أحمد شوبير يكشف تفاصيل إصابة إمام عاشور.. وإمكانية مشاركة بن شرقي ووسام أمام الزمالك

كشف أحمد شوبير مقدم البرامج بقناة الأهلي عن أخر المستجدات الخاصة بـ حالة إمام عاشور لاعب القلعة الحمراء بعد سقوطه خلال مباراة غزل المحلة، موضحًا موقف أشرف بن شرقي من الجاهزية قبل مواجهة القمة أمام الزمالك.

وحقق الأهلي انتصارًا مستحقًا على غزل المحلة بهدف دون رد، في المواجهة التي جمعتهما ضمن منافسات الدوري المصري.

وقال شوبير في تصريحات تلفزيونية عبر قناة الأهلي: “كان هناك حالة تخوف بعد سقوط إمام عاشور، لأنه سبق وأجرى جراحة في الكتف، الإصابة التي حدثت اليوم بسيطة في الكتف، وسيخضع لفحص طبي غدًا”.

وأكمل: “غدًا سنعرف هل سيجري أشعة أم لا، لكن طبقًا لكلام الدكتور أحمد جاب الله، إن الوضع مطمئن بشكل كبير للاعب، وإمام عاشور مهم جدًا للنادي الأهلي ولمنتخب مصر، وإن شاء الله نطمئن بنسبة 100%”.

طالع | كولر يوضح موقف وسام أبو علي وبن شرقي من مباراة الزمالك.. ويكشف عن نصيحته لـ علي معلول

وأردف: “رامي ربيعة رأينا الدم الذي نزل من فمه، وعمل خياطة 4 غرز من الداخل و3 من الخارج، وهذا الأمر أصبح معتادا للاعبي الكرة، وسيتواجد في النادي غدًا والوضع مطمئن وسيكون موجودا في مران الغد، وذلك أيضًا وفقًا لكلام الدكتور أحمد جاب الله”.

وأوضح: “أشرف بن شرقي أمامه 4 أيام وينتظم في المران الجماعي، وسيكون جاهزًا لمباراة القمة، أما مشاركته أو جلوسه على الدكة سيعود لـ مارسيل كولر”.

واختتم: “أشرف داري جاهز وسيشارك في التدريبات الجماعية غدًا، وطاهر محمد طاهر أمامه 3 أو 4 أيام، ووسام على أعتاب المشاركة في تدريبات الفريق”.

الأهلي والزمالك سيلتقيان يوم 22 فبراير الجاري في إطار لقاءات الجولة الخامسة عشر من الدوري المصري.

Kagiso Rabada takes five as South Africa clinch innings win

Kagiso Rabada claimed his first five-wicket haul in 33 innings, since March 2018, as South Africa wrapped up the St Lucia Test before lunch on the third day to take an unassailable lead in the two-match series. West Indies lost six for 65 in an extended first session on Saturday to stumble to a sixth innings defeat in 253 matches at home. They have plenty to address in terms of shot selection and temperament before the second Test, which starts next Friday.While conditions remained challenging for batting throughout the match, with swing through the air, the surface did not hold any demons. Roston Chase proved as much with a top score of 62 but had barely any support. West Indies’ highest partnership was a 46-run stand between Chase and Jermaine Blackwood, who only added three runs to his overnight score and was worked over by Lungi Ngidi on the third morning.Ngidi thought he had an early breakthrough in the fourth over of the day when umpire Gregory Brathwaite gave Blackwood out caught down the leg side but Blackwood reviewed. Replays showed the ball had hit the thigh pad as Blackwood missed the flick. Two balls later, Blackwood was hit on the front pad and Ngidi appealed for lbw but the ball was clearly going over the top of the stumps. And two balls after that, Blackwood was given out again after Ngidi beat him with a full delivery on middle stump and the batter reviewed again. Ball-tracking showed the delivery was too high and Blackwood survived again.South Africa’s frustration did not last much longer. Blackwood faced just eight more balls and then drove Rabada uppishly to short extra cover, where Rassie van der Dussen took a low catch. West Indies’ score was on 97 at that point, the same as their first-innings total.Anrich Nortje was brought on after that wicket and immediately bared his teeth. He beat Chase with a delivery that squared him up from outside off. Nortje continued to test Chase outside off but Wiaan Mulder allowed some reprieve at the other end. He overpitched and Chase took back-to-back boundaries to bring up his half-century off 122 balls. Chase’s achievement stood in stark contrast to his team-mates. No other West Indian batter made an individual score of more than 20 in the match.

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Jason Holder would have been disappointed that he was unable to acquit himself better, after a solid looking 20 in the first innings. He scored just 4 in the second before he was dismissed off the first ball he faced from Keshav Maharaj. Holder offered no shot as he anticipated turn from the left-arm spinner but none came and he lost his off stump.Maharaj had only bowled only four in the first innings but played a bigger role in the second. He also got rid of Chase, who under-edged an attempted cut onto his stumps, and all but ended West Indies’ resistance.Rahkeem Cornwall wafted at a Rabada delivery to give van der Dussen a simple catch at mid-off and extend the morning session. Rabada cranked up the aggression after that and hit Joshua Da Silva flush on the left elbow, where he had no forearm guard for protection. He received treatment on the field and continued batting, albeit nervously as he edged Radaba wide of the slips. He then survived a review for lbw in the next over after replays showed the ball was going over the top of the stumps but had his off stump taken out as he shouldered arms to a ball that bent back into him to give Rabada his five-for.Nortje claimed the last wicket when Jayden Seales flashed at a wide ball and edged to Mulder at third slip to end South Africa’s streak of nine consecutive defeats on the road, since Nottingham 2017. It was also Dean Elgar’s first win as Test captain, a pleasing result for the new leader. He joined a small list of skippers who led their side to victory despite scoring no runs, taking no wickets and holding no catches in the Test.

Man Utd consider Victor Osimhen move! Marcus Rashford exit could open door to deal for Nigeria striker in January

Manchester United are eyeing a move for Victor Osimhen amid the possibility of Marcus Rashford leaving Old Trafford in January.

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Rashford's exit could open door for Osimhen's arrivalEnglish forward wants exit from Old TraffordMan Utd in touch with Nigerian's representativesFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Rashford has fallen out of favour under Ruben Amorim after being omitted from the United matchday squad in three consecutive games within a week. The player himself has already claimed that he is ready to take on a new challenge in his career, which has further fuelled speculation over his future at Old Trafford.

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report that the Red Devils have shown interest in signing Napoli loanee and Galatasaray star Victor Osimhen, and Rashford's potential exit in the January transfer window could open the door for the arrival of the Nigerian forward. Osimhen, who moved to Turkiye on loan in the summer, is in red-hot form as he has scored 12 goals in 15 appearances, including nine in the Super Lig.

DID YOU KNOW?

The report further claims that United are already in touch with Osimhen's representatives and their next step would be to agree personal terms with the striker. The difficult task, however, will be to negotiate with Napoli, who are likely to demand a fee of €75 million (£62m/$77m).

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR MAN UTD?

Amorim's side, who have lost three out of their last four Premier League games, will hope to get back to winning ways on Boxing Day as they take on Wolves away from home.

Spurs struck gold on "special" Conte signing who’s worth more than Son

After a campaign full of ups and downs last year, Tottenham Hotspur are in for a massive season.

Ange Postecoglou will want to ensure the Lilywhites make it back into the Champions League after just missing out last year, and while his team have endured a mixed start to 24/25, they have shown real glimpses of brilliance.

The Australian will need his team to be firing on all cylinders to get them over the line come May, although another season like the last from club captain Son Heung-min should be enough to cover for any underperformers.

Spurs striker Heung-min Son

The South Korean was incredible in the league last year and proved that, even at 32, he's one of the best attackers in the country, although interestingly, one of his teammates, who former coach Antonio Conte signed, is actually worth more than him.

Son's recent form

As mentioned above, the 23/24 campaign was an odd one for Tottenham, as they looked unplayable at times and alarmingly easy to play at others.

However, while many of his teammates endured quite dramatic shifts in form throughout the year, Son remained a reliable figure in the team, and his incredible output shows as much.

In his 36 games for the Lilywhites, the South Korean phenom scored 17 goals and provided ten assists, meaning that he managed to maintain an average of a goal involvement once every 1.33 games.

Appearances

36

Minutes

2967'

Goals

17

Assists

10

Goal Involvements per Match

0.75

Minutes per Goal Involvement

109.88'

What makes this even more impressive is that he was constantly shifted from left-wing to centre-forward during the season, and at 32, he is well past what The Athletic consider to be the peak age for a winger in top-flight football.

However, for as outrageously effective as he was last year, Football Transfers has valued him at just €28m, or about £24m, which is considerably less than one of his fellow wingers is worth.

Dejan Kulusevski's valuation in 2024

The winger in question is, of course, Dejan Kulusevski, who first joined the club on an £8.3m 18-month loan deal under former manager Conte in January 2022.

Tottenham star Dejan Kulusevski celebrates

The Swedish international's move was then made permanent in July for around £26m, which was supposedly slightly less than the initial option to buy included in the loan deal, per the Standard.

Now, it would be fair to say that in his time with the Lilywhites, the former Juventus star has both amazed and frustrated fans, although the reason he occasionally does the latter is that he's clearly an immensely talented footballer who, on his day, can give any defence a run for their money.

Appearances

99

Goals

15

Assists

20

Goal Involvements per Match

0.35

For example, in his 99 appearances for the club, the "special" talent, as dubbed by Sky Sports reporter Jamie Weir, has found the back of the net on 15 occasions and provided 20 assists for good measure, equating to a reasonable average of a goal involvement once every 2.82 games.

This undeniable quality has seen his valuation remain high since joining the North Londoners, and according to Football Transfers, he is currently worth around €57m, which converts to about £48m, or at least double that of Son's valuation.

Now, this drastic disparity is likely down to two things. The first is age; at 32, the South Korean is approaching the end of his career, while at 24, the Stockholm-born dynamo should be approaching his peak years.

The second reason is probably down to their contracts, as the £190k-per-week deal the North Londoners captain is on is set to expire next summer, while the Swede's £110k-per-week contract is set to run for another four years.

Ultimately, both Son and Kulusevski are incredibly talented footballers and could be incredibly important for Tottenham this season. Still, due to the aforementioned reasons, it seems likely that the former's valuation will continue to come down over the coming years, and the latter's will continue to rise, especially if he hits his potential.

Poch sold Spurs flop for £4.5m in 2019, now he's outscoring Richarlison

He was electric last season.

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Ellyse Perry pulls out of Hundred for personal reasons

Her withdrawal further depletes a Phoenix squad that will already be without Sophie Devine

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Jul-2021Australia allrounder Ellyse Perry is the latest high-profile player to pull out of the inaugural season of the Hundred. The 30-year old, who was due to play for Birmingham Phoenix, has withdrawn from the tournament, citing personal reasons.Perry’s absence further depletes a Phoenix squad that will already be without Sophie Devine. The New Zealander had pulled out of the tournament last month, “in order to be in the best position to prepare for international cricket, particularly with the ICC Women’s World Cup due to be held in her native New Zealand in February,” according an ECB release. While India’s teenage sensation Shafali Verma has been lined up to slot in for Devine at the Phoenix, Perry’s replacement is yet to be named.”We are obviously very disappointed that Ellyse Perry has had to withdraw from the Hundred due to personal circumstances, but we completely understand her decision and wish her all the best,” Beth Barrett-Wild, head of the women’s competition, said.Related

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Perry’s Australia-team mates Alyssa Healy, Meg Lanning and Rachael Haynes have also withdrawn from the Hundred, ahead of their home series against India, which will start on September 19.The women’s Hundred will begin on July 21 and will run until August 21.

Agent Jude Bellingham at work again?! Real Madrid superstar spotted with Alphonso Davies amid uncertain Bayern Munich future

Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham was spotted with Alphonso Davies at a nightclub amid the Canadian's uncertain future at Bayern Munich.

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  • Davies spotted partying with Bellingham
  • Linked closely with Real Madrid transfer
  • Canadian in final year of Bayern contract
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  • WHAT HAPPENED?

    Davies, who has been closely linked with a move to Real Madrid since last season, is in the final year of his contract at Bayern Munich. The Bundesliga giants had earlier proposed a lucrative renewal deal worth approximately €13 million per year until 2029, but the 23-year-old reportedly rejected the offer in March. However, talks have restarted between the club and his agent which makes Bayern optimistic about keeping their prized defender.

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    Davies was recently spotted partying with Los Blancos star Jude Bellingham at a night club which has once again sparked rumours of the defender's move to the Spanish capital next summer. Earlier, Bellingham reportedly tried to convince good friend and compatriot Trent Alexander-Arnold to move to Santiago Bernabeu next year and the Liverpool star is now close to joining them. The English midfielder has perhaps once again taken up the duty of being the Spanish champions' unofficial representative to seal another major transfer.

  • DID YOU KNOW?

    Other than Carlo Ancelotti's side, Manchester United and Liverpool are also eyeing a move for the Canada international, however, both English clubs have now fallen behind in the transfer race.

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    WHAT NEXT FOR ALPHONSO DAVIES?

    For now, the 24-year-old remains focused on the Bavarian club and will be back in action for them on January 11 as they take on Borussia Monchengladbach in the Bundesliga.

Sold by Moyes in 2021: West Ham dud has been outscoring Bowen since leaving

Over the past few years, Michail Antonio has been West Ham’s go-to central striker, featuring at the top end of the pitch in the hope of providing needed goals for the club.

The Jamaican has featured 311 times for the Hammers, scoring 82 times – becoming the club’s leading Premier League goalscorer in the process.

However, with Antonio now 34, he’s edging towards the tail end of his professional career, with the club making moves in the transfer window to try and seek a replacement for the former Nottingham Forest ace.

West Ham forward Michail Antonio

Julen Lopetegui wasted no time in bolstering his forward line over the summer, signing German striker Niclas Füllkrug from Borussia Dortmund in a £27m deal.

The Spaniard will be hoping that Fullkrug can form an excellent partnership with one player who was already plying his trade at the London Stadium before his arrival during the off-season.

Jarrod Bowen’s time at West Ham

After joining West Ham for a fee in the region of £20m during the January transfer window in 2020, winger Jarrod Bowen arrived at the club with high hopes after his impressive stint with Hull City that saw him register 16 goals in the first half of the campaign.

jarrod-bowen-hull-city

He’s since transformed into a world-class player at the London Stadium, bagging 62 times in his 206 appearances for the club.

Arguably, his best moment in the club’s colours came in the Europa Conference League final victory over Fiorentina back in 2022/23 – scoring the winning goal, ending the club’s 58-year wait for a major European title.

The 27-year-old was subsequently rewarded with a new seven-year contract at the London Stadium, taking his stay until the summer of 2030 at least.

Despite his impressive goalscoring record during his East London venture, the attacker has remarkably been outscored by one player who was prematurely sold at the London Stadium.

The man to outscore Bowen after leaving West Ham

That man is Ivorian striker Sebastian Haller who arrived at the club with huge expectations after his mammoth £45m move from Eintracht Frankfurt – a deal that broke the club’s record at the time.

Sebastian Haller for West Ham.

However, his time in the Premier League was a struggle, scoring just 14 times in his 54 appearances – with the club paying £3.2m for every goal he scored during his time with the Hammers.

Haller subsequently left the club for £20m joining Dutch side Ajax just 18 months after his big-money move to England, with former boss David Moyes prematurely selling the talent.

However, since his move away from the London Stadium, the 30-year-old has recaptured his goalscoring form, outscoring current star Bowen in the process.

The striker has bagged 59 goals in all competitions since his move away from London, with Bowen only one behind – registering 58 goals for the Hammers since January 2021.

How Haller & Bowen compare for goals since 2020/21

Season

Haller

Bowen

2020/21

13

5

2021/22

34

18

2022/23

9

13

2023/24

3

20

2024/25

0

2

Total:

59

58

Stats via Transfermarkt

Whilst there’s no denying that at times during his spell at the club, Haller looked out of his depth in England, he still produced moments of magic along the way whilst he was settling into life at the club, potentially thriving under the guidance of new boss Lopetegui.

His goalscoring record away from the London Stadium is evidence that he has the talent to flourish if given the opportunity, with the club potentially living to regret the decision to offload the Ivorian.

West Ham hit gold on "generational" talent who's now worth more than Rice

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Chelsea ready to sell £35m player and could sign Premier League replacement

Chelsea are ready to sell a £35 million member of their squad, so they can help to back head coach Enzo Maresca with the potential signing of a Premier League star.

Chelsea plotting late defensive reshuffle this summer

Reports have begun to accelerate over a potential new centre-back signing before the transfer window cut-off on August 31, despite Maresca already having a wealth of senior central defenders at his disposal.

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The Blues also signed Tosin Adarabioyo on a free transfer from Fulham earlier this summer, but versatile defender Trevoh Chalobah is expected to leave Chelsea in the coming week after being frozen out of both pre-season and the squad.

Jacob Steinberg of The Guardian, a reliable media source, backs reports that Chelsea could look to bring in another defender very soon, with Maresca holding little faith in both Benoit Badiashile and Axel Disasi.

"While Chelsea’s squad contains six senior centre-backs, Chalobah is up for sale and Disasi is not in Maresca’s long-term plans," wrote Steinberg.

Cole Palmer

7.48

Conor Gallagher

7.13

Nicolas Jackson

7.07

Moises Caicedo

6.85

Noni Madueke

6.84

"Disasi, who missed much of pre-season after having surgery on a hernia, has not convinced since joining from Monaco for £38.5m last year and has interest from Newcastle. The France international, who made 44 appearances last season, has not looked comfortable with the ball at his feet. There are also doubts over how much Benoît Badiashile will play this season.

"Maresca is happy with Levi Colwill and Wesley Fofana as his first-choice centre-backs, with Tosin Adarabioyo as the first back-up. But Fofana needs to be managed carefully after returning from a serious knee injury and there is a chance that a new centre-back who can provide more competition and thrive in Maresca’s possession-based system will arrive."

In the last few days, it has been claimed by other members of the media, like respected Chelsea reporter Simon Phillips, that Liverpool defender Joe Gomez is a very realistic transfer target.

Chelsea ready to sell Badiashile and could sign Joe Gomez

This is backed by TEAMtalk in another update, who write that Chelsea have put Badiashile on the transfer list and are ready to sell him. The 23-year-old, who only joined the club for £35 million in January last year, hasn't lived up to expectations at Stamford Bridge.

Those within Chelsea apparently hold this view of the Frenchman too, and it is believed they're considering the signing of Gomez as a replacement for Badiahshile. Maresca is also said to have requested the signing of a new centre-back to Chelsea chiefs, so this could be one to watch.

Liverpool defender Joe Gomez

Arne Slot's centre-back has been regularly linked with an Anfield exit, commanding a price tag of around £34 million. Gomez made 32 Premier League appearances during Jurgen Klopp's final season in charge, starting 17 of them, and has been praised for his quality in recent years.

"He is a sensational footballer, which is good," said Klopp on Gomez in 2020.

“He has outstanding speed, which helps us a lot to keep our last line high; he is a really good challenger; good in one-on-one situations; football-wise, I said already, good."

Highly experienced 53 y/o open to talking to Rangers after Ibrox CEO twist

Without a CEO since James Bisgrove swapped Ibrox for Saudi Arabia and Al-Qadsiah four months ago, Glasgow Rangers have now reportedly been offered the services of an experienced option who previously worked in both England and Wales.

Rangers still looking to replace Bisgrove

The Gers looked to have finally found their replacement for Bisgrove in St Mirren vice-chairman Jim Gillespie before he suddenly pulled out of the move to leave Rangers back to square one once again.

Their off-pitch fortunes have far from helped things on the pitch, with Philippe Clement's side making a stuttered start to the season which included an all too comfortable 3-0 defeat against Old Firm rivals Celtic. As the gulf in class between the two sides potentially begins to grow on the pitch, those at Ibrox must ensure that they find a way to close the gap away from the action, at the very least.

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In a summer that saw plenty of inexperienced players arrive as part of Clement's project, the Gers may now be best served turning towards experience when it comes to replacing Bisgrove, which may yet see Adrian Bevington emerge as an option.

Bevington told Go Radio last week that he's open to becoming Rangers' next CEO, claiming that he's "made no secret" of his interest in one day working in Scotland.

Relayed by The Scottish Sun, Bevington said: "Look, Scottish football I have made no secret over the many years that I would at some point in my career always be interested in working in Scotland.

"I think it is an incredibly passionate football country and I've got a great deal of respect for the game there because of the fan base. You have got so much to build on there.

"Rangers football club should be able to attract someone who has that stature and the ability to lead from the front but also have a real good understanding of how the industry works and a great network of contacts and relationships with people right throughout the game in Scotland but also at UEFA, the European Club Association.

"There are people within Celtic who have some of those relationships already and Rangers should be expecting similar."

The Scottish Sun have now added that the highly experienced 53-year-old 'would welcome an approach from Rangers chairman John Bennett to discuss the vital Ibrox role.'

Rangers need swift CEO solution

The more that Rangers fail to match Celtic on the pitch, the more the finger will be pointed the way of those away from the action when it comes to handing out blame. And if those at Ibrox do not find a replacement for Bisgrove sooner rather than later, then that blame would be aimed fairly accurately.

Clement's side cannot be expected to go toe-to-toe with their Old Firm rivals if those higher than them cannot find adequate replacements within the structure of the club.

After failing to welcome Gillespie, turning to Bevington wouldn't be a bad idea either. The 53-year-old has plenty of experience, having enjoyed roles at England, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest, and could now put that experience to its best use at Rangers. Considering that he's open to the role too, Bevington may be one to watch.

Williamson 49, Shami four-for and Southee's strikes set up intriguing final day

New Zealand’s last five wickets added 114 compared to India’s 61, and proved to be the difference

Sidharth Monga22-Jun-20213:59

Does Jasprit Bumrah need to learn to use the crease more?

A defensive masterclass from Kane Williamson all but eliminated a defeat for New Zealand in the World Test Championship final, but India were resolute in the session they got to bat, losing just two wickets and ending the penultimate day 32 runs ahead. It needed Tim Southee’s genius to prise out the openers in arguably the best conditions of a Test that has proved to be torrid for batters. So torrid that we can still think of a result despite only 225 overs of play in the five regulation days of the Test.As was the case in the two-Test series between these two teams in New Zealand, the contribution from the lower order proved to be the difference: New Zealand’s last five wickets added 114 to India’s 61. Yet their lead was only 32.New Zealand began the day – an hour after time because of a drizzle – 116 behind with eight wickets in hand, but India’s bowlers made sure New Zealand didn’t run away with the game. It was a masterclass in controlled bowling in helpful conditions, giving New Zealand nothing to score off and finding enough wicket-taking deliveries in between.In the second half of the innings, though, Williamson found support from Kyle Jamieson and Tim Southee, whose risks against a now-tiring three-man seam attack came off. New Zealand’s last five added 114 in 29 overs, which defied the prevailing run rate of around two in the rest of the match.Before the lower order got away from them, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah and Ishant Sharma put in quite a shift to make sure New Zealand didn’t bat them out of the contest. They did it the hard way: not looking for magic balls but drying up runs with sustained, intense good bowling. Between them, the three bowled all the overs in the first session followed by a half-an-hour lull leading to the second new ball in the second session.A good indicator of the quality of bowling and the surface is the rate at which Williamson is scoring because he is a masterful batter who plays according to the situation. His 49 off 177 balls was his slowest innings of 20 or more balls. The last time New Zealand scored fewer than their 152 here in the first 80 overs in an innings was way back in 2002.In the whole first session, you could count the number of ordinary balls on one hand: two inswingers down the leg side from Ishant that went unpunished and a half-volley each from Shami and Bumrah. Just 34 runs came in that session for the wickets of Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls and BJ Watling.Taylor swung hard at the sight of the first full ball he got and ended up chipping to mid-off. Nicholls followed an around-the-wicket awayswinger. Watling got a peach from Shami, which pitched middle and hit top of off.Kane Williamson picked up his scoring pace in the second session•Getty Images

At the start of the second session, India had to relent a little as the new ball was seven overs away. This is where the scoring rate started to turn, but with the new ball Shami trapped Colin de Grandhomme with an inswinger from wide on the crease to make it 162 for 6. Jamieson, though, used his reach well to go after the bowlers. A ball after he hit the first six of the match, he top-edged a hook to fall to Shami for 21 off 16.New Zealand were still 25 behind, and Williamson now upped his intent a little. He upper-cut Shami for a four, started looking to open the face a little whenever allowed to go back, but still picked boundaries only off poor balls, which increased now that the three fast bowlers were close to bowling two sessions just by themselves.Williamson will be cross with himself that in such a situation he followed a wide ball from Ishant with an attempted back-foot drive, possibly leaving a few runs out there. Southee, though, made sure they took the lead past 30, hitting two sixes, going past Ricky Ponting to move to No. 15 on six-hitters’ list in Test cricket.However, it was Southee the bowler who kept New Zealand in the hunt for a win with highly skilful bowling. India began batting with the final session of the day, a situation reminiscent of their defeat in Christchurch where they lost six wickets in the last session of a day after the first innings of both sides had practically cancelled each other out.That pitch had steep and uneven bounce. This one was now finally settling down going into the third day of use. There wasn’t anything off the pitch available for the New Zealand bowlers, but the swing with the Dukes was still a challenging proposition. Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill looked in control, but Southee was just a little better.Gill was removed in the 11th over when Southee followed up three outswingers with a change in seam position at the last moment, bowling his wobble-seam delivery, which swings in. Gill looked to flick to midwicket, which meant he was beaten on the inside edge and trapped in front.Rohit looked more assured, and in the company of Cheteshwar Pujara was headed for stumps when Southee came back for a testing second spell. They had had to endure the Jamieson examination before Southee took over. Fifteen minutes before stumps, he took Rohit out with the inswinger, but this time with a seam-up delivery, only with the shiny side outside. Rohit padded up, and was given out lbw.Virat Kohli and Pujara played out the tricky last 15 minutes, but knew they had serious work to do on the final morning, the reserve day.

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