With the typically ever-present Bruno Fernandes forced to take on a rare watching brief for Manchester United’s clash with Newcastle United, all eyes were on who would be the man to step up in the Portuguese’s absence.

For much of the first half, it was fellow playmaker Mason Mount who looked like taking on that mantle, with the resurgent Englishman at the centre of everything for the Red Devils, both in and out of possession.

The 26-year-old’s growing importance was none more so evident than when he was ultimately absent after the break, with the hosts simply retreating in that backs-to-the-wall second-half performance.

Frustratingly, it would appear that the ex-Chelsea man’s fitness woes have reared their ugly head again, with Mount simply unable to prove himself as a reliable presence in Ruben Amorim’s side, having lasted the 90 minutes on just two occasions all season.

As was evident with his strike away at Molineux, there is a quality player in there. Unfortunately, with his talents repeatedly overshadowed by injury, Amorim and co are in need of an upgrade.

Man Utd make Premier League midfielder their No.1 target

While Mount – signed for £55m back in the summer of 2023 – has typically been deployed in a left-sided number ten berth in Amorim’s 3-4-3 set-up, the recent tactical reshuffle has seen United’s number seven slot into something of a deeper role, orchestrating proceedings in almost Fernandes fashion.

It was the midfielder’s stunning switch which picked out Patrick Dorgu at Villa Park, in the build-up to Matheus Cunha’s agonising missed header, with there having been promising signs from the Champions League winner in recent weeks.

As already stated, however, Mount is frustratingly unable to remain fit and firing, with the need to continually manage his game time ensuring he has started just 29 of his 63 games for the club in all competitions.

With that in mind, and with the recent change to a back four seemingly set to continue, Mount could be a potential casualty, not least if INEOS are able to land Nottingham Forest sensation, Elliot Anderson.

According to the Daily Mail’s Nathan Salt, the 23-year-old is now the Old Trafford side’s “No.1 target”, with the England international wanted as the centrepiece of United’s midfield overhaul in 2026.

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As per the report, the ex-Newcastle man is likely to be more of a summer target for Amorim’s side, with the likes of James Garner being considered as more short-term alternatives for the New Year.

As previously indicated, any deal for Anderson – be it next month or next summer – is likely to cost upwards of £100m.

Why Anderson could be the perfect Mount upgrade

It hasn’t been seen enough, yet Mount’s quality is hard to question, with Amorim having singled him out as a “proper footballer” following his appointment back in November 2024.

When fit and firing, the injury-prone talent can be so influential to the current United iteration, notably ranking in the top 11% of attacking midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for non-penalty goals per 90, as per FBref, as well as ranking in the top 8% for tackles made per 90.

He is an asset then at both sides of the game, although that is certainly also true of Anderson, with the Forest playmaker a master at breaking up play, albeit while having that progressive quality to match in possession.

Now the leading candidate to partner Declan Rice at next year’s World Cup, the youngster’s all-round quality was on full display in the Three Lions’ autumn internationals,

Indeed, he averaged 8.6 ball recoveries per game in World Cup qualifying, while also boasting a stellar 93% pass accuracy, as per Sofascore.

Such standout form has also been replicated even amid a turbulent Premier League campaign at the City Ground, averaging 8.4 ball recoveries, while also recording 1.6 key passes per game from his 17 starts.

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For comparison, Mount averages just 2.7 recoveries per game, even while leading the press under Amorim, having also averaged just 0.8 key passes from his 15 outings, only ten of which have come from the start.

Anderson vs Man Utd (01/11/25)

Stat

Record

Minutes

90

Touches

84

Pass accuracy

75%

Key passes

3

Possession lost

25

Dribbles

2/2

Tackles won

1/1

Recoveries

14

Total duels won

7/14

Stats via Sofascore

It may not seem as if Anderson would be a direct competitor to his compatriot, although it’s fair to say he isn’t just a safe and steady number six, with talkSPORT’s Max Scott even going as far as to suggest that he is like “Roy Keane, Paul Scholes and Zinedine Zidane all rolled into one”.

Also lauded as a “world-class” talent by commentator Jamie Martin, the in-demand Geordie has the tools to operate in a more advanced, box-to-box role if required, memorably registering 13 goals and assists in just 21 games on loan at Bristol Rovers a few years ago.

Unlike Mount, who hasn’t featured for his country since the 2022 World Cup, Anderson is now a central figure in the Thomas Tuchel regime, showcasing which of the pair really is the man on the rise right now.

Mount might be Amorim’s man, yet with Friday evening having been the latest in a long line of frustrating setbacks in his stop-start United career, the time might have come for the Portuguese to hang his hat on another classy midfield operator like Anderson.

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As reported by The Daily Record, Rangers are interested in bringing former West Bromwich Albion defender Gareth McAuley to Ibrox this summer.

What’s the story?

The Light Blues know that in order to compete for silverware next season they must sort out their defensive line, conceding far too many goals in the Scottish Premiership last term.

The club are reportedly close to bringing Brighton man Connor Goldson to Glasgow, and it appears they’re already lining up his potential defensive partner.

The Daily Record report that Director of Football Mark Allen has already made contact with veteran Gareth McAuley’s representatives ahead of a potential switch to Ibrox this summer.

The defender left West Bromwich Albion after their relegation from the English Premier League and the paper say he is keen on a move to Ibrox to get first team football and extend his international career with Northern Ireland.

The Record also report however that Gerrard has yet to sign off on a move for the player, but is looking to sign as many as four defenders in this summer’s transfer window.

[brid autoplay=”true” video=”252976″ player=”12034″ title=”Watch 21 things that will definitely happen at the World Cup”]

Would he be a good signing?

With 78 caps for his country and over 200 English Premier League appearances to his name, McAuley does have immense experience that would be a benefit to Rangers next season.

However, at 38 years of age, he might have too many miles on the clock.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

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The failure of Bruno Alves and Russell Martin last season brought into sharp focus that the Scottish Premiership is far from easy for established, experienced internationals and the worry would be that McAuley would end up similarly off the pace.

He played just nine times in the Premier League last term for the worst team in the division, so is clearly on the decline, and Gerrard needs young, hungry and ambitious players if he is to forge a winning side.

Three of four years ago this would have been a brilliant signing for the Light Blues, but now? The jury is out.

Pacemen Marlon Black and Mervyn Dillon fought a brave battle against the inevitable but Australia has nonetheless finished day two of the First Test against West Indies in a commanding position here at the ‘Gabba in Brisbane. By stumps, the home team holds an overall advantage of 225 runs; the tourists at 2/25 in their second innings and fighting a losing battle to stay alive in the match.In their humiliating effort yesterday, the West Indians had shown precious little resolve. Today, they displayed considerably more. But the world’s best team still showed that it remained a world apart from its current challenger. It was somehow a statement of the depths to which the tourists had sunk that, initially at least, it took a man playing in his very first Test to show his teammates how things were done.The sense of aimlessness by which his team had been gripped in plunging to a total of 82 yesterday seemed, paradoxically, to inspire Black (4/83). He ran in with purpose, he ran in with aggression, he ran in with the look of a man completely unwilling to yield any more of the ground that had so decisively been conceded to the Australians. At first, this manifested itself in a beautiful seven over spell from the Stanley Street End that quickly had overnight batsmen Michael Slater (54) and Andy Bichel (8), as well as Justin Langer (3) for good measure, shuffling away from the arena.It was the very first Black delivery of the morning, in fact, which simultaneously spurred the downfall of Slater and brought the tall Trinidadian fast bowler his first Test wicket. The right handed opener reached for a full wide outswinger of lively pace but could do no better than direct it to Sherwin Campbell at second slip. Later in the same over, nightwatchman Bichel departed after playing away from his body (at a ball that cut marginally away) to be caught behind. The gritty Langer saw out slightly more of the opening session but made similarly little impact on the scoreboard. Three Black overs later, he was defeated by a lovely inswinger, inside edging the ball within a coat of vanish of his off stump and presenting Ridlley Jacobs with the chance of another catch as he moved across neatly to his right.Around a fourth dismissal for Black – the departure of Ricky Ponting (20) to a nicely pitched outswinger – Dillon (3/79) then added his weight to the cause by snaring three prize wickets of his own. He was responsible for removing Mark Waugh (24) at the end of an always-scratchy innings and then complemented that success with the scalp of Steve Waugh (41) in his next over. The former went to a low caught and bowled after he was deceived by a delivery that appeared to hold up on him slightly and caused him to meekly push the ball back down the pitch. The latter succumbed to a wonderful catch from Campbell, at head height, at second slip after issuing a flashing cut shot at a wider, shorter offering.It was not until Adam Gilchrist (48), the highest averaging left hander in Tests at present, came to the crease in the unfamiliar territory of number eight that a batsman finally looked completely at ease. In a whirlwind partnership of sixty-one runs for the eighth wicket with an equally aggressively inclined Brett Lee (62*), he took toll of a tiring attack with relish. It was from there that Lee’s production of a maiden half-century in first-class cricket – and the highest individual score of the match no less – served to underline the West Indians’ apparent inability to match it with the Australians for sustained periods. Tailender Stuart MacGill (19) also joined in the late assault, albeit in ungainly style, helping to swell the eventual first innings lead to the small matter of 250 runs.From there, what already shapes as something akin to an inevitability in this series – the sight of West Indian batsmen departing with regularity – returned to haunt the tourists once more. To begin the spectre all over again, Campbell failed to defend a delivery from Glenn McGrath (2/7) which did little more than hold its line outside off stump. After one ferocious pull at his nemesis, Brian Lara (4) then succumbed almost as tamely as in the first innings. He beat that well worn path off the ‘Gabba when he impetuously attempted the stroke again and top edged. Gilchrist took a simple catch and, in doing so, took the Australians another large step toward a record-equalling eleventh Test victory in succession too. Barring a monumental reversal, this result will come quicker than most.

Former Test fast bowler Mark Gillespie has been cut from Wellington’s contract list, but both Gillespie and Wellington coach Bruce Edgar have left the door open for a possible return. New Zealand’s six major associations have announced the players offered first-round domestic contracts for the 2015-16 summer, with Gillespie one of several former internationals missing from last year.Wellington have lost former captain James Franklin, whose Irish ancestry has allowed him to sign as a local player for Middlesex, meaning if he was to play for Wellington it would need to be as an overseas player. Brendon Diamanti is gone from Canterbury’s list, while Wellington fast bowler Andy McKay, Otago batsman Aaron Redmond, Central Districts batsman Jamie How and Northern Districts fast bowler Graeme Aldridge have all retired.Gillespie, 35, has made no decisions on his future, but last summer played only three Plunket Shield matches for 11 wickets at 27.63. New Wellington coach Bruce Edgar said that although Gillespie was no longer contracted, he still had some hope of being selected during the season.”We believe that Dizzy was off the pace last season and that he’s slipped down the order behind other more effective bowlers,” Edgar said in a statement. “That said, we want to work with Dizz to get him firing in time for the season. If that happens, then he’s available to be selected like any other player and I’m sure he’ll give it everything he’s got.”Gillespie this week told : “I’ve made no decisions regarding my future. As far as I’m concerned, not getting a contract does not mean I am no longer a cricketer.”In other moves, Jesse Ryder has completed his return to Central Districts from Otago, as reported last week. Otago have been particularly active in their recruiting, with Neil Broom returning after one season at Canterbury, Anaru Kitchen and Warren Barnes having joined from Auckland, and Brad Wilson having moved from Northern Districts. Anurag Verma has moved from Northern Districts to Wellington.Franklin is not the only player who has moved on due to county commitments: Central Districts allrounder Kieran Noema-Barnett is gone from their list after signing as a local player with Gloucestershire.Several players have disappeared from the domestic lists after gaining New Zealand Cricket contracts, including Central Districts’ Doug Bracewell, Northern Districts’ Mitchell Santner, and Wellington’s Grant Elliott. Colin Munro is back on Auckland’s list after losing his national contract, while Ish Sodhi has reappeared on the Northern Districts list for the same reason.Other notable additions include well-known coach Bob Carter’s son Leo Carter, who has signed with Canterbury; Kane Williamson’s cousin, the batsman Dane Cleaver, who has joined Central Districts; and Brisbane-born spinner Alecz Day, who has signed with Wellington and qualifies due to his mother being from New Zealand.The contracting process involves nine to 14 players being offered deals as part of the first round, with the remainder of the 15-man squad to be confirmed by August 10.Auckland Michael Bates, Brad Cachopa, Colin De Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson, Donovan Grobbelaar, Michael Guptill-Bunce, Shawn Hicks, Colin Munro, Tarun Nethula, Rob Nicol, Robert O’Donnell, Glenn Phillips, Matt Quinn, Jeet RavalCanterbury Todd Astle, Hamish Bennett, Leo Carter, Andrew Ellis, Cameron Fletcher, Peter Fulton, Roneel Hira, Kyle Jamieson, Tim Johnston, Cole McConchie, Ryan McCone, Henry Nicholls, Edward Nuttall, Logan van BeekCentral Districts Tom Bruce, Dane Cleaver, Greg Hay, Marty Kain, Andrew Mathieson, Ajaz Patel, Seth Rance, Jesse Ryder, Bevan Small, Ben Smith, Kruger van Wyk, Ben Wheeler, George Worker, Will YoungNorthern Districts Cody Andrews, James Baker, Jono Boult, Dean Brownlie, Joe Carter, Anton Devcich, Daniel Flynn, Brett Hampton, Jono Hickey, Scott Kuggeleijn, Daryl Mitchell, Bharat Popli, Tim Seifert, Ish SodhiOtago Warren Barnes, Nicholas Beard, Michael Bracewell, Neil Broom, Derek de Boorder, Jacob Duffy, Ryan Duffy, Josh Finnie, Anaru Kitchen, Michael Rae, Hamish Rutherford, Craig Smith, Sam Wells, Brad WilsonWellington Brent Arnel, Brady Barnett, Tom Blundell, Alecz Day, Dane Hutchinson, Matt McEwan, Stephen Murdoch, Ollie Newton, Michael Papps, Jeetan Patel, Michael Pollard, Matt Taylor, Anurag Verma, Luke Woodcock

ScorecardJames Taylor brought his ODI form back into the Championship although was given three lives•Getty Images

A man doesn’t like to find himself saying “size isn’t everything” too often, but in James Taylor’s case, it seems almost unavoidable.Despite an outstanding domestic record, Taylor has had to be content with a supporting role in international cricket. Even his latest foray into the ODI side – during which he scored his maiden century and captained the side when Eoin Morgan was injured – only came about because Joe Root was rested.But for various reasons – not least a perception that his technique will be exposed by the best bowling attack – Taylor has had to wait a little longer than might be expected for his first Test tour. Kevin Pietersen infamously told Andy Flower that Taylor was built to be a jockey – like his father – and “not up to it” at Test level.But Taylor is the same height as Sachin Tendulkar. He could swap shoes with Murray Goodwin. He could reach up to shelves and pass things down to Alvin Kallicharran. He is plenty tall enough.And while it is true that he has a jockey’s height, it might also be said that he has a jockey’s toughness. County bowlers learned several years ago that it was foolish to equate his size and fresh-face with weakness and have long since given up trying to intimidate him. A first-class average of 47 will do that.This was, in many ways, a typical Taylor innings. It was scrappy at times, dropped on three occasions but, while nobody else in the top six could reach 25 – four of them could not reach 10 – he compiled the 20th first-class century of his career and the second of this campaign. He also recorded his 1000th first-class run of the season.He is wonderfully balanced at the crease. While other players fell to the off side as they attempted to play the inswing of the dangerous Keith Barker, Taylor waited just that fraction longer so that, instead of attempting to play through midwicket, he was able to punch the ball straight down the ground. His on-drives were a delight.But he is not much interested in being pretty. The way he throws himself into cut shots – the full MS Dhoni helicopter was on display here when an out of sorts Boyd Rankin dropped short – the way he scampers his runs with a pace that would leave a greyhound trailing – suggests a man that is utterly committed to the practical business of run scoring and will let others worry about style. Taylor maybe more artisan than artist, but he has a method that he understands and works for him. He doesn’t need to change.He had some fortune here, though. On the few occasions he allowed himself to be expansive, he offered chances. He was put down three times – on 8, 22 and 75 – and also caught off a no-ball. While the chances on 8 and 75 – both to the normally reliable Tim Ambrose – were not straightforward, the catch to Sam Hain, at point, should have been taken. Rankin and Barker were the unfortunate bowlers.Warwickshire were also convinced they had Taylor caught behind off Jonathan Trott on 99. As a result, they declined to applaud his century.”It’s not the batsman’s fault if the fielders keep dropping the ball,” his coach, Mick Newell said afterwards. “I don’t call that good luck, I just call it taking the most of your opportunity.”Ambrose, like the rest of his Warwickshire team, looked a little jaded having played through any number of aches, strains, bruises and bumps. They no longer have much to play for and the combination of a long season and a tinge of disappointment has taken the edge off their performance. There is talk of some discontent, but it looks like nothing a lengthy break from cricket – and maybe from each other – will not solve. There is no reason why both these teams should not challenge for the Championship next year.Warwickshire will be doing it without their second-string keeper, Peter McKay, though. He has been released after struggling with injuries, while 24-year-old Staffordshire keeper Alex Mellor – who made a double-century for Staffordshire a few weeks ago – has been signed in his place. Warwickshire have also released the batsman Tom Lewis, while the seam-bowling allrounder Tom Milnes is likely to join Derbyshire for greater opportunity.The pick of the bowlers here was Barker. He dismissed Alex Hales, set up by two inswingers and then guilty of nibbling at one angled across him that didn’t swing, before Steven Mullaney was caught off the boot at gully after jabbing his bat down on another full swinging ball, and Brendan Taylor’s innings was ended when he played around another inswinger. When Riki Wessels poked at an outswinger from Trott and Samit Patel was bowled round his legs as he attempted to flick into the leg side, Nottinghamshire were in some trouble.But Chris Read helped Taylor add 124 for the sixth-wicket with Taylor. He was savage on the pull, merciless on both sides of the wicket if the ball was over-pitched and very quick to punish Jeetan Patel when he gave the ball a little flight. If Newell’s hopes of overhauling Middlesex for second place in the table look optimistic, it is still possible.”I don’t think we’ll be setting up a chase tomorrow. We want to finish second in the Championship and if we can pick up 12 or 13 points from this game then we will have a strong chance of getting past Middlesex in the last round of matches.”It is to be hoped that the aim does not convince Newell to ask Hales and Taylor to play in their final Championship game. They have long, emotionally draining winters ahead which could define their careers. And in 30 years time, the difference between second and third in the Championship season may not seem terribly important.

ScorecardFile Photo – Arup Das and Krishna Das shared all 10 wickets from the Odisha innings•PTI

Seamer Krishna Das took 7 for 21 to bowl Odisha out for 88 and give Assam, who had made only 92 yesterday, an almost inconceivable first-innings lead. Assam then managed to cobble a total in triple-figures, finishing on 137 for 8 at stumps. The Cuttack pitch afforded 15 wickets on Thursday and 13 today, so any advantage seems vital and the visitors are 141 runs ahead.Krishna and Arup Das, who took 3 for 45, took care of all the Odisha batsmen. Only Natraj Behera and Anurag Sarangi managed to get double-figure scores and Odisha’s best partnership – 22 runs – was put on by the ninth wicket.But the help that was available to the fast bowlers meant the hosts were able to reel in some of the ground they lost. Suryakant Pradhan struck twice in the second over of Assam’s second innings to dismiss Kunal Saikia and Gokul Sharma for ducks. At the other end, Basant Mohanty removed Amit Verma, also for a duck, to leave the visitors on 13 for 3.By the 45th over Assam were 86 for 6. But coming in at No. 7 Syed Mohammad struck 42 off 158 balls with four fours to record the highest score of the match so far and perhaps tempt his team into contemplating an away victory.
ScorecardOvernight rain followed by intermittent showers on the second day resulted in only 16.2 overs being bowled in the Group A game between Bengal and Rajasthan at the Eden Gardens.The start of the match was delayed by an over hour. Resuming from 104 for 3, Rajasthan lost two wickets while putting on 38 runs. Pragyan Ojha got the first when he went through the defences of Ashok Menaria in the 43rd over while Ashok Dinda had Puneet Yadav caught for 14 in the 50th.Ojha came back to dismiss Arjit Gupta for 5 in the 59th over but then the weather intervened. Only 59.4 overs have been possible after two days. Karnatka v Vidarbha in Bangalore – Satish 81* leads VidarbhaDelhi v Haryana in Delhi – Sehwag threat looms

ScorecardNathan Lyon picked up 4 for 31 in 6.1 overs•Cricket Australia

New South Wales barely missed the impact of the rested Mitchell Starc as they bulldozed Queensland in the Matador Cup match at Drummoyne Oval, led by a century from Steven Smith and four wickets for Nathan Lyon.Starc’s replacement, the refreshed Josh Hazlewood, bowled tightly and well at the top of the innings, before Lyon worked his way through Usman Khawaja, back from a hamstring problem and Nathan Reardon.Only Joe Burns was able to build an innings among the Bulls batsmen, and his patient 77 was a welcome sight for the national selectors as they consider who will partner David Warner in the first Test of the summer at the Gabba.Warner was watching Burns from the commentary box, and seemed impressed by an innings that was the most substantial innings any batsman has managed against the Blues this tournament.Smith had entered the fixture with a pair of ducks behind him, but after Nic Maddinson’s recent run of strong scores was ended by Billy Stanlake, the Australian captain regained touch in what is becoming an increasingly familiar style.He was accompanied for much of the afternoon by Moises Henriques, who played fluently in a stand of 181 that ensured the Blues would set the Bulls a target in excess of 300. Thanks to Hazlewood, Lyon and a strong supporting cast they did not get close to it.

ScorecardParas Dogra drives during his 167•ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Jammu & Kashmir were well-placed to push for an outright win against Tripura in Agartala, as the visitors led by 367 runs going into the final day. Tripura, who began at 85 for 2 in reply to J&K’s 428, lost wickets in a bulk, as the team failed to sting together any meaningful partnership. Parvinder Singh top-scored with 60, but no other batsman managed a half-century, as Tripura were bundled out for 224 to concede a lead of 204 runs. Fast bowler Ram Dayal was the pick of J&K’s bowlers, collecting 4 for 51, while Umar Nazir Mir and medium-pacer Rohit Sharma took two each. J&K lost their openers Shubham Khajuria and Imran Haroon early in the second innings, but Ian Dev Singh (40*) put up a fifty-plus stand with Parvez Rasool, before Bandeep Singh blitzed 51 off 16 balls to guide the visitors to 163 for 3 at stumps. Bandeep reached his half-century in 15 balls, and broke the record for the fastest fifty in the Ranji Trophy. Before Bandeep, Shakti Singh (Himachal Pradesh, 1990-91) and Yusuf Pathan (Baroda, 2012-13) held the joint record with 18-ball half-centuries.
ScorecardHimachal Pradesh edged ahead in their Ranji clash against Goa in Dharamsala as they secured a crucial innings lead. HP were 298 for 5 coming into day three, and their overnight centurion Paras Dogra made his way to 167, ensuring that his team had a slender advantage. None of the lower-order batsmen chipped in with a handy knock, but Dogra’s rearguard earned HP a lead of 52. Prasanth Parameswaran picked up 5 for 82, while Rituraj Singh chipped in with 3 for 95. Goa began their second innings positively, as the openers Amogh Sunil Desai (63) and Swapnil Asnodkar (72) batted together for 53.5 overs to add 131 runs. However, HP fought back with three key wickets towards the end of the day, as Bipul Sharma and Akash Vasisht struck to remove Asnodkar, Desai and the first-innings centurion Sagun Kamat. Goa were 182 for 3 when stumps were called, leading by 130 runs.
ScorecardA three-wicket burst from Karaparambil Monish, coupled with timely blows from Rohan Prem meant Kerala could harbour hopes of gaining first-innings points against Services in Delhi. Services were well-placed at 66 for 0 when the day began, but Soumik Chatterjee was dismissed early on for 42. Anshul Gupta (68) and Ravi Chauhan (56) added 75 for the second wicket, but from 160 for 1, Services collapsed to 221 for 6. Handy knocks from Vikas Hathwala (45) and Muzzaffaruddin Khalid (28*) guided Services to 281 for 7 when the day ended, with the team still trailing by 41 runs.

East Zone beat back a belated challenge from Central Zone to win aclose contest by three wickets on the opening day of the Vijay HazareTrophy (Under-16) cricket tournament at the KL Saini stadium in Jaipuron Sunday.Opting to bat, Central Zone were all out for 180 in 47 overs. Afterfive wickets had fallen for 56 runs, wicketkeeper AS Naidu (46) andAfroz Khan (67 not out) added 66 runs for the sixth wicket off 15overs in a rescue act. While Naidu faced 68 balls and hit four of themto the ropes, Khan faced 99 balls and hit four fours and asix. Opening bowler and East Zone skipper M Talukdar, who had causedmost of the early damage, was the most successful bowler with threefor 14 from seven overs.When Central Zone batted, valuable contributions from most of theirtop order batsmen – opener M Vardhan (35), Subhjeet Paul (29), PJ Das(24) and A Nandi (31) saw them cruising towards victory at 138 forthree in the 35th over. But then wickets fell at regular intervals andat 167 for seven in the 43rd over, there was some pressure on EastZone. However they were finally home without any further loss in 45.4overs.

Bengal’s Ranji Trophy aspirations for the 1999-2000 season ended onThursday as they lost to Mumbai by 242 runs. Chasing a victory targetof 381 runs, Bengal were bundled out for 138 runs.The hosts, who were 67 for the loss of four wickets overnight, losttheir remaining six batsmen in 107 minutes of play today. RomeshPowar and Rajesh Pawar picked up five wickets apiece to establishMumbai’s superiority. They finished with 32 points winning all theirfour matches. On the other hand, Bengal finished their leagueengagements with 13 points. The match was especially memorable forRamesh Powar who followed his second innings score of 92 with hisfirst five-wicket haul in the Ranji Trophy.Much was expected of the overnight pair of Saba Karim and RohanGavaskar. However, the junior Gavaskar, playing his first matchagainst Mumbai, disappointed in the second innings also. He playedforward to the off-spinner Powar and was caught pad-bat at silly pointby skipper Amol Muzumdar. Powar was also responsible for getting SabaKarim. The batsman who had hit him for two sixes over mid wicket triedto cut a delivery against the turn only to edge it on to hisstumps. This was the last of the resistance.If Powar had decimated the top half of Bengal it was the turn of theleft arm spinner Rajesh Pawar to destroy the lower order. He took fourwickets today and his victims were Utpal Chatterjee, Vishal Yadav,Nikhil Haldipur and Sourashis Lahiri. Pawar bowled flat today anddeceived the batsmen by varying the length of his deliveries. He hadHaldipur leg before with one that kept low and then bowled Yadav witha quicker delivery which surprised the batsman. Pawar had theoutstanding figures of 9.1-3-32-4 today and his innings analysis read19.1-5-60-5. Powar finished with five wickets for 46 runs of 23 overs,nine of which were maidens.Bengal skipper Utpal Chatterjee blamed his batsmen for the poorshow. “We had Mumbai on the mat on the first day by dismissing themfor 182. However, our batsmen did not have the grit and determinationto fight it out. In the second innings the job became increasinglydificult. However, even then I feel that it was possible to survivefor two days on this wicket.” On the other hand, Muzumdar was allpraise for his bowlers.