompson once.Visiting debutant Krish Patel, aged 18, impressed with 26 and George Bartlett top-scored with an unbeaten 41.Yorkshire are aiming to hold off the challenge of third-placed Middlesex, who have seen the opening two days of their clash with leaders Sussex abandoned at Hove.Northamptonshire have handed first-class debuts to both Patel and on-loan Nottinghamshire spinner Fateh Singh, the latter signed only for this game.Patel was the first to make an impact, and impressively too during an eye-catching 41-ball innings with five fours.He came through the Surrey age-groups, played one Metro Bank One-Day Cup game for his home county last season and then signed a two-year rookie professional contract at Wantage Road at the end of last month.Patel came to the crease late in the third over after Coad had removed opener Gus Miller, caught at first slip by Hill.The diminutive right-hander was strong through the covers off both front foot and back. One square drive off England fringe Test fast bowler Matthew Fisher was particularly memorable.He shared 42 with the more doughty Luke Procter before edging Thompson’s seam to second slip as the visitors fell to 44 for 2 in the 15th over.Only 20 more runs had been added when Hill bowled Procter, for 25, with his fifth ball, securing Yorkshire’s first point of the fixture.Hill had been capped by Yorkshire as the rain fell on day one and was again presented with his cap before play started to give Yorkshire’s supporters a chance to acclaim their 23-year-old allrounder.He added a second wicket when James Sales was bowled for 17 shouldering arms as Northamptonshire fell to 79 for 4 in the 30th over.Conditions were ever-changing through a competitive evening; sun, cloud and even a bit of rain.When Coad struck again – for wicket number 300 – the floodlights were on, with Saif Zaib edging to Hill at first slip. Northamptonshire were 106 for 5 in the 37th over.He also had nightwatcher Singh caught at short mid-off in his next over, securing Yorkshire’s second bowling bonus point. That, added to eight points for the draw, would be enough for a Division One return for the first time since 2022.Coad, aged 30, is playing his 76th first-class match and his 301 wickets have come at a mighty impressive 19.42 apiece.Northamptonshire’s Bartlett hit nine fours in his 52 balls.For Yorkshire, while promotion was not decided in this short burst of a session, they moved themselves to within touching distance.