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Manchester United are searching for a Ruben Amorim replacement and could now be set to announce his successor before the end of the week amid recent developments.

Manchester United look for caretaker boss until summer

Despite being firmly in the picture to secure European qualification, the Red Devils and Amorim parted ways after the Red Devils’ draw with Leeds United last weekend after a breakdown in communication between the former Sporting boss and Jason Wilcox.

While his formation wasn’t universally loved, there was also friction at the club due to the 40-year-old’s approach to academy products who have either come through from Carrington or were brought in before reaching first-team level.

Kobbie Mainoo’s lack of involvement in this campaign is an obvious point to raise now Amorim has departed, while the club are also reportedly angry at the treatment of Chido Obi and Harry Amass.

On the flipside, Ayden Heaven has been a success story since his move to the Red Devils from Arsenal. Utilising academy talents who can develop into stars of the future is part of the mantra at Old Trafford, even if there is a process of trial and error involved in that practice.

Darren Fletcher’s interim charge will provide stability for the time being, and his involvement with their Under-18 side may signal that a couple of prospects could make their senior debuts under his stewardship if circumstances align.

Either way, there is a need for clarity at Old Trafford, and supporters will hope that can come sooner rather than later as Manchester United continue their charge towards a successful season.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could sign Man Utd contract on Friday

According to a report from Norwegian outlet VG on Wednesday morning, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could be set to return to Manchester United as soon as Friday by signing a contract to become caretaker boss until the end of the season.

With the 52-year-old scheduled to attend Åge Hareide’s funeral on Thursday, he could put pen to paper soon after to provide a temporary figure of authority in the dugout after a turbulent period under Amorim.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first spell at Man Utd

Matches

168

Wins

92

Draws

35

Losses

41

Enjoying a successful spell in charge between 2018 and 2021, Solskjaer helped Manchester United to produce some of their best football of the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era and also led the Red Devils to the Europa League final in 2021, losing on penalties to Villarreal.

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However, his reign ended abruptly a few months later, and it will come as a surprise to many that events over the last few days have put an emotional return on the cards.

Commanding buy-in from the players, he has previously been labelled a “fantastic man-manager” by Harry Maguire and earned praise from legendary figure Ferguson for his trust in youth players, something that is a staple in the role.

With the club now hopeful of moving in the right direction, it is looking more likely that Solskjaer will be the man to steady the ship after Amorim’s departure following the Red Devils’ stalemate at Elland Road.

Manchester United are now reportedly desperate to reinforce Ruben Amorim’s midfield and have sent officials to make checks on one of their key targets.

INEOS desperate for midfield breakthrough

It’s a new year and a new opportunity for Man United to turn a corner under Amorim, who could be in for a make-or-break 12 months at Old Trafford.

The Red Devils look destined to back their man once again in the transfer market this year, having splashed out to transform his frontline in the summer.

This time, INEOS are reportedly putting their full focus on welcoming midfield reinforcements after watching the likes of Manuel Ugarte struggle and Kobbie Mainoo fall out of favour.

Injuries haven’t exactly helped, with Lisandro Martinez forced to step out of position and into central midfield in recent weeks, but there’s no denying that United need upgrades even at full strength.

As such, a number of targets have already reportedly emerged. Names like Carlos Baleba, Adam Wharton and Elliot Anderson have all been mentioned in recent weeks ahead of what could be another chaotic transfer window in Manchester.

January is rarely the time to spend big, but reports have claimed that Man United are ‘determined to make a breakthrough’ in pursuit of a midfield star and that could force INEOS’ hand.

Given how tough it is to seal major deals in the winter window, it may yet be an alternative option to the likes of Baleba, Wharton and Anderson who arrive.

Man Utd send officials for Ederson

According to TeamTalk, Man United have now sent officials to make checks on Ederson at Atalanta. The Brazilian is among the Red Devils’ midfield targets and with his price dropping below €40m (£35m), they could make their move this month.

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Among all the Premier League names, Ederson is still one to watch. The 26-year-old is a talent in his own right and would instantly end Ugarte’s time at the heart of Amorim’s midfield.

League stats 25/26

Ederson

Ugarte

Minutes

950

554

Progressive Passes

70

32

Tackles Won

13

17

Ball Recoveries

64

32

For less than £35m, Man United could reportedly sign a player who would be an instant upgrade on Ugarte in a number of departments. The former Paris Saint-Germain midfielder struggles most in possession. Ederson, by some contrast, has thrived when asked to progress play this season.

Related The new Rashford: Man Utd holding talks to sign "explosive" £61m star

This attacking star could add new dynamism in the final third for Man Utd

Posts ByJoe Nuttall

Dubbed “out of this world” by former England manager Fabio Capello, the Atalanta man ticks several boxes for Man United as they continue their search for a midfield addition this month. Compared to Wharton and Anderson, the Brazilian represents an undeniable bargain.

Match facts

February 6, 2016
Start time 1400 local (0100 GMT)Usman Khawaja will not be needing the drinks waiter’s vest in Wellington•Getty Images

Big Picture

Australia’s battering on the field in the first ODI at Eden Park has been mirrored away from the game. Dismissive commentary by the New Zealand press, a frank “honesty session” in the dressing rooms after the defeat and the unusual sight of George Bailey airing his differences of opinion with David Warner over an LBW referral – all this in the space of 24 hours. It was no way to start a tour, particularly one where this series is followed so rapidly by Test matches.The captain Steven Smith will be glad to have the coach Darren Lehmann back with the team for the second match in Wellington, though it does not take a cricket mastermind to define the problems witnessed in Auckland. Australia’s bowling and fielding was flat, their batting overeager and their general composure very much lacking. The inclusion of Usman Khawaja means a likely improvement in the team’s batting output, while that of Adam Zampa’s leg breaks will give Smith a little more variety in the field. However it will take a much improved collective effort to square the series.New Zealand, meanwhile, are purring along smoothly. Helped by a typically supercharged start from Brendon McCullum, Martin Guptill showcased his greater confidence as a limited overs batsman, before strong displays down the order. The bowling unit functioned even more grandly, as Matt Henry and Trent Boult lopped the top off the Australian innings in some style. McCullum’s men have every reason to be confident at home – the only question mark may be the mental hurdle of beating Australia in a series – something they have not done since 2007.

Form guide

(last five completed matches, most recent first)

New Zealand: WWWWL
Australia: LLWWW

In the spotlight

Australia knew they could expect a searching test from Trent Boult, but it was the support of Matt Henry that allowed New Zealand to sustain their pressure and turn it into wickets. Bowling at good pace and moving the ball subtly both ways, Henry defeated Shaun Marsh, Steven Smith and George Bailey in quick time to set his side on the path to victory. Having performed so well, he will now be a much greater focus of Austrlaian attention, and how he responds to this will be a key to New Zealand’s fortunes in Wellington.A little less than six months into his captaincy tenure, Steven Smith faces his first major trouble spot. While he does not lead the Twenty20 side, Australia’s five consecutive defeats across the two short formats has left Smith with a team short on confidence and recent form, also trying to adjust to the challenges presented by New Zealand as a team and a country. He led a frank discussion with team mates after the Eden Park defeat, and it will be a useful measure of his effectiveness as a motivator and leader to see how the Australians respond in Wellington. Vital, too, will be how Smith can rebound from an Auckland innings where New Zealand had clear plans for him and prevailed through using them.

Team news

New Zealand will not be in a hurry to change their team after a strong collective performance at Eden Park, but the leg breaks of Ish Sodhi are in reserve if required.New Zealand (possible) 1 Martin Guptill, 2 Brendon McCullum (capt.), 3 Kane Williamson, 4 Henry Nicholls, 5 Grant Elliott, 6 Corey Anderson, 7 Luke Ronchi (wk), 8 Mitchell Santner, 9 Adam Milne, 10 Matt Henry, 11 Trent Boult.Usman Khawaja will replace Shaun Marsh while Adam Zampa is set to make his international debut in place of James Faulkner, who has left the tour with a hamstring strain.Australia 1 Usman Khawaja, 2 David Warner, 3 Steven Smith (capt.), 4 George Bailey, 5 Glenn Maxwell, 6 Mitchell Marsh, 7 Matthew Wade (wk), 8 John Hastings, 9 Adam Zampa, 10 Kane Richardson, 11 Josh Hazlewood.

Pitch and conditions

Wellington’s forecast is for a cloudy and somewhat humid day. The drop-in pitch has assisted seam bowlers with some slow movement in the past but has more recently been an easy-paced batting track.

Stats and trivia

• In five matches at Westpac Stadium, Australia have won twice and New Zealand twice after a washout in 2000
• Australia’s most recent win came in December 2005, and New Zealand have won both more recent encounters by wide margins
• Since that 2005 defeat – by a mere two runs – New Zealand have built a formidable record in Wellington, losing only two of 14 ODIs played at Westpac, with one no result.

Quotes

“We had a good chat about it – it wasn’t ideal, we got beaten pretty badly. It was [captain Steven Smith]. It was player led. The coaches sort of took a back seat. He was fairly measured … it’s definitely not panic stations by any means but we have to improve.”

Losing four players to the ICL, including Mohammad Yousuf, could not have been the start Geoff Lawson was looking for © AFP

Geoff Lawson, Pakistan’s new coach, said he would have to instill a “killer’s instinct” in his new team if it was to reach the top in world cricket.Lawson was speaking after arriving in the country on Monday night to take up his post and prepare for the Twenty20 World Championship in South Africa next month. “Any side that wants to be world’s best needs aggression, the killer’s instinct and must play to its strength and that’s what I would be looking at,” Lawson told a press conference.Lawson said he was excited after having his first interaction with the players on Tuesday morning and then overseeing a training session in the evening. “Let me say I am thrilled and honoured to be here and meeting with the players,” he said. “The enthusiasm among the players is outstanding and they are eager to do well.”Pakistan started a week-long training session before leaving for Kenya, where they feature in a tune-up Twenty20 event involving the hosts, Bangladesh and the United Arab Emirates. Pakistan face Scotland in their first World Championship match at Durban on September 12 before taking on India at the same venue two days later.Lawson said four Pakistani players – the former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Yousuf, Imran Farhat and Abdul Razzaq – joining the Indian Cricket League would not have a direct affect on the rest of the squad. But he still hoped Yousuf would have a change of mind.”I feel there would be no direct reflection of the players joining the league because players make their decisions but I would certainly hope Yousuf has a change of mind,” he said. “Yousuf is a fine player and he is not only worth it for his runs but also for his influence on the younger players.” Yousuf amassed 1788 Test runs in 2006, a world record for a calendar year.Lawson ruled out players’ attitude, especially that of the mercurial Shoaib Akhtar, upsetting his planning. “Coaches have problems with the attitude of the players and this goes back to 700BC and it’s nothing new,” Lawson, who took 180 wickets in 46 Tests for Australia, said. “I don’t see Akhtar as a problem. I am a fast bowler first so I will have to deal with that.”Lawson shrugged off comparisons with his former team-mate Greg Chappell, who had a tough time as the India coach. “I don’t agree Greg Chappell had a bitter experience; he spoke positively about the Indian players and the way India have played in England shows he did a good job.”With Lawson from Australia was Pakistan’s new trainer David Dwyer. “Dwyer just finished work with the rugby team in Australia and it would be good to have the rugby attitude and with it comes the killer’s instinct.”

Talat Ali will take over as the Pakistan team manager in the Champions Trophy © International Cricket Council

Zaheer Abbas has been replaced as manager of Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy in October, by former Pakistan opener Talat Ali. The decision was taken following a meeting of the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) ad-hoc committee in Karachi to discuss, among other subjects, the Oval fiasco which saw Pakistan forfeiting a Test for the first time in the game’s history.Shaharyar Khan, chairman of the PCB, told reporters, “Talat Ali has been chosen to replace him for the Champions Trophy as manager.” The move had been widely expected in Pakistan after Abbas had come in for heavy criticism for his role – or lack of it – during the Oval melee.While negotiations were underway to try and save the Oval Test on the dressing room balcony, Abbas was seen by many outside the Pakistan dressing room talking on his mobile phone. His apparent inaction prompted a barrage of criticism from ex-players in Pakistan who felt he should have taken a more proactive role in resolving the matter and negotiating with the ICC and the umpires.Others attacked him for a number of statements he made in the immediate aftermath of the incident, including his terming of Darrell Hair’s US$500,000 resignation offer, a “moral victory” for Pakistan. Even before the team left for England, concerns had been voiced about his aptitude for the job. When asked by a local TV channel about left-arm paceman Samiullah Niazi’s inclusion in the squad, Abbas professed ignorance about the player.But Shaharyar denied that the move meant Abbas was the first victim of ‘Hairgate’. “He has not been replaced because of what happened at the Oval. We need him as a witness for the ICC hearings later in September. After that, if the need for an appeal rises, then we might need him further so that might interfere with his role as manager. This is not a criticism or indictment of his role. It is no reflection on him.”Shaharyar added that Inzamam-ul-Haq [captain], Danish Kaneria and Umar Gul will attend the hearing alongwith Abbas. Both Gul and Kaneria were bowling when the umpires inspected the ball, and have been asked by the PCB’s lawyers to provide evidence.In the PCB’s defence, however, it must also be pointed out that managerial appointments rarely follow steadfast rules of employment. Generally, managers are hired on an assignment-by-assignment basis; Abbas, for example, was manager for the tour to Sri Lanka earlier in the year but was replaced by Salim Altaf for the subsequent ODI series against India in Abu Dhabi. Not many in Pakistan, though, will buy the chairman’s reasoning and certainly most journalists – admittedly a cynical lot – didn’t.The man who replaces him – Ali – was in line for the job for the England series and had the robust support of at least one senior PCB official. Ali, who played ten Tests for Pakistan between 1972 and 1979 as a dogged opener, was also an ICC match referee for the same number of Tests between 1997 and 2001.One of the central figures of the controversy – Inzamam-ul-Haq – was, however, given the full backing of the board. “The events of the Oval Test were considered at the meeting which showed full confidence in Inzamam,” Shaharyar said. But referring to further comments Inzamam made to a local TV channel on arrival in Pakistan, Shaharyar warned that more comments “would be tantamount to hitting on his own feet (shooting himself in the foot) if Inzamam said anything on the matter now.” He was referring to ICC’s warning last week to the PCB and Inzamam for making “unnecessary and inappropriate” comments over the issue.About the other figure – Darrell Hair – the PCB was understandably reluctant to say too much. When asked what Pakistan would do if Hair was chosen to officiate in the Champions Trophy, Shaharyar said, “what steps we have thought about cannot be revealed at this point of time, we would disclose them after a decision on the hearing.”Reuters, however, quoted a board source as claiming that Pakistan had made its objections to Hair clear to the ICC. The board source said that the ICC had been informed in writing that if Hair was put on the umpires panel for the Champions Trophy, it would consider strong action including pulling out from the event. “Pakistan is very clear on Hair’s future appointments. It does not want him appointed either in the Champions Trophy or any other series in which Pakistan is playing.”

Nicky Boje withdrawing from the India tour has been just one problem for South Africa© Getty Images

South Africa, who set off for a two-Test tour of India this Thursday, are making very positive noises about the task that awaits them, despite a well-publicised series of setbacks and flare-ups in the recent weeks and months.Graeme Smith, South Africa’s captain, recently stated that his team had hit “rock-bottom” over the last six months, and that statement is backed up by their results. South Africa failed to progress to the later stages of the ICC Champions Trophy in September, and since Smith took over in April 2003, they have lost 18 out of 33 completed one-day internationals, and their only Test-series victories have come against the struggling West Indies and Bangladesh.South Africa have the added burden of living up to the standards they set on their last tour of India in 1999-2000, when they conquered the so-called “final frontier” by winning 2-0. But in the last month, problems have started to queue up.For starters, they have been deprived of two first-choice players in Herschelle Gibbs, who declared himself unavailable, and Nicky Boje, who pulled out of the tour after Delhi police failed to give assurances that he would not be questioned about alleged match-fixing on that last trip. Then Charl Langeveldt, Boje’s replacement, suffered a bad injury in a provincial match and has since been replaced by Robin Peterson.But the most worrying of all the setbacks occurred at the start of October, when Gerald Majola, the chief executive of the United Cricket Board, had to investigate claims alleging bungled mismanagement, racism and a supposedly debilitating Western Province clique running the national side. At the time, an unnamed board official told the : “Everyone realises that something is radically wrong and that it needs to be addressed.”

Ray Jennings has made everyone sound upbeat© Getty Images

So what’s changed? The coach, for one. And since Ray Jennings replaced Eric Simons, the players have been saying how rosy things are. Alfonso Thomas, a new addition to the squad who was picked for the tour as a stand-in for Andre Nel, is clear about the way things are going. “It really feels as if something very special is developing,” he told the South African Press Association. “There’s an openness among the players, and the senior players are going out of their way to make sure that newcomers like me feel part of the team. There’s an amazing vibe.”I know he [Jennings] always starts off with a lot of intensity,” said Thomas, 27, who worked under Jennings as part of the A squad. “We have been working hard, but we know what our goals are and what we have to do to achieve them.” Even Fanie de Villiers, who has spoken out in the past about team preparation, is helping out, telling the bowlers about the conditions in India and how to get wickets.Thomas is certainly not alone in endorsing Jennings. Martin van Jaarsveld, who also played in Jennings’s A side, is feeling decidedly upbeat: “We had a meeting with him [on Thursday] and he outlined his approach. The guys all bought into it, and we are working with great intensity, in fact I’ve never seen them so energised. Ray puts you under a lot of pressure, and he is creating a lot of competition among the guys. It has been tough, because of the intensity, but we have had some great fielding drills.”Shaun Pollock, Smith’s predecessor as captain, is also optimistic: “I think the vibe’s been good. The guys have really worked hard, and all of us are really keen to go over there and do well for ourselves and for South African cricket.”Thami Tsolekile, South Africa’s new wicketkeeper, is another player who has worked under Jennings. “He prepares us well. I think he helps us to be mentally tough, which is what you need to be in Test cricket.”The first Test against India starts at Kanpur on November 20, with the second match at Kolkata starting eight days later.

Chappell believes that rigid coaching structures are stifling youngsters’ understanding and feel for the game© Getty Images

Greg Chappell has warned of a regimented approach taking hold of cricket and stifling natural instinct. He identified scientists and academics with little playing experience as a threat, and said that strong-minded people with a sense of the game could counter it.Describing them in gangland terms, Chappell said they were a “mafia” that had complicated training and squeezed players’ enjoyment and understanding of the game, according to the . He said he felt that the world was following the Australian way, but didn’t realise that the present players had reached the national team because of older systems.”These new methods are not the methods that got us to where we are,” Chappell said. “They have come in subsequent to the development of most of the players in the present Australian team.” He highlighted the Australian Academy as a case in point. “I worked in my last few years with South Australia with the first generation who have come through this new system and they’re lost. They don’t understand the game, they don’t have an intrinsic love for it because they’ve never been emotionally involved. They don’t watch any cricket, they don’t know where the game has come from and they are confused.”What they needed, Chappell believed, was a firm guiding hand, an ability to broaden their horizons, and play positively. That’s what the great West Indians had in common. “Garry Sobers, Viv Richards, Dessie Haynes, all your great players, didn’t know what made them play the cover-drive or the hook the way they did, but could they ever play them!” said Chappell. “To try to explain to them the biomechanics of it all would just confuse them. The more structure you get at an early age, the more it messes you up.”Chappell suggested that the monotonous regularity of a bowling machine could not prepare batsmen for a match situation, where bowlers had different ball-release times, and were sometimes, in the case of Wes Hall – and Paul Adams of more recent vintage – a flurry of movements. “When Wes Hall was bowling, all arms and legs, the important part of batting was to time your movements with his movements. You don’t get that with a bowling machine. Bowling machines don’t replicate what a bowler does.”Chappell said that changing times had brought new methods, and though he wasn’t one for sticking to the past, to dismiss old methods as outdated was missing the point. “Society has changed and the game has changed with it. We can’t go backwards and I don’t propose that we do.”But we’ve got to look at the things that made us great, not reject them out of hand and replace them with new approaches like biomechanics that are not yet proven to be workable and that, in other sports like swimming and athletics, have been tried and discarded.”

Those Somerset supporters who were present at the County Ground recently and who were fortunate enough to see Gareth Andrew make his debut in the National Cricket league match against Durham Dynamos will be in no doubt that the young all rounder has a very promising future ahead of him.What is particularly pleasing about the nineteen year old is that he is Somerset born and bred, and his talents have been nurtured through the age group teams by a succession of local coaches, none of whom will be surprised by what he has gone onto achieve and all of whom will be absolutely delighted for him.Gareth hails from Bruton and it was whilst he was playing for the local cricket club that he came to the notice of the Somerset coaches.Peter Robinson recalls that it was at the Under 11age group when he visited the indoor nets at the County Ground that he was first impressed by the young all rounder."It was his bowling that impressed me most, because you don’t get many lads of that age who can send it down the way that he did. He has always looked like he could go on and produce good performances at the top level right from an early age."Somerset Youth Development Officer Pete Sanderson first encountered Gareth when he was coaching the Under 13’s team. "The way that he played against Durham is the way that he has always played his cricket, and right from the start he has always been a hard hitting striker of the ball, and it’s no real surprise to me that he has made it at that level," Pete told me.By the time that he was fifteen Gareth was playing for the Somerset Under 17’s and scoring runs and taking wickets against boys who were two years older with considerable success.When he left Ansford School at Castle Cary at the age of sixteen Gareth became part of the Somerset Academy, where Julian Wyatt was in charge. During his first year at the Academy he played for the Somerset Board XI and also appeared for Somerset Seconds.After missing part of last season with an injury, Gareth spent three months after Christmas out in Australia and judging by the way that he has so played far this season this has obviously helped him considerably.Gareth gave a good account of himself when he played for the first team in one of their pre season friendlies so it will have come as no great surprise to County Ground regulars when he was drafted in to make his debut for the Sabres against Durham.Somerset coach Kevin Shine rates the youngster very highly and told me: "Gareth Andrew is a very talented young player. He is a three dimensional cricketer and is one for the future."Gareth’s successful debut is just the start of what everyone hopes will be a long and successful career for the Cidermen, and will no doubt act as an incentive for the large group of very talented young players who are currently part of the ECB Regional Academy at the County Ground, who will all now have their sights very firmly set on playing for Somerset.

Sandgate-Redcliffe opening batsman Jerry Cassell will captain the Queensland Academy of Sport team in their opening ACB Cup 2nd XI match against the Commonwealth Bank Cricket Academy in Brisbane next week.Cassell, fresh from a scintillating 177 for City in their win over Country in Biloela on the weekend, will take on the QAS captaincy for the first time.The right-hander, who made his Pura Cup and Mercantile Mutual Cup debuts for the XXXX Queensland Bulls last season, will lead a youthful QAS side into the clash at Allan Border Field at Albion.The match, from Monday through to Thursday, will also feature a return to action by left-arm spinner Matthew Anderson, who returned over the weekend from a playing stint in the United Kingdom.Anderson took 50 wickets on the way to helping Norwich win the East Anglia Premier League.The QAS team also contains Bulls squad members James Hopes, who scored 110 for City on Saturday, left-arm paceman Mitchell Johnson, wicket-keeper Chris Hartley, allrounder Nathan Hauritz, left-hand bat Brendan Nash and Queensland Cricket rookie contracted players Damien Mackenzie and Craig Philipson.QAS v CBCA, Sept 17-20, Allan Border Field: Jerry Cassell (c), Matthew Anderson, Chris Hartley, Nathan Hauritz, James Hopes, Mitchell Johnson, Lance Kahler, Damien Mackenzie, Brendan Nash, Daniel Payne, Matthew Petrie, Craig Philipson.

Billy Stelling’s 3-35 helped Leicestershire to deserved victory Photo © AllSport UK

Somerset needed to score at 5 runs per over to win this game but throughsome disciplined and aggressive bowling from the Leicestershire attack theywere always behind the asking rate.Jimmy Ormond once again was the pick of the bowlers and picked up his firstwicket in only the second over of the innings. Bowler edged a ball to secondslip to give Darren Maddy an easy catch. The ball previous saw Maddy drop achance given by Lathwell also at second slip.It wasn’t too long before Lathwell became Ormonds second victim when hefollowed a wide delivery which found the edge through to the wicket keeper.At this point Somerset were only scoring at 2 runs per over and the pressurewas beginning to show. Burns unable to pierce the in field then set off for a risky single which resulted in a run out.You felt that as long as Jamie Cox was at the crease there was always achance for Somerset but when Scott Boswell picked up his prize wicket inonly his second over, Somerset’s chances of victory were diminishing. He wasbrilliantly caught by the diving wicket keeper Neil Burns.Parsons tried to continue the fight and looked in good form. He struck themedium pace of Billy Stelling for a huge six over mid off giving impetous tothe innings. However, Stelling fought back by clean bowling Parsons in the29th over. By this time Somerset’s chances were almost gone and continued tolose their wickets consistantly.Leicestershire thoroughly deserved this win and they now can look forward toplaying once again in the top division.