All posts by h716a5.icu

There has been an update regarding Burnley's apparent interest in Troyes starlet, Wilson Odobert…

What's the latest on Odobert to Burnley?

The Daily Mail reported at the end of last month that the newly-promoted side had 'held talks' with the French outfit regarding a potential move for the teenage sensation, with the 18-year-old having joined his current side last year from Ligue 1 giants, Paris Saint-Germain.

The latest indication – as per The Athletic's Andy Jones – is that a deal for the promising Frenchman is currently "ongoing", with the Clarets currently facing "serious competition" in their battle to land fellow winger, Mohamed Daramy from Ajax.

While it remains to be seen just how much the Clarets will have to fork out in order to land Odobert from the recently-relegated side, the youngster has been valued at around €10m (£9m), according to CIES Football Observatory.

Who is Wilson Odobert?

In what has so far been a busy window for Vincent Kompany and co, the former Manchester City skipper has already bolstered his options on the flanks with the signings of Nathan Redmond and Jacob Bruun Larsen, although further attacking recruits could well lie in store before the window is out.

A deal has already been struck with regard to a player that is currently at the club, with the Lancashire side confirming on Wednesday afternoon that they have moved to extend the contract of Manuel Benson – with the former Belgium U21 international penning a new four-year deal.

The 26-year-old wideman has warranted that potential extension following his instrumental displays in last season's promotion charge, having scored 11 goals and provided three assists from just 14 Championship starts last season, following his arrival from Royal Antwerp last season.

While evidently not a regular starter during that glorious 2022/23 campaign, Benson was able to pose a real threat when he was called upon by his compatriot, Kompany, having been hailed as "fantastic" by his manager earlier this year.

The former Anderlecht boss could add another attacking weapon to his arsenal with the signing of Odobert, with the teen dynamo another figure who could make an impact off the bench next term, with his relative youth making it unlikely that he will immediately be thrust into the fray as a starting pick.

Lauded as a "very skilled winger" who has "outrageous quality" – according to journalist Andres Onrubia Ramos – the 6 foot marksman scored four goals and provided two assists in 19 Ligue 1 starts last term, with that a respectable return considering it was his first year of senior football.

Despite that lack of experience at first-team level, Odobert has only recently been dubbed "outrageously talented" by commentator Robbie Thomson, with the hope being that his development can continue under the watchful eye of Kompany over the coming years.

With Sheffield United's Sander Berge the latest incoming at Turf Moor – and with the aforementioned Benson having committed his future to the club – it looks likely to be an exciting period ahead for the Clarets as they attempt to make a solid return to life back in the Premier League this season.

Australia seamer Hastings raised two questions over O’Keefe’s selection: the left-arm spinner’s NSW suspension and a lack of recent match practice

Daniel Brettig06-Sep-2017John Hastings, the Victoria and Australia seam bowler, has given voice to many privately questioning how Steve O’Keefe could be playing a Test match for Australia while still being suspended by New South Wales for poor behaviour.At the same time Hastings, who is a longtime friend of O’Keefe, also wondered how the national selectors chose O’Keefe to go to Bangladesh as a replacement for the injured Josh Hazlewood instead of Jon Holland, who took part in Australia’s pre-tour camp in Darwin and was highly successful during an intra-squad practice match.While O’Keefe has stated that he was always informed by the NSW chief executive Andrew Jones and Australia’s selection chairman Trevor Hohns that the sanction – which also included an A$20,000 fine – did not preclude Test squad selection, others have struggled to come to terms with the apparent contradiction.”I really feel for Dutchy [Holland],” Hastings told . “Steve O’Keefe was best man at my wedding so I’m rapt for him, but probably by all rights he probably doesn’t deserve to be there.  He’s suspended by NSW Cricket and he’s over playing for Australia. It’s an interesting one that one.”I don’t think Jon Holland can do any more than what he has done over the last few years. Last year he was prolific for the Bushrangers. He went up to Darwin [to the camp], got four or five for one in a spell. I honestly don’t know what the selectors could be saying to him, if anything. It’s just unbelievable.”Numerous players and coaches around the country have raised queries about how O’Keefe managed to return to the Test team despite being banned from the next NSW tournament and this year’s domestic limited-overs series, for offensive behaviour towards a female Australian cricketer and her partner during the state’s end of season awards night.Equally, there is disquiet at the decision to send O’Keefe to Bangladesh without any recent match practice – his previous competitive match was the fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar trophy in March – seemingly ignoring the example of none other than Holland himself, who went to Sri Lanka last year as an injury replacement for O’Keefe and then struggled to bowl at his best due to minimal preparation time.”He’s coming in with no game time,” Hastings said of O’Keefe. “It’s a massive ask for someone to come in with little or no preparation in matches. That time in the middle is absolute gold dust.”

Rangers winger Fashion Sakala has his future hanging in the balance with rumours linking him with a move away from the Scottish giants. Transfer insider Dean Jones has labelled the situation as “precarious” when speaking with GIVEMESPORT, also going on to say that he believes that “there could still have been a role for him” with Rangers.

What Does the Future Hold for Fashion Sakala?

Numerous players across Europe are being snapped up by clubs in Saudi Arabia and Sakala could be one of the next to make that jump. This aligns with reports from the Daily Mail (via The Scottish Sun), which indicate that the club are willing to cut ties with the 26-year-old.

In this modern age of football, social media is a major catalyst for everything and the Rangers winger, who earns £8.4k per week, is seemingly hinting at his imminent departure from the SPFL. A photo of him waving speaks a thousand words with fans quick to decode exactly what it means.

The aforementioned Mail had previously reported that Sakala had rejected the opportunity to join Al-Fayha, only for this to have turned on its head. They are going in for him again and after the Zambian was absent from a recent open training session, success may well be on the cards this time around.

What has Dean Jones said about the Rangers winger?

“It is looking a bit precarious for Sakala at the moment, and I think it’s a bit of a shame because I feel there could still have been a role for him in the squad.

“We will have to see how this plays out in real life as a lot of the fuel to this rumour has been provided through social media, and that is not always a great place to get a true reading on a situation.

“But if [Michael] Beale has decided this is the end of the road for him, which sounds the case, then I think it will be best they help him find a new club quickly and that everyone can move on from that stance.”

All about Sakala’s time in Scotland

Fashion Sakala first arrived in Glasgow in 2021 from Belgian top division side KV Oostende. He hit the ground running and proved to be a useful attacking option, helping Rangers to the Scottish Cup and a Europa League final in his first year.

The Rangers winger made 26 league appearances in that 2021/22 season, amassing a total of 1,166 minutes as they finished runners-up to their Glaswegian rivals. His return of 15 goal contributions was very respectable and it only got better the following year as he chipped in with 12 goals and eight assists.

At Ibrox, the attacking third has been heavily diluted in recent years with Sakala having to compete with names such as Ryan Kent, Ianis Hagi, Malik Tillman and Rabbi Matondo.

Talking of Kent and he has already managed a high-profile move away from Scotland, joining 19-time Turkish Super League winners Fenerbahce. If current Rangers winger Sakala gets his wish then he will be able to enjoy a similar fate.

Manchester United completing an 'unbelievable' deal to sign Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane this window would require 'a bit of a miracle' at present, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

Where could Harry Kane end up this summer?

According to The Guardian, Manchester United could revive their interest in Spurs marksman Kane this summer after it emerged that Tottenham majority owner Joe Lewis has spoken to chairman Daniel Levy and told him that the England international can't run his £200k-a-week contract down in north London.

It is thought that Kane would fetch a fee of around £100 million; however, he also has an offer for a new deal on the table from Tottenham which he is yet to sign.

Football Insider report that Manchester United are said to be Kane's preferred option if he has to depart Tottenham, though Bayern Munich will submit a third bid worth near £100 million after seeing two opening proposals booted out by the Lilywhites.

Part of the motivation behind Kane's preference to move to Old Trafford is said to be the opportunity to continue to play in the Premier League as he chases down Alan Shearer's all-time goalscoring record.

Last term, Kane produced some incredible form despite Tottenham's unsuccessful campaign, registering 32 goals and five assists in 49 appearances across all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jones thinks that it would take something out of the ordinary for Kane to become a Manchester United player this summer.

Jones told FFC: "I’m just very, very sceptical about this one. It really does have the feel of a story that has been planted to raise a narrative and at the end of the day – even if Kane is available – his price to United is higher than it is for anyone else in the world. Spurs will not want him going there, no way. I totally understand the feeling that losing a £100million asset for nothing in a year does not make much sense, but I can also see why Spurs feel that having Kane in their team for one more season is priceless.

"How much would someone pay to have Kane for one year, guaranteeing them 25-30 goals? That’s basically what Spurs have right now and the value on something like that is massive. So you have to use that to counter the fact they will lose the tangible cash on Kane. It would be an unbelievable story if Kane was to join United, but it is going to take a bit of a miracle at this stage."

What now for Manchester United?

Manchester United already have turned their attention towards another striker target in the form of Atalanta rising star Rasmus Hojlund as Erik Ten Hag looks to strengthen his frontline.

Telegraph Sport claim that despite their interest, the Red Devils are insistent that they won't cross the £60 million mark due to 'tight financial restrictions'.

Gazzetta dello Sport via The Daily Mail claim that Manchester United are also closing in on a £22 million deal for Fiorentina defensive midfielder Sofyan Amrabat.

talkSPORT understand that veteran defender Jonny Evans could also be handed a longer deal after initially signing a short-term contract to participate in the Red Devils' pre-season.

A superb individual performance from Stafanie Taylor gave Western Storm lift-off in the Kia Super League as they defeated Loughborough Lightning by five wickets

ECB Reporters Network12-Aug-2017Stafanie Taylor had figures of 4 for 5 from her four overs•Getty ImagesA superb individual performance from Stafanie Taylor gave Western Storm lift-off in the Kia Super League as they defeated Loughborough Lightning by five wickets in front of the Sky TV cameras at Taunton.Taking centre stage ahead of Somerset’s NatWest T20 Blast fixture against Kent, the West Indies allrounder returned startling figures of 4 for 5 in four overs and effected a game-changing run out as Lightning were restricted to 108 for 9 after being put in. Trounced by defending champions Southern Vipers in their opening match, Storm chased down their target with five balls to spare to register their first victory in this season’s domestic women’s T20 competition, Taylor top-scoring with 34.Amy Jones afforded Lightning’s innings early impetus, raising 21 from 12 balls, before chipping Freya Davies to Claire Nicholas at mid-on with the scoreboard on 30. But the visitors still managed to accrue 38 runs from the Powerplay with overseas star Ellyse Perry to the fore.The Australia allrounder clubbed the first six of the match off Jodie Dibble and was moving up through the gears when she attempted a risky single to midwicket and was brilliantly run out by Taylor’s direct hit. Having scored 25 from 28 balls, Lightning’s inspirational opener walked while the third umpire was still studying the TV replay, and Lightning’s chances of posting a challenging total went with her.The leading run-scorer and wicket-taker in the inaugural KSL 12 months ago, the irrepressible Taylor picked up where she left off. She claimed three wickets in five balls in her first over to reduce the Lightning innings to rubble and fundamentally alter the complexion of the match.Propelling offbreaks from the River End, the West Indies allrounder pinned Lightning captain Georgia Elwiss lbw with her second ball to strike a crucial blow for the home side. She then lured Sonia Odedra into a front-foot indiscretion, enabling Rachel Priest to execute a smart stumping, before trapping Thea Brookes in front of the stumps without scoring to reduce Lightning to 59 for 5 at the halfway stage.Any prospects of last season’s beaten semi-finalists recovering were stifled by Taylor, who had Paige Schofield caught behind for 15 in the act of cutting, leaving Marie Kelly and Lucy Higham to attempt a rescue act from the wreckage of 73 for 6 in the 14th over.Determined to prove a point after experiencing a torrid debut at the Ageas Bowl two days earlier, New Zealand pace bowler Holly Huddlestone knocked back Kelly’s off stump to register her first wicket in KSL, while Higham was run out in the penultimate over and England’s Beth Langston holed out to long-on as Storm exerted a vice-like grip.Priest departed for a duck in the first over, skipper Heather Knight was run out for 24 by Higham’s excellent pick up and throw from point and Georgia Hennessey, having scratched 23 from 29 balls, drove Elwiss to Perry at midwicket as Storm struggled to 62 for 3 in the 13th over.When England international Fran Wilson fell in the 16th, that was the cue for the ubiquitous Taylor to break the shackles. She helped herself to five boundaries and played the lead role in a fifth-wicket stand of 30 with Taunton-born Sophie Luff (18 not out) to calm any nerves.

A CoA official said there was no other way to adopt the new constitution given that the BCCI has opted to setup a fresh committee to identify the difficulties in implementing the Supreme Court’s July 18 order

Arun Venugopal28-Jun-2017With the BCCI’s member units not adopting the Lodha Committee recommendations at the board’s special general meeting on Monday, the Committee of Administrators (CoA) has said it has been left with little choice but to ask the Supreme Court to enforce the reforms. A CoA official said there was no other way to adopt the new constitution given that the BCCI setup a fresh committee to identify the difficulties in implementing the Supreme Court’s July 18 order rather than accept the Lodha recommendations.”Our hope was that they would pass the resolution and move forward, indicating willingness to reform and progress,” the official told ESPNcricinfo. “We told them that if they don’t do that then we will have to get the court to enforce. How else will the constitution be adopted otherwise?”With a number of member units of the BCCI having filed affidavits in the Supreme Court against the implementation of the Lodha recommendations, the CoA had tried to impress upon them that stalling the implementation of the reforms would be counterproductive. Instead, the Supreme Court-appointed committee had urged the state bodies to filter their objections to the recommendations to a few points and submit them to the court for reconsideration. This, the CoA had reiterated at its meeting with the state associations on the eve of the SGM, would be beneficial to all parties concerned.The BCCI’s old guard, though, has indicated that it wants to brazen it out. A veteran state association official from the south zone argued that there was no guarantee that the Supreme Court would reconsider the recommendations the member units objected to. “There is nothing in writing,” he said. “If the court says ‘the BCCI is abolished’ we will all go. But, I will not [voluntarily] jump into the river. Let us see what happens on July 14.”The BCCI’s seven-member committee, headed by IPL chairman Rajiv Shukla, is likely to submit a report on July 10, four days before the Supreme Court’s hearing. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court-appointed CoA is meeting on July 1 to discuss the next course of action. “We have to discuss what we have to do, now that the SGM has passed the decision of creating a committee,” the CoA official said. “We won’t finalise the status reports [to be sent to the Supreme Court] on July 1. It will be filed a bit later than that.”

Following a quiet start to the transfer window, Heart of Midlothian are now ramping up their efforts to build a solid team ahead of their Premiership opener against St Johnstone in just 12 days.

Steven Naismith has signed Michael McGovern and Calem Nieuwenhof and has now set his sights on luring defender Frankie Kent from Peterborough United.

Will Hearts sign Frankie Kent?

The Tynecastle side submitted an offer for the player last week which was swiftly rejected by the League One club, although The Posh chairman Barry Fry claimed that the two teams were “very close” to finalising an offer.

According to The Daily Record, Hearts have now had a bid accepted for the centre-back, and he has been given permission to speak to the Jambos ahead of a move.

Fry lauded Kent for his spell at Peterborough, saying: “Frankie helped us win promotion, he helped us to get in the play-offs last year and had a year in the Championship. He’s a great lad. A big centre half, quick, strong in the air, a great talker.”

How good is Frankie Kent?

With Steven Naismith having just three centre-backs to call on next season, another one or two players were urgently required to improve that specific area of the team.

Kent played 42 matches in League One last season as he helped his side reach the playoffs, although they lost following a stunning second leg comeback by Sheffield Wednesday during their semifinal tie.

The 27-year-old was solid at the back, helping his team keep 14 clean sheets while he also won 3.5 aerial duels per game – a rate of 64% – and this suggests he could adapt to the physical nature of Scottish football rather well.

The 6 foot 2 rock also ranked second across the Peterborough squad for accurate passes per game (45) while also ranking fourth for interceptions (1.1) and first for clearances (3.7) per game, suggesting that he had a positive influence on the team defensively and Naismith could forge a solid partnership with him and Craig Halkett.

The former Livingston defender missed 45 matches last season due to suffering a horrific cruciate ligament injury, playing just eight times, but he was incredible during the 2021/22 campaign.

He ranked fourth for overall Sofascore rating (7.14) and first for accurate passes per game (51.1), which suggests that should Naismith secure the move for Kent, the duo could use their passing abilities to create plenty of opportunities from the heart of the defence together.

Halkett also showed his eagerness to win the ball back by making 1.5 tackles per game, good enough to rank him sixth in the squad while like Kent, he topped the pile for clearances per game (4.5) and Hearts could certainly improve on their fourth-placed finish last term with a centre-back duo of Kent and Halkett running things from the back.

The Englishman is clearly eyeing a new challenge by swapping League One for the Premiership, while a chance of playing European football is surely proving to be a key incentive for the player in what could be a shrewd move indeed by Naismith.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are reportedly interested in Southampton forward Che Adams, as Julen Lopetegui hunts a new striker this summer.

The Old Gold are in desperate need of a capable line leader this transfer window, after ending the 2022/23 campaign as the Premier League’s lowest scorers.

What’s the latest on Che Adams to Wolves?

As reported by The Sun’s Alan Nixon, Wolves, Leeds and Bournemouth are eyeing Southampton’s Che Adams.

It’s believed by Nixon that the Midlands club and the Cherries are leading the way for the striker, who is speculated to be valued by the Saints at £10m.

The 27-year-old has just one year left on his contract at St Mary’s, and considering the club’s relegation, now could be the perfect time to swoop for the forward.

How many goals has Che Adams scored?

In 324 domestic career appearances, the Saints striker has made 118 goal contributions, scoring 85 and assisting 33 at various levels in England, via Transfermarkt. 124 of those outings have come in the top flight, where he has so far found the net 25 times.

That might not be the best of records but the Scotland international has been known to score regularly in the past. Indeed, he was poached by the south coast club in the summer of 2019 from Birmingham City, after a superb individual campaign in the Championship.

In the 2018/29 season in the second tier, Adams netted 22 goals and registered five assists to highlight just how clinical he can be if in the right environment.

Since joining Southampton, the forward has been part of a side struggling to maintain Premier League status, ending last term with demotion to the Championship finishing bottom of the table.

Despite his team’s woeful form, the Leicester-born gem managed to have a hand in eight goals in 28 appearances, scoring five and assisting three in a challenging campaign for all at St Mary’s.

Now, the 27-year-old could be handed an escape route, with Wolves chasing a forward to take up the role of leading the line at Molineux.

Under Lopetegui, the Scotsman could be guaranteed a consistent spot in the side, as the Spaniard prepares to bid farewell to Raul Jimenez, who served as a clinical figure during his time in the Midlands.

Although he failed to score last campaign, the Mexican was well-loved in Wolverhampton for his 57 goals at the club, including a rich scoring streak in the 2019/20 Premier League campaign in which he netted 17 goals.

With a move to Fulham worth £5.5m imminent, the 32-year-old will need to be replaced, which Lopetegui could achieve by capturing Adams, who has the traits to suggest he could take the throne from Jimenez.

Averaging 2.12 shots per 90 last season, the Saints man is a livewire in the front line, adding more than just a goal threat to the side as suggested by his 1.08 key passes per 90, via FBref.

With a strong goal-scoring record behind him, Wolves could benefit from hiring the Saints forward, who could replenish the goals in the Midlands after the club managed just 31 in 38 games last term.

Lauded as “clever” by Rangers legend and pundit Ally McCoist, the striker could be the perfect acquisition for Lopetegui to chase in place of Jimenez.

Tottenham Hotspur could reportedly be handed the opportunity to sign Dutch starlet, Xavi Simons this summer, according to the latest reports.

What's the latest on Simons to Tottenham?

According to Gianluca Di Marzio, Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain could potentially offer the 20-year-old to the Lilywhites as part of their bid to sign Harry Kane this summer, with the hope being that the inclusion of the one-time Barcelona gem could help to 'reduce the fee' that would be needed to sign the England skipper.

The promising forward is set to make his return to the Parc des Princes after Luis Enrique's side opted to trigger his £5m buy-out clause, with the 5 foot 10 sensation having spent the 2022/23 campaign with PSV Eindhoven after leaving the French side permanently a year ago.

This follows previous reports in Spain which claimed that the north Londoners were ready to compete with the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United for the youngster's signature, hence showcasing that Simons has been on the radar of Daniel Levy and co of late.

What position does Xavi Simons play?

Lauded as a "fantastic talent" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the five-cap Netherlands international has caught the attention of clubs across Europe due to his standout displays in his homeland last term, having registered 22 goals and 12 assists in 48 games in all competitions for the Eredivisie side.

A player who is comfortable operating all across the forward line or in an advanced midfield role, Simons would offer a truly versatile and flexible asset to Ange Postecoglou, helping to ease the potential loss of the aforementioned Kane.

While still in the infancy of his senior career, the highly-rated ace – who has been valued at around £51m by CIES Football Observatory – has been the recipient of lofty praise of late, with ex-Spurs star Rafael van der Vaart having tipped his compatriot to be a potentially world-class asset in the future.

As far as Simons is concerned, the precocious ace will likely be keen to emulate the success that his fellow Dutchman enjoyed in a Tottenham jersey, with Van der Vaart having sparkled during his two-year stay in English football.

Also a player who could be deployed in a wide variety of attacking roles, much like Simons, the now-retired ace was snapped up by the Lilywhites on an £8m deal from Real Madrid at the tail-end of the 2010 summer window, before quickly establishing himself as a key figure in Harry Redknapp's side.

The 5 foot 9 playmaker would ultimately rack up 46 goals and assists in just 77 games across all fronts during his stint at White Hart Lane, having been lauded as a "magician" by former pro, Marvin Sordell due to his stellar displays in a Tottenham jersey.

As Redknapp noted following Van der Vaart's arrival in north London, the one-time Ajax man had that "knack of scoring goals", something which Simons also seems to share judging by his recent displays at PSV.

While the latter man would be joining Postecoglou's ranks in the early stages of his career – unlike his compatriot – there are signs that he could follow Van der Vaart's lead by bringing some 'magic' to N17.

Mark Stoneman scored a chanceless unbeaten 181 to continue his impressive form for new county Surrey as they took the first-day honours against Essex at Guildford

ECB Reporters Network09-Jun-2017
Scorecard1:00

County Championship Round-up: Stoneman goes big for Surrey

Mark Stoneman scored a chanceless unbeaten 181 to continue his impressive form for new county Surrey as they took the first-day honours against Essex at Guildford.The 29-year-old left-hander’s third century since he moved to the club from Durham last winter helped them reach 353 for 5 after they had been put in by Essex in the battle between two sides looking to put pressure on Division One leaders Hampshire.Stoneman still has ambitions to play for England and is certainly the in-form opener in the country at the moment. Former England captain Alastair Cook, who had the best view in the house at first slip, would have been impressed with the quality of Stoneman’s ball-striking, particularly square of the wicket and through the off side.He did not offer a chance against an Essex attack depleted by the absence of seamer Matt Quinn for much of a rain-shortened day after he went off with back spasms.Stoneman watched three partners depart at the other end before sharing a stand of 186 in 41 overs with Dominic Sibley, whose 69 was his third Championship half-century of the season, to alter the course of the day.Jamie Porter had claimed two wickets with the new ball, including Kumar Sangakkara for just four, to help reduce Surrey to 89 for 3 after morning rain had delayed the start until 1.10pm.Porter claimed his 150th first-class wicket when Rory Burns swished outside off stump before picking up Sangakkara, who came into the game with 876 first-class runs already this season but aimed an expansive drive at Porter and fell for just four. With Neil Wagner drawing Scott Borthwick forward and finding the edge Essex would have been pleased with their early work.But Stoneman was soon into his stride. He collected leg-side sixes off Porter and off-spinner Simon Harmer, who bowled 17 overs either side of tea, and 15 boundaries in a 118-ball hundred which he reached shortly after tea.Mark Stoneman struck his third hundred of the summer•Getty ImagesHis next 50 came off 55 deliveries and he passed his previous best for Surrey, 165 against Warwickshire in the opening game of the season, when he drove a ball from Ravi Bopara back past the bowler to the boundary.Sibley was starting to plck up the pace, having reached 50 off 99 balls, when Essex captain Ryan ten Doeschate dragged Surrey back with two wickets in successive overs.Sibley, who hit nine fours and two sixes, was caught behind off ten Doeschate’s sixth ball and in his next over he trapped former Essex team-mate Ben Foakes leg before as he played across the line.But Sam Curran gave Stoneman excellent support and reached a 54-ball half-century with his tenth boundary in the last over of the day. The pair have added 73 for the sixth wicket so far, Stoneman having so far faced 221 balls with 21 fours and two sixes.