Leicestershire batsman struck 66 in 31 balls to chase down Northamptonshire’s target of 219 at Wantage Road, helped by a six-run penalty entering the final over

ECB Reporters Network04-Jul-2018Leicestershire 219 for 6 (Ackermann 66*) beat Northamptonshire 218 for 3 (Duckett 96) by four wickets
ScorecardColin Ackermann struck 66 in 31 balls as Leicestershire chased down 219 to beat Northamptonshire at Wantage Road in the opening game of the Vitality T20 Blast.Ackermann single-handedly revived Leicestershire’s chase when 112 were needed from only 42 balls, striking five fours and four sixes to see the visitors over the line with two balls to spare.His hitting reduced Ben Duckett’s T20-best 96 to a losing cause as Northants’ 218 for 3 – the highest total made on the ground and the county’s third-highest score in the format – proved not enough.The required rate spiralled to 16-an-over with over a third of the innings remaining before Ackermann found his touch. He pulled and flicked Seekkuge Prasanna’s final over for 19 before Mohammad Nabi swung Nathan Buck for three successive fours to leave 74 needed from 30 balls.Ackermann’s third six – off Ben Sanderson over extra-cover – raised fifty in 24 balls and his fourth – heaved over long-on, completed a quite extraordinary chase.Ben Raine also played his part, striking two fours and two sixes in just seven balls, and Leicestershire were also helped by a six-run penalty for a slow Northants over rate which sent a final-over target of 20 tumbling to 14.Download our T20 Blast Podcast

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It left 14 needed from the final over and Kleinveldt sent the first ball down the leg side for five wides before Ackermann won the match in style.It was remarkable stuff after Northants – sent in – made a huge total. Having found form with his first hundred of the season last week at Cardiff, Duckett was quickly into his work here, delicately paddle-sweeping Raine for six over long leg and lifting him over extra-cover for four. He then took 12 from Callum Parkinson’s first over – with two reverse-sweeps over backward point – before another reverse-swept boundary saw Northants reach 58 at the end of the Powerplay, for the loss of Richard Levi for 6 in the third over.A punch through extra-cover raised his seventh T20 fifty in 22 balls before a top-edged hook cleared long-leg for his second six and a perfect paddle-sweep went straight over the wicketkeeper’s head for another maximum. A fierce pull took him to within sight of a century but he holed out to long-on in the final over of the innings.Duckett shared 111 for the second wicket with Josh Cobb – the record second-wicket stand for Northants in T20s. Cobb leg-glanced Zak Chappell for his first boundary before clearing his front leg to take four more down the ground. He pulled Nabi over midwicket for his first six before smearing Cameron Delport’s first two deliveries over long-on and a weaker effort that was parried over the fence for six more by Mohammad Abbas.Having passed fifty in 28 balls with three fours and four sixes, he holed out to long-on for 56 swinging at Parkinson.Northants’ captain Alex Wakely took up the task and pulled Chappell for four through midwicket before skipping down to lift Nabi for six in the offspinner’s final over. Abbas returned and Wakely steered a boundary wide of long-leg and clubbed another straight back past the bowler. A perfectly-timed pick-up shot cleared square leg and in the final over, he swung a mighty straight-drive over the Wilson Stand as he went to a 22-ball fifty in the final over.Neil Dexter gave the chase a bright start, albeit with two boundaries via the inside edge, but having got to 38, was run out as Cameron Delport tried to take a sharp single to Prasanna at mid-on.Two wickets then fell within the space of three balls – Delport holed out to long-on where Duckett took a good catch before Mark Cosgrove was cruelly run-out backing up as Cobb collected a firm straight drive, turned and threw down the stumps.It appeared to be a crucial moment in the game but Ackermann’s brilliance somehow got Leicestershire over the line.

ScorecardYorkshire comfortably defended a 201 target against a Ben Stokes boosted Durham side at Emerald Headingley to make a winning start to this summer’s Vitality Blast.England all-rounder Stokes opened the batting in the chase and hit 90 not out off 68 balls in a 44-run defeat.But all in all, this was a comparatively subdued return to competitive action following the left hamstring tear he sustained in training prior to England’s Test against Pakistan here in early June.Delighted Yorkshire coach Andrew Gale said: “Adam Lyth was the glue throughout the innings. I thought he played really well. But the two debutants were outstanding. Harry Brook and Jonny Tattersall showed us what they can do. “I thought we backed it up in the field. We set the tone early. We starved Ben Stokes of the strike, and you could see how frustrated he was when he came off.”Stokes was never going to bowl against a Vikings side who amassed 200 for 3 thanks to 94 not out from Adam Lyth and an unbeaten 53 from Jonny Tattersall, the pair sharing an unbroken 110 in 8.5 overs.

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Stokes was tied down at the start of his innings, reaching four off 16 balls, but later accelerated without looking entirely comfortable, fitness wise. He reached 50 off 52 balls with a leg-side six and hit five in all.”Ben keeps getting a ball in the [right] foot,” Durham coach Jon Lewis said. “He got one there in the practice match he played on Tuesday, and he drilled one into his ankle in warm-ups before this game. It’s just bruising. The hamstring, to the best of my knowledge, is not an issue.”I think it was the running up and down which started to have an impact on what was already there. I think he’s alright. He’s certainly battled a bit and wasn’t happy with himself at the end. He’s not bowling yet fully, but I think he’s ready as a batter.”The visitors slipped to 13 for 2 and failed to recover as Jack Brooks excelled with three for 21 during his first T20 appearance in three years. They finished on 156 for 4.Although Yorkshire’s innings was built around Lyth’s effort, including nine fours and three sixes, it was lifted with the arrival of Tattersall at 90 for three in the 12th.When he came in, Lyth had 39. By the time the left-hander reached his fifty, Tattersall had 37 as he found the gaps with plenty of innovation.The Vikings wicketkeeper reached 50 off 26 balls with the penultimate ball of the innings.The game started with Yorkshire, invited to bat first, losing Tom Kohler-Cadmore to a top-edged pull at Chris Rushworth in the second over as the score fell to nine for one.Lyth then shared 81 in nine overs with Harry Brook, also on T20 debut like Tattersall.Brook hit two sixes and four fours in a brisk 44 before was caught at long-on off Imran Tahir at the end of the eleventh over.Gary Ballance then fell to Ryan Pringle at the start of the next over, superbly caught at cover by Tom Latham off a leading edge for a golden duck. But that was Durham’s last success as the Lyth and Tattersall attacked.Yorkshire started superbly with the ball as Brooks removed Graham Clark and Paul Collingwood in the space of three balls in the fourth over.Clark was caught at deep mid-wicket and Collingwood lbw for a golden duck.Although Stokes, who could play for England against India in Sunday’s T20 at Bristol, warmed to his task, he never looked like getting the Jets home.By the time he reached his fifty off 52 balls with a third six in the 15th over, Durham were 106 for four having lost Tom Latham and Will Smith to Steve Patterson and Brooks.And it was very much stand and deliver stuff at the end from the 27-year-old.

Sunderland return from the international break and are back in action this afternoon as they travel away from the Stadium of Light to take on Stoke City.

Tony Mowbray is up against the man he replaced in the dugout on Wearside – Alex Neil – and may be hoping to get one over the Scotsman.

The Black Cats are currently fourth in the league table and have won an impressive five of their last seven games to propel them into a play-off position.

However, they are coming into this match against the Potters off the back of a 4-0 defeat to local rivals Middlesbrough at home before the break.

Former Sunderland academy prospect Sam Greenwood got on the scoresheet as the away side ran away with the game and secured a comfortable win.

What's the latest Sunderland team news?

The Black Cats head coach has provided the latest fitness and injury news ahead of the game and a number of players are set to be unavailable for selection.

Dennis Cirkin and Eliezer Mayenda are two players who will not feature as they continue to step up their respective recoveries. They have both returned to first-team training but are due to play for the U21 side on Monday to build their match fitness back up.

Aji Alese and Timothee Pembele are also out of action and are both set to be on the sidelines for a while yet. The former could be back within a week or two, whereas Mowbray has confirmed that the latter will be missing for another four weeks.

Sunderland will also be without central midfielder Dan Neil after his controversial red card against Boro last time out, which opens up a spot in midfield.

With this in mind, the manager must now finally unleash teenage ace Chris Rigg from the start for the first time at Championship level.

Why was Dan Neil sent off against Middlesbrough?

The Sunderland academy graduate was sent off for two bookable offences during the first half and the second one came in controversial circumstances as the referee showed him a second yellow for dissent.

After the match, Mowbray revealed that the referee assessor came into his office to discuss the decision and inferred that this was due to his belief that the match official got the decision wrong or acted harshly.

The manager confirmed that Neil's dissent was not for foul language or any abuse towards the referee and that, instead, it was due to him gesticulating his arms at a decision in a different part of the pitch.

Mowbray must now face Stoke without the central midfielder, as he serves his one-match suspension, and Rigg could benefit from that frustrating piece of refereeing.

Will Rigg start against Stoke?

The 16-year-old dynamo is yet to start a league match for the club but the Sunderland head coach could be bold and provide the gem with a huge chance to impress this afternoon.

He has already made four appearances as a substitute at Championship level and provided a glimpse of what he is capable of against Southampton earlier this season.

Rigg came off the bench against the Saints in September and caught the eye with his first league goal for the club. Jewison Bennette danced around multiple defenders before a fantastic cross into the box allowed the teenage gem to rise above his marker and plant a header into the bottom corner.

The academy graduate also impressed in a start against Crewe in the EFL Cup earlier this term. Mowbray handed him a start in central midfield next to Dan Neil and the youngster grasped his opportunity.

He recorded a Sofascore rating of 8.2 and contributed on and off the ball. As per Sofascore, Rigg scored one goal, completed two dribbles, and won six of his ten duels. The talented ace also created two chances and enjoyed a pass completion rate of 91% over his 90 minutes on the pitch.

These statistics suggest that the English prospect has the ability to impact games at both ends of the pitch with his ability to score goals and create chances, whilst also being a dominant defensive force who can cut out opposition attacks.

The central midfielder, who scored two goals and provided four assists in 15 U18 games for Sunderland, has taken his chances when they have come, off the bench in the Championship and from the start against Crewe.

This is why Mowbray must name him in his starting XI for the game today to provide him with the opportunity to take another step in his development as a starter at league level.

How has Neil performed this season?

The 21-year-old ace has enjoyed a strong start to the campaign and has been an impressive performer at the heart of the midfield for the Black Cats.

Neil has started all 11 of the club's Championship matches this term – a run that will come to an end today – and has contributed with two goals and two assists, along with 1.5 key passes per game, as per Sofascore.

The English maestro has completed 90% of his attempted passes and won 55% of his duels. This suggests that the midfielder has been a reliable passer in the middle of the park who is also able to hold his own in physical contests against the opposition.

Neil is a well-rounded player who can make an impact in and out of possession, as shown by the aforementioned statistics, and that is why his absence could come as a big blow to Sunderland for this clash with Stoke.

However, Rigg's showing against Crewe in the EFL Cup suggests that the potential is there for him to produce a similar level of performance this afternoon if he can translate that over to Championship level over the course of 90 minutes.

The talented whiz showcased his ability to create chances, whilst maintaining a high pass completion rate, and won the majority of his battles, to go along with his goal.

It is now down to Mowbray to unleash the 16-year-old ace, who he once dubbed an "animal" with a "wonderful" left foot, from the start in place of his compatriot.

Manchester United have succeeded more times than not when bringing in Dutch exports to Old Trafford, for every Memphis Depay there are countless players from the Netherlands who have excelled after joining the Red Devils.

Robin Van Persie and Ruud Van Nistelrooy stick out as attacking greats, whilst Jaap Stam and Edwin Van Der Saar are more well-known for their efforts up the other end in keeping the ball out of the net.

Man United will hope they can strike gold from this market again with a prospective signing being lined up, Dutch midfielder Tijjani Reijnders linked with the Red Devils from AC Milan who draws comparisons to former Man United youngster Angel Gomes.

Are Man United interested in Tijjani Rejinders?

According to recent reports from Italy, Man United are scouting the 25-year-old Milan man with a transfer fee in the region of €40m (£35m) expected to be enough to land the Dutchman.

It would see Erik ten Hag swoop for a player from his native Netherlands over poaching another talent from the Eredivisie, the success rate for these buys from the Dutch first division diminishing with one notable misfire in Donny Van De Beek.

Yet, in Rejinders – who has only recently joined AC Milan from AZ Alkmaar – they could have a real talent on their hands with data analyst Ben Mattinson on social media describing the midfielder as both a "silky" player and also a "machine" with how much he progresses the ball for his side.

How good is Tijjani Rejinders?

Developing in his homeland of the Netherlands with the aforementioned AZ, Rejinders stands out as a versatile option in the centre of the park – playing 11 games so far the Rossoneri at defensive midfield, his traditional central role but also further forward as an attacking option also.

The talented youngster would notch up three goals and eight assists in his final Eredivisie season, finishing his career with the two-time Dutch first division Champions collecting 13 goals and 15 assists in total from 128 appearances.

He's impressed the San Siro faithful so far into the infancy of his Milan career after making the transfer switch to Italy, Rejinders already has two assists to his name.

His standout attributes, as per FBRef, include his shot-creating actions and his shots per ninety minutes – registering 4.03 shot-creating actions per 90 over the last year he's played, whilst also attempting 1.86 shots on total per 90 too.

Reijnders would give Man United a different option in midfield away from the more defensively-minded Casemiro and the attack-oriented Bruno Fernandes, which could be why ten Hag is intrigued by bringing the 25-year-old to Manchester to add depth and quality to his faltering group.

He is similar in many ways to a player who fell by the wayside for the Red Devils after coming through the youth system – Angel Gomes, who only made a handful of appearances for Man United before being shipped out to Lille three years ago.

Looking at both players, there's an eerie overlap in their numbers – Gomes also has two assists so far this campaign for Lille in Ligue 1 and this indicates that they can both provide a creative threat to provide opportunities for their teammates from their position.

Moreover, both individuals are calm on the ball with both Gomes and Rejinders very rarely giving away possession for their respective teams at league level this season.

Rejinders has a 90% pass completion percentage for Milan, whilst Gomes is more accurate than his Dutch counterpart with a higher 92.7%.

Man United therefore could look to Rejinders as an exciting new midfield option to freshen up the group, but also, to get over the low of having to wave goodbye to ex-Academy prospect Gomes when they did.

The Milan star could provide a similar level of metronomic play in the middle of the park as the England U21 international has produced for Lille, which could help to dominate and control games for the Red Devils.

Newcastle United star Alexander Isak is arguably the best centre-forward the Tyneside club has boasted in a very long time, perhaps even dating back to the days of Alan Shearer.

The £63m club-record signing was purchased last summer to spearhead the revolution under Eddie Howe’s management, and while he endured an injury-hit campaign, the Swede still impressed with ten Premier League goals from just 17 starting appearances.

It’s been a long road, but Newcastle are nearing a return to the forefront and qualified for the Champions League with a fourth-placed finish last year, ending a two-decade absence from the elite continental competition.

Isak is indeed the frontman designated with the role of goalscoring, and after continuing his fruitful performances from last season with five goals from his opening eight matches across all competitions this term, the “outstanding talent” – as said by Howe – has grown comfortably into his skin.

Shearer was the last striker to truly boast first-class credentials for the St. James’ Park side; the likes of Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse were both remarkable on their day but failed to sustain their prowess with the requisite regularity.

How good was Alan Shearer?

Shearer’s the man that every Magpie aspires to be growing up, a lionized figure and to this day the club’s most prolific striker in history, having scored 206 goals from 405 matches, five more than late striker Jackie Milburn.

In fact, the 53-year-old is actually the Premier League’s all-time record goalscorer, with his 260 goals a towering record standing tall and proud above the profusion of attacking talent that has graced English shores over the years.

That record appeared to be in danger recently with one Harry Kane encroaching on the number – having scored 213 for Tottenham Hotspur – but the England captain and record scorer’s £100m transfer to Bayern Munich in the summer has left Shearer’s tally preserved longer still, though whether the 30-year-old returns to take the crown remains to be seen.

Shearer was signed for his boyhood club from Premier League rivals Blackburn Rovers in a world record £15m transfer in 1996, having won the 1994/95 league title for the Riversiders.

As is life, all good things come to an end and while Shearer didn’t add to his sole league title won with Blackburn on Tyneside, he established himself as one of the meanest strikers of his generation and has etched his name perpetually into the division’s folklore.

In 2004, with the one-time Southampton youth product approaching his twilight, Newcastle were eager to sign an apt heir, and thought they had found the prodigy they were craving for in Wayne Rooney, but ultimately, this particular youngster opted for a different route.

Did Newcastle almost sign Wayne Rooney?

Everyone knows the story of how Rooney burst onto the scene with Everton and scored 15 goals across two league campaigns in the embryonic stage of his career, hence earning a £30m transfer to Old Trafford at just 18, ending Newcastle’s hopes of signing a player they were desperate to get their hands on.

Speaking on the UTD Podcast, the man himself explained how it all could have been so different, with Manchester United swooping for the prodigious talent once the Toon expressed a vested interest.

Rooney said: “I couldn’t wait another year, I couldn’t stay another year at Everton, so I was prepared to go to Newcastle for that year.

“I spoke to them, we spoke about salary and what I wanted if I went there was, after a year, if Manchester United come in, you have to let me go.

“Newcastle were agreeing to that but obviously, with Man United, I went back to them and said, if you don’t do it now, I’ll go to Newcastle with a clause in place. Man United obviously didn’t want me to go there so I came here.

“It was basically whatever Newcastle paid for me, Man United would have paid a year later.”

How good was Wayne Rooney?

Rooney has been described as “truly world-class” by his former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, but that doesn’t even scratch the surface of just how incredible this dynamic forward was.

At Manchester United, he scored 253 goals – a club record – and served as a centrepiece to a prosperous period in the prestigious outfit’s history, winning a wealth of major honours including five league titles, the Champions League and the FA Cup, and being crowned the Red Devils’ Player of the Season on four occasions.

While he failed to outscore Shearer in the Premier League, the “fantastic” team player – as he was lauded by David Moyes – was instrumental in his all-encompassing work on the pitch, truly integral in constructing fluid patterns of play, bringing the best out of his peers and providing sensational moments of magic himself.

Alan Shearer vs Wayne Rooney in the Premier League

Statistic

Alan Shearer (via premierleague.com)

Wayne Rooney (via premierleague.com)

Appearances

441

491

Goals scored

260

208

Goals assisted

64

108

Goal ratio

0.59 per game

0.42 per game

Assist ratio

0.14 per game

0.21 per game

G/A ratio

0.73 per game

0.63 per game

Titles

1

5

Golden Boot

3

0

PL POTY

1

1

PL POTM

4

5

As the graph above delineates, the respective phenoms were both among the cream of the crop and thrived through differing skill sets, while maintaining a devastating level of offensive threat.

Shearer is the all-time Premier League record holder to this day, while Rooney retired with a glittering trophy cabinet and is considered among the finest players of his generation.

And while Rooney opted to move to Man United instead of joining the fold at St. James’ Park in a role as the ostensible successor to Shearer’s esteemed position at the helm of his boyhood club, it’s hard to argue that he made the wrong decision.

Newcastle spiralled into the interminable dark days under the ownership of Mike Ashley, while England’s erstwhile record scorer enjoyed a starring role at one of the most dominant and destructive teams the English top division has ever borne witness to.

Had Sir Bobby Robson succeeded in his ambitious pursuit way back when, it really could have been so different, and while Newcastle are now on track for a spot back at the very forefront of the game, many years of hurt might never have been had Rooney laid waste to Premier League defences clad in black and white.

Chelsea are beginning to change their minds about signing a prolific striker, after previously deciding not to in 2024, with the addition of a new centre-forward standing out among the club’s top transfer priorities this summer.

Chelsea make summer striker plan after inactive January

Enzo Maresca’s side elected not to acquire a number nine in January, a decision which has been met with fierce criticism ever since, especially following long-term injuries to Marc Guiu and Nicolas Jackson.

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Guiu and Jackson’s absences means that Christopher Nkunku is Maresca’s only real striking option right now, dealing Chelsea a real obstacle to overcome in their chase for Champions League qualification.

While Nkunku has scored 13 goals in all competitions this season, the Frenchman is arguably not suited to being a natural striker, and a fresh vocal point has long been tipped as a real missing piece for Chelsea.

Victor Osimhen was the subject of serious late summer interest from Stamford Bridge, and Chelsea were involved in a high-profile race alongside Al-Ahli for the Nigerian’s signature, before neither side could manage a deal for the eventual-Galatasaray marksman.

Attention now turns to the next summer transfer window, as Chelsea shortlist striker targets ahead of the 2025/2026 campaign.

Ipswich Town sensation Liam Delap and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko are both thought to be on their agenda, as per reliable Chelsea reporter Simon Phillips and other media sources, while Sporting Lisbon superstar Viktor Gyokeres has also been linked.

The Sweden international has bagged a pretty incredible 34 goals across 36 appearances in all competitions this season, following up his equally electric 23/24 season in the Primeira Liga, and it is surely only a matter of time before elite clubs become tempted to take him off Sporting’s hands.

Chelsea performing U-turn over signing Viktor Gyokeres

As per reliable journalist Ben Jacobs, writing for GiveMeSport, Chelsea decided not to pursue a move for the 26-year-old in January 2024.

However, Chelsea are now giving fresh consideration over signing Gyokeres, with the Blues seemingly performing a U-turn over their previous stance. This is also fuelled by the notion that Sporting could now sell for around £58 million, which is a £25 million drop from his actual £83 million release clause.

Given the former Coventry City star’s exceptional record in front of goal, this could prove to be a bargain, but agents fees and wages could still make it a fairly costly operation.

“He joined Coventry on loan and then signed for them permanently. All the lads have said when he came back in the summer after signing permanently, he was a different animal,” said former teammate Jake Bidwell.

“With the way he plays as well, with his aggression, the two (qualities) go hand in hand with how well he has done. He all of a sudden realised how quick and strong he was and had the confidence to use it and mixed with the aggression, it’s made him pretty unstoppable.”

The selectors decided not to name any replacement for the allrounder for the series which starts on August 17

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Aug-2018Allrounder Vijay Shankar has been ruled out of the upcoming quadrangular series in Vijayawada, scheduled to begin on August 17. Vijay, who was set to represent India B in that series, is currently undergoing rehabilitation for his injured left hamstring at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru.The selectors have decided not to name a replacement for him for the quadrangular series, which will also feature India A, South Africa A and Australia A.India B, who will be led by Manish Pandey, have likes of Mayank Agarwal, Shubman Gill, Deepak Hooda, Ishan Kishan, Jayant Yadav, Siddarth Kaul and Prasidh Krishna in their ranks, while India A include Prithvi Shaw, Suryakumar Yadav, Nitish Rana, Sanju Samson, K Gowtham, Krunal Pandya, Deepak Chahar and Shivam Mavi, under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer.The series will run till August 29, with India B scheduled to play their first match against South Africa A on August 17.India B squad: Manish Pandey (capt), Mayank Agarwal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shubhman Gill, Deepak Hooda, Ricky Bhui, Ishan Kishan (wk), Shreyas Gopal, Jayant Yadav, Dharmendrasinh Jadeja, Siddarth Kaul, Prasidh Krishna, Kulwant Khejroliya, Navdeep Saini.

Matches between Manchester United and bitter rivals Manchester City are a key part of the Premier League calendar, consistently delivering fantastic entertainment and plenty of drama.

Whether it’s a title-deciding clash, a battle for the top four or a cup competition, when these two sides face off, you can be sure you’re in for a thriller.

With that in mind, Football FanCast has created a list of the top 10 encounters between these two massive sides.

10 1974: Manchester United 0-1 Manchester City

We’re kicking things off with a blast from the past here, as the first entry on the list is Manchester City’s 1-0 win away to Manchester United in 1974. Now, you may be wondering why a straightforward 1-0 victory from the 1970s has made it onto our list; well, we have included it because of the context surrounding the game.

United were in terrible form at the time and on the cusp of relegation when City came to Old Trafford, meaning a loss to their local rivals would all but ensure they went down. And what made it worse was the fact that playing for City was Denis Law, a bonafide United legend.

Of course, it had to be Law who scored the goal that he and the fans in the ground believed relegated his former side, although it turned out that results elsewhere meant United were going down regardless of this game.

Law refused to celebrate, and fans at Old Trafford stormed the pitch in anger, leading to the game being called off and City being awarded the win. It was a bad day at the office for the Red Devils, but oh boy, was it dramatic.

9 2018: Manchester City 2-3 Manchester United

We’re back in the modern era for this one, and it’s an away win for United this time.

Going into this game, the talk centred around City’s chance to win the Premier League with a win over their dearest rivals, which would have made a rather middling season suddenly look much worse for the men in red.

Read More: Players To Have Played For Manchester City and Manchester United

Things started about as poorly as they could’ve for United when City found themselves two goals to the good at half-time thanks to strikes from Vincent Kompany and Ilkay Gundogan. However, just ten minutes after the restart, United had pulled themselves level thanks to two goals in two minutes from Paul Pogba.

With the Etihad suitably stunned, Chris Smalling completed the comeback in the 69th minute to give his side a memorable win and preserve some of the club’s pride, prolonging the title race in the process.

8 2011: Manchester City 1-0 Manchester United

2011 might just be the best year ever for Manchester derbies, as this is the first of three games that took place that year to make it onto our list.

However, this derby was even more stressful than most, as it was also an FA Cup semi-final at Wembley Stadium. While United had been to plenty of finals over the years, City hadn’t won a trophy in 34 years heading into the fixture.

That said, you wouldn’t have known that from how they played, as the men in sky blue were just as good as their decorated opponents, if not better. City would take the lead in the 52nd minute thanks to a goal from the uber-talented Yaya Toure.

Things would go from bad to worse for the Red Devils in the 72nd minute when Paul Scholes was sent off for a haphazard tackle on Pablo Zabaleta, all but ensuring City would end the game as winners.

7 2022: Manchester City 6-3 Manchester United

We’re sorry, United fans, this one might still be a bit fresh, but City’s demolition of Erik ten Hag’s side in October 2022 was truly something to behold.

The 6-3 scoreline might suggest that the Red Devils were at least somewhat in this game; after all, they scored three goals, but in reality, this match was practically over by half-time.

While it’s always impressive to score six goals against your biggest rival, what made this scoreline even crazier was the fact that both Erling Haaland and Phil Foden scored hat-tricks.

Anthony Martial and Antony tried to restore some pride in the red half of the city, but there was no escaping from the fact that it was an absolute thumping from the Citizens.

6 2010: Manchester United 3-1 Manchester City

It’s always nice to beat your city rivals, and it’s even nicer to do it in a cup competition, which is precisely what United did in January 2010 when they beat City 3-1 in the second leg of their League Cup semi-final clash. What made this win all the sweeter, though, was that it was a comeback win, as they had lost the first leg 2-1 at the Etihad.

With a place in the final on the line, both teams were understandably nervy in the first half, resulting in a lack of action and goals by half-time. Luckily for fans, the second half was the complete opposite.

Paul Scholes opened the scoring in the 52nd minute, pulling United level on aggregate before Michael Carrick gave them the lead 19 minutes later.

Not willing to give in, City once again levelled the score five minutes later through Carlos Tevez, but with extra-time looming, Wayne Rooney stepped up and headed home the winner in the 90th minute to secure United a place in the final, which they would go on to win against Aston Villa.

5 2011: Manchester United 2-1 Manchester City

We’re onto the second derby from 2011 to feature on the list, and just like the other two, this one’s a cracker.

Heading into the game, United were sat atop the league table, but City weren’t too far behind in third place, giving this match even more importance.

Portugal international Nani gave the home side the lead in the 41st minute, and at half-time, everything was going rather well for the Red Devils, until an equalising goal from David Silva in the 65th minute set up a grandstand finish.

With 12 minutes remaining, Rooney made a run into the City penalty area. Spotting this, Nani delivered a pinpoint cross. Instead of heading it or bringing it down, the England international decided to do something extraordinary.

With Kompany slipping over and Micah Richards out of position, he pulled off arguably the greatest bicycle kick the league has ever seen and restored his team’s lead, ultimately winning the game.

4 2011: Manchester United 1-6 Manchester City

We’ve reached the final game from 2011 on our list, and we reckon it might just be most City fans’ favourite Manchester derby ever.

This previous game between these sides at Old Trafford resulted in Rooney’s spectacular bicycle kick, so City were out for revenge, and given the scoreline, we think they probably left satisfied.

Mario Balotelli opened the scoring for the Sky Blues in the 22nd minute and produced what might be the most iconic celebration in Premier League history when he lifted his shirt to reveal the words ‘Why Always Me?’

The first half ended without any more goals, but it didn’t take long for City to open the floodgates in the second 45. Balotelli got the team’s second in the 60th minute before Sergio Aguero added a third nine minutes later.

The home side did pull one back in the 81st minute. Still, any potential of a fightback was totally snuffed out when Mancini’s men added another three in the 90th minute to give themselves a truly memorable win over their neighbours.

3 2023: Manchester City 2-1 Manchester United

We have already covered a couple of semi-finals between these two sides, and while stopping your city rivals from reaching a final is incredibly satisfying, it’s even better to beat them to silverware, which is precisely what City did in May of this year at the FA Cup final.

Going into the game, City were hunting for a historic treble, while United had hoped to pick up a second trophy in Ten Hag’s first season in charge. Unfortunately for the Dutchman, Gundogan would score the opening goal within 12 seconds, giving City an early lead and taking the record for the fastest FA Cup final goal ever.

Read more: The top 10 FA Cup finals of all time – ranked

Bruno Fernandes would level the score with a penalty in the 33rd minute, but Gundogan would restore his side’s lead just six minutes into the second half with what would prove to be the winning goal.

2 2012: Manchester City 2-3 Manchester United

Our penultimate pick for the best Manchester derby comes from early on in the 2012/13 season, the last campaign in which both teams fought to be crowned champions of England.

It was also the first taste of the derby for new signing Robin van Persie, and to say he enjoyed himself might be an understatement.

United took a two-goal lead in the first half and looked as if they were heading for a relatively comfortable win away from home, but goals from Yaya Toure and Pablo Zabaleta pulled City level and handed them the initiative in the closing stages.

However, with 90 minutes gone, United had a free kick to the of City’s penalty area, and with what was practically the last kick of the game, Van Persie managed to curl it past a diving Joe Hart via a deflection to hand United all three points.

1 2009: Manchester United 4-3 Manchester City

Here we are, our pick for the greatest Manchester derby ever, and we reckon many will agree – even the City fans among you.

It would take Rooney just two minutes to open the scoring for United, but City weren’t just going to roll over in this game, and 14 minutes later, they found an equaliser through Premier League legend Gareth Barry.

The second half started much in the same way as the first did, with the home side taking the lead just three minutes in thanks to Darren Fletcher, although this lead only lasted for four minutes as Craig Bellamy quickly scored the Sky Blues’ second of the game to keep his side in it.

With 80 minutes on the clock, Fletcher scored his second of the match, and it looked like he had finally given his team the win, but as they had the previous two times, City once again equalised, only this time, it came in the 90th minute.

Now, that would already be more than enough action in any other game, but there would be more drama for the home fans to relish when Michael Owen scored the winner in the 96th minute to send Old Trafford potty.

And there you have it, our list of the ten best Manchester derbies ever; let’s hope that Sunday’s clash is good enough to make it onto the list.

Former India batsman believes that Kuldeep’s repertoire could combine nicely with England’s warm conditions

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Jul-2018Kuldeep Yadav’s bowling repertoire will give him the capability to compete at Test level, believes Sachin Tendulkar. The former India batsman also reckons Kuldeep could benefit from the heat wave that has gripped England over the last few weeks.”I have always maintained that he’s ready for the longest version of the game and that will be the most challenging one,” Tendulkar told . “I think he’s ready. Looking at his repertoire he has the capability to go there and compete, without any doubt. The English summer is pretty warm this time. If there’s a bit of help for our spinners then I am sure we will be in a position in the series to hurt them. That will be a critical factor.”Kuldeep continued his explosive run in international cricket in away limited-overs matches this year, with domineering performances against South Africa and England. While he tantalised South Africa in Yuzvendra Chahal’s company early in the year, he peaked with stunning individual performances as soon as India’s tour of England and Ireland began in June. Kuldeep began the tour with 12 wickets in four T20Is, topping his career-best figures twice in a week’s time when he ripped through England in Manchester with 5 for 24. Soon, Kuldeep registered career-best ODI figures of 6 for 25 at Trent Bridge. All in all, Kuldeep has taken 21 wickets in seven games since the start of India’s tour.However, Kuldeep has only played two of India’s Tests since he made his debut against Australia in March 2017. With R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja consigned to Test-only roles since last June, and also among the top five Test bowlers in the world, Kuldeep has tough competition to break into the Test XI. Further, with Jasprit Bumrah missing the first Test and Bhuvneshwar Kumar under an injury cloud, the likelihood of India picking an extra seamer is more plausible than an extra spinner.Tendulkar also lauded the depth and balance that India have going into the Test series, and said it puts them in a good place despite the injuries to some key players.”We have bowlers who can bat and we have batters who can roll their arm over,” he said. “The keeper’s contribution also becomes important in batting and we have that. Ashwin and Jadeja can also bat. We also have a seam-bowling allrounder in Hardik Pandya who can bat. That was one element missing, though Hardik’s just started his career. But whatever I see on paper, we have good balance.”It’s always nice to have the full playing XI. It’s nice to have all players available. But injuries happen and not having the full squad is also part and parcel of any sport. It’s one of those challenges we have to face and it doesn’t mean we won’t be able to produce the results. We are in a position to produce the results.”One example that I was part of – we had gone to play in Toronto against Pakistan and we were without [Javagal] Srinath, Venkatesh Prasad and [Anil] Kumble, who were our three frontline bowlers. And we beat Pakistan 4-1.”

Chelsea & Newcastle United's efforts to offload players by June 30 to comply with PSR regulations might reportedly hit a roadblock due to Euro 2024.

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Chelsea & Newcastle must sell to comply with PL's PSRMust settle their accounts by June 30Euros might hinder their attempt to get access to playersGettyWHAT HAPPENED?

The two Premier League giants alongside Nottingham Forest and Leicester City are struggling to comply with the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR). Hence they have to execute their player sales by the end of June to avoid punitive action that could include a point deduction in the upcoming season.

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According to national team coaches might not allow the agents to meet with their players during the European Championship which could potentially complicate transfer negotiations. England could be playing their last 16 fixture on 29 or 30 June, which coincides with PSR's deadline as well.

DID YOU KNOW?

Chelsea contemplate selling Conor Gallagher before the deadline to mitigate PSR concerns but Gareth Southgate might not grant access to the player to his representatives. Gallagher is not alone in this uncertainty, as other England players, including Harry Maguire, Ivan Toney, and Jarrad Branthwaite, are also looking to find fresh challenges next season.

Beyond the England squad, Premier League stars like Newcastle's Sven Botman and Leicester's Wout Faes are also seeking new pastures. Nottingham Forest, however, appear to remain insulated from the chaos, with key players like Morgan Gibbs-White and Brazilians Murillo and Danilo excluded from Euro participation.

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GettyWHAT NEXT?

Leicester already face two PSR charges as a series of financial losses have placed the club in jeopardy. They will be keen to sell Wout Faes which could help them recoup some of the losses but that might not be enough as the Foxes have also allegedly breached Premier League's £105 million limit for their most recent three-year period in the top flight.