Marcus Rashford has singled out one of his former Manchester United bosses for special praise, with the England international opening up on a more positive time for him at Old Trafford. Rashford rose from academy product to first-team star, marked by a sensational debut season and notably scored 30 goals in the 2022-23 campaign. But inconsistent performances and disciplinary issues led to his departure on loan, first to Aston Villa, then Barcelona.

Rashford's remarkable revival

Rashford has found a new lease on life at Barcelona since his year-long summer loan move from Old Trafford, becoming one of the most important players for the Spanish giants, especially in the Champions League, where he has already netted four goals and provided one assist in just three matches. He has also contributed effectively in La Liga, with one goal and five assists, demonstrating improved consistency and confidence. His prolific output translates to a goal involvement every 88 minutes for the Catalan giants, a statistic that reflects his pivotal role in attack. And while Rashford is in superb form for his loan club, he has spoken affectionately about one former United boss whom he loved playing for. 

AdvertisementGetty ImagesRashford revelled in life under Ole

Under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who took over as United boss in December 2018, Rashford initially thrived, enjoying some of his most prolific and consistent form as United re-emerged as title contenders, and he felt a strong personal affinity for the Norwegian, defending him publicly when he was sacked in November 2021 and taking responsibility as a player for the manager's dismissal. However, their relationship was tested toward the end of Solskjaer's tenure, with the manager publicly urging the England international to "prioritise his football" amid growing charitable activities. This was reportedly met with disappointment from Rashford's camp.

'Very successful period for me personally'

Rashford told Norwegian outlet of his time working with Solskjaer: "Ole is a fantastic person. I loved playing under him. I can speak for many of the players at Manchester United when I say that we enjoyed playing for him. We played good football under Ole. It was a very successful period for me personally. He is a fantastic person, and I don’t have a bad word to say about him."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty Images SportBright future with the Blaugrana

Rashford has spoken about how happy he is after leaving Manchester United and confirmed he would like to stay at Barca beyond the end of his current loan spell. 

In a recent interview with Barca's YouTube channel, Rashford revealed he’s loving life in Spain and sees his future with the Catalan giants. He said: "I’m really enjoying my time in Spain. The weather is the best part. It’s a very big change. I’m learning every day, I’m really enjoying it. I hope to be here for a long time. I get along really well with Roony (Bardghji), as well as Jules (Kounde) and Frenkie (De Jong). It’s a team where we all blend together. We’re united. The team is fantastic. I just have to be in the right position. I’ll keep trying to do this. We have to keep going like this to be our best. We have a lot more to do this season." 

He added: "I’m enjoying this football club and I think for anybody who loves football, Barcelona is one of the key clubs in the history of the game so to play here is an honour. I just believe that things happen when they’re supposed to happen. It’s not the first time I spoke with Barcelona about potentially coming here, but for whatever reasons it didn’t happen in the past, and now is my opportunity to make it happen. I feel like there’s no time like the present now. 

"People forget this, but 23 years of my life was with Manchester United. So sometimes you just need a change. I think maybe this is the case with me and yeah, I’m enjoying everything. I don’t feel there is much change in me, I just feel it’s a new environment and culture and one I looked forward to coming here. It’s just about me adapting and fitting in as well as possible. I’m so hungry to keep improving."

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has already made a decision on the long-term future of a promising player ahead of 2026, with the Spaniard having no place for him in his long-term plans for the North Londoners.

Arsenal prepare for imminent Premier League return against Fulham

The Gunners entered this international break on a near-perfect run of form.

Arteta’s side, barring their 1-1 draw with Man City, have won every single match in all competitions since the last international break, including a dramatic win at Newcastle, where Arsenal showcased a Liverpool-esque ability to nick three points right at the death, despite not playing at their best.

Arsenal’s manager will be quietly thrilled by his squad’s reaction to their first and only defeat of the campaign so far at Anfield, with the Gunners’ impressive unbeaten run since catapulting them to the Premier League summit.

Arsenal’s unbeaten run since Liverpool defeat

Competition

Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest

Premier League

Athletic Bilbao 0-2 Arsenal

Champions League

Arsenal 1-1 Man City

Premier League

Port Vale 0-2 Arsenal

Carabao Cup

Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal

Premier League

Arsenal 2-0 Olympiacos

Champions League

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

Premier League

The only piece of bad news for Arteta recently has been club captain Martin Odegaard’s knee injury, with the Norway international not expected to return until after the November international break.

Odegaard joins Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus and Noni Madueke’s on Arsenal’s long-term injury list, but luckily for Arteta, summer signing Piero Hincapie is set to be available for their clash against Fulham this weekend.

Hincapie has been struggling with a groin problem since joining from Bayer Leverkusen on loan with a £45 million option to buy, with the Ecuador international playing just one minute for Arteta so far and still waiting for his Premier League debut.

The 23-year-old was brought in as a direct replacement for Jakub Kiwior, who joined FC Porto on loan in the summer window.

Kiwior, by contrast to Hincapie, has got off to an excellent start to his temporary spell in Portugal. He’s started every league game since his switch to the Primeira Liga, helping Francesco Farioli’s side to maintain their unbeaten run domestically and in the Europa League.

Porto have also conceded just two goals in all competitions so far, with the 25-year-old finding his feet very quickly abroad.

Jakub Kiwior to leave Arsenal for good after Mikel Arteta decision

Kiwior’s loan includes an obligation to become permanent for around £15 million plus add-ons if certain conditions are met, and it appears as if the Poland international is firmly on his way to meeting those requirements to seal an indefinite Arsenal exit.

This is just as well, with Arteta already deciding that there is no place for the ex-Spezia man in his long-term plans.

That is according to reports from Spain, which state that, even if Kiwior doesn’t end up meeting the obligation conditions at Porto, Arsenal are set to sell the defender next summer and have put a £21.5 million price tag on his head in the event he becomes available again.

As things stand, the most likely scenario is Kiwior joining Porto permanently, and it is believed they wish to secure his future in April or May after an impressive early run of form under Farioli.

Called a “sensational talent” by members of the media, it was always a tall order for Kiwior to establish himself as a mainstay Arsenal starter ahead of Gabriel and William Saliba, who’ve established themselves as two of the top five best centre-backs in world football.

Top 15 centre-backs in the world

Rank

Player

Age

Club

Nation

1

Virgil van Dijk

34

Liverpool

Netherlands

2

Antonio Rudiger

32

Real Madrid

Germany

3

Gabriel Magalhaes

27

Arsenal

Brazil

4

Alessandro Bastoni

26

Inter Milan

Italy

5

William Saliba

24

Arsenal

France

Find out the rest here…

That being said, his ability was never lost on Arteta.

With Ibrahima Konate yet to sign a new contract, Liverpool are reportedly prioritising a move to sign the Frenchman’s replacement for Arne Slot in 2026.

Update on Konate's Liverpool contract

If there was ever a time for Liverpool to sort Konate’s contract it is now. The Reds have just lost three games on the bounce under Slot, who faces the toughest task of his Anfield career so far after the international break. And in that run, Konate’s form has been one of several problems.

Carragher tells Slot to copy Real Madrid amid current Liverpool "problem"

The Liverpool legend has delivered his verdict.

ByTom Cunningham Oct 7, 2025

His situation mirrors Trent Alexander-Arnold’s last season, before the right-back decided to join Real Madrid as a free agent. As the Spanish giants arrived, the defender’s form dropped and uncomfortable questions came to the fore. Whether or not the Madrid factor did play a part is hard to truly say, but that won’t stop those same questions from coming the way of Konate.

As things stand, no new contract has been signed, but negotiations are reportedly ongoing. As far as Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes are concerned, they’ll want things wrapped up before January, when Konate can start negotiating a pre-contract agreement with other clubs.

Whilst his deal continues to tick down, Liverpool will no doubt be on the hunt for Konate replacements ahead of 2026. The main name on that front seems to still be Marc Guehi, who came within hours of signing for the club in the summer.

Given that other clubs are now chasing the England international’s signature on a free deal next summer, however, the Reds have reportedly turned towards alternative options.

Liverpool prioritising Diomande deal

According to reports in Spain, Liverpool now see Ousmane Diomande as a key target ahead of 2026 and will target the Sporting Club defender to replace Konate. Represented by the same agency as Virgil van Dijk, the 21-year-old is one of the most promising defenders that European football has to offer. And now, a move to Merseyside could be on the horizon.

Described as a “hybrid” between Arsenal’s Gabriel and William Saliba by analyst Ben Mattinson, Diomande is certainly one to watch. Although he is yet to make his mark on the current Sporting campaign due to injury, his return should see him return to their strongest line-up as they attempt to secure a third-consecutive Liga Portugal title.

Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has put striker Will Osula on red alert for the Premier League after seeing him score twice as the holders booked their place in the Carabao Cup fourth round with a 4-1 win against Bradford.

The 22-year-old Dane scored the Magpies’ second and final goals against the League One leaders at St James’ Park to highlight his development, and with record signing Nick Woltemade still coming to terms with English football and Yoane Wissa injured, he has been told he could get his chance amid a hectic schedule.

Asked how close Osula, on £25,000-a-week, is to starting a league game, Howe said:

Howe impressed with Newcastle forward Osula in training

Osula, rarely seen this season with just over 200 minutes of game time, arrived at the club from Sheffield United as a raw youngster last summer, and Howe and his coaches have since gone to work with him on the training ground.

Newcastle largely dominated throughout and the game was effectively over when Joelinton and Osula struck after 17 and 19 minutes respectively.

However, thanks to the efforts of City goalkeeper Sam Walker and some sub-standard finishing, they had to wait until the 75th minute for the Brazilian to make it 3-0, and although lifelong Magpies fan Andy Cook reduced the deficit, Osula scored again at the death to wrap up a comfortable win.

Howe said: “It was always going to be a difficult game. Nobody makes anything easy for you. Bradford are top of their league and full of confidence, so we needed an element of patience in our performance. But once we got into our groove, we were good.”

Worse than Miley: Howe must drop Newcastle flop who lost 100% of his duels

Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe should drop this flop who was worse than Lewis Miley.

1 ByDan Emery Sep 25, 2025

Opposite number Graham Alexander, who played under Howe during his spell in charge at Burnley, was happy with much of what he saw from his side on a difficult night on Tyneside.

Asked what they had learned, he said with a smile: “We learned what a Champions League team looks like up close.”

On Cook’s goal, he added: “He’s a proper lad, he’s been a big player for this club for the last three or four years and everyone knows about his support for Newcastle, but he’s also got a massive bond with our club as well, so it was a special night for Cooky just getting on the pitch.

“But that’s a goal he’ll be talking about for the next 50 years, I expect.”

Daniel Farke must wonder how he never won promotion with the Leeds United team he inherited heading into the 2023/24 season as the West Yorkshire outfit’s new manager.

Thankfully, the EFL promotion expert did guide Leeds back up to the Premier League at the second time of asking, with a Championship title even being secured along the way, but his previous side disastrously slipped up in the playoff final, even with the likes of both Georginio Rutter and Archie Gray starring week in week out.

Crysencio Summerville, despite his unbelievable display, was another unfortunate member of that team, leaving for West Ham United after the season’s conclusion.

The attacker is still held in high esteem at Elland Road, despite his celebrated stay at the club ultimately ending in disappointment.

What made Summerville so magic

Summerville eventually got a chance to shine again in the top-flight with the Hammers, having initially burst onto the scene as a promising talent in the tough division when Leeds routinely battled against the drop.

An encouraging four goals and three assists came the tricky winger’s way across 28 Premier League outings during the 2022/23 season, with the Rotterdam-born attacker certainly sticking out as a bright spark in an otherwise depressing period for the Whites, as relegation was confirmed.

He was only getting started when looking back, however, with the former Whites number 10 striking fear into Championship defences all season long during the following campaign.

Summerville had the goals and assists to back up his immense footwork and trickery on the left channel, with 20 goals and 19 assists in regular action crowning him as the second tier’s Player of the Season.

Journalist Jake Winderman would even go all out to declare the 5-foot-9 ace as “world-class” for those sublime heroics, while Farke himself stated that the “sky is the limit” for what his star asset could go on to achieve.

Summerville has since shown flashes of his excellence with West Ham, despite injury issues threatening to stop him in his tracks.

After an injury-disrupted 2024/25 season saw just 19 Premier League appearances fall into his lap, the 23-year-old is now up to a quickfire two assists for this campaign, from just five clashes.

While the former fan favourite at Leeds underwent a testing first term away from West Yorkshire, Farke was scrambling for his new Summerville-like star to latch onto, with Manor Solomon stepping into the role effortlessly as another unpredictable talent on the left wing.

Now out on loan with Villarreal, away from parent side Tottenham Hotspur, Solomon was once viewed as a fitting replacement for the immense magic served up by Summerville and Rutter, with a devastating ten goals and 13 assists notched up last campaign by the diminutive 26-year-old helping Leeds to achieve a promotion feat not even their revered Dutchman could clinch.

Solomon would even score Leeds’ title-clinching goal when bursting forward with his usual Elland Road exuberance versus Plymouth Argyle on the final day, with the former Shakhtar Donetsk attacker also receiving similar glowing praise to that of Summerville, lauded as “unplayable” by former Whites boss Neil Redfearn.

The hope was surely to tie down the entertaining forward to a long-term deal past his loan stint, but nothing would come to fruition despite speculative talk suggesting Solomon was up for a reunion, as Leeds looked at other top-flight-ready recruits instead.

So, with Solomon now gone, who has become Leeds’ new Summerville?

Leeds' new Summerville-type figure at Elland Road

Leeds could well have been hesitant to dive in and secure Solomon permanently based on his sketchy track record in the Premier League.

The new Villarreal man is, unfortunately, more known for being ravaged with injuries at that level than being a rip-roaring success, with just four goals and two assists picked up, missing 61 games through injury for both Spurs and Fulham.

Staggeringly, he has already been absent from five games this season through more injury-related difficulties, as Leeds sense they have dodged a bullet somewhat.

In stark contrast, new signing Noah Okafor has been there and done that in some challenging top-flight environments, with a 25-goal haul for RB Salzburg in the Austrian Bundesliga even seeing scout Jacek Kulig refer to the Swiss international as “prolific” force.

On top of that, he was also previously on the roster of AC Milan for 57 matches, culminating in seven goals being put away with confidence.

Therefore, the powers that be at Leeds would have felt assured that dropping £18m on his services this summer was money well spent, and they have already been vindicated, with two strikes picked up in the Premier League by the direct number 19.

While his calmness in front of goal stands him in good stead to be a Summerville-type figure for Farke’s men moving forward, it’s his ardent manner to always bomb forward and try and create an opening out of nothing that also makes the similarity stick, with Summerville finding that he was constantly fouled in the Championship for also being a brash attacking presence.

Touches

40

27

34

Unsuccessful touches

4

2

6

Goals

1

0

1

Key passes

0

1

2

Successful dribbles

6/14

3/4

1/2

Okafor has come into his own in this regard across Leeds’ last three matches in the league, with the pacey 25-year-old managing an absurd six successful dribbles against Wolverhampton Wanderers, despite only accumulating 40 touches.

Yet, much like in Summerville’s case, it isn’t showboating for showboating’s sake, with two goals picked up across his last three Premier League outings making him a firm starting figure for Farke, which is only reinforced by him amassing three key passes in his attempts to assist teammates around him.

Dubbed as an “explosive” presence by scout Antonio Mango when first securing a move to England, it now appears as if Okafor was the Summerville-like ace Leeds had been crying out for all along.

After all, even an opposition defender for Coventry City in Milan van Ewijk had to hold his hands up at Summerville being an “exceptionally good” dribbler when the Sky Blues clashed with Farke’s men in the second tier.

Okafor will hope, in time, that he’s also remembered as a feared force for defenders to wrestle with, with the early signs of his Leeds career pointing in the direction that he will be a fan favourite for many years to come, particularly if he can be one driving factor behind the Whites becoming top-flight regulars again.

Radrizzani reveals Leeds could've replaced Marsch with two "world-class" managers

The former Leeds owner has revealed that he has a number of regrets about his time at Elland Road.

ByDominic Lund Oct 14, 2025

Sheffield Wednesday fans have been urged to show their support and help the club survive following distressing news the Owls have been placed into administration. The four-times English champions will now be handed a damaging points deduction, which will leave the club on MINUS six points. The devastating development comes following years of mismanagement from owner Dejphon Chansiri.

• Writing on the wall for Wednesday

  Chansiri's management of the Yorkshire club has led to repeated transfer embargoes, points deductions, and unpaid player and staff wages. Adding to the financial instability, he controversially sold Hillsborough stadium to a separate company which he also owns, all while facing claims that he underinvested in the ground's maintenance. High manager turnover and refusing multiple takeover bids by demanding an unrealistic £100 million ($133m) asking price have further highlighted the instability and lack of viable alternatives under his leadership.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Dark cloud hanging over Sheffield giants

  News of Wednesday's administration has been met with sadness, particularly from fans who have long protested against Chansiri's ownership. Joint-administrator Kris Wigfield, a Wednesday fan himself, said: "The joint administrators have taken over the running of the club with immediate effect to protect the interests of creditors, and to ensure Sheffield Wednesday can continue operating while we seek a new owner as swiftly as possible. Like many football clubs, it has been trading at a significant loss for several years, with those losses historically funded by the former owner Mr Chansiri, who was no longer willing to provide that financial support. While the recent fan boycott has not directly caused the insolvency, it has increased financial pressure on the club. As a result, the owner has chosen to place the club into administration. 

• Plea to fans to fill Hillsborough

  Wigfield said: "Supporters are the backbone of any football club. The money they spend at the gate and in the ground is vital. I’ve been a season ticket holder since 1984 and know first-hand the passion of this fanbase. Now, more than ever, we need fans back in the ground – buying tickets, merchandise, pies and pints. Every penny spent will go directly to supporting the day-to-day running of this club, not to the former owner or professional costs. This will help stabilise the club while we secure a suitable buyer."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Bleak future for Owls

  When a football club goes into administration, an administrator takes control of its finances and day-to-day operations. The administrator's primary goal is to find a buyer or restructure the club's debts to prevent liquidation, potentially by selling off assets like players. The EFL imposes an immediate points deduction, but the club is protected from legal action by its creditors during this process. The long-term outcome depends on whether a suitable buyer is found and a financial agreement is reached with creditors. 

  While the future is uncertain, one thing that is guaranteed is a full house and a raucous atmosphere at Hillsborough for the visit of Oxford United on Saturday. 

  Another of the joint administrators, Paul Stanley, said: "There should be no interruption to the fixture schedule and we are in close contact with the EFL to ensure that the effects of this administration on the employees, supporters, the community and the players are minimised as far as possible.

  "Sheffield Wednesday is a massive, historic club with a loyal fan base in a city that lives and breathes football. If more fans return to Hillsborough, the club can cover its day-to-day costs and move towards a viable sale to a new ownership capable of restoring long-term stability. With the right ownership structure, we are confident that the club has a bright future and will meet all EFL regulatory obligations."

أعلن أحمد عبد الرؤوف، المدير الفني المؤقت لنادي الزمالك، قائمة البدلاء في مواجهة طلائع الجيش، التي تقام مساء اليوم على استاد القاهرة الدولي، ضمن منافسات الجولة الثالثة عشرة من بطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز.

ويخوض الزمالك اللقاء تحت قيادة فنية مؤقتة بقيادة عبد الرؤوف، الذي تولى المهمة عقب رحيل البلجيكي يانيك فيريرا، بعد قرار إدارة النادي بتوجيه الشكر له بسبب تراجع النتائج خلال الفترة الماضية.

ويدخل الزمالك المباراة وهو يحتل المركز الرابع في جدول ترتيب الدوري برصيد 19 نقطة من 11 مباراة، بعدما حقق الفوز في خمس مواجهات وتعادل في أربع وخسر مرتين.

وفي المقابل، يدخل طلائع الجيش اللقاء محتلاً المركز السادس عشر برصيد 10 نقاط، ساعيًا لتحقيق نتيجة إيجابية للهروب من منطقة الهبوط.

طالع أيضًا | أحمد عبد الرؤوف يعلن تشكيل الزمالك أمام طلائع الجيش.. الجزيري يقود الهجوم بدلاء الزمالك اليوم أمام طلائع الجيش في الدوري

المهدي سليمان، محمود حمدي”الونش”، وأحمد فتوح، وأحمد ربيع، وسيف فاروق جعفر، وعبد الحميد معالي، وشيكو بانزا، وعمرو ناصر، وعدي الدباغ.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Palmeiras voltou a ter esperanças na conquista do Campeonato Brasileiro. Invicto no segundo turno e vendo o Botafogo tropeçar seguidamente, a equipe de Abel Ferreira tem diminuído a vantagem para o líder e estabeleceu a menor diferença em 12 rodadas. Nesta quinta-feira (21), diante do Grêmio, em Porto Alegre, o Verdão pode ficar próximo de recuperar uma condição que tinha antes de a coisa “desandar”, que foi logo após a primeira pausa para a Data Fifa, em junho.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasBrasileirãoGrêmio x Palmeiras: onde assistir ao vivo, horário e escalações do jogo pelo BrasileirãoBrasileirão20/09/2023PalmeirasAbel Ferreira defende invencibilidade diante do Grêmio pelo PalmeirasPalmeiras21/09/2023PalmeirasWeverton encara Suárez pela primeira vez e visa manter baliza zero no PalmeirasPalmeiras21/09/2023

+ Veja tabela e classificação do Brasileirão-2023 clicando aqui

A distância para o Fogão neste momento é de sete pontos, ou seja, caso o Alviverde saia vitorioso em Porto Alegre, conseguirá reduzir essa vantagem para quatro. Ainda que os cariocas ainda joguem na rodada, nesta sexta (22), contra o Corinthians, na Neo Química Arena, será necessário que o time de Bruno Lage vença para retomar a margem de sete pontos.

Se esses sete pontos já significam a menor vantagem em 12 rodadas, os quatro pontos podem ser a menor diferença em 14 rodadas. Ou seja, desde a 10ª rodada, em junho, quando o Palmeiras venceu o São Paulo por 2 a 0 e estava a somente dois pontos da liderança.

continua após a publicidade

Acontece que logo após o clássico no Morumbi, o Brasileirão teve uma pausa por conta da Data Fifa e ela foi terrível para o time de Abel Ferreira. Na volta, o técnico não pôde contar com alguns de seus principais jogadores e acabou sendo derrotado pelo Bahia, fora de casa. Assim, viu sua distância para o Botafogo aumentar para cinco pontos.

+ Grêmio x Palmeiras: onde assistir ao vivo, horário e escalações do jogo pelo Brasileirão

Na rodada seguinte, ainda viria o confronto direto contra o Fogão, no Allianz Parque. Cenário perfeito para que a diferença voltasse aos dois pontos. No entanto, os botafoguenses venceram por 1 a 0 na casa alviverde e aumentaram a distância para oito pontos. A coisa desandou tanto a partir dali, que o Verdão ficou cinco rodadas sem vencer e a margem para o líder chegou aos 14 pontos.

continua após a publicidade

De lá para cá, somando resultados positivos palmeirenses e tropeços alvinegros, a vantagem vem caindo gradativamente até chegar nos atuais sete pontos, metade do pior momento citado acima.

Portanto, caso vença o Grêmio nesta quinta-feira, o Alviverde pode voltar a ter um patamar parecido com aquele de antes da primeira Data Fifa do Brasileirão-2023, quando a equipe estava invicta e seguia de perto os passos do Botafogo. E olha que o Palmeiras já teve outras chances de ficar mais próximo do adversário carioca, mas não aproveitou.

Tudo sobre

BrasileirãoPalmeiras

Half-century for James Vince keeps Hampshire interested but asking rate proves too steep

ECB Reporters Network19-Jun-2025

Will Smeed was in big-hitting form•Getty Images

Lewis Gregory clubbed a brutal half-century as Somerset defeated Hampshire Hawks by 17 runs at the Cooper Associates Ground to return to winning ways and move clear of Surrey at the top of the Vitality Blast South Group table.Will Smeed smashed 68 from 37 balls with nine fours and three sixes and dominated stands of 59 and 46 with Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Tom Abell for the second and third wickets respectively after Somerset had been put in beneath the Taunton floodlights. But the home side lost their way during the middle overs and were indebted to skipper Gregory, who clubbed a much-needed 55 from 27 balls with four fours and four sixes and staged a record-breaking seventh-wicket partnership of 82 with Lewis Goldsworthy to propel the cider county to 209 for 6. Veteran allrounder Benny Howell claimed 2 for 12 and Liam Dawson 1 for 29 as the Hawks struggled to contain the South Group leaders.James Vince raised a 30-ball 54 and South Africa batter Dewald Brevis crashed 36 from 16 deliveries, but Ben Green took 3 for 40 as Somerset took wickets at key moments to restrict Hawks to 192 for 7 and secure a sixth victory in seven outings in the short format this season.Put into bat, Somerset made a subdued start by their own high standards, Tom Banton falling cheaply to a tremendous catch on the run by Joe Weatherley at deep square leg off the bowling of Eddie Jack. Kohler-Cadmore encountered no such problems, taking 14 runs off the third over, bowled by James Fuller, as the home side reasserted themselves.Smeed was equally expansive, plundering three boundaries in one Jack over, while Kohler-Cadmore emulated that feat at the expense of Fuller in the next as the second wicket pair fashioned a half-century partnership from just 23 balls in advancing the score to 68 for 1 at the end of the powerplay.Hampshire’s seamers held their nerve and Fuller provided relief, bowling Kohler-Cadmore for a 15-ball 29 in the seventh with the score 70 for 2. Kohler-Cadmore accrued a quartet of fours and a six, only to depart before he could inflict real damage. In his absence, Smeed picked up the cudgels, hoisting Fuller over midwicket for six and then straight-hitting the next ball for four to post 50 from 27 balls.Dawson’s nagging accuracy notwithstanding, Somerset initially managed to maintain momentum during the crucial middle overs, Abell adopting the role of chief support to Smeed, who continued to trade in boundaries and put bowlers and fielders alike under pressure. He eventually succumbed, hitting Jack straight down the throat of Scott Currie at long-on as Somerset slipped to 116 for 3 in the 11th.When Abell played across the line to Howell’s first delivery and was bowled via an inside edge, the home side were 116 for 4 and Hampshire fancied they were right back in the contest, an impression that was confirmed in the 13th, Sean Dickson playing back to Dawson and watching the ball clatter into his stumps.Green came and went quickly, holing out to long-on to provide the wily Howell with a second wicket as the flow of boundaries temporarily dried up and Somerset further subsided to 127 for 6 in the 14th. Gregory then took matters into his own hands, harvesting 25 off one Wood over as the seventh-wicket alliance realised 50 in just 25 balls. Unleashing a barrage of sixes, Somerset’s captain tucked into the seamers on his way to a high-octane 25-ball half-century. His partnership with Goldsworthy, who finished unbeaten on 29 from 16 balls, was a Somerset record for the seventh wicket in T20 cricket, eclipsing the 67 made by Omari Banks and Ben Phillips at Northampton in 2008.Living up to their formidable reputation, Hampshire openers Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Vince afforded the reply a super-charged start, posting 50 in 5.2 overs to force Somerset’s seamers onto the back foot. Pugilistic in his approach, Pretorius struck four fours and a brace of sixes as the partnership advanced to 74 inside nine overs.Somerset needed a wicket and the ever-dependable Green obliged, luring Pretorius into front-foot indiscretion and having the South African held in the deep for 37. With the asking rate rising above 12 for the first time, Vince and new batter Toby Albert looked to attack Goldsworthy. But the spinner defied their best attempts as the home side worked hard to restrict the supply of boundaries during the middle overs.Goldsworthy struck a telling blow in the 12th, inducing Albert to hit high to long-off with the score 95 for 2 as the rate continued to climb. While Vince remained at large, Hampshire were in with a chance, and the England batter hoisted Green high over midwicket for six to raise 50 from 29 balls. He was out next ball, caught on the long-on boundary as Green further reduced the visitors to 107 for 3.South African dangerman Brevis and Weatherley opened their shoulders in a bid to put the chase back on track, but Somerset’s bowlers remained disciplined in their lengths and the latter was run out by Riley Meredith for 15 with 75 still needed from five overs.Fuller attempted to match Brevis blow-for-blow, only to be undone by a Meredith yorker and fall for 11. Having struck four sixes and a four, Brevis then attempted to drive Green down the ground and skied a catch to Gregory at mid-off to signal the end of Hampshire’s prospects in the 18th..

Experienced pair add 225 for the fourth wicket to guard against prospect of defeat

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay 25-Jun-2025Centuries from Sam Northeast and Colin Ingram saw Glamorgan save the draw in batting-friendly conditions in their Rothesay County Championship second division match against Leicestershire at the UptonSteel County Ground.The experienced pair put together a partnership of 225, a fourth-wicket record for Glamorgan against the Foxes. Northeast, who made 410 not out on this ground three years ago, now holds three different wicket record partnerships for Glamorgan against Leicestershire.Leicestershire remain well clear at the top of the second division after taking 16 points from the game, with Glamorgan taking 13 points and remaining third in the table, the result of the match between Gloucestershire and Derbyshire at Bristol notwithstanding.Resuming with the score on 131 for 3, Northeast and Ingram continued to bat in exactly the same manner which had seen them bat through the final session on day three, which is to say with the calm assurance that comes when from facing a softish ball on an benign pitch baked into submission by three days of hot sun and warm wind.Leicestershire’s bowlers stuck at their task, bowling straight and making the batsmen play, but struggled to flog any sort of response from the pitch, with the bat being beaten perhaps three times over the two hour period. Ingram, 37 not out overnight, went to his half-century off 121 deliveries, Northeast reaching his century off 186 deliveries, 11 of which he hit to the boundary.The new ball, eagerly – perhaps desperately – anticipated by the Leicestershire faithful – made little difference, initially at any rate, but Northeast, on 139, finally lost patience and tried to loft the left-arm spin of Trevaskis to the long-on boundary. He didn’t get all of it and Sam Wood, at 20 making his first first-class appearance of the season, sprinted back from mid-on and took an outstanding catch as the ball dropped over his shoulder.Ingram was unmoved, proceeding serenely to his century – also a second of the season – off 246 deliveries, but had a remarkable escape on 103 when he pulled a Ben Green delivery hard and high to the square leg boundary. A leaping Logan van Beek made the catch as he fell backwards over the rope, lobbing the ball back into play as he did so, but over-balanced as he tried to step back over the rope, had to knock the ball up again, and diving forward, could not hold the ball at the third attempt.Glamorgan did lose Ben Kellaway, top-edging an attempted pull at Green to give Wood a more straightward catch on the leg-side, and Ingram, then on 121, may have had another escape in the over before tea, when Leicestershire were convinced he had been caught at short leg off Trevaskis. Umpire Rob White disagreed.One more wicket was to fall, Rishi Patel seeing Chris Cooke push his leg-side delivery firmly but straight at Sol Budinger at short leg, who held on at the second attempt. It was Patel’s maiden first class wicket. At the close Ingram remained unbeaten on 133, having faced 308 deliveries, an impressive effort on the part of the 39-year-old South African. Like Northeast, he seems to enjoy batting against Leicestershire, having made his career-best 257 not out against the Foxes at Cardiff last year.