Over 2,000 fans have tickets cancelled for Emirates Old Trafford fixtures at last minute

George Dobell01-Jul-2021

Lancashire have “apologised unreservedly” after a shortage of stewards forced them to reduce the number of spectators allowed at Thursday’s T20 double-header at Emirates Old Trafford at short notice.The club say the third-party company which supplies their “safety stewards” notified them on Wednesday that they were unable to honour their commitment. As a result, Trafford Council were uncomfortable with the original capacity agreed for the game (which was 4,500) and insisted upon reducing it (to 2,292).With Lancashire deciding to prioritise members, they were obliged to contact all other ticket holders and cancel their tickets. They have been promised a refund “as soon as possible” as well as two free tickets to other matches. Spectators will have a choice of Hundred, Blast or One-Day Cup games. Lancashire have also promised to “review” their “external stewarding provision”.Lancashire’s women’s team took on Ireland in the first fixture of the day, with Lancashire’s men’s team playing Worcestershire under lights in the evening.Related

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“Lancashire was hugely disappointed and frustrated to have had to reduce the capacity of today’s T20 double header, particularly at such short notice,” a Lancashire spokesperson said in a statement.”After extensive collaboration with Trafford Council on Wednesday evening, there was a concern around the capability of our external stewarding provider with regards to the number of qualified stewards that were available for the fixture”Unfortunately, as a result of this, the capacity had to be further reduced for today’s fixtures. As a consequence, we are undertaking an immediate review of our external stewarding provision.”Lancashire Cricket, as a members’ club, made the decision to prioritise members’ tickets.”We apologise unreservedly to those supporters that have had tickets cancelled. This is not a decision that was taken lightly but the safety and security of our supporters remains our number one priority.”Lancashire have also emailed members to apologise for, among other things, the difficulty – and cost – of attempting to contact the club by phone, cancelled tickets for the T20 match against Durham for reasons unrelated to stewarding, and difficulties for disabled spectators at Old Trafford.

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Virtual rebaixado para a Série B do Campeonato Brasileiro, a Chapecoense luta nas últimas rodadas e tem no técnico Pintado um norte para o futuro.

+ Veja no aplicativo do LANCE! o resultado dos jogos da rodada

Consciente que o seu trabalho é praticamente uma missão impossível nesta temporada, o treinador começa a projetar 2022 e manifesta a sua vontade de permanecer na Arena Condá.

‘Eu acho que mereço e tenho convicção disso, do meu trabalho e da comissão. Vai além das quatro linhas. Entendemos o momento esportivo, financeiro e político da Chapecoense. Com certeza, o clube consegue encontrar profissionais melhores que eu, mas com mais vontade de vencer do que eu, isso garanto que não. Minha convicção é de ficar, mas não depende de mim. Não sou um treinador que cai de paraquedas. Eu me preparei’, afirmou.

Enquanto o futuro não chega, a Chapecoense de Pintado aparece na lanterna do Brasileirão, com 13 pontos conquistados.

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تقدم فريق مانشستر سيتي بالهدف الثاني أمام منافسه تشيلسي في المباراة التي تجمع بينهما الآن ضمن منافسات الدوري الإنجليزي.

ويلتقي مانشستر سيتي مع تشيلسي، على أرضية ملعب الاتحاد، في إطار مواجهات الجولة 23 من عمر مباريات “البريميرليج”.

مباشر بالفيديو | مباراة مانشستر سيتي وتشيلسي في الدوري الإنجليزي

وكان فريق تشيلسي قد تقدم بالهدف الأول في الدقيقة الثالثة من عمر اللقاء، عن طريق نوني مادويك، بعد خطأ من عبد القادر حوسانوف ثم وضعها في الشباك.

وسجل جوسكو جفارديول هدف التعادل لفريقه في الدقيقة 42 من عمر الشوط الأول، بعد متابعته لتسديدة ماتيوس نونيز التي ارتدت من حارس المرمى ليضعها بتسديدة قوية داخل الشباك.

وأحرز إيرلينج هالاند الهدف الثاني لـ مانشستر سيتي في الدقيقة 68، بعدما استلم تمريرة طولية وراوغ مدافع تشيلسي واستغل خطأ حارس المرمى بالخروج ليصوب الكرة في الشباك. هدف مانشستر سيتي الثاني أمام تشيلسي في الدوري الإنجليزي

Aston Villa have now tabled an offer to sign a forward who models his game on Sergio Aguero, it has been reported, with Unai Emery's side already handed an answer.

Villa reconsidering attacking additions

After Ollie Watkins' exceptional Premier League season at Villa Park, the priority was to find a suitable backup for the England international this summer. But that depended on outgoings. For much of the summer it looked promising, with Jhon Duran drawing interest from first Chelsea and then West Ham United in recent weeks.

However, the pair have looked elsewhere after it proved difficult to meet Aston Villa's £40m valuation of the Colombian striker, with West Ham signing Niclas Fullkrug and Chelsea in advanced talks to sign Atletico Madrid striker Samu Omorodion.

It has left Villa with Duran still at the club ahead of their Premier League opener against West Ham at the London Stadium. Recalled striker Cameron Archer is also in situ and there is little room to sign an expensive new striker to compete with Watkins or provide high quality cover in instances where the Englishman is injured or unfit.

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As a result, they could now have to pivot their transfer plans to sign a younger, less experienced striker for a lower fee and attempt to turn them into the next superstar, much like they did with the likes of Ezri Konsa in defence. And reports in Turkey suggest they may have found their man.

Villa table offer for teenage striker

That comes with Villa one of two clubs who have reportedly tabled an opening offer to sign highly-rated Turkey striker Semih Kilicsoy this summer. The 18-year-old can play across the frontline, with Besiktas using him as a left-winger and a striker across the 2023/24 campaign.

That was his breakthrough season in Turkey, with Kilicsoy making 23 appearances in the Super Lig and grabbing 12 goals in the process, a run of form that saw him handed his debut for the Turkish national team ahead of EURO 2024 and named as part of Vincenzo Montella's squad for the competition, though he played just a single minute.

Semih Kilicsoy's 23/24 season (all competitions)

Appearances

35

Starts

24

Goals

12

Assists

3

Minutes per goal/assist

139

Speaking earlier in the season, Besiktas football academy director Mehmet Eksi likened him to Gerd Muller, but revealed Kilicsoy himself prefers another comparison.

"As youth coaches, we compare Semih to Gerd Müller. Some compared him to Agüero. He also sees Agüero as his idol", he explained.

Now, Turkish outlet Sabah reveal that Fulham and Aston Villa have both tabled bids for his services this summer, with Emery's reported offer around 18m euros (£15.4m). However, they add that both have been knocked back, with Kilicsoy still having four years left to run on his £8,000 a week deal in Turkey and Besiktas in no rush to part ways with him.

It is unclear whether either side will return for the teenager in the remaining weeks of the transfer window, but should they opt not to and the striker enjoys another strong season, they could well see themselves muscled out by other suitors in 12 months time.

Going into matchday 14, the Viola are fourth in the standings and just one point off top spot thanks in no small part to some inspired signings

David de Gea's inability to agree terms with Manchester United over a new contract made his exit in the summer of 2023 inevitable. But he hadn't wanted to leave Old Trafford at all. Manchester was his home as far as he was concerned. So, he stayed, continuing to train in the city while awaiting offers from elsewhere.

De Gea may have been sometimes criticised for not being the greatest goalkeeper in the world with the ball at his feet but he was widely regarded as one of the game's elite shot-stoppers. It came as quite the shock, then, to see him sit out the entire 2024-25 season. There was talk of a summer switch to Saudi Arabia or the United States but, as the new season approached, there were legitimate doubts over whether De Gea would play football again.

However, on August 9, after more than a year out of the game, De Gea ended what he insisted was a self-imposed exile by signing for Fiorentina. "I received many offers," he revealed, "but I wanted to play in Italy. The negotiation was simple. Fiorentina were the best option."

And so it's proven, with De Gea playing a pivotal part in a footballing renaissance in Florence that has had his new club's social media proclaiming, "There's a new David in town!"

Getty ImagesThe post-Italiano uncertainty

The top of the Serie A standings makes for wonderful reading right now. There are just four points separating the top six and the presence of Fiorentina in fourth place, just one point behind leaders Napoli, stands out by a mile.

Why? Because nobody thought before the current campaign began that the Viola would have a decent shot at qualifying for the next-season's Champions League – let alone battling it out for top spot after 13 rounds of action.

During the heyday of Gabriel Batistuta and Rui Costa, Fiorentina were known as one of the seven sisters of Serie A, one of the league's strongest sides, but their title drought still stretches all the way back to 1969.

Furthermore, while their profile has been boosted in recent years by reaching back-to-back Conference League finals, they lost the coach responsible for both runs, with Vincenzo Italiano stepping down in the summer to take charge of Bologna, leaving Fiorentina's future shrouded in uncertainty.

And yet things couldn't be going much better for Italiano's replacement, Raffaele Palladino, right now…

AdvertisementGettyPalladino the prodigy

Palladino was first thrust into the Serie A spotlight at Monza, where he was plucked from the Primavera (Under-19s) by Silvio Berlusconi and Adriano Galliani and made head coach of the first team in September 2022 despite having no previous top-flight experience.

Rather remarkably, it proved a masterstroke. Palladino led Monza to their first-ever Serie A win in his first game in charge, against Juventus, and helped the newly-promoted side to safety with six games to spare.

Berlusconi was incredibly impressed by the novice's tactical acumen and man-management skills (though that didn't stop the notorious womaniser from trying to further motivate the players by promising them a "bus full of whores" if they continued their giant-killing exploits), while legendary coach Fabio Capello couldn't believe how well Palladino coped with the jump from youth sector to the senior squad.

"I thought it was a temporary choice," the European Cup winner told the . "When you move from the Primavera to the first team, most of the time it's just to respond to an emergency.

"However, Berlusconi and Galliani understood Palladino's qualities before everyone else. He has shown a great ability in the technical and tactical management of the team, and the group followed him, and trusted him."

There's already ample evidence to suggest that the 40-year-old has secured the same level of support in Florence.

Getty ImagesInfluenced by Pep but moulded by Gasperini

Palladino freely admits that he has been greatly influenced by Pep Guardiola's footballing philosophy, explaining that he embraces the basic principles of the Catalan's game.

"The search for control, building from the back, attacking with many players, being technically strong, and having intelligent players – I would say that my teams have this in common with his," he said, "but he does it at a very high level!"

However, Palladino's mentor is Atalanta boss Gian Piero Gasperini, whom he played under at Genoa, and the former midfielder is the first to admit that he has "taken a lot" from his "teacher", including "the ability of my team to be able to attack the opponent very high up. The heart of our game is based on occupying space.

"It is not easy to explain it, nor to teach it on the pitch. But when the players understand, you see the results."

The Fiorentina squad certainly seem to have grasped what Palladino is demanding of them – and in a very short space of time, too.

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Getty ImagesFiorentina on fire

After picking up just three points from their first four games of the season, Fiorentina have dropped just two since the middle of September – a run of form that has seen them win their last seven matches in Serie A going into Sunday's meeting with reigning champions Inter at the Stadio Artemio Franchi.

"How beautiful this Fiorentina are!" Viola legend Luca Toni enthused on earlier this week. "They’re doing something extraordinary."

Their success is unquestionably rooted in Palladino's tactical fluidity – Fiorentina often change their approach and formation to suit specific opponents – and the fantastic team spirit so quickly cultivated by the coach, who is adamant that he "loves" every member of his squad and thus treats them all as equals, meaning no differentiation between 'starters' and 'reserves'.

Consequently, several players are shining this season, including several new arrivals, including Robin Gosens, Edoardo Bove and Yavine Adli – three inspired loan signings from Union Berlin, Roma and AC Milan, respectively, that are testament to the fine work done by sporting director Daniele Prade in the transfer market.

Palladino's promotion of Pietro Comuzzo to the senior squad has also proven a masterstroke, as the teenager received his first Italy call-up earlier this month and is thus viewed as a sign of things to come, giving Fiorentina have invested heavily in their youth sector in recent years.

However, two players have undoubtedly played a more prominent role than everyone else.

GOAL rules the roost over Spurs' best players during a pivotal, if mostly pot-less, point in their history from the start of the new millennium

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There always seems to be negativity when it comes to the discourse surrounding Tottenham Hotspur. Every loss and misstep has to be 'Spursy', every year tacked onto their trophy drought is an unmitigated failure.

How about we lower our arms for one day and appreciate the good they have done in the modern era, eh? A first-ever Champions League final, consistently punching above their financial weight, a billion-pound stadium move across about 30 centimetres to the south and a boat-load or two of top-class players to have come through the doors is nothing to be sniffed at.

We at GOAL have run through the archives and ranked Tottenham's 25 best players of the 21st century through its first quarter…

• Getty Images Sport
  

  25Lucas Moura

  What better place to start than with the man who gave Tottenham fans of all ages one of their most beloved moments following the club… and then little else. On his day, Lucas Moura was, well, a player who could score a hat-trick in a Champions League semi-final. His day didn't come about too often, as it so happened.

  In the moment against Ajax on that fateful May 2019 night, it was obvious that would be his peak as a player, but the drop-off which followed was disappointing. Still, there went a forward who will forever be synonymous with version of Spurs.

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• AFP
  

  24Peter Crouch

  Next up on our list is a journeyman cult hero who frustrated and delighted in more equal measure. Having joined the Tottenham academy as a schoolboy and left as a young adult in 2000, it took Peter Crouch nine years to find his way back to White Hart Lane.

  Signed under Harry Redknapp – – Crouch became the man for the big occasion rather than a consistent source of goals, as best demonstrated by his respective returns of four goals in 34 Premier League appearances and seven in 10 Champions League matches during 2010-11.

  His obvious height advantage made him the perfect partner for the likes of Jermain Defoe and Rafael van der Vaart (and sometimes begrudgingly, Roman Pavlyuchenko), though his less-than-prolific heading ability angered the fans sitting in the stands.

• AFP
  

  23Micky van de Ven

  There aren't too many of Tottenham's new generation who have cracked our list, but Micky van de Ven is one exception. It's astounding that Spurs were the only club in for the Dutchman upon his 2023 departure from Wolfsburg, and that he wasn't even the north Londoners' first-choice that window, with Bayer Leverkusen's Edmond Tapsoba seemingly higher on their shortlist.

  Van de Ven is now, by both stats and the eye test, the quickest player in the Premier League and a supremely unique weapon at Tottenham's disposal. His one-man recoveries while playing in a high line marry up nicely with his ability to carry the ball all the way up the pitch like a handsome, runaway freight train.

  There are realistically only two factors that should stop Van de Ven becoming one of the greatest defenders of his generation – injuries, and any long-term commitment to Spurs even if their projects don't pan out as planned.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  22Michael Carrick

  In hindsight, it is ludicrous that Tottenham were able to pinch Michael Carrick from West Ham so easily back in 2004 after the Hammers failed to secure immediate promotion back to the Premier League. A boardroom battle between then-head coach Jacques Santini and sporting director Frank Arnesen meant Carrick didn't break into the team until the autumn, but it then soon became clear the midfielder was destined for greater things.

  For two years, Spurs fans were able to enjoy Carrick pulling the strings in midfield, and he was a huge reason why they were first able to compete for a place in the top four after Martin Jol's appointment as manager.

Next season will be incredibly important for Tottenham Hotspur, as with a year under his belt and a squad he's now familiar with, the pressure will be on Ange Postecoglou to lead the club back into the Champions League.

However, the ease of the Australian's task will be greatly impacted by Daniel Levy and Co's actions in the remaining weeks of the transfer window, as with the right players, the North Londoners could find themselves flying up the Premier League table.

The good news is that the last few days have indicated that the club are intent on upgrading the squad, with Bournemouth's Dominic Solanke set to join.

The Englishman's clinical finishing will bring a cutting edge to Postecoglou's exciting style, and he could have an equally exciting player supplying the 26-year-old with chances, as reports have linked the club with a serious talent from north of the border who could be set to rival James Maddison for role of Chief creator.

Tottenham's pursuit of Solanke

After a relatively quiet summer of transfer activity, bar the signings of Archie Gray and Yang Min-Hyeok, Spurs have burst into life over the last few days to secure the services of Solanke.

The Athletic's David Ornstein confirmed early this morning that the Cherries have agreed to sell the Englishman to the Lilywhites for a "club-record fee," which Fabrizio Romano confirmed this afternoon to be £65m plus add-ons.

It's certainly a lot of money, but considering he scored 21 goals and provided four assists in 42 appearances last season, it could prove to be value for money in the long run, especially if he can finish off the chances that come from Spurs' dynamic style of play under Postecoglou.

However, who exactly is going to provide him with the chances is an interesting question though, as Maddison didn't have a particularly good second half of last season and, according to reports from this week, the club have been offered the chance to sign a midfielder who enjoyed an exceptional 23/24, Matt O'Riley.

How O'Riley compares to Maddison

According to a recent update from Paul O'Keefe, Tottenham have been offered the chance to sign Celtic star O'Riley this summer, who is valued at around £25m.

Unfortunately, O'Keefe doesn't think that the North Londoners are that interested at this point in time, but let's compare the Dane to Maddison to see why they should be.

So the main thing to look at is their output, as it's their ability to create chances for the likes of Solanke and their ability to finish the chances given to them that matters most, and in this metric, it's a big win for the Celtic man.

For example, in 49 appearances for the Hoops last season, the "phenomenal" midfielder, as manager Brendan Rodgers dubbed him, scored 19 goals and, most importantly, provided 18 assists. This means he averaged a goal involvement every 1.32 games, which is seriously impressive regardless of the league.

In contrast, the former Leicester City ace scored four goals and provided nine assists in 30 appearances, meaning he averaged a goal involvement every 2.30 games. However, the more concerning part about the Englishman's haul is that in his final 17 league matches, he produced just five goal involvements.

Appearances

49

30

Goals

19

4

Assists

18

9

Goal Involvements per Match

0.75

0.43

A drop-off in form like this wouldn't be an issue for Solanke next season if Postecoglou could rely on O'Riley to pick up some of the creative slack and provide the talented striker with plenty of opportunities to do what he does best: score. In fact, a midfield with both of them could be the perfect way to overwhelm weaker sides who deploy a stubborn low block.

Ultimately, it might not be a transfer we see happen, but based on his form for Celtic last season, £25m seems like a reasonable gamble for a player who could bring so much creativity to the midfield and get even more out of Solanke next season.

Best CF since Kane: Spurs close in on signing "predatory" goal machine

The impressive goalscorer would be a game-changer for the Lilywhites.

2 ByJack Salveson Holmes Aug 8, 2024

West Ham has already been hard at work this summer, with new manager Julen Lopetegui overseeing a huge squad revamp, as they prepare for the upcoming Premier League campaign playing a new brand of football.

Exciting forward line acquisitions have already been made, with former Leeds United winger and Championship POTY Crysencio Summerville joining, alongside the young talented Brazilian, Luis Guilherme, and veteran forward, Niclas Füllkrug.

But the Hammers don't look set to stop there in their attempts to bolster the squad and improve on their 60 goals scored last season, looking to ease the goal-scoring and chance-creation burden of Mohammed Kudus and Jarrod Bowen.

West Ham transfer news

According to reports via TheWestHamWay, West Ham have enquired about the highly-rated Juventus winger, Federico Chiesa. Another club showing interest is London rivals, Tottenham Hotspur, who are also looking to sign the Italian.

An intermediary, David Lavelle, recently stated: "I think he could find a chance at a couple of Premier League clubs and I can say that we have some requests for a left winger from Fulham, who would be willing to pay, and from West Ham."

The 26-year-old is reportedly "out of Juventus' project" under new manager Thiago Motta, according to Fabrizio Romano, alongside a host of other players, as Juventus look to revamp their squad for the new manager.

Chiesa made 37 appearances in all competitions for Juventus last season, providing three assists, and scoring ten goals across 2,512 minutes played.

Chiesa and Fullkrug as a partnership

The Hammers have added a veteran goalscorer to the squad this summer in the shape of Fullkrug from Dortmund, who made 46 appearances last season, scoring 16 goals and providing ten assists.

Adding a "special" player and creator, as dubbed by Max Statman – an expert in Italian football – would give Fullkrug even more chance of succeeding at West Ham, providing him with more chances to score, and players around him to link up with.

Chiesa FBref stats

Stats (per 90 mins)

Chiesa

Non-Penalty Goals

0.33

Assists

0.08

xAG

0.25

Shot-Creating Actions

4.79

Shots Total

3.03

Shots on Target

1.02

Progressive Passes

2.87

Progressive Carries

4.55

Successful Take-Ons

1.43

Key Passes

2.21

Crosses into Pen Area

0.74

Chiesa is a top-level creator, who has a variety of tools to use off of both flanks. Being right-footed, he can cut inside from the left wing, using that high shot volume, averaging 3.03 shots per 90, 1.02 of which are on target, and scoring 0.33 goals per 90.

He can then mix things up, go on the outside, and produce chances for others, averaging 4.55 progressive carries, 1.43 successful take-ons, 2.21 key passes and 0.74 crosses into the penalty area per 90. That final metric, Chiesa ranks in the top 1% among wingers in the top five European leagues.

This would go hand in hand with a player like Fullkrug, who stands at 6 foot 2, and is a target man type striker. Fullkrug wins 3.49 aerials per 90, and Chiesa's ability to put crosses into the box, and find him with creative passes, would allow the big German to maximize his qualities.

Fullkrug is also good at holding the ball up, to link play and bring his other forwards into play, as seen by his 0.26 assists per 90, and 2.28 progressive passes per 90, which would allow Chiesa, as well as West Ham's other talented forwards to bounce play off him, and find themselves in dangerous areas around the box.

Chiesa could prove to be the correct amount of creation and variation, in order to get the most of their new veteran talisman and improve their overall goal tally this upcoming season.

Related Better than Fullkrug: West Ham lodge bid to sign new "goal machine"

West Ham could sign another striker alongside Fullkrug

Posts ByConnor Holden Aug 7, 2024

Kurtis Patterson will captain New South Wales against Queensland in their bid to secure a place in the Sheffield Shield final with Peter Nevill unavailable due the birth of his second child.Patterson will lead a side containing plenty of youth with wicketkeepers Matthew Gilkes and Baxter Holt both included while 20-year-old batsman Lachlan Hearne, who was part of the Australia Under-19 squad at last year’s World Cup, could make a debut as New South Wales shake up the batting order which was dismantled for 32 against Tasmania.A victory for either side in Wollongong would secure a home final but a draw could yet open the door for Western Australia to host the decider. A loss will leave them needing Western Australia not to win against Tasmania in Perth to cling onto a place in the final.”It’s a great opportunity for Kurtis to lead a young group of players,” Michael Klinger, New South Wales’ head of male cricket, said. “He is a highly respected member of the squad and we are looking forward to him taking on the challenge.”Lachie has earned his place in the Blues squad with a string of very good performances. This is a great opportunity for a player who has come through the NSW pathway and performed well in both Premier Cricket and 2nd XI cricket.”Related

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Nick Larkin and Daniel Solway – who have averaged 29.00 and 24.00 respectively this season – have been dropped while Jack Edwards has also been included. Jason Sangha has been retained despite just 25 runs in three innings. Sean Abbott, who has scored over 500 runs, remains sidelined due to the split webbing he suffered against TasmaniaPatterson, who has not added to the two Tests caps he earned against Sri Lanka in 2019, is only averaging 22.61 from seven matches although he did score a century against South Australia.New South Wales’ IPL contingent – David Warner, Steven Smith, Moises Henriques and Pat Cummins – left for the tournament on Thursday so are unavailable for the rest of the season. However, the bowling attack remains strong with Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon both available alongside Trent Copeland and Harry Conway.Josh Hazlewood has withdrawn from the IPL and though not considered for this match New South Wales are hopeful he will be available for the final if they qualify.Squad Kurtis Patterson (capt), Harry Conway, Trent Copeland, Jack Edwards, Matthew Gilkes, Liam Hatcher, Lachlan Hearne, Baxter Holt, Daniel Hughes, Nathan Lyon, Jason Sangha, Mitchell Starc

Debutant Callum Vidler impressed with two wickets after Xavier Bartlett’s career-best 70 had boosted the home side

AAP and ESPNcricinfo staff12-Mar-2024Chris Tremain starred with the ball as NSW took control of their clash with Queensland on day two, but a late charge into the Sheffield Shield final still appears unlikely.After rain washed out all but 12 overs on day one, veteran quick Tremain devastated the hosts who managed a paltry 144 at Allan Border Field in their first innings.Related

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NSW were 222 for 5 in reply at stumps. Jack Edwards and Ollie Davies were unbeaten at the crease, with the latter hitting his stride late in the day to give NSW a 78-run lead.Tremain set chaos in motion on the opening day to ensure Queensland would start at 14 for 2 on day two and he struck again early on Tuesday when Bryce Street picked out Jack Nisbet at midwicket.Paceman Xavier Bartlett produced the best batting performance of his career in the brightest spot of Queensland’s innings.His knock off 75 deliveries amounted to twice his previous first-class high-score of 32, and twice the score of the next-most prolific Queenslander, Max Bryant (33).But Bartlett too fell victim to a rampant Tremain, who had ripped through the tail and ended Queensland’s innings by enticing the quick into hitting to Dan Hughes at midwicket.Callum Vidler struck in his opening over of first-class cricket•Getty ImagesIn reply, Bartlett struck first ball to remove Blake Nikitaras but Sam Konstas stroked his way to a maiden first-class half-century before being trapped lbw by a turning Mitch Swepson delivery. Swepson then claimed Moises Henriques first ball although the NSW captain did not seem thrilled with the decision.Davies passed Konstas as NSW’s top-scorer by edging Bartlett past first slip for four and proceeding into the 60s as long shadows fell over the pitch.Earlier, debutant Callum Vidler, who was a star of Australia’s Under-19 World Cup, claimed a maiden first-class wicket in his opening over when Hughes clashed to slip. He later had Matthew Gilkes dismissed in similar fashion.NSW came into their final game of the regular season as a mathematical chance to make next week’s season final, provided they win and pick up bonus points along the way.Bowling Queensland out in 49 overs and charging to 222 for 5 has earned them 1.22 bonus points already. But Western Australia’s clash with Victoria is nevertheless threatening their chances of reaching the decider.That match needs to end in a draw for NSW to have any hope of making the final, but a result appears inevitable in Melbourne.