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Hampshire 222 for 7 (Holland 51, Clarke 5-52) v Surrey

James Vince illustrated the dilemma he poses for England's selectors on a rain-affected day one of Hampshire's Specsavers County Championship match with hosts Surrey at The Oval.

With selector James Taylor in attendance, Vince, playing just his third Championship fixture of the season, unleashed some trademark cover drives to make 47 out of the visitors total of 222 for 7 - this after the first session was lost to heavy mid-morning rain. However, the Hampshire skipper was given a life when dropped at slip on 40 by Scott Borthwick before a second loose stroke against the bowling of Morne Morkel saw him snaffled by Ben Foakes three short of 50.

So, as with so many of his innings in an England shirt this was another to file in the drawer marked "nice cameo". Instead it was Surrey's Rikki Clarke who stole the headlines with a season's best 5 for 52 as Surrey had the best of an absorbing day's cricket.

Despite the morning rain delaying play until 1.10pm, Vince elected to contest the toss and had no hesitation in batting having won it. Openers Ian Holland and Felix Organ, both of whom made maiden first-class centuries in July, justified his decision by negotiating the new ball, though not without a number of alarms.

Holland in particular rode his luck, most notably when dropped on 12 when slashing England seamer Sam Curran to Jordan Clark in the gully.

He survived another scare on 19 when attempting to pull a short one from Clarke he got a top edge, the ball just evading the clutches of Ben Foakes as he ran back towards the boundary from his place behind the stumps. Adding insult to injury, Holland then edged another at catchable height through the slips later in the over.

However, it was Organ who was first to go, brilliantly caught by Foakes off Jordan Clark with the score at 73.

Vince was immediately in the groove, smiting three glorious fours off Morkel in the 27th over. At the other end, Holland appeared to have settled after his early sketchiness and raised his 50 with his seventh boundary and at 110 for 1 Hampshire were sitting pretty. However, Clarke changed the course of the afternoon with two wickets in five balls, trapping Holland in front for 51 before sending Sam Northeast packing for just 6, meaning Hampshire were 116-3 at tea.

Rille Rossouw came out bristling with aggression, but after striking Clarke for successive boundaries he became the veteran seamer's third victim, hitting another drive into the midriff of Mark Stoneman at cover. And Vince didn't make the most of his reprieve, Morkel extracting revenge for his earlier punishment, though the Hampshire skipper will reflect it was a ball he should have left alone.

The floodlights were soon on and runs slowed to a trickle before bad light intervened with more than 18 overs remaining. Ten overs were lost before the players before in bright sunshine, allowing Clarke to claim a fourth victim, pinning Liam Dawson plumb lbw. And his five-for was completed when Aneurin Donald nicked one through to Foakes, giving the stand-in skipper his third catch of the day.

Toby Bailey, Keaton Jennings give Lancashire edge

Published in Cricket
Sunday, 18 August 2019 15:14

Lancashire 85 for 1 (Jennings 46*) trail Glamorgan 257 (Hemphrey 56, Patel 54, Carey 51, Bailey 4-50) by 172 runs

Lancashire assumed control of their top-of-the-table Specsavers County Championship Division Two clash with Glamorgan after the opening day at Colwyn Bay. Tom Bailey and Danny Lamb claimed four wickets apiece as the Red Rose bowled the hosts out for 257 before reaching 85 for 1 in reply - a deficit of 172 runs.

It could have been worse for Glamorgan but for on-loan Samit Patel, who hit a half-century on his debut and combined expertly with the tail, most significantly Lukas Carey who crashed his way to fifty, after the hosts had been in disarray at 145 for 8. But Lancashire finished the day content with their work with Keaton Jennings four runs short of a half-century and Josh Bohannon on 6.

Glamorgan opted to bat on a ground which is traditionally batsman friendly, but they might have regretted their decision after slipping to 12 for 2 in the seventh over. Nick Selman and Shaun Marsh, playing his first Championship game after breaking his arm during the World Cup, were both dismissed by Bailey who bowled an accurate opening spell.

Lancashire were without Graham Onions who suffered a hamstring injury before play started, but the other four seamers compensated for his absence by taking three wickets before lunch.

Charles Hemphrey and Billy Root began the recovery by adding 50 for the fourth wicket, but from the first ball after lunch Root became Bailey's third victim. Hemphrey went on to score a patient 54 with eight boundaries before he became the fourth lbw victim of the innings - his dismissal starting a collapse of four wickets for only six runs.

Patel, who has been signed on loan by Glamorgan from Nottinghamshire for Championship games only until the end of the season, watched from the other end as Chris Cooke and Graham Wagg feathered catches to the wicketkeeper while Ruaidhri Smith was bowled first ball playing back when he should have been forward.

Two wickets were taken by the young allrounder Lamb, who had earlier taken his first Championship wicket when he dismissed David Lloyd leg before. This is Lamb's fifth first-class game and he ended with the creditable figures of 15-2-70-4.

Glamorgan were struggling at 145 for 8 but the home team were then indebted to Patel and the tail with the last two wickets adding a further 112 runs. Patel and Carey shared 60 for the ninth wicket, before Patel feel to Bailey for 54, but Carey bludgeoned fifty from 29 balls and was undefeated on 51 when Michael Hogan, who had struck an equally rapid 32, was last man out. The final pair added 52 as Glamorgan gained two batting points.

Openers Jennings and Alex Davies made a steady start for Lancashire with the latter striking early boundaries. Jennings was troubled by Hogan who had a confident lbw appeal turned down by the umpire, the ball pitching marginally outside leg stump.

The opening pair put on 59 in 17 overs before Smith, in his first Championship game of the season, dismissed Davies leg before for 32, not long before the weather intervened. Play resumed with no further alarms for the visitors who are well-placed to capitalise on their opening day's work.

Joe Root, England's captain, believes that Jofra Archer's addition to the bowling attack has "potentially" changed the course of the Ashes, after another sustained and dramatic display of hostile fast bowling almost inspired England to a remarkable final-day Test victory at Lord's.

Less than 24 hours after unleashing a shattering bouncer to Steven Smith in Australia's first innings, Archer almost repeated the dose with his second delivery to Smith's concussion replacement, Marnus Labuschagne, which struck the newly included batsman flush on the visor at more than 91mph.

And Root, who had been one of the many England batsman in the firing line when Mitchell Johnson ignited the 2013-14 Ashes with his haul of 37 wickets in the 5-0 whitewash, believes that Archer's pace and fear factor could have a similar effect, especially with the third Test at Headingley set to begin in just four days' time.

ALSO READ: Miller: Archer evokes Lomu on 'frightening' debut

"He's come in and made a massive impact," Root said. "He's added a different dynamic to our bowling group and given Australia something different to think about.

"It's pleasing to see someone come in on Test debut, shake up things and live up to the hype - even some of the hype he put on himself. It makes for a very interesting last three games.

"He makes things happen with such a unique action and natural pace, which is always in the game on any surface. That with the skill of the others, makes for a tasty combo.

"One thing it will do is make them think about how they're going to have to come back," he added. "He is going to come at them, and it's always nice when you're stood at slip and not batting against him.

"He's very different to other options that we've had previously in this team, and on a different surface, which might nibble and swing a little bit more to add that into a quartet, it's a really big bonus for the team. You always feel like you've got something different to turn to."

Though England remain 1-0 down in the series, Archer's impact wasn't the only positive to emerge from the Lord's Test. Ben Stokes managed to translate his serene batting in the World Cup into his seventh Test century, but first since the Bristol incident in September 2017, and even Jos Buttler, without going on to make a significant score, looked more at ease against the red ball in making 31 in a key stand of 90 that set up England's victory push.

"Things can change very quickly in sport. At the start of the week we wanted a big response and we have definitely done that," Root said. "It felt like we put them under huge pressure. It shows how much we're in this series."

Stokes, who was named Man of the Match for his unbeaten 115, added of Archer: "I am not sure there will be a better debut in terms of announcing yourself.

"The spell [to Smith on day four] was incredible to watch," he told Test Match Special. "We were laughing he was going to be top of the rankings after one Test. We are very lucky he is in our team. He gives you an extra dimension."

However, Australia's captain, Tim Paine, attempted to play down Archer's impact, pointing out that, despite being on Test debut, he is hardly an unknown quantity on the international and franchise circuit.

"We've seen him for a few years now [in T20 cricket] and we know the package he brings with his pace," Paine said. "That's something every team wants to have. It's up to us to make some plans and get better [against him]. It's not all doom and gloom."

McCoy injury likely makes Keenum Skins' top QB

Published in Breaking News
Sunday, 18 August 2019 14:56

ASHBURN, Virginia -- The Washington Redskins remain uncertain about when quarterback Colt McCoy will be able to play in a game, leaving Case Keenum on track to start the season opener.

McCoy has yet to play in the preseason and said Sunday that he has visited noted foot specialist Dr. Robert Anderson twice since training camp began on July 25. McCoy suffered a broken right leg on Dec. 1 and needed three surgeries in the offseason. He has practiced throughout camp, but admitted early on that he was still having issues with his leg. He has not played in the preseason and did not practice Sunday.

McCoy said he did not have a setback in camp and said he expects to return "sooner rather than later."

"It might be two or three weeks into the season," Redskins coach Jay Gruden said of when McCoy might return. "We don't know yet. There's no timetable for him until he feels like he's 100% to push off that leg. Until that time comes, he's going to be rehabbing."

But nobody quite knows when, or why it remains an issue. However, when he was hurt last season, the Redskins did not place him on injured reserve, thinking he might be available should they reach the postseason.

"That was probably part of the issue," Gruden said. "He probably rushed back, we probably rushed him back. So they had to go back in a little bit. That was nobody's fault, just a fluke deal that something else happened. Hopefully we get him right. He'll do whatever he can to get right, we've just got to get it right first."

Throughout training camp McCoy has been alternating with Keenum on a daily basis as far as who takes the first-team reps.

Keenum has started the first two preseason games. He has completed 7-of-16 passes for 112 yards and one touchdown.

Gruden was not ready to name a starting quarterback, but said "ideally" one would be named after the third preseason game. The Redskins play at Atlanta on Thursday. They play at Philadelphia in the season opener.

"You might have your general thoughts on who it might be, but if something happens in the preseason game three where you might have to flop them, you never know," Gruden said.

Rookie Dwayne Haskins remains a possibility, but numerous people in the organization -- from front-office personnel to coaches and players -- have echoed the same point: He's talented but has a lot to learn before being ready to start. Because he's considered a pure drop-back passer -- and doesn't rely on his legs to threaten a defense -- the Redskins want him to master as many of the nuances of the position as possible before putting him in the game.

During training camp, Haskins, the 15th overall pick in the draft, consistently worked third in the rotation among the quarterbacks. In the preseason games, they have played some of the starting offensive line with him when he's been in the game. Gruden said they might give him more time with the starters Thursday. In two games, Haskins has completed 15-of-29 passes for 231 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. He's been sacked five times and fumbled once.

The coaches and Haskins have pointed out how much he's still learning, from calling the plays in the huddle to handling protection calls and throwing in rhythm. They liked last week how, on his 55-yard touchdown pass, his hard count forced the safeties to rotate early. That enabled him to alter the protection and change his progression pre-snap.

Last week, Haskins told ESPN, "It's just going to happen naturally, organically. I had to come to terms with that. Now that I've been here for a little bit, it's like, man, it's a process. ... By no means am I settling. I know that I want to be great and I know I will be great. It's just that I have to be in a place where I know what I'm doing."

NAPA, Calif. -- Antonio Brown left training camp again Sunday and while Mike Mayock said it was over the receiver's anger from being denied use of his helmet, the Oakland Raiders general manager also issued an ultimatum to Brown.

"You all know that AB is not here today, right?" Mayock told a group of beat reporters as practice began Sunday afternoon. "So, here's the bottom line -- he's upset about the helmet issue. We have supported that, we appreciate that. But at this point, we've pretty much exhausted all avenues of relief.

"So, from our perspective, it's time for him to be all-in, or all-out, OK? So, we're hoping he's back soon. We've got 89 guys busting their tails, we are really excited about where this franchise is going and we hope AB's going to be a big part of it, starting Week 1 against Denver. End of story. No questions, OK? Just wanted you guys to know where we were. Fair?"

"Here's the bottom line -- he's upset about the helmet issue. We have supported that, we appreciate that. But at this point, we've pretty much exhausted all avenues of relief. So, from our perspective, it's time for him to be all in, or all out, OK? So, we're hoping he's back soon."
Mike Mayock, on Antonio Brown

It has been an eventful and somewhat exhausting first Raiders camp for Brown, acquired in a March trade for a third- and a fifth-round draft pick. Because after being a mainstay during the team's offseason program, Brown began camp on the non-football injury list with frostbite on the soles of his feet thanks to a cryotherapy mishap in France in early July.

He left camp for two weeks seeking therapy for the feet, which included laser treatments.

Brown has also been upset with the league not allowing him to wear his Schutt Air Advantage helmet, the only helmet he's worn in his NFL career, because it is older than 10 years and, thus, no longer certified.

He returned to Napa on Tuesday and traveled with the team to Arizona for Thursday night's exhibition and ran routes and caught passes in pregame warm-ups. The Raiders were excited about Brown's return and after he was a full participant in Saturday morning's walk-through, the team anticipated him practicing fully as soon as Sunday.

"I'm not talking about it anymore," Raiders coach Jon Gruden said of Brown's helmet after the Arizona game. "It was a legal, certified helmet, you know? Somebody approved it, or he wouldn't have worn it."

Brown later responded critically to a Pro Football Talk report about his helmet issue with a tweet Saturday, calling out the NFL for "super prejudice."

In 24 days in Napa, Brown took a hot-air balloon ride at dawn on report day, participated in one pre-practice walk-through on July 28, was limited before leaving early on July 30, took part in pre-game warm-ups in Arizona on Thursday and was a full participant in Saturday's morning walk-through.

The Raiders were supposed to break camp Monday but ended a day early.

Asked earlier how much Brown changes the offense when he's on the field, Raiders offensive coordinator Greg Olson said:

"Significantly. He's one of the top players in the game. Any time you're able to have that kind of talent on the field, he's going to draw the attention of defensive coordinators and players. Just changes really dramatically when you have those type of players."

Harper leaves Phillies' game due to dehydration

Published in Baseball
Sunday, 18 August 2019 14:07

PHILADELPHIA -- Phillies outfielder Bryce Harper left the game against the San Diego Padres after the fifth inning because of dehydration on a muggy Sunday.

"I feel better now," Harper said after the 3-2 loss. "It's weird. An hour ago, I couldn't see in front of me, kind of."

Manager Gabe Kapler said Harper had blurred vision and received an IV for hydration.

With a game-time temperature of 90 degrees, Harper was lifted prior to taking the field in the sixth inning. Harper, who signed a 13-year, $330 million contract with the Phillies in the offseason, has played in 123 of 124 games this season.

Harper singled in the fourth inning, pulling up abruptly after rounding first base while considering trying for a double, and also slid hard into second base in the frame while breaking up a double play.

Harper also made a strong throw in the top of the fourth, nailing Austin Hedges at second base as he tried to stretch a single into a double.

Cubs activate Kimbrel to help beleaguered pen

Published in Baseball
Sunday, 18 August 2019 14:29

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. -- The Chicago Cubs activated closer Craig Kimbrel from the injured list just in time for the Little League Classic, the team announced Sunday.

Kimbrel has missed the past couple of weeks with inflammation in his right knee.

The Cubs have struggled all season to hold leads, blowing 10 saves since the All-Star break, the most in the National League.

On Friday, setup man Brandon Kintzler was activated from the IL, after rehabbing a pectoral injury, and he promptly blew a save after walking in the tying run against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Cubs and Pirates play the rubber game of their series in Williamsport on Sunday night. A victory would give the Cubs their first road series win since mid-May.

Kimbrel has nine saves but a 5.68 ERA in 14 games with the Cubs since signing a three-year, $43 million deal with them in June.

Reliever Steve Cishek (hip) is due to come off the injured list later this week. The Cubs also called up outfielder Mark Zagunis to serve as their 26th man for Sunday night's game.

The Cubs sent right-hander Duane Underwood to the minors in the corresponding move when Kimbrel was activated.

Braves' Acuna pulled after not running out single

Published in Baseball
Sunday, 18 August 2019 13:43

Braves star Ronald Acuna Jr. was removed from Sunday's victory against the Dodgers after he stood at the plate admiring a long fly ball that did not leave the park.

Acuna, an All-Star outfielder for the NL East leaders, was pulled before the fifth inning after failing to run out a drive off the right field wall in the third. The ball bounced off the wall for a long single. Acuna likely would have had an easy double if he had hustled from home plate.

Manager Brian Snitker followed Acuna into the tunnel for a conversation during the fourth inning before Adam Duvall entered the game in left field in the fifth, with Rafael Ortega moving from left to center field.

"He didn't run. You've got to run," Snitker said. "That's not going to be acceptable here. The name on the front is a lot more important than the name on the back. ... You can't let your teammates down."

Snitker also said Acuna handled his decision maturely and "knew he screwed up." Acuna is expected to be back in the lineup for the Braves' next game Tuesday against the Marlins.

Acuna, 21, said through a translator that there was "no excuse" for the baserunning mistake and that he respected Snitker's decision.

The move by Snitker came in the decisive game of a three-game series between the teams with the National League's best records. The Braves trailed 3-1 when Acuna was pulled, but Ortega's sixth-inning grand slam lifted Atlanta to a 5-3 victory.

Acuna just missed robbing Cody Bellinger of a three-run homer in the first with a leaping try in center field.

Acuna is hitting .296 with 35 home runs and 85 RBIs, and he leads the NL with 29 stolen bases and 104 runs scored.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Mets' Alonso sets NL rookie mark with 40th HR

Published in Baseball
Sunday, 18 August 2019 15:14

New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso hit his 40th home run of the season on Sunday to set the National League rookie record for home runs in a season.

Alonso homered to left field in the ninth inning. The 418-foot blast off the Kansas City Royals' Jacob Barnes broke a tie with the Los Angeles Dodgers' Cody Bellinger for most home runs by a NL rookie in a season.

Bellinger hit 39 home runs in 2017.

"It's crazy," Alonso said after the Mets' 11-5 victory when asked about setting the record. "I just gotta go back to the days of spring training when I didn't know if I was gonna make the team out of camp or not. I'm just extremely thankful for this opportunity, and this has been such an incredible year. I just wanna keep building and help this team win."

Alonso is the first Mets player to hit 40 home runs in a season since Carlos Beltran in 2006.

With the home run, Alonso improved to 3-for-4 in the Mets' victory over the Royals, with three runs and two RBIs.

The victory pulled the Mets (64-60) into a three-way tie in the NL wild-card chase, 1½ games behind the Chicago Cubs, who hold the second wild-card spot.

The New York Yankees' Aaron Judge holds the major league record for home runs in a season by a rookie, with 52 in 2017.

Leipzig spoil promoted Union's Bundesliga debut

Published in Soccer
Sunday, 18 August 2019 12:18

RB Leipzig spoiled hosts Union Berlin's Bundesliga debut on Sunday, crushing the top division newcomers 4-0 with a performance that confirmed their preseason title contenders tag.

Marcel Halstenberg fired home from 20 metres in the 17th minute and then pounced on a keeper error to set up Marcel Sabitzer for the visitors' second goal in the 31st with only their second shot on target on a rain-drenched pitch in the capital.

Forward Timo Werner completed a fine combination with a powerful shot to send Leipzig into the break with a three-goal cushion. Substitute Christopher Nkunku tapped in from close range in the 69th for their fourth goal after the visitors also twice hit the woodwork.

Union, who lost only once at home in the second division last season, struggled with Leipzig's pace throughout and were unable to mount any serious attacks of their own.

Eintracht Frankfurt edged past Hoffenheim 1-0 in the only other game on Sunday.

Borussia Dortmund enjoyed a five-star premiere, crushing Augsburg 5-1 on Saturday, while champions Bayern Munich stumbled to a 2-2 draw against Hertha Berlin a day earlier. (Reporting by Karolos Grohmann; Editing by Hugh Lawson)

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