NZC made the decision to cut down on the use of flights and hotels
ESPNcricinfo staff16-Mar-2020
Devon Conway celebrates his triple century•Getty Images
The final two rounds of the Plunket Shield, New Zealand’s domestic first-class competition, have been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic with Wellington being named the 2019-20 champions.NZC chief executive David White said the decision had been made based on medical advice following the tightening of travel restrictions by the New Zealand government and in order to cut down on use of flights and hotels.Wellington are 26 points ahead of second place and have been awarded the title.ALSO READ: ‘I just had very, very mild cold’ – Lockie Ferguson after coronavirus concerns”The strong consensus within NZC is that extra measures need to be taken to safeguard both the health and well-being of the New Zealand cricket family and the wider public interest,” White said. “The medical advice we’re receiving is that we need to take a lead on this matter.”We’re informed the risk is very real; the pace of change is great – and we have a duty of care to not only our staff and players but our communities as well.”However, due to the lack of person-to-person transmission of COVID-19 in New Zealand, the advice of NZC medical staff and the Ministry of Health is that club and amateur cricket could continue.”The current advice is that there is no reason why community cricket should not continue unless, or until, there is new information to hand,” White said.NZC has also postponed the New Zealand Cricket Awards, scheduled for March 30, for similar reasons.”Hopefully this is something we can stage at a later, and more appropriate date – but at the moment it would be far too much of a risk to hold the event in a fortnight, as scheduled,” White said. “Our absolute priority right now is to safeguard the health and well-being of our staff, our players, our wider cricket family – and everyone else connected to the game in New Zealand.”The New Zealand squad made a hasty departure from Australia on Saturday when the government announced the majority of international travelers arriving into the country from midnight on Sunday would need to self-isolate for 14 days.The final two matches of the Chappell-Hadlee series were called off and Australia’s three match T20I tour also postponed.
كشفت صحيفة “ميرور” البريطانية عن النادي الذي يحلم مهاجم الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي آينتراخت فرانكفورت، عمر مرموش، بالانضمام له بعد تألقه في الموسم الحالي بجميع البطولات المحلية والقارية.
ويعد مرموش أحد أفضل المهاجمين في الدوريات الخمسة الكبرى في الوقت الحالي ولفت أنظار أكثر من نادٍ مثل ليفربول وبايرن ميونخ.
ولعب الفرعون المصري 15 مباراة حتى الآن مع فرانكفورت في بطولات الدوري الألماني، كأس ألمانيا والدوري الأوروبي وسجل 13 هدفًا وصنع 9 آخرين في إجمالي 1177 دقيقة.
اقرأ أيضًا | أقل من الرقم القياسي.. فرانكفورت يحدد سعر بيع مرموش بعد اهتمام ليفربول
ولكن بحسب التقرير أن مرموش لديه حلم هو الانتقال إلى ليفربول من أجل تحقيق حلم آخر وهو اللعب مع مواطنه، محمد صلاح، في نادٍ واحد في أوروبا.
الأمر الذي قد يعكر هذا الحلم هو عدم تمديد محمد صلاح لعقده مع ليفربول وهو الأمر الأقرب حتى الآن، لأن النادي الإنجليزي لم يفاتحه في الاستمرار.
رحيل مرموش عن فرانكفورت لن يكلف ليفربول سوى مبلغ يصل إلى 50 مليون جنيه إسترليني، لكن مع تألقه المستمر ربما تزيد هذه القيمة لأكثر من ذلك.
Key young players could shape the team’s destiny at next month’s tournament in Australia
ESPNcricinfo staff12-Jan-2020Harmanpreet Kaur will have a full-strength squad at her disposal when India play the Women’s T20 World Cup in February. Plenty of them are young players too. Shafali Verma is 15 and she is the team’s first-choice opener alongside the 23-year old vice-captain Smriti Mandhana. Jemimah Rodrigues, another key player in the top order, is only 19 and the selectors have also placed faith in the uncapped Richa Ghosh, with India looking to better their semi-final finish in the 2018 edition.ALSO READ: Shafali Verma, India’s 15-year old batting machineThe bowling wears a familiar look with as many as four spinners, led by Poonam Yadav. The 28-year old has picked up 51 wickets over the past two years and was named by the BCCI as India’s best female cricketer in 2018-19. Interestingly, for a tournament taking place in Australia, the selectors have picked only three seam bowling options: Shikha Pandey, Pooja Vastrakar and Arundhati Reddy.ESPNcricinfo Ltd”If you talk about our team, our strength is spin,” Kaur told reporters on Sunday. “That’s the way we are looking to go. The only thing is how we are going to use them. I think they have always been good and have given us breakthroughs whenever we needed. Our strength is spin, so we have to stick to that. We are very positive that whenever we need them, they will definitely perform for us.”Veda Krishnamurthy, who was in and out of the side last year, has forced her way back on the weight of her recent performances. She was by far the best batter for India A in a disappointing 3-0 whitewash against Australia A. In the one-dayers prior to that, she made a match-winning century. Most recently, she made a crucial 29-ball 47 in a tense chase to take her team into the women’s challenger series final.ALSO READ: Poonam Yadav, India’s pint-size magianThe surprise omissions in an otherwise settled squad were allrounder Anuja Patil and Mansi Joshi, the right-arm seamer. Rajeshwari Gayakwad, the left-arm spinner, was back into the mix after being left out of the tour of the Caribbean in November. Gayakwad’s eight wickets at an economy of 5.15 were considered much superior to Patil’s three wickets at an economy of 4.75 as they went head to head in the recently-concluded Challenger Series, which for the first time had two round-robin stages and a final to give players enough game time.Meanwhile, the inclusion of Ghosh is another sign of the selectors building a young core. Playing for India B, the finalists in the Challenger series, she strung a number of noteworthy performances under Mandhana including a match-winning 25 in a low-scoring game against India C. The 16-year old followed that up with a sparkling 25-ball 36 in a tough chase of 149 against the same opponents. While she could be considered a back-up middle order option currently, a number of good performances for India A in the Quadrangular series – also involving India B and women’s teams of Bangladesh and Thailand – in Patna could bring her into the first XI.India have won eight out of their 15 matches since the end of the last T20 World Cup in November 2018. This includes series wins over South Africa and West Indies away from home. However, their form is still a long way off tournament favourites Australia and England, who have won eight out of nine and 11 out of 13 matches respectively.All three teams will be playing each other in Australia in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup. “It’s always good to go a bit early,” Kaur said. “Before the World Cup we are playing the tri-series and that’s the platform where we have to execute ourselves and if we are able to give our 100%, that would be very good for us.”In addition, Kaur, Mandhana and Krishnamurthy could also draw from the experience of playing in the Women’s Big Bash League. “That experience will definitely help,” Kaur said. “We know how the wickets are there, how the conditions are there and that will definitely give us extra boost.”
Returning batsman confident of performing despite decade-long Test absence
Danyal Rasool08-Dec-20192:42
There will always be pressure, but I’m looking ahead – Alam
It has been over ten years since he played the last of his three Test matches, and nearly five years since he played any international cricket, but Fawad Alam hasn’t been sitting twiddling his thumbs all this while.Year after year, he’s continued to press for national selection with remarkable performances on the domestic circuit, particularly in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, Pakistan’s premier first-class competition. No player has scored more runs in the tournament than Fawad’s 3105, which have been achieved at an average of 56.45. There have been near misses; he was called up to a training camp ahead of the tour of England in 2018 and named in a couple of squads without getting a start. But off the back of a double century in the QeA and a dismal outing for the Test side in Australia, this time feels different.And for Fawad, it feels like a second debut. “I said the other day it will almost feel like a debut, and that’s true because it’s been such a long time since I last played,” Fawad told reporters in Karachi. “Whether I get a game or not depends on the management and selection committee. I’m just happy I was able to make it in the final 15. Where they feel I can deliver, they’ll give me a chance and I’m confident I’ll perform. The way the conditions and wickets shape up will determine whether I get a chance or not, obviously.”He waved away concerns that the pressure of playing at home – particularly in his hometown of Karachi, where the second Test will be played – would become too overwhelming. “When a player is playing a club match or a domestic game, there’s still pressure on you. The pressure of performance always remains with you so it’s not like it’s a new psychological thing. That will be there, but my job is to overcome it and try to deliver.”I should try and enjoy the opportunity I’ve been given right now and think positively. If I allow negative thoughts to cloud my mind my focus will be adversely affected. My aim is to make the most of this opportunity, and try to perform to the best level I can.”It would have been easy for Fawad to feel down on his luck and wallow in self-pity; indeed, much of the nation seemed to be doing that on his behalf. For all the runs he compiled, for the scarcely believable consistency on offer from the left-hander on the domestic circuit, multiple management and selection regimes would overlook him for the national side. They may well have had their reasons, but when players with significantly inferior records were called up and given repeated runs in the side even as Fawad sat out, there were suspicions there was something less honest than cricketing strategy behind Fawad’s continued exile.Fawad, though, did not allow himself that negativity, believing it would be detrimental to his game. “If you surround yourself with people who tell you you have been badly treated and fill your mind with negative stuff, then you may feel that sense of injustice. But that’s not what my friends and family were like; they motivated me to perform year after year after year. They kept me going and urged me to continue knocking at the selectors’ doors. My father always said I must not be upset, to act like a fighter and continue to fight for my place in the side.”The straight bat he uses to such good effect in domestic games across the country was in evidence at the press conference, too, where Fawad was eager to ward off any controversy. He was questioned about Inzamam-ul-Haq having reportedly jibed about “seeing better players than Fawad” and having compared him to Mark Ramprakash, who, despite a glittering career in the county game, couldn’t quite nail a place in the England side for long enough. Fawad, though, wouldn’t be drawn on Inzamam’s comments, and called it a “matter of honour” to be compared to a “great” like Ramprakash.ESPNcricinfo Ltd
“It’s a matter of honour for me to have my name tied to Mark Ramprakash. He’s just a great player and done so much for his country. The number of runs I’ve scored is puny compared to how many he’s scored. He’s scored over one hundred centuries [114] and I’m nowhere close to that either. I’m just here to perform to my best and prove doubters wrong.”As for Inzi , he is a legend of ours; I’m nowhere near him. I’m not worthy of snapping back at Inzamam in anyway, and that is not the way I was brought up. I was taught to respect my elders, and Inzi is entitled to his own viewpoint. I don’t feel it is appropriate to respond to him because I have too much respect for him.”You don’t plug away thanklessly on the domestic circuit in Pakistan without being somewhat daftly in love with the game, and that is what Fawad wished to speak of most of all. The excitement in his voice was most evident when speaking about Sri Lanka visiting to finally break the Test drought inflicted on the country since the 2009 terror attack on this week’s visitors, and his commitment to ensuring this would be a positive, memorable series.”It’s a very good thing to see Test cricket back in Pakistan after such a long time. It’s a good omen for Pakistan cricket, and for the entire country. We all need to make the event successful. Because how this goes will be relayed by the Sri Lankans to countries around the world so the better this goes, the more advantages it confers to Pakistan. I think the message is everyone should come here. The people have supported all the teams that came previously and had a good time. The fact that Test cricket is returning after such a long time means all true cricket lovers will want to get down to the stadium and support their team as well as Test cricket.”In those moments, Fawad Alam was a fan once more. If indeed he does get the fourth Test cap that he’s waited a decade for on Wednesday, he will need to switch back to being the ruthless accumulator people have become used to seeing on grounds across Pakistan. Except this time it won’t be Central Punjab or Northern Districts he’s looking to grind into submission, but a Sri Lankan cricket team looking to exorcise demons of its own in Pakistan.
أكد أحمد حسام ميدو لاعب ومدرب الزمالك الأسبق، أن الفريق الأبيض مر باختبار صعب أمام بيراميدز، في نصف نهائي كأس السوبر المصري.
وكان الزمالك قد نجح في الفوز على بيراميدز في نصف نهائي كأس السوبر المصري، المقام في الإمارات خلال الوقت الراهن، بركلات الحظ الترجيحية بعد انتهاء اللقاء بالتعادل الإيجابي 1-1.
فيديو | بـ ركلات الترجيح.. الزمالك يطيح بـ بيراميدز في مباراة ماراثونية ويتأهل لـ نهائي كأس السوبر المصري
وقال ميدو في تصريحات تلفزيونية بفضائية “أون تايم سبورت”: “الزمالك مر باختبار صعب، غياب نبيل عماد دونجا مؤثر لأنه لا بديل له في وسط الملعب”.
وأضاف: “إصابة عمر جابر صنعت مشكلة للمدير الفني جوزيه جوميز، كل الظروف تشير إلى خسارة الفريق، لكن حالة الحب والود بين اللاعبين والتي خلقها اللاعبون الكبار والإدارة جعلت اللاعب البديل خائفًا على من يشارك”.
واستكمل: “مبروك لجمهور الزمالك بعد صبره الكبير على الفريق، وإن شاء الله النهائي يليق بالكرة المصرية”.
ويشارك الزمالك، في البطولة مستفيدًا بالدعوة الخاصة باللجنة المنظمة، بينما بيراميدز بصفته بطل كأس مصر ووصيف مسابقة الدوري المصري.
ويستعد الزمالك لمواجهة الفائز من مباراة الأهلي وسيراميكا كليوباترا في نهائي كأس السوبر المصري.
Derbyshire skipper leads the way to keep the North Group qualification race wide open
ECB Reporters Network13-Aug-2019
Billy Godleman flays through point with a cut•Getty Images
Worcestershire missed the chance to close the gap on Vitality Blast North Group leaders Lancashire when they lost by 20 runs away at Derbyshire Falcons, who moved into the top four.Billy Godleman made 92 from 65 balls, his highest T20 score, and Luis Reece 51 as the Falcons posted an imposing 181 for 2.Former Derbyshire batsman Martin Guptill hit 45 from 40 balls but legspinner Matt Critchley celebrated his 23rd birthday by taking 4 for 36 as the Rapids subsided to 161 for 7.It looked promising for the visitors when Dillon Pennington opened with a maiden but that was the calm before the storm as Godleman reeled off a salvo of boundaries in the next two overs.Wayne Parnell’s first ball was launched over the long off boundary and Pennington was driven for three consecutive fours before Reece dispatched Parnell several rows back into the stand at the City End.The Falcons took 57 from the powerplay and the runs continued to flow as the openers rotated the strike with the Rapids rarely threatening to take a wicket.Godleman reached 50 from 29 balls and after his side had reached the halfway point on 87 without loss, the pair scored freely without taking any undue risks.Reece pulled Joe Leach for his sixth four to bring up his 50 from 38 balls and the Rapids had to wait until the 16th over for the breakthrough which came when Reece drilled Daryl Mitchell to cover.They had slowed the scoring rate, though Goldeman passed his previous highest T20 score of 77 by lifting Ed Barnard over wide mid-wicket for his ninth four.Wayne Madsen drove Parnell for six but after Godleman failed to clear the man on the deep cover boundary, Leus du Plooy hit the last two balls from Pat Brown for four.Although the Falcons looked on course for 200, the Rapids faced a tough chase which became harder when the dangerous Riki Wessels failed to respond to Guptill’s call and was run out in the second over.Callum Ferguson cut and drove Fynn Hudson-Prentice for consecutive fours but at 47 for 1 at the end of the powerplay, the Rapids had to live up to their name if they were going to get close.Ferguson powered Boyd Rankin high over midwicket for six and pulled the next ball for four before Guptill drove Reece for six over long-on to leave the Rapids needing 100 from the last 10.But the introduction of Critchley proved decisive as Ferguson drove him to long-on, Guptill was bowled trying to cut, and Parnell, after driving him for six, failed to clear long-off when he tried to repeat the shot.Ben Cox and Barnard both drove him for big sixes but the night belonged to Critchley and the Falcons, as Worcestershire came up well short.The result means that Derbyshire jump from eighth to fourth in the group, and with just three points separating second-placed Nottinghamshire and Northamptonshire in eighth, things could hardly be closer.
Hampshire 222 for 7 (Holland 51, Clarke 5-52) v SurreyJames 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.
Aston Villa are closing in on making their first signing of the January transfer window as defender Kosta Nedeljkovic is set to join from Crvena Zvezda for an initial fee of £6.5m, although he will play for the Serbian side until the summer before arriving at Villa Parl.
While not the marquee name supporters expect, it shows that Unai Emery is building for the future and exploring markets which may prove to be lucrative for the Midlands side.
With just under two weeks to go before the winter window closes, the Spaniard will be keen on adding a player or two that could improve his starting XI and the club have been linked with a few names of late.
Much will depend on whether he can move a few players out the door firstly, in order to free up some space.
It is clear that the former Arsenal boss needs to add another attacking option to his squad and a current Premier League striker is the latest name to be linked with a move to Villa…
Aston Villa’s search for a striker
According to the Evening Standard, Chelsea are open to selling forward Armando Broja this month, with Villa one of the teams who are showing interest in the Albanian.
They are not the only club keen on the player, however, as Wolverhampton Wanderers, West Ham United and Fulham are all battling it out to see who can secure his services and thus bolster their attacking options in the process.
Chelsea striker Armando Broja.
Broja has been valued by the Stamford Bridge side at around £50m, yet the clubs chasing him value him between £30m-£40m and this may be a slightly more accurate representation of his abilities.
Villa’s interest depends on whether they move on Jhon Duran – either this month or during the summer transfer window – and the Blues are reportedly keen on bringing him to London.
Could the next couple of weeks see a transfer merry-go-round occur between Villa and Chelsea? Only time will tell.
If the Midlands side do lure Broja north, he could be their next Tammy Abraham and it could be a wise move.
Latest Aston Villa transfer news: Unai eyes £40m deal; Saudi club want star
It’s a huge summer for Aston Villa and Unai Emery as they prepare for the Champions League.
ByEmilio Galantini Jul 11, 2024 Tammy Abraham shone for Villa during his loan spell
The English striker made the move to Villa in the summer of 2018 on a season-long loan deal as he looked to give the club the required firepower to end their stay in the Championship.
He said upon his arrival: “Aston Villa are a big club that belongs in the Premier League and I’m here to help them achieve that.”
The centre-forward certainly played his part. Across 40 games for the club, he netted 26 goals, which included one in the playoff semi-final against West Bromwich Albion, and he led Villa back to the promised land of the Premier League.
His clinical nature in the penalty area led him to become a favourite among the supporters during his temporary spell, despite having to return to Chelsea at the end of the season.
Emery could land Villa their next Abraham should they convince Broja that a move to Villa is the best step for his career and if he can replicate the form he displayed during a loan spell at Southampton in 2021/22, it would be an excellent move.
Armando Broja shone for Southampton
Following a successful loan spell at Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem throughout the 2020/21 campaign, netting 11 goals in all competitions, the Blues wanted him to gain some experience closer to him.
A move to the Saints followed ahead of 2021/22 and throughout the whole season, Broja adapted well to the top flight, scoring six goals for the club (nine in total) and he looked like he would only get better with more game time.
6
1
1
0
0
0
0.7
0.4
0.2
1
0.7
1
330
294
463
During that campaign, the youngster ranked third among the squad for goals and assists in the Premier League (six) along with ranking fourth for successful dribbles per game (one) and third for shots on target per game (0.7), suggesting that he was among one of their finer attacking options.
His recent spell back at Chelsea has not been the most productive and a fresh start could give him the confidence to return to the levels he displayed on the south coast a few seasons ago.
What Armando Broja can offer Aston Villa
Hailed as a “clinical finisher” by talent scout Jacek Kulig upon his arrival at Southampton, there is no doubting his prowess in the opposition penalty area.
A serious knee injury has disrupted any progress he was looking to make at the Blues, however, as he has played only 35 matches since the beginning of the 2022/23 campaign, scoring just three goals in the process.
While he would not displace Ollie Watkins should he move to Villa, Emery tends to operate with a 4-4-2 formation and this could lead to Broja being slotted in alongside the Englishman.
According to WhoScored, the 22-year-old striker tends to dribble a lot and possesses a counter-attacking threat along with making a lot of short passes and this could see him link up well with Watkins should the duo play together.
Not only that, but when compared to positional peers in similar leagues, Broja currently ranks in the top 4% for successful take-ons per 90 (2.58), the top 6% for touches in the attacking penalty area per 90 (6.94) and the top 1% for pass completion percentage per 90 (88.3%) which indicates how impressive he has been across a range of metrics, despite his limited time on the pitch.
These attributes would certainly benefit Watkins and it would give Emery another reliable attacking option heading into an important few months for the club.
The Midlands outfit have an ideal chance to end a trophy drought stretching back to 1996 between now and May and adding a couple of quality players to their team this month is vital.
Broja may not be in the best of form this season, but as Emery has proven, he can get a tune out just about anyone and he could sign Villa’s next Abraham by luring the youngster from the Blues in the next week or so.
Georgia Stanway opened the scoring in style for the Lionesses against France in a crucial Euro 2025 qualifier on Tuesday.
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England facing France in crunch qualifierStanway fires home opening goalRusso doubles visitors' leadWHAT HAPPENED?
England came into the game in need of a win after a disappointing start to their Euro 2025 qualifying campaign, including a defeat to France last time out. Stanway gave the visitors the perfect start by firing the Three Lions into the lead midway through the first half with a fierce strike from outside the penalty area that flew past a helpless Pauline Peyraud-Magnin in the France goal.
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England went on to double their lead through Alessia Russo just before half-time. The Arsenal star headed home from close range after a ball in from Lauren Hemp. The goals make it a dream start to the game for Sarina Wiegman's side who know a victory will cut the gap on group leaders France and breathe fresh life into the team's qualification hopes.
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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR ENGLAND
England are back in action in July when they continue their qualifying campaign with games against Republic of Ireland and Sweden.
Second-wicket pair put on 320 after Gloucestershire had asked the home side to bat on a green-tinged pitch
ECB Reporters Network17-Jun-2019A partnership of 320, a first-class record for the county’s second wicket, between Neil Dexter and Hassan Azad put Leicestershire in a strong position after the Foxes had been asked to bat by Gloucestershire in the Specsavers County Championship match at the Fischer County Ground.Dexter’s 180 was a career-best for the 34-year-old, coming in his 261st first-class innings; Azad’s 137 a first Championship century for the 25-year-old, in only his seventh match.Gloucestershire captain Chris Dent’s decision to exercise the away team’s prerogative to bowl first was not an entirely unreasonable one, given the amount of rain that had fallen in the East Midlands over the previous week, but the pitch, though slightly tinged with green, looked to be a good one, and played that way.The Foxes did lose Paul Horton early, Chadd Sayers picking up his first wicket for Gloucestershire with an out-swinging delivery that Horton edged, wicketkeeper Gareth Roderick holding the catch diving to his right in front of first slip. But with Azad playing solidly at the other end, Dexter went for his shots from the start, particularly off the front foot. Ryan Higgins was hit for four consecutive boundaries as Dexter went to his 50 off just 57 deliveries.The pair accelerated after lunch. Azad reached his 50 off 128 balls, and a few balls later, Dexter brought up his century, which included 19 boundaries, off 134 deliveries. By tea they had comfortably beaten Leicestershire’s previous record second-wicket partnership against Gloucestershire, 153 by Barry Dudleston and Chris Balderstone at Bristol in 1979.The runs continued to flow after tea as the partnership passed Leicestershire’s previous Championship second-wicket record, an unbroken 289 between Balderstone and David Gower against Essex in 1981, before – pleasingly – expunging their first-class second-wicket record, set by Azad and Ateeq Javid against Loughborough MCCU at the start of this season.David Payne found a good lifting delivery to make the long-awaited breakthrough, having Azad caught behind, before Dexter’s tired push at Josh Shaw saw Roderick pick up a third victim.The wicketkeeper made it four out of four when Mark Cosgrove prodded at and edged another Shaw delivery, and shortly before the close nightwatchman Will Davis spooned a catch into the covers.